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(Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this farewell letter to you, I want to share some of the gifts I have received as a priest, bishop, and disciple of Jesus, in serving him and the faithful he has brought into my life throughout the years. The gifts are far too many, undeserved and not earned. They fill my heart with wonder and gratitude to the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and to Mary as my mother, as I call them to mind. I a

A new teacher housing and training program launching this year in the archdiocese Photo by Anya Semenoff/Wellspring Catholic Academy of St. Bernadette By Liam Gallagher Executive Director Cabrini Teaching Fellows On January 30, 2024, Archbishop Aquila issued a decree establishing the Cabrini Teaching Fellows in the Archdiocese of Denver, directing it to “form teachers to be better prepared to deliver an education imbued with Christian Spirit [and] grounded in the principles o

From Down syndrome to autism, these altar servers are deepening reverence and reshaping hearts in Denver. Michael Martin holds the book for Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila during a family Baptism. (Photo courtesy of the Martin family) By Matt Walker Parents are proud — even joyful — when their child is on the altar serving at Mass. When an altar server has special needs, the sense of joy has a way of spreading beyond just their parents. By demonstrating reverence for God

(Denver Catholic file photo) Editor's Note: Archbishop Emeritus Samuel J. Aquila released this statement to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver amid the news of the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. Public Statement on the Conflict with Iran February 28, 2026 Prot. N. AB 2026-0132 A Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As news reaches us of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes, I join with Catholics in the Archdiocese of Denver and

Our Lady of the Valley's mentor-based marriage prep program forms newlyweds in faith, communication and community. A couple at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor celebrates their 50th anniversary, receiving a special blessing from the parish clergy. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Windsor) By Joe Donelson "With this program as good as it is, I just want to share it,” said Karen Boglioli, director of marriage and family life at Our Lady of the Valley (O

Children play on the courtyard at Samaritan House. (Photo provided) Most Coloradans know at least a little something about Samaritan House. Located in Denver, it became a staple in 1986 and made history as the first building in the nation designed specifically as a homeless shelter. Since that time, thousands of people have found safe shelter, nutritious meals and supportive services within its walls. Today, Samaritan House primarily serves women, families and veterans experi

Mary at the Foot of the Cross by Elizabeth Zelasko. ( Denver Catholic file photo) The Catholic Church is today in the early stages of a nine-year novena , moving towards the 2,000th anniversary of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. As we journey toward that anniversary, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila had the idea of gathering the faithful in prayer around one sacred image , an icon to help lead us, year after year, deeper into the mystery of the Cross. READ MOR

Denver's annual Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent saw 200 more catechumens than last year — a 35% rise — pointing to a marked increase in curiosity towards the Church, especially among the young. Hundreds — 200 more than last year — gathered for the annual Rite of Election at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Feb. 21. The ceremony is an ancient one marking the formal beginning of the final stretch of preparation before entering the Church at th

Each journey to the priesthood began with a different question and a different apostolate, but the same Lord. Dominic Borchers, Tommy Myers and Will Ives, seminarians at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, came to discern their vocations through their work at various Catholic apostolates. (Denver Catholic photo) Each person who commits themselves to a life of Catholic mission comes to that point through a unique journey, whether it’s a calling to marriage, single

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Archbishop-designate James Golka pray together in Christ the King Chapel at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) This last year, the world watched as the cardinals gathered in Rome for the election of a new pope, the 267 th bishop of Rome. New York recently received a new archbishop, and Denver is preparing for one as well. We are witnessing apostolic succession in action, extending an unbroken chain of bishops

In his first media appearance in Northern Colorado since his announcement as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop-designate Golka talked faith, family, discernment, prayer and evangelization. Archbishop-designate James Golka emphasized a deep trust in God, rooted in a profound prayer life, during his first media appearance in Northern Colorado since his announcement as the sixth Archbishop of Denver. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) When asked what he would say to t

A Walburga nun works on a Paschal Candle, which will be blessed and dedicated on the Easter Vigil. These holy candles burn at liturgies throughout the Easter season, at Baptisms and funerals, as a symbol of the light of Christ, even amid darkness. (Photo provided) There's a small but growing group of women who've dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ on the Colorado-Wyoming border. The Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga largely fly under the radar, having vowed to

Part Three: Intentional accompaniment and evangelization must be taken to prayer first. Before he chose his disciples, Jesus went up the mountain to pray intentionally. Like him, we who are evangelizers (hint: every Catholic!) are called to pray about whom he's calling us to accompany. (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 in

Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to Poland. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 PL) Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, Vatican Secretary of State from 1979 to 1990 — and before that, the architect and chief diplomatic agent of the Ostpolitik of Pope Paul VI — initially played hard-to-get when I tried to interview him for the first volume of my John Paul II biography, Witness to Hope . The cardinal was not a fan of my 1992 book, The Final Revolution: The Resistance Church a

At a special Mass of thanksgiving, the Catholic faithful gathered with their shepherd to express deep gratitude ahead of his upcoming retirement. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila blesses and greets the faithful at the end of a Mass of Thanksgiving at Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat) Last Saturday, members of the local Hispanic community gave thanks for and honored the ministry of Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila during an emotional Mass and celebrat

(Photo: Unsplash) After months of dedicated effort, three ballot initiatives backed by the Catholic Church in Colorado are heading to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office for review and eventual inclusion in the November 2026 ballot. Proposition 109, “The Protect Women and Girls’ Sports Act,” garnered over 170,000 signatures and aims to designate sports as male, female or co-ed, thereby protecting women and girls’ private spaces. Proposition 110, “The Protect Children fro

Archbishop-designate James Golka welcomes a student to school at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Denver after blessing a religious bracelet. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) As students at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Denver shuffled their way through the school gates, some still wiping the sleep from their eyes, they were met with a bit of a surprise — even before the Monday morning school bell trilled. Dropping by to welcome students as they arrived were Den

Choosing a spouse might be the most important decision that you will make in your life. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Mark Sanders, LPC, CAS Lisa Smith, LPCC Grace Cole, LPC, LIMHP, CPC St. Raphael Counseling In our work as couples therapists at St. Raphael Counseling, we have seen the extremes. On the one hand, we have had clients who struggled in their relationship and even recognized red flags before getting married that they didn’t acknowledge at the time. On the other hand, we

Students from Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora and Holy Family High School in Broomfield attended the funeral of a teenager who died with no known family on February 2, a testament to the works of mercy. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Colorado) By Erin Scherer Unknown, and yet, accompanied “What makes this funeral special is that none of us know anything about this man,” said Bishop Jorge Rodriguez. “Perfectly unknown. And, we are here to accom

(Photo provided) Catholic Charities of Denver and Save the Storks have officially launched the Marisol Health Mobile, a state-of-the-art clinic on wheels that will bring free, life-affirming healthcare directly to women and families across the Denver metro area. The new mobile clinic — funded through a more than $700,000 grant from Save the Storks and additional contributions from Marisol Health donors — marks Save the Storks’ 106th mobile medical clinic nationwide and the fi