About St. Mary Catholic Parish · Littleton, Colorado
St. Mary Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic church and school in Littleton, Colorado, within the Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1901 at the request of Bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz, it is one of the oldest Catholic parishes serving the south-metro Denver community. The parish is served by the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM), a religious order founded in Spain in 1987 whose charism is to build up the Church as a family of families. Today nearly 2,000 families, a parish school of about 475 students, and an extensive network of ministries, outreach programs, and perpetual adoration call St. Mary their faith home.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Andrej Makovnik, DCJM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Mary offers an unusually full Catholic life for a parish its size: two weekday Masses, four Sunday Masses including a 5:00 pm youth Mass, daily confession, and 24-hour perpetual adoration in the Magnificat Adoration Chapel. Roughly 2,000 families pray, learn, and serve together, with a parish school of nearly 475 students, robust faith formation from preschool through high school confirmation, RCIA for adults and children, and more than 40 active ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, the St. Mary Parish Food Pantry, Knights of Columbus, Knights Ladies Auxiliary, Stephen Ministry, Rachel's Vineyard, and Adopt-a-Family. Add the warm, family-centered spirituality of the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and you have a place where there is genuinely a home for every age and state in life.
Mass times at St. Mary Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:05–8:15 am and 8:50–9:15 am
- Tuesday: 7:05–8:15 am and 8:50–9:15 am
- Wednesday: 7:05–8:15 am and 8:50–9:15 am
- Thursday: 7:05–8:15 am and 8:50–9:15 am
- Friday: 7:05–8:15 am and 8:50–9:15 am
- Saturday: 8:50–9:15 am and 3:15–4:30 pm
- Sunday: 30 minutes before each Mass
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Magnificat Adoration Chapel — chapel doors unlocked daily 6:00 am – 7:00 pm (some sources say 6:30 am – 6:30 pm); locked at night and accessible by code for registered night adorers
- Hours with special need for an adorer: Monday 7 am, Wednesday 10 am, Friday 1 pm, Saturday 10 am
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Mary Catholic Parish sits in the heart of Littleton, Colorado, within the Archdiocese of Denver, and has served Catholic families in the south-metro area since 1901. Its mission is concise and Eucharistic: 'Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are a community centered in the Eucharist. We seek to live our faith, to grow in holiness, and to proclaim the love of Christ through service to all.' Since 2007 that mission has been carried forward by the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM), a religious order founded in Spain in 1987 whose charism is to build up the Church as a family of families.
- Archdiocese of Denver parish
- Served by the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM) since 2007
- Mission: community centered in the Eucharist
History of St. Mary Parish
St. Mary was founded in 1901 at the request of Bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz. Ground was broken July 21, 1901, at Nevada Street and Powers Avenue, and Fr. Richard Brady celebrated the first Mass in the permanent building on October 11, 1901. Pioneer Joseph W. Bowles donated the land and funded construction; the James Maloney family — James Maloney served as mayor of Littleton 1910–1919 — were also early pillars. The parish weathered the 1918 influenza pandemic, expanded under Fr. Joseph Desaulnier in the 1920s, opened St. Mary Catholic School under the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1951, and dedicated the present-day church on September 13, 1962, with Archbishop Urban J. Vehr presiding. A parish hall, new school, rectory, and convent followed; Fr. Joseph Monahan's 'Renewing our Heritage… Building for the Future' campaign in the late 1980s/early 1990s funded Joachim Hall and the renovation of Marian Hall. In 2007 administration passed to the DCJM, and Fr. Javier Nieva was installed as pastor in 2014.
