Visiting from California for Easter Weekend 2019 and St. Francis is the closest Catholic Church to…read moreour son and daughter in law's home, so here we are. Five of us (four adults and one toddler) attended the 9:30am service. We knew we were in trouble when half a mile from the church we were in slowly moving traffic. Luckily our son was just dropping the rest of us off and heading back home while we attended Mass. The parking lot was filled with plenty of men directing traffic. People seemed to be receptive to the direction and friendly. Walking up to the church we enjoyed the beautiful flowers and statues. Walking into the church we determined we had better find a seat quickly, which we did. Chairs were set up in the foyer and that is where we sat with about 50 other people. We never entered the sanctuary. We heard the priest's homily and readings from our seats and when it was time for communion, the eucharistic ministers came into the foyer. After Mass we exited, offered a bulletin, and walked down the street to meet our son to head home for brunch. The next time we are in Castle Rock (which is once a month) maybe we can actually enter the sanctuary and see what St. Francis parishioners see each week.

Our family have been parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi for more than 10 years. We are…read moreincredibly grateful for the spirituality our Catholic parish provides. The community's focus on family, coupled with its active and vibrant atmosphere, fosters a truly enriching experience. From engaging spiritual activities to vibrant family-oriented events, our parish radiates warmth and a sense of togetherness that makes it a beacon of positivity in our lives. Additionally, our priests and deacons are amazing spiritual leaders.

I'm deeply concerned about transparency and accountability issues within our community,…read moreparticularly within this prominent church. Attempts to address potential misconduct or lack of transparency are met with suppression, fueling my determination to expose any injustices. Recent events underscore the need for transparency, especially within influential institutions. Red flags emerged with new leadership, but attempts to address them were dismissed. Similar patterns occurred at the leader's previous church in Moscow, Idaho, where NDAs silenced victims. Now he claims ignorance about his behavior, but that does not seem congruent with his past behavior and dismissal from prior church. This seems to be a pattern he most definitely is aware of. An executive pastor, upon confronting the leader about his behavior, was coerced into signing an NDA or face termination. Transparency was further compromised when information was blacked out during a congregation address, claiming ignorance of inappropriate behavior. It's our duty to hold institutions and leaders accountable. Using Matthew 18 as a shield is unacceptable, given the pattern of NDAs to conceal misconduct. Claims of firing for cause raise questions about addressing other misconduct transparently. Biblical standards for pastors emphasize qualities like self-control and accountability, urging transparency in cases of misconduct. I've witnessed dedicated individuals ousted under new leadership, replaced by the pastor's acquaintances, despite their integrity and commitment. It's time to address these issues openly and honestly, ensuring the well-being of our community. Ignoring misconduct and silencing victims contradicts Christian values and undermines trust. Accountability is essential for the integrity of our community. https://www.facebook.com/share/dCrBSkZ4d2hALKJg/?mibextid=WC7FNe Post from previous member who is sharing experiences at his prior church. Link to the GoFundMe page for the executive pastor who was terminated for not signing an NDA to conceal these events. https://gofund.me/b0440982 https://nextdoor.com/p/TnsBgqGm_FS-?utm_source=share&extras=ODYwOTQ0NDY%3D&utm_campaign=1711955909416 2nd post on Nextdoor after my initial one was removed without cause. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088111579933&mibextid=LQQJ4d My FB page for additional information.

I truly love this church and it's community. Pastor Aaron does an incredible job of leading our…read morechurch family to a better place. Sunday mornings, worship night and my women's Bible study on Tuesday mornings are some of my favorite activities of my week. The music leaders on Sunday mornings and worship night are the best. I am learning to be a better Christian because of this place. Thank you for speaking Jesus, like my heart does.

