Denver Catholic

48 H A I R S L A B S E A S T O L D E C A P R A R H E A U L E E H U S S Y S A R I R O A D S I D E B A B E L S T S A S S H E A T E L M B E D A Z Z L E W H E A T T A L E S I A L W E S T R I S E N T O N I J A S E A T I N P A N D A D R E A D F U L L I P B I T S S E C K A A S H A L T S E N T I N E L L I M A M O U R N N E R I O F I T E N E R O R E I N W I D E M O R A N I S E E m o c . s c i l o h t a c r o f s e m a g d r o w . w w w LOCAL N E WS On the sunny Saturday of Jan. 15, thousands of civil rights activ- ists converged on the Colorado State Capitol to courageously and joyfully stand up for basic human rights. Their cause? The right to life for the most innocent and vulnerable in our society: the child in the womb. While the Celebrate Life March happens every year, it felt somehow different this year. A spirit of victory resonated among those in attendance and from the speakers who rallied the crowd before the march, which included Dan Caplis, Bishop Jorge H. Rodri- guez, and Colorado Senator Bar- bara Kirkmeyer, among others. The diversity of the crowd at the rally and march proved that the issue of life is universal. People of all races and ages and religious backgrounds were in attendance, united as one for the same cause. The speakers stressed the need not only for unification amongst the pro-life community, but a commitment to continue assisting those courageous mothers who find themselves facing an unexpected pregnancy and walking alongside them as they choose life. Dr. Anthony Bonta, President of Bishop Machebeuf High School, will be leaving his position in May. Since moving here in August, Bonta's wife has been suffering from medical issues related to altitude, requiring a relocation as soon as possible. The Bontas are moving to Nash- ville, Tenn., where he will be Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Bonta helped stabilize Bishop Mache- beuf and get it to a strong position, said Superintendent Elias Moo. "Dr. Bonta was brought in to take the vision and help build a foundation for that vision to take off. The turn-around work he accomplished in his time, along with the strong team he assembled, has formed the foundation some thought impossi- ble. We are tremendously grateful for Dr. Bonta's service." Bonta's successor has already been announced. "It is with great gratitude to the Lord that we announce that Mr. Erich Hoffer, Principal of Christ the King Catholic School, has been appointed President of Bishop Machebeuf High School," Moo said. "Hoffer has served as Principal of Christ the King since 2019, but has nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, most of it at the high school level. He has a proven track record of providing a Catholic edu- cation rooted in the best of our tradition." Hoffer will remain at Christ the King through the end of the academic term and then begin transitioning to the role of Pres- ident of Bishop Machebeuf. Victory and resolve at the Celebrate Life March On Dec. 30, a fast-moving wildfire destroyed approximately 1,000 homes and structures in Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County. Among those who lost their homes were Kat and Tom Greany of Louisville. When the couple returned to what was left of their home, they found their statue of Mary still standing. "When we climbed down into the smoldering rubble of what had been our home, almost nothing was recognizable," Tom wrote in a reflection published by the Denver Catholic. "A few pots and pans. Twisted steel I-beams, disconnected from the foundation, had fallen onto the ash. On our front porch we could see the crumbled concrete of the foundation, bricks strewn about. And the beautiful designer front doors themselves melted into a twisted ball. But Mary remained. "The statue is a symbol. Amid the smoldering ruins that hours earlier had been an inferno, Mary remained. As she will in our lives. Interceding for us through the darkest of times, praying for us to Jesus Christ, her son, Our Lord and Savior. A Marian sign of hope amidst disaster Dr. Bonta announces departure from BMHS; new president named FEBRUARY 2022 | DENVER CATHOLIC PHOTO BY MARC PISCOTTY/GETTY IMAGES

• Cover