About Saint Joseph · El Paso, Texas
Saint Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Government Hill neighborhood of central El Paso, Texas, within the Diocese of El Paso. Founded in 1916 by twenty Catholic families who asked Bishop A.J. Schuler for a chapel of their own, the parish today serves roughly 800 families and shares its campus with St. Joseph School (PK–8), founded in 1923. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish and is recognized by the diocese as a centennial-era pilgrimage church.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Saint Joseph (spouse of the Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Fabian Marquez
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
St. Joseph has served El Paso's Government Hill neighborhood for more than a century and today welcomes about 800 families into a bilingual Catholic community that celebrates Mass in English and Spanish every week. The parish shares its block with a thriving PK–8 elementary school, making it a natural choice for Catholic families seeking faith formation for their children alongside Sunday worship. With regular confession on Saturdays, First Friday adoration, a weekly St. Jude novena, and a historic Shrine of St. Jude on campus, the parish offers a full rhythm of devotions for anyone wanting a rooted spiritual life in central El Paso.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (First Friday of each month)
About St. Joseph Parish
Saint Joseph is a Roman Catholic parish located in the Government Hill neighborhood of central El Paso, Texas, within the Diocese of El Paso. The parish shares its block with St. Joseph Catholic School (PK–8) and serves approximately 800 registered families. Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday liturgies. The parish is recognized by the diocese as one of its 'Historical Places of Pilgrimage' in its centennial pilgrimage passport.
- Diocese of El Paso parish
- Roughly 800 registered families
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgy
- Government Hill neighborhood, central El Paso
History of St. Joseph Parish
The parish was born in 1916 when twenty Catholic families in Government Hill — east of the Cotton Street railroad tracks — asked Bishop A.J. Schuler for a chapel of their own. The women of the neighborhood formed a Ladies Aid Society that raised several thousand dollars, and the site at Hueco, Travis and Lamar was purchased (16 lots). Joseph Morgan built and financed the first chapel; the parish was erected on December 8, 1916 and the church was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1916.
- 1916: 20 families petition Bishop Schuler for a chapel
- Ladies Aid Society raises initial funds
- December 8, 1916: parish erected
- Christmas Day 1916: church dedicated by Bishop Schuler
Jesuit Years and Building the Parish (1918–1949)
For thirty years the parish was staffed by Jesuits. Father Henry Swift, S.J. arrived in April 1918 and is often considered the first rector; he paid off the parish's debts and organized improvements. Under Father Andrew Doherty, S.J. the current 1923 church, community hall and school were built, and the school opened in October 1923 under the Sisters of Loretto. Father Stanislaus Gillow, S.J. returned in 1925, added a third Sunday Mass, organized religious education for children, and founded the St. Joseph Parent Teacher Association. Father Patrick A. Ryan, S.J. built the Shrine of St. Jude in 1937.
- Jesuit clergy served St. Joseph from 1918 to 1949
- 1923: new church, community hall and school built
- October 1923: school opens under the Sisters of Loretto
- 1937: Shrine of St. Jude built
- 1938: school/administration building and tower designed by Trost & Trost
Diocesan Era (1950–Present)
At the end of 1949 Bishop Metzger placed St. Joseph under diocesan clergy, and Rev. Henry Buchanan became the first diocesan pastor in January 1950. In May 1948 the bishop had blessed a new gymnasium for the parish. Today the parish continues to serve the Government Hill community alongside its PK–8 school.
- January 1950: Rev. Henry Buchanan becomes first diocesan pastor
- 1948: Bishop Metzger blesses a new gymnasium
- Today the parish serves about 800 families
Architecture and Campus
The original 1916 chapel — built for $3,000 — stood on the northeast corner of Travis and Hueco and is now part of the parish parking lot. The 1923 chapel on the northwest corner of Hueco and Lamar survives as the east wing of the present complex. In 1938 the building was expanded westward down Hueco with a tower and school/administration building designed by the El Paso firm Trost & Trost; the same campaign included the rectory.
- 1916 chapel site: now parking lot
- 1923 chapel: extant as east wing of complex
- 1938 tower and school/administration: designed by Trost & Trost
- Rectory built in 1938 campaign
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School, located at 1300 Lamar Street on the parish block, opened in October 1923 under the direction of the Sisters of Loretto, with Sister Mary Julius Billick as the first principal. It serves students in PK through grade 8 and currently enrolls roughly 370+ students. The school offers academic programming alongside art, theatre, choir, music and athletics (volleyball, basketball, football, dance and drama).
- Address: 1300 Lamar Street, El Paso, TX 79903
- Phone: (915) 566-1661
- Website: https://www.stjoseph-school.org
- Opened October 1923 under the Sisters of Loretto
- Grades: PK, K–8
- Founded in 1923
Devotions and Shrines
The parish's most distinctive devotion is to St. Jude. Father Patrick A. Ryan, S.J. built the Shrine of St. Jude in 1937, and the parish continues to gather for a St. Jude Novena every Tuesday at 5:15 PM before the 5:30 PM Mass. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is observed from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.
- Shrine of St. Jude (built 1937)
- Weekly St. Jude Novena — Tuesday 5:15 PM
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration 5:30–6:30 PM
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently staffed by diocesan clergy and a deacon, as listed by the Diocese of El Paso.
- Rev. Fabian Marquez — Pastor
- Fr. Marian Emmanuel — In Residence
- Deacon Luis Alberto Buena
Parish Endowment and Giving
St. Joseph Parish has an endowed fund with the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso that helps support the life and programs of the parish. Online giving is available through the ParishSoft giving portal, and a Text-to-Give number is published by the diocese.
- Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso — St. Joseph Parish Endowment
- Online giving: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/saintjosephep
- Text to Give: (915) 615-2552
Visit and Contact
The parish office is located at 1315 Travis Street in El Paso's Government Hill neighborhood. From I-10, take the North Copia Street exit and turn right; the church sits on the corner of Travis Street. The parish is listed in the diocesan centennial 'Pilgrimage Passport' as one of the Historical Places of Pilgrimage in the Diocese of El Paso.
- Address: 1315 Travis Street, El Paso, TX 79903
- Phone: (915) 566-9396
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.elpasodiocese.org/st-joseph.html
- Listed in the Diocese of El Paso centennial Pilgrimage Passport
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James H. Maloney1916 (first pastor)
Celebrated the first Mass on Christmas Day 1916 at an altar of cardboard and linen cloth.
- Father Henry J. Swift, S.J.April 1918
Often considered the first rector; paid off the parish's early debts and installed sidewalks and a fence.
- Father Stanislaus Gillow, S.J.November 1921
Returned for a second stint in August 1925.
- Father Andrew Doherty, S.J.August 1922 – August 1925
Built the 1923 church, community hall and school.
- Father Patrick A. Ryan, S.J.1936
Built the Shrine of St. Jude in 1937.
- Rev. Henry BuchananJanuary 1950
First diocesan pastor, after 30 years of Jesuit clergy at the parish.