In this liturgical “ordinary time” of year, we Catholics have a case of the “in-betweens.” We’ve celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas and know Lent will soon be here, followed by his resurrection and the glorious celebrations of Easter. During this “in-between time” what is a gardener to do? This ordinary time with its bitter temperatures, and frozen solid ground, all we’re asking for is a little patch of green grass!

The Diocese of Colorado Springs Young Adult Ministry began the Jubilee Year with a trip out to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a five-day life-changing journey. Sponsored by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), SEEK is an annual Catholic conference geared towards young adults. With 18,000 participants, hundreds of seminarians, priests, and up to 20 bishops in attendance, it is hard to walk away from the week without a changed heart. This year, our group was nine young adults strong, and we were proudly accompanied by a few of the Salesian sisters.

Brrrrrr! Winter is here. The beautiful snow, the crisp cold air, the green of the pines and God’s vivid blue sky. We are blessed to have all four seasons in our diocese and yet all agree that at times our seasons can seem to be a bit mixed up with their topsy-turvy-temps!  The season of winter has a purpose in our gardens. It brings a time for rest, rejuvenation and the cold can bring death to diseases and some of those pesky garden pests.

The Jubilee Year of Hope is underway.  Pope Francis opened the St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door on December 24, 2024, and Bishop Golka welcomed the Jubilee for our diocese on December 29, the Feast of the Holy Family.

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.” — Lady Bird Johnson.

If you haven’t experienced the amaryllis, you should, and if you have, you know that its beauty can only be described as spectacular!