About St. John the Evangelist · Loveland, Colorado
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish is a Catholic parish and school community in Loveland, Colorado, serving Northern Colorado since 1901. Today it is a parish of more than 1,800 families, offering Mass in both English and Spanish, a parish school, faith formation for all ages, a perpetual adoration chapel, and a wide range of ministries. Its motto — Tradition, Communion, Mission — captures its identity as a longstanding faith family that gathers for worship, forms disciples, and reaches out in service. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Denver.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist (Apostle and Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Shannon Thurman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. John's is Loveland's only Roman Catholic parish, a faith family of more than 1,800 households with deep roots in Northern Colorado stretching back to 1901. Parishioners find a full sacramental life — Mass in English and Spanish, daily confession, a perpetual adoration chapel, and a Catholic school serving ages preschool through middle school — alongside vibrant ministries for children, youth, adults, and families, plus outreach through the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is a place where generations have been baptized, made First Communion, married, and served, and where newcomers are welcomed into a community that still lives out the vision of its founders.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00am–8:00am
- Saturday: 2:00–3:30pm
Adoration times
- Perpetual adoration chapel on campus
Our Story & History
St. John the Evangelist has been the Catholic home of Loveland Catholics since 1901, when early parishioners purchased three lots at 5th and Grant Avenue downtown and completed a Romanesque-style church in 1903 named for the Apostle and Evangelist Saint John. As the city and parish grew, the community moved in 1951 to a new site in northwest Loveland, dedicated its school in 1957, and built the current church at 1730 W. 12th Street in 1969. A perpetual adoration chapel and a major 2020–2021 Sanctuary and campus remodel (completed August 2021) shaped today's campus.
- 1877 — earliest Catholic Mass in Loveland
- 1901 — parish established; three lots purchased at 5th & Grant
- 1903 — Romanesque-style church completed downtown
- 1951 — land acquired in far northwest Loveland
- May 1, 1957 — Catholic school officially dedicated
- Late 1960s — parish grew from 500 to 850 families
- 1969 — current church built at 1730 W. 12th St.
- Mid-2000s — new gym built; old gym converted to cafeteria
- 2020–2021 — Sanctuary/foyer remodel, new offices, Bread of Life Hall, new rectory
Meet Our Clergy & Staff
St. John's is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and three deacons, alongside a dedicated lay staff leading faith formation, youth ministry, music, communications, finance, and maintenance. The current pastor, Father Shannon Thurman, was announced by the Archdiocese of Denver in spring 2022; he was a parishioner at St. John's and celebrated his first Mass there after his 2018 ordination. Father Stephen Sanguinetti serves as Parochial Vicar.
- Father Shannon Thurman — Pastor
- Father Stephen Sanguinetti — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon August Cordova — Director of Religious Education
- Deacon Denny Wallisch
- Deacon Stan Rymes
- Carol Woelfle — Business Manager
- Brian Wallisch — Adult Formation
- Danny Torrez — Youth Minister
- Debbie Paine — Finance
- Lisa Foncannon — Music Coordinator
- Tom Pehrson — Communications
- Dan Alcazar — Maintenance Coordinator
- Chuck Cegelski — Maintenance Assistant
- Rob Forlenza — Annulment Advocate
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a complete faith-formation program from preschool through adulthood, centered on the family. Religious Education for PreK–5th uses 'A Family of Faith' (Sophia Institute), a four-year Family Catechesis cycle that walks through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is a two-year process: First Reconciliation in 2nd grade, then Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the end of 3rd grade.
- Family Catechesis / 'A Family of Faith' — Sunday afternoons 2:45–4:00pm
- Sacramental Prep: First Reconciliation (2nd grade); Confirmation + First Communion (end of 3rd grade)
- Contact: Deacon August Cordova — (970) 635-5818 — [email protected]
- Contact for current year: Brian Wallisch — (970) 635-5810 — [email protected]
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School & Preschool
Founded alongside the parish's 1957 dedication, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School has provided private Catholic education in Loveland for over 60 years. The school teaches the whole person with high academic standards and a guided spiritual walk of faith, and offers a Catholic Preschool and Junior Kindergarten as well.
- Catholic Preschool & Jr. Kindergarten — Julie Bishop, Preschool Director, (970) 635-5830
- School Office: (970) 635-5830 — www.school.saintjohns.net
- For over 60 years of Catholic education
- Expanded over the years with a middle school wing, new gym, library, cafeteria, tech lab, and music room
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
St. John the Evangelist Youth Ministry assists parents in leading teens to meet Christ and abide in Him (John 14–15), combining catechesis, Bible studies, the Sacraments, service, discipleship, and fellowship. Separate Middle School and High School groups meet weekly during the school year.
- Middle School Youth Group (Grades 6–8) — Wednesdays, Sept–May, 6:30–8:00pm, St. John's Catholic School Gym
- High School Youth Group (Grades 9–12) — Sundays, Sept–May, 6:30–8:00pm, St. John's Hall
- Contact: Danny Torrez, Youth Minister — (970) 635-5817 — [email protected]
Adult Formation & RCIA
Adults can deepen their faith through ongoing classes, Bible studies, and small groups, and those seeking to join the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Past offerings have included Formed, Biblical School, and Families of Character.
- RCIA — for those joining the Catholic Church or exploring the faith
- Bible studies, small groups, and adult classes
- Contact: Brian Wallisch, Director of Adult Formation — (970) 635-5810 — [email protected]
Parish Library
The parish library is open before and after all weekend Masses and lends without charge a collection of roughly 2,000 books, videos, DVDs, and audio cassettes to parishioners.
- Open before and after all weekend Masses
- Approximately 2,000 items in the collection
- Contact: Lisa Ragsdale via the Parish Office, 970-635-5800 (specify calling for library)
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. John's hosts a local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that responds to neighbors in need with assistance for rent, utilities, food, and other basic needs. Those seeking help can reach the parish's SVdP through the contact page on the parish website.
- Rent, utilities, food, and other emergency assistance
- Contact via the parish contact page / parish office
Sacraments & Annulments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church — Baptism, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and the RCIA process for adults. A Sacramental Emergency line is available outside office hours, and an advocate is available to help parishioners navigate the annulment process in collaboration with the pastor and deacons.
- Sacramental Emergency: (970) 635-5804
- Annulment advocate: Rob Forlenza — (970) 635-5875 — [email protected]
- RCIA through the Office of Adult Formation
Visit & Contact
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish and School is located in a residential area on the west side of Loveland near Highway 34 (Eisenhower) and Taft Avenue. The Parish Office has moved into the church building (the old office building is closed). Office hours are Sunday 8:00am–2:30pm, Monday–Thursday 9:30am–4:30pm, and Friday 9:30am–Noon; the office is usually closed on federal holidays and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Address: 1730 W. 12th Street, Loveland, Colorado 80537
- Phone: (970) 635-5800 — [email protected]
- Sacramental Emergency: (970) 635-5804
- Located near Hwy 34 (Eisenhower) & Taft Avenue
- Sunday Mass livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father SteveRetired July 2022
Announced retirement at Masses March 26–27, 2022 after years of service to the parish.
- Rev. Shannon ThurmanStarting July 2022
Announced by the Archdiocese of Denver in spring 2022 as the new pastor; was ordained in 2018, celebrated his first Mass at St. John's, and was a parishioner here before answering the call to the priesthood.