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Swansea church marks 60th anniversary
By Julie Filby
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Photo by James Baca/DCR |
Our Lady of Grace Church has been a parish home for Catholics in northeast Denver’s Swansea neighborhood for 60 years. Since 1951, it has been known for serving the community with a generous and cooperative spirit.
“The parish today is becoming one family even though there are different cultures and languages,” said pastor Father Noé Carreón, who heads the parish of 350 members that celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish.
“This parish serves a community of new immigrants,” he added.
Cecelia Arevalo, 63, has belonged to Our Lady of Grace, located at 2645 E. 48th Ave., since she was 3 years old and attended Mass with her parents.
“It’s a good parish,” she said. “There’s a lot of love here … it’s like family.”
In an interview with the Denver Catholic Register, Arevalo was quick to reel off names of several of those parish family members, throughout the years, as she reflected on memories of catechism class as a child; her 1964 wedding to husband Francisco, a retired deacon; and baptizing and raising their children and many of their grandchildren there.
“As you grow up you see some people are still here; some have moved away,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ve gone to other parishes … but they just weren’t Our Lady of Grace.”
The parish community observed its anniversary Sept. 3 with Mass concelebrated by Msgr. Bernard Schmitz, liaison for clergy for the Denver Archdiocese; Father Carreón and parochial vicar Father Félix Zermeño-Martín. Following the Mass, some 200 guests gathered for lunch and a festival.
In preparing for the anniversary the parish completed several projects including renovating the priest living quarters, staff offices and sacristy—and procuring a new altar made of granite.
“I love the granite, it’s beautiful,” said Arevalo.
She explained that the granite was purchased, then a group of parishioners volunteered their skill and labor to transform it into an altar.
“People donated their time,” she said, specifying that many days they arrived at 6 p.m. following a full day’s work and stayed as late as 2 a.m. “They worked hard and gave up time with their families.”
Working together is a quality that has prevailed there through the years.
“It’s people working together that makes a parish what it is,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard, but you’ve got to keep going and keep the Spirit in it.”
Our Lady of Grace Church was built in 1951 when founding pastor Father James F. Moynihan, then assistant pastor at Annunciation, saw a need for a Catholic church in the neighborhood. While awaiting completion of the church at East 48th Avenue and Josephine Street, he began celebrating Mass at Johnson Recreation Center. Father Moynihan, pastor for some 35 years, helped the parish quickly retire its debt through banquets, bingo and bazaars.
In 1966, the parish initiated a 10,000-square-foot addition that doubled the seating capacity to 540. The remodeled church, including updated landscaping and parking lots, was dedicated March 9, 1967.
Father Moynihan served as pastor until illness forced his retirement in December 1986. At that time, Father Patrick Kennedy was named pastor.
“Father Kennedy was very giving,” said Arevalo, “very generous helping the needy with clothes, food and things like gas money.”
Following Father Kennedy’s retirement in 2003 after 50 years of priestly service to the archdiocese, Father Carreón was named pastor in June 2004.
“He’s very good at what he does, very knowledgeable,” she said. “He’s done a lot of work in the parish.”
In addition to church renovations, Father Carreón started a St. Vincent de Paul Society and food bank to help people in need.
Arevalo considers Our Lady of Grace her second home, and hopes to see its spirit carry on.
“We’ve always been a humble parish,” she said, “very giving, very open.”
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