Wyoming Catholics travel hundreds of miles to greet their new bishop

During the Dec. 9 episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Paul D. Etienne in the Cheyenne Civic Center in Cheyenne, Wyo., Father Michael Carr, vicar general of the Cheyenne Diocese, holds the apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XVI in which the pontiff appointed Bishop Etienne to lead the Church in Wyoming. Standing behind Father Carr applauding are Fathers Carl Gallinger, left, James Heiser and Thomas Cronkleton, all priests of the Cheyenne Diocese and members of its college of consultors. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Catholics from across the 100,000 square miles that make up Wyoming were filled with joy and high hopes for their new shepherd on the day that Bishop Paul D. Etienne was ordained and installed as the eighth bishop of Cheyenne.

Some drove as far as 485 miles and for as long as seven hours to participate in the ordination and installation liturgy.

Pam Hill and Pat Vlchek drove that distance from their homes in Jackson, where they are wives of deacons of the Cheyenne Diocese. Jackson is south of Yellowstone National Park and at the opposite end of the state from Cheyenne.

Neither the long drive nor the day’s fierce winter weather—with blustery winds and temperatures that hovered in the single digits—dampened their spirits.

“God sent him here,” Vlchek said. “He was supposed to be here because it takes a young person to be able to do what the bishop does in this state. He has to drive around [so much].”

“We have lots of gratitude in our hearts,” Hill said. “We really feel blessed.”

That gratitude extended to the many Catholics from central and southern Indiana who made their way to Wyoming for the event.

“I think it’s wonderful [that all the Hoosiers came out],” Vlchek said.

“ … We thank the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for what they’re giving up. We appreciate it so much. We’re so blessed to have him here.”

Bonnie Alvarez, a member of St. Laurence O’Toole Parish in the nearby town of Laramie, sat by one of the aisles that Bishop Etienne walked up and down near the end of the liturgy to give his blessing to the assembled congregation.

“This is wonderful,” she said. “I was waiting for him to give a blessing [at the end] because I knew that would be special.”

Alvarez hopes that Bishop Etienne will help the Church in Wyoming reach out to non-practicing Catholics.

“We’ve been without a bishop for a couple of years now,” she said. “And I think a lot of people have gotten away from the Church, and we’re trying hard to bring them back. I think he’s a super-excited person, and he’ll be able to do that.”

Karen Tronstad is a member of St. Matthew Parish in Gillette, some 250 miles from Cheyenne. She traveled on a chartered bus to the state capital for the liturgy with 30 other members of her parish.

The ordination and installation had added meaning for Tronstad because she is a transplanted Hoosier, having grown up in Shelbyville as a member of St. Joseph Parish.

“It’s pretty neat to have a fellow Hoosier out here,” she said. “I hope he finds Wyoming a good experience. I’m sure he’ll find Wyoming people really nice.” †