"The work of the wicked will perish; the work of the godly will flourish. Before every man there likes a wide and pleasant road that seems right but ends in death."
-- Proverbs 14:11-12

A Vision, A Dream, A Reality
Brief History of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish
by Kitty Kolody

In 25 years St. Thomas More Center, named after a layman-saint popularized in a movie “A Man for All Seasons,” became a showcase of a modern twentieth century Catholic community. This dynamic center of today began as Mission South East. It would not have been possible without the vision of its first pastor, the Reverend Frederick D. McCallin.

In November 1970, Father McCallin and a group of people, aware of the demographics of the area, met on a weekly basis to discuss the needs of the people in the new area. Before a crucifix attached to a basketball hoop and a covered table serving as altar, Father McCallin celebrated the first Mass with 12 families in the gymnasium of the Walnut Hills Elementary School on the weekend of February 13, 1971.

A parish census taken in May 1971 revealed 590 Catholic families with the need and ability to support a new parish. The proposal was taken to Archbishop Casey who approved the establishment of a new parish in June 1971. Instead of calling the new community a “parish,” the people decided to call it a “center,” because it was to be more than just a church. It was to be the center of their lives, of their neighborhood, a center for all people to meet God and one another

Construction on the new rectory started immediately. By February 1972, through the tireless efforts of Ted Gerhardy and John Petrinsky, the parish acquired 40 acres of land as a building site for the parish center. On Feb. 24, 1974 Father McCallin broke ground for the St. Thomas More Center, and on Dec. 8 celebrated the first Mass in the newly completed 300 seat chapel. By this time the parish community had grown to 1000 families. Two weeks later the parish opened its restaurant, the Padre. The idea of a restaurant by the church was so unique that the news of its existence reverberated throughout the country. Father McCallin, however, saw it as a natural way to evangelize people. “You had to bring them together before you could evangelize them,” he said. He often cited examples of how people gathered around Jesus at feasts and how He fed the multitudes. He also pointed out that Christ’s public life began at a wedding feast in Cana, and ended with the Last Supper with his apostles. He recalled that in earlier times the priest visited the families on pastoral visits. Since our modern complicated life rendered these visits difficult to accomplish, the priests could meet the people in the Padre.

The parish community continued to grow, and in January 1982 construction on the church adjacent to the original center began. On June 21, 1983, the Mass of Dedication was said.
New programs were added: tennis courts, softball, soccer and football fields, were put in place to meet the needs of the ever growing community. Father McCallin’s last building project before his retirement in 1988 was the Youth Center.

Second Pastor: The Rev. Michael A. Walsh

Father Michael Walsh succeeded Father McCallin in 1988

Father Michael Walsh succeeded Father McCallin in June 1988 as pastor of St. Thomas More. The Center passed into the hands of a very experienced and capable priest who not only was able to carry on the vision of its founding pastor, but also brought innovative ideas of his own. Under Father Walsh’s leadership, the Center which reached out to the local community at large, now reaches out to the global community.

The parish played a major role in hosting 2,300 French youth who came to Denver for World Youth Day in 1993. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Father Walsh recognized the need to help the emerging Catholic Church and its people who suffered persecution for 70 years under Communism. Father Walsh initiated the First International Conference to Assist the Catholic Church in the republics of the former Soviet Union. First of its kind in the United States, the Conference which was held in Colorado Springs, brought to Colorado a cardinal and three bishops from the former Soviet republics who told of their hardships of rebuilding Christ’s Church. What initially began as aid to Russia, QAMA (Queen of the Apostles Mission Association) now has expanded its aid now to Ukraine and Slovakia where it continues to send medical equipment to hospitals, and rebuild churches and seminaries.

The thrust of Father Walsh’s pastoral work has been evangelization –– evangelization, not just abroad but at home. Because of the tremendous growth of the parish, large numbers of students in religious education were scattered in the homes of various catechists due to the shortage of room in the church facility. Although Archbishop Stafford approved the construction of a facility next to the church, residents in the vicinity objected. After many hearings and numerous meetings with County Commissioners to overcome the objections of the neighbors, permission was granted. Archbishop J. Francis Stafford dedicated the Evangelization Center on June 24, 1994. Today the Center houses not only 2 sections of grades K-8, but all of religious education classes. In addition to 500 students who attend school, 1800 students from public schools are in religious education classes and 150 students in Mother’s Day Out program take advantage of the Center facility.

Father Walsh also added the Holy Hour and the Perpetual Adoration in the Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament to the already prayerful parish. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger from France consecrated the Oratory while staying at St. Thomas More during World Youth Day. The Oratory enhances the prayer life of a parish in a special way, and its fruits of are visible.

There has been an increase in vocations to the religious life and missionary work. Presently there are 4,876 families, made up of about 19,500 individual parishioners registered. Thousands of volunteers serve on the 94 ministries in the parish. The vitality of parish life is evident not only in its social activities but also in its devotional life. Over 200 people attend Mass daily, and 10,000 on Sunday.

Third Pastor: Rev. Andrew Kemberling

Father Andrew Kemberling came to St. Thomas More June 2000

To read more about Father Andrew read our Pastor's Profile.