The Gospel of Life Conference [8am – 2:30pm, Oct. 2]
Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Chaput [4 pm., Oct. 2]
Annual Respect Life Mass with Denver Bishops [Oct. 30]
The Living the Catholic Faith Conference [March 11-12, 2011; Keynote speakers are Archbishop Dolan of NYC, Scott Hahn, Father Robert Barron & Sister Kathleen Harmon; more details coming soon!]
Our History
Fr. Omer V. Foxhoven - 1954 All Souls Church is Founded
Omer V. Foxhoven was appointed pastor of All Souls Church when it was founded on July 1, 1954. At that time, the parish consisted of about 200 families living east of Broadway and south of Quincy Avenue. According to the late Monsignor Thomas P. Barry, while standing on the steps of the cathedral, Archbishop Vehr looked south down Logan and decided to build a church about every ten blocks so that older people would have the Blessed Sacrament within walking distance of their homes. As a result, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of God, St. Francis de Sales, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Louis, and All Souls were built south, all along or near Logan Street.
A house at 421 Pennwood Circle was the first rectory where Father Foxhoven said daily Masses in the basement. The gym at St. Mary's Academy was used for Sunday services. Ground was broken at the current site for a church and parish hall on January 1, 1955.
All Souls Church is Dedicated and School Opens - 1955
The church was dedicated on November 29, 1955 and All Souls next established a school fund. In September 1959, the Sisters of Loretto opened a nine-classroom school. By 1970, All Souls had a sixteen-classroom school with a full-sized gym, music room, cafeteria, and almost 600 students. Teachers included six Sisters of Loretto, twelve lay teachers, and two physical education specialists. The sisters no longer staff the school, and to date, a lay staff continues to teach students from pre-kindergarteners through eighth grade. The school's many accomplishments include speech awards, state science awards, sports trophies, and many spelling bee winners, including a state champion. In addition, the religious education ministry and catechists instruct over 250 Catholic children attending public schools, as well as adults in religious education classes.
Fr. Francis J. Kappes - 1962
Father Foxhoven transferred to another parish in 1962. Francis J. Kappes then became pastor of All Souls. Father Kappes enriched the parish, established many ministries including a seniors group, and delighted children with his "Blessing of the Animals" on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
All Souls had become one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese before its eastern half was reorganized as Risen Christ parish in 1967. The southern half of what remained became part of St. Thomas More parish in 1972. Father Kappes noted in the 1980 silver anniversary booklet that although All Souls had reduced in size "by reason of the dissection of our original territory, nonetheless, we continue to carry the heaviest program."
Fr. Walter R. Jaeger - 1985
Father Walter R. Jaeger became the third pastor of All Souls in 1985. The parish continued the heavy program with its school and a full range of activities for more than 800 families. Along the way, many new parish ministries were established to support the All Souls parish and community. In 1994, under the direction of Fr. Jaeger, the parish school expanded with a modern five-classroom addition to house the growing middle school grades.
Monsignor Thomas Fryar - 1996
In 1996, Father Jaeger passed away and Fr. Thomas Fryar became the fourth pastor of All Souls. Fr. Fryar served the All Souls community for six years, and during his tenure plans had begun to remodel and expand the existing parish facilities to support the parish well into the future. Just prior to the birth of the All Souls capital campaign construction project in 2002, Fr. Fryar was appointed a Monsignor and assigned full time as Vicar for Clergy and Seminarians for the archdiocese as of June, 2001.
During that time, parishioners of All Souls agreed to support the efforts of another school expansion. The new plan included four new middle school classrooms, a large, modern library, and a new, updated computer lab and media center.
Fr. Phillip Meredith - 2001
Fr. Phillip Meredith, after serving 12 years at St. Joseph's parish in Ft. Collins, became the fifth pastor of All Souls in 2001. Fr. Meredith was instrumental in moving forward with the capital campaign and initial construction plans for the school expansion project. Again, a shift in pastors took place (fondly called the "Logan Street shuffle") in 2004 and, after two and a half years, Fr. Meredith became pastor of the Cathedral, while Fr. Robert Fisher from Our Lady of Lourdes parish, became pastor of All Souls.
Fr. Robert Fisher - 2004 Fr. Fisher was appointed the sixth pastor of All Souls just prior to the 50th anniversary year for the parish. He continues the parish expansion efforts that began with the school addition, and supports the growth of the 50 plus ministries currently operating at All Souls. The school addition was completed in the spring of 2005, and Fr. Fisher is moving forward with efforts to develop the master plan begun under Msgr. Fryar. He looks forward to leading the 1100+ All Souls parish families into the next 50 years.
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