Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 20, 2001
Capuchins announce new appointments
Hispanic ministry friar to be Annunciation pastor
Father John Toepfer, parochial vicar of Hispanic ministry at Queen of Peace parish in Aurora will become pastor of Annunciation Church in Denver on July 5, a spokesman said.
Father Toepfer will replace Father Gene Emrisek, who has been pastor at Annunciation since 1993. He will be assisted by Father Cyrus Gallagher, parochial vicar there since 1998.
Father John Lager, provincial coordinator of development and missionary activities for the Capuchins since 1984, will begin serving also as executive director of Samaritan House in January of 2002.
These assignments are part of a province-wide personnel shift announced June 11 by Father Michael Scully, recently-elected provincial minister of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. These and other Capuchin appointments affecting the Church in Denver have been confirmed by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Father Lager will take charge of Samaritan House from Father Ed Judy, who has led the shelter's operations since 1990. Father Judy is presently on medical sabbatical. He is being treated for brain cancer.
Father Michael Suchnicki, who served as associate director of Samaritan House from 1993 till 1995 and as chaplain from then till 1997, will return to the shelter as chaplain on July 5.
Brother Mark Schenk, who has served for 10 years at the Capuchin Order's international headquarters in Rome is the new local superior at St. Francis Friary and assistant secretary and treasurer of the Capuchin province. Father David Songy, staff member at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, will succeed Father Emrisek as local superior on Aug. 1.
Father Emrisek and three other friars who have lived at Fraternidad San Antonio (near Annunciation Parish) and Father Gilmary Tallman, once pastor of St. Elizabeth's Church in downtown Denver, will become part of a team being sent later this summer to open a new downtown ministry in Colorado Springs. The three Denver priests are Father Greg Beyer, associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Northglenn; Father Matthew Gross, former associate pastor at Our Lady of Peace, Aurora, and Father Curtis Carlson of the archdiocesan jail ministry.
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