'I Feel Seen': Denver Catholics Honor Veterans at In God We Trust
Now in its seventh year, the Archdiocese of Denver’s annual veterans gathering offers prayer, confession, support and community for those who served.
By Deacon Chris Tranchetti
It is oh-dark-thirty in the parking lot of Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Foxfield. A group of men stands waiting. Another man arrives with a woman, and soon they are pouring hot coffee and passing out donuts.
Hurry up and wait. Mill about smartly. It could be the start of a routine day on a U.S. military installation anywhere in the world. But some of these men are veterans; others are Knights of Columbus. The couple with the coffee is Rick and Diane Crandall, who lead the Colorado Freedom Memorial Foundation. They have gathered with volunteers to prepare for the Archdiocese of Denver’s annual In God We Trust veteran’s event.
As the sun rises, the Rocky Mountains come into view. More veterans and volunteers arrive. Chairs, tents, supplies and a stage take their places. The quiet parking lot becomes a place of welcome.
In God We Trust began seven years ago through the shared vision of Deacon Joe Donohoe and Rick Crandall, both U.S. Air Force veterans. The apostolate honors those who served and gives them a place to gather in fellowship. It also reaches out to veterans who have drifted from their faith or carry wounds from their service, including wounds others cannot see.
As volunteers prepare the altar for an outdoor Mass, a few chairs are set apart from the activity. There, Father Bob Fisher, a Navy veteran, and Father John Nepil, the son of an Army veteran, are available to hear confessions. Lisa Smith, a therapist with St. Rafael Counseling and the spouse of an Air Force veteran, is also present. Together, they offer veterans space for conversation, reconciliation and care.
The Our Lady of Loreto choir opens the gathering with patriotic music. At 11:00 a.m., the Colorado Civil Air Patrol presents the colors, and members of American Heritage Girls lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Guest speaker Dr. Val DeVanney of Emmaus Catholic Hospice speaks about Catholic care at the end of life and the We Honor Veterans program, with which Emmaus partners.
(Photos by Dan Petty)
Under a bright midday sky, Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez celebrates Mass for the veterans. Father Fisher and Father David Bluejacket, pastor of Our Lady of Loreto, concelebrate, while young men from Spirit of Christ Parish in Arvada who are members of Trail Life USA serve at the altar. Orthodox Archbishop Alexander is also present, joining those gathered to honor and pray for our veterans.
In his homily, Bishop Rodríguez reflects on the cost of serving one’s country with humility. Protecting others can ask a great deal of a person. Such service is more than a mission, he suggests. It can be a vocation shaped by generosity and noble aspirations.
At the close of Mass, storm clouds gather. The congregation remains standing as two trumpets sound “Taps.” The first is before us, clear and strong. The second answers from behind us, softer, like an echo across the years. We remember our brothers and sisters in arms, especially those no longer with us.
Then it is time to share a meal. Knights of Columbus from councils and assemblies across the Front Range have spent the morning preparing lunch for the veterans and their guests. The meal was originally planned as an outdoor barbecue, but a last-minute change moved it into Holy Family Hall. As volunteers finish taking down the outdoor Mass setup, the skies open. Inside, the food is ready and the fellowship is underway.
The hall fills with stories of military service, good-natured rivalry between branches, and laughter. Some veterans have attended In God We Trust all seven years; for others, this is their first visit. Again and again, volunteers hear words of gratitude: “Thank you for doing this.” “I feel seen.” “What a blessing.”
One veteran notices the service caps around him. He remembers seeing World War II veterans at gatherings like this, but sees none today. A Gulf War veteran himself, he recalls recently receiving a pin marking 30 years since his service. “Thirty years?” he asks. “Where does the time go?”
Tempus fugit. Time flies. It reminds us to offer our thanks while we can, to honor those who served, and to pass on to the next generation a love of God and a spirit of service.
May God bless America and the veterans called to protect her.
Deacon Chris Tranchetti is a U.S. Navy veteran and a deacon assigned to Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Parish.
