This decision undoubtedly saved them from the two students who entered the school and killed 13 people. Jenica Thornby would usually spend her lunch hour in the library of Columbine High School, until an odd feeling led her and her friends to leave campus for lunch on April 20, 1999. READ: Denver firefighter inspired by Julia Greeley’s example Sister Mary Gianna Photo by Anya Semenoff/Denver Catholic Derrick follows her example by being a spiritual resource for his fellow firefighters, and is currently studying to be a deacon to better serve his colleagues and the community. Little did he know that his chosen duty and the encounter with God that awaited him after the birth of his first child, would unite in one unlikely figure: Julia Greeley, the holy woman who cared spiritually for firefighters. Like so many heroes created in the aftermath of that terrible day, Lieutenant Derrick Johnson of the Denver Fire Department found his calling after seeing firefighters rushing into the World Trade Center while everyone else was rushing out. The morning of Septemis burned into the collective consciousness of our country. READ: How Juan Carlos Reyes lived the Resurrection Lieutenant Derrick Johnson “Let each of us pray for a deeper faith and intimacy with Jesus, so that we may invite others to encounter him.” “As the cancer progressed, saw the suffering he was enduring as a gift he could offer to God out of love for Christ and for his wife and three young sons,” Archbishop Aquila wrote in a column. He served as the Director of Centro San Juan Diego. “I know God can heal me, but if my death will give greater glory to the Father and is his will for me, then so be it.” The 33-year-old man of profound faith was at the end of his struggle with cancer. I’m ready,” Juan Carlos Reyes told Archbishop Samuel Aquila during a conversation in March earlier this year. Juan Carlos Reyes Photo by Anya Semenoff/Denver Catholic Although she can only write back once a year, her influence reaches far beyond the monastery walls. This June, Shelly celebrated her 25th anniversary of profession of vows, and was able to hug her family members - something that will not happen for another 25 years. Shelly rose to prominence as a star at Bishop Machebeuf High School and Villanova University before turning pro, yet this wouldn’t be enough to keep her from fulfilling her true desire - giving herself completely to Christ. Why would ESPN recently profile a woman who has been a cloistered nun for the last quarter-century? Because Sister Rose Marie was once Shelly Pennefather, the highest paid women’s basketball star in the world. READ: STEM shooting hero remembered for his unwavering kindness and faith Sister Rose Marie He will always be remembered for this heroic act of valor and self-sacrifice. He was the first to sign up to altar serve at funeral Masses and joyfully volunteered with his dad in the Knights of Columbus. He grew up attending Notre Dame Catholic School in Denver and is remembered as a very helpful and active person at church. He was 18 years old and just days away from graduating high school. Kendrick Castillo was a faithful, kind and caring individual whose life was cut short on May 7 when he heroically lunged toward a school shooter, giving his life to protect his friends.
Who is exempt from the greatness of God? As these stories remind us, no matter our station or circumstance in life, we are all called to be heroes for Jesus Christ.
The following are just a few of those innumerable stories out there inspiring us to ever greater heights of holiness. OL13646953W Page_number_confidence 91.07 Pages 282 Pdf_module_version 0.0.7 Ppi 300 Rcs_key 24143 Republisher_date 20210221124834 Republisher_operator Republisher_time 770 Scandate 20210217034957 Scanner Scanningcenter cebu Scribe3_search_catalog isbn Scribe3_search_id 9780061733604 Tts_version 4.Throughout this year and in years past, the Denver Catholic publishes stories about those among us who are living lives of heroic virtue. Urn:lcp:heroesamongusord0000quin:epub:26bae872-13dc-40a5-94ca-0807ebc664c3 Foldoutcount 0 Grant_report Arcadia #4281 Identifier heroesamongusord0000quin Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t5gc2960g Invoice 2089 Isbn 9780061733604Ġ061733601 Lccn 2008045059 Ocr tesseract 4.1.1 Ocr_detected_lang en Ocr_detected_lang_conf 1.0000 Ocr_detected_script Latin Ocr_detected_script_conf 0.9671 Ocr_module_version 0.0.11 Ocr_parameters -l eng Old_pallet IA14606 Openlibrary_edition Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 01:00:47 Associated-names Williams, Stephen P Boxid IA40063309 Camera Sony Alpha-A6300 (Control) Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier