About St. Helen · Fort Bridger, Wyoming
St. Helen Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church serving the Bridger Valley of southwestern Wyoming from its home in historic Fort Bridger. It is canonically a mission of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Evanston and falls under the Diocese of Cheyenne, with Sunday Mass and Sunday confession celebrated on site each week. The parish traces its Catholic roots in the valley to the early 1900s, when Mass was first offered on local ranches, and it continues today as a tight-knit rural community of families praying, learning, and serving together in the shadow of the Wasatch.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. Helen of the Cross (St. Helena, Empress)
- Rector
- Rev. Glen Szczechowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cheyenne
Why belong here
St. Helen is a small, close-knit Catholic community rooted in over a century of faith in the Bridger Valley. Parishioners gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for Mass (with confession at 10:30 am), support one another through ministries like the Knights of Columbus Council 10027, and draw on the wider resources of St. Mary Magdalen in Evanston for faith formation, baptism preparation, and sacramental preparation. It is a place where families know each other by name, where the history of the West meets a living Catholic tradition, and where visiting or registering means becoming part of a real community rather than a congregation.
Mass times at St. Helen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:30 am (before Mass)
Parish Overview & Identity
St. Helen Catholic Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church located in the historic town of Fort Bridger, Wyoming. It serves the Catholic families of the Bridger Valley in southwestern Wyoming and is canonically a mission of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Evanston. The mission falls under the Diocese of Cheyenne and is identified on the diocesan parish finder as 'attended to by St. Mary Magdalen, Evanston.' Its patron is St. Helen of the Cross — St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine — whose feast is celebrated in the Western Church on August 18.
- Type: Mission (of St. Mary Magdalen, Evanston)
- Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne
- Patron: St. Helen of the Cross (St. Helena)
- Feast Day: August 18
- Mass: Sundays at 11:00 am
- Holy Days: 5:00 pm (anticipated, evening before)
History of St. Helen — Fort Bridger
Catholic life in the Bridger Valley stretches back to the early 1900s, long before there was a church building. The first Masses in the area were offered at the Eardley ranch in Fort Bridger from roughly 1900 to 1916, then at the Mary Sheehan Watson ranch in the nearby Miburne area. Fr. O'Connor, an early resident pastor, served the community until his transfer to Torrington in January 1932. By 1928, sixteen Catholic families were settled in the Fort Bridger vicinity, and Mass was celebrated twice a month in the Legion Hall, weather permitting. On September 1, 1928, eleven children received First Holy Communion — the first regular religious education class in the town's history. The next resident pastor, Rev. Edward Cassidy, would go on to serve St. Helen's Mission for 19 years. Under his tenure, the Legion Hall became too small for the growing congregation of about 20 families, and in 1934 plans were laid to build a proper church. A gift of $3,000 from the Catholic Extension Society, together with land donated by Algino Fillin, the local blacksmith and craftsman, made construction possible, and the church was dedicated free from debt on November 11, 1935. By 1970, the Catholic population of the Bridger Valley had grown to the point that a new Church Center was needed: groundbreaking was held June 24, 1970, and the new facility was dedicated on December 3, 1970.
- Early 1900s–c. 1916: Mass at the Eardley ranch, Fort Bridger
- Later: Mass at the Mary Sheehan Watson ranch in the Miburne area
- Fr. O'Connor: early resident pastor; transferred to Torrington, January 1932
- 1928: 16 Catholic families; Mass twice monthly in Legion Hall
- September 1, 1928: First Holy Communion class — 11 children
- Rev. Edward Cassidy: resident pastor for 19 years
- 1934: Plans made to build a church
- November 11, 1935: Church dedicated, debt-free, on land donated by Algino Fillin; $3,000 gift from Catholic Extension Society
- June 24, 1970: Groundbreaking for new Church Center
- December 3, 1970: Dedication of new Church Center
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Helen Mission is served by the clergy and lay staff of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Evanston, who share pastoral responsibility across both communities. The current pastor is Rev. Glen Szczechowski, a priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne for 19 years who joined St. Mary Magdalen in June 2024 and also serves as pastor of St. Helen Mission. Faith formation across both parishes is coordinated by Jimmy Montoya (a 4th degree Sir Knight with the Knights of Columbus), and the front office is staffed by Gara Klements, a parishioner of more than 37 years. The Diocese of Cheyenne's parish finder also lists Rev. Charles Heston Joseph in connection with St. Helen Mission Church.
