About Cristo Rey · El Paso, Texas
Cristo Rey Parish (Cristo Rey Catholic Church) is a bilingual Catholic parish in the Lower Valley of El Paso, Texas, serving the community of the 79907 ZIP code since it was erected as a parish on January 2, 1973. The parish takes its name from 'Cristo Rey' — 'Christ the King' — and is a Roman Rite community of the Diocese of El Paso within the Vicariate of St. Matthew (Mission Valley). It celebrates Mass in Spanish, English, and Vietnamese, and is currently led by Pastor Rev. Cong Vo with Deacons Arturo Medina and Ricardo López. Known as 'a Catholic staple in El Paso's Lower Valley,' Cristo Rey has historically been notable for its pioneering 2011 appointment of a lay Parish Life Coordinator — the first such appointment in the Diocese of El Paso.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- Christ the King (Cristo Rey)
- Rector
- Rev. Cong Vo
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso (Vicariate of St. Matthew — Mission Valley)
Why belong here
Cristo Rey is a welcoming, multilingual parish that has faithfully served El Paso's Lower Valley since 1973 and today celebrates Mass in Spanish, English, and Vietnamese — a rare trilingual witness in the Diocese of El Paso. The parish offers weekday daily Mass at 7:30 a.m., a full Sunday schedule, weekly Thursday Holy Hour in Spanish, and Saturday confessions, while also running the Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center that connects parish life to local families. Visitors and parishioners are drawn by Cristo Rey's deep history, its pioneering role in lay parish leadership, and its stable rhythm of devotions, sacraments, and community life.
Mass times at Cristo Rey
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM, or by appointment / por cita
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Spanish — Hora Santa)
About Cristo Rey Parish
Cristo Rey Parish — whose name means 'Christ the King' — is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of El Paso located in the Lower Valley of El Paso, Texas, at 8011 Williamette Street, ZIP 79907. The parish belongs to the Vicariate of St. Matthew (Mission Valley) and serves a trilingual community of Spanish-, English-, and Vietnamese-speaking Catholics. According to the parish's own description, 'Since 1973, Cristo Rey Parish has been a Catholic staple in El Paso's Lower Valley. Through the grace of God Cristo Rey will continue to spread God's word!'
- Name meaning: Cristo Rey = Christ the King
- Diocese: El Paso — Vicariate of St. Matthew (Mission Valley)
- Address: 8011 Williamette Street, El Paso, TX 79907
- Phone: (915) 591-0688
- Email: [email protected]
- Official Facebook: facebook.com/cristoreyparish/
Parish History
The Cristo Rey community traces its roots to 1970, when it began as a mission of Our Lady of the Valley Parish under Monsignor Eugene B. Geary. Father Tomas Parra, the vicar, celebrated two Sunday Masses each week at nearby Jesuit High School while the new chapel was being built. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 20, 1970, and Bishop Metzger blessed and dedicated the chapel in April 1971, naming Rev. Robert Getz as the mission's first pastor. On January 2, 1973, the mission was erected as an independent parish with Rev. Rafael Miranda as its first pastor.
- 1970 — Founded as a mission of Our Lady of the Valley Parish
- 1970 (Dec 20) — Groundbreaking for chapel
- 1971 (April) — Chapel blessed and dedicated; Rev. Robert Getz named first pastor
- 1973 (Jan 2) — Mission erected as Cristo Rey Parish; Rev. Rafael Miranda assigned as pastor
- 1975 — Parish hall construction began
- 1982 — Parish placed under Augustinian Recollect (OAR) priests
- 1995 (July 25) — Returned to diocesan priestly care under Rev. Raul Trigueros
- 2003 (Oct 31) — Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center opened
- 2011 (Sept 8) — First lay Parish Life Coordinator appointed in Diocese of El Paso
Augustinian Recollect Era (1982–1995)
From 1982 until 1995, Cristo Rey was entrusted to the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR). Four OAR fathers served the parish in succession, beginning with Rev. Carmelo Arroyo and followed by Fathers Antonio Martinez, Angel San Eufrasio, and Jesús María Mena. On July 25, 1995 the parish was returned to the care of diocesan priests when Rev. Raul Trigueros was named pastor.
