About Immaculate Conception · Security, Colorado
Immaculate Conception Parish, located in Security (southeastern Colorado Springs), Colorado, is a personal parish of the Diocese of Colorado Springs served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP). It is the only parish in the diocese where the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments are offered daily according to the liturgical books in force in 1962 (the 'Extraordinary Form' of the Roman Rite). The parish offers unapologetically traditional Catholic catechesis in English and Spanish to local and military families in the heart of Colorado, and it began as a small group of faithful who in the 1980s petitioned Bishop Richard Hanifen for the Tridentine Mass at St. Mary Cathedral.
- Established
- 2000 (as a personal oratory/mission); April 2008 (elevated to parish status)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. James Gordon, FSSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs (personal parish served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, FSSP)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a tight-knit, family-like Catholic community in the heart of Colorado offering the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments daily in the 1962 form of the Roman Rite — the only parish in the Diocese of Colorado Springs to do so. Worship is supported by an active roster of lay ministries (choir, altar guild, ushers, pro-life, parish clothing boutique, take-them-a-meal, girls' group) and is expressly suited to both English- and Spanish-speaking families, including a strong military contingent. Devotions such as Thursday Holy Hour and Benediction, First Friday Mass, First Saturday devotions, Lenten Stations, and an all-night Adoration during Lent reflect the parish's traditional spiritual life.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM
- Monday–Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 7:30 AM (a half-hour before the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Thursday: 5:30 PM (a half-hour before the 6:00 PM Mass)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (additional confession slot)
- Confessions are heard one-half hour before every Mass
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:00 PM — Benediction and Holy Hour (following the 6:00 PM Mass)
- Lenten all-night Adoration: Friday 7:00 PM through Saturday 7:00 AM (parishioners sign up to spend an hour)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception Parish began as a small group of faithful at St. Mary Cathedral in the 1980s, who, with the cooperation of Bishop Richard Hanifen, won permission for the Tridentine Mass to be celebrated — said to be the first such Mass in any U.S. cathedral since 1970. As attendance grew under a retired diocesan priest, Bishop Hanifen invited the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter into the diocese, and Fr. Thomas Fritschen was assigned as chaplain in 2001. The community worshipped at the cathedral, then shared the chapel of St. Joseph Parish in Fountain, before purchasing a former Protestant church at 626 Aspen Dr. in Security in 2006. Bishop Michael J. Sheridan blessed the oratory in May 2006, and in April 2008 elevated it to a personal parish, assigning Fr. Stéphane Dupré, FSSP, as first pastor on July 1, 2008. Fr. James Gordon, FSSP, became the parish's third pastor in 2014.
- 1980s — group at St. Mary Cathedral petitions Bishop Hanifen for the Tridentine Mass
- 2001 — Fr. Thomas Fritschen, FSSP, assigned as first chaplain
- 2006 (May) — Bishop Sheridan blesses the oratory after renovations at 626 Aspen Dr.
- 2008 (April) — oratory elevated to parish (personal parish) by Bishop Sheridan
- 2008 (July 1) — Fr. Stéphane Dupré, FSSP, becomes first pastor
- 2010 — extensive sanctuary renovation
- 2014 — Fr. James Gordon, FSSP, assigned as third and current pastor
- July 2026 (planned) — relocation to former Our Lady of Guadalupe church at Pikes Peak Ave. & Circle Blvd.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by members of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. The current pastor, Fr. James Gordon, FSSP, was assigned in 2014 and is assisted by the parochial vicar, Fr. Dennis Gordon, FSSP, who also accepts Mass intentions. A long list of lay coordinators and volunteers — from the St. Benedict Altar Guild and the Choir to the bulletin, ushers, pro-life work, and the Young Roses of Mary girls' group — keeps the parish running.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. James Gordon, FSSP
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Dennis Gordon, FSSP
- St. Benedict Altar Guild: Nathan Wike
- Choir: Kelsey Villalobos
- Church Cleaning / Housekeeping: Jennifer Villalobos
- Bulletin: Jill Demian
- Ushers: Kris McCowen
- Parish Registration/Records: Anita McCowen ([email protected])
- Young Roses of Mary Girls' Group: Amy Seltzer
- Take-Them-A-Meal: Marcella Guilez
- Homeschoolers' First Friday: Gracey Wike
- Parish Clothing Boutique: Anita McCowen
- Pro-Life: Michael & Michele Smiley
- Website: Alex Baburnic
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Catechesis is at the heart of parish life for both children and adults. The Adult Catechumen Class (RCIA) meets in the Parish Hall, while First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes meet in the upstairs classroom for registered children. The parish teaches in both English and Spanish, in keeping with its bilingual ministry to local and military families.
