Holy Trinity Parish History
Church of the Holy Trinity, founded 1956
May 27, 1956, Trinity Sunday, was the day that Father William Delaney broke ground for the third Catholic parish in Cheyenne. Bishop Hubert Newell asked Father Delaney to build the new church. The first Mass was held on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1957. The dedication was on May 14, 1957 by Bishop Newell.
Father “D”, as he quickly became known, was assisted by Sister Delora and Sister Marian; two Victory Noll Missionary Sisters. They helped in developing the Altar and Rosary Society. By 1960, they had CYO up and running. The Parish Council was established in 1968. With funding provided by the Knights of Columbus, the Church Hall was remodeled to include a nursery. In 1968 the Catechetical Center was built, and in 1969 the sanctuary was remodeled to accommodate the priest facing the congregation by moving the altar forward and the tabernacle to the left. The stained glass windows were installed in 1970. Sister Josephine Konrad arrived to serve as the Religious Education Coordinator. Sister Rose Zita Rosonke joined her in 1973. Together the two sisters brought vitality to the youth programs. Msgr. William McCormick assisted Father D and served as the Diocesan Chancellor.
In 1972, Father Delaney was assigned to Holy Name in Sheridan. Father Cornelius O’Connor, another fine Irish priest, was assigned to Holy Trinity. As an accomplished electrician he promptly began to build, by hand, an organ for the parish. Father O’Connor realized the need to expand the church so the lobby, the reconciliation room and the O’Connor Room (currently, the Adoration Chapel) were added. In 1977 ground was broken for a convent residence. The sisters’ house was completed with the assistance of many of the parishioners. It is now used as the Youth Center. Father O’Connor also started The Triune, a monthly newsletter, and added the Saturday 5:15 p.m. Anticipation Mass. The parish was saddened by the sudden death of Father O’Connor on August 3, 1977.
The parish was lucky to have their third Irish priest, Father Thomas Fahey. We quickly learned that this first “Father Tom” was an enthusiastic gardener. Whenever a parishioner needed the pastor they didn’t bother going to the rectory, they went to the garden west of the Church. There they would find Father on his knees bringing the ground to life with beautiful flowers. The ladies of the parish helped to keep the garden flourishing. Father Fahey expanded The Triune with the addition of an editor. Father Fahey established the First Friday Adoration and started the Men’s Association. The 25th Anniversary Mass of Holy Trinity was celebrated on May 12, 1982 with a multitude of accomplishments for the parish and growth from 450 families to about 950. A Carillon was installed to mark the anniversary. On September 28, 1986, Holy Trinity opened a chapel for Perpetual Adoration Chapel, where individuals or families pledge a weekly hour of adoration. These hours span both day and night throughout the year. The Chapel is closed briefly for family oriented holidays and for the Triduum and Easter Sunday. Under the guidance of Father Fahey the sanctuary was remodeled and the altar rails removed. On Trinity Sunday in 1981, the parish hall was renamed in honor of Mother Frances Cabrini and is now called “Cabrini Hall”. Mother Cabrini is Father Fahey’s favorite Saint. The Scholarship Fund for religious education was started in 1984. This Fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors from Holy Trinity who have distinguished themselves through their involvement in CYO and parish work. The Fund is perpetuated by an annual collection in the Parish. In November of 1984, Msgr. Lawrence Etchingham spoke to the members of the Parish Council concerning a new rectory. The rectory would include living quarters for the active and retired priests of the diocese as well as needed office space. A building committee was formed and the new rectory built. The open house was held in December 1989. In 1986 the Parish was approached by Bishop Joseph Hart to sell a portion of its land to HUD to provide a 30-unit facility for low-income seniors and thus Holy Trinity Manor opened in June 1989. A separate corporation was formed to manage the Manor.
Upon the retirement of Father Fahey in 1990, our second “Father Tom” and third Irish priest, Father Thomas Sheridan arrived. At this same time, the Sisters were recalled to their motherhouse. Father Sheridan promptly hired the necessary lay staff to continue the programs started by his predecessors. Father Tom began The Caring Ministry Program which is still flourishing today. Father Sheridan also began the intern program which allows seminarians or potential lay ministers to be hired to assist in the Parish during the summer.
In 1995, Father Gerald Sullivan became our Pastor. Father Sullivan encouraged the parish in service to the community. Holy Trinity joined with other local churches in the formation of the Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality Network which hosts homeless families, on a rotation basis, and supports the families to overcome their homelessness. The families of Holy Trinity continue to assist monthly at the Comea Shelter by preparing and serving meals to the hungry. The Small Christian Faith Communities and Liturgy of the Word for Children programs were developed and continue today. The vestibule and the Adoration Chapel were remodeled and a handicapped accessible restroom was added. A Respect for Life Monument was placed at the entrance to the Church. The monument was co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women.
2002 brought our third “Father Tom” and our current Pastor, Father Thomas Cronkleton, Jr. One of the first ministries of services that Father Tom suggested was the Charity of the Month. Each month a particular charity is selected and the needed supplies are donated by the parishioners. In the past few years the Parish has supplied non-perishable food items to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, school supplies for the Boys and Girls Club, paper goods to Meals on Wheels, personal supplies to our veterans at the VA Hospital and pet supplies to the Animal Shelter. The biggest project, so far, for Father Tom, has been the remodeling and renovation of the main body of the church. With the help of a multitude of parishioners the pews were removed, stripped and refinished. The second phase was the replacement of the carpet and finally the renovation of the sanctuary including new altar furnishings. In 2004 the concrete entrance to the church was remodeled and the Respect for Life Monument was moved to the hillside between the rectory and the church. A Ten Commandment Monument has also been added to the hillside. Holy Trinity continues to be blessed with the presence of Msgr. Delaney and Father James Doudican in residence who assist Father Tom with the many activities of the Parish.
2007 will be the 50th Anniversary of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. There have been many births and deaths, many baptisms and funerals. All the baptisms, receptions into the Church through the Profession of Faith, First Communions, Confirmations and Marriages promise growth for the parish and opportunities for all to more fully live their faith in Christ.
After 50 years, Holy Trinity is still…
“A Parish open to all, grounded in prayer and a messenger of the Gospel”
Pastors 1957 – 2010
1957 – 1972, Fr. William Delaney
1972 – 1977, Fr. Cornelius O'Connor
1977 – 1990, Fr. Thomas Fahey
1990 – 1995, Fr. Thomas Sheridan
1995 – 2002, Fr. Gerald Sullivan
2002 – present, Fr. Thomas Cronkleton
Msgr. William Delaney 1917-2010
(left to right) Fr. Delaney in 1960, Msgr. Delaney in 1985, Msgr. Delaney in 2010
