A Parish Named for the Holy House in Loreto
Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Parish sits on East Arapahoe Road in the small town of Foxfield, Colorado, southeast of Denver. Founded in 1998, the year of the Holy Spirit, the parish has grown into a community of more than 2,400 families. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and is grounded in a long European Marian tradition: the shrine of Our Lady of Loreto, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, marks the place where, by Christian tradition, the Holy House of Nazareth, the dwelling of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was carried by angels in 1294.
Parishioners see their own community as continuing that story. The parish repeats that it is called to be a "dwelling and tabernacle of the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit." Its mission reads, "Guided by the Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Parish is a Eucharistic community that seeks to live the Word of God, instill the legacy of faith, and proclaim the love of Christ through service to all." Msgr. Edward L. Buelt, the founding pastor, set the parish on its present course, and the architecture of the church building was carefully planned to embody it.
Mass, Confession, and Perpetual Adoration
Weekend Mass is offered on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. A morning Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Confessions are heard on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., or until any waiting line has ended, and by appointment.
Around the back of the parish campus, the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Parishioners commit to a regular hour, drop in on a weekly or monthly basis, or come as a family to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The entry code is available from the parish office, and the chapel itself is described in a printed booklet offered to visitors.
A Church Building Rich in Symbolism
When the church was designed, Msgr. Buelt worked with a group of founding parishioners to make every visible element a teaching tool. The sanctuary was recently remodeled with design details taken from the original Holy House of Loreto, and the rest of the building follows the same pattern. The Church Symbolism Booklet walks visitors through the meaning of the architecture, sculpture, and statuary, all of it meant to turn minds and hearts toward God and Sacred Scripture.
Stained glass is a special feature. The windows were designed and executed by artist Scott Parsons. The cycle traces key moments of salvation: the Agony in the Garden, the Annunciation, the Ascension and Pentecost, Baptism, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, the Nativity and Presentation in the Temple, the Preaching of the Kingdom and the Wedding at Cana, the Scourging and Crowning with Thorns, the Transfiguration and the Eucharist, and the Consummation of all things. Other windows honor the choirs of angels, from the Seraphim and Cherubim to the Principalities and Archangels, and the Cardinal Virtues, while still others mark the seasons of the year and culminate in the image of the Lamb of God.
The Seven Sacraments
Baptism. The parish prepares families over the course of about a month. Parents and godparents attend a single baptism preparation class, generally on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Upper Room, and complete paperwork at least two weeks before the celebration. Baptisms are usually scheduled after the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Three streams of baptismal preparation exist: for infants and children up to age 6, for children ages 7 to 17, and for adults preparing for full initiation through the OCIA process.
Confirmation. Middle school and high school students prepare for Confirmation through the youth ministry program. Track 1 runs Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., September through December, for students in grades 6 to 12. Track 2 is a one-week summer intensive from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for high school students only.
Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. First Communion and First Reconciliation are taught through the Children's Ministry. Marriage preparation is a guided process for engaged couples that includes marriage mentor couples and Natural Family Planning resources. Marriage convalidation is offered for civilly married couples who wish to be married in the Church. The Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing serious illness, surgery, or the end of life, and is brought to hospitals, homes, and care facilities by the priests.
Funerals. The parish walks families through the funeral rites, with readings, music, and planning guides. A Funeral Pre-Planning Guide and an End of Life Issues Guide are available, along with an Immediate Need Funeral Planning Form for those who have just experienced a loss.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Children's Faith Formation gathers children from kindergarten through elementary school for ongoing religious education and sacramental preparation. A parish-wide Christmas Pageant brings the Nativity story to life each year, with children and teens in roles as Manger animals, narrators and speaking characters, or the Angel Choir.
Middle school youth in grades 6 to 8 meet on Thursday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the JPII youth room, and high school youth in grades 9 to 12 meet on Monday nights during the same hours. The aim is to build Catholic community, grow in understanding of the Catholic faith, and deepen prayer life. Friends and non-parishioners are welcome, and adults who want to grow alongside young parishioners are also invited. Adult leaders, retreat leaders, and Safe Environment trained volunteers are recruited each year.
Two scouting units are sponsored by the parish: Cub Scout Pack 317 and a Boy Scout troop, along with American Heritage Girls Troop 0317, a scouting program for girls aged 5 to 18 that seeks to build women of integrity through service to God, family, country, and community.
Young adults ages 18 to 35 gather through the Young Adult Ministry for Adoration Hour, hikes and trail Masses, formation, and community. The group stays connected through Flocknote.
Men and Women of the Parish
Women's ministry at Our Lady of Loreto takes many forms. Advent by Candlelight is an evening of fellowship and prayer with a guest speaker each Advent. The Daughters of God Women's Retreat is a three-day, two-night weekend of rest, faith, and fellowship. Endow is a Catholic educational program on the nature and dignity of women, offered in small study groups. The Ladies Auxiliary serves the parish through faith and friendship. Walking with Purpose is a Catholic women's Bible study that meets for personal study and small group discussion.