Great church great people great location! Super welcoming the newcomers. I enjoyed my time there.read more

Love this church family, music, message - energetic Contemporary Service at 9:00, bring your voice…read moreto join the talented Praise Band. Wonderful, personable Pastor Keith brings the Bible to the forefront, concentrating on both Old and New Testament. Also attend the 11:00 service, old hymns brought to life by a talented full choir, many Bible Studies available; I definitely feel the love in God's house here! MaryJ

Our family has been coming to Grace for about 2 years and find the church to be a small loving and…read moreclose knit community. Great place for our kids with Sunday school, many musical events, and child care generally offered during most adult activities. I enjoy getting together with the men for a beer and there is also a very supportive mother's group. The church is poised for growth, open to new ideas, and views each member and their skills and time commitment as a gift. Come check us out!

Friendly, enthusiastic congregation with a great ministerial staff and children/youth program.read more

Our family visits Catholic parishes fairly regularly as we travel, and one of the things we've come…read moreto appreciate most about the Catholic Church is the consistent welcome, the sense that no matter where you are, you belong at Mass. That's what makes this review difficult to write, because St. Mark did not give us that experience. We had the opportunity to greet Fr. Bierbaum before the service began. I want to be charitable; perhaps he was preoccupied, or perhaps it was an off morning, but he came across as aloof and, frankly, a bit dismissive. It was a small moment, but first impressions carry weight, especially for a visitor who doesn't have years of parish relationship to draw on. The moment that truly colored our visit, however, came during communion. One of our family members received the Eucharist in the hand, a perfectly valid and accepted form of reception, and stepped slightly to the side to consume it reverently. Fr. Bierbaum paused his distribution to watch them in a way that read as scrutiny rather than pastoral concern. Whether that was his intent or not, it felt unwelcoming at a moment that should have felt anything but. The irony is that if he knew her, he would've loved her soul and her deep love of our Lord. We came to St. Mark as guests, hoping to worship and feel welcomed and inspired. We left feeling evaluated. I genuinely hope this reflects a bad day rather than a pattern, and I hope Fr. Bierbaum knows that a priest's demeanor, before and during Mass, is the parish, in the eyes of a visitor. It was hard to feel the sense of engagement one might expect when entering the House of the Lord. We will have the opportunity to return to the area for other visits. We'll go back to St. Mark. I hope that I can retract my concerns and any lasting sentiments. With respect and goodwill to the St. Mark community.

Around 20 years ago, I came back to the Catholic Church after being away for decades. In all that…read moretime, I never found a parish that felt like home. That changed when I found St. Mark. Short of going to Latin Mass, this is as reverent a Mass as you are going to find anywhere. In fact, the Masses themselves include quite a bit of Latin. Father Bierbaum has shown great leadership and is not afraid to stand up for the teachings of the church while also being very welcoming. He strikes the perfect balance. In short, my experience at St. Mark has substantially deepened my faith. The reverence that parishioners show toward the Eucharist is a testament to the fact that this parish is doing things right. If you want reverent, traditional Masses, St. Mark is the right parish for you.

Small congregation. Very friendly people. We have been going here several years now. We have a…read moregreat pastor who gives very down to earth sermons that we use in our everyday lives.

What a nice group of folks. My sister and I attended 10:00 Sunday morning service and received a…read morewarm welcome. If I lived here this would be my go-to. The lead pastors spoke with clarity, conviction and straight forward words through the Holy Spirit. Expect to see down to earth people here. Try out the coffee shop and mix with other children of God. Very family friendly. Nonjudgmental zone. I will be back next time I'm in town.

Complete and total disregard for this beautiful community! We almost purchased a home on the same…read morestreet as this church and are relieved that we bought elsewhere because the pastor is attempting to rezone their 52 acre lot into low income housing where there are no facilities to accommodate such as public transportation, mental health aid and drug rehab (if needed). GREED AT IT'S WORST.

Okay, I disagree with about 99 percent of the churches theology especially their teachings on the…read moreLGBTQ community but this church practices Mathew 25 -35, something that very few of any conservative churches do.