Sacred Heart Mission

Sacred Heart Mission in Nara Visa

Sacred Heart Mission is the Catholic mission church of the tiny community of Nara Visa, an unincorporated railroad village in northeastern Quay County in eastern New Mexico, just south of the Texas panhandle border. Classified by GCatholic as a mission church (Type: Church) within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe, it is one of four rural mission congregations tended by a single pastor stationed at St. Anne Parish in Tucumcari, about 75 km (47 miles) to the southwest. The chapel is described in regional press as 'a small but picturesque white chapel that sits on a hill overlooking the northeastern Quay County village' and as a 'sacred survivor' that has outlasted many other institutions in a community whose population has steadily declined since its railroad-era boom.

Mass & Worship Schedule

Because Sacred Heart has no resident priest, Mass is celebrated by a visiting priest from St. Anne on a rotation that takes him to all four mission communities. The published schedule shows one Sunday Mass per month-pair: 2:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays only, Central Time. Visitors are always advised to confirm directly with the St. Anne Parish Office before traveling, especially around holy days, Advent/Lent, or special events.

• Sunday — 2:00 PM (1st and 3rd Sundays only, Central Time)
• Confession times: not separately listed on public schedules
• Adoration: not separately listed on public schedules

Sacramental Life & Becoming Catholic

All sacramental preparation, including the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) process, is organized through the mother parish, St. Anne in Tucumcari. The 2025–2026 OCIA calendar at St. Anne lists an OCIA class start in September, a Rite of Initiation in November, the St. Anne Rite of Sending in February 2026, and the Rite of Election that same month at St. Helen's.

• OCIA / RCIA classes begin in early September each year
• Rite of Initiation — November
• Rite of Sending — February at St. Anne, Tucumcari
• Rite of Election — February at St. Helen's

Religious Education & Faith Formation

Faith formation for children and youth at Sacred Heart Mission is coordinated through St. Anne Parish, which publishes an annual Religious Education calendar. The 2025–2026 program includes a catechist meeting in late August, online registration beginning in early August, and a registered-students cookout in mid-September.

• Religious Education Registration begins — early August
• Catechist Meeting — late August, 5:30 PM (Madonna Room)
• Religious Education Cookout — mid-September (registered students)

Parish Office & Contact

Sacred Heart Mission does not maintain its own office; all administration, calls, and correspondence are handled by St. Anne Parish in Tucumcari. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and shares staff, clergy, a weekly bulletin, and parish activities across the four mission communities of Logan, Montoya, Nara Visa, and San Jon.

• Parish Office: 306 W. High St., Tucumcari, NM 88401
• Phone: (575) 461-2515
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Website: https://stannetucnm.org/

Location & Directions

The mission sits at the top of a small rise in the village of Nara Visa, a classic Eastern New Mexico railroad town founded in 1901 along the Rock Island line. From Bell Street (US-54) in Nara Visa, turn northwest onto N. 5th Street (NM-402); take the first right after crossing the railroad tracks onto 6th Street. Sacred Heart is visible on the hill above the tracks.

• Address: North 6th Street (Railroad Ave. North Loop), Nara Visa, NM 88430
• From Bell St (US-54): turn NW onto N. 5th St (NM-402), first right after the tracks onto 6th St
• Mailing ZIP code: 88430

Part of the St. Anne Family of Missions

Sacred Heart is administered as one of four mission churches of St. Anne Parish in Tucumcari. They share the pastor, OCIA, religious education, bulletin, and parish office. The companion missions are: - St. Anthony, Logan - St. Joan of Arc, Montoya - Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Jon Together, this loose 'family' of missions lets Catholics in thinly populated eastern New Mexico continue to receive the sacraments in their own communities despite distances measured in tens of miles across the high plains.

• Mother parish: St. Anne, Tucumcari (306 W. High St., Tucumcari, NM 88401)
• Companion mission: St. Anthony, Logan
• Companion mission: St. Joan of Arc, Montoya
• Companion mission: Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Jon

Diocese & Pastoral Leadership

Sacred Heart Mission is a Catholic mission church within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe. According to Archdiocese of Santa Fe assignments (Bulletin/Pastoral Bulletin, 2024), effective April 1, 2024, Rev. Cameron Degani — then parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows in Las Vegas — was appointed pastor of St. Anne in Tucumcari, succeeding Rev. Johnpaul Afuecheta, who was granted a leave of absence on the same date. As pastor of St. Anne, Father Degani also oversees Sacred Heart Mission and its three companion mission churches.

• Archdiocese: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe
• Current Pastor (2024– ): Rev. Cameron Degani
• Prior Pastor: Rev. Johnpaul Afuecheta (leave of absence effective April 1, 2024)