Of all of the great teachers, monks, priests and staff at St Gregory's, noone comes close to winning the love and respect I have for Fr. Denis. First of all, he ran the horse program, which automatically made him number one in my eyes. He trusted us students with much freedom regarding the horses, and that made college fun and rewarding. His classes were very challenging. To say you got an 'A' in Fr. Denis' philosophy class was really saying something. Fr. Denis would often act 'gruff', but we students knew better. He loaded up all those horses and students for over-nights at Sacred Heart! What a treat. He even rode in my souped-up Camero with big wheels and four of us girls to go out to eat one evening. He was a treasure and I truly miss him. I stop at his grave every time I visit St. Gregory's with admiration in my heart. Susan Baker
Fr. Denis, with his gruff stance, intimidated me to no end. But, that said, he also taught me how to stand up for what I believe in. I don't remember much about sylogisms (is that spelled right?) but I do remember to support what I am presenting.
I will never forget his "Mr. Arroyo, do you believe that is right like you believe in GOD????"
Despite how I was intimidated by him, I loved him. He taught me so much more than what was about Logic or Theology. As a Knight of Columbus, I attended Retreats that he ran over the years before his death. I am so glad that I did, he never fogot my name and I was able to see his passion for the Church and the Eucharist. One of the most special, and important, things that I learned from Fr. Denis was at a Retreat a couple of years before he passed.
He explained the Eucharist as the "Heart of the Church and Heart of our Faith". In his diagram, he explained the Eucharist as the Center of all the Sacraments, with the other 6 Sacraments coming from the Eucharist and leading to the Eucharist like the spoke of a wheel.
I loved Fr. Denis' logic class! I remember one time, as I was attempting to enter the classroom, I had to inform him of something, perhaps to do with a homework assignment. He would not let the conversation continue until I figured out how I was incorrectly phrasing my words. He was not concerned with *what* I was saying, but rather *how* I was saying it. My proudest memory with him happened at that moment in time when I figured out he did not want me to use the contractional form of the word, didn't, but instead use "did not". Only then did he allow me to cross the threshold into the classroom, I felt as though there was nothing in the world that could ever defeat me from that moment on! Thank you for challenging my mind Fr. Denis! You will never be forgotten.
Fr. Denis was an awesome teacher. I loved riding horses with him in his class and outside his class. The Sacred Heart trail ride was a memory I treasure. I'll never forget him sitting by the fire in his cowboy hat and poncho as we all drifted off to sleep aroung the camp fire and he was there when we awoke in the morning bright eyed and ready to go. I got to see his sense of humor which made me laugh. He was very sharp, nothing got by him. He said the first mass at the Catholic church in Clayton, Ok and afterwards came to dinner at my Grandmas house in Tuskahoma. It was an honor.
Mary Susan Baker (McAuliff) (1981)
Of all of the great teachers, monks, priests and staff at St Gregory's, noone comes close to winning the love and respect I have for Fr. Denis. First of all, he ran the horse program, which automatically made him number one in my eyes. He trusted us students with much freedom regarding the horses, and that made college fun and rewarding. His classes were very challenging. To say you got an 'A' in Fr. Denis' philosophy class was really saying something. Fr. Denis would often act 'gruff', but we students knew better. He loaded up all those horses and students for over-nights at Sacred Heart! What a treat. He even rode in my souped-up Camero with big wheels and four of us girls to go out to eat one evening. He was a treasure and I truly miss him. I stop at his grave every time I visit St. Gregory's with admiration in my heart. Susan BakerJose A. (J. A. ) Arroyo (Arroyo) (1981)
Fr. Denis, with his gruff stance, intimidated me to no end. But, that said, he also taught me how to stand up for what I believe in. I don't remember much about sylogisms (is that spelled right?) but I do remember to support what I am presenting.
I will never forget his "Mr. Arroyo, do you believe that is right like you believe in GOD????"
Despite how I was intimidated by him, I loved him. He taught me so much more than what was about Logic or Theology. As a Knight of Columbus, I attended Retreats that he ran over the years before his death. I am so glad that I did, he never fogot my name and I was able to see his passion for the Church and the Eucharist. One of the most special, and important, things that I learned from Fr. Denis was at a Retreat a couple of years before he passed.
He explained the Eucharist as the "Heart of the Church and Heart of our Faith". In his diagram, he explained the Eucharist as the Center of all the Sacraments, with the other 6 Sacraments coming from the Eucharist and leading to the Eucharist like the spoke of a wheel.
Lisa Boehm (Goebel) (1981)
Logic class with Fr. Denis... one never knew what to expect from day to day in his class. May you rest in peace dear friend.Carol Hyslope (1982)
I loved Fr. Denis' logic class! I remember one time, as I was attempting to enter the classroom, I had to inform him of something, perhaps to do with a homework assignment. He would not let the conversation continue until I figured out how I was incorrectly phrasing my words. He was not concerned with *what* I was saying, but rather *how* I was saying it. My proudest memory with him happened at that moment in time when I figured out he did not want me to use the contractional form of the word, didn't, but instead use "did not". Only then did he allow me to cross the threshold into the classroom, I felt as though there was nothing in the world that could ever defeat me from that moment on!Thank you for challenging my mind Fr. Denis! You will never be forgotten.
Barbara Ann Link (Poulson) (1981)
Fr. Denis was an awesome teacher. I loved riding horses with him in his class and outside his class. The Sacred Heart trail ride was a memory I treasure. I'll never forget him sitting by the fire in his cowboy hat and poncho as we all drifted off to sleep aroung the camp fire and he was there when we awoke in the morning bright eyed and ready to go. I got to see his sense of humor which made me laugh. He was very sharp, nothing got by him. He said the first mass at the Catholic church in Clayton, Ok and afterwards came to dinner at my Grandmas house in Tuskahoma. It was an honor.