About Corpus Christi · Colorado Springs, Colorado
Corpus Christi Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish located at 2318 North Cascade Avenue in the Old North End neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Established on August 17, 1916, by Father Felix C. Abel, it was the second Catholic parish founded in the city and grew out of a spinoff from St. Mary Parish downtown. Today the parish is served by Father Brian A. Roeseler as pastor (since 2019) and Father Sean McCann as parochial vicar, and is the spiritual home of Corpus Christi Catholic Academy, a pre-K through 8th-grade classical education school that has been continuously operating since 1922. Known for reverent liturgies, a robust Traditional Latin Mass schedule, 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, and what Bishop James Golka has called the "altar server capital of the diocese," Corpus Christi is a pro-life, pro-family parish that is bilingual in its community life while liturgically centered on English with celebrated Latin devotions.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian A. Roeseler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Corpus Christi offers a traditionally reverent Catholic experience rooted in more than a century of family faith formation, including a robust Traditional Latin Mass schedule, 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, and a music program that ranges from chant schola to full choir with organ. It is home to the diocese's largest and most rigorous altar server program — described by Bishop James Golka as making the parish the "altar server capital of the diocese" — and to a thriving family-life apostolate that includes Teams of Our Lady, Domestic Church Families, Catholic Grandparents Association, Families of Character, and Knights of Columbus and Legion of Mary groups. Families who join put down roots in a parish school — Corpus Christi Catholic Academy, the longest-operating school in the Diocese of Colorado Springs — and in a parish community that has produced eight seminarians in various stages of formation, a tangible sign of its faithful Catholic culture.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday-Friday: 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 5:40 PM
- First Friday: after the 5:30 PM Mass (before the 7:00 PM Traditional Latin Mass)
Adoration times
- 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration Monday 5:00 PM (or 6:00 PM per diocese listing) through Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Monday – Friday: 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 5:40 PM
- First Friday: Adoration after the 5:30 PM Mass leading into 7:00 PM TLM
History
Founded on August 17, 1916 by Father Felix C. Abel as the second Catholic parish in Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi originally served Catholics of English, Italian, Spanish, and Slavic descent on the city's north end, plus the mission communities of Palmer Lake, Monument, and the Modern Woodmen of America Sanitarium. The first Mass in the relocated Baptist sanctuary was offered on October 28, 1916, and the parish school opened in 1921. Monsignor Anthony Elzi led the parish for 31 years, during which the present brick school (dedicated March 12, 1950) and the current church (completed 1956) were built. The parish has continued to grow through subsequent pastorates and celebrated 100 years of Catholic education in 2022.
- Parish established August 17, 1916
- First Mass celebrated October 28, 1916
- School founded 1921 (66 students)
- Two-room frame school built 1925
- Brick school dedicated March 12, 1950 ($140,000)
- School expanded with four more rooms in 1959 (enrollment 550)
- One-day building fund drive July 10, 1955 raised ~$75,000 toward new $400,000 church
- Current church completed in 1956 (seats 750)
- 100th anniversary of Catholic school celebrated in 2022
Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)
Corpus Christi maintains one of the most accessible Traditional Latin Mass schedules in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, with weekly and monthly offerings celebrated by the parochial vicar and pastor. The parish's commitment to the usus antiquior is reflected in its Latin chant schola and in special devotions surrounding First Friday Mass.
- Wednesday 7:45 AM TLM (year-round)
- Saturday 12:00 PM TLM
- First Friday 7:00 PM TLM, preceded by Adoration and Confession after the 5:30 PM Mass
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Brian A. Roeseler (pastor) and Father Sean McCann (parochial vicar), along with three permanent deacons: Grove Higgins, Clarence Johnson, and Ed Wilmes. The lay staff includes a Business Manager, Bookkeeper, Executive Assistant to the Pastor, Music Director (Dr. Rod Gorby), Director of Religious Education (Matthew Jodziewicz), Youth Minister (Andrew Cox), Bereavement Minister (Anne Hourigan), and the academy principal (Caitlin Prochaska) and admissions coordinator (Lydia Bowsky).
- Fr. Brian Roeseler, Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Sean McCann, Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Grove Higgins
- Deacon Clarence Johnson
- Deacon Ed Wilmes
- Dr. Rod Gorby, Music Director
- Matthew Jodziewicz, Director of Religious Education
- Andrew Cox, Youth Minister
- Anne Hourigan, Bereavement & Bishops' Charter
- Nicole Smith, Business Manager
- Betsy Ruiz, Bookkeeper
- Laney Hill, Executive Assistant to the Pastor
Corpus Christi Catholic Academy (School)
Founded in 1922, Corpus Christi Catholic Academy is the longest-operating school in the Diocese of Colorado Springs and offers a pre-K through 8th-grade classical education in the Catholic tradition. The school was recognized by the Colorado Springs Gazette in 2014 as one of the best elementary schools in the city and celebrated its centennial in 2022. Under the leadership of Principal Caitlin Prochaska, the academy continues to emphasize forming students in both faith and intellectual virtue, with a curriculum designed to integrate the parish and school communities under Pastor Father Roeseler's vision.
