La semana pasada hice el retiro espiritual anual con los obispos de la región eclesiástica XIII (Wyoming, Colorado, Nuevo México, Arizona y Utah).  

Last week, I made the annual spiritual retreat with the bishops of ecclesiastical Region XIII (Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah).

Clifford Chance Billmeyer, a seminarian for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, is the older middle of four sons born to Robert Edward and Carole Anne Billmeyer. He is midway through his fourth year of theology studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained a transitional deacon Dec. 21 by Bishop Michael Sheridan.

CCH: Who are some of the priests who were instrumental in fostering your priestly vocation?

CB: There have been many excellent priests in my life, all of whom I owe a great deal of gratitude for their devotion, piety and kindness. Two priests however stand out.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Benet Hill Community is holding a lecture series on the prevention of human trafficking on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at Library 21C, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Several events will take place in the Diocese of Colorado Springs in commemoration of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States.

COLORADO SPRINGS. When Rick Lentz started donating funds to St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) he didn’t plan to become quite so involved as he is now. What began as simply providing financial support quickly turned into taking some of their online evangelization courses, which soon led him to find out what it would take to become a team leader for Colorado Springs.

The noted apologist and philosopher Peter Kreeft once observed the saints as ones who “had wandering minds, and to recall their constantly wandering mind-child home. They became saints because they continued to go after the little wanderer, like the Good Shepherd.” Let’s face it: our image of the saints tends toward the other-worldly — folks definitely not like we mere mortals, but rather “men and women that are amazing for their moral intellect, spiritual strength, and for the effects their choices and actions had on the birth of Europe and Western civilization,” (from Saints that Changed the World, Moderno, Italy). I always felt that we love and admire the saints simply because they are just not like us at all.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Father Jim Baron will celebrate the annual Mass of the Holy Innocents at 11 a.m. on Dec. 28 at Holy Apostles Church in Colorado Springs.

Like, I daresay, most of the English-speaking world, these past couple of years I’ve been watching episodes of “The Crown,” the beautifully filmed, marvelously written program on the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II.

Christmastime is finally here — the time of year we celebrate the birth of Christ. “Joy to the world the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her king!” The beautiful poinsettia is a Christmas plant that is rich in tradition, easy to care for and brightens up any room with holiday spirit.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Christmas break has begun for students at St. Mary’s High School, but in the weeks leading up to break, the students were busy spreading the love of Christmas throughout the Colorado Springs community. Some of these holiday service projects are long-standing, while others are new, but through them all, the St. Mary’s students showed that they are inspired by their faith to live out the love of Christ to those around them.

SAN DIEGO. When it debuted in late 2018, “Buttons: A Christmas Tale” boasted an impressive number of famous names and familiar faces, and it was shown in select theaters only Dec. 8, 2018.

Fortunately for the many who missed their one chance to see it last year, the film is being released on DVD Dec. 3, just in time for the holidays. It was released on digital platforms Nov. 19.

I had just begun my initiation to religious life when a very kind Little Sister offered to share with me the secret to joy.

Of course, I wanted to know the secret, I responded!

JOY, she confided, is a matter of putting Jesus first, Other people second and Yourself last.

The Trump administration’s announcement last week regarding the restoration of work requirements connected to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has added volume to a misguided belief around employment in our nation.