Catholics in historic town face dwindling numbers, cultural tensions

Published: 2005-12-01

LEADVILLE, Colo. (CNS) -- Catholics in Leadville have a rich tradition spanning back to the 19th century. The "unsinkable" Molly Brown of Titanic fame was married at the Church of the Annunciation. The church also boasts having the highest church spire in North America. (Leadville sits at an altitude of about 10,430 feet above sea level.) But an aging population, a split between cultures within the church and decreasing participation and funds have forced the Catholic Community of Leadville to a crossroads. The community, which was formed in 1988 and encompasses St. Joseph and Annunciation parishes, held a summit in the fall at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum to address these issues and more. The top issue that came out of the summit was the need to get youths more involved in parish life, followed by a desire for a parish hall, the availability of more social activities and better inclusion of the Hispanic community. Other top priorities included maintaining full-time clergy, building a stronger community of faith and providing outreach to shut-ins.

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