About Blessed Sacrament · El Paso, Texas
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish parish of the Diocese of El Paso serving the Mountain View and Sunrise Acres neighborhoods of Northeast El Paso. The parish traces its roots to 1954 when two seminarians counted 85 Catholic families in the area and grew from a 1955 mission chapel into a full parish dedicated by Bishop Metzger on September 22, 1957. Today it is led by Parish Administrator Rev. Charles Rajan Michael with two deacons and a full staff, and it ministers to roughly 1,300 registered families through weekday and Sunday Masses in both languages, the sacraments, youth ministry, Quinceañera preparation, and ongoing catechesis.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- The Blessed Sacrament (the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist)
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Rajan Michael (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament welcomes active registered parishioners into a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic home in Northeast El Paso, where weekday and Sunday Masses are offered in both languages and key devotions are prayed in community. The parish walks members through every sacrament — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation (led by Patricia Hernandez), Marriage Preparation, Quinceañera, and the RCIA journey for adults — and sustains a youth ministry under Cecilia Holguin and Claudia Valenzuela, plus an Evangelization team led by Betty Montoya and a Marriage and Family Life Ministry under Henry & Laura Bernadette. Joining the parish means registering as an active member, participating in Sunday Mass, and connecting with one of its councils (Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Stewardship, Building Committee) or its St. Matthew Ministry of counters who serve every Sunday collection.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm (Viernes: 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm)
- Saturday: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (Sábado: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm)
Adoration times
- Every Friday 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Todos los viernes empezando a las 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
- Last Friday of the month 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Adoration)
Parish History
Blessed Sacrament traces its origin to a July 1954 census of the Mountain View and Sunrise Acres neighborhoods of Northeast El Paso. From a 1955 mission chapel grew a full parish dedicated in 1957, which today ministers to roughly 1,300 registered families. The full timeline — groundbreaking in 1955, the school opening that September, the Convent in December 1955, the chapel dedication by Bishop Metzger on January 15, 1956, and the larger church on September 22, 1957 — is preserved on the parish's own history page.
- 1954 — Seminarians census 85 → 375 Catholic families in Mountain View/Sunrise Acres.
- April 3, 1955 — Groundbreaking by Monsignor Buchanan; C.V. Maynard Construction Co. builds the mission ($43,966).
- August/September 1955 — Church and school blessed; school opens with 223 pupils.
- December 1955 — Convent completed.
- January 15, 1956 — Chapel complex dedicated by Bishop Metzger.
- March 1956 — Construction of the present church begins (cinder block + Hueco stone; capacity 650; choir loft for 200).
- September 22, 1957 — Bishop Matzger dedicates Blessed Sacrament Church.
- July 15, 1963 — Fr. Hay becomes Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary; Fr. Vonder Haar succeeds him.
- January 1964 — Parish reaches ~1,300 registered families; school enrollment 585.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Parish Administrator Rev. Charles Rajan Michael, who was named to Blessed Sacrament in the Diocese of El Paso's 2024 assignments, succeeding Rev. John Paul Madanu (who served on loan from his home diocese in India). Two deacons assist: Deacon Jesus Emilio Torres and Deacon Ernie Rodriguez (Rev. Mr. Ernie Rodriguez, listed by the diocese as 'assist as able'). Lay staff and ministry leaders cover the parish office, religious education, bookkeeping, and liturgical care.
- Rev. Charles Rajan Michael — Pastor / Parish Administrator
- Deacon Jesus Emilio Torres
- Deacon Ernie Rodriguez (Rev. Mr. Ernie Rodriguez)
- RoseMarie Vargas — Secretary / Bulletin Editor
- Yolie Guevara — Virtus Coordinator
- Edgar De La Torre — Bookkeeper / Admin Assistant
- Cristina de la Torre — Parish Office
- Letty Gomez — Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL); [email protected]
- Gloria Aranda and Francisca Flores — Housekeepers
Catechesis & Faith Formation
The Catechesis (Catequesis) page is the umbrella for every formation program at Blessed Sacrament. It covers Baptism Preparation, Marriage Preparation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, RCIA, Marriage and Family Life Ministry, Evangelization, and the Quinceañera Ministry — each directed by a named leader. The PCL (Parish Catechetical Leader) Letty Gomez oversees religious education and staffs an office open Monday & Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
- RCIA — Fr. Charles Rajan Michael
- Baptism Preparation — Fr. Charles Rajan Michael
- Marriage Preparation — Fr. Charles Rajan Michael
- First Holy Communion — parish-based family catechesis
- Confirmation — Patricia Hernandez
- Marriage and Family Life Ministry — Henry & Laura Bernadette
- Evangelization — Betty Montoya
- Quinceañera Ministry — Mr. Mesa
- PCL office hours: Mon & Wed 3:30–5:30 pm; Sun 8:30 am–12:30 pm
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Blessed Sacrament's youth ministry is built around 'Fun! Friends! Faith!' and reaches out to all youth and young adults in the Northeast El Paso community. Activities include formal catechesis, retreats, service projects, evangelization, social life, and leadership development. Meeting times and locations vary between the church, school, and off-site events.
