Breathing life into the bricks towering 110 feet above City Park, parishioners old and new packed the pews inside St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church to commemorate its 100th anniversary.
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, along with current pastor Father Francis Therese Krautter, C.S.J., and former pastor Father Thomas Cwik, S.J., celebrated Mass at 10 a.m. Oct. 13, with the Knights of St. Peter Claver and their Ladies Auxiliary, as well as Jesuit seminarians, in attendance. At Mass and the reception that followed, the scores of parishioners and guests came together to honor the church’s history while looking forward to the years to come.
Archbishop Aquila highlighted how the century-old building has and continues to house the glory of God through the sacrifice of the Mass.
“That one sacrifice has been made present on this altar for the last 100 years,” he said. “And with that, we too are called to have zeal for the Father’s house.”
As coordinator of the 100th-anniversary celebration and a parishioner for over 55 years, Margaret Wright demonstrated this very zeal alongside her committee members in preparing for the day’s festivities and the events leading up to the anniversary.
“This was at times an overwhelming event,” Wright said, “but it was a labor of love. I enjoyed doing the research on this church. There were 13 of us on this committee, and we each brought different gifts and talents to this. There was a lot of work to be done, but standing here in the middle of this celebration, I am very happy right now.”
Wright noted the changes she has witnessed throughout her years in the parish. “The look of the parish has grown, gotten small, grown again, and gotten small again,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of change; change is okay. Every now and then, we need that. The love of the people has not changed, and that’s what I love about this parish.”
“It was a privilege to serve as a sponsor of this celebration as the contributions of Black Catholics in this parish provide a rich legacy,” added Kateri Williams, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver. “My special hope and wish for the future is that the parish will continue to honor and celebrate the blessings of its diverse church community and all the fruits it has to offer in the years to come.”
From its founding in 1924 to 2023, the Jesuit Order led the community at St. Ignatius of Loyola, serving a diverse population as the community in the parish boundaries developed over time. After 99 years, the Jesuits decided to withdraw from the parish based on needs within their order. Now, Father Krautter and the Brothers of St. John tend to the church and the “living stones” that comprise its foundation.
Read more about St. Ignatius of Loyola’s rich 100-year history!
In his homily, Archbishop Aquila drew attention to the second reading from 1 Corinthians 3:11, which states, “. . . no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.” Developing this theme further, he said, “Jesus Christ must be the foundation on which we stand. Nothing else. It is Jesus and Jesus alone who forgives our sins and who gives to us the gift of salvation.”
His words reminded those in attendance that, while celebrating the physical building of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the parish’s foundation lies in one’s ongoing conversion to Christ, in giving one’s life completely to Christ.
After expressing gratitude for the service of the Jesuits, the Brothers of St. John, and the mission carried out by the faithful of St. Ignatius of Loyola over the last 100 years, Archbishop Aquila exhorted parishioners to continue living out their faith in the years to come.
“Let us examine our hearts. Do I have the same zeal that Jesus had for his Father’s house?” Archbishop Aquila asked. “Let us remember that Jesus Christ is the foundation on which we stand and let us remember that we are to have the zeal for the house of God that Jesus did. May we live that out each day.”
Building upon the theme from Archbishop Aquila’s homily, Father Krautter recalled the words from the prophet Haggai in scripture as he reflected on the significance of the parish’s centennial.
“The prophet Haggai says to Zerubbabel, ‘Take courage, Zerubbabel, the future glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ so that’s what I’m taking with me for this transition,” Father Krautter said. “As the Archbishop started to say about living stones, our first call is really to worship God. This place will renew that so that these living stones can give rightful praise.”
As Wright looks to the future of the parish, she hopes for continued growth in that zeal for God’s house.
“My hope and prayer is that the Brothers of St. John, our new leaders, create a vision that will move us forward. I’m just very happy right now and grateful to God, as the motto of the Jesuits says, giving all glory and all honor to God,” she concluded.