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(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) When grief arrives, it never comes gently. The house feels hollow, words catch in the throat and the silence seems louder than prayer. In those fragile hours, Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado (CFCS) steps forward — not merely to provide funeral logistics, but to fill the void of loss with faith, hope and the comforting presence of the Church. A Ministry Rooted in History and Compassion CFCS is a nonprofit ministry of the Archdio

(Photo: Lightstock) By Mark Hahn Emmaus Catholic Hospice   In the tender embrace of faith, the journey towards eternal life is a sacred passage. For Catholics, this transition is imbued with profound spiritual significance, demanding care that honors not only the physical self but also the soul. It is in this spirit that Emmaus Catholic Hospice stands as a guiding light, offering compassionate, faith-centered, end-of-life care that upholds the dignity of every individual and

How to talk with our parents — and ourselves — about death with love, sensitivity and faith (Photo: Lightstock) By Lisa Smith, MA, LPCC Outpatient Therapist St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities   Death is one of life’s few certainties, yet one of the hardest realities to face. Even as people of faith who believe in eternal life, many of us struggle to confront our own mortality — or the thought of losing our parents. Pope Francis once said, “Death is not t

From living wills to the sacraments, the Church guides us to prepare for death not with fear, but with faith and hope in the Resurrection. (Photo: Unsplash) By Deacon John Volk, MD   There’s an old saying: “Don’t rehearse for bad news.” While that can be good advice, sometimes it is wise to have a discussion with loved ones about how to approach medical decisions in the later years and at the end of life. In my experience as a family doctor, often medical conditions arise sud

(Photo: Unsplash) By Deacon Ernest Martinez Director of Deacons Archdiocese of Denver As I reflect on End-of-Life Month  in our Archdiocese, I find myself looking back over two distinct callings in my life: first as a police officer, then later as a deacon. They might seem worlds apart, but both have placed me face-to-face with the mystery of death and the beauty of the human soul’s longing for God. From the Streets to the Sanctuary During my years in law enforcement, I stood

(Photo: Unsplash) Throughout November, the Church reflects on the mystery we will all one day face: the passage from this life to our eternal home in Heaven. Locally, in the Archdiocese of Denver, we observe End-of-Life Month, inviting the faithful to reflect on the hope of the Resurrection, to accompany loved ones with dignity, and to learn from the wisdom of the ministries uniting to form the newly established Catholic End-of-Life Network.  Comprising the Catholic Foundatio

Dante Alighieri with Florence and the Realms of the Divine Comedy (Hell, Purgatory, Paradise), fresco by Domenico di Michelino (1465, after Alesso Baldovinetti), Florence Cathedral. (Photo: Heroldius/Menkin AlRire, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)   November, the month of the dead, calls us to remember our own death and to prepare for eternal life. We may be tempted to think of this preparation in minimalist terms — avoiding mortal sin and fulfilling a basic set of obligations

(Photo: Pexels) By the Wheaton Agency In the quiet basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, a young parish priest named Father Michael McGivney faced a heartbreaking reality. Widows, newly bereaved, would knock on his door, desperate for help. Their husbands — often the sole breadwinners — had died unexpectedly, leaving families not only in grief but in financial ruin. Children were at risk of being sent to orphanages. The Church, stretched thin, could only do

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Msgr. Edward L. Buelt, J.C.L.   A Midnight Call The nursing home’s night nurse called me in the middle of the night, waking me from a sound sleep. She asked that I come immediately to administer the last rites to a non-responsive, near-death resident.   When I arrived, the woman’s daughter explained her mother’s condition. She was certain her mother would not live to see the morning. I sat beside the woman, greeted her softly and found that she did not

How faithful preparation can bring peace to life’s final chapter (Photo: Unsplash) By Carla D. Little As Catholics, we know this life is not our final home. We are pilgrims journeying toward eternal life. But as we walk this path, we are called to be good stewards not only of our resources but also of the responsibilities entrusted to us, especially in life’s final chapters. While many aspects of the end of life are outside our control, one meaningful step we can take is to p

For families who could not afford burial, the Bring Them Home Mass and Crypt of All Saints ministry became an answer to prayer and a moment of profound healing. (Photo provided) By Erin Scherer The cremated remains of 42 individuals were placed reverently at the foot of the altar at the annual Bring Them Home Mass at Mount Olivet Cemetery last Saturday, as family and friends gathered to pray for them and entrust them to God. It was fitting on this All Saints Day, where we cel

Catholic teaching reminds us that human dignity endures until our final breath, and that preparing for death — either ours or that of a parent or loved one — is an act of both gratitude and love. Extremae Unctionis Sacramentum by Pietro Longhi, c. 1757. (Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons) By Father Scott Bailey   I recently anointed a man who was dying by himself in a nursing home. He was unresponsive, but I think he knew that I was there. His wife of 50+ years is homebo

Through endowments, wills, trusts and Donor-Advised Funds, Catholics across Northern Colorado are building a legacy that strengthens the Church’s mission — from parishes and schools to seminaries and ministries. (Photo: Andrew Wright/Denver Catholic) By Beth Chatterton In 1998, Archbishop Charles Chaput established The Catholic Foundation with a clear mission: to professionally manage and safeguard the financial gifts of the faithful for the long-term benefit of the Church. N

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

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,

The newly reopened Mount Olivet Funeral Home Central Denver aims to serve the community through compassionate care at the end of life and amid grief. (Photo by Neil McDonough) The newly reopened Mount Olivet Funeral Home Central Denver, formerly known as Caldwell-Kirk Mortuary, is once again opening its doors to serve the local community — this time with a renewed Catholic identity and a mission of hope in the Resurrection. The reopening day began with Mass for the staff, fol

Through the Crypt of All Souls and the annual ‘Bring Them Home’ Mass, Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado ensures every person — regardless of means — is laid to rest with dignity and prayer. (Photo provided) For more than three years, she kept a small wooden urn on the corner of her bedroom dresser. Inside were the cremated remains of her son. She loved her son deeply, but she also carried a quiet guilt. She didn’t know what to do with his remains. The idea of s

Ascension by Francisco Camilo, c. 1651. Background added. (Photos: Public Domain/Unsplash) There are many reasons to regret the transfer...

(Photo Provided) Dr. Natalie King never imagined she’d find her calling in palliative care. “I like to think the field kind of found me,...

The second-annual Bring Them Home event afforded 40 families the opportunity to lay their loved ones to rest at no cost, thanks to a...