Meet Morgan Rogers | Director of Communications at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Rogers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, how does your business help the community?
Our Lady of Lourdes has been part of the Platt Park and Rosedale neighborhoods since 1947. While we serve a large and active South Denver Catholic community through Mass, the sacraments, and parish life, we also strive to be good neighbors to everyone who lives around us. Over the past 80 years, the neighborhood has changed a great deal, and many of our nearby neighbors don’t attend church or school here, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know them, interact with them, or serve the people who live just around the corner.
That reality shows up in lots of simple, everyday ways. We operated a small supplemental food bank. Our grounds are open to the public as a quiet place to pray or cool off on a hot summer day, and we welcome neighbors who just need a safe, open space. During the summer, local families often use our fenced school playground so young children have a secure place to play, and our large, enclosed parking lot has become a practical neighborhood resource; where kids learn to ride bikes and teens practice driving. Neighbors walk their dogs through the grotto lawn or pause in the shade for a break.
Many of our non-parishioner neighbors also join us for our larger summer events, like Gathering at the Grotto, where they can enjoy free snacks, connect, and make new friends.
At the heart of all of this is prayer. Our ultimate goal is to pray for everyone who lives within our parish boundaries; that God is at work in their lives in the ways they need most, that their struggles are eased, and that they know they are made in the image and likeness of God and deeply loved. We strive to make timeless truths feel timely and to offer a warm, welcoming place to encounter God for anyone who walks through our doors.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Tell us more about your work.
At Our Lady of Lourdes, our work is all about celebrating the Catholic faith in a way that’s both authentic and reverent. Guided by our pastor, we aim to honor the Novus Ordo Mass as it was meant to be celebrated—without getting swept up in the cultural swings around us. We try to live in the sweet spot, drawing from the richness of both charismatic and traditional expressions of worship.

What sets you apart from others?
What makes us unique is our balance between tradition and accessibility. Our Masses are celebrated ad orientem, with Latin and English responses alternating throughout the year. Our music runs the spectrum from a beautiful traditional schola to tasteful contemporary praise, depending on the occasion. Beyond liturgy, we focus on building genuine relationships, offering clear teaching, and running programs like OCIA—letting truth and community speak for themselves.

What are you most proud of or excited about?
We’re proud of how naturally our parish draws people in. Families, neighbors, and newcomers are inspired not just by our Masses but by the warmth and authenticity of our community. There’s something truly special about seeing people connect with their faith in deep, lasting ways.

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy?
This journey has been a mix of faith, vision, and perseverance. It hasn’t always been easy—balancing tradition with accessibility, creating a welcoming yet reverent environment, and nurturing real relationships takes constant care. But staying true to our mission and being patient has allowed our parish to flourish.

What lessons have you learned along the way?
We’ve learned that authenticity matters more than perfection. People respond to genuine relationships, reverent worship, and a community that welcomes questions and growth. By letting truth speak for itself and fostering openness, faith naturally thrives here.

What do you want the world to know about you or your story?
At Lourdes, faith isn’t just something you learn—it’s something you experience, share, and live every day. We strive to make timeless truths feel timely, and we hope anyone who walks through our doors leaves feeling welcomed, inspired, and encouraged to grow closer to God.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly, I was born and raised here, but I don’t really hang out in Denver all that much, so I’m probably not the best person to ask for a full-on tour. The only time I really go into the city center is for a concert or a game. That said, Union Station is pretty cool. The city has changed a lot since I was younger, so even for someone who grew up here, it can feel different.
If my best friend were in town, I’d start with Casa Bonita. I love that place. It’s an old Denver (technically Lakeweird) classic for a reason and definitely worth the trip at least once.
After hanging out on the west end, we’d grab food at Cochino Tacos. Hands down the best happy hour in the metro. Two Shaggy-style beef tacos and a frozen Paloma are my go-to.
I’d also swing by Holy Ghost and the Cathedral Basilica downtown. Beautiful churches with a lot of Denver history—Molly Brown was even a parishioner at the cathedral.
Red Rocks is an obvious stop too. If you can snag affordable tickets to a show, it’s absolutely worth it. Another hidden gem is Mother Cabrini’s shrine. The ice-cold, potable, miraculous spring water is a fun little bonus, and the shrine itself is really peaceful.
For the rest of the trip, I’d focus on the fun little downtowns outside the main city center. North Denver (the Highlands) has cool streets, revamped old buildings, and little shops. Little Man Ice Cream is an obvious stop, and Confluence Park is perfect for chilling, people-watching, or just hanging by the river. Tennyson Street near Old Elitch’s is full of shops and good restaurants. South Pearl and 32nd & Lowell are both cool spots too. Really, my favorite part of Denver is these small, charming old-town pockets scattered all over the place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve absolutely got to shout out our parish pastor, Fr. Brian Larkin. When he was assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes 12 years ago, the parish was in a really difficult place. Very few people were regularly attending Mass, our school had just 90 students enrolled, and the long-term viability of both the parish and the school was seriously in question. There was a very real possibility that they could close.
Then Fr. Brian arrived and breathed new life into the community. Through his leadership, vision, and deep love for the parish, the culture began to change. Lourdes didn’t just survive—it came back to life. Today, the church is thriving and filled with families, and our school has grown to more than 400 students. His impact has been extraordinary, and so much of where we are today is thanks to his commitment, faith, and willingness to invest fully in this community.

Website: https://lourdesdenver.org

Instagram: lourdes_denver

Youtube: Lourdes Denver

Image Credits
( I am the blond girl wearing the hat in the selfie, Dan. Darell is cool being in the image also)
All other photos were taken by my brother, Evan Rogers, and he gives consent for them to be used.