About St. John Francis Regis Chapel (at Regis University) · Denver, Colorado
St. John Francis Regis Chapel is the signature Catholic worship space at Regis University, a Jesuit university in northwest Denver, Colorado. Officially dedicated in 2007 by Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., the chapel is operated by the university's Office of University Ministry and serves as the spiritual heart of the Regis campus. It hosts daily and Sunday Mass, reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, and an ecumenical Open Table communion, and welcomes students, faculty, staff and neighbors of every faith background. Designed by Soderstrom and Associates of Portland, Oregon, the chapel centers the altar and opens onto a brick garden walkway with Rocky Mountain views — a place shaped by the Ignatian call to 'find God in all things.'
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- St. John Francis Regis
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. John Francis Regis Chapel is the spiritual center of Regis University, a Jesuit Catholic institution, and welcomes students, faculty, staff and community members of every faith tradition. Daily and Sunday Mass — including a weekly Spanish Mass — is offered alongside Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and the ecumenical Open Table communion service. Through University Ministry and the Ignatian Spirituality Program, members can take part in retreats like Kairos, Hearts on Fire, the Silent Retreat and Connections, serve on spring-break immersions in Los Angeles, and join the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. — all grounded in the Jesuit tradition of 'finding God in all things.'
Mass times at St. John Francis Regis Chapel (at Regis University)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- During the academic year: Sundays at 4:30 p.m. in the chapel (resumes each fall in late August; see Regis UMin announcements)
- Summer (May 2 – Aug 22): by appointment — email [email protected] or call 303.458.4153
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered during the academic year on campus — see the Regis University Ministry chapel schedule for the current weekly time (linked from the University Ministry homepage)
About the Chapel
St. John Francis Regis Chapel is the signature worship space at Regis University, a Jesuit Catholic institution in northwest Denver. Officially dedicated in 2007 by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., the chapel anchors the university's Lowell campus and is operated through the Office of University Ministry. It is named after St. John Francis Regis, an 18th-century French Jesuit mountain missionary whose name Regis College itself took in 1921.
History
Regis University traces its roots to 1877, when Jesuit missionaries from Naples, Italy, founded Las Vegas College in New Mexico; in 1884 Bishop Joseph P. Machbeuf persuaded the Jesuits to open Sacred Heart College in Morrison, Colorado, which moved to the present northwest Denver campus in 1888. The college was renamed 'Regis' in 1921. Ground for the present chapel was broken in 2005 over the site of the former Robert J. O'Sullivan Center; it was dedicated in 2007 in the same year Regis reorganized into three colleges. Photographs from 1949–1950s in the Regis archives document an earlier chapel by the same dedication name, showing the continuity of Catholic worship on campus.
- 1877 — Las Vegas College founded in New Mexico by Jesuits from Naples, Italy
- 1884 — Bishop Machbeuf invites Jesuits to open Sacred Heart College in Morrison, CO
- 1888 — College moves to present northwest Denver campus
- 1921 — Renamed 'Regis' in honor of St. John Francis Regis
- 2005 — Ground broken for the current chapel on the O'Sullivan Center site
- 2007 — Chapel dedicated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Architecture & Art
Designed by Soderstrom and Associates of Portland, Oregon, the chapel uses a rare central-plan worship layout. The altar sits at the center of the building and processions move from the narthex out and around the sanctuary to a northern apse, descending a ramp to face the altar. The main floor is under 11,000 sq ft; two 'saddlebag' worship spaces east and west of the main sanctuary allow seating to expand from 150 to 530, and up to 630 when the narthex is also used. The total project is approximately 14,000 sq ft and includes a sanctuary, narthex, prayer chapel, courtyard and bell tower.
