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Becky Heier, an art teacher at Frassati Catholic Academy in Thornton, has been named the Colorado Private, Independent and Charter School Art Educator of the Year by the Colorado Art Education Association. (Photo courtesy of Frassati Catholic Academy's Facebook) When students step into Becky Heier’s art classroom at Frassati Catholic Academy in Thornton, they find more than brushes and paints. They find a place where creativity becomes prayer and where beauty points to someth

Together with the new Catholic End-of-Life Network, Respect Life Denver is working to defend the dignity of every human life — from the first heartbeat to the final breath. (Photo: Lightstock) Respect Life Denver, a ministry of Catholic Charities, is on a mission to help transform Colorado into a sanctuary where every human being is valued and protected at every stage of life. While that mission begins with the unborn, the most vulnerable among us, it does not end there. Resp

Deacon Raul Martinez (left) and his family. (Photo provided) Answering God’s Call Sometimes God’s call to serve comes as a gentle whisper — and often when we least expect it. For Deacon Raul Martinez, that whisper came during one of the hardest chapters of his life. What began in heartbreak became a journey of faith, renewal and service — one that transformed Deacon Martinez, his wife, Linda Martinez, their family and the parish community at St. Theresa Parish in Frederick. “

Through prayer, partnership and pastoral care, Denver Catholics are working together to honor the dignity of every person at life’s end this End-of-Life Respect Month and every day. (Photo: Unsplash) By Erin Scherer “Where was this two years ago when my mom died?” asked one participant at last year’s End-of-Life Conference at Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora. The gathering brought together several ministries serving families in their final journeys of life, offering resources,

Three Colorado teens traded high school routines for an early call to the priesthood. Now seminarians at St. John Vianney, they share how faith, school and unexpected moments led them to embrace a life of mission and sacramental devotion. Ashton Mendoza, Daniel Olivas-Rey and Thaddeus Conder smile for a quick selfie during a recent hike. (Photo provided) Thaddeus Conder knew that fear crept in at night. As a small boy, he suffered from night terrors. He recalls once waking fr

Father Angel Perez-Lopez, rector of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, archbishop emeritus of Denver, and Daniel Campbell, executive director of the St. John Vianney Seminary Lay Division, discuss St. John of the Cross during a Lay Division event. (Photo by Sheryl Tirol) Cardinal J. Francis Stafford spoke before a crowd at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver last week, exploring the work of a 16th-century Spanish mystic whose writings have inti

While searching for control and connection, those who practice New Age spirituality — from tarot to Reiki, from manifestation to astrology — are led astray, into anxiety, depression and conflict. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Cecilia Dietzler Across the Western world, New Age spirituality has seen a dramatic rise. From meditation apps to hair salons offering Reiki treatments, it seems to be a constant in our society. Yet, beneath the aesthetic appeal and trendy buzzwords, these pra

At 17, I felt invisible — until one youth leader’s prayer opened a door for the Holy Spirit that would ripple through generations. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Vall) By Shannon Vall In the summer of 1985, a lonely, sad 17-year-old girl found herself reluctantly heading west on Highway 36 toward a weekend teen retreat along the Colorado Front Range. She hadn’t chosen to go — her well-intentioned but insistent mother had made that decision for her. She arrived uneasy and lost, co

At the Cathedral Basilica, the archbishop reminded police, firefighters, and paramedics that God’s peace is found through prayer — even amid danger and sacrifice. First responders from around the Denver Metro area gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver on Sunday for the first Blue Mass in 12 years. (Photo by Joe Donelson) By Joe Donelson “You will have much more peace if you pray than if you do not pray,” said Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila in

(Photo by Lothar Wolleh / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0) Sixty years ago, on October 28, 1965, the Second Vatican Council adopted, and Pope Paul VI promulgated, the Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, known by the first words in the official Latin text as Nostra Aetate  (In Our Age). I chart Nostra Aetate ’s sometimes rocky passage through Vatican II in To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II .  Suffice it to note here that

(Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic School, Fort Collins) Halloween snuck up on you? Don’t panic — you can still show up with a costume that’s clever, holy and just the right amount of funny. Whether you’re going for divine inspiration or a blessed dad joke, here are five easy ideas you can throw together in minutes.  1. The Holy Ghost  What you need:  White sheet (ghost-style), cross necklace or taped-on paper cross, maybe a Bible as a prop. Congratulations — you’re offic

As the government shutdown continues and cold weather looms, more than 1,000 people received food and clothing in just one week — a sign of skyrocketing need. (Photo provided) As the government shutdown continues and the cold winter temperatures approach, the Little Flower Assistance Center in Aurora has seen a  sharp increase in families seeking help . Last week alone, the Catholic Charities’ center served more than 1,000 people  — about 150 to 200 more individuals than usua

Deacon Mark Leonard, the Archdiocese's new associate director of deacons, prays the Rosary while walking in the recent pro-life procession around Planned Parenthood in Denver. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) When Deacon Mark Leonard and his wife, Joanna, packed up their home in New Mexico to move to Denver, they did so for a familiar reason — family. Their daughter, her husband, and their grandchildren had settled here, and the Leonards wanted to be close. But as God often do

Broomfield's Holy Family High School Tigers became Class 4A State Softball Champions after their decisive win over Windsor High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Holy Family High School) At Aurora Sports Park on a brisk October afternoon, Broomfield's Holy Family High School softball team proved that grit, faith and teamwork can overcome even the toughest odds. With a stunning 7–4 comeback win over top-seeded Windsor, the Tigers captured their first Class 4A state champi

Her two-word theory promises peace through detachment, yet Christ alone brings healing that no self-help formula can provide. (Photo courtesy of Mel Robbins' Facebook page) You know the feeling. One moment, life is great, and the next, you are free-falling into despair. Why? Because you opened Instagram and saw your friends hanging out without you. You start to spiral as you ask incessantly: Why didn’t they invite me? What did I do? What is wrong with me? Seven hours later, y

(Photo provided) The room was filled with warmth, laughter and a shared sense of mission as more than three dozen advocates gathered for Respect Life Denver’s Gospel of Life Workshop on Saturday, October 18. The day offered not only formation but also a renewal of heart for those seeking to live out Christ’s love in the pro-life movement. Participants were joined by the Sisters of Life and Chelsy Gomez from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Walking with Moms i

With rosaries in hand and Christ in the Eucharist leading the way, Denver Catholics stood as a sign of hope in a state where life is under assault. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) The chill of the autumn air was met with the warmth of prayerful community on Saturday morning, as faithful from across the archdiocese gathered for the annual pro-life procession around Planned Parenthood in Denver. With Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila leading the effort, the procession circled

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Dr. Angela Wall Licensed Clinical & School Psychologist St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities As parents and grandparents of children in 2025, we face many unique challenges strikingly different from past generations. The one thing we do have in common is our love for our children and our faith in God. We treasure our families and cherish the time we have together. We value the beauty and innocence of childhood. God's light shines on

Young people listen to the stories of Christian youth with lived experience of mental health challenges as part of “The Sanctuary Youth Series” by Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries) By Kate Quiñones/CNA Daniel Whitehead knew it was time for a change when his wife told him she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him smile. With the strain of constantly meeting with people who were struggling, the Christian pastor s

Bailasan, championed by the Latin Patriarchate and Aid to the Church in Need, has already helped hundreds of people. A group session underway at Bailasan with Sister Lorena Saenz. (Photo: Courtesy of Bailasan) By Sabrina Ferrisi/National Catholic Register For the average young person living in the West Bank, life is very hard. Teenagers there have never known what it means to live in a place of peace. Within the city of Bethlehem, a short distance from the Church of the Nativ