James Golka

James Robert Golka (born September 22, 1966) is an American Catholic prelate who serves as Archbishop of Denver. He previously served as Bishop of Colorado Springs.

Biography Early life Golka was born on September 22, 1966, in Grand Island, Nebraska, one of ten children of Robert and Patricia Golka. He attended Grand Island Central Catholic High School, where he played football. During his time at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, Golka began talking about going into the priesthood with Jesuit priests.

Golka graduated from Creighton with degrees in philosophy and theology. In 1989, he spent a year volunteering at a high school on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in what he called a test of his desire to become a priest.

After his 1994 ordination, the diocese assigned Golka as associate pastor of St. James Parish in Kearney, Nebraska, and Holy Rosary in Alliance, Nebraska. Six years later, in 2000, the diocese appointed him as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and in 2006 as pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in North Platte, Nebraska. On June 29, 2021, Golka was consecrated at Holy Apostles Church in Colorado Springs by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, with Bishops Joseph G. Hanefeldt, and Michael Sheridan serving as co-consecrators.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Denver Pope Leo XIV appointed Golka as metropolitan archbishop for the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver on February 7, 2026. He was installed on March 25, 2026.