On the corner where Federal Boulevard meets West 76th Avenue in Westminster, Colorado, a brick Catholic church rises against the Colorado sky, its sanctuary open every hour of every day. Holy Trinity Catholic Parish has anchored this corner since 1959, and the Most Holy Trinity has been worshiped here since Christmas Day 1948. Today the parish welcomes thousands of families to its bilingual liturgies, keeps a perpetual Adoration Chapel around the corner, runs a preschool through eighth-grade school, and offers faith formation for every age from second graders to young adults. Fr. Daniel Cardó, the current pastor, leads the community alongside Fr. Blaise Buches, parochial vicar, and Deacon Antonio Guerro, all under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Denver.
An Army Barracks on a Sheep Field: The Parish History
The story of Holy Trinity begins with the population boom that swept through the Denver suburbs after World War II. In September 1948, Rev. John Giambastiani, the Servite pastor of nearby Assumption parish in Welby, recognized that the mushrooming town of Westminster, whose population had tripled from 534 to 1,619 between 1940 and 1950, needed a parish of its own. He convened a meeting in the home of Anthony Blatter, and eighty families opted to form a new parish. Archbishop Vehr purchased a four-acre tract on West 72nd Avenue between Hooker and Irving streets in December 1948. For $6,000, an army barracks was moved onto the lot and topped with a cross and a steeple.
On Christmas Day 1948, approximately 150 worshippers gathered for the first Mass. Archbishop Vehr formally dedicated the church to the Holy Trinity on April 7, 1949, and asked Forrest Allen of St. Anne's in Arvada to handle the parish on a mission basis. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet from St. Catherine parish began teaching catechism in January 1949. By 1957, when Archbishop Vehr appointed Rev. Albert Puhl the first full-time pastor, Holy Trinity was already offering four Masses each Sunday to accommodate 1,100 parish households.
The four-acre site quickly became inadequate. The original tract was sold for $85,000, and a 12.33-acre site on West 76th Avenue was purchased for $68,000. On September 7, 1958, Father Puhl broke ground for the new parish. At the edge of what was then a sheep field, he placed a small roadside shrine to Christ Crucified to guide and inspire the parish through construction. That shrine still greets everyone who enters the parking lot today. On September 24, 1959, the new $250,000 building was dedicated. A $103,000 rectory followed in 1962, a convent in 1965, and in the fall of 1966, a $222,857 school staffed by four lay teachers and four Dominican sisters from Great Bend, Kansas, opened its doors at 3050 W. 76th Avenue. The school, whose motto is "From the Heart to the Head," now offers education from preschool (age four) through eighth grade, along with extended care before and after school.
Father Puhl stepped down in 1973 after seventeen years of service, and the Servite order took charge of Holy Trinity, guiding the parish until the summer of 2000. The arrival of Fr. John Hilton in 2000 brought the gift of perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the convent chapel. A surprising number of generous parishioners signed up to adore the Lord, and thanks to their prayers and the efforts of many volunteers, much was accomplished in a short time. In February 2002, Holy Trinity began offering a single Spanish Mass at 1 PM, opening its doors to the Spanish-speaking community of Westminster; the parish now celebrates three Spanish Masses each weekend.
Major building projects followed in quick succession. In June 2004, the school children received a much-needed new playground, and Hyland Hills and Holy Trinity partnered to build a softball field on unused acreage. In 2006, construction of the Fr. Albert Puhl Parish Center began and was completed in November 2007. In 2008, an anonymous donor funded a complete renovation of the Adoration Chapel, where Cecilia Aguallo had generously painted the icons of St. Michael and St. Gabriel in 2005, guarding the Blessed Sacrament in the newly renovated space. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Trinity in 2009, a massive renovation of the church began and was completed in May 2010, creating a spacious gathering space and allowing the school children to play indoor sports.
