COMMUNITIES OF RADICAL HOSPITALITY
A different way of being Catholic
along Colorado's Front Range
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Palm Sunday 2025
Have you noticed that Spring has sprung? Close your eyes and visualize the blossoms and green tiny leaves that you observe today.
Breathe in the freshness of spring. Breathe out the staleness.
In our neighborhood, we are privileged to have our senses delighted by trees with pink and white blossoms, daffodil bouquets of stunning yellow, tulips of yellow with red feathery stripes, tiny clusters of grape hyacinths dancing in the breeze. Our lilies’ stems are bursting forth from the soil, ready for a climb toward the sun.
All of this life was hidden just a couple weeks ago: Hidden in soil, beneath the surface, fecundity invisible. God’s Love is hidden within us, pulsing with each heart beat, longing for expression.
As we shift our attention to our Palm Sunday Scripture readings, we heard prophetic proclamations of the efforts to “shame” Jesus by inflicting suffering – yet Jesus was not shamed, rather empowered by Abba God to endure and grow strong, to praise God.
St. Paul recognized and lifted up Jesus’ humble service, his self-emptying love that sustained him in an excruciating death.
Luke’s Passion narrative led us through the Last Supper – Jesus foreshadowing the gift of his body and blood with his friends through the sharing of a simple meal with Love pouring forth. And then…. And then…
Like us, Jesus’ friends and followers were looking forward to an “external” Savior. With all those miracles that Jesus brought about to illustrate the love of God, we want the Savior that we hope for in the midst of our suffering and oppression, an external savior that will overtly challenge the powerful, protect those marginalized, take a throne or staff and enforce a new order……of peace, prosperity, equality and happiness. Maybe even use a strong arm or “might” to accomplish it without delay.
Soon after Jesus entered Jerusalem on a beast of burden (not a steed), the authentic Jesus was unveiled, more, and again. Jesus did not rise up to violently fight his opponents, to defend himself with loud gestures and words; rather he resisted through non-violence and peace, stood strong in his innocence … Love embodied. In the midst of the fray, his disciples scattered and abandoned him, at least one denied knowing him. While suffering greatly, physically and emotionally, moments before he died, Jesus gave forgiveness to his nearby neighbor also crucified.
Jesus lived the Love of God to the last physical breath, the life and unconditional love of God that lives within, that empowers and guides and sacrificially serves. Jesus’ human life, in all the challenges of our humanity, was powered by an internal Source, a connection as Son to Abba God’s everlasting Love.
Yes, we wanted and want an external savior: someone with power to come and fix everything. And instead, we witnessed Jesus’ life and love empowered by the Love of God within. Jesus showed his followers how to love. Jesus sent his companions out to a hurting world with the power of love within them. The Love is within. Within each of us. The power to save is …. In US.
And the human condition is persistently self-focused, competitive, seeks victory over, separates “us and them” and divides by tribe, survival of the fittest, the wealthiest, the strongest. This human condition is tenacious… AND can be softened, dissolved, broken up, broken through….
God’s Love is planted within us, pulsing with each heart beat, expanding with each breath, longing for expression.
Within is a hidden treasure of Divine Love that comes to blossom as we open ourselves to transformation… through intentional prayer, study and reflection, self-examination, a community who “rubs” us the right way, the nourishment of regular Eucharist, the fruits of suffering, the development of virtue and discipline, loving and receiving love.
We ARE the change we seek. As co-creators, we have within us Creator, Word Made Flesh, and Spirit who long for greater expression. We have the never-changing, ever-powerful Love of God in us, now and forever.
Through Christ, might you discover Love in and for the person next to you? In and for yourself? In and for every person and all Creation? May this Holy Week lead us to discover and cultivate ever more what is hidden within. May our blossoming of Love be ever-seasonal.
I love you. Bishop Kae
Colorado Council of Churches' Webinar
Know Your Rights
Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30pm MT
Registration LINK
This is an informational webinar for churches that have ministries directed towards asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants. For security reasons, you will be sent a Zoom link a few hours before the presentation. This presentation will be in webinar format so the identity of the Zoom participants will only be known to the hosts. This presentation will be made available for later viewing.
for those threatened:
ACLU Offers Know Your Rights Immigration Facts Web Page
If Law Enforcement Asks Your Immigration Status, regardless of immigration status, persons have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more below about immigrant rights and how to express them.
How to Reduce Risk to Yourself
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Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated. Keep your hands where police can see them.
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Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.
Your Rights
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You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
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If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you.
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If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause.
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If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.
What to Do
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In some states, you must provide your name to law enforcement if you are stopped and told to identify yourself. But even if you give your name, you don’t have to answer other questions.
