About Saint Raphael · El Paso, Texas
St. Raphael Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in east El Paso, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of El Paso. Founded in 1966 as a mission of St. Pius X and decreed a parish in 1967, it now serves more than 3,000 registered families. The parish celebrates Mass daily in English and Spanish, offers a monthly Filipino Mass, runs a K-8 Catholic school (St. Raphael Catholic School), and supports a wide array of liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries — including RCIA, Youth Ministry, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Pablo Matta
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso
Why belong here
St. Raphael is a large, multigenerational east-side El Paso parish where families can worship together in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Filipino, and where every member of the household has a place: a K-8 Catholic school, weekly faith formation for children and youth, RCIA for adults, young-adult ministry, and a deep calendar of devotions including daily Mass, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the St. Jude Novena, and a weekly online Rosary. Add in decades-old service organizations — Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and St. Vincent de Paul — plus choirs, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and a Health Ministry that visits the homebound, and you find a parish built around the simple conviction that every baptized person has a ministry to share.
Mass times at Saint Raphael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: Friday 9:00 AM through Saturday 6:30 AM (overnight)
Parish History
St. Raphael Parish traces its origin to 1966, when a census revealed 800 Catholic families in east El Paso and Bishop Metzger established the community as a mission of St. Pius X. The first church — today the parish hall — was built that same year. On August 15, 1967, the mission was decreed a parish, and Rev. Richard J. Arlt became its first resident priest on December 1, 1967. Bishop Peña dedicated the present church on December 23, 1979. Over nearly six decades the community has grown from 400 families to more than 3,000, served by a long line of priests and supported by parish societies like the Women's Guild, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and St. Vincent de Paul.
- 1966 — Mission of St. Pius X established; first church built
- Aug 15, 1967 — Decreed a parish by Bishop Metzger
- Dec 1, 1967 — Rev. Richard J. Arlt becomes first resident priest
- Mar 1969 — St. Raphael Women's Guild founded
- 1971 — Adult Choir formed under Mary Maly Burdett
- Dec 23, 1979 — Bishop Peña dedicates the current church
- 2015 — Rev. Anthony C. Celino appointed pastor
- 2019 — Graciela Fernandez appointed school principal
- 2023 — Rev. Pablo Matta appointed pastor
Mass, Sacraments, and Devotions
St. Raphael offers daily Mass Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM in English, a Saturday morning Mass at 7:00 AM, and an anticipated Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM. Sunday Masses are 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:30 AM in English, 1:30 PM in Spanish, and a 5:00 PM Youth Mass. A Filipino Mass is celebrated on the first Saturday of each month at 5:30 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. First Friday of the month brings overnight Eucharistic Adoration from Friday 9:00 AM through Saturday 6:30 AM, and the parish livestreams the Rosary on Facebook on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and Fridays at 3:00 PM, along with the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a St. Jude Novena.
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri 7:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM (English)
- Filipino Mass — 1st Saturday, 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM (English); 1:30 PM (Spanish); 5:00 PM (Youth Mass)
- Reconciliation: Saturday 1:30–2:30 PM
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 9:00 AM – Saturday 6:30 AM
- Rosary livestreamed Tuesday 7:00 PM and Friday 3:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet and St. Jude Novena
St. Raphael Catholic School
St. Raphael Catholic School began in 1967 as a preschool for four-year-olds and grew into one of the premier Catholic schools in El Paso. Originally taught by Mrs. Lilia Crow, the program expanded under Mrs. Elizabeth Wiehe, who served as teacher and then principal from 1990 until her death in 2011. The school became an accredited kindergarten in 1980 and added grades steadily through the 1980s until all eight grades were offered. The current school building was dedicated in September 1986. Mrs. Graciela Fernandez was appointed principal in 2019. The school serves K-8 at 2310 Woodside Drive, El Paso, TX 79925, (915) 598-2241, straphaelelpaso.org.
- Grades K-8, accredited Catholic elementary school
- Address: 2310 Woodside, El Paso, TX 79925
- Phone: (915) 598-2241
- Principal: Graciela Fernandez
- Founded 1967 as a preschool
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Office of Religious Formation, directed by Molly Bejarano, oversees the formal catechetical programs of the parish, including preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, the Adult Bible Study (using the Catholic Scripture Study program with authors such as Scott Hahn, Steve Ray, and Father Pacwa of EWTN), Spanish Bible Study, RCIA / OCIA, and a Young Adult Faith Formation group for adults in their 20s and 30s. The parish also hosts a Third Order Carmelites group and a Vocations Ministry that partners with the diocesan Vocation Office.
- Director of Religious Formation: Molly Bejarano — 915-593-1901
- Religious Formation Office — 915-593-1901
- RCIA / OCIA — Sundays 9:00 AM to Noon (including 9:00 AM Mass); contact Sam Bustamante / Rosa Guerrero
- Adult Bible Study (English) — registration in August; Catholic Scripture Study
- Young Adult Faith Formation — for adults in their 20s and 30s
- Third Order Carmelites
- Vocations Ministry — Maureen De la Rosa
- Spanish Bible Study
Children, Youth, and Family
St. Raphael invests heavily in forming young Catholics. Children's Ministry gathers children ages 6–11 on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Youth Ministry Room in the Annex for scripture, games, praise and worship, and faith-based fun. Youth 2301, the high-school youth ministry, meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall under Youth Director Lanie Bejarano, with a calendar that includes the annual Kermes, Hike for Life, Confirmation Retreat, Posada, Lenten Missions, Chalk the Cross, Graduation Mass, Bible Camp, and the Slam Jam Volleyball Tournament. The Sunday 5:00 PM Youth Mass invites confirmed teens to serve as lectors and Eucharistic ministers.
