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Longtime Denver priest Father Robert Meznar dies on 77th birthday
By Julie Filby
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Father Robert Phillip Meznar, former pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Denver, died July 30, on his 77th birthday.
A native of Denver, Father Meznar was born July 30, 1934, to Joseph Paul and Mary Rose Meznar. He graduated from Annunciation elementary and high schools in Denver. In 1952 he entered Denver’s St. Thomas Seminary, where his older brother Father Joseph Meznar was also in formation. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1956 and a master’s degree in 1959.
Father Meznar was ordained at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver June 4, 1960, by Bishop Bernard Sullivan. He served at a number of parishes in the Denver Archdiocese as parochial vicar including Cure d’Ars Parish, Denver; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Denver; St. Bernadette Parish, Lakewood; Church of the Risen Christ, Denver; and St. Catherine of Siena, Denver.
When first appointed a pastor, it was to St. Peter the Apostle in Fleming, then to St. Peter Parish in Crook. He returned to Denver to serve as pastor at St. Catherine of Siena from 1990-2002. He also served as dean of the West Central Denver Deanery from 1999-2002. He retired from active ministry in 2003.
Father Patrick Kennedy, retired, was in seminary with Father Meznar. He said while the two had known each other for years, they really become close friends in the last seven to eight years.
“We belong to a poker group,” said Father Kennedy with a laugh. “He needed somebody to pick him up and take him home and I volunteered—and I got to know him pretty well that way.
“When you’re sitting in the car for half-hour, 45 minutes or so, you start talking about a lot of things,” he said.
Members of the weekly poker group—six other priests in the archdiocese—served as pall bearers at Father Meznar’s funeral Mass. He was active in the group until about six months ago.
“He had a better sense of humor than everybody thought he did,” said Father Kennedy. “He was such a quiet person, but the people playing poker with him learned a different man.”
Father Meznar’s dedication to the Church was clear in his 51 years of service as a priest.
“He was very devoted to the Church, very strong about the faith,” said Father Kennedy. “He loved the priesthood. I’m sure he never regretted becoming a priest for one minute. He enjoyed it, practiced it and lived it well.”
On the occasion of his 40th anniversary of the priesthood in 2000, Father Meznar told a crowd gathered for a banquet: “I wouldn’t trade my 40 years in the priesthood for anything. I have experienced so many instances of God’s love.”
A rosary was held for Father Meznar at St. Jude Parish in Lakewood on the evening of Aug. 7 and a funeral Mass was celebrated 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The main celebrant was Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap., and several brother priests concelebrated. His brother, Father Joseph Meznar, served as homilist. Burial took place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.
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