About Christ the Savior · El Paso, Texas
Christ the Savior is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of El Paso serving the northeast side of the city from its location on Wadsworth Avenue (79924). Founded in 1982, the parish ministers to a diverse community of English-, Spanish-, and Korean-speaking Catholics, as well as military families stationed at nearby Fort Bliss. It offers a bilingual weekend Mass schedule and a daily Mass celebrated in the chapel, supported by an active lay apostolate of lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, and hospitality ministers. The parish's stated mission is 'To Worship God and proclaim the good news as one community, serve our neighbor and strive towards a sacramental life.'
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- Christ the Savior (Jesus Christ in his saving work)
- Rector
- Rev. Gleen Carpe
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
Christ the Savior offers a bilingual, multicultural Catholic home in northeast El Paso where English, Spanish, and Korean Catholics worship side by side and where military families from Fort Bliss are warmly welcomed. The parish combines a full weekend Mass schedule (including a 9:30 AM Spanish Mass) with daily Mass in its chapel, ongoing Eucharistic adoration on the 1st Friday and 2nd Thursday of the month, and a robust sacramental life — from baptism classes and First Communion catechesis to marriage preparation and vocations discernment. Active ministries in altar service, lecturing, Eucharistic ministry, art and environment, and hospitality make it easy for newcomers to plug in and serve.
Mass times at Christ the Savior
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday 4:30 PM (by appointment, please call the church office)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 2:30 PM
- Second Thursday 2:30 PM
About Christ the Savior Parish
Christ the Savior is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of El Paso located at 5301 Wadsworth Avenue in northeast El Paso (ZIP 79924). It was established in 1982 to serve a diverse, multilingual community and continues that mission today, welcoming English-, Spanish-, and Korean-speaking Catholics as well as military families from nearby Fort Bliss. The parish's stated mission is to worship God, proclaim the Good News as one community, serve neighbor, and strive toward a sacramental life.
- Founded 1982 in northeast El Paso
- Part of the Diocese of El Paso (Vicariate of St. John — Northeast)
- Parish mission: 'To Worship God and proclaim the good news as one community, serve our neighbor and strive towards a sacramental life.'
Parish History
The parish was created in 1982 to respond to the rapid growth of northeast El Paso and to minister in multiple languages, including to military households connected to Fort Bliss. Its founding pastor, Monsignor Robert 'Bob' Getz, went on to minister across the Diocese of Las Cruces. After his tenure, the parish was led for many years by Fr. Ken Ducre, who is now pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Today the parish is pastored by Fr. Gleen Carpe, a priest from the Philippines ordained in 2014.
- 1982 — Parish established; founding pastor Msgr. Robert 'Bob' Getz
- Long-serving pastor Fr. Kennon 'Ken' Ducre
- Current pastor Fr. Gleen Carpe
- Endowment fund established through the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso
Pastor
The current pastor is Rev. Gleen Carpe (callable 'Fr. Glen' or 'Fr. Carpe'). A native of the Philippines from a Catholic farming family, he served as an altar server for six years before entering the seminary at sixteen. Ordained in December 2014, he previously served as assistant pastor at St. Pius X and St. Mark parishes and as administrator in Kermit, Texas, before being appointed parish administrator of Christ the Savior. He has expressed a special interest in drawing young families into parish life through sports, music, and community events.
- Born in the Philippines; grew up on a sugarcane farm
- Ordained to the priesthood December 2014
- Prior assignments: assistant pastor at St. Pius X and St. Mark; administrator in Kermit, TX
- Thanked Fr. Ken Ducre publicly for mentorship during the transition
Sacraments
Christ the Savior prepares parishioners for the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptism preparation is offered in both English and Spanish, with monthly classes; First Communion is supported through a parish catechism program with parent orientation; couples preparing for marriage are asked to begin at least six months in advance; and the parish links to the diocesan Office of Vocations for those discerning Holy Orders.
- Baptism — classes every second Monday, 6–9 PM; $20 per person; register at the office at least one week ahead; Coordinator Ana Flores
- First Communion — Catechism Program with Child and Adult Applications, Parent Orientation, and Liability Waiver
- Matrimony — contact the parish office at least six months before the wedding
- Holy Orders — linked to the Diocese of El Paso Office of Vocations
Ministries
A core group of lay-led ministries supports the liturgy and hospitality of the parish, each with a named coordinator. Together they bring readers, servers, communion ministers, and greeters to every Mass and care for the sacred space throughout the liturgical year.
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos — Cynthia Rimel
- Art and Environment / Arte y Ambiente — Cynthia Rimel
- Eucharistic Ministers / Ministros de Comunión — Rene Pitblado
- English Lectors — Catherine Portillo
- Spanish Lectors / Lectores en Español — Martha Soto
- Hospitality — Steve Eveland
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a catechism program to prepare children for First Communion, walking families through prayer, Scripture, sacramental preparation, and community life. The program welcomes both new and returning families each year and stresses creating a safe, welcoming environment.
- Annual Catechism Program with Parent Orientation
- Separate Child and Adult Applications available
- Annual Liability Waiver required for participation
- Goal: help each child come to know Jesus deeply and develop a lifelong relationship with God
Parish Mission Statement
Christ the Savior's mission, as posted on its own website, is published in both English and Spanish and forms the basis of all parish activity. It expresses the parish's commitment to worship, evangelization, service, and sacramental life as one unified community.
- English: 'To Worship God and proclaim the good news as one community, serve our neighbor and strive towards a sacramental life.'
- Spanish: 'Adorar a Dios y proclamar la buena nueva como una comunidad, servir a nuestro prójimo y esforzarnos hacia una vida sacramental.'
Support the Parish
The parish is supported both by regular Sunday collections and through its dedicated giving portal on Faithlife, as well as by a permanent endowment fund administered through the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso.
- Online giving: https://faithlife.com/ctsep/give
- Christ the Savior Endowment Fund — Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open during regular hours and can be reached by phone or email. Christ the Savior sits in the northeast part of El Paso, near Fort Bliss and easily reached from the Wadsworth corridor.
- Address: 5301 Wadsworth Ave., El Paso, TX 79924
- Phone: (915) 821-3766
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://elpaso.church/
- Diocese: Diocese of El Paso, 499 St. Matthews St, El Paso, TX 79907 — (915) 872-8400
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Robert (Bob) Getz1982–
Founding pastor of Christ the Savior in 1982; went on to serve in the Diocese of Las Cruces, died at age 88.
- Rev. Kennon 'Ken' Ducre
Long-time pastor of Christ the Savior; currently pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in the Diocese of El Paso. Thanked publicly by Fr. Carpe for his priestly mentorship.
- Rev. Gleen Carpe
Current pastor; Filipino-born, ordained December 2014, previously assistant pastor at St. Pius X and St. Mark and administrator in Kermit, Texas.