About Saint Francis Xavier · El Paso, Texas
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (San Francisco Javier) is a Roman Catholic parish in the South Central neighborhood of El Paso, Texas, situated directly on the U.S.–Mexico border and serving the bi-national El Paso/Juárez community. It was officially established in 1930 as a parish of the Diocese of El Paso; the present church, bell tower, and rectory on South Latta Street had their groundbreaking in 1932 and were completed in 1939. Since 2020, the parish has been entrusted to the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists), a religious community whose U.S. province has used St. Francis Xavier as the home base for its outreach to migrant refugees along the El Paso–Juárez border.
- Established
- 1930
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Peter R. Precourt, AA, D.Min
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a bilingual Catholic parish at the literal crossroads of two nations, where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish every day. It welcomes a richly diverse community of ages and cultures from both El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, and — as the U.S. home of the Augustinians of the Assumption — it is the operational base of the Immigrant and Refugee Project, a ministry that walks with migrant men, women, and families arriving at the border. Joining or visiting the parish means joining a community rooted in nearly a century of borderland Catholic life and actively responding to one of the defining humanitarian realities of our time.
Mass times at Saint Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the chapel
- During the week by appointment only
Adoration times
- Holy Hour: Thursdays at 5:00 pm
About St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church stands as a beacon of faith in South Central El Paso, located on the border of the United States and Mexico and serving the El Paso/Juárez community. The parish describes itself as 'a place of prayer, peace and joy to all who join us,' welcoming a richly diverse community of different ages and cultures who come together to worship and serve. Its doors are open to every individual seeking God's love and to every soul seeking to welcome Jesus into their heart. The parish operates fully bilingually, presenting its welcome and schedule in both English and Spanish.
- Bilingual parish (English and Spanish)
- Located on the U.S.–Mexico border in South Central El Paso
- Welcomes all who seek God's love
History of the Parish
St. Francis Xavier was officially established in 1930 as a parish in the Diocese of El Paso. The physical structure — including the bell tower and the parish residence — had its initial groundbreaking in 1932 and was completed in 1939 at the current location, 519 South Latta Street. In the summer of 2020, Bishop Mark Seitz assigned the Augustinians of the Assumption to take on pastoral leadership of the parish — the first time the Assumptionists served in the Diocese of El Paso — tasking them with serving both the parish and the migrant refugee community along the border.
- Established as a parish in 1930
- Church, bell tower, and residence built 1932–1939
- Current location: 519 South Latta Street, El Paso
- Entrusted to the Augustinians of the Assumption in 2020
Clergy and Augustinians of the Assumption
Since the 2020 pastoral assignments, the parish has been served by priests of the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists), a religious congregation founded in 1845 in Nîmes, France, by Venerable Emmanuel d'Alzon. Fr. Peter R. Precourt, AA, D.Min, serves as Pastor, and Fr. Francois Tshiamala Katalayi, AA, is the Parochial Vicar according to the Diocese of El Paso clergy page. Earlier in the assignment, Fr. Ron Sibugan, AA, was among the first Assumptionists named to the parish. Their work at the parish is the Assumptionists' new apostolic foundation in the United States, centered on the spiritual and material needs of migrants.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter R. Precourt, AA, D.Min
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Francois Tshiamala Katalayi, AA
- Previously assigned: Rev. Ron Sibugan, AA
- Religious order: Augustinians of the Assumption (founded 1845, Nîmes, France)
Immigrant and Refugee Project
The Immigrant and Refugee Project, sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption and housed at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, is a central ministry of the parish. As the Assumptionists prepared to receive migrant brothers and sisters in El Paso, the parish posted needs for donations and volunteers to support the work. Project Coordinator Javier Roman can be reached at (210) 882-0891 for those wishing to volunteer or contribute. Monetary donations may also be sent to the church office at 519 South Latta, with checks made payable to 'Augustinians of the Assumption.'
- Sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption
- Housed at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
- Project Coordinator: Javier Roman, (210) 882-0891
- Donations: payable to 'Augustinians of the Assumption'
Contact, Location, and Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church office at (915) 532-2761, or mail donations to St. Francis Xavier Church, 519 South Latta, El Paso, TX 79905. The parish is located in the Diocese of El Paso, whose offices are served by Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, D.D., the 6th Bishop of El Paso.
- Phone: (915) 532-2761
- Address: 519 South Latta, El Paso, TX 79905
- Diocese: Diocese of El Paso
- Checks payable to: Augustinians of the Assumption
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Diocesan clergy (pre-2020)1930–2020
St. Francis Xavier was staffed by diocesan priests from its founding in 1930 until the parish was assigned to the Augustinians of the Assumption in 2020.
- Rev. Peter R. Precourt, AA, D.Min2020–present
First Assumptionist pastor of the parish, assigned in the summer 2020 pastoral assignments by Bishop Mark Seitz; concurrently leads the Assumptionists' U.S. foundation at the parish and their work with migrant refugees on the El Paso–Juárez border.