Who is the 10:30 Catholic Community…
We are a lay-led Community whose members take personal responsibility for our faith. We encourage all members to participate in community life by sharing their time, talent and treasure.
How the 10:30 Catholic Community is different…
Our Community differs from traditional Catholic parishes primarily because we have no pastor, no paid staff and are directed by volunteer committees of lay-persons: liturgical, educational, financial, etc. Our liturgical celebrations are led by priests who share our beliefs and who have faculties in the archdiocese. Our Community owns no property and our thrust is to serve the needs of not just the parochial Catholic community but the wider human community through social consciousness and appropriate Christian social action. We attempt to live Gospel values in both our Community and daily lives.
Community History…
The present 10:30 Catholic Community is an intentional worshiping community founded in the principles of Vatican II. It is an outgrowth of a nucleus of persons who regularly attended the 10:30 mass at the former St. John's Church. These liturgies challenged them to actualize the documents of Vatican II dealing with the responsibilities of the Catholic lay persons in the church and the world.
In 1972 a confrontation occurred between this group and the more conservative elements which resulted in this group moving to weekly liturgical celebrations at Congress Park in Denver. When fall arrived, the Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church offered their facilities and the group moved into the church, sharing operating expenses with the Presbyterian community. This ecumenical relationship continues in our quarterly joint ecumenical worship services, children’s education, youth group and other activities.
Community Constitution…
The Constitution of the 10:30 Catholic Community is based upon the principal that a requirement for membership in the Community is a willingness to serve through donations of time, talent or treasure. This Constitution recognizes that the 10:30 Catholic Community shares not only its church and related facilities, but many common beliefs and objectives, with the Capitol Heights Presbyterian Community. The General Membership consists of all persons who have made an annual commitment of time, talent or treasure by filling out a commitment pledge or making known to Council a commitment.
Community Calendar…
Sunday Liturgy – 11 am
“4th Sunday” Community Meetings – September, October, January – April
General Membership Meetings – November, May
Council Meetings – at least 10 times a year
Commitment Sunday – Second Sunday in January
Council Lottery – May General Meeting
Installation of Council – Second Sunday in September
“Mass in Little Cheesman Park” – 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays in June, July and August – 9:30 am
The 10:30 Catholic Community Statement of Beliefs…
We are a Christ-centered, spirit directed, catholic worshipping community. In response to the teachings of Vatican II, we have come together because we are searching for ways to reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ in our time, to our world.
In order to effect this ministry, and recognizing our individual human inadequacies, we gather to celebrate Eucharist and to offer our support, nurture and energies to each other.
We understand that our relationship to Christ and to each other is a process of continuing growth toward greater knowledge and deeper intimacy. We believe that the goals of this process are best achieved in Community, where we receive the wisdom and experience of Christians who preceded us in history, and are fed in the present by Christ’s presence in the sacraments. In the light of this understanding and belief, this Community will function as a support for its members to accomplish, through their individual lives, the increased awareness of Christ’s presence in the world.
We further commit ourselves, as a Community, to the support of those who engage in tasks aimed to heal the economic and social wounds that divide the human family and create conditions that support personal human suffering.
Finally, we affirm the wholeness of the body of Christ and support all efforts aimed at the unification of his Church. In support of this affirmation, we commit ourselves as a Community to the life of the Greater Catholic Church of which we are a part, to Ecumenical outreach toward other Christian worshipping communities, and to appropriate interaction with other believing faith communities.
We will maintain an atmosphere of openness, dialogue, and sharing so that all of our efforts may be aided by the light and strength of the Holy Spirit.