Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1522052
47 DENVER CATHOLIC | JUNE-JULY 2024 Congratulations Class of 2024! Lauren Alcamo Jonathan Barker Abigail Bruggemen Mario Cabrera-Romero Ariana Cordero-Gaona Felicity DeCet Reyna Diaz-Colin Xitlalli Gallegos-Guerrero Mary Golesh Sophia Guzman Ramos Nicholas Hermes Eilidh Howe GioVannie Lopez Genesis Luna Ayla Marquez Taylor Nguyen Matthew Nistler Jonathan Rodriguez Rian Scheitler Clara Snavely Cyril Sulley Tara Tran Pajza Vu SHRINE OF ST. ANNE SCHOOL ARVADA, CO CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2024! stannescatholic.org | 303-422-1800 Patrick Barth Gianni Brienza Ellie Bruce Nicolas Busick Chloe Chavez Mackenzie Coffin Anna Countryman Emily Demmon Julianna Doane Sophia Farris Erin Flaherty Madelyn Frewerd Jonathon Hensley Kylie Hernandez Brooklyn Jacquez Matthew Kempfer Alexander Kilpatrick Kateri Kullman Roberto Lanzetta Adam Logan Tristin Lopez Zachary Lousberg Angela Mulhern Matthew Mulhern Emily Neptune Gerald Palmer Trey Pasquini Bristol Pixler Cooper Price Mila Russell Ava Saulino Giuliana Schmeda Lukas Shirley Tanner Steele Ian Tapp Maryn Wilke Deacon Milinazzo had no semblance of faith at this point in his life. That all changed one day when two neighbor- hood boys he and his brother played football with introduced him to Jesus for the first time in an unusual way. "At one point in time, we take a timeout," Deacon Milinazzo recalled. "My brother and I are talking, and I look over at the boys, and they're saying to each other, 'The body of Christ.' They were giving each other hosts. I'm like, 'What are you guys doing?' They go, 'We're giving each other the body of Christ. We're get- ting power to beat you.'" This piqued his curiosity, which led him to follow the boys to their church one morning. He began to attend Mass by himself, and at age 11, he put himself through classes to receive First Communion. The seeds of Deacon Milinazzo's faith were planted then, though they wouldn't grow until much later in life. Over time, his faith wavered as he wrestled with his upbringing. To cope, he began using drugs and alcohol heavily. Despite his religious education, he identified as an atheist for most of his life. ⊲ Deacon Richard Milinazzo with his family, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Deacon Louis Arambula after his ordination to the permanent diaconate in 2021. PHOTO BY NEIL MCDONOUGH