Archbishop Golka Visits Eastern Plains Parishes, Encourages Catholics to Become Saints

Denver Archbishop James Golka visited three parishes on Colorado’s Eastern Plains over All Saints’ Day weekend, celebrating Mass and encouraging Catholics to embrace their call to become saints. The archbishop’s visits included St. Andrew Parish in Wray, St. Anthony Parish in Sterling, and St. Helena Parish in Fort Morgan.

A Message of Accessible Holiness

To be a saint means, first of all, I desire to be a friend of Christ. We can all do that, he said. I desire to be a friend of Jesus Christ. I want to know him and have him know me. The archbishop explained that celebrating All Saints’ Day should stir a desire to be more like Jesus, noting that saints allow the light and lov[e] [to come through]. He began his visits at St.

The Role of Mercy and Surrender

Dispelling the notion that sanctity is an unachievable goal, Archbishop Golka stated that holiness does not mean never making a mistake. To be holy means I should look to Jesus, who wants to pick me up after I’ve fallen down, he said. He stressed that people cannot become saints on their own, adding, I cannot pick myself up. I cannot save myself. I need a Savior and a Redeemer. That’s why Jesus came. The archbishop highlighted that Jesus loves to help people become who God made them to be, illustrating this point with a young girl’s definition of a saint as someone who let the light come through. Helena Parish in Fort Morgan.

A Priority for Rural Communities

Since his appointment as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop Golka has expressed excitement about visiting parishioners, particularly in rural areas. I really look forward to visiting the parishes — they’re all unique, he said. I grew up in Nebraska, so I can’t wait to get to the rural parts of the archdiocese. The archbishop’s Eastern Plains tour was a continuation of his effort to connect with communities across the archdiocese. There’s something in it for us, something that helps us along the way, he said, noting that the saints are already in Heaven, beholding God face-to-face. That’s the first step. So calling the saints to mind inspires and arouses in us this longing to be in their company, but more so the longing to be with our Lord.