St. Mary

St. Mary Catholic Parish — Brush, Colorado

St. Mary Catholic Church sits at 340 Stanford Street in Brush, Colorado, roughly 90 miles northeast of Denver in Morgan County on the High Plains. It is the anchor of a three-parish family in the Archdiocese of Denver's Northeastern Colorado deanery, joined by St. John in Stoneham (a mission, 30 miles north) and St. Joseph in Akron (25 miles east on US Hwy 34). The parish's 1994 mission statement describes it as 'a faithful family called and sent by God to share and live the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church' through the Eucharist, the sacraments, and the proclamation of the Word.

Our History

Catholic life in Brush dates to 1911, with the first church dedicated on Custer Street in 1912. A second, larger church — the one parishioners know today — was begun in 1966 and dedicated on June 19, 1967 by Archbishop Casey, just three months after its first Mass on March 12, 1967. The parish marked its 50th anniversary on June 25, 2017, with Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and then-pastor Fr. Marek Ciesla.

• 1911 — parish founded
• 1912 — first St. Mary's dedicated on Custer Street
• August 1958 — Fr. Ahern arrives; parish roughly 100 Catholic families
• March 1966 — Mr. Alonzo Petteys donates nine building lots
• April 1966 — Boxer/Petteys gifts of $5,000 each launch the building campaign; Archbishop Vehr presents ~$17,000 from Colorado's first Archdiocese Development Fund
• June 1966 — groundbreaking, with Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hackert turning the first shovel
• March 12, 1967 — first Mass in the new Stanford Street church
• June 3, 1967 — first Nuptial Mass (Mary Lynn Graf & Walter Marsh)
• June 11, 1967 — community open house
• June 19, 1967 — solemn dedication with Archbishop Casey; Fr. Joseph O'Malley preaches, with Frs. Ahern, Breunig, Nevans, and Carroll concelebrating
• June 25, 2017 — 50th anniversary celebration with Archbishop Aquila

The Church Building

The present church was designed by Denver architect Henry J. DeNicola. The upper worship level covers approximately 5,549 square feet and seats about 490; a 4,338-square-foot parish hall sits on the lower level. The combined church and rectory project cost $163,560 in 1967.

• Architect: Henry J. DeNicola, Denver
• Seating: ~490
• Upper level: 5,549 sq. ft.
• Lower level (parish hall): 4,338 sq. ft.
• Total construction (church + rectory): $163,560

Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently served by a pastor and a parochial vicar. Office staff are partly volunteer, with regular office hours in Brush on Thursday and Friday and at St. Joseph's in Akron on Tuesday and Wednesday. In case of illness, hospitalization, or sudden death, the parish office may be reached at 970-842-2216.

• Pastor: Rev. Herman Nsubuga (appointed July 1, 2024 — six-year appointment)
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Maurice Uchenna Okeke (appointed July 1, 2021)
• RE Coordinator: Cassie Potts
• Office: Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Akron); Thursday & Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Brush)
• Fr. Herman's local hours: 1st & 3rd weeks of the month, Thu & Fri, 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or by appointment
• Fr. Maurice's local hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or by appointment

Religious Education (RE) & Youth

St. Mary runs an in-person Religious Education program for children from preschool through 12th grade on Sunday mornings, with the RE Coordinator being Cassie Potts. The calendar follows the Brush School District breaks. A Youth Group for grades 7-12 meets Sunday afternoons in the RE Building. Registration for the 2026-27 year opens online.

• Children's RE — Sundays 9:00 a.m., preschool-12th grade
• Last Day of Classes 2025-26: Sunday, May 3, 2026
• Youth Group — Sundays 4:00-5:30 p.m., grades 7-12, St. Mary RE Building
• RE Coordinator & Youth Group Leader: Cassie Potts
• Online registration via the parish RE Registration Form

Knights of Columbus — Marian Council #4627

The Brush Council of the Knights of Columbus supports parish life and offers annual scholarships to qualifying graduating seniors of St. Mary's (Brush) or St. John's (Stoneham) who are continuing their education in any field. Applications are typically due in April.

• Marian Council #4627
• Up to three scholarships of $250-$500 per year
• Eligibility: graduating senior from St. Mary's (Brush) or St. John's (Stoneham), continuing education, application submitted by deadline
• Contact: Marty Stratman, St. Mary's Knights of Columbus

Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish

The parish welcomes Catholics transferring from another parish, those coming from a non-Catholic background, and anyone returning to the faith. Newcomers seeking to become Catholic are invited into the parish's R.C.I.A. program; those already Catholic complete a membership form and return it to the parish office.

• Catholics transferring from another Catholic parish — contact the parish
• Coming from a non-Catholic background — inquire about RCIA
• Returning Catholics — contact the parish to reconnect
• Membership form available from the parish office

Visiting & Contact

St. Mary Catholic Church is located at 340 Stanford Street, Brush, Colorado 80723. Phone 970-842-2216; fax 970-842-4461; e-mail the pastor at [email protected]. Office hours are Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with volunteer staff, with after-hours emergencies handled by the parish's normal emergency line or St. Joseph's (Akron), St. Helena's (Fort Morgan), or St. Anthony's (Sterling).

• Address: 340 Stanford Street, Brush, CO 80723
• Phone: (970) 842-2216 — Fax: (970) 842-4461
• Pastor e-mail: [email protected]
• Brush office hours: Thursday & Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (volunteer staff)
• Akron office (St. Joseph): Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Sister Parishes in the Cluster

St. Mary in Brush shepherds two companion parishes across the High Plains of northeastern Colorado. St. John in Stoneham is a Mission of St. Mary's (30 miles north); St. Joseph in Akron is a separate parish 25 miles east along US Highway 34. Mass, confession, and contact information for each are listed on the parish website.

• St. John Catholic Church — 41629 Granite, Stoneham, CO 80754 (mission of St. Mary's); Sunday Mass 8:00 a.m.
• St. Joseph Catholic Church — 551 W. 6th Street, Akron, CO 80720; phone (970) 345-6996
• Mailing for St. John's: send all correspondence to St. Mary's, Brush