What makes these communities strong is not their size or their wealth. It is the trust people place in each other, a shared sense of what is owed to a neighbor, and a willingness to show up when someone is in need without waiting to be asked. — Andy Barton

COLORADO SPRINGS. On Jan. 31, ACT for Freedom Now (AFFN) held a conference at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs titled “Just Do Something.” The purpose of the conference was to educate participants on the reality and pervasiveness of human trafficking and pornography.

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.

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.