About San Martin De Porres · Alton, Texas
San Martin de Porres is a Roman Catholic parish in Alton, Texas, in the Diocese of Brownsville, serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking community in the Rio Grande Valley. Founded in 1967 and elevated to parish status in 1969 under Bishop Humberto Medeiros, it now serves over 1,300 registered families. The parish celebrates Mass in both Spanish and English, with a vibrant bilingual liturgical and devotional life that includes a bilingual Saturday vigil, three Spanish Sunday Masses, one English contemporary Mass, a Sunday Mariachi Mass, and a daily Spanish Mass Monday through Thursday.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Martin de Porres (San Martín de Porres)
- Rector
- Rev. Luis Fernando Sanchez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
San Martin de Porres offers one of the most extensive bilingual Catholic liturgical programs in the western Rio Grande Valley: a bilingual Saturday vigil, Spanish Masses at 7:00 and 9:00 AM, an English contemporary Mass at 11:00 AM, and the well-known 1:00 PM Sunday Mariachi Mass. Daily Spanish Mass Monday through Thursday at 7:00 PM, weekday Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a food pantry, RCIA and youth catechesis, Guadalupanos, Charismatic and Divine Mercy prayer groups, a parish choir, Bible study, prison outreach, and a robust family enrichment ministry all form the core of parish life. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed and can plug into a decades-old tradition of stewardship serving more than 17,000 in Alton and its surrounding towns.
Mass times at San Martin De Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
- Or by appointment (O por citas)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
Parish History
San Martin de Porres was constructed in April 1967 as a mission church serving Alton and its surrounding farms in the western Rio Grande Valley. Within two years its growth — already more than 250 families from Alton and adjoining towns — convinced Bishop Humberto Medeiros to formally erect it as a parish in 1969. At the time of parishhood, a large parish hall and other improvements were added to the campus. Over the following decades, the parish added classrooms, expanded parking, carillon bells, the Calvary and Resurrection murals in the sanctuary, an administrative office, a Family Life Center, gymnasium and athletic facilities, and a rectory — all to keep pace with a congregation that grew from 50 families at founding to more than 1,300 registered families today. The parish now serves an estimated general population of over 17,000 across Alton and its neighboring cities.
- Founded 1967 as a mission
- Declared a parish in 1969
- Originally a mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, then St. Paul's Parish
- Over 1,300 registered families today
Parish Life & Mission
San Martin de Porres operates as a bilingual, predominantly Spanish-speaking Catholic community in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. Its mission is to evangelize, catechize, and serve the people of Alton and surrounding towns through a wide range of devotional, educational, and charitable ministries. The parish grounds include the main church, a parish hall, classrooms, the Family Life Center, athletic facilities, a rectory, and a pavilion for community gatherings.
- Bilingual worship and ministry
- Family Life Center with athletic facilities
- Catechetical classrooms on-site
- Parish hall and pavilion for community events
Faith Formation & Religious Education
San Martin de Porres runs a full catechetical program for children, youth, and adults, including preparation for the sacraments of initiation. The RCIA and RCIY processes welcome unbaptized adults and older youth into the Catholic Church, while ongoing Adult Religious Education, Young Adult R.E., and Bible Study support lifelong faith formation.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- RCIY (Rite of Christian Initiation of Youth)
- Children's Religious Education
- Adult Religious Education
- Young Adult Religious Education
- Bible Study
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Youth ministry has been part of San Martin de Porres since the Summer Youth Program began in 1987, and the parish also runs a long-standing Christ Crew Youth Ministry. Athletic offerings through the Parish Center — including basketball, racquetball, volleyball, and aerobic exercise classes — give the youth of Alton a healthy place to gather.
- Christ Crew Youth Ministry
- Summer Youth Program (since 1987)
- Young Adult R.E. and social group
- Parish Center athletics (basketball, racquetball, volleyball, aerobic exercise)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music is a distinctive feature of San Martin de Porres, with volunteer choirs supporting all Masses and a live Mariachi ensemble leading the 1:00 PM Sunday Mass. Other liturgical roles are filled by trained parishioners commissioned by the diocese.
- Parish Choir
- Mariachi (Sunday 1:00 PM Mass)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Coordinators: Gabe & Rosaura Vargas)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
Prayer & Devotional Groups
Beyond the Sunday and weekday liturgies, the parish supports an active devotional life rooted in Hispanic Catholic traditions of the Rio Grande Valley.
- Guadalupanos (devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- Charismatic Prayer Group
- Divine Mercy devotion
- Rosary / Intercessory Prayer
- Bible Study
Outreach & Charity
San Martin's outreach reflects the patron saint's spirit of charity, prayer, and concern for the poor and hungry. The parish operates a food pantry and material aid ministry, sends Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound and hospitalized, and engages in prison outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (founded October 1982)
- Food Pantry / Material Aid (food and non-perishables)
- Donations Ministry
- Eucharist to the Homebound / Hospital
- Anointing of the Sick visits
- Prison Outreach Program
- Family Enrichment Program
Contact & Location
San Martin de Porres Catholic Church is located on West Main Avenue in Alton, Texas, just north of Mission in Hidalgo County. The parish office is reachable by phone or email during business hours.
- Address: 621 W. Main Avenue, Alton, TX 78573
- Phone: (956) 585-8001
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sanmartindeporresalton.org
- Diocese: Brownsville, Texas