About Our Lady of Lourdes · Benson, Arizona
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish located at 386 E. 5th Street in Benson, Arizona, in the Benson Historic Barrio. Founded in the late 1800s to serve the Mexican and ranching families of the San Pedro Valley, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Tucson and today offers Mass in both English and Spanish, along with weekday devotions, adoration, religious education, and a Knights of Columbus council. The current parish plant includes the 1949-dedicated church (a modified-Spanish-style building), a parish hall, classrooms, and a hand-built rock grotto completed in 1976.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Father M. Atanga
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a tight-knit parish where the entire community still pitches in: lay staff and ministry leaders handle faith formation, liturgy, finances, and building upkeep, and a Spanish Mass is celebrated monthly to honor the parish's Mexican-heritage roots. Visitors are welcomed into a fuller devotional life than most parishes its size, with weekly Eucharistic adoration and Benediction on Fridays, monthly Healing Services, a twice-weekly prayer group, a Knights of Columbus council, and weekly religious education for school-age children plus RCIA/OCIA for adults seeking initiation.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 4:55 PM in the Confessional inside the Church
- By appointment (call the parish office at 520-586-3394)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction every Friday following the 8:00 AM Mass until 10:00 AM
Parish History
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the oldest parishes in southeastern Arizona, founded in late 1894 by Father Felix Emile Joseph Dilly on the corner of East Fifth and Gila. The faithful built the first church of adobe and wood with their own hands, and for decades the community was served as a mission attached to larger parishes in Bisbee, Nogales, and Tombstone, before becoming independent in 1966.
- 1894 – Parish founded by Father Felix Emile Joseph Dilly
- 1895 – Original adobe church completed (seating ~80 in 12 pews)
- 1925–1967 – Hijas Minimas de María Inmaculada sisters staffed the parish
- 1931–1960 – Tombstone served as a mission of Benson
- 1948 – Groundbreaking for the current church (June 1)
- 1949 – Dedication of the present church, May 22
- 1966 – Our Lady of Lourdes becomes an independent parish
- 1967 – Original adobe church demolished after 72 years
- 1976 – Grotto completed March 13 and dedicated the next day
- 1980 – Easter-season fire guts the church; tabernacle and statues saved
Architecture & Grounds
The current church is a modified Spanish-style building of cal clay blocks, designed with exposed beams meant to evoke the stable of Bethlehem. Because of the soft Benson soil, its footers were made unusually large at five by five feet and were poured in a single all-night work session. On the grounds stands a hand-built rock grotto whose stones were hauled from the Dragoon and Whetstone ranges.
- Style: Modified Spanish, exposed-beam interior referencing Bethlehem
- Builder: Shorty Martinez and Vern Bell; Architect: Terry Atkinson
- Material: Cal clay blocks on oversized 5'x5' footers
- Grotto: hand-laid rock shrine completed March 13, 1976
Clergy, Staff & Office
The parish is led by Father M. Atanga, supported by two deacons and a small lay staff. The Administration Office is located across the street from the church at 387 E. 5th St. and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; an after-hours emergency line is also available.
- Priest – Father M. Atanga
- Deacon T. Adams
- Deacon R. Valencia
- Office – Liz Rutherford (Compliance), Jennifer Morse (Finance)
- Music Leader – Filly Nelson
- Custodian – Gerry Nelson
- Office Hours – Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- After-Hours Emergency – 520-633-3996
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay leadership is foundational at Our Lady of Lourdes, with named coordinators for nearly every aspect of parish life. From the sanctuary to the school-age classrooms and the Knights of Columbus council, parishioners steward the liturgical, formation, and outreach work of the parish year-round.
- Altar Servers – Jennifer Morse
- Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors – Kirby & De Wilson
- Sacristans – Marie Smith
- Liturgy Committee – Fr. Martin, Marie Smith, Filly Nelson, Peggy Leichty
- Ushers – Rich Leichty
- Music Ministry – Filly Nelson
- Knights of Columbus – Grand Knight Al Cesarz
- St. Joseph the Worker Ministry – Dan Garcia
- Vocations Committee – Greg Mayer
- Renovation & Repair – Dan Garcia, Kirby Wilson
- Compliance / Safe Environment – Liz Rutherford & Rich Leichty
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes for school-age students meet on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:15 AM in the parish hall and classrooms, with the 2025–26 year beginning Sunday, August 17, 2025. The program also runs sacramental preparation (with strict attendance expectations) and the diocesan Circle of Grace child-safe-environment training. RCIA / OCIA classes for adults began August 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM in Classroom #2 under Marie Smith.
- Directors of Religious Education – Rich & Peggy Leichty (520-586-3394)
- Religious Ed Classes – Sundays 9:00–10:15 AM, meet in the hall at 8:50
- RCIA / OCIA – Sundays 12:15 PM, Classroom #2 (Marie Smith)
- Sacramental Preparation – requires advance notice of absences
- Circle of Grace – scheduled by the Diocese of Tucson
- Bible Study – details to be announced
- Registration forms on a clipboard at the back of the church or in the office
Prayer Requests & Pastoral Care
The parish keeps an active prayer-intention book and welcomes submitted requests by phone, in person, or by email. Announcements for the bulletin or pulpit are also accepted in writing but require pastoral review before publication, and a Funeral Mass Liturgy Planner can be reached through the parish office.
- Submit prayer requests by phone (520-586-3394), in writing, or by email to [email protected]
- Requests are added to the parish prayer-intention book
- Bulletin and pulpit announcements require pastoral review
- Funeral Mass Liturgy Planning – contact the parish office
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office in person Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 387 E. 5th St., across the street from the church entrance. Mail and other correspondence can be sent to P.O. Box 2198, Benson, AZ 85602. The parish website (ololparish.com) carries the current bulletin, Mass schedule, ministry contacts, and registration forms.
- Church – 386 E. 5th St., Benson, AZ 85602
- Parish Administration Office – 387 E. 5th St. (Mon–Fri 9 AM–1 PM)
- Mailing Address – P.O. Box 2198, Benson, AZ 85602
- Phone – 520-586-3394 | Fax – 520-586-3919
- Email – [email protected]
- Emergency (after hours only) – 520-633-3996
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix Emile Joseph Dillylate 1894 –
Founder of Our Lady of Lourdes; began construction of the original adobe church on the present site.