Archbishop Samuel Aquila met with Christ in the City missionaries July 15 at Seton House downtown to express his gratitude for their ministry to the poor, telling them to never underestimate the impact of their witness.
He called Christ in the City, a homeless ministry that provides spiritual, intellectual and charitable formation for young adults, a “great gem” and a blessing to the Archdiocese of Denver that is “only bearing fruit.” Many needy and homeless on Denver’s streets have been transformed by the missionaries’ charity and sharing of the good news of Christ.
“Never underestimate your witness and your love for those who are poor and homeless,” the Denver archbishop told them.
The archbishop gave his blessing to the missionaries as they transition this month from the former convent at 1840 Grant St., where Blessed Mother Teresa once visited and established a ministry to AIDS patients operated by her order of nuns, to their new headquarters at St. Joseph Church in Denver.
“I’m sure you’ll continue to transform the world in whatever you do and in whatever way you respond to Christ because you have your focus on him. As long as you keep your eyes on Christ you will change the world,” he said.
The Seton House property was sold to developers and the missionaries will move out by the end of the month.
In their new location, Christ in the City will expand the time it spends ministering on the streets, said director Yvonne Noggle. They are following the steps of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, who moved to St. Joseph Church where there is greater need.
Noggle said the ministry is also looking to expand to Philadelphia and launch a parish ambassador program to train parishioners on how to ministry in their community.
The archbishop said he would recommend Christ in the City to any bishop.
“Whenever a bishop asks me, ‘Should I invite Christ in the City to come to our archdiocese?’ I say, ‘Absolutely, because it’ll have a tremendous impact on the city and more importantly on the lives of the people who are served,” Archbishop Aquila said.
