About San Albino Basilica · Mesilla, New Mexico
The Basilica of San Albino is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located on the north side of the historic Mesilla Plaza in Mesilla, New Mexico, and is one of only two basilicas in the state. Originally established in 1852 by order of the Mexican government under Cura Ramón Ortíz, the parish is today part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. The present yellow-brick church, built in 1906 and dedicated in 1908, is the third structure to occupy the site and rises above the Mesilla Valley with French-inspired architecture, twin belfries and stained-glass windows. Daily Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish serves as a focal point of faith and culture for the Mesilla community and the surrounding region.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- Saint Albinus of Angers
- Rector
- Father Christopher Williams (Parish Priest, removed from ministerial duties May 2026; Father Michael Williams has taken over duties in the interim)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
Why belong here
San Albino is the spiritual and historical heart of the Mesilla community, with weekday and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish that welcome a multi-generational congregation of long-time Mesilla families and newcomers alike. The parish offers strong faith-formation programs for children, youth and adults through a dedicated DRE, plus a full schedule of lay ministries — altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the Knights of the Altar, Respect Life, the Gabriel Project, Rachel's Vineyard, Natural Family Planning, and RCIA/OCIA for those becoming Catholic. Devotional life is rich, with Saturday Vigil Mass, weekday Mass, weekly confession, and adoration, all anchored by the basilica's deep Mexican and French Catholic heritage, historic bells, and stained-glass windows.
Mass times at San Albino Basilica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
- Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Listed on the parish's Adoration page (times shown on official site)
History of the Basilica
The story of the Basilica of San Albino begins in 1850–52, when Mexican refugees, led by Cura Ramón Ortíz, established the town of Mesilla and built a humble mud-and-logs church on the south side of what would become the Mesilla Plaza. The first permanent pastor, Padre Bernardino Hinojos, arrived in 1852. After the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the parish came under Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy and a mission-style adobe church replaced the original on the north side of the plaza by 1857. In 1872 the parish was placed in the Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona under Jean-Baptiste Salpointe, who in 1876 commissioned the first bell. The current fired-brick basilica was begun in 1906 on the same foundation and dedicated April 12, 1908. The Vatican elevated San Albino to minor basilica status on June 21, 2008.
- 1851–52: First mud-and-logs church built by order of the Mexican government
- 1857: Adobe mission-style church on the north side of the plaza under Bishop Lamy
- 1876: First bell cast at Calle Picacho rectory under Bishop Salpointe
- 1886: Bells Sagrado Corazón de Jesús and María Albina cast
- 1887: Campana Grande, the largest bell, cast
- 1906: Construction of the current brick basilica begins
- 1908-04-12: Dedication of the present church
- 1916: Parish placed in Diocese of El Paso
- 1982: Parish transferred to Diocese of Las Cruces
- 2008-06-21: Elevated to minor basilica by the Vatican
The Bells of San Albino
San Albino's bells are a beloved parish tradition. The smallest, a copper bell, was cast at the old rectory on Calle Picacho in 1876. In 1886 two larger bells were cast and christened Sagrado Corazón de Jesús and María Albina. The largest bell, Campana Grande, arrived in 1887. Each bell was given godparents from among local families — an honor passed from generation to generation — and the bells continue to ring out across the Mesilla Valley, calling the faithful to Mass. A plaque outside the basilica honors Manuel Valles, who rang the bells for sixty years.
- 1876 copper bell — first bell
- Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (1886)
- María Albina (1886)
- Campana Grande (1887)
- Manuel Valles plaque — 60 years of bell-ringing
Architecture and Appearance
The present basilica is a yellow fired-brick structure built on the same foundation as the 1857 adobe church. The facade is dominated by twin square belfry towers with pyramidal caps at each corner, and a mission-style parapet between them. Inside, tall leaded stained-glass windows depict saints and geometric designs line the nave walls. A 1960s renovation stripped plaster from both interior and exterior walls, exposing the brick. The building is surrounded by a low stone wall, and a war memorial near the front entry honors parishioners who died in combat.
