Denver Catholic

13 DENVER CATHOLIC | JUNE 10-23, 2017 FATHER EDWARD POEHLMANN Not one to retire yet, even at 50 years, Father Edward Poehlmann serves as pastor of Pre- sentation of Our Lady Parish in Denver. He's served several extended assignments as a parish pastor throughout his priesthood, including St. Mary's in Brecken- ridge and its missions for 18 years (he headed three building projects while there), St. Clare of Assisi for 12 years, and Presentation for the last 12 years (and just signed on for six more). He grew up attending Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Denver, where the seed for his priestly vocation was planted. When he was ordained in 1967, he taught reli- gion and philosophy at a few of the local Catholic high schools alongside being a parish priest. Reflecting on the past 50 years, Father Poehlmann said he's "grateful for a number of things: good health, wonderful parishioners … and opportunities to serve in all these other capacities." To younger priests, he o€ers these words of advice: "They have to set up a lot of meaningful rela- tionships in parishes. People demand that today. You really have to be yourself." 25 YEARS FATHER ROLAND FREEMAN After finishing high school, Father Roland Freeman joined the Benedictines as a brother. During his formation, he reflected on the centrality of the Eucharist, the "front and apex" of the Christian life, and then he left the Benedictines to enter the seminary and become a priest. He was ordained on May 27, 1967. During his priesthood, he had a variety of min- istries that involved sharing the sacraments, teaching children, adults, seminarians, giving retreats to priests and laity, and using his professional training in helping others with emotional disorders. He served as director of a psychological services center. Currently, he lives at All Saints Parish in Denver and assists in several parishes with sacramental ministries. For him, this anniversary is an occasion for "deep thanksgiving to God and profound wonder at God has accomplished, even in my life". He says that the key to being faithful to his voca- tion is "fidelity to prayer, the prayer of the Eucha- rist, which is the gift that forms one into the pro- found and unsurpassable mystery of Christ's self- less love for all." FATHER ANDREAS HOECK Father Andreas Hoeck was born into a Catholic family, and when he received the sacraments of confession, commu- nion and confirmation as a child, the inner calling to the priest- hood was confirmed. He joined the seminary and was ordained on April 4, 1992. Right after his ordination, he was sent to earn a doctorate in Catholic Exegesis (Bible Interpretation) at the¦Pontifical Bibli- cal Institute¦in Rome. Since 2001, Father Hoeck has been teach- ing biblical science at¦Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary. For his 25th anniver- sary, Father Hoeck shares: "Looking back over these years, the heart is definitely filled with gratitude to God for having been given the grace of persever- ance, of joy and inner peace." But it is not just looking back: "One also realizes that the number of years ahead are rather counted, and one sets his sight on the eventual goal in the not too distant future. That powerful thought helps to steady the pace and 'press on towards Christ' (Philippians 3:14), as long as health and physical strength hold up." FATHER GREGORIE VIDAL Father Gregorie Vidal was born on January 25th, 1963, in Albi, in the South of France. Raised in a Catholic family, he met the Community of the Beat- itudes when he was a teenager in the early 1980s through a prayer group his parents were attending, and he entered the Commu- nity in 1983. He then studied in Rome, and served in Central Africa for two years, where he learned to speak the native language Sango. He was ordained a Catholic priest on June 28th, 1992, in Cordes (Diocese of Albi, France), and served many years in France, and also as a pastor in Nimes. He arrived in the U.S. in 2009 and has been serving as a pastor in St. Catherine of Siena Parish since then. He completed a Ph.D in Theology (Sacred Scriptures) in March 2012, about the "Divine sonship and universal brotherhood, in the Gospel of Saint Luke." Father Grego- rie is a man of many languages (French, Italian, English, Span- ish,¦Sango), of many tal- ents (soccer, marathons, nature and science) and even a ventriloquist! FATHER FRANK MARONEY Father Frank Maroney, ordained in Denver and current pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Longmont, celebrates his 25th anniversary. He remembers how after a youth group meet- ing, the youth director asked him if he had ever thought about becom- ing a priest. "I replied that was not my cup of tea. And he responded profoundly, saying if I had any inkling at all, I had a responsibility to find out for sure. Well, I hadn't had an inkling until he asked me!" Father Maroney spent a few years discerning and eventually told the Lord, "Lord, I hope you know what you are doing this time!" before entering the seminary in Denver. Father Maroney said, "[Young priests probably] have words of advice for me! They seem to be so well rooted not only in Scripture…I appreciate their commitment and sense of zeal. It gives me a sense of hope for the Church." The key to being faithful to the vocation, he said, is "The Lord, of course," and the priests in his Caritas support group that meet monthly. • Rev. Juan Bonilla • Rev. Wojiech Gierasimczyk • Rev. Samuel Morehead • Rev. Ryan O'Neill • Very Rev. Randy Dollins, V.G. • Rev. Timothy Hjelstrom • Rev. Mark Kovacik • Rev. Jorge Aguera • Rev. Daniel Norick • Very Rev. Rocco Porter, V.F. • Rev. Daniel Zimmer- schied • Rev. Timothy Gaines • Very Rev. Michael Pavlakovich, V.F. • Most Rev. Jorge Rodriguez, S.T.D. • Rev. Msgr. Edward Buelt • Rev. John Hilton 5 YEARS 10 YEARS 20 YEARS 30 YEARS 35 YEARS

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