About San Francisco Javier · Laredo, Texas
San Francisco Javier Church (Iglesia San Francisco Javier) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Laredo, serving a bilingual Catholic community in Laredo, Texas. Located on Zaragoza Street in central Laredo, the parish offers daily and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish, the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage, First Friday devotions, and regular opportunities for confession. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Luis E. Mares Muñoz, the parish is sustained by a small staff and a worship life rooted in the city's longstanding Hispanic Catholic heritage along the U.S.–Mexico border.
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier (San Francisco Javier)
- Rector
- Fr. Luis E. Mares Muñoz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
San Francisco Javier is a welcoming bilingual parish in the heart of Laredo that offers daily and Sunday Mass in both Spanish and English, with convenient confession times before every Mass and a Spanish First Friday Mass each month. Families preparing for Baptism or Marriage find clear sacramental preparation, including required pre-baptismal classes and a six-month notice for weddings. With its central Zaragoza Street location and a pastor and staff committed to serving the local Hispanic and Anglo Catholic faithful, it is a fitting spiritual home for border-region Catholics seeking a faithful, accessible parish.
Mass times at San Francisco Javier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Mass & Worship Schedule
San Francisco Javier offers a robust bilingual liturgical schedule, with Sunday Masses in Spanish and English and a full week of daily Masses. A Spanish First Friday Mass at 6:00 pm is observed each month in keeping with traditional Catholic devotional practice.
- Sunday: 9:00 am (Spanish), 11:00 am (English), 1:00 pm (Spanish)
- Monday: 6:00 pm (English/Spanish)
- Tuesday: 7:00 pm (English/Spanish)
- Wednesday: 6:00 pm (English/Spanish)
- Thursday: 6:00 pm (English/Spanish)
- Saturday: 6:00 pm (English/Spanish)
- First Friday: 6:00 pm Spanish Mass
Baptisms
San Francisco Javier celebrates Baptism on the third Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM. Parents must be registered parishioners, and parents and godparents must attend pre-baptismal classes held the Saturday before the baptism date. All parents and godparents must have received the sacraments themselves.
- Baptism celebrated the 3rd Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM
- Parents must be registered at the parish
- Pre-baptismal classes the Saturday before the baptism
- Parents and godparents must have received all their sacraments
Weddings
Couples wishing to marry at San Francisco Javier are asked to begin arrangements at least six months in advance, in line with standard diocesan practice. A list of wedding regulations is available from the parish office.
- Six months' advance notice required
- Wedding regulations available in the parish office
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and a small, dedicated lay staff handling administration, communications, and finances. The office is open Monday through Thursday during the day for parish business.
- Pastor: Fr. Luis E. Mares Muñoz
- Secretary: Esmeralda Morin
- Bookkeeper: Delia Chacón
Office Hours & Contact
The parish office at 2502 Zaragoza St. is open four days a week. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for appointments outside posted hours.
- Monday–Thursday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Phone: (956) 723-3850
- Fax: (956) 725-6544
Faith Formation & Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, the parish supports ongoing faith formation for adults and provides sacramental preparation for parishioners preparing for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, or Marriage. The parish also cooperates with the Diocese of Laredo's Safe Environment training requirements.
- Sacramental preparation
- Adult faith formation
- Safe Environment training (diocesan requirement)
Diocese of Laredo
San Francisco Javier is one of more than fifty parishes in the Diocese of Laredo, a relatively young diocese erected in 2000 from the former Diocese of Corpus Christi. The diocese covers a border region of South Texas where bilingual, bicultural Catholic life is the norm.
- Jurisdiction: Diocese of Laredo
- San Francisco Javier is listed among the diocese's parishes on its official parish directory