Redemptorist Church

I have attended parish events, weekday Mass and Confession at this beautiful parish. It truly is one of the most elaborate and beautiful parishes in the city, with ornate architecture and design. Mass and Confession are both very moving experiences at this parish. There are a couple side areas, one of which includes a beautiful picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Go early or stay late, so that you can enjoy the beauty of the Church that God has given to us to appreciate.
I especially like having daily Mass and Confession at convenient times, including Saturday evening Confession (no excuses for not having gone before you receive communion!). Get there a little earlier for Confession when it’s First Friday/​Saturday.
To My L and her wedding in 2011. I hope your wedding went off as planned, and your marriage is even better than you had dreamed. Although I’m not a member of the parish, please accept my apologies for the treatment, not by the Church or the Priest, but by the parish staff. This shouldn’t reflect on the Church or parish as a whole, but I understand it does color your view. Unfortunately, part of any church is a ‘business’, and that can sometimes conflict with the religious part. Not even parish employees are perfect. :)
Kent Jacob S: I also drive in from JoCo on occasion for Mass (weekdays at 11), but the parish I attend in JoCo doesn’t have a ‘dress code’, nor is one implied. I hope you’ve found one that makes you feel more welcome!

The architecture of this church is amazing! I love the medieval look, the arches, the flying buttresses, you get it. Although I am a fan of modern architecture, I appreciate traditional looking buildings and this brings character to the city. I am not a big fan of boxy churches with no character. Maybe it’s because I don’t feel like I’m at a place of worship, I can’t explain it.
Another reason why I choose to come to this church and drive 30 minutes to attend mass is because I feel comfortable here. Whenever I attend mass at one of the churches in JoCo, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable and judged because I’m not wearing a suit or I’m not sitting up straight. You’re supposed to feel free at church and I just feel that the congregation at Redemptorist is much more friendly and open.

I am beginning to regret getting married here at this church…
Well, yes, it is gorgeous.
Yes, I love the priest who is marrying us. All the priests here are kind and. Helpful.
But the administration staff who works there… I can’t believe they are working for a church, mind you. We are talking about very non humanistic individuals who work in the parish office.
Evil #1: I had an appt with the priest, but was running a about potential 10 min late bc it was snowing. OUt of courtesy, I called the office,“I might be 10 min late bc it is snowing, and I don’t want to drive fast «(I live in CA).
Instead of saying „drive carefully“…she said „it isn’t snowing up here “ (bulls^%t…I was in about 5 mi away)…I replied in shock.“well, it is where I am at.» …she said «we can’t wait for u».
Uh, who the heck is «we»? The priest schedule has nothing to do with parish office. In addition, when I did arrive… just short of 10 min… the priest did not seem to mind at all.
Evil #2: As I am planning my wedding 2000 miles away, it had slipped past me that the final payment to them was already due (2 wks ago)…as my wedding is in another 2 ½ wks… so I thought the final payment was this wk or next…
I had already made the initial deposit.
Well, instead of calling me, they called. (Thursday) my mom to inform her of the overdue final pyment. My mom told them I was in. Califrnia and would mail them the payment.
You know what they said? «If we don’t receive a check by Monday,.we r cancelling the weddng.»
I am sorry, but I can’t gaurantee the time of snail mail. it might be received in 2 to 3 days from CA, or worst case scenario, little longer than that. I mean what it is to them if they get it in 3 days versus 2 days?
With the fees to get married in this church (this doesn’t include the priest), you don’t get even get on site wedding coordinator. WHICH I coulnd t believe, bc every ceremony site should have a «go to» person. THE money only goes to just the mere USE of the facility. NO marriage prep classes either, since I had to get them done in CA. In addition, u only have the church for 2 ½ hours, as they try to squeze in. 3 weddding total in 1 day, which is also occupied with masses and services.
Apparently, this church is thriving only via wedding moneys. If theytreated their parishners better, I am pretty sure they would get more support, instead of exploiting the beauty of this church for weddings.
Anyway, I was so very upset, NOT about the money, but about the «values» of this church… which unfortunatey is set by the parish office, because they are the first point of contact when you call the church.
Bc 1). What kind of religious institution threatens to cancel a wedding they didn’t get money on time? What the heck is this? Sallie Mae or a church? And don’t get me commenting on the cost of wedding fees… it is MOST expensive of all churches (even to the ones in SAN FRANCISCO).and the least helpful.
BTw, the priest is an additional cost — - but I don’t mind that because he actually helps to faciliate the marriage prep and meets with you to plan the wedding mass.
2) Also, hypothetically, what if I lost my job and became broke? Then. I can’t marry under the house of God, in the presence of God. just because of money? Other churches point out if you are unable to pay, they would try to help u…
Apparently, not at this church… they would just dump u if u didn’t have the dough.
My mother of course, quickly sent the check on my behalf bc she lives in kansas city.
As for me, I am totally off put by a church. a Catholic church at that, would put money over humanity.

What a beautiful, awe inspiring and holy house of worship… a fitting place for our Lord. Thanks to the Redemptorist Priests who staff and maintain Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church. They have dedicated their lives to the service of Christ and their congregation. I believe we owe a great deal more gratitude and appreciation to all consecrated Religious… without them our hope of salvation would be dismal. They help us on our journey to eternity and we should never forget this. Eternity is without end, hardly able to compr

Maybe I’m running out of new places to write about — so get ready for my church reviews! (Kidding, only this one, I promise.)
I did attend Catholic schools all my life, from K through 8^th at St. Ann’s wearing a blue checkered jumper or skirt (only allowed to be worn by 5^th graders and up) and went on to high school at St. Teresa’s Academy, an all-​girls school (which is nothing like the image that pop culture paints: brimming with lesbians, sluts, and snobs.) I’m not hyper-​religious, but I’m not an atheist either — I call myself a ‘cultural Catholic’ being Irish and all.
Anyways, a lot of things come with the territory of being Catholic — having brothers and uncles named Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (I’m not kidding), figuring out by age eight that wine during mass is a great idea, shame, and the list goes on. Being Catholic means going to mass (when it’s Christmas and/​or Easter) and that being said — I’ve been dragged to the STRANGEST churches all of my life, some use too much incense, some singers are so bad they’re like the castoffs from the American Idol rejects special.
OK, so where does Redemptorist come in? Well you see, although it’s not my family’s ‘parish’ — it is the place my mom and dad escape to when they want to minimize the ‘strangeness’ listed above, meaning little to no incense that can make a child pass out and no solos, just the average drone of a choir.
But more than this, the church is stunning, a throwback to old European churches, with towering stained-​glass windows and Italian artistry painted on the ceilings with gold adornments — it’s a stunning cathedral. And if dragged once or twice a year to that midnight mass of Christmas Eve, it helps to be surrounded by such interesting architecture and artwork when you have to sit behind the old women with beehives and stale cologne for two hours (it’s called high mass, a ceremony so long you begin to wonder if you’re actually in hell! haha).
The sermon is never too long — and that’s the making of a good sermon in my opinion (everything is more poignant in five minutes or less). And most importantly, Redemptorist is a people’s church — not full of petty parish snobbery that marked my younger years (a time when mass was like a show for the Johnson County family trying to preserve face among other competing families). Redemptorist is located off Main between Westport and downtown, it’s the most urban Catholic church in 300 miles (besides of course the Cathedral downtown where the bishop is).
When I do go to mass, it is here — and if for nothing else, for meditating beneath their huge stained glass windows while I wait for the closing song.