Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 31 , 2001
Noted historian to speak at benefit luncheon
Writer Tom Noel to present history of Colorado Catholicism
By Alwen Bledsoe
Tom Noel, noted historian, author or co-author of 26 books, history professor at the University of Colorado at Denver and columnist for the Rocky Mountain News, will address attendees of the Archdiocesan Housing Luncheon Nov. 15 on the history of Colorado Catholicism.
Author of a book by the same name, Noel knew, interviewed, and admired Sister Mary Lucy Downey, the first executive director of Archdiocesan Housing, who will feature largely into what he called a "short, light-hearted" talk accompanied by a slide show.
"It's better to leave them wanting more than to go too long," he said with a laugh, later adding that he generally tries to create a "light-hearted" spin on history.
"Especially in these kind of heavy, heavy times with Sept. 11 and all, I try to make it interesting not only to scholars and devout Catholics, but also to the general public."
Sister Downey, said Noel, left a legacy in the Archdiocesan Housing Committee, Inc., which provides housing for low-income families and seniors.
Those homes came about, he said, because "Sister Downey had the patience to deal with HUD — the federal agency — and all the neighboring groups that were opposed to it, and she was just saintly about it."
Noel said he will also tell the stories of many of the forgotten nuns who started and ran hospitals, schools and orphanages.
"A lot of times we don't even know their names," he said. "I'm going to try to play up their roles."
Noel said he was compelled to accept the invitation to speak at the luncheon because of the declining supply of affordable housing in Colorado.
Denise Ludwig, fundraising coordinator for Archdiocesan Housing, said the luncheon will serve mostly to raise awareness of the organization's work in Colorado and of the affordable housing crisis in Colorado.
The organization runs apartment complexes for low-income families and seniors in Denver and in Colorado mountain-areas, she said. Currently they have over 1,000 homes at 17 different sites and are looking at various sites in Denver and throughout the mountains to begin expanding, she added. The complexes house seniors and families regardless of race or creed, she said. Waiting lists for the apartments typically range from a couple of months to a year for seniors, and a year to two years for families, she said.
On top of providing housing, Ludwig adds, part of the organization's mission is to "maintain the personal dignity and self-respect" of those they serve. Funds set aside for "dignity issues" address "quality of life issues" including providing funds for shopping trips and arts and cultural events, providing children with school supplies, furnishing senior complexes with computers and beauty shops and providing programs of spiritual value to tenants.
Noel was chosen as a speaker because of his expertise in the area of Colorado Catholicism and because of his reputation as a speaker, said Ludwig.
"When I tell people Tom Noel is going to be speaking," she said, "they always say, `Oh, he's such a great speaker. `"
Noel published "Colorado Catholicism," which the Archdiocese of Denver commissioned him to write, in 1989. The book has since gone out of print, but can be found online at http://www.archden.org/noel. Writing the book, he said, revitalized his faith.
Prior to writing the book, "I was not the most devout Catholic," he said, adding that he attended church generally only at Christmas and Easter.
He especially enjoyed visiting Vietnamese and African-American congregations. Of Cure d'Ars' Mass, Noel said, "It's hard to fall asleep there."
He added that seeing "how much (the Church) means to the poor and the elderly" impacted him.
He now attends St. James, Denver.
The Colorado native has always been interested in history, he said. Departing a moment from his upbeat banter peppered with strange and amusing stories right out of our state's own history, Noel said that he finds comfort in history's repetition.
"You know, to me, it's real consoling that nothing is new," he said, later adding, "There are parallels that I would like to think will help us through the current crisis."
The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton at Cherry Creek, 600 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver. Tickets are $25. Call Denise Ludwig at 303-830-0215, Ext. 304, for more information.
Noel leads several historical tours, teaches community classes, and will soon be holding book-signings for his new book "Colorado Almanac: Facts About Colorado." For more information, visit his website at http://coloradowebsites.com/dr-colorado.
Contact Us
