Nationwide tour of Heart of St. John Vianney comes to Gallup
“The Shrine of Ars, France, has entrusted to the Knights of Columbus the major relic of St. Jean Vianney’s incorrupt heart for a national tour in the U.S., from November 2018 through early June 2019. The Knights of Columbus welcomes this special opportunity to offer for veneration a major relic of the patron of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity is a model for clergy and laity alike.”
In Gallup, the relic will be present at the following dates and places:
St. John Vianney Church
3408 Zia Drive
Wednesday, May 08
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Sacred Heart Cathedral
415 E. Green
Wednesday, May 08
6:00pm – 8:00pm
New Priest Assignments
In the past two months His Excellency, Bishop James Wall, made several assignment changes for clergy. Please refer to the list published below for your information. We ask for your prayers for each of these ministers in their new roles!
Fr. Anthony Dike: In addition to his roll as Pastoral Administrator of Santo Niño Parish in Aragon, New Mexico, Fr. Anthony will also administer Sacred Heart Parish in Quemado, New Mexico. This includes Pastoral care in the Missions in in Reserve, Datil, San Isidro, Horse Springs and Glenwood.
Fr. Divine Ekebe: Fr. Devine has been assigned as Parochial Vicar in Santo Niño Parish in Aragon, New Mexico and Sacred Heart Parish in Quemado, New Mexico plus extended pastoral care of the missions in Reserve, Datil, San Isidro, Horse Springs and Glenwood.
Fr. Raymond Mahlmann: Fr. Raymond is assigned in residence at the Discernment House in Gallup. His duties will include providing Mass for the faithful at the local nursing homes.
Fr. Edwin Diesen: Fr. Edwin’s administrative care for Sacred Heart Parish in Quemado, New Mexico has been appreciated but he is now relieved of those responsibilities.
Fr. Cyprian Okere: Fr. Cyprian is appointed as Parochial Vicar in the Catholic Communities of Winslow, AZ.
Fr. Augustine George Opara: Fr. Augustine has been appointed as Parochial Vicar at St. Rita Parish in Show Low, AZ.
Rev. Mr. Carl Sadlier: Deacon Sadlier has announced his relocation to Tucson, Arizona to be closer to family. He is relieved of his duties of assisting in St. John the Baptist, St. Johns AZ and San Rafael, Concho AZ. His faithful service has been appreciated.
Obituary for Fr. Emeric Nordmeyer, OFM
“He came from long-lived people, and his memory will be long-lasting.
“Emeric Nordmeyer was born on April 12th, 1927 in Batesville, Indiana, where he was baptized William Frederick Nordmeyer. His parents were William Leonard Nordmeyer, who lived to age 84, and Elizabeth Reis, who lived to age 103. Emeric graduated from Batesville High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1945. After two years in the Navy, he decided to follow God’s call to the Franciscans and the priesthood, so he spent a summer studying latin and then a year in the “special class” at St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati, before entering the novitiate. From the novitiate, where he was given the religious name Emeric, he went on to study philosophy at Duns Scotus College in Detroit, Michigan and made his solemn vows as a friar there on the 16th of August 1951. Emeric studied theology in Oldenburg, Indiana and was ordained a priest there on the 8th of June, 1956.
“Upon ordination to the priesthood, Emeric began a lifetime of mission work in the Southwest. His first assignment was St. Joseph in San Fidel, followed by San Jose in Laguna, and St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, where he served the northern Pueblo missions of Tesuque, San Ildefonso and Santa Clara. Next he served at Jemez Pueblo and its missions, before returning to the northern Pueblo missions from the Cathedral in Santa Fe, followed by five years as the pastor at Jemez Pueblo. Emeric studied counseling at St. Joseph College in Hartford, CT, and was a valuable part of the Santa Fe Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal. In 1971, his brothers elected Emeric a member of the Provincial Council of St. John the Baptist Province representing friars in the Southwest until 1974. In 1992, he left the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to become pastor at St. Teresa parish in Grants in the Diocese of Gallup. In 2002, Emeric returned to Albuquerque to become the Administrator of Queen of Angels Indian Chapel. He continued there until his declining health brought about his retirement over ten years later when he was eighty five years old.
“Emeric made life-long friends in every assignment that he ever undertook, as evidenced by the parade of visitors who came to seek his counsel and enjoy his company on a very regular basis. In retirement, but never shy or retiring, Emeric was an active member of the community at San Juan Diego Friary. He continued to serve his brothers until the last few days of his life by making the copies of the daily newspaper puzzles to be solved with a great communal spirit at ‘breakfast recreation’. Emeric never missed checking the locks and the alarms on all the doors every night, and kept an eye on all the thermostats! And then, there were his jigsaw puzzles, which were always spread out like a feast to be shared with anyone who wanted to help assemble them as Emeric worked on them with tireless devotion.
