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Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila celebrated his final Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday. (Photo by Neil McDonough) As Catholics across Northern Colorado marked the beginning of Lent on Wednesday, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila celebrated his last Ash Wednesday Mass as shepherd of Northern Colorado. Earlier this month, it was announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted his retirement and named his successor, Most Rev. Jam

(Photo: Lightstock) As the Lenten season begins, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila has issued his final pastoral note, entitled "Encounter Jesus: Listening with the Heart." In it, he encourages the faithful to encounter the Lord Jesus, especially in Scripture, discern his voice and allow his will to be carried out through each of us. The pastoral note and its exhortation come following the announcement that Pope Leo XIV had accepted Archbishop Aquila's request to retire on February

Thanks to a partnership between the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver and the Colorado Catholic Conference, lawmakers, staff and visitors to the Colorado State Capitol had the chance to mark Ash Wednesday with prayer. (Photo by Neil McDonough) Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and in downtown Denver, the holy season saw a surprising start as the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Colorado Catholic Conference brought ashes to a

(Photo by Rocio Madera) Everyone’s favorite season of sacrifice is just around the corner! The penitential period of the Church year seems to sneak up on us year after year, and brings with it lots of questions. While wonder is  a gift of the Holy Spirit, there’s no need to sit in uncertainty any longer! Is Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation? According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) 1991 general decree, there are six Holy Days of Obligation i

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) No, those strange folks with dirt on their head aren’t actually all that strange! Ash Wednesday is just around the corner, and with it, the beginning of Lent, a time of spiritual preparation, reflection and introspection. During this holy time, Christians around the world will consider ways to live more simply, to act more generously and to get to know God better. The ashes rubbed on the foreheads of millions each year remind us of our weakness

Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) by Caravaggio, c. 1605. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) It’s easy to take things that we’re used to doing for granted. Lent’s just one of those Catholic customs that come around every year as the liturgical year moves through its cycles. But if we actually think about why we practice it, it may help us to get more out of it. I’d like to explore the “why” behind it to help us be more intentional in how we enter into Lenten practices thi

Let Lent lead us into love through Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities offers several opportunities to get involved and give back this Lent, from Fort Collins to the Denver Metro, from the Western Slope to your own neighborhood. (Photo provided) Lent arrives every year like an invitation, quiet but impossible to ignore. The ashes on our foreheads remind us that life is brief, and love is meant to be shared widely. You may be thinking about what to give up, but Lent also as

Neither homelessness nor divorce, neither addiction nor loneliness, neither anxiety nor brokenness can keep these new Catholics from...

(Photo by Jason Smith) On Good Friday, a snowstorm did not prevent about 100 people, including families with young children, priests from...

(Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic) On Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila published "Standing with Mary...

(Photo: Lightstock) For Christmas, I bought myself the new Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, and ever since New Year’s, I have been reading...

Priests of the Archdiocese of Denver gather on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver for a group...

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Cost: $ Servings: 4 Ingredients: 1 lb pasta of your choosing (penne...

(Photo: Lightstock) Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 1 hour 10 mins Cost: $ Servings: 6 Ingredients: 1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/4-inch...

(Photo: Unsplash) By Senite Sahlezghi (Denver Catholic file photo) Evening Prayer had just ended, the smell of incense still looming in...

(Photo courtesy of the JeffCo Transcript) The Stations of the Cross are a Lenten Friday staple in Catholic churches across the world. As...

Remember to eat your fish on Friday! Lenten Fridays mean no meat, but that doesn't have to be too much of a burden! Archbishop Samuel J....

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 30 mins Cost: $$ Servings: 4 Ingredients: 1 lb pasta of your choosing 3/4...

(Photo courtesy of Christ in the City) In the last issue of the Denver Catholic, I emphasized that our primary calling is to love God...

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) Prep time: 35 mins Cook time: 40 mins Cost: $ Servings: 6 Ingredients: 6 medium potatoes, peeled and...