DENVER — Colorado's tallest peaks mean different things to different people. They are a challenge to be overcome, a record to hold, and to a Denver Priest, they're a place to give thanks to God and celebrate Catholic Mass.
Father John Nepil started preaching in the mountains as a college chaplain in Boulder.
"I found that a lot of the kids I was meeting, they weren't interested in coming to mass at the church," Father John said.
The mountain Masses got those kids engaged. Later, he decided to embark on a bigger adventure.
"So, I did them all, climbed all fourteeners and then became a priest and said, 'Oh, I'll do them again, say mass,”' he said.
Father John has celebrated Mass on every 14er in the state.
"I loved just spending time in creation together," he said. "And then the conversation, the questions just naturally, come, we're made to ask the deep questions, and being out of the city helps facilitate that."
Father John's friend and fellow priest Father Sean Conroy has been part of this journey for three years now. He has had Mass on 15 of the state’s highest peaks so far.
"To be able to be on top of a mountain and then to be able to experience our Lord in that way? Very special," Father Sean said.
The summit ceremonies lead to some interesting conversations.
"You'll see us, you know, putting on what we call our vestments," Father Sean said. "And we're throwing on these things and they're like, 'oh, what are you guys doing?'"
Father John said they’re not looking to set records. The priests are trying to practice their faith in the beauty of Colorado’s mountains.
"It's really about the relationships with God, relationship with creation, relationship with others, and then the relationship with ourselves," Father John said. "All these things kind of come back into communion, when we're up on the high peaks."