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Serran’s to honor Auxiliary Bishop Conley
By John Gleason
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Photo by James Baca/DCR |
With a love for the Church and vocations and for deepening the faith of young people, Denver’s Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley will be the honoree at the 2011 annual Serra Salute dinner, set for Sept. 30 at the Pinehurst Country Club.
The evening begins with registration and cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The program commences at 8 p.m.
Sponsored by the Serra Trust Fund for Vocations, the Serra Salute recognizes a priest, religious sister, religious brother or deacon for their exceptional contribution to the local Church.
The event is a fundraiser for the Serra Trust to provide financial assistance to men and women who are in formation or in discernment for the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, providing grants for medical and dental expenses, books, clerical clothing and other emergencies that might arise. Over the last year the trust has provided financial assistance to qualified individuals in the amount of $32,000.
Dolores de Aragon, co-chair of the Serra Salute, said that during the selection process, Bishop Conley’s name was continually at the forefront.
“In the short time he has served as our auxiliary bishop, Bishop Conley has become involved in so many things,” de Aragon said, “and he is passionate about vocations.”
With a heart particularly for pro-life, and youth and young adult ministry, he recently returned from leading a group of young adults on pilgrimage to Spain to walk a portion of the Camino de Santiago culminating with attending World Youth Day in Madrid.
A convert to Catholicism with a deep love for the priesthood, Bishop Conley is always available to foster vocations to the priesthood and to religious life. And his love for the Church is at the root of his keen desire to help the faithful understand the changes they will experience at Mass when the third edition of the Roman Missal is implemented this Advent. Bishop Conley wrote a three-part column series about the changes in the Denver Catholic Register earlier this year and has initiated a nine-week column series that will run in the Register starting next week.
Speakers and special guests for the Serra Salute may include Bishop Conley’s sister, Susan Atkins from Olathe, Kan.; Brigid DeMoor, youth program coordinator for ENDOW; and Msgr. Bernard Schmitz, vicar for clergy.
Msgr. Schmitz described Bishop Conley as a man of great faith and intellect with infectious joy and an acute ability to understand complex situations.
“He relishes each experience of life and finds within them the power of God’s love,” Msgr. Schmitz said. “It’s not surprising to me that Serra wanted to honor him for it’s clear he is in love with the Lord and with the Church. Who wouldn’t want to follow in his footsteps? I am sure he’s been the inspiration of many a young man to think about the priesthood.”
Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Conley was ordained by Archbishop Chaput as auxiliary bishop of Denver on May 30, 2008. A native of the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kan., he served as a priest for 23 years before his episcopal ordination, including 10 years of service to the Holy Father as an official in the Vatican Congregation for Bishops in Rome.
Tickets for the Serra Salute are $75 each. A sponsor’s table for 10 may be purchased for $1,200. For tickets call 303-756-8972 or 720-346-4046. Registration deadline: Sept. 23. The Pinehurst Country Club is located at 6255 W. Quincy Ave. in Denver.
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