When Deacon Ernie Martinez took on his role as director of deacons for the Archdiocese of Denver three years ago, he brought with him an insight few clergy possess: 40 years of experience with the Denver Police Department, where he witnessed firsthand how peer support could save lives.

The increase in the number of catechumens and candidates entering the Church in the Diocese of Colorado Springs matches the same trend seen in other dioceses and archdioceses throughout the United States and the world.

As students at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Denver shuffled their way through the school gates, some still wiping the sleep from their eyes, they were met with a bit of a surprise — even before the Monday morning school bell trilled.

In his first media appearance in Northern Colorado since his announcement as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop-designate Golka talked faith, family, discernment, prayer and evangelization.

COLORADO SPRINGS. This morning, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James Golka as the ninth bishop of Denver. Archbishop-designate Golka will be installed on Wednesday, March 25 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. He succeeds Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who turned 75 last September.

Bishop Golka will be introduced to the archdiocese at a press conference today at 10 a.m. at the John Paul II Center. The press conference will be livestreamed at: https://archden.org/live-events.