About Divine Redeemer · Colorado Springs, Colorado
Divine Redeemer was a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Colorado Springs serving the neighborhood just north of downtown Colorado Springs for nearly 75 years. Founded in 1950 and rooted in the post-war baby-boom growth on the city's east side, it was long known for its parish school (the 'Cardinals,' open 1956–2025) and its steady rhythm of English-language worship. On June 29, 2025, the parish was merged with nearby Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish — Colorado Springs' historic Spanish-speaking parish — to form the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer, the first diocesan shrine in the city, dedicated by Bishop James Golka on July 5, 2025. The combined community continues to worship at the former Divine Redeemer site and now offers an expansive bilingual schedule of Masses, devotions, and outreach in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ the Redeemer)
- Rector
- Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap. (Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer, since July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Parishioners of the merged Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer find a single bilingual Catholic home in the heart of Colorado Springs: a full schedule of daily, Saturday-vigil and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish, weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA/RCIC, marriage and anointing of the sick, and the community life of a true diocesan shrine — a place of pilgrimage whose doors are open wide to welcome both longtime families and newcomers, including those returning to the sacraments after a long absence.
Mass times at Divine Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
- Tuesdays, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM (after the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass)
- By appointment — call the Shrine office at (719) 633-5559
Adoration times
- Tuesdays, following the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass
About the Parish
Divine Redeemer Catholic Church has long been a fixture of the neighborhood just north of downtown Colorado Springs, founded in 1950 as the east side grew in the post-war baby boom. Its self-description — 'a people of prayer, demonstrating hospitality and building community' — captures the parish's longstanding identity. In 2025, that identity expanded: Divine Redeemer and Our Lady of Guadalupe joined to form the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer, the first diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs.
- Diocese of Colorado Springs parish
- Founded 1950
- Now part of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer
- Mission: 'A people of prayer, demonstrating hospitality and building community.'
History
The Archdiocese of Denver bought the Divine Redeemer property on November 6, 1947. Father Duane Theobald was appointed the first pastor in July 1950 and celebrated Masses in temporary locations while the buildings went up; the original church was dedicated in October 1956 and the school opened that same year. A larger church was begun in February 1968 and dedicated on February 21, 1971, under Father Omer Foxhoven. The school peaked at more than 700 students in 1965 and was a beloved neighborhood institution for nearly 70 years before closing in May 2025. The parish's final years were marked by a transformative merger with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish to form a diocesan shrine.
- 1947 — property purchased by Archdiocese of Denver
- 1950 — Father Duane Theobald named first pastor
- 1956 — original church dedicated; school opens (grades 1–6)
- 1959 — eight-classroom expansion
- 1965 — peak school enrollment of 700+
- 1971 — present church building dedicated (Feb. 21)
- 2005–2014 — Father Jim Klein serves as pastor
- 2015–2019 — Father Brian Roeseler serves as pastor
- May 2025 — Divine Redeemer School closes after nearly 70 years
- June 29, 2025 — merger with Our Lady of Guadalupe
- July 5, 2025 — Bishop James Golka dedicates the new Shrine
Leadership & Staff
The merged Shrine is led by Capuchin Franciscan priests, continuing the religious order's longtime service to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Father Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap., is the first Rector of the Shrine, and Father Vincent Carrasco, O.F.M. Cap., serves as Associate Rector. They are assisted by Capuchin parochial vicars, a pastoral team of deacons, a Director of Religious Education, liturgical, administrative and facilities staff.
- Rector: Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap.
- Associate Rector: Rev. Vincent Carrasco, O.F.M. Cap.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Brandon Berg, O.F.M. Cap.; Rev. Kevin Thompson, O.F.M. Cap.
- Deacons: Juan Moreno, Lawrence Rossow, Rob Rysavy, Cliff Donnelly
- Director of Religious Education: Ricardo Sanchez (719-234-0315, [email protected])
- Liturgy & Communications Manager (on staff)
- Pastoral Care staff: Antonia (Toni) Roque de la Cruz, Dr. Eliana Murphy-Ellis, Marcela Corona
- Facilities Manager: Juan Gonzales
- Administrative Assistant to the Pastor: Valerie Carriedo
- Office Assistants: Oralia Gil, Alexsa Franco, Jazmin Nunez
Sacraments
The parish office is the gateway to all sacramental preparation, with information and registration for adults and children alike. The 'Welcome Home' page on the parish website invites those who have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation to take a step back, and lists every sacramental pathway for those preparing to become Catholic, baptized, married, or simply returning to the practice of the faith.
