St. William Catholic Church sits on Fulton Avenue in Fort Lupton, a small Weld County town northeast of Denver where sugar beet farming once defined the local economy and where Hispanic and Anglo families have long shared the same streets, schools, and parish life. The church belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and is recognized across the area as one of the few parishes that genuinely lives in two languages at the same time, with weekend Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish and a daily bilingual Mass that gathers the working faithful before sunrise on weekdays. From its main building on Fulton Avenue and its second chapel, Our Lady of Grace, in neighboring Wattenberg, St. William carries out the full sacramental and devotional life of a Roman Catholic parish along the South Platte River valley.
A Parish in Two Languages
The defining rhythm of St. William is its bilingual character. The parish's stated vision is to become a united church in which there is space for everyone, wherever they find themselves on the journey of faith, and the weekly schedule puts that vision into practice. On any given weekend, English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families share the same pews, hear the same readings proclaimed in their own language, and sit down at the same Communion rail.
The pastoral welcome signed by Father Grzegorz Wojcik puts it plainly: "Together, walking towards Jesus Christ, we build the Kingdom of God here on Earth where we live out of love. That charity of Christ, that He showed us how to love one another becomes our Vision - To Become a United Church - there is here space for everybody wherever you find yourself on your path of life." In a region where many households include both English and Spanish speakers, this is not a marketing line but a working arrangement shaped by decades of parish life.
Mass in English and Spanish
Weekend Mass at St. William is offered four times on Sundays plus a Saturday evening vigil. The Saturday vigil Mass is celebrated in English at 5:00 p.m. Sunday morning begins with a Mass in Spanish at 7:30 a.m., followed by an English Mass at Our Lady of Grace in Wattenberg at 8:00 a.m., another English Mass at St. William at 9:30 a.m., and a closing Mass in Spanish at 11:30 a.m. This rhythm lets working families, children in Catholic schools, and older parishioners each find a Mass that fits their week.
Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. in the church and is celebrated bilingually, with readings and the homily offered in both languages. On the First Saturday of each month, the rosary is prayed at 7:00 a.m. followed by a bilingual Mass at 7:30 a.m., an observance many parishioners treasure as a quiet start to the weekend. On Holy Days of Obligation, the parish adds an evening Mass in English at 5:30 p.m. and one in Spanish at 7:30 p.m.
Confession, Adoration, and Prayer
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard every Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the church, immediately before the vigil Mass, and priests are also available for confession by appointment. The parish walks with the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation, in which children typically make their First Confession in the second grade and then receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion together in the third grade.
Across the parking lot from the main church, the parish's Emmaus Chapel hosts Eucharistic Adoration three days a week. The chapel is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the entrance is on the northwest corner of the church building. The chapel is staffed by a roster of committed adorers who sign up for a regular holy hour through WeAdoreHim.com, and the Adoration Coordinator, Kimberly Gillan, recruits additional volunteers so that every hour has at least two committed adorers present. The parish asks every family to consider giving Jesus one hour a week in the Blessed Sacrament, and chapel closures around major civic and liturgical holidays are posted in advance.
At Our Lady of Grace in Wattenberg, the rosary is prayed in the chapel every Friday at 4:00 p.m., a small weekly devotion that has become a habit for neighbors who appreciate a quiet hour before Sunday.
The Seven Sacraments
St. William celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and walks families through each one with preparation that follows Archdiocese of Denver guidelines.
Baptism is described as the door to the other sacraments, the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness. Parents are expected to be willing to raise their child in the Catholic faith and to attend a baptism preparation class at St. William or at their own parish. Godparents must be fully initiated Catholics in good standing, at least sixteen years old, and either living chastely as single people or married in a valid Catholic marriage.
Reconciliation is offered with the standard Rite of Reconciliation, and the parish provides an Examination of Conscience to help penitents prepare. The Act of Contrition is printed in the bulletin and on the parish site so that anyone can pray it before stepping into the confessional.
First Holy Communion is most often celebrated around the age of seven or eight, after a child has made First Confession. The parish emphasizes that the best preparation for the Eucharist is taking a child to Mass regularly and helping them understand what is happening at the altar; parents are reminded that they were called at Baptism to be the first and best teachers of their children in the way of faith.
Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, completes the Sacraments of Initiation. In the Restored Order practiced at St. William, Confirmation is received in the third grade, shortly after First Communion.
Marriage preparation follows Archdiocese of Denver requirements. Couples are asked to call the parish office as soon as they are engaged. The Archdiocese requires a minimum eight-month preparation period, which includes the FOCCUS inventory, a marriage preparation program, instruction in Natural Family Planning, a final meeting with the priest, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the wedding. The parish directs engaged couples to enrichment resources and to support resources for marriages that are struggling.
Holy Orders is presented as a continuation of the apostolic ministry entrusted by Christ, with three degrees: deacon, priest, and bishop. Men discerning a call to the priesthood are encouraged to speak with the pastor, while men discerning the diaconate may contact the Archdiocese of Denver's Office of the Diaconate.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone facing a serious diagnosis, a terminal diagnosis, a major operation, or the frailties of old age. The parish asks families to call the office for a priest to visit the homebound or to come to the hospital, and the priest will hear the sick person's confession before anointing so that the sacrament is received with full integrity.
Catholic Burial and Funeral Planning is supported through the parish office. Families grieving the loss of a child during pregnancy or at birth may arrange burial at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery at no cost through the Precious Lives Burial program.
