Denver Catholic

10 DECEMBER 22, 2018-JANUARY 25, 2019 | DENVER CATHOLIC Year in Review 2018 Proud to be a Denver Catholic BY DENVER CATHOLIC STAFF I t's evident with the many happen- ings in the Archdiocese of Denver that the New Evangelization is alive and well here in the Mile-High City — a call heeded by the faithful 25 years ago when St. John Paul II vis- ited Denver for World Youth Day and carried into the present day with pur- pose and fervor. And it's precisely that purpose and fervor that makes the Denver Catholic so proud to be a part of the Church of northern Colorado. We are honored to tell these stories — the stories of you, the faithful people of God, who spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world that so desperately needs it in a diverse array of ways. In many ways, 2018 was a tough year to be Catholic. Echoes of the Church's troubled past are resounding through freshly re-opened wounds, the ramifi - cations of which remain to be seen but could be more painful than ever before. Even so, the Church that was founded by Jesus Christ, while shaken, remains faithful, especially here in Denver. Whether it was within a classroom, in a parish, at a conference of over 5,000 missionary disciples, or through a pow- erful testimony of faith, here are but a few of the many ways the faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver showed a glimpse of Christ to the world in 2018. SERVANT OF GOD JULIA GREELEY This year was also another exciting year for our very own Angel of Charity, Julia Greeley. June 7 marked the 100thžanni- versary of Julia's death, and to cel- ebrate that occasion, Governor John Hickenlooper declared June 3-9, 2018 "Julia Greeley Week" for the state of Colorado. On that same day, the new tomb housing Julia's remains was unveiled at the Cathedral in a powerful ceremony. The tomb was designed in Colorado and the raw materials were excavated from the world-famous marble quarry in Carrara, Italy, which is best known for producing works of art like Michelangelo's David. Last but not least, Julia's cause for canonization was sent o¯ the Vatican, where they will review the pertinent documents and, led by the Holy Spirit, determine whether or not Julia is worth of sainthood. The faithful are encouraged to continue praying for Julia's intercession, as it could prove instrumental in her cause. Julia Greeley, pray for us! MORE THAN YOU REALIZE This year, the Archdiocese of Denver launched More Than You Realize (MTYR), a discipleship movement inspired by Saint John Paul II's call to the faithful in Denver to share the New Evangelization. MTYR was introduced to over 5,000 Catholics across the archdiocese during a special conference celebrating the saint's visit to Denver for World Youth Day 25 years ago. MTYR.Church was launched for practicing Catholics and MTYR.org will launch in 2019 for both secular and Christian audiences. Through intriguing videos, stylish merchandise and stimulating content, the movement will o¯ er faithful Catholics modern tools for evangelization and non-Catholics the opportunity to learn the truth of the Catholic faith — something that is much more than most people realize. A BRIGHT FUTURE Nestled in the Rocky Mountains and resting in the shadow of Long 's Peak, Annunciation Heights is a new Catholic youth and family camp located just south of Estes Park in the Archdiocese of Denver that o³ cially opened in 2018. Acquired in late 2017, the four-lodge, 188-bed camp will serve as home for new summer youth and family camps, spring and fall outdoor lab programs, and year-round youth, college and parish ministry retreats.ž The hope is for Annunciation Heights to provide a place for visitors to get away from the hustle and bustle of life to gather in a beautiful setting only Colorado can o¯ er, be served by a great sta¯ and ultimately, grow closer to Christ. Another exciting new addition to the archdiocese is the Prophet Elijah House, a retirement community exclusively for our priests located on the St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization campus. The archdiocese is honored to provide a place for our fathers, who spend their entire lives serving the people of God, a place to retire and spend the remainder of their days in community with their brother priests. Our priests have helped nurture us spiritually throughout their lives, providing the sacraments and all that a priest does," said Keith Parsons, chief fi nancial o³ cer for the archdiocese. "This will be an opportunity for retired priests to have a subsidized place to live, located on a beautiful, spiritual campus." WYD '93 25TH ANNIVERSARY If there is an event that has proven to be a turning point for American Catholicism, it was World Youth Day '93 in Denver. When Pope John Paul II announced he wanted to hold the next WYD in the U.S., many American bishops were skeptical. They didn't think this type of event could be successful in the U.S. Yet, the Holy Father insisted — and he was right. Around 700,000 young people from around the world attended, making it the biggest event in Colorado history. "There was almost a spirit of main- tenance, of just keeping things going, and WYD brought in the aspect of a deeper formation, a deeper relation- ship with Christ, and a deeper living out of the faith in the world," said Car- dinal Francis J. Sta¯ ord, who was then Archbishop of Denver. Twenty-fi ve years later, the Church in Denver is a hotspot for the New Evangelization, giving birth to numerous lay and religious initiatives seeking to bring Christ to every home and aspect of society. PHOTO BY JASON WEINRICH PHOTO BY ANDREW WRIGHT PHOTO BY BRANDON ORTEGA PHOTO BY JASON WEINRICH

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