About San Juan Diego · Dallas, Texas
San Juan Diego Catholic Church is a Spanish-language Roman Catholic parish located in northwest Dallas, Texas, in the Diocese of Dallas. Founded as a mission in 1994 and erected as a diocesan parish in 2010, the parish grew out of the rapidly expanding Hispanic community at nearby St. Monica Catholic Church and is supported by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, whose catechesis work at St. Monica gave rise to the new parish. Today San Juan Diego serves a 100% Hispanic congregation with about 8,000 weekly Mass attendees, five Sunday Masses in Spanish, daily Mass Monday through Friday, weekday confessions, and all-day Eucharistic Adoration. The parish is known for its strong lay ministries, food and rent assistance for immigrants, and cultural celebrations tied to the Mexican Catholic heritage of its people.
- Established
- 1994 (mission); 2010 (parish)
- Patron
- Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474–1548), the indigenous Mexican peasant to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Tepeyac in 1531
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel Rendon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
San Juan Diego is the spiritual home of a vibrant, fully Hispanic Catholic community in northwest Dallas where every Mass — five on Sunday and one each weekday — is celebrated in Spanish, and where cultural heritage and Catholic faith are woven together in a uniquely Mexican devotional style. The parish feeds some 8,000 faithful each weekend, runs roughly 20 active lay ministries (including hospitality, youth, altar servers, confirmation, RCIA, and faith formation for about 1,000 children a week), and offers daily Eucharistic Adoration plus weekday confessions. Its strong social outreach — food pantries, rent assistance, and immigration support — has made it a critical anchor for Dallas's immigrant community.
Mass times at San Juan Diego
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Friday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Parish Identity and Patron Saint
San Juan Diego Catholic Church takes its name from Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474–1548), the indigenous Chichimec peasant to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City in December 1531, an event that gave rise to the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His feast day is December 9. Choosing this saint for a parish serving the Hispanic community of northwest Dallas reflects the deep Marian devotion and Mexican Catholic roots of its people. The parish's tagline on its website calls it 'a Catholic community in Dallas called to live the faith, to serve with love, and to walk together in Christ.'
- Patron: Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
- Feast day: December 9
- Tagline: 'Una comunidad católica en Dallas llamada a vivir la fe, servir con amor y caminar juntos en Cristo.'
History and Founding
San Juan Diego was planted in 1994 as a mission in response to the rapid growth of the Hispanic community that had been gathering at nearby St. Monica Catholic Church on Walnut Hill and Marsh Lane. The community raised funds to open the new parish by selling Mexican food — Bishop Kevin Farrell famously said it was 'built by fajitas, tacos and tamales.' The mission was erected as a quasi-parish in 2006 and became a full diocesan parish in 2010. The founding was deeply connected to the catechetical work of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Hermanas Misioneras del Sagrado Corazón), a congregation from Monterrey, Mexico, who had served in the Diocese of Dallas from 1960 to 2017.
- 1994: Founded as a mission parish out of St. Monica
- 2006: Erected as a quasi-parish
- 2010: Elevated to a diocesan parish
- Origin rooted in Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart's work at St. Monica
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Daniel Rendon, with Rev. David Piquer serving as parochial vicar (assigned July 2025) and Rev. Fernando Arangua serving as Director of Confirmation/RCIA. Lupita Frausto is Director of Faith Formation, Leonel Diaz is the Business Manager, and Isaura Ramirez handles reception and Safe Environment coordination. The previous pastor, Rev. Jesús Belmontes, served San Juan Diego for 12 years before being appointed rector of the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in July 2021 by Bishop Edward J. Burns.
- Rev. Daniel Rendon — Pastor (469-801-9420)
- Rev. David Piquer — Parochial Vicar (469-209-1147)
- Rev. Fernando Arangua — Director of Confirmation/RCIA (469-981-0293)
- Lupita Frausto — Director of Faith Formation (469-981-0663)
- Leonel Diaz — Business Manager
- Isaura Ramirez — Receptionist / Safe Environment
Sacramental Schedule
Confessions are heard every weekday evening before the Spanish Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs all day Monday through Friday — from after the morning Mass until late at night. The parish website also lists dedicated pages for weddings (Bodas), baptism preparation, and quinceañeras.