- Style: Romanesque with French / French Gothic influence
- Square belfry towers at each corner
- Stained-glass windows of the saints (a "Glass Bible")
- 1960s stabilization removed plaster
- 2014 energy-efficiency renovation
- Low stone wall surrounding the basilica
- Parishioners' war memorial near the front entry
Parish Staff and Clergy
The Basilica of San Albino is served by a small staff of clergy and lay employees. The pastor since the late 2010s was Father Christopher Williams; in May 2026 Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces removed him from all ministerial duties following recommendations from the Diocesan Finance Council in connection with an alleged September incident involving more than 60,000 stolen diocesan records. His brother, Father Michael Williams, has taken over duties in the interim. Deacon Francisco Gurrola is associated with the parish's Knights of the Altar. Lay staff include Office Manager Ofelia Meraz (since 2017) and Director of Religious Education Teresa Perez (since 2019).
- Fr. Christopher Williams — Parish Priest
- Fr. Michael Williams — Interim Priest (brother of Fr. Chris)
- Deacon Francisco Gurrola — Knights of the Altar
- Ofelia Meraz — Office Manager (since 2017)
- Teresa Perez — Director of Religious Education (since 2019)
Ministries and Groups
San Albino offers a wide range of lay ministries for parishioners of all ages and stages. The altar servers' group is called the Knights of the Altar; servers must have made their First Communion. Lectors proclaim the readings, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with distributing the Eucharist. There is also a parish Natural Family Planning program, a Respect Life ministry, a Gabriel Project for expectant mothers in need, and Rachel's Vineyard post-abortion healing. The parish's Knights of Columbus Council #15578 also meets at the basilica.
- Altar Servers — Knights of the Altar
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Natural Family Planning
- Gabriel Project
- Respect for Life
- Rachel's Vineyard
- Knights of Columbus Council #15578
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education at San Albino is directed by Teresa Perez, who has served as DRE since 2019 after more than 35 years as a volunteer catechist. The program serves children, youth and adults. The parish also runs an RCIA/OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program on Saturdays at 9:00 AM for those discerning becoming Catholic, and prepares children for First Communion and Confirmation.
- Director of Religious Education: Teresa Perez
- Children, youth and adult catechesis
- RCIA / OCIA — Saturday 9:00 AM
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Long-serving volunteer catechist tradition
Diocese and Jurisdiction
San Albino has been part of four successive Catholic jurisdictions. From 1852 it was under the Mexican government's vicariate; from 1854 under what is now the Archdiocese of Santa Fe; from 1872 under the Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona (later Diocese of Tucson); from 1916 under the Diocese of El Paso; and from 1982 it has belonged to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, whose current bishop is Peter Baldacchino.
- Pre-Gadsden: Mexican vicariate
- 1854: Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- 1872: Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona
- 1916: Diocese of El Paso
- 1982: Diocese of Las Cruces (current)
- Current bishop: Peter Baldacchino
Visiting the Basilica
The basilica is on the north side of Mesilla Plaza in the heart of the Mesilla Historic District. It is a popular stop for visitors to southern New Mexico and is featured in National Park Service and New Mexico Historic Sites interpretations of the plaza. Self-guided visitors can see the fired-brick facade, the belfry towers, the stained-glass windows, the bell plaque, and the war memorial. Mass-goers are welcome to attend any of the daily Masses listed above; the parish office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Located on Mesilla Plaza in the Mesilla Historic District
- Recommended to view: facade, belfries, stained glass, bell plaque, war memorial
- Parish office open Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: (575) 526-9349
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Padre Bernardino Hinojos1852 –
First permanent pastor of San Albino, named by 1852 when the first mud-and-logs church on the south side of Mesilla Plaza was completed.
- Cura Ramón Ortíz (Ramón Ortiz y Miera)c. 1850–1852
Mexican priest appointed Commissioner of Emigration; led resettlement of refugees and the Mexican government's 1851 order to build the church that became San Albino.
