June 2, 2010

Four local priests to retire this year

By John Gleason

This year, four priests of the Denver Archdiocese are retiring.  The Denver Catholic Register spoke with them recently and all said that although they will soon be retired from active ministry, they plan to continue helping out at parishes.

Father Joseph Blanco
Father Joseph Blanco said that his becoming a priest turned out to be his second career.  Following graduation from high school in 1968 he worked a variety of jobs, mostly in construction, until he followed God’s call to the priesthood.  Ordained in 1984, he served as assistant pastor at St. Joan of Arc in Arvada, St. John the Baptist in Longmont and St. Mark in Westminster.  He spent much of his career on the high plains as pastor of St. Anthony in Sterling and later at Sacred Heart in Roggen, Holy Family in Keenesburg and Our Lady of Lourdes in Wiggins. For the past nine years, Father Blanco has been pastor at St. Joseph in Akron.  Father Blanco’s retirement will become official on June 11 when he plans to move to Wheat Ridge. Although he is ready to begin a new chapter in his life, he said it will be difficult to say goodbye to his parish family.
“I’ve been a priest at parishes on the Eastern Plains for almost 20 years and all I can say is that you feel very close to God out here,” he said. “The people and the communities are wonderful. I’m going to miss them very much.”

Msgr. David Croak
Msgr. David Croak’s last day as pastor of Shrine of St. Anne in Arvada is June 11. With a chuckle he noted that, in his experience, many retired priests don’t seem to have a lot of time on their hands.
“I hope to help out at some parish—whatever they need,” he said. “But, otherwise, I have no plans.”
Ordained in 1966 in Denver, Msgr. Croak served at Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver and St. Joan of Arc in Arvada as assistant pastor.  He served as pastor at Holy Name in Steamboat Springs, St. Francis de Sales in Denver, St. Therese in Aurora and, finally, at St. Anne in Arvada where he’s been since 2001.  He was dean of both the Southeast and Aurora deaneries and served as vice chancellor for the Archdiocese of Denver.  In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him Chaplain to His Holiness.
Msgr. Croak said there is much he’ll miss about being a parish priest, but the parishioners are what he will miss the most.
“Being part of a parish community is like nothing else,” he said.  “There is so much activity, so much going on.  I’ll really miss my staff; they’re just great.”

Msgr. Leo Horrigan
For the last 21 years, Msgr. Leo Horrigan has been pastor at Notre Dame Parish in Denver.  On June 11 he will retire. His main objective with that, he said with a smile, will be “to keep busy.”  He said he’ll miss the supportive and diversified community that has been his home for the last two decades.
Ordained in Rome in 1966, Msgr. Horrigan held assignments as assistant pastor at several parishes, including Holy Family in Denver, Divine Redeemer in Colorado Springs, St. Philomena in Denver and St. John in Denver.  He was assigned as pastor to St. Philomena and Blessed Sacrament in Denver and,  in 1989,  was appointed pastor at Norte Dame. He also served as vicar for priests and vice chancellor for the archdiocese.
In speaking about the changes he’s seen during his time as a priest, Msgr. Horrigan praised the laity for the way they’ve taken such an active role in parish matters.
 “It’s a joy to see people take over parish responsibilities and do their share of guiding the Church,” he said, “everything from parish council to the many different ministries.  They have a stronger sense of ownership of the Church than ever before.”

Father Jan Mucha
Before Father Jan Mucha arrived at St. Joseph Polish Church in Denver, where he eventually was named pastor and has served for 40 years, he worked as a missionary in his native Poland. 
Ordained in 1954 in the southern Polish city of Tarnow, he taught Latin at Sacred Heart House in Mszana Dolna, Poland, and served as assistant pastor at St. Teresa in Lublin, Poland, before taking on missionary work.  When he came to the United States, Father Mucha was assigned to St. Joseph.  To say he’ll miss the parish is an understatement.
“When I came the parish was in danger of being closed,” he said.  “There was a small number of people who came here for Mass.”
Currently, the parish boasts 150 families—more than 400 people—including some who travel great distances to be part of this community.
It’s a positive note on which to retire, which Father Mucha plans to do in the next few months.
“Today we have many people, many youth. Our church has three choirs,” he said.  “It’s a wonderful community, one I will miss very much.