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Part One: Rediscovering Jesus’ original vision for discipleship. (Photo: Lightstock) 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 towards intentional accompaniment. Part Two: Be A Disciple First Part Three: Discern Who to Accompany The evangelist, Matthew, concludes his Gospel with the famous “Great Commission” of Jesus: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of a

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1622. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) The Roman Missal provides four distinct Mass texts for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord: the “Vigil Mass,” the “Mass During the Night,” the “Mass at Dawn,” and the “Mass During the Day.” The gospel readings for these Christmas Masses teach important lessons at Christmas 2025. The Vigil Mass gospel, Matthew 1:1-25, includes the evangelist’s “genealogy of Jesus Chr

‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ and ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ blend faith, humor and humanity in stories that continue to lift spirits at Christmastime. L to R: ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ and ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ (Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Productions/RKO Pictures; free Canva background, Register illustration) By Joseph Pronechen/National Catholic Register The Christmas season brings with it some enjoyable films, the best of which move and cheer hearts while reminding viewers what is important

The beloved holiday film’s church scenes, misunderstood neighbor and surprising rescue reveal a deeper Catholic story hiding in plain sight. (Photo courtesy of Home Alone's Facebook page) By Gigi Duncan/National Catholic Register More than 30 years after its release, Home Alone remains cherished as pure Christmas fun: slapstick booby traps, a wisecracking 8-year-old, and two burglars who refuse to quit despite the bodily harm they sustain along the way. Yet woven into the mo

By Daniel Payne Catholic News Agency Staff The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a coalition of Catholic families, and numerous other advocates are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of Catholic schools seeking to be included in Colorado’s universal preschool funding program.  The religious liberty law group Becket said in a Dec. 18 release that the Catholic schools’ advocates — including numerous religious groups, legal organizations, and public policy g

(Photo: Unsplash)   There is a war being waged for your soul. In fact, you were born onto a battlefield so familiar and so comfortable that you may not even realize you’re in a war at all. We insist that “‘Tis but a scratch!” as though the wounds we carry are minor. We try to push forward on our own strength, intellect and determination, unaware that, spiritually speaking, we are already mortally wounded. Every war has a “good guy” and a “bad guy.” In this battle, it is God a

(Photo provided) By Janalee Chmel The scent of flowers filled Presentation of Our Lady Parish in Denver as students processed forward one after another, clutching blossoms to place before Our Lady. Some flowers were carefully wrapped. Others were held tightly in small hands, the stems bending as students tried not to drop their important offerings. At Escuela de Guadalupe, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe isn’t simply a date on the liturgical calendar. It’s personal.  “This

From Beanie Babies to viral toys, why the rise of adult collectibles may signal a deeper cultural immaturity. (Photo: Unsplash) I am a proud ’90s kid, and when I think about my childhood, there is one trend that stands out above the rest. Beanie Babies. I still remember the thrill of convincing my mom to fork out another seven dollars. A small animal, filled with beans, legitimized by a TY tag, would soon be mine. Not only were they cute, but they came with their own name, po

Drummers accompany a group doing a traditional dance at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Greeley. (Photo: John Daley/CPR News) In the parking lot at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Greeley, hundreds of Latino families recently gathered for something many find increasingly difficult to access: basic healthcare. As Colorado Public Radio reports, fear of immigration enforcement, rising costs and lack of insurance are pushing many Latino residents to delay or avoid medical care altogethe

An invitation to encounter Jesus through the sacraments, prayer and community, finding Christ's personal love amid the crowds. (Photo by Josh Applegate, courtesy of FOCUS) Piercing through the crowd, his eyes meet mine. Even though the spotlight illuminates the monstrance and I kneel hidden in the shadows behind hundreds of adorers, I find myself held by the Lord’s gaze in a moment just between us.   Like he noticed the hemorrhaging woman despite the crowd pressing in on him

A powerful meditation on divine overshadowing, the Trinity’s indwelling and Emmanuel at Christmas. Annunciation by Giambattista Pittoni, c. 1757. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) I’ve always found the Scripture passage in Luke 1 about the Annunciation fascinating and mysterious. After Mary gives her fiat, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, and then voilà! She is pregnant with the Lord. I’m not sure exactly how that works, though I’ve had some insights lately. The idea

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, decorated for Christmas. (Photo provided) On Christmas Day, Catholics around the world gather in churches to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ — the Word made flesh, born for our salvation. For many, this joyful gathering around the altar is the heart of Christmas. Yet for some members of our community — the elderly, the sick, and those truly unable to leave their homes — attending Mass in person is not possible

Prayer, philanthropy and community are fueling a long-awaited, region-wide effort to meet worship needs in a booming community. Behind the scenes of a massive effort to build two new churches in the Rocky Mountains stands a dedicated group of faithful Catholics. From left to right: Steve and Janet Burmeister, Father José María Quera, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Alba and Reynaldo Padilla. Not pictured: Bob Boselli and Jenn Bruno. (Photo provided) The Catholic faith

Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila blessed and rededicated the renovated church at All Souls Parish in Englewood on Saturday, the culmination of a decades-long desire to renew the parish community. (Photo by Joe Donelson) By Joe Donelson This past Sunday, on the Feast of St. Lucy, All Souls Parish in Englewood reopened its doors to the neighborhood, unveiling a newly renovated place of worship. With Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila in attendance for the dedication of the altar and

German Bishops at Mass in the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls during their visit in Rome, Nov. 17, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) When it was first published in 1993, Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical on the reform of Catholic moral theology, Veritatis Splendor  (The Splendor of Truth), dealt a severe blow to the pride of many German theologians, who had long thought themselves the cutting edge of Catholic intellectual life. Indeed, within a year of the encycl

FOCUS Founder Curtis Martin announced his retirement from the role of FOCUS CEO, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Photo: FOCUS) Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS, has announced he is stepping down as CEO after nearly three decades of leadership, marking a significant transition for one of the most influential Catholic evangelization ministries in the Church today.  Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila offered the following statement upon the announcement:  “I am deeply grateful for the many year

Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man is a moving depiction of the faith in the modern age.   (Photo courtesy of Wake Up Dead Man 's social media) Wake Up Dead Man is the best movie I’ve seen in theaters in a while.   Since seeing the movie before Thanksgiving with Risen Christ Parish in Denver, I’ve been talking it up to friends nonstop. Just this past weekend, some friends shared that they’d seen it and were floored. One, who hadn’t read the Denver Catholic in a bit, even comme

(Photo by Rachel Moore, courtesy of FOCUS) When the calendar turns to a new year, thousands of Catholics, from college students to grandparents, parish leaders to young families, will begin 2026 not with resolutions, but with a pilgrimage of the heart. From January 1 to 5, the Archdiocese of Denver will welcome one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the country: SEEK 2026, the annual evangelization conference hosted by FOCUS. For decades, SEEK has been a catalyst for conv

(Photo: Denver Catholic file photo) Every December, just as Advent reaches its final stretch and Christmas draws near, the Archdiocese of Denver turns its gaze toward a uniquely local Marian devotion: Our Lady of the New Advent, celebrated on December 16. While many Marian titles are celebrated throughout the universal Church, this one belongs especially to us. Rooted in Colorado’s landscape, crafted for our archdiocese and embraced by generations of faithful, Our Lady of the

Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez preaches during the special Midnight Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denver. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat) Neither the December Colorado cold nor the late hours of the night could keep thousands of Guadalupan faithful from gathering on Thursday, December 11, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Denver to sing the traditional mañanitas to the Morenita of Tepeyac on her feast day.  Like every