Archbishop Golka Joins More Than 50 Seniors in Prayer for National Grandparents Day
By Teresa Rodriguez
In celebration of National Grandparents Day and National Catholic Grandparents Day, Denver Archbishop James Golka joined more than 50 residents, staff and Rosary Team volunteers at Holly Creek Retirement Community in the Denver metro area to pray the Rosary together.
For the seniors who gather each week to pray with The Rosary Team, the archbishop’s visit made this special celebration of grandparents and the elderly all the more meaningful.
Archbishop Golka began the morning by personally greeting the residents gathered for the Rosary. He then led a moment of silence and prayer for the victims of September 11 and for our nation, blessed rosaries and prayed the Rosary with residents, staff and volunteers. The visit beautifully reflected the words Pope Leo XIV recently shared with older Catholics:
“Dear elderly brothers and sisters, I thank you for supporting me every day with your prayers, especially when you recite the Holy Rosary. I return this gratitude from the bottom of my heart and leave you with this prayer: may the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love — he who never forgets us!" Pope Leo XIV, June 15, 2026
Those words closely reflect the mission of The Rosary Team: to ensure no soul is forgotten in their final years, while reminding seniors that their prayers remain a powerful gift to their families, our nation, and the world.
It is a mission lived out each week at Holly Creek, where residents come together with Rosary Team volunteers to pray for their families, our nation, the world and the many personal intentions entrusted to them.
Ann, a Holly Creek resident, described the weekly visits from The Rosary Team as “wonderful,” saying, “It helps keep me focused on my faith.” She described Archbishop Golka's coming to pray with them as “amazing” and “a wonderful surprise.”
She was particularly touched that the archbishop would take the time to visit and pray with the residents.
“It was shocking that we would have someone of his stature come to us. He is so kind,” she said. “I am happy I came.”
One of the most touching reflections came from Rosalie, who described herself as “a fallen-away Catholic.” After praying the Rosary with the group, she reflected on Archbishop Golka’s personal greeting earlier that morning, saying, “What a lovely man. He reached out to each resident this morning, and there were many.”
The gathering also welcomed residents who are not Catholic, reflecting The Rosary Team’s invitation that all are welcome to come and pray. Jo Ellen joined the group in praying the Rosary and afterward said the morning “made me think of all of the people I need to pray for.”
Sue, another resident, said the weekly Rosary gatherings help her “be more spiritual,” adding, “We share over our faith.”
A Friendship that Grows Week After Week
For Rosary Team volunteers Michael and Kathy Gleason, their weekly visits to Holly Creek have become a meaningful part of their lives.
“It’s a blessing each week to volunteer,” Michael said. “The residents are so sweet.”
Those relationships also make the losses difficult. Michael shared how hard it can be when a resident they have come to know passes away, while the residents themselves experience the loss of friends around them.
For Kathy, volunteering “puts life into perspective” and is a reminder of “how important prayers are.” She describes their time praying together as “a peaceful moment in my week,” and the relationships have grown so close that “the residents miss us when we have to take a week off!”
“The residents share a lot with us,” Kathy said. “I really love them.”
Holly Creek, a Christian senior living community, warmly welcomed Archbishop Golka and supported the special gathering, with staff members joining residents and volunteers in prayer.
Nearly 1,000 Volunteers Praying with Seniors Across the Country
What happens each week at Holly Creek is taking place in senior care communities across the United States.
Today, The Rosary Team has more than 350 Rosary Teams across the nation and nearly 1,000 volunteers who generously give their time to pray with seniors.
The Rosary Team builds and maintains prayer teams in nursing homes and senior care communities, ensuring no soul is forgotten in their final years. Founded on the Rosary, the community of volunteers and residents comes together in prayer so that all may know the powerful love of Christ.
The ministry brings joy and hope in eternal life while reminding seniors that they still have a vital mission: to intercede for this generation and for generations to come.
Pope Leo XIV’s words are a beautiful reminder of that mission: God does not forget our elderly, and their prayers continue to have profound purpose.
Join The Rosary Team
We invite you to join this growing ministry to seniors. Shop our handmade rosaries and large-print Rosary brochures, volunteer with a Rosary Team or donate to help build and support Rosary Teams across the country.
Together, we can bring prayer, friendship and the hope of Christ to more seniors, reminding them that they are not forgotten and that their prayers have a vital mission.
For more information, visit our website.
