Joshua Bennett
Wyoming is known for its natural beauty, from its majestic peaks and wooded slopes to its rolling plains and broad plateaus. But what about its appeal to traditional Catholics? With only 37 Catholic parishes in the entire state, Wyoming is not particularly known for its Catholic presence. However, it does offer several noteworthy Catholic sites and a unique Catholic history. The state is home to the Wyoming Carmelites, who fund their monastery through their coffee company, Mystic Monk. Additionally, Wyoming Catholic College provides a deeply Catholic academic community, offering a rich liturgical life and engagement with the spirituality and wisdom of the Eastern Churches. So, while Wyoming may not have a strong Catholic community in every town, it presents a different kind of appeal to traditional Catholics, one that combines natural beauty with a rich Catholic history and academic opportunities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | Wyoming is the 9th largest state with the 50th largest population |
| Catholic Population | 14% of residents are Catholic |
| Catholic Parishes | 37 Catholic parishes in the state |
| Catholic College | Wyoming Catholic College is an intentional, deeply Catholic academic community |
| Climate | Cold, dry, windy, healthy and invigorating |
| Geography | Mountains, valleys, rolling plains, and broad plateaus |
| Catholic Sites | Shrine, Buffalo Bill Center of the West |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic communities in Wyoming
Wyoming is the ninth largest state in the US, but it has the smallest population. It is not known for its Catholic presence, with only about 14% of residents identifying as Catholic. There are only 37 Catholic parishes in the entire state. However, it does have a Catholic history and several noteworthy Catholic sites.
The Diocese of Cheyenne is the only diocese in the state. The Bishop of this diocese is hostile to the use of Latin and does not allow parishes to put out kneelers for communion. Despite this, there are still beautiful parishes with faithful priests throughout the state.
Wyoming Catholic College in Lander is the first Catholic college in the state. It was founded in 2007 and offers a rich classical education and a robust outdoors program. The 600-acre campus features one of the tallest statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary in North America, standing at 30 feet (5 stories) tall and weighing 180 tons.
The Wyoming Carmelites, a community of Carmelite monks, make their home in the Rocky Mountains at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Diocese of Cheyenne. They spend most of their day in silent prayer, with 8 hours of the divine office, a sung Mass, daily Rosary, and two hours of mental prayer. They also run the coffee company Mystic Monk, through which they fund their monastery and building projects.
Other notable Catholic sites in Wyoming include the Shrine, a towering sandstone cathedral built over 100 years ago by residents Ted and Marjorie Trefren. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers an active schedule of events and activities, as well as Mass times and other sacraments. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is also a notable Catholic site, as America's famous cowboy-showman, Buffalo Bill, was brought to the Catholic faith by Indigenous Americans and was received into the Church the day before his death in 1917.
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The Diocese of Cheyenne
Wyoming is a sparsely populated state, with a population of around 50th in the country, despite being the 9th largest state in terms of area. It is known for its beautiful scenery, including majestic peaks, wooded slopes, lakes, and waterfalls. The state has a rich history, being the first state to give women the right to vote in 1869 and the first to have a national park (Yellowstone) in 1872.
Wyoming Catholic College, located in Lander, is a significant part of the Catholic presence in the state. The college was founded in 2007 with the vision of providing a classical education alongside a robust outdoors program. The college community is intentionally Catholic and seeks to foster a rich liturgical life and an immediate encounter with the surrounding wilderness. The college also has a unique focus on the Byzantine tradition, with a full-time Byzantine chaplain and an Eastern Catholic theologian serving as the academic dean.
In addition to the college, there are other notable Catholic sites in Wyoming, including the Shrine, a towering sandstone cathedral built over 100 years ago and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The state is also home to the Wyoming Carmelites, who spend much of their day in silent prayer and fund their monastery through their coffee company, Mystic Monk.
While Wyoming may not be known for having a large Catholic population, the Diocese of Cheyenne encompasses a diverse range of Catholic communities, from traditional parishes to more modern interpretations, all set against the backdrop of the state's natural beauty and historical significance.
