About Saint Francis of Assisi · El Paso, Texas
Parroquia San Francisco de Asís (St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church) is a Spanish-language Catholic parish located at 5750 Doniphan Drive in the Upper Valley / Canutillo area of northwest El Paso, Texas. It belongs to the Diocese of El Paso and is staffed by Franciscan (OFM) friars in connection with St. Anthony's Seminary in El Paso, making it one of the Franciscan-served parishes in the diocese. Before the COVID-19 pandemic the parish regularly drew 3,000–4,000 faithful each weekend, and it operates an extensive network of evangelization, liturgical, catechetical and social-pastoral ministries in Spanish.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. José Emilio Flores Lira, OFM
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the largest and most active Spanish-speaking Catholic parishes in the Upper Valley of El Paso, served by Franciscan (OFM) friars from St. Anthony's Seminary. It offers daily Mass, perpetual adoration, an unusually broad slate of lay-led ministries — from Soldados de Cristo and Caballeros de Cristo rosaries to ACTS retreats, Quinceañera preparation, marriage encounter weekends, Talleres de Oración y Vida, and catechetical programs for First Communion and Confirmation — and a warm community rooted in the Hispanic Catholic tradition of families from Ciudad Juárez and Chihuahua. For anyone seeking a vibrant, Spanish-language Franciscan parish in northwest El Paso with strong lay formation and frequent devotional opportunities, it is a natural spiritual home.
Mass times at Saint Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 4:30 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, per diocese directory)
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Once per month: 24 hours, beginning Thursday 6:00 PM through Friday 5:30 PM
History of the Parish
The mission of San Francisco de Asís grew out of an older chapel that existed in the Upper Valley community of Montoya by 1935. On 9 October 1938, Franciscan friar Fr. Rodolfo Ortega, OFM, together with laymen J. Jesús Martínez, Félix Arias, Mateo Romo and Edilfonso Sánchez, chose the site and planned the construction of the small chapel that still stands on the parish grounds. The parish was formally established in 1939 and has been continuously served by Franciscan friars associated with St. Anthony's Seminary ever since.
- 1935 — old mission chapel existed in Montoya
- 9 October 1938 — Fr. Rodolfo Ortega, OFM and lay founders planned the chapel that still stands
- 1939 — parish formally founded
- Continuous Franciscan (OFM) administration tied to St. Anthony's Seminary
Franciscan Identity and St. Anthony's Seminary
The parish belongs to a network of Franciscan ministries in the Diocese of El Paso centered on St. Anthony's Seminary, founded in 1936 by Fray Buenaventura Nava in El Paso to receive young men from Mexico who wished to become Franciscan priests during the religious persecution in Mexico. Fr. José Alfredo Ramírez Devora, OFM — former pastor of St. Francis of Assisi — currently teaches Sacred Liturgy and Theology to incoming seminarians there and serves on the priest-formation team.
- St. Anthony's Seminary, El Paso — founded 1936 by Fray Buenaventura Nava
- Father Alfredo teaches Sacred Liturgy and Theology to ~30 seminarians
- Faculty member of the Tepeyac Institute
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the sacraments of Baptism (Bautismos, celebrated the 4th Saturday of the month, with required pre-baptismal classes coordinated by Richie Cazares), Marriage (Sacramento del Matrimonio — couples should contact the parish office), First Communion, Confirmation, and the catechumenate for adults. The parish also offers the Theology of the Body program and the Natural Family Planning method (MPNF) as part of marriage preparation.
- Baptism: 4th Saturday of the month
- Marriage: by appointment with the parish office
- First Communion (Primera Comunión)
- Confirmation (Confirmaciones)
- Catecumenado (RCIA)
- Teología del Cuerpo and MPNF (Natural Family Planning)
Pastoral Evangelizadora (Evangelization)
The Evangelization pastoral council seeks ways to put the treasure of the faith into dynamic parish practice. Its ministries include outreach to youth, young adult retreats, ACTS retreats, prayer workshops, support for couples and the bereaved, and ongoing formation in Franciscan spirituality.
- Evangelización
- Jóvenes 'Raising Angels' (youth group; coordinator: Daniela Vidana)
- ACTS retreats
- Caballeros de San Francisco
- Quinceañeras
- Mi Encuentro Personal con Cristo
- Talleres de Oración y Vida
- ESPERE
- Duelo (bereavement ministry)
Pastoral Catequética (Faith Formation)
The catechetical pastoral coordinates the parish's teaching ministry, transmitting the revealed Word in the living tradition of the Church. Programs include First Communion preparation, Confirmation preparation, the adult catechumenate, Theology of the Body, and the Natural Family Planning method (MPNF) for married couples.
