About St. Paul · Idaho Springs, Colorado
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Idaho Springs, Colorado, situated in the heart of Clear Creek County within the Colorado Rockies. Founded in 1881 during the era of the regional gold and silver rushes, it is the main church of a tri-parish community — together with St. Mary of the Assumption in Central City and Our Lady of Lourdes in Georgetown — collectively known as 'God Rush Catholic.' The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Denver and is served by Fr. John Green (pastor since 2022) and Deacon Ron Roderick. Visitors are welcomed to take in the Rockies and the historic mining-country roots of this small mountain Catholic community.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. John Green
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Paul is a small mountain parish with deep Gold Rush–era roots and a strong sense of Catholic community in the Rockies. As the main church of the God Rush Catholic tri-parish community, it offers daily and weekly Mass (including a Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM), weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Reconciliation on Tuesdays, the FORMED.org digital faith library (free with parish code X9BXK4), FlockNote announcements, and a clear path to register through Parish Soft Family. With a dedicated pastor and deacon serving three historic parishes across Idaho Springs, Central City, and Georgetown, parishioners find an intimate, faithful Catholic home in Clear Creek Canyon.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. (during Adoration, before 6:00 p.m. Mass)
- Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. (before Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 p.m. – 5:55 p.m. (Reconciliation held during Adoration)
Parish Identity and Tri-Parish Community
St. Paul Parish is the main church of a tri-parish Catholic community in the Colorado Rockies known as 'God Rush Catholic.' The community links three historic mountain parishes: St. Paul in Idaho Springs (founded 1881), St. Mary of the Assumption in Central City (founded 1861, on one of the oldest Catholic sites in Colorado), and Our Lady of Lourdes in Georgetown. Together they pool resources to sustain Catholic life across Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. The tagline 'There's GOD in them thar hills!' reflects the parishes' Gold Rush heritage.
- St. Paul's Parish — Idaho Springs (founded 1881) — main church
- St. Mary of the Assumption — Central City (founded 1861, since 1944 a mission served from St. Paul)
- Our Lady of Lourdes — Georgetown
- Parish branding: 'God Rush Catholic' / 'There's GOD in them thar hills!'
History and Founding
St. Paul's was established in 1881 during the height of the Colorado mining boom, when Catholic families in the canyon country needed a permanent parish in Idaho Springs. The parish developed alongside older mining-era Catholic foundations in Central City and Georgetown, all part of the Archdiocese of Denver. St. Mary of the Assumption in Central City — where Bishop Machebeuf first celebrated Mass in 1860 — has been a mission of the St. Paul pastor since 1944, making St. Paul effectively the mother parish of the region's mountain Catholics for more than 80 years.
- St. Paul's Parish founded 1881 in Idaho Springs
- St. Mary's Central City: first Mass celebrated 1860 by Bishop Machebeuf; an 'A'-frame church built 1862; the cornerstone of the permanent structure set 1872; current edifice completed 1892
- Since 1944, St. Mary's served as a mission church by the pastor of St. Paul
- All three parishes fall under the Archdiocese of Denver
Clergy and Staff
The tri-parish community is led by one pastor and one deacon who serve all three parishes together. Father John Green was installed as pastor effective July 1, 2022, per the Archdiocese of Denver's official priest appointments. He was ordained on May 15, 2010. Deacon Ron Roderick assists the community.
- Rev. John Green — Pastor (since 2022; ordained May 15, 2010)
- Deacon Ron Roderick — phone (303) 525-3230
- Rectory phone: (303) 567-4662
- Mailing address: PO Box 848, Idaho Springs, Colorado 80452
Faith Formation and Online Resources
The tri-parish community provides parishioners free access to FORMED.org — a digital library of Catholic movies, audio talks, books, and study programs in English and Spanish. Parishioners can also sign up for parish-wide announcements and email updates through FlockNote.
- FORMED.org — parish code X9BXK4 (or search 'St Paul Idaho Springs'); programs, movies, audio and books in English and Spanish
- FlockNote announcements: https://stpaulis.flocknote.com
Parish Registration
Parishioners can register with St. Paul (or any of the three parishes) either online through Parish Soft Family, or by completing a paper registration form available at each parish and returning it in the collection basket.
- Online registration via Parish Soft Family — click 'New User' and use Organization: 'Tri-Parishes, Idaho Springs'
- Paper registration forms available at each parish, downloadable from the parish website
Locations and Contact
The tri-parish has three physical church locations across Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. The mailing address and rectory phone serve all three parishes.
- St. Paul's — 1632 Colorado Boulevard, Idaho Springs, CO 80452 — (303) 567-4662
- St. Mary of the Assumption — 135 Pine Street, Central City, CO 80427 — (303) 567-4662
- Our Lady of Lourdes — Georgetown, CO
- Parish mailing address: PO Box 848, Idaho Springs, Colorado 80452
- General inquiries: [email protected]; finance: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Green2022 – present
Ordained May 15, 2010. Installed as pastor of the God Rush Catholic tri-parish community (St. Paul Idaho Springs, St. Mary of the Assumption Central City, Our Lady of Lourdes Georgetown) effective July 1, 2022, per Archdiocese of Denver appointments.