About Church of the Incarnation · Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Church of the Incarnation is a Roman Catholic parish located in the northeast area of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The parish serves more than 1,900 families and is one of three Catholic churches serving the city. Its mission statement is 'Welcoming everyone to a relationship with Christ through the beauty of the Sacraments and Tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.' The parish was founded in 2003, and its current church building was consecrated on September 23, 2011. Five active deacons assist the pastor in ministering to the community.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- The Incarnation (of Our Lord Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Garcia
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
Church of the Incarnation welcomes everyone to a relationship with Christ through the beauty of the Sacraments and the Tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. A community of more than 1,900 families in northeast Rio Rancho, the parish offers a full sacramental life — multiple Sunday Masses, daily Mass, weekly confession, and Friday Eucharistic Adoration — along with religious education for children through high school, the Edge middle-school youth ministry, Life Teen, a J-Core leadership team for teens, OCIA for adults and children, and a Knights of Columbus council. With five active deacons, a dedicated music and liturgy director, and lay-led ministries, it is a sizable and active parish where newcomers are personally invited into groups suited to their needs.
Mass times at Church of the Incarnation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Thursday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Friday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Saturday: 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- 1st Saturday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Adoration times
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (First Fridays dedicated to the Unborn and the Respect Life Movement)
About Church of the Incarnation
Church of the Incarnation is a Roman Catholic parish in the northeast area of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Its mission statement is 'Welcoming everyone to a relationship with Christ through the beauty of the Sacraments and Tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.' The parish was founded in 2003 and its current church building was consecrated on September 23, 2011. One of three Catholic churches serving Rio Rancho, Incarnation is a community of more than 1,900 families, served by a pastor, a pastoral associate, five active deacons (plus a retired deacon), and a lay staff including a Director of Religious Education, a Director of Music and Liturgy, a Business Manager, an Office Manager, a Bulletin Editor, and a Receptionist.
- Founded as a parish in 2003
- Church building consecrated September 23, 2011
- 1,900+ registered families
- One of three Catholic parishes in Rio Rancho
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Our Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Michael Garcia (appointed effective July 1, 2025) and supported by a Pastoral Associate and five active deacons. A retired deacon continues in ministry with the parish. The lay staff handles parish administration, music and liturgy, religious education, and communications.
- Rev. Michael Garcia — Pastor
- Pastoral Associate
- Rev. Dcn. George Meyerson — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Jerome Paszkiewicz — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Norbert Archibeque — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Louis Bernal — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Mark Buie — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Miguel Salazar — Deacon
- Rev. Dcn. Matthew Quintana — Deacon (Retired)
- Amanda Sheehan — Director of Religious Education
- Elizabeth Illerbrun — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Matthew Quintana — Business Manager
- Pat De La Rosa — Office Manager
- Claudine Rood — Bulletin Editor
- Claire Meyerson — Receptionist
Religious Education (K–12)
Church of the Incarnation runs a Religious Education program for parish children from Kindergarten through High School. Classes for K–5 are offered in person on Tuesday evenings (5:30–6:45 PM) or Wednesday afternoons (4:30–5:45 PM); middle-school classes for grades 6–8 meet in person Tuesday evenings from 7:00–8:30 PM; and High School Confirmation classes are offered Sundays 12:00–1:30 PM or Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM. Students must be registered parishioners, and a recent baptismal certificate (issued within six months) is required for new students and those preparing for sacraments. Tuition is $40 per student, capped at $120 per family, and catechists' children attend free.
- K–5 in-person: Tue 5:30–6:45 PM or Wed 4:30–5:45 PM
- Middle School 6–8: Tue 7:00–8:30 PM
- High School Confirmation: Sun 12:00–1:30 PM or Wed 7:00–8:30 PM
- Tuition $40/student, max $120/family; catechists' children free
- Contact: Amanda Sheehan, Director of Religious Education
Youth Groups — Edge and Life Teen
The parish partners with two well-known Catholic youth movements. Edge is the Catholic middle-school youth ministry program, giving pre-teens a safe, fun place to find solid Catholic community, ask their questions about the faith, and experience Jesus in a personal way. Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The parish's J-Core (Junior Core) team lets high-schoolers continue serving the parish and growing in faith alongside their peers through prayer, encouragement, and the use of their God-given gifts.
- Edge — Catholic middle school youth ministry
- Life Teen — Catholic high school youth ministry
- J-Core — Junior Core leadership team for high schoolers
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant Baptism is offered through the parish office; adolescents aged 7–17 and adults preparing for Baptism are formed through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) adapted for their age group. Children receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation through the Religious Education program. Couples seeking Matrimony begin with the parish's Marriage Preparation process, which explores the essential spiritual and practical dimensions of a sacramental lifetime together. Men discerning Holy Orders — to the Diaconate or Priesthood — are encouraged to begin a conversation with any of the parish clergy.
- Infant Baptism — through the Parish Office
- Adolescent & Adult Baptism — OCIA for Children (Mon evenings, Parish Hall)
- First Holy Communion — via Religious Education
- Confirmation — via Religious Education (High School Confirmation track)
- Marriage Preparation — required process for engaged couples
- Holy Orders — discernment conversations with clergy
- Confession — see confession_times
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office
Ministries and Groups
Incarnation invites parishioners to take the next step as disciples of Christ by joining one of its many ministries and groups. The parish's Friday Adoration Prayer Ministry gathers for quiet worship from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with First Fridays devoted to the Unborn and the Respect Life Movement. Altar Servers — children or teenagers who have received First Holy Communion — assist the priest during Mass. Marriage Preparation walks couples through an in-depth journey exploring the sacrament of matrimony. Knights of Columbus Council 15199 / Assembly 3309 (with the Incarnation pastor as Faithful Friar) brings Catholic men together for faith, fraternity, and service.
- Altar Servers
- Adoration Prayer Ministry (Friday)
- Marriage Preparation
- Knights of Columbus Council 15199 / Assembly 3309
Visit, Register, and Get Involved
Newcomers are personally welcomed by the parish. The parish invites new families to register online, after which they are connected into ministry groups that suit their needs. The parish office, reachable at (505) 771-8331 or [email protected], is the hub for Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, facility use, and general inquiries. Sunday Mass is livestreamed via the parish's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Parish Office phone: (505) 771-8331
- Bulletin email: [email protected]
- New parishioner registration available online
- Mass livestreamed on YouTube: @churchoftheincarnation-rio5532
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo OrtizUntil July 1, 2025
Served as pastor of Church of the Incarnation for over 25 years before being granted retirement, effective July 1, 2025 (Archdiocese of Santa Fe announcement). He also served as Faithful Friar of the local Knights of Columbus Council 15199 / Assembly 3309.
- Rev. Michael GarciaEffective July 1, 2025
Appointed pastor of Church of the Incarnation effective July 1, 2025, coming from San Francisco de Asís Parish in Ranchos de Taos (Archdiocese of Santa Fe announcement).