Evil still has power in this world.  We see challenges in society where we must not only acknowledge that forces are moving swiftly to break God’s covenant of love, but also that these forces will tear apart our society. 

The senseless violence, school shootings, acts of terror; the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk while speaking to university students; leave us with feelings of sadness, anger, and futility as to what is happening to our society.  The killing of the young, our best and our brightest, in places of supposed safety, health and learning is leaving its dark imprint on those who survive.  We pray for those who have been killed, for their families and communities. 

The readings of the past two weeks called us again to the cross.  In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 

I, together with my brother bishops of Colorado, am asking you to support three important citizen initiatives: • First, to strengthen penalties against the human trafficking of minors. • Second, to ensure fairness and safety in school sports by affirming the reality of male and female. • Third, to protect children from irreversible medical procedures that attempt to change their God- given biological sex.

Upon taking her vows as a Carmelite nun, St Therese of Lisieux began to sign her name as “Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.”   She later wrote, “Until my coming to Carmel, I had never fathomed the depths of the treasures hidden in the Holy Face.” 

This week I want to provide a status report on my medical situation and progress.  Last December through January I underwent two operations which addressed hernia repair, which were to be followed by shoulder replacement surgery.  My doctors and I made the decision to delay this surgery until the seasons of Lent, Easter, Confirmations, a June family reunion and USCCB national meeting were completed. 

The remarkable community of St Ignatius parish pre-dates to the arrival of Franciscan missionaries in 1776. They discovered a beautiful meadow, rich with gramma grass, and named it according to that very feast day as “La Vega de San Cayetano” (the Meadow of St Cajetan).

Writing now from the Charron family reunion in Spearfish, SD.  I send vacation greetings and blessings.  As you may remember, my mother was one of eight original Charrons of Seneca, SD. 

We’re all excited to see the election of our new Holy Father, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, now Pope Leo XIV. 

I share joy at the announcement of our new Holy Father, Leo XIV, a native of Chicago.  We pray for our newly elected Pope, with great hope for the future of the outreach of our Church into the world under his leadership.

On this day, May 1, we crown Mary, Queen of May.  In the midst of the Easter Season and the beginning of spring, we give gratitude to God for the Queen of Creation.  In this season of Confirmations, where candidates seal their baptismal gift of the Holy Spirit with their affirming Yes to God, it is important to remember that Mary was the first to receive this gift. 

We have traveled the journey of Lent, and Holy Week shines before us, with a shining, both dark and light, comprising the purpose of the life of Christ. Jesus is to be betrayed, judged, and scourged; a cross will be imposed. 

Just the Sunday before Ash Wednesday I celebrated Mass at St Mary in Westcliffe...

We have entered the season of Lenten reconciliation, preparing for a new Easter. 

Ash Wednesday comes next week, and we are preparing for Lenten observances in our parishes.

In a Holy Year inaugurated by Pope Francis and called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”

As Catholic Bishops of Colorado, we approach the issue of immigration with prayerful hearts

The liturgical cycle has brought us into another new year.  The Gospels for the past two weeks present Jesus as God wishes Him to be seen

A New Year has begun.  Pope Francis has inaugurated 2025 as a jubilee year dedicated to the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” 

We are well into Advent.  Our Blessed Mother, in luminous celebration as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Conception, is watching...