About St. Helena · Fort Morgan, Colorado
St. Helena is a Catholic parish in Fort Morgan, Colorado, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver, serving the agricultural communities of northeastern Colorado. Originally founded in 1910, the parish today operates as a multi-community Catholic family that also includes two mission churches: St. Francis of Assisi in Weldona and Our Lady of Lourdes in Wiggins. With a strong bilingual identity, St. Helena offers daily Mass in both English and Spanish, a full religious education program for children, youth ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), the Knights of Columbus, the Altar and Rosary Society, and active Spanish-language ministries including a prayer group and nocturnal adoration.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. Helena
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen A. Siebert
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Helena offers a complete Catholic life in both English and Spanish, with a packed weekly schedule of Masses, weekday confessions, perpetual adoration, and bilingual religious education for children and youth. The parish gathers an entire region — Fort Morgan, Weldona and Wiggins — into one Catholic family, so newcomers quickly find ministries suited to them: the Knights of Columbus, Altar and Rosary Society, OCIA, Bible study, youth groups for every age, a Spanish prayer group, and a Spanish nocturnal adoration. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic on the plains, a new arrival, or exploring the faith, St. Helena's mission is to 'proclaim Christ's mission through joyful celebration of the sacraments and evangelizing by spreading the Gospel and loving and serving all people.'
Mass times at St. Helena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday: 7:15–7:45 AM, St. Helena
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00 PM, St. Helena
Adoration times
- Silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursday after the 8:00 AM Mass until Friday before the 8:00 AM Mass
- Nocturnal Adoration (Spanish): every Second Saturday, 7:00 PM through 7:00 AM Sunday, in the church
Parish History
Catholic life in Fort Morgan began informally in homes and hotel parlors. The first Mass was said by Rev. William J. Howlett, the first priest ordained in Colorado. The first resident pastor, Rev. J.K. Dubbal, arrived in 1908 and also covered missions across three counties. The parish's first church was erected in 1910 and dedicated on May 28, 1911. A much larger church replaced it on Seventh Avenue in 1959–60, with a new rectory following in 1961–62 and a convent (now the learning center) in 1964–65. Successive pastors — including Msgr. Edward Dinan (1968), Fr. Lawrence Kaiser (1992), Fr. Jason Thuerauf (2004), Fr. Joseph Toledo, Fr. Francisco J. Garcia, Fr. Eric Vigil Reyes (2018) and the current pastor Fr. Stephen A. Siebert (2024) — have continued to grow this plains-Catholic community.
- First Mass in Fort Morgan: celebrated in a hotel parlor by Rev. William J. Howlett
- First resident pastor: Rev. J.K. Dubbal, 1908
- First church dedicated May 28, 1911 (State Street and Seventh Avenue)
- Present church: Midnight Mass Dec. 25, 1959; dedicated Oct. 11, 1960
- Rectory completed 1962; convent (now Hurley Learning Center) built 1964–65
- Msgr. Edward Dinan served from June 11, 1968; nuns arrived August 1969
- Knights of Columbus chartered 1931
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a vicar, a deacon, a Director of Formation and Evangelization, a Business Manager, and an Administrative Assistant. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen A. Siebert
- Vicar: Rev. Joseph Oiye
- Deacon: Dcn. Richard Wilson
- Director of Formation & Evangelization: Cassie Groves
- Business Manager: Phil Stadler
- Administrative Assistant: Angelica Amezquita
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Helena runs a full-year Religious Education program for children, with registration opening each fall in both English and Spanish. The parish also hosts Archdiocesan catechist training, offering high-impact, kerygmatic formation in both languages for those serving in family faith formation, sacramental preparation, OCIA, youth ministry, and marriage preparation.
- Fall Religious Education classes for children — registration now open for 2026–27
- Hosted catechist training nights at St. Helena (English & Spanish) for the Archdiocese of Denver
- Bible Study / Catechism of the Catholic Church — English (2nd & 4th Tuesdays), Spanish (every Tuesday)
Youth Ministry
St. Helena offers three age-tiered youth groups for confirmed students and beyond, meeting on the parish campus in the Hurley Learning Center (Garage Room) and the Knights Conference Room.
