Denver Catholic

21 DENVER CATHOLIC | MAY 25-JUNE 7, 2019 "I became a lector and went to Bible study," she said. "As time went on, I got involved with the building committee and fundraising for the parish." Dunn eventually became the Direc- tor of Aspen Catholic, an organization that brings in speakers from around the country a few times a year for the Aspen community and out-of-town visitors to enjoy. "I better become a resident," Dunn thought, "because I'm here all the time." And so she did. Now a full-time parishioner, Dunn sees the beauty of parish life in a town like Aspen. "I had never been in a place where you do have so many visitors and there are so many second homeowners that really are very engaged and involved in this parish," she said. "It's amazing." Dunn meets visitors at the church who traveled from South America, Australia, Chicago and New York. She recently met someone at church from Hawaii. "We'll have visitors that, while they're here, will come to daily Mass every morning," she said. "That's very special. "I made friends with a couple from Brazil," she added. "They were here for two weeks and did not miss a daily Mass. They'd come dressed to go skiing, and then they'd be o¯ and do their thing. "I think it's good for our local com- munity to see the devotion and devout Catholics from across the country." But Dunn also appreciates the down time during those few months out of the year when things are much quieter. "As much as I love the busy time, shoulder season is also very nice, very quiet and very peaceful," she said. "It's a nice balance." Dunn's faith has not only been impacted by the visitors, but also by her fellow parishioners. "I think it's a very warm community," she said. "There's a lot of things going on in the parish to give people an opportu- nity to get involved." The beauty of Aspen doesn't hurt, either. "When you go up on that mountain and look out, you think, 'Wow. This is not manmade. This didn't just happen,'" she said. "You have to look out at this and feel very spiritual and very blessed to be able to see something like this every day." PART-TIMERS FILLS THE PEWS It didn't take long for Suzanne Anderson to feel like she belonged in the Catholic community when she moved to Breckenridge around four years ago. A fellow full-time parishioner named Barbara made sure she was embraced at St. Mary Catholic Church. "When I would come into church at St. Mary's, she would always welcome me," said Anderson. "Because she was a regular parishioner, she had a big influ- ence on helping me feel at home." That hospitality is a staple of the Breckenridge parish, where, during busy seasons, the bulk of those in the pews are from out of town. "I would say of all the churches I've belonged to, this parish is definitely one of the most heartfelt in their love for their Catholic faith and in their appre- ciation of our priests," said Anderson. It's also the only parish Anderson has belonged to that's profoundly influ- enced by visitors. A few times at Mass, she's looked around as the priest asks those in the pews, "How many of you are here from out of town? How many of you are visitors?" The vast majority of those in atten- dance raise their hands. After that, the priests "always say thank you for taking time out of your holiday, your weekend, to come to church," said Anderson. "It's a wonderful feeling to attend church on a Saturday evening, and it's full. And it's full because of these vis- itors," she added. "It makes you feel like Catholic people really care about coming to church. "They could be on the slopes, they could be skiing, they could be hiking. On a Saturday night at five o'clock, they could be at a restaurant. Instead, they're here sharing Mass with us," she said. "I love that." Because the full-time parishioners at St. Mary are so few, it makes the com- munity even closer. "The advantage is you really get to know your little circle of regulars," said Anderson. And those who are there full time are eager to be involved in what St. Mary o¯ers, often taking part in the parish's Bible study, adoration and even daily Mass. Anderson is inspired by the faith she's found at the small mountain parish. "I feel very, very blessed to be part of this parish because of our priests and because of our regulars," she said. "They're wonderful people." I came for the winter and stayed for St. Mary's." JUDY DUNN " Congratulations St. Thomas More Catholic School CLASS OF 2019 7071 East Otero Avenue | Centennial, CO 80112 303.770.0441 | www.stmcatholic.org Finn Bates Sorin Beals Adam Berg Quinn Binaxas Ella Burke Cole Brandsma Kaitlyn Clark Luke Corpuz Samuel Custy Ava Daly Luke Daly Allison Dennen Ella Denslow Jacob Dineen Aidan Duda Tess Finan Zachary Franzluebbers Nicholas Frontz Dylan Gross William Hartman Jr. Alexander Herrera Ava Hughes Ryan Jackson Ava Jergenson Elena Jo e Andrew Lorenzo Benjamin Maly Kate Manion Andrew Metzger Sophia Meyer Sarah Mollandor Andie Moye Nathan Muir John Neal Haley Nunley Anna Pike Annika Pulaski Elizabeth Roe Madison Rose Edward Roth Hero Schmidt Eva Searle Kyle Sears Renee Sobania Isabella Spezia Liam Wa ers Ryan Weyrauch 1200 Kenton St., Aurora, CO 80010 303-364-7494 www.stthereseschool.com MAYA ALEXANDER ANGEL ANDUJO-MENDIVIL DIEGO ARELLANO- RAMIREZ MIRIAM GONZALEZ JESUS GUERRERO- MALAGON ANGELA JARAMILLO ARLES JUAREZ ANTONIO MINJAREZ DANAH NGUYEN VIET VINCENT NGUYEN-BUI ANTHONY RESENDEZ EMILY REYES NATALY SALAZAR YANET SOLIS-ROMAN JAIME TRAYLOR ANASCIOUS TRIPPANY PAULINA VILLANUEVA 2019 GRADUATES 2019 Graduates C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s Brie Brocato Anna Cromer Helena Holguin- Campos Ella Krelovich Mitchell Mages Allyson Marcoux Ella Miller Dominic Nuanes Alexis Proietti Mia Roybal Christina Schinke Americus York

• Cover