On Mission

During a service day during a trip to the Archdiocese of Denver for Steubenville of the Rockies, Father Mike and his group learned what it means to “fill the void of loss with faith” at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery. (Video by Ascension) When a loved one passes, there’s a lot that goes on: funeral arrangements, property and inheritance management, family dynamics, strong emotions and powerful grief. Saying it’s a difficult time is an understatement. Yet the Church walks into that darkness...

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver will host a rare opportunity to venerate the major relics of the Apostle of the Sacred Heart on Aug. 2, mere weeks after the United States was consecrated to Jesus’ heart. Three children examine the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during public veneration on June 12, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Paul Haring, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus) The Apostle of the Sacred Heart is coming to Denver! In a historic...

The interior of the Coliseum (shrine chapel) at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. The shrine rests on the site where the North American Martyrs gave their lives for the faith. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) This summer has led me on an unexpected pilgrimage related to the founding of the United States. I wrote previously about traveling some of the paths taken by Spanish explorers in 1776, including the trek through Colorado and Utah by...

The new Denver archbishop celebrated Sunday Mass, presented the pallium he received from Pope Leo XIV and invited the faithful to be leaven for the world. Denver Archbishop James Golka claps as the St. Joseph Parish Youth Choir performs for parishioners following Mass. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat/Denver Catholic) The Hispanic community of St. Joseph Parish in Denver welcomed Archbishop James Golka on his first visit since beginning his ministry in Denver. During a heartfelt Sunday Mass,...

Mary Magdalene's story reminds us that even after we stumble, Christ never stops calling us back to himself. Penitent St. Mary Magdalene and Eight Stories from her Life by Maestro della Maddalena. Tempera and gold on wood panel, 180x91 cm, Date: 1280 – 1285. Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy. (Photo by Elizabeth Zelasko) I was hesitant to watch The Chosen. I grew up with an image of Jesus burned into my mind from watching Jesus of Nazareth, starring Robert Powell. It was a powerful and...

A devoted educator, Viviana Martinez aims not only to teach facts but help her students become who God has created them to be. (Photo courtesy of the Colorado Department of Education) The Colorado Department of Education announced 21 semifinalists out of 297 nominations in June 2026 for the annual Colorado Teacher of the Year, among them a local Catholic community member and leader, Viviana Martinez. The cofounder of Dios Entre Nosotros, Martinez has been active in the Denver Catholic...

In a historic first for his ministry, the Denver archbishop offered the invocation before the mayor’s annual address, calling for wisdom, service and care for the city's most vulnerable. Screenshot from the City of Denver's livestream of Denver Archbishop James Golka praying the invocation during Mayor Mike Johnston's State of the City address on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Courtesy photo) Before Denver Mayor Mike Johnston took to the podium to deliver his third State of the City address, there...

Part Eight: Once the person being accompanied has accepted the Kerygma, the saving news of the Gospel, they need to meet Jesus. Teens encounter Jesus in the Eucharist during the annual Steubenville of the Rockies youth conference in Denver. (Photo by Allison McCullough) Editor's Note: This column is part of a yearlong series on evangelization, breaking down what often feels like a tall order into real, practical, actionable steps towards intentional accompaniment. Part One: A Practical Guide...

A view of the monument to Vladimir the Baptist and the pedestrian bridge in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo: Unsplash) For months now, I have been receiving alarming, early-morning text messages from Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halyč, leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The texts are typically sent after this heroic churchman has spent the entire night in a bomb shelter (as he has done many, many times over the past four and a half years), and they include a digital map of...

While in Rome for the Pallium Mass and Pilgrimage, Denver Archbishop James Golka sat down with Catholic News Service to discuss his new mission in Denver in a wide-ranging interview. The new shepherd of Northern Colorado reflected on the dynamism of the Archdiocese of Denver; how the Lord is moving throughout our parishes, schools and communities; and the challenges of ministry in an apostolic age in which the culture does not share the same beliefs as the Church. The archbishop also...

This Denver seminarian thought he was preparing for a career in music, on stage and in the spotlight. Instead, God led him to the seminary, to Rome and, soon, to the priesthood. (Photo provided) By Karin Gamba If you’ve been to an archdiocesan Mass, odds are you’ve seen or met a seminarian or two. You see them serving at those Masses. You may have even noticed them helping organize crowds and point folks in the right direction. You might have even heard them sing, either at Mass or at the...

From religious freedom and Franciscan reform to truth, beauty and everyday holiness, these modern witnesses show how God renews the Church through lives surrendered to Christ. (Photo: Denver Catholic design) In every age and time, though much differs and changes, one thing remains steadfast: God raises up saints to manifest his loving kindness to his people. He inspires people to live holy lives, following him even to the Cross, in love for God and neighbor. The same is true here, on our...