Denver Catholic

CATHOLIC LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I NOVEMBER 27, 2013 New rector named for archdiocese's Redemptoris Mater Seminary BY CINDY BROVSKY Father Tobías Rodríguez Lasa has been named the new rector of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Denver. Although the international seminary operates under the direction of Archbishop Samuel Aquila to form priests for the Denver Archdiocese, it also emphasizes missionary service. It shares a campus with the archdioceses' other seminary, St. John Vianney, at the John Paul II Center in south Denver. Father Rodríguez, 49, was born in Spain and became a seminarian in 1993 at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny, N.J., Father Rodríguez began his a suburb of Newark. In 2002, he was named parochial vicar at St. new job on Nov. 25 and will Mary Star of the Sea in Bayonne, work with about 30 seminarians who represent a variN.J. He returned to the ety of countries and seminary in 2004 where cultures. he served as vice rector. Pope John Paul II beFather Rodríguez has gan the first Redempalso served as an adtoris Mater Seminary junct professor at Imin 1987 in the Diocese maculate Conception of Rome as a way to Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall FATHER TOBÍAS prepare priests for misUniversity in New Jer- RODRÍGUEZ sionary work worldwide. The Redemptoris sey and has taught parish evangelization and pastoral Mater Seminary in Denver is one of six in American diocesSpanish. "I am looking forward to the es, including Boston, Dallas, new experience," Father Rodrí- Newark, Washington, D.C., and guez told the Denver Catholic Agana, Guam. There are 100 Register. "I am delighted to be Redemptoris Mater seminaries worldwide. moving to Denver." The Denver seminary was erected on March 25, 1996, by then Archbishop J. Francis Stafford and confirmed on Dec. 11, 1998, by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. Father Rodríguez replaced Father Florián Martín-Calama who served at the seminary since its founding and as the rector for the last 16 years. Father Martín-Calama was reassigned to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Rome in early October by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar of the pope for the Diocese of Rome. "I am happy with the great grace that the Lord has given to me, being rector of the seminary at Denver during these 16 years, having 22 priests ordained for the archdiocese, knowing so many brothers and sisters who have shown to me the grace of the love of God the Father and Jesus Christ," Father Martín-Calama wrote in an email to the Register. Father Giovanni Capucci, vice rector of Redemptoris Mater in Denver and judicial vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal, said the seminary is blessed to have Father Rodríguez. "Florián was here since the beginning," Father Giovanni told the Register. "He has left a beautiful spiritual inheritance to us in all the priests who have been formed and ordained from Redemptoris Mater. Tobías is the right person to come and serve now." A surprise mission reunites Navy officer with family BY NISSA LAPOINT U.S. Navy Petty Officer Bryan Gomez-Trujillo left for a 10-month mission in the Middle East and wasn't expected home until Christmas. Or so his family thought. Two weeks after Operation Enduring Freedom was completed for 21-year-old Bryan, his flight home to Denver landed. He went straight from the airport to St. Bernadette School in Lakewood r Arch-on Nov. 20 to surprise his two unof thesuspecting younger siblings. nsights His brother, 9-year-old Joseph Trujillo, and sister, 5-year-old r morePeyton Trujillo, were so surprised to see him, they were speechless. The siblings were taking a contrived Spanish lesson with classmates in the cafeteria when a procession of Knights of Columbus in regalia marched in, parted and the uniformed Navy man walked in with open arms and a wide smile. Peyton immediately wrapped her arms around him, standing on her tip-toes. She wouldn't let go. "They had no idea," Bryan PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN FOR THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER U.S. NAVY Petty Officer Bryan Gomez-Trujillo reunites with one of his younger siblings, Peyton, at St. Bernadette School in Lakewood after a surprise return home from an overseas mission. "Until we meet once more, said. "Once she saw me she got here's wishing you a happy voyexcited." Joseph reached around his age home," the students sang in brother with both arms as unison. Bryan's family was told he'd reteachers and students applaudturn from his base in Virginia in ed the reunion. Classmates asked him ques- December, so they anticipated a tions about serving in the mili- reunion soon. They had limited tary and they sang the fight song contact over his last two years in of the Naval Academy, "Anchors the Navy. The last time they saw him was about 10 months ago. Aweigh." Many reasons for thanksgiving Before helping serve a dinner recently for military veterans at Samaritan House in Denver, I sat with a table of men to learn about their lives. "I'm happy in my apartment out in Aurora now, I've got my dog," said Chuck, 64, a Vietnam-era U.S. Army veteran, referring to Ziggy, his Dachshund. "He's great, he's like my co-pilot. Whenever I'm feeling down, he just jumps up in my lap and he's just all lovey." Samaritan House, located at 2301 Lawrence St., is A NEED TO GIVE, A NEED TO RECEIVE To see a video of Chuck's conversation with Larry, scan the QR code or go to www.ccdenver.org/ calltocharity. a shelter that houses more than 2,600 men, women and children a year. Chuck stayed there at one point. After back surgery, he recovered at St. Joseph's Home for Veterans, an affiliate of Samaritan House that is a group home for dozens of homeless veterans at 4626 Pennsylvania St. "They were real good to me over there," said Chuck. "They were kind of amazed at how fast I was up and about, because they had other guys that had the same surgery that were laid out for months. I think I had one meal delivered to my room. I walked the stairs. I was on the second floor, I'd go downstairs and I'd eat. I wanted to "I'll be honest—it's harder being a military mom than a military wife," said his mother, Josephine. "It's so much harder because he's your child. I'm proud of him because he's doing a great job." Bryan, who attended St. Bernadette as a child, said he's happy to spend time with family and friends. "I'm real excited," he said. "I'm going to visit old friends, visit with family and eat the food I miss." One of his first requests was to stop at a favorite Mexican restaurant in Denver. With his brother Frank Trujillo Jr., 16, he plans to go to the gym and work out. The family attends St. Jude Parish in Lakewood. "We're just going to enjoy him and spend time together and have a good family dinner," said his father, Frank Trujillo. "And just enjoy that he's here." Once the family learned Bryan was coming home, they decided to have him pick up his sister, Peyton, from school. "She's very attached to him, so I called her kindergarten teacher to let him pick her up," Josephine CALL TO CHARITY LARRY SMITH get well. I wanted my back to get well. It hurt, but I went down and ate. I walked." Our brothers and sisters walk into Samaritan House every day with very little. Catholic Charities does everything it can to care for VIDEO See Petty Officer Trujillo's reunion with his siblings by scanning the QR code or visit http:// youtu.be/Ll0oPJH9VPI. said. "And all the sudden it kind of evolved from there." The parish's Knights of Columbus offered to participate in the surprise by escorting the soldier into the school. Joseph said he was "excited" to see him and Peyton insisted she saw him in the cafeteria kitchen before he walked up. After the holidays, Bryan said he will return to his work as a machinist on the USS San Antonio LPD17. He plans to reenlist. "I've got to take care of the ship," he said. "It was a good experience for my first full deployment. I got to see some cool places." Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa them. Some, like Chuck, have found their way to independent living; some haven't. We love them all the same, because they are loved first by God. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I pray that many like Chuck will continue to know the love and charity of Jesus Christ through your generous gifts of time, treasure and talent. Larry Smith is the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Denver Archdiocese. Visit online at www.ccdenver. org or call 303-742-0828 to learn more, volunteer or make a donation.

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