For those who may be wondering what happened to Father Jude Geilenkirchen, 76, since his retirement from active ministry in 2009, he is happily serving at St. Clare of Assisi in Edwards and St. Mary in Eagle, according to pastor Msgr. Robert Kinkel.
“Out of the generosity of his heart, he has volunteered to help in the parish because there was no one available who was bilingual to serve these parishes,” Msgr. Kinkel explained, after parochial vicar, Father Jose Aniabal Chicas-Guevara, was called to the Holy Land last February.
“The staff and the parishioners are so very happy to have Father Jude back among us,” he added. “Pray for him and for us.”
Father Geilenkirchen, a priest of the Denver Archdiocese for 41 years, served at St. Clare’s from 2002-2009, in addition to many other parish assignments during his tenure, as well as missionary work in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. Prior to his return to ministry in Eagle County, the parishioners were ministered by visiting priests for several weeks.
“(Father Jude) said it was not good for the people to have to see a different priest every week,” Msgr. Kinkel explained. “So he said that he would come every weekend to help out.”
That expanded into Father Geilenkirchen staying during the week as well, a request approved by Archbishop Samuel Aquila. Father Geilenkirchen is expected to continue to serve full-time until next spring.