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If you are driving and are pulled over, the officer can require you to show your license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, but you don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status.
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Customs officers can ask about your immigration status when entering or leaving the country. If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who has maintained your status, you only have to answer questions establishing your identity and permanent residency. Refusal to answer other questions will likely cause delay, but officials may not deny you entry into the United States for failure to answer other questions. If you are a non-citizen visa holder, you may be denied entry into the U.S. if you refuse to answer officers’ questions.
Additional Resources
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If you need more information, contact your local ACLU affiliate.
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A Toolkit for Organizations Responding to Mass Worksite Immigration Raids
Find this Information in Other Languages Here
The Colorado Council of Churches (CCC) hosted a series of webinars to raise community awareness of some dimensions of the intolerance that currently plagues our Nation.
The first recorded webinar in the 3-part educational series:
"What is #ChristianNationalism, and why is everyone talking about it now?"
presented by Iliff School of Theology's Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson. Video LINK.
PDF of a list of resources that she shared.
(See Fr. Michael's reflection HERE)
The second in the series:
"What Christians need to know about Antisemitism"
presented by the Anti Defamation League's regional director, Scott Levin.
Video LINK.
The third in the series:
"Why Christians should know about Islamophobia"
VIEW the recorded presentation by Ahmed Salih, a volunteer khateeb (a person who delivers the Friday sermons) at the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs.
His wi-fi was spotty, so see his Powerpoint HERE.
Mission Statement / Being Church Together
"... together as a communion of communities in response to our baptismal call to preach the Gospel of liberation and justice; to offer a refuge in Christ for those who suffer prejudice; to stand open to dialogue with others so called and to conform our lives to the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Our Regional Bishop Elected By The People
"The Right Reverend Kae Madden was elected in May 2021 to be the first bishop to serve the five communities of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC). She is the co-founder (2004) and pastor (2006) of Church of the Beloved Ecumenical Catholic Community in Northglenn."
ECC Holy Synod 2024
Our Rocky Mountain Region hosted this year's Communion-wide Synod, where representatives of the Laity, the Pastors and the Council of Bishops gather for holy conversation, relationship-building, and consensus decision-making... and a whole lot of fun! It was held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, on October 10-14.
Here's a newsletter from the Leadership Council that is a one-stop review of the Synod, with photos, stories and links to the recordings.
Visit our Facebook page to see other the great photos of our gathering, and follow the links below for recordings of the keynotes and the All-Communion Mass.
Parade of Communities
A number of ECC communities produced videos
about their respective community for the Synod. (click on each church name below)
Church of the Beloved, Northglenn CO
Community of the Holy Spirit, Coeur d’Arlene IN
Holy Angels Church, Santa Ana CA
Mary of Magdala, Fort Collins CO
St Paul Catholic Community of Faith, Denver CO
Sts Claire and Francis, Webster Groves MO
Synod Session Recordings
(Post-processed from original Zoom recordings)
Please note: these videos will appear “blurry” if displayed in full-screen mode.
Presiding Bishop Pablo Burson's Opening Remarks & State of the Communion VIDEO
Chris Pramuk's Keynote: “Joy Inside Our Tears” VIDEO
Rob Otrembiak led our ECC Visioning Exercise: VIDEO
Paulist Fr. Ricky Manalo's Keynote: “Worship & Tech in a 2.5 World” VIDEO
Our Fr. Michael's Closing Prayer and Song VIDEO
Synod Mass Livestream RECORDING
Dcn. Besem Oben Etchi from Cameroon was denied a visa to attend the Synod in Colorado. She graciously agreed to record the homily she had originally been asked to present at our Sunday Mass: "The Dependable Torch of God"
ECC Anti-Racism Statement at the Synod
Read by attendees. it was a project of the ECC Truth and Reconciliation Commission on behalf of the whole Ecumenical Catholic Communion.
Our Synod Prayer
God on High, the mountains are radiant with your glory.
Through your Christ the dawn from on high
has broken upon us and lights our way.
+ Bless the work of our Holy Synod,
that we may be better bearers of the fire
that gives light to the world.
This we ask and can do, empowered by your Spirit,
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bless Our Way
Bless our way, our hopes for our tomorrows.
Bless this day as we begin anew.
Bless our way, our hopes for our tomorrows.
For this day the light we bear shines through.
For the Spirit kindles in us passion
that we may be Christ to one and all.
So we carry love through our compassion
being church that’s faithful to our call.
Bless our way, our hopes for our tomorrows.
Bless this day as we begin anew.
Bless our way, our hopes for our tomorrows.
For this day the light we bear shines through.
Michael J. Nicosia © Spirit Songs art & ritual, 2024. All rights reserved.
