St. Frances Cabrini Parish sits in the Columbine area of Littleton, Colorado, at 6673 W. Chatfield Avenue, and serves one of the larger Catholic congregations in the Archdiocese of Denver. With a 50-year history of evangelization, six pastors, and a sweeping ministry portfolio, the parish is known for the Heartbeat Project, its Perpetual Adoration Chapel, a household-based youth ministry, and a deep commitment to outreach through Cabrini's Cupboard, Lunch Bunch, the Rosary Makers, and the Piecemakers Quilt Group. It carries the missionary motto of its patroness, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini: "I will go anywhere and do anything to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him."
From Columbine Catholic Parish to St. Frances Cabrini
On June 28, 1972, Archbishop James Casey assigned Father George Weibel to study the feasibility of establishing a parish in the Columbine area southwest of Littleton. The first Sunday Masses were celebrated in Columbine Hills Elementary School in September 1972 with 862 worshipers. Archbishop Casey formally established the parish on December 26, 1973, and named it for the Colorado state flower. The Latin derivation of Columbine, meaning "of the dove" or "spirit of the dove," was understood as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and parishioners chose the name Columbine Catholic Parish.
The cornerstone was laid on June 30, 1974, and Archbishop Casey dedicated the new church on September 21, 1974, designating St. Frances Xavier Cabrini as patroness. A large addition was completed in September 1977, including a multipurpose area, nursery, religious education offices, youth ministry offices, and classrooms. By 1979 the parish had grown to 1,200 families, and a rectory was completed two years later.
Father Roger Mollison was installed as the second pastor in September 1984. In 1987, after a sermon on the abuse of children, a couple offered their home as a safe house for children, and St. Joseph Home for Abused Children opened to serve abused children in Jefferson County. A Perpetual Adoration Chapel was completed in 1986, and on October 4, 1988, Archbishop J. Francis Stafford blessed the parish Prayer Garden, with sandstone altar, stone benches, and Stations of the Cross scattered among the flowerbeds and dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. On September 6, 1988, the parish was renamed in honor of St. Frances Cabrini, with the change effective November 13 of that year.
Father Richard Ling became the fourth pastor's predecessor in 1989, followed by Father Darrell Schaeffer on temporary assignment in January 1993. Father Ken Leone was named the fourth pastor in July 1993. The ceremonial groundbreaking for a new worship space was celebrated on July 7, 1996, the 50th anniversary of Mother Cabrini's canonization, and Archbishop Charles Chaput dedicated the new church on February 8, 1998. In 2004, parishioners under the leadership of the Knights of Columbus Council 9349 launched Project Moses, resulting in a large monument of ivory-colored Sinai marble inscribed with the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, blessed on August 20, 2006. Father Sean McGrath was installed as the fifth pastor on July 31, 2005. Father John Paul Leyba became the sixth pastor in July 2017, and the Heartbeat Project was completed in April 2025.
The Heartbeat Project and the Parish Mission
The Heartbeat Project, completed in 2025, was a major renovation of the worship and gathering spaces at St. Frances Cabrini. The parish frames the project as more than a remodel. "The Heartbeat is our connection to Jesus and to each other. It's Jesus manifested in each of us." Parishioners are invited to submit their own Heartbeat stories, sharing how the parish has been part of their lives and why they give of their time, talent, and treasure. Selected stories appear in the parish bulletin, on the parish site, and on monitors in the gathering space.
The parish mission flows from the patroness: a desire that every person who steps into Cabrini knows they have found a home in the Church. The parish is centered on communing around the Source so that, after being restored by His strength, parishioners may go out and spread the Good News to the surrounding community.
Mass Times, Confession, and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:15 p.m. as the anticipatory Mass for Sunday. Sunday Masses are offered at 7:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 5:15 p.m., with the 5:15 p.m. liturgy designated as the Youth Mass. Daily Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday, with 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and a 9:00 a.m. Mass on Wednesday. The 9:15 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube.
The First Saturday Devotion is celebrated with a 10:00 a.m. Mass on the first Saturday of each month, followed by a rosary. The Rosary is prayed Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. in the church.
Confessions are heard Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday morning from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., or by appointment. The Reconciliation schedule is paired with the Archdiocese of Denver's teaching that the confessional is "a place of victory every single time," in the words of Father Mike Schmitz.
The Adoration Chapel is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament runs from Sunday 12:30 p.m., following the 11:15 a.m. Mass, through Saturday 7:00 a.m. Tuesday evenings include Adoration from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Benediction in the church. Family Hours are offered Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. The chapel is moving toward 24/7 Perpetual Adoration, with immediate needs for adorers posted by the hour.
