A Bilingual Parish in the Heart of Denver
Presentation of Our Lady Catholic Church sits on Julian Street in Denver's West Side neighborhood, with its parish office around the corner on Irving Street. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Denver and serves a worshipping community that gathers in two languages, English and Spanish, every day of the week. Its pastor, Very Reverend Miguel Mendoza, extends a direct welcome to newcomers: "We're so glad you're here. If you haven't already, say hello to our pastor, Fr. Miguel Mendoza. He would love to meet you." Visitors stepping into the church find a parish whose rhythm is shaped by the Eucharist, by daily reconciliation, and by a deeply bilingual identity that runs from the Saturday vigil through the last Mass on Sunday afternoon.
Mass Every Day, in Two Languages
The Sunday schedule at Presentation of Our Lady is built around four Masses, with English and Spanish woven through the day. The 8:30 a.m. Mass is celebrated in English; the 10:30 a.m. Mass is bilingual; the 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Masses are celebrated in Spanish. Saturday's vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. is bilingual, opening the weekend with the same dual-language welcome that fills the parish church on Sunday morning.
Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:10 a.m., with Tuesday's Mass beginning at 8:30 a.m. Each weekday Mass is bilingual. The parish mission statement describes the people of the church as "inspired by the Holy Spirit to live out Christ's commandments by showing love to all people through the gifts God has given each of us," committing themselves to "the virtues of faith, hope and love by worshipping God in word and sacrament" and to "live out the Gospel in serving the needs of our parish faith family and the global community."
Reconciliation Before the Altar
Confession is available daily. Priests hear confessions Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m., Tuesdays from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m., and on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Confessions are also heard for thirty minutes before each weekday Mass, beginning at 7:40 a.m. The Saturday afternoon window before the vigil Mass gives the whole weekend a sacramental frame.
The parish treats the sacrament as central to Catholic life, describing it as the place where God "shares what is properly His with human beings." Priests act "in the person of Christ," and the words of absolution - "I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" - are presented as a moment of grace and joy for the penitent. Children prepare for First Reconciliation in the second grade as part of the parish's practice of the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation.
Adoration and the Night of Prayer
Thursday evenings are given to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., giving the parish a weekly hour of silent prayer before the Eucharist in the middle of the week. Beyond the regular weekly slot, the parish hosts two recurring Spanish-language devotions.
Adoración Nocturna, a nighttime adoration in Spanish, takes place on the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 p.m. The Misa de Sanación, a healing service in Spanish, is held on the last Thursday of every month and includes Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the sanctuary.
Seven Sacraments, One Catholic Life
Presentation of Our Lady's sacramental life follows the full traditional Catholic outline. The parish describes the seven sacraments as "the life of the Catholic Church," each one "an outward sign of an inward reality instituted by Jesus which imparts a special grace."
Baptism is the door to the other sacraments and is offered for infants, children, and adults. Parents and godparents must meet specific requirements: parents must be willing to raise their child in the Catholic faith and attend a baptism preparation class; godparents must be confirmed, at least sixteen years old, living a chaste life as a single person or married in a valid Catholic marriage, actively practicing their faith, and attending a baptism preparation class. Only one Catholic godparent is required.
Confirmation at Presentation of Our Lady follows the Archdiocese of Denver's Restored Order. Children receive two years of preparation in the second and third grades, with First Reconciliation in second grade and Confirmation together with First Communion in third grade. The parish explains that "Confirmation is not a person's 'adult choice to be Catholic,' rather it is God who chooses us," completing the graces given at Baptism through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Eucharist - the second step toward full initiation - is described as the moment when "Catholics come face to face with Christ." Parents are reminded that they are "the first and best teachers" of their children in the way of faith and that the best preparation for First Communion is taking the child to Mass regularly.
Marriage preparation at the parish requires a minimum eight-month preparation period before the wedding, along with a FOCCUS Inventory, a marriage preparation program, natural family planning instruction, a final meeting, and the sacrament of Reconciliation. The Archdiocese's Office of Marriage Enrichment and the Office of the Diaconate are linked for couples needing additional help or for men discerning a call to the diaconate.
Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick round out the seven. The parish directs those discerning a vocation to the priestly life to the Archdiocese's Office of Vocations and provides contact information for the Office of the Diaconate. Anointing of the Sick is offered to the dying as well as those who are gravely ill or about to undergo a serious operation; the parish encourages parishioners to call for a priest's visit at the diagnosis of a serious disease, upon a terminal diagnosis, or for homebound visits.
Becoming Catholic: RCIA
For adults who have never been baptized, who were baptized in another Christian tradition, or who have been away from the Church for a long time, the parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The parish presents RCIA as more than a program - "a process in which one who, after hearing about the mystery of Christ proclaimed, freely chooses to follow him by entering a life of faith in the Catholic Church." The journey involves intellectual learning, spiritual growth, and conversion, with preparation culminating in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Those who have already been validly baptized outside the Church make a profession of faith and are formally received, followed immediately by Confirmation and the Eucharist.
Ministries Built Around the Parish
Five core ministries give shape to parish life. Each is open to new members, who can sign up through a parish interest form.