- Youngsters (4th–5th grade): Sundays 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
- Middle School (6th–8th grade): Sundays 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM, Knights Conference Room
- High School (9th–12th grade): Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 PM, Garage Room of the Hurley Learning Center
- Contact: Cassie Groves, 720.441.5154
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) welcomes anyone 18 and older who is interested in the Catholic faith, whether unbaptized, already baptized in another Christian tradition, or a Catholic who wishes to complete initiation by receiving Confirmation and the Eucharist.
- Open to adults 18+ who have completed high school
- Covers Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as the Sacraments of Initiation
- Contact: Cassie Groves, Director of Religious Education
Parish Organizations & Spanish Ministries
A hallmark of St. Helena is its dense network of lay groups, many of which are bilingual or specifically Spanish-language, reflecting the strong Hispanic Catholic presence in Morgan County.
- Altar & Rosary Society — meetings 3rd Wednesday after 8:00 AM Mass, Conference Room
- Knights of Columbus — meetings 3rd Thursday, 6:30 PM Rosary / 8:00 PM close; council chartered 1931
- Spanish Prayer Group — Sundays 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Msgr. Dinan Hall
- Prevención y Rescate (drug-prevention, Spanish) — Mondays 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Conference Room
- Liturgical Decor Committee — led by Arlene Greenwood
- Nocturnal Adoration (Spanish) — 2nd Saturday monthly, 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Sacraments
St. Helena celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and prepares parishioners at every stage of life — from infant baptism through quinceañera, marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick. The Sacramental Emergency line is staffed for urgent anointings.
- Baptism classes: First Monday of each month; Baptisms: Third Sunday of each month
- Quinceañeras: last Saturday of each month, May through August, 10:00 AM
- Marriage: by appointment through the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick / Sacramental Emergency: (970) 441-5038
- OCIA (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist for adults)
- Religious Education for children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation
Mission Churches of the Parish
St. Helena functions as the mother church for two mission communities in neighboring towns, sharing the same pastor and providing Mass and pastoral care for Catholics in those rural areas.
- St. Francis of Assisi, Weldona — Sunday Mass 7:00 AM
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Wiggins — Sunday Mass 8:30 AM; Thursday Mass 6:00 PM (Spanish)
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish office is located in the same block as the church on West Seventh Avenue in Fort Morgan. Office hours are limited, so an appointment is recommended; for emergencies (Anointing of the Sick) the dedicated Sacramental Emergency line is available at any time.
- Address: 917 West 7th Ave, Fort Morgan, CO 80701
- Office Phone: 970-867-2885
- Fax: 970-867-5883
- Sacramental Emergency (Anointing of the Sick): (970) 441-5038
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM; Friday–Sunday closed
- Facebook: St Helena Catholic Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. Howlettpre-1908
First priest to say Mass in Fort Morgan; said it in a hotel parlor
- Rev. J.K. Dubbal1908–
First resident pastor of Fort Morgan; also cared for missions in Brush, Yuma, Wray and Akron across three counties
- Rev. Herman Leite1955–
In 1955 purchased seven acres from Park-Lane Addition for the future parish plant
- Msgr. Edward Dinan1968–1988+
Became pastor of St. Helena's and St. Francis of Assisi, Weldona, on June 11, 1968; nuns arrived at the parish August 1969; celebrated 20 years in 1988
- Rev. Lawrence Kaiser1992–2004
Deceased
- Rev. Jason Thuerauf2004–
Succeeded Fr. Kaiser
- Rev. Joseph Toledo
- Rev. Francisco J. Garcia
Listed on the parish history page as 'current pastor' at time of writing
- Rev. Eric Vigil Reyes2018–2024
Appointed by the Archdiocese of Denver, effective June 13, 2018, for a six-year term; also oversaw St. Francis of Assisi (Weldona) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Wiggins) missions
- Rev. Stephen A. Siebert2024–
Assigned effective July 1, 2024 by the Archdiocese of Denver; also pastor of St. Francis of Assisi (Weldona) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Wiggins)