- Directors: Cecilia Holguin and Claudia Valenzuela
- Faith formation, evangelization, community and social life
- Advocacy, justice, and service opportunities
- Retreats and off-site events
- Open to sharing faith, life experience, and organizational skills
Sacraments
The parish website dedicates a page to each of the seven sacraments it regularly celebrates, with bilingual instructions and practical requirements. Baptism begins with an in-person registration at the office; Confirmation requires baptismal and First Communion certificates and is led by Patricia Hernandez; Marriage requires contacting the Pastor at least six months in advance; and Anointing of the Sick is celebrated monthly on the last Friday.
- Baptism (Bautismo) — register child in person before preparation classes
- First Communion (Primera Comunión) — parish-based family program
- Confirmation (Confirmación) — needs baptismal & First Communion certificates
- Marriage (Matrimonio) — 6 months' notice; Marriage Preparation course required
- Reconciliation — Fri 7:00–7:45 pm; Sat 2:00–3:30 pm
- Anointing of the Sick — last Friday of the month at 6:00 pm
Administrative Life
Pastoral and financial governance at Blessed Sacrament is shared between the Pastor and lay councils, as Canon Law requires. The Pastoral Council collaborates with the pastor on education, evangelization, finance, liturgy, maintenance, pastoral care, and outreach planning. The Finance Council, the Building Committee, the Stewardship committee, and the St. Matthew Ministry (parish counters) handle the temporal side of parish life. The Diocese of El Paso's annual diocesan-wide appeal supports 17 ministries, including seminarian formation and outreach to youth and those in need.
- Pastoral Council — collaborative/consultative body with the pastor
- Finance Council — oversight of parish accounting and annual budget
- Building Committee
- Stewardship — Gabriel Valdez
- St. Matthew Ministry — adults appointed by the pastor to count Sunday collections
- Diocesan appeal supports 17 ministries (seminary, education, evangelization, youth outreach)
Watch Our Mass / Online Presence
The parish maintains a livestream of the 12:00 pm English Mass and the 2:00 pm Spanish Mass on its website, and points parishioners to its YouTube channel for daily Masses and recorded events. The MyParish App is recommended for push notifications and updates, and the parish communicates through its Facebook page (facebook.com/BSEPSr).
- Sunday 12:00 pm English Mass — Streamed Live
- Sunday 2:00 pm Spanish Mass — en Vivo
- YouTube channel for daily Masses and events
- MyParish App for notifications and updates
- Facebook: facebook.com/BSEPSr
Contact & Visiting
Blessed Sacrament is located at 9025 Diana Drive in Northeast El Paso, just south of Hondo Pass Drive. The rectory phone is (915) 755-7658 and the parish email is [email protected]. Parish Office hours run Monday–Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. PCL/Religious Education office hours are Monday and Wednesday 3:30–5:30 pm and Sunday 8:30 am–12:30 pm.
- Address: 9025 Diana Dr., El Paso, TX 79904
- Phone: (915) 755-7658
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.epblessedsacrament.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/BSEPSr
- Parish Office: Mon–Fri 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–5:00 pm
- PCL Office: Mon & Wed 3:30–5:30 pm; Sun 8:30 am–12:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hayuntil July 15, 1963
First pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church; appointed Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in July 1963.
- Fr. Vonder Haarfrom July 15, 1963
Succeeded Fr. Hay as pastor.
- Rev. John Paul Madanu
Outgoing Parish Administrator in the Diocese of El Paso's 2024 assignments; served on loan from his home diocese in India.
- Rev. Charles Rajan Michaeleffective June 20, 2024
Appointed Parish Administrator by Bishop Mark J. Seitz in the 2024 diocesan assignments.