The Grupo de Jovenes, the parish youth group, meets on Fridays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and serves teenagers ages thirteen to eighteen. The group is described as "a space to grow in their faith and join in fellowship with other young Catholics." It is the principal ministry aimed at the parish's adolescents.
The Lector Ministry calls for volunteers who want to grow "in a warm and loving knowledge of Scripture, which is the living Word of God." Lectors proclaim the Word at Mass and are encouraged to read in a clear and meaningful way so that everyone present can hear and understand.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion during Mass. They are scheduled to serve at a specific Mass or service and receive training through workshops and the guidance of Mass Coordinators, with the parish emphasizing that "Communion is to be distributed reverently while acknowledging the sanctity of the position of extraordinary minister."
The local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is rooted in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and its patron, St. Vincent de Paul. The Society leads its members, known as Vincentians, "to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering." Members come from every background and economic level and are united "in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing." The chapter collaborates with other people of goodwill in relieving need and addressing its systemic causes, "making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ."
The Presentation of Our Lady Council of the Knights of Columbus carries on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity established in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, now being considered for sainthood. The council is part of a worldwide order originally established to bring "financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members and their families."
The parish also identifies Altar Serving and Usher/Greeter roles among its service opportunities, alongside these five named ministries.
Faith Formation for Children and Families
Children's sacramental preparation at Presentation of Our Lady follows the Restored Order in which Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion are received in their original sequence. Children spend two years in preparation, beginning in the second grade with First Reconciliation and continuing in the third grade with Confirmation and First Communion celebrated together. The parish uses the Archdiocese of Denver's curriculum for second and third grades, available through the archdiocese's sacramental preparation resources, and parents with questions about age or homeschooling arrangements are encouraged to speak with the pastor.
A scholarship application form is available on the parish site to support families seeking tuition assistance for Catholic education, while the parish also links parishioners to broader archdiocesan formation efforts, including the St. John Vianney Lay Division for catechetical and Biblical formation, and to Catholic Charities Denver, founded in 1927, for family and social services.
Faith Resources Beyond the Parish
Beyond the parish's own formation, the parish curates a list of Catholic formation resources for parishioners who want to deepen their prayer and study. The recommended platforms include Formed.org for video-based Catholic study, the Hallow App for guided prayer, and Word on Fire for evangelistic media. The parish also maintains a list of Catholic links to the Archdiocese of Denver, Catholic Answers, the Catholic News Agency, Catholic Sports, Denver Catholic, Dynamic Catholic, Highlight Ministries, Made to Magnify, the New Advent Catholic encyclopedia, and the Person and Identity Project, among others.
Communication, Bulletins, and Homilies
Parishioners stay connected through Flocknote, a communication service created by Catholics for Catholic parishes. Members receive an email every other week containing announcements, upcoming events, and saint feast days, along with occasional reminders for parish events and Holy Days of Obligation. Users can customize their preferences and opt in to updates from the ministries and groups in which they participate.
Weekly bulletins are posted online, with current and recent issues available as downloadable PDFs. A homilies section gathers longer written reflections from the pastor, drawing on patristic and papal sources as well as the pastor's own seminary and priestly experience. Reflections from Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope John Paul II appear alongside the pastor's meditations on the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit, prayer in the liturgy, and the Holy Family.
Giving and Legacy
The parish accepts online giving through its dedicated giving page, which connects to a secure giving portal managed through Vanco. Donors can also set up or manage recurring gifts, create an account, give a one-time gift, or learn about volunteering time and talent. For longer-term support, the parish partners with The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Denver to facilitate planned giving and legacy gifts. A scriptural invitation frames the legacy giving page: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). The parish also points to the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal as a way to support the broader work of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Office, Staff, and Practical Details
Day-to-day parish operations are managed by Office Manager Jocelyn Cruz and Office Assistant Samantha Ledesma, working alongside the pastor. The parish office is located at 665 Irving Street, Denver, CO 80204, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closing for the lunch hour from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and closed on the weekend. The parish office phone is 303.534.4882, and the office email is officemanager@presentationdenver.org.
The parish encourages new attendees to register through the Parish Registration form, which gathers family and sacramental information, including language preference (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Other). Registering makes it possible for the parish to send yearly tax receipts and to manage giving and mail preferences.
A Community Rooted in Denver
Beyond the liturgical and sacramental calendar, Presentation of Our Lady is a working parish community. Its annual Bazar brings together local Catholic businesses and families, from M&B Painters and Zucarne Market to Mariscos El Rey, Elotes el Pueblita, and Carniceria Abarrotes Panaderia Los Dos Toros, with sponsorships underwriting the parish's largest yearly fundraiser. Raffle winners and an annual financial report are shared with parishioners, and announcements, events, and community updates are posted on the parish's Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok channels.
The parish points its members outward through links to archdiocesan ministries working across the region: Catholic Charities Denver, Centro San Juan Diego for Hispanic community education and family support, El Pueblo Católico for Spanish-language Catholic news, Denver Catholic, Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Archdiocese, and Annunciation Heights for youth and family camp and retreats. Together with the parish's own ministries, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, and the Knights of Columbus council, these connections shape Presentation of Our Lady's role as both a worshipping community and a center of Catholic life on Denver's West Side.