Becoming Catholic through OCIA
Adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church, or Catholics who have not yet received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. OCIA is described by the parish as more than a program. It is a journey of intellectual learning, spiritual growth, and conversion that culminates in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Those who have already been validly baptized in another Christian tradition are received into the Church through a profession of faith followed immediately by Confirmation and the Eucharist. Anyone curious about the Catholic faith, returning to the practice of the faith after years away, or unbaptized is invited to inquire through the parish office.
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Religious Education at St. William prepares children for the sacraments of Initiation in the Restored Order, with First Reconciliation in second grade and Confirmation and First Holy Communion together in third grade. The program supports parents as the primary teachers of their children and offers preparation classes for baptism, first confession, first Communion, and confirmation.
Youth Formation gathers middle school and high school students for catechesis, fellowship, and service. The parish shares sign-up information for youth events with nearby St. Michael parish in Aurora and uses Flocknote to keep families informed. Young adults also have a regular presence in the parish, with a monthly Young Adult Mass noted on the parish calendar.
Liturgical Ministries at the Altar
The parish depends on a wide circle of lay ministers to celebrate each Mass with care and reverence.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and may also bring Communion to the sick in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Ministers must be confirmed Catholics in good standing and at least sixteen years old.
- Sacristans prepare the books, vessels, linens, oils, processional crosses, and candles used at Mass, and they serve on a weekly basis.
- Altar Servers assist the priest and deacon at the altar, carrying the processional cross and candles at daily and weekend Masses, funerals, benediction, and prayer services. Boys and girls may serve once they have received their First Communion, and training sessions are held for new servers.
- Lectors proclaim the Scriptures at Mass, apart from the Gospel, and prepare carefully so that the Word of God is heard with clarity and dignity.
- Ushers and Greeters create a welcoming atmosphere by greeting parishioners, helping seat those who need assistance, taking up the collection, and supporting the Communion procession.
- Music Ministry welcomes instrumentalists and vocalists of all kinds and plays a central role in the parish's liturgical life.
A Stephen Ministry also operates at the parish, providing confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people experiencing grief, illness, job loss, divorce, or other life difficulties. Trained lay ministers walk alongside those in need under the supervision of the pastor.
Knights of Columbus Council #4732
The parish's Knights of Columbus council, Council #4732, meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Under Grand Knight Mark Grajeda, the council brings Catholic men together for fellowship, faith, and service to the parish and to neighbors in need. Membership is open year-round, and the council organizes charitable works such as the Friends of the Poor Walk, a fundraising event the parish has long supported in partnership with the wider Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Respecting Life
St. William's Respect Life Ministry is a small but active outreach that connects the parish with crisis pregnancy support and end-of-life advocacy. The parish lists Heartbeat International, a national network of crisis pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes, among its partners, and the ministry keeps parishioners informed through Life News. The parish has also partnered with the local 40 Days for Life campaign, joining other parishes in prayer and witness outside abortion facilities. Anyone feeling called to this work is invited to contact the parish office.
Our Lady of Grace in Wattenberg
Just a short drive north of Fort Lupton, the parish's second chapel, Our Lady of Grace, stands on Grace Avenue in Wattenberg. Sunday Mass is celebrated there in English at 8:00 a.m., and the rosary is prayed on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. The chapel hosts parish hall events and small faith gatherings, and families who live in the northern part of the parish are encouraged to register and worship there as their home site. Separate donation pages are available for Our Lady of Grace through the parish giving portal.
Stewardship and Legacy Giving
The parish supports itself through regular collections, online giving, the sale of Safeway gift cards (a small rebate program that returns five percent of each purchase to St. William), and planned gifts. Parishioners may register as recurring electronic givers or as weekly or monthly envelope users. Those who wish to remember the parish in their will can work through The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Denver, which partners with St. William on legacy planning. Giving to the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal also supports the wider mission of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Welcoming Newcomers
Visitors are asked to fill out a registration form so the parish office can keep sacramental records, send tax receipts, and communicate about upcoming events. Registration is done through an online form that captures family details, children living at home, and giving preferences. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, available both in print and through Parishes Online, and sends updates through Flocknote for those who want regular text or email reminders about Mass times, feast days, and parish news.
Anyone seeking a sacramental certificate, registering for a baptism, or wanting to talk with a priest about Anointing of the Sick or funeral planning can contact the parish office at 303-857-6642 during office hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For sacramental emergencies after hours, an on-call priest can be reached at 720-683-8970.
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Grzegorz Wojcik as Pastor, with Father Jessfyr Picado Funte serving as Parochial Vicar. Two deacons assist the priests in ministry: Deacon Pedro (Javy) Reyes and Deacon Modesto Garcia. In the parish office, Dick Callaway serves as Business Manager and Rachael DeHerrera as Secretary. The Religious Formation team includes Cassandra Rocha, Bonita Welsh, and Julio Herrera. The Adoration Coordinator, Kimberly Gillan, recruits and schedules committed adorers for the Emmaus Chapel, and Mark Grajeda leads the Knights of Columbus as Grand Knight of Council #4732.
From its bilingual liturgies and round-the-clock adoration chapel to its sacramental preparation, parish hall Knights meetings, and small chapel in Wattenberg, St. William Catholic Church offers a full Catholic life to the families of Fort Lupton and the surrounding South Platte valley, rooted in the conviction that there is here space for everybody on the road to Christ.