In 2005, the singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier released her fourth solo album, “Mercy Now.” The title song is a somber plea for mercy in our families, church, and nation. If you don’t know this song, you should stop reading and go find it on whichever music service you use and give it a listen. In the last line, Gauthier sings, “Every single one of us could use some mercy now.”

Although the Nicene Creed rolls off the tongue of every Catholic with ease — or at least with mumbled inclusion after the Sunday homily — many Protestant denominations reject the Nicene Creed or any creed as something unbiblical or manmade, an attempt to add something to the infallible and sufficient Word of God, the Bible. Until, possibly, now, according to the recent 2024 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting.

Our Lady of the Pines Parish will host the annual diocesan teen rally on July 13, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. All youth, including incoming 8th graders to graduating seniors, are invited. The rally will include amazing music, outdoor competitions, a eucharistic procession, Mass at 4:30 p.m., and lunch, dinner, snacks and night-time smores. Please contact Gary Niemerg at gniemerg@diocs.org, or Stacy Paris at stacy@ourladyofthepines.org for more information.

The Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass will be held July 14, 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Bishop James Golka will celebrate Mass. Couples who are celebrating their first or other milestone anniversary — any anniversary ending in “5” or “0” — are invited to attend. A reception will follow. Those who plan to attend are asked to contact their parish office to provide their name, number of people attending and how many years they are celebrating, or visit www.diocs.org/Diocesan-Wedding-Anniversary-Mass.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Colorado Springs Council for Black Catholics (CSCBC) will host a bi-monthly Mass at Holy Apostles Church beginning July 28 at 3 p.m. The Julia Greeley Mass for Black parishioners welcomes all who want fellowship with the CSCBC. Anyone interested in participating as a reader, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, musician or usher should send an email to cscbc.be.seen@gmail.com or call 719-822-1261.

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Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Counselor and author Dann Aungst will give a talk on the connection between pornography and sex trafficking on June 29 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs. The presentation is for all adults and does not contain graphic or explicit images. To register, send an email to Lichten52@comcast.net. 

PARKER. Knights of Columbus Council 7880 at Ave Maria Parish in Parker will host its annual Independence Day celebration on July 6 at Ave Maria. This year, a Car Show will take place in the church parking lot. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., followed by the show from 9:30-11:30 a.m. At noon, trophies will be awarded in several categories. From 12-1 p.m., a cookout featurings hamburgers, hotdogs and bratwurst will take place. The Golden Eagle Concert Band and the Ave Maria Adult Choir will perform until 2:30 p.m. 

The Totus Tuus program for students in grades 1-12 will take place at St. Paul Parish during the fourth week of July. Grades 1-6 will meet July 22-26 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Middle school and high school students will meet July 21-July 25 from 7-9 p.m. To register, visit https://stpaulcos.org/vbs.