About Keefe Memorial Hospital (served by Sacred Heart Church) · Cheyenne Wells, Colorado
Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel is the Catholic worship site inside Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, served by Sacred Heart Parish of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. The hospital itself was opened in 1962 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, and the small chapel remains a visible reminder of the institution's faithful Catholic origins. Mass is celebrated there on the last Tuesday of every month at 12:30 p.m., bringing the Eucharist to patients, staff, and visitors of this rural eastern Colorado community hospital less than 18 miles from the Kansas border. The chapel is administered alongside Sacred Heart Church and the mission church of St. Augustine in Kit Carson as a single Cheyenne County Catholic community.
- Established
- 1962 (hospital chapel opened with Keefe Memorial Hospital; parish of Sacred Heart dates to 1913 church construction, 1918 first resident pastor)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (the chapel is served by Sacred Heart Parish)
- Rector
- Fr. Dan Ayers (Parish Administrator, installed August 2020)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Visiting or belonging to Sacred Heart Parish means joining one of the oldest and most resilient Catholic communities on the eastern Colorado plains, where Mass is celebrated daily, confession is offered before every Sunday liturgy, and a scriptural Rosary, Holy Hour with Benediction, and Eucharistic Adoration are part of the regular weekly rhythm. The parish brings the Eucharist directly to those who are sick or homebound through weekly Mass at Cheyenne Manor Nursing Home and monthly Mass at Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel — a faithful outreach that has defined the parish since the hospital was opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1962. Members also support a community food pantry and live out the call to stewardship that the parish highlights each year through its Stewardship Renewal.
Mass times at Keefe Memorial Hospital (served by Sacred Heart Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
- Saturdays 4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (per Diocese of Colorado Springs listing)
- Before Mass at Sacred Heart or by appointment
Adoration times
- Saturdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. with Scriptural Rosary
- Thursday evenings 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., beginning with Rosary and ending with Benediction
Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel
The chapel inside Keefe Memorial Hospital is a small Catholic worship site served by Sacred Heart Parish. Mass is celebrated there on the last Tuesday of every month at 12:30 p.m., bringing the Eucharist to patients, staff, and visitors of this rural hospital near the Kansas border. The hospital itself was opened in 1962 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis and gifted to Cheyenne County in 1987; the chapel has been part of the building since its founding.
- Mass on the last Tuesday of every month at 12:30 p.m.
- Opened 1962 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
- Gifted to Cheyenne County in 1987
- An 'enduring reminder of the institution's faithful origin' inside the hospital
Parish of Sacred Heart — Cheyenne Wells
Sacred Heart Parish in Cheyenne Wells is the Catholic community that serves Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel, the parish church itself at 105 West 5th St. N, and the mission church of St. Augustine in Kit Carson. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Colorado Springs and is currently led by Father Dan Ayers as Parish Administrator (since August 2020). Office hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and the parish phone is (719) 767-5272.
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
- 105 West 5th St. N, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810
- Phone (719) 767-5272
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 819, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810
Parish History
Catholic life in Cheyenne Wells began in 1909–1912 under Fathers Godfrey Raber, Anthony Abel, and George Fenske. In August 1912, Bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz of Denver purchased 24 lots from H.M. Schumm for $1, and excavation began in June 1913, with the church completed that October. Father Alfonso Keiffer — the 'Padre of the Plains' — became the first permanent pastor in 1918, built the rectory still in use, organized Sacred Heart School in 1921, and after the 1920s cattle-market crash launched his 'Living Rosary Crusade' to clear the parish debt. He built Columbine Hall in 1949 and retired from active ministry in 1952; he died Oct. 7, 1971.
- 1909–1912: First priests serve Cheyenne Wells
- 1912: Lots purchased by Bishop Matz for $1
- 1913: Original church completed in October
- 1918: Fr. Alfonso Keiffer arrives as first resident pastor
- 1921: Sacred Heart School organized
- 1949: Columbine Hall constructed
- 1952: Keiffer retires (failing eyesight); Bethlehem Fathers take over 1952–1955
Growth, School, and Renovations
By 1955 the original church had been outgrown, and under Father John Canjar (1955–1959) the 1949 Columbine Hall was converted into the present Sacred Heart sanctuary, dedicated in 1957; the old church was demolished in 1958. Sacred Heart School, founded in 1921, celebrated its last eighth-grade graduation in 1970 and closed in 1971 after 58 years; its building was demolished for insurance reasons in 1995. Father Edward Sullivan remodeled the church balcony and added classrooms in the early 1990s; Father Thomas Kloppenborg built the new church entrance and started the parish food pantry in 1993. Father Jaimes Ponce oversaw a complete renovation of the church (rededicated September 2005).
