About St. Ignatius Loyola · Ignacio, Colorado
St. Ignatius Parish (St. Ignatius of Loyola) is a tri-ethnic Catholic parish of Hispanos, Southern Utes, and Anglos serving Ignacio, Colorado, on the Southern Ute Reservation. Located at 15449 Highway 172, the parish is the canonical home church for two mission communities: St. Bartholomew in Bayfield and St. Peter St. Rosa in Arboles. Declared a parish in July 1988 by Bishop Arthur Tafoya of the Diocese of Pueblo, the parish is best known for its revived Native American Heritage Mass, its celebration of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and the annual San Ignacio Fiesta. The parish motto, drawn from the Diocese of Pueblo, is 'One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church Uniting Cultures in Christ.'
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (the historic mission community was originally under the intercession of St. Cajetan)
- Rector
- Fr. Agbor 'Fredrick' Isek, MSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
St. Ignatius is a small, warm, tri-ethnic Catholic community on the Southern Ute Reservation that genuinely unites Hispanos, Southern Utes, and Anglos in one faith family. The parish offers Sunday and weekday Mass, monthly Adoration and Confession, a Healing Mass, a vibrant Native American Heritage Mass with traditional symbols and songs, and feast-day celebrations honoring St. Kateri Tekakwitha and the Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk. Faith formation runs from pre-K through high school, and the annual San Ignacio Fiesta draws over 200 visitors from across the Four Corners — a real sense of Catholic diversity in the heart of Ignacio.
Mass times at St. Ignatius Loyola
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (during Adoration, weeks 1, 3 & 4 of the month)
- St. Bartholomew (Bayfield): Saturday 3:30 p.m. (30 minutes before 4:00 p.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (1st, 3rd and 4th weeks of the month)
Parish History
Catholic life in Ignacio traces back to 1881, when circuit-riding padres celebrated Mass in homes and open fields for the small settlement. A clapboard church was built in 1898 on land officially set aside for missionary use in 1903. Under Theatine care from 1906, the community outgrew its buildings twice — first the 1917 adobe church, then the present church dedicated by Bishop Tafoya in 1981 — before being declared its own parish in 1988 with St. Bartholomew (Bayfield) and St. Peter St. Rosa (Arboles) as missions.
- 1881 – First Masses in Ignacio by circuit-riding priests
- 1898 – Clapboard church built
- 1903 – Three acres officially set aside for missionary use
- 1906 – Becomes a mission of the Theatine Order at Sacred Heart, Durango
- 1917 – Adobe brick church built
- 1961 – Parish hall created from a salvaged railroad depot
- 1976 – Fr. Donald Castonguay, SVD, becomes first full-time priest
- 1981 – Current church dedicated by Bishop Tafoya on September 20
- 1988 – Declared a parish by Bishop Tafoya
- 1995 – Rectory built on Becker Street
- 1997 – Fr. Edward Andary appointed pastor
- 2004 – 'Andary Hall' dedicated April 12 in memory of Fr. Andary
- 2023 – Parish returns to diocesan care after 117 years with the Theatines
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Succession
The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Agbor 'Fredrick' Isek, MSP, with help from Fr. Heriberto 'Beto' Torres-Velasquez, C.R., who is lending assistance from Sacred Heart Church. Selina Gallero serves as Office Manager. The parish's pastoral history is rich — from SVD missionary Fr. Donald Castonguay (the first full-time priest in 1976) to beloved pastor Fr. Edward Andary (1997–2003) to Theatine Fr. Cesar Arras, who revived the Native American Ministry (2019–2023).
- Pastor: Fr. Agbor 'Fredrick' Isek, MSP
- Assisting: Fr. Heriberto 'Beto' Torres-Velasquez, C.R.
- Office Manager: Selina Gallero
- Phone: (970) 563-4241 · Email: [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments under the Sacramental Preparation Guidelines of the Diocese of Pueblo. Baptisms are scheduled in person at the office with at least one month's notice; parents and godparents take pre-Baptismal classes valid for one year. First Communion and Confirmation both follow a two-year diocesan preparation cycle, with First Communion offered to 1st–2nd and 3rd–8th graders, and Confirmation to High School freshmen and older. Couples preparing for Matrimony must contact the office 6–9 months in advance and be active registered parishioners.
