About St. Joseph · Fort Collins, Colorado
Saint Joseph Catholic Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Fort Collins, Colorado, founded in 1879 and seated at 300 W. Mountain Avenue, just steps from Old Town. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and is one of the oldest continuously operating parishes in northern Colorado, tracing its origins to the first Mass celebrated in Larimer County by pioneer Bishop Joseph P. Machebeuf. The parish offers a full sacramental life — five weekend Masses, daily Masses, weekday confessions, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and teens, youth ministry, and outreach through Social Justice, Jail Ministry, and Marisol Family — alongside its own parish school, Saint Joseph Catholic School.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Larkin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Saint Joseph offers a deep, traditional Catholic life: five Sunday Masses, daily Mass, weekday confessions, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, and a vibrant parish school and faith formation program for every age — from Children's Faith Formation (ages 3–5th grade) through Middle School Youth Group and The Works high school youth group, plus OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation. Members can also serve through the Social Justice Committee, Jail Ministry at the Larimer County Detention Center, Marisol Family (material assistance to families with young children), Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion visitation, and funeral ministries. Registered parishioners can celebrate the sacraments, support the parish school, receive donation statements for tax purposes, and participate in the liturgical, social, and ministerial life of one of the oldest parishes in northern Colorado.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.
- Monday–Friday: 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday: 8:30 a.m.
Adoration times
- Thursday: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Our History
Saint Joseph traces its roots to 1878–1879, when Bishop Joseph P. Machebeuf celebrated the first Mass in Larimer County and approved the founding of the parish. The original Riverside Avenue plot was bought on January 6, 1879 for $400; twenty years later Fr. LaJeunesse led the move to the current Mountain Avenue site, where parishioners raised the money in hours to save the deal. The present church was built in 1900 and dedicated in 1901, remodeled in 1960 (adding 10,000 square feet and a basement auditorium), and joined in 1979 by the Rectory and Parish Center. A school was begun in 1925 and opened to students on September 6, 1926, staffed by the Sisters of Loretto until the 1970s.
- 1878: Bishop Machebeuf celebrates first Mass in Larimer County
- 1879: Original plot purchased at 115 Riverside Ave. for $400
- 1900–1901: Current church built at Mountain & Howes for $12,000
- 1925–1926: School constructed; opens September 6, 1926 with 117 students
- 1960: Major remodel — 10,000 sq ft added, basement auditorium excavated
- 1979: Rectory and Parish Center completed on parish centennial
Stained Glass Windows and Statues
The interior of the historic church is rich with devotional art whose origins are partly mysterious. The stained-glass windows depict events in the lives of Jesus and Mary tied to the mysteries of the Rosary, but the original donors are unknown to this day. The east gallery begins with the Annunciation (Joyful Mysteries); the west gallery begins with the Agony in the Garden (Sorrowful Mysteries); the eighth window on the west side marks the Resurrection, beginning the Glorious Mysteries.
- East gallery windows — Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (Monday & Saturday)
- West gallery windows — Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)
- 8th window on the west — The Resurrection (start of Glorious Mysteries, Wednesday & Sunday)
- 13-foot statue of St. Joseph with Christ Child at the main altar
- Hand-carved statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady, each with a copper canopy
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Saint Joseph partners with parents to support the faith formation of children and teens from age three through high school. Children in 2nd grade prepare for and receive First Reconciliation and begin preparation for First Communion; in 3rd grade they prepare for Confirmation and First Communion and receive both at the same Mass. Sunday-morning Religious Education runs during the school year for children ages 3 through 5th grade from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Volunteer catechists must complete the 'Called to Protect' safe-environment workshop before working with young people.
- Child Faith Formation — ages 3 through 5th grade, Sundays 9:30–10:30 a.m.
- First Reconciliation — 2nd grade
- First Communion — received in 3rd grade
- Confirmation — received in 3rd grade alongside First Communion
- Sacramental Preparation for students age 7+ (Catholic and Non-Catholic)
- Called to Protect — required safe-environment training for volunteers
Youth Ministry
St. Joseph's youth ministry aims to foster encounters with Christ and His Church and to equip teens as His disciples and apostles. The program includes a Middle School Youth Group (MSYG) for 6th–8th graders meeting Wednesday nights during the school year, and The Works, a high school group that meets Tuesday nights from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. with a focus on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Brenda Kraft Memorial Scholarship is available to support participation.
