About St. Bernadette Parish · Lakewood, Colorado
St. Bernadette Catholic Parish, located at 7240 West 12th Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado, is the pioneer Catholic church of Lakewood, founded on July 2, 1947 by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr on five acres of former oat field. The parish describes itself as "an inclusive Christian Community committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ," inspired by its patroness Saint Bernadette Soubirous and the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Bernadette is unusually diverse, heading the Colorado Catholic Deaf Ministry, hosting the St. Kateri Native American Community, running a parish school, and serving as host to Marisol Home (transitional housing for homeless women with children). It belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and is currently pastored by Father Joe McLagan.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Saint Bernadette Soubirous
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph (Joe) McLagan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is widely described by its own leadership as "one holy, Catholic and apostolic church" because of the remarkable diversity under one roof: a parish where the deaf community, Native American Catholics (the St. Kateri Community), a parochial school, and outreach to the homeless all worship together. It runs an active Faith Formation program for all ages, RCIA through Faith Formation Together (FFT), youth ministry for grades 4–12, and ministries that put the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy into practice — including Marisol Home for single-parent families. Visitors and newcomers are warmly invited to register online via My Own Church and become part of a parish that has served Lakewood as its first Catholic church since 1947.
Mass times at St. Bernadette Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (prior to 4 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
- First Saturdays 9:30 a.m. (following the 9 a.m. Mass; adoration available during confessions)
- By appointment with Father Joe McLagan
Adoration times
- Friday: following the 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass until 12:30 p.m.
- First Saturdays of the month 9:30 a.m. (following 9 a.m. Mass)
Our History
St. Bernadette Parish was established on July 2, 1947 by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr as Lakewood's first Catholic church, built on five acres of what had been an oat field. Father John J. Doherty, the founding pastor, served for 35 years until his retirement in 1982, and the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary on September 10 with parishioners, food, music, and cultural displays. Within two decades the parish had outgrown its original worship space, and today the half-century-old church building still serves a notably diverse congregation through its deaf, Native American, school, and outreach ministries.
- Founded July 2, 1947 by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr
- Founding pastor: Rev. John J. Doherty (1947–1982)
- St. Bernadette Catholic School founded 1953
- Outgrew first worship space by 1965
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha Community hosted since 1985
- 75th anniversary celebrated September 10
Mass and Prayer Schedule
The parish celebrates the regular Sunday Mass schedule with one ASL-interpreted Mass and a weekly St. Kateri Tekakwitha Community Mass, along with a Saturday Vigil and a full Monday–Friday Daily Mass schedule. First Saturdays of the month include an additional 9:00 a.m. Mass followed by Adoration and Confession.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. — interpreted in ASL
- Sunday 12:00 p.m. — St. Kateri Tekakwitha Community Mass
- Monday–Friday Daily Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- First Saturdays of the Month: 9:00 a.m.
Our Staff and Clergy
St. Bernadette is currently pastored by Father Joe McLagan and is assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Geronimo Gonzalez, Deacons Hal Goldwire and Patrick Smith, and a full parish staff supporting faith formation, deaf ministry, and operations. A pastoral associate and homebound ministry coordinator round out the team.
- Fr. Joe McLagan — Pastor
- Fr. Geronimo Gonzalez — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Hal Goldwire
- Deacon Patrick Smith
- Parish Operations Manager: Cynthia Anglada
- Administrative and Office Assistant: Marge Devereaux
- Director of Maintenance: Jerry Stravia
- Church Housekeeper: Juanita Ruiz
- Homebound Ministry: George Sherman
- Religious Education: Margaret Tranek
- Deaf Interpreter: Clayton Tuck
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Bernadette encompasses catechesis, Faith Formation for Everyone (a once-a-month prayer, community, and formation experience focused on the Bible), sacramental preparation classes, RCIA through Faith Formation Together (FFT), and youth and young adult ministry. The parish also partners with the Archdiocese of Denver's St. John Vianney Theological Seminary Lay Division to offer Biblical and Catechetical School enrichment.
- Faith Formation Catechist and Faith Group Leader ministries
- Faith Formation for Everyone — monthly September–May
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) — Faith Formation Together (FFT)
- Youth Ministry for grades 4–12
- Young Adult Ministries
- Sacramental Preparation Classes
- American Sign Language (ASL) classes
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic inquiry
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed into Faith Formation Together (FFT), a smaller community within the parish where they receive lessons from the clergy and discern the call to the Sacraments of Initiation. The parish encourages regular Mass attendance, reception of the Eucharist and Confession, community involvement, ongoing formation, and sharing the faith with others as the hallmarks of Catholic life.
