About St. Francis Xavier · Pueblo, Colorado
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is a welcoming, historic parish in the Bessemer neighborhood of Pueblo, Colorado, founded in 1903 by Jesuit missionaries as a mission of St. Patrick's parish to serve working-class Catholic families near the steel mill. Today it remains a diverse, working-class community of faith under the Diocese of Pueblo, served by Rev. Peter John Abogado, SSS (a priest of the Blessed Sacrament order). The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, adoration, confession, the rosary, vespers, religious education for children and adults, and a range of ministries including the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Divine Mercy prayer group, Altar Society, Bible study, and choir. It also oversees the Mission Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in nearby Beulah.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Peter John Abogado, SSS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a small, tight-knit, working-class parish that lives its mission 'to promote spiritual growth, religious formation, fellowship and stewardship' and to give witness to Christ in Pueblo's historic Bessemer neighborhood. Worship is rich with traditional devotions — daily Mass, adoration, confession, the Holy Rosary before every weekend Mass, Vespers each weekday evening, Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and the Divine Mercy chaplet. Parishioners are active in parish councils and committees (Liturgy, Finance, Education, Stewardship), the Altar Society, Knights of Columbus Council #557, Legion of Mary, adult Bible study, religious formation for children, and the choir. The parish also welcomes families from all over Pueblo — including Pueblo West — and tends the Mission Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Beulah.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday: 4:30–5:00 PM (during Adoration)
- Saturday: 4:00–4:45 PM (during Adoration)
- Friday: during Adoration following the First Friday Mass
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 4:30–5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 4:30–5:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:30–5:00 PM
- Friday: 4:30–5:30 PM
- Saturday: 4:00–5:00 PM
History of St. Francis Xavier Parish
St. Francis Xavier was founded in 1903 by the Jesuit priest Rev. Francis Xavier Kowald as a mission of St. Patrick's Parish, serving about 40 Catholic families of mixed ethnic heritage in the Bessemer and Minnequa Heights neighborhoods near the Colorado Fuel & Iron steel mill. It became an independent parish in 1914, was transferred from the Jesuits to the Diocese of Pueblo in 1924, and built its present Spanish-mission-style church in 1925 under the first diocesan pastor, Rev. Aloysius Miller. The 2003 centennial history and a 2006 city landmark designation underscore the parish's deep roots in Pueblo's working-class, immigrant Catholic life.
- 1903: Parish founded as a mission of St. Patrick's
- 1914: Detached from St. Patrick's as an independent parish
- 1924: Jesuits relinquish control to the Diocese of Pueblo
- 1925: Present Spanish Eclectic church dedicated in September
- 2003: Centennial history compiled
- 2006: Both parish buildings designated Pueblo city landmarks
Sacramental Life
The parish prepares the faithful for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation (including adult classes), and Marriage. Confession is available during adoration each weekday and on Saturday afternoons. In emergencies (such as anointing of the sick), parishioners may call maintenance coordinator Jim Vigil at 719-369-7658.
- Baptism preparation
- First Communion classes (seasonal)
- Adult Confirmation classes (seasonal)
- Marriage preparation (contact parish office)
- Confession Tue–Fri 4:30–5:00 PM, Sat 4:00–4:45 PM
- Anointing of the Sick on emergency call
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Peter John Abogado, SSS — a priest of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament — who serves as Parish Administrator. Cathy Walkup is the parish secretary. Religious formation is coordinated by Juan Casaus and Candy Madrill (CREs); Gypsy Clearo directs the music ministry. Carol Fletcher is the DRE for Children. Jim Vigil coordinates security, maintenance, and the parish emergency contact line.
- Rev. Peter John Abogado, SSS — Parish Administrator
- Cathy Walkup — Secretary
- Juan Casaus & Candy Madrill — Religious Formation (CRE)
- Gypsy Clearo — Music Director
- Carol Fletcher — DRE Children
- Jim Vigil — Security/Maintenance/Emergency contact (719-369-7658)
Parish Life, Ministries & Groups
Parishioners are organized through a Parish Council and several standing committees (Liturgy, Finance, Education, Stewardship), as well as lay apostolates that meet regularly for prayer, service, and fellowship. The Altar Society, Knights of Columbus Council #557, Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy Prayer Group, adult Bible study, and the choir together form the backbone of parish life.
