The Rocky Mountaineer train journey ended in Denver, Colorado.  When planning this trip, I found the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception located in downtown Denver.  The website indicated that the Cathedral was open throughout the day beginning with Mass at 7:00am.

The walk to the cathedral from our hotel was quite concerning.  There were homeless on every corner.  We also noticed several tents on the sidewalks.  This was one time I was grateful to have a traveling companion with me.  As we walked toward the cathedral, we noticed fire coming from one of the tents at the curb.  Not knowing if anyone was inside the tent, we immediately called 911.  Once the fire trucks were on their way, we decided to continue walking toward the cathedral.  Ironically enough, on our return trip to the hotel, the tent that was burned was cleaned off the sidewalk and a new tent was provided. 

When we arrived at the cathedral, there were homeless on the steps and in the alleys around the church.  All the doors of the cathedral were locked.  We arrived shortly before 9:00am.  We decided not to wait for the church office to open and made our way back to the hotel. 

On one of the side streets near our hotel, we noticed a church building.

The Holy Ghost Catholic Church was dedicated on July 8, 1943; however, the parish has its roots in the 1860 construction of the first Catholic church in Denver – St. Mary’s Cathedral.  Fifty-eight years after its dedication, on July 8, 2001, the Holy Ghost Catholic Church welcomed the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.  The Oblates specialize in preaching, confessions, spiritual direction, and retreats.  They also have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Although I was grateful to visit this beautiful church, my thoughts and prayers go to the priests of the Cathedral Basilica in downtown Denver. I recall my Brooklyn days shortly before my family moved to Long Island. St. Michael’s Catholic Church was our parish in Brooklyn, and it was always open. One day in the early 1970s, robbers entered the church, broke into the tabernacle, desecrated the Blessed Sacrament, and stole the gold chalices. From that day forward, St. Michael’s Catholic Church was locked and only opened during scheduled Mass times. I witnessed a similar arrangement at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. With the crazy happenings of New Orleans, the Cathedral was only open to visitors on a very limited basis and with strict security.

It is difficult to know what to do when the community is in such disarray.  My heart and prayers go to the leadership of all churches as they decide the best way to serve those in need and at the same time protect the buildings established by those before us who understood that these structures are sacred places where God resides. 

May all of humanity learn to respect the God who made heaven and earth.

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