Welcome
to the Parish Newsletter Page!
We hope you enjoy reading about and viewing photos of recent activities at
St. Joan of Arc.
Feature writers and photographers include: Jean Birch, Jan Barowsky and Suzanne
Barowsky
Bowling for Turkeys:
On November 8, more than 90 parishioners showed up at Western Bowl for our
annual Bowling for Turkeys event. Participants each donated a turkey, which will
be used to provide meals for those in need over the holidays. Thanks to all who
organized and attended this event.
Click Here to View Bishop Conley's
Homily, October 4, 2009
An Evening in Ancient Greece Under the Stars
The annual ELC Auction and Dinner Dance on October 17, 2009 was a
great success! Those in attendance feasted on authentic Greek food and bid for
many fun and beautiful items during the silent auction.
This year's live auction
brought some spirited bidding, especially for the delicious cakes and dinners
with the Deacons (2 were won for a total of $2,200) and the Padre (2 were won
for a total of $14,000). Although final figures are not yet it, it looks like
Miss Diana and her little charges at the ELC should be able to put in brand new
windows!! Thanks to all who attended and bid to make it happen.
Staff Contribution to Auction
Elisabeth and Stephanie Create a Basket
Yummy Cakes to Bid On
Happy Hosts and Guests
Hosts Miss Diana
Phil Kroeker and Bud Hayes Deacons Buddy and Joe
Randy and Patti Gendill
and Bernie Murray
enjoying a chat
and wives Carolyn and Julie
Father Joseph Tells His Story
On
Monday, September 21, Deacon Buddy’s “Coffeehouse Classics” series presented St.
Joan of Arc Pastor Father Joseph Cao. Father Joseph delighted a supportive
audience of about 160 parishioners with his life story, including his family’s
dramatic escape from South Viet Nam in April, 1975 and his journey to the
priesthood. This was the best-attended Coffeehouse Classic ever!
The third of nine children, Father Joseph grew up on the coast of Viet Nam.
Father’s oldest brother died at the age of three, so Father never knew him. He
reports that he was selected as an altar boy for his village, which was a pretty
prestigious position. He got to spend the night in the rectory and rise early to
ring the church bells for Mass. He had fun “riding” on the bell rope as he
performed his duties as bell ringer. This time is when he first believed he
might be called to be a priest.
One night Father’s mother gathered together the family, which included 6
children, the youngest of whom was one month old. She told them they were going
to leave Viet Nam, since the Communists were about to take over. That night the
family slept next to his uncle’s fishing boat in which they would escape the
next morning, along with about 55 other people. Father Joseph’s dad, who was in
the army, and his grandfather stayed behind in Viet Nam.
Father Joseph and his parents.
Father saw and heard the bullets of South Vietnamese soldiers as they flew
overhead and landed in the water. His grandmother told everyone to put their
heads down, and they began praying the rosary. Everyone survived! The fishing
boat and its cargo of refugees were on the open sea for about 6 days, when they
ran out of water and food. Many of them were ill, and all were exhausted and
hungry. Finally, on the seventh day, they saw boats burning in the distance, and
eventually, were found by an American freighter. The boats were other refugee
boats that were burned so the Communists could not use them. Families were
scooped up in nets to the deck of the freighter, and Father’s mother told the
children to hold on to her very tightly so they would not get lost or fall
overboard. At the age of 10½ years, Father remembers that all the children clung
tightly to their mom, and all arrived safely aboard the freighter. Their first
meal on the freighter was oranges and instant rice, which he says tasted
delicious.
The freighter carried them to Guam, where they remained for several weeks, and
then they were flown to a refugee camp in Arkansas. While they were in Arkansas,
Father went to the bus station every evening at 6:30 when the busses carrying
refugees would arrive, looking for his father. He remembers this time as a very
anxious time in his life, since no one knew whether his father or grandfather
had made it out of Viet Nam, whether they had been lost at sea or if they would
ever see them again.
The family learned they would be sponsored by a family in Colorado, and arrived
in Aurora in December, 1975. It was not until 1976 that they heard from Father’s
dad and grandfather. The two men arrived from Malaysia, where they had escaped,
in July, 1976. Later the family moved to Denver, where Father’s dad worked as a
tailor and eventually retired from Homer Reed Limited. Father’s dad still makes
most of his clothing and vestments, and his grandmother, mom, dad and all his
brothers and sisters live nearby.
