Good News
May 5, 2008 by Amy
A couple of years ago, after our one and only Trip to Rome, a fellow wrote to me and asked about the apartment we’d stayed at. As things turned out, he and his family were traveling to Rome and were going to stay in the same apartment.
A couple of days ago, this same man wrote me again, asking about the famed “Pope in Shades” pic, and he also described life in his new parish in Denver. I was struck by what he’d written, and thought it worth reprinting on the blog. So with his permission:
Coming from Chicago, all I can say is the Catholic scene in Denver is incredible. Our parish is Church of the Holy Ghost, where they offer the Novus Ordo in Latin. The priests are of the Oblates of the Bl. Virgin Mary and are very young, energetic and orthodox. They offer daily Mass, followed by the Angelus, Exposition of the Bl. Sacrament, Rosary and Confession. The parish is packed with young, very friendly families. Our school, St. Vincent de Paul, is run by 4 Nashville Dominicans - the average age is about 35. My favorite scene from this winter was one of the sisters, in full habit, standing in the middle of the street during a major snowstorm directing traffic as parents dropped off their kids. A group of 4 parents started a Jeff Cavins Bible study last year and it’s grown to 20 couples. We met last Friday night - casual dinner, beer and then the videos. I couldn’t believe it. Just wonderful.
Archbishop Chaput offers Mass on Sunday at 6:30 in the Cathedral (which is a magnificent structure). However, he hears Confessions before Mass and vests in the back of the church. Sort of shows you that what he considers important. His homilies are strong, very evangelizing and very geared towards teaching the faith.…because of the beauty of the church, the reverence of the Mass and the availability of the priests, I’m going to almost daily Mass. In fact, more than ever, I WANT to attend Mass as frequently as possible. Obviously, I’m a weak Catholic and need everything the Church can offer to bring me to Christ - smells, bells, statues, artwork, stained glass windows etc. Second, these Oblate priests are unbelievable in the Confessional. They disappear and I feel like I’m talking directly to Christ. They offer mercy, but also practical points on how to conquer sin.
…Third, the parish is very friendly. We have 5 kids (one on the way) so often my wife or I are standing in the back with one or more kids during Mass. Other people noticed we were new and introduced themselves to us. Older people often compliment us on the behavior of our kids, even when it’s not justified. It’s their way of saying, “Keep coming to Mass as a family!” After Mass, there are donuts and coffee in the basement and it’s packed with families and kids. People linger and talk.
Fourth, the church is located downtown and has a strong outreach program for the homeless. There’s a soup kitchen etc. So this shows you can combine so-called “conservative” Catholicism with vibrant Catholic social teaching.
Fifth, the church is beautiful and has a wonderful history: In the 1930s/40s, an heiress commissioned an architect to design the church in honor of her parents. She first had him travel throughout Europe to study famous churches. As a result, Holy Ghost has a mix of styles, but it rivals the most beautiful churches I’ve ever been in, including Rome. I’ve attached a picture of the altar. Finally, it’s right downtown, surrounded by a couple of encroaching skyscrapers and across the street from the federal courthouse. It offers a powerful counterpoint to what society says is important. I always pray for the soul of this heiress. Just think, her generosity in the name of her parents continues to save souls and change lives in ways she never imagined. It’s just amazing to me.
I know I sound a little too enthusiastic to be real, but I didn’t want to move to Denver. I felt like Jonah being pulled to Ninevah. I turned the job offer down twice, even though it was a much better job with much better compensation. But now I know we’re supposed to be here and it is just fabulous from a Catholic perspective, in my opinion. Not once have we gotten the daily Chicago comment, “Are those all yours?” My wife is already in a Rosary league with other moms. There are informal doctrine classes for men at our kids’ school. My boss is a practicing Catholic whose wife homeschools their six kids. I’ve met half a dozen converts - all of whom said something dramatically changed as a result of World Youth Day. It really is incredible here and I’m not one to be overly optimistic or hopeful about the Church in America. I keep telling people here that they have no idea how great it is and they just look at me like I have two heads b/c this seems so normal to them.
So I’m not the only one who has found a vibrant Church OUTSIDE the Archdiocese of Chicago!? I would have thought/hoped it would change under Cardinal George, but every time I go back to visit, the parishes we attend are still the same watered-down version of Catholicism I remember growing up there. I’m sure there are exceptions, but I never found them. No wonder that my faith was strengthened — like this man’s — AFTER I moved away.
I’ve been to Denver a number of times and I’ve been very impressed with Church of St Thomas Moore in Denver near where I usually stay.
God Bless
I have extremely fond memories of Holy Ghost. Beautiful, orthodox, socially active. I miss it every Sunday.
