About St. Mark · Westminster, Colorado
St. Mark Catholic Church is a Roman Latin rite parish in the Archdiocese of Denver, located at 3141 W. 96th Avenue in Westminster, Colorado. Established in 1973 and built the following year, it serves a growing north-metro Denver community that has drawn many young families in recent years. The parish offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday–Friday, an Adoration Chapel during the week, Saturday confessions, and a full Faith Formation program (Family Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, and OCIA). St. Mark's is best known in the Archdiocese for its faithful Catholic community life, its RCIA program, and a 2018–2019 $7 million renovation and expansion that reoriented the church, added a bell tower, devotional chapel, and baptismal font.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Jim Baird
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Mark offers a complete Catholic life in one parish: daily and Sunday Mass in the Roman-Latin rite, a weekday Adoration Chapel, Saturday confessions, a vibrant OCIA/RCIA process for those becoming Catholic, Family Faith Formation for children preschool–6th grade on Sunday mornings, a middle- and high-school Youth Ministry (INSPIRE for 6th–8th, EMPOWER for 9th–12th), sacramental preparation, Knights of Columbus Council #13131, a busy parish food bank, and a deeply committed founding-family community. With a recently renovated worship space, bell tower, devotional chapel and baptismal font, St. Mark is a parish where newcomers are welcomed and lifelong formation is taken seriously.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
- Tuesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
- Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Adoration Chapel)
History of St. Mark Parish
St. Mark Parish was established in 1973 in north-metro Denver and the church was built the following year with its original groundbreaking in 1974. The community expanded in 1986 and added a parish hall in 2001. By 2015, parish leaders projected 20,000 new residents within five years in the surrounding area, prompting plans for a major renovation. On March 11, 2018 the parish broke ground on a $7 million renovation and expansion project, designed by Integration Design Group and built by Haselden Construction, which was completed in time for Easter 2019. The project reoriented the church interior, added an 80-foot bell tower, devotional chapel, baptismal font, choir loft, narthex, accessible restrooms and a covered entrance facing the parish hall, while reconfiguring offices and outreach space.
- 1973 — Parish established
- 1974 — Original church built / groundbreaking
- 1986 — Church expanded
- 2001 — Parish hall added
- 2004 — Fr. Ken Koehler becomes pastor
- March 11, 2018 — Groundbreaking for $7M renovation
- Easter 2019 — Renovated church reopens
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Mark seeks to meet each parishioner on his or her own faith journey to both broaden and deepen it. All catechetical programs for children, youth and adults presume and build on regular, active participation in the liturgical life of the parish. The parish views the family as the primary educator, and parental involvement is integral to all levels of children's and youth faith formation and sacramental preparation.
- Family Faith Formation (Preschool–6th grade) — Sundays 10:15–11:20 am in the parish hall
- Sacramental Preparation — Year 1 (1st Reconciliation, Grade 2+); Year 2 (1st Eucharist & Confirmation, Grades 2–8)
- Adult Faith Formation classes offered throughout the year
- Program Director: Nancy Luensmann, 303-466-8720 ext. 116
Youth Ministry
St. Mark Catholic Youth Ministry seeks to support and form a generation of disciples anchored in the sacraments, pursuing a deeper relationship with God, and sharing the love of Christ through witness and outreach. The program is divided into INSPIRE for middle schoolers (6th–8th) and EMPOWER for high schoolers (9th–12th), with a separate Sacramental Preparation track for teens who still need the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist).
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA is the parish's process of prayer, spiritual formation and religious education for adults interested in learning about or becoming members of the Catholic Church, including the non-baptized, those baptized in another denomination, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and/or Holy Communion. Classes meet Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the church, beginning in September and continuing through the Easter season, with participants brought into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
- Classes: Tuesday evenings, 6:00–7:30 pm in the church
- Begins September 16 (next cycle) and continues through Easter
- Coordinator: Tom Palko, 303-466-8720 ext. 118, [email protected]
Outreach and Parish Food Bank
The parish operates a busy food bank that serves those in need in the Westminster community. The 2018–2019 renovation specifically improved and expanded the outreach ministry space so the parish could better serve its neighbors.
- Parish food bank — improved during 2018–2019 renovation
- Knights of Columbus Council #13131 / Assembly 2887 charitable works
Parish Life and Community
Beyond Mass and formation, St. Mark's parish life includes a Knights of Columbus council and assembly, the St. Mark 'That Man Is You!' men's group, a parish choir and other music ministry, family events such as a parish carnival, Trunk-or-Treat, and monthly family activities, as well as sacramental-preparation gatherings throughout the year.
- Knights of Columbus Council #13131 / Assembly 2887
- 'That Man Is You!' men's group
- Parish choir / music ministry
- Parish carnival and Trunk-or-Treat
- Family activities one Sunday a month
Becoming a Parishioner
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at St. Mark. Registration forms are available to print from the parish website and can be dropped off at the Parish Office, placed in the offertory basket, mailed in, or emailed to [email protected]. Anyone with questions can call the Parish Office at 303-466-8720 or email a staff member directly.
Clergy and Staff
St. Mark's pastoral team has been led by Father Ken Koehler since 2004, who guided the parish through its $7 million renovation and expansion. The parish is served by associate priests and a team of permanent deacons, including several who came up through parish ministries. Lay staff include the office administrator, OCIA coordinator, and Faith Formation program director.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ken Koehler2004–present
Long-tenured pastor who led the 2018–2019 $7 million renovation and expansion; later retired but remains connected to the parish (mentored Deacon Josh Dalcher through formation).