About Risen Savior · Albuquerque, New Mexico
Risen Savior Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish located at 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving the Far Northeast Heights as part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The parish was formed in 1977–1978 by families splitting off from Queen of Heaven Parish and was formally dedicated by Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez on July 1, 1979. Today Risen Savior offers weekend and daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for children, youth, and adults, a Young Adult Ministry, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, a Homebound Ministry, and the well-regarded Risen Savior Catholic Preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. The parish describes itself as 'Founded On Faith and Charity' and continues the traditions of an annual Parish Picnic and Parish Missions that have marked its community life since the 1980s.
- Established
- 1979 (parish dedicated July 1, 1979; community organized 1977; building opened first weekend of October 1978)
- Patron
- The Risen Savior (Jesus Christ Risen) — the parish takes its name from the resurrected Christ
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Ugochukwu
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
Risen Savior is a long-established northeast Albuquerque parish that combines the warmth of a community with a wide range of programs for every age and stage of Catholic life. Parishioners can attend daily and weekend Mass, bring 3- and 4-year-olds to the only stand-alone preschool in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, enroll children and teens in faith formation, walk the OCIA journey to become Catholic, gather for Bible Study, and serve through the Homebound Ministry or Liturgical Ministry. Traditions like the annual Parish Picnic and recurring Parish Missions give the community a sense of continuity, while active Young Adult Ministry and adult faith formation keep new generations connected.
Mass times at Risen Savior
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM until the start of Mass (11:30 AM)
- Thursday: 11:00 AM until the start of Mass (11:30 AM)
- Saturday: 3:15 PM
Adoration times
- First Fridays: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (after 7:00 AM Mass)
About Risen Savior Catholic Community
Risen Savior Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, belonging to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The parish is tagged on its own site as 'Founded On Faith and Charity' and describes itself as a long-established community with a wide range of ministries, a Catholic preschool, and traditions like the annual Parish Picnic and Parish Missions. The parish welcomes new members and visitors and provides an online registration form, weekly bulletins, and a newsletter for staying connected.
- Parish tagline: 'Founded On Faith and Charity'
- Online parish registration available
- Weekly bulletin posted on the parish website
- Part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Parish History
In 1977 parishioners from Queen of Heaven began meeting at the Mausoleum of Gate of Heaven Cemetery to plan a new satellite parish. By early 1978 a site on Wyoming Blvd NE had been purchased and construction was under way; some early floor plans even labeled the building 'Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.' On the first weekend of 1978, 538 people attended Masses at the mausoleum. The community moved into its new building the first weekend of October 1978, and Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez formally dedicated Risen Savior as a parish on July 1, 1979. The parish has marked its life together with annual picnics and recurring Parish Missions, and in 2013–2014 parishioner Joshua Struck led a Parish History Project as his Eagle Scout project.
- 1977: Founding families from Queen of Heaven meet at Gate of Heaven Cemetery mausoleum
- Early 1978: Site purchased on Wyoming Blvd NE; construction begins
- First weekend of 1978: 538 attend Masses at the mausoleum
- First weekend of October 1978: Community moves into the new building
- July 1, 1979: Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez dedicates Risen Savior as a parish
- Annual Parish Picnic tradition (held at least 34 times by 2014)
- Recurring Parish Missions, multiple times led by Father Jimmy Marchionda
- Parish History Project completed by Joshua Struck and Boy Scout team (Eagle Scout project)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Charles Ugochukwu and supported by three deacons and a lay staff with clearly defined ministry areas. Staff can be reached through the main parish number (505-821-1571) at their listed extensions.
- Rev. Charles Ugochukwu — Pastor
- Deacon Mark Bussemeier — Adult Faith Formation / Funeral Planning (ext. 102)
- Deacon Manuel Garcia — Pastoral Staff (ext. 107)
- Deacon Timothy Parker — Pastoral Staff (ext. 107)
- Barbara Mallak — Office Manager (ext. 103)
- Tes Charlton — Child Faith Formation (K-5) & Sacramental Records (ext. 104)
- Briana Vargas — Youth Faith Formation (MS & HS), Bulletin Editor & Marriage (ext. 110)
- Mary Bruce — Homebound Ministries (ext. 116)
- Greta Porter-Wanek — Front Office (ext. 101)
- Christina Medina — Preschool Director (ext. 112)
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is accessible from the parish website's Sacraments page. Sacramental preparation for children is coordinated through the Child Faith Formation office, while adults typically prepare through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). The parish office coordinates weddings, funerals, and other sacramental needs with the appropriate staff members listed on the About page.
