About Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne · Anthem, Arizona
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Phoenix serving Anthem, Arizona, about 35 miles north of downtown Phoenix. Established in 2004 as a mission community that began gathering around 2001 under Good Shepherd Mission in nearby New River, the parish has grown to roughly 1,700 registered families and today worships in a newly dedicated church consecrated by Bishop John Dolan on May 13, 2026 (the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima). Named after the canonized French Religious of the Sacred Heart (1769–1852) who pioneered Catholic education on the Missouri frontier, the parish is committed to making disciples, fostering perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and reaching the growing master-planned community of Anthem and the surrounding high-desert region.
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ (1769–1852), French Religious of the Sacred Heart; canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988; patroness of Catholic schools, educators, and Native American rights.
- Rector
- Fr. Francisco 'Bing' Colasito
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is one of the few growing parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix, with roughly 1,700 registered families and a vibrant stewardship model built around four 'seasons' — Giving, Praying, Serving and Forming — supported by nearly fifty parish ministries. The community gathers around an unusually rich liturgical life: four Sunday Masses, daily Mass in a new dedicated Daily Chapel, and a new Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel that ends years of interrupted adoration. Add active choirs, Knights of Columbus council, Women of St. Rose, parish-wide faith formation and youth ministry, an outreach-minded Welcoming Committee, and signature events like Oktoberfest and the Chili & Salsa Competition, and newcomers find it easy to plug in and be known in this master-planned high-desert community north of Phoenix.
Mass times at Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 – 7:25 AM (in the church)
- Wednesday: 5:15 – 5:45 PM
- Saturday: 2:45 – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the new dedicated Perpetual Adoration Chapel (as of the May 2026 church dedication)
History of the Parish
Catholics in Anthem began gathering around 2001 under Good Shepherd Mission in New River before the Diocese of Phoenix formally established Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne as a parish in 2004. The community worshipped in a school gymnasium, a parish office, and finally the multipurpose Spirituality Center that opened in 2010. The new permanent church — construction begun September 1, 2024 — was dedicated by Bishop John Dolan on May 13, 2026 (Feast of Our Lady of Fatima).
- c. 2001 — first gathering in the home of Bob and Alana Bush
- Worship under Good Shepherd Mission, New River
- 2004 — Diocese of Phoenix establishes the parish
- Spirituality Center opens (2010)
- Fr. Francisco 'Bing' Colasito arrives as parochial administrator (2015)
- Spirituality Center mortgage paid off (2021)
- Capital campaign raises $5.2 million toward new church
- Construction begins September 1, 2024 (Adaptive Architects, Christine Naiman)
- Dedication Mass celebrated by Bishop John Dolan — May 13, 2026
Our Patroness — Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ
Born to a wealthy French family in 1769, Rose Philippine Duchesne became a nun in 1788. When the Visitation Order was dispersed during the French Revolution, she turned the convent over to the newly founded Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818 the order sent her and four other nuns to the United States, where she opened a boarding school for daughters of pioneers near St. Louis and launched the first free school west of the Mississippi River. She also founded orphanages and engaged in missionary work among Native Americans. Canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988, she is patroness of Catholic schools, educators, and Native American rights, and is regarded as a saint of perseverance amid adversity — qualities Parish Project Manager Paul Novak says the building campaign reflects. Her feast day is November 18, and a relic of St. Rose is enshrined in the base of the new altar.
- Born 1769 in France
- Entered religious life 1788; joined Society of the Sacred Heart
- Sent to the United States in 1818
- Opened first free school west of the Mississippi
- Missionary work among Native Americans
- Canonized by Pope St. John Paul II (1988)
- Feast day: November 18
- Relic enshrined in the new altar (May 13, 2026)
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
Pastor Fr. Francisco 'Bing' Colasito is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Charles Ouemenga, Priest in Residency Fr. Leonardo 'Joy' Vargas, and Deacon John Mezydlo. Office Administrator Dr. Tom Henrich leads the lay staff; Music and Media is directed by Matt Ficarra. The parish also maintains a Safe Environment Team.
