Father Thomas J. Woerth

Reverend Thomas J. Woerth, 83, a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver, died on January 4, 2023 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he was living in retirement. He was born on October 27, 1939 in Sioux City, Iowa to Leslie W. Woerth and Margaret A. (McNamara) Woerth. He graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado. Ordained a priest for the people of God on May 28, 1966, Father Woerth served as Assistant Pastor at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver and St. Mary’s Church in Colorado Springs from 1966 to 1968. He taught religion at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs from 1966 to 1970. He was the founder and director of the Hallando Program for teenagers in Colorado Springs from 1970 to 1975. From 1975 to 1980 he served as the Archdiocesan Director of Family Life Services and then the Vicar for Family Life, Youth, and Educational Services for the Archdiocese of Denver and was a member of the United States Catholic Conference Commission on Marriage and Family Life and the United States Catholic Conference Committee on Education. From 1980 to 1981, Father Woerth taught religion and psychology at Central Catholic High School in Denver and then served as Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Fort Collins from 1981 to 1984 and Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Boulder from 1985 to 1990. He was a Catholic chaplain at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver from 1991 until 2001 and also served at parishes in Windsor, Englewood, and Johnstown and as a part-time hospital chaplain until his retirement. Father Woerth is survived by his sisters, Mary P. Longo of Marion, Iowa and Nancy A. Moreland of Fort Pierce, Florida, eight nieces and nephews, and 17 grand-nieces and grand-nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 21 at 9:30 am with Visitation from 9:00 am to 9:30 am at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery Chapel, 12801 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, January 25 at 11:00 am at Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota (https://www.stjo.org/) or to Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota https://www.redcloudschool.org/).