About Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Historic Church) · Pueblo, Colorado
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is the mother church (cathedra) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo, located at 414 West 11th Street in Pueblo, Colorado. Originally founded in 1873 as the parish of St. Ignatius by Jesuit missionaries, the present Late Gothic Revival church was built in 1912–13 under pastor Msgr. Thomas Wolohan and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was elevated to cathedral status on November 15, 1941, when the Diocese of Pueblo was created, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Today it serves as the bishop's seat under Bishop Stephen Berg and is staffed by a rector, associate, deacon, and lay staff who minister to roughly 1,200 registered families.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Reverend Derrek Scott (Cathedral Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is the spiritual home of the Diocese of Pueblo and a registered parish of more than 1,200 families, offering a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, Friday Holy Hour adoration, baptisms, quinceañera preparation, marriage prep, OCIA for adults and children, K-12 faith formation, and Confirmation preparation. As a Gothic Revival landmark on the National Register of Historic Places with Emil Frei stained glass and an inspiring 135-foot spire, it also offers a tangible connection to 150+ years of Catholic history in southern Colorado. Liturgical and catechist, music, lector, extraordinary-minister, usher, jail/prison, and highway-cleanup ministries give every member a concrete way to serve.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Historic Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 pm
Adoration times
- Holy Hour / Adoration: Friday at 10:45 am
History & Heritage
Traces of Catholic life in Pueblo go back to October 1860, when Fathers Projectus Machebeuf and J.B. Raverdy rode in from Santa Fe. After Masses in homes and then in the old Courthouse at 3rd and Santa Fe, the Jesuit Fathers built St. Ignatius church in 1873 — Pueblo's first parish. Fire destroyed it in 1882, and a second St. Ignatius rose on Grand Avenue between 10th and 11th. In 1910 Msgr. Thomas Wolohan began planning today's Gothic Revival church. It was built 1912–13, dedicated April 10, 1913 by Archbishop Nicholas Matz of Denver, and elevated to cathedral status on November 15, 1941, with the creation of the Diocese of Pueblo.
- 1873 – Parish of St. Ignatius founded at 13th & West Streets
- 1882 – First church and rectory destroyed by fire
- 1883 – Second St. Ignatius built on Grand Avenue between 10th & 11th Streets
- 1887 – Father Bender appointed first diocesan priest by Bishop Machebeuf
- 1910 – Msgr. Thomas Wolohan appointed pastor
- May 5, 1912 – Cornerstone laid
- April 10, 1913 – Church dedicated as Sacred Heart by Archbishop Nicholas Matz
- November 15, 1941 – Sacred Heart elevated to cathedral; Diocese of Pueblo erected
- 1997 – 125th anniversary; motto 'Strong at Heart after 125 years'
- 1989 – Added to the National Register of Historic Places
Renovations, Restorations & Setbacks
The cathedral has been restored several times to repair age and weather damage. Major work in 1988–89 repaired structural issues, modernized HVAC, added a restroom and handicap entrance, and revived the Emil Frei stained glass and Gothic interior — the work that put the cathedral on the National Register of Historic Places. Subsequent repairs addressed hail damage to the windows (restored after 2007) and a lightning strike that engulfed the spire (rebuilt by HW Houston Construction and Vision Mechanical with a new lightning rod and dedicated cross).
- 1988–89 major renovation
- 2007 stained-glass restoration after hailstorm
- 2008/2009 steeple rebuilt after lightning strike and fire
- 2011 rectory refurbished
- 2011 'Friends of the Cathedral' lighting and sound upgrades
Architecture & Interior
Designed in Late / French Gothic Revival style by the Denver firm of Robert Willison and Montana S. Fallis, the cruciform church is faced in speckled blond brick with terra cotta trim, a red-tile roof and a Turkey Creek sandstone foundation, measuring 121 × 56 feet with seating for 600. Twin square towers flank the triple-arched east entrance beneath a rose window; the taller north tower carries the 135-foot polygonal spire. Interior highlights include ribbed Gothic vaults, grey Italian ceramic tile floors, a tall carved reredos flanked by statues of Mary and Joseph from Dubuque, Iowa, a Da Pratlo white-marble baptismal font, a rear balcony choir loft under an Emil Frei rose window with flanking organ pipes, and side-aisle Stations of the Cross.
- Architects: Robert Willison & Montana S. Fallis (Denver)
- Superintendent: J.M. Giles; contractor: J.E. Tully (Pueblo)
- Exterior: blond brick, terra cotta trim, red tile roof, Turkey Creek sandstone base
- North tower spire: 135 ft
- Stained glass: Emil Frei Studios of St. Louis
- Transept windows: canopy-style Assumption and Christ blessing the little children
Sacraments
As the parish of the diocesan bishop, the Cathedral celebrates all seven sacraments and provides thorough preparation for each. Infant baptism and adult baptism are coordinated through the office; First Reconciliation and First Eucharist follow the multi-year Faith Formation track; Confirmation is a two-year program (Confirmation I & II) with a $5 registration fee, an interview with the pastor, and required attendance. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) meets Tuesday evenings 6:00–7:00 pm for inquirers, while OCIA for Children runs Wednesday evenings 6:15–7:30 pm. Marriage preparation and Quinceañera preparation (a three-part class series plus a baptismal certificate and interview) round out the sacramental life.
