St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Golden is a community of about 1250 families. Our pastor is Fr. Joseph Tran, who was assigned to our parish in June 2017. We are also served by Deacon Ed Clements and Deacon Dennis Langdon, as well as a small staff. We strive to provide parishioners and guests with opportunities to encounter Christ, experience communion, and use their charisms.
Built on land donated to the parish by Judge Jonas Johnson in 1874, our current church building was designed to be welcoming and to have the earthy feeling of the nearby Rocky Mountain foothills. The pie-shaped structure seats over 500 with no one more than ten pews from the altar. Designed by architects Keith Ames and Associates of Longmont, the dramatic exterior of brick and raw wood rises to a central cone over the altar. The exterior features a solar wall and garden, with a baptismal font just inside the main entrance. Custom handcrafted furnishings adorn the interior including a suspended sculptural ceiling in the Reconciliation room and Stations of the Cross etched in glass. Construction on the church was finished in 1986 and while we have renovated the interior since then, the church retains its warm and open design. The church is the fourth structure used by our parish which was founded in 1859 by Father Joseph Machebeuf. True to our pioneer history, the dedication was full of Western charm.
“Archbishop J. Francis Stafford anointed the altar with holy oil, sprinkled parishioners with holy water, and set off the smoke detectors with clouds of incense. Parishioners thanked the archbishop with a traditional western “Howdy!” by presenting him with a Stetson hat. Thus, St. Joseph, the second church to be built outside Denver by Bishop Machebeuf, became the first new Colorado church to be dedicated by Archbishop Stafford.”
Whether you live in or around Golden, or you are just passing thru, you are welcome to join us any time here at St. Joseph!
