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(Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) A man of prayer. A father to his flock. A faithful apostle. A rock-solid shepherd. That's how those who know Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila well describe him. On February 7, 2026, Archbishop Aquila’s request to retire was accepted by Pope Leo XIV. At the same time, it was announced that Bishop James R. Golka of the Diocese of Colorado Springs would take the helm of the Denver Archdiocese, serving as its ninth bishop and sixth archbi

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

How one unexpected vision, a tiny chapel and a lot of grace revealed our vocation and deepened our love for Christ. The Portiuncula Chapel at the Franciscan University of Steubenville was key in Meg and Ryan's love story. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan University of Steubenville's Facebook page) By Meg Stout   How my husband, Ryan, and I came to meet and marry is like something from the Old Testament: providential encounters, prophetic words and even a dream. At 18, I went off

(Photo: Lightstock) Opposites attract, like puzzle pieces that fit together. And yet in most marriages I know of (including mine), we discover over the first decade that we couldn’t be more different. Sometimes it becomes hard to remember what brought us together in the first place! The answer is there, but often it must be rediscovered. Along the way, the differences, miscommunications and disappointments can threaten to destroy our marriages. I speak as a woman to one of ou

Why the Great Commission still applies to married couples. Mission brought Alli and Tanner to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN, in July 2024. (Photo provided) Leaving staff as a campus missionary with FOCUS was a difficult transition. I absolutely loved evangelizing students at the University of Colorado Boulder, and I didn’t want my zeal for souls to fizzle out. I was determined to continue living on mission, even if it would look different. My fiancée w

(Photo provided) In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul describes the ideal of a Christian husband, writing, “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, and is himself its savior […] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:23, 25).   This image of Christ as the head of the Church is often evoked to properly explain his relationship to her — and of a husband to his wife.   But

(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

(Photo: Unsplash) P.D. James’ detective novels, featuring Inspector Adam Dalgliesh of New Scotland Yard, are every bit as gripping as those penned by Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Edith Pargeter (who wrote as “Ellis Peters” when creating the Cadfael Chronicles ), and Ann Cleeves. Yet my favorite work by the woman who was honored with a life peerage and died in 2014 as Baroness James of Holland Park is her dystopian look into a world of global infertility, The Children o

(Photo: Lightstock) During my morning prayer, I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 when I was struck by the verse that says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood” (1 Corinthians 13:12). The Ignatius Study Bible notes that ancient Corinth manufactured polished bronze “mirrors.” Although known for their excellent quality, the reflected image was nonetheless hazy and indistinct

A family on mission, the Engbloms show how faith-filled communities live the Gospel together. Dr. Bethany Engblom with the addiction team. (Photo provided) By Jay Sorgi Dr. Bethany and Josiah Engblom’s journey of seeing the face of Christ has led them to be the hands and feet of Christ, and in turn, has brought them closer to a deeper love of Christ. This journey of service has led the Loveland residents to a life of deep commitment to a community in Tanzania, as well as inst

Bishop Rodríguez pointed to Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model for Christian life as he closed the Jubilee Year of Hope. (Photo by Grant Whitty/Denver Catholic) By Grant Whitty As the faithful settled into pews before Mass on the last Sunday of 2025, a seminarian stood waiting at the back of the Cathedral, under the red and yellow canopy of the Cathedral Basilica's umbrellino.  “I am sure you all know the symbolism behind the umbrellino  and bell [formally, the tintinnabulum

When plans fell apart, peace entered in, and the season of joy became real for the first time. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Forest Barnette I expected last Christmas to be really hard. It was the first time my husband, kids and I didn’t travel to see extended family. The estrangement that caused these circumstances was painful enough on its own, not to mention the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the traditions lost and the grieving for what I’d imagined holidays with kids, cousins and

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

Dr. Bob Cutillo's new book, "Holding on in the Storm," aims to help Christians face death and suffering without fear, drawing from biblical, medical and personal wisdom gleaned over decades of medical practice, and in his accompaniment of his wife, Heather, as she prepared for death. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Bob Cutillo) Many of us have faced the loss of a loved one and know how disorienting death can feel. Even with the hope of eternal life, grief can still overwhelm us and le

(Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities) As Advent draws near and families prepare their homes for Christmas, many parents in our own community are quietly struggling with a basic yet overwhelming need: diapers. For families facing financial hardship, diapers are more than an expense. They can be the dividing line between stability and crisis. Marisol Family, a ministry of Catholic Charities, is once again running its annual Diaper Drive to meet this urgent need. The organizati

(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

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Michelle Connor Harris, Psy.D. Executive Director St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities Bring to mind your best Christmas memory. Was it receiving a particular gift that you longed for? Decorating the Christmas tree? Maybe it was baking Christmas cookies with your mom and getting to lick the last bit of frosting from the spatula. If you’re a parent, perhaps you recall the giddy anticipation of your children on Christmas Eve and their

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

(Photo: Lightstock) As Thanksgiving draws near, families across the archdiocese are preparing their tables for Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. For some of those families, the preparations take on a holy hue through the rich and beautiful practice of bringing food to church to be blessed before it is shared. Roots in the Eucharist and Harvest Feasts The Church’s call to give thanks is ancient. In fact, the very word Eucharist comes from t

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