About Diocese of Laredo
The Diocese of Laredo (Latin: Dioecesis Laredanus, Spanish: Diócesis de Laredo) is a Roman Catholic diocese in South Texas erected on July 3, 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II from territory carved out of the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Its 10,614-square-mile territory spans seven counties along the U.S.–Mexico border (Dimmit, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala), serves 328,508 Catholics (about 91% of the regional population) through 32 parishes and 17 missions, and is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio. Its mother church is the historic 1872 Gothic Revival San Agustín Cathedral in downtown Laredo, the oldest continuously used Catholic church in the American Southwest. Bishop James A. Tamayo served as the founding ordinary from 2000 to 2026, when Pope Leo XIV named Father John Jairo Gomez of the Diocese of Tyler as the second Bishop of Laredo.
- Bishop
- James A. Tamayo (Bishop Emeritus / Apostolic Administrator); John Jairo Gomez (Bishop-Elect, installation June 30, 2026)
- Established
- 2000
- Cathedral
- San Agustín Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Augustine), 201 San Agustín Avenue, Laredo, TX 78040
- Territory
- Seven Texas counties along the U.S.–Mexico border: Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Dimmit, Zavala, and La Salle — covering 10,614 square miles (27,482 km²).
- Parishes
- 32 parishes plus 17 missions (2023)
- Province
- Archdiocese of San Antonio (Ecclesiastical Province of San Antonio)
History of the Diocese
The Diocese of Laredo was erected on July 3, 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II from territory belonging to the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Its origin story, however, goes back to 1755, when Spanish settlers founded the Villa de San Agustín de Laredo and asked the Bishop of Guadalajara for a resident priest. That first adobe chapel grew into today's Gothic Revival San Agustín Cathedral, a building begun in 1866 and finished in 1872, and the Mother Church of the new diocese carved out two and a half centuries later. The diocese's 25th anniversary celebration in 2025 honored that long Catholic heritage on the Rio Grande.
- 1755 – Founding of Villa de San Agustín de Laredo by Don Tomás Sánchez de la Barrera y Garza
- 1760 – First resident priest arrives from Guadalajara
- 1767 – First adobe mission chapel built
- 1778 – First stone church erected for 200+ families
- 1789 – San Agustín formally established as a parish by the Bishop of Guadalajara
- 1874 – Laredo comes under Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville (later Diocese of Corpus Christi, 1912)
- 1897 – St. Peter the Apostle becomes first English-speaking parish
- 1990 – Western Vicariate of Corpus Christi erected (Jan. 25) covering Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and southern La Salle
- July 3, 2000 – Diocese of Laredo erected by Pope John Paul II
- August 9, 2000 – Bishop James A. Tamayo installed at Laredo Civic Center
- May 1, 2026 – Pope Leo XIV accepts Tamayo's resignation, names Father John Jairo Gomez
- June 30, 2026 (scheduled) – Bishop-elect Gomez ordained and installed
Territory and Parishes
The diocese covers 10,614 square miles of South Texas along the U.S.–Mexico border — seven counties (Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Dimmit, Zavala, and La Salle). Of its 32 parishes, the great majority are concentrated in Laredo itself (San Agustín Cathedral, Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King, Divine Mercy, Holy Family, Holy Redeemer, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Francisco Javier, San Luis Rey, San Martín de Porres, Santa Margarita de Escocia, Santo Niño, St. Frances Cabrini, St. John Neumann, St. Joseph, St. Jude, St. Patrick, St. Peter the Apostle, and St. Vincent de Paul), with additional parishes serving Eagle Pass, Zapata, Asherton, Hebbronville, Carrizo Springs, Cotulla, Crystal City, and Encinal. Seventeen missions extend the diocese's reach into small border towns and ranching communities.
- Cathedral parish: San Agustín Cathedral, Laredo
- Outlying parishes in Eagle Pass, Zapata, Asherton, Hebbronville, Carrizo Springs, Cotulla, Crystal City, and Encinal
- 17 missions under Catholic-sharing appeal
- Mass is celebrated bilingually (English and Spanish) at most parishes
San Agustín Cathedral
Located at 201 San Agustín Avenue in the heart of the San Agustín de Laredo Historic District, San Agustín Cathedral is the seat (mother church) of the Diocese of Laredo. The present Gothic Revival building — designed by French priest-architect Rev. Pierre Yves Kéralum and begun in 1866 under the beloved pastor 'Padre Alfonso' Souchon — was consecrated on December 12, 1872. Its five-story, 141-foot bell/clock tower makes it the second-tallest structure in Laredo, an instantly recognizable city landmark and contributing property to the National Register Historic District (NRHP listing 1973; Texas Historic Landmark 1963). It is also the oldest continuously used Catholic church in the American Southwest.
