The History of the Frassati and Goretti Houses

Origins of the Catholic Houses at Mines

In the early 2010s, Catholic life at the Colorado School of Mines looked very different than it does today. At that time, there was no official campus ministry, no Newman Center, and no Catholic housing community. Faith life was supported primarily by FOCUS missionaries, who shouldered both their usual evangelization work and the responsibilities of running campus Catholic events. Recognizing the need for more structure, students began to dream of a Catholic house—a place where faith, fraternity, and hospitality could thrive.

That vision came to life in 2015 thanks to the providential encounter between Father Anthony, a chaplain from the Community of the Beatitudes, and Judy, a local property owner renovating a house near campus. Judy had originally planned to rent or convert it into an Airbnb, but Father Anthony convinced her to consider leasing to Catholic students with a mission-driven purpose. She agreed, and the first Catholic men moved in during January 2015. This became the Frassati House, named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a model of holiness and joy for young adults.

Building the Frassati Community

The first residents, with Father Anthony’s guidance, worked to shape the house into more than just a place to live. They introduced structured prayer, house dinners, retreats, and accountability so that residents could grow in faith, support one another, and serve the wider campus. The first house manager was tasked with building these rhythms and ensuring that the mission was carried forward from year to year.

The house quickly became a hub for Catholic life on campus—a welcoming place for students to encounter faith and friendship. Its impact was so positive that Judy offered to expand.

The Birth of the Goretti House

Encouraged by the success of the men’s house, Judy decided to build a second home on the property to serve as a women’s house. However, due to city zoning laws in Golden, she was required to connect the two houses by a shared structure. What began as a legal necessity became a spiritual gift: the chapel. Judy built a simple connecting room, and the students transformed it into a sacred space with their own hands—installing stonework, flooring, woodwork, and even an alcove for the crucifix crafted and shipped from New Jersey by one student’s father. The chapel became the spiritual heart of both houses.

The new women’s residence, the Goretti House, was named after St. Maria Goretti, a young saint known for her purity, courage, and faith. With its establishment, Catholic men and women at Mines now had parallel communities dedicated to living out their faith in daily life, supporting one another, and offering a witness to the wider student body.

The Mission of the Houses

From the beginning, both houses were founded with a dual mission:

1. To serve the Catholic community on campus

   Acting as a kind of Newman Center, the houses are welcoming spaces for Catholic students and friends to gather, pray, and build fellowship.

2. To form the residents themselves in Christian community

   Life in the houses emphasizes accountability, prayer, fraternity/sorority, and service. Regular house dinners, communal prayer, and retreats are meant to foster vulnerability, deeper relationships, and spiritual growth. A “spirit of service” underlies house life—residents are encouraged not to demand strict equality in chores but to joyfully serve one another in imitation of Christ.

Over the years, each house manager has carried on this mission, not as an authority figure but as a servant leader tasked with fostering prayer, organizing gatherings, and ensuring that the community remains rooted in its purpose.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

Today, the Frassati and Goretti Houses stand as enduring witnesses to the power of intentional Christian community. What began as one house with four Catholic students has grown into a dual-house system with a chapel at its center. Together, they continue to shape students into disciples who carry lessons of prayer, service, and fraternity into their future vocations—whether in marriage, religious life, or professional work.

The history of these houses is one of providence, faith, and community:

• A chaplain’s vision,

• A landlord’s generosity,

• A group of students’ commitment,

• And God’s grace at work in building something far greater than themselves.