About Our Lady of the Valley · Windsor, Colorado
Our Lady of the Valley is a Roman Catholic parish in Windsor, Colorado, in the Archdiocese of Denver. Established as a parish in 1973 and rooted in a small community that gathered for Mass in homes, store fronts, and rented halls as far back as the 1960s, OLV now serves more than 2,000 families from its campus at 7th Street and Eastman Park Drive. The parish offers weekend and daily Mass, a robust confession schedule, OCIA (formerly RCIA), youth ministry for middle and high school students, religious education, small groups, and marriage and family life programs. Its current pastor, Fr. Samuel Morehead, was installed in 2025 and also oversees the parish's mission of St. Mary's Church in Ault.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Valley (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title 'Our Lady of the Valley')
- Rector
- Fr. Samuel Morehead
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Valley is a growing, multigenerational parish where families, singles, and young adults find a place to belong in northern Colorado. With more than 2,000 families, OLV offers the full sacramental life — weekday and weekend Mass, daily confession, OCIA, baptism and marriage preparation, and a healing ministry — alongside small groups, men's and women's ministries, marriage and family life programs, and a thriving youth ministry for middle and high school students. Music ministry, a parish missionary for men, KidZone childcare, religious education, and outreach round out a parish that centers itself on the heart of Christ and helping neighbors grow closer to God.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Valley
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Sunday 4:00 pm – 4:50 pm
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 8:50 am
Our Story & History
Our Lady of the Valley traces its roots to the 1960s, when visiting priests from Greeley and the Victory Knoll Sisters began ministering to Catholic families in the 100 block of Chestnut in Windsor. Worship moved through homes, rented halls at St. Albans Episcopal Church, the upstairs rooms above Camelot Cleaners on Main Street, a Storefront Church, and a former Baptist building at 129 Walnut St., before the parish broke ground at its present 7th Street and Eastman Park Drive campus in November 1999. Archbishop Charles Chaput dedicated the new multipurpose building in January 2001; the church addition was completed in 2011 and Archbishop Aquila blessed the Evangelization Expansion (classrooms, parish hall, and chapel) in 2018. The parish was officially recognized by the Archdiocese of Denver in March 1973 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, growing from fewer than 100 families in the 1970s to more than 2,000 families today.
- 1960s – Visiting priests from Our Lady of Peace (Greeley) celebrate Mass in Catholic homes on Chestnut Street; Victory Knoll Sisters teach Catechism to local families.
- 1969 – Fr. Kenneth Erin of St. Joseph's (Ft. Collins) begins monthly Adult Education classes at St. Albans Episcopal Church.
- May 1973 – Parishioners vote the name 'Our Lady of the Valley'; March 1973 the parish is officially recognized by the Archdiocese of Denver.
- February 1975 – Archdiocese approves purchase of the Storefront Church on Main Street.
- July 1979 – Parish purchases former Baptist building at 129 Walnut St. from Terry Bird (home for 21 years).
- November 1999 – Ground broken at 7th Street and Eastman Park Drive.
- December 2, 2000 – First Mass in the new multipurpose building.
- January 28, 2001 – Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrates dedication Mass.
- 2011 – Church addition completed.
- 2017 – Construction begins on Evangelization Expansion.
- 2018 – Archbishop Aquila dedicates the completed Evangelization Expansion.
Worship & Sacraments
Weekend Mass is offered Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 5:00 pm, with daily Mass Monday through Friday at 9:00 am. Confession is generously available Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm, Sunday 4:00–4:50 pm, and Monday through Friday 8:00–8:50 am. The parish also prepares Catholics for the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage (with preparation classes and an Annulment Advocate on staff) and offers a healing ministry for those seeking the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
- Saturday Vigil Mass – 4:00 pm
- Sunday Masses – 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 5:00 pm
- Daily Mass – Monday through Friday 9:00 am
- Confession – Sat 3:00–4:00 pm; Sun 4:00–4:50 pm; Mon–Fri 8:00–8:50 am
- Baptism Preparation and Baptism
- Marriage Preparation and Marriage
- Healing Ministry / Anointing of the Sick
Clergy & Staff
Our Lady of the Valley is currently served by Fr. Samuel Morehead as Pastor (installed in 2025) and Fr. Michael Tran as Parochial Vicar. Deacon Mark Ramirez assists at the parish. The broader staff includes Ryan Long as Director of Adult Faith Formation, Ryan Ward as Director of Youth Evangelization and Discipleship, Karen as Director of Marriage & Family Life, Mark Ramirez as Business Manager, Laura as Facilities Director, Jen Dubbert in the parish office, and Ryan & Cathy as Music Directors (serving OLV since 2014).
