(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) As I knelt surrounded by statues of saints at today’s Mass for the feast of the Holy Roman Martyrs, something resonated in a way it hadn’t before: it’s a blessing to remain “in the boat,” in the Church. Now, before you scoff too loudly or rage-quit this reflection, let me clarify: the Church is very human; she and her members have caused real harm. But she is also divine, instituted by Jesus and promised his presence always. It

While in Rome to receive his pallium from Pope Leo XIV, the Denver archbishop met with Vatican officials to advance the causes of canonization. From left to right: John Magee, archdiocesan chancellor; Father Bogusław Turek, C.S.M.A., undersecretary for the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints; Denver Archbishop James Golka; Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez; Deacon Doug Flinn, archdiocesan general counsel; and Father Patrick Dorélus of the Dicastery. (Photo by André Escal

The Holy Father conferred the pallium on 35 archbishops from around the world, including Northern Colorado’s shepherd, at St. Peter’s Basilica on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. (First photo by Lola Gomez/CNS; All other photos by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) Kneeling in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Denver Archbishop James Golka took up a new mantle as he received the pallium from Pope Leo XIV. Traditionally conferred on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, th

Inspired by faith and supported by generous Catholics, one couple’s mission is transforming lives through life-changing surgeries, scholarships and care for the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged in the poorest communities in India. Dr. Geetha Yeruva and Tom Chitta visit college students supported by the Foundation for Children in Need. (Photo provided) In their part-time home in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Dr. Geetha Yeruva and her husband, Tom Chitta, have a sign on their

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) We started our day with some free time, which meant that I had the chance to see Pope Leo — an opportunity I couldn’t pass up! When Pope Leo appeared in the window, the energy was electric. The Vicar of Christ, the world’s spiritual father, an American, was right there! As he spoke, I couldn’t help but tear up: his message called us to love more devotedly, more freely, more generously, even as Mary did — she who loved Jesus, even knowing she w

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) We’ve been in Rome three days now, and they’ve been filled with holy saints and sites, with lots to see, experience and learn. St. Paul Outside the Walls was beautiful. Our after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums — and the half hour we had alone in the Sistine Chapel — was moving. Borgo Laudato Si’, a Vatican project for integral ecology, was impressive. Castel Gandalfo, the pope’s summer residence, was beautiful, too. As wonderful as all thes

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) Today we met St. Paul, face to face. Well, more or less. We visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where St. Paul is buried. After Mass with Archbishop Emeritus Aquila and another pilgrimage group of FOCUS missionaries and parishioners from Denver, we had the chance to pray and visit with everyone’s favorite fiery evangelist — and my confirmation saint. It was powerful. When I chose St. Paul as my patron at 14, I thought I’d disce

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) Walking through Rome this afternoon was surreal. We’d only been here a few hours. It was a hot, sticky day, and the sun beat down from above with a vengeance. We took cover in an alley, where shade offered us its cool reprieve. We were on our way to Mass, following the tour guide. Suddenly, the alley opened up. As my eyes adjusted to the sun and the setting, they nearly couldn’t believe what was before them: the St. Peter Basilica. How did we

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the gift of religious freedom remains as relevant, radical and necessary as ever. (Photo: Lightstock) Even before the founding of the United States, America was known as a land of liberty, particularly for religious minorities fleeing persecution. This included Catholics, who founded one of the original thirteen colonies. Unlike for other religious groups, however, the promise of religious freedom often fell short for C

As the archdiocesan group headed to Rome for the Pallium Pilgrimage, the skies call to mind the “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us each and every day, in Rome, Denver and worldwide. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) It’s an interesting experience seeing things from 30,000 feet. Everything looks so small from that height: the great rivers and mountains of the West, the sprawling metropolises of the East, the “pond” that is the mighty Atlantic. As I spent most of the day on a

The United States Supreme Court is currently made up of nine justices. Front row: Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justices Samuel A. Alito and Elena Kagan. Back row: Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Photo: Fred Schilling, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the Supreme Court, is the shortest of the three articles th

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the Society of St. Pius X, in 1981. (Photo: Antonisse, Marcel / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 nl) The Holy See has declared that, if the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeds with the ordination of bishops in July without a papal mandate, those involved in these illicit ordinations are automatically (latae sententiae) excommunicated — that is, excommunicated by their own acts. One may, indeed one should, hope that it does not

Northern Colorado’s newest shepherd shares from the heart, an inspiring and personal introduction to the archdiocese’s new leader and spiritual father. Denver Archbishop James Golka sat down with Francesca Pollio Fenton of EWTN News for a wide-ranging interview, a personal introduction to Northern Colorado's newest shepherd. (Photo by Denver Catholic Staff) Denver Archbishop James Golka is coming to EWTN! Northern Colorado’s newest shepherd sat down recently with EWTN News to

The new Denver archbishop is heading to Rome this June to receive a special liturgical vestment from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In this article, we explain the history, significance and symbolism of the pallium. Denver Archbishop James Golka will receive his pallium alongside new metropolitan archbishops from around the world during Mass with Pope Leo XIV on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29. Pope Leo will impose the pallium on Archbishop Golka during a speci

Jimmy Lai in 2019. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) At his May summit in Beijing, President Trump made an effort to convince Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Jimmy Lai from his imprisonment in Hong Kong. Jimmy, whom I am honored to call a friend, is a 78-year-old diabetic who has been in solitary confinement some seven hundred days longer than the United States was engaged in World War II, and is now serving a twenty-year sentence for threatening Chinese natio

As the United States of America approaches its 250th anniversary, Catholics are invited to prayer, renewal and a deeper encounter with Christ’s love, a devotion with deep roots in Denver. The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden overlooks the Archdiocese of Denver, and will be the site of local consecrations on June 11 and 12. (Photo courtesy of the Mother Cabrini Shrine) The United States of America turns 250 years old on July 4. 23 days before

Pope St. John Paul II speaks during World Youth Day 1993 in Denver. (Photo by James Baca/Denver Catholic Register) When he was elected Bishop of Rome on October 16, 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła had a rather limited experience of the Catholic Church in the United States. He had met American churchmen at the Second Vatican Council, and a few of them visited Poland in the ensuing years. The Cracovian cardinal had made two visits to the United States, one during the national bice

As America marks 250 years, these saints and holy witnesses show how God has raised up Catholics to educate, serve, evangelize and strengthen the Church in the United States. (Photo: Denver Catholic design) Editor's Note: As we zoom in on our country's 250 years, we see the many saints and witnesses that God has raised up to build up his Kingdom here on earth. These souls shine for their courageous preaching of the Gospel, their prayerful devotion, their love for the poor and

The story of America and Colorado is ultimately a story of God’s faithfulness, mercy and invitation to holiness. (Photo: Adobe Stock) Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and earth. That formula for an apostolic blessing, a benediction that bishops give, has a lot to teach us as we reflect on our country’s last 250 years and our state’s last 150 — years marked by courage, sacrifice and perseverance — and as we

A worldwide rosary, coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization, will be prayed at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens on May 30. A pilgrim prays the rosary at a Marian vigil in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News) By Madalaine Elhabbal/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV is inviting Catholics around the world to join him in praying a rosary for peace on May 30. The Holy Father is set to pray the rosary live from the Lourdes Grott