About Most Holy Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ · Rio Rico, Arizona
Most Holy Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Rio Rico, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, serving the communities of the Santa Cruz Valley under the Diocese of Tucson. The parish community celebrated its first Mass on Easter Sunday 1972 in the humble "Stables at Rio Rico" and was formally established as a parish in 1987. Today it is a culturally rich, predominantly Hispanic congregation that worships in both English and Spanish, offering ten Masses each week, Eucharistic Adoration, and a broad network of prayer and service ministries. After decades in its current facility on Avenida Coatimundi, the parish is actively fundraising through a Capital Campaign to build a new church building on 11 acres of land purchased in 2008.
- Established
- 1972 (first Mass) / 1987 (formally established as a parish)
- Patron
- The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (the birth of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Martinez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson (Bishop James A. Misko)
Why belong here
Most Holy Nativity welcomes families who want to worship in a deeply bilingual Catholic community — with two Sunday Masses in English and two in Spanish — supported by daily weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and First Friday Adoration from 7 p.m. to midnight. Parishioners grow in faith through a variety of active groups: the Knights of Columbus, Grupo Guadalupano, United Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the Alamor Spanish prayer group, and the Divine Mercy devotion. The parish also lives its faith through outreach, most visibly the food pantry supported by a special collection on the first Sunday of each month, and by working together on the Capital Campaign to build the new church that will serve the next generation of Rio Rico Catholics.
Mass times at Most Holy Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Wednesdays after the 9:00 AM Mass until 12:00 PM (noon) — Todos los Miércoles después de la misa de 9:00 AM hasta las 12:00 PM
- First Friday of the month, 7:00 PM to midnight — Primer Viernes del mes, 7:00 PM a medianoche
Parish Identity and Mission
Most Holy Nativity describes itself as a community with strong roots in the Catholic faith, recognized for its hospitality and rich cultural diversity. Members pledge to grow in their faith and live it, nourished by the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist, reaching out to invite all God's people to celebrate his love through participation in the liturgy, prayer, service and fellowship. The parish community commits to prepare present and future generations to be strong in faith and in service of God and his people.
- Bilingual Catholic parish serving Rio Rico and the Santa Cruz Valley
- Diocese of Tucson parish, led by Bishop James A. Misko
- Hospitality and cultural diversity are core to parish self-understanding
History
The community began humbly on Easter Sunday 1972, with Mass celebrated in a building known as 'the Stables at Rio Rico.' It was formally established as a parish in 1987 by the Diocese of Tucson. Long since outgrowing its original facility, the parish purchased 11 acres of land in 2008 for a new church and is now fundraising through a Capital Campaign.
- 1972 — First Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday in the 'Stables at Rio Rico'
- 1987 — Formally established as Most Holy Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a parish of the Diocese of Tucson
- 2008 — Purchased 11 acres from Rio Rico Properties; project envisioned for about 1,200 worshippers
- Ongoing — Capital Campaign underway to build the new church
Capital Campaign: Building the New Church
Under the slogan 'Building Faith, Building Community, Building our Future,' Most Holy Nativity is raising funds to make a new church building a reality on the 11 acres purchased in 2008. Conceptual design drawings by José Luis Cuevas, RA, of TAC Architects show a site plan with parking and traffic flow, and a reference floor plan that includes pastoral and business offices, sacristy, narthex, restrooms, a crying/bridal room, a chapel, confessionals, the nave altar, the baptismal font, and cremation niches. The nave is designed to seat 619, with the crying room seating 22 and the chapel seating 45.
- Architect: José Luis Cuevas, RA, of TAC Architects
- Nave: 619 seats
- Chapel: 45 seats
- Crying/bridal room: 22 seats
- Total project estimated at $4.2 million
- $500,000 anonymous matching-donor pledge has been offered
- Donations can be made online or by check payable to Most Holy Nativity Parish (PO Box 4024, Rio Rico, AZ 85648)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor and a parochial vicar, assisted by three deacons. Pastoral and office support staff are also part of the team.