- Children's Ministry (ages 6–11) — Wed 5:30–6:30 PM, Annex Youth Ministry Room
- Youth 2301 (high school) — Wed 6:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Youth Director: Lanie Bejarano — 915-598-3431, [email protected]
- Youth Mass — Sundays 5:00 PM
- Annual events: Kermes, Hike for Life, Posada, Confirmation Retreat, Lenten Missions, Chalk the Cross, Graduation Mass, Bible Camp, Slam Jam Volleyball Tournament
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Liturgical Ministries cover every role needed to celebrate the Mass reverently and welcome the assembly. Coordinated through the parish office and its ministry leaders, the ministries include Eucharistic Ministers (English and Spanish), Lectors (English and Spanish), Altar Servers (under the direction of Deacon Danny Bejarano), Sacristans, Ministers of Hospitality / Ushers and Greeters, Church Cleaners, Church Environment, and choirs at every Mass. The parish website quotes St. Augustine — 'He who sings prays twice' — to describe the central role of its music ministry.
- Eucharistic Ministers — English (Rick Lopez) and Spanish (Marisol Martinez)
- Lectors — English (Raul Rivas) and Spanish (Cristina J. Garcia)
- Altar Servers — Deacon Danny Bejarano; office [email protected]
- Sacristans — Rick Lopez, 915-241-9667
- Ministers of Hospitality / Ushers — Fernando Rodriguez
- Church Cleaning — Cathy Ortega
- Church Environment — Liz Chacon
- Choirs — Sat 4:00 PM (Fernando Rodriguez); Sun 7:30 AM (Billy Funk, Denise Raab); Sun 9:30 AM (Colette Melendez); Sun 11:30 AM (Sean Donahue); Sun 1:30 PM Spanish (Isaac Cuanalo); Sun 5:00 PM Youth Mass (Eric Chavez)
Parish Organizations and Outreach
Long-standing Catholic societies have deep roots at St. Raphael, going back to its earliest decades. The Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Vincent de Paul, and the St. Raphael Women's Guild provide fellowship, service, and outreach to the broader El Paso community. A Funeral Ministry, Health Ministry (with co-heads Margarita S. Mayorca and Yoli Solano), Homebound and Hospital Ministry, and Convalidation / Anniversary Ministry round out the parish's pastoral care. ACTS retreats and the parish's Virtus (safe-environment) program support adult spiritual growth and child protection respectively.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- St. Vincent de Paul
- St. Raphael Women's Guild (since March 1969)
- Health Ministry — Margarita S. Mayorca (co-head) and Yoli Solano
- Funeral Ministry — Rick Lopez
- Homebound and Hospital Ministry
- Convalidation / Anniversary Ministry
- ACTS retreats
- Virtus (safe-environment training) — Bob Medina
Parish Team and Staff
Under the direction of the Pastoral Team, the Parish Team works to serve and guide the parishioners of St. Raphael by building a welcoming parish and school community. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–7:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (closed for lunch 1:00–2:00 PM), and closed on Sunday.
- Pastor — Rev. Pablo Matta
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Wilbert Colas
- Deacons — Victor Acosta, Daniel Bejarano, Robert Medina
- School Principal — Graciela Fernandez — (915) 598-2241
- Director of Religious Formation — Molly Bejarano — 915-593-1901
- Director of Youth Ministry — Lanie Bejarano — 915-598-3431, [email protected]
- Office Manager — Rebecca
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9–7; Fri 9–6; Sat 9–12 (lunch 1–2); Sun closed
Visit, Contact, and Give
St. Raphael Parish is located at 2301 Zanzibar Road, El Paso, Texas 79925. The main parish phone is (915) 598-3431; St. Raphael School can be reached at (915) 598-2241. Online giving is available through the parish's ParishSoft Giving portal at giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/Straphaelparishep, with text-to-give at (915) 621-1380. Devotions and select Masses are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page, so homebound parishioners can stay connected to the daily and weekly rhythm of the parish.
- Address: 2301 Zanzibar Rd, El Paso, TX 79925
- Parish phone: (915) 598-3431
- School phone: (915) 598-2241
- Online giving: giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/Straphaelparishep
- Text to give: (915) 621-1380
- Facebook livestream for Mass and devotions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ed Erzen1966–1967
Co-pastor of St. Raphael as a mission of St. Pius X
- Rev. Bill Steffen1966–1967
Co-pastor of St. Raphael as a mission of St. Pius X
- Rev. Richard J. Arlt1967–
First resident priest; appointed December 1, 1967 when the mission became a parish
- Monsignor A. Dixon Hartford
Later pastor of St. Raphael
- Rev. Robert Getz
Former pastor
- Rev. Stephen Peters
Former pastor
- Monsignor Francis J. Smith
Former pastor
- Rev. Anthony C. Celino, JCL2015–2023
Appointed by Bishop Mark J. Seitz; simultaneously served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of El Paso
- Rev. Pablo Matta2023–present
Current pastor; appointed by Bishop Mark J. Seitz