Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 30, 2002
Jesuit superior general visits Denver's St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish
125th anniversary of Regis U, plan for new high school draws priest to archdiocese
By Jack Bacon
The vigor of the Society of Jesus in the Archdiocese of Denver drew the pleased approval of the order's superior general, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenkamp, during his visit to the city to join the observance of Regis University's 125th anniversary.
Father Kolvenkamp wound up his Denver visit by celebrating Mass at St. Ignatius Loyola Church Oct. 19 with Father Frank Reale, provincial of the Jesuits' St. Louis Province, and Jesuit Father Tom Jost, pastor. St. Ignatius Loyola now is the only Jesuit-administered parish in the archdiocese.
After Mass, Father Kolvenkamp blessed a portrait of his predecessor, the late Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., that will be displayed in the new Jesuit Arrupe High School scheduled to open in the Cathedral/Central High School complex next fall.
The superior general was the guest of a parish reception after the Mass, along with more than a dozen Denver Jesuits who attended.
"I'm very impressed by the work the Jesuits are doing," Father Kolvenkamp said, commenting on plans announced earlier that week for the innovative high school developed to provide an additional educational opportunity for inner-city students.
"It's very impressive that we can start new initiatives despite the diminishing numbers (of priests)," he said. "God also will be generous."
Father Kolvenkamp said vocations to the order are most encouraging in Asia, Africa and Latin America and that the vitality among young people in those areas "is changing the image of the whole Church."
"There's a lot of fever, a lot of courage" in those areas, he said, adding with a laugh, "I guess the vocations don't like low temperatures."
He said that lower numbers of vocations have to be weighed against the numerous other opportunities and organizations for service to the Church.
"There are so many movements where the Church is helped that attract vocations," he said. "The laity is taking its responsibility. The religious have lost the monopoly."
The superior general was in the United States for a 10-day pastoral visit that also took him to Cincinnati, Kansas City and Chicago, where he met with the U.S. Jesuit provincials. He returned to Rome Oct. 20.
He said the Vatican's widely publicized response to the U.S. bishops' decisions on dealing with child-abuse offenses was expected and welcome.
"It was a pastoral solution," he said, "seeking justice certainly for the victims but also for the accused.
"Never forget," he said, "this is the Church of Mary, of forgiveness."
"It's sad that the whole image of the Church is suffering for what only a very few have done," he said. "It's unfair, too, to criticize all because of only a very small minority" even though even the few "are too many."
In his homily at Mass, Father Kolvenkamp dwelt on the importance of suffering as an expression of love, as witnessed by the Jesuit martyrs in pre-colonial North America.
"The cross symbolizes the sanctification of suffering," he said. "The Lord embraces it lovingly. It is the love of God for us."
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