Catholic Charities in Denver is unveiling a new logo this week that includes an image of a crucifix once used by St. John Paul II.
Larry Smith, the president and CEO of the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Denver, said Catholic Charities redesigned its logo as a sign of its renewal and a reminder to everyone of its purpose, which is to first serve Jesus Christ.
The new logo, which depicts the bowed crucifix used on John Paul II’s silver crosier, will be reflected on signs placed outside Catholic Charities’ buildings, on its website, letterhead and other places over the next few months.
“I’ve always loved that crucifix,” Smith said. “I thought what better way to really connect our movement within the archdiocese in Catholic Charities with the beatification of St. John Paul II and to incorporate that crosier into our logo.”
The organization developed ideas for the logo last year during the 20th anniversary of World Youth Day in Denver. When St. John Paul II visited Denver in 1993, he carried a crosier, or staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of his office, that was topped with a crucifix. He was declared a saint this year.
The crucifix is a reminder of the most charitable act of all human kind—Christ’s sacrifice of himself on the cross for the world’s salvation, Smith said.
The logo depicts the words “Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver” underneath that cross, symbolic of its service to Christ and the poor.
“Catholic Charities serves Jesus Christ and in serving Jesus Christ we serve his people and the poor,” Smith said. “We don’t serve the poor and as a result of that wind-up serving Jesus, and I think that’s an important distinction that we certainly want to emphasize. It’s not about us; it’s about Jesus and what he asks us to do as his children and his disciples.”
Catholic Charities serves more than 50,000 annually through some 30 ministries to alleviate the needs of the poor in northern Colorado with compassion, healing and hope.
The new logo was also designed to reflect its universal mission to help those of all faiths and backgrounds.
“What we’re saying is all are welcome,” Smith said.
For Catholic Charities, it’s symbolic of a rededication.
“For me, and for us, it’s a rededication of ourselves to the essence of what we’re all called to do, which is serve Jesus Christ. We’re doing it for him.”
