Rev. Thomas Nelson C.M.

Fr. Tom Nelson, C.M., died October 5, 2019 in Denver, Colorado at age 83. He lived a long life dedicated to serving poor and marginalized people.
Fr. Tom was born in St. Louis, MO in 1936, one of five children of Robert and Mary Nelson. He was predeceased by his brother Bob (Clara, deceased), and is survived by his sisters Patricia Reinarman (Paul, deceased) and Mary Margaret (Leon, deceased), and his brother Joe (Sally). He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Fr. Tom found his vocation as a Catholic priest after a 10+ year career in the business world. In 1975, he was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In 1982, Father joined the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), a Community of Catholic priests and brothers committed to evangelizing those who live in poverty and to the formation of clergy and laity to serve the same mission. His life was dedicated to this mission.
Fr. Tom's years of ministry included teaching assignments at St. Thomas Seminary, Denver; Cardinal Glennon College, St. Louis; Good Shepherd Seminary, Maralal, Kenya; Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis; and DePaul Center, Nairobi, Kenya. Wherever he worked, he involved himself in community work where he could serve the Vincentian mission.
In St. Louis, Fr. Tom worked with the Karen House Catholic Worker and with the Handicapped Encounter Christ program, bringing abled and disabled people together for retreats and social interaction. 25 years ago, Father moved to Denver to take on the position as founding chaplain of the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, an organization that brings young adults to Denver to spend a year of direct service with the poor and homeless, live in community, and engage in spiritual formation and prayer centered on the preferential option for the poor. Fr. Tom also worked actively with the Denver Catholic Worker House and Soup Kitchen; helped to found a Rocky Mountain Handicapped Encounter Christ group; and worked with other groups where he could be with people who are poor and marginalized. He also served for several years as chaplain for the Native American Catholic Community of St Kateri.
During his time in Denver, Fr. Tom was regularly involved in teaching. His deep interest in inter-religious dialogue and spirituality motivated him to teach a course in the Christian contemplative tradition at the Naropa Institute, a Buddhist university in Boulder. He also regularly led retreats for religious and lay groups around the country. The guide stars for Fr. Tom's life were St. Vincent de Paul who founded his Community, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at the Church of the Risen Christ, 3060 S. Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO 80222 on Monday October 14, 2019 at 10 AM, followed by a light lunch. There will be a vigil, also at Church of the Risen Christ, on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 7 PM. A memorial service will be held in St. Louis at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: the Denver Catholic Worker House, https://denvercatholicworkerhouse.org/; the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, www.covivo.org; the Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen, https://denvercatholicworkersoupkitchen.org/; or a charity of your choice.

Vigil Service: October 13, 2019 7:00 pm

Risen Christ Catholic Parish
3060 South Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80222
303-758-8826

Funeral Mass: October 14, 2019 10:00 am

Risen Christ Catholic Parish
3060 South Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80222
303-758-8826