Archbishop-designate Golka Looks Ahead to 'What God Has in Store for Us Together'
- André Escaleira, Jr.
- 5 minutes ago
- 9 min read
“If we don’t pray first, we’re going to be lost. So let’s pray,” Denver’s next archbishop began on Saturday morning.
Mere hours before, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila’s request to retire and appointed Most Reverend James R. Golka, currently Bishop of Colorado Springs, as the sixth Archbishop of Denver.
And it was only five days ago that he received the call from the apostolic nuncio, the pope’s representative in the United States.
All the more reason for the prayerful pause in an otherwise hectic week.
“Heavenly Father, thank you for the many, many gifts you’ve given us. Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who’s here with us. He redeems us; he gives us immense mercy. He heals us; he forgives us. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who is here around us to protect us and especially lead and direct and guide us,” Archbishop-designate Golka prayed. “May you open our ears so we can hear your word. Open our eyes so we could recognize your presence in our brothers and sisters and around us. And open our hearts so we might know your immense love for us.”
(Photos by Grant Whitty/Denver Catholic)
A Grateful Plea for Prayer
Rooted in gratitude, Northern Colorado’s new shepherd asked for the faithful’s prayers during the transition time ahead.
“I’m equally excited and equally sad. Excited because I trust God more than I trust myself, and if God wants me to be here, I’m going to say yes,” Archbishop-designate Golka shared, emphasizing the goodness of God’s plan for each of us.
“By March 25th, I promise you I’ll be more excited,” he quipped, referring to the date of his installation as Archbishop of Denver, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. “[But I’m also] sad to leave my good people in Colorado Springs. Over four and a half years of being there, I fell in love with the people, the parishes, the priests, the diocese. They are a big part of my heart. I carry them with me, and I will miss them dearly. So I just ask your prayers during this transition time.”
‘A man of prayer’
Introducing Archbishop-designate Golka was Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, who shepherded the Archdiocese of Denver for the past 13 years. In his opening remarks, the archbishop lauded his successor as a “man of prayer, with a deep love for Jesus and the Blessed Mother.”
The two have worked closely together over the past four and a half years, collaborating on common projects and initiatives to preach the Gospel effectively throughout Colorado. As Archbishop Aquila got to know Archbishop-designate Golka, he saw how “he approaches [the challenges of the day] through the lens of the Gospel and a biblical worldview, keen on the mission of the Church to make disciples as the Lord commanded us in Matthew 28.”
And, the archbishop noted, his successor is fluent in Spanish.
“He speaks much better Spanish than I do, which made me very happy,” he said to laughter throughout the room. “He has served closely with Hispanic communities as a priest in Grand Island. He understands well many of the challenges that we face today in our country and world with immigration, the precarious global situation and all of the challenges undermining the dignity of human life.”
(Photos by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic)
‘The ultimate yes is Jesus Christ’
Despite mixed emotions and the world’s tumult, Archbishop-designate Golka was clear on one thing: Jesus Christ is everything, and he remains with us today just as he was with the disciples in the Scriptures, throughout history and in each moment of our lives.
“I am fascinated by Jesus Christ,” he shared, recalling his words at the beginning of his time in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. As a child, he remembers reading the Bible voraciously, seeking to learn more about what Jesus said and did. “And Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, amen? So he continues to respond to you and me the exact same way. And I’m fascinated by that.
“When you’re fascinated by someone, especially our Lord, you want to know more about them,” he continued. “You spend your whole life trying to know him. You cannot help but fall in love with them. When you fall in love with Our Lord, you want to spend your entire life for him.”
In short, he shared, “The ultimate yes is Jesus Christ. His final word is everything.”
The Plan: Listen, Discern, Act
From that foundation of deep love for the Lord Jesus, Archbishop-designate Golka seeks to continue leading the Archdiocese on mission, always drawing close to the Son, listening to the Spirit and seeking the Father’s plan.
“I have no idea why I got to be a bishop. But God knows,” he shared, with a chuckle. “So our agenda is we’re going to take time to intentionally listen to God’s will, and then we’re going to go do it. God has a plan. We don’t have to make it up. We have to learn how to listen. We call that discernment. We call it docility.
“One of my favorite prayers is to invite Jesus, ‘Show me what you want,’ because that puts all the pressure on him, and he loves that,” Archbishop-designate Golka later added, to laughter throughout the room. “He loves to reveal himself to us.”
Northern Colorado’s next shepherd acknowledged that he stands on the shoulders of giants in this regard, and expressed deep gratitude for Archbishop Aquila’s leadership over the past 13 years, as well as James Francis Cardinal Stafford’s pastoral guidance before him. In fact, the archbishop-designate shared, the very first thing he did when he arrived in Denver on Saturday morning was visit the cardinal and ask his blessing. Following that encounter, he and Archbishop Aquila met together before the press conference.
“I appreciate Archbishop Aquila’s leadership, and especially his desire to give a prayer before everything we do. And I hope to continue that way,” he said. “I want to let God lead and direct and guide us. I trust God much more than I trust me. And so I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us together.”
(Photos by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic)
A Call to be ‘Robustly Catholic’
With no agenda other than encounter, accompaniment and compassion, Archbishop-designate Golka said he “can’t wait to see what God has in store for us together.”
