t’s that time of year, Easter is finally here! A fresh sense of hope, renewal and springtime is in the air. It is a holy time for Christians as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the promise that he will come again. Our churches are filled with prayers, priests, parishioners and the perfumed scent of the Easter lily.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Hard work pays off. For seven St. Mary’s seniors, who moved forward in major college scholarship programs, hard work and persistence throughout their high school careers prepared them for the application process.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Father John W. Krenzke, who served at several parishes in Denver and Colorado Springs, died March 30 at age 91 in Denver.

MONUMENT. The Diocese of Colorado Springs’ Office of the Permanent Diaconate will hold an informational meeting for men who want to learn more about this vocation on May 7 at 9 a.m. at St. Peter Parish in Monument. A new class of deacon candidates will form in 2023. For more information, contact Deacon Cliff Donnelly at cdonnelly@diocs.org.

COLORADO SPRINGS. All are invited to Catholic Radio Network’s annual Priest and Seminarian Appreciation Day that will take place June 20 at St. Paul Parish.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Gabriel Project is a parish-based pro-life apostolate that was once active at both St. Patrick and Holy Trinity parishes and is now being introduced to the diocese as a whole.

Julie Bailey, Director of the Respect Life Apostolate of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, hosted a meeting on April 2 at St. Peter Parish in Monument to invite people from all parishes in the diocese to consider participating in this ministry.

Catholicism has had a deep history among various Black communities across the world; whether it be African, Latin, Caribbean, or American.

Having Black representation within the Church is very important because it helps convey the message that God’s love is for everyone no matter what they look like. There are about 3 million Black Catholics in the United States alone and 25% of Catholics around the world are Black.

At sunrise on a beautifully warm spring morning in April, the heavy beams of the wooden gates set in Jerusalem’s thick stone walls were swung open to let families stream up the hill and into the city. Laughing and singing, each family brought a special white, fleecy lamb.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Turin Shroud Center of Colorado, in conjunction with the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud, is holding a nine-part lecture series on the scientific and cultural aspects of the Shroud of Turin on the third Wednesday of the month beginning in April. The talks will take place at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 8755 Scarborough Dr., 80920, from 7-8:30 p.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Bishop James Golka will preside at the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday on April 24 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Confessions will begin at 1:30 p.m., with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction  taking place before Mass at 3 p.m. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. Starting April 28, the Charismatic Renewal’s Praise Gatherings will take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:45 p.m. in Mary’s House at Holy Apostles Parish.

COLORADO SPRINGS. A seminar on spiritual direction will be presented April 4 and again on April 5 at St. Patrick Church, from 6-8 p.m. both days.

You might want to consider checking out ‘The 5 Love Languages’ — maybe you’ll find it helpful in your marriage,” said the wise priest to me after hearing my recent confession. It struck me as a gentle word to help answer my need for more grace in my relationship with my husband, Joe.

I really wanted the Sonic drink. It had been a very long day — with grocery runs and sniffly kids and two hours of live radio and attempting to keep a house moderately less filthy — and all I wanted was to drive into a spot at Sonic and order a large Coke with lime, easy ice.