About St. Joseph · Pueblo, Colorado
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Blende/Salt Creek area of Pueblo, Colorado, belonging to the Diocese of Pueblo. Serving roughly 1,500 registered families across southern Pueblo's historically Italian, Hispanic, and multicultural neighborhoods, the parish offers daily and weekend Mass in English, a year-round religious education program for children and teens, a Confirmation program that runs a full two years, and active parish groups including the Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and Men of Joseph. The present church building, dedicated in 1981, sits on South Aspen Road alongside the Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall, a Prayer Garden for the Unborn, and outdoor shrines including a statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Dela Cruz Matitu, SSS (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pueblo
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish — daily and weekend Mass (livestreamed twice a week), Confession on Saturdays, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, Baptism preparation, two years of Confirmation formation for teens, OCIA/RCIA for adults, a robust K–8 religious education program, and Quinceañera preparation — all under the pastoral care of Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS. The parish is also a working community of families: the Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Men of Joseph, Music Ministry, Youth Group, St. Vincent de Paul pantry, and a parish-wide three-year vision rooted in discipleship and evangelization mean there are real ways to belong and to serve. Culturally diverse, family-sized, and rooted in the Blende/Salt Creek neighborhood since the 1940s, it is a place where new arrivals are welcomed by name.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (in the church)
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pueblo serving the Blende, Salt Creek, and Fulton Heights neighborhoods of southern Pueblo, Colorado. The parish gathers about 1,500 registered families from many cultural backgrounds — Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Slovenian, Croatian, Irish, Polish, and African American — and the parish's mission statement commits it to 'know and practice our faith through the Gospel, to serve the needs of our parish community with time, talent and treasure, to teach by example and, thereby, strengthen and inspire the parish community.' The parish office and Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall share the campus at 1145 S. Aspen Road.
- Vision: 'We, the Catholic Community of St. Joseph, are committed to following Christ in faith and love through the sacramental tradition of the Catholic Church.'
- Mission: To know and practice our faith through the Gospel, to serve the needs of our parish community with time, talent and treasure, to teach by example.
- Core Values: We Want You Here. God Wants You Here. We'll Help You Find Your Purpose.
History of St. Joseph Parish
The parish grew from a small adobe chapel in Salt Creek dedicated to the Holy Family. After the 1902 zinc smelter brought waves of New Mexico and Italian immigrant workers, a second chapel was built and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the community served as a mission of St. Patrick's Parish in Pueblo and then of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in The Grove. In 1948 the parish opened a school on the present Aspen Road site using barracks relocated from the Pueblo Army Air Base, and in 1953 the school auditorium was converted into a church and dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph.
- 1948 – School opens on Aspen Road in converted WWII-era army barracks.
- 1953 – Auditorium-turned-church dedicated to St. Joseph.
- 1960 – St. Joseph elevated to parish status.
- 1965 – Rev. Charles Murray launches the new-church fundraising campaign.
- 1971 – Parish school closes along with other Catholic schools in Pueblo.
- 1981 – Present church dedicated.
- 2013 – Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall dedicated.
Mass & Liturgy
Mass is offered daily Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. and four times on weekends: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m. The Saturday 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. liturgies are livestreamed on the parish website. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin listing Celebrant and assisting deacon.
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. (livestreamed)
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (11:00 a.m. livestreamed)
Pastoral & Office Staff
St. Joseph is led by Fr. Joseph Dela Cruz Matitu, SSS, a Filipino priest of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, who is currently the Parish Administrator (also overseeing St. Therese in Vineland). He is assisted by Deacon Ed Riccillo, who coordinates Baptism classes, OCIA/Adult Faith Formation, and marriage annulments. The parish office is staffed by an administrative assistant, business manager, director of religious education, music/youth ministry director, Quinceañera coordinator, altar-server coordinator, and maintenance and custodial crews.
- Fr. Joseph Dela Cruz Matitu, SSS — Parish Administrator
- Deacon Ed Riccillo — Baptism/OCIA/Marriage Annulment
- Fr. Joseph Lixon-Aswez
- Fr. Charlie Sena — Retired Priest
- Deacon Paul Villegas (assigned to Sacred Heart, Avondale)
- Liz Chapman — Administrative Assistant (ext. 100)
- Christine Steele — Director of Religious Education
- Elaine Gardner — Business Manager
- Marcos LeBlanc — Music Ministry Director / Youth Ministry / Confirmation I & II / Men of Joseph
- Richard Noriega — Altar Server Coordinator
- Maria Cornejo — Quinceañera Coordinator
- Jimmy Marrufo — Grounds Maintenance; Josh Ewing — Custodial Supervisor; Larry Pacheco, Isaiah Rodriguez, Jane Ortiz — Custodial/Maintenance
Sacraments
St. Joseph prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation (a two-year program using DECISION POINT for high-school youth), Marriage and Anointing of the Sick are all coordinated through the parish office, and Quinceañera preparation includes a year of prior religious-education attendance plus a class with coordinator Maria Cornejo.