- Built 1866–1872 by Rev. Allophone Martin Souchon
- Architect: Rev. Pierre Yves Kéralum (Gothic Revival)
- Bell tower: 141 ft (43 m), 5 stories
- Status: Contributing property, San Agustín de Laredo Historic District (NRHP, 1973)
- Designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1963
- $9.9 million rehabilitation completed in 2021 (architect Able City; contractor J.C. Stoddard Construction)
- Restoration 1989–1994 ($675,000) added new Blessed Sacrament Chapel and brick plaza
San Agustín Cathedral — Mass and Confession Times
San Agustín Cathedral ministers to thousands of Catholics each week in Laredo. Daily Mass is offered in the cathedral's neo-Gothic nave, and the weekly schedule is fully bilingual (English and Spanish).
- Sunday Mass: English 9:30 am; Spanish 12:00 pm and 6:30 pm
- Monday – Friday: Bilingual (English/Spanish) 12:05 pm
- Saturday (Vigil): Spanish/English 5:30 pm
- Office: 956-722-1382
- Pastor: Very Rev. Iden J. Bello M., J.C.L.
Bishop James A. Tamayo, D.D.
Most Reverend James Anthony Tamayo, D.D., is the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo. Born October 23, 1949, he was Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston when Pope St. John Paul II named him first bishop of the new diocese on July 3, 2000; he was formally installed on August 9, 2000. Tamayo previously served as the first Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate of the Diocese of Corpus Christi (1990–1993), planting the institutional roots for what would become the diocese. After celebrating his 75th birthday in October 2024 he submitted his resignation in accordance with canon law; Pope Leo XIV accepted it on May 1, 2026. Until his successor's installation on June 30, 2026 he serves as Apostolic Administrator and Bishop Emeritus.
- Born October 23, 1949
- First Bishop of Laredo: installed August 9, 2000
- Previously Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Galveston-Houston
- Previously Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate of Corpus Christi
- Resigned May 1, 2026; Bishop-Emeritus and Apostolic Administrator
Bishop-Elect John Jairo Gomez
On May 1, 2026 Pope Leo XIV named Father John Jairo Gomez — a priest of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, where he was serving as Vicar General — the second Bishop of Laredo. He is scheduled to be ordained and installed at San Agustín Cathedral on June 30, 2026. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment in Washington, D.C.
- Appointed May 1, 2026 by Pope Leo XIV
- Ordination and installation scheduled June 30, 2026
- Currently Vicar General, Diocese of Tyler
Diocesan Offices and Directory
The Chancery and Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Laredo are located at 1201–1901 Corpus Christi Street, Laredo, TX 78043, and operate an extensive network of offices serving parishes, schools, and faithful across the seven-county region.
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. James A. Tamayo, D.D.
- Vicar General: Very Rev. R. Anthony Mendoza
- Chancellor: Rev. Francisco M. Quiroz-Carrizales, Ph.L., S.T.B.
- Vocations & Youth/Young Adult Ministry: Rev. Jose Luis Restrepo P.
- Catholic Schools Superintendent: Dr. Guadalupe Perez
- Family Life Ministry Director: Martha Miller
- Respect Life Ministry: Spiritual Director Very Rev. R. Anthony Mendoza, V.G.
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Elsa Aguilera
- Stewardship and Development Office
- Human Resources Director: Melinda M. Sepúlveda
- Facilities Management Director: Raul Leonel Garza
- Fiscal Officer: María Cecilia Moreno
- Archives
- Adult Faith Formation & Pastoral Institute (Director: Dr. Miroslava B. Vargas)
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Laredo operates an integrated Catholic schools system under Superintendent Dr. Guadalupe Perez, serving families across the South Texas border region. St. Augustine Elementary/Middle School and St. Augustine High School are diocesan schools; Mary Help of Christians School (Salesian) is a private school; Blessed Sacrament School and Our Lady of Refuge School are parochial. The superintendent's office coordinates curriculum, Safe Environment, and Circle of Grace catechetical programming and supports participation in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA).
