About the Campaign

As a newly ordained priest, I am deeply grateful to Archbishop Golka for sending me to the Vail Valley. It is an honor to begin my priestly ministry here during such an opportune and exciting time in the construction of two new churches: St. Clare of Assisi in Edwards and St. Mary’s in Eagle.

Christ is honored in the building of these churches and in the worship that will be offered within them. I am humbled by the time, money and effort so many of you have given to this Capital Campaign. Your generosity will provide us with dignified sanctuaries to worship and serve our Eucharistic Lord, Christ the King.

These churches will serve our liturgical life and our apostolic mission, and they will strengthen the Church in the Vail Valley for generations to come. Thank you for your faithful support. You are in my prayers, and I look forward to worshiping with you in our new churches.

“While we have been grateful for the gymnasium at St. Clare’s to celebrate Mass, there will be an extraordinary transformation within the community when the Blessed Sacrament can be presented in a church. For St. Mary’s, just having a pew for all in the community will allow parishioners to focus on the service without discomfort or distraction.”

“We see this campaign to build two new churches as a great opportunity to bring this community together as one.”

“A beautiful church will let us encounter Jesus Christ at a deeper spiritual level and draw us closer not only to God, but to each other, as a parish community.”

“We have nice homes and our Lord deserves one, too. Not the gymnasium. Two new churches is a great way to spread the gospel message!”

“It’s a unique opportunity to unite our communities, share love, and make a tangible difference. This initiative embodies the spirit of collaboration and faith in action.”

“There has been discussion of new Catholic churches in Edwards and Gypsum for many years, so it is terrific it will be realized through strategy, planning and plenty of focused work.”

“When I first walked into St. Mary’s a little over a year ago, I had no idea how much this parish would welcome and surprise me. After spending most of my adult life in Toronto and Buffalo, I was accustomed to Catholic churches and schools consolidating or closing, not building. I still remember reading in the bulletin that two new churches were planned for the valley and thinking, ‘Two new Catholic churches? Really?’ Then I began to understand why. The pews are full. People are searching for seats at Mass and coming together for adoration and weekday services. I have experienced the heartbreak of watching Catholic communities shrink, including seeing two of my daughter’s Catholic schools close, and now I am living in a place where our challenge is making room for more people. That is why I am so excited about the Capital Campaign. This is about so much more than constructing buildings; it is about investing in a vibrant, growing faith community and creating places where future generations can worship, learn and grow in their faith. I am deeply grateful to the people who built and sustained the Catholic communities that shaped my family back East, and I see this campaign as our opportunity to do the same for those who will come after us. What a privilege and a joy to be part of a Catholic community that is not simply trying to preserve what it has, but is building for the future. I am grateful to play even a small part in something so extraordinary.”