(Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Luke 1:35 As we begin Advent, the Church once again enters a season filled with quiet expectation and profound mystery. We contemplate Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem, even as we look ahead to his glorious return. Yet before the manger and the angels, before the shepherds and the star, there was a moment hidden from the world: the overshadowing of

(Photo: Unsplash) Something special is happening in Colorado. This year, WalletHub ranked our state the 6th most charitable in the nation — climbing two spots from last year. That means Coloradans are not only giving back, they’re giving more than ever before. It’s no surprise to those who live here: we see generosity happen every day in mountain towns, suburbs and city streets across the Front Range. Giving is simply part of who we are. We shovel our neighbor’s driveway afte

What began as a college student’s encounter with Christ at Colorado State University has become a creative mission to evangelize through Glory Be Hat Company's Catholic design. (Photo courtesy of Glory Be Hat Company) By Joe Donelson Jacob Coatney is the founder and lead creative behind Glory Be Hat Company, a faith-based headwear company focused on Catholic-centered designs and audiences. He has a passion for creating and selling Catholic goods, but his mission runs deeper t

(Photo: Unsplash) Every Advent, the Church invites us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas. And here in the Archdiocese of Denver, we are blessed with a uniquely beautiful way to do that: the Days of Prayer to Mary, a local tradition that places a week of intentional Marian devotion between two of December’s greatest feasts. A Week Framed by Mary December is full of Mary’s radiant presence. We begin the Days of Prayer to Mary with the Solemnity of the I

When tragedy struck, Linda Platt’s life changed forever — not only through loss but through a deeper encounter with Christ.  (Photo provided) Raised in Mexico in a close-knit Catholic family, Platt had always dreamed of becoming a missionary. But when her mother was killed suddenly in a car accident while Platt was expecting her second child, she found herself questioning everything she believed.    “It was a difficult moment in my life,” Platt said. “Even though I was Cathol

(Denver Catholic file photo) The Archdiocese of Denver has issued the following statement addressed to the faithful regarding the public activity of Mr. Andre Mahanna, to alert the community and avoid confusion about his status within the Church. Below is the complete statement: The Archdiocese of Denver is issuing this public notice to warn the faithful in Colorado about Mr. Andre Mahanna. He was dismissed from the clerical state by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite  Ep

Denver priest and youth evangelization leader dies at 89   (Photo provided) Monsignor George Matthias Schroeder, a beloved retired priest who served the Archdiocese of Denver for over two decades, particularly in campus and youth ministry, passed away on November 8, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 89.  A Heart for Service  Many in Northern Colorado and across the archdiocese remember him as a steady pastor, an energetic evangelizer of young people and a priest who carrie

As we break open our piggy banks to give gifts this season, here are 15 ways to give a gift with lasting impact right here in Northern Colorado. (Photo: Unsplash) As Advent begins and we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, Giving Tuesday offers a chance to pause, look around our own communities and ask: How can I share the love I’ve received? Every year, this global day of generosity invites people to support causes that matter. But here in Northern Colorado, Catholi

(Photo: Adobe Stock) The twinkling lights are going up. The Advent wreath is getting dusted off. And somewhere in Colorado, a familiar question is echoing in kitchens, car rides and parish hallways alike: What on earth am I going to get everyone this year? Good news — Denver Catholic ’s award-winning Gift Guide  is back, and it might just become your new Advent tradition. Each year, our editorial team gathers the best ideas we can find from across the Catholic world: handmade

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver leads hundreds in the Stations of the Cross outside an ICE detention center in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 22, 2025. (Photo: André Escaleira Jr./Denver Catholic) By Francesca Pollio-Fenton/CNA Hundreds of Catholics gathered in front of the Denver Contract Detention Facility — an ICE detention facility in Aurora, Colorado — on Nov. 22 for Stations of the Cross led by Archbishop Samuel Aquila and Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez of the Archdioce

