Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 13, 2001
Capuchins select new provincial
Popular speaker to serve three-year term
Capuchin-Franciscan friars from Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri elected Father Michael Scully, O.F.M. Cap., to a three-year term as their new provincial minister during a provincial chapter held at Victoria, Kan., during Easter week.
Father Scully succeeds Father David Gottschalk, who has been provincial minister since 1995, as well as Archbishop Charles Chaput, who held the office from 1983 till his appointment as bishop in 1988.
Formerly the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Hays, Kan., and three nearby mission parishes, Father Scully, is well known as a popular speaker at state and national youth conventions. From 1995 until 2000 he was also president of Thomas More Prep-Marian, a Catholic college prep school in Hays.
Born in Lima, Ohio, in 1939, and raised in Nitro, W.Va., Father Scully studied in Capuchin schools in Herman, Pa., and Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest in 1965. He holds master's degrees in religious education and mathematics, as well as a secondary administrator's certificate.
His assignments have also included teaching at Thomas More Prep-Marian for more than 17 years, and serving as pastor in Victoria and Lawrence in Kansas and as provincial vocational director.
Since 1971 he has served as senior counselor and consultant for the Student Council Workshop of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and has conducted countless teen retreats and recollection days as well as teen talks to parents and adult education courses. His presentation "Rock Music and Leadership" has been given to over 25,000 young people.
Weekly for two decades, Father Scully has also developed and personally produced several radio programs devoted to bringing the Gospel message to bear on contemporary rock and country music.
He has also written two extensive series of popular teaching aids designed to help religious education teachers integrate the use of current songs and films in their curriculum. The booklets are published by Hi-Time Publishers of Chicago.
The Capuchin chapter elected four additional friars to assist Scully in running the province as provincial councilors: Father Gene Emrisek, pastor of Annunciation parish, Denver; Father Frank Grinko, pastor of St. Fidelis Church, Victoria, Kan.; Father Charles Polifka, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Lawrence, Kan.; and Brother Mark Schenk, assistant provincial secretary-treasurer, Denver. Father Scully himself served as a councilor from 1980-86 and again since 1995.
Besides the tri-state provincial area, Mid-America Capuchins are active in Minnesota and Puerto Rico, Mexico, Italy, and Papua New Guinea.
In the Denver area, where they have their provincial headquarters at 3553 Wyandot St., Capuchins minister at Annunciation Church, Denver; Queen of Peace Church, Aurora; Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Northglenn; Cabrini Shrine, Golden; Samaritan House, St. John Vianney Seminary, Our Lady of Light Monastery and the archdiocesan jail, reconciliation, and migrant ministries.
For more information, visit online at www.midamcaps.org.
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