- 1957: New sanctuary dedicated (former Columbine Hall)
- 1958: Old church demolished
- 1959: Fr. George Kearney organizes altar boys
- 1971: Sacred Heart School closes after 58 years
- 1995: School building demolished (insurance reasons)
- 2005: Complete church renovation rededicated
Mass and Service Schedule
Sacred Heart offers one of the most generous schedules on the eastern Colorado plains, with daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday and twice on Saturday, plus a Sunday Mass. Confession is heard every Sunday morning and before every Mass. Eucharistic Adoration with a scriptural Rosary follows the Saturday morning Mass, and a Thursday-evening Rosary and Benediction is part of the weekly rhythm.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil (Anticipatory): 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday morning Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Tuesday–Friday Mass: 9:00 a.m. (no Monday Mass)
- Last Tuesday of the month: 12:30 p.m. at Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel
- Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. Mass at Cheyenne Manor Nursing Home
- Confessions Sundays 8:15–8:45 a.m.; before Mass or by appointment
- Adoration Saturdays 9:30–10:30 a.m. with Scriptural Rosary
- Thursday evenings 6:30–8:00 p.m.: Rosary and Benediction
Outreach to the Sick and Homebound
A defining ministry of Sacred Heart Parish is bringing the Eucharist directly to those who cannot easily come to church. Each Wednesday morning, Mass is celebrated at the nearby Cheyenne Manor Nursing Home, and once a month on the last Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. the priest comes to the chapel inside Keefe Memorial Hospital to celebrate Mass for patients, staff, and visitors. These outreach Masses, together with the parish food pantry started by Father Thomas Kloppenborg in 1993, are a cornerstone of the parish's community life.
- Weekly Mass at Cheyenne Manor Nursing Home (Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.)
- Monthly Mass at Keefe Memorial Hospital Chapel (last Tuesday 12:30 p.m.)
- Community food pantry (since 1993)
St. Augustine Mission — Kit Carson
Sacred Heart Parish shares its priest with St. Augustine Church in Kit Carson, about 20 miles west of Cheyenne Wells. St. Augustine's roots go back to Franciscan visitations in the 1880s and to a church completed in 1920 on land donated by Willia Rhoades in 1916; Father Alphonse Keiffer served as pastor from 1909 to 1953. The current St. Augustine church was dedicated in May 1965 under Father George Kearney, and the parish shares the same succession of pastors as Sacred Heart. Sunday Mass at St. Augustine is at 11:00 a.m., with reconciliation after Mass or by appointment.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m.
- Confession: after Mass or by appointment
- 301 Church Street, Kit Carson, CO 80825
- Same pastoral team as Sacred Heart
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to participate through the annual Stewardship Renewal Commitment, the food-pantry ministry, altar service, and the parish's devotional life (Scriptural Rosary, Adoration, Benediction). Those interested in volunteering or in arranging sacraments for the sick at Keefe Memorial Hospital or Cheyenne Manor can contact the parish office Tuesday through Saturday.
- Sacred Heart Stewardship Renewal Commitment Card
- St. Augustine Stewardship Renewal Commitment Card
- Food pantry volunteers
- Altar servers
- Hospital and nursing-home visitation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fathers Godfrey Raber, Anthony Abel, George Fenske1909–1912
Served the Cheyenne Wells Catholic congregation in its earliest years.
- Bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz of Denver1912
Purchased the 24 lots on which Sacred Heart was built.
- Fr. Alfonso Keiffer ('Padre of the Plains')1918–1952
First permanent pastor; built the rectory, organized Sacred Heart School (1921), founded the 'Living Rosary Crusade,' built Columbine Hall (1949). Died Oct. 7, 1971.
- Bethlehem Fathers1952–1955
Cared for the parish during Father Keiffer's retirement.
- Fr. John Canjar1955–1959
Found the church outgrown; oversaw conversion of Columbine Hall into the present sanctuary, dedicated 1957.
- Fr. George Kearney1959–~1966
Organized an altar boy program; led 1965 dedication at St. Augustine in Kit Carson.
- Fr. Clement Dewall1966–1969
- Fr. Gerals Stremmellate 1960s
- Fr. Daniel Balzereit1971–
Remodeled the church with funds from a good wheat crop and the bequest of Father Keiffer.
- Fr. Leonard Hoeffler1973–1982
- Fr. James Morgan1982–1984
- Fr. James Halloran1984–1987
- Fr. Thomas Kihn1988–1991
- Fr. Edward Sullivan1991–~1993
Remodeled the church balcony and added classrooms.
- Fr. Thomas Kloppenborg1993–
Built the new church entrance and started the community food pantry.
- Fr. Khanh Pham NguyenJune 2002–2004
Tried to jumpstart parish life; left due to poor health.
- Fr. Jaimes PonceAugust 2004–2007
Parish administrator; oversaw complete renovation of the church, rededicated September 2005; then went to Rome to study canon law.
- Fr. Boleslaw Kuzma2007–2009
Parish administrator.
- Fr. Kirk SlatteryOctober 2009–March 2012
- Fr. Carlos Gallardo-Morales2012 (temporary)
Temporary administrator until August 2012.
- Fr. Alfredo GarciaAugust 2012–June 2013
- Fr. Rafael Torres-RicoJune 2013–June 2015
- Fr. Jason Keas2015–2019
- Fr. Roylan RecioAugust 2019–August 2020
- Fr. Dan AyersAugust 2020–present
Current Parish Administrator.