About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Solomon, Arizona
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Solomon, Arizona, is a small but historically rich parish and shrine serving the Gila Valley in southeastern Arizona. The parish's story begins in 1876 when Isadore E. Solomon donated land, and the first Mass was celebrated on May 3, 1878. The community has rebuilt the church twice after devastating fires (1891 and 1911), with the current adobe-and-timber structure dating to 1912. In 1981 the church was officially designated a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, making it a regional pilgrimage destination. Our Lady of Guadalupe is united with St. Rose of Lima Parish in Safford; the two parishes share a priest and a weekly bulletin but operate independently and maintain their own parish offices.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a close-knit faith community rooted in nearly 150 years of Gila Valley history, with weekly Sunday Mass and a designated Marian shrine status that draws pilgrims throughout the year. The parish shares its priest and a weekly bulletin with neighboring St. Rose of Lima in Safford while operating its own parish office, gift shop, and Religious Education program, giving newcomers both strong local roots and the broader Sacramental life of the Diocese of Tucson.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 9:30–10:00 AM (at Our Lady of Guadalupe)
History of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The parish's roots stretch back to 1876, when Isadore E. Solomon donated land for a small chapel. The first Mass was celebrated on May 3, 1878, and by 1891 the growing congregation had been raised to parish status. Two fires — in 1891 and 1911 — destroyed the church buildings, but the Solomon community rebuilt both times. The present church, completed in 1912, was constructed from adobe bricks and timber cut from Mount Graham. In 1981 it was officially designated a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, formalizing its importance as a regional pilgrimage site.
- 1876: Land donated by Isadore E. Solomon
- 1878: First Mass celebrated May 3
- 1891: Elevated to parish status; later destroyed by fire
- 1894: San Jose Mission founded
- 1911: Second fire damages the church
- 1912: Current adobe-and-timber church built
- 1961: Sisters of the Eucharistic Missionaries arrive
- 1981: Designated a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe
A Living Piece of Arizona's Catholic Heritage
Recent restoration work has preserved the original adobe walls and century-old timbers of the 1912 church, ensuring this historic structure continues to serve as both a sacred space and a touchstone of Gila Valley Catholic life.
Sacraments
Our Lady of Guadalupe prepares parishioners for and celebrates each of the seven Catholic Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist (First Communion), Reconciliation (Confession), Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Specific preparation requirements and scheduling are handled through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Communion (Eucharist)
- Reconciliation
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
Religious Education
A Religious Education (RE) program supports faith formation for the children and families of both Our Lady of Guadalupe and its sister parish St. Rose of Lima. The RE Office can be reached at 928-348-4785 during parish business hours.
- RE Office: 928-348-4785
- Shared faith formation with St. Rose of Lima, Safford
Shrine & Pilgrimage
Since 1981, Our Lady of Guadalupe has been honored as a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness whose image and devotion are central to Mexican and Mexican-American Catholic identity. Each year the parish hosts the annual pilgrimage from St. Rose of Lima in Safford to the Solomon shrine, beginning in the early morning and including a balloon rosary in the churchyard, Mass in the historic church, and a menudo fund-raiser in the parish hall.
- Annual Safford-to-Solomon pilgrimage (typically in October)
- Balloon rosary in the churchyard
- Pilgrimage Mass in the historic church
- Menudo fund-raiser with handmade-quilt raffle
Contact & Visit
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is located at 2257 S 1st Ave., Solomon, Arizona 85551, in the Gila Valley of southeastern Arizona. The parish office and gift shop are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Visitors and pilgrims are warmly welcomed.
- Address: 2257 S 1st Ave., Solomon, AZ 85551
- Phone: 928-428-0149
- Alt. Phone: 928-322-8878
- After-hours phone: 520-507-1145
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–1:00 PM