Perspective

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...

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...

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...

From parish drives to 'Super Bowl' liturgies, a priest shares the witness of Archbishop Aquila's priesthood and humanity. From Archbishop Aquila's side, Father Scott Bailey learned profound lessons about the spiritual life. (Denver Catholic archive photo) By Father Scott Bailey Pastor, Risen Christ Parish, Denver Priest Secretary, 2014—2018 Editor's Note: Over the last almost 14 years, many have gotten to know Archbishop Aquila all across Northern Colorado as he ministered and taught,...

Archbishop Aquila's first Denver priest-secretary reflects on the shepherd's leadership, rooted in faith and humanity. As Archbishop Aquila's first priest secretary, Father Matt Book (right) got a front-row seat to the new shepherd's ministry. (Denver Catholic archive photo) By Father Matthew Book Vicar for Clergy Priest Secretary, 2014—2024 Archdiocese of Denver Editor's Note: Over the last almost 14 years, many have gotten to know Archbishop Aquila all across Northern Colorado as he...

(Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this farewell letter to you, I want to share some of the gifts I have received as a priest, bishop, and disciple of Jesus, in serving him and the faithful he has brought into my life throughout the years. The gifts are far too many, undeserved and not earned. They fill my heart with wonder and gratitude to the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and to Mary as my mother, as I call them to mind. I am writing this...

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...

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...

Part Three: Intentional accompaniment and evangelization must be taken to prayer first. 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) 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...

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...