- 1901: Parish founded at request of Bishop Matz; ground broken July 21
- 1901: First Mass celebrated October 11 by Fr. Richard Brady
- 1914: First full-time pastor Fr. Edward Clarke
- 1920: 101 parishioners, ~5% of Littleton's population
- 1947: Parish hall built
- 1951: St. Mary Catholic School opens (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet)
- 1962: Current church dedicated by Archbishop Vehr (Sept 13)
- 1977: Debt-free parish; new parish center completed
- 1995–1996: Marian Hall renovated; air conditioning installed in church
- 2007: DCJM assume parish administration
- 2014: Fr. Javier Nieva, DCJM installed as pastor
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Mary is staffed entirely by members of the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who serve together with several permanent deacons and a broad lay staff. The pastor is Fr. Andrej Makovnik, DCJM; Fr. James de Cendra, DCJM serves as both a parochial vicar and the principal of St. Mary Catholic School. Additional parochial vicars include Fr. Javier O'Connor, DCJM and Fr. José Noriega, DCJM; Fr. Juan Puech, DCJM is in residence, and Br. Joseph Paolucci, DCJM serves as Administrator & Youth Minister.
- Fr. Andrej Makovnik, DCJM — Pastor
- Fr. James de Cendra, DCJM — Parochial Vicar / School Principal
- Fr. Javier O'Connor, DCJM — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. José Noriega, DCJM — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Juan Puech, DCJM — In-Residence
- Br. Joseph Paolucci, DCJM — Administrator & Youth Minister
- Deacons: Dcn. Greg Frank, Dcn. Tim Kilbarger, Dcn. Mike Seback, Dcn. Rich Hamilton, Dcn. Stephen Myer, Dcn. Ashley Lessard
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Mary spans cradle to grave. The parish uses a family-based, Montessori-influenced curriculum (Nazareth and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) for younger children, a structured Bethlehem program for first sacraments, and a multi-year confirmation track for older students. Adult formation includes RCIA, Galilee Young Adults, Bible study, and small-group fellowships such as Families of Bethany, ENDOW, Magnificat Moms, Way of Fire, and Taste & See.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–6) — Wednesdays 4:15–5:45 pm in the school Atrium
- Bethlehem Sacramental Prep (K–3) — Sundays 11:00 am–12:15 pm
- Nazareth Elementary Youth Group (K–4)
- Nazareth Middle School (Grades 5–8)
- Confirmation Preparation (Grades 6–12) — Wednesdays 3:15–4:30 pm or Sundays 10:45 am–12:15 pm
- Emmaus High School Youth Group (Grades 9–12)
- RCIA for adults, teens, and children
- Galilee Young Adults (18–35) — Saturdays after Mass ~9:15–11:00 am
- Tuesday Noon Bible Study (1:00–3:00 pm in the Pastoral Center)
- Spanish Exchange Program / Summer Trip to Spain
St. Mary Catholic School
Opened September 4, 1951, under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Mary Catholic School serves about 475 students with a mission to be 'Focused on Students and Centered in Christ.' The school educates the heart, mind, body, and soul of each child, seeking to form engaged Catholics, lifelong learners, responsible community members, and effective communicators. Fr. James de Cendra, DCJM serves as principal, with a faculty including an assistant principal and grade-level teachers from preschool through 8th grade. The school runs an extended-day program and hosts parish faith-formation classes on campus.
- Enrollment: approximately 475 students
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
- Principal: Fr. James de Cendra, DCJM
- School office: 303.798.2375
Liturgy & Music
The liturgy is supported by a Director of Liturgy and a team of liturgical ministers, with the Anna Martin Gift Shop serving as the parish's on-site religious goods store. A nursery is available during the 9:30 and 11:30 am Sunday Masses, and the Sunday 5:00 pm Mass is celebrated as the parish Youth Mass.
- Director of Liturgy: Larry Tracy (per bulletin)
- Nursery open at 9:30 am and 11:30 am Sunday Masses
- Anna Martin Gift Shop — Wed–Fri 8:00–10:00 am; Sat 8:00–10:00 am and 2:30–6:00 pm; Sun 8:30 am–1:30 pm
Outreach & Charity
St. Mary's outreach ministries respond to material, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs within parish boundaries and beyond. The St. Mary Parish Pantry, a partner of Food Bank of the Rockies, distributes roughly 40 lbs. of food per visit to local families every Monday morning from Marian Hall. St. Vincent de Paul volunteers provide financial assistance (rent, utilities, gas and grocery vouchers, limited hotel vouchers) to neighbors within the parish's geographic boundaries. Other outreach arms include Adopt-a-Family (Christmas giving), Rachel's Vineyard of Colorado and Project Rachel (post-abortion healing), Gabriel House, Mother of Mercy Ministry (practical help such as rides, housework, and childcare), Habitat for Humanity, Respect Life, and a parish bus that brings seniors to weekend Masses.
