By Allison Peck
Pope Leo XIV has appointed James R. Golka as the next Archbishop of Denver, according to an announcement from Vatican News released Feb. 7, 2026.
Before his rise to national prominence within the Catholic Church, Golka spent 10 years serving in North Platte, a period that marked a significant chapter in his priestly and pastoral career.
Golka was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in North Platte in 2006, where he served as pastor until 2016. During that decade, he led parish operations, oversaw parish ministries, and worked closely with families, parishioners, and the parish school as part of the Diocese of Grand Island.
A native of Grand Island, Golka was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Island in 1996. His early ministry included several parish assignments across central and western Nebraska, Alliance & Scottsbluff amongst those stops before his long-term posting in North Platte.
After completing his tenure in North Platte, Golka returned to Grand Island, where he served as rector of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and later as vicar general for the diocese. In 2021, he was appointed Bishop of Colorado Springs.
His appointment as Archbishop of Denver places him at the helm of one of the largest archdioceses in the United States. The Vatican announcement notes that his installation in Denver is expected to take place later this spring.
For North Platte, Golka’s appointment highlights the role the community played in shaping a church leader whose ministry now extends well beyond Nebraska.