- Baptism – pre-Baptismal classes required; suggested donation $125
- First Holy Communion & Reconciliation – ages 1st–8th grade
- Confirmation – High School, 2-year diocesan program
- Matrimony – 6–9 months notice, required classes, active-member requirement
- Anointing of the Sick – call parish office
- RCIA / Catechumenate for older children and adults
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Ignatius serves children from Pre-K through High School, including sacramental preparation, ongoing faith formation, and a Middle School Youth Ministry that meets monthly after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. The parish uses the Circle of Grace Christian safety curriculum as mandated by the Diocese of Pueblo.
- Pre K–K Catechists: Christina Goy, Lilly Quintana & Rosie Cosio
- First Communion Coordinator: Carol O'Brien
- Confirmation Coordinators: Wendi Salas & Daisy Salas
- Youth Ministry Leaders: Christopher & Madeleine Gigliotti
- Pre K–1st graders: once a month during Mass (9:50 a.m. until Offertory)
- First Communion (1st–2nd): Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
- First Communion (3rd–8th): Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
- Confirmation (High School): Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
- Middle School Youth Ministry: once a month after 10 a.m. Mass until 12:30 p.m.
Native American Ministry
Revived under Fr. Cesar Arras, C.R., the Native American Ministry is the spiritual heart of the parish's tri-ethnic identity. A monthly Native American Catholic Mass weaves traditional symbols and songs into the liturgy. The parish venerates the relics of St. Kateri Tekakwitha and honors the Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk, the Oglala Sioux catechist whose cause for sainthood was opened in 2016. Visitors come from the dioceses of Gallup, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, El Paso, and Pueblo to share in the prayer.
- Monthly Native American Heritage Mass with traditional symbols and songs
- Annual St. Kateri Tekakwitha Feast Day Mass (feast day July 14)
- Veneration of relics of Sts. Ignatius and Kateri
- Prayers for the canonization cause of Nicholas Black Elk
- Rosary – 'A Prayer for all Native Peoples'
San Ignacio Fiesta
The annual San Ignacio Fiesta is the parish's signature community celebration, drawing more than 200 people from across the Four Corners. It begins with a Saturday morning parade through Ignacio and culminates in Sunday Mass, a community lunch, live music (often 'Variety Express'), and a raffle drawing. The fiesta is a vivid expression of the parish's tri-ethnic Catholic identity.
- 2026 Dates: July 25 (Saturday) & July 26 (Sunday)
- Parade theme: 'Celebrating Freedom, Adventure & Faith'
- Parade: Saturday 10:00 a.m. (line-up 9:00 a.m. at Ignacio High School)
- Fiesta Mass: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
- Lunch: approximately 11:30 a.m.
- Live music by 'Variety Express'
- Raffle drawing at 1:00 p.m.
Parish Campus & Buildings
The parish campus on Highway 172 includes the 1981 church, the preserved bell tower from the 1917 adobe church, the Tekakwitha Education Center (built during Fr. Andary's tenure), Andary Hall (parish hall dedicated April 12, 2004 in memory of Fr. Edward Andary), and a rectory built on Becker Street in 1995.
- Current church – dedicated September 20, 1981
- Bell tower from the 1917 adobe church (preserved)
- Tekakwitha Education Center
- Andary Hall (dedicated 2004)
- Rectory – 1995, Becker Street
Office, Contact & Visiting
The parish office is staffed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings and welcomes inquiries about sacraments, religious education, fiesta registration, and visiting the Native American Mass.
- Address: 15449 Hwy 172, P.O. Box 1350, Ignacio, CO 81137
- Phone: (970) 563-4241
- Fax: (970) 563-1032
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tues. 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Wed. & Thurs. 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Donald Castonguay, SVD1976 – c.1980s
Divine Word Missionary; first full-time priest of the community beginning April 5, 1976.
- Rev. Edward Andary1997 – 2003
Built Tekakwitha Education Center; planned new parish hall. Died December 12, 2003; 'Andary Hall' dedicated April 12, 2004.
- Various Diocesan and Theatine priests2004 – 2019
Priests from the Diocese of Pueblo and the Theatine Order shared ministry after Fr. Andary's death.
- Fr. Cesar Arras, C.R.August 2019 – September 2023
Theatine priest who revived the Native American Ministry; his departure ended 117 years of Theatine care of the parish.
- Fr. Kevin Novack (with Fr. John Jatau, PVC)October 4, 2023 – February 18, 2024
First diocesan pastor after the parish returned from the Theatines.
- Fr. Heriberto 'Beto' Torres-Velasquez, C.R.2024 – present (assisting)
Helping from Sacred Heart Church while the parish awaits a regular assignment.
- Fr. Agbor 'Fredrick' Isek, MSP2024 – present
Current pastor; MSP indicates the Missionary Society of St. Paul.