Our Lady of Light

About Our Lady of the Light Parish

Our Lady of the Light Catholic Church is a welcoming Catholic community of faith in central El Paso, Texas, served now by the Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.). The parish follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the Magisterium of the Church, worshiping God in the Eucharist, the Sacraments, and prayer in order to love, serve, and joyfully proclaim the Good News of salvation. Parishioners entrust themselves to the patronage of Our Mother, Our Lady of the Light, seeking to be good disciples of her Son, Jesus Christ. As God's stewards, the community values and shares the gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Our History

The parish traces its origins to the Stormsville/La Mesa community along the Rim Road, settled in 1898 by flood-displaced families. The first stone church — the Church of the Virgin of the Light — was built in 1920 under Father Falvio Remigio, and a bell was brought from Mexico that same year. After the city declared Stormsville a ruin in 1928, families relocated to Valverde, where they built a permanent church completed in 1932 and later replaced by the larger 1938 temple that today serves as the Dolan Chapel. Jesuit priests of St. Francis Xavier began attending the parish in 1935, the Claretians took charge in 1942, and Father John Zelaya, C.M.F., built the auditorium, parish house, and choir loft in the 1950s.

• 1898 — Flood-displaced families settle the Stormsville/La Mesa plateau on the Rim Road.
• 1920 — Father Falvio Remigio builds the stone Church of the Virgin of the Light in Stormsville; first bell arrives from Mexico.
• 1928 — City declares Stormsville a ruin; families move to Valverde ('El Barrio del Diablo').
• 1929 — First stone of the permanent Valverde church is laid.
• 1930 — First Mass celebrated in Miguel de la Torres' house on Dolan Street.
• 1932 — Valverde church completed under Father Remigio.
• 1935 — Jesuits of St. Francis Xavier begin attending the parish and build the sacristy.
• 1938 — Larger Valverde temple (today's Dolan Chapel) replaces the 1932 structure.
• 1942 — Claretian missionaries (Fathers Rufus Olavarrieta and Juan Errasti) take charge.
• 1950s — Father John Zelaya, C.M.F., builds the auditorium and parish house, remodels the church, and purchases land for a larger temple.
• April 9, 1964 — Bishop Metzger elevates Our Lady of the Light to parish status.
• August 1964 — Our Lady of the Light School is inaugurated; the new church is blessed.
• Post-1964 — Father Thomas Rowland leads one of the diocese's first Vatican II renovations.

Pastoral Leadership and Parish Staff

Our Lady of the Light is served by a pastoral team from the Diocese of El Paso together with the Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.). The parish website also lists Rev. Antonio Lasheras, O.A.R., as pastor, and a diocesan assignment list shows Rev. German Alzate, STL, in priestly residence, with Deacon Pedro Garcia and Deacon Bobby Saucedo assisting.

• Rev. Roberto Alvarado — Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Antonio Lasheras, O.A.R. — Pastor (Augustinian Recollects, per parish site)
• Rev. German Alzate, STL — Priest in Residence
• Deacon Pedro Garcia — Assisting Deacon
• Deacon Bobby Saucedo — Assisting Deacon
• Juan Antonio Haguayo — Bookkeeper
• Maria De La Cruz — Secretary

Parish Ministries and Outreach

Our Lady of the Light fosters a culture of stewardship and service. Beyond the celebration of the Eucharist, the parish operates a food pantry to assist neighbors in need and supports liturgical ministries that make weekend and weekday Masses possible in two languages. The community welcomes the gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure from every member.

• Food Pantry — parish outreach to neighbors in need
• Liturgical ministries — lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, sacristans
• Augustinian Recollect (O.A.R.) pastoral ministry
• Faith formation for children and youth
• Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure

Sacraments

The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated at Our Lady of the Light, with the Eucharist offered at multiple weekly Masses, Reconciliation heard Saturday afternoons, and the Anointing of the Sick administered on First Fridays. Families and individuals seeking Baptism, Marriage, or other sacraments are invited to contact the parish office for preparation and scheduling.

• Eucharist — weekend and daily Mass
• Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00 PM at Delta; by appointment
• Anointing of the Sick — First Friday
• Baptism — contact the parish office
• Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation
• Eucharistic Adoration — Thursdays and First Fridays

Worship Sites: Delta Drive and the Dolan Chapel

The parish lives in two places. The main church is at 4700 Delta Drive in central El Paso, while the historic Dolan Chapel on Dolan Street preserves the parish's Valverde-era roots as the 1938 replacement for Father Remigio's 1932 Valverde church. Together they link more than a century of Catholic worship on the Rim Road, in Valverde, and in the Delta Drive neighborhood.

• Delta Drive (main church) — 4700 Delta Drive, El Paso, TX 79905
• Dolan Chapel — Dolan Street, El Paso, TX 79905 (the 1938 Valverde temple)
• Two-site parish identity reflecting 100+ years of community history

Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 4700 Delta Drive, El Paso, TX 79905. The parish office can be reached at (915) 532-1757. Online giving is available through the diocesan ParishSoft Giving portal, and donations can also be sent by text to (915) 621-1757. Those interested in joining a ministry, scheduling a sacrament, or learning more about parish life are encouraged to call or stop by the parish office.

• Address — 4700 Delta Drive, El Paso, TX 79905
• Phone — (915) 532-1757
• Online Giving — https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/ourladyofthelight
• Text to Give — (915) 621-1757
• Website — http://ourladyofthelight.wixsite.com/website