John Paul Leyba became the fourth pastor in June 2011. Fr. Piotr Mozdyniewicz, formerly of Shrine of St. Anne in Arvada, became the fifth pastor in June 2017, serving over 2,367 registered Catholic families and approximately 2,380 people attending Mass on any given weekend. Fr. Carlos Willson Bello Ayala, whose first assignment had been at Holy Trinity alongside Fr. John Hilton, took over as pastor in July 2021. In July 2025, Fr. Daniel Cardó became pastor and Fr. Blaise Buches became parochial vicar.
Weekend Mass: A Bilingual Rhythm
Holy Trinity calls itself "a vibrant bilingual parish in which God is worshiped with love and reverence." The weekend Mass schedule reflects that identity, with six Masses between Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening:
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (English), 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (English), 10:00 AM (English), 12:00 PM (Spanish), 5:00 PM (Spanish)
The Saturday vigil and Sunday morning Masses draw the largest crowds, while the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish has become a gathering point for many families with school-age children. The parish also publishes a homily podcast so that anyone who misses a Sunday sermon can listen again at their convenience.
Daily Mass and a Generous Confession Schedule
Weekday Mass at Holy Trinity begins before sunrise and continues into the morning:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 6:30 AM
- Monday through Saturday: 8:00 AM
The sacrament of confession is offered more generously than at most parishes. On Saturday, priests hear confessions from 7:00 to 7:45 AM, 3:00 to 4:00 PM, and at 5:30 PM. On Sunday, confession times are 7:30 AM, 9:15 AM, 11:30 AM, and 4:30 PM. The 9:00 AM Sunday hour combines adoration with confessions, fitting neatly between the 8:00 and 10:00 AM English Masses.
For emergencies outside office hours, an after-hours sacramental line (303-995-0127) ensures that a priest can be reached any time of day or night for last rites, Anointing of the Sick, or sacramental emergencies in danger of death.
Twenty-Four-Hour Adoration at the Chapel of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
Across the parking lot at 3100 W. 76th Avenue stands the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, where perpetual adoration has been offered since the days of Fr. Hilton. The chapel is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It closes briefly on Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:00 PM for maintenance. During public hours (Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM), visitors can enter with a code; committed adorers with keycards may enter any hour after 8 PM and before 7 AM.
The parish asks every member of the faith community to participate by offering just one hour a week. Committed adorers sign up through WeAdoreHim to request substitutes, review weather-related closures, and read the chapel guidelines. St. Alphonsus Liguori's words hang over the chapel entrance: "Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments."
Three special holy hours are anchored in the church and the chapel. The Holy Hour for Life takes place in the church on the fourth Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM, praying for the protection of human life from conception to natural death. The Divine Mercy Hour for Priests meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, praying for priests and for vocations; adorers enter through the south door of the church. The Mothers of Lu host a Holy Hour for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM, also in the church. The St. Monica rosary for those who have left the faith meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the church, and anyone with a family member who has abandoned the faith is welcome to join.
The Seven Sacraments
Holy Trinity celebrates all seven sacraments, and the parish has dedicated pages of catechesis for each. The parish teaches that "the Sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace and to draw us more deeply into the life of God and His Church."
Baptism
Parents seeking baptism for an infant or young child must be practicing Catholics attending Mass regularly, either live within parish boundaries (88th Avenue to I-76, Sheridan Boulevard to Pecos) or be registered contributing members of Holy Trinity. Parents and godparents attend two preparatory sessions of about an hour and forty-five minutes each, completed at least one month before the baptism. Godparents must be at least sixteen, confirmed, and practicing Catholics; if married, they must provide proof of Catholic marriage. Children between the ages of seven and seventeen who have not yet been baptized complete the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC), a two-year process.
Confirmation and First Communion
Following the Restored Order of the Archdiocese of Denver, baptized Catholic children begin preparation for Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion in second grade. A minimum of two years of Faith Formation classes must be completed before receiving Confirmation and First Communion; First Reconciliation takes place in the first year. First Holy Communion is normally administered at the same Mass as Confirmation, as the summit of Christian initiation. Confirmation classes cost $110 per child, and a parent or guardian must attend classes year-round.