By Lisa Smith, MA St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities When we face the loss of someone we love, our hearts often struggle to make sense of what feels impossible to bear. At St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities, we witness this sacred space every day: where pain, love and faith meet in the human heart. It’s in this space that healing begins, and where God quietly reminds us that even in our sorrow, we are never alone. Recently, during o

What began as a simple request turned into a schoolwide celebration, and a possible modern miracle. For Jessica Carillo and her husband Mario, the arrival of Blessed Miguel Pro to the Westminster Catholic church and school was a providential moment of grace — one that may have led to a miraculous healing. (Photo provided) By Tracy Seul Viviana Chavez never imagined that a single visit to adoration would open the door to a whirlwind of grace, unexpected miracles and a renewed

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) When grief arrives, it never comes gently. The house feels hollow, words catch in the throat and the silence seems louder than prayer. In those fragile hours, Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado (CFCS) steps forward — not merely to provide funeral logistics, but to fill the void of loss with faith, hope and the comforting presence of the Church. A Ministry Rooted in History and Compassion CFCS is a nonprofit ministry of the Archdio

(Photo provided) For longtime Colorado native Jerry Fitzgerald, faith and pro-life convictions have always gone hand in hand. “I’ve always had a strong passion against abortion and for the protection of life,” he said, when asked what drew him to Marisol Health, a ministry of Catholic Charities that provides life-affirming care for women. Jerry’s journey with Marisol began a year ago through prayer. He regularly joined others outside of Planned Parenthood for Mass, Rosaries a

At a Stations of the Cross prayer gathering in Aurora, Archbishop Aquila condemns political gamesmanship and calls Catholics to defend the God-given dignity of migrants. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, together with Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, led a Stations of the Cross prayer service around the ICE Detention Facility in Aurora. Several hundred attended the peaceful procession and joined in saintly solidarity with the innumerable im

In the footsteps of Jesus’ Passion, Archbishop Aquila, Bishop Rodriguez and the faithful lift up the cries, sorrows, and hopes of immigrant families. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) You could hear the crunch of the dry Denver grass underfoot — that’s how quiet it was in the north-east Metro on Saturday morning.  Led by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Bishop Jorge Rodriguez and sponsored by the Committee for Pastoral Care for Migrants, several hundred from more than 36 local p

(Photo courtesy of St. Michael Parish, Calhan, Facebook) Father John Auer, a beloved priest affectionately known as “God’s fisherman” for his lifelong love of fly fishing, entered eternal life on Nov. 20 after 45 years of priestly ministry. Ordained in 1979 for the Archdiocese of Denver, he became a priest of the newly formed Diocese of Colorado Springs in 1984. His decades of service, marked by perseverance, gratitude and an unwavering devotion to the people of God, leave a

Through his work with director Rian Johnson and actor Josh O'Connor on the new Knives Out film, Father Scott Bailey created opportunities for understanding, even evangelizing, the Catholic faith. Father Scott Bailey, pastor of Risen Christ Parish in Denver, with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery producers Ram Bergman, Leopold Hughes and Nikos Karamigios. (Photo courtesy of Father Scott Bailey) By Jay Sorgi Sometimes, God uses big meals with fettuccine alfredo to open do

Through tending graves, comforting the grieving and witnessing the Church’s prayers for the dead, these seminarians learned what it truly means to shepherd souls. Isaac Cunnings, Zach Welton and Greg Hitschler at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Arvada. (Photo provided) Zach Welton’s first funeral at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge was unlike anything he’d experienced before. Assigned to assist with a monthly burial service called “Precious Lives,” he found himself sta

(Photo: @LauraLevyCO on X) For most Colorado sports fans, loyalty lasts a season or two. For Peggy Coppom, it has lasted nearly nine decades. The beloved University of Colorado Buffaloes superfan — and longtime daily Mass-goer at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boulder — turned 101 years old this week. And as anyone who has followed her remarkable story knows, Peggy isn’t just a Buffs fan. She has become a symbol of joyful perseverance, deep faith and contagious hope. Peggy a