About Our Lady of the Woods (see also Saint Peter Chapel) · Woodland Park, Colorado
Our Lady of the Woods is a Roman Catholic parish serving Teller County, Colorado, with two worship sites: Our Lady of the Woods Church in Woodland Park and Saint Peter Chapel in Cripple Creek. The parish is part of the Diocese of Colorado Springs and treasures family, fellowship, and faith community while working in the name of Jesus for the needs of the Church and Teller County. It offers weekend and weekday Masses, a robust sacramental and faith-formation program for children and adults, Holy Hours with Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of lay ministries. The parish community is led by Father Chance Billmeyer and a team of deacons and lay leaders.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Woods (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Chance Billmeyer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Woods offers the rare combination of a small-town mountain parish and a full sacramental life: weekend Masses at both the Woodland Park church and the historic Saint Peter Chapel in Cripple Creek, daily Mass four days a week, two weekly Holy Hours with Eucharistic Adoration, and regular opportunities for Confession. Families are supported through Family Faith Formation, Middle School Faith Formation, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the parish's youngest learners, while adults grow through OCIA, Bible Studies offered by Father Chance during Advent and Lent, and the Rosary Prayer Ministry. The parish is deeply woven into the life of Woodland Park and Teller County — sponsoring the Blue Mass for police, fire, and first responders, taking part in the Woodland Park Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, and supporting ministries such as the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Woods (see also Saint Peter Chapel)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Our Lady of the Woods – Wednesdays 5:00–5:45 PM (during Holy Hour, 4:30–5:45 PM)
- Our Lady of the Woods – Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM
- St. Peter Chapel – Sundays after Mass
- Communal Reconciliation twice a year during Advent and Lent; appointments with Father Chance available
Adoration times
- Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration – Wednesdays 5:00 PM (to 6:00 PM, followed by 6:00 PM Mass)
- Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration – Fridays 9:30–10:00 AM (after the 9:00 AM Mass)
About Our Lady of the Woods Parish
Our Lady of the Woods Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Colorado Springs that serves all of Teller County through two worship sites: Our Lady of the Woods Church in Woodland Park and Saint Peter Chapel in Cripple Creek. The parish mission statement emphasizes treasuring family, fellowship, and faith community while working in the name of Jesus for the needs of the Church and Teller County. Father Chance Billmeyer serves as pastor, supported by deacons, the parish office staff, and a robust network of lay-led ministries.
History of the Teller County Catholic Community
The parish community began in July 1954 with Father Michael Kavanagh, who celebrated Mass in various homes and locations before the church was built in 1955. The rectory was completed in 1967.
- July 1954 — Parish founded under Fr. Michael Kavanagh
- 1955 — Church built in Woodland Park
- 1967 — Rectory completed
- 1892 — Archbishop N.C. Matz sends Fr. T. Volpe as Cripple Creek's first resident priest
- 1897 — Foundation stone laid for the Cripple Creek church
- 1901 — Sisters of Mercy open a Catholic school adjacent to the Cripple Creek church
Worship Sites
The parish operates two churches that together serve the Catholics of Teller County.
- Our Lady of the Woods Church — 220 S West Street, Woodland Park, CO 80863 (mailing: PO Box 5590, Woodland Park, CO 80866)
- Saint Peter Chapel — 316 N 3rd Avenue, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 (mail sent to Our Lady of the Woods PO Box)
Clergy and Staff
Parish life is shepherded by Father Chance Billmeyer and assisted by deacons and lay staff.
- Father Chance Billmeyer — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Dave Illingsworth
- Ellen DePatie — Faith Formation
- John Silvia — OCIA Director ([email protected])
- Helga Treichel — Family Faith Formation contact
- Renee Yeardley — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Lety Mora — Rosary Prayer Ministry (St. Peter Chapel)
- Ken Brown — Liturgy Committee contact
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of the Woods offers a layered formation program for children and adults, with catechists and directors forming young disciples and welcoming inquirers into the Catholic faith.
- Family Faith Formation — Pre-K through 5th grade; meets first and third Sundays, 10:00–11:30 AM in the Parish Center (September–April)
- Middle School Faith Formation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Montessori-based religious formation for young learners (Sacred Scripture, liturgy, respect for the child)
- Confirmation Preparation — offered to 7th-grade youth
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (year-round)
- Bible Study — Advent and Lent courses with Father Chance; ongoing studies for K–8 children through the Faith Formation Director
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at the parish, with preparation programs for children, adults, couples, and the sick. Sacramental emergencies are handled 24/7 by calling 719-687-0893.
- Baptism — contact the parish office for preparation
- Confirmation — Sacramental Preparation for 7th graders
- Eucharist — First Communion through Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — weekly schedule plus Advent & Lent communal services; individual appointments with Father Chance available
- Matrimony — contact Father Chance at [email protected] or 719-687-9345
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office before surgery or when seriously ill
- Holy Orders and Funeral Liturgies also coordinated through the parish office
Parish Ministries & Service
The parish encourages parishioners to live out the Gospel through service, leadership, and prayer ministries. The Pastoral Council helps coordinate parish-wide events such as the Corpus Christi Procession and Celebration, the Parish Picnic, the Blue Mass for police, fire, and first responders, the Woodland Park Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, and the annual OLW dinner.
- Altar Servers
- Rosary Prayer Ministry (leads the Rosary before Saturday Vigil and each Sunday Mass)
- Bible Study
- Liturgy Committee (plans Holy Week, Advent, Christmas, Corpus Christi, May Crowning, Pentecost)
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Knights of Columbus Council 625
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Teller Court
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to contact the parish office for sacramental needs, Mass intentions, Faith Formation, OCIA, or general questions. Office hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, and Wednesday 12:00–5:00 PM (closed Monday).
- Parish Office Phone: 719-687-9345
- Email: [email protected]
- Sacramental Emergencies: 719-687-0893
- Mailing Address: PO Box 5590, Woodland Park, CO 80866
- Diocese of Colorado Springs: 228 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (diocs.org, 719-636-2345)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Kavanagh1954-
Founded the parish community in July 1954; celebrated Mass in various homes and locations before the church was built in 1955.