- Contact: Michelle Bauer via [email protected]
- Sessions run seasonally — check back in spring for the next class
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Youth Ministry provides opportunities for youth in grades 4–12 to gather spiritually and socially, share their lives and faith, and serve the larger community through events throughout the year. The Young Adult community partners with surrounding parishes for events, Bible study, and social activities.
- Youth group for grades 4–12
- Volunteer leaders welcomed
- Young Adult collaboration with neighboring parishes
Colorado Catholic Deaf Ministry
St. Bernadette heads the Colorado Catholic Deaf Ministry, a statewide outreach that enables the hard of hearing to serve as lectors, ushers, and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. The ministry offers interpretive services for weddings, funerals, and religious education classes, organizes retreats, and supports signed weekly Masses at two other parishes in the diocese. The parish's 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is interpreted in ASL.
- ASL-interpreted 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass
- Interpretive services for weddings, funerals, and religious education
- Retreats and deaf-community outreach statewide
- Signed weekly Masses at two additional parishes in the diocese
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Community
Since 1985 St. Bernadette has been home to the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Native American Catholic Community, which gathers roughly 60 people from across the Archdiocese of Denver representing about ten Native American tribes for a weekly Mass incorporating Indian traditions. The community evangelizes and provides religious education and community-building to the archdiocese's Native American Catholics, and moved their weekly Mass into the main church proper in 2016.
- Weekly St. Kateri Mass on Sundays at 12:00 p.m.
- Hosts members from about ten Native American tribes
- On-site at St. Bernadette since 1985
Outreach: Marisol Home & Service to the Poor
Ministry to the poor and homeless has long been a cherished activity of St. Bernadette. The parish assists a near-daily stream of people from Lakewood and the surrounding area with food, rent assistance, and resource referrals. In partnership with Catholic Charities, the parish hosts Marisol Home — a transitional residence sheltering up to 18 single-parent families with children at a time, developed from the former St. Kateri chapel.
- Marisol Home — transitional housing for up to 18 single-parent families
- Food, rent assistance, and resource referrals for neighbors in need
- Catholic Charities partnership
St. Bernadette Catholic School
Founded in 1953, St. Bernadette Catholic School is a PK–8 elementary school of the Archdiocese of Denver serving approximately 147 students on its campus at 1100 Upham Street, Lakewood, CO 80214. The school's mission is to provide students with a strong spiritual and academic foundation in a Christ-centered community for the greater glory of God.
- Founded 1953
- Address: 1100 Upham Street, Lakewood, CO 80214
- Phone: 303-237-0401
- Grades PK–8; Archdiocese of Denver
- Mission: Christ-centered spiritual and academic foundation
Sacraments
St. Bernadette prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic Sacraments, with sacramental preparation classes for those entering the Church. Weddings, funerals, and faith formation classes can be supported with ASL interpretation through the Deaf Ministry. For pastoral emergencies after office hours, dial 303.233.1523 and select Fr. Joe's extension.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation / Confession
- Matrimony (with ASL support available)
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
Parish Office & Visit
The parish office is located at 7240 West 12th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80214, and can be reached at 303.233.1523 or [email protected]. Visitors and newcomers are invited to register with the parish through the online My Own Church system, browse the parish calendar for events, and contact the clergy directly for any questions about the faith, sacraments, or RCIA.
- Address: 7240 West 12th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80214
- Phone: 303.233.1523
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 11–4; Tue/Thu 8:30–4; Fri 8:30–12:30; Wed closed
- Newcomer registration via My Own Church
- Pastoral emergency: 303.233.1523, Fr. Joe's extension
Why Join St. Bernadette
St. Bernadette is one of the most unusually diverse parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver — a single worship space that brings together the deaf community, Native American Catholics, a parochial school, and outreach to the poor and homeless. Parishioners can grow in faith through Faith Formation for Everyone, RCIA, youth and young adult ministry, sacramental preparation, and weekly Adoration. Newcomers are warmly welcomed to register online and become part of Lakewood's pioneer Catholic parish.
- One of the most diverse congregations in the Archdiocese of Denver
- Active Faith Formation for all ages
- Marisol Home and homeless outreach
- Deaf Ministry and ASL-interpreted liturgy
- St. Kateri Native American Catholic Community
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Doherty1947–1982
Founding pastor; first pastor of St. Bernadette, served 35 years until retirement
- Fr. Tom Coyte
Pastor in mid-2010s; led capital campaign and introduced many of the parish's outreach initiatives
- Fr. Joe McLagan
Current pastor