June 3, 2009

Cathedral volunteer retires after 45 years of service

By John Gleason

Parishioners of the Mother Church of the archdiocese gathered at two receptions May 31 to honor a beloved volunteer who is retiring after 45 years of service. Two events were necessary to enable all those who desired to a chance to express their gratitude.

Director of Religious Education Alice Nash, 88, was the honoree. 

Nash retired from her first job—or rather, her paid job—more than a quarter century ago.  For the last 45 years, Nash has been the head of the Religious Education Office at the cathedral.  On May 31, the final class of her students was confirmed at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. 

A native of Coffeyville, Kan., Nash came to Colorado to study liberal arts at the University of Denver.  Shortly after graduating, she went to work for R.L. Manning Company as a clerk and secretary.  While the work there was interesting, Nash said that religious education was what she had always been interested in so when the opportunity came along, she grabbed it.

“I did some religious education when I lived in Coffeyville,” she said. “I enjoyed it and wanted to continue.  So I went to cathedral to volunteer and (45) years later, here I am.”

Nash couldn’t begin to estimate the number of students she’s taught as director of religious education. But she does remember many faces and remains friends with a vast majority of the people she says it’s been a privilege to work with.

“I think of the bishops and priests I’ve had the chance to work with; it’s a treasure of memories,” she said.  “There are so many things I’ve got to do as a volunteer but I’d have to say that working on World Youth Day (1993) was the stand out.”

Nash said in the weeks leading up to Denver’s World Youth Day, she and everyone she worked with put in many hours answering telephones, providing information to pilgrims  and making sure that youth groups coming from out of the country knew where they had to go.  And of course, the highlight was the papal Mass at Cherry Creek Reservoir.

“I remember so many hundreds of thousands of people coming together to be part of that event,” she said.  “It was a wonderful memory.”

In a statement, Msgr. Thomas Fryar, V.G., cathedral pastor, said, “Major anniversaries are celebrated to show commitment, determination, love and fidelity. 

“This is true in many areas,” he said, “not just the marriage vows.”

Msgr. Fryar described Nash’s service as “loving” and “faithful” and called her an “outstanding” parishioner.

Nash has shared her faith, encouraged and led other catechists, and helped prepare thousands of youth for their sacraments, the pastor noted. 

“The parish, and the whole Church, is much richer and more blessed due to her years of Christian witness and service,” he said.

Nash said she’ll miss the people she’s worked with.

“The ones I taught and the ones who helped me teach,” she said.  “At the same time, 45 years is a long time.”

Even though she’s retiring, the cathedral will remain her parish home.  In the decades she’s been part of the religious education family, she’s witnessed a change in the parish.

“Families would move out of the parish,” she said.  “They’d move out of town and attend Mass somewhere else.  But something else happened.  People who live in the suburbs, those who know how special the Mother Church of the archdiocese is, will travel into Denver to attend Mass.  We have families who come from all over.  And that is a good thing.”