IN MEMORIAM
REV. GRAHAM R. GOLDEN, O. PRAEM.
January 8, 1986 - May 21, 2021
Born: January 8, 1986
Vested: August 28, 2009
Solemn Vows: August 28, 2014
Ordained: June 20, 2015
Born to Eternal Life: May 21, 2021
Rev. Graham R. Golden, O. Praem. (January 8, 1986 – May 21, 2021) lived his life as a testimony of God’s all-embracing love, mercy, and grace. It was in recognizing Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist as a child that drew him toward the Catholic faith and set him on his journey toward religious life.
He had been a part of the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey in Albuquerque, NM for 12 years, and he would have celebrated his sixth year as an ordained priest on June 20, 2021. Of the priesthood, he often said, “The most beautiful thing about being a priest is the celebration of the sacraments… seeing God’s grace at work.” Throughout his years of communal life and service, he was well-known for being present whenever and wherever he was needed or invited. He served on several boards and committees for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, worked for the Catholic Foundation for a time, and served as the previous pastor at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Community, most recent pastor at St. Augustine Church at Isleta Pueblo, and the Vocations Director and Director of the Office of Christian Discipleship and Religious Vocation at the Abbey, among other roles.
On the last day of his life, as the Norbertine Community was observing their monthly Community Day of rest and self-care, Fr. Graham was away from the Abbey for much of the day to attend to the needs of the surrounding community. He last served the community at Taizé in the Desert (a monthly ecumenical prayer service at the Abbey) on Friday, May 21, 2021. His journey into God came to fullness shortly after this service.