- Fr. Francisco 'Bing' Colasito — Pastor
- Fr. Charles Ouemenga — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Leonardo 'Joy' Vargas — Priest in Residency
- Dcn. John Mezydlo — Deacon
- Dr. Tom Henrich — Office Administrator
- Cheyanne Bosn — Executive Assistant to the Pastor
- Matt Ficarra — Director of Music and Media
- Maria Gonzalez — Accounting Assistant
- Chris Bosn — Youth & Young Adult Minister
- Renee Hunsaker — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Ray Lopez — Maintenance & Custodial
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry is led by Director of Music and Media Matt Ficarra, with two choral ensembles: the St. Rose Choir (parishioners age 15+/9th grade, with instrumentalists) and the Good Shepherd Choir serving Mission of the Good Shepherd. Liturgical ministers (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers) attend ongoing formation, including a recurring Tuesday morning Liturgical Ministry Training.
- St. Rose Choir — weekly 1.5 hr rehearsal + Mass/Holy Day commitment
- Good Shepherd Choir — rehearse 30 minutes before Mass at the Mission
- Liturgical Ministry Training — Tuesdays 8:30–10:00 AM
- Instrumentalists read lead sheets and transpose on the spot
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith Formation is coordinated by Renee Hunsaker and supported by a dedicated formation classroom building on campus. The parish also runs a Youth & Young Adult Ministry under Chris Bosn, plus an annual Vacation Bible School (summer program).
- Religious Education / Faith Formation — Renee Hunsaker, 704-661-3087
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry — Chris Bosn
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Bible Study: 'Not Made by Human Hands' on Our Lady of Guadalupe
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
St. Rose structures community life around four 'seasons of Stewardship': Giving, Praying, Serving, and Forming, with nearly fifty ministry opportunities. Signature socials include the Fall Festival/Oktoberfest and the Chili & Salsa Competition, plus Pancake Breakfasts and Friendship Dinners.
- Welcoming Committee — Paula Brown & Cynthia Follensbee
- Women of St. Rose (~150 women; 1st Thursday 10:00 AM)
- Knights of Columbus Council (2nd Tuesday 6:30 PM at the Enclave)
- Caregiver Support Group
- Fall Festival/Oktoberfest — Jeff & Kristin Smith
- Chili & Salsa Competition — Mark & Lori Reed
Capital Campaign & Building the New Church
The 'Our Faith – Our Future – Our Parish' campaign funded the new permanent church. The parish paid off the Spirituality Center mortgage (over $4 million), purchased the formation classroom building, and raised an additional $5.2 million before construction began. Adaptive Architects (Christine Naiman) designed the new building, which broke ground September 1, 2024 and was dedicated May 13, 2026. Building Fund contributions are restricted to construction.
- Spirituality Center mortgage retired: $4M+
- Formation classroom building acquired
- Additional $5.2M raised prior to groundbreaking
- Adaptive Architects, Inc. (Mesa, AZ) — designer Christine Naiman
- Construction: September 1, 2024 – May 2026
- Parish Project Manager: Paul Novak
- Dedication by Bishop John Dolan — May 13, 2026
Visiting, Mission & Mass Sites
The main parish campus is at 2825 W Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem, AZ 85086. Mass is currently hosted in the St. Rose Spirituality Center (Building B) and is being phased into the newly dedicated church. The parish also operates Mission of the Good Shepherd at 45033 N. 12th Street, New River, AZ 85087, with Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM.
- Parish Office (Building A): 2825 W Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem, AZ 85086
- St. Rose Spirituality Center (Building B): Mass site
- New Permanent Church: dedicated May 13, 2026
- Mission of the Good Shepherd: 45033 N. 12th Street, New River, AZ 85087
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Phone: 623-465-9740; Fax: 623-742-7031
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francisco 'Bing' Colasito2015–present
Arrived as parochial administrator in 2015; led the 'Our Faith – Our Future – Our Parish' capital campaign and the design/build of the new permanent church dedicated May 13, 2026 by Bishop John Dolan.
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