Father Kyle Ingels delivers "State of the Diocese" address May 14

COLORADO SPRINGS. Father Kyle Ingels, who was elected diocesan administrator following the installation of Archbishop James Golka in Denver March 25, gave a “State of the Diocese” address at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish on May 14.

In his address, Father Ingels emphasized that the Diocese of Colorado Springs remains vibrant and growing despite not having a bishop.

Joking that being a priest administrator means “all of the paperwork and none of the fun,” Father Ingels said that most of the day-to-day business of the diocese is continuing as normal.

“Just because we don’t have a bishop doesn’t mean the work of the Church stops,” Father Ingels said. “It’s really important that we keep the wonderful momentum we have going.”

That momentum includes ranking in the top 10 of U.S. dioceses in the percentage growth of new Catholics received into the Church at Easter, he said. In 2026, the diocese saw a 64 percent increase in the number of catechumens and candidates compared to 2025.

“We had so many people that we could not fit everyone into one Rite of Election at Holy Apostles Church. We had to have two ceremonies,” Father Ingels said.

“That’s a beautiful success story,” he said. “It’s also extremely important that we make those new Catholics feel welcome and get them involved in our parishes.”

The vibrancy of the diocese is also demonstrated by continued growth in the number of men studying for the priesthood, he said.

While three of the 21 current seminarians are transitional deacons who will be ordained June 6, there are currently six men applying to the formation program — raising the number of seminarians to 24 by the end of the year.

The 2025 Seminarian Appeal, which raised more than $1 million, covered virtually all the diocese’s seminary costs, Father Ingels added, and the investment in priestly formation will bear fruit for decades to come.

“We’ve really changed our strategy for forming seminarians,” Father Ingels said. “We want to cultivate men who have ties to this diocese; we want seminarians who have lived here, studied here, worked here — men who care about the people of God here.”

Another positive development is a recently-signed lease agreement with Common Spirit Health giving the diocese a parcel of land that will be used for a priest retirement home at Mount St. Francis. A capital campaign to fund the home’s construction is expected to begin in July, Father Ingels said.

And despite not having a bishop, the diocese will move forward with the Implementation Phase of the Synod that began in 2021 under Pope Francis.  

“The Holy See asked every diocese in the United States to do something to continue the work of the Synod,” Father Ingels said. “In 2027, we’re going to begin a three-year campaign in our diocese to focus on humility, unity and charity, with humility being the theme of the first year.”

"We have a lot to be proud of in the diocese," he said.