Most Reverend David L. Ricken
Bishop of Cheyenne

About the speaker. . . 

Father Ricken attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Grade School in Dodge City, Kansas and St. Francis Seminary High School in Victoria, Kansas where he graduated in 1970. He began his college studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio (1970-72) and graduated from Conception Seminary College, Conception, Missouri in 1974 with a B.A. in Philosophy. His theological studies for the Diocese of Pueblo were taken at St. Meinrad School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana (1976-77) and the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium (1977-80) where he received his S.T.B./M.A. degree and where he attended the American College for seminary formation. 

David Ricken was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Pueblo, Arthur N. Tafoya, on September 12, 1980 at La Junta Catholic Parish in southeast Colorado and was named the Associate Pastor to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo where he served from 1980 to 1985. In the spring of 1985 he was named Administrator of Holy Rosary Parish in Pueblo as well as Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese, positions in which he served from 1985 to 1987. 

In 1987 Bishop Tafoya assigned Father Ricken to graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received his Licentiate degree (J.C.L.) in Canon Law in 1989. Following studies, he returned to the Diocese of Pueblo as Vocation Director and Vicar for Ministry Formation and was additionally named Chancellor of the Diocese in 1992. Father Ricken was also appointed to assist in the Diocesan Tribunal. He served in these positions until October 1, 1996 when he was nominated to be an official of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican where he served through December of 1999. 

On January 6, 2000 David L. Ricken was ordained
 to the episcopacy for the Diocese of Cheyenne at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. The Mass of Welcome to the Diocese of Cheyenne took place on February 11, 2000 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. On September 26, 2001, upon the retirement of Most Reverend Joseph Hart, Most Reverend David L. Ricken succeeded as the Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. 

Bishop Ricken is now or has been a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop’s Committee, the Committee on Catechesis and serves on the editorial oversight board for the National Directory of Catechesis. He is  President of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (2001). He was elected to the Episcopal Board of Governors of the Pontifical North American College in 2001 and became the Board's Secretary in November 2001. 

In 2004, he become a board member of the Home Missions Committee. He is currently on the board of trustees for the Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute in Denver. He is a member of the Bishop’s Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Bishop David Ricken addresses rural life issues at
Catholic Foundation Dinner

 by Gail Yerbic

Published in The Chronicle of Catholic Life - October 6, 2004 Issue

GRAND JUNCTION - Catholic Foundation supporters gathered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church to hear Most Reverend David Ricken, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Cheyenne, speak at the second annual Western Slope Catholic Foundation dinner on September 10.

Invited by Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya, Bishop Ricken spoke about problems faced by rural communities.  As president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC), he has gained an insider's viewpoint.  "The biggest challenge facing rural diocese today is immigration and out-migration.  Populations are shifting all over the country."

Significant numbers of rural Catholics in the Diocese of Pueblo are impacted by many of the same difficulties faced by rural Catholics all over the nation.

People are migrating to the United States to accept hard to fill agricultural and food production jobs.  Furthermore, city dwellers are moving to the country to join fewer people in a cleaner environment.  The impact is diverse and real.

Church presence is important because of the many needs generated by this demographic shift.  Among them is the need for cultural integration and emotional and spiritual support.  Tough drought years may cause family stress.  In the absence of church resources - priests, churches, social justice organizations, hospitals and schools - the NCRLC finds ways to help.

In the Diocese of Cheyenne, Bishop Ricken has asked the local Catholic Charities Field Office to have field agents throughout the state reach out to families needing help - counseling, financial, etc.  He understands that strong family farms help communities and families thrive, but are threatened by the growing number of corporate or factory farms.

According to Bishop Ricken, NCRLC's whole purpose is to teach by word and example, "to see God's gifts as a loan to us for our use."  Originally formed 81 years ago by Father Edwin O'Hara, NCRLC continues to promote a spiritual approach to sustainable development and sound environmental policies in the wake of technological advances.  Their influence reaches across the United States and across the borders.

NCRLC injects Catholic social teaching into educational structures in colleges and relates principles to farming and rural life.  They offer training to community developers and organizers to help growth occur in a socially friendly way.

They work with rural families at risk of selling out, reminding them of how valuable their lifestyle is to our culture - value gained only from families living and working together in communion with the land.

With intercession prayers to Patron and Patroness saints of farming and ranching, St. Isador and St. Maria, the NCRLC raises up their mission to better family life, the land, farms and crop fertility. 

For more information on the NCRLC you can visit their website at www.ncrlc.com.

Catholic Foundation support encompasses large area

By Gail Yerbic
Published in The Chronicle of Catholic Life
October 6, 2004 Issue

GRAND JUNCTION - On September 10, 2004, travelers from places such as Pueblo, Capulin, Cortez, Durango, Hotchkiss, Montrose and Telluride visited Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction for the second annual Western Slope Dinner.  Board members Carol Murphy, Stella Shanks, Jack Duray and former board member Joe Prinster helped organize the event, filling the room with nearly 200 people. 

The Catholic Foundation raises funds to support needs in the diocese that exceed parish or diocesan resources.  Bishop Tafoya said, "The Catholic Foundation is trying to provide for the needs of today and tomorrow.  We're all about strengthening our faith, our love for our people."

Bishop Tafoya also celebrated an anniversary that evening, 24 years as bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo.  To top it off, two days following his own ordination in 1980, Bishop Tafoya ordained his first priest - Father David Ricken.  Today he is Bishop of Cheyenne, and served as the evenings featured speaker.

Bishop Tafoya reminisced with the crowd about Bishop Ricken's formation.  "He wanted to just be a pastor.  And I saw many gifts in this young man." Bishop Tafoya insisted Father Ricken further his education.

Father Ricken resisted and sent others to speak on his behalf to Bishop Tafoya.  Father Ricken wanted the bishop to change his mind-the diocese really needed priests.  Father Ricken even complained to his dad.  However, his dad told him, "David, you obey the bishop."

"That's how God works." smiled Bishop Tafoya.

So then Bishop Ricken continued the story.  In 1999, the cardinal in charge of the congregation for clergy where Father Ricken worked approached him with information that came as a complete surprise.

"Divine providence and the Holy Father have chosen you to become a bishop." the cardinal said.

Bishop Ricken almost fainted.  He said, "I became really light headed."

He did not sleep a wink that night.  He was pacing and praying and asked the Lord for a sign.  He asked, "If you want me to do this Lord, have a Polish sister come over to pray at the priest's chapel" (which they never did).  So he went over the next day around 4:00 p.m. and was praying.  "Wouldn't you know it, about 4:20 p.m., in walked one Polish sister, then a 2nd, then a 3rd." 

Father Ricken was ordained a bishop on January 6, 2000 by the Holy Father at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

"We're so proud of Bishop David," said Bishop Tafoya.  "He's one of the apostles of the church."

Successful fundraising efforts in the past four years,  have allowed the Catholic Foundation to award more than $350,000.  These monies were dispersed for, Humanitarian needs $98,500, Parish Projects $99,634.99, Seminarian Formation and Education $95,750 and Tuition Assistance to diocesan schools $58,000.

According to Bruce Brandt, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation, "People can find many reasons not to sup0port a charitable concern.  The number one reason people support our Catholic Foundation is because of their Faith.  People believe in their faith; they practice their faith and they want to perpetuate their faith.  A great way to accomplish this is through a gift to our Catholic Foundation."

For more information, contact the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Foundation Office at (800) 354-2729, ext. 132.