- Parish Council — President Patricia Muniz (566-1073)
- Liturgy Committee — Karen Garcia
- Finance Committee — Margaret Siegrist
- Education Committee — John R. Salas (Religious Education)
- Stewardship Committee — Dottie Cullen
- Altar Society — Agnes 'Murph' Fitzpatrick
- Knights of Columbus Council #557 (hall 564-9620)
- Legion of Mary — Clara Solano (561-3151)
- Divine Mercy Prayer — Dn. Paul Villeags (947-3034)
- Adult Bible Study — Dick Amman
- Choir / Music Ministry — Gypsy Clearo
Religious Formation & Education
Faith formation for children is offered through Religious Education classes, supported by an Education Committee. Adult faith formation is provided through seasonal Confirmation and First Communion classes, ongoing adult Bible study, and access to the Diocese of Pueblo's 'Catholic Blast' newsletter. Sacramental preparation is coordinated with the parish office.
- Children's Religious Education (DRE: Carol Fletcher; CREs: Juan Casaus & Candy Madrill)
- Adult Bible Study
- Adult Confirmation classes
- First Communion classes
- Diocese of Pueblo Catholic Blast newsletter subscription
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass, the parish keeps a steady rhythm of traditional Catholic devotions. The Holy Rosary precedes every weekend Mass, Vespers are sung each weekday evening, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on Friday afternoons, and Stations of the Cross follow Friday's daily Mass. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Tuesday through Saturday before each Mass.
- Holy Rosary — Sat 4:30 PM, Sun 10:00 AM
- Vespers — Tue–Fri 5:00 PM
- Adoration — Tue–Fri 4:30 PM, Sat 4:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Fri 3:00 PM
- Stations of the Cross — Fri after Mass
Our Lady of Lourdes Mission, Beulah
St. Francis Xavier Parish oversees the Mission Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in nearby Beulah, Colorado. Mission contacts include Fr. Peter John Abogado, SSS as pastor; Kathy Serena as Parish Council President and Sacristan; and Carol Fletcher as DRE for Children. Adult Bible Study at the mission is led by Dick Amman.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter John Abogado, SSS
- Parish Council President / Sacristan: Kathy Serena (719-485-3319)
- DRE Children: Carol Fletcher
- Adult Bible Study: Dick Amman
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM), and the Religious Education office is staffed Tuesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at 719-501-2771. Masses, confessions, and bulletins are announced through the parish website and Facebook page, where funeral Masses and other liturgies are occasionally live-streamed.
- Church: 611 Logan Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004
- Parish Office / School: 1725 Spruce St., Pueblo, CO 81004
- Phone: (719) 564-1125 — Fax: (719) 564-1141
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://sfxavierpueblo.org/
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
- Religious Ed Office Hours: Tue & Fri 9:00–11:30 AM, 719-501-2771
Architectural & Cultural Heritage
The present church is a Spanish Eclectic (Spanish-mission-style) building dedicated in September 1925, noted in the Pueblo Inventory of Cultural Resources for its fine interior ornamentation and as a significant example of the Spanish Eclectic style applied to a religious building. The adjacent 1903 red-brick original church — with its white tower and belfry — was designed with a school in mind and now serves the parish's educational and office functions. Together the two buildings were designated Pueblo city landmarks in 2006.
- 1925 Spanish Eclectic church — $50,000 to build
- 1903 red-brick original church — $7,000 to build, designed for school use
- Original bell (former Bessemer fire bell) preserved awaiting re-hanging
- Both buildings listed as Pueblo city landmarks since 2006
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Xavier Kowald, SJ1903–
Founding Jesuit priest; started the parish with about 40 Catholic families of mixed ethnic origin as a mission of St. Patrick's.
- Jesuit Pastors (1903–1924)1903–1924
Parish administered by the Society of Jesus until 1924.
- Rev. Aloysius Miller1924–
First diocesan pastor after the Jesuits relinquished control; charged with establishing a parochial school, which led to construction of the current church in 1925.