- Baptism — Sacramental records handled by Tes Charlton
- Eucharist / First Communion — via Child Faith Formation
- Confirmation — via Youth Faith Formation or OCIA
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Marriage — coordinated with Briana Vargas (ext. 110)
- Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Planning — Deacon Mark Bussemeier (ext. 102)
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — see Faith Formation section
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Risen Savior describes faith formation as 'catechesis (teaching the faith) which aims to deepen people's contact with Jesus Christ through educational and enrichment opportunities.' The parish offers formation for every age — children, youth, adults, and those journeying into the Catholic Church through OCIA. The parish explicitly lists RCIA, Bible Study, adult faith formation meetings, children's faith formation, and F.I.R.E. as 'the tools to help us better understand the heart and mind of Jesus Christ and His sacrament, the Catholic Church.'
- OCIA (RCIA) — Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM; contact Deacon Mark (ext. 102, [email protected])
- Catechumens (non-baptized adults) and Candidates (baptized Christians) journey together
- Bible Study
- Adult Faith Formation meetings
- Children's Faith Formation (K-5) — Tes Charlton (ext. 104)
- Youth Faith Formation (Middle School & High School) — Briana Vargas (ext. 110)
- F.I.R.E. faith formation program
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) / RCIA
Risen Savior's OCIA program is a communal, journey-style process for adults seeking to become Catholic, framed as 'a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries.' It welcomes both Catechumens (non-baptized adults preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation) and Candidates (baptized Christians preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church). The parish emphasizes that OCIA is not a class but a spiritual journey of conversion and transformation.
- Meets Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 PM
- Contact: Deacon Mark, ext. 102, [email protected]
- Two groups journey together: Catechumens and Candidates
- Time of discernment, ritual, prayer, and shared faith discussion
Risen Savior Catholic Preschool
Risen Savior Catholic Preschool is a small, faith-based school serving 3- and 4-year-old students and has been established for more than 30 years. According to the parish, it is the only stand-alone preschool in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe that offers 2-, 3-, and 5-day-a-week attendance options. The school is Archdiocesan and licensed by CYFD, maintains a low teacher-to-student ratio, and emphasizes a hands-on curriculum rooted in prayer, science, art, music, movement, and phonemic awareness for kindergarten preparation. The preschool's mission is to cultivate 'independent learners, effective communicators, and responsible citizens through academics, creativity, and play.'
- Director: Christina Medina (ext. 112)
- Motto: 'WE PRAY ~ WE PLAY ~ WE LEARN ~ WE LOVE'
- Serves 3- and 4-year-olds
- Attendance options: 2, 3, and 5 days per week
- Reported 97% retention rate
- Archdiocesan preschool; licensed by CYFD
- Curriculum emphasizes prayer, phonemic awareness, science, art, music, movement
Liturgical Ministry and Music
Risen Savior maintains a Liturgical Ministry program and is 'always in need of Liturgical Ministers.' Inquiries about the ministry schedule and liturgical roles can be directed to the parish office or to [email protected]. Visiting musicians and composers, including Father Jimmy Marchionda, have served the parish at Parish Missions, mixing preaching with music.
- Liturgical Ministry — contact [email protected]
- Parish welcomes new liturgical ministers
- Parish Missions have featured Catholic musicians and composers (e.g., Father Jimmy Marchionda)
Young Adult and Homebound Ministry
The parish hosts a Young Adult Ministry that gathers under the banner 'Come to Christ Night,' offering community for young adults in northeast Albuquerque. The parish also runs a Homebound Ministry, coordinated by Mary Bruce, that brings the faith community to parishioners who cannot easily attend Mass in person.
- Young Adult Ministry — 'Come to Christ Night' gatherings
- Homebound Ministry — Mary Bruce (ext. 116)
- Liturgy schedule and ministry sign-ups via the parish office
Outreach, Picnic, and Parish Mission Traditions
Beyond weekly liturgy, Risen Savior is known for two long-standing traditions: an annual Parish Picnic and recurring Parish Missions. The picnic is a community-wide celebration where the parish typically provides burgers and sides and families bring a dessert to share, with entertainment, games, and often a visit from the featured mission preacher. Parish Missions are multi-day events of preaching, music, and renewal — in 2014, Father Jimmy Marchionda led a mission on 'The Passion, Power, and Privilege of Prayer' across two evenings and a closing Mass. The parish also opens its Marian Center to community and family events, such as Trunk-or-Treat nights with food trucks, free games, and a costume contest.
- Annual Parish Picnic (held at least 34 times by 2014)
- Recurring Parish Missions (multi-day preaching and music)
- Past mission leader: Father Jimmy Marchionda
- Parish History Project boards displayed in the Gathering Hall
- Community/family events hosted in the Marian Center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Ugochukwucurrent
Current pastor, listed on the parish staff page.
- Father (Rev.) Jimmy Marchionda
Returned multiple times to lead Parish Missions at Risen Savior, including a mission on 'The Passion, Power, and Privilege of Prayer' in September 2014. A noted Catholic composer whose music was sung at Mother Teresa's funeral.