Bishop’s crozier is found, returned

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — A week after it was reported stolen, the historic crosier belonging to the Diocese of Gallup has been recovered.

A 12-year-old boy apparently discovered the missing religious item, packed in its black carrying case, while riding his bike in the hills near Gallup Catholic School. According to Deacon Timoteo Lujun, the chancellor of the diocese, the boy turned the case over to an adult cousin, who then dropped it off at the St. Francis Church on Thursday afternoon with an accompanying note.

The gold-plated crosier — a pastoral staff that symbolizes the governing office of a bishop — first came to Gallup in 1940 with the installation of the Most Rev. Bernard T. Espelage as the first bishop of the Gallup Diocese. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted has been using the crosier since his appointment as apostolic administrator here in early January.

According to a police report filed by diocesan officials on Thursday, June 5, the 6-foot long crosier — which can be dismantled into several smaller sections — was stolen from the unlocked pickup of Deacon Jim Hoy, the diocesan finance director. Hoy, a pilot who regularly flies Olmsted between the Phoenix and Gallup dioceses, also lost a flight bag filled with emergency equipment in the theft.

The crosier is in good shape and has not been damaged, Lujan said. However, the crosier’s carrying case appears to be “a little bit worn,” he said, possibly due to weather exposure. Hoy’s flight bag was not returned with the crosier, he added.

Lujan said he had already called and delivered the good news to Olmsted, who is attending a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Orlando, Fla. Lujan said he wasn’t able to provide the contents of the note because he had already passed the crosier and the note onto another deacon who will be assisting Olmsted this weekend.

“I wanted to keep the note with the crosier for the bishop,” Lujan said. With the crosier’s return, Olmsted will have use of the historic staff during Sunday’s Confirmation Mass at St. Patrick’s parish in Chichiltah.