About St. Anne · Pueblo, Colorado
St. Anne Catholic Church is a small parish in the Eastwood Heights neighborhood of Pueblo, Colorado, within the Diocese of Pueblo. It was founded in 1956 as a mission of St. Leander Parish, tended by Benedictine fathers, and housed in a former World War II Army chapel that was physically rolled across the prairie from the airport site to its present home on East 12th Street. The parish mission is centered on common worship, prayer, and mutual Christian care, and it serves its multi-generational Eastwood Heights community through weekday and Sunday Masses, religious education, a youth group, RCIA, and weekly Bingo fundraisers.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary); also celebrated together with St. Joachim
- Rector
- Fr. Leonard Ayuyao, SSS (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
St. Anne is a tight-knit neighborhood parish where the people of Eastwood Heights gather to share faith through common worship and prayer, and to look out for one another in Christian care. It offers daily Mass, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, religious education for children and adults (including RCIA and Adult Confirmation), a Youth Group that participates in diocesan retreats like NET Ministries and the Benedictine College Youth Conference, and community-building traditions like the annual Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim procession and the weekly Saturday Bingo fundraiser. For someone seeking a small, mission-rooted Catholic community in Pueblo's east side, St. Anne welcomes you to come as you are.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
- Wednesday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
- Friday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
Our Story: The Founding of St. Anne Parish
St. Anne Catholic Church was established in 1956 as a mission tended by the Benedictine Fathers of St. Leander's Parish in Pueblo. It was originally named St. Francis Xavier Cabrini and celebrated its first Mass on May 13, 1956. Bishop Joseph Willging formally dedicated the renamed church on July 29, 1956. The unique character of the parish — housed in a building that was moved, not built — has shaped its identity as a community rooted in sacrifice and faith.
- First Mass: May 13, 1956 (Sunday Masses at 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.)
- Original name: St. Francis Xavier Cabrini
- Renamed St. Anne at the request of an anonymous $10,000 donor
- Dedicated by Bishop Joseph Willging on July 29, 1956
- Originally a mission of St. Leander Parish (Benedictine fathers)
A Chapel on Rollers: The Building's Journey
Rather than being newly constructed, the church building is a former World War II U.S. Army chapel that originally stood on a military base east of Pueblo, on land that was being transformed into what is now the Pueblo Memorial Airport. The chapel was jacked up onto rollers and moved slowly across the prairie to Eastwood Heights — fences had to be taken down and put back, and cuts dug into the arroyo banks along the way. Founding parishioner Arthur Cordova remembered the awe of watching the steeple come over the hill, saying it felt 'as if God was bringing the church to us out of nowhere.' The Pueblo Chieftain revisited this story on the parish's 50th anniversary in 2006.
- Original location: WWII-era Army base east of Pueblo
- Method of relocation: mounted on rollers and moved across the prairie
- Quoted source: Pueblo Chieftain, 2006
- Eyewitness: founding parishioner Arthur Cordova
Patron and Feast Day
St. Anne is honored as the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, and is celebrated together with St. Joachim. The universal feast of Saints Joachim and Anne is July 26; the parish celebrates its patron with a special Mass, a blessing of the St. Anne statue, icon and stained glass windows, a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and an icon around the church block, and a parish potluck picnic — in recent years held on the Sunday nearest July 26 (e.g., July 27, 2025 and July 28, 2024).
- Patron: St. Anne (with St. Joachim)
- Universal feast day: July 26
- Parish celebration includes procession of the Blessed Sacrament and potluck picnic
Pastoral & Office Staff
St. Anne is currently led by Fr. Leonard Ayuyao, SSS — a priest of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament who was born in Makati City, Philippines, was ordained in 2017, served as a missionary in Dublin, Ireland, and came to the Diocese of Pueblo in March 2023. He is assisted by Deacon Manny Santistevan (Sacramental Ministries, Religious Education, RCIA and Adult Confirmation). The office staff includes Marianna Sandoval (Office Manager), Angela Aguilera (Receptionist), Terri O'Brien (Religious Education and Music Ministry), and James Pfingston Jr. (Bulletin Editor).
- Pastor: Fr. Leonard Ayuyao, SSS (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Deacon: Manny Santistevan
- Office Manager: Marianna Sandoval
- Receptionist: Angela Aguilera
- Religious Education & Music Ministry: Terri O'Brien
- Bulletin Editor: James Pfingston Jr.
Parish Leadership Through the Years
The parish maintains a public succession of pastors that runs from its founding Benedictine priest (Fr. Edward J. Vollmer, OSB, 1956) through the present day. Diocesan priests, religious-order priests and Benedictines have all served here, sometimes with sisters assisting as pastoral associates and priests in residence.
