About Our Lady of Sorrows · Mcallen, Texas
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church is a large, historic parish of the Diocese of Brownsville located at 1108 W Hackberry Avenue in McAllen, Texas. Evolved from a small parish originally named St. Patrick's (1920) and renamed Our Lady of Sorrows in 1941, it is today one of the most recognized Catholic parishes in the Rio Grande Valley. The parish serves a bilingual (English and Spanish) community with daily Mass, weekend liturgies, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a parochial school (Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School, founded 1946), and a broad range of liturgical, faith-formation, outreach, and fraternal ministries.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Seven Sorrows)
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory T. Labus
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
Our Lady of Sorrows is a large, bilingual Catholic parish that puts the Eucharist and a deep devotional life at the center: perpetual Eucharistic Adoration runs 24 hours a day (Sunday 2:00 p.m. through Saturday 3:00 p.m.), with a Sunday Holy Hour of Vespers and Benediction from 5:00–6:00 p.m. Worship is offered six days a week in both English and Spanish, including a daily 8:00 a.m. English Mass and a 5:30 p.m. Spanish Mass Monday–Thursday. The parish is also home to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (since 1946), an active OCIA (RCIA) process, a thriving music ministry with adult and children's choirs in English and Spanish, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters councils, and outreach ministries such as Nursing Home Ministry, Emily's Meals, and the Star of Hope 'Ministry of the Poor.' It's a parish where families, youth, the homebound, and the poor are all served in a way that 'challenges us to grow as an evangelizing community.'
Mass times at Our Lady of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Main Church, doors close at 11:15 AM)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — open Sundays from 2:00 PM through Saturdays at 3:00 PM (closed Saturdays 3:00 PM through Sunday 2:00 PM)
- Holy Hour with Vespers and Benediction: Sunday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Parish History
Our Lady of Sorrows began life as St. Patrick's Parish in 1920 and was renamed in honor of the Sorrowful Mother in 1941. The first pastor was Fr. John Laurent, OMI (1941–1944), after which the parish came under diocesan clergy of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The 1946 founding of the parish school, the 1955 church building, and the parish's transition into the newly created Diocese of Brownsville in 1966 mark the major chapters of its first quarter-century. The current sanctuary — seating 1,300 — was completed under Msgr. Gus Pacheco, and Fr. Gregory Labus began as the parish's ninth pastor in September 2024.
- 1920 — founded as St. Patrick's Parish, McAllen
- 1941 — renamed Our Lady of Sorrows; Fr. John Laurent, OMI, first pastor
- 1944 — transferred to diocesan clergy of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- 1946 — Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School opens with 47 pupils
- 1955 — new church constructed
- 1966 — first year under the newly created Diocese of Brownsville (Fr. Patrick Galloghly)
- 1986 — Msgr. Ralph Hall (parish hall) completed under Fr. Ivan Rovira
- 1993–2007 — Msgr. Gus Pacheco builds the current 1,300-seat church; old church becomes the chapel
- 2007–2024 — Msgr. Gustavo Barrera serves as pastor (installed on the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows, September 15, 2007)
- September 2024 — Fr. Gregory (Greg) Labus installed as ninth pastor
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Gregory T. Labus, with Fr. Arturo Escobedo, Jr. serving as Parochial Vicar and Fr. Mishael Koday as Priest in-residence. Three deacons — Dcn. Juan "Johnny" Gonzalez, Dcn. Crawford A. Higgins, and Dcn. Richard Longoria — assist with liturgy, perpetual adoration, and parish life. Lay staff include a parish life coordinator, DRE, youth ministry coordinator, liturgy coordinator, bookkeeper, bulletin editor, and sacramental records coordinator.