- Baptism (child and adult)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation
- Catholic Marriage / Weddings
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
- Holy Orders / Vocations
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4–4:50 PM; Tuesdays 7:45–8:45 PM; by appointment
- Contact: 719-633-5559
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation is led by a Director of Religious Education and supported by Religious Education Assistants, with preparation programs for the sacraments, RCIA/RCIC for adults and children becoming Catholic, and the ongoing catechesis of parish youth. With the closure of Divine Redeemer School, the school building has been re-purposed to house expanded faith-formation and religious-education programming for the larger merged Shrine community.
- Director of Religious Education: Ricardo Sanchez ([email protected], 719-234-0315)
- Religious Education Assistant: Oralia Gil ([email protected], 719-234-0325)
- RCIA / RCIC for adults and children
- First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation
- Adult and child faith formation housed in the former school building
Divine Redeemer Catholic School (1956–2025)
For nearly 70 years, Divine Redeemer School — the 'Cardinals' — was the heart of the parish, enrolling generations of east-side Catholic children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Originally staffed by the Sisters of Charity from Cincinnati, it grew to a peak of more than 700 students in 1965. After several decades of declining enrollment — down to about 137 students in its final year — and with shifting neighborhood demographics, Bishop James Golka and the parish announced the school's closure in late 2024, with the final semester ending in May 2025. The school's legacy of faith, academics and service endures in the parish and the wider diocese.
- Opened October 1956 with grades 1–6
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
- Peak enrollment: 700+ students in 1965
- Known for the Stuff-the-Van Day, compassion bags, coat drives, Eye Opener Breakfast for foster children
- Final 8th-grade class graduated Spring 2025
- Inquiries: Diocese Office of Catholic Schools, 719-636-2345, [email protected]
Parish Identity & Outreach
From its founding mission — 'A people of prayer, demonstrating hospitality and building community' — Divine Redeemer has been known for visible, hands-on service: the Stuff-the-Van Day collecting baby items for single mothers, 'compassion bags' of toiletries and snacks for the homeless, annual coat and glove collections, and a 6 a.m. Eye Opener Breakfast gathering pajamas for children in foster care. The Knights of Columbus Council No. 4699 has long been hosted at the parish, and Father Jim Klein was named their Colorado Chaplain of the Year in 2013. As the new Shrine, the community is launching ESL classes, a food pantry and outreach to the homeless in the heart of Colorado Springs.
- Mission: 'A people of prayer, demonstrating hospitality and building community.'
- Knights of Columbus Council No. 4699
- Service: Stuff-the-Van Day, compassion bags, coat drives, Eye Opener Breakfast
- Planned Shrine initiatives: ESL classes, food pantry, homeless outreach
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer (2025)
On June 29, 2025 — the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul — Divine Redeemer Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish were formally joined into a single canonical entity: the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer. It is the first diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs and a designated pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Bishop James Golka presided at the dedication Mass on July 5, 2025, just north of downtown at the former Divine Redeemer campus on Farragut Avenue. The Shrine is led by Capuchin Franciscan priests, with Father Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap., as Rector.
- Established June 29, 2025; dedicated July 5, 2025 by Bishop James Golka
- First diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs
- Pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) Mass schedule
- Rector: Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap.
- Associate Rector: Rev. Vincent Carrasco, O.F.M. Cap.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Duane Theobald1950–
First pastor of Divine Redeemer, appointed July 1950; celebrated Masses in temporary locations while the new church and school were built.
- Rev. Omer Foxhovenc. 1968–c. 1971
Led the construction and dedication of the present church building on February 21, 1971.
- Rev. Jim Klein2005–2014
Named Chaplain of the Year by the Colorado Knights of Columbus in 2013; remembered for his visible, daily presence in the school. Died January 7, 2025.
- Rev. Brian Roeseler2015–2019
Recalled the extraordinary devotion of school families who drove long distances to be part of the D-R community.
- Rev. Jason Keasto July 1, 2025
Divine Redeemer School alumnus; oversaw the closure of the school in May 2025 and the parish's merger into the new Shrine. Appointed pastor of Holy Apostles Parish, effective July 1, 2025.
- Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap.July 1, 2025–present
Former pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; appointed first Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer.