Serving Our Lord, Serving Our Diocese

As you read this, our priests and deacons are returning from the annual Diocesan Clergy Retreat, held at the St Francis Retreat Center in Colorado Springs. With the geographical complications of our diocese, it is difficult to bring the men together. You may wonder whether the yearly retreat is a vacation, or why this is important. It is a vacation of sorts, of time with Our Lord; but it is far more than that. I wish to share some thoughts of appreciation for the priests and deacons God has sent to us.

As a mission diocese we rely heavily on missionary priests from across the world. These men come from 7 countries: the Philippines, Nigeria, Togo, Poland, Columbia, Mexico and India. Due to the recent Visa restrictions on travel over the past 2 years, travel home has been complicated, often postponed, and separation from their families has been painful. These complications are now being somewhat relieved; however, it remains a concern that the documentation process of the visa travel continues to be overly complicated and unsure.

"I wish to share some thoughts of appreciation for the priests and deacons God has sent to us."

Along with these missionary priests from other countries, our own locally ordained priests provide exemplary missionary ministry across the diocese. Their local expertise and willingness to sacrifice for their parishes and the diocese give an inspiring example of the call to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. They are the quiet, unsung heroes of parish and diocesan life, often stretched beyond normal ministerial demands due to their unwavering desire to serve, and their unselfish commitment to their priestly vocations. This past June we celebrated the priestly ordination of one of our own diocesan seminarians, with 4 more now in seminary formation.

The deacons of the diocese provide the steady arm of service in the parishes and missions which are blessed to have them. They assist in the parishes, catechetical, prison and campus ministries, and social outreach. This vocation demands an ongoing conversion in charity and humility, and our deacons bring these gifts in abundance. We shall be ordaining, God willing, 5 new deacons in 2027. Applications for the next cohort of deacon formation are now being accepted, and the initial response has been promising.   

"They are the quiet, unsung heroes of parish and diocesan life, often stretched beyond normal ministerial demands due to their unwavering desire to serve, and their unselfish commitment to their priestly vocations."

The multicultural composition of our clergy, priests and deacons, and their enthusiasm to enter new, diverse cultural experiences, strengthens the diocese’s ability to serve the mission of Jesus. 60% of their ministry is dedicated to rural, isolated populations of 500-2000, with far smaller numbers of Catholic parishioners included in those populations.  The remaining 40% minister in understaffed city parishes, being available on call for hospitals, assisted living, hospice and other ministries as possible.

Our clergy empty themselves for their parish communities as given their call by Jesus, who emptied himself for the Father. Jesus frequently withdrew from the crowds to pray, to enter into solitude, and to be one with the Father in prayer. Similarly, Jesus taught the apostles, who at the time “gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile’” (Mark 6:30-31). The retreat is yes, hopefully, a vacation with Jesus. It is also, importantly, a time of physical and spiritual refreshment in his peace.

"The multicultural composition of our clergy, priests and deacons, and their enthusiasm to enter new, diverse cultural experiences, strengthens the diocese’s ability to serve the mission of Jesus."

As your priests and deacons return to your parish, reflect on the blessings they bring. Each of them, in his own unique vocation, make daily sacrifices in representing Christ, the Good Shepherd. Each of us, as children of God, have been chosen to travel a path of conversion into holiness. Our clergy are called to guide this path, not of their own volition, but according to their commitment to Jesus. Pray for them, as they pray for all of us. May Our Lord bring us always more closely together as his family, as we move forward in his mission. 

+Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg

Bishop of Pueblo

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