About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Port Arthur, Texas
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church & Shrine is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Port Arthur, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Beaumont. Founded in 1927 by Fr. Marcelino Ruiz to serve the Mexican-American families of the area, it is one of the oldest Spanish-language Catholic communities in Southeast Texas and now houses many nationalities. Weekend Masses are offered in both English and Spanish, weekly confessions are heard, and the parish grounds feature a shrine housing the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was processed to the present church site in 1976. The parish has been continuously served by Augustinian Fathers since 1931 and currently ministers through CYO, Knights of Columbus Council #12809, Damas Guadalupanas, ACTS retreats, and a parish Religious Education program for children in Pre-K through 12th grade.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Rev. Xavier Sibi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics from across Southeast Texas with a full weekend and weekday Mass schedule, weekly confessions on Saturdays, First Friday adoration, and a thriving Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Families find a deep bench of formation and fellowship for every age — Pre-K through high school Religious Education, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, CYO for grades 9-12, a Young Adult Group (ages 20-30) that organized the parish's first Christmas Posada in 2024, Knights of Columbus Council #12809, the Damas Guadalupanas women's organization, an ACTS retreat ministry, Marriage & Family Life support, and a VIRTUS-trained Safe Environment program for all volunteers who serve children and the vulnerable.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
- First Friday of every month 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Welcome & Parish Identity
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church & Shrine describes itself as a bilingual community that welcomes disciples and their families. The parish's own language invites visitors to 'come and join us,' highlighting weekly Masses in English and Spanish, weekly confessions, and events throughout the year. Visitors are encouraged to answer God's call by serving in a ministry or parish organization, and the parish notes that 'there are so many needs among parishes this day in age.' An 'Attending' section invites newcomers to one of the parish's many groups, with separate signposts for Parish Groups and Parish Events.
- Bilingual welcome in English and Spanish
- Invitation to participate in ministries and parish events
- Distinct Parish Groups and Parish Events tracks published on the website
Our History — From 1927 to the Present Day
Founded in 1927 by Fr. Marcelino Ruiz from Mexico, the parish began as a ministry to Mexican-American families in Port Arthur. The first church stood at Houston Avenue and 15th Street, with a later framed building acquired on the 200 block of 16th Street. In 1931 Fr. Juan Arana became the first Augustinian pastor — an Augustinian presence that continues to this day — and in 1936 he built the steel-and-brick church at 134 15th Street that served the parish for forty years. In 1966 Fr. Porfirio Fernandez acquired the land at 61st Street and 9th Avenue, and ten years later the present church (capacity 600) was built on that site. In October 1976 the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe was processed there on the shoulders of the parishioners; over the following decade the Rectory, Parish Hall and CCD Center were added. The parish has marked major milestones by celebrating anniversary Masses — most recently the 90th Anniversary with Bishop Curtis Guillory and Fr. Urbano Saenz — and the website links to a 90th Anniversary Souvenir Booklet for download.
- Founded 1927 by Fr. Marcelino Ruiz
- First Augustinian pastor: Fr. Juan Arana (1931)
- Present church built 1976 — capacity 600
- Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe processed to new site October 1976
- Rectory, Parish Hall, and CCD Center added in the 1980s
- 90th Anniversary celebrated with Bishop Curtis Guillory
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
In addition to the main church, the parish maintains a dedicated Shrine on the same campus — the destination of the October 1976 procession when parishioners carried the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the old site to the new one. The Thursday 6:30 PM weekday Mass is celebrated at the Shrine. First Friday Adoration is also held there from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with confessions heard at the same time.
- Shrine on the parish campus, 9th Avenue, Port Arthur
- Host site for the Thursday 6:30 PM Mass
- Setting for First Friday Adoration (8:00-11:00 PM) with Reconciliation
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a wide range of ministries that span liturgical service, youth and young adult life, men's and women's fellowship, marriage support, and retreat work. Each ministry on the website has its own short description and a way to get involved.
