Father Paul Wicker, who served as pastor of Holy Apostles Parish in Colorado Springs for more than 35 years, died May 31 at age 83.
Public visitation will be held on June 5 from 1-5 p.m. at Shrine of Remembrance, America the Beautiful Chapel, and on June 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Holy Apostles, with a rosary and vigil service at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place June 7 at 11 a.m. at Holy Apostles, with a reception afterwards in the parish hall. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Shrine of Remembrance. The funeral Mass will also be livestreamed at holyapostlescc.org.
Paul Francis Wicker was born Oct. 21, 1937 in Wichita, Kansas, to Paul and Cleo Wicker. The family later moved from Wichita to Parsons, Kansas. From 1952-1956, he attended St. Francis Preparatory Seminary in Victoria, Kansas, which was run by the Capuchin Franciscan order. After he finished high school, the family moved to Denver, where he began his seminary studies at St. Thomas Seminary. From 1960-64, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver on Dec. 18, 1963 at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Father Wicker returned to Denver in 1964 and served as assistant pastor at St. John Parish until 1969. From 1969-1973, he served as assistant pastor and pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Denver. He served as pastor of All Saints Parish in Denver from 1973-1981.
In 1981, then-auxiliary Bishop Richard Hanifen asked Father Wicker to move to Colorado Springs and become pastor of Holy Apostles Parish. As pastor, he oversaw the planning and construction of the current parish church, which was dedicated on Sept. 20, 1987.
In 1994, Father Wicker established Catholic Outreach to Northern Ukraine, a ministry dedicated to helping the Catholic Church in Ukraine rebuild after decades of Communist oppression.
Father Wicker is survived by a brother, Deacon Byron Wicker and his wife Madeleine; nephews Paul and Joseph Wicker; niece Mary Wicker; and three grand-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Catholic Outreach to Northern Ukraine, online at conuhome.org or by mail to 10936 Klondike Dr., Peyton, 80831.