Father graduated from Lincoln High School and was accepted at the Colorado
School of Mines. He admits candidly that Mines was not for him, and he flunked
out his second year. After receiving a degree in electrical engineering from
Metro State, Father began to apply for work as an engineer in the area, but was
not even selected for an interview. At that time, he again heard the call to the
priesthood, and spent the summer with the Redemptorists in California. He
applied to be admitted to the Redemptorist seminary, but was again turned down.
By this time, Father returned home with what he describes as an almost-clinical
depression. He was so demoralized that he wanted to do nothing.
Eventually, Father heard about the Archdiocesan priesthood, and contacted
Monsignor Fryar, who was then the Director of Vocations in Denver. With Father
Fryar’s guidance, Father Joseph applied to and was almost immediately accepted
to the seminary. This journey was not without its problems, and Father Joseph
again began to doubt his vocation, but with Father Fryar’s encouragement, he
completed seminary, and graduated in 2000 with a Master’s in Theology. Also
during this time, Father attended the 1983 World Youth Day, and was re-energized
by the enthusiasm there and by Pope John Paul II’s presence.
Father Joseph remembers that his seminary class took an 11-week trip to the Holy
Land, where he saw many of the places we only read about in the Bible. It was
one of the most moving experiences of his life to see where Jesus walked. He
tells a wonderful story about how the seminarians, who were freezing cold, got
up at 3 a.m. to climb Mount Sinai. When they reached the top of Sinai, the sun
was beginning to rise. This is an event most of us can only dream about.
After his ordination on July 1, 2000, Father first served as parochial vicar at
St. Mary’s, Littleton. He was then at St. Louis Parish, Louisville for a year
before being transferred to St. Joan’s, where he hopes to remain Pastor for a
long time. We parishioners hope so too!
First Annual St. Joan of Arc Golf Tournament a Success
The St. Joan of Arc Charity Golf Tournament held on July 21was a great success,
with more than 214 golfers in attendance, a great lunch, and the generosity of
the sponsors and golfers raised much-needed funds for various worthy charities.
From all appearances, golfers, volunteers, and especially Father Joseph, had a
good time!
Steubenville of the Rockies Youth Conference
St. Joan of Arc Youth at Steubenville of the Rockies
Benediction
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
On Friday, July 17, fourteen youth from St. Joan of Arc Parish gathered to spend
the entire weekend at the Colorado Convention Center for the Steubenville of the
Rockies Youth Conference. Almost 48 hours, 2 sleep-deprived nights, 8 talks, 2
hours of Adoration and 2 Masses later, over 2,000 tens left the Colorado
Convention Center on fire for God!
Watching these 2,000 teens go from leaping out of their seats and singing praise
and worship songs at the top of their lungs to becoming so quiet and reverent as
the Blessed Sacrament processed through the auditorium that you could hear a pin
crop, was awe-inspiring. We were truly blessed to be a part of such an
incredible and inspirational event!
Vacation Bible School, July, 2009
During the week of July 13-17, more than 200 children enjoyed a trip
through the Wildwood Forest. There were games, crafts, skits, lots of
singing, and, of course, lessons about our Catholic Faith. Everyone had a good
time, especially Sister Margaret. Thanks to the great adult and teen volunteers
and to Sister and Anne Smith for making this such a good experience for our
little ones.
2009 March for Life, Washington, D.C.
Father Joseph and John and Pat McEahern were fortunate to attend this
year's March for Life Rally on January 22 in the nation's capital.
Along with 10 others from the Archdiocese of Denver, the St. Joan of Arc
contingent attended the Vigil Mass in the National Basilica, and marched on the
Supreme Court the following day.
The crowd on the mall and in the March is estimated at between 200,000 and
300,000. While the political climate in D.C. is definitely pro-abortion, it was
encouraging to see people of all faiths, colors and ages participating in the
March. We were grateful to march with many thousands of youth from all over the
country!
Marchers on the way to the Supreme Court
To read a personal account of the March by Father Joseph,
click here.
Archdiocese of Denver Group
Marchers-Supreme Court Other Faiths
Father Celebrates Mass for Us
Father at Basilica
Vigil Mass at the Basilica
Father at Chapel of Father
Joseph Walks on Water!
Our Lady of La Vang
