“If he calls you to act, respond with a resounding YES. Keep your heart and ears open so that when he does call, you will be receptive to his voice.”
Michael Cordova
Michael Cordova was nominated to be Disciple of the Month earlier this year, but this dedicated volunteer passed away before he could be officially named. It was decided to posthumously award Cordova this special distinction from the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal.
Once word of his award got out at Holy Name Catholic Church in Sheridan, numerous anecdotes and tributes were sent into the archdiocese confirming the magnitude of the late Cordova’s legacy of discipleship.
“I could always count on Mike. In my worst times, he was there suffering with me. In my times of joy, he was joyful with me,” said Donald Hannon. “True friend! True Disciple!!”
Angie Woods, Holy Name music director, said: “Despite suffering many physical infirmities, including injured knees, a bad back, and macular degeneration that caused him to go nearly blind at the end of his life, Mike never stopped serving.”
Cordova was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and served in many positions including grand knight. He promoted religious vocations as a leader and member of the Serra Club of Southwest Denver. Cordova taught religious education, was a lector, an usher, and handyman. He attended Denver Biblical and Catechetical School, which he put to good use evangelizing to others, said Graham Haworth.
Cordova also had a gift for getting others involved in volunteer work, even getting his Protestant neighbors to peel carrots on St. Patrick’s Day, his wife Nancy Cordova said. Through all of it, her husband had a humility about his good works.
“Mike rarely took a seat for himself and was often the first to arrive and last to leave,” said Cheryl Hall. “When someone told Mike they wish others could be like Mike, he would just stop and say, ‘no, be better!’”
Faith was at the center of Cordova’s life. Robert Le Grand, Holy Name, director of formation, met the ardent volunteer in his first year at the parish and was struck by Cordova’s intentional discipleship that overflowed into every aspect of his life.
After Cordova passed, the parish had to create a special spreadsheet called “Mike’s Tasks” just to make sure none of his jobs got missed. Even in his passing, Cordova was helping others become better people, passing on the baton of evangelization, charity, and good works, Hall said.
Cordova’s family shared that the husband and father had a heart attack in church while on vacation but would not leave for the hospital until his family received communion. Even while sick in the hospital he made sure burritos would be made for the Knights fundraiser.
Maybe the best tribute to Cordova is to share his own words written in a letter to his son.
“Maturity is responsibility and the most important thing you can do is put God first in your life always. If he calls you to act, respond with a resounding YES. Keep your heart and ears open so that when he does call, you will be receptive to his voice.”
Celebrating, Michael Cordova, for being the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal, “Disciple of the Month.”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).
If you know someone else who is courageously spreading the Gospel, please share his or her story with us at archden.org/give/nominate and they may become the next “Disciple of the Month.”
The Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal funds over 40 ministries that are sharing the Gospel every day.