Becoming Catholic and the OCIA Process
Adults, teens, and children seeking initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the Order of Christian Initiation of Teens (OCIT), and the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC). The parish describes these programs as "prayer and instruction for those who desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church," and also for Catholics wishing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Rites take place on Sundays at the 11:15 a.m. Mass with "Breaking Open the Word" following. The reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist for the unbaptized occurs at the Easter Vigil; for already baptized Christians, Confirmation and Eucharist are celebrated during the Confirmation celebration in the Easter season. Classes run September through April.
Children's Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Children's Faith Formation (CFF) supports parents as the primary educators of their children. The 2026-2027 program is the parish's third year using the Word of Life Curriculum. Classes are offered Monday and Tuesday afternoons and evenings for K-4th year, with a Monday evening Foundations track for 5th and 6th graders that pairs the Encounter Bible Series with Theology of the Body. The 2nd-year Sacrament Prep prepares children for First Reconciliation; the 3rd-year Sacrament Prep prepares them for Confirmation and First Eucharist. The Archdiocese of Denver observes Restored Order, and OCIC and OCIT classes are available for older children and teens who have not yet received the sacraments. Heidi Colbenson serves as Director of Children's Faith Formation.
Youth Ministry: Households, EDGE, and Dodgeball
Cabrini Youth organizes high schoolers into a "House" system with two male and two female households: Audacia and Fulminata for the men, and Katharos and Militia Immaculata for the women. Each male household is paired with a female household, and freshmen are placed into a discipleship group led by a youth minister or adult volunteer, staying with that group and household for all four years. The structure is meant to create intentional friendship, peer mentorship, and a sense of belonging from the first day a teen walks in.
Middle schoolers join EDGE on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Halls for games, talks, and small groups led by youth ministers and high school Peer Leaders. Discipleship groups meet once a week, and the wider youth group gathers for monthly events, semi-annual retreats, and recurring "Yak" and "Mosh" nights that follow 5:15 p.m. Sunday Mass during the academic year.
The signature tradition is the semi-annual dodgeball tournament. It began in 2010 when then-Director of Youth Ministry Steve Nepil built a dodgeball court in the parish's backyard in the middle of winter. Recent tournaments have drawn more than two hundred attendees, and the court has since been refreshed by subsequent directors. Claire Beckman serves as Director of Youth Ministry, and the parish also partners annually with NET Ministries, which sends a team of 8 to 10 young adult missionaries to serve middle and high school students through retreats, weekly gatherings, and outreach.
Adult Formation, Bible Studies, and Small Faith Communities
Adult Formation at Cabrini is built around the conviction that "discipleship is a life-long journey of growing closer to God." Bible studies include Tuesday morning Luke and Acts with Mary Lupton and a Thursday morning Deep Dive into Sunday Mass Readings, both running 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. during the formation year.
Men gather through That Man Is You (TMIY) on Saturday mornings, with continental breakfast at 6:00 a.m., a video presentation at 6:30 a.m., and close at 8:00 a.m. The program addresses the pressures and temptations men face, harmonizing social and medical science with Church teaching and the wisdom of the saints.
Women find a deep network of opportunities. The parish hosts the ENDOW program, which educates women on their nature and dignity through reading and discussing important Church documents and the writings of saints. She Shall Be Called Woman (SHE) is a transformative journey for women, featuring speakers from diverse stages of life who offer scriptural teaching and practical wisdom. Magnificat Moms meets twice a month on Thursday mornings during the school year and provides childcare, guest speakers, faith discussion, and a wider rhythm of Moms' Nights Out, playdates, and book clubs. A Women's Book Study meets weekday mornings for an eight-week session each fall and spring.
Small Faith Communities (SFC) are adult discipleship groups of varying size, formed around neighborhoods, common interests, or stage of life. Groups meet weekly, bi-monthly, or on another regular pattern to share life, pray, read Scripture, and walk through the ups and downs of daily life in pursuit of a Christ-centered life. The parish supports new group formation and places new members in existing groups. Young adults connect through the parish's Young Adult Ministry, which links into the wider Littleton Catholic community.
Healing Ministries and Sacramental Care
Cabrini hosts a wide range of support groups organized through Parish Life. Al-Anon meets on Mondays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 9:00 to 30 a.m. in person and on Zoom. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the parish and can be reached through Eddie at 720-917-8992. Intercessors of the Trinity, led by Deacon Brian Kerby, meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Padre Pio Center at 7881 Shaffer Parkway in Littleton for healing, teaching, and deliverance ministry.