“He died in the early afternoon on March 15th, after having received visitors all morning. He fell asleep so peacefully, as he often did, that it took a few minutes for his visitors to realize that this time, Emeric had fallen asleep into the arms of his Lord.
“Besides his parents, Emeric’s family included two brothers and two sisters. His brother and sisters John R. Nordmeyer, Virginia Graneto, and Elizabeth Nordmeyer have all died. Only his youngest brother, Don Nordmeyer, survives Emeric, and condolences may be extended through him to the family. Emeric lived long – the senior member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province for a number of years, and he lived faithfully as a friar and priest serving God’s people. His body was received at 9:30 am and his funeral celebrated at 10:30 am at Holy Family Church in Albuquerque on Thursday, March 21st, 2019, with burial following at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
“Eternal rest grant until him O Lord.”
– Jack Clark Robinson, O.F.M.
Obituary for Sister Ann Rozalia Szabo, OP
Sister Ann Rozalia Szabo, formerly known as Eleanora Szabo, died on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Ann Rozalia was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to Louis and Florence (Murphy) Szabo. She graduated from Tucumcari High School in Tucumcari and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from California State University in Hayward, California, and a Master of Religious Education degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Sister spent 36½ years ministering in elementary and music education in St. Clair, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Winslow and Kingman, Arizona; Oakland, Santa Cruz, Larkspur and Hayward, California; Albuquerque, Belen and Ramah, New Mexico; and Guayama, Puerto Rico. She also was a pastoral parish minister for 10 years in San Juan Pueblo and Ramah, New Mexico. Sister became a resident at the Dominican Life Center in 2011.
Sister Ann Rozalia was preceded in death by her parents and a twin sister, Rozalia Ann Szabo. Sister is survived by a sister, Frances Ann Shay of Tucumcari.
The Mass of Christian Burial was offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
Sister ministered in Arizona for three and New Mexico for 21 years:
St. Joseph, Winslow, AZ, (1961-1963) – Elementary/Music Teacher
St. Mary, Kingman, AZ, (1966-1967) – Elementary/Music Teacher
Our Lady of Fatima, Albuquerque, (1978-1980) – Elementary Teacher
St. Mary, Belen, (1980-1988) – Elementary Teacher
San Juan Parish, San Juan Pueblo, (1988-1992) – Liturgist/Pastoral Minister
Our Lady of Annunciation, Albuquerque, (1992-1993) – Elementary Teacher
San Lorenzo Mission, Ramah (1994-2000) – Pastoral Assistant
Ursuline Sisters Celebrate Anniversaries
Three Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (Maple Mount, KY) who served in the Diocese of Gallup are celebrating jubilees of religious profession this year.
Sister Marie Montgomery is celebrating 75 years in religious life. She taught at Sacred Heart School (1956-58, 1973-91) and Sacred Heart Catholic Academy (1993-94) in Farmington, as well as Sacred Heart Academy, Waterflow (1958-60). She also taught at Immaculate Conception School, Cuba (1997-98). She served as principal and teacher at St. Joseph School, San Fidel (1969-73) and returned as a teacher (1991-92). For two years, she was a parish minister for Sacred Heart Parish, Farmington (1994-96). She also served as parish minister for St. John the Evangelist Parish, Houck, Ariz. (1992-93). Altogether, she ministered in the Southwest for 40 years. Her final teaching position was at St. Francis of Assisi School, Gallup, N.M. (1998-2007). She is retired at the Motherhouse.
Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger is celebrating her 60th year as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph. A native of Glennonville, MO, Sister Cecelia Joseph taught at St. Joseph School in San Fidel from 1986-91, and was a teacher, librarian, and in charge of liturgical music at St. Anthony Zuni Indian Mission, Zuni, from 1991-95. She also ministered in the Santa Fe Archdiocese, in Kentucky and Missouri. She is currently a postmaster, quilter and coordinator of the Guest House and Bethany at the Motherhouse in Maple Mount, Ky.
Sister Clara Reid is celebrating her 60th year of religious life. A native of Holy Cross, KY, Sister Clara was principal at St. Teresa School in Grants from 1985-89. She served 34 years in Albuquerque, mostly as a teacher at St. Charles Borromeo School. She is retired at the Motherhouse, where she serves as an information receptionist.
Jubilarian congratulations may be sent to Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
The Friday news roundup presents a quick overview of Catholic stories and events from around the Diocese of Gallup, United States, and world. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email [email protected], call 505-863-4406 or mail us at PO Box 1338, Gallup NM 87305.