- Confession: Monday–Friday, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Faith Formation (Formación de Fe)
Directed by Lupita Frausto, the Faith Formation program offers catechesis for both children and adults. As of 2016 roughly 1,000 children a week attended classes, making it one of the largest parish faith-formation programs in the diocese. The program is rooted in the catechetical tradition of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, whose charism of evangelization the parish still reflects.
- Children's catechism (~1,000 students weekly)
- Adult faith formation classes
- Led by Lupita Frausto
Confirmation and RCIA (RICA)
San Juan Diego runs a two-year Confirmation program for youth in grades 7 through 12, with classes meeting Friday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. For adults 18 and older, Confirmation is a one-year program. RICA (Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos) prepares unbaptized adults for full initiation into the Catholic Church and is directed by Rev. Fernando Arangua.
- Confirmation (youth, 7th–12th grade): 2-year program, Fridays 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Confirmation (adults 18+): 1-year program
- RICA for unbaptized adults
- First Communion preparation
- Registration period: May 11–15 and May 18–22, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the parish office
- Donation: $80
Liturgy and Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion), as well as Marriage and quinceañera blessings, all in the Spanish-language Roman Rite. The website has dedicated pages for weddings (Bodas) and for sacramental preparation, reflecting the parish's strong family-centered ministry.
- Baptism with preparation
- First Communion
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- Marriage / Weddings
- RICA / RCIA for adults
- Quinceañera blessings
Parish Ministries
San Juan Diego runs approximately 20 active lay ministries, among the newest being the youth and altar-server ministries. Longstanding ministries include Hospitality (Ministerio de Hospitalidad), Faith Formation, and sacramental-preparation teams, with dedicated lay leaders such as Rosita Vázquez and Margarito 'Junior' García of the Hospitality Ministry.
- Hospitality Ministry (Ministerio de Hospitalidad)
- Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- Altar Servers
- Confirmation / RICA teams
- Baptism, Marriage and Quinceañera preparation teams
- Approximately 20 active ministries in total
Outreach and Social Mission
Outreach to the immigrant and working-class Hispanic community has been central to San Juan Diego's identity since its founding. The parish regularly distributes food (despensas) and provides rent and immigration assistance, especially under Father Belmontes's leadership and with the support of Bishop Kevin Farrell, who frequently appeared at the parish unannounced and was outspoken on issues affecting immigrants. This social ministry continues under the current pastoral team.
- Food pantry (despensas)
- Rent and utility assistance
- Immigration support
- Hospitality and accompaniment for newcomers
Diocese and Wider Church
San Juan Diego is a parish of the Diocese of Dallas, currently led by Bishop Edward J. Burns. The parish is part of the North Central Deanery. Its close relationship with the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was reinforced when former pastor Father Jesús Belmontes was named rector of the cathedral in July 2021.
- Diocese of Dallas
- Bishop Edward J. Burns
- North Central Deanery
- Connected to the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Visit and Contact
San Juan Diego Catholic Church is located at 10919 Royal Haven Lane in northwest Dallas, near Bachman Lake. The parish office can be reached by phone at (214) 271-4691 or by email at [email protected]. The official website is http://www.sanjuandiegodallas.org/.
- Address: 10919 Royal Haven Ln, Dallas, TX 75229
- Phone: (214) 271-4691
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sanjuandiegodallas.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jesús Belmontesc. 2009 – June 2021
Born in Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico; ordained in the Diocese of Dallas in 2004; previously served at St. Edward (Dallas) and Immaculate Conception (Grand Prairie). Led San Juan Diego for 12 years, growing it into one of the largest Hispanic Catholic communities in North Texas (about 8,000 weekly attendees, 20 ministries). Transferred by Bishop Edward J. Burns to become rector of the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas beginning July 1, 2021.