- Rev. Gregory T. Labus — Pastor
- Fr. Arturo Escobedo, Jr. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Mishael Koday — Priest in-residence
- Deacon Juan "Johnny" Gonzalez — Perpetual Adoration Coordinator
- Deacon Crawford A. Higgins
- Deacon Richard Longoria
- Cindy Jaime — Administrative Assistant
- Margareth Couto — Bookkeeper
- Patsy Vela — Sacramental Records / Marriage Prep / Funerals
- Francisco "Paco" Castellanos — Parish Life Coordinator & Youth Group
- Leticia Huggins — Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- John Luke Garcia — Assistant DRE
- Danny Acosta — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Cathie Moroles — Receptionist
- Mark Silva — Liturgy Coordinator
- Mario L. Guerra, Jr. — Bulletin Editor
- Elizabeth Resczenski — Children & Youth Choir Director
Music Ministry & Choirs
Music Ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows exists to give honor, glory and praise to God by drawing hearts closer to Christ through prayerful song. The parish supports choirs in both English and Spanish — and a separate Children's and Youth Choir — so that worship is well-served in every language used at the altar. Choir membership is open to adults (18 and older) who can read or learn music by ear, regardless of formal training.
- English Choir — rehearses Wednesdays, 7:00 PM in the Choir Room (director: Baceliza Monroe)
- Spanish Choir — rehearses Tuesdays, 7:00 PM in the Choir Room
- Children's and Youth Choir — rehearses on Thursdays in the Choir Room (director: Elizabeth Resczenski)
- Music Ministry email: [email protected]
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
Adults exploring the Catholic faith or in need of completing the Sacraments of Initiation are welcomed into OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly RCIA). Sessions are held on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Conference Room, and the parish provides a $40 materials fee. Children and youth faith formation is overseen by Director of Religious Education Leticia Huggins and Assistant DRE John Luke Garcia.
- OCIA meetings — Mondays, 7:00–8:30 PM, Conference Room
- $40 materials fee
- Director of Religious Education — Leticia Huggins
- Assistant DRE — John Luke Garcia
- Youth Ministry Coordinator — Danny Acosta
- Youth Group — coordinated by Francisco "Paco" Castellanos
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Our Lady of Sorrows has a deep bench of lay-led liturgical, devotional, fraternal, and outreach ministries. Liturgical groups include the Altar & Rosary Society, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Readers of the Word, Music & Choir, and Perpetual Adoration. Fraternal and devotional organizations include the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Legion of Mary, Serra Club, and the Asamblea de Oración de Matrimonios (AOM) for married couples. Outreach ministries include Nursing Home Ministry, Emily's Meals, Star of Hope "Ministry of the Poor," the Bereavement Support Group, and Parenthood Community.
- Altar & Rosary Society — Florinda Garza
- Altar Servers — Scott Henry
- Eucharistic Ministers (English) — Maria Elena Beltran
- Eucharistic Ministers (Spanish) — Amanda Pacheco
- Readers of the Word (English) — Esther Tijerina
- Readers of the Word (Spanish) — Myram Ortegon
- Perpetual Adoration — Olga Ramirez
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Velma Esparza
- Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Alice Guzman
- Legion of Mary — Denia de los Reyes
- Knights of Columbus — Tommy Villarreal
- Serra Club — Alfonso "Al" Beltran
- AOM (Asamblea de Oración de Matrimonios) — Gaby Peña
- Nursing Home Ministry — Carol Pease
- Emily's Meals — Rick Aguirre
- Star of Hope "Ministry of the Poor" — Johnny Oliva & Linda Torline
- Bereavement Support Group — Norma Vogel
- Parenthood Community — Danny Ortegon
Outreach & Social Action
The parish's social-action ministries extend its care beyond the church walls to the homebound, the hungry, the grieving, and families. The Nursing Home Ministry brings the Eucharist and companionship to seniors, while Emily's Meals provides food for those in need and Star of Hope serves the poor of the Rio Grande Valley. A Bereavement Support Group accompanies families through loss, and Parenthood Community supports parents.
