About Saint John Paul II · El Paso, Texas
Saint John Paul II Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in El Paso, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of El Paso and located at 518 Gallagher Street in the 79915 ZIP code. It was canonically established in 2019 by Bishop Mark Seitz through the merger of the historic Santa Lucia and San José parishes, and takes its name from Pope Saint John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła, pope 1978–2005, canonized 2014). The parish is served by the Servants of Mary (Order of Servants of Mary, O.S.M.) and offers Mass in both Spanish and English, with weekday Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The parish also hosts the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons and maintains an active online giving portal through ParishSoft.
- Established
- 2019
- Patron
- Saint John Paul II (Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła)
- Rector
- Rev. Mateus Pol, O.S.M.
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
Saint John Paul II Parish welcomes families and individuals from the Lower Valley of El Paso into a bilingual Catholic community rooted in the merged heritage of Santa Lucia and San José churches — two congregations with roots stretching back to the 19th century. Mass is offered in both Spanish and English, weekday and weekend, with Saturday Reconciliation and online giving available. The parish is the spiritual home of the Lower Valley faithful entrusted to the pastoral care of the Order of Servants of Mary (O.S.M.), continuing the evangelizing, community-building tradition that began with San Antonio de Padua's pioneering parish assembly.
Mass times at Saint John Paul II
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
About St. John Paul II Parish
Saint John Paul II Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of El Paso, located at 518 Gallagher Street in El Paso, Texas (ZIP 79915). It was canonically erected in 2019 by Bishop Mark Seitz through the merger of two longstanding Lower Valley parishes, Santa Lucia and San José, and placed under the patronage of Pope Saint John Paul II. The parish is staffed by members of the Order of Servants of Mary (O.S.M.) and ministers to a bilingual community of faithful on both sides of the language divide.
- Diocese: Diocese of El Paso
- Address: 518 Gallagher Street, El Paso, TX 79915
- Phone: (915) 592-5245
- Email: [email protected]
- Founded: 2019
- Patron: Saint John Paul II (feast day October 22)
History
The parish's roots run deep in the Lower Valley. San José was established as a mission of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1897 under the older name San José de los Ranchos, with local tradition holding that worship services in the area date back as far as 1850. Santa Lucia was created as a mission of San Antonio de Padua Parish in 1971 and was elevated to a parish in its own right in 1978. In 2019 Bishop Mark Seitz, after prayer and reflection, united the two communities into a single new parish and named it for Saint John Paul II. The parish carries forward the evangelizing legacy of San Antonio de Padua, which in the spirit of Vatican II held the first parish assembly in the Diocese of El Paso, with more than 300 parishioners shaping a five-year plan that included a new church, community center, Hispanic religious-cultural traditions, new choirs, youth leadership formation, ministry for the divorced and separated, Matachines, Sunday fellowship meals, and youth ministries.
- San José mission established 1897 (worship tradition since c. 1850)
- Santa Lucia mission established 1971, became a parish 1978
- Merged into St. John Paul II Parish in 2019
- Bishop Mark Seitz selected the name St. John Paul II
- Heritage connected to San Antonio de Padua's first parish assembly in the diocese
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by the Servants of Mary (O.S.M.), a religious order whose pastoral care brings a distinct Marian charism to the Lower Valley. The current pastor is Rev. Mateus Pol, O.S.M., and he is assisted by Deacon Jose Zaragoza. The parish office may be reached at (915) 592-5245 or by email at [email protected].
- Rev. Mateus Pol, O.S.M. — Pastor
- Deacon Jose Zaragoza
- Phone: (915) 592-5245
- Email: [email protected]
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish takes its name from Saint John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, who served as Pope from 1978 to 2005 and was canonized in 2014. His feast day is celebrated on October 22. Choosing his patronage for this newly-merged Lower Valley community reflects the Diocese of El Paso's desire to model the new parish on his witness of evangelization and pastoral care.
- Patron: Saint John Paul II
- Born Karol Wojtyła; Pope 1978–2005
- Canonized April 27, 2014
- Feast day: October 22
Support the Parish
Parishioners and friends may support the mission of St. John Paul II Parish through the diocesan online giving portal. Donations help sustain the parish's sacramental life, pastoral care, and community programs in the Lower Valley.
- Online Giving Portal: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stj518122
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is St. John Paul II Catholic Church? — 518 Gallagher Street, El Paso, TX 79915.
- What are the Mass times? — Saturday 5:00 PM (Spanish); Sunday 9:00 AM (Spanish) and 11:00 AM (English); Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8:00 AM (Spanish).
- When is Confession offered? — Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, or by appointment through the parish office.
- Who is the pastor? — Rev. Mateus Pol, O.S.M., a member of the Order of Servants of Mary.
- What diocese is the parish in? — The Diocese of El Paso.
- When was the parish established? — 2019, by Bishop Mark Seitz, through the merger of Santa Lucia and San José parishes.
- Is the parish bilingual? — Yes, Mass is offered in both Spanish and English.
- How can I give to the parish? — Through the ParishSoft giving portal at https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stj518122.