Denver Catholic

LOCAL NEWS I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I JANUARY 22, 2014 United in Christ, united in charity BY NISSA LAPOINT Not all Christians agree on every aspect of their faith, but that doesn't mean they can't begin a dialogue about Christ, the common tie that binds them together. This was the conclusion of a conversation had by three local Christians—two Catholic women and one non-denominational man—who are actively involved in ministry to the homeless population. Last week at the Purple Door Coffee in the Five Points neighborhood, the trio shared with the Denver Catholic Register their idea of Christian unity. Christians around the world are halfway through an annual week of prayer as a visible sign of their unity under Christ. Jan. 18-25 is observed worldwide as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, established in an effort to fulfill Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper that "they all may be one" (John 17:21). Mark Smesrud, program director of Purple Door Coffee, said his experience with various Christian denominations taught him that if Christ stays central, Christians can engage the world together. "You just have to start with Jesus," said 26-year-old Smesrud, who attends the non-denominational Bloom Church in southwest Denver. "We're going to disagree on a bunch of other things … but as we engage, we always need to gaze back to the person of Jesus and we can navigate those things." Smesrud talked about finding unity with other Christians. Catholic Yvonne Noggle, director of Christ in the City Missionaries in Denver, and Irma Montes, the homeless mission's first missionary who now does Hispanic outreach, agreed the best way is to seek Christ first. "We share Christ and let's focus on that," said 24-year-old Montes. Montes was baptized Catholic but explored many different denominations until she was invited to Mass and kept attending ever since. She noted it's important not to make assumptions about a person's relationship with Christ and where their heart is at. When she works with Christians who are not Catholic, Montes said she believes her primary task is not to convert them, but first to make sure she is following Christ and loving her neighbor. From that all things will flow and the Holy Spirit will guide conversions, she said. "I completely agree it's not our job (to convert others)," Smesrud said. "Our job is to continually present Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to (do this transformation)." The hope is as more Christian denominations collaborate with each other, the more Christ will become known, he said. Noggle, 31, added, "There just has to be continued dialogue." She said she was raised Catholic and felt called to serve the poor after an experience in eucharistic adoration at 15. PHOTO BY NISSA LAPOINT/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER IRMA MONTES, left, Yvonne Noggle, center, and Mark Smesrud, discussed Christian unity at Purple Door Coffee Jan. 14 before the international observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was in 2010 that her efforts bore fruit when the then president of Catholic Charities of the Denver Archdiocese supported the idea of forming young Catholics through service to the homeless. "We were going to serve the poor and we were going to pray," Noggle said was their foundational mission. Missionaries serve through the downtown Denver-based program to "love until it hurts" and help homeless youths realize their dignity. Missionaries are formed spiritually, intellectually and charitably in keeping with Church teaching. Noggle said the ministry is there to give people what they need most—that loving personal experience of Christ. "I think service is another common theme we have together," she said. Smesrud said he joined colleague Madison Chandler in 2012 to help the nonprofit coffee shop grow. He said he was drawn to the hope he saw in Denver's homeless youths and was attracted to the coffee shop's mission to develop the whole person. It was founded to create a Jesus-centered community where everyone is valued. The purple color painted inside signifies the belief that everyone should be treated as royalty, Smesrud said. "The innate worth and value of every human life is based on the person of Jesus Christ," he said. "The sacrifice he made communicates worth and value to every single person on an individual level not just humanity in general." With the backing of Dry Bones Denver ministry for homeless youth and Belay Enterprises, a faith-based nonprofit, the coffee shop grew and began hiring homeless youths. Its current two employees were taught job skills and assistance in rebuilding their lives, he said. Although many denominations and churches exist among Christianity, the three said Christians should anticipate complete unity in heaven. "We look forward to this spiritual reality that awaits us," Noggle said. "If not here, it's in the next life and we better practice what that means now in order to fully understand it later." Smesrud said Christians should strive to live the truths of Christ until then. "In the end, unity will be," he said. Broncos' prayers are answered he cares that we do." Father Steele is the president of Aurora's Regis Jesuit High School, whose Jesuit community has ministered to the Broncos since the school moved their campus to Aurora in 1990, just 3 miles from the team's Dove Valley headquarters in Centennial. "It's a fun way to minister, I enjoy it," said the Denver native and longtime Broncos' fan. "Particularly this year under Jack's leadership. They really want to be there (at Mass). They're serious about commending their efforts to God." "Jack" is Jack Del Rio, second-year defensive coordinator, and a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Denver. Another area priest, Father Terry Kissell, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in Aurora, also had an opportunity to minister within the NFL last weekend, celebrating Mass for the visiting Patriots. "I like the Patriots, I have for years," said Father Kissell, who regularly visits family near Boston. "It sounded like a once in a lifetime opportunity." He learned of it through an email blast from the archdiocese's Office of Priest Personnel, who received the Mass request from the Patriots' representative at the Westin Denver Downtown Hotel. Father Kissell was first to respond to the request. Arriving at the Westin at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, he was escorted to a conference room under tight security to celebrate a half-hour Mass—additional team meetings were scheduled for 6 p.m. In a short homily, the "most abbreviated I've given in years," he said, he referenced the day's Scripture, as well as Boston Strong, reminding the five men gathered that Boston Nation is everywhere—even on "foreign turf." "I couldn't identify if they were players," Father Kissel said of the five men attending, though he did recognize team owner Robert Kraft when he was leaving the hotel. "I thanked them for being at the Mass," he said. "It shows how much they value it." BY JULIE FILBY "For a Broncos' victory, let us pray to the Lord." This, according to Jesuit Father Philip Steele, was among the prayers of the faithful at a private team Mass for the Denver Broncos on the eve of the Jan. 19 AFC championship game when he requested special intentions. "I'm always kind of delicate when it comes to what we pray for during the prayers of the faithful," he clarified. Generally intentions include that each player play to the best of his ability, be protected from injury, and that existing injuries heal. But particularly that night, victory was on the minds and hearts of 15 players, coaches and family members gathered for a 7:30 p.m. liturgy at the team hotel. And victory was the outcome the next day when they defeated the New England Patriots 26-16 to advance PHOTO PROVIDED FATHER Philip Steele, left, president of Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, and a chaplain for the Denver Broncos the last eight years, enjoys the AFC Championship game Jan. 19, along with Alan Carruthers, principal of the Boys' Division at Regis Jesuit. to Super Bowl XLVIII Feb. 2 in East Rutherford, N.J., where they will take on the Seattle Seahawks. "I honestly believe God didn't care if the Broncos or the Patriots won," said Father Steele, who's served as a chaplain for the Broncos for eight years. "But

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