Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 30, 2002
World Day for Consecrated Life celebrated Feb. 2-3
"Be Seekers of the Lord," is the theme for the 2002 World Day for Consecrated Life, recognized the weekend of Feb. 2 and 3.
The celebration, which is called for by the Vatican, is an effort to highlight the role of the consecrated life in the Church.
"The contribution of institutes of consecrated life in the Church must be noted and held up for all to see," said Capuchin Bishop Sean P. O'Malley of Fall River, Mass., chair of the United States Bishop's Committee on Consecrated Life. "It's hard to imagine that there are many Catholics whose lives have not been touched in some way by the men and women who have publicly committed themselves entirely to God's service, be it in a public life of ministry or hidden life in a monastery. The weekend of Feb. 2-3 offers an opportunity to note the meaning of the consecrated life for the entire Church."
A Capuchin friar, a religious sister and a consecrated laywoman share their call to the consecrated life in this section of the Register. A column by Father John Toepfer, O.F.M. Cap., is on this page. A column by Sister Mary Ann Mulligan, C.S.J., and an interview with consecrated laywoman Edith Garcia of the Marian Community of Reconciliation begin on Page 16.
Priest took scenic route to become Capuchin friar
By Father John Toepfer, O.F.M. Cap.
I grew up in a part of Kansas that is wonderful, but a bit unusual. In the 1960s, Hays, Kan., had a population of about 14,000, about half of which was Catholic. Living in Hays and nearby Victoria were about 40 Capuchin Franciscans and even more Sisters of St. Agnes. The friars served parishes throughout northwest Kansas as well as a high school and a seminary; the sisters were involved in health care and education. Growing up in St. Joseph Parish, I thought all Catholic priests wore brown robes with white jump ropes around their waists. For me, being a priest meant being a Capuchin brother.
All through my childhood, beginning in the first grade, I wanted to serve the Lord and others as a Capuchin. As an altar boy, I got to know many of the friars and was always inspired by the depth of their preaching and their obvious closeness to the Lord and their joy in serving him. I wanted to be just like them.
When I was a junior in high school, Father Charles Polifka invited me to join the Priesthood-Brotherhood Program at Thomas More Prep, the Capuchins' high school. By the time I graduated, I was fired up and ready to give my life to Jesus.
The friars sent me to St. Fidelis College in Herman, Penn., where almost all of the friars received their college formation. I lasted less than two months. I missed my family terribly and finally became so depressed and homesick that I had to put my religious vocation on hold and return to my family.
I attended Fort Hays State University and then completed a degree in secondary education at the University of Kansas. During my senior year at KU, I visited a friend who was in the seminary. In my heart, I still wanted very badly to serve the Lord in a special way, but I wasn't sure that was what God wanted. When I explained this to my friend, he asked, "Don't you think that maybe it was God who gave you the desire to be a priest?" As I prayerfully considered his question, I recognized the gift of God's call in those deep desires to be of service to the Church. I believed I had failed at being a Capuchin, so I applied for the diocesan priesthood. I was accepted as a seminarian by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, prepared for five years at St. Meinrad Seminary in southern Indiana, and was ordained a priest on May 24, 1986.
I found great joy in the priesthood, but something kept pulling at my heartstrings. In the depth of my heart I believed that God wanted to ask something more of me. Finally, after four years of preaching the Gospel I decided to make a silent eight-day retreat and listen obediently to the Lord. On a hot, windy afternoon the third day of my retreat, I sat on the banks above a ravine at Sacred Heart Retreat House in Sedalia, Colo. Suddenly, there welled up from within me the question, "Lord, do you want me to be Capuchin?" In that moment, a huge brown bird shot up from the side of the canyon in front of me. As I began to consider that the answer to my question might be "Yes!" I experienced a deeper joy than I had ever known.