- St. Mary Parish Pantry — Mondays 10:00 am–12:00 noon; line-up 9:30 am in the main lot; partner of Food Bank of the Rockies
- St. Vincent de Paul — financial assistance (rent, utilities, hotel/gas/grocery vouchers) for those within parish boundaries
- Adopt-a-Family — Christmas outreach, meetings begin mid-November
- Rachel's Vineyard / Project Rachel — post-abortion healing retreats
- Mother of Mercy Ministry — practical service: rides, housework, yard work, childcare
- Gabriel House
- Bus Drivers — parish bus brings seniors to weekend Masses
- Habitat for Humanity and Respect Life collaborations
Support & Family Life Ministries
Pastoral care at St. Mary extends to grief, illness, divorce, addiction, and the everyday needs of family life. Stephen Ministers are trained lay listeners who walk with parishioners through difficult seasons; Al-Anon meets Wednesdays at 11:30 am in the Pastoral Center; and separate groups serve caregivers, those experiencing divorce, and those grieving the loss of a loved one (Footprints). Family Life ministries include Altar and Rosary, Coffee & Doughnuts, Funeral Reception, Gardening, Prayer Quilts, Rosary Makers, the Sunshine Club, and the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary — organizations with deep roots in parish social and spiritual life.
- Stephen Ministry — trained lay listeners for difficult circumstances
- Al-Anon — Wednesdays 11:30 am, Pastoral Center
- Caregivers Support Group
- Divorce Support Group
- Footprints Grief Support Group
- Knights of Columbus & Knights Ladies Auxiliary
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Funeral Reception Ministry
- Prayer Quilts and Rosary Makers
- Sunshine Club
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptism and marriage are arranged through the Parish Office; marriage preparation must begin 8–12 months before the wedding. Following the Archdiocese of Denver norm, children typically receive First Reconciliation in 2nd grade and Confirmation and First Holy Communion in 3rd grade through the Bethlehem program; older children enter Confirmation Preparation (Grades 6–12). Daily and Sunday confession schedules are posted on the website, and the sick may contact the Pastoral Center for Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office, 303.798.8506
- Marriage preparation 8–12 months prior to wedding
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade), Confirmation and First Eucharist (3rd grade)
- RCIA — inquiry and full initiation for adults and older children
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Pastoral Center
Visiting & Getting Involved
New parishioners are warmly invited to register online or by phone. Parishioners can update family information through forms on the website, sign up for an hour of weekly adoration via adorationpro.org/stmarylittleton, or contact any ministry directly using the listings on the parish website. The Anna Martin Gift Shop in the church vestibule is open before and after most Masses, and the Pastoral Center is open Monday–Friday 8:15 am–4:15 pm (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30 pm).
- Parish registration available online or by calling 303.798.8506
- Sign up for adoration at adorationpro.org/stmarylittleton
- Pastoral Center hours: Mon–Fri 8:15 am–4:15 pm (closed 12:00–12:30 pm)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Richard Brady1901
Celebrated the first Mass in the permanent church building on October 11, 1901.
- Fr. Edward Clarke1914
First full-time pastor of St. Mary.
- Fr. Joseph Desaulnier
Native Canadian pastor who oversaw the first expansion of the church to accommodate growth.
- Fr. Joseph Monahanlate 1980s – mid 1990s
Directed the 'Renewing our Heritage… Building for the Future' Capital Campaign; oversaw construction of Joachim Hall.
- Fr. Javier Nieva, DCJM2014 –
Installed in 2014; led the parish under DCJM administration.
- Fr. Jose Noriega, DCJM2023
Listed as Pastor in the May 2023 parish bulletin.
- Fr. Andrej Makovnik, DCJMcurrent
Current pastor per the parish staff page.