Welcome to the Diocese of Pueblo Website

It was St. Teresa of Avila who said:
"Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
No hands but yours;
No feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
Is to look out to the earth.
Yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good.
And yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now."

By Father Matthew Wertin, Respect Life Liaison to the Bishop
The tragedy of abortion is experienced by some with a superficial awareness, as if not realizing the extreme harm that such an act entails. Many others, on the other hand, although experiencing this moment as a defeat, believe they have no other option...I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision.

By Rev. Michael Chrisman, Director of Worship
The tradition of a Holy Door in a church during a Jubilee year is one that dates back as early as Christmas 1499. It was on Christmas Eve of that year, in which Pope Alexander VI declared the year 1500 a Jubilee Year. During that year of Jubilee, the Basilicas of St. John Lateran; the Cathedral Basilica of the Bishop of Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls all dedicated a door in the church as a Holy Door or porta sancta¹.

By Linda Davis
When teens of Pueblo were asked who to have as the presenter for the annual youth festivals it was an overwhelming reply of Mike Patin! Patin has been to Pueblo twice in the past ten years. Many young adults want their younger siblings to experience seeing him in action. Through interaction he uses energy, humor and stories to affirm the goodness of God’s presence among us while inviting others (and himself) to take the “next step” in the journey with God.

By Carole Ricotta
The Diocese of Pueblo Council of Catholic Women held its annual convention at St. Joseph Parish in Pueblo. This gathering was hosted by the Pueblo District of the Council of Catholic Women.

The meeting was chaired by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s president, Gloria Romero and the Pueblo District Council of Catholic Women’s president, Carole Ricotta. Over 240 women and guests from the Diocese of Pueblo attended the convention.

By Msgr. Mark Plewka, J.C.L.
On September 8, 2015, Pope Francis issued, on his own authority, a motu proprio, titled Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus, Gentle Judge Lord Jesus. This piece of papal legislation concerned the reform of the canonical process for a declaration of nullity of marriage. This legislation becomes effective on December 8, 2015. It will impact the judicial process for obtaining a declaration of nullity, also known as, an annulment, in two significant ways. The first is the ability of approaching a tribunal, that is a church court. The second is the length of the process.

Parishioners from Pueblo and the surrounding area gathered at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo on October 11 to once again celebrate Rosary Sunday. This long-standing tradition held annually in October helps foster a love for the devotion to the rosary. This year area children acted out the luminous mysteries with the decades of the rosary prayed in different languages. Bishop Stephen Berg presided.

By Andrew Dernovsek
On August 21, Universal Chastity Education (UCE) and Mesa Catholic Campus Ministry joined together to offer students the opportunity to choose chastity at a larger Colorado Mesa University campus event called, “Safe and Sexy.”

By Paul Petersen
The Durango Knights of Columbus Council #1408 contributed sandwich materials, chips and condiments for 1000 sack lunches for teens throughout the Four Corners area who attended the Southwest Catholic Youth Conference sponsored by LifeGuard on October 17, in Farmington, N.M. 

The Diocese of Pueblo office of vocations sponsored its 25th annual Pilgrimage for Vocations on October 3 in the San Luis Valley. The ten-mile walk from San Francisco, Colo. to San Luis drew about 60 walkers. Father Heriberto Torres, C.R. led the pilgrimage.

By Chris Rothschild
Editor’s Note: Chris Rothschild is the coordinator of religious education at St. Michael in Cañon City. He traveled to Philadelphia at the end of September to participate in the World Meeting of Families with Pope Francis.

I had the opportunity to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pa.  It happens every three years, and it’s an invitation from our Holy Father for all families to come and celebrate the joy of Christ and his Church, the family of God.

By Deacon Jerry LeBlanc
This summer the Hispanic Ministry team completed a series of formation days, Días de Formación, in the Diocese of Pueblo. The formation days were presented at St. Mary in Montrose, St. Patrick/Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lamar, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pueblo, and Sacred Heart in Alamosa. Father Andres Ayala was the keynote speaker in Pueblo and Alamosa; Father Albiero Herrera was the keynote speaker in Montrose. Break-out sessions were presented by Father Don Malin, Carlos Ruiz, Nicole Ruiz, and Deacon Jerry LeBlanc.

By Ginny Revel
God created us, female and male, to be in a dance together. Through the awesome gift of our bodies, we are able to bond in intimacy after the sacrament of marriage, create children, protect them as they grow, and be changed by them forever, not only emotionally, but also on a cellular level.

By Blaine R. Wells
Dennis “Hoot” Harlan, Grand Knight of Our Lady of the Rockies Council 11731 of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Mission in Cedaredge, presented a $600 scholarship to Emily Marie Anderson at Mass. Emily is a 2015 graduate of Cedaredge High School and the daughter of Chad and Tanya Anderson of Cedaredge. In her application, Emily wrote, “My faith is the number one priority in my life. My faith defines what I strive to be. I hope to one day have a family of my own that I am able to share my faith with.”

The Most Holy Trinity Parish family celebrated and acknowledged the sacrifices and work of the Trinidad Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Sheriff’s Department, Colorado Game and Wildlife, fire fighters from four local departments as well as first responders, the local DOC and all agencies that support and protect the community at the annual Blue Mass held on September 27.

St. Therese Catholic School is pleased to welcome Nadine Montoya as the new principal for the 2015-16 school year.  Nadine is well known to students, staff and families having served as the Spanish teacher at St. Therese last year. 

Ms. Montoya has been involved in education since 1985 and school administration since 2005.  Her experience includes classroom teaching at the second, third, and fourth grade level, English as a second language and reading at the middle school level, as well as working with high school students in the Upward Bound program. 

By Dcn. Stephen Escalera, Director of Lifelong Catechesis
I am both pleased and excited to be writing to you as your new Director of Lifelong Catechesis. It is an honor to be invited by Bishop Berg to be a part of his pastoral team and entrusted with the duty of supporting his role of nourishing and strengthening the spiritual life of the people of the Diocese of Pueblo.

By Delores Montano, Executive Asst.
Often people ask, “What is the Catholic Foundation? What do I support when I give to them?” Among other things, this year Catholic Foundation grants assisted parishes with traveling costs as their young people gathered to celebrate their Catholic identity at various youth conferences and High School Newman Club meetings. Also, many parishes were given grants to support basic religious formation needs. So instead of asking, “What am I supporting?” ask “Who am I supporting?” The answer is simple: Your contribution is an investment—not just in programs and materials—but in people who, with guidance, will grow and become the future faithful in the Diocese of Pueblo.

By Maxine McCue
Theatine Deacon Francisco Diaz, C.R., was ordained to the priesthood at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cortez on September 14. Deacon Diaz requested this feast of the Exalation of the Holy Cross, the 491st birthday of the Theatine Order, founded by St.Cajetan in Rome for his ordination to the priesthood.

Rev. Michael E. Corbett was born May 26, 1925 to Michael and Mary Ann (Ferencik) Corbett.   His parents and his brother Rev. Raymond Corbett preceded him in death.  Fr. Michael graduated from Central High School and then served in the United States Marine Corps for three years.  He studied philosophy and theology at the St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pueblo on May 29, 1954.  His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier in Pueblo.