On Mission

On pilgrimage in France, two seminarians and a priest got to know the archdiocese’s earliest shepherds on their home turf. Father Trevor Lontine, Carl Berner and Luke Metzer, all studying in Rome, went on pilgrimage to France last month, walking in the footsteps of some of Denver's spiritual leaders. (Photo provided) By Carl Berner Seminarian Archdiocese of Denver Every priest and seminarian has a “vocation story,” a record of God’s providence over his Church; it tells of how God has set...

From a challenging homily to pilgrimage in France, one local priest reflects on the mission of spiritual fatherhood in an apostolic age. Father Trevor Lontine says Mass at the tomb of St. John Vianney in Ars, France, during a recent pilgrimage. (Photo provided) By Father Trevor Lontine A Priestly Challenge at the Start of My Priesthood On May 15, 2022, Father Dan Barron, OMV, stood at the pulpit in St. Joseph Parish in Denver and asked a simple question. There are so many bad and abusive...

Daily service at the archbishop's side offers a glimpse into a life lived in total surrender to Christ. As Archbishop Aquila's retirement drew near, Father David Hall had the privilege of watching Denver's shepherd follow the Lord in complete surrender, even to the end of his formal ministry. (Photo by Daniel Sasala) By Father David Hall Priest Secretary, 2025—2026 Editor's Note: Over the last almost 14 years, many have gotten to know Archbishop Aquila all across Northern Colorado as he...

Dr. Shawna Cooper Whitehead, a Boston College leader, brings more than two decades of Catholic higher education leadership to Colorado’s Jesuit university as it nears 150 years. Regis University in Denver announced Dr. Shawna Cooper Whitehead as its new president Monday. (Photo courtesy of Regis University) In a constantly connected, on-the-go world, the new president of Regis University is seeking to foster deeper connection and community — both on campus and throughout Denver. As it...

Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora and St. Cajetan Parish in Denver received first-class relics of six Mexican martyrs. Faithful from Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora and St. Cajetan Parish in Denver honored and remembered six Cristero martyrs, venerating a relic containing bone fragments of each of them. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat/Denver Catholic) The historic cry of the Cristeros, “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”), echoed last weekend in Denver as Queen of Peace Parish in...

In the modern age, abstaining from technology is a noble Lenten practice to enter the desert, quiet the mind and heart and hear the voice of God. (Photo: The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness by Sebastiano Ricci, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. Smartphone digitally added.) Since we are halfway through Lent, it’s a good moment to consider how it’s been going. The purpose of our self-denial is conversion, as we learn to let go of control and to depend more upon God. The essence of...

Through prayer, evangelization and healing, Archbishop Aquila guided the archdiocese into a new era of mission. From Archbishop Aquila's side, Father Tom Scherer saw the Archdiocese of Denver move to mission, through the Synod on Synodality and into an apostolic age. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) By Father Tom Scherer Parochial Vicar, St. Thomas More Parish, Centennial Priest Secretary, 2021—2025 Editor's Note: Over the last almost 14 years, many have gotten to know Archbishop Aquila...

Faithful from across the archdiocese unite the nation’s divisions with Christ’s sacrifice in the Eucharist at the Archdiocese's annual Mass for Healing and Reconciliation. Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez celebrated the annual Mass for Healing and Reconciliation, sponsored by the Archdiocesan Committee for Racial Equality and Justice. (Photo by Ryan Brady/Denver Catholic) By Ryan Brady Catholics from across the archdiocese gathered Sunday at Curé d’Ars Parish in Denver for a Mass...

From the abuse crisis to the pandemic, Archbishop Aquila carried the Archdiocese with prayer at the center of his life. Even through serious challenges like the abuse crisis and pandemic, Father Matt Magee witnessed Archbishop Aquila's prayerful spirit. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) By Father Matthew Magee Pastor, St. Stephen Parish, Glenwood Springs Priest Secretary, 2018—2021 Editor's Note: Over the last almost 14 years, many have gotten to know Archbishop Aquila all across Northern...

John Allen with Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. (Photo: Thomas S. Major via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0) Early Sunday morning, July 28, 2002, things were looking grim for the closing papal Mass of World Youth Day in Toronto. The previous four days had been a tremendous success, symbolized by hundreds of thousands of young people making the Way of the Cross up Toronto’s great north-south boulevard, University Avenue: an act of Christian witness the likes of which had never been seen in that...

(Photo by Grant Whitty/Denver Catholic) The Archdiocese of Denver is preparing to celebrate a historic moment in the life of the local Church: the installation of Archbishop-designate James R. Golka as the 6 th Archbishop of Denver. Clergy, religious and lay faithful from across northern Colorado are invited to gather in prayer and thanksgiving as Archbishop-designate Golka begins his ministry as shepherd of the archdiocese. Registration is now open for those who wish to attend the...

The immersive training and community program molds teachers to grow and integrate Christ into their vocation and beyond. (Photo provided) A community of young Catholic teachers in Denver aims not only to infuse the faith into every aspect of their vocation in the archdiocese’s Catholic schools, but also to bring others closer to Christ. Cabrini Teaching Fellows, a groundbreaking professional and personal formation program, has gathered recent college graduates from across the country with a...