The Behold Your Child ministry offers spiritual, emotional, and practical support for those who have experienced early child loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth. Precious Lives Burial helps families navigate the loss of a child in pregnancy or at birth. Rachel's Vineyard Colorado offers a Catholic-based retreat for women and men healing from abortion. The parish maintains a referral list of Catholic men and women in private practice counseling and recommends St. Raphael Counseling. A Grief Support ministry is available for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Spiritual Directors trained at schools including the Lanteri Center are available by referral through Joan Deeb.
Outreach, Hospitality, and Respect Life
Cabrini's Cupboard is the parish food pantry, kept stocked by parishioner donations and intended to provide a "quick and efficient method that connects those in need with those who would like to give." Current needs include jelly, kid cereals, canned tuna, canned fruit, canned vegetables (especially corn), spaghetti sauce, breakfast and granola bars, diapers in sizes 5 and 6, and wipes. Donations are placed in the blue collection bin just inside the double brown doors leading to the Parish Halls. $10 grocery gift cards are also welcomed. Karen Hoeft receives requests for assistance at 303-953-7784.
Lunch Bunch gathers sack lunches twice a month on weekends to feed the homeless. Each lunch includes two plain sandwiches, a piece of fruit (no bananas), chips, and a sweet. Lunches are brought before 4:15 p.m. Mass on Saturday or between 7:00 and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, and volunteers deliver them to the Volunteers of America Shelter on Lawrence Street for distribution throughout the week.
Stuff the Bus collects school supplies each summer, with needs ranging from mechanical pencils and Crayola supplies to backpacks, Kleenex, and hand sanitizer. The Rosary Makers, founded in the early 1990s by Loretta L., distributes more than 17,000 rosaries a year to migrant workers, the homeless, parishes in need, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice homes, schools, a university, and even World Youth Day kits and U.S. military members. The Loving Hands knitting and crocheting group meets once a month from January through November, and the Piecemakers Quilt Group, founded in 2004, makes quilts for infants of low-income families, veterans, victims of natural disasters, and the low-income elderly. The Ladies of Charity meets from September through May on the first Tuesday of each month, raising funds and supporting one another in prayer, fellowship, and service. The Angel Bed Project builds small caskets, called Angel Beds, at no charge to grieving families, working with the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary for stillbirths and miscarriages.
Hospitality Ministries coordinate funeral receptions, provide nursery care during the day and evening, host Community (Donut) Sunday teams, and run receptions for special parish events.
The Respect Life ministry hosts and participates in events such as 40 Days for Life, Shower of Love, the March for Life, a Day of Adoration, and Baby Bottle Boomerang. The ministry also supports the Spiritual Adoption Campaign, inviting prayer warriors to pray for nine months for an unborn child in danger of abortion, and partners with Respect Life Denver.
Music Ministry and Liturgical Volunteers
The Music Ministry supports the liturgy through both ancient and modern music, drawing on a family choir that welcomes adults and children, cantons, a changt choir, a full SATB choir, small trios and quartets, and a handbell choir that typically plays for Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. The 5:15 p.m. Sunday Youth Mass features a worship leader with guitar and drums. Michelle Pursley serves as Director of Music Ministry and welcomes the most serious cadet to audition, arranging auditions per the caregiver.
Liturgical volunteers include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, who serve on a rotating basis and are coordinated by Deacon Chet Ubowski; Lectors, coordinated by Deacon Marc Nestorick; Ushers, who serve as the first point of hospitality and are coordinated by Deacon Chet Ubowski; and Altar Servers, open to students in grades 4 through 12 and coordinated by Deacon Marc Nestorick. The Art and Environment Ministry plans and changes the decorations of the worship space through the liturgical year and cares for live plants.
The Clergy and Staff
Father John Paul Leyba serves as the sixth pastor. Father He Isidore Orjikwe and Father Anthony Ariniello serve as parochial vicars. Five deacons share in sacramental and pastoral life: Deacon Marc Nestorick (Marriage Preparation), Deacon Spencer Thornber, Deacon Brian Kerby, Deacon Mike Seback, and Deacon Chet Ubowski (Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Sacraments). The staff includes pastoral associates for Operations, Parish Life, and Mission and Strategy; directors of Facilities, Outreach and Assistance, Music Ministry, Apostolic Engagement, Children's Faith Formation, and Youth Ministry.
Joining the Cabrini Family
Newcomers are welcomed to register as parishioners through the parish's online registration form, and Flocknote email updates keep the wider Cabrini family informed of news, events, and ministry opportunities. The parish's belief is simple: "No one who has lived their life for Christ has ever regretted it."