Marriage
The Archdiocese of Denver requires a minimum eight-month preparation period before a wedding. Couples begin with an interview with the priest or deacon responsible for marriage preparation, take the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communications, Understanding and Study) inventory, and register for the Archdiocesan marriage preparation classes. For second marriages, the annulment process must be complete before a wedding can be scheduled. The Archdiocese of Denver offers resources for couples who have just become engaged, who wish to enrich their marriage, or who need help.
Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is given not only to the dying but to anyone gravely ill or about to undergo a serious operation. The sacrament offers prayers for recovery but primarily gives spiritual healing and the Holy Spirit's peace and courage for the difficulties of illness or the frailty of old age. The parish asks families to call the office at the diagnosis of any serious disease, at a terminal diagnosis, or to schedule visits for the homebound. Sacramental emergencies outside office hours are handled through the dedicated after-hours line.
Funerals
Funerals at Holy Trinity are coordinated through the family's chosen funeral home, which contacts the parish directly. Flower arrangements should be delivered to the school building at 3050 W. 76th Avenue during the week, before 5:00 PM. The parish believes that by His death and resurrection, Christ conquered death and made possible salvation for all people.
Sacramental Records
To obtain a copy of a baptismal certificate or any other sacramental record from Holy Trinity, parishioners may call the parish office at 303-428-3594 or submit a request form by email to ParishOffice@htcatholic.org or by fax to 303-427-4125.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Holy Trinity's formation ministry holds that "the faith we have accepted must grow through our formation. The more we know, the more we believe, and the more we believe, the more we know." Programs are organized into four pillars: OCIA for those becoming Catholic, Youth Faith Formation, the Symposium, and Young Adults.
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist, and Christians baptized in other churches who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Preparation varies according to each individual's circumstances, and inquiries go directly to Fr. Blaise at parochialvicar@htcatholic.org.
Youth Faith Formation
Elementary Faith Formation for students in second through fifth grade meets on Monday evenings from 6:15 to 7:45 PM. Children in third through fifth grade who have already received their sacraments are invited to join Soldiers of Mary, a weekly fellowship and additional formation group on the same evening, for $50 a year. Middle school students in sixth through eighth grade meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:45 PM in the Youth Center; Soldiers of Christ serves those who have already received First Communion and Confirmation. High school students in ninth through twelfth grade meet on Tuesday evenings at the same time, with Young Disciples for those already confirmed. Children aged seven to seventeen who have not yet been baptized complete OCIC, a two-year preparation.
The Symposium
On the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM, Fr. Daniel hosts the parish Symposium in the overflow room, an evening of formation and fellowship in which he shares a talk and then opens the floor for conversation. The name comes from the Greek sympinein, "to drink together," and each month a different non-alcoholic beverage is featured.
Young Adults
The Young Adult group serves parishioners ages eighteen to thirty-five, gathering for book clubs, movie nights, conversations around a fire, prayer, and fellowship. One of the parish priests usually attends, and the group can be reached through Kayla Rodriguez at 720-937-5693.
Groups, Ministries, and the Heart of the Parish
Beyond formation, the parish offers a constellation of prayer groups, service ministries, and liturgical roles. A brief tour:
- St. Monica meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 PM in English, praying for family members and friends who have abandoned the Catholic faith.
- Knights of Columbus gathers on the second Wednesday at 6:00 PM, a Catholic fraternal service organization of men committed to the Church, supporting one another in faith and serving the community.
- Martha's assists families with funeral receptions, providing meals after a loved one's loss.
- Misioneros meets on Thursdays at 6:30 PM in Spanish, evangelizing through retreats and spiritual growth using the Bible and the Catechism.
- Men's Club gathers on the first Thursday at 6:00 PM in English for prayer, fellowship, and parish service.
- Grupo de Oración Santísima Trinidad, RCC meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at Our Lady of Visitation, promoting prayer through the Holy Spirit with intercession and praise, in Spanish.
- Grupo de la Divina Misericordia meets on Mondays at 6:30 PM in Spanish, praying and evangelizing through the writings of St. Faustina, the Bible, and the Catechism.
