Faith & Culture

Mary at the Foot of the Cross by Elizabeth Zelasko. ( Denver Catholic file photo) The Catholic Church is today in the early stages of a nine-year novena , moving towards the 2,000th anniversary of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. As we journey toward that anniversary, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila had the idea of gathering the faithful in prayer around one sacred image , an icon to help lead us, year after year, deeper into the mystery of the Cross. READ MORE: "Standing with...

Choosing a spouse might be the most important decision that you will make in your life. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Mark Sanders, LPC, CAS Lisa Smith, LPCC Grace Cole, LPC, LIMHP, CPC St. Raphael Counseling In our work as couples therapists at St. Raphael Counseling, we have seen the extremes. On the one hand, we have had clients who struggled in their relationship and even recognized red flags before getting married that they didn’t acknowledge at the time. On the other hand, we’ve also seen how...

From nihilism to radical ideologies, many young men are searching for purpose — and not finding it. (Photo: Unsplash, edited) So, what is going on with young men these days? I know, every generation in recent memory has asked the same question. Those young hooligans with their leather jackets. The hippies with their psychedelic vans. The weirdos in the parachute pants. But those young men, for the most part, seemed to grow up to marry and become productive members of society. Today, we have a...

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Micah Ellalasingham, MFT-C St. Raphael Counseling Communication Breakdown As a Marriage and Family Therapist, the most common concern couples bring into the therapy room is some variation of “We can’t communicate.” Spouses, feeling unheard, are seeking the “tools” to fix it. However, within the session, a deeper pattern usually emerges. When couples say, “We need to work on communication,” what they often mean is, “I want you to listen to me and fulfill my needs.” Many...

Entering the Special Year of St. Francis through poverty, death and joy in Christ St. Francis of Assisi in His Tomb , 1630/34 by Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664). Oil on canvas. Milwaukee Art Museum. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) With our coattails nearly brushing the closing Jubilee Doors, Pope Leo has proclaimed a Special Year of St. Francis of Assisi . From January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, the faithful who, along with the usual sacraments, undertake pilgrimages...

In this fourth installment of our series on sacred and religious artists, a local iconographer and Denver Catholic columnist reflects on the interplay between truth and beauty and how both can lead us to Heaven. (Photo provided) By Joe Donelson “I want more people to stop and look at art again,” said artist, iconographer and Denver Catholic columnist   Elizabeth Zelasko. As a frequent collaborator with churches and religious institutions in the development of sacred art for sacred spaces,...

In this third installment of our series, Casey Batt reflects on her journey, through job loss, prayer and parish life, to painting God's healing grace at All Souls Parish in Englewood. Casey Batt paints the Wedding at Cana in her home studio. The painting was installed at All Souls Parish in Englewood, as part of the parish's recent renovation and rededication. (Photo by Matt Walker) By Matt Walker After 18 years, Casey Batt lost her job when her company laid off thousands of employees at...

In the second installment of our series on sacred and religious artists, the Denver couple reflects on vocation, marriage and creating beauty for God. Nicole and Mark Thomason, pictured here with their five sons at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, are local artists that blend faith and contemporary art. (Photo provided) As a graduate student in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Mark Thomason bought himself some brushes. He...

The film's Catholic Technical Consultant reacts to "Wake Up Dead Man" and some of the online reception. When faith shows up in popular culture, it often sparks curiosity — and sometimes controversy. But for Catholics in Northern Colorado, the conversation around Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery  feels a little closer to home. That’s because Father Scott Bailey, pastor of Risen Christ Parish in Denver, recently shared his reflections on the film in a new YouTube video. The video offers...

In this first installment of our series on Catholic religious and sacred artists, meet Catholic artist Brie Schulze and the vocation behind her sacred work. Brie Schulze, a local Catholic artist, seeks to bring others into an encounter with God and his saints through her art. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat, courtesy of Brie Schulze) By Gennie O'Gara For local Catholic artist Brie Schulze, good art centers on a personal relationship with God. Meditating on sacred art serves as a way for the...

A Catholic reflection on communion, identity and resisting the lies that isolate us. (Photo: Stranger Things ' Facebook page) By Catriona Kerwin I’m not usually a fan of science fiction or horror, but the Netflix original series, Stranger Things , has recently captured my heart and imagination.  Reader, be warned — it is not a Catholic series, nor is it appropriate for all audiences. The series contains violence, excessive gore, mature content and themes that are inconsistent with a Catholic...

(Photo: Unsplash) What would the collapse of civilization look like? We might immediately think of cutoff utilities, disruptions in the supply chain, violence in the streets and the lack of functional government. While it’s true these might serve as external indicators of a functioning modern society, they do not constitute the essence of civilization. A civilized person doesn’t just live in the city (the civitas that gives civilization its name) but conforms to an ideal of culture. A...