About Our Lady of Perpetual Help [Ruthenian] · Albuquerque, New Mexico
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in the Alvarado Park neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving the faithful of the Eastern Christian tradition under the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix. Founded in 1974 by Byzantine Catholic families recruited to Sandia National Laboratories from Pennsylvania and Ohio, the parish celebrates the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in English, with a particular devotion to the icon of Our Lady, Helper of Mothers. Today it is a small but active community known for its commitment to Eastern liturgical prayer, apologetics outreach through CAFE at the University of New Mexico, a Knights of Columbus council, and an annual booth at the New Mexico State Fair.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Our Mother of Perpetual Help / Our Lady, Helper of Mothers)
- Rector
- Fr. Joshua Johnson (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (Ruthenian); geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help offers something rare in the Southwest: a thriving Byzantine Catholic community that faithfully celebrates the ancient Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom while still fulfilling any Roman-rite Catholic's Sunday obligation. The parish is small enough to know one another by name but lively enough to support a K of C council, a State Fair booth, an apologetics club at UNM, a choral CD and the first Byzantine Catholic VHS and DVD of the Divine Liturgy, plus an active devotion to Our Lady, Helper of Mothers for couples facing infertility or difficult pregnancies. English is the working language of the liturgy, so Roman Catholic visitors and inquirers are warmly welcomed into the Eastern Christian tradition.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:00–9:50 am (before the 10:00 am Divine Liturgy)
- Before and after any Divine Liturgy
- By appointment during office hours (Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm)
Parish History
Our Lady of Perpetual Help was formally established in November 1974 after a 1974 mission effort by Byzantine Catholic families recruited to Sandia National Laboratories from the Pennsylvania–Ohio region. The community first met at the St. Pius X High School chapel near Coronado Mall, then moved to Our Lady of the Assumption parish on Lomas Boulevard NE before purchasing a vacant Protestant church and parsonage on Bell Avenue SE. In 1981, under the second pastor Rev. John Dorich, the parish relocated to its present Alvarado Park location; the first Liturgy there was Easter Sunday 1982. A massive 1995–98 volunteer expansion added the current sanctuary, hall, and gift shop, all paid for without debt.
- Founded November 1974 under Bishop Emil Mihalik (Eparchy of Parma)
- First pastor: Rev. John Kovach
- Moved to present Alvarado Park site in 1981–82
- Sanctuary expansion completed 1996; entire complex blessed July 21, 1998
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently administered by Fr. Joshua Johnson, a native of the Southwest and graduate of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius and the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Fr. Christopher L. Zugger continues to serve as Pastor Emeritus after his long tenure that began in 1985. The diocesan bishop, His Grace Bishop Artur Bubnevych (himself a former pastor here, 2015–), leads the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix.
- Fr. Joshua Johnson — Administrator
- Pani Regina Johnson — parish wife (married 2016; three daughters)
- Fr. Christopher L. Zugger — Pastor Emeritus
- Bishop Artur Bubnevych — Eparch of Phoenix (formerly pastor here, 2015 onward)
Divine Liturgy and Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in English. The Sunday Liturgy is preceded by Rosary (8:30 am), Matins (9:00 am), and Confessions (9:00–9:50 am). Weekday Liturgies are Monday 9:00 am, Wednesday 6:00 pm, and Friday 6:00 pm; Tuesday 9:00 am is the Akathist. Saturday is anchored by Great Vespers at 4:00 pm followed by Divine Liturgy at 5:00 pm. The Sunday 10:00 am Liturgy is live-streamed.
- Saturday: 4:00 pm Great Vespers, 5:00 pm Divine Liturgy
- Sunday: 8:30 am Rosary, 9:00 am Matins, 9:00–9:50 am Confessions, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy (live-streamed)
- Monday 9:00 am, Tuesday 9:00 am Akathist, Wednesday 6:00 pm, Thursday no Liturgy, Friday 6:00 pm
Byzantine Worship: What to Expect
OLPH describes and teaches the Byzantine Christian worship experience in detail on its About page, so first-time visitors can follow along. The parish emphasizes icons as 'windows into heaven,' frequent bowing and signing of the cross (rather than Roman-style genuflection), the use of incense as prayer ascending to God, a cappella congregational singing led by a cantor, and the reception of Holy Communion by spoon (Body and Blood together) under both kinds. Roman-rite Catholics in a state of grace are invited to receive Communion.
- Icons and the icon screen (iconostasis) with holy doors at the center
- Bowing and signing of the cross — no genuflection
- Incense used at every Liturgy
- A cappella congregational singing led by a cantor
- Communion distributed on a spoon; reception posture and procedure explained on the parish About page
Outreach and Apostolate
The parish runs two signature outreach programs founded under Fr. Kurt Burnette. CAFE — the Catholic Apologetics Fellowship Evangelism club — meets at the University of New Mexico and helps students study Catholic doctrine in order to defend it and become conversant with the Byzantine Catholic Church. The New Mexico State Fair booth, run jointly with the parish Knights of Columbus council and CAFE, brings Eastern icons, prayer items, and educational materials to thousands of fairgoers each year.
