Fall 2024 Denver Province Snapshots
Ordination, Professions & Jubilarians:
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF PROFESSION: Rev. Albert Castellino, Rev. Donald MacKinnon, Br. Robert Ruffing; CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF PROFESSION: Rev. Thomas Danielsen, Br. Clement Furno, Rev. Joseph Morin; CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF PROFESSION: Br. Andrew Patin; CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PROFESSION: Rev. Daniel Andree, Rev. Leonard Broniak, Rev. Richard Luberti, Rev. Stephen Rehrauer, Rev. John Vargas; CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF PROFESSION, Br. Laurence Luján Angel, Rev. Marcel Okwara.
In Remembrance:
Fr. John Vargas, CSsR: Fr. John Vargas, who made significant contributions to the worldwide Congregation, died at the age of 76 on October 4, 2024 in Baton Rouge. He spent the majority of his 42 years of ministry in Rome, initially directing development efforts for the Alphonsian Academy and serving as Assistant General Econome before he assumed responsibility for all of the Congregation’s dealings with the Vatican as Procurator General, a position he held for more than a decade.
John Charles Vargas was born to José and Maria Vargas in El Paso, TX on May 23, 1948. In preparation for entering the family’s funeral home business, he earned a BA in Mortuary Sciences at Commonwealth College of Science in Houston, TX in 1971. Only two years into his new career, he was compelled to answer the call to the priesthood. He enrolled at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI and earned a BA in Philosophy in 1975. After completing novitiate in Oconomowoc, he professed temporary vows on July 28, 1974. He proceeded to Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY, where he excelled in Deaf ministry and was known as a warm and generous classmate – a real joy in community. Classmates remember that when asked to present a “how to” demonstration, John chose to explain the embalming process, using now Cardinal Joseph Tobin as the corpse.
He graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s in Religious Education in 1977 and professed perpetual vows on August 29, 1977. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Sidney Matthew Metzger, STD, JCD of the Diocese of El Paso at St. Ignatius Church on June 24, 1978. After graduating summa cum laude with a Master’s in Divinity from Mount St. Alphonsus in 1979, the newly ordained priest joined the faculty and was named assistant director of Holy Redeemer Seminary/Holy Redeemer Mission Center in Lacombe, LA. Within a year, he was appointed director of the facility and superior of the local community. By 1984, he was also serving as director of the New Orleans Vice Province Financial Development Office. He relocated to the Vice Provincial residence in New Orleans in 1986, and assumed additional responsibilities as treasurer of the Vice Province and superior of the local community in 1987.
Despite his heavy workload, Fr. John pursued an MSA in Business Administration from the University Ministry at St. Gerard Majella Parish in Baton Rouge, he suffered a debilitating stroke and was admitted to Ollie Steele Burden Manor, a skilled nursing facility. Redemptorist confreres and friends remembered his years of gracious hospitality and continued to visit him until the time of his death.
Fr. Richard “Dick” Quinn, CSsR: A beloved Redemptorist missionary who served in parish ministry throughout the Denver Province, died on July 29 while receiving hospice care at the St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Barnhart. A man of integrity, he was deeply committed to serving the People of God with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm for more than five decades.
Richard Maurice Quinn was born to Richard and Josephine (Moriarty) Quinn on March 9, 1937 in Kansas City. After graduating from Redemptorist Grade School, he entered the Redemptorist formation program at St. Joseph Preparatory College in Kirkwood, MO. A natural leader, he was a disciplined and conscientious student known for his quick wit and sense of humor. He proceeded to novitiate at Mount St. Clement’s in DeSoto, MO and professed temporary vows on August 2, 1957. He completed theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc and professed perpetual vows on September 2, 1960. He was ordained to the priesthood by Auxiliary Bishop Roman R. Atkielski, D.D. of Milwaukee on December 27, 1962.
Fr. Dick served in parish ministry throughout the Denver Province, and was often appointed superior of the local community. Fr. Dick was assigned at Holy Name Parish in Omaha from 1964 until 1969, followed by an appointment at St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis from 1969 until 1971. He was appointed superior of the local community and pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids from 1971 until 1975, when he was appointed pastor and superior of the local community at Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit, a large, multicultural parish.
He also served as chaplain of the Detroit Police Department, a special calling to which he was drawn during his ministry. During this time, he attended a three-month academic renewal at North American College in Rome. His travels overseas included eight days in the Holy Land, followed by visits to eleven other countries. Fr. Dick returned to St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis in 1978 and served there until 1981, when he was appointed pastor and superior of the local community at St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids, where he served for six years. After 23 years in parish ministry, he was assigned to promote Liguorian Magazine at Liguori Mission House in Liguori. He was a lifelong reader of the publication, but after only six months – and one week before his 50th birthday, the age limit restriction – he was able to fulfill his desire to serve as a military chaplain. After completing an eleven-week chaplain school at Fort Monmouth, NJ, he became Chaplain Captain Richard M. Quinn, C.Ss.R. in 1988.
Fr. Dick returned to Holy Name Parish in Omaha in 1999 as pastor and superior of the local community. He also served as chaplain of the Omaha Police Department until 2002, when he was appointed pastor and superior of the local community at Sacred Heart Parish in Seattle. After three years, he returned to St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids as pastor and superior of the local community. He remained occupied with priestly concerns and pastoral interests until health issues necessitated his move to the St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in 2018.
