About Saint Ann · Deming, New Mexico
St. Ann (Santa Ana) Catholic Parish serves the Catholic community of Deming, New Mexico, in the Diocese of Las Cruces near the U.S.–Mexico border. Founded in 1918 to serve Spanish-speaking parishioners and soldiers stationed at Camp Cody during World War I, the parish is rooted deeply in Deming's Hispanic culture and tradition. The parish reflects the region's bilingual character, offering weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, and since March 2019 it has also overseen the Mission Church of Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) in nearby Columbus, NM. Located at 400 S. Ruby Street at the corner of Maple and Ruby, three blocks south of Pine Street/US Hwy 180, the parish is a longtime center of faith, fiesta, and family life in Luna County.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- Saint Ann (Santa Ana)
- Rector
- Rev. Francis Gyau
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces (Copper Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Ann is the spiritual heart of Deming's longstanding Hispanic Catholic community and welcomes everyone who wishes to believe, belong, and become a disciple of Christ. Its bilingual Mass schedule, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation make it easy to grow in faith throughout the week. The parish is also a family-centered community with a vibrant Fiesta de Santa Ana, an active youth ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, and a long tradition of charity that continues to draw new faces into its fellowship.
Mass times at Saint Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Bilingual)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Bilingual)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Parish History
St. Ann (Santa Ana) traces its origin to March 1918, when Father Joseph Carnet of Holy Family Parish in Deming petitioned Bishop Anthony J. Schuler of El Paso for a new church to serve the growing Spanish-speaking community and the soldiers at Camp Cody. With a $3,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus of New York, the parish was built at the corner of Maple and Ruby streets, and its first Mass was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1918. Twin towers were added in 1924, and the upper domes and façade were completed in 1929, giving the church its present Spanish mission-style silhouette.
- First Mass: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1918, with Bishop Schuler presiding
- Twin towers built spring 1924; upper domes and façade completed 1929
- Outgrowth of the older Santo Niño Chapel (c. 1900), Deming's first Catholic church
- Centennial celebrated in 2018 with theme 'Looking at our Past with Gratitude, Living our Present with Passion and embracing our Future with Hope'
The Santo Niño Chapel and the Hispanic Roots of the Parish
Long before Santa Ana was built, Mexican parishioners and railroad workers on the north side of Deming worshipped at the Santo Niño Chapel, a small adobe built around 1900 by Marcelino and Josefa Delgado on instructions from Bonifacio Gonzales. Known as the 'Mexican Church' on old postcards, it served as the first Catholic church in Deming and remained in use through at least 1939. When Santa Ana was built in 1918, the Santo Niño community was embraced by the new parish; the adobe chapel was rebuilt at Fourth St. and N. Pearl in the 1960s–70s and is now owned by Luna County. In April 2018, the Joe 'Butter' Milo Family dedicated a memorial at the chapel site listing the first 'Familias De La Nueva Vida Barrio.'
- Santo Niño Chapel built c. 1900 by the Delgado family on instructions from Bonifacio Gonzales
- First Catholic church in Deming; labeled 'Mexican Church' on old postcards
- Documented in use as late as March 1939 (Mother Vicentia of Notre Dame)
- Reconstructed at 4th St. and N. Pearl in the 1960s–70s; today owned by Luna County
Diocese and Vicariate
St. Ann belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces and sits within the Copper Vicariate, which groups together parishes in Deming, Lordsburg, Silver City and surrounding mining towns. The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Francis Gyau, with Rev. Anthony Basso also listed for the parish assignment as of July 2025. The Copper Vicariate's current Vicar is Very Rev. Oliver Obele.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
- Vicariate: Copper Vicariate (Vicar: Very Rev. Oliver Obele)
- Pastor: Rev. Francis Gyau; Rev. Anthony Basso (as of 7/2025)
- Sister parish overseen: Holy Family Mission (Sagrada Familia), Columbus, NM 88029
Parish Office and Contact
Parish office hours are published Monday through Friday, with extended evening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The parish can be reached by phone at (575) 546-3343; fax is 575-546-3444. The mailing address is 400 S. Ruby Street, Deming, NM 88030.
