PHOTOS: Archbishop-designate Golka visits St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in First Official Denver Visit

André Escaleira, Jr., Denver Catholic

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.)

As students at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Denver shuffled their way through the school gates, some still wiping the sleep from their eyes, they were met with a bit of a surprise — even before the Monday morning school bell trilled.

Dropping by to welcome students as they arrived were Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Archbishop-designate James Golka — the new shepherd of Northern Colorado’s first official visit since the February 7 announcement that he would become Denver’s sixth archbishop upon Archbishop Aquila’s retirement.

With the two bishops on campus, there was a bit more levity than typical on a Monday morning, as they shook hands, asked questions and even blessed items for the students.

Once the first bell had rung and the students were settled in their classrooms, Archbishop Aquila and Archbishop-designate Golka toured the school, together with Father John Hilton, St. Vincent de Paul’s pastor, and Sr. Marie Isaac, OP, the school’s principal.

Stepping into a third-grade classroom to chat with some students, Archbishop-designate Golka asked them how old they thought Archbishop Aquila was if he is now retiring.

“Eighty-six!” one student confidently exclaimed, to hearty chuckles and smiles from both bishops.

“What do you think a bishop does when he retires?” the archbishop-designate asked.

“Not much,” another student chimed in, to another round of laughter.

“Now that I’m retiring, I get to do all the fun stuff: celebrate Mass and hear Confessions,” Archbishop Aquila added, noting that he is excited to continue his pastoral ministry with much less administrative work.

As the tour concluded, Sr. Marie Isaac asked Archbishop Aquila’s blessing over the students and the school.

“May Our Lord descend upon you. May he bless you. May he give you his peace. May he continue to strengthen you in faith, hope and charity and in your love for Jesus, for his Blessed Mother, Mary. May Mary always keep you under the mantle of her protection,” he prayed as he blessed the students.

In response, the students promised their continued prayers for the retiring and incoming shepherds of Northern Colorado, especially in the weeks leading up to Archbishop-designate Golka’s installation on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation.

“It was a pleasure to host Archbishop Aquila and Archbishop-elect Golka this morning at St. Vincent de Paul,” said Sr. Marie Isaac. “Our students loved meeting their new shepherd and look forward to the next time he can visit. Our prayers are with both of them!”

Following the school tour, Father Hilton walked Archbishop Aquila and Archbishop-designate Golka through the parish church to review the renovation currently underway.

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