“When life gets me down or throws curveballs at me, it’s my belief and faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church that give me that gentle reminder to not lose hope. I see God at work in my life all the time.”
These words, written in his 2008 application to the St. Francis School of Theology for Deacons, captured the essence of Deacon Christopher Byrne, a man transformed by faith, dedicated to service and unwavering in hope. That same hope carried him through his battle with cancer, which he faced with courage until his passing on June 20, 2024.
Ordained by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila on January 25, 2014, Deacon Byrne faithfully served for ten years at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boulder and St. Rita Mission Church in Nederland. His ministry extended beyond the church walls, reaching the incarcerated, the homeless and the children he affectionately called “the littles.” Having once walked a different path as a young man, Deacon Byrne used his own story of redemption to guide those who felt lost, offering them the same hope he had found in Christ.
“It’s not very often that you get a chance to meet a guy like Deacon Byrne,” wrote one of the many friends to whom he ministered. “I, too, was one of the littles who got to interact with him daily. His wit and humor were always present, even in chaos. This man has been a father figure to so many souls who were lost and lonely.”
“Deacon Chris worked in God’s vineyard, ensuring that anything asked of him was done for God’s greater glory,” said Deacon Ernest Martinez, Director of Deacons for the Archdiocese of Denver. “He was a good friend, an excellent husband and a loving father and grandfather. His brothers in the diaconal community will miss him dearly.”
Deacon Byrne is survived by his beloved wife, Michelle, his children, Sean and Meagan, and five grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Ph.D., on July 10, 2024, at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Broomfield, the very parish where he first answered God’s call to the diaconate.
Deacon Martinez further related that “Deacon Chris’s life was a testimony to God’s mercy, proving that no past is beyond redemption and no soul is beyond God’s love. May he rest in eternal peace, embraced by the Savior he so faithfully served.”