- 1956: Edward J. Vollmer, OSB
- 1957–1961: Vincent Peter OSB / Dennis Langdon OSB / Ignatius Smith OSB
- 1961–1962: Rev. Thomas J. Hickey
- 1962–1965: Rev. Raymond P. Grimes
- 1966–1968: Rev. Robert I. Barsch
- 1968–1969: Rev. Joseph Montoya
- 1969: Rev. John Power
- 1970–1973: Rev. Leonard Racki (Rev. John Beno in residence)
- 1974–1975: Rev. Leonard Racki (Sr. Theresa Antista, SC; Rev. John Beno)
- 1976–1978: Rev. Vernon Wood (Sr. Theresa Antista, SC; Rev. John Beno)
- 1979–1983: Rev. Vernon Wood (Sr. Andrea Vasquez, SC; Rev. John Beno)
- 1983: Rev. Richard Becker / Rev. John Beno
- 1985: Rev. Michael A. Kurz
- 1986–1995: Rev. Mark A. Plewka, JCL
- 1995–2007: Rev. James Friel
- 2007–2010: Rev. John Ozella
- 2010–2019: Deacon Steven Lumbert / Monsignor Mark Plewka, JCL
- 2019–2020: Fr. Prabhu Arrockiasamy
- 2020–2023: Fr. Stephen Olamolu
- 2023–2025: Fr. Joseph Vigil
- Present (2025): Fr. Patrick Oluwafemi Aina
Sacraments
St. Anne's Sacraments page explains all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church using passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the parish invites parishioners to contact the office to arrange Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick and other sacramental needs. Religious Education, RCIA and Adult Confirmation are coordinated by Deacon Manny Santistevan.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Order
- Matrimony
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
St. Anne offers Religious Education for children and adults, RCIA and Adult Confirmation through Deacon Manny Santistevan, and a Youth Group called the 'Youth Group of the Little Way' that meets the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month after the 10:00 a.m. Mass in the Parish Hall. The youth participate in diocesan events including the NET Ministry Retreat at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Bishop Berg has spoken to the group on authentic friendship) and the Benedictine College Youth Conference (BCYC) in Atchison, Kansas.
- Youth Group of the Little Way — 1st and 3rd Sundays after Mass, Parish Hall
- Contact: James Pfingston
- NET Ministry Retreat at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
- Benedictine College Youth Conference (BCYC), Atchison, KS
- Religious Education (Terri O'Brien)
- RCIA and Adult Confirmation (Deacon Manny Santistevan)
Parish Organizations & Councils
The parish has both a Finance Council and a Parish Pastoral Council that assist the pastor. The Finance Council serves in a consultative role on administrative and stewardship matters and is appointed by the pastor for a three-year term; the Parish Pastoral Council consists of six members appointed by the pastor and meets monthly from September through June. Five subcommittees report into the Parish Council: Social/Fundraising, Maintenance, Liturgy, Music/Communications, and Religious Education.
- Finance Council (3-year pastor-appointed term)
- Parish Pastoral Council (6 members, monthly meetings Sept.–June)
- Subcommittees: Social/Fundraising, Maintenance, Liturgy, Music/Communications, Religious Education
Music Ministry
Music Ministry at St. Anne is coordinated by Terri O'Brien as part of her parish role. The parish's patron feast day picnic has been enlivened in recent years by the Sierra Gold band.
- Music Ministry led by Terri O'Brien
- Sierra Gold band has performed at the St. Anne & St. Joachim Feast Day picnic
Fundraising & Community Events
St. Anne's premier fundraiser is its weekly Bingo game, hosted every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Bingo Casino (4109 Club Manor Dr., with doors opening at 10:30 a.m.). The parish also participates in the broader Pueblo diocesan festival circuit and hosts the annual St. Anne & St. Joachim Feast Day celebration with a procession and potluck picnic.
- St. Anne's Bingo — Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. at Bingo Casino (4109 Club Manor Dr.)
- Annual St. Anne & St. Joachim Feast Day (late July)
- Diocesan summer festival participation
Buildings, Art & Improvements
The original Army-chapel structure has been gently enriched over the decades through parishioner donations. Recent additions documented on the parish gallery include a restored baptismal font (gift of Jim and Debbie Cozzolino), a new altar crucifix (gift of James Pfingston Jr.), and stained-glass windows donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Montoya Jr. and installed by Casey Colletti at the entrance of the church and in the cry room leading to the balcony.
- Restored baptismal font — gift of Jim and Debbie Cozzolino
- New altar crucifix — gift of James Pfingston Jr.
- Stained-glass windows — gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Montoya Jr., installed by Casey Colletti
- Recently repainted rectory with new signage
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Anne by phone at (719) 545-2644, by fax at (719) 544-0959, or by email at [email protected]. The Parish Office at 2701 E. 12th Street, Pueblo, CO 81001 is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.). The website's 'Church Directions' link provides a map to the parish.
- Phone: (719) 545-2644
- Fax: (719) 544-0959
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tues.–Fri. 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (closed for lunch)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Oluwafemi AinaPresent (2025)
Listed as current leader on the Parish Leadership Through The Years page
- Fr. Joseph Vigil2023–2025
- Fr. Stephen Olamolu2020–2023
- Fr. Prabhu Arrockiasamy2019–2020
- Deacon Steven Lumbert / Monsignor Mark Plewka, JCL2010–2019
- Rev. John Ozella2007–2010
- Rev. James Friel1995–2007
- Rev. Mark A. Plewka, JCL1986–1995
- Rev. Michael A. Kurz1985
- Rev. Richard Becker / Rev. John Beno (in residence)1983
- Rev. Vernon Wood (with Sr. Andrea Vasquez, SC, Pastoral Assistant; Rev. John Beno in residence)1979–1983
- Rev. Vernon Wood (with Sr. Theresa Antista, SC, Pastoral Assistant; Rev. John Beno in residence)1976–1978
- Rev. Leonard Racki (with Sr. Theresa Antista, SC; Rev. John Beno in residence)1974–1975
- Rev. Leonard Racki (with Rev. John Beno in residence)1970–1973
- Rev. John Power1969
- Rev. Joseph Montoya1968–1969
- Rev. Robert I. Barsch1966–1968
- Rev. Raymond P. Grimes1962–1965
- Rev. Thomas J. Hickey1961–1962
- Vincent Peter, OSB / Dennis Langdon, OSB / Ignatius Smith, OSB1957–1961
Benedictine fathers from St. Leander Parish
- Edward J. Vollmer, OSB1956
Founding priest (Benedictine)