Built in 1880 in the Gothic style by Emmett Anthony, the church was formed to meet the growing demand for Catholic churches from Irish and Italian immigrants. Among the church’s early parishioners was Julia Greely, a formerly enslaved woman who became known as Denver’s “Angel of Charity” for her service to families in poverty. The Catholic church is now considering her as a candidate for sainthood. Today, Sacred Heart continues to serve the community through programs such as hot meals, free health screenings, and employment rights seminars.

In the fall of 2022, Sacred Heart’s new pastor asked for an inspection from the Denver Fire Department to ensure the building had adequate fire prevention measures. The Fire Department identified 14 life safety issues and requested that work to address these issues be completed within a month. While the church sprang into action to address several items on the list within this timeframe, additional funds were needed to rectify some of the more expensive issues, including kitchen fire hoods and an extinguishing system.

An Intervention Fund grant of $47,000 awarded in 2023 helped Sacred Heart replace the stove exhaust hood so that exhaust could be safely directed outside the building. The grant also helped the congregation raise an additional $64,500 in funding to complete the project through local donations and weekly taco sales. The kitchen can now be safely used for the congregation’s regular fundraising taco sales and potluck gatherings.

Photo by Father Eric David-Zeeger