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Capital CampaignCatholic Parishes of the Valley
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Our Campaign

One campaign, two churches: a new St. Clare of Assisi in Edwards and a new St. Mary’s in Gypsum.

The Two Churches

Why we are building

Both parishes have outgrown the spaces where they worship. Here is what the new churches will change, and why every gift matters.

Rendering of the new St. Clare of Assisi church at sunset, with stone walls, tall arched windows and the mountains behind it
Edwards, Colorado

St. Clare of Assisi Church

Since 2000, St. Clare’s has celebrated Mass in its school gymnasium. The new church finally moves Mass out of the gym.

Founded in 2000, St. Clare of Assisi Parish and Catholic School in Edwards grew from Cardinal James Francis Stafford’s vision, while Archbishop of Denver, to bring Catholic education to all the valley’s children. Rooted in faith, strengthened by generosity and filled with hope, this vibrant community now looks forward to a sacred home of its own: a place to worship, nurture faith and welcome generations to come.

“Let the love you have in your hearts be shown outwardly in your deeds.”Testament of St. Clare
Rendering of the new St. Mary’s church and adoration chapel in Gypsum, with timber gables and mountains beyond
Gypsum, Colorado

St. Mary’s Church

A Century of Faith. A Home for the Future. Your generosity will help bring our growing community together in a sacred space for worship, fellowship and generations of faith.

St. Mary’s history dates back to 1911, when Mass was first celebrated in the home of a local parishioner. More than a century later, our parish has grown into a vibrant faith community, with hundreds of parishioners attending four weekend Masses in a church building that can no longer accommodate everyone who comes to worship. Parishioners regularly spill into the foyer and basement, where closed-circuit television is needed so they can participate in the celebration of Mass. A new St. Mary’s will allow us to come together once again as one community, worshipping under one roof and creating a spiritual home that can serve our growing parish for generations to come.

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”1 Corinthians 3:11
The parish fills the St. Clare school gymnasium for Mass, with championship banners on the wall and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe above the altar

From Gym to Sanctuary

Twenty-five years in the “church-nasium”

Each week, St. Clare parishioners convert the school gym into a sacred place with folding chairs, a podium, a makeshift altar over a rug, and a few flower bouquets.

“It is difficult to put your mind in a spiritual place while kneeling on a gym floor after receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord,” say committee members Steve and Janet Burmeister. A beautiful church will draw us closer to God, and to each other.

Renderings

A first look at the new churches

Renderings and layouts are preliminary designs and may change during the final design phase.

Preliminary rendering: St. Clare of Assisi at dusk
St. Clare of Assisi at dusk
Preliminary rendering: St. Clare of Assisi, main entrance
St. Clare of Assisi, main entrance
Preliminary rendering: St. Clare of Assisi, side view sketch
St. Clare of Assisi, side view sketch
Preliminary rendering: St. Mary’s with adoration chapel
St. Mary’s with adoration chapel
Preliminary rendering: St. Mary’s nave interior
St. Mary’s nave interior
Preliminary rendering: St. Mary’s, front view sketch
St. Mary’s, front view sketch

Construction Updates

From vision to groundbreaking

  1. November 2023

    Laying the Groundwork & Launching the Campaign

    Preliminary research and planning laid the groundwork for the capital campaign, which officially launched to the parish community in November 2023. Read the Vail Daily article.

  2. August 10, 2025

    Faith Fills the Mountains

    Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila celebrates a historic Mass at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the first ever held there, as Catholics from across Eagle County gather in support of the campaign. Read the Denver Catholic story.

  3. May 2, 2026

    St. Mary’s breaks ground in Gypsum

    About 600 people gather to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new St. Mary’s. Read the Denver Catholic story or the Vail Daily article.

  4. July 24, 2026

    St. Clare’s breaks ground and blesses its cornerstone

    Archbishop James Golka celebrates Mass in the gym, then leads a procession to the new site to bless the ground and the cornerstone. Read the story.

  5. Now In progress

    Construction underway

    At St. Mary’s, underground plumbing and electrical are going in. St. Clare of Assisi’s building application is with Eagle County, and we eagerly await the building permit. Follow along on our Construction Progress page.

Interior rendering of the new St. Mary’s nave, with timber beams, pews and a crucifix above the altar

Naming Opportunities

Leave a legacy of love, faith and hope

Our new churches will provide a spiritual home for the Catholic community of our valley and its many visitors from around the world. Commemorative gifts help fund important structural and liturgical items in the new St. Mary’s and St. Clare of Assisi churches. More naming opportunities will become available.

For information about commemorative gifts, contact Jenn Bruno at jbruno@stclareparish.com or 970-471-4572.

Ask About Naming

Stained Glass

Windows with a story, coming home to Gypsum

Donated by the Sisters of St. Francis from St. Mary’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, these priceless panels depict scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus. They were set aside for years until the Sisters found a new St. Mary’s church under construction. They will be installed in the new church in Gypsum.

To help with the stained glass restoration, contact us.

Stained glass window: Mary with her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne
Mary with her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne
Stained glass window: The Annunciation
The Annunciation
Stained glass window: The Nativity of Our Lord
The Nativity of Our Lord
Stained glass window: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Stained glass window: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Stained glass window: The Coronation of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth
The Coronation of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

Our Community

The living stones of our Church

“You are the beautiful church.” Archbishop James Golka

A priest in green vestments greeting parishioners after Mass
Parishioners standing with worship aids during Mass
A priest chatting with parishioners among the amphitheater seats
A bishop with his crozier greeting parishioners
Parishioners shaking hands during Mass
The congregation seated at an outdoor Mass
A young boy looking over his father’s shoulder during Mass
A priest greeting the faithful outdoors
Parishioners seated together during Mass
Clergy and parishioners standing together in the amphitheater

Help us finish the work

Only $466,274 remains to reach our $23 million goal. Your gift, large or small, helps open the doors of two new churches.

Donate to the Campaign