- Pastor — Rev. Michael Martinez
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Cayetano Cabrera
- Deacon — Javier Fierro
- Deacon — Francisco Padilla (contact for Grupo Guadalupano)
- Deacon — Carl Sadlier
- Office staff — Angela Fragoso and Karla Romero (per parish contact form)
Sacraments
Most Holy Nativity prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, grouped on the parish website as Sacraments of Christian Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, and Sacraments of Mission. Families seeking Funerals, Baptisms, or Weddings are asked to call the parish office for availability.
- Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Eucharist (Primera Comunión), Confirmation (Confirmación), Baptism (Bautizo)
- Sacraments of Healing: Anointing of the Sick (La Unción de los Enfermos), Penance / Reconciliation (Reconciliación)
- Sacraments of Mission: Matrimony (Matrimonio), Holy Orders (Vocaciones)
- Contact the parish office for Funerals, Baptisms, and Weddings
Ministries, Prayer Groups, and Devotions
The parish hosts a variety of Spanish- and English-language ministries and devotional groups that meet on a regular monthly rotation. Several groups operate bilingually or in Spanish with English coordinates on the parish website.
- United Hearts of Jesus and Mary / Corazones Unidos de Jesús y María — 2nd Saturday of the month, 10:00–11:00 AM
- Knights of Columbus / Caballeros de Colón — 1st Tuesday of the month, 7:00 PM
- Alamor (Spanish prayer group) — 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM
- Divine Mercy / Divina Misericordia — contact parish office
- Grupo Guadalupano — contact Deacon Francisco Padilla
Outreach: The Parish Food Pantry
On the first Sunday of every month, the parish holds a Special Collection for the Food Pantry to help those in need. 'Primer Domingo del mes — Colecta de alimentos no perecederos para ayudar a los más necesitados.'
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners are invited to register with the parish. A bilingual Parish Registration Form is available on the parish website and can be returned to the parish office by mail, in person, or dropped in the offertory basket. Press 'Presione Aquí' for the Spanish version.
- Parish Registration Form available on mhnparish.org
- Forms accepted by mail, in person, or in the offertory basket
- Spanish-language registration form available
Diocese of Tucson and Annual Catholic Appeal
Most Holy Nativity is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Tucson, currently led by Bishop James A. Misko. The parish participates annually in the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA), described on the diocesan level as 'This is the Hour for Love' — the largest source of funding for the works of the Diocese, supporting Catholic schools, charities, and parish ministries across southern Arizona. Subscribers can also receive the diocese's free weekly online newsletter, 'The New Outlook.'
- Bishop of the Diocese of Tucson: Bishop James A. Misko
- 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal theme: 'This is the Hour for Love'
- 'The New Outlook' — free weekly diocesan online newsletter available at news.diocesetucson.org/subscribe
Online Giving and Bulletins
Parishioners and visitors can support Most Holy Nativity through online giving on the parish website. Weekly bulletins and liturgical calendars are published regularly, with both English and Spanish weekly Mass readings and a parish calendar available on the home page.
- Online giving link available on the parish home page
- Weekly bulletin and monthly calendars published online (e.g., June 2026, January–February 2026)
- English and Spanish Mass readings posted weekly on the homepage
Visiting and Contact
The parish church stands at 395 Avenida Coatimundi in Rio Rico; the parish office is at 1123 Plexes Lane, Unit 1, Rio Rico, AZ 85648. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. After-hours emergencies are handled at 520-604-2884. Mail should be addressed to Most Holy Nativity, PO Box 4024, Rio Rico, AZ 85648.
- Church: 395 Avenida Coatimundi, Rio Rico, AZ 85648
- Office: 1123 Plexes Lane, Unit 1, Rio Rico, AZ 85648
- Mailing: Most Holy Nativity, PO Box 4024, Rio Rico, AZ 85648
- Phone: 520-281-7414 | Fax: 520-281-1713
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
- After-hours emergencies: 520-604-2884
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francisco Maldonado
Pastoral leader in 2008 (blessed the new property) and listed as pastor in a 2012 Directory record, with Sr. Guadalupe Jurado, O.P., as Pastoral Administrator and 128 catechesis students.
- Rev. Michael Martinez
Current pastor; leading the Capital Campaign to build the new church.