May 13, 2009

Seven priests celebrate silver anniversaries; one marks 40 years

By Denver Catholic Register

Last month, during the April 7 chrism Mass, several priests were honored for achieving milestone anniversaries this year. One is celebrating 40 years in the priesthood and seven others are marking their 25th anniversary. 

40 years

Father Richard Ryan, C.M.
Known to many priests for his service at St. Thomas Theological Seminary where he ministered as registrar, director of admissions, spiritual director and professor of canon law, Father Richard Ryan, a Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian) priest, is originally from Chicago.  He was ordained on May 24, 1969, and has served the Church in many canonical offices, including at the Holy See as an official at the Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary.  Father Ryan spent many years in ministry at the Carrie Carron Center Coffee House program, in ministry to the hearing impaired and developmentally disabled, and to Charismatic Renewal.  Today, he remains active at Risen Christ Parish where he serves the elderly and as an advocate for parishioners involved in matrimonial cases.

25 years

Father Joseph Blanco
A Colorado native, Father Joseph Blanco was born in Glenwood Springs and was ordained on June 2, 1984.  After serving as assistant pastor at the parishes of St. Joan of Arc in Arvada, St. John the Baptist in Longmont and St. Mark in Westminster his years as pastor have been dedicated to parishes of Colorado’s Eastern Plains: St. Anthony in Sterling, Sacred Heart in Roggen and St. John the Evangelist in Yuma.  Father Blanco is currently pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Akron.

Father Lawrence Christensen C.M.
A native of Chicago, Congregation of the Mission Father Lawrence Christensen was ordained on Jan. 7, 1984, after which he served in various administrative ministries on behalf of the Vincentian fathers as registrar of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, Ill., and as provincial secretary of the order’s Midwest Province in St. Louis, Mo.  After arriving to Denver, Father Christensen served as director of admissions for St. Thomas Theological Seminary as well as assistant pastor at Christ the King Church in Denver and St. John the Baptist Church in Longmont.  He is currently administrator at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins. 

Father Francis Gerber
Born in Oklahoma City, Okla., Father Francis Gerber attended St. Thomas Theological Seminary in Denver and was ordained on June 2, 1984.  His first assignments included serving as assistant pastor at the parishes of St. Bernadette in Lakewood, St. Thomas More in Centennial, St. Therese in Aurora, St. Louis in Louisville and St. John the Evangelist in Loveland.  As pastor, he served St. Anne Parish in Grand Lake and its missions of Our Lady of the Snow in Granby and St. Bernard of Mountjoux in Winter Park.  Father Gerber is currently retired.

Father Simon Kalonga
Father Simon Kalonga is one of two priests from the Diocese of Mbujimayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Ordained on June 30, 1984, he served in his native diocese as teacher at St. Thomas Minor Seminary as well as pastor of St. Marc in Cilenge and later St. Kizito in Mbujimayi.  Known in the Archdiocese of Denver for his ministry at St. Louis Parish in Englewood as assistant pastor, Father Kalonga is currently administrator for Cure d’Ars Parish in Denver.

Father Felicien Mbala
Father Felicien Mbala was ordained on June 30, 1984, with his compatriot Father Simon Kalonga in Mbujimayi of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Father Mbala was a professor at St. Thomas Minor Seminary in Mbujimayi and served as director of the Institute Ditekemena.  He was parochial vicar at St. Francois in Kamwanga, parochial vicar and later pastor at St. Berchmans in Cilundu, and assistant pastor at St. Guidon and Holy Spirit parishes in Brussels, Belgium.  Father Mbala is currently parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist in Loveland.

Father Reuben Payo
Born in Pittsburg, Calif., Father Reuben Payo was ordained on June 2, 1984.  His assignments as assistant pastor were in the parishes of Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood, Queen of Peace in Aurora, All Souls in Englewood and St. Stephen in Glenwood Springs.  Father Payo has served as pastor at the parishes of St. Vincent in Basalt, St. Mary of the Crown in Carbondale, Our Lady of the Pines in Conifer and its mission St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Buffalo Creek.  Today, he is pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul in Wheat Ridge.

Father Donald Willette
A native of South Dakota, Father Donald Willette was ordained on June 2, 1984.  As assistant pastor, he served at the parishes of St. Thomas More in Centennial and St. Jude in Lakewood.  He has served as pastor at the parishes of St. Theresa in Frederick, St. Louis in Louisville and Spirit of Peace in Longmont. He is currently pastor of Blessed John XXIII University parish in Fort Collins.