About Diocese of Las Cruces
The Diocese of Las Cruces (Latin: Dioecesis Cruciensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the ten southernmost counties of New Mexico, with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Las Cruces serving as its mother church. Erected by Pope John Paul II on August 17, 1982, from portions of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Diocese of El Paso, it is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Today the diocese is led by its third bishop, Most Rev. Peter Baldacchino, and serves a growing Catholic population of roughly 234,000 faithful across 47 parishes, 36 missions, four Catholic schools, and a wide range of ministries spanning campus outreach at NMSU and WNMU, Catholic Charities, prison ministry, and vocations.
- Bishop
- Peter Baldacchino
- Established
- 1982
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88001
- Territory
- Ten southern New Mexico counties: Chaves, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, and Sierra — covering 115,210 km² (44,499 sq mi).
- Parishes
- 47 parishes and 36 missions
- Province
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
History of the Diocese of Las Cruces
The Catholic presence in southern New Mexico predates the United States by almost three centuries. Franciscan missionaries traveling the Camino Real reached the region in 1581, and over the next 150 years Spanish clergy intermittently served settlements along the Rio Grande. After Mexican independence in 1821, Mexican priests took over under the dioceses of Guadalajara and Durango. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria was founded in Doña Ana in 1844, the San Albino Basilica in Mesilla in 1851 (with the region's first resident priest), Santa Genoveva Parish in Las Cruces in 1859, St. Francis de Paula in Tularosa in 1869, and St. Vincent de Paul in Silver City in 1874. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the area moved from the Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico to the Diocese and then Archdiocese of Santa Fe, to the Diocese of Tucson in 1897, and to the Diocese of El Paso in 1914. On August 17, 1982, Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Las Cruces from parts of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Diocese of El Paso.
- 1581 — First Franciscan missionaries travel the Camino Real through the region.
- 1844 — Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Mission, Doña Ana.
- 1851 — San Albino Basilica, Mesilla; first resident priest in southern New Mexico.
- 1859 — Santa Genoveva Parish, Las Cruces.
- 1869 — St. Francis de Paula, Tularosa, founded in thanksgiving for surviving an Apache attack.
- 1874 — St. Vincent de Paul, Silver City.
- 1914 — New Mexico counties placed under the new Diocese of El Paso.
- August 17, 1982 — Diocese of Las Cruces erected by Pope John Paul II.
- October 18, 1982 — Bishop Ricardo Ramírez installed as first bishop.
Our Bishop
Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, J.C.L., has served as the third Bishop of Las Cruces since his installation on July 23, 2019. A former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami and titular Bishop of Vataraba, he was named by Pope Francis on May 15, 2019, and his installation ceremony at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was broadcast by EWTN. The bishop oversees the diocese's pastoral, educational, and administrative life and is supported by an Office of the Bishop (Sharon Jones, Bishop's Secretary) and the Vicar General & Chancellor, Very Rev. Kevin Waymel.
- Bishop: Most Rev. Peter Baldacchino, J.C.L.
- Office of the Bishop contact: [email protected]
- Diocese phone: (575) 523-7577
- Installation: July 23, 2019, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (broadcast on EWTN).
Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 1240 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88001 is the mother church of the diocese. Its roots go back to 1947, when a small chapel was built on the outskirts of Las Cruces to serve a growing postwar Catholic population, including many workers drawn to White Sands Missile Range. The chapel was erected as a parish in 1953, an accompanying Catholic school opened in 1957, and the present Modern-Southwestern church was begun in 1965 and dedicated in May 1966. When the Diocese of Las Cruces was created in 1982, the parish was designated its cathedral. Today the cathedral is led by Rector Very Rev. Alejandro Reyes Cardenas with Deacons Ed Fierro and Ruben Gutierrez, and offers Masses in both English and Spanish.
- Rector: Very Rev. Alejandro Reyes Cardenas
- Address: 1240 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88001
- Phone: (575) 524-8563 • Fax: (575) 523-2252
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m. (English)
- Sunday Masses: 7:30 a.m. (English), 9:00 a.m. (Español), 11:00 a.m. (English)
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Saturday 8:15 a.m. (English); Tuesday 6:00 p.m. (Español)
- Confessions: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 7:30–8:00 a.m.; Tuesday/Thursday 8:00–8:15 a.m.; Saturday 4:00–5:00 p.m., or by appointment.
