About Our Lady of the Plains · Byers, Colorado
Our Lady of the Plains is a Roman Catholic parish in the small plains community of Byers, Colorado, about 50 miles east of Denver. Founded in 1972, it belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and serves Catholics across the rural eastern plains with Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish is pastored by Rev. Jeffrey Wilborn, whose ministry is supported by active lay liturgical teams, an Altar & Rosary Society, the Knights of Columbus, and a Totus Tuus summer faith formation program.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Plains (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of the Plains; the parish also honors Our Lady of Fatima through its pilgrim statue)
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey Wilborn
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Plains offers a close-knit Catholic community on Colorado's eastern plains where parishioners can worship in both English and Spanish, with daily weekday Masses, two Sunday Masses (including one in Spanish), Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust confession schedule. Families are supported through the Archdiocese of Denver's Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation, a parish Religious Education program, the Totus Tuus summer catechetical mission, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, and Anointing of the Sick. Opportunities to serve are plentiful through liturgical ministries (lectors, EMHCs, altar servers, ushers, greeters, and music ministry), the long-standing Altar & Rosary Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the parish's annual Fatima Rosary Rally.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Plains
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Sunday: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
- Friday: 7:15 AM – 8:15 AM
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 7:15 AM – 8:20 AM (Mass to follow)
- Friday: 8:00 PM – 11:55 PM (First Fridays)
Our Story & History
Our Lady of the Plains was founded in 1972 to serve the Catholic faithful of Byers and the surrounding plains east of Denver, within the Archdiocese of Denver. The parish grew into a regional home for English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, with daily weekday Masses and a long-running Altar & Rosary Society that has organized seasonal bazaars, funeral dinners, and Christmas Toy Shops for more than 40 years. In 2022, the parish began gathering photographs and memories from parishioners in preparation for its 50th Anniversary.
- Founded 1972
- 50th Anniversary being prepared (2022)
- Long-running Altar & Rosary Society (40+ years)
Parish Leadership & Clergy
Our Lady of the Plains is pastored by Rev. Jeffrey Wilborn, who was assigned as the parish's pastor effective July 1, 2022 in the Archdiocese of Denver's official priest appointments. Fr. Wilborn was baptized a Catholic at the Easter Vigil in 1991, ordained a transitional deacon in Rome by then-Cardinal Ratzinger on October 7, 1999 (feast of Our Lady of the Rosary), and ordained to the priesthood on July 1, 2000 (feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary). He personally celebrates the parish's Sunday Spanish Mass and is the contact for Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, and other sacramental needs.
- Rev. Jeffrey Wilborn – Pastor (since July 1, 2022)
- Rev. John Green – former pastor (blessed the Fatima statue in 2018)
- Contact: [email protected] • 303-822-5880
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's faith formation follows the Archdiocese of Denver's 'Restored Order' of the Sacraments of Initiation: children make their first confession around second or third grade (the traditional age of reason) and receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion together in third grade. Preparation for these sacraments takes place during Sunday catechism classes (Kid's Religious Education). The parish also runs RCIA for adults and RCIC for older children, a Middle and High School Youth Group, and hosts the Totus Tuus summer catechetical mission each July, with separate K–6 and Middle/High School tracks. Online formation is supported through FORMED.
- Kid's Religious Education (Sunday catechism)
- RCIA / RCIC for adults and older children
- Totus Tuus summer mission (K–6 day; Middle/High School evenings)
- High School & Middle School Youth Group
- Faith Formation Talks – Mondays & Thursdays, 7:30 PM
- FORMED pick of the week online content
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments with a particular focus on initiation under the Restored Order. Parents seeking Baptism and families seeking Confirmation and First Communion register through Fr. Jeffrey Wilborn, with older children and adults directed into the parish Religious Education program or RCIA/RCIC before entering the sacraments. The Anointing of the Sick is administered upon request to those who are gravely ill or facing serious operations.
- Baptism – contact Fr. Wilborn
- Confirmation & First Eucharist – 3rd grade (Restored Order)
- First Reconciliation – 2nd or 3rd grade
- Anointing of the Sick – by request
- RCIA for adults; RCIC for older children
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to serve in the liturgical life of the parish through a variety of commissioned and volunteer roles. Lectors proclaim God's Word and lead the Prayer of the Faithful, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) are specially commissioned by the Archdiocese of Denver to assist with the Eucharist and care of sacred vessels, and the Music Ministry provides choral and instrumental support at Mass. Ushers and greeters offer hospitality and help keep the congregation safe, while altar servers (youth in fourth grade and above who have received First Communion) assist at the altar.
- Lector
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Music Ministry
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Altar Servers (4th grade+ who have received First Communion)
Parish Societies & Service Organizations
Lay organizations form the backbone of parish life at Our Lady of the Plains. The women of the Altar & Rosary Society have been gathering for more than 40 years to promote the spiritual and social welfare of members through prayer and works of charity. The parish is also served by a Knights of Columbus council.
- Altar & Rosary Society – meets first Sunday of the month at 10:30 AM
- Knights of Columbus
- Annual Country Market & Bake Sale (October)
- Christmas Toy Shop (first week of December)
- Advent Craft and Bake Sale
- Lenten Soup Suppers
- Palm Sunday Craft and Bake Sale
- Funeral dinners
- Back-to-School Shop
- Receptions for First Communion and Confirmation
Our Lady of Fatima Statue & Rosary Rally
In May 2018, the Altar & Rosary Society presented the parish with a pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by then-Pastor Father John Green on Mother's Day. The statue travels to parishioners' homes as a reminder to pray daily, and at least a half dozen families have welcomed it since its introduction. Since 2015, the parish has also hosted an annual Rosary Rally each October on the Saturday closest to October 13, joining thousands of other rallies across America through America Needs Fatima. The rally includes a procession, song, the Angelus, intentions, the Holy Rosary, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Divine Praises, and a prayer of consecration.
- Our Lady of Fatima pilgrim statue – blessed May 13, 2018
- Annual Rosary Rally since 2015 (in union with America Needs Fatima)
- Rally held at noon on the Saturday in October closest to October 13
- Includes procession, Rosary, Litany, and Consecration prayer
Location & Contact
The parish office is located at 186 N. McDonnell Street, Byers, Colorado 80103, while the church building is at 193 W. Bijou Avenue, Byers, CO 80103. The parish can be reached by phone at (303) 822-5880 or by email at [email protected].
- Parish office: 186 N. McDonnell Street, Byers, CO 80103
- Church: 193 W. Bijou Ave., Byers, CO 80103
- Phone: (303) 822-5880
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ourladyoftheplains.org/
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Denver
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Greenthrough at least 2018
Blessed the Our Lady of Fatima pilgrim statue on Mother's Day, May 13, 2018.
- Rev. Jeffrey Wilbornappointed effective July 1, 2022
Assigned as Pastor of Our Lady of the Plains, Byers in the Archdiocese of Denver's 2022 priest appointments; continues to celebrate the parish's Sunday Spanish Masses.