Denver Catholic

6 I OPINION JULY 31, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER GUEST COLUMN DOMINIC NEDBALSKI What I did on my summer vacation: work at the DCR SERVING THE DENVER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SINCE 1890. The heritage behind our mortuaries and cemeteries is one of history and tradition. Gene Steinke 65 Years Harry Stevenson 51 Years For more than a century, Catholic families have trusted Olinger Mortuaries and Cemeteries to care for their loved ones because respect for traditions, understanding the needs of the Catholic faith, and providing affordable options is at the heart of what we do. With more than a 142 years of combined experience, parishioners Gene Steinke, Harry Stevenson and Matt Whaley have assisted families with care and compassion. Today, their experience, combined with those who provide professional services in 11 Olinger neighborhood chapels, is virtually unprecedented in serving the Denver Catholic community. (303) 455-3663 www.denverfuneralproviders.com Matt Whaley 26 Years It's baffling to think that this time next year I'll be in the "real world." Beginning May 2014, I will no longer be a student. That might hit me the first week of classes next month, the week of final exams in the spring or after my name is called during the graduation ceremony. For the last 10 weeks, I have been an intern with the Denver Catholic Register. How I even got the internship is fairly amusing. Being a journalism major, I've been told countless times that a legitimate internship is almost necessary to land a job in the industry following graduation. So during my winter break, I kept watch over my university's internship page, seeing any potential fits for my interests. The few that did seem attractive were outweighed by the fact that hundreds of other journalism students were applying for the same spot. I decided I'd have a better chance by simply emailing editors of local publications. My standard email to them was that I was a journalism student searching for an internship and that I had little actual experience writing stories. The editor of the Register was the only one who got back to me. I felt positive vibes when trying to figure out how it would be working for the Archdiocese of Denver. After all, I did spend 14 years of my life enrolled at a Catholic preschool, grade school and high school. More important, I relished the idea of using writing, one of the gifts God has given me, for the sake of the Church. By the time spring came around, I was notified that I did get the internship position. I immediately started to imagine what sort of terrible grunt work I would be assigned that is so common for interns today (supposedly). I thought of everything, from guessing how many trips to Starbucks I'd be taking for my boss and the other reporters, to how many piles of story drafts I'd be editing. Boy was I wrong. Week one of the internship was highlighted by being assigned five stories, one of which would be an account of the influential Mother Dolores Hart, a Benedictine prioress who is still famous for being the first to kiss Elvis Presley on screen. Call it a baptism by fire or whatever you'd like, but my editor didn't coddle me or bring me along in baby steps. And I will be forever grateful for that. If you were to open a Register this summer, you would probably find one of my priest profile stories or a piece previewing or recapping an event. I can truthfully say that I learned something new every day at the Archdiocese of Denver, furthering my knowledge of the Church. Another highlight of my work would have to include writing a recovery story on the Black Forest Fire after speaking with a family that lost everything. I quickly learned through that experience that journalism can be emotional at times. To say I was moved by the family's great faith and trust in God after the fire would be an understatement. My time here with the Denver Catholic Register has been nothing but a blessing. It has been a humbling experience to be able to use my ever-growing journalistic abilities to accomplish God's work. I don't think I could handpick a more rewarding internship than that. Journalism major Dominic Nedbalski, 20, is a senior at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, a parishioner at Notre Dame Church in Denver and a youth sports camp director. He enjoys spending time with his family and girlfriend. Concert to mark Centro San Juan Diego's 10th anniversary The Denver Archdiocese's Hispanic ministry center, Centro San Juan Diego, will commemorate its 10th anniversary with a concert by musician Martin Valverde. The concert, the first of a yearlong series of events to mark the milestone anniversary, will be held 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at Boettcher Concert Hall, 950 13th St., Denver. Tickets are $25 or $35 for VIP seating. Purchase tickets online at www.centrosanjuandiego.org, or email centro@archden.org, or call 1-866-464-2626.

• Cover