About St. Mary of the Crown · Carbondale, Colorado
St. Mary of the Crown is a Roman Catholic mission parish in Carbondale, Colorado, in the Roaring Fork Valley of the central Rocky Mountains. It is clustered with St. Vincent Parish in nearby Basalt, and the two share one pastor, one parish office, and one Catholic community. The parish falls under the Archdiocese of Denver and was established in 1980. Today it serves English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in Carbondale, El Jebel and Basalt, offering daily and Sunday Mass in both languages, Eucharistic adoration, OCIA (RCIA), religious education for children, and a robust collection of parish ministries ranging from a soup kitchen to jail outreach.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Crown (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of 'Our Lady of the Crown')
- Rector
- Fr. Salvador Sanchez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Crown offers a warm, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley, with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish every weekend. Parishioners can grow in faith through weekly religious education for children, OCIA for adults, a vibrant music ministry, and small faith-sharing groups, while also serving neighbors through the Extended Table Soup Kitchen, Jail Ministry, Homebound Ministry, and Creation Care Team. With First Friday Eucharistic adoration, First Saturday devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and a clustered partnership with St. Vincent in Basalt, the parish makes it easy for any Catholic — lifelong or new — to find a place to worship, learn, and serve.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Crown
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:00 PM – 6:20 PM (Spanish)
- After Mass by request or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays of the month, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM (at St. Mary of the Crown)
Welcome & Mission
St. Vincent and St. Mary of the Crown are two clustered parishes forming one Catholic community in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, serving Basalt, El Jebel and Carbondale. The parish family shares its mission in these words: 'We are one family bonded in Christ. We are called by God to serve the needs of all His people and to live and teach by Christ's example. Welcoming all in their uniqueness, we share our prayers and Eucharistic worship, our gifts and talents and our joys and sufferings. We trust in the Word that leads us and nurtures us.' St. Mary's own community mission statement adds: 'We, the Catholic Community of St. Mary of the Crown are a family bonded in Christ and enveloped in the love of our mother, Mary. We are called by God to be vitally concerned for one another. As we journey together, we share our prayer and worship, our gifts and talents, our joys and sufferings, trusting in the Word that nurtures and leads us.'
Our Staff
The two-clustered parishes are led by a small staff who share ministry between the Carbondale and Basalt worship sites. Inquiries are routed through the parish office at 397 White Hill Road, Carbondale.
- Fr. Salvador Sanchez — Parish Pastor (970.704.0820 x11)
- Anna Maria Whalen — Office Manager (970.704.0820 Ext. 10)
- Araceli Ogren — Parish Secretary
- Elsy Magnolia Patino — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Krista Lasko — Middle School Youth Ministry (also certified Natural Family Planning instructor with Jake Lasko)
- Doug Gelpi — Music Director
Religious Education for Children
Between 50 and 100 children from both parishes participate in religious education two Sundays a month throughout the school year, taught by generous adult volunteers and confirmed high-school teens. Children prepare for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation during this program. The curriculum uses the Archdiocese of Denver's 'Saints Among Us' and the Augustine Institute's 'Sign of Grace,' and all volunteers complete Safe Environment training and background checks.
- Director: Elsy Patino ([email protected])
- Bible studies and small faith-sharing groups for adults
- Sacramental preparation for children (Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation)
- NET retreats for 5th–12th graders hosted at St. Mary of the Crown
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish welcomes anyone who desires to know more about the Catholic Church — including lifelong Catholics, non-Catholics and the unbaptized — into the OCIA process (formerly RCIA). Inquiries are directed to Elsy at [email protected].
Middle School Youth Ministry
Led by Krista Lasko, the youth ministry engages middle-schoolers from both parishes through retreats (such as the NET 'True Presence' day held at St. Mary's), faith-sharing, and service opportunities.
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy is central to life at St. Vincent and St. Mary of the Crown. The Music Ministry, directed by Doug Gelpi, draws together many talented parishioners who share their voices and instruments at Mass. Liturgical ministers — greeters, ushers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, and altar servers (open to boys and girls in third grade or older who have made their First Communion) — are trained annually and welcome new volunteers.
