The Parish History for St. Mary's Cathedral of Cheyenne of rthe years 1970-1980

The parish history for St. Mary’s Cathedral of
Cheyenne for the years 1970 - 1980 follows:

1970: March 1--First annual Commitment Sunday was a huge success. September 6--Father O’Neill left for studies in Rome. Assistants were Fathers Thomas Fahey, John Wright, and Gerald Chleborad.

1971: February 28--Assistants were Fathers Thomas Fahey, Michael Carr, and Charles Hardy.

1972: August 30--Assistants were Fathers Thomas O’Flannigan, Michael Carr and Charles Hardy. September 25--Bishop Newell’s 25th Anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination celebrated in the Cathedral. Nov. 26--Rectory Fund established.

1973: April 24--Funeral Mass for Monsignor James A. Hartmann. June 24--New carpeting installed in the Cathedral.

1974: February 20--Investiture Ceremonies for Father O’Neill as Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, Pope Paul VI. April 9--Conferral of Ministry of Acolyte to Gary Ruzicka. August 18--Father Vincent Bauer assigned to St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish. November 10--Father John Hoodack, S.J. assigned to Cathedral Parish.

1975: February--Parish Renewal Program conducted by Dominican Evangelical Team. March 23--Inter-Faith Prayer Service held at the Cathedral. March 25--Ed Dolinar and Fred Wendel received the Ministries of Acolyte. Gary Ruzicka was ordained as Deacon. April 20--Father John Murray assigned to the Cathedral Parish. April 22--Regional N.C.C.B. Spring meeting. June 22--Vietnamese Refugees (12) arrived in Cheyenne. July 13--Deacon Gary Ruzicka assigned to the Cathedral Parish. September 21--”600 Fund” Campaign begins. October 17--Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome begins.

1976: April 6--Bids opened for the new Hartmann Hall and Ministration Center. June 13--Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Father Gary Ruzicka on his assignment to the Cathedral Parish. August 31--Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Joseph Hart.

1977: April 5--Ed Dolinar and Fred Wendell were ordained to the Deaconate. May 8--Deacon Ed Dolinar was assigned to the Cathedral Parish. May 22--Dedication of Hartmann Hall and Ministration Center.

1978: April 9--First edition of Cathedral Communique in the mail. May 25--Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving honoring the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell upon his retirement as 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. June 9--Deacon Fred Wendel and Deacon Ernest Floreen Ordained to the Priesthood. June 12--Bishop Hart installed as 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. June 15--Silver Jubilee Mass honoring Msgr. O’Neill on the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood. July 1--Work begins on replacement of the Cathedral roof. July 9--Father William Espenshade assigned to the Cathedral.

1980: February 10--”Operation Homecoming” begins. March 16--Vernon Clark ordained as a Deacon. June 1--Father Robert Siu assigned to the Cathedral Parish. June 11--Golden Jubilee of Bishop Newell’s Ordination to the Priesthood. October 3--Vernon Clark ordained to the Priesthood.

Back to INDEX		The parish history for St. Mary’s Cathedral of Cheyenne for the years 1970 - 1980 follows: 1970: March 1--First annual Commitment Sunday was a huge success. September 6--Father O’Neill left for studies in Rome. Assistants were Fathers Thomas Fahey, John Wright, and Gerald Chleborad. 1971: February 28--Assistants were Fathers Thomas Fahey, Michael Carr, and Charles Hardy. 1972: August 30--Assistants were Fathers Thomas O’Flannigan, Michael Carr and Charles Hardy. September 25--Bishop Newell’s 25th Anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination celebrated in the Cathedral. Nov. 26--Rectory Fund established. 1973: April 24--Funeral Mass for Monsignor James A. Hartmann. June 24--New carpeting installed in the Cathedral. 1974: February 20--Investiture Ceremonies for Father O’Neill as Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, Pope Paul VI. April 9--Conferral of Ministry of Acolyte to Gary Ruzicka. August 18--Father Vincent Bauer assigned to St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish. November 10--Father John Hoodack, S.J. assigned to Cathedral Parish. 1975: February--Parish Renewal Program conducted by Dominican Evangelical Team. March 23--Inter-Faith Prayer Service held at the Cathedral. March 25--Ed Dolinar and Fred Wendel received the Ministries of Acolyte. Gary Ruzicka was ordained as Deacon. April 20--Father John Murray assigned to the Cathedral Parish. April 22--Regional N.C.C.B. Spring meeting. June 22--Vietnamese Refugees (12) arrived in Cheyenne. July 13--Deacon Gary Ruzicka assigned to the Cathedral Parish. September 21--”600 Fund” Campaign begins. October 17--Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome begins. 1976: April 6--Bids opened for the new Hartmann Hall and Ministration Center. June 13--Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Father Gary Ruzicka on his assignment to the Cathedral Parish. August 31--Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Joseph Hart. 1977: April 5--Ed Dolinar and Fred Wendell were ordained to the Deaconate. May 8--Deacon Ed Dolinar was assigned to the Cathedral Parish. May 22--Dedication of Hartmann Hall and Ministration Center. 1978: April 9--First edition of Cathedral Communique in the mail. May 25--Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving honoring the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell upon his retirement as 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. June 9--Deacon Fred Wendel and Deacon Ernest Floreen Ordained to the Priesthood. June 12--Bishop Hart installed as 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. June 15--Silver Jubilee Mass honoring Msgr. O’Neill on the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood. July 1--Work begins on replacement of the Cathedral roof. July 9--Father William Espenshade assigned to the Cathedral. 1980: February 10--”Operation Homecoming” begins. March 16--Vernon Clark ordained as a Deacon. June 1--Father Robert Siu assigned to the Cathedral Parish. June 11--Golden Jubilee of Bishop Newell’s Ordination to the Priesthood. October 3--Vernon Clark ordained to the Priesthood. Back to Top