The Heart of a Father: Witnessing Archbishop Aquila's Life of Service
- Guest Contributor
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
From the abuse crisis to the pandemic, Archbishop Aquila carried the Archdiocese with prayer at the center of his life.
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 Colorado as he ministered and taught, preached and blessed the faithful of the archdiocese.
But while many have come to know their spiritual father and shepherd, five men had a front-row seat to his apostolic ministry as they served the archbishop as priest secretaries.
In the reflection that follows, one of five priest secretaries shares the lessons he learned from the side and the background of Archbishop Aquila's ministry, offering us a behind-the-scenes and personal look into Archbishop Aquila's pastoral heart.
"Do you resolve to implore with us God’s mercy upon the people entrusted to your care by observing the command to pray without ceasing?”
This is the fourth of six promises made on the day of a man’s priestly ordination. In the context of parish life, the people entrusted to the care of a parish priest are obviously the parish to which he is assigned. What about when a parish priest’s full-time assignment is the archbishop himself?
From 2018-2021, I had the incredible privilege of serving as Archbishop Aquila’s priest secretary, vice chancellor, master of ceremonies... and housemate. Soon after I moved into Archbishop’s residence and started my new ministry with him, I was a bit overwhelmed by how much there was to learn about the Archdiocese of Denver, the ins and outs of Church life, and the incredible responsibility that is entrusted to the care of the local ordinary of a diocese.
Five weeks into my new assignment, headlines across all media outlets covered the clergy abuse crisis, first in Pennsylvania with the grand jury report, then in Denver and beyond. Amidst the craziness of the coverage and the uncertainties of the future, I witnessed firsthand a man deeply moved by the reality of what had just shaken the Church. Archbishop and his team discerned and strategized how best to respond — meeting with victims and their families, encouraging Masses of reparation and publishing public statements, apologies, news articles and homilies.
But what struck me most was the Archbishop’s regular retreat to the quiet of the chapel. I learned quickly from the archbishop that the most important thing a father can do for his children is pray for them. And that’s precisely what Archbishop Aquila did. I never saw a day when he missed praying his Holy Hour, nor did he miss the daily celebration of Mass. Even on the busiest days when I had so much I needed the archbishop “to do” in the office, he knew the importance of wanting “to be” with the Lord in the chapel, and wait for his response.
It was evident to me that Archbishop Aquila’s fatherhood found its root in his being first a son of God the Father. He was able to live out his priestly fatherhood in closeness to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who himself was the Beloved Son. It was the archbishop’s closeness to the Father’s heart that carried him — and the entire Archdiocese — through those turbulent times.
Soon after the abuse crisis seemed to quiet down, COVID hit hard. Quarantining with the archbishop, a few other priests and a small group of Carmelite Sisters could have made for a good sitcom (maybe someday). In addition to endless jigsaw puzzles and daily Rosary walks inside the house, I once again witnessed the archbishop deepen his prayer life and intimacy with God the Father.
There are plenty of stories that I could share about my time serving under, ministering to and living with Archbishop Aquila. The final promise of priestly ordination is “respect and obedience” to the archbishop and his successors. Since “respect” means to “look again,” I am grateful for the opportunity to look again at Archbishop Aquila’s life and ministry these past 13 years. The people entrusted to his care have been hundreds of thousands. As he prepares for his well-deserved retirement, please join me in praying that his priestly heart will continue to be conformed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
