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The parish was originally
established in 1903 as a mission of St. Patrick’s parish. The red brick
building, located on the corner of Spruce and Logan, was built for $7,000 to
serve twenty families. It was served by the Jesuit Fathers and remained a
mission until 1914, when it was detached from St. Patrick’s and given
parochial status.
The present St. Francis
Xavier Church was dedicated on September 27, 1925. It was built adjacent to the
original church structure, which was remodeled to serve as a school (1926). At
one time, the school was one of the largest in Pueblo, with an enrollment of 354
students who were taught by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. The school
closed in 1971.
In
the mid-1920s, the Jesuit Fathers relinquished the parish to the Diocese of
Denver, and Monsignor Aloysius Miller became the first diocesan pastor of St.
Francis. It was during this time that the parish experienced an increase of some
4000 parishioners, which necessitated the addition of two Sunday masses
held in the basement of the school, while mass was simultaneously held in the
church.
During this epoch in
the church’s history, the congregation demonstrated a record for helping the
poor and the sick. The St. Vincent de Paul Society was established in 1932. It
was the first such organization founded in southeastern Colorado. The parish
also established Holy Name and Legion
of Mary units to visit the sick and the aged.
In 2003, the parish of
St. Francis Xavier will celebrate its 100th anniversary as a
community united in faith, and will pray for another 100 years of unity.
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