About Light of the World · Littleton, Colorado
Light of the World is a Roman Catholic parish in southwest Littleton, Colorado, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1979, the parish serves roughly 3,000 families from the Southwest Metro area, including Littleton, Morrison and Lakewood. Its mission is 'forming disciples to live and share the abundant life of Christ,' and its campus includes a sanctuary built in the 2010s, a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, the Julia Greeley Outreach Center (with food pantry and BakPak weekend-meals program), and a Christ-centered preschool. The parish is led by Fr. Gregg Pedersen, pastor, with Fr. Anthony Phan serving as parochial vicar.
- Established
- 1979
- Rector
- Father Gregg Pedersen
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Light of the World is a large, growing parish of about 3,000 families that takes seriously its call to form disciples — pastor Fr. Gregg Pedersen and his team describe their work as 'forming disciples to live and share the abundant life of Christ.' Members can worship at five Sunday Masses plus daily Mass, spend time in a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open around the clock, raise children in faith through the parish preschool (est. 2001), youth programs (LUX Mundi / EDGE / LifeNights), adult faith formation and OCIA, and put faith into action through the Julia Greeley Outreach Center food pantry, BakPak weekend meals for children, St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands and the Sunday Lunch Bunch — making it a parish where the Sunday Mass connects directly to ongoing formation, prayer and service.
Mass times at Light of the World
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays — 4:15 – 5:30 pm
- Thursdays — 7:00 – 8:00 am
- Saturdays — 3:00 – 4:00 pm
- By appointment with Fr. Gregg or Fr. Anthony
- Lenten Penance Service — 10 priests available for confessions (e.g. March 19, 4:00–6:30 pm)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel in the narthex — open 24/7; parishioners may sign up for a weekly holy hour in the morning (6:00 am–noon), afternoon (noon–6:00 pm), evening (6:00 pm–midnight), or night (midnight–6:00 am) blocks
Welcome & Parish Identity
Light of the World describes itself as 'forming disciples to live and share the abundant life of Christ,' and welcomes both lifelong Catholics and newcomers. The pastor's welcome page invites visitors to register through the parish office and points them to the parish's four pillars of parish life. Newcomers are encouraged to contact Joanne Lafond at 303-973-3969 or [email protected].
- Mission: forming disciples to live and share the abundant life of Christ
- Register by contacting Joanne Lafond in the parish office
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–5:00 pm (closed Mondays)
History of Light of the World
The parish was established in 1979 in southwest Littleton, originally envisioned for about 700 families. By 2014 it had grown to roughly 3,000 families. For most of its history it worshipped in a multi-purpose room with removable chairs; in January 2014 it broke ground on a permanent sanctuary that was completed later that year as part of a roughly $6 million capital campaign. The expansion nearly doubled worship capacity to about 1,300 and added state-of-the-art acoustics and A/V. The church building itself is attributed to the architectural firm Hoover Berg Desmond (1985 per Getty CONA).
- Founded 1979 in southwest Littleton
- 2014 permanent sanctuary built (~1,300 seats)
- Roughly $6 million capital campaign
- Congregation grew from ~700 envisioned families to ~3,000 families
- Original multi-purpose room converted to an 800-seat event space
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Fr. Gregg Pedersen, with Fr. Anthony Phan serving as parochial vicar. Four deacons share liturgical and pastoral duties: Deacon Jesse Taitano (Director of Marriage & Liturgy), Deacon Joe Donohoe, Deacon Rick Montagne, and retired Deacon Mark Wolbach. A full lay staff supports worship, formation, communications, evangelization and operations.
- Father Gregg Pedersen — Pastor
- Father Anthony Phan — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jesse Taitano — Director of Marriage & Liturgy
- Deacon Joe Donohoe
- Deacon Rick Montagne
- Deacon Mark Wolbach — Retired Deacon
- Joanne Lafond — Office Administrative Assistant (registration)
- Gayle LaFonte — Faith Formation Assistant
- Bridget Rincon — Director of Family Ministry
- Maura McCarrick — Ministry Leader of Teen Discipleship
- Rachel Carlson — Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation
- Rachel Daugherty — Director of Discipleship
- Eric Robinson — Director of Evangelization
- Laura Maclean — Director of Music Ministry
- Justin Herrera — Audio/Visual Manager
- Kevin Westlake — Director of Facilities
- Henry Johnson — Facilities Assistant
- Lisa Morris — Food Outreach Coordinator
- Judy Zetah — Business Administrator
- Katie Brown — Business Operations Assistant
- Sarah Corsi — Director of Communications
- Mia Gallegos — Communications Specialist
- Jenn Majewski — Pastor Assistant
Devotions & Prayer
In addition to daily Mass and perpetual adoration, the parish gathers for several devotional practices throughout the week, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet in church on Tuesdays and Thursdays (and on Zoom at 3:00 pm on weekdays), a Communion of Saints Rosary after the 8:30 am Mass on the 1st and 3rd Fridays, and a Charismatic Prayer Ministry.
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Tue/Thu in church; weekdays 3:00 pm on Zoom
- Communion of Saints Rosary — after 8:30 am Mass on 1st and 3rd Fridays
- Charismatic Prayer Ministry
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith formation at Light of the World is built on four pillars — Word, Worship, Community and Mission — and spans cradle to adult. Children begin with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (PreK/K), continue through Elementary Faith Formation (Grades 1–5), and join the parish's youth ministry in middle school. A parallel track called 'Becoming Catholic' introduces adults to the faith through OCIA (formerly RCIA), and 'Seeker Sunday School' offers short three-week topical series for the curious and returning. Adult formation also includes Small Faith Study Groups meeting across the parish.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Pre-K/K)
- Elementary Faith Formation (Grades 1–5)
- Middle School EDGE (Wed 7:00–8:30 pm)
- High School LifeNights / LUX Mundi (Sun 7:00–8:30 pm)
- OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Seeker Sunday School (Sundays 8:00–9:15 am in Holy Family Center)
- Small Faith Study Groups
- LOTW Spring Small Groups
Light of the World School
Founded in 2001 and housed on the parish campus, Light of the World School is a Christ-centered preschool for children ages 2 through Transitional Kindergarten. The Bible-based curriculum integrates Spanish, Rhythm/Worship/Sign Language, Bible-based Science and Art, and a Chapel program built around the Fruits of the Spirit. Teachers maintain low staff-to-child ratios and complete at least 24 hours of professional growth per year.
- Established 2001
- Ages 2 through Transitional Kindergarten
- Co-curriculum: Spanish, Rhythm–Worship–Sign Language, Bible-based Science and Art, Chapel
- Chapel curriculum based on the Fruits of the Spirit
- Low staff-to-child ratios
- Web: lotwschool.com
Music & Liturgical Arts
The Music Ministry, led by Director of Music Ministry Laura Maclean, supports both contemporary and traditional worship. The 2014 sanctuary was specifically designed to host both at once — a contemporary music group on one side and a full traditional ensemble (piano, organ, choir, soloists, strings, winds, brass) on the other — with a fully matrixed speaker system and personal-device monitor mixing for musicians.
- Director of Music Ministry: Laura Maclean
- Contemporary music group with personal-device monitor mixing
- Traditional choir, soloists, strings, winds, piano, organ, brass
- Audio/Visual Manager: Justin Herrera
Outreach & Charity — Julia Greeley Outreach Center
Named for Servant of God Julia Greeley, the parish's outreach center hosts the Food Pantry and the BakPak program. The Food Pantry distributes food donated by parishioners to neighbors in need across the area, while BakPak nourishes children in southwest JeffCo with weekend meals throughout the school year. Other outreach efforts include a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, Helping Hands for seniors and those with special needs, and the Sunday Lunch Bunch which packs lunches for the homeless in Denver.
- Julia Greeley Outreach Center (named for Servant of God Julia Greeley)
- Food Pantry — Tue/Wed/Fri 9:00–11:00 am; Tue 4:30–6:30 pm
- BakPak Food Program (weekend meals for children)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society ([email protected] / 303-973-2556)
- Helping Hands (seniors and special-needs assistance)
- Sunday Lunch Bunch (Denver homeless)
- Missional Communities
Inquirers & New Catholics
Adults curious about Catholicism or returning after time away have several entry points: 'Inquire by the Fire' meets Tuesday nights at 7 pm for non-Catholics and fallen-away Catholics; OCIA walks adults through full initiation into the Church; and 'Seeker Sunday School' offers shorter topical Sunday-morning series. Small Faith Study Groups meet year-round for ongoing formation and fellowship.
- Inquire by the Fire — Tuesdays at 7 pm
- OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Seeker Sunday School — 3-week Sunday morning series
- Small Faith Study Groups
Facilities & Campus
The Light of the World campus at 10316 W. Bowles Ave. includes the permanent sanctuary (completed 2014, ~1,300 seats), an 800-seat multi-purpose room used for movies, concerts, retreats and special events, the Perpetual Adoration Chapel in the narthex, the Holy Family Center (used for Seeker Sunday School and meetings), Light of the World School, and the Julia Greeley Outreach Center. The grounds also include a Rosary Garden maintained by the Rosary Garden Guild.
- Sanctuary (2014, ~1,300 seats)
- 800-seat multi-purpose room
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel in the narthex
- Holy Family Center
- Light of the World School
- Julia Greeley Outreach Center
- Rosary Garden
Getting Involved & Volunteering
The parish encourages all members to find a place in its ministry life — from Clean Team (worship-space care after Wednesday Mass) and the Rosary Garden Guild to liturgical ministries, youth ministry, outreach programs and small groups. Each ministry has a listed contact person with phone or email so newcomers can plug in directly.
- Clean Team — Wednesdays after daily Mass
- Rosary Garden Guild — Wednesday mornings
- Liturgical ministries (ushers, lectors, EMHCs, altar servers)
- Youth ministry volunteers (EDGE, LifeNights, LUX Mundi)
- Outreach and food-pantry volunteers
- Perpetual Adoration holy-hour commitments
Contact & Location
The parish office is at 10316 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 80127 (phone 303-973-3969; fax 303-973-2122). Regular office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–5:00 pm (closed Mondays). Mass requests, registrations and general inquiries can be made through the office.
- Address: 10316 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 80127
- Phone: 303-973-3969
- Fax: 303-973-2122
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–5:00 pm (closed Mondays)
- Web: lotw.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Michael Pavlakovichat least 2006–2014
Head pastor when the permanent sanctuary campaign began; quoted in the 2014 Denver Post article on the construction of the new sanctuary.