A Shepherd for Shepherds: Meet Father Matthew Book, Denver’s New Vicar for Clergy

Father Matt Book prepares to preach during a wedding at Light of the World Parish in Littleton. (Photo by Megan Simpson/courtesy of Light of the World Parish)

Father Matthew Book, newly appointed Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese of Denver, steps into his role with the heart of a pastor and the spirit of a brother. After years of parish ministry, he now turns his attention to serving the priests and deacons who serve the Church.

“It’s a much more hidden role,” Father Book said. “[It’s] one of supporting the brethren — you know, the priests and the deacons — and being one who kind of stands beside, behind them, to support them.”

While his presence may be behind the scenes, the work of the Vicar for Clergy is anything but passive. From promoting vocations to supporting priests in retirement, Father Book’s new mission spans the entire life of the ordained. And, through it all, he aims to live his new role with a spirit of accompaniment and care.

“I’m excited to get out and to go visit priests and deacons, and to visit them in their parishes, in their communities,” he told the Denver Catholic. “I look forward to meeting them and meeting their people and sharing in what their life is.”

The archdiocese’s guiding vision shapes that mission: so that in Jesus Christ, all might be rescued and have abundant life, for the glory of the Father. In that light, Father Book sees his task not only as administrative but also as deeply spiritual and evangelical.

“The priests and deacons are such pivotal players in the pastoral life of the archdiocese,” he explained, noting the clergy’s important role in helping bring the Archdiocese’s mission to fruition. ““So to be the one who can help them take a beautiful vision and see — okay, is my parish ordered to that? What are the opportunities? What are the challenges? I think that reality, doing that kind of discernment, meditating and brainstorming can be very encouraging and meaningful.”

Fraternity and encouragement are key to how Father Book hopes to serve. He draws inspiration from St. Barnabas, the “son of encouragement,” and sees his role as one of lifting others up.

“When I asked [Archbishop Aquila], ‘Are there certain directions or themes that are important for me as I start?’ he simply said, ‘Just encourage them,’” Father Book recalled.

He’s quick to credit the support of others in helping him grow into the role, including Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and his predecessor, Father Angel Pérez-López, who helped Father Book get “up to speed over the last six months,” thanks to his “teacher’s heart” and accompaniment and encouragement.

That same encouragement Father Book received is exactly what he hopes to extend to his brothers across the archdiocese. He hopes, too, that it will extend beyond the clergy themselves, with the faithful supporting their priests and deacons — not just with prayer, but with relationship, involvement and mercy.

“If [the faithful] simply support their priests and deacons, they are already helping me a whole lot and supporting me,” he said. “Prayer, warmth of Christian friendship, a zeal for the mission of the Gospel — all of those are great ways to support our priests and deacons.”

That support, he added, can be very practical, too.

“I remember a parishioner who came up to me early on and said, ‘Father Matt, I want to be an arrow in your quiver. I want to jump in and help at the parish, however you want and wherever you feel called to lead the parish,’” he said. “That was awesome. That’s music to a lot of pastors’ ears.”

Whether through hospitality, offering one’s time and talents or simply extending encouragement, Father Book believes that laypeople can be a powerful force for good in the lives of clergy — especially in an age where the Church no longer stands in the cultural center.

“I think, first of all, [we need] a real Christian hope to really embrace the reality [of the apostolic age] with hope and to be able to convey that to our faithful,” he said. “God is still in control. He is still blessing and guiding. And in fact, it’s actually a privilege to be a Christian at this time.”

With that spirit, Father Book is already looking forward to what lies ahead: building relationships, visiting parishes and serving “with a brother’s heart.”

“Not to judge, not to criticize, but really to encourage,” he said. “I hope to make that a hallmark of my entire time as Vicar for Clergy.”

As he steps into this new chapter, he’s asking the faithful to pray — for him, and for all priests in the archdiocese.

“Really, if you’re supporting our priests or deacons, I thank you for your help and I take that as a great support,” Father Book shared. “But I’m happy to be prayed for by any of the faithful. If they would just pray that I would have wisdom, the charity of Christ in all things, a deep and infectious Christian hope, especially to share with the priests and deacons, and in all things, humility.”