- Fr. Samuel Morehead – Pastor (installed 2025); also pastor of mission St. Mary's, Ault; native of northern Colorado; ordained 2012; previously Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
- Fr. Michael Tran – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Mark Ramirez
- Ryan Long – Director of Adult Faith Formation (joined staff August 2023); M.A. Theology, Augustine Institute
- Ryan Ward – Director of Youth Evangelization and Discipleship; runs middle school, high school, and OCIT programs
- Karen – Director of Marriage & Family Life
- Mark Ramirez – Business Manager
- Laura – Facilities Director
- Jen Dubbert – Office Manager / Annulment Advocate
- Ryan & Cathy – Music Ministry Directors (since 2014)
Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments are welcomed into OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), offered year-round on Tuesday evenings at no cost. Director of Adult Faith Formation Ryan Long coordinates classes, small groups, and the parish's roughly 22 adult formation offerings each semester, drawing on his master's in theology from the Augustine Institute. Children's religious education and a progressive year-to-year curriculum round out parish formation.
- OCIA / RCIA – Tuesday evenings, year round, free of charge; contact Ryan Long
- Adult Faith Formation classes and small groups
- Children's Religious Education (progressive year-to-year curriculum)
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Youth & Family
Director of Youth Evangelization and Discipleship Ryan Ward runs OLV's middle school and high school youth ministry, as well as the OCIT teenage Sacrament class. The youth program emphasizes fellowship, prayer, formation, and community, communicating with families through Flocknotes (text OLOV to 84576). KidZone provides childcare during parish events, and the Marriage & Family Life ministry (under Karen) supports families at every stage.
- High School Youth Ministry – weekly fellowship and faith formation
- Middle School Youth Ministry – weekly formation, prayer, games, and snacks
- OCIT teen Sacrament class
- Flocknotes for parents and teens (text OLOV to 84576)
- KidZone childcare during parish events
- Marriage & Family Life ministry
Music, Outreach, and Parish Life
OLV's Music Ministry is led by Ryan and Cathy, who have directed music at the parish since 2014 and have been involved in parish music for more than 20 years each. The parish also fields a Parish Missionary for Men, a Parish Outreach ministry, and an active healing ministry (the 'I Want Healing' track). Small groups, launched in a refreshed format in 2014, remain a primary vehicle for evangelization and adult formation.
- Music Ministry – Ryan & Cathy, Music Directors since 2014
- Parish Missionary for Men
- Parish Outreach
- Healing Ministry
- Small Groups (relaunched 2014; ~22 adult offerings each fall semester)
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers are invited to register as parishioners through the parish website, join a small group, or sign up for Flocknotes to stay informed. The parish office can be reached at (970) 686-5084 or [email protected], and individual staff members are available by email — including Fr. Morehead at [email protected], Adult Faith Formation at [email protected], and Youth Ministry at [email protected].
- Parish Registration via ourladyofthevalley.net
- Phone: (970) 686-5084
- General office email: [email protected]
- Pastor: [email protected]
- Adult Faith Formation: [email protected]
- Youth Ministry: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Tom McCormickNovember 1972 –
First acting pastor when the Windsor church became a mission of St. Peter's in Greeley
- Fr. Stephen AdamsJune 1990 – December 2001
Pastored OLV through its move to the new 7th Street / Eastman Park Drive campus and the 2001 dedication by Archbishop Chaput
- Fr. James– 2013
Preceded Fr. Gregg Pedersen
- Fr. Gregg Pedersen2013 – 2025
Launched small groups (2014) and Capital Campaign (2015); oversaw Evangelization Expansion (2017–2018); led the parish's 50th anniversary in 2023
- Fr. Samuel Morehead2025 – present
Installed as pastor of Our Lady of the Valley with its mission of St. Mary's Church in Ault; previously Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception