COLORADO SPRINGS. John Tosto was a World War II veteran, father of eight children, a business owner, and an accomplished artist. He had also designed and crafted numerous works of art for his parish, Our Lady of the Pines, and other local churches. But when he realized that he would not live to see his final project through to completion, it was devastating.

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. Fear of suffering and a lack of appreciation for the dignity of each human person are two of the driving forces in the culture of death, said Sister of Life Maris Stella, who was the keynote speaker at the Bishop’s Respect Life Dinner on Oct. 24 at The Broadmoor Hotel.

COLORADO SPRINGS. By the time he was 30 years old, Roy Schoeman was a marketing professor at one of the world’s most prestigious universities — Harvard Business School. But it was precisely when he was at the height of his career that God chose to reveal himself to Schoeman, thereby changing the trajectory of his life.

COLORADO SPRINGS.  In the Catholic Church, marriage is much more than a legal document — it is a sacrament that is the image of Christ’s loving union with his Church. The grace of the sacrament strengthens the indissoluble unity of the marriage and helps the couple attain holiness.

COLORADO SPRINGS. For the past two years, the Inferno Men’s ministry has been working to reach men from all walks and stages of life and help them to grow in their faith. Through monthly forums, which are informal gatherings where men can enjoy beer and fellowship, as well as the smaller core group meetings where men discuss their spiritual and moral challenges, Inferno has grown to a network of roughly 500 men around the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Msgr. Donald Dunn, who was a priest of the Diocese of Colorado Springs for more than 30 years, died Sept. 5 at age 82 in Wheat Ridge.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 16 at St. Patrick Church. Inurnment will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral Columbarium at a later date.

Msgr. Dunn worked extensively with Catholic Charities agencies both in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Diocese of Colorado Springs. In his funeral homily, Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen compared Msgr. Dunn to the “seed that falls to the ground and bears much fruit” from the Gospel of John (John 12:23-28).

“I saw Don do that for over 62 years that I’ve known him,” Bishop Hanifen said.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Diocese of Colorado Springs has kicked off a $7.5 million capital campaign to build a Catholic Student Center adjacent to the campus of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Bishop Michael Sheridan will preside at a groundbreaking for the new center on Sept. 17.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Theresé of Lisieux, have been declared the patron saints of the Diocese of Colorado Springs’ Office of Marriage and Family Life, said Christian Meert, who directs the office along with his wife, Christine.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Eternal Word Television Network’s annual Family Celebration will take place Sept. 21 at Magness Arena on the campus of the University of Denver. The event is free and open to the public, but online registration is required at www.ewtn.com/familycelebration.