Denver Catholic

BY JULIE FILBY With a quick prayer and sign of the cross, three priests of the Denver Archdiocese were "baptized with cold water" when participating in the so- cial media phenomenon, the ice bucket challenge, Aug. 29 outside the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Msgr. Bernie Schmitz, vicar for clergy; Father Jason Wal- lace, vice rector of St. John Vi- anney Theological Seminary; and Father Scott Bailey, Arch- bishop Samuel Aquila's per- sonal secretary, dedicated their ice bucket challenge—which involved having 15 gallons of freezing cold water loaded with 26 pounds of ice dumped on their heads—to Father Ben- jamin Reese. Father Reese, 55, who grew up in Aspen, served as a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., in both Illinois and Wisconsin, for 23 years before being diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS in July 2013. He recently returned to northern Colorado to be close to family as the rapidly pro- gressing variation of ALS has robbed him of the ability to speak and breathe freely. Following a tracheotomy last week, Father Reese moved to an acute care facility near Loveland where he is cared for by family— his parents, brother, sister, and nephews and nieces who live in Boulder, plus a sister moving back from New Mexico—as well as clergy of the Denver Arch- diocese and the Divine Mercy Supportive Care apostolate that assists with end-of-life issues. "I sure appreciate all the good support of Denver priests and bishops," Father Reese wrote in an email to the Denver Catholic Register. Since losing his voice, he communicates using an iPad. He expressed gratitude for a visit from former Archbishop of Denver Cardinal J. Francis Stafford and the many notes of support and Mass cards he's received. Msgr. Schmitz, was moved to do the ice bucket challenge in Father Reese's honor after watching a TV program about an athlete struggling with ALS. "It struck me while I watched," he said, "that this priest who came into ministry with all kinds of dreams and hopes and excitement is just slowly get- ting weaker and weaker and weaker." If that were him, he said, he would feel very isolated. "My hope was, in a symbol- ic way, to reach out to him," he continued. "To let him know there are a lot of fellow brother priests who care for him." A second reason for partic- ipating in the challenge, ac- cording to Msgr. Schmitz, was to raise awareness and dona- tions for ethical ALS research. When the ice bucket challenge INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Real Life Catholic .............................4 Youth & Young Adults ................. 6-7 Marriage/Women .............................8 Nun of the Above quiz ....................9 Bulletin Board ................................. 10 Service Directory ....................... 10-11 Priests support brother with ALS PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER DEACON Robert Rinne, left, John Brooks and seminarian R.D. Braz pour water on Father Scott Bailey, Msgr. Bernie Schmitz and Father Jason Wallace Aug. 29 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception while preforming the ice bucket challenge in honor of Father Ben Reese and the John Paul II Medical Research Institute. SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 114 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume XC - No. 29 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE CATHOLIC LIFE MIDEAST CHRISTIANS PAGE 3 PAGE 2 Local priest to attend Washington summit to aid Mideast Christians PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN/DCR Taking people from 'nones' to regulars See ALS, Page 3 Cold shoulders, warm hearts

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