About Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church is a historic parish in the heart of the North Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Its roots reach back to 1734, when the first chapel of Alameda was built in the Spanish colonial village that grew up along the Rio Grande. The present church on Fourth Street — a striking Gothic-style building with a distinctive blue roof — was begun in 1907 under Fr. Ferdinand Trojanec, S.J. (Fr. Troy), and consecrated in 1913 by Archbishop Juan Bautista Pitival. Today the parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers weekly Reconciliation, Adoration, faith formation for all ages, and a Deaf Ministry with ASL interpretation at Sunday Masses.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of her Nativity)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Chike Uba
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the Albuquerque North Valley, with roots going back to the Spanish colonial chapel of 1734. The parish welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking families, and is notable for its active Deaf Ministry — ASL interpretation is provided at the Saturday Vigil (1st Saturday) and at the Sunday 7:30 AM and 10:45 AM (Spanish) Masses. With daily Mass Monday–Friday, Saturday Vigil, four Sunday Masses, weekly Reconciliation, First-Friday Adoration, a faith formation program for all ages with a dedicated youth minister, liturgical ministries (altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ministry to the homebound), and service projects like CareNet diaper drives, Nativity offers a deep, family-style parish life in a beautifully restored historic church.
Mass times at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM (First Saturday of the month, confessions are heard in Spanish)
Adoration times
- Friday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (First Fridays, in the church)
History of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Nativity's story begins in 1734 with the first chapel of Alameda, built under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción and visited in 1776 by Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez. A larger adobe church, La Natividad de María Santísima, replaced it in 1829; it was destroyed by the flood of 1903. Fr. Ferdinand Trojanec, S.J. — known as Fr. Troy — then supervised construction of the present Gothic-style church: cornerstone laid March 4, 1907; first Mass celebrated September 8, 1911; consecrated by Archbishop Juan Bautista Pitival on November 16, 1913. Fr. Troy served until his death on December 23, 1936, struck by a drunk driver crossing Fourth Street. Over the decades the church has been lovingly remodeled (1956, 1994) and, for the centennial of the cornerstone, restored to many of its original features — including replicas of the main altar hand-fabricated by four parishioners.
- 1734 — first chapel of Alameda built under Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
- 1776 — visited by Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez
- 1829 — replaced by La Natividad de María Santísima
- 1903 — second church destroyed in the great flood
- 1907 — cornerstone of the present (third) church laid by Fr. Troy, S.J.
- 1911 — first Mass in the unfinished church (Sept. 8, Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady)
- 1913 — church consecrated by Archbishop Juan Bautista Pitival (Nov. 16)
- 1936 — Fr. Troy dies crossing 4th Street; buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery
- 1956 — major renovation: wood panels, acoustical tile, carpet, vestibule, new altars, yellow exterior
- 1994 — second major remodel: plaster, raised transepts, Gothic altar section from Colorado, new pews, stained glass, HVAC
- Centennial restoration — replicas of the original altar and front doors, tower windows, original-color stucco
Architecture & Building Features
The present Nativity church is a Gothic-style building topped by a distinctive blue roof, anchoring the corner of Alameda Boulevard and Fourth Street NW. Its most treasured features are the original elements that survived mid-20th-century renovations and have been highlighted again by the centennial restoration: the two round stained-glass windows in the sanctuary and the Gothic choir-loft window are original to the 1907 church and are believed to incorporate panels from the 1829 church ceiling. The original wooden Gothic altar — 21 ft high, 16 ft wide, 6 ft deep, painted white, blue and gold — has been faithfully reproduced by parishioners, along with a matching altar of celebration and ambo. Other restored features include Gothic-style light fixtures, restored statues returned to the church, the original Holy Water silver bucket, Fr. Troy's chalice, and replicas of the original front doors and tower windows. A ramp now replaces the original front steps and new restrooms are in the rear.
- Blue roof, corner of Alameda Blvd. and Fourth Street NW
- Original round sanctuary stained-glass windows and Gothic choir-loft window (oldest in any Catholic church in the area)
- Replicas of the main altar, altar of celebration and ambo (fabricated by Bobbie Connick, Patrick Hammond, Henry Sanchez and Orlando Saiz)
- Replicas of the original front doors and tower windows
- Original Holy Water silver bucket and Fr. Troy's chalice still used in liturgy
- Wooden sanctuary floor restored; Gothic-style light fixtures; original-color stucco exterior
Parish Staff & Clergy
Nativity is currently served by pastor Rev. Fr. Chike Uba, with two deacons — Deacon Michael Illerbrun and Deacon Leonard Martinez — assisting with liturgical ministry and formation. The parish office team includes a Business Manager, Office Assistant/Receptionist (John Twiss), Plant Manager (Dolores King) and Custodian (Diego Garcia). Faith Formation is led by Director Francesca Twiss, with Nicole Garcia as Secretary and Kim Chavez as Youth Minister.