- Founded 1922 (100+ years of continuous operation)
- Pre-K through 8th grade
- Classical Catholic curriculum
- Recognized by Colorado Springs Gazette (2014)
- Centennial celebrated in 2022
- Principal: Caitlin Prochaska ([email protected])
- Admissions: Lydia Bowsky ([email protected], 719-632-5092 x114)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Corpus Christi is led by Director of Religious Education Matthew Jodziewicz (x215) and includes preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, including the parish's celebrated practice of the Restored Order (Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary), in which Confirmation and First Eucharist are conferred together at a special noon Mass on selected Saturdays.
- Pre-K through 8 Religious Education
- RCIA for adults
- Restored Order on select Saturdays at noon Mass
- Youth Confirmation on select Saturdays
Altar Servers & Vocations Culture
Bishop James Golka has called Corpus Christi the 'altar server capital of the diocese.' Director Justin Watson oversees a program of more than 45 active altar boys whose training and screening explicitly aim to foster vocations to the priesthood. The parish currently has eight young men in various stages of seminary formation — the most from any single parish known to the local Serra Club president. Father Roeseler himself credits his own service at the altar here as a key factor in his vocation.
- 45+ active altar servers
- Director: Justin Watson
- Explicit mission to foster priestly vocations
- Eight seminarians from the parish currently in formation
Youth & Family Ministries
The parish offers a robust constellation of family- and youth-oriented groups: a youth ministry led by Andrew Cox; Teams of Our Lady (marriage enrichment); Domestic Church Families; the Catholic Grandparents Association; Families of Character; Trail Life (scouting for boys); American Heritage Girls; the Confraternity of Christian Mothers; and the parish Altar and Rosary Society.
- Youth Ministry (Andrew Cox)
- Teams of Our Lady
- Domestic Church Families
- Catholic Grandparents Association
- Families of Character
- Trail Life (scouting)
- American Heritage Girls
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers
- Altar and Rosary Society
Parish Service Organizations
Adult Catholics at Corpus Christi find service, fellowship, and formation through the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, and the Bereavement Ministry (led by Anne Hourigan, who also coordinates the Bishops' Charter outreach). Father Sean McCann additionally serves as a local COURAGE chaplain.
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary
- Bereavement Ministry (Anne Hourigan)
- COURAGE chaplaincy (Fr. Sean McCann)
- Eucharistic Adoration coordination (Patty O'Connell)
Liturgical Music
Music Director Dr. Rod Gorby oversees a program tailored to each Mass: a cantor-and-pianist combination, full choir with organ, or a Latin chant schola with choir support, allowing the parish to accompany both the Ordinary Form and Traditional Latin Mass with reverent, varied sacred music.
- Cantor & pianist
- Choir with organ
- Latin chant schola with choir
- Director: Dr. Rod Gorby ([email protected])
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For sacramental emergencies during office hours, call (719) 633-1457; after hours, call 719-633-6814. The parish office fax is (719) 473-7567. Parking is available alongside the church and in a large lot behind it, and the south door is unlocked during Confession times for easy access.
- Address: 2318 N Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
- Phone: (719) 633-1457
- Sacramental emergency (after hours): 719-633-6814
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Email: [email protected]
- School phone: (719) 632-5092
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Felix C. Abel1916 – c. 1941
Founding pastor; established the parish on Aug. 17, 1916, moved the original Baptist church building to the site, celebrated the first Mass on Oct. 28, 1916, and founded the parish school in 1921.
- Monsignor Anthony Elzic. 1941 – 1972
Long-tenured pastor for 31 years; oversaw construction of the brick school dedicated March 12, 1950, and the 1956 church building.
- Rev. Robert Keikeisen1972 – 1985
Known for his gift of singing and for introducing RENEWAL retreats to the parish.
- Rev. Gerald Bruggeman1985 – 1994
Developed collaborative lay ministry and greatly expanded parish volunteers; after retirement remained chaplain at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital.
- Rev. Bill Carmody1994 – 2000
His stewardship and tithing efforts laid the groundwork for a new school wing added in 1998 and a parish hall built in 2000.
- Rev. Stephen Parlet2000 – 2007
Served as pastor following Father Carmody.
- Rev. Mark Zacker2007 – c. 2019
Served as pastor through the parish's 100th anniversary of Catholic education in 2022 era; succeeded by Father Roeseler.
- Rev. Brian A. Roeseler2019 – present
Current pastor; a St. Louis native ordained in 2011 and invited to the diocese by the late Bishop Michael Sheridan; former altar server whose own vocation was nurtured at Corpus Christi.