Over 10 years ago, as I was preparing to come to work for Catholic Charities, a friend suggested I read “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation. In those pages, I found not only an articulation of Catholic Social Teaching that would provide the practical foundation for the work of Catholic Charities, but also the honest voice of love and mercy that Pope Francis brought to the world. In that way, he has always felt like a guide in this work, and, like so many, I am deeply saddened by his passing.

Catholic theology and Catholic biblical scholarship have been companions through the centuries, but the travelling has not always been comfortable. Catholic theology untethered from the life of the Church or the biblical sources can lead to an excess of enthusiasm (as I witnessed growing up in Central and South America); drinking too deeply into historical critical biblical methodologies can leave both students and their teachers with a shipwrecked faith.

In these early months of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the intertwined calls of Pope Francis and Bishop James Golka urge us to be “tangible signs of hope.” Within the Diocese of Colorado Springs, we are committed to showcasing how our community actively lives out the call to hope during this Jubilee Year.

The month of May is a beautiful blessing in Colorado, often marking the transition from spring to summer. Gardeners are busily working the soil and excited for a fresh, new season. Garden tasks during this time can be both productive and spiritually enriching. Here are a few garden tasks for May that were inspired by the Holy Spirit:

Gender dysphoria is a bodily integrity disorder where a person senses that their biological sex is inconsistent with their gender identity. In other words, “your body is not the real you.”

It’s that time of the year! Gardeners are atwitter, wondering, “Should I start seeds now? Should I wait?” They are like children on a long (or short) road trip asking, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Get ready, spring is here, we’re off to start indoor seeds! 

“In this world you will have trouble.” In the Upper Room of Passover before Calvary’s offering, Jesus comforted his disciples. There will be suffering, he reminded them; there will be persecution, some would face martyrdom. There was no saccharine happiness — no beige discipleship — that would forever mark their footsteps. There would be trouble.

Every Sunday after Mass, Juanita brings Communion to a local long-term rehabilitation facility. She has been doing this for almost eight years, and it is anything but routine. Her ministry began when her pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would be interested in visiting residents at a nearby care center. She volunteered, unaware of the profound impact it would have on both her spiritual life and the lives of those she would encounter.

The Universal Church has entered the liturgical season of Lent, known as the Great Fast, to prepare her children to celebrate worthily the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.  Grumbling tummies join the church choir as we accompany Christ in the wilderness for forty interminable days while our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help purge vice and grow the virtues indicative of the children of God. 

Youngsters astonish parents with unexpected occasions of instantaneous affection. Their compassionate little hearts eagerly prompt them to help Mom or Dad. And these wonderfully impulsive incidents become cherished memories.