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(Photo provided) There are few words that a person will say in their lifetime that carry as much eternal weight as the two simple words couples say at the altar on their wedding day: "I do." In uttering these two words, a man and his wife are doing much more than merely promising to lay down their lives for one another — though, to be sure, they are doing that too. "I do" is a mutual assent that a man and his wife will give themselves completely and totally to one another in

For Paul Glaser, what began as a simple construction job in the foothills of Colorado has become a mission of faith, service and community.  (Photo provided) Born and raised in Nebraska, Glaser came to Colorado at 21, following college friends — one of whom would later become his brother-in-law. He started working in construction and made St. John the Evangelist Parish in Loveland his home parish. There he met Father Roger Mollison, a priest who would unknowingly shape the co

(Photo: Adobe Stock) We are living in what many have described as an “apostolic age,” like the first centuries of the Church, when Christians proclaimed the Gospel in a world that did not share their assumptions about God, truth or the purpose of human life. In that time, Christians lived, loved and worshipped differently than the world. And in doing so, they drew others to the beauty of Christ. In our own time, the cultural foundations that once supported Christian life have

Part Two: Why evangelization begins with personal conversion and encounter with Jesus Christ. (Photo: Lightstock) By Tanner Kalina My dad loved baseball, but he had no experience actually playing the game. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it didn’t bode well for my Major League aspirations as a kid. The proper mechanics for hitting a ball had to be imparted to me by other men. Same thing with throwing and fielding. I had to find other sources to help me advan

(Photo provided) For Jeff Runyan, discipleship has always meant helping others meet Jesus — not just in theory, but in person.    After more than a decade of service with FOCUS, Runyan discerned that God was calling him in a new direction. In late 2023, he and his wife began praying about how best to use their gifts and passions for the Church. Through that prayer, he realized that one of his greatest passions was taking people around the world to encounter Christ through sac

Part One: Rediscovering Jesus’ original vision for discipleship. (Photo: Lightstock) The evangelist, Matthew, concludes his Gospel with the famous “Great Commission” of Jesus: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). It’s because of this Great Commission that the Catholic Church “exists in order to evangelize…” ( Evangelii Nuntiandi 14). Jesus’ command set the Church on her course until his Second Coming. Ever since he spoke those words to his apos

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

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

What repeated Scripture, a preschool coloring page and the wisdom of the saints reveal about desire, especially this Advent. (Photo: Lightstock) By Meg Stout Have you ever had a moment where God was communicating something really clearly to you? He can do so in many different ways: through images, thoughts that arise in prayer, words from other people, homilies or even through nature. For me, he often gets his message across through Scripture, usually at Mass. Because I can m

(Photo: Lightstock) Many Catholics experience some degree of guilt, often, though not universally, more intensely during the holiday season. Guilt can arise from spiritual, cultural and emotional factors, and is an uncomfortable feeling that no one likes experiencing. Yet this discomfort points to our original state of innocence, the innocence Adam and Eve knew in the Garden of Eden. In this sense, guilt becomes a wake-up call. It alerts us when we have sinned and invites us

Bishop Jorge Rodríguez celebrates Mass at Cure d'Ars Parish in Denver. (Photo by Ryan Brady) Good news! This holiday season, the Church is giving us a great gift: the chance to go to Mass TWICE in one weekend! That might not seem like a “gift” to some, with all the demands of the holiday season pressing down. But this weekend, we celebrate a few fantastic feasts that you won’t want to miss. First, on Sunday, December 7, we gather to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. We’l

In a world of shrinking circles, real love expands the table. That’s what Christ’s family, the Church, has always done. (Photo: Lightstock) “Mom, is Tía Gina your sister or Dad’s?” a bright-eyed young André asked his mom. “Well, neither. She’s not actually related to us at all,” came the reply. After all those years, I was confused to say the least — who was “Aunt” Gina, after all? Since when do high school best friends automatically become aunts and uncles?? The first domino

A simple question posed in a quiet chapel led to a 31-day Mass streak, a series of powerful spiritual lessons and a deep peace that only Jesus can give. (Photo: Unsplash) It was a quiet Saturday afternoon. I found myself in my parish’s chapel, yelling at God, angry  at him for calling a dear friend to move away. Between tirades came a reply that echoed in the silence: “What if you loved me this much?” Now, I wish I could say I piously realized the error of my ways, repented,

(Photo provided) For Kary Lara, ministry is more than a role; it is a calling that has shaped every part of her life. As director of religious education (DRE) for St. Vincent and St. Mary of the Crown Parishes in Basalt and Carbondale, she serves both English- and Spanish-speaking communities nestled in Colorado’s mountain region, helping families encounter Christ through faith formation, sacraments and service.    Since the parishes are small and close-knit, Lara wears many

Beginning this weekend, seminarians will visit parishes throughout the archdiocese to share their vocation stories and ask for your support.   Tommy Myers and Deacon Daniel Rivas, both seminarians for the Archdiocese of Denver, are in formation for the priesthood at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. (Photo by Grant Whitty) Each year, the Archdiocese of Denver invites the faithful to support the formation of future priests through the Annual Seminaries’ Appeal.

In the quiet plains near the Wyoming border, the Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga live a life of prayer and praise — a hidden wellspring of grace for the Church and the world. (Photo courtesy of the Abbey of St. Walburga) If you’ve never been to Virginia Dale, Colorado, it’s quiet. There’s not much “going on” by worldly standards, and most people might just be passing through on their way to Laramie or Fort Collins. But in that quaint and quiet town, mere miles f

(Photo: Lightstock) The American holiday calendar is surprisingly rich with Catholic traditions — St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, All Hallows Eve, Christmas and Easter. All of them, however, have taken on a life of their own, shaped by American consumerism, and often bear little resemblance to their Catholic origins. Halloween, in particular, has drawn elements from the celebration of All Souls Day and various pagan traditions, especially the Celtic festival of Samhai

Faith is not just an idea but a relationship — a lived encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ. (Photo: Lightstock) “Do you know Jesus?” I let the question hang in the air, my go-to whenever I walk with someone in discipleship. A blank stare. “…I mean, I guess?” “You guess ?”  A smile. “Let me ask you a different question. Do you know me ?” “Yes.” “Do you ‘guess’ that you know me?” “No.” “Ok, then why do you guess that you know Jesus?” “Hm. Well, I guess I know about  Jesus

Tom Monaghan, founder of Legatus and Ave Maria University and the entrepreneur behind Domino's Pizza, joined Barry Rowan, Denver Legatus member, business leader and author, for a fireside chat with Denver's Legatus chapter on the occasion of their 25th anniversary. (Photo courtesy of Legatus Denver) By Maura Keller “If you want to really be happy, you have to have a strong faith,” said Legatus founder Tom Monaghan at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Denver Legatus Chap

(Photo: Lightstock) By Alli Kalina In the depths of grieving yet another miscarriage, my husband gently posed a question that shook things up in my spiritual life. After expressing to him that I felt hopeless and like God had abandoned me, he delicately asked me, “What’s your hope in?”  I slumped into our old, sunken couch and thought to myself: “ What was my hope in? What even is hope?”   I’m a convert, and the Lord brought me home to the Church my freshman year of college.