We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. —1 Thes 2:13

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is safe to say that in my first year and a half as your bishop, I have done things I never dreamed of doing in my entire life. A lot of those things are just part of the life of a bishop. Some things have been joyful and others sad.

Father Jim Baron is Director of Mission and Strategic Planning for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He is currently in residence at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish.

In last month’s issue, I exhorted us to take back Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Two specific ways we do this is to go to Mass and enjoy actual rest. As much as keeping Sunday holy is an act of obedience to the Lord’s commandment, it is also a treat to us. This month, I think it is helpful to focus more on why that is true.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Diocese of Colorado Springs’ Office of the Permanent Diaconate invites men who are interested in being considered as deacon candidates to submit applications. To begin the application process, please send an email to Deacon Cliff Donnelly, Director of Deacon Formation, at cdonnelly@diocs.org. For more information on the formation program, visit www.diocs.org/Pastoral-Services/Office-of-Permanent-Diaconate. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. At the first Bishop’s Respect Life Dinner to take place following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last June, local pro-life leaders explained how the ruling is impacting Colorado and challenged local Catholics to change the way they think and speak about abortion.