When I returned home to Topeka, I wrote a letter to the Capuchins, but didn't find the courage to mail it for over a year. I did, however, find a Capuchin to be my spiritual director, and prayerfully discerned with him my calling to religious life. At his suggestion, I made another eight-day silent retreat, this time at St. Conrad's, the Capuchin novitiate in Allison Park, Penn. This retreat was the most awesome retreat of my life. My joy and enthusiasm for being a Capuchin grew stronger and three days after returning home, I asked the archbishop's permission to apply to the Capuchins.
I've now been a friar for almost 10 years. I love my Capuchin brothers. Our commitment to follow Jesus as St. Francis did is something we challenge each other to do each day. We strive to serve the people of God in a spirit of contemplative prayer, fraternity and simplicity of life. We see the face of Christ in the poor, the immigrant, the rich and the stranger and struggle to preach the Gospel not only with our words but by the example of our life. With St. Francis and St. Clare, we try to discern the Lord's holy and true will and to call all people to recognize God's powerful presence in creation, as we serve him in holiness and oneness of heart.
Religious sister cherishes her life's work as a nun
By Sister Mary Ann Mulligan, C.S.J.
My eighth grade teacher, Sister Aloysius, was the sister of Patrick Hurley, one-time United States Secretary of the Navy. His photo was in our history book and she did not refer to it until we were studying World War I and there was his picture! She told us about their childhood in the Oklahoma land rush.
My sixth grade teacher, Sister Consuela, was a fanatic Chicago Cubs fan. Therefore, I had an early impression in my 12 years attending St. Francis de Sales schools here in Denver that the sisters who taught me had a great grasp of the bigger world, coming from different cities and teaching in many places. I found that very attractive.
I also took piano lessons in the convent and heard the happiness of the sisters via the laughter and friendliness beyond the door of the music room.
I didn't seem attracted yet to having a family of my own and didn't find these sisters suffering any loss that way. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet were the only sisters I knew well, so it was easy to decide, after high school, to travel to the novitiate in St. Louis and join them. My classmates were going off to World War II (it was 1942). Some were getting married. Making life choices before college was commonplace.
One thing that worried me before I entered was that some priest (priests were assigned by the Church to examine postulants for suitability) might question my motives, which I was afraid were suspect. I was interested in saving my soul — not really worried about anyone else's.
Life in the novitiate was just great. I lived with girls my age, from all over the Midwest, and learned about others' families.
We studied theology, Gregorian chant, the history and maxims of the congregation, how to cook for large numbers, how to use industrial laundry equipment, and so much else that would interest young people being introduced to a new lifestyle. Of course, particulars have changed over these 60 years, but I'd guess some of the fun I enjoyed would still be present for today's young women as they use fast-changing technology, study social justice and learn of global needs.
Over the years, as I became devoted to the young people I've taught, I became deeply interested in the welfare of their souls, so my early fear of poor motives quickly disappeared. And my penchant for travel, to see other states and cities, was amply satisfied.
Besides teaching, usually music, in St. Louis, I was assigned to Peoria, Ill.; Waco, Texas; and Kansas City, Mo. Later, when we were encouraged to seek ministry that fit our own desires and society's needs, I studied and taught in Boulder, and then in Atlanta.
About 15 years ago, when our province needed to seek financial help from former students and parents, I was asked to return to my hometown. Here in Denver I've met so many wonderful Catholics who have generously assisted our community in building up retirement funds. I studied the history of the CSJs in Colorado in order to help people know what we'd contributed over the years, which date back to Central City and Georgetown in 1877.
Life in a community of dynamic and prayerful women has meant the world to me. We've just elected a new leadership team of three sisters who will serve us in the province and the U.S. Church from 2002 to 2008. They'll be assisted by four part-time councillors, including Sister Rita Moriarty, C.S.J., from St. Francis de Sales here in Denver. I can promise you that the 25 of us CSJs ministering here love the people of God and cherish our work with you in the Archdiocese of Denver.
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