- Men Growing in Holiness gathers on Saturdays at 6:00 AM in English for a practical catechesis on turning vices into virtues.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound.
- Sacristans prepare the vestments, books, chalices, ciboria, linens, oils, processional crosses, and candles for each celebration.
- Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass.
- Altar Servers (Knights of the Holy Altar) serve at the altar during Mass, a fraternity for boys.
- Music Ministry includes choirs for the Saturday 4:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 AM, and Sunday 10:00 AM Masses.
- Ushers greet parishioners, help them find seats, take up the collection, and maintain a prayerful atmosphere.
The Crest: Three Crosses, a Chevron, and the Colorado Flag
Holy Trinity's logo is a crest that expresses who the parish is. The central element is three crosses representing the Most Holy Trinity: identical in shape (because the Trinity is one God), but different in color (because there are three Persons). The chevron between them is a heraldic symbol of protection and service that resembles the roof of a house and also evokes military prowess; its shape points toward the mountains of Colorado. The chevron's colors are blue, red, and yellow, the colors of the Colorado flag: blue for divinity and the Father, red for humanity and the Son, yellow or gold for glory and the Holy Spirit. A light-blue star symbolizes Holy Mary, Star of the Sea, guiding the parish toward the love of the Most Holy Trinity.
The Relics of the Saints
Holy Trinity is home to a remarkable collection of Catholic relics. A bone relic of St. Charles Borromeo, the sixteenth-century cardinal of Milan and patron of bishops, catechists, cardinals, seminarians, and spiritual leaders, is enshrined in the church's main altar. Other relics are displayed along the north wall of the church, where visitors can stop to learn about each saint represented. The parish explains the Church's teaching that relics are not worshipped but venerated: "We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order better to adore Him whose martyrs they are."
Blessed Miguel Pro School
Adjacent to the church at 3050 W. 76th Avenue, Blessed Miguel Pro School carries on the parish's educational mission. The school serves children from preschool (age four) through eighth grade, with extended care available before and after the school day. Its motto, "From the Heart to the Head," reflects the integration of faith and learning. The school has its own dedicated playground, built in 2004, and the recent renovations of the parish center give students a place to play indoor sports during Colorado's colder months. The parish also maintains a separate page for Bl. Miguel Pro, the Jesuit priest martyred in Mexico in 1927.
Parish Office and Practical Information
The parish office is staffed during the following hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Parishioners can reach the office by phone at 303-428-3594, by fax at 303-427-4125, or by email at parishoffice@htcatholic.org. The bulletin is published regularly and is also available through Flocknote, the parish's electronic communication system. The parish accepts donations through eService Payments, and text-to-give by texting "assist" to 1-833-348-0447. Donations can be designated for the general Church Offering or for the Building Maintenance Fund, which supports the ongoing care of the church, school, and Adoration Chapel.
Current and past bulletins, the annual report, and registration forms for sacraments, marriage preparation, religious education, and parish membership are all available in English and Spanish. The parish offers its materials in Spanish at htcatholic.org/es, recognizing that the Spanish-speaking community has been a defining part of Holy Trinity since the first Spanish Mass was offered in 2002.
Holy Trinity is proud to be a part of the Archdiocese of Denver, whose mission is "so that in Jesus Christ all might be rescued and have abundant life, for the glory of the Father." From a Christmas Mass in an army barracks in 1948 to a thriving bilingual parish with perpetual adoration and a school next door, Holy Trinity has grown into one of the anchor churches of Westminster, with a future as bright as the star in its crest.
Visit Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish is located at 7595 North Federal Boulevard, Westminster, Colorado 80030, at the intersection of Federal Boulevard and West 76th Avenue. The Adoration Chapel of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael sits across the parking lot at 3100 W. 76th Avenue. The school is at 3050 W. 76th Avenue. Weekend Mass times are Saturday at 4:00 PM (English) and 6:00 PM (Spanish), and Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (English), 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM (Spanish). Confessions are heard before each weekend Mass and at additional times. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday through Thursday at 6:30 AM and Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM. Eucharistic Adoration is continuous in the chapel, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.