Every word is true.
Tina:
Why don’t you tell us more about the vibrant Church you’ve found?
I go to another parish here in California run by the Oblates (St. Peter Chanel), I’ve been very impressed with the masses they offer plus the other outreaches and activities. I’m currently attending their Spiritual Exercises, which I heartily recommend. I’ve noticed the same things you have, about an increased reverence, hard working priests, and a welcoming parish. May God bless them and their endeavors.
Kris,
I’ll echo what you’re saying about the Oblates and St. Peter Chanel. It’s close to my office and I get to daily Mass there a couple of times per week, and it doesn’t matter if it’s 8am or Noon, the Mass is very well attended and there’s always a priest or two in the confessionals! I have now noticed they have an altar cross as well. The parish is a bright shining light here in LA.
When asked why Denver had such a reputation for having so many good Catholic things happening, Archbishop Chaput said that he thought it was the spiritual fruits of the Holy Father’s visit to WYD.
The Ghost is Holy - I’m two blocks away and frequently can make Daily Mass, and if not, I can sneak by for a bit of adoration - and the Oblates are everything your “fellow” made them out to be. During Lent, they were sitting in the box for up to an hour-and-a-half after the 11:30 AM Mass hearing confessions every day. I had heard second-hand that the parish was in disrepair not more than a decade ago before the Oblates took it over.
Thanks for the post. It was a nice reminder that I am blessed to be in Denver and so close to Holy Ghost.
I am a member of Holy Ghost Parish and can attest to everything that the writer has described. We are, indeed, blessed in Denver with a wonderful bishop and a strong Catholic community here in Denver.
Hey Amy, just dropped by your blog randomly since recognizing your name as a tentative attendee at the Catholic New Media Celebration. I’ve never been to Mass in Chicago, but at a Youth 2000 in Covington, KY a few years ago the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi/Our Lady of the Angels was an awesome speaker and preacher. Of course, now I don’t even remember his name, but I’m pretty sure he’s a CFR.
But even more, I’d love to check out St. Stanislaus Kostka (www.ststansk.com). I found them by accident a couple years ago while wandering around the neighborhood. Their mission is to be a “sanctuary in the city,” and judging by their sacrament schedule, they take it pretty seriously.
FWIW, one of their news articles says there are something like 20 parishes in the Arch. of Chicago with Perpetual Adoration. So I guess there are some great parishes out there. Just gotta look for ‘em.
Archbishop Chaput is obviously very humble. I think his preaching has more to do with the strong Church there than he gives himself credit for.
Jason
Dittos. Like the letter writer, I had the same misgivings before moving to Denver. I thought I was heading off into a desert but instead there are tons of opportunities — even in my little suburb — for eucharistic adoration, daily mass, daily confession — not to mention workshops, events, etc. Anything a Catholic would want or need to grow in faith is right here in Denver. Abp. Chaput is a treasure. May God bless him many times over!
I searched long and hard for a good picture of the Church of the Holy Ghost. I went to daily Mass there when in Denver for business last month. I was so excited about its beauty and just the feel of the place (let alone the Eucharistic adoration that followed Mass) that I posted about it on my blog. I wanted folks to see the beauty and richness of the wood behind the altar.
I now have that picture (and confirmation of my “vibe”). Thank you!
Please, someone, mention St. Malo’s Retreat Center in the mountains in nearby Allenspark. It is run (with the Archbishop’s enthusiastic approval) by the “new evangelization” order out of Peru (though they are in several faithful US dioceses and in demand all over the world, in Rome, some at the Vatican, all over South America, etc) - the Sodalitium. Google the retreat center - it is gorgeous, and John Paul II stayed there for a day during World Youth Day (we once stayed in the John Paul suite - nothing has changed since he was there!). The stone chapel is gorgeous and the mountain trails are awesome. The young men of the order are astonishingly alive. I understand there is a companion house of sisters in Denver as well. But you just can’t wax ecstatic about the area’s vibrant, faithful Catholicism and leave out St. Malos’!!
Tom K: I actually used the capital-C Church for a reason — not meaning one particular parish per se but rather the Church as a whole in whatever diocese I lived in. I’ve lived in three different dioceses since I moved from Chicago in 2000 and, generally speaking, I’ve always found churches (there are, of course, still many exceptions) with very holy priests, reverant congregants, more traditional liturgy, etc. — much of what the original writer described at his parish in Denver.
Twenty parishes in Chicago with perpetual adoration out of the hundreds of parishes there isn’t all that much; but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Yes, I’m sure you do just have to look for such holy parishes; perhaps it is just coincidence, then, that I only found them after leaving Chicago and moving to not one or two but three other dioceses.