Fr. Dick was a valued member of the community and died peacefully while Sr. Pat and his confreres prayed the rosary at his bedside. “Dick was a Vir Probus—an Upright Man!” Fr. Tom Danielsen said of his classmate. “Honest, straightforward, and deeply committed to the values he took from the Sacred Scriptures and his years of formation as a Redemptorist priest, Dick served the People of God—whether as a parish priest or an Army chaplain—with a dedication and energy that would be difficult for anyone to match. —Submitted by Kristine Stremel, with contributions from Fr. Tom Danielsen
Fostering Hope
Fostering Hope Special thanks to Fr. Joe Maier for sharing a new video of life at the HDF Mercy Centre in the Klong Toey slum of Bangkok, Thailand. Produced by photographer Simon Grome, the video showcases snapshots of Fr. Joe’s 57 years of ministry serving the most poor and abandoned. As he approaches his 85th birthday on October 31, Fr. Joe says there is no closure: “The beauty of the slums is reborn every morning. And we’re so lucky that we are a part of that.” See the video here.
And More!
Sister Skho continues Prayer Apostolate in South Africa: Sr. Alphonsina Mary (Skho), from the former Redemptoristine convent at Liguori, continues her prayer apostolate at her assisted living residence near Cape Town, South Africa. The Redemptorists have a monastery nearby and visit Sister weekly. They continue to rely on her powerful prayers for the South African Province. Two novices from South Africa and one from Mozambique recently visited Sr. Skho to ask for her prayers for their profession. Fr. Larry Kauffman, South African Provincial, accompanied the novices on their visit. —Submitted by Sr. Ann Marie, O.Ss.R.
A Good Word on What’s App: As part of his Ignite ministry, Fr. Michael Thien Hoang, C.Ss.R., created a young adult offering that he’s inviting young adults to partake in during the season of Advent. “A Good Word” is a Redemptorist offering meant to provide a hopeful, uplifting, comforting message, and a way to make this Season of Advent sacred for all young adults through daily audio reflections on the Scriptures. They are three-minute homilies sent in a WhatsApp community; no phone numbers will be visible, and no notifications will be sent aside from the reflection itself. Reflections are given by Redemptorist priests, seminarians, and lay ministers working in various places in the U.S. Since it’s on the WhatsApp platform, participants are encouraged to forward the audio reflections to their friends! If you would like to offer this to the young adults in your parish, those to whom you minister or encounter, please feel free. After all, we all share the same mission! Click the QR code to join the community.
Congratulations to Bishop Brehl: Redemptorists, family and friends from throughout the world were pleased to participate in the episcopal ordination of Bishop Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R. as the tenth Bishop of Pembroke at St. Columbkille Cathedral on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Congratulations to Sr. Máire Bríd O’Driscoll, O.Ss.R., who made her Solemn Profession in the presence of her community, family and friends at the Redemptoristine monastery in Drumcondra, Dublin on August 17. Please pray for her as she embraces a contemplative life of prayer with the Redemptoristines in Ireland, including members of the former Redemptoristine community in Liguori.
Walk with My People: Fr. Mike McAndrew’s new book, Walk with My People: A Life in Migration Ministry, is both a memoir and a passionate discussion of pastoral service to migrants desiring a loving relationship with God and the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike has served for more than 30 years in Redemptorist Hispanic ministry initiatives, youth ministry, bilingual parish missions, and farmworker ministry. He served as director of Campesino Ministry in Fresno, CA from 2009 to 2013, and was part of the preparation team for the Redemptorist mission in Matamoros, Mexico. Fr. Mike authored Migrant Faith (Education and Leadership Press) in 2013. He currently serves as an associate with the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network. Inspired by several popes, Fr. Mike brings to life the realities of migrants in the United States and their pastoral needs. With decades of migrant ministry experience among Hispanics, he offers firsthand insight and poignant commentary on how to approach ministering to God’s people on the periphery. You can get a copy of the book from Liguori Publications here.
Seelos Healing Mass: A large group of people devoted to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos gathered at St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in New Orleans for the Seelos Healing Mass earlier this month. Provincial Vicar Aaron Meszaros presided at the English Mass, and Fr. Tat Thang Hoang presided at the Vietnamese Mass. Fr. Chung Tran, pastor; Fr. Andy Thompson, associate pastor; and Fr. Tim Watson, chaplain of the Seelos Shrine concelebrated the Masses and assisted with anointing the faithful.
Coming to the Promised Land: The Coming to the Promised Land National Convention, held every six years, serves as a pivotal gathering for all leaders in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM) to renew their commitment to their vocation. This year the seventh event, themed “Though many, are one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12), took place from August 9 to August 12 at Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, FL. This year’s Coming to the Promised Land National Convention 7 boasted the participation of several bishops, around 50 priests, 40 deacons, and numerous religious brothers and sisters, alongside more than 1,100 VEYM leaders representing 120 groups across the United States. For more information, please also see the August 30 Scala News article about the Convention.
Missionary on the Move: Fr. Tim Watson has bid goodbye to the St. Gerard community in Baton Rouge, and to all of those he has served in ministry for the past five years. A gentle and kind confrere dedicated to serving the poor, he spent many hours hearing confessions, visiting the sick of the parish community, and helping out with the parish food bank. Although he primarily served the Hispanic community, he made himself available whenever and wherever he could be of assistance. Fr. Tim has been assigned to the St. Alphonsus community in New Orleans, where he will greet and assist pilgrims at the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.
Snapshots gives a special thanks to Kristine Stremel and Denver Link.
