Denver Catholic

BY ROXANNE KING An annual rite of spring in the Denver Archdiocese is the announcement of the priest appointments as named by the Archbishop's Office. Those ap- pointments, 36 and one semi- narian assignment, are listed in this edition of the Denver Catho- lic Register directly below. Most of the appointments become effec- tive in June. While all of the appointments are important to the individu- al priests and the communities they serve, three of the appoint- ments may be readily noticed by the wider Catholic commu- nity: the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver is getting a new pastor, the current moder- ator of the curia—who oversees the administrative offices of the archdiocese—is getting a new assignment, and Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila is getting a new priest secretary. There's also a leadership change at a seminary, a priest will be serving in Poland, and three priests will be retiring. Msgr. Bernie Schmitz Currently the Vicar for Clergy, Msgr. Bernie Schmitz has also served as pastor of Mother of God Church in central Denver since 2007. While he will continue as Vicar for Clergy, Msgr. Schmitz has been given a new parish as- signment—starting June 18, he will serve as the new pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immac- ulate Conception. Father Tom Coyte, longtime pastor of Holy Cross Church in Thornton, will be the new pastor of Mother of God. "I'm excited and looking for- ward to it," Msgr. Schmitz said about his new parish assign- ment. "The Cathedral Basilica is an extremely diverse community with lots going on all the time." Emphasizing that while he's loved serving his current parish, which is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the pastoral center where his office is located, he added with a laugh, "I won't have to move very far!" Msgr. Tom Fryar Since 2004 Msgr. Tom Fryar has ministered as moderator of the curia, supervising the administra- tive offices of the Denver Archdio- cese, which are located at the John Paul II Center in south Denver. Msgr. Fryar, who has also served as pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception since 2006, has been named pas- tor of St. Thomas More Church in Centennial effective June 18. Father Randy Dollins, longtime mountain pastor, will serve as the new moderator of the curia (see story in April 2 DCR "Mountain priest gets new post at chancery" or online at www.DenverCatholic Register.org). "With this new assignment I'll be able to be fully focused on life in the parish, which is something I've had to split my time and at- tention with these last few years," Msgr. Fryar said. "There is a great joy, I believe, for any priest to re- ceive an assignment in a parish and to be working amongst the people of God on a daily basis, strengthening their spiritual jour- ney and helping them to be a sign of God's presence in the world. "This is what a priest goes to seminary to do!" Father Matthew Book Ordained four years ago, Fa- ther Mathew Book served a year as a parochial vicar at a parish, then a year in study at the Vati- can. Upon his return to Denver in 2012, he began ministering as priest secretary to Archbishop Aquila and until last August, al- so served as house father to the Companions of Christ, a group of eight seminarians who share a home together to encourage fra - ternity and communal life. Start- ing July 23, Father Book will be a first-time pastor as he takes over at St. Joseph Church in Golden. Father Scott Bailey, currently pa- rochial vicar at St. Frances Cabri- ni Church in Littleton, will serve as the archbishop's new priest secretary. "I am very excited to become pastor at St. Joseph Parish and am thankful to Archbishop Aq- uila and to God for this blessing," Father Book said. "I look forward to committing myself in service to the people there, and to ac- companying them as we all seek to sincerely follow Jesus Christ and share the Gospel with oth- ers. It is a serious responsibility, so I hope our parishioners start praying for me right away!" Seminary change After several years as vice rec- tor of St. John Vianney Theologi- cal Seminary, Father Jorge Rodri- guez will become pastor at Holy Cross Church in Thornton. Fa- ther Rodriguez will also continue his duties as a theology professor at the seminary. Father Jason Wallace, formator and director of pastoral formation at St. John Vianney, will serve as vice rector. CATHOLIC LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I APRIL 16, 2014 OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS Rev. Jorge Aguera, appointed pastor, St. Pius X Parish, Aurora, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Msgr. Robert Amundsen, reappointed pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Lafayette, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Matthew Book, appointed pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Golden, Colo., effective July 23, 2014 for a six-year period. Rev. Thomas Coyte, appointed pastor, Mother of God Parish, Den- ver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014 for a six-year period. Rev. Jonathan Dellinger, reap- pointed pastor, St. John the Evan- gelist Parish, Yuma, and St. An- drew, Wray, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Emilio Franchomme, re- appointed pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, Johnstown, and its quasi-parish, St. Nicholas Parish, Platteville, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Michael Freihofer, reappoint- ed pastor, St. Anne's Parish, Grand Lake, St. Peter, Kremmling, and the quasi-parishes of St. Ignatius, Walden, Our Lady of the Snow, Granby and St. Bernard of Mont - joux, Winter Park, Colo., effective June 18, 2013, for a six-year period. Rev. Francisco Garcia, appointed pastor, St. Helena Parish, Fort Morgan, and the quasi-parish, St. Francis, Weldona, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Andrew Kemberling, appoint- ed pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Par- ish, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Tadeusz Kopczynski, ap- pointed pastor, St. Paul's Parish, Idaho Springs, and the quasi parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, Georgetown and St. Mary of the Assumption, Central City, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six- year period. Rev. Brian Larkin, appointed pas - tor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Msgr. Peter Quang Nguyen, ap- pointed pastor, All Saints Parish, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Jorge Rodriguez, appointed pastor, Holy Cross Parish in Thorn- ton, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. This is in ad- dition to his duties as a professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Msgr. Bernard Schmitz, appointed pastor, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year peri - od. This is in addition to his duties as vicar for clergy of the Archdio- cese of Denver. Rev. Joseph Toledo, appointed pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Fort Collins, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Felix Zermeño-Martin, ap - pointed pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Daniel Zimmerschied, ap- pointed pastor, Guardian Angels Parish, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, for a six-year period. Rev. Faustinus Anyamele, appointed parochial vicar, Holy Trinity Parish, Denver, Colo., for a three-year period effective May 15, 2014. Rev. Shaji Thomas Chennathu, reappointed parochial vicar, Spirit of Christ Parish, Arvada, Colo., for a three-year period effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Jose Anibal Chicas, ap - pointed parochial vicar, Queen of Peace Parish, Aurora, Colo., for a three-year period effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Peter Dinh, appointed paro- chial vicar, St. Peter, Greeley, Colo., for a three-year period effective June, 18, 2014. Rev. Wojciech Gierasimczyk, appointed parochial vicar, Our Lady of Peace, Silverthorne and St. Mary's Breckenridge, Colo., for a three-year period effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Crispin Kibambe, appointed parochial vicar, St. Therese in Au - rora, Colo., for a three-year period effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Felician Mbala, reappointed parochial vicar, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Aurora, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, ad nutum archiepiscopi. Rev. Joseph Monahan, appoint- ed parochial vicar, Notre Dame Parish, Denver, Colo., for reasons of health, for a three-year period effective July 23, 2014. Rev. Stephen Adams, granted a sabbatical to study at North American College in Rome, Italy, effective June 18, 2014, until Jan. 1, 2015. Upon completion of his sabbatical, he will be appointed pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Loveland, Colo., effective Jan. 15, 2015, six-year period. Rev. David Allen, granted permis - sion to begin a Clinical Pastoral Education Program at the Univer- sity of Colorado beginning June 2, 2014 through Aug. 15, 2014. Thereafter, chaplain resident at St. Anthony North Hospital in West- minster, Colo., beginning Aug. 25, 2014, for a period of one year. Rev. Scott Bailey, appointed secretary to the archbishop, effective June 18, 2014, ad nutum archiepiscopi. Very Rev. Gregory Cioch, V.F., released from pastoral duties in the Archdiocese of Denver and given permission to minister at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary within the Archdiocese of Krakow, effective June 15, 2014, through June 15, 2020. Msgr. Jorge De los Santos, ap - pointed spiritual director for His- panic Evangelization for the Arch- diocese of Denver, effective June 18, 2014, ad nutum archiepiscopi, and to be in residence, Our Lady of Grace, Denver. This is in addi- tion to his duties as pastor, Holy Rosary Parish, Denver, Colo. Rev. Lawrence Kaiser, granted retirement status, effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Michael Kerrigan, granted re- tirement status effective June 18, 2014, and in residence at Mother of God Parish, Denver, Colo. Rev. Angel Perez, appointed house father for the seminarians, Christ the King House, effective June 18, 2014. This is in addition to his duties as professor at St. John Vianney Theological Semi - nary, Denver, Colo. Rev. Samuel Morehead, appointed administrator pro tem, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Loveland, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, un- til Jan. 5, 2015. At which time he will be appointed parochial vicar, St. John the Evangelist Parish, until June 1, 2015. Rev. James Purfield, granted retirement status, effective June 18, 2014. Rev. Jason Wallace, appointed vice rector, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, Denver, Co - lo., and will continue to be house father for the seminarians at Our Lady of Lourdes, Denver, Colo., effective June 18, 2014, ad nutum archiepiscopi. Seminarian Guillermo Bustillos, assigned to pastoral internship, St. Therese Parish, Aurora, Colo., for one year effective May 19, 2014. to adhere to the law. So the concern would be that if this broad law passes there would be trickle-down effects for us," McGovern told the committee. Other testimony was split over the freedom to access re- productive health and if there are current limitations on a woman's decision. Kraska stated women al- ready have freedom to make reproductive health decisions in the state and that the law is unnecessary. "This legislation, no matter what the title might imply, is not about freedom," she tes- tified. "Freedom is more than an unlimited supply of choic- es. True freedom is the ability to know and the courage to do what is right and what is just. And this legislation is neither right nor just for the people of Colorado and it certainly does nothing to respect the dignity of the human person." One woman reiterated she only wants the freedom to choose without government intervention. "I don't agree with people who try to legislate their mo- rality on my body," said Jackie Perkins of Denver. The conference is urging all citizens with pro-life views to contact their representatives. Swanson added that speak- ing against the bill is to take a stand "in favor of mom and baby." "There is so much in our cul- ture that tries to tear families apart," she said. "Let's take a stand to keep mom and baby together." PBS to look back at Denver's WYD 1993 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER FILE PHOTO BY JAMES BACA MSGR. TOM Fryar addresses the crowd at a 2010 gala to benefit the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Caring for the faithful: it's what a priest trains to do See Appointments, Page 18

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