- MSYG — Middle School Youth Group, 6th–8th grade, Wednesday nights
- The Works — High School Youth Group, Tuesdays 7:30–9:00 p.m.
- Lock-ins, retreats, and sacramental preparation throughout the year
- Brenda Kraft Memorial Scholarship
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through OCIA (formerly RCIA). Coordinator Jeanette can be reached at [email protected]. The parish describes the process as 'one of life's most profound and joyous experiences' — a journey of strengthening one's understanding of Church teaching and developing the spiritual life through the sacraments.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) / RCIA for new Catholics
- Contact: Jeanette, [email protected]
Music Ministry and Youth Choir
Music is integral to Saint Joseph's liturgical life. The parish supports a Director of Music Ministry and a Saint Joseph Youth Choir for all parish and school youth in grades 3 through 8, who sing and perform at liturgies throughout the year.
- Director of Music Ministry (staff position)
- Saint Joseph Youth Choir — grades 3–8
Saint Joseph Catholic School
The parish operates Saint Joseph Catholic School, a PreK–8 elementary school that opened in 1926 with 117 students and was originally taught by the Sisters of Loretto. The school has been expanded several times — additions in 1965 and 1999 added a science lab, music and art rooms, and office space, and a 2000 renovation enlarged the school further. Saint Joseph Catholic School enrolls around 190 students with an average class size of 18 and is committed to integrating Catholic teaching with academic excellence. More information is available at GoSaintJoseph.org.
- PreK–8 parish school opened September 6, 1926
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Loretto (until the 1970s)
- Additions in 1965, 1999, and a 2000 renovation
- Enrollment ~190, average class size 18
- Website: GoSaintJoseph.org
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Saint Joseph's pastoral care ministries extend the parish's presence beyond the church walls. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion visit Catholics who cannot attend Mass; the Funeral Ministry helps grieving families with funeral dinners; the Jail Ministry brings Holy Communion to inmates at the Larimer County Detention Center; and the Marisol Family network (formerly Gabriel House Project) provides basic material assistance to families with young children throughout Colorado.
- Communion Visitation — contact Deacon Greg Reynolds, [email protected]
- Funeral Ministry — prepares funeral dinners for grieving families
- Jail Ministry — visits Larimer County Detention Center for Holy Communion
- Marisol Family — material assistance for families with young children (970-581-8803)
Social Justice Committee
The parish's Social Justice Committee is rooted in the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching and meets monthly to organize acts of direct service, plan educational opportunities, and communicate service opportunities in the greater Fort Collins community. The committee partners with the pastor to decide funding for projects in the social-justice realm. Members participate in 40 Days for Life, a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses, and parish community outreach.
- Rooted in the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching
- Monthly meetings to organize direct service and education
- 40 Days for Life campaign and prayer vigil
- Partners with Fr. Simon Kalonga on funding decisions
Our Lady of the Lakes Mission — Red Feather Lakes
Saint Joseph operates a summer mission chapel, Our Lady of the Lakes, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. A Saturday Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m. from late May through early September, serving the Catholic community in the Red Feather Lakes area.
- Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m., May 30 – September 5
- Location: Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Our Staff
The parish's mission is 'Enabling pathways to salvation; bringing the presence of Jesus to the world.'
- Rev. Raj Adaikaladoss — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Greg Reynolds — Jail Ministry & Communion Visitation
- Destinie Sullivan — Coordinator of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Director of Music Ministry
- Director of Weddings
- Business Manager
- Office Manager — Destinie Sullivan
- Jean Hanson
- Oliver Knudson
- Chad Bauer — Interim Pastoral Assistant ([email protected])
Join the Parish
Whether you are new to the parish or have been attending Mass for years, Saint Joseph welcomes you to register. Registration lets you celebrate the sacraments, participate fully in parish life, support the parish school, receive donation statements for tax purposes, and affiliate formally with a Catholic community. Members share the costs of celebrating the liturgy with beauty and dignity, reaching out to the poor, offering faith formation, sustaining musical and cultural programs, and maintaining the historic church and school buildings.
- Church address: 300 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521
- Mailing address: 101 N. Howes St., Fort Collins, CO 80521
- Phone: 970.482.4148
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. LaJeunessecirca 1899
Led the campaign to purchase the Mountain Avenue plot and move the parish to its current site; the deal nearly fell through before parishioners raised the needed money in a few hours.