- Phone: (575) 546-3343
- Fax: (575) 546-3444
- Address: 400 S. Ruby Street, Deming, NM 88030
- Website: http://www.santaanademing.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/SantaAnaDeming
Fiesta de Santa Ana and Parish Festivals
The Fiesta de Santa Ana is the parish's signature annual celebration, dating to the 1950s and '60s when the church primarily served the Hispanic community. The four-day event typically opens with a Mass, the Royalty Pageant at the parish center (where a Fiesta Queen is crowned), a Saturday night dance, food and games for families, and a Knights of Columbus golf scramble. In 2019 the 70th annual fiesta focused on youth ministry and the theme of Pope Francis's World Youth Day: 'Youth, you must be masters and artists of the Encuentro Culture.' The parish also hosts the Santo Niño Fall Festival each October near the historic Santo Niño site at Viramontes (Milo) Park.
- Fiesta de Santa Ana: annual four-day parish festival
- Royalty Pageant and Queen coronation tradition (1950s–60s origin)
- Knights of Columbus golf scramble fundraiser
- Santo Niño Fall Festival (October) at Viramontes (Milo) Park
Youth Ministry
Youth ministry has been a growing focus of parish life. During the 2019 centennial-era Fiesta de Santa Ana, parishioners like Rita Leon spoke publicly about how the youth ministry brought them closer to God, with parish leaders working to hand the future of the fiesta on to the next generation of young leaders.
- Active youth ministry group
- Youth participation in Fiesta Royalty Pageant
- Fiesta 2019 theme: 'Youth, you must be masters and artists of the Encuentro Culture'
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus have a long-standing relationship with St. Ann dating back to 1918, when the New York State council provided the original $3,000 donation that enabled Father Carnet to build the church. Today the local council continues to support the parish through fundraisers such as the annual golf scramble held in conjunction with the Fiesta de Santa Ana.
- Knights of Columbus supported the parish from its founding in 1918
- Annual golf scramble fundraiser
- Charitable Bingo and other parish fundraisers
Parish Center and Facilities
The parish operates a Parish Center adjacent to the church, used for the Royalty Pageant, Bingo, community dinners, the Lenten Retreat with Sister Margarita Armendariz, and many other parish gatherings. The parish celebrated paying off the parish center on February 10, 2017, with a Thanksgiving Mass concelebrated by Fr. Manuel Ibarra, Fr. Richard Catanach and Fr. Enrique Lopez, followed by a symbolic burning of the mortgage.
- Parish Center used for pageants, Bingo, dinners, retreats
- Mortgage-burning ceremony Feb. 10, 2017
- Hosts annual Lenten Retreat (e.g., with Sister Margarita Armendariz in 2019)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Carnet (Rev. Carnet)1918
Initiated and led the building of Santa Ana at 400 S. Ruby for Spanish-speaking people and soldiers at Camp Cody; obtained $3,000 from the Knights of Columbus and approval from Bishop Schuler of El Paso.
- Fr. Morinc. 1900
Earlier pastor who, with Mexican parishioners in Deming, built the original Santo Niño Chapel that preceded Santa Ana.
- Fr. Augustinearly 1900s
Visited Deming once a month from the Silver City area in the chapel's early years.
- Fr. Jose María Hermoso ('Fr. Joe')1978
Pastor who, with Bishop Patricio Flores's permission in May 1978, expanded Santa Ana Church.
- Fr. Alfred Galvan1993–1999
Appointed Pastor of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Deming in August 1993 and served there for six years; later served as Vicar Forane of the Copper Vicariate.
- Fr. Manuel F. Ibarra2017–2018
Pastor who led the 2018 centennial celebration with the theme 'Looking at our Past with Gratitude, Living our Present with Passion and embracing our Future with Hope'; concelebrated the mortgage-burning Mass on Feb. 10, 2017.
- Rev. Francis Gyauas of 2024–2025
Listed as current pastor of St. Ann, Deming (with oversight of Holy Family Mission, Columbus) on the Diocese of Las Cruces vicariate roster.
- Rev. Anthony Bassoas of July 2025
Listed alongside Fr. Francis Gyau for St. Ann, Deming / Holy Family Mission, Columbus on the Diocese of Las Cruces vicariate roster.