Monsignor Carl T. Hayden, 90, of Gering died Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Heritage Estates in Gering.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph’s Church in Kimball on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 at 11 a.m.  with Bishop William J. Dendinger and priests of the Diocese of Grand Island concelebrating. Burial will be later at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Platteville, Wis.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com.

Msgr. Hayden was born to Carl and Esther Hayden on April 3, 1921, in Edwardsville, Illinois. He was educated at St. Ignatius High School and Loyola University in Chicago. His seminary training was received at St. Thomas in Denver.But rather than stay in the Chicago area where priests were in abundance, a priest friend recommended Nebraska where his classmate, Bishop Stanislaus Bona, was bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island.

He was ordained to the priesthood on November 30, 1945, by Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler.

Msgr. Hayden’s first assignment in the diocese was as temporary administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Shelton, where he served until March 21, 1946, when he was named assistant at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island.

In the summer of 1946, he was named editor of The West Nebraska Register, a position he held for 17 years.

He was appointed chancellor of the diocese on June 30, 1950, also serving as diocesan master of ceremonies, posts he held until August of 1967. For about 20 years he taught religion and Latin at St. Mary’s High School and Central Catholic High School.

He was named a Papal Chamberlain in February 1949 and a Domestic Prelate in November 1963 and also served as a vice chancellor, a diocesan consultor and diocesan director of the Propagation of Faith.

Monsignor Hayden was named pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral on September 14, 1964. In January of 1972 he was appointed Officialis of the diocesan tribunal, and was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Kimball in 1973. He retired from active ministry in 1996 and moved to the Denver area until 2008 when he moved to Gering.

He is survived by a brother, Thomas of Chicago, nieces and nephews.