- CAFE apologetics club at the University of New Mexico
- New Mexico State Fair booth with K of C and gift shop
- Knights of Columbus council
- Parish gift shop of Eastern icons and prayer items
Our Lady, Helper of Mothers
Fr. Kurt Burnette expanded the parish's Marian devotion to 'Our Lady, Helper of Mothers' to serve couples facing infertility or difficult pregnancies. The original small icon associated with many blessings was augmented with a large gold-covered icon brought from Russia, and the parish now offers a devotional service that goes out to Roman-rite parishes to meet this spiritual need. The parish home page links to a page on the miracles of the Our Lady Helper of Mothers icon.
- Original small icon of Our Lady, Helper of Mothers
- Large gold-covered Russian icon of the same devotion
- Traveling devotional service to Roman-rite parishes
Mission Society and Ukraine Relief
The parish actively supports the Mission Society, raising money to help the mother church in Eastern Europe — including Ukraine Relief, the Korolevo Orphanage, Liturgy Intentions, and Theodore Romzha Seminary. Annual Easter Cards are sold with prayer intention forms, and donations may be made online via missionboronyavo.org or by check payable to 'Mission Society' and mailed to the parish address.
- Annual Easter Cards with prayer intentions
- Ukraine Relief and Korolevo Orphanage support
- Theodore Romzha Seminary support
Vocations and Parish Fruit
Despite its small size, the parish has had an outsized vocational impact. Its first priestly ordination was Fr. Michael O'Loughlin on May 25, 2005; Fr. Nathaniel Block was ordained June 28, 2014 in the Roman Diocese of Gallup; Fr. Brian Escobedo, a parish vocation, was ordained in June 2014; and two seminarians have been sent to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe since 2009. Sixteen people were received into the Catholic Church during Fr. Brian's 2013–14 pastorate.
- Fr. Michael O'Loughlin — ordained May 25, 2005
- Fr. Nathaniel Block — ordained June 28, 2014 (Diocese of Gallup)
- Fr. Brian Escobedo — ordained June 2014 (transferred to Holy Angels, San Diego, Jan. 2015)
- Two seminarians sent to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe since 2009
Music, Media, and Publications
The parish produced the first Byzantine Catholic VHS videotape and DVD of the Divine Liturgy, as well as a popular CD of choral hymns and liturgical settings. Pastor Emeritus Fr. Christopher Zugger has authored two books on Catholic history: The Forgotten: Catholics in the Soviet Empire from Lenin through Stalin (Syracuse University Press, 2001) and Finding a Hidden Church, on the underground Byzantine Catholic Church in the USSR.
- First Byzantine Catholic VHS and DVD of the Divine Liturgy
- CD of choral hymns and liturgical settings
- Fr. Christopher Zugger, The Forgotten (Syracuse University Press, 2001)
- Fr. Christopher Zugger, Finding a Hidden Church
Practical Information and Contact
Office hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. The parish mailing address is 1837 Alvarado Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Parish phone is 505-256-1539; the rectory number is 505-268-2877. The Administrator may be reached at [email protected], with a secondary contact address [email protected]. The church is located in the Alvarado Park neighborhood and its Liturgy satisfies any Roman-rite Catholic's Holy Day of Obligation on Sunday.
- Parish phone: 505-256-1539
- Rectory: 505-268-2877
- Pastor Emeritus Fr. Zugger: 505-256-1787
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Kovach1974–c.1981
First pastor; installed by Fr. Joseph Ridella, Dean of the Western States, appointed by Bishop Emil Mihalik.
- Rev. John Dorich1981–1984
Second pastor; led the 1981–82 move from the Trumbull neighborhood into the present Alvarado Park location.
- Fathers Lucas and Hutsko1984–1985
Succeeded Fr. Dorich briefly.
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Zugger1985–2008
Sent 'for a couple of years,' remained 13+; oversaw the major 1995–98 expansion; took medical retirement in 2008 but stayed on as Pastor Emeritus.
- Fr. Kurt Burnette2008–January 2013
Returned from Rome with a licentiate and doctorate in canon law; launched the State Fair booth and CAFE at UNM; expanded the Our Lady, Helper of Mothers devotion; later named Bishop of Passaic by Pope Francis (Oct. 12, 2013).
- Fr. Steven Gross, OFM Cap.January 2013–June 2014
Temporary administrator between Fr. Kurt's departure and Fr. Brian's ordination.
- Fr. Brian EscobedoJune 2014–January 2015
Parish vocation (ordained from diaconate here in June 2014); transferred with Pani Janet to Holy Angels, San Diego.
- Fr. Artur BubnevychJanuary 2015–present
From the Eparchy of Mukachevo; ordained by Bishop Gerald Dino in Phoenix on September 14, 2014; later named Eparch of Phoenix.
- Fr. Joshua Johnsoncurrent (as Administrator)
Graduate of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius and Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; native of the Southwest; current parish administrator.