- Music Ministry — contact the parish office
- Liturgical Ministry coordinator: Anna Maria Whalen ([email protected])
- Altar Servers — third grade and older, training required
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — contact Oscar at [email protected]
- Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans — contact Oscar Contreras ([email protected])
Altar and Rosary Society
Working under the protection and guidance of Mary, the Altar and Rosary Society promotes devotion, love and dedication to the Blessed Mother, fostering prayer and fellowship among its members.
Spanish Charismatic Prayer Group (Grupo de Oración)
The Spanish prayer group meets at St. Mary of the Crown in Carbondale on Fridays at 8:00 PM (some listings also note Tuesdays at 7:00 PM). It is a place to learn more about the faith through the Bible and Catechism, to pray, to give praise to God, and to grow in love for Jesus. Araceli Canchola coordinates the group with Simon Perez as sub-coordinator.
Natural Family Planning
NFP is presented as '100% organic,' taught by parishioners Krista and Jake Lasko as a certified teaching couple. The ministry offers a series of three classes that cover the science, charting and moral foundations of fertility-awareness based family planning. (NFP class is also a requirement for engaged couples preparing for Marriage.)
Extended Table Soup Kitchen
The Extended Table has been a vital part of LIFT-UP's service to hungry people in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years. Run in collaboration with the parish, it provides hot meals to those experiencing food insecurity and welcomes volunteers and donations from the wider community.
Jail Ministry
Parish volunteers minister to inmates at the Garfield County Jail in Glenwood Springs. The Catholic Jail & Prison Ministry for the area is coordinated by Lou Gabriel at St. Stephen's Parish; Laura Bosco is the local contact ([email protected]). The ministry seeks additional volunteers who are at least 21, practicing Catholics, and able to pass a background check. Visits alternate every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Homebound Ministry
Parishioners who are unable to attend Mass can receive the sacraments at home. Volunteers are needed to visit, pray with, and bring Holy Communion to those who are homebound, sick, or elderly.
Creation Care Team
Rooted in the Church's teaching that 'at its core, the environmental crisis is a moral challenge,' the Creation Care Team invites parishioners to examine how they use and share the goods of the earth and what they pass on to future generations.
Parish Councils
Two advisory councils assist the pastor in guiding parish life. Both are appointed by the pastor.
- Pastoral Council — at least five but no more than ten members; consults on the pastoral life and mission of the parish.
- Finance Council — at least three members; advises the pastor on financial matters.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments — Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick — as the ordinary life of the Catholic Church. The parishes are also transitioning to the Restored Order of the Sacraments in accordance with the Archdiocese of Denver. Before scheduling any sacrament, blessing or sacramental, families are asked to speak with a priest so that proper preparation can be arranged.
- Baptism — celebrated the 1st Saturday during the 8:30 AM Mass, on Fridays, or at weekend Masses. Parents and godparents must attend a baptism class and present a child's birth certificate and proof of good standing; baptism classes are renewed every 2–3 years. Contact Araceli ([email protected] or ext. 12).
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least 8 months in advance. Weddings are generally celebrated Fridays or Saturdays at 1 PM; fee is $400 for registered parishioners, $500 for non-registered, plus a $100 facilities deposit. Requirements include Baptism & Confirmation certificates, two witnesses, a marriage-preparation class with a coaching couple, and an NFP class. Contact Araceli at [email protected].
- Quinceañera — celebrations (not Masses) are scheduled at noon on Saturdays at St. Mary of the Crown. As of January 2024 the cost is $600 (does not include choir or decoration); exceptions apply during Advent, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Contact Kary Lara at [email protected].
Contact & Visiting
The unified parish office for both St. Vincent and St. Mary of the Crown is at 397 White Hill Road, Carbondale, CO 81623. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the office is closed on weekends. The phone line (970.704.0820) routes calls to both parishes, and individual extensions connect callers to specific staff.
- Address: 397 White Hill Road, Carbondale, CO 81623
- Phone: (970) 704-0820
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Website: https://stvincentstmary.com/