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BY JULIE FILBY Every summer thousands of Colorado families head over Rabbit Ears Pass to Steamboat Springs to mountain bike, fl y fi sh, hike Fish Creek Falls, and soak in the hot springs. During the winter, skiers and snow- boarders fl ock to the mountain resort on the western ridge of the Continental Divide for fun in the snow. "We're a destination town," said Father Ernest Bayer, pas- tor of Holy Name Parish since 2005. "My vision is to give vis- itors two reasons to come: physical recreation and spiri- tual recreation." To accommodate the spir- itual recreation of a congre- gation that doubles in size during the peak seasons, the parish recently completed a 15,382-square-foot expansion. The new church increased ca- pacity from 300 to 600. "During peak season we had standing room only," Father Bayer said. Work began on the small existing church at 524 Oak St. in July 2012 with contractor services provided by Fox Con- struction, owned by parish- ioner Tom Fox. Mountain-in- spired architectural services were provided by Greenwood Village-based Eidos Architects. "(A mountain architec- ture style) was accomplished through various geometries," according to Mae Ann Saas of Eidos, "and heavy utilization of wood and stone in the design." "It's meant to look like God's holy mountain," Father Bayer said. "Mount Zion." Features include an altar of Colorado red granite, a tab- ernacle of a bronze burning bush, a baptismal font with a lower pool for immersion, and a bell tower with four bells. The capital campaign to fund construction launched in 2008. "It took about six years to raise the money," Father Bayer said of the $9.1 million project. "It's a huge miracle, an exam- ple of how the body of Christ pulls together. God sent some very generous people our way, locals and out-of-towners." Fundraising efforts were energized when plans for stained glass windows were announced. Local artist and parishioner Greg Effi nger was commissioned to design sets of windows, totaling about 166 sections overall. "The windows are amaz- ing," Father Bayer said. "Every- thing's original." Themes range from creation through Church history to the second coming of Christ, with an emphasis on the institu- tion of the Eucharist in the Last Supper windows. Effi nger worked with a team from the wider community to produce the windows, headed up by lo- cal stained glass craftsman and parishioner Georgian Kalow. God put a "dream team" to- gether to make the entire proj- ect possible, Father Bayer said of the parishioners, donors and workers. "Lots of people worked very hard on it," he said. "God's do- ing wonderful things in Routt County … it's an oasis in the midst of our crazy world. "Come and see us," he add- ed. "We made room for you!" Archbishop Samuel Aquila will dedicate the new church at 4:30 p.m. Mass Sept. 14. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie.fi lby@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegister TRUTH & BEAUTY I 11 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 425-9511 Mt. Olivet Cemetery 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 424-7785 St. Simeon Cemetery 22001 E. State Hwy. 30 Aurora, CO 80018 (720) 859-9785 • Professional, personalized service • Respectful • Compassionate Caring for the faithful in Northern Colorado since 1893 in their most personal time of need. THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER CEMETERIES AND MORTUARY 600 South Cherry Street • Suite 105 • Denver, Colorado 80246 • www.rtijourneys.com RELIGIOUS TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LLC Journeys to Nourish the Soul For more information: Phone: 303-563-6261 or 303-563-6255 Email: Info@rtijourneys.com Venerate the Shroud of Turin & Encounter the Saints of Northern Italy with Fr. Dennis Garrou of Christ the King Parish in Evergreen, CO. June 4- June 13, 2015 $4,119 (Including Air from Denver) Venerate the Shroud of Turin & Encounter the Saints of Northern Italy with Fr. Dennis Garrou of Christ the King Parish in Evergreen, CO June 4- June 13, 2015 $4,119 (Including Air from Denver) For more information contact: Religious Travel International LLC 600 S. Cherry Street, Suite 105, Denver, Colorado 80246 Phone: 303-563-6261 or 303-563-6255 Email: Info@rtijourneys.com A Pilgrimage of Saint Fr. Greg for Ignatian April $3878 (Incl. (Air can Come for a day or week Book your next event with us More than just retreats... 719-258-1600 for Tour or Reservations www.eltesororetreat.org New mountain church offers 'spiritual recreation' PHOTO PROVIDED THE NEW Holy Name Church in Steamboat Springs. PHOTO GALLERY For photos of the construction process, visit catholicsteamboat. com/church-expansion. Denver ghting can- cancer, will school