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From Old West to new evangelization: 
Archdiocese of Denver celebrates 125 years

By Julie Filby

This week marks the 124th anniversary of the Denver Archdiocese.

In its relatively brief history, the archdiocese has navigated trials such as the violent Old West, the Great Depression, harassment by the Ku Klux Klan, multiple wars, social unrest and secularism. All the while, trusting the Lord to provide the resources and leadership needed to continue building the Church.

“I’ve never doubted the fact that the Holy Spirit was at work in the leadership the archdiocese received—for the times, what the people needed, and the situations that were a part of their lives,” said Msgr. Thomas S. Fryar, moderator of the curia and vicar general since 2004. “The right people were there at the right time.”

Founding a community
Established Aug. 16, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII, the Denver Diocese covered the entire state of Colorado; an area of 104,000 square miles and home to 50,000 Catholics.

It has since been elevated to an archdiocese (Nov. 15, 1941) and the state divided into three jurisdictions: the Pueblo Diocese in 1941 and Colorado Springs in 1984. The archdiocese remains a large geographic area encompassing 40,000 square miles and 25 counties in northern Colorado.

“To get from one end to the other, it’s about nine hours,” said Msgr. Fryar. “But becoming an archdiocese and making it ‘territorially’ a little more accessible was a major thing.”

The territory today—stretching to Kansas, Wyoming and well into the Western Slope—consists of 550,000 Catholics, 134 parishes and mission churches, 319 priests, 272 religious sisters, and more than 30,000 students in Catholic schools.

“(Denver) isn’t as large as some of the dioceses, and not as small as some, (but) it’s got a live faith,” he said. “The young, middle-aged and elderly populations are all very much a part of what the Church is about here.”

The flock and its shepherds
An archdiocese is often known for taking on the personality of its parishioners and its bishops, and Denver is no exception.

“(The archdiocese) has grown tremendously with transplants,” said Msgr. Fryar referring to the migration to Colorado from other states and countries. “As a result, part of our personality is that we’re not steeped in age-old traditions … and that allows for a little more openness to the possibilities of living out the faith.”

Each of the seven bishops who have served, have left their mark on the Church in Colorado.

Colorado’s pioneer bishop Joseph Projectus Machebeuf arrived in Denver in 1860 from the Diocese of Santa Fe. Known for accomplishing “so much with so little,” he produced 102 churches, nine academies, a college, an orphanage and 10 hospitals.

He acquired property all over the state, as did his successor Bishop Nicholas C. Matz, who despite financial difficulties was known as “The Builder Bishop.” His legacy included building Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, more than 50 parishes, 17 schools and Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge; plus opening Denver’s St. Thomas Seminary in 1908.

In 1917 John Henry Tihen was named bishop and served for a period that included World War I, the start of the Great Depression, an influenza epidemic that killed an estimated 7,700 Coloradans in 1918-1919, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.

“I think history has overshadowed him a bit,” said Karyl Klein, archdiocesan archivist. “He had a lot of issues to face.”

Some 35,000 Coloradans joined the Klan in the 1920s and considered the diocese’s 126,000 Catholics “public enemy number one.” Despite this, Bishop Tihen raised $600,000 to expand the one-building seminary into a multi-building complex.

“Fundraising wasn’t easy,” said Klein, “especially when the Klan was in power.”

In 1941 when the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, Archbishop Urban J. Vehr steered the faithful through the Great Depression, World War II and a post war population boom.

“A big milestone came after World War II when the GIs came back and were starting families,” Msgr. Fryar said of Vehr’s 36-year tenure when the number of Catholics tripled to 275,000 and nearly 200 churches and schools were built. “Churches boomed and schools were popping up all over.”

There was social unrest and regular protests in Denver, and much of the country, when Archbishop James V. Casey arrived in 1967.

Archbishop Casey established several archdiocesan offices to better serve the faithful and spearheaded efforts to elevate laity to more instrumental roles in the Church.

One of the most significant events in archdiocesan history occurred in 1993 when more than half a million people descended on Denver for World Youth Day hosted by then-Archbishop J. Francis Stafford.

“The effect of seeing people come from around the world in those numbers … renewed the awareness of the value, preciousness and importance of not taking (our faith) for granted,” said Msgr. Fryar, “but living it as fully as we can and passing it on.”

Renewal continued under the leadership of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

In 1999, building on the efforts of his predecessor, Archbishop Chaput founded St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, former home of St. Thomas Seminary.

During the 2010-2011 academic year, 127 men studied at St. John Vianney, including seminarians at neighboring Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary. The seminaries are forming priests eager to advance the new evangelization.

“There is a rejuvenation of the energy and the zeal of not only living our faith,” said Msgr. Fryar, “but bringing that faith to bear on the world that we’re a part of.”
   
Looking to the future
With the departure of Archbishop Chaput in September 2011 to serve as Archbishop of Philadelphia, the faithful of northern Colorado look to the future.

“I feel a sense of excitement and anticipation,” said Msgr. Fryar. “We’re coming up on a major milestone as we prepare to welcome a new shepherd.”

As throughout the last 124 years, he remains confident the Lord will provide the leadership needed to continue building the Church, especially as the archdiocese anticipates its 125th anniversary next year.

“I’m joyously looking forward to seeing what the Spirit has in store for us.”