About Holy Redeemer · Laredo, Texas
Holy Redeemer Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Laredo, Texas, located at 1602 Garcia Street in the historic El Trece (the Thirteenth) barrio on Laredo's south side. The parish serves a predominantly Hispanic community shaped by the great north-bound immigration of refugees from the 1910–1920 Mexican Revolution, and today it offers Mass in both English and Spanish across a full weekly schedule. It is currently pastored by an Augustinian priest (Order of Saint Augustine — O.S.A.) and runs an extensive network of lay groups, sodalities, and devotional organizations rooted in Mexican Catholic tradition. Holy Redeemer is the spiritual heart of the El Trece neighborhood, whose identity grew up around the original church built and dedicated in 1909.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- Holy Redeemer (the Most Holy Redeemer / Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Francisco León, O.S.A.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer is a warm, bilingual parish where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish every day of the week, making it a true home for the cross-border Catholic culture of Laredo. The parish nurtures its members through a rich array of organizations — from the Knights of Columbus Council 14100 and the Augustinian Seculars to Guadalupanas, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Evangelización Activa, and a youth group — so there is a place for every age and devotion. New members are invited to register at the parish office, baptisms are celebrated on Thursdays before the 6 PM Mass, and confessions are heard every Friday from 3 to 6 PM, making the sacraments easily accessible.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Friday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Todos los Viernes de 3 PM a 6 PM)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament / Exposición del Santísimo Sacramento — schedule published on the parish's diocesan page (specific times listed there)
History of Holy Redeemer Parish
Holy Redeemer's story is intertwined with the old El Trece barrio on Laredo's south side, settled by refugees of the 1910–1920 Mexican Revolution. Workers lived in board-and-batten homes near the brick factories and the Eagle Pass and Río Grande Railroad shops, and a defined community formed around a Catholic church built and dedicated in 1909. The Diocese of Laredo officially dates the formal erection of Holy Redeemer parish to 1940, during the long episcopate of Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina — the same period in which Our Lady of Guadalupe parish (1926) was founded in Laredo and the city opened its homes to persecuted Mexican clergy. The Diocese of Laredo itself was created by Pope John Paul II in 2000, and Holy Redeemer became one of its founding parishes. The church building has been physically renewed, with a restored exterior and a new copper-roofed steeple and cross.
- Church building dedicated in 1909
- Formally erected as a parish in 1940 under Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina
- Became a founding parish of the Diocese of Laredo in 2000
- Recent exterior restoration with new copper-roofed steeple and cross
The El Trece Barrio
El Trece (the Thirteenth) is the historic Laredo neighborhood that grew up around Holy Redeemer Church. It was settled during the great immigration north caused by the 1910–1920 Mexican Revolution and was anchored socially and spiritually by the parish and the Fourth Ward School (est. c. 1920) just to the south of the church. Today, El Trece remains a distinct, tight-knit community on Laredo's south side.
- Settled by refugees of the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920)
- Centered on Holy Redeemer Church on Garcia Street
- Fourth Ward School established nearby c. 1920
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Redeemer is served by an Augustinian pastor and a permanent deacon, with a parish contact handling administrative matters. The presence of an O.S.A. (Order of Saint Augustine) priest reflects the Augustinian community's ministry in the Diocese of Laredo.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Francisco León, O.S.A.
- Deacon: Edmundo O. López, Jr.
- Parish Contact: Susana Morales
- Phone: (956) 723-7171
Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Holy Redeemer maintains Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Exposición del Santísimo Sacramento) as part of its regular devotional life, supporting eucharistic adoration in both English and Spanish. Specific times are published on the parish's diocesan page.
- Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Adoration)
Sacraments
Holy Redeemer celebrates Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, with clear processes for each. Baptisms are celebrated on Thursdays before the 6 PM Mass, and the parish asks couples preparing for marriage to contact the office in advance and to have already received Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. New members are encouraged to register at the parish office, with a dedicated registration opportunity on the fourth Sunday of every month.
- Baptism: Thursdays before the 6 PM Mass (Jueves antes de la Misa de 6 PM)
- New Members: register at the parish office, every 4th Sunday of the month
- Marriage: contact the parish office before the wedding; couples must have received Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation
Parish Organizations & Ministries
The parish hosts a vibrant network of lay organizations and sodalities that reflect the deep Mexican-Catholic devotional culture of Laredo. From a Knights of Columbus council and Augustinian Seculars to Guadalupanas, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, and Evangelización Activa, there are groups for adults, youth, and families.
- Altar Society
- Youth Group
- Knights of Columbus Council 14100
- Agustinos Seculares (Augustinian Seculars)
- Santísima Trinidad
- Sagrado Corazón
- Altar Servers
- Sociedad de la Adoración Nocturna (N.A.S.)
- Guadalupanas
- Evangelización Activa
- Talleres de Oración y Vida (Prayer and Life Workshops)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Redeemer by phone or email, register as new members, and find the parish on Garcia Street in the historic El Trece neighborhood of Laredo, Texas.
- Address: 1602 Garcia St., Laredo, TX 78040
- Phone: (956) 723-7171
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: laredohrc.org
- Diocesan parish page: dioceseoflaredo.org/cpt_parishes/holy-redeemer-church