Denver Catholic

12 JUNE 10-23, 2017 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese MONSIGNOR EDWARD MADDEN Monsignor Edward Madden remembers hearing God's call to the priesthood as young as three years old. While attending daily Mass at St. John's Parish with his mother, he was inspired by the exam- ple the priests there and thought, "I could do that." Now, 65 years after his ordination, Monsignor Madden remains grateful for the opportunity to serve. "It was a good life," he said. "I never thought I'd last this long. What- ever the Lord wants, I'll try to do what he says." Monsignor Madden says the Mass is what has sustained him all of these years, and he feels blessed to still be able to concelebrate Mass each day at Mullen Home. "The Mass has been the center of everything. I'm greatly devoted to the Mass, so the privilege of o€ering Mass each day has been a wonderful support and strength for me." Imparting valuable words of wisdom to younger priests, Mon- signor Madden hopes they, too, realize the importance of the Mass, and prayer as well. "The main thing is to bring the Eucharist to the people," he said. CARDINAL J. FRANCIS STAFFORD Celebrating his 60th anniversary, Cardinal J. Francis Sta€ord, Archbishop emeritus of Denver, who discovered his vocation in 1952 on a pilgrimage with friends, recalled 1993's World Youth Day in Denver as one of his fondest memories. "The young people…were greeting Pope John Paul II. When I glanced at [him], he was in tears. They were tears of joy." Cardinal Sta€ord, 85, said he con- siders himself a "blessed, 'spiritual' grandfather." He also shared a word of advice to young priests: "Dear brothers in Christ Jesus! I think of you and turn often to Him on your behalf. I ask the intercession of St. John Paul II, whose influence on your generation has been remarkably fruit- ful. May he intercede before God that you may be consecrated. 'Con- secrate' means to o€er yourselves in sacrifice. May God consecrate you in truth and holiness. These are days when 'saints are not enough… You have to keep climb- ing higher and higher, always climbing higher still. Up to the ultimate sanctity, the ultimate purity, the ultimate beauty...You must have the courage to tell the truth'" (Péguy). FATHER ANGELO OSSINO Though originally ordained in Missouri, Father Angelo Ossino has spent much of his past 60 years as a pri- rest serving richly in the Archdiocese of Denver. He was incardinated into the archdiocese in 1975, and served as pastor and associate pastor at several of Denver's most vibrant parishes, including St. Pius X, St. Joseph in Golden and St. Jude in Lakewood. His ministry wasn't just limited to the parish, however; he taught at various Catholic schools in Missouri and Loui- siana and earned his master's in religious education from Loyola University in Chicago. His upbringing in an Italian neighborhood in Omaha, Neb., informed the way he lived his life. "Life has been God's precious and loving gift to me," Father Ossino recounted. "I have learned so much about giving and receiving, about faith and prayer, and about treasuring good food, good friends and good wine! I have so much to celebrate." FATHER JAMES KLEINER Father James Kleiner, originally ordained in Canada, served as pastor at St. Joan of Arc and St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Now retired, he celebrates his 50th anniversary. He attri- butes his "initial thrust" into the vocation to priesthood to "Catho- lic education and the thrust for missionary work." The anniver- sary marks a special time in his life: "It's a time of memory of the many experiences and people over the years. Our whole faith is a question of memory. It is a milestone — I am thankful for the gift of perseverance. It's amaz- ing to look back over the 50 years and how the perceived problems have changed, and how the world has changed." Father Kleiner notes that his sense of humor has helped him perse- vere in the vocation. "While the vocation is serious, we have to live too, and not take ourselves too seriously. I think wisdom-figures were very important to me, which in my old age, I feel the lack of, but I had outstanding men- tors over the years. And they were the ones who encouraged me…I miss that very much." FATHER MICHAEL SMITH Father Michael Smith was born in Missouri in 1936 and was ordained in 1967 in St. Louis, Mis- souri. He taught at Regis Jesuit High School and later was involved in campus ministry at St. Louis University and Regis College in Denver. Later, he was appointed pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Paonia and later Sacred Heart Parish in Fruita, where he was known for his "inclusiveness and acceptance of people just as they are," accord- ing to an article about his retirement in the Diocese of Pueblo. "I was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Fruita, Colo., and pastor of nearby Holy Family School in Grand Junction, Colo. These parishioners and school children taught me how to be a good pastor and a man for others for 14 years: For me, heaven had met earth," Father Smith said. He cur- rently lives in Denver with the Xavier Jesuit Center and is involved in pastoral ministry. MONSIGNOR KEN LEONE Monisgnor Ken Leone looks back on the past 50 years as a priest fondly. "I think I am the luckiest person on the face of this earth because I have gotten to see God at work in so many situations," the joyful priest said. "A lot of people think there are no longer miracles like there were in the time of Jesus; that is absolutely not true. God is at work, and I have seen God at work. It's just amazing." Monsi- gnor Leone has had a very fruitful tenure as a priest and has remained active outside of parish life. He still, to this day, provides spiritual direction to seminari- ans at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and leads retreats fre- quently. "It's amazing how you see God at work on those retreats," he said. Overall, Mon- signor Leone has no regrets and has loved every minute of being a priest. "It's the great- est life you could ever live on the face of this earth," he says proudly. "I would do it over again in a heartbeat." 'Well done, good and faithful servants' Priests celebrate milestone anniversaries 65 YEARS 60 YEARS 50 YEARS

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