About San Martin de Porres · Weslaco, Texas
San Martin de Porres Catholic Church (Iglesia San Martín de Porres) is a Roman Catholic parish serving the predominantly Hispanic Catholic community of Weslaco, in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Brownsville and is one of two Weslaco-area parishes established in the late 1960s during a period of rapid diocesan growth under Bishop Humbert Sousa Medeiros. The church sits at 901 N. Texas Blvd. and serves a bilingual (Spanish/English) congregation with daily Mass, weekly Adoration, and an attached Catholic school (San Martin de Porres Catholic School, founded 1999). It is named for Saint Martin de Porres, the Dominican lay brother known as the patron saint of social justice and mixed-race people, whose feast is celebrated November 3.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Saint Martin de Porres (San Martín de Porres)
- Rector
- Rev. Esteban Hernandez (Parish Administrator, effective January 22, 2016)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
San Martin de Porres is a welcoming bilingual Catholic parish in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, where most Masses are celebrated in Spanish to serve Weslaco's strong Hispanic Catholic community. Daily Mass is offered every weekday morning, along with a 9:00 AM–9:00 PM weekday Adoration chapel, two weekly confession times (Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon), and a 24-hour First-Thursday Adoration that draws the wider community together. Families benefit from the on-site San Martin de Porres Catholic School (PreK–3), and the parish's ministries, school, and devotions are rooted in the Dominican spirituality of its patron saint, who is honored for charity and care for the poor.
Mass times at San Martin de Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (chapel adoration)
- First Thursday of the month: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM start (24 hours of Adoration)
- First Friday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
About San Martin de Porres Parish
San Martin de Porres Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Brownsville located at 901 N. Texas Blvd. in Weslaco, Texas. It was established in 1967 to serve the growing Catholic community of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley. The parish is bilingual — most Masses are celebrated in Spanish, with one Sunday Mass in English — and is home to a daily Adoration chapel and an on-site Catholic school. The parish is named for Saint Martin de Porres, the Dominican brother known for his humility, charity, and care for the poor.
- Founded 1967 (Diocese of Brownsville timeline)
- Diocese of Brownsville
- Bilingual parish (Spanish / English)
- Patron: Saint Martin de Porres (feast: November 3)
San Martin de Porres Catholic School
San Martin de Porres Catholic School (SMDPCS) opened on parish grounds in 1999, the same year it is listed in the Diocese of Brownsville timeline. It serves children from PreK-3 through Grade 3 with a mission to develop strong Christian values and academic excellence. The school uses a Montessori approach for Pre-K and Kindergarten students, transitioning to a traditional Catholic school curriculum for grades 1–3. Religion classes are taught daily, and students attend Mass together on Fridays. The school also runs an After School Care Program until 6:00 PM for children of working parents, subject to state capacity limits.
- Founded 1999 on parish campus
- Grades: PreK-3 through Grade 3
- Montessori method (PreK & K); traditional Catholic curriculum (1–3)
- Daily religion classes; Friday Mass with students
- After School Care Program (until 6:00 PM, school days)
- Uniforms required
- Member: National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), American Montessori Society (AMS)
- Mission: develop Christian values and academic excellence; empower children to become tomorrow's leaders
Clergy and Staff
San Martin de Porres Parish is currently served by Rev. Esteban Hernandez as Parish Administrator, effective January 22, 2016, with Rev. Caleb de la Rosa assigned to the parish effective September 23, 2024. Both assignments are recorded in the Diocese of Brownsville's official parish finder.
- Rev. Esteban Hernandez — Parish Administrator (eff. 01/22/2016)
- Rev. Caleb de la Rosa (eff. 09/23/2024)
Parish Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email using the contact details below, all of which are published on the Diocese of Brownsville parish finder and the parish's official Facebook page.
- Address: 901 N. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX 78596
- Phone: (956) 968-2691
- Fax: (956) 968-1473
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: 32393.sites.ecatholic.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/sanmartinweslaco
History of the Parish
San Martin de Porres Parish was established in 1967 in Weslaco, Texas, during a period of rapid expansion in the Diocese of Brownsville under Bishop Humbert Sousa Medeiros. According to the official diocesan timeline, Bishop Medeiros's tenure saw the diocese grow from 35 to 58 parishes between 1966 and 1982. The parish was created to serve the Spanish-speaking Catholic faithful of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley. In 1999, the parish founded its own elementary school — San Martin de Porres Catholic School — extending its Catholic educational mission to local children. Today the parish continues that dual mission of worship and Catholic education as a bilingual community of faith.
- 1967 — Parish established in Weslaco (Diocese of Brownsville timeline)
- 1966–1982 — Episcopate of Bishop Humbert Sousa Medeiros; diocese grew from 35 to 58 parishes
- 1999 — San Martin de Porres Catholic School opened on parish grounds
Patron Saint: Saint Martin de Porres
The parish is named for Saint Martin de Porres (1579–1639), a Dominican lay brother born in Lima, Peru, known for his humility, his care for the poor and sick, and his work promoting racial justice. He is the patron saint of mixed-race people, social justice, and public health workers. His feast day is celebrated on November 3.
- Saint Martin de Porres (1579–1639)
- Dominican lay brother from Lima, Peru
- Patron of mixed-race people and social justice
- Feast day: November 3