St. Mary

About St. Mary Catholic Church

St. Mary's is a small, friendly Catholic mission parish hidden in the heart of Ault, Colorado. The parish hosts a Saturday evening Mass, a Tuesday Communion Service, monthly First Friday and First Wednesday devotions with Eucharistic Exposition, and a children's Religious Education program. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for FlockNote to stay informed about events, and a weekly bulletin is published every Friday.

History of the Parish

Catholic life in Ault dates back to 1940, when local Catholics were first cared for as a mission stop by priests from Our Lady of Peace in Greeley. In October 1953 Father Dominic Morera purchased three lots on East 4th Street from the Romero family to found a chapel, and ground was broken on October 11, 1953 with Father Casimiro Roca assisting. The mission was officially dedicated by Archbishop Vehr on February 18, 1958, was enlarged in 1964–1968, was served by the Redemptorist Fathers from 1983 to 1999, was transferred to Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor in 2002, and was placed under Father Samuel Morehead in 2025.

• 1940 — Ault established as a mission stop, cared for by priests from Our Lady of Peace in Greeley
• October 1953 — Fr. Dominic Morera purchases three East 4th Street lots; ground broken Oct. 11, 1953 with Fr. Casimiro Roca
• 1953 — Old frame schoolhouse moved, remodeled, and established as Saint Mary Mission under the Sons of the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
• 1958 — Mission officially dedicated by Archbishop Vehr on February 18
• 1964–1968 — Major expansion: seating for 225, basement with kitchen and RE space; blessed May 26, 1968
• 1983 — Redemptorist Fathers take over Our Lady of Peace and Saint Mary's
• 1999 — Redemptorists withdraw; Fr. Bernie Schmitz appointed by the Archdiocese
• 2002 — Saint Mary's transferred to Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor; Fr. James Spahn, V.F. serves as administrator 2002–2012
• 2013 — Fr. Gregg Pedersen appointed pastor
• 2025 — Rev. Samuel Morehead installed as Pastor

First Friday & First Wednesday Devotions

Two monthly devotions anchor the parish's Eucharistic life: a First Friday Devotion in honor of the Sacred Heart, and a First Wednesday Devotion in honor of St. Joseph. Each includes a Communion Service, a Litany, and one hour of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

• First Friday — 8:30 AM Communion Service, Litany of the Sacred Heart, and 1 hour of Exposition
• First Wednesday — 8:30 AM Communion Service, Litany of St. Joseph, and 1 hour of Exposition

Religious Education & Faith Formation

Children's Religious Education at St. Mary serves children in grades 1 through 12. Registration opens each summer and classes meet on Wednesday evenings. As a mission of Our Lady of the Valley, the parish also shares in the broader faith formation offerings of the larger parish community.

• Children's Religious Education (grades 1–12)
• Wednesday evenings 5:30–6:45 PM during the school year
• $75 per child; registration opens June 29, 2026 for the 2026–2027 year (classes begin September 9)
• Contact: Alfie Rael, [email protected]

Prayer Ministries & Special Events

The parish hosts a variety of prayer and devotional gatherings throughout the year, including an OLV Prayer Ministry Night with one-on-one healing prayer after Mass, an annual Stations of the Cross during Lent, and seasonal reflections such as the Advent Night Reflection led by Fr. Samuel Morehead.

• Saturday Rosary group (5:30 PM)
• OLV Prayer Ministry (healing prayer, one-on-one prayer after Mass)
• National Day of Prayer event with Confessions, music, and one-on-one prayer
• Advent Night Reflection with Fr. Samuel Morehead
• Stations of the Cross during Lent
• Annual Knights of Columbus event
• Sacred Scripture study led by Alfie (Blessed Virgin Mary and the Papacy)

Online Mass

For parishioners who cannot attend in person, the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass from Our Lady of the Valley Parish is livestreamed on the OLV Facebook page. Recordings of previous Masses can be viewed on the parish's Facebook or YouTube channel.

• Sunday 10:00 AM livestream via the OLV Facebook page
• Previous Mass recordings available on Facebook and YouTube

Clergy & Staff

St. Mary's is a mission of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Windsor and shares pastoral care with that parish. The current pastor, Rev. Samuel Morehead, was installed in 2025; the parish's Religious Education coordinator is Alfie Rael.

• Pastor — Rev. Samuel Morehead (installed 2025), phone (970) 686-5084
• Religious Education — Alfie Rael, [email protected]
• Office — [email protected], (970) 834-1609

Visit & Contact

The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM at 267 E. 4th Street in Ault. Visitors are warmly welcomed — the parish invites anyone in the area to come and worship with them.

• Address: 267 E. 4th Street, Ault, Colorado 80610
• Office phone: (970) 834-1609
• Pastor phone: (970) 686-5084
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Website: http://www.stmarysault.com/
• About 15 minutes north of Greeley along Highway 85