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From the Domínguez-Escalante Expedition to Archbishop James Golka, God has faithfully guided the Catholic Church in Colorado through every generation. As Archbishop James Golka took possession of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver on March 26, 2026, he reflected on God's mission for the Archdiocese of Denver — ever ancient, ever new — and invited the faithful to live it today. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) By Father Scott Bailey Pastor Rise

Founded by Italian immigrants in 1894, the historic North Denver Italian parish remains a living symbol of faith, heritage and the American dream. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in North Denver stands as a testament to the Italian Catholic community in Denver. (Photo by Anne Barhyte, courtesy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Denver) By Jenna Peccia and Dominique Lillo Long before North Denver became known for trendy restaurants and modern rowhomes, before the city skyline

A call to renewal rooted in history and mission (Photo: Lightstock, created with AI) By Forest Barnette In the span of the memory of the Church, 250 years is just a drop. While the United States is right to swell with pride at the accomplishments of the Founding Fathers, Catholics claim a heritage at least as old as Abraham. Despite the youth of America and Colorado, God has nevertheless moved in big ways through the Centennial State to encourage and renew his people. The Jun

Sacred Heart, St. Patrick and generations of immigrant families helped build both the city and the Catholic faith in Colorado. An archival photo of the new St. Patrick Church in what would become the Highlands neighborhood of North Denver. (Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Denver Archives) By Karyl Klein Archivist Archdiocese of Denver As America celebrates its 250th anniversary and Colorado marks 150 years of statehood, it is worth remembering the many immigrant communit

What the Church celebrates — and challenges — in the American story (Photo: Lightstock, created with AI) By Austin Mernagh Theology and Social Studies Teacher Arrupe Jesuit High School, Denver Growing up in the Midwestern United States, I have fond memories as a kid on the 4th of July. Fireworks going off on every street, family and friends gathering around and enjoying homemade dishes and barbecue. The one thing that stood out the most was the presence everyone gave each o

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the gift of religious freedom remains as relevant, radical and necessary as ever. (Photo: Lightstock) Even before the founding of the United States, America was known as a land of liberty, particularly for religious minorities fleeing persecution. This included Catholics, who founded one of the original thirteen colonies. Unlike for other religious groups, however, the promise of religious freedom often fell short for C

As the United States marks 250 years, the story of Franciscan missionary Francisco Garcés reveals a Catholic legacy that helped shape the American Southwest. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) After writing about Escalante and Dominguez’s exploration of Colorado, I unexpectedly found myself driving Route 66 across Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona (as the road celebrates its own centennial). Providentially, I was already reading an account of a great missionary and m

Fort Collins’ sole Catholic school celebrates a century of Catholic education, academic excellence and community impact in Northern Colorado (Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic School Fort Collins) (Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic School Fort Collins) High above the doors to enter St. Joseph Catholic School in Fort Collins is a colorful bas-relief of the lamp of learning, signifying intellectual illumination, study and truth. Inside the school, every classroom displa

On the cusp of the United States’ 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th, the Centennial State and its Catholic witnesses show modern Catholics a path forward. The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, completed in 1912, has stood as a visible symbol of the Catholic faith in Colorado for over a century. (Photo: Archdiocese of Denver Archives) Colorado celebrates its own 150th anniversary this year, as the rest of the country marks 250 years since the foun

On pilgrimage in France, two seminarians and a priest got to know the archdiocese’s earliest shepherds on their home turf. Father Trevor Lontine, Carl Berner and Luke Metzer, all studying in Rome, went on pilgrimage to France last month, walking in the footsteps of some of Denver's spiritual leaders. (Photo provided) By Carl Berner Seminarian Archdiocese of Denver Every priest and seminarian has a “vocation story,” a record of God’s providence over his Church; it tells of