This month marks the eight-year anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter, “Laudato Si’” (On Care for Our Common Home).  When it was initially published in May 2015, it received both praise and criticism from Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  In a somewhat less politically polarized world than the one we are living in today, Francis’ plea for environmental consciousness and care became linked with partisanism.  Progressive, non-Catholics for whom much of the Church’s moral teaching is objectionable, nonetheless praised the letter, while some conservative Catholics took exception, mostly to what were regarded as critiques of capitalism. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. On April 19, a small but dedicated group of prayer warriors walked from Divine Redeemer Church to the Colorado Springs City Hall as an act of reparation for the state of abortion in Colorado.

As my time starts to wind down here in the diocese before taking on a new assignment overseas, I hope that these articles have been an encouragement to the reader, even a challenge, to embrace the gift of Sunday as the Lord’s Day — a day of worship, rest, and recreation. In the face of our culture’s worsening health, many Christians instinctively want to push back and “do something” about it. Setting Sunday apart for the Lord and his purposes is tantamount to an act of rebellion.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Joy was the central theme for this year’s spring theater production at St. Mary’s High School.

The committed group of student actors and crew chose a multidiscipline variety show for their spring production after last fall’s highly successful run of the comedy mystery “Murder at the Art Show.”

COLORADO SPRINGS. Two weekend retreats designed to provide an opportunity to share in the love and joy of knowing God and Catholicism are being offered to local prisoners.

Titled “Questionable Characters,” the retreats are being offered to local inmates. The first retreat will be held June 23-25 at the Limon Correctional Facility (LCF), and the second retreat will be held from July 7-9 at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility (BVCF).