- Devotions: Thursday 6:00 p.m. Holy Hour (Español); Friday 3:00 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet (English).
- Baptism classes: 3rd Saturday of each month, English 9–11 a.m. and Spanish 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Marriage: at least 6 months of preparation before setting a date.
Vicariates and Parishes
Pastoral care across the diocese's ten counties and 44,499 square miles is organized through vicariates that group parishes and missions serving the same broad region. According to the most recent directory figures, the diocese counts 47 parishes, 36 missions, 25 diocesan priests, 21 religious priests, 19 extern priests, 40 permanent deacons, and 45 religious sisters. Notable parishes and missions include the cathedral in Las Cruces, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Helena in Alamogordo, All Saints in Hobbs, San Albino Basilica in Mesilla, Santa Genoveva in Las Cruces, St. Francis de Paula in Tularosa, St. Vincent de Paul in Silver City, and mission parishes serving communities like Deming, Rincon, Anthony, and Roswell.
- 47 parishes and 36 missions across 10 southern New Mexico counties.
- Vicar General & Chancellor: Very Rev. Kevin Waymel ([email protected]).
- Marriage Tribunal: Very Rev. Joseph Pacquing, JCL (Judicial Vicar).
Catholic Schools
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Las Cruces form students in mind, heart, and spirit, uniting academic excellence with the Gospel and partnering closely with families and parishes. Four schools serve preschool through eighth grade in Hobbs, Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and a third Las Cruces-area campus, supplemented by five diocesan childcare centers. The diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools supports the school principals and works with the Bishop's United in Ministry appeal to provide scholarships so that no child is denied a Catholic education because of cost.
- All Saints Catholic School, Hobbs (105 W St Anne Place, Hobbs, NM 88240) — PreK–8. Principal Estela Carrillo. (575) 392-5405.
- St. Helena Catholic School, Alamogordo (1000 E. 8th Street, Alamogordo, NM 88310) — PreK–5. Principal Sister Stephnora Ogbonna. (575) 437-7821.
- St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School — PreK–8.
- Las Cruces Catholic School, 1331 N. Miranda, Las Cruces, NM 88005 — Preschool through 8th grade. Principal Dr. Cheryl Martinez.
- Diocesan Superintendent of Schools: Windy Drake ([email protected]).
Vocations and Seminarians
The diocese invests heavily in priestly formation. The Office of Vocations, under Director Rev. Ruben Romero, walks with men discerning priesthood and supports the diocese's two seminaries plus 20 seminarians currently in formation. The annual Bishop's United in Ministry appeal now includes a dedicated 'Futures Full of Hope' track for the two new seminaries the diocese is preparing to open, helping fund spiritual direction, academic studies, pastoral training, and living expenses for future priests who will serve the parishes and missions of southern New Mexico.
- Director of Vocations: Rev. Ruben Romero.
- Vocations line: (575) 222-4229.
- 20 seminarians in formation; 2 seminaries; 1 theological institute.
- Vocations sponsorship route: Bishop's United in Ministry appeal.
Bishop's United in Ministry Appeal (Annual Giving)
The Bishop's annual United in Ministry (UIM) campaign underwrites the spiritual, corporal, and material ministries of the diocese. It funds Catholic-education scholarships at all four diocesan schools, FOCUS missionary teams at the NMSU and WNMU Newman Centers, retirement support for priests, marriage-preparation programs such as 'Fully Engaged,' prison outreach, care for the poor through Catholic Charities, and the new 'Futures Full of Hope' seminarian formation effort. Contributions transform local parishes and sustain ministries that reach beyond parish walls across all ten counties.
- Catholic Education — tuition assistance scholarships.
- Campus Ministry — FOCUS missionaries at NMSU and WNMU Newman Centers.
- Care for Retired Priests.
- Marriage and Family Life — including the 'Fully Engaged' program.
- Charitable Outreach — through Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico.
- Prison Ministry — spiritual guidance and sacraments for the incarcerated.
