Love the Church and Step Boldly Into the Mission

St. Joan of Arc by Albert Lynch, c. 1903. (Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)

As we begin a new papacy with Pope Leo XIV, we find ourselves at a moment of deep reflection and renewal. A new pope is not simply a change of leadership; it is a summons to rediscover the Church's mission in the world. This mission, rooted in the Gospel and lived through the centuries by countless saints and faithful disciples, remains the same: to bring the saving love of Jesus Christ to every person. Above all, the Church’s mission is a rescue mission — a mission to save souls, bring light into darkness and proclaim freedom to those held captive by sin, despair and false promises.

We must remember that the Church is not a humanitarian organization or a social club. She is the living Body of Christ, and her purpose is eternal: to proclaim the Good News of salvation and make disciples of all nations. This divine mission has been entrusted not only to popes and bishops, but to every baptized Catholic. As St. Teresa of Avila so beautifully expressed:

“Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.”

This is the extraordinary truth of our faith: that Christ continues his work in the world through you and me. Each of us, through Baptism and Confirmation, has been commissioned to carry his love to others so that they may encounter Jesus Christ. The mission of the Church is not a theory or abstraction; it is lived out every day through the disciples of Jesus.

But to live out this mission, the Church must be strong. She must be supported. She must be nurtured and expanded in her ability to reach every heart with the love of God. That is why I am inviting you to renew your love for the Church. Loving your Church flows from the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. And love, as we know, is never passive — it is active, sacrificial and life-giving. In the words of Pope Leo, we are called to “daily conversion,” so that we may renew our faith in Jesus, true God and man, and proclaim Jesus Christ to a world that so desperately needs him!

I propose three ways that we, the faithful, can express our love for the Church and step more fully into her mission today.

1. Step Boldly Into the Mission: Be the Cavalry

First, I invite you to step boldly into the mission. Here in the Archdiocese of Denver, we speak of this as a “mission value” — Be the Cavalry. That means showing up with a deep faith and using your gifts, your time and your heart for the good of others. It means putting yourself at the service of Jesus’ mission, to make disciples of all the nations. This could take many forms: serving the poor, sharing the Gospel with someone who has never truly encountered Christ, feeding the hungry, accompanying someone who is suffering or using your talents in parish ministry or Catholic education, just to name a few. The world needs to see Christ in you. Wherever there is brokenness, confusion or pain, we are called to be his hands and feet, as it is he who heals.

2. Promote Vocations to the Priesthood

Second, promote vocations to the priesthood. Our priests are not merely functionaries — they are spiritual fathers, entrusted with teaching, sanctifying and guiding the people of God. When a priest preaches the truth of the Gospel, offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or hears a Confession, he is making Christ present in our midst. The priesthood is a tremendous gift, not only to the individual man but to his parish community and the world. Encourage young men to be open to the call of God. Celebrate the gift of the priesthood in your home. Pray for your priests and pray that more will say “yes” to this beautiful vocation.

3. Support the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal

Third, support the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal. The theme of this year’s ACA is “Love is.” It reminds us that love is more than a feeling — it is an action. It is a choice to serve, to give, to bless others. When you support the Appeal, you are helping put love into action across our archdiocese. Through the Appeal, the Church can care for the poor, form seminarians, support Catholic schools, offer healing through ministries of mercy and much more.

The mission of the Church is urgent. The world is longing for truth, beauty and hope — and we have all three in Jesus Christ. But Christ will not walk the streets of Denver unless we walk them. He will not reach the lonely, the broken or the searching unless we reach them. He has no body now on earth but ours.

Let us begin this new chapter in the life of the Church with renewed charity, courage and conviction. Let us be the cavalry. Let us support our priests and call forth new ones. Let us give generously and joyfully. And let us live our mission — Jesus’s mission — together.

May God bless you abundantly, and may his love shine through you in all you do.