About St. Catherine of Siena · Denver, Colorado
St. Catherine of Siena is a bilingual Catholic parish in northwest Denver, Colorado, located at 4200 Federal Boulevard in Denver's historic Little Italy neighborhood. Founded in 1912 from the Italian immigrant community on the west side of the city, the parish was formally dedicated in 1915 and has served generations of Denver Catholics ever since — including through St. Catherine of Siena School (opened 1921) and a Dominican-rooted tradition of faith, prayer and charity. Today it is a vibrant bilingual community offering Mass in both English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in its St. Seraphim Chapel, and ministries spanning faith formation, outreach, and liturgical service.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena
- Rector
- Father Luc Vaillant
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena is a bilingual parish rooted in Denver's historic Little Italy, with a tradition reaching back more than a century and a sanctuary decorated in gold Florentine style in honor of its Dominican patron. Parishioners can attend Mass in English or Spanish nearly every day, spend time with the Lord in 24-hour Perpetual Adoration in the St. Seraphim Chapel, join faith formation for children, youth and adults (OCIA), and take part in active liturgical and outreach ministries — from the choir and altar servers to a food-for-the-homeless ministry, homebound visits, and a Summer Mission in the neighborhood.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — after 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Saturday — 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday — 7:30 a.m. (English)
- Sunday — 10:00 a.m.
- Sunday — 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration, 24 hours/day in the St. Seraphim Chapel (contact Toby Maes to coordinate a group hour or become a committed adorer)
Our History
St. Catherine of Siena was founded by Denver's Italian immigrant community in 1912 on lots purchased at West 42nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The original church was dedicated on February 21, 1915, and the parish grew to include a school (1921), a convent (1927) and the present school building (1928). The current church was built in 1951–1952 and decorated in 1963 in a Medieval Florentine style with over 100,000 feet of gold leaf — a tribute to both the parish's Italian roots and its Dominican patron, St. Catherine of Siena.
- 1912 — church and rectory begun at West 42nd and Federal Blvd.
- February 21, 1915 — 'Old Saint Catherine of Siena' church dedicated
- September 6, 1921 — St. Catherine's School opens in basement classrooms taught by three Sisters of St. Joseph
- 1923 — gymnasium built (later used as a school building)
- January 1, 1927 — Convent opened with six Sisters in residence
- 1928 — present school building finished
- 1951–1952 — new (current) church built
- 1963 — church decorated in Medieval Florentine gold-leaf style
About St. Catherine of Siena (Patron)
St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) lived through one of the most troubled periods in the history of the Church and of medieval Italy and Europe. Motivated at age 16 by a vision of St. Dominic, she entered the Third Order of the Dominicans while living at home, confirmed her private vow of virginity, and devoted herself to prayer, penance and works of charity — especially for the sick. She became a powerful spiritual guide for nobles, politicians, artists and religious, including Pope Gregory XI at Avignon, whom she urged back to Rome. She was canonized in 1461 and, in 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church — adding that distinction to her titles as Co-Patroness of the City of Rome (at the wish of Pope Pius IX) and Patroness of Italy (per Venerable Pius XII). Her liturgical memorial is April 29.
Prayer & Devotions
The Divine Office is prayed publicly each weekday, the Rosary precedes daily Mass, and a Praise & Glory Prayer Group meets in the St. Seraphim Chapel on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month.
- Morning Prayer — Tue–Sat, 7:15 a.m.
- Evening Prayer — Tue–Thu, 5:45 p.m.; Sat, 5:15 p.m.
- Rosary — before each Mass
- Praise & Glory Prayer Group — 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd & 4th Mondays, St. Seraphim Chapel (Maria Coleman, 720-212-8302)
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Catherine of Siena serves every age and stage — children, youth, and adults — in both English and Spanish. The parish's Catechism program prepares children and youth for the sacraments, while the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) walks adults through conversion, baptism, confirmation, and full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Catechism — child/youth sacramental preparation and faith enrichment
- Sunday / Saturday Spanish coordinator: through parish office (303.455.9090)
- English Sunday coordinator: Maria Gurrola, 720.235.2150
- OCIA (Adult Initiation) — English: Amy Ostrowski, 847-271-2352, [email protected]
- OCIA — Spanish: Arnoldo Diaz, 720-371-3365
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass and the wider parish through a rich set of liturgical ministries: choir and music ministry, Children's Liturgy of the Word (Liturgia de los Niños), altar servers (ages 8–18), lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, and a Liturgy team that cares for the beauty of the sanctuary. Musicians are especially welcomed to volunteer for Saturday and Sunday Masses (Saturday 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Spanish; Sunday 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Spanish, per the music ministry listing).
- Choir & Music Ministry (Matthew Syzek, 303.263.3391)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Marina Sanchez (Spanish), 720-371-0156
- Altar Servers — Ethan, 970-629-8798 (English); Laura Alvarado, 720-999-8752 (Spanish)
- Eucharistic Ministers — Penny Gonnella, 303-433-7582 or 303-570-1434 (English); Marina Vasquez, 720-371-0156 / Mena Torres, 720-486-2169 (Spanish)
- Lectors — JoAnn Ibarra, 303-517-4230 (English); Donatillo Terrones, 720-625-2640 (Spanish)
- Ushers / Liturgy / Church environment — John Keily, 720-217-8572 (English); Donatillo Terrones, 720-625-2640 (Spanish)
- Adoration Chapel coordinators — Toby Maes
Community Outreach
Faith at St. Catherine's is meant to extend beyond the sanctuary. Outreach ministries feed the homeless, bring Communion to homebound parishioners, and take the Gospel to the surrounding neighborhood each summer through the parish's Summer Mission.
- Food for the Homeless — Kiko Alderete, 720-345-8486
- Homebound Ministry — Penny Gonnella, 303-570-1434 / 303-433-7582 (English); Mena Torres, 720-486-2169 (Spanish)
- Summer Mission — Chuck King, 720-245-5958
Sacraments
The parish celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments, in both English and Spanish. Sacramental preparation for children and youth runs through Catechism; adults preparing for baptism, confirmation or first Communion join OCIA.
- Baptism — preparation offered in Spanish and English
- Confirmation — youth and adult preparation
- Eucharist (First Communion and ongoing sacramental life)
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule; appointments via the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage — preparation by appointment
- Holy Orders / Vocations discernment
Our School
St. Catherine of Siena has operated a parish school since 1921, when the basement of the original church was first converted to classrooms taught by three Sisters of St. Joseph. The parish school continues today as part of the parish's lifelong faith-formation mission, housed in the school building completed in 1928.
Staff & Contact
Parish leadership includes Pastor Father Luc Vaillant, Vicar Father Juan Diego De Jesus, and Deacon Colin Coleman, supported by parish secretary Cristal Pacheco and Associate Business Manager Becky Garcia.
- Pastor — Father Luc Vaillant
- Vicar — Father Juan Diego De Jesus
- Deacon — Deacon Colin Coleman
- Parish Secretary — Cristal Pacheco
- Associate Business Manager — Becky Garcia
- Phone: 303.455.9090 — Fax: 303.455.6651
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30–1:30 p.m.)
Alpha & Getting Involved
Visitors and seekers can start with Alpha, a series of conversation-friendly sessions exploring the Christian faith. Parish life also runs a Year-round calendar of events, including an annual summer Parish Festival on the parish grounds.
- Alpha — Christian faith-exploration course (featured on the parish homepage)
- Parish Festival — annual summer celebration with games, food and live music on parish grounds
- Faith Formation, Liturgical and Outreach ministries welcome new volunteers (contact parish office to get involved)