A Century Of Supporting Neighbors And Transforming Lives
A Century of Supporting Neighbors and Transforming Lives Timeline of Major Events from 1927-Today
(1917–1931) Origins
Catholic Charities of Denver was born out of hardship and faith during one of Colorado’s most turbulent eras. Under Bishop John Henry Tihen, the Church faced the persecution of the Ku Klux Klan and the devastating effects of the Great Depression. Out of this adversity came a unified mission of mercy. On February 1, 1927, Bishop Tihen formally established Catholic Charities, appointing Father John R. Mulroy as its first director. From a modest two-room office in downtown Denver, Father Mulroy and a handful of volunteers coordinated aid for struggling families, orphans, immigrants and the unemployed—laying the foundation for nearly a century of compassionate service.
(1930s–1960s) Expansion and Service
Under Archbishop Urban Vehr, Catholic Charities became a lifeline during the Great Depression, offering food, shelter and comfort to families in crisis. The agency quickly grew, creating community centers in the city’s poorest neighborhoods and providing essential services for children and families. During and after World War II, Catholic Charities expanded into adoption, child-placement and refugee resettlement—while also leading massive clothing drives for war-torn Europe. By the 1950s and early 1960s, the organization had evolved into a trusted and professional network of compassion serving the growing population of Denver.
(1967–1985) Rooted in Faith
The Second Vatican Council inspired a renewed focus on human dignity and justice, which Archbishop James V. Casey brought to life in Denver. He redirected the Church’s charitable mission toward social justice and housing equity, committing funds to programs supporting minorities and the poor. In 1968, he founded Archdiocesan Housing, Inc.—now Catholic Charities Housing—to provide affordable homes for seniors and working families. Under Executive Director James H. Mauck (1974–2007), Catholic Charities expanded rapidly, developing housing programs, refugee services and early childhood initiatives. Mauck professionalized the organization, transforming it from a local charity into a statewide network offering coordinated care rooted in faith.
(1986–1990s) A Home for the Homeless
By the mid-1980s, Denver’s homelessness crisis called for a bold and faith-filled response. Inspired by Archbishop Casey’s vision and carried forward by Archbishop James Stafford, Samaritan House became the first purpose-built homeless shelter in the nation—designed not as an institution, but as a home built on dignity. Dedicated in 1986, it symbolized compassion made concrete. “The world of poverty,” Archbishop Stafford said at its blessing, “is a world of death through neglect. Here we answer that neglect with love.”
Samaritan House became a national model for comprehensive care—offering not just a bed but education, job training, counseling and a path to self-sufficiency. Its success inspired the creation of Catholic Charities Housing developments such as Cathedral, Madonna and Higgins Plazas, extending care from crisis to stability. By the 1990s, Catholic Charities had expanded its reach across the Front Range and to the Western Slope, offering emergency assistance, family services and early childhood education—all anchored in the belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.
(2000–2020) Growth and Renewal
The new millennium brought growth and innovation. Catholic Charities expanded Samaritan House locations, opened new housing communities and deepened services for women, children and families. The Kinship Care Program emerged to support relatives raising children when parents could not, while Early Childhood Education centers grew to serve hundreds of families annually.
Centro San Juan Diego, founded in 2003 by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop José Gómez, serves Colorado’s Hispanic and Latino community through education, leadership formation and family and legal support. Now part of Catholic Charities, Centro empowers individuals and families to grow in faith, achieve self-sufficiency and build stronger communities.
During this period, Marisol Services was born—a continuum of care for mothers and families through Marisol Health, Marisol Homes and Marisol Family. These ministries offer medical care, counseling, housing and parenting support centered on hope and dignity. St. Raphael Counseling, founded in 2009 and formally integrated into Catholic Charities in 2018, expanded access to mental health care grounded in Catholic teaching. Meanwhile, Catholic Charities Housing grew to manage more than 30 affordable communities across Colorado, providing thousands with safe, stable homes.
(2020–Present) Faith in Action Today
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Catholic Charities never closed its doors. Shelters remained open, meals were served and counseling continued virtually. “We never stopped showing up,” said Darren Walsh, President & CEO. “People needed hope, and hope isn’t something you can postpone.” The organization worked closely with the City of Denver to open emergency shelters—especially for women—and launched Samaritan House 48th, a 24/7 facility that doubled capacity for single women in need.
Recent years have brought innovation and expansion: Innovation and expansion have defined recent years, from the introduction of privacy-enhancing Domes at Samaritan House 48th to the opening of Marisol Health Northern Colorado near Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 2024 and the launch of Marisol Mobile Health in 2025 to reach underserved communities.New housing developments like All Saints Senior Housing in Denver, St. Valentine Apartments in Loveland and The Benedict Apartments in Glenwood Springs continue the Church’s legacy of offering not just shelter, but hope.
Today, Catholic Charities operates 76 locations across Northern Colorado, serving tens of thousands each year through housing, shelters, education, health care and counseling. As the largest regional multi-service nonprofit in Northern Colorado, the mission remains the same: to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need. As Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila reminds us, “When Catholic Charities opens its doors, it is Christ who opens His arms to the world.”