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
- Support for Vocations / Seminarians.
- 'Futures Full of Hope' — capital effort for two new seminaries.
Campus Ministry
A signature outreach of the diocese is its Newman Center campus ministry serving college students at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and Western New Mexico University in Silver City. Through FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries, the diocese supports Bible studies, fellowship, retreats, and sacramental life for students during their academic years.
- Two Newman Centers: NMSU (Las Cruces) and WNMU (Silver City).
- FOCUS-trained student missionaries providing prayer, scripture, and fellowship.
Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Las Cruces carries out the corporal works of mercy across the ten southern counties, serving the immigrant, rural, and borderland communities that define the region. Services include legal aid for immigrants, housing support, disaster response and rebuilding after natural disasters, and assistance to families in crisis. Funding comes in part from the Bishop's United in Ministry appeal and from individual donations.
- Legal aid for immigrants.
- Housing support and emergency assistance.
- Disaster response and community rebuilding.
- Justice and human-dignity advocacy.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Youth and Young Adult Ministry helps young people in southern New Mexico encounter Christ and grow as leaders in the Catholic faith. Programming spans parish-school partnerships, retreats, leadership formation, and outreach to college-age Catholics through the NMSU and WNMU Newman Centers. Support flows from the Bishop's United in Ministry appeal under its 'Leading Our Young People' pillar.
- Parish-school partnerships.
- Retreats and leadership formation.
- Young-adult outreach via NMSU and WNMU.
Marriage and Family Life
The Diocese of Las Cruces supports engaged and married couples through programs such as 'Fully Engaged,' helping couples face contemporary challenges through formation and Church teaching. Couples preparing for marriage at the cathedral are asked to begin preparation at least six months before setting a firm date and to call the parish office for details. The diocesan Marriage Tribunal, under Judicial Vicar Very Rev. Joseph Pacquing, JCL, also handles declarations of nullity and other marriage cases.
- Fully Engaged marriage preparation program.
- Tribunal: Very Rev. Joseph Pacquing, JCL (Judicial Vicar).
- Tribunal line: (575) 222-4252.
Safe Environment and Human Resources
The diocese maintains a Safe Environment program to protect children and vulnerable adults in parishes, schools, and diocesan facilities, in line with the U.S. bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Human Resources office, working through the diocesan Pastoral Center, supports hiring, benefits, and formation for lay and clergy staff.
- Diocesan Safe Environment Office at the Pastoral Center.
- Human Resources Office at the Pastoral Center.
- Contact: (575) 523-7577.
Diocesan Staff and Pastoral Center
The Pastoral Center at 1280 Med Park Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88005 houses the diocesan offices. Key staff include the Bishop's Secretary Sharon Jones, Receptionist/Secretary Dorothy Andrade, Director of Vocations Rev. Ruben Romero, Vicar General & Chancellor Very Rev. Kevin Waymel, Diocesan Finance Officer and Controller Andrew Marshall, Director of Development/Foundation (Diocese of Las Cruces Foundation), and Marriage Judicial Vicar Very Rev. Joseph Pacquing, JCL. Deacon John Eric Munson, OFS, also serves in diaconal ministry.
- Bishop's Secretary: Sharon Jones ([email protected]).
- Receptionist: Dorothy Andrade ([email protected]).
- Vicar General & Chancellor: Very Rev. Kevin Waymel ([email protected]).
- Diocesan Finance Officer & Controller: Andrew Marshall.
- Judicial Vicar / Marriage Tribunal: Very Rev. Joseph Pacquing, JCL (575-222-4252).
- Main line: (575) 523-7577 (Fax 524-3874).
Contact and Visit
Visitors and parishioners can reach the diocese through its main Pastoral Center line, the cathedral, and individual parish offices. The Diocese of Las Cruces website is the central hub for schedules, news, schools, ministries, and giving.
- Pastoral Center: 1280 Med Park Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88005. Phone (575) 523-7577. Fax (575) 524-3874.
- Cathedral: 1240 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88001. Phone (575) 524-8563.
- Website: https://www.rcdlc.org.
- Cathedral website: https://www.ihmcathedral.org.
- Email the Bishop's Office: [email protected].
