Denver Catholic

indeX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 Nun of the Above quiz ....................5 World/Nation.....................................6 Pilgrim Passport winners...............11 Bulletin Board ................................. 21 Service Directory .................... 22-23 www.denverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on inside cAtholic life 113 Years of Service to the Gospel VOlunTeeRS stuff 400 backpacks on June 17 for the 2013 Catholic Media Conference. Conference helps media pros better share the good news pAGe 15 World youth dAy 1993 Pope unlocks youths' hearts to vocations pAGes 12-13 JUne 19, 2013 catholics urged to draw spiritual weapons, defend religious liberty By Julie FilBy PhOtO by anya semenOFF FOR dCR volume LXXXIX - no. 22 For the second consecutive year, during the 14 days from June 21—the vigil of the feasts of martyrs John Fisher and Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, the U.S. bishops have called for a "Fortnight for Freedom." In responding to this call for prayer and public action for religious freedom, the Denver Archdiocese has planned a prayer rally June 22 at the state Capitol and Archbishop Samuel Aquila has asked Catholics to emphasize fasting during the two-week period. "The place where we should start any serious battle is on our knees," said J.D. Flynn, chancellor. "Archbishop Aquila realized that this is a time when demonstration is needed, argument is needed, and debate and fervent political action is needed—but what's needed most fundamentally is grace, the transforming grace of Christ." To help serve as instruments of grace, Catholics are encouraged to abstain from meat on Fridays during the fortnight, and to offer other physical sacrifices, similar to those offered during Lent. "We can be channels of grace merely through our fasting and that's a really cool thing," Flynn said. "We can be participants in the unfolding of God's plan for the world through our Community expresses gratitude PhOtO by heLen h. RIChaRdsOn/the denveR POst lAnDen ePPeRSOn, 10, of Colorado Springs holds up an American flag as he and other area residents turned out at the corner of Old Ranch and Thunder Mountain roads outside of the Black Forest Fire Incident Command Post to cheer on firefighters June 16. Read the story on Page 2. own spiritual sacrifices… and that's going to be the thing that really changes the grave situation that we're facing in our country." The Fortnight initiative was prompted last summer in response to threats to religious pArish neWs Tight-knit, working parish proud of its 100 years pAGes 8-9 Guardian angel 'rules and guides' growth of Weld County parish pAGes 8-9 freedom, most notably the Health and Human Services mandate that requires employers to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs that Catholics and others find morally objectionable. Aug. 1 is the deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate. Other challenges to religious liberty include the upcoming attempt to redefine marriage in the Supreme Court, see liberty, Page 3 yeAr of fAith: ordinAry time "Ordinary time" doesn't mean unexceptional or monotonous. It refers to the fact that the Scripture readings and prayers for each Sunday Mass follow in sequential order. Ordinary time, in other words, is ordered time. It is celebrated two times during the year: between Christmas and Lent, and between Pentecost and Advent. The liturgical color is green to remind us that it is a time for growth in Christian discipleship. After ascending the mountains of Christmas and Easter, we descend to the fertile valley to "feed" on the Lord's teachings and mature in the spiritual life. Inspiration takes place on mountaintops, but growth happens in the valleys.

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