On the first Sunday of Lent, I had the great blessing of celebrating the Rite of Election with those who are in the OCIA process from all of the parishes across the Diocese.

OCIA, formerly known as RCIA, is the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and is for those who are seeking baptism and full communion with the Catholic Church. The Rite of Election is a pivotal moment in the OCIA process, as it begins the final stage of their preparation for the Easter sacraments.  As a bishop, this rite is one of my favorite events of the year.  
 

El primer domingo de Cuaresma, tuve la gran bendición de celebrar el Rito de Elección con aquellos que están en el proceso de OICA de todas las parroquias de la Diócesis. 

El OCIA es el Orden de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos anteriormente conocida como la RICA y es para aquellos que buscan el Bautismo y la plena comunión con la Iglesia Católica.  El Rito de Elección es un momento crucial en el proceso de OCIA, ya que comienza la etapa final de su preparación para los sacramentos de Pascua.  Este Rito es uno de mis eventos favoritos del año como Obispo.  

COLORADO SPRINGS. A young Italian website designer will be canonized on April 27 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for using his computer skills to praise God and spread devotion to the Eucharist.

Carlo Acutis created a website dedicated to cataloguing every reported Eucharistic miracle in the world and maintained a list of the approved Marian apparitions of the Catholic Church.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Deacon David Sekel died March 11 at age 72 due to renal cell cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated April 5 at 10 a.m. at Divine Redeemer Church, with Bishop James Golka presiding.

Included here are the parish and diocesan Divine Mercy Sunday devotions. 

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Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Fifth Sunday of Lent

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Bishop Golka's Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Lent

COLORADO SPRINGS. The flight from Miami to Guatemala City is shorter than the flight from Denver to Miami. And yet, the social and economic gulf between the U.S. and Central America’s most populous county is immense. Village homes are constructed from scrap lumber and salvaged sheet metal, floors are packed dirt, and rice and beans are cooked over open flame stoves with inadequate kitchen venting.  Political instability, natural disasters, food insecurity, and malnutrition all contribute to a persistently high poverty rate. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. On March 17, Bishop James Golka announced plans to create a new diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Divine Redeemer Church, located at 927 N. Logan Ave., Colorado Springs. A dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of July 5-6, 2025.

COLORADO SPRINGS. A launch party to introduce Unity Women will take place April 5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Newman Center, 4785 Stanton Rd. in Colorado Springs. 
Unity Women is a new apostolate approved by Bishop James Golka to bring together women of all ages across the Diocese of Colorado Springs.  Leaders of Catholic women’s groups, potential sponsors, and other interested women are invited to attend the launch party. RSVP at www.unitywomen.org. 

Unity Women is also planning a women’s conference on Oct. 18 at the Antler’s Hotel. Early bird tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased on the website.