Denver Catholic

1 DENVER CATHOLIC | FEBRUARY 2022 TAB LE O F CO NTE NTS PUBLISHER Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Kevin Greaney MANAGING EDITOR Aaron Lambert editor@denvercatholic.org DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS Patrick Finegan DESIGN & ADVERTISING LAYOUT Filippo Piccone Simona Fava OPERATIONS MANAGER Cynthia O'Neill BUSINESS/ADVERTISING MANAGER Michael O'Neill michael.oneill@archden.org COVER CONCEPT: Greaney/Finegan/Lambert Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S Steele St., Denver, CO 80210. Denver Catholic (US 557-020) is published 8 times yearly. Denver Catholic is printed by Publication Printers Corp. in Denver, Colorado. Periodical postage paid in Denver, Colorado. Subscriptions: $50 a year in Colorado; $57 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $57 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average), Mexico, $63 air; Canada $70 air. Postmaster: Send address changes to Denver Catholic, Circulation Dept., 1300 S Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or email circulation@archden.org. Circulation: Denvercatholic.org/circulation SUBSCRIBE FOR BREAKING NEWS: denvercatholic.org CIRCULATION: 303.715.3230 THIS MAGAZINE IS 100% RECYCLABLE Please recycle — or pass it along to someone else! N E X T I SS U E CO M I N G I N AP R I L E A STE R , TH E R E S U R R EC TIO N AN D TH E CH U RCH ' S M I SS IO N SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS. TRANSFORMING LIVES. CHARITY WORKS WINTER 2022 PG 5 A publication of SHARRY'S CHOICE BECAME HER BIGGEST REGRET Sharry had made her decision. Scared and shaking, she laid on a cold table with endless tears flowing. She heard the hum of the vacuum after the nurse hit the switch. She was terrified and sick about what was to happen. She prayed, "God forgive me, I'm so sorry," and to her baby, "I'm so sorry," until it was over. In a coarse, hateful voice the nurse told her, "It was a boy." After the abortion procedure, her dad drove her back home and she vomited out the window on Colorado Boulevard. She had felt the life sucked out of her, not only of her baby, but her own. She was broken, empty and numb. "I don't know why, at 17 years old, I was left to make that decision myself," Sharry reflected inside the Marisol Health clinic in Lafayette. "I wish my parents would have said, 'You're going to have this baby and it's going to be okay!' I wish I would have had an ultrasound. If I had seen that little baby, I couldn't have done it." Sharry recently shared her story with a couple at the Marisol Health clinic who were trying to decide whether or not to have an abortion. She feels compelled to share the deep regret of her abortion that is always present. Not only the first time, but the second time, also. "There has never been a time in my life that I don't grieve about the loss of those babies," she shared. "It never goes away, my regrets, and heartache. I think about how old they would be today, and the blessings I could have, had I not cut them out of my life." Read Sharry's entire testimony online at ccdenver.org/newsroom. • H O N O R I N G C O U R A G E O U S M O T H ERS C E L EBR A T E L I F E 2 0 22 Sharry CELEBRATE LIFE BOLDLY PROCLAIMS DIGNITY OF LIFE, HONORS MOTHERS Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Celebrate Life Rally and March on January 15. You were a bold witness to life at all ages and stages. See stories, photos and videos of the rally and march — and learn more about Respect Life Denver, a ministry of Catholic Charities — at respectlifedenver.org. Photo Credit: Olivia Britt Photography/ Denver Catholic Archbishop: How to Live as A Modern Disciple Answer the Call and Find Joy in the Father The Gospel: The 'Why' Behind Every Other 'Why' Hold up the Cross in Costly Imitation of Christ Charity Works Relying on the Mysterious Gift of the Holy Spirit Three Steps to Become Joyfully Countercultural Apostolic Mindset Lenten Challenge St. John Paul II Parish Prepares for the Future Mission Advancement: Good News for Catholic Schools Christian Hermitage: On Friendship and Solitude Weigel: Two Families and the Communion of Saints Fire and Disaster Relief Fund Inspires Generosity Local News 02 04 18 08 21 14 29 32 34 42 36 40 48 45

• Cover