- Rev. Carmelo Arroyo, OAR — first Augustinian Recollect priest
- Rev. Antonio Martinez, OAR
- Rev. Angel San Eufrasio, OAR
- Rev. Jesús María Mena, OAR
Pastoral Leadership Milestone (2011)
On September 8, 2011, Bishop Mark J. Ochoa of the Diocese of El Paso appointed Jose 'Manny' Barrios, Jr., a lay minister, as Parish Life Coordinator and Church Administrator of Cristo Rey — the first parish in the diocese to be led by a lay administrator. Rev. Benjamin S. Mones, a retired priest, served alongside him as Priest in Residence and Sacramental Minister. This milestone is frequently cited as a pioneering moment in the diocese's history.
- Jose 'Manny' Barrios, Jr. — Parish Life Coordinator and Church Administrator (first lay administrator in the Diocese of El Paso)
- Rev. Benjamin S. Mones — Priest in Residence and Sacramental Minister
- Bishop Mark J. Ochoa — appointing bishop
Clergy & Staff
Cristo Rey is currently led by Pastor Rev. Cong Vo, assisted by Deacons Arturo Medina and Ricardo López, as listed in the Diocese of El Paso's parishes directory. The parish continues the dual leadership model introduced in 2011, in which sacramental ministry is provided by the pastor/priest-in-residence while parish life coordination is handled by lay and deacon staff.
- Rev. Cong Vo — Pastor
- Deacon Arturo Medina
- Deacon Ricardo López
Ministries & Faith Formation
Cristo Rey's parish life is anchored by its Religious Formation Building, which houses both faith formation programming and the parish's signature outreach ministry — the Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center. Opened on October 31, 2003 under the pastorate of Rev. Raul Trigueros, the day care continues to serve Lower Valley families and stands as a visible expression of Cristo Rey's commitment to evangelization through service to children and parents.
- Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center (opened Oct 31, 2003)
- Religious Formation Building
- Faith Formation for the parish community
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Eucharist daily, offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon before the Vigil Mass, and provides sacramental ministry — including Anointing of the Sick and other rites — through its pastor and priests in residence.
- Eucharist (daily and Sunday, in Spanish, English, Bilingual, and Vietnamese)
- Reconciliation (Saturday afternoons or by appointment)
- Sacramental Ministry (Anointing of the Sick, other rites)
Facilities & Campus
The Cristo Rey campus at 8011 Williamette Street in the 79907 ZIP code includes the original chapel blessed in 1971, a parish hall added in 1975 to accommodate growing religious, cultural, and social activities, the Religious Formation Building, a fountain plaza, and the Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center.
- Chapel (dedicated April 1971)
- Parish hall (built 1975)
- Religious Formation Building (built under Fr. Trigueros)
- Fountain plaza (built under Fr. Trigueros)
- Our Loving Mother's Day Care and Learning Center (opened 2003)
Giving & Online Presence
Cristo Rey participates in the Diocese of El Paso's online giving platform through ParishSoft Giving, and accepts text-to-give donations. The parish maintains an official Facebook page at facebook.com/cristoreyparish/ where Mass times, devotions, and parish news are posted.
- Online giving: giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/CristoRey
- Text to Give: (915) 800-3601
- Official Facebook: facebook.com/cristoreyparish/
- Diocese listing: elpasodiocese.org/parishes.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Getz1971–1973 (mission era)
Named first pastor of the Cristo Rey mission by Bishop Metzger when the chapel was dedicated in April 1971.
- Rev. Rafael Miranda1973 (parish erected Jan 2, 1973)
Assigned as the first pastor of Cristo Rey when the mission was erected as a parish.
- Rev. Carmelo Arroyo, OAR
First Augustinian Recollect priest assigned to the parish, beginning in 1982.
- Rev. Antonio Martinez, OAR
Augustinian Recollect priest who followed Father Arroyo.
- Rev. Angel San Eufrasio, OAR
Augustinian Recollect priest who served Cristo Rey.
- Rev. Jesús María Mena, OAR
Augustinian Recollect priest who served Cristo Rey.
- Rev. Raul Trigueros1995–2011 (approx. 16 years)
Returned the parish to diocesan priestly care on July 25, 1995; oversaw construction of the Religious Formation Building and fountain plaza.
- Rev. Benjamin S. Mones2011+
Retired priest who served as Priest in Residence and Sacramental Minister while a lay administrator was named.
- Jose 'Manny' Barrios, Jr.2011+
First lay Parish Life Coordinator and Church Administrator in the Diocese of El Paso, appointed by Bishop Ochoa on September 8, 2011.
- Rev. Cong Vo
Current pastor, listed by the Diocese of El Paso parishes directory.