(Photo: Lightstock) I did not want to write about screens. I did not want to because, Lord knows, we are struggling to figure out screens for our own family. We make rules and guidelines, find them hard to stick to, and before you know it, we are back where we started with too much screen time. It feels like once you open Pandora’s box regarding devices, there’s almost no going back. But then, I was in our dentist’s waiting room on two different occasions, and what I witnesse

The defeat of an "assisted dying" bill in the United Kingdom is a welcome win for the culture of life. (Photo: Unsplash) Good news not being thick on the ground these days, I’m delighted to note some very good news from the mother country: on April 24, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill failed to gain passage in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, thus ending, for now, the efforts to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales. A month earlier, the Scottish Parl

Inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta, a reflection on why faithfulness — not results — is the true mark of Christian mission. (Photo: Lightstock) By Meg Stout In the world, success is the standard of all things worth doing. It exerts such quiet authority over our thinking that even our noblest efforts are instinctively weighed by their results. Even if we are, by some extraordinary grace, completely purified of vainglory, we still want that to which we are devoted to achieve th

Pope Leo XIV smiles as he greets a child dressed as the pope from the popemobile while riding around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience March 11, 2026. (Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez) “All roads lead to Rome.” This proverbial saying from the ancient empire remained true even as Jesus’ disciples made their way across the world. The Eternal City, the capital of one of the world’s greatest empires, has served as the center of Christ’s Church for two tho

(Photo: Lightstock) By Jordan Langdon CEO + Marriage & Parenting Coach Families of Character During a recent Parenting Workshop at St. Thomas More Catholic School, I invited parents to reflect on their favorite childhood summer memories. “We rode bikes until the streetlights came on.” “My dad grilled every Sunday night.” “My cousins slept over for a week every summer.” “We caught fireflies.” “We went to the pool almost every day.” “There was always time.” As parents shared th

(Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Denver Office of Catholic Schools) Before joining what once imagined itself the world’s greatest deliberative body, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) was a decorated naval aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut with four space shuttle missions to his credit. Now, like approximately 80% of his senatorial colleagues, Senator Kelly looks in the mirror in the morning and sees a future president. Before he takes the plunge, however, I hope

(Photo: Lightstock) By Randall Vette, PsyD St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities The most repeated phrase in all of Sacred Scripture is some variation of “Do not be afraid.” Apparently, the divine author knows what we need to hear because the most common mental health issue, by far, is anxiety — a fear-based emotion that becomes excessive. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 19.1% of U.S. adults experience clinical symptoms of anxiety annua

(Photo: Vatican Media) Imagine for a moment you were made a bishop by Pope Francis in 2015. Now imagine you were made a cardinal just two years ago in 2023. Now imagine your boss, Pope Francis, just recently passed, so you’re quickly ushered to the Vatican to help elect the next pope. You’re thinking there’s no possible way you’ll be elected. You haven’t been around all that long. You’re just a simple missionary priest at heart. You’re also an American, for crying out loud. N

A Denver mother shares how marriage, motherhood and grace led her from the Methodist church through OCIA and into the Catholic Church. Amanda Flageolle found her way home to the Catholic Church slowly, quietly, over time. Now three years a Catholic, she looks back with gratitude. (Photo by Bettinger Photography) By Amanda Flageolle 2012. A lovely spring day for a walk with my future husband. “Allen, what would you think about going to church with me this Sunday?” I asked as w

Pope St. John Paul II speaks at a gathering during World Youth Day 1993 in Denver. (Photo by James Baca/Denver Catholic Register) Thirty-five years ago, Pope John Paul II issued his most developed social encyclical, Centesimus Annus; its title signaled the author’s intention to honor the centenary of Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which launched the modern papal social magisterium. Yet Centesimus Annus, while paying due homage to Leo XIII’s enduring insights, was

(Photo: Pixabay) By Sandra Morales Associate Director of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Archdiocese of Denver A Lot of Content, Little Presence A couple of years ago, in my work with couples, I began to notice a recurring theme. I found myself reflecting on marriage and technology: how strange it is that we have more resources, tools, podcasts, books and apps than any previous generation and yet communion between spouses can feel surprisingly fragile. Sitting with couple

Sts. Philip and James Church in Baltimore, MD, where George Weigel was baptized 75 years ago. (Photo by Father Lawrence Lew, OP, Creative Commons via Flickr) Three-quarters of a century ago, on April 29, 1951, I was baptized by Father Thomas Love, SJ, in Baltimore’s Church of Saints Philip and James. Old Scratch must have thoroughly sunken his claws into my infant self; according to family tradition, I sent up such a howl when he was ousted by water and the Holy Spirit that m

Through heartfelt sharing, Scripture, storytelling, the kerygma and prayer, we can effectively invite others to come to know Jesus. Pope Francis visits a Brazilian favela during World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 br) By Meg Stout When we think of evangelization, what comes to mind? Do we feel equipped to evangelize? We might pressure ourselves with high expectations, thinking we must have the eq

(Photo: Lightstock) Back when I was giving talks to teenagers, there was always a point in the presentation where the audience knew we were getting dangerously close to discussing s-e-x. At that point, I would say, “I know what you’re thinking. ‘Oh no, she’s going to talk about sex. Please don’t let her talk about the details. I get so embarrassed.’ And then, ‘How come I get so embarrassed anyway? There must be something wrong with me, and I’m going to grow up to be some kind

Archbishop James Golka makes his profession of faith and oath of fidelity during Vespers, a prayer service from the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church's official prayer, before formally taking office as Denver's sixth archbishop and ninth bishop on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic) There is something quietly beautiful about beginnings that come in the light of Easter. As I begin my ministry as Archbishop of Denver, entrusted to me by the Holy Father, Pope

The Tribute Money by Masaccio, c. 1424. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) Here’s a story for you. One day, I was worrying about money and taxes, and I shared my troubles with my brother over the phone. He told me he was on his way into Mass and would call me back when he got out — and he did. The Gospel reading that day? Matthew 17:27, the story of Jesus and his disciples needing to pay the temple tax. Jesus tells them to cast a line into the sea, and in the mouth

"Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them," reads Isaiah 11:6. (Photo via Lightstock, created with AI) Jesus’ first words to the disciples after his resurrection were “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). This was the fruit of Easter, resolving the two greatest threats to our peace — the internal discord of sin and the existential threat of d

(Photo: Unsplash) On April 22, people across the United States and the rest of the world celebrates Earth Day. First officially held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has continually commemorated a commitment to conservation and ecological awareness, with many organizations encouraging water conservation, voluntary energy blackouts and calls for global climate education. Christians share a special dedication to these ideals, as we are called to care for our common home and to stew

Part Five: As we accompany others towards Jesus, we must find places, spaces and times in which we and others can be vulnerable. Hikers pause for a sunset view during a young adult camping weekend co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Denver, Annunciation Heights and Mission House Denver. (Photo by Allison Holdridge) Editor's Note: This column is part of a yearlong series on evangelization, breaking down what often feels like a tall order into real, practical, actionable steps t

(Photo: Lightstock, created with AI) In the eleventh chapter of John’s Gospel, we encounter a verse which, being only two words long, is among the shortest and most mystifying in Scripture. Jesus wept. He who is God, “infinitely perfect and blessed in himself,” wept ? (CCC 1) He who told the widow mother, “Do not weep,” though her son lay dead? (Luke 7:11-17) He who told Jairus and his wife not to weep for their daughter, “for she is not dead but sleeping”? (Luke 8:40-56) He