St. Michael’s Clergy

Father Felipe Colombo

(Appointed Pastor July 2024)

Our pastor Fr. Felipe was born and raised in a suburb of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. He is the only child of a single mother, and the 4th of his father. Even if his father was not at the house, he tried to be present as much as possible. His mother always taught him the importance of going to Church, and he participated in different groups in his parish. During his adolescence, he had a foot in the Church and a foot in the world. When he was 18, a friend invited him to a series of catechesis for Youth and Adults in his parish, where he heard that he was not abandoned and that God cared for him (even if he was a mess). He joined a Neocatechumenal community in his parish, where he started an ongoing itinerary to rediscover his Baptism, step by step. Through this little community of normal brothers and sisters, God started a revolution in his life. In 2012, during a retreat in Brazil, he was finishing college, dating a girl from his parish, and already considering marriage, but he felt the Lord calling him to a different vocation. After some resistance, he accepted the Lord’s invitation out of gratitude. During another retreat with aspiring seminarians, he was sent by lottery to be formed as a priest at the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Denver. He arrived in Denver in March 2013, and after 6 years of studies, one year of mission in the Holy Land, and two years of mission in between Alabama and Bermuda, he was ordained a priest on May 14, 2022.

Fr. Felipe feels Christ has given him the opportunity to have a new life by welcoming the announcement of the Good News, and he is grateful that Christ has called him to bring to others the announcement that has been changing his life, so that others may encounter Christ as He encountered Fr. Felipe.

Father Cyrille Mbemba

(Assigned as Parochial Vicar, July 2024 by the Archbishop)

 

I was born in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo.  Although my parents have now passed away, I have 4 sisters and 3 brothers who live in Congo.  I also have family in France.  After seminary in Congo and Mexico, I was ordained a priest on August 22, 1999.  I became a priest thanks to the faith of my parents and the priests of my parish origin.   After ordination, I served multiple missions: 1999-2004 diocese of Owando, Congo (diocese origin); 2004-2007 “Fidel Donum” diocese of Impfondo, Congo; and 2008-2024 “Fidel Donum” diocese of Beauvais, France .  (A “Fidel Donum” is a diocesan priest who is sent to evangelize a mission territory outside of their home diocese. The term “Fidel Donum “translates to “gift of faith.”)  Then, in July 2024, I was sent “Fidel Donum ” to the Archdiocese of Denver.  Throughout my time as a priest, I have been involved in the ministry of care for the sick, the ministry of the disabled  persons, the young ministry, and others.

 

 

 

 

Deacon Christopher Pomrening

Deacon Christopher Martin Pomrening was ordained on June 25, 2011 in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. He and his wife, Guadalupe have five children and two grandchildren. He is a branch manager for the CR Laurence Co., Inc. Deacon Pomrening was attracted to the diaconate when he saw a group of men who had dedicated their lives to something so much larger than themselves and what outstanding people they were. They became a model of Christ that he could relate to because of the great commonality of experience that they shared. He also had a strong sense of being called to the diaconate through teaching religious education to high school age young people. Deacon Pomrening also is a licensed pilot and a certified flight instructor.

 

Deacon Greg Perzinski

Deacon Greg was ordained in June of 2017. He and his wife Amber have been married since June of 2000 and live in Aurora with their six children. He is an Operations Manager for a construction engineering company in Centennial and currently is serving the Heather Gardens and St. Michael the Archangel communities in his ministry. His road to the Diaconate began when a permanent deacon prepared him and Amber for the baptism of their oldest daughter.

Deacon Clarence Braud

Deacon Clarence Braud is originally from New Orleans where he grew up in St. Stephen’s parish.  His priest was a Vincentian, and The Daughters of Charity ran the school.  When he was in 6th grade, he decided he wanted to be a priest.  He studied to be a Vincentian priest from high school through his first year in theology at what was then St. Thomas Seminary.  God had other plans for him, though.  Three years later he married his wife, Mary Susan, and they have been married now for 35 years.

They moved from New Orleans to Aurora when Deacon Clarence was offered a job with the Colorado Public Defender’s office.  They have three children: Gabi, Kathryn, and Vincent.  Sadly, they lost Vincent four years ago to a motorcycle accident.  That same year Deacon Clarence entered formation for the diaconal program.  He was ordained on June 24th, 2023 and now is a part of our wonderful parish.

Deacon Paul Zajac

Deacon Paul Zajac is a single father with 4 sons and 1 daughter ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. He has spent most of his career as a software engineer, and currently works for Lockheed Martin Space.  He was ordained to the diaconate in 2007 by Archbishop Chaput.  Ministering to both the Spanish and English communities, he served at St. Anthony’s Parish prior to moving to St. Michael’s. He helps run a volunteer retreat center near Akron, Colorado called the Peace Huts and also serves  the developmentally disabled through the Carron Center Coffee House.

Deacon Paul loves the saints!  They are witnesses to the love and truth of Jesus Christ and guides for us as we strive to live holy lives.  His most favorite is Saint Francis of Assisi, who was also a deacon in the 1200’s.  (St. Francis has such a love and fire for God that he did not let anything stand between him and God.)  Deacon Paul also enjoys the outdoors, backpacking, snowshoeing and cycling.  He has quite a passion for the beauty of our Colorado Mountains.

Click here if you would like to visit Deacon Paul’s homily blog.

 

 

Most of the staff photographs are compliments of Bettinger Photography.