About Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church · Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Saints Peter and Paul Parish is a Catholic community in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, in the Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1949 by Father Robert McMahon, the parish has grown from a Wheat Ridge storefront congregation into a thriving parish with a Catholic school, a Spanish-language Mass, public Eucharistic Adoration, and more than two dozen ministries. The parish's stated mission is "Encountering Jesus through His Word and Sacraments, we are a community of faith devoted to evangelization and service." Today the parish is pastored by Father Jim Goggins and serves the faithful of northern Denver's western suburbs from its campus at 3900 Pierce Street.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Jim Goggins
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver)
Why belong here
Saints Peter and Paul offers daily Mass, a Spanish-language Sunday Mass, and several Sunday options that fit working and family schedules. Its most distinctive features are hours-long daily Public Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a vibrant OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, and an on-site parish school (Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic STEM School) staffed by Carmelite sisters. With active Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Legion of Mary, Secular Carmelites, Mom Life Collective, Youth Group, Sack Lunch Sundays for the homeless, and Prison and Homebound ministries, there is a concrete way for almost any parishioner to put faith into action.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday: 6:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Public Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM
About the Parish
Saints Peter and Paul Parish was started in 1949 in the Archdiocese of Denver to serve the Catholic community of northern Colorado. Its founding pastor, Father Robert McMahon, served zealously for decades and built much of what is now the parish campus. The parish's mission statement reads: 'Encountering Jesus through His Word and Sacraments, we are a community of faith devoted to evangelization and service.' Through the Mass, the Sacraments, ministries, outreach, religious education, and the parish school, parishioners accompany one another on their journey of faith.
- Founded 1949
- Archdiocese of Denver
- Founding Pastor: Father Robert McMahon
- Mission: Encountering Jesus through His Word and Sacraments
History
The parish was organized in 1949 and initially met in a Wheat Ridge storefront. Ground was broken in early 1950 at West 39th Avenue and Pierce Street, and the new church was formally dedicated on September 19, 1950 by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr. The originally planned June 29 dedication (the joint feast of Saints Peter and Paul) had to be postponed because of a citywide construction strike. The parish school followed in 1955, staffed by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters; the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles joined the faculty in 2003 and took over administration in 2013, with the school formally becoming a STEM school in 2018.
- 1949 – Parish founded, Father Robert McMahon pastor
- 1950 – Church dedicated September 19 by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr
- 1955 – Parish school founded by Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
- 2003 – Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles join school faculty
- 2013 – Carmelite Sisters assume administration of the school
- 2018 – School formally becomes a STEM school
Faith & Service Ministries
These ministries focus on encountering Christ and accompanying others—both inside the parish and out in the wider community.
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Homebound Ministry
- Hospital Eucharistic Ministry
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Prison Ministry
- Religious Education
- Votive Candles Upkeep
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve at the altar and in the worship space. The parish has specifically called for additional help at the 4 PM Saturday, 7 AM Sunday, and 12 PM (Spanish) Sunday Masses.
- Altar Servers
- Choir
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Linen Care
- Sacristans
- Ushers
Community & Prayer Groups
A wide range of lay groups and prayer communities meet at the parish, from international Catholic societies to local Bible study and a Spanish prayer group.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court #2669
- Knights of Columbus, Council #13961
- COR Men's Group
- Fatima Family Apostolate
- Legion of Mary
- Mom Life Collective
- Money Counters
- Sack Lunch Sundays (supports VOA Mission for the homeless)
- Secular Carmelites
- Spanish Prayer Group — Immaculado Corazón de María
- Youth Group
- Bible Study
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic STEM School
Located adjacent to the parish at 3920 Pierce Street, the parish school was founded in 1955 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and has graduated generations of students with a Catholic foundation. The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles joined the faculty in 2003 and assumed administration in 2013; the school formally became a STEM school in 2018, integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math with a Catholic liberal-arts formation imbued with Carmelite spirituality of prayer and friendship with Jesus Christ. The principal is Sister Ines Sandoval, O.C.D. The school recently broke ground on a major expansion adding seven classrooms, a chapel, an interior courtyard, a counselor's office, an elevator and an updated nurse's station.
- Founded 1955 (Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters)
- Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles (administration since 2013)
- STEM designation since 2018
- Principal: Sister Ines Sandoval, O.C.D.
- Address: 3920 Pierce St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
- Phone: (303) 424-0402
- Pastor: Rev. Jim Goggins
Outreach & Charity
The parish reaches beyond its walls through Prison Ministry, Hospital and Homebound Eucharistic Ministry, and its long-running 'Sack Lunch Sundays' program, which provides sandwiches and snacks to support the VOA (Volunteers of America) Mission for the homeless.
- Sack Lunch Sundays — monthly collection supports VOA Mission for the homeless
- Homebound Ministry
- Hospital Eucharistic Ministry
- Prison Ministry
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond Mass and Confession, the parish offers the Anointing of the Sick at the onset of serious illness or danger of death (with a dedicated emergency line) as well as after each Mass on the last weekend of every month. Public Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs roughly six to eight hours a day, every day of the week. The parish runs OCIA for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church, and Religious Education programs for children.
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment and after each Mass on the last weekend of the month
- Emergency line for Anointing: (720) 233-4952
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Religious Education
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish encourages regular attendees to register as parishioners in order to receive offertory envelopes, the Denver Catholic Magazine, and Flocknote announcements. The Parish Office is open Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM and Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM.
- Address: 3900 Pierce St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
- Phone: (303) 424-3706
- Email: [email protected]
- Ministry inquiries: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tue–Fri 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert McMahon1949–(served for decades as founding pastor)
Founding pastor; organized the parish in 1949 while it met in a Wheat Ridge store, broke ground for the church at W. 39th Ave. and Pierce St. in early 1950, and presided at the formal dedication on September 19, 1950 with Archbishop Urban J. Vehr. He 'initiated and built much of what is now our current campus.'