“I enjoy walking with people, discerning, listening and then being filled up with confidence in what God wants. It changes your life,” the archbishop-designate shared. “I also have learned that when you are docile to God, you come to the Spirit, you say yes to God’s will, that yes prepares you for the next time you’re going to have the opportunity to say yes to God.
“If we’re not drawing nearer to him, following him more so, sacrificing like he did, we’re missing the point,” he continued. “Our Catholic faith teaches us best how to do all this. It’s not magic; it’s not something else. So, I invite you to be robustly Catholic. That means we stay close to the sacraments. We stay close to our devotions. We stay close to brothers and sisters who have been animated by Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. And we want to walk with them, so as to be brothers and sisters for the rest of the world.”
Charitable Solidarity
Living as “brothers and sisters for the rest of the world” is no small task in a world that no longer shares the Church’s foundational beliefs. But, for Archbishop-designate Golka, that evangelistic work comes down to two things: charity and solidarity.
“If someone is at my door and needs, I help them,” he said, describing the Catholic call to love one's neighbor always and everywhere.
That form of compassionate care for neighbor, stemming from our love for God, leads us into deeper communion and community, and gives ever-stronger witness to the truth of the Gospel.
“My prayer is that our Catholic churches are open. We should never struggle alone. We cannot be a Christian alone. We need each other,” he later added, speaking directly to those outside of church walls who might have been watching Saturday’s press conference. “So, if something inside of you nudges or moves you, please walk in the door of our Catholic churches, ask for a deacon, priest or staff person, ask someone to pray with you. Ask someone to listen to you. And I pray that our parishes, and that Catholics, are ready to do that.”
Relating a personal experience ministering to a family member of a victim of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs in 2022, Archbishop-designate Golka put flesh on this merciful accompaniment.
That family member approached him, unsure and afraid of what he would think or say, and poured her heart, pierced and broken in pain and grief, out to him. He listened to her story, assured her she was welcome and offered to meet her family member and pray with her.
“That changed my heart, just knowing individual persons with their pain and their heartache,” he explained.
(Photos by Grant Whitty/Denver Catholic)
A Community Welcomes Its Shepherd
Despite an early-morning weekend announcement, the Archdiocese of Denver was abuzz with excitement, from the priests, seminarians, religious and laity in attendance on Saturday to the thousands of Coloradans waking up to read the news over their first cup of morning joe.
“What a wonderful choice! He is a great man of God! Congratulations, Denver!” said Barry McFarland on Facebook.
“So sad for us in Colorado Springs and such a blessing for the people of the Archdiocese of Denver,” wrote Mary Ellis. “Bishop Golka has been an inspiration and a true friend and shepherd to all of us in Colorado Springs. We will sorely miss him!”
“Many congratulations, Bishop Golka! We continue to pray for you, your ministry and your intentions! For the faithful in Colorado Springs, I’m thankful you get to stay close,” added Maggie Smith.
Emails, texts and social media comments poured in, celebrating the announcement, expressing gratitude to both bishops and Pope Leo, and offering continued prayers.
“I look forward to what Archbishop James Golka will bring to our Archdiocese and wish many blessings on Archbishop Aquila for all he has done for us and now prepares for his new future,” said Doreen Leili Glorioso on Facebook. “Thank you!”
“I truly am grateful for Bishop Golka and all he has given me,” wrote Deacon Mark Lister. “I know in my heart that I am a deacon because of his direction. God bless Bishop Golka.”
“Grateful for Archbishop Aquila and his faithful, steady leadership over the years, especially during the challenging times of COVID,” added David Soto. “I’m encouraged knowing Archbishop-designate James Golka was co-consecrated by him and has worked closely with him on issues affecting Colorado. Praying with confidence for our archdiocese as we welcome our new shepherd.”
“My thanks offered to, and my prayers offered up for Archbishop Aquila. May he enjoy a peaceful, holy retirement. My prayers offered up for Archbishop-designate Golka for his time as shepherd of our archdiocese in the years to come,” said Dennis McGoff.
A Shepherd’s Farewell
As preparations begin for the March 25 Installation Mass of Archbishop-designate Golka, Archbishop Aquila continues to reflect on his time serving the Church of Denver with profound gratitude and trust.
“As I prepare to depart, my heart is filled with wonder and gratitude to the Father for the gift of the Church in Denver, her wonderful clergy, religious, seminarians, and laity who are faith-filled, and for the many blessings I have received in serving as her shepherd for the past 13 and a half years,” he shared. “With gratitude to the Father and to Pope Leo for giving us Archbishop-designate Golka, I could not be happier to hand the Church of Denver to him, knowing that he will continue to guide her with the shepherd’s heart of Jesus Christ.”
Simply put, Archbishop-designate Golka said to his outgoing predecessor and to Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, with whom he will work closely, “thank you for being good brothers to me.”
More information on upcoming farewell events for Archbishop Aquila will be forthcoming.
Just Be Faithful
Over and above it all, Northern Colorado’s next shepherd has a simple goal: to be faithful to Jesus Christ, to the Father’s plan and to the Spirit’s prompting.
“I want to be faithful to Jesus. I want to be faithful to his Church. I’m going to be thankful for his teachings,” Archbishop-designate Golka said. “I want to be grateful to where the Spirit is leading us."
