About Holy Spirit · Mcallen, Texas
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a bilingual English-Spanish parish in McAllen, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Brownsville. Founded in 1981 during a period of significant growth for the diocese, it serves a thriving and active Rio Grande Valley community with daily and weekend Masses in both languages, perpetual adoration in its chapel, and a large network of lay ministries. The parish describes itself as a community that 'never sleeps,' with a strong reputation for social justice, faith formation, and outreach extending across the border into Mexico and El Salvador.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit / Espíritu Santo)
- Rector
- Fr. Andy E. Gutierrez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
Holy Spirit welcomes newcomers, visitors, and long-time Catholics with one of the most active parish calendars in the Rio Grande Valley. Worshippers can attend Mass in English or Spanish every day of the week, pray before the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day in the parish chapel (Tuesday morning through Friday evening), and confess Wednesdays and Saturdays. With more than 50 named ministries — from Guadalupanas and CDA Court #2540 to Deaf Ministry, Teen ACTS, the I Thirst Project, and a robust CCD religious-education program — there is a place for nearly every age, language, and vocation.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the Chapel confessional
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM in the Chapel confessional
Adoration times
- Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Blessed Sacrament reposed at 8:30 PM; chapel remains open until 9:00 PM)
- First Friday of the month: 8:00 AM Mass with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- First Saturday of the month: 8:00 AM Mass with devotion to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- May 13: Our Lady of Fatima devotion
- December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe devotion
About Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a bilingual parish in McAllen, Texas, in the Diocese of Brownsville. The parish welcomes newcomers and visitors to celebrate Mass and become part of its 'thriving and active community.' The parish motto on its website is an invitation to 'worship our Lord, and be a witness to the life and mission of our Savior Jesus Christ.'
Parish History
Holy Spirit Parish was established in 1981 in McAllen, as listed on the official Diocese of Brownsville timeline of parish foundations. It was founded during a wave of new parishes created across the Rio Grande Valley to serve the growing Catholic population of South Texas. Fr. Gus Pacheco was the parish's first pastor. Under later pastors the parish became known for an exceptionally large ministry portfolio — a 2003 parish booklet listed 101 active ministries, with outreach extending to an orphanage for girls in Reynosa, Mexico, and a sister-parish relationship in Guajoyo, El Salvador.
- Founded 1981 (Diocese of Brownsville timeline)
- First pastor: Fr. Gus Pacheco
- 2003 controversy: Bishop Peña transferred pastor Fr. Jerry Frank and appointed Fr. Ruben Delgado; parish staff were largely let go shortly after unionizing, drawing national Catholic-press attention.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by two deacons, a Coordinator of Religious Education, a Youth Minister, and two secretaries. Contact emails follow the @cdob.org (Diocese of Brownsville) convention.
- Fr. Andy E. Gutierrez — Pastor
- Deacon
- Deacon
- Coordinator of Religious Education (Kathy Palmer, per the Reconciliation page)
- Youth Minister
- Ester Salas — Secretary
- Perla Sandoval — Secretary
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Holy Spirit has an unusually large and active ministry roster. Groups meet in the parish hall, the HS Library, the chapel, the foyer, Room 5, and the Youth Building. New members are welcome; the parish invites visitors to 'join us in growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through participation in the parish ministries.'
- Guadalupanas Association
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — CDA Court #2540
- Deaf Ministry (Youth Building)
- Teen ACTS Retreats
- I Thirst Project
- Missionary Families of Christ
- Eucharistic Adoration Ministry
- Our Lady of Fatima Ministry
- McAllen Catholic Community
- Apologetics Class
- Family Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for children, with First Reconciliation and First Communion typically celebrated in 2nd grade after two consecutive years of formation. A Vacation Bible School is held in the summer, and registration is taken after Mass. Adult faith formation is offered through the parish's Apologetics Class and parish missions.
- CCD Religious Education — Coordinator: Kathy Palmer
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade, after 2 years of formation)
- First Communion (2nd grade)
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
- Apologetics Class
Youth Ministry
Holy Spirit has a dedicated Youth Minister and runs youth-focused retreats such as TEEN ACTS, plus a deaf-ministry youth component. Youth activities are scheduled in the Youth Building and the HS Library.
- TEEN ACTS Retreat
- Deaf Ministry youth gatherings
- Vacation Bible School volunteers
Outreach & Social Justice
Holy Spirit has a long-standing reputation for outreach. In the early 2000s the parish supported an orphanage for girls in Reynosa, Mexico, and maintained a sister-parish relationship with a church in Guajoyo, El Salvador. The parish has also been active in Valley Interfaith, a Rio Grande Valley community organization engaged in legislative and social-justice work.
- Sister-parish relationship with Guajoyo, El Salvador
- Support for an orphanage for girls in Reynosa, Mexico
- Valley Interfaith community-organizing participation
- Adopt-a-Family at Christmas (per NCR coverage)
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday afternoon and Tuesday through Friday, with a daily lunch closure. Masses and other services are also streamed at holyspiritmcallen.org/live for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 2201 Martin Ave., McAllen, TX 78504
- Phone: (956) 631-5295 | Fax: (956) 686-0360
- Email: [email protected]
- Monday 2:00–6:00 PM
- Tuesday–Thursday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Closed for lunch 12:30–1:30 PM daily
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gus Pacheco1981–
First pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, identified by parishioners in 2003 National Catholic Reporter coverage.
- Fr. Jerry Frankc. 1993–2003
Long-serving pastor under whom the parish grew to 101 ministries; transferred in 2003 by Bishop Peña amid the parish-staff unionization controversy.
- Fr. Ruben Delgado2003–
Appointed to Holy Spirit in 2003 to succeed Fr. Frank.