- Nursing Home Ministry (Carol Pease)
- Emily's Meals (Rick Aguirre)
- Star of Hope — Ministry of the Poor (Johnny Oliva & Linda Torline)
- Bereavement Support Group (Norma Vogel)
- Parenthood Community (Danny Ortegon)
- Homebound Ministry (listed in the parish's liturgy/worship outreach)
Sacraments
The parish office coordinates preparation for all major sacraments — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals — through Patsy Vela, who handles Sacramental Records, Marriage Preparation, and Funerals. OCIA welcomes adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or Eucharist. Reconciliation is heard weekly in the chapel and main church, and the Homebound Ministry extends sacramental care to those unable to attend Mass.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage preparation — Patsy Vela
- Funerals — Patsy Vela
- OCIA (Baptism / Confirmation / Eucharist for adults) — Mondays 7:00 PM
- Reconciliation — Thursdays 5:00–5:30 PM (Chapel) and Saturdays 10:30–11:30 AM (Main Church)
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound Ministry — by arrangement with the parish
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLSS), located on the parish campus, was founded in September 1946 with 47 pupils under Msgr. George A. Doyle. It was staffed by the Holy Cross Sisters, along with a few dedicated lay teachers, until 1982; the sisters withdrew in 1983 and were replaced by a lay principal and lay staff. A new educational facility was built in 1985, and by 1986 enrollment had grown to 500 students in sixteen classrooms with a library, kitchen and cafeteria, gymnasium, computer lab, art lab, science lab, and offices. Today OLSS offers a Montessori Pre-K and Kindergarten, a 1st–5th grade elementary program, a 6th–8th grade junior high with a Catholic faith focus, athletics, an after-school program, and academic support.
- Founded September 1946 with 47 pupils
- Staffed by Holy Cross Sisters until 1982 (withdrew 1983)
- New facility built in 1985; enrollment reached 500 by 1986
- Programs: Montessori Pre-K & Kindergarten; elementary 1st–5th; junior high 6th–8th
- Athletic program, after-school program, and one-on-one / group academic tutorials
- Accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference (TCC) Education Department
- Member of the National Catholic Education Association
- Last formal accreditation (2015): 'excellent' rating
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to Our Lady of Sorrows, where the website notes: 'Our Lady of Sorrows Church is a place to grow spiritually, put your faith in action, and use your unique God-given gifts to serve Christ.' The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and can be reached at (956) 686-0251 or [email protected]. Mass, Confession, Adoration, and live-streamed liturgies make it easy to join the parish's prayer life from anywhere in the Rio Grande Valley.
- Address: 1108 W Hackberry Ave., McAllen, TX 78501
- Phone: (956) 686-0251
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Website: www.oladyofsorrows.org
- Live-streamed Masses: Sunday 10:45 AM (English) and 12:30 PM (Spanish)
- Online Giving available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Laurent, OMI1941–1944
First pastor; a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; oversaw the 1941 renaming from St. Patrick's to Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Msgr. George A. Doyle1944–1966
Second pastor; oversaw construction of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (1946) and a new church (1955).
- Fr. Patrick Galloghly1966–1969
First pastor of OLS under the newly formed Diocese of Brownsville.
- Msgr. Victor Ralph1969–1982
Led the parish faithfully until his retirement in 1982; honored by the naming of Msgr. Ralph Hall.
- Fr. Ivan Rovira1982–1988
Built the new school facility and the parish hall (Msgr. Ralph Hall, completed 1986).
- Fr. Gilbert Piette1988–1993
Supervised the parish's first parish directory and the 50th anniversary celebration.
- Msgr. Gus Pacheco1993–2007
Oversaw construction of the magnificent current church seating 1,300; the former church became the chapel.
- Msgr. Gustavo Barrera2007–2024
First Mass as pastor was September 15, 2007, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows; oversaw further improvements to church grounds and school campus.
- Fr. Gregory (Greg) Labus2024–present
Ninth pastor; began ministry September 2024.