- Adult Catechumen Class (RCIA) — 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall
- First Holy Communion Class — held after 11:00 AM Mass on Sundays
- Confirmation Class — held after 11:00 AM Mass on Sundays
- Bilingual formation in English and Spanish
- Annual Lenten Parish Mission (English) — 6:00 PM Mass with 7:00 PM conference
Liturgy & Music
The liturgy is the traditional Roman Rite of 1962 (the 'Extraordinary Form'), celebrated entirely in Latin with Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony. The parish Choir (and a separate Men's Schola) supports the Sung High Mass each Sunday, while an active St. Benedict Altar Guild cares for the sacred vessels, vestments, linens, and sanctuary — including the 2010 sanctuary renovation.
- Sunday Sung High Mass at 11:00 AM
- Parish Choir and Men's Schola
- Gregorian chant and sacred music (Traditional Latin Rite)
- St. Benedict Altar Guild (sacristy care)
- Volunteer-led sanctuary renovation, 2010
Devotions
Immaculate Conception maintains a full calendar of traditional Catholic devotions. First Friday is marked with a 6:00 PM Mass; First Saturday is observed with confession and First Saturdays devotion to the Immaculate Heart (in reparation for blasphemies against Mary). Lent brings Friday Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM (with an additional 6:00 PM Mass), the all-night Adoration on the Friday–Saturday of the first weekend in Lent, and the parish's annual Lenten Parish Mission.
- First Friday — 6:00 PM Mass
- First Saturday devotions — reparation to the Immaculate Heart
- Stations of the Cross — every Friday of Lent at 7:00 PM
- Thursday weekly Benediction & Holy Hour
- Lenten all-night Adoration
- Annual Lenten Parish Mission (English)
Parish Ministries & Lay Apostolates
The parish is volunteer-driven: 'Immaculate Conception relies heavily on the work of many volunteers to do everything from painting to making kneelers.' Lay groups cover sacristy care, music, hospitality, faith formation, and outreach — including a free parish clothing boutique, a take-them-a-meal ministry for new mothers, the sick and the bereaved, a homeschoolers' first-Friday group, the Young Roses of Mary girls' group, and active pro-life leadership.
- St. Benedict Altar Guild
- Parish Choir & Men's Schola
- Ushers
- Housekeeping
- Parish Clothing Boutique (free / gratis)
- Take-Them-A-Meal (birth, illness, bereavement)
- Homeschoolers' First Friday
- Young Roses of Mary Girls' Group
- Pro-Life Coordinator and Pro-Life Vigil
- Bulletin team
- Website team
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish at (719) 382-0121; for sacramental emergencies, the after-hours line is (719) 464-6129. The church is at 626 Aspen Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80911; the rectory ('St. Therese of the Child Jesus House') is next door at 622 Aspen Dr. Mail goes to P.O. Box 5211, Colorado Springs, CO 80931. General inquiries, registration, and records go through Anita McCowen at [email protected].
- Church: 626 Aspen Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80911
- Mailing: P.O. Box 5211, Colorado Springs, CO 80931
- Rectory: 622 Aspen Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80911
- Phone: (719) 382-0121
- Sacramental Emergency: (719) 464-6129
- Email: [email protected]
Plan a Visit — What to Expect
First-time visitors will find a faithful, family-like community centered on the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missal). Sunday Masses are at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM (Low Mass) and 11:00 AM (Sung High Mass), with Confessions a half-hour before each. Modest dress is customary; bulletin and missalettes are provided, and the parish team can introduce new families into the various ministries from altar service to choir to the Young Roses of Mary girls' group.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Rawley Myerspre-2000–c.2001
Retired diocesan priest who celebrated the Tridentine Mass only a few times a month at St. Mary Cathedral, planting the seed of the community.
- Fr. Thomas Fritschen, FSSP2001–2008
First FSSP chaplain; led the community as it grew from cathedral chapel, to St. Joseph's in Fountain, to the Security property.
- Fr. Stéphane Dupré, FSSP2008–2014
Assigned July 1, 2008 as first pastor when the oratory was elevated to parish status by Bishop Sheridan.
- Fr. James Gordon, FSSP2014–present
Third and current pastor; leads the parish into its planned 2026 relocation.