On Mission

Our Lady of the Valley's mentor-based marriage prep program forms newlyweds in faith, communication and community. A couple at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor celebrates their 50th anniversary, receiving a special blessing from the parish clergy. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Windsor) By Joe Donelson "With this program as good as it is, I just want to share it,” said Karen Boglioli, director of marriage and family life at Our Lady of the Valley (OLV) Parish in...

Children play on the courtyard at Samaritan House. (Photo provided) Most Coloradans know at least a little something about Samaritan House. Located in Denver, it became a staple in 1986 and made history as the first building in the nation designed specifically as a homeless shelter. Since that time, thousands of people have found safe shelter, nutritious meals and supportive services within its walls. Today, Samaritan House primarily serves women, families and veterans experiencing...

Mary at the Foot of the Cross by Elizabeth Zelasko. ( Denver Catholic file photo) The Catholic Church is today in the early stages of a nine-year novena , moving towards the 2,000th anniversary of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. As we journey toward that anniversary, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila had the idea of gathering the faithful in prayer around one sacred image , an icon to help lead us, year after year, deeper into the mystery of the Cross. READ MORE: "Standing with...

Denver's annual Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent saw 200 more catechumens than last year — a 35% rise — pointing to a marked increase in curiosity towards the Church, especially among the young. Hundreds — 200 more than last year — gathered for the annual Rite of Election at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Feb. 21. The ceremony is an ancient one marking the formal beginning of the final stretch of preparation before entering the Church at the Easter Vigil....

Each journey to the priesthood began with a different question and a different apostolate, but the same Lord. Dominic Borchers, Tommy Myers and Will Ives, seminarians at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, came to discern their vocations through their work at various Catholic apostolates. (Denver Catholic photo) By Jay Sorgi Each person who commits themselves to a life of Catholic mission comes to that point through a unique journey, whether it’s a calling to marriage, single...

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Archbishop-designate James Golka pray together in Christ the King Chapel at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) This last year, the world watched as the cardinals gathered in Rome for the election of a new pope, the 267 th  bishop of Rome. New York recently received a new archbishop, and Denver is preparing for one as well. We are witnessing apostolic succession in action, extending an unbroken chain of bishops back to the...

In his first media appearance in Northern Colorado since his announcement as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop-designate Golka talked faith, family, discernment, prayer and evangelization. Archbishop-designate James Golka emphasized a deep trust in God, rooted in a profound prayer life, during his first media appearance in Northern Colorado since his announcement as the sixth Archbishop of Denver. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) When asked what he would say to the seeking and...

A Walburga nun works on a Paschal Candle, which will be blessed and dedicated on the Easter Vigil. These holy candles burn at liturgies throughout the Easter season, at Baptisms and funerals, as a symbol of the light of Christ, even amid darkness. (Photo provided) There's a small but growing group of women who've dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ on the Colorado-Wyoming border. The Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga largely fly under the radar, having vowed to live a life of...

Before he chose his disciples, Jesus went up the mountain to pray intentionally. Like him, we who are evangelizers (hint: every Catholic!) are called to pray about whom he's calling us to accompany. (Photo: Lightstock) Ok. So you’re Catholic. But not only that. You’re a true disciple of Jesus. You’ve encountered him in the Eucharist. You’re a disciplined follower of his. You have an anchored desire to imitate him in every aspect of your life. You’re committed to a lifelong adventure of...

Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to Poland. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 PL) Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, Vatican Secretary of State from 1979 to 1990 — and before that, the architect and chief diplomatic agent of the Ostpolitik  of Pope Paul VI — initially played hard-to-get when I tried to interview him for the first volume of my John Paul II biography, Witness to Hope . The cardinal was not a fan of my 1992 book, The Final Revolution: The Resistance Church and the Collapse...

At a special Mass of thanksgiving, the Catholic faithful gathered with their shepherd to express deep gratitude ahead of his upcoming retirement. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila blesses and greets the faithful at the end of a Mass of Thanksgiving at Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora. (Photo by Juan Andrés Coriat) Last Saturday, members of the local Hispanic community gave thanks for and honored the ministry of Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila during an emotional Mass and celebration held at Queen...

(Photo: Unsplash) After months of dedicated effort, three ballot initiatives backed by the Catholic Church in Colorado are heading to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office for review and eventual inclusion in the November 2026 ballot. Proposition 109, “The Protect Women and Girls’ Sports Act,” garnered over 170,000 signatures and aims to designate sports as male, female or co-ed, thereby protecting women and girls’ private spaces. Proposition 110, “The Protect Children from Irreversible...