- Altar Servers — youth assisting the presider at weekly Mass
- Hospitality Ministry — ushers and greeters welcoming the assembly
- Ministry of the Eucharist — Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministry of the Liturgy — lectors proclaiming the readings and Prayers of the Faithful
- Altar Society — devotion to Jesus through Mary; cares for linens, vestments, and seasonal church decoration; meets second Sunday of the month
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) — grades 9-12, prayer, service, friendship
- Young Adult Group — ages 20-30; organized the parish's first Christmas Posada in 2024
- Knights of Columbus Council #12809 — men's organization with fundraisers and charity/devotion/education programming
- Marriage & Family Life — couples supporting couples preparing for marriage and ongoing family enrichment
- Damas Guadalupanas — women's organization funding parish needs
- ACTS Leadership Group — coordinates ACTS retreats for the parish community
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Our Lady of Guadalupe's Religious Education program educates children of the parish on how to live and practice their Catholic faith at home, in the parish, and in the community. The classes also prepare children to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. The program is open to children in Pre-K (age 4) through High School and runs from September through April each year, with classes on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Pre-K (age 4) through High School
- September–April each year; Wednesday and Sunday classes
- Annual re-enrollment required
- Tuition starts at $50 for one child
- Prepares children for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
First Communion Preparation
Reception of First Holy Communion is open to all children in 2nd grade or older who have completed a minimum of two consecutive years of Catholic Religious Education. Families must be registered parishioners, and parent-child preparation takes place in the home parish.
- Open to children 2nd grade and older
- Two consecutive years of Catholic Religious Education required
- Family must be registered parishioners
- Student must be baptized and in a state of grace
Sacraments
The parish walks parishioners through all seven sacraments and provides the doctrinal context from the Catechism of the Catholic Church alongside the parish-specific requirements.
- Baptism — gateway to the Christian life and the other sacraments
- Confirmation — special strength of the Holy Spirit
- Holy Eucharist / First Communion
- Reconciliation (Confession — Saturdays 2:30-3:45 PM and First Friday 8:00-11:00 PM)
- Anointing of the Sick — for physical, mental, or spiritual sickness
- Holy Matrimony — preparation through Marriage & Family Life ministry
- Holy Orders — the continuation of Christ's priesthood
Safe Environment & VIRTUS
The parish maintains an active Safe Environment program through VIRTUS® Protecting God's Children for Adults, with Roselyn Elizondo serving as the parish VIRTUS Coordinator. Every adult volunteer over the age of 18 must complete the initial online training, a background screening, and sign the Ethical Conduct acknowledgement before serving.
- VIRTUS Coordinator: Roselyn Elizondo — (409) 962-6777
- First-time volunteers complete online training, background screening, Ethical Conduct acknowledgement, and provide a copy of driver's license
- Recertification required — background screening every 7 years, training every 5 years
- Registration under 'Beaumont (Diocese)' in the VIRTUS portal
- Forms available in English and Spanish
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00 PM), and is closed on Thursdays and weekends. The parish publishes detailed driving directions from Beaumont, Houston, and Orange, so first-time visitors can find their way easily to the church and shrine.
- Address: 3648 S/Sgt Lucian Adams Drive, Port Arthur, TX 77642
- Phone: (409) 962-6777
- Email: [email protected]
- Office closed Thursdays; closed for lunch 12-1 PM daily
- Driving directions from Beaumont, Houston, and Orange provided on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Marcelino Ruiz1927
Founder of the parish; a priest from Mexico who established it to serve Mexican-American families in Port Arthur.
- Priests of St. Mary's1929
Pastoral care provided by the Priests of St. Mary's between 1927 and 1931.
- Rev. Juan Arana1931
First Augustinian pastor; built the steel and brick church at 134 15th Street in 1936.
- Rev. Basilio Fresno1945
- Rev. Porfirio Fernandez1951
Purchased the land at 61st Street and 9th Avenue in 1966 that would become the present site.
- Rev. Peter Parra1957
- Rev. Porfirio Fernandez1960
Returned for a second tenure; oversaw construction of the present church in 1976.
- Rev. Enrique Martinez1977
- Rev. Jose A. Giganto1983
- Rev. T.R. Blanco1990
- Rev. Urbano Saenz2015
Pastor 2015-2024; celebrated the 90th Anniversary Mass with Bishop Curtis Guillory.
- Rev. Xavier Sibi2024
Current pastor; succeeded Fr. Urbano Saenz.