Spotlight on Social Outreach
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child abuse and neglect are common. At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States. Bright blue pinwheels are a symbol of child abuse prevention awareness across the nation. Ralston House helps child victims heal from abuse. Ralston House Child Advocacy Center works with the community to provide a safe place to investigate child abuse and ensure victim services for children who have been physically or sexually abused or witnessed violence.
We are partnering with Ralston House by planting a garden of pinwheels on campus during the month of April to serve as a beacon of hope for the children and youth in our community. Please feel free to take a pinwheel and plant it in your yard as a sign of support and solidarity. Link here for more information on Ralston House or make a donation: https://www.ralstonhouse.org/. There are also flyers in the back of church with more information on child abuse.
Thank you to our “pinwheel gardeners who help plant our pinwheel garden.
Child Abuse Hotline: 1-844-CO-4-KIDS
Sowing Peace Digging into Lenten Themes of Lament, Repent and Forgive
Thank you to all who gathered weekly as we journeyed together these past 6 weeks through Lent. It was a synodal experience as we listened and share as we were open to the Holy Spirit. We explored the themes of lament, repent and forgive and how they apply to our world in lifting up those who are marginalized. Over 50 people met either over ZOOM or in person to build caring communities. The conversations were deep while digging into difficult topics. Again, thank you to all who participated and now the questions, what will you do as a result of journeying together this Lent?
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine | Weekend of May 3-4 | Save a Spot in Your Garden
Our wonderful sunflower seeds will once again be available the weekend of May 3-4 after all the Masses. We share the seeds as a way of supporting and remembering our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who continue to live in a war-torn country. We’ll support “Sunflower Seeds Ukraine” a non-profit out of Boulder. Check them out here: https://www.sunflowerseedsukraine.org/
Earth Day | April 22
In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis calls for urgent action to address environmental degradation and the social injustices that accompany climate change. The encyclical emphasizes the interconnectedness of all creation, urging global efforts to protect our planet for future generations.
Every year, over 1 billion people across the planet observe Earth Day on April 22. They hold trash cleanups, they write to their elected officials demanding change, they hold vigils, organize marches, hold educational events, art competitions, nature walks, and more. For 55 years, Earth Day has led the world in raising awareness and taking action on critically important environmental issues. Organizers advocate for the health of the planet, for our air, oceans, soil, eco-systems, wildlife, and human health.
Learn more about Earth Day and how it is celebrated by people all over the world. https://www.earthday.org/ How will you take a step to protect our common home?
Holy Family Day to Serve @ Regis University Food Bank Celebrates 1 Year of Service
Thank you to all the hearty volunteers that show up each 1st Tuesday of the month to serve at the mobile food pantry at Regis University. We average about 12-15 volunteers each month and serve approximately 150-175 families, supplying them with essential food items. An organizer at Regis quoted’ “Without the dedicated volunteers from Holy Family Parish each month, our food pantry would not be as successful”. Your wiliness to serve and encounter those who are most vulnerable makes a difference. Thank you. Please consider joining in at our May outreach on May 6 from 8-11am. Contact Ann if you’d like to carpool from Holy Family. More information and registration: https://tinyurl.com/RegisFoodPantry
Thomas Merton Conference | Regis University | June 19-22
The International Thomas Merton Society invites all to its 19th biennial Conference at Regis University in Denver this coming June 19-22, 2025. Scholars and presenters will offer insights into Thomas Merton’s contributions on such topics as prayer, ecology, social commitment, Indigenous wisdom, photography and art. The theme of the conference is “Thomas Merton and the Spirit of Place: The Calligraphy of Snow, Rock and Sky.” Pope Francis in his 2015 address to Congress said that “Merton was above all a man of prayer, a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the Church. He was a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions”. Further information on the program and registration can be found on the web at merton.org/2025.