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Catholic sites in Wyoming
Wyoming has its own Catholic history and several noteworthy Catholic sites, despite not being known for its Catholic presence. Here are some notable Catholic sites in Wyoming:
The Shrine
The Shrine is a towering sandstone cathedral built over 100 years ago by Wyoming residents Ted and Marjorie Trefren. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers an active schedule of events, activities, Mass times, and other sacraments. The cathedral greets interstate travelers every day, regardless of the weather.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is dedicated to America's most famous cowboy-showman, who was brought to the Catholic faith by the Indigenous Americans who participated in his Wild West show. He also had an encounter with Pope Leo XIII in 1890 and was received into the Church the day before his death in 1917.
Wyoming Catholic College
Wyoming Catholic College, located in Lander, is the first Catholic college in the state. It was founded in 2007 and offers a rich classical education and a robust outdoors program that includes hiking, camping, horsemanship, and rock climbing.
Mystic Monk Monastery
The Wyoming Carmelites spend most of their day in silent prayer, with 8 hours of the divine office, a sung Mass, daily Rosary, and two hours of mental prayer. They run the Mystic Monk coffee company, through which they fund their monastery and building projects. Plans are underway to expand the monastery with public areas for visitors.
In addition to these sites, there are several Catholic churches and parishes throughout Wyoming, including St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Laurence O'Toole Parish, St. Leo Parish, Ascension Parish, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Cathedral of St. Mary, and Holy Rosary Parish.
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The Wyoming Carmelites
The Carmelites plan to expand their monastery with public areas for visitors. They are based in the high mountain desert of Wyoming, where about 14% of residents are Catholic. The state has 37 Catholic parishes, with the Diocese of Cheyenne serving the entire state.
Wyoming Catholic College, located in Lander, is an integral part of the Catholic community in the state. The college was founded to help heal the fragmentation and isolation of our age and offers a deeply Catholic academic community. The college brings together a rich and wonderful classical education with a robust outdoors program, including hiking, camping, horsemanship, and rock climbing.
The college also has a strong focus on the Byzantine tradition, with a Byzantine chaplain, an Eastern Catholic theologian serving as academic dean, and around 1/10th of the student body claiming membership in one of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The college offers a unique curriculum that combines classical learning, liturgical worship, and spiritual immersion in the wilderness.
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Wyoming Catholic College
The college offers a unique curriculum focused on the Great Books and includes courses in Humanities, Theology, Philosophy, Math/Science, Fine Arts, Latin, Trivium, and Leadership. The college has no majors, minors, specialized degrees, or graduate programs, and awards graduating students a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree. The college also offers exciting outdoor and leadership development opportunities, such as hiking, camping, horsemanship, and rock climbing, that make great use of the college's location.
The college is recommended by The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, and its curriculum has received an "A" rating from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. Notable former Wyoming Catholic professors include the traditionalist author and speaker Peter Kwasniewski.
In terms of facilities, the college has residence halls converted from a Holiday Lodge Hotel near the northeast edge of Lander. The Horse Barn, located several miles outside of Lander, hosts the college's horsemanship program.
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Frequently asked questions
Wyoming has its own Catholic history and several noteworthy Catholic sites. However, it is not known for its Catholic presence, with only 37 Catholic parishes in the state and about 14% of residents identifying as Catholic.
Wyoming is home to the Shrine, a towering sandstone cathedral on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has the Wyoming Carmelites, who spend most of their day in silent prayer and fund their monastery through their coffee company, Mystic Monk.
Yes, Wyoming is home to Wyoming Catholic College, a deeply Catholic academic community founded to help heal the fragmentation and isolation often felt in modern times. The college offers a rich liturgical life and engagement with the spiritual wisdom of the Eastern Churches.
Wyoming is not particularly religious outside of areas with large Mormon populations in the western part of the state. However, it is home to several historic firsts, including being the first state to give women the right to vote in 1869.
Wyoming is known for its majestic peaks, wooded slopes, mountain streams, lakes, and waterfalls. It has a dry, healthy, and invigorating climate with plenty of sunshine and cool summers. The state also boasts great natural parks, including Yellowstone, the first national park in the country.
