At All Saints Catholic Parish in Denver, there’s a family trio affectionately known as the “Three Margaritas.” Laura Salazar, Gerri Lopez and Denise Salazar are the vibrant hearts behind many of the church’s thriving initiatives.
The Spanish word margarita means daisy, and, true to their name, these three relatives embody the flower’s qualities – they’re bright, cheerful, and resilient.
They received their name from Monsignor Peter Quang Nguyen, pastor of All Saints.
“When I first arrived at this parish, we were in dire need to rebuild the community,” he said.
And it was their support, Monsignor Quang shared, that has helped him to serve the parish. “They say whatever you need, we can do.”
“When I got to the parish, I drove around the area trying to get to know it better, and I drove across a restaurant called ‘3 Margaritas.’ So, then I nicknamed them that because they are three, but they become one in whatever they do. They are a blessing for me,” Monsignor Quang said.
For 20 years, Laura, Gerri and Denise have dedicated themselves to making All Saints a welcoming and nurturing community. From maintaining the church grounds to expanding the homebound ministry, these women have become indispensable pillars of the parish. Their efforts resonate throughout the congregation, with many acknowledging that they do “whatever is needed” to ensure the success of church projects.
In short, they go above and beyond.
They serve the parish as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans and prayer group leaders. Each week, they visit more than 20 homebound individuals, bringing the Eucharist, faith and comfort to those who cannot attend Mass in person.
For Laura Salazar, the journey with All Saints began during a time of personal struggle.
“I was trying to find a church because I was going through some major changes in my life, and I would come in the morning to 6:30 a.m. Mass. I’d stay until 7:30 a.m. Mass and didn’t want to go home, so I started to get involved,” she explained.
“I watched people clean and thought, ‘Well, I can help.’ Then I got more involved in whatever they needed,” she added.
Since then, and as the three women have become more involved in the parish, they’ve seen their community expand beyond belief, Lopez shared.
“We call them our parish family. The priests especially are amazing and inspirational, so it makes you want to come to church and help others in these ways,” she said.
Recently, they’ve started holding evening prayer at the parish as a time for the community to gather and pray before heading to their homes for the evening.
Her home away from home, All Saints has become a welcoming refuge for Denise Salazar.
“I actually got confirmed here,” she shared. “I was going to Lincoln [High School] right down the street, and I wanted to get confirmed. We didn’t have a church that we regularly attended, so I just walked over.”
Apart from growing in community, all “three margaritas” have felt their faith strengthened through their work at All Saints.
Lopez shared that she first became connected with All Saints when her niece, Denise, signed her up to work at Gabriel House, now Marisol Family, a ministry that supports mothers in need.
“One day, I got a call from my niece because she was on the committee [for Gabriel’s House],” she recalled. “So, I started helping consistently every Saturday, and then I said, “You know, if I’m going to be involved, I need to start coming to church because I had been away for 40 years.
“I realized if I had been coming to church all those years when I was working that my work life probably would have been a whole lot easier because I would have had that Lord to lead,” she continued.
In recognition of their devoted service to their community, Laura, Gerri and Denise have been recognized as this month’s Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciples of the Month. Through their unwavering dedication, the “three margaritas” have grown in their faith and strengthened the community at All Saints. Their story is a testament to the power of service and the profound impact of a supportive faith community.
Congratulations, Laura, Gerri and Denise for being the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciples of the Month!
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