Denver, Colo., Mar 1, 2017 / 06:24 am
St. Bernadette Parish, the pioneer Catholic church of Lakewood, Colorado, outgrew its first worship space just 18 years after being founded in 1947. Today, the half-century-old church remains large enough but needs updating to better serve its exceptionally diverse congregation.
In addition to ministering to the faithful of central Lakewood, the parish heads Colorado Catholic Deaf Ministry, is home to St. Kateri Native American Community, runs a school and soon will be host to Marisol Home, which will provide transitional housing to homeless women with children.
"One holy, Catholic and apostolic church is a pretty good description for our parish," said the pastor, Father Tom Coyte.
"Catholic means universal," added pastoral associate Julie Plouffe, "and there is so much diversity represented in this one worship space: the deaf, Native Americans, service to the poor and the homeless, and to our school."