About Sacred Heart · Durango, Colorado
Sacred Heart Church is a bilingual Catholic parish in Durango, Colorado, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo. Founded in 1906 by the Theatine Fathers (Order of Clerics Regular) to serve the Italian and Hispanic Catholic families of South Durango, it remains a community centered on the Eucharist and devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today the parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation weekly, and supports faith formation, youth ministry, and liturgical ministries for parishioners of every background.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Heriberto Torres, C.R.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a small, bilingual parish where the community genuinely centers itself on the Eucharist — daily noon Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday, and Eucharistic Adoration with Confession is held every Wednesday evening. Worship is offered in English and Spanish, with a Sunday 9:00 a.m. English Mass and a 1:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish, making it a natural spiritual home for Hispanic Catholic families and English-speaking parishioners alike. With active faith formation, youth ministry, a music ministry, Extraordinary Ministers, lectors, altar servers, and ushers, it is a parish where new members can easily get involved and be welcomed.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (during Adoration, except First Friday)
- 1 hour before scheduled Mass times
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (except First Friday)
- First Friday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (replaces Wednesday Adoration)
Welcome to Sacred Heart Parish
The parish opens its doors with a simple invitation: 'If you are new, please complete registration form.' The community describes itself as centered in the celebration of the Eucharist and following the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit — a people of diverse needs and gifts who are part of the Body of Christ, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo, and the city of Durango.
- Parish registration available for new members
- Weekly bulletin published online
- Online giving available through the parish website
Parish Staff & Contacts
Parish operations are supported by a small, dedicated staff. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The parish mailing address and contact details are listed in full on the website.
- Pastor: Fr. Heriberto Torres, C.R.
- Secretary: Kathy Huber — (970) 247-3997 — [email protected]
- Assistant: Theresa Waters
- Minister Scheduling / DRE: Raquel Sutherlin — (970) 759-0505 — [email protected]
- Youth Ministry: Alan & Gail Bedell — (970) 749-1869 — [email protected]
Liturgy & Music
The parish maintains an active liturgical ministry coordinated through Ministry Scheduler Pro. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Lectors, and Ushers sign up for Masses online, and the Music ministry is led by Carol Thurman.
- Music Director: Carol Thurman — (970) 759-2366
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Minister Scheduler Pro online sign-up
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious Education and Youth Ministry are central parish ministries. The Director of Religious Education coordinates faith formation for parish families, and the Youth Ministry team leads programming for the parish's young people.
- DRE / Minister Scheduling: Raquel Sutherlin
- Youth Ministry leaders: Alan & Gail Bedell
- Youth Ministry contact: [email protected]
Bulletins & Online Giving
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin through its website and offers online giving for parishioners and visitors who wish to support the parish financially.
- Weekly Sacred Heart bulletins posted online
- Online giving link available from the parish homepage
History & Heritage
Sacred Heart was founded in 1906 when Bishop Nicolas Matz invited the Theatine Fathers (Order of Clerics Regular) to minister to the Italian and Hispanic Catholic families of South Durango. The first Masses were said in a converted schoolhouse, and the parish quickly became the Theatine order's base for missionary work across the San Juan Mountains, with priests riding on horseback to missions at Ignacio, Allison, Hesperus, La Posta, Tiffany, and Marvel. The Theatine presence they established grew to encompass St. Cajetan's in Denver (1920) and parishes in the San Luis Valley, Antonito, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. In November 2006, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar entered the Theatine centennial into the Congressional Record, citing Sacred Heart Parish in Durango as the foundation of the order's century of ministry in Colorado.
- Founded 1906 by the Theatine Fathers (C.R.)
- Founding pastors: Rev. John Licciotti and Rev. Francisco Maria Blasquez Gomez
- First church: a former schoolhouse purchased and converted
- Mother parish for Theatine missions across the San Juan region
- 2006 Theatine centennial recognized in U.S. Congressional Record