About Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (Part of Sacred Heart Parish) · Manitou Springs, Colorado
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (OLPH) is a small, historic mission church at 218 Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and one of three worship sites belonging to Sacred Heart Parish in Old Colorado City. It is the oldest Catholic church in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, with its roots in a parish first established in old Colorado City in 1860 to serve the area's earliest settlers. Today the chapel is served by the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross and offers a single Sunday evening Mass in its century-old chapel that still draws long-time locals, mountain neighbors from as far away as Lake George, and seasonal visitors to Manitou Springs.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Rev. Jarrod M. Waugh, C.S.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help offers something rare in the Pikes Peak region: a single Sunday evening Mass in a small, historic chapel where neighbors, mountain commuters from places like Lake George, and seasonal visitors to Manitou Springs worship side by side. As a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, it is served by the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross and connects parishioners to the wider parish community — including faith formation for children through Confirmation, youth ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), music ministry, and pastoral care for the sick and homebound — while keeping the intimate feel of a country chapel.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (Part of Sacred Heart Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confessions are heard at Sacred Heart Church (not at OLPH): Thursday 5:30–6:30 pm and Saturday 9:00–10:00 am, or by appointment through the Parish Office (719-633-8711).
Adoration times
- Adoration is held at Sacred Heart Church: Thursday 5:30–6:30 pm and Saturday after the 8:00 am Daily Mass.
About Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (OLPH) is one of two mission churches of Sacred Heart Parish in Old Colorado City, the other being Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade. Tucked into the mountain town of Manitou Springs at 218 Ruxton Avenue, OLPH is the oldest Catholic church in the Diocese of Colorado Springs — a fact that surprises many visitors, because its current parish church, Sacred Heart, actually started out as a mission of OLPH in 1888. Today the chapel offers a single Sunday evening Mass at 5:00 pm and draws long-time parishioners from Manitou Springs and from as far away as Lake George, along with seasonal visitors who vacation in the area.
History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The parish was founded in Colorado City in 1860 to minister to the area's first settlers. On July 30, 1882, Bishop Joseph Machebeuf dedicated a Catholic church in Manitou Springs, and on August 1, 1889, the new church built by the Gillis brothers at 218 Ruxton Avenue was dedicated with Fr. Frederick Bender as pastor. In 1903 the church was destroyed by fire and rebuilt within two months; in 1905 Fr. Michael P. Callanan added the Lourdes Grotto. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate took charge in 1926, and since 1984 the Congregation of Holy Cross has served as pastor.
- 1860 — Parish founded in Colorado City for the first settlers
- 1882 — Bishop Joseph Machebeuf dedicates a Catholic church in Manitou Springs
- 1889 — New church at 218 Ruxton Ave. dedicated August 1; Fr. Frederick Bender is pastor
- c. 1893 — Fr. J.B. Francolon becomes pastor and builds Miramont Castle
- August 3, 1903 — Original church destroyed by fire; rebuilt and dedicated by October
- 1905 — Fr. Michael P. Callanan adds the Lourdes Grotto
- 1926 — Oblates of Mary Immaculate assume care of OLPH as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish
- 1931 — Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade added as a third mission
- 1984 — Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) assumes pastoral leadership
The Chapel, the Grotto & Holy Cross Hall
The present chapel dates to 1903, replacing the 1889 building destroyed by fire. A handicap-accessible ramp and deck link the chapel to the newly renovated Holy Cross Hall — the old rectory, now a community gathering space. The Lourdes Grotto, added in 1905, has been recently refurbished and remains a quiet feature of the grounds.
- Handicap-accessible ramp and deck
- Holy Cross Hall — renovated old rectory, used as a community gathering space
- Lourdes Grotto — built 1905 under Fr. Callanan, recently refurbished
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart Parish and its three worship sites are served by an extended staff of priests, deacons, and lay ministers. The priests are members of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.).
- Fr. Jarrod Waugh, C.S.C. — Pastor (x110)
- Fr. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C. — Associate Pastor (x103)
- Deacon Robert Elliott
- Deacon Wally Sandoval
- Deacon Mark Thuli
- Sue Gerlach — Director of Music Ministry / Liturgy Coordinator (x102)
- David Norris — Music Director for Holy Rosary Chapel & Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Timothy Sawyer — Youth Minister (x104)
- Mary Superata — Director of Faith Formation (x105)
- Grace Donnelly — Communications, Volunteer & Safe Environment Coordinator
- Ruth Henley — Parish Receptionist / Front Office
- Jimmy Gibson — Facilities Manager (x111)
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation at Sacred Heart Parish is organized as the whole-community 'Anchored in Faith' program, with classes for children, youth, and adults. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Eucharist happens in 2nd grade, and Confirmation preparation is a one-year process for 8th graders. Adults seeking full initiation enter through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA).
- Children's Faith Formation — Grades K–7, Sundays 10:10–11:25 am
- Sacramental Preparation — Reconciliation (communal service in late January/early February) and First Eucharist (Easter season)
- Confirmation Preparation — 8th grade, one-year process
- Youth Ministry — Grades 9–12
- Adult Faith Formation
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Sundays beginning with the 9 am Mass
Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
The parish organizes a wide range of volunteer opportunities that serve all three worship sites. Liturgical ministries are coordinated parish-wide by Sue Gerlach, and Pastoral Care Ministers bring Holy Communion to the sick and elderly who are homebound.
- Liturgical Ministries (parish-wide)
- Pastoral Care Ministry — Communion to the sick and homebound
- Children's Faith Formation Catechists and Classroom Assistants
- Baptism Preparation Volunteers
- Marriage Preparation / FOCCUS Volunteers
- Confirmation Preparation Volunteers
- OCIA Volunteers
- Youth Ministry Volunteers
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Sacramental Emergency calls are answered at (719) 659-9481.
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Founding parish established in Colorado City (first pastor not named)1860
Our Lady of Perpetual Help founded to minister to the first settlers in the area; oldest Catholic church in the present Diocese of Colorado Springs.
- Bishop Joseph Machebeuf1882
Dedicated a Catholic church in Manitou Springs on July 30, 1882.
- Fr. Frederick Bender1889
Pastor at the August 1, 1889 dedication of the new church built by the Gillis brothers at 218 Ruxton Ave.; small rectory built the same year.
- Fr. J.B. Francolonc. 1893
Became pastor four years after the 1889 dedication; credited with building Miramont Castle.
- Fr. Michael P. Callanan1905
Added the Lourdes Grotto on the property two years after the 1903 fire destroyed the original church.
- Oblates of Mary Immaculate1926
Took charge of Our Lady of Perpetual Help as a mission of the expanded Sacred Heart Parish in Old Colorado City.
- Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.)1984–present
Assumed pastoral leadership when the Diocese of Colorado Springs was created; continues to staff the parish and its mission churches today.