- Soaring spaces with wide vistas and natural materials
- Chapel Crucifixion
- Narthex 'Come to the Water' door panels
- Bronze Door Panels
- Icon of Madonna della Strada
- Chapel garden and brick walkway — Colorado-native plants, Rocky Mountain views
Jesuit Community & Clergy
The chapel is served by Jesuits of the Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus, who live at Faber Jesuit House directly west of the chapel and at the Regis University Jesuit Community (3333 Regis Blvd., Bldg. M-12). Fr. Kevin E. Burke, S.J., serves as Vice-President for Mission. Fr. Daniel J. Everson, S.J. (ordained 2024), Fr. Kevin E. Dyer, S.J. (Senior National Chaplain for FOCUS, ordained 2010), and Fr. Eustace Sequeira, S.J. are among the Jesuits in residence or in frequent sacramental ministry at the chapel and across Denver-area parishes.
- Rev. Kevin E. Burke, S.J. — VP for Mission
- Rev. Daniel J. Everson, S.J. — Jesuit in residence
- Rev. Kevin E. Dyer, S.J. — Senior National Chaplain, FOCUS
- Rev. Eustace Sequeira, S.J. — sacramental minister and Regis College faculty
- Taylor Vanasse — University Minister for Liturgy and Engagement
- Tamara Boynton — Director of Student Belonging; University Minister for Spiritual Diversity
- Beth Brin ([email protected]) — IFTJ and Hearts on Fire Retreat coordinator
- Joe Lagan ([email protected]) — Ignatian Spirituality Program
University Ministry & Ignatian Spirituality
The Office of University Ministry (UMin) creates a welcoming environment where all Regis students can feel at home, inspired by St. Ignatius Loyola and his companions to 'find God in all things.' Through its Jesuit Catholic foundations and the practice of cura personalis, UMin cultivates intellectual curiosity, gratitude and servant leadership. The Ignatian Spirituality Program (ISP), part of the Office of Mission, provides one-on-one spiritual direction in person or virtually — no prior experience necessary. Promoting interfaith dialogue and supporting individuals in their own traditions is an important part of the office's mission.
- Office of University Ministry
- Ignatian Spirituality Program (ISP) — contact Joe Lagan ([email protected])
- Welcoming All Faiths — interfaith dialogue and programming
- University Minister for Spiritual Diversity — interfaith engagement
- Office of Mission — cura personalis
Retreats & Immersions
University Ministry offers a wide range of retreats and immersion experiences throughout the year — from half-day Days of Reflection to overnight and week-long immersions — designed for Regis's traditional undergraduate students, with some opportunities open to graduate students. Retreats are offered to students of any or no spiritual/faith tradition. For non-traditional students and community members, the Ignatian Spirituality Program and Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House are suggested as additional formation resources.
- Kairos — March 20–22, 2026, Highlands Camp & Retreat Center, Allenspark, CO
- Hearts on Fire — Feb. 13–14, 2026, Mother Cabrini Shrine
- Silent Retreat — Oct. 24–25, 2025, Sacred Heart Retreat Center, Sedalia, CO
- Connections (first-year) — Sept. 26–27, 2025, Ponderosa Retreat Center, Larkspur, CO
- Days of Reflection (e.g. Womxn in Faith — Oct. 4, 2025)
- Spring Break Immersion — March 1–7, 2026, Dolores Mission Parish and Homeboy Industries, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles
- Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) — Nov. 14–17, 2025, Washington, D.C.
Service, Justice & Immersion
Service, immersion and social-justice formation are central to Regis's Jesuit identity. The Office of University Ministry accompanies students on immersion trips — most notably the spring break trip to Dolores Mission Parish and Homeboy Industries in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles — and sends a delegation each fall to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, University Ministry and the Office of Service Learning together coordinate service, volunteer and immersion trips locally, nationally and internationally with partners such as Habitat for Humanity, All Hands and Hearts, Global Brigades and Homeboy Industries.
- Spring Break Immersion — LA (Dolores Mission/Homeboy Industries)
- Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ)
- Urban Plunge — local service experience
- Habitat for Humanity, All Hands and Hearts, Global Brigades, Homeboy Industries partnerships
- RegisCorps service program