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‘This Is Our Day’: Escuela de Guadalupe Celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(Photo provided) By Janalee Chmel The scent of flowers filled Presentation of Our Lady Parish in Denver as students processed forward one after another, clutching blossoms to place before Our Lady. Some flowers were carefully wrapped. Others were held tightly in small hands, the stems bending as students tried not to drop their important offerings. At Escuela de Guadalupe, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe isn’t simply a date on the liturgical calendar. It’s personal.  “This Mass is...

'We feel safer at church': Latino Families in Weld County Are Turning to Faith Communities for Healthcare

Drummers accompany a group doing a traditional dance at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Greeley. (Photo: John Daley/CPR News) In the parking lot at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Greeley, hundreds of Latino families recently gathered for something many find increasingly difficult to access: basic healthcare. As Colorado Public Radio reports, fear of immigration enforcement, rising costs and lack of insurance are pushing many Latino residents to delay or avoid medical care altogether. That’s why the...

Even in a Sea of Souls, Jesus Sees You: SEEKing Christ

An invitation to encounter Jesus through the sacraments, prayer and community, finding Christ's personal love amid the crowds. (Photo by Josh Applegate, courtesy of FOCUS) Piercing through the crowd, his eyes meet mine. Even though the spotlight illuminates the monstrance and I kneel hidden in the shadows behind hundreds of adorers, I find myself held by the Lord’s gaze in a moment just between us.   Like he noticed the hemorrhaging woman despite the crowd pressing in on him in chapter eight...

A Christmas Gift for the Homebound: TV Mass Brings the Joy of Christ’s Birth to Those Unable to Attend

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, decorated for Christmas. (Photo provided) On Christmas Day, Catholics around the world gather in churches to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ — the Word made flesh, born for our salvation. For many, this joyful gathering around the altar is the heart of Christmas. Yet for some members of our community — the elderly, the sick, and those truly unable to leave their homes — attending Mass in person is not possible. For them, the...

Inside Vail Valley Catholics' Historic Campaign to Build TWO New Churches

Prayer, philanthropy and community are fueling a long-awaited, region-wide effort to meet worship needs in a booming community. Behind the scenes of a massive effort to build two new churches in the Rocky Mountains stands a dedicated group of faithful Catholics. From left to right: Steve and Janet Burmeister, Father José María Quera, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Alba and Reynaldo Padilla. Not pictured: Bob Boselli and Jenn Bruno. (Photo provided) The Catholic faith is visible in the...

PHOTOS | A Dream Fulfilled: All Souls Parish in Englewood Completes Long-Awaited Church Renovation

Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila blessed and rededicated the renovated church at All Souls Parish in Englewood on Saturday, the culmination of a decades-long desire to renew the parish community. (Photo by Joe Donelson) By Joe Donelson This past Sunday, on the Feast of St. Lucy, All Souls Parish in Englewood reopened its doors to the neighborhood, unveiling a newly renovated place of worship. With Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila in attendance for the dedication of the altar and many former...

Archbishop Aquila Reflects on Curtis Martin’s Legacy as FOCUS Founder Steps Down as CEO

FOCUS Founder Curtis Martin announced his retirement from the role of FOCUS CEO, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Photo: FOCUS) Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS, has announced he is stepping down as CEO after nearly three decades of leadership, marking a significant transition for one of the most influential Catholic evangelization ministries in the Church today.  Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila offered the following statement upon the announcement:  “I am deeply grateful for the many years of partnership...

SEEK 2026 Comes to Denver: An Invitation 'To the Heights' This January

(Photo by Rachel Moore, courtesy of FOCUS) When the calendar turns to a new year, thousands of Catholics, from college students to grandparents, parish leaders to young families, will begin 2026 not with resolutions, but with a pilgrimage of the heart. From January 1 to 5, the Archdiocese of Denver will welcome one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the country: SEEK 2026, the annual evangelization conference hosted by FOCUS. For decades, SEEK has been a catalyst for conversion, courage...

Our Lady of the New Advent: Denver’s Unique Marian Devotion Prepares Us for Christ

(Photo: Denver Catholic file photo) Every December, just as Advent reaches its final stretch and Christmas draws near, the Archdiocese of Denver turns its gaze toward a uniquely local Marian devotion: Our Lady of the New Advent, celebrated on December 16. While many Marian titles are celebrated throughout the universal Church, this one belongs especially to us. Rooted in Colorado’s landscape, crafted for our archdiocese and embraced by generations of faithful, Our Lady of the New Advent has...

Hope Fills Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Denver During Traditional Feast Day Celebrations

Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez preaches during the special Midnight Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denver. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat) Neither the December Colorado cold nor the late hours of the night could keep thousands of Guadalupan faithful from gathering on Thursday, December 11, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Denver to sing the traditional mañanitas to the Morenita of Tepeyac on her feast day.  Like every year, the areas...

'Holding on in the Storm': A Christian Physician on Dying, Dignity and Hope

Dr. Bob Cutillo's new book, "Holding on in the Storm," aims to help Christians face death and suffering without fear, drawing from biblical, medical and personal wisdom gleaned over decades of medical practice, and in his accompaniment of his wife, Heather, as she prepared for death. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Bob Cutillo) By Caitlin Burm Many of us have faced the loss of a loved one and know how disorienting death can feel. Even with the hope of eternal life, grief can still overwhelm us and...

Once a Ram, Always a Ram: Father Joseph LaJoie’s Journey From CSU Student to CSU Pastor

Father Joseph LaJoie celebrates "Mass on the Grass" at Colorado State University, a RamCatholic tradition in the fall semester. (Photo courtesy of St. John XXIII Parish's Facebook) By Sarah Mendus Across the street from Colorado State University in Fort Collins sits St. John XXIII Parish, the beloved home of RamCatholic and its many CSU student members. Since 2022, the community has been shepherded by Father Joseph LaJoie, a pastor known for his classic rock references and his “CSU Dad”...