- Pastor — Rev. Fr. Chike Uba (ext. 7)
- Deacon Michael Illerbrun
- Deacon Leonard Martinez
- Business Manager (ext. 8)
- Director of Faith Formation — Francesca Twiss (ext. 3)
- Secretary of Faith Formation — Nicole Garcia (ext. 2)
- Youth Minister — Kim Chavez (ext. 5)
- Office Assistant/Receptionist — John Twiss (ext. 1)
- Plant Manager — Dolores King (ext. 4)
- Custodian — Diego Garcia (ext. 6)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Nativity's Faith Formation program walks with parishioners of every age, embracing the parish's belief that "Faith Formation is what we do all of our lives." The office supports parents as the first and primary catechists of their children, with preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation (Confirmation 2026 class is announced) and First Eucharist, plus ongoing formation for adults. A Youth Minister coordinates ministry to teens, and Vacation Bible School is offered for younger children. There is also a 5-week Book Group where parishioners discuss a selected book and their faith journeys together.
- Director of Faith Formation — Francesca Twiss
- Secretary of Faith Formation — Nicole Garcia
- Youth Minister — Kim Chavez
- Confirmation preparation (2026)
- Vacation Bible School
- Faith Formation Book Group (5-week sessions)
- Faith Formation Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–3:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical service at Nativity is supported by a team of trained lay ministers alongside the parish's two deacons. Those interested in serving at Mass can be trained as Altar Servers (contact Deacon Michael at 898-5253 ext. 2), and the parish welcomes new Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. There is also a Ministry to the Homebound, in which volunteers help staff bring Holy Communion to parishioners who cannot attend Mass in person.
- Altar Servers — training coordinated by Deacon Michael Illerbrun (ext. 2)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Deacons Michael Illerbrun and Leonard Martinez
Deaf Ministry & ASL-Interpreted Masses
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a longstanding Deaf Ministry that works in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe's Pastoral Outreach / Deaf Ministry office. ASL interpretation is provided at the Saturday Vigil on the 1st Saturday of each month and at two Sunday Masses — the 7:30 AM English Mass and the 10:45 AM Spanish Mass — making the parish a true spiritual home for deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics in the Albuquerque North Valley.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM, ASL-interpreted on the 1st Saturday
- Sunday — 7:30 AM English, ASL-interpreted
- Sunday — 10:45 AM Spanish, ASL-interpreted
- Coordinated with Archdiocese of Santa Fe Pastoral Outreach — Deaf Ministry (Deacon Robert Vigil, Administrative Assistant)
Outreach & Service
Nativity puts faith into action through service to those in need. The Faith Formation office regularly collects diapers, wipes and baby clothes for CareNet, a non-profit that supports pregnant women. Liturgical ministers also bring Holy Communion to the homebound, and the parish grounds its mission in being "a worshiping community, open to the Holy Spirit of God for healing" that proclaims the gospel through word and action.
- CareNet donation drive — diapers, wipes, boys' and girls' baby clothes
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Parish Mission: "to help everyone… see themselves as a family… members of the mystical Body of Christ"
Mission-Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The parish also oversees the historic Mission-Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 7805 Edith Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. A weekly Mass is celebrated there every Tuesday at 5:30 PM, keeping this historic North Valley chapel an active place of prayer and devotion within the Nativity community.
- Location: 7805 Edith Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
- Mass: Tuesdays at 5:30 PM
Office, Location & Visiting
The parish is located at 9502 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, on the corner of Alameda Boulevard — easy to spot with its distinctive blue roof. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM); visitors are asked to ring the doorbell and a staff member will come out to help. The Faith Formation Office keeps similar hours, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, closed 12:00–1:00 PM. Newcomers are warmly welcomed to register through the parish website and to experience Mass and the parish community firsthand.
- Address: 9502 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
- Phone: (505) 898-5253
- Parish Office: Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
- Faith Formation Office: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–3:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
- Ring doorbell at the parish office for staff assistance
- Expanded parking lot with plenty of handicap spaces
- New ramp replacing the original front steps
- New restrooms at the rear of the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ferdinand Trojanec, S.J. (Fr. Troy)1907–1936
Jesuit priest who supervised construction of the present (third) church, laid the cornerstone March 4, 1907, celebrated the first Mass Sept. 8, 1911, and ministered to the Alameda community from San Felipe rectory until his death on Dec. 23, 1936, when he was struck by a drunk driver on Fourth Street. Buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.