Reverend Jan Mucha, St. Joseph's Polish Church in Globeville

 

Father Jan Mucha first came to St. Joseph's Polish Church in 1970 while visiting relatives in the United States. Parishioners liked the young Polish priest and asked him to stay. Mucha accepted their invitation, assisting the pastor, Father Fraczkowski, and assuming the pastorate in January, 1974, after the death of Fraczkowski. 

Under Father Mucha's pastorate, the parish embraced its Polish traditions - the Saturday blessing of Easter baskets, and the Corpus Christi procession through the Globeville neighborhood. Masses were celebrated in both English and Polish. Father Mucha completed a full restoration of the church in time for the parish’s 75th anniversary in 1977 and presided over the 100th anniversary of the parish in 2002. After the fall of Communism, Father Mucha welcomed a new generation of Poles, who brought traditions like the Krakowiacy Polish dancers, Polish food festivals and language lessons in the school.

Father Mucha seemed to exude joy - he genuinely enjoyed his calling, his parishioners and his small parish in an urban neighborhood. In July 2010, Father Mucha retired to Mullen Home where he remained until his passing on March 21st, 2018. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 27th, at 1:00 pm, followed by a Rosary at 2:00 pm at Mullen Home, 3629 W. 29th Avenue, Denver 80211.

Visitation, also on Tuesday, March 27th,5:00 pm, followed by a Rosary at 6:00 pm at St. Joseph's Polish Church, 517 E 46th Avenue, Denver 80216. Funeral Mass Wednesday, March 28th, 10:00 am at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Burial at Mt Olivet.
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Father John A. Canjar

Humble circumstances, an immigrant community and a faith-filled family provided the environment that nurtured Father John Canjar. Born June 24, 1921 in Globeville, the sixth of 10 children of a Croatian immigrant, Frank Canjar and his wife Mary (Boytz) Canjar, John Canjar attended Holy Rosary Grade School, Annunciation High School, and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. Father Canjar was ordained on June 4, 1949 and served at Holy Ghost, Holy Family, St. John's in Stoneham, Sacred Heart in Cheyenne Wells, Holy Rosary, Cure d' Ars, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Mark's parishes.

Father Canjar would succeed Monsignor Judnic at Holy Rosary in 1959, a time of turmoil in both the church and in the neighborhood. January 1959 signaled the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, which introduced sweeping changes in liturgy, lay participation, interaction with other Christian denominations, and involvement in social issues. In a parish where the Mass had been said in Latin, and the homily delivered in both Slovenian and English, the changes were viewed as monumental.

There were also big changes in the neighborhood. The Stapleton Public Housing brought "outsiders," Mexicans and Blacks, into the tightly-knit community - they were not welcome. But Father Canjar reached out to the newcomers, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. ”Father Canjar felt that when people asked for help, we needed to respond,” said Jerry and Janet Wagner. The Wagners owned a small grocery, and, with cash donated by Father Canjar, began making up food baskets for Christmas. “Depending on the size of the family, there would be a couple of chickens, potatoes, beans or a sack of flour, enough to make a meal.” Father Canjar was also active in anti-poverty programs and was elected to the North Denver Action Center, a part of the Model Cities program.

The construction of I-25 and I-70 during the 1950s and 60s displaced many parishioners and businesses and demoralized the neighborhood. Another blow to the community was the record-breaking Platte River Flood of 1965, but Father Canjar worked tirelessly to clean and repair the parish buildings afterward.

Father Canjar retired from active ministry June 9, 1996 after 47 years of service. He moved to the Gardens at St. Elizabeth's where his sister Mary also lived, and then to Mullen Home, facing many physical challenges with courage and grace.  Father Canjar passed away November 20, 2014 and is buried at Mt. Olivet. He is survived by sister Lucille (James) Stanaway, sister-in-law Mary (Leo) Canjar and numerous nieces and nephews, and was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Frank, Ray and Leo; sisters Helen, Mary, Catherine, Florence and Margaret.

John Canjar is the tallest young man (with glasses) in the back row.

1937 graduating class from Holy Rosary

Father John Canjar, 1969

Father John Obituary