“…Third, the parish is very friendly. We have 5 kids (one on the way) so often my wife or I are standing in the back with one or more kids during Mass. Other people noticed we were new and introduced themselves to us. Older people often compliment us on the behavior of our kids, even when it’s not justified. It’s their way of saying, “Keep coming to Mass as a family!” After Mass, there are donuts and coffee in the basement and it’s packed with families and kids. People linger and talk.”
YES!!! I wish more parishes would do this.
I’m the effusive Chicagoan who wrote to Amy about Denver. Please don’t mistake me - I love Chicago and met many holy priests there, many holy laypeople who lived the faith better than I and attended Mass and other devotions (Corpus Christi procession at St. John Cantius or St. Mary of the Angels will knock your socks off) at incredible beautiful churches. It’s just that based on my experience as an adult in Iowa, DC, Europe, Chicago and now Denver, I think there is something special and very positive happening here and it’s more than just one parish, although I do think (IMHO) that Church of the Holy Ghost is extraordinary, but really, again IMHO, should be the norm.
We have great Catholic friends in Chicago, including many priests. I guess I’m just stunned about the Catholic scene in Denver. It really is incredible. But there are great things in Chi-town too!
I entered the Church at Holy Ghost a little over a decade ago. I was married there and most of my children have been baptized there.
Holy Ghost has been a great parish for over a century (it was founded in 1905). The tradition of social activism goes back to its origins. Pastors of Holy have included Monsignor John Raymond Mulroy who served as pastor from 1930 until his death in 1965.. Fr. Mulroy also served as the head of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese. It was his service to the poor that pursuaded the Denver Post Heiress, Helen Bonfils to pay for the construction of the present church. Miss Bonfils built the church as pennance for the sins of her father.
Holy Ghost was also honored to have Auxiliary Bishop David Maloney as pastor from 1965-1967. Bishop Maloney left Holy Ghost to become the Bishop of Wichita.
In the 1980’s Holy Ghost was lead by Monsignor C.B. Woodrich, more commonly known as Fr. Woody. Fr. Woody, who also edited the Denver Catholic Register, solidified the parish’s commitment to the homless and those who have AIDS. His piety attracted a new donor, Bill Daniels, the cable television magnate. The Daniels Fund, the charitible foundation created at the death of Bill Daniels, remains a significant contributor to the charitible work of the parish.
Holy Ghost has always had a latin mass (although it has not had the extraordinary form of the mas since 1970). The Oblates are dedicated to celebrating the ordinary form with grace and dignity. The Oblates will not be bringing the extraordinary form to Denver, indeed most Sundays Eucharistic Prayer II is used.
Holy Ghost is one of 2 successor parishes to Denver’s first Catholic Church, St. Mary’s, which was founded in 1860. The other is the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. We are lucky to have a bust of our beloved “Fr. Valliant”, Bishop Joseph P. Machebuef, the first bishop of Denver, and a pieta from his little cathedral at 15th and Stout Streets.
Reading letters / blog entries like these make my day.
I am happy for the family and hope we all can learn a little bit from his experience: to be friendly and to be a blessing especially to new / visiting churchgoers.
As a convert and a lifelong Coloradan, I have to admit, I’ve never understood the media talking about how Catholicism in America is dying out/against church teaching/whatever…
I have had wonderful experiences in all of the parishes I’ve belonged to in my 10 years in the church. Very holy and wonderful priests…mostly very orthodox . The Jesuits here in Denver are also great, I attended Regis University and converted while there.
We now live out on the plains (far far away from the city) but are still in the Denver diocese. We have been so fortunate to have two young, holy and on fire priests at our parish in the past 3 years (one we only got for a year before he was moved up!) We just found out that we get to keep our current pastor for 6 more years (VERY excited about that!)
Honestly, I can’t think of one church in the diocese that has a bad reputation. I can’t think of one church where our children have not been welcome (granted, we only have 2 right now!) Our archbishop is amazing, and wonderful things are always happening here.
Next time we visit Denver, we’ll definately make a point of going to Mass at Holy Ghost!
I am a transplant from Iowa who now lives in Estes Park, and I too can attest to the life of the Church in northern Colorado. I attend Mass every Sunday night at St. Malo’s Chapel on the Rock. It is a simple, solemn, prayerful experience. Went to the Archbishop’s Mass while in Denver a few months ago; it was full of young men and women my age, and at the end we sang “Alma Redemptoris Mater.” Every March the Archdiocese holds the Living the Catholic Faith Conference in Denver, where hundreds of the faithful gather to be confirmed in the Faith. It was there that for the first time in my 26 years I saw a nun in a traditional habit.
Thank God for our faithful Archbishop, priests, religious and laity.