- St. Augustine Elementary/Middle School (Diocesan) – PK3–8; Elementary Principal Dr. Hayley Kazen; Middle Principal Mr. Rodrigo Romo — 1300 Galveston St., Laredo
- St. Augustine High School (Diocesan) – Grades 9–12; Principal Dr. Olga P. Gentry; www.st-augustine.org
- Mary Help of Christians School (Private Salesian) – PK3–8; Principal Sr. Rosann Ruiz, FMA — 10 E. Del Mar Blvd., Laredo
- Blessed Sacrament School (Parochial) – PK3–8; Principal Mrs. Gabriela Castillo; www.bsacramentschool.com
- Our Lady of Refuge School (Parochial) – PK3–8; Eagle Pass
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo (CCDOL)
Catholic Charities-Diocese of Laredo is a non-profit, multi-program human services agency operating under diocesan auspices. According to the diocese's website it has been serving the people of the seven-county region — Dimmit, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala — on the Mexican-American border since the 1970s. CCDOL's mission is "committed to serving the emergency needs of the indigent and believes that all people have the right to live in an environment that is free of abuse, violence, fear, and oppression." Programs include Immigration Services and Emergency Assistance along with other community-based services.
- Immigration Services
- Emergency Assistance
- Operating on the border since the 1970s
- Serves all seven counties of the Diocese of Laredo
Family Life Ministry
The Family Life Office is faithful to the diocesan vision of "Building unity within our diocesan community" by conveying Christ's message of love and mercy across the natural life cycle. The office conducts bilingual educational and enrichment programming for engaged and married couples, families, and individuals across the diocese.
- Marriage Preparation retreats (English and Spanish; online and in-person)
- Marriage Convalidations
- Natural Family Planning introductory class and individual follow-ups
- Respect Life awareness education
- Marriage and Family Support Program
- Couples and Individual Accompaniment
- Marriage Enrichment resources
- Special Jubilee Mass recognizing couples married sacramentally for 25 or 50 years
Adult Faith Formation and Pastoral Institute
The Department of Adult Faith Formation & Pastoral Institute exists to "make disciples" (Mt 28:19) by making the Catholic faith known, loved, and lived among adults and young adults. The office supports parish and lay leaders through leadership opportunities, the ALMAE assembly (Asamblea de Líderes de Movimientos y Asociaciones Eclesiales), and Pastoral Institute Courses.
- Director: Dr. Miroslava B. Vargas
- Pastoral Institute courses
- ALMAE — Assembly of Leaders of Ecclesial Movements and Associations
- Evangelization initiatives across the diocese
Vocations, Youth, and Pastoral Care
Under the direction of Rev. Jose Luis Restrepo P., the Diocesan Vocations Office and Youth & Young Adult Ministry collaborate to accompany men discerning the priesthood and to engage young people in faith formation across the seven counties.
- Vocations Director: Rev. Jose Luis Restrepo P.
- Vocations Secretary: Kendra Oyervidez
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Integration with Pastoral Institute and Adult Faith Formation
Heritage and the Mexican Catholic Refugee Tradition
The Diocese of Laredo carries a unique Catholic heritage as the onetime refuge of persecuted Mexican clergy. Between 1910 and 1920, during the Mexican Revolution and subsequent religious persecution under Plutarco Elías Calles, fourteen Mexican archbishops and bishops lived in exile in Laredo, and local families opened their homes to them. In 1926 persecuted Franciscan exiles established the Scotus College seminary in Hebbronville, which operated until 1952. The diocese continues to mark this cross-border identity, formally collaborating with the Mexican Diocese of Nuevo Laredo (itself erected in 1990, the same year as the Western Vicariate) since the early 1990s.
- 1910s–1920s: 14 Mexican archbishops and bishops took refuge in Laredo
- 1926: Scotus College opened by Franciscans in Hebbronville; closed 1952
- 1990: Diocesan cooperation with the new Diocese of Nuevo Laredo begun under Monsignor Tamayo
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic identity preserved across institutions
