September 29, 2010

Serrans honor Sister Panisko, Father Lally

By John Gleason

Some 320 guests attended this year’s Serra Salute to honor a priest and a religious sister for their ministry.

At the Pinehurst Country Club in Littleton Sept. 24, family and friends gathered to recognize Father Martin Lally, pastor of Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora, and Sister Jean Panisko, S.C.L., past principal at Annunciation School and currently treasurer for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.

Master of ceremonies Father Patrick Dolan, pastor of Most Precious Blood in Denver, opened the event by saying the two honorees embody what’s best in those who do God’s will.

“Both of these people have bloomed wherever they were planted,” he said, “and have made the best of whatever was given to them.”
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., praised the two, thanking them for their vocations and acknowledging their families for giving their children to the Church.

The Serra Salute annually honors a clergyman and/or religious sister for their work promoting vocations.  The dinner is a benefit for the Serra Trust Fund for Vocations, which fosters and promotes religious vocations through financial assistance to those in formation so that such vocations will not be discouraged due to financial hardship.

A native of Montana, Sister Panisko entered religious life after graduating high school. She earned degrees in elementary education and administration. After a brief teaching stint in Chicago, Sister Panisko moved to Colorado (Grand Junction) where she taught first grade. Relocating to Denver in 1981, she took over as principal at Annunciation, a position she held until this year.

Father Lally is a native of Denver. He attended Holy Family High School and the University of Northern Colorado before attending St. Thomas Seminary.  Ordained in 1978, his first assignment was as assistant pastor first at Presentation of Our Lady Parish then at St. Catherine of Siena parishes in Denver.

As pastor, Father Lally has served at Cure d’Ars, Denver; Holy Cross, Thornton; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Northglenn and his current assignment at Queen of Peace in Aurora.  He also served as dean of the North Denver Deanery and chairman of the Presbyteral Council.

Friends of the honorees gave testimonials about the lives of the two.  Sister Panisko was described as a woman of deep prayer by friend and colleague Sister Elizabeth Youngs, S.C.L.

“Sister Jean has that St. Vincent de Paul quality about her,” she said. “Children flock to her; she befriends and nurtures them.  She’s one who believes that everyone should be afforded the opportunity to be included.”

As has become the custom for priests honored by the Serra Club, Father Lally was praised and roasted by brother priests who attended seminary with him. Msgr. Thomas Fryar, vicar general, told stories about the less then legible handwriting Father Lally is famous for while Father Bert Chilson drew laughs from the audience by calling him “outdoorsy and rugged.”

“But when it comes to the work God wants him to do,” Father Chilson said, “no one is more rugged then Father Marty.  He’s never backed down from anything he’s been called to do.”