- OCIA – Sundays 9:45–11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall (adults)
- OCIA for Children – Wednesday 6:15–7:30 pm
- Confirmation I & Confirmation II
- Quinceañera preparation – three-part series
- Marriage preparation
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at the Cathedral is described by the parish as a 'hands-on catechetical program' that seeks to 'increase the kingdom of God one child at a time.' Programming spans kindergarten through twelfth grade, plus adult formation on Sunday mornings between the Sunday Masses. Middle-school youth meet every other Friday at 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
- K–5 Faith Formation
- Middle School Faith Formation (grades 6–8) – every other Friday 2:00 pm
- High School Faith Formation
- Adult Faith Formation / OCIA – Sundays 9:45–11:00 am
Ministries & Groups
Parishioners serve in a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers, Ushers, Lectors, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, and a Music Ministry led by Deacon Dan Leetch. Outreach extends to those incarcerated through Jail and Prison Ministries, and three times a year the Highway Cleanup Ministry picks up litter along Highway 96 (April, July, September). 'The Friends of the Cathedral' is a support group that has funded lighting and sound-system upgrades.
- Altar Servers, Ushers, Lectors, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers
- Music Ministry
- Catechists
- Jail Ministry & Prison Ministry
- Highway Cleanup Ministry
- Friends of the Cathedral
Diocese of Pueblo & Episcopal Succession
The Cathedral is the cathedra of the Diocese of Pueblo, which was erected on November 15, 1941 from the Archdiocese of Denver. The diocesan bishop is the canonical pastor of the cathedral, with a rector handling day-to-day administration. Bishops of Pueblo have been Joseph C. Willging (1941–1959), Charles A. Buswell (1959–1979), Arthur N. Tafoya (1980–2009), Fernando Isern (2009–2013), and Stephen J. Berg (2014–present). The Patroness of the diocese is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
- Bishop Joseph C. Willging (1941–1959)
- Bishop Charles A. Buswell (1959–1979)
- Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya (1980–2009)
- Bishop Fernando Isern (2009–2013)
- Bishop Stephen J. Berg (2014–present)
- Diocesan patroness: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Visiting the Cathedral
Visitors are welcome during parish office hours, Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. The 1988–89 renovation added a handicap entrance and restrooms. Of particular interest are the canopy-style Emil Frei stained-glass windows in the transepts (the Assumption; Christ blessing the little children), the polychrome rose window above the rear balcony, the soaring 135-foot spire, and the crypt of Msgr. Thomas Wolohan inside the church.
- Office hours Mon–Fri 9:30 am–2:30 pm
- Handicap-accessible entrance and restrooms
- Emil Frei stained glass and rose window
- Crypt of Msgr. Thomas Wolohan
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Projectus Machebeuf and Rev. J.B. Raverdy1860
Earliest missionary priests to celebrate Mass in Pueblo on arrival from Santa Fe.
- Rev. Carlos Pinto, SJ1872
Jesuit; recorded the first baptism (Anastacia Aragon, Oct. 20, 1872).
- Jesuit Fathers (community)1872–1887
Staffed the parish of St. Ignatius from its founding in 1873.
- Father Bender1887–
First diocesan priest, appointed by Bishop Joseph Machebeuf.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Wolohan1910–1946 (approx.)
Pastor 36 years; planned and built the present Sacred Heart Church (1912–13); first rector when Sacred Heart was elevated to cathedral in 1941; buried in a crypt inside the cathedral.
- Bishop Joseph C. Willging1941–1959
First Bishop of Pueblo; sat as the cathedral's episcopal rector 1942–1959.
- Bishop Charles A. Buswell1959–1979
Second Bishop of Pueblo; deceased.
- Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya1980–2009
Third Bishop of Pueblo.
- Rev. Roger Dorcy2003–
Appointed rector of Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish by Bishop Tafoya, effective July 5, 2003.
- Bishop Fernando Isern2009–2013
Fourth Bishop of Pueblo.
- Msgr. James Koenigsfeld
Identified as Rector in the cathedral's Wikipedia infobox entry.
- Bishop Stephen J. Berg2014–present
Fifth and current Bishop of Pueblo.
- Very Rev. Derrek Scott
Current Cathedral Rector per the official website contact page; Bishop Berg is the canonical pastor (cathedra).
- Deacon Dan Leetch
Current Rector Associate and Director of Music & Liturgy per the official website contact page.