A Shepherd’s Milestone: Honoring Archbishop Aquila’s 75 Years with Mass, Fellowship and Feasting

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila celebrated his 75th birthday with archdiocesan employees Wednesday, beginning with Mass at St. John Vianney Seminary's Christ the King Chapel and continuing over an Italian lunch. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.)

It’s Archbishop Aquila’s semisesquicentennial!  

If you, like me, had to look that word up, have no fear — you can still celebrate our shepherd’s birthday, thanking the Lord for his ministry and service to the people of Northern Colorado. 

In that very spirit of gratitude, the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Denver came together with the archbishop for a special noon Mass on Wednesday in Christ the King Chapel at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. 

“First, I want to thank the Lord and my parents for the gift of life,” Archbishop Aquila said in his homily. “It’s hard to believe that I am now 75 years old — and that seems old! — even though I still feel young and have good energy. The Lord has blessed me with that.”  

Now having reached the canonical age at which bishops are required to submit their request to retire to the Holy Father, Archbishop Aquila — and the rest of the archdiocese — awaits word from Rome.  

But, in the meantime, the mission of Jesus Christ in Northern Colorado continues in earnest. Until Pope Leo XIV accepts his request, Archbishop Aquila said he remains committed to continuing to preach, teach and point others to the person of Jesus Christ. 

“The task throughout my life and especially in close to the last 50 years has been to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord,” he explained, “to proclaim the Good News that Jesus gives to the twelve, and has given to me both as a priest and a bishop to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to be the one who constantly points others to that encounter with Jesus Christ.” 

That proclamation of repentance remains just as important today as it was in the time of the prophet Ezra, from whose book the first reading was taken. Detailing the Israelites’ return from the Babylonian Exile, the book — and the readings of this period of Ordinary Time — encourages repentance, leaving behind false idols and turning back to God. 

“Any time that there is a turning to false gods, whether in the Old Testament or even in our own times, there are very real consequences to that. And we can see it in all of the vitriol and the violence of the world today,” Archbishop Aquila said. “It is vital to turn to our Lord. Our God has not abandoned us. Mercy has come to us from the Lord our God. And so, we must recognize that mercy by returning to the Lord and opening our hearts to the Lord. The same is true in our own time, that we are called to return to our Lord. 

“When we repent, he is always ready to forgive. Our God is never unforgiving,” he continued. “It is important for us to always keep that in mind and to recognize in our own lives and in our brokenness and our own simpleness that mercy came to us from the Lord our God. Our Lord still, he has never abandoned us.” 

Archbishop Aquila prays during Mass on his 75th birthday.

Various priests concelebrated the Mass with Archbishop Aquila for his 75th birthday.

The first reading from Ezra emphasized the need for repentance.

Deacon Rob Rinne proclaimed the Gospel on Archbishop Aquila's 75th birthday.

The archbishop emphasized the importance of continuing to point others to Christ.

"We are to proclaim that Jesus Christ is truly the one Savior of the world," the archbishop said.

"He is the Good News that we are to bring to others," he continued.

Thanking God and his parents, Archbishop Aquila shared his commitment to continuing to preach Christ

For his 75th birthday, Archbishop Aquila celebrated a special noon Mass for archdiocesan staff.

As the archdiocese awaits word from Rome, Jesus' mission continues in earnest.

Archbishop Aquila said he remains committed to continuing to point others to Jesus.

The Eucharist was the center of the archbishop's birthday festivities.

Archdiocesan staff joined Archbishop Aquila for a special Mass on his 75th birthday.

"We are called to return to the Lord," the archbishop said in his homily.

"When we repent, he is always ready to forgive," Archbishop Aquila emphasized.

"Our God, still, has never abandoned us," the archbishop said.

Archbishop Aquila blessed those gathered for a special noon Mass on his 75th birthday.

Following Mass, archdiocesan staff gathered for lunch and community.

The Carmelites on the Pastoral Center campus joined the fun, celebrating archbishop.

Lunch included Italian entrees, gelato and plenty of time for community.

Archdiocesan staff had the chance to gather to celebrate the occasion with fun and fellowship.

Complete with gelato, the celebration was a festive one — fitting for the Italian American shepherd.

Complete with gelato, the celebration was a festive one — fitting for the Italian American shepherd.

Complete with gelato, the celebration was a festive one — fitting for the Italian American shepherd.

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.)

On Archbishop Aquila’s birthday, on the day when the Archdiocese of Denver receives a new archbishop, and, indeed, every day, the faithful are called to carry Christ to all those we encounter. 

“It is precisely this Good News that we are to proclaim: that Jesus Christ is truly the one Savior of the world,” Archbishop Aquila said. “He is the Good News that we are to bring to others as we invite them to encounter the Lord.” 

Of course, while there is still much work to be done to bring about the Kingdom on earth, the day’s festivity would not be complete without a foretaste of the sweetness of the Gospel and the promises of Christ. To that end, following Mass with Archbishop Aquila, archdiocesan staff gathered for lunch, gelato and community, a fitting way to honor Northern Colorado’s Italian American shepherd.

But before the archbishop bade everyone arrivederci, he exhorted all to turn to our Blessed Mother, “who always pointed to her son, Jesus, just like John the Baptist pointed to Jesus. 

“We, too, are to be on that mission, still proclaiming the Good News to the world today, and to recognize that God is with us in his Son, Jesus Christ,” he concluded.