The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-07-30
CITY OF DENVER.
New Church Laws Promulgated at
Recent Diocesan Synod.

have become rather loose. The syno
was held at the close of the diocesa
retreat and was Of an important char
acter Fifty-siX priests from all part
of the state who had attended the re
treat were present at the conclave
which was presided over by the Rlgh
Reverend Bishop.
The meeting opened with a prayer t.
the Holy Ghost that light would b.
given the ministers of the gospel gath
cred there that they might be guided
in the making of their laws. The scene
was an impressive one. Bishop Mat
first congratulated the priests on Tho
success OF the retreat and expressed
the belief that il would prove especial
~ fruitful.
The most important work accom-
plished by the synod is the creating OF
what is termed 'irremovable pastor
ates." The incumbents of the ire
movable pastorates' cannot be removed
without their having committed can
onical offense The appointment to one
Of the new offices is regarded as a re
ward of merit and it carries with il
special privileges. The pastor may not
he sent to another charge and during
his lifetime he is guaranteed pulpit.
Another privilege extended to the rec
tor of am irremayable parish is that he
shall have a voice in the appointment
OF a bishop or a coadjutOr bishop but
jim this diocese st happens that the three
men chosen are also electors.
The three priests honored by the
vote of the synod in being made ire
movable pastors are the Right Rev.
Monsignor Robinson, V. c., pastor Of
the Church of the AnnunCiatiOn at Den
Yer: the Rev. J. j. Gibbons, who is in
charge of the Church of the Annuncia-
ton at Leadville, and Rev. G. Raber,
pastor of St. Mary's church at Colorado
Springs. All three priests have labored
long in the diocese, some Of them an
tedating the conservation of Bishop
Matz. All have been successful in
handling the spiritual and financial af-
fairs of their parish. and their choice
is considered a popular one.
Numerous qualifications are neceS-
sary to the eligibility for an irremov-
able pastorate. The church itself must
be practically out of debt; there must
be a parochial school in connection,
and the priest must have been pastor
for a given length of time. All of these
qualifications are possessed by the
priests chosen, and they are considered
eminently fitted for the place.
The law by which the pastorateS are
thus created, provides that at the
death of an irremovable rector, his
place is to be filed by competitive eX-
animation. to which all Of the priests
are eligible. If the other qualifications
are equal the award is made to the
one reaching the highest average. In
the competitive test are included the
Ology, church government and subjects
Of like nature.
Monsignor Robinson, to whom fell
the honor of being the first one select
ed. has been actively engaged in par
ochial and mission work in the diocese
of Denver since the pioneer days. He
was a companion of the late Bishop
Joseph p. Machebeuf in the work in the
mountain towns while yet Denver was
a small settlement on the banks Of
Cherry creek. His labors were always
interchangeable and led to his selection
TO the rank of monsignor year ago !
last December. His parish, the Church T.
of the Annunciation in East Denver, is /
in a prosperous condition and the school |
is the most largely attended parochial |
institution in the entire diocese. Al /
most 500 children are enrolled. The /
church itself is free from debt and |
there is a handsome sum on hand for |
the erection Of a new building upon /
which work has just been begun.
No less important a factor in the dio-
cesar history has been the Rev J. J. /
Gibbons of Leadville, one of the most
thoroughly Catholic towns in the entire
state carrying with it the care of noun
tain missions which necessitate miles
of travel weekly over all sorts of roads.
In the work Father Gibbons has been
eminently successful and has won
place in the hearts of the inhabitants i
of the mining camps in the vicinity of
the CLOUD City" Two years ago his
church, handsome structure which he
erected in the past few years, was con-
secrated. The parish enjoys the dis
tinction of possessing one of the two
church buildings in the state which,
being free from all incumbrance, has
been consecrated by Bishop Matz. The
other is the Church of st. Elizabeth at
Denver. Father Gibbons was formerly
pastor of the Church Of st. Francis de
Sales in South Denver. and while there
made hundreds OF friends who have
since watched with interest his steady
advance i'm the religious world.
The third candidate, Father Raber of
Colorado Springs, is one of the best
-heologians and most jealous pastors
n the diocese. His experience has been
broad and he has brought the Church
1f St. Mary up to its present high
standing. For years he was in charge
IF the church at Cripple Creek and his
work there was showered with en-
,omiums by the Right Reverend Bish-
,p.
Another rule of Importance set down
By the snyod governs the matter of
zcddinBs, wherein pastors of outside
PARISHES are called. Years ago an or
Ter went forth that people shall be
married by their own pastor unless,
Nith the express permission Of that
lastor, an outside priest be called. OF
ate years the regulation has been |
0osely observed frequently hard feel
ng has resulted, and in order to avoid |
his sort Of trouble the rule will be |
ven more stringent. In future a writ
en- consent bearing the signature of
he pastor shall be necessary before the
ceremony can be performed at all, and |
or violation OF this obligation on the
)art of the outside pastor a penalty is
provided. Where the prospective bride
md groom reside in different parishes
md an outside pastor is called, con-
ent from the pastors Of the respective
hurches is necessary. The rule states
hat heretofore this regulation has been | ]
honored more in the breach than in |
he observance" and that pastors are :
equired to watch it closely.
Still another regulation in which the {
lublic generally is interested is the one
governing the soliciting of aims by
OF religious orders. Business
nen complain frequently of being called
pon every few days for donations, and
he rule means greater protection and ;
ess annoyance to them. Monks and
uns collecting for the support of relig-
Gus or charitable institutions viii be !
equired to show a letter of authorize
ion from the bishop before being al
owed to solicit. Aside from the consent
f the bishop, the permission of the !
astor within whose territory they are
ollecting viii be required. In this way. ;
n investigation into the worthiness of
charity may be made before the do
ations are asked. 1t is expected that
his will considerably curtail the so
letting Of aims.