Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the Diocese of Colorado Springs., The first Catholic Mass in this area was celebrated in 1860 by the Rev. Joseph Machebeuf, who later became Colorado's first bishop. The parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established in the town of Manitou in 1882., A church building was constructed here on Ruxton Avenue in June of 1889, and Rev. Frederick Bender was named the first pastor. The architects were Angus and Archie Gillis, who also designed nearby Miramont Castle, which was built as a residence for Rev. Jean Baptiste Francolon, another early pastor of OLPH, and his mother., OLPH was built in a Gothic-influenced Shingle Style, featuring a shingled roof and exterior, with a simple gabled entrance. The church has Gothic-style stained-glass windows. Stone walls surround the property, and a pedestrian stone bridge crosses Ruxton Creek. A sacristy was added to the back of the church in 1893., When the church building burned down in August 1903, it was rebuilt by the Gillis brothers in October of the same year under the leadership of pastor Rev. Andreas Casey, with donations from General William Palmer and others. A stone grotto, modeled after the one in Lourdes, France, was added by Rev. Michael Callanan in February of 1905. A water feature was added to the grotto in 1947. From the base of Mary's niche, water had cascaded down a concrete Aume to a small waterfall which flowed into a small pool. After years of neglect, this was all removed., The Father Schultz House, built around 1914, once served as the rectory for the church but is now used by the OLPH community for social gatherings. It is named after Rev. Jim Schultz, CSC, a priest from the staff of the Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade who died in a mountain climbing accident in 1987., In 1922, Saint Mary's Church, previously a mission of OLPH, changed its name to Sacred Heart and built its current building on 21st Street in Old Colorado City. The Oblate fathers took over leadership of both churches in 1926. Holy Rosary in Cascade was built in 1931, and this chapel became part of Sacred Heart Parish as well., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was included the 1980 nomination and selection for Manitou Springs' inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The sanctuary floor and stained-glass windows at OLPH were restored 1986, and the exterior was repaired in 1989., Bishop Richard Hanifen became the first bishop of the new Diocese of Colorado Springs in 1984. At his invitation, the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose novitiate had been in Cascade since 1978, assumed leadership of all three churches Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Rev. Leroy Clementich, CSC was named the pastor, and Rev. Ronald Raab, CSC, who later became pastor in 2013, was named as his associate pastor., By December of 2016, recognizing that maintenance needs had been too long neglected and that long- term sustainability was of concern, parishioners began a series of improvements at OLPH. These included repairing the pedestrian stone bridge over Ruxton Creek, replacing the roof on the church, painting the exteriors of both buildings, and making substantial interior improvements in the church, including new carpeting, new painting, new lighting, and new sanctuary furniture. The grotto was restored through a gift from the Order of Malta., In 2021, a new ramp was built to allow full access to both buildings at OLPH. Keeping with the guidelines of the Manitou Springs Historic District and with the approval of the Manitou Springs Historic Preservation Commission, the concrete is tinted pink and the walls are clad with local stone. The Father Schultz House retains its original front stoop, and to protect the look of the church's original façade, entry to the church was created through a new side door. The bathroom in the Father Schultz House was also renovated to be fully accessible to all., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel is grateful to its parishioners, and to the many parishioners from Sacred Heart Church and Holy Rosary Chapel, as well as to the many other friends of OLPH, who contributed to this renovation.