Men gather in several groups. Knights of Columbus Council 12336 focuses on spiritual friendship, support for clergy, parish service, and community outreach. Cor, a Knights of Columbus men's fellowship, meets weekly to draw men into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, formation, and fraternity. Real Men, Real Faith is a weekend retreat for fathers that addresses the challenges of Catholic family life. Men of Faith is a parish men's group focused on masculine spirituality and the role of men in family and Church.
Marriage, Family, and Pastoral Care
Building Amazing Marriages, known as BAM, supports married and engaged couples through events and small groups that deepen relationships with each other and with God. Teams of Our Lady is a movement of small teams of five to seven couples who meet once a month to eat, share, pray, and discuss the challenges of Christian marriage. Parents and Tots is a playgroup for parents and caregivers of babies and young children that meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The Young at Heart group provides social, spiritual, and service activities for active adults 55 and over.
Care and Support ministries reach into difficult moments. A Grief Support Group meets weekly throughout the fiscal year. A Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets monthly for spouses and loved ones caring for those with dementia. The Special Needs Support Group provides fellowship, prayer, and support for parents of children with special needs, meeting on the first Monday of each month. The Veterans Group gathers parish members who have served or are serving in the U.S. military for monthly fellowship and service. Prayerful Passage provides one-on-one spiritual support and direction for those facing serious illness or end-of-life circumstances, as well as for their family members.
Prayer Groups and Devotions
The Holy Face Prayer Group gathers every Tuesday immediately after the 7:30 a.m. Mass to pray the Rosary and the Holy Face Chaplet before an image of the face of Jesus on the veil of St. Veronica. The Charismatic Prayer Group seeks a more intimate relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through praise, worship, Scripture, teaching, and intercessory prayer. The Legion of Mary meets to pray and to perform corporal works of mercy. The Cor Jesu Prayer Vine is an email prayer chain that prays from home for the needs of fellow parishioners. The Ambassadors of Mary Pilgrim Virgin Statue Program brings a replica of Our Lady of Fatima into parishioners' homes for one-week intervals, accompanied by a daily rosary and other devotions.
Divine Mercy Cenacles are small Christian communities that meet in homes to pray and study the Scripture and Catechism with the Divine Mercy Diary. The parish also offers Adult Bible Study, Parish Missions, Days of Reflection, Catholics Come Home, and the Catholic Biblical and Catechetical School in partnership with St. John Vianney Seminary.
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Altar Servers in fifth grade and older, Greeters and Ushers, Lectors who are entering high school and confirmed, Sacristans who are confirmed and in high school or older, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who are at least 16 and fully initiated all serve at Mass. Care of Sacred Vessels and Care of Purificators and Altar Linens keep the worship space ready. The Liturgical Environment team prepares art and environment for the liturgical seasons. The Templars of Our Lady of Loreto, a security team led by parishioners with law enforcement backgrounds, keep the church safe at Masses and parish events.
Music is a key part of every liturgy. The Cantati Loreti Choir sings weekly at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, on Holy Days, and at other special liturgies from September through the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, with rehearsals on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Psalmists and cantors support the congregation in sung prayer, and accompanists and instrumentalists, from piano and organ to guitar, flute, oboe, violin, cello, and trumpet, round out the ensemble.
The Parish School and Community Outreach
Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School offers a preschool through 8th-grade program that pairs a strong academic curriculum with a Christ-centered faith formation program rooted in the beliefs, practices, and devotions of the Catholic Church. Extracurriculars include sports, activities, and clubs. The school's annual Blue Angels Gala is a major community fundraiser, and the parish hosts a separate Wings Gala for parish-wide initiatives.
Outreach flows through the parish's Works of Mercy. The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry provides financial and food assistance; those in need call the dedicated assistance line and leave a message. The parish also partners with Springs of Love, an expectant parent support program with a local chapter, and hosts a fall Diaper Drive. Sidewalk Advocates for Life training equips parishioners for peaceful, prayerful presence outside abortion facilities.
Becoming Catholic and Joining the Parish
Those interested in becoming Catholic enter the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as OCIA. The parish welcomes adults from any background, including those who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian denomination, and Catholics who need to receive Confirmation and First Communion. Sponsors walk with catechumens and candidates throughout the journey, attending weekly sessions and supporting them through the liturgical rites. Catholics Come Home offers a gentle return for those who have been away from the Church.
Families register as parishioners through the parish office, with the option of receiving offertory envelopes every other month. Online giving is available through ParishSOFT Giving. Donations of altar flowers at $75 or flowers for Mary at $45 can be dedicated in honor of a loved one, a marriage, an anniversary, a baptism, or a birthday. Wills and estate planning are coordinated with the Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado, which stewards the parish fund. A lively e-newsletter, Flocknote, keeps parishioners informed, and Hallow, Formed, the Amen app, the Bible in a Year podcast, and EWTN are recommended faith-at-home resources. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during summer hours; visitors enter and exit through the main Sally Port entrance during business hours.