- Baptism — contact Deacon Ed Riccillo
- First Communion — sign up via parish office
- Confirmation I & II (HS) — two-year program, DECISION POINT curriculum
- OCIA / RCIA — adult initiation, contact parish office
- Marriage — and Marriage Annulment coordination via Deacon Ed
- Quinceañera — must be registered in Religious Ed the prior year and attend a class with Maria Cornejo
Faith Formation & Youth
A large K–8 catechism program is paired with a two-year, high-school Confirmation program that uses the DECISION POINT curriculum. There is also a teen-led High School Youth Group that meets for fellowship, service trips, and Life Teen 'Life Nights,' as well as a dedicated St. Joseph Teen Choir for 9th–12th graders and a monthly youth Mass at which teens serve as lectors, hospitality, musicians, and gift-bearers.
- K–8 Catechism Classes — Director: Christine Steele
- High School Confirmation I & II — Marcos LeBlanc, coordinator
- St. Joseph Youth Group — Life Nights, service trips, movie nights
- St. Joseph Teen Choir (9–12 grade, contemporary worship)
- Monthly Youth Mass
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish's lay organizations are central to its life. The Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Men of Joseph, and Women's Auxiliary all meet regularly and recruit new members. Music Ministry is led by Marcos LeBlanc and includes the parish choir, and the Altar Server program is coordinated by Richard Noriega. The parish also runs a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and a community garden tended by parishioners with farming expertise to supply food for families in need.
- Knights of Columbus — John Spearing, 719-321-2799
- Council of Catholic Women — Diana Alvarado, 719-251-9146
- Men of Joseph — Marcos LeBlanc (ext. 104)
- Women's Auxiliary
- Music Ministry & Choir — Marcos LeBlanc
- Altar Servers — Richard Noriega
- St. Vincent de Paul Pantry
- Parish Community Garden
Facilities & Grounds
The St. Joseph campus includes the church, the Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall, the parish office, a Prayer Garden for Unborn Children at the front of the church, and a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. The parish hall is available to rent for events (inquiries through the parish office — Judy Martinez, 719-289-2615). The Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall sits at 1145 S. Aspen Road on the same address as the office.
- Church (dedicated 1981)
- Fr. Charles J. Murray Parish Hall (dedicated 2013) — Rentals: Judy Martinez, 719-289-2615
- Prayer Garden for Unborn Children (front of church)
- Statue of St. Francis of Assisi
Parish Life & Fundraisers
Beyond the liturgies, St. Joseph runs a full calendar of community-building events. The annual Parish Festival, the November Spaghetti Dinner, the Craft Fair, the Ladyfinger Cookie Sale (a goal of roughly 18,000 cookies annually for sale at $6 for eight), Vacation Bible School, and a Golf Fundraiser all draw the parish and the wider Pueblo community. Pastor Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS also regularly shares a written reflection in the weekly bulletin.
- Annual Parish Festival
- Annual Spaghetti Dinner (November)
- Annual Craft Fair
- Ladyfinger Cookie Sale
- Golf Fundraiser
- Vacation Bible School
- Fr. Matitu's weekly bulletin column
Contact & Visit
New parishioners are encouraged to download the registration form from the parish website, fill it out, print it, and bring it to the parish office during weekday hours (Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to noon) or to Mass on weekends. Mass Intentions, OCIA sign-ups, First Communion, and Confirmation registration can all be handled by calling the parish office.
- Parish Office: 1145 S. Aspen Road, Pueblo, CO 81006
- Phone: (719) 544-1886
- Fax: (719) 544-5137
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–3 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–12 p.m. (Noon)
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjoespueblo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles J. Murray
Long-tenured pastor who in 1965 launched the campaign for the current church; the parish hall is now named for him. He also helped found the Mount Carmel Credit Union so parishioners could get home loans.
- Rev. Joseph VigilJanuary 2013 –
Came to the parish in January 2013; announced a three-year vision for discipleship and evangelization in January 2021 rooted in the Sycamore program.
- Fr. Joseph Dela Cruz Matitu, SSS2025 – present
Filipino priest of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament; arrived in the Diocese of Pueblo on January 17, 2022; appointed Parish Administrator of St. Joseph.