Get to Know Archbishop-Designate James R. Golka
- Denver Catholic Staff
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Archbishop-designate James R. Golka was born September 22, 1966, in Grand Island, Nebraska, the fourth of 10 children born to Robert and the late Patricia Golka. He graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic High School and attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1985-89, where he earned degrees in philosophy and theology.
He served as a Jesuit lay missionary volunteer for the Native American Missions in South Dakota from 1989-1990 before entering St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota, where he received both a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Sacramental Theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Island on June 3, 1994, by Bishop Lawrence McNamara.
In addition to his parish assignments, he served the Grand Island Diocese in various capacities: Director of Ongoing Formation of Clergy, Director of Diocesan Youth Retreats, Chair of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, Chair of the Personnel Board, member of the Diocesan Finance Council, the Presbyteral Council and the Pension Board. He also served as a member of the school board for Grand Island Central Catholic schools.
In his last assignment in the Diocese of Grand Island, he was Vicar General and pastor of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On April 30, 2021, Pope Francis named him the third Bishop of Colorado Springs, succeeding the late Bishop Michael Sheridan. His episcopal ordination took place on June 29, 2021, at Holy Apostles Church in Colorado Springs, with Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and then-Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, serving as co-consecrators. His episcopal motto is “Stewards of God’s Mysteries.”
Over the past four-and-a-half years, Archbishop-designate Golka has worked to increase the involvement and representation of Hispanic Catholics in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and he is fluent in Spanish. In 2025, he created the first shrine dedicated to the patroness of the Diocese, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer.
Archbishop-designate Golka is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cross Catholic Outreach and serves as Episcopal Moderator of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference. He has worked closely with Catholic stewardship organizations and is a sought-after speaker on the topic of stewardship.
On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed him the sixth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver.
