About Divine Mercy · Laredo, Texas
Divine Mercy Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish located at 9350 Amber Ave. on Laredo's north side in Webb County, Texas. Established in 1998 during the tenure of Bishop Roberto O. Gonzalez, OFM of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Laredo, which was erected by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 2000. The parish is served today by Rev. Jose G. Cadena as pastor and Father Jerry Gutierrez as parochial vicar, and it ministers to a bilingual (English/Spanish) community with a strong presence of Spanish-language Masses, sacramental preparation, and lay liturgical ministries including lectors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, ministers of the sick, and a parish choir.
- Established
- 1998
- Patron
- Divine Mercy (the merciful Christ as revealed to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose G. Cadena
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
Divine Mercy Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish on Laredo's north side that makes the Eucharist the center of its life, with multiple daily and Sunday Masses (including a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday celebrations) and the sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Quinceañera, and Marriage all prepared for through the parish office. Lay faithful are invited to serve through a rich set of liturgical ministries — altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, ministers of the sick, and the parish choir — alongside the parish's religious education program coordinated by Veronica Garcia. Its mission statement commits the community to witnessing, teaching, and proclaiming the love of Christ and to spreading the message of mercy through evangelization and service to others.
Mass times at Divine Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 pm – 6:25 pm
- Wednesday 6:00 pm – 6:25 pm
- Thursday 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Friday 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Other times by appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday (times listed on the parish schedule)
About Divine Mercy Parish
Divine Mercy Catholic Church strives to create a parish that reflects unity by witnessing, teaching, and proclaiming the love of our Lord Jesus Christ; to educate the community through the teachings of the Catholic Church by spreading the message of mercy; and to dedicate itself to the mission of Christ through the celebration of the sacraments, evangelization, and services to others. The parish is led by Rev. Jose G. Cadena as Pastor and welcomes new parishioners to register at the parish office.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose G. Cadena
- Parochial Vicar: Father Jerry Gutierrez
- Office phone: (956) 726-0210
- Address: 9350 Amber Ave., Laredo, TX 78045
- Diocese: Diocese of Laredo
History of Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Parish was established in 1998 in Laredo during the period when the region still belonged to the Western Vicariate of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Its creation is recorded in the official diocesan history alongside the construction of mission churches in the surrounding colonias and the completion of the Mercy Health Center under Bishop Roberto O. Gonzalez, OFM. Two years later, on July 3, 2000, Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Laredo from territory taken from the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and Auxiliary Bishop James A. Tamayo of Galveston-Houston was installed as its first bishop on August 9, 2000 at the Laredo Civic Center.
- Founded: 1998
- Original jurisdiction: Western Vicariate, Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Diocese of Laredo erected: July 3, 2000 by Pope John Paul II
- First Bishop of Laredo: James A. Tamayo
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by two priests and a lay staff who coordinate liturgy, formation, and administration from the parish office at 9350 Amber Ave.
- Rev. Jose G. Cadena — Pastor (ext. 104; [email protected])
- Father Jerry Gutierrez — Parochial Vicar (ext. 101; [email protected])
- Veronica Garcia — Coordinator of Religious Education (ext. 113; [email protected])
- Maria Imelda Castro — Office Assistant (ext. 118; [email protected])
- Aby Acosta — Administrative Assistant (ext. 100; [email protected])
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Anointing of the Sick is offered to those facing surgery, hospitalization, or serious illness (the office should be notified as soon as possible). Quinceañeras are celebrated on the third Saturday of each month at 2:00 pm by appointment, with at least six months' notice and the requirement that the young woman has already received Baptism, First Communion, and be enrolled in Confirmation classes or Youth Group. Marriages are scheduled by appointment with at least six months' notice to the parish office to avoid scheduling conflicts and begin preparation.
- Baptism — by appointment, with preparation required
- Reconciliation — scheduled times plus by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request to the parish office
- Quinceañera — third Saturday at 2:00 pm, by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment, at least six months' notice
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve in a wide range of liturgical ministries that support the Mass and bring the sacraments to the homebound and sick. The Altar Server Ministry assists the priest at the altar, helping both the servers themselves and the congregation to grow in love for God. Lectors are formed to proclaim God's Word as messengers of the Holy Spirit so that it challenges, comforts, and captures the hearts of God's people. Eucharistic Ministers extend the Body and Blood of Christ to the faith community. The Sacristan prepares the liturgical vessels and materials and supports each particular liturgical assembly. Ministers of the Sick bring Holy Communion and a caring presence to parishioners who are homebound, hospitalized, or elderly, continuing the parish's mission beyond the church walls.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Sacristans
- Ministers of the Sick (homebound & hospital visits)
Music & Choir Ministry
The choirs of Divine Mercy strive to serve God and the congregational community through the joyous gift of music, using the musical talents God has bestowed and developing them to the best of their abilities. The parish's musicians see themselves as humble instruments of the Lord — 'forged in the fires of God and man united' — seeking to renew, invigorate, and comfort those who hear their offering through the Spirit of God.
- Parish Choir
- Music Ministry for Sunday and weekday Masses
Religious Education / Faith Formation
Faith formation at Divine Mercy is coordinated by Veronica Garcia, the parish's Coordinator of Religious Education. The CRE program supports sacramental preparation for children and youth (including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Quinceañera) and the ongoing catechesis of parishioners of all ages. Families are encouraged to contact the CRE office for current class schedules and registration.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Veronica Garcia (ext. 113; [email protected])
- Sacramental preparation for children and youth
- Confirmation classes and Youth Group enrollment (required prior to Quinceañera)
Diocese of Laredo
Divine Mercy Parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo (Latin: Dioecesis Laredanus), which was created on July 3, 2000 by Pope John Paul II and formally installed on August 9, 2000 with Auxiliary Bishop James A. Tamayo (previously of Galveston-Houston) as its first bishop. The diocese covers an area of 10,905 square miles including the counties of Dimmit, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala, and its mother church is San Agustín Cathedral in Laredo, which traces its origins to 1755.
- Diocese erected: July 3, 2000
- First Bishop: James A. Tamayo
- Mother Church: San Agustín Cathedral, Laredo
- Parishes in the diocese include Divine Mercy Church in Laredo
Contact & Visit
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at Divine Mercy. Those new to the parish are invited to register, and questions about ministries, organizations, or parish events can be directed to the parish office.
- Address: 9350 Amber Ave., Laredo, TX 78045
- Phone: (956) 726-0210
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parish website: https://divinemercylaredo.com
- Diocesan listing: https://dioceseoflaredo.org/cpt_parishes/divine-mercy-church/