COLORADO SPRINGS. Nearly 30 years ago, a Catholic priest from Ukraine visited Colorado Springs and forged a lifelong friendship with a local pastor — a relationship that led to the creation of a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the Ukrainian Catholic Church rebuild after decades of Soviet oppression.

Last August, the same priest returned to Colorado Springs — this time as a bishop — to give local Catholics a first-hand account of conditions in his war-torn country and ask for their ongoing support.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The annual Inferno Men’s Conference will take place Nov. 4 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Antler’s Hotel. Bishop James Golka will celebrate Mass at 8:15 a.m. and will give one of the conference talks. Registration and a complete schedule for the conference can be found at https://www.infernomen.com/event-details/inferno-mens-conference-3.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Colorado Springs has named Marc Wood as Advancement Officer.

“I spent 36 years in the military and law enforcement; I’m married and have four grown children,” Wood said. “I’m also a candidate for the permanent diaconate in my last year of formation, so it just seemed like a good fit. I have a good team who really supports me, and teamwork is important to me because of the field I came from.”

COLORADO SPRINGS. Samantha Ross, the lead teacher for three-year-olds at Holy Apostles Preschool, was awarded a $1,000 grant from Colorado Springs Utilities for a “classroom makeover.” The grant was awarded through the utility company’s Community Focus Fund and was used to purchase new materials for the classroom. Robyn Tyboroski, assistant teacher at Holy Apostles Preschool, nominated Ross for the grant.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The 2023 Diocese of Colorado Springs Stewardship Conference took place Aug. 23 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs. The conference speakers included Bishop James Golka; Father Brian O’Brien of the Diocese of Tulsa; Eric McArdle, President of Catholic Stewardship Consultants; and Larry Denis III, a seminarian for the Diocese of Honolulu.