About San Cristobal Magallanes & Companions · Mission, Texas
San Cristóbal Magallanes y Compañeros Mártires is a Spanish-language Roman Catholic parish located in Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. Established in 2004 and belonging to the Diocese of Brownsville, the parish is pastored by Rev. Ignacio Tapia and is named for the Mexican Cristero martyr-priest San Cristóbal Magallanes, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. In addition to its main church on Santa Engracia, the parish ministers to two mission churches — Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Madero and Nuestra Señora de Fátima in Granjeno — and offers daily Mass, weekday Eucharistic adoration, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and a full slate of Hispanic-Catholic sacramental and devotional life for the surrounding community.
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- San Cristóbal Magallanes (priest and martyr) and his 24 companion martyrs (the Cristero martyrs of Mexico, canonized May 21, 2000)
- Rector
- Rev. Ignacio Tapia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
San Cristobal Magallanes is a vibrant, Spanish-language Catholic home in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley where families can celebrate all the sacraments — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Quinceañera, and Matrimony — and find formation through the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process. The parish surrounds its people with daily Mass, all-day weekday Eucharistic adoration, Thursday evening confessions, and the spiritual closeness of two mission chapels at Our Lady of Lourdes (Madero) and Our Lady of Fatima (Granjeno). It is a place where the Mexican Catholic heritage of the borderland is kept alive, named for a Mexican martyr-saint and his companions, and where anyone seeking to belong, believe, and become a disciple can find a home.
Mass times at San Cristobal Magallanes & Companions
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Exposición al Santísimo Sacramento)
About San Cristobal Magallanes & Companions
San Cristóbal Magallanes y Compañeros Mártires is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Brownsville serving the western edge of Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. Founded in 2004 and led by Rev. Ignacio Tapia with Deacon Reynaldo Merino, the parish is named for the Mexican martyr-priest San Cristóbal Magallanes, who — with 24 companions — was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The community gathers primarily in Spanish for daily and Sunday Mass, weekday Eucharistic adoration, the sacraments, and sacramental preparation, drawing worshippers from Mission and the surrounding communities of Madero and Granjeno.
- Parish name: San Cristóbal Magallanes y Compañeros Mártires
- Parish type: Roman Catholic parish, Diocese of Brownsville
- Established: 2004
- Primary language: Spanish
History & Founding
The parish was created in 2004 as part of the Diocese of Brownsville's continued growth in the Rio Grande Valley. From the start it was organized as a multi-site community: the main church at 4501 Santa Engracia in Mission, with the dependent missions of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Madero and Nuestra Señora de Fátima in Granjeno. The Diocese of Brownsville assigned Rev. Ignacio Tapia as pastor effective July 1, 2011, and he continues to lead the parish today alongside Deacon Reynaldo Merino.
- 2004 — Parish established by the Diocese of Brownsville
- Two mission chapels: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Madero) and Nuestra Señora de Fátima (Granjeno)
- Master plan by Mata + Garcia Architects LLP for a Sharyland Plantation campus (parish hall, church, chapel/columbarium, school/rectory)
- Rev. Ignacio Tapia assigned as pastor effective 07/01/2011
The Patron: San Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions
The parish's name honors San Cristóbal Magallanes, a Mexican diocesan priest born in 1869 in Totatiche, Jalisco, who was executed on May 25, 1927, during the anti-Catholic Cristero persecution. He was a tireless pastor — founding schools, an orphanage, a newspaper, cooperatives, and a clandestine seminary — and was shot alongside 24 companion martyrs (21 priests and 3 laymen) who died between 1915 and 1937 across eight Mexican states. They were beatified in 1992 and canonized together by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2000, the same date on which the Church now celebrates their memorial each year.
- Feast day: May 21
- Canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2000
- Companions include 21 priests and 3 laymen of the Cristero movement
- Padre Cristóbal's relics are venerated at the parish church of Totatiche, Jalisco
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor and assisted by a permanent deacon, with two lay office staff handling parish administration and sacramental records. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (parish office) and Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (services office).
- Párroco: Padre Ignacio Tapia
- Asistente Pastoral: Diácono Reynaldo Merino
- Gerente de oficina: Betty Soto
- Secretaria: Mariela Longoria
Sacraments & Faith Formation
San Cristobal Magallanes prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments, with structured formation programs for children, youth, and adults. The parish is bilingual in staffing but celebrates the liturgy primarily in Spanish. OCIA (formerly RCIA) is offered for unbaptized adults and for those baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Bautismos (Baptism)
- Primera Comunión (First Communion)
- Confirmación (Confirmation)
- Matrimonio (Marriage)
- Quinceañera (XV)
- OCIA / RICA — adult initiation
- Reconciliation (Jueves 6:00 – 8:00 PM)
Mission Churches
The parish family includes two mission chapels that extend its ministry into neighboring communities of the Rio Grande Valley. These missions are served by the same pastor and pastoral team and offer their own Mass and confession schedules.
- Nuestra Señora de Lourdes — 2½ miles south of Conway, F.M. 1016, Mission, TX 78572 (Madero)
- Nuestra Señora de Fátima — 6634 El Camino Real, Granjeno, TX 78572
- Weekday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes (Tue–Fri, 8:00 AM)
- Confession at Our Lady of Lourdes (Sun, 8:15–8:40 AM)
Contact, Office & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email during regular business hours. The office handles sacramental records, Mass intentions, registration, and general inquiries.
- Dirección: 4501 Santa Engracia, Mission, TX 78572
- Teléfono: (956) 580-4551 / (956) 580-4553
- Fax: (956) 580-4550
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Horario de Oficina: Lunes a Viernes 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sitio web: http://www.sancristobalm.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ignacio Tapia2011–present
Assigned as pastor effective 07/01/2011 per the Diocese of Brownsville parish finder; currently leads the parish with Deacon Reynaldo Merino.