About San Antonio de Padua Mission · El Rancho, New Mexico
San Antonio de Padua is a historic Catholic mission church located in the village of El Rancho, New Mexico, in the Pojoaque Valley. It is one of four churches that make up the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque, which spans the communities of Pojoaque, Nambe, Nambe Pueblo and El Rancho. Construction on the church began in 1834, requested by local community members, and the building still serves as a culturally distinctive house of worship. Mass is celebrated in Spanish, typically on Saturday evenings at 4:00 p.m., and visitors are warmly welcomed.
- Established
- 1834
- Patron
- Saint Anthony of Padua (San Antonio de Padua)
- Rector
- Monsignor Jerome (current pastor of the parent parish; specific last name not listed on the official site)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
San Antonio de Padua is a small, culturally rich mission church that has served the village of El Rancho for nearly two centuries. Mass is celebrated in Spanish, reflecting the living Hispanic Catholic heritage of the Pojoaque Valley. As part of the four-church Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque, the mission is supported by a wider community of Mayordomos, lectors, ushers, musicians, and a finance council who keep each church beautiful and welcoming. Visitors and parishioners are warmly received by the Ushers, and there is a place for nearly every talent — from choir to altar service — in the life of the parish.
Mass times at San Antonio de Padua Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
San Antonio de Padua Mission in El Rancho
San Antonio de Padua is a mission church in the village of El Rancho, in the Pojoaque Valley of northern New Mexico. Construction began in 1834 at the request of local community members, and the building remains a culturally distinctive place of worship that holds a special meaning for the surrounding area. Masses at the mission are usually celebrated in Spanish, and the parish extends a warm invitation to all who wish to visit ("y te invitamos a visitar").
- Construction began in 1834 at local request
- Unique church with a strong cultural flavor for the area
- Mass typically celebrated in Spanish
- Saturday Mass at 4:00 p.m.
- Located at 84 County Road 84, El Rancho, NM 87506
History of the Parish
The roots of the parish reach back to the early 1600s, when Spanish missions were established throughout the Pojoaque Valley — at Nambe, Pojoaque, and Tesuque. San Antonio de Padua was established in El Rancho in the nineteenth century, alongside the Holy Cross Parish of Santa Cruz and the Santuario de Chimayo. For many years the El Rancho mission was administered from Santa Cruz de la Cañada. On January 20, 1959, Archbishop Edwin V. Byrne of Santa Fe formally requested that Father Augustine Cortes create a new parish in the Nambe–Pojoaque district, which led to the official recognition of the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque and brought San Antonio de Padua together with its sister mission churches. The parish celebrated its 50th anniversary in recognition of this living heritage.
- Early 1600s — missions established at Nambe, Pojoaque, and Tesuque
- 1834 — construction begins at San Antonio de Padua in El Rancho
- 1959 — Archbishop Edwin V. Byrne formally creates the parish
- 50th anniversary celebrated in recent years
Our Sister Churches
San Antonio de Padua is one of four churches that together form the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque. Each has its own unique architecture, artwork (santos, retablos, and altars), and Mass schedule. Members of the community help to maintain all four buildings.
- Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — Pojoaque, NM (the parish church)
- Sagrado Corazón de Jesus — Nambe, NM
- San Francisco de Asís — Nambe Pueblo, NM
- San Antonio de Padua — El Rancho, NM
Parish Ministries & People
The life of San Antonio de Padua is supported by a wide circle of lay ministers from across the Pojoaque Valley. Together they keep the mission beautiful, prepare it for every celebration, and welcome worshippers with warmth.
- Mayordomos — maintain each church and prepare for funerals, weddings, baptisms, and confirmations
- Lectors — proclaim the first and second readings during Mass
- Ushers — greet parishioners at the door with a smile and a handshake
- Altar Servers and Acolytes
- Music Ministry — guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, chorus and more
- Deacons
- Counters — record parish offerings and direct gifts to the church and to charity
- Finance Council — administers parish funds and oversees daily financial operations
- Office Staff — coordinates Masses, religious trips, Bible studies, and parish groups
Getting Involved
The parish office invites anyone interested in joining a ministry to get in touch. There is a role for nearly every talent — from reading and singing to counting Sunday offerings or caring for the historic buildings — and parishioners are encouraged to make a difference with their lives.
- Contact the parish office to volunteer as a lector, usher, musician, or Mayordomo
- Bible studies and religious trips are organized through the parish office
- Outreach programs and classes are offered across the four-church parish
Contact & Visit
All four mission churches are administered from a single parish office in Pojoaque. Office hours and the current bulletin (including any COVID-19 updates) are posted on the parish website.
- Parish office: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque, 9 Grazing Elk Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87506
- Phone: (505) 455-2472
- Fax: (505) 455-3849
- Website: http://pojoaquecatholics.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Augustine Cortes
Reverend of Santa Cruz de la Cañada in 1959; Archbishop Byrne asked him to create the new Nambe–Pojoaque parish that would eventually include San Antonio de Padua.