About Holy Family · Denver, Colorado
Holy Family Catholic Church is a welcoming parish of fewer than 1,000 households in northwest Denver, Colorado, serving the community at 4346 Utica Street. The parish offers weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, a daily Mass in the chapel, and a range of sacramental, faith formation, and outreach ministries. Rooted in a long tradition of Catholic education in Denver, Holy Family continues to be known for its warmth, friendliness, and sense that "every member is a gift."
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick Dolan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Holy Family is a medium-sized, family-friendly parish where weekend Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish, weekday Mass is offered in the chapel, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Tuesdays and Thursdays. Members grow through RCIA, sacramental preparation, the Nazareth children's Liturgy of the Word program, and adult faith formation, while serving neighbors through Catholic Charities' Gabriel House, the Altar and Rosary Society, the HF Book Club, and a food-for-the-poor ministry. With a 130-year history of Catholic education and a reputation for warmth, it is a place where newcomers are quickly made to feel at home.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM (Church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Chapel)
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Chapel)
History of Holy Family Parish
The story of Holy Family Parish begins in 1888, when Sacred Heart College — now Regis University — moved to West 50th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard in northwest Denver. Jesuits from the college served the surrounding parish community until 1918, when Bishop Tihen established Holy Family as an Archdiocesan parish with Father Cornelius O'Farrell as its first resident pastor. Under O'Farrell, a parish grade school opened in 1920 staffed by the Sisters of Loretto; a ninth-grade classroom was added in 1922, and Holy Family High School graduated its first class of ten students in 1926. The Sisters of Loretto ran the parish schools until 1999, when the high school incorporated and moved to Broomfield to serve suburban and Boulder–Longmont families. The parish itself remained on Utica Street and today is home to a multigenerational Catholic community known for its support of Catholic education, including a warm relationship with neighboring Arrupe Jesuit High School.
- 1888 – Sacred Heart College (now Regis University) relocates to W. 50th Ave. & Lowell Blvd.; Jesuits serve the parish.
- 1918 – Bishop Tihen designates Holy Family as an Archdiocesan parish; Fr. Cornelius O'Farrell becomes first resident pastor.
- 1920 – Parish grade school opens, staffed by the Sisters of Loretto.
- 1922 – Ninth-grade classroom added, inaugurating Holy Family High School.
- 1926 – First graduating class of ten students from Holy Family High School.
- 1999 – Holy Family High School incorporated and moves to a new campus in Broomfield.
- Today – 130+ years of continuous Catholic worship, education, and service in northwest Denver.
Parish Staff
Holy Family is led by Father Patrick Dolan, Pastor. Sister Sharon Ford serves as Pastoral Assistant and Director of Faith Formation. The parish staff also includes a Business Manager, a Liturgical Director, a Music Ministry leader, a Social Outreach Coordinator, a Parish Hall Manager, Sacristans, a Plant Manager, and Receptionists/Administrative Assistants who keep the parish office running.
- Rev. Patrick Dolan — Pastor
- Sr. Sharon Ford — Pastoral Assistant / Director of Faith Formation
- Liturgical Director
- Music Ministry (Patty Doane)
- Social Outreach Coordinator (Ann Zimmer)
- Business Manager
- Parish Hall Manager
- Sacristans
- Plant Manager
- Receptionists / Administrative Assistants
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Holy Family Faith Formation program provides opportunities for both children and adults to grow in the Catholic faith and to experience Christian community. The parish's vision is to accompany parents in forming life-long Catholic disciples who encounter the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, in a classroom rooted in prayer, small-group community, and the teachings of the Church.
- Nazareth Program — Liturgy of the Word for children in grades 1–5 during the 9:30 and 11:00 AM Masses (program focus noted on the website; times listed correspond to published Sunday Mass times)
- Sacramental Preparation — grades 3–5 and 6–12 tracks
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (for those becoming Catholic and for Catholics completing their sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
Ministries and Outreach
Holy Family invites parishioners to live their baptismal call to discipleship through a wide range of ministries. Outreach ministries include partnership with Catholic Charities' Gabriel House and a food-for-the-poor ministry. Community-building groups include the Altar and Rosary Society and the HF Book Club, while liturgical life is supported by a Music Ministry, liturgical directors, and sacristans. With fewer than 1,000 households, the parish prides itself on offering an unusually broad ministry portfolio in a personal, family-sized setting.
- Catholic Charities Gabriel House (local service)
- Food for the Poor Ministry
- Altar and Rosary Society
- HF Book Club
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical Ministry / Sacristans
- Social Outreach coordination
- Parish Hall / Facilities
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation is offered for infant Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation/Confession, Confirmation, and Marriage. The parish also visits the elderly and homebound and celebrates the Anointing of the Sick on request, ensuring that parishioners can receive the sacraments at every stage of life.
- Baptism (infant)
- First Communion
- Reconciliation / Confession
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Visits to the elderly and homebound
Visit and Contact
Holy Family Catholic Church is located at 4346 Utica Street, Denver, CO 80212, in northwest Denver. The parish office can be reached at 303-455-1664 or [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:30–1:30) and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. The parish also communicates with parishioners through Flocknote.
- Address: 4346 Utica Street, Denver, CO 80212
- Phone: 303-455-1664
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://holyfamilydenver.com/
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:30–1:30); Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Communications: Flocknote
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Cornelius O'Farrell1918–1923 (approx.)
First resident pastor when Holy Family was designated an Archdiocesan parish by Bishop Tihen; built the parish school that opened in 1920.