Week
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June 13, 2001
Inside the Register
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Three ordained to priesthood for archdiocese
Former teachers, naval officer among new priests to serve Northern Colorado
By Mary E. Manley
Three deacons were granted Presbyteral Faculties of the Archdiocese of Denver on Saturday, June 9 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., was the ordaining prelate, with 800 well-wishers from across the country present.
The new priests are Rev. Ernest Bayer Jr., Rev. James H. Crisman III, and Rev. Robert L. Wedow. All have been assigned three-year terms as parochial vicars, effective June 20. Father Bayer will serve St. Michael Parish in Craig, St. Ignatius Parish in Rangely, and Holy Family Parish in Meeker. Father Crisman is assigned to St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Aurora. Father Wedow will serve St. Augustine Parish, Brighton, and Sacred Heart Parish in Roggen, with its missions of Holy Family in Keenesburg, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Wiggins.
Vested
clergy on the altar with Archbishop Chaput during the ordination ceremony
included Most Rev. Daniel Kucera, O.S.B., retired Archbishop of Dubuque
and Most Rev. José H. Gomez, S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Denver.
Concelebrants were Denver archdiocesan priests, along with visiting priests.
Liturgy of the Word readings focused on the mission of the prophet, the high calling of the priesthood, the institution of the Eucharist, and the servanthood of discipleship, with its ultimate rewards.
After the Gospel, the Rite of Ordination began with the Call and Presentation of the Ordinandi, led by Rev. Msgr. Nickless. Loud applause followed the archbishop's acceptance of the candidates for ordination.
In his homily, the archbishop spoke of the mystery of the sacrament of Holy Orders wherein the Holy Spirit anoints priests to join in Christ's mediatorship in the lives of God's people. He spoke of servanthood's multiple responsibilities and challenges which often entail learning obedience through suffering, yet encouraged his audience to remember how the mystical Eucharistic celebration commemorates Christ's abiding presence among his faithful and how Jesus Himself leads the way to everlasting benefits.
Next for the ordinandi came the Examination of the Candidates by the archbishop and the Promise of Obedience to him and his successors by them, with the Invitation to Prayer and the Litany of the Saints, the latter of which entailed the assembly to pray for them as they lay prostrate during the litany. Candidates then experienced the rituals of the Laying on of Hands, Prayer of Consecration, Investiture with Stole and Chasuble, and Anointing of Hands.
As new priests, the three men then were presented by the archbishop with the paten and chalice and were instructed by him to model their lives on the Lord's cross in the Presentation of the Gifts ceremony. The Kiss of Peace was administered to the newly ordained by the archbishop, followed by the same from the vested priests on the altar, welcoming them into the archdiocesan Order of Presbyters.
The archbishop took time to thank the new priests' families and members of the community-at-large who had supported the trio's vocational journeys to this point. A reception to honor the newly ordained was held at the nearby Knights of Columbus Hall, sponsored by the Knights and Colorado Serra Clubs and provided a setting for the three presbyters to give their first blessings to any of the numerous individuals on hand to honor them.
Rev. Ernest Bayer Jr.
Connecticut native, former teacher
Born and raised in Bristol, Conn., Rev. Ernest Bayer Jr. most recently has been a deacon at Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver. He taught at St. Peter & Paul Parish School in Wheat Ridge prior to this. He has a B.A. in English from University of Hartford, Conn., and B.A. and M.A. degrees in theology from American College Seminary in Louvain, Belgium, where he was a seminarian. He was involved in lay ministries from 1988 to 1998.
"My greatest influence in my priestly calling was a 30-day Jesuit retreat in Los Altos, Calif., in 1996 where I undertook the St. Ignatius of Loyola spiritual exercises," Father Bayer said. "This undertaking was instrumental in my journey to the priesthood that led me to the Denver archdiocese in 1998."
Parents Pat and Ernest Bayer, who came from Bristol for their son's ordination noted how proud they are of him and agreed that they saw his vocational leanings early on.
"Our son always has had a great love of humanity," Pat Bayer said.
Sandy Duprey, long-time neighbor and godparent to Ernest, Jr., accompanied the Bayers to witness his ordination.
"It is a highlight of my life!" she said.
Rev. Everett Hemann, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Center at Iowa State University in Ames said, "Based upon my work with Rev. Bayer, I can vouch for the fact that he will serve the archdiocese well because of his great love for Christ and the Church."
Rev. James H. Crisman III
Teacher, international traveler
Born in Evanston, Ill., Rev. James Harrington Crisman graduated from Keene (NH) High School. He most recently served as deacon at Christ the King Parish in Evergreen, with prior service as St. Therese Parish in Aurora and Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Estes Park. He has worked as an English teacher in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and taught math in at Columbia Middle School in Aurora. Right after college he was an actuarial assistant in New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree in math from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, received a master of education degree from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and acquired a master of divinity degree at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.
"The Lord offered to me the opportunity to consider the priesthood and so I did and found the peace and joy that I expect in life," Father Crisman said.
Parents Pat and Jim Crisman flew in from New Hampshire and were joined by long-time family friend, Joan Smith, from Indianapolis, Ind.
"Jim, who is our first-born son, and the middle of three, was about 10 or 11, when we saw our parental influence fading on our children and decided to put them more in the company of people who loved God," Pat Crisman said. "We also stepped up our prayers for wise college choices. Jim, who had once longed to be a star soccer player, ultimately gave up this dream for something better in his higher education selections."
Jim Crisman added: "Children are kind of like sponges. If you put them in good environments, that is what they will take on."
Smith gave the insight that she sees Rev. Crisman's joy for the priesthood "as drawing, like a magnet, other boys and men to religious life as well."
Rev. Robert L. Wedow
Denver native, Naval officer
Rev. Robert Leonard Wedow was born in Denver. He has three siblings and grew up in Littleton. He attended Damon Runyon Elementary School and Heritage High School. Musical expertise led him to be in the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and the Colorado Honor Band.
After high school, he enlisted in the Navy and then was selected for the United States Naval Academy, starting with the Prep School. At the USNA, he enjoyed a stint as Catholic Midshipman Club president. After several happy, distinguished years in the USNA, he resigned from there six years ago. During this time, he acquired a B.S. degree.
A stay at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, led to a bachelor of philosophy degree and an MDiv degree from there. He has served as a deacon in Holy Family Parish in Columbus, Ohio, and has had a long affiliation with St. Thomas More Parish in Englewood.
"My calling came in many ways and through God's people, the Eucharist, and prayer," Father Wedow said.
His father, Joe Wedow, shared his thoughts on parenting that helps inspire children to become productive adults, regardless of their callings: "Don't be unduly critical of your kids. Encourage them, and even in their wildest dreams, aim to support them not to lose heart."
Stepmother Jeanne spoke of the significant influences of Father Wedow's life, which included his dad's brother, the late Rev. Joe Lievens, who was at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, among others, and also a variety of Navy chaplains. Siblings Janice and John agreed with each other that they were not surprised when their brother finally chose the priesthood and wholeheartedly support his decision.