- Primera Comunión
- Confirmaciones
- Catecumenado (RCIA)
- Teología del Cuerpo
- MPNF (Método de Planificación Natural Familiar)
Pastoral Social (Social Outreach)
The Social Pastoral helps the community discover and put into practice the social dimension of the faith, with a preferential option for the poor. It coordinates Social Justice, Restorative Justice, and Charity efforts that respond to the needs of many low-income and recently-arrived Hispanic families in the Upper Valley.
- Justicia Social (Social Justice)
- Justicia Restaurativa (Restorative Justice)
- Caridad (Charity / direct outreach)
Devotions and Prayer Groups
The parish sustains a rich devotional life in addition to the Mass schedule, including multiple weekly rosaries, the Pilgrim Virgin (Virgen Peregrina) program, the Dolorosas devotion, the Armada Blanca, and the Soldados de Cristo and Caballeros de Cristo rosary groups. The Rosario a la Virgen Desatanudos is prayed every Monday at 5:00 PM for marriages in difficulty.
- Rosary — Soldados de Cristo, Mondays 6:30 PM
- Rosary — Caballeros de Cristo, Mondays 6:30 PM
- Rosary — every Friday 6:30 PM
- Rosario a la Virgen Desatanudos for marriages, Mondays 5:00 PM
- Virgen Peregrina, Dolorosas, Armada Blanca, Plantitas de Asís
Marriage and Family Ministry
Couples preparing for marriage or seeking to renew their relationship find multiple supports at St. Francis of Assisi: monthly Rosario a la Virgen Desatanudos for marriages, the annual Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend (in recent years held on a July weekend in the diocese), Formation of Marriage and Family programs, and Theology of the Body and Natural Family Planning classes.
- Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial (Worldwide Marriage Encounter)
- Rosario a la Virgen Desatanudos — Mondays 5:00 PM
- Formación de Matrimonio y Familia
- Teología del Cuerpo and MPNF
Parish Kitchen and Fundraising
A parish kitchen staffed by volunteers serves Mexican dishes such as burritos and enchiladas to support the parish. It functions both as a fundraiser and as a community-building ministry.
- Volunteer kitchen crew
- Burritos and enchiladas served for parish support
- Bulletin team coordinated by Rosa Vasquez
Clergy, Staff and Office
The parish is led by Franciscan friars from St. Anthony's Seminary. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish secretary is Rosa Vasquez (also coordinator of the parish bulletin), Richie Cazares coordinates pre-baptismal classes, Oscar Pérez serves as sacristan, and Daniela Vidana coordinates the youth group.
- Pastor: Rev. José Emilio Flores Lira, OFM
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Juan Francisco Figueroa, OFM
- Deacons: Lucio Alfonso Sandoval, Alejandro Caballero, Guillermo Trejo
- Secretary & bulletin: Rosa Vasquez
- Pre-baptismal classes: Richie Cazares
- Sacristan: Oscar Pérez
- Youth group: Daniela Vidana
Visiting the Parish and Pilgrimage
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the recognized pilgrimage churches of the Diocese of El Paso, listed in the diocese's pilgrimage passport. Pilgrims and visitors are welcome to participate in the daily Spanish Mass schedule, weekly and monthly adoration, and to visit the historic 1938 mission chapel that still stands on the grounds. Office hours for inquiries and sacraments are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Listed in the Diocese of El Paso pilgrimage passport (founded 1939)
- 1938 historic chapel still standing
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Phone: (915) 584-7130
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Rodolfo Ortega, OFM1938 (mission planner)
Planned the small chapel that still stands, together with lay founders J. Jesús Martínez, Félix Arias, Mateo Romo and Edilfonso Sánchez, on 9 October 1938.
- Franciscan (OFM) pastors succession1939–present
Parish has been continuously served by Franciscan friars connected to St. Anthony's Seminary in El Paso.
- Fr. J. Santos Pérez, OFM
Listed as pastor/recipient of mail for St Francis of Assisi Church on IRS Form 990 filings.
- Fr. José Alfredo Ramírez Devora, OFM ("Padre Alfredo")through ~2020s
Native of Ciudad Juárez; felt his priestly call at age 17 after reading about St. Francis; entered St. Anthony's Seminary; ordained 1999 after 10 years of formation. Grew weekend Mass attendance to 3,000–4,000 before the pandemic; more than 100 parishioners certified by the Tepeyac Institute as Eucharist, Hospitality and Liturgy of the Hours ministers. Catholic Extension Lumen Christi Award nominee, 2020-2021. Currently on the priest-formation team at St. Anthony's Seminary teaching Sacred Liturgy and Theology, and a faculty member of the Tepeyac Institute.
- Fr. José Emilio Flores Lira, OFMcurrent
Current pastor per Diocese of El Paso parish directory; Franciscan (OFM).
- Fr. Juan Francisco Figueroa, OFMcurrent
Current Parochial Vicar per diocese directory.