Father Cooper focus of Trinity Heights celebration

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 10, 2008

One of the latest additions at Trinity Heights - a life-size bronze statue of Father Harold Cooper - was recently unveiled as part of festivities with the 17th Annual Prayer and Celebration Day.

The statue of the diocesan priest who was the visionary behind the development at Trinity Heights sits near the Mound of Mary with the 30-foot stainless steel statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as its backdrop.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless blessed the statue in an afternoon service held June 29, prior to the Prayer and Celebration Banquet. After the statue was unveiled, the bishop explained the reasons why the Catholic Church blesses an image and presents it to the people.

"It does so for two reasons - that when we look at the representation of those who have followed Christ faithfully we will be motivated to seek the city that is to come - that is our heavenly home," he explained, "also that we learn the way that will enable us to attain a complete union with Christ and that we remember that those who have gone before us are joined to us in the mystic communion of the saints."

The Gospel reading of Matthew centered on the beatitudes.

"This statue is a way to remember Father Cooper and remember his vision, but also serve as a reminder to pray for his soul," said the bishop.

Bishop Nickless mentioned some of Father Cooper's accomplishments.

Embracing faith

"The first thing that he did was embrace his Catholic faith through the sacrament of baptism, then he was confirmed and then he answered the call of God to become a priest," he described. "What a wonderful gift it is to answer the call to become a priest."

He mentioned that just a day earlier, he ordained two new priests and they now follow in the footsteps of other great priests such as Father Cooper.

The bishop mentioned that another thing Father Cooper did as part of his priestly duties was to preach the Gospel - so it was fitting that they unveiled his statue as Pope Benedict XVI began the Year of St. Paul, patron of preachers and evangelization.

"The Feast of Peter and Paul reminds us of the connectedness that we have with the church in Rome and how blessed we are to have good priests who preach the same Gospel message as Peter and Paul," said Bishop Nickless.

Father Cooper, he said, lived his priesthood not only with a dedication, but with a vision, an inspiration of the beatitudes.

"Those who remember Father Cooper say he was a man of vision and he, through his vision as a priest, was able to see what the rewards of living the beatitudes was all about - the reward of heaven," said Bishop Nickless.

The late Father Cooper, who died in September of 2007, was best known for founding Trinity Heights and for Catholic radio in Sioux City. He was also known for justice issues such as his pro-life stance and charitable works to the poor.

Blesses statue

In blessing the statue, the bishop prayed that the gifts of the Spirit be bestowed on Father Cooper.

The statue was crafted by Dale Lamphere, who created the statues of Mary, Jesus and other works at Trinity Heights.

Rita Delperdang of Holy Name Parish in Marcus said she wanted to be at the dedication to honor Father Cooper, whom she had met in the past. She visits Trinity Heights on occasion with the Catholic Daughters Court from her parish.

Fran Briggs of Cleghorn said she remembered Father Cooper from years ago when she was a nursing student at St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing. He had taught her a nursing class there.

"He was a good man," she said.

Larry Walsh, a member of the spiritual committee at Trinity Heights, told those gathered at Trinity Heights that Father Cooper had a devotion to the Mother of Jesus. With that in mind, Marian hymns opened and closed the prayer service - Ave Maria and Immaculate Mary.

He remembered how Father Cooper always closed his gatherings with "keep up the good work."

The tribute to Father Cooper continued at the banquet that was attended by several hundred people. Beanie Cooper, executive director of Queen of Peace, Inc. and brother to Father Cooper, served as the master of ceremonies.

Beanie recalled how his brother had a knack for "picking the right people" to become involved in projects - individuals who were motivated spiritually and who could get things done.

One of those people, noted Beanie, was Dr. Ken Roach who was an early board member at Trinity Heights. Dr. Roach later became involved in one of Father Cooper's other great visions - Catholic radio in Sioux City.

Dr. Roach offered an update on KFHC 88.1 - named in honor of Father Harold Cooper. He credited the very existence of the station to Father Cooper.

Following a video tribute to Father Cooper by G.R. Lindblade & Co., Deacon Jim Sands offered benediction.