- Rev. Glen Szczechowski — Pastor, St. Mary Magdalen / St. Helen Mission (joined June 2024; priest of Diocese of Cheyenne for 19 years)
- Rev. Charles Heston Joseph — listed for St. Helen Mission Church in the Diocese of Cheyenne parish finder
- Jimmy Montoya — Faith Formation; 4th degree Sir Knight, Knights of Columbus; [email protected], 307-677-2438
- Gara Klements — Office Manager; parishioner for over 37 years
Sacraments
St. Helen Mission shares its sacramental life with St. Mary Magdalen in Evanston. Baptisms are typically celebrated during weekend Masses, and baptism preparation classes are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (or by appointment) in English and Spanish; baptisms are reserved for registered parishioners. Those seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or First Eucharist (or seeking to complete any of these sacraments) are invited to contact Fr. Glen Szczechowski. Confession is offered each Sunday before Mass or by appointment.
- Baptism: weekend Masses; prep classes 2nd Tuesday monthly or by appointment; English and Spanish
- Reconciliation: Sundays 10:30 am or by appointment with Fr. Glen Szczechowski ([email protected])
- First Eucharist and Confirmation: contact Fr. Glen Szczechowski
- Marriage: contact the parish office
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Though small, St. Helen Mission has a vibrant community life anchored by the Knights of Columbus. Council 10027 supports the parish through service and fundraising — including the well-loved Tuesday Night Bingo, held at 6:00 pm at the American Legion Hall in Fort Bridger. Faith formation for children and families, baptism preparation, and sacramental catechesis are coordinated through the staff at St. Mary Magdalen.
- Knights of Columbus Council 10027
- Tuesday Night Bingo — 6:00 pm, American Legion Hall, Fort Bridger
- Faith Formation (coordinated by Jimmy Montoya)
- Baptism preparation (English and Spanish)
- Parish community rooted in 100+ years of Catholic presence in the Bridger Valley
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Helen Mission is served in partnership with St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Evanston. Families seeking First Eucharist, Confirmation, or catch-up sacramental preparation should contact Fr. Glen Szczechowski ([email protected]) or the parish office. The parish's history page records that the very first regular religious education class in the town of Fort Bridger took place on September 1, 1928, when eleven children received their First Holy Communion — a heritage the parish continues today.
- Contact: Fr. Glen Szczechowski — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Jimmy Montoya — [email protected], 307-677-2438
- First Communion class tradition since September 1, 1928
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
St. Helen Mission is located at 37117 Business Loop 80 in Fort Bridger, Wyoming (mailing address: P.O. Box 183, Ft. Bridger, WY 82933). The parish can be reached by phone at 307-782-6190 or by email at [email protected]. Because St. Helen is a mission, the wider parish office at St. Mary Magdalen in Evanston (307-789-2189, [email protected]) can also assist with sacramental scheduling and registration. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass at 11:00 am, with confession available beforehand at 10:30 am.
- Address: 37117 Business Loop 80, Fort Bridger, WY 82933
- Mailing: P.O. Box 183, Ft. Bridger, WY 82933
- Phone: 307-782-6190
- Email: [email protected]
- Parent parish office (St. Mary Magdalen): 307-789-2189, [email protected]
- Website: stmmagdalen.com/st-helen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. O'Connor
Early resident pastor who celebrated Mass in the Legion Hall; fondly remembered by parishioners Dorothy O'Connor and Eleanor Stanforth, both of whom he married; transferred to Torrington in January 1932.
- Rev. Edward Cassidy
Next resident pastor; served St. Helen's Mission for 19 years.
- Rev. Glen Szczechowski2024–present
Current pastor; joined St. Mary Magdalen / St. Helen Mission in June 2024; priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne for 19 years.