About San Romero (University of Texas) · El Paso, Texas
San Romero University Ministry Student Center is the Catholic Campus Ministry serving the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Operated by the Diocese of El Paso under the direction of a Conventual Franciscan friar, it is a functioning student-led on- and off-campus organization rooted in nearly a century of ministry to UTEP students. The center sits just across from the UTEP campus on North Oregon Street in a remodeled house whose former garage was converted into a chapel. Its mission is to shepherd students by creating a space of Encounter, Belong, and Mission through the Church's sacred traditions, prayer, and fellowship, and it warmly welcomes all university students regardless of background.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- Saint Óscar Romero (Archbishop of San Salvador, martyred 1980, canonized 2018)
- Rector
- Fr. Rijo Mulavarickal (OFM Conv.), Director of Catholic Campus Ministry
- Diocese
- Diocese of El Paso (Bishop Mark Seitz)
Why belong here
San Romero is a rare on-campus Catholic home open to every university student at UTEP — Catholic or not — where faith, friendship, food and formation meet. The center runs daily Mass in the chapel on North Oregon, Eucharistic Adoration, regular Reconciliation, bi-weekly Faith Formation, Women's, and Men's sessions, and a Student Council that organizes Evangelization, Worship & Liturgy, Stewardship, Social Recreation, and Media teams. Under the direction of Bishop Mark Seitz and Conventual Franciscan friars, it is built on accompaniment: students gather to study, share meals, pray, serve, and grow together as leaders of today's and tomorrow's Church.
Mass times at San Romero (University of Texas)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (walk-ins or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
Our Story: From Newman Club to San Romero
Catholic students have organized on the UTEP campus since 1927, when the Newman Club was founded at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. After years meeting at a small house on East Robinson Avenue already nicknamed the Romero Center, the Diocese of El Paso remodeled the current 2230 N. Oregon Street house in January 2005 and converted its car garage into the chapel still in use today. In August 2019 the ministry was formally renamed the San Romero University Ministry Student Center in honor of Saint Óscar Romero, while the student-led organization retains its historic name, the Newman Club at UTEP.
- 1927 — Newman Club founded at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy (UTEP's predecessor)
- Pre-2005 — earlier 'Romero Center' on East Robinson Avenue used by the Newman Club
- January 2005 — Diocese remodels 2230 N. Oregon house and converts garage into chapel
- August 18, 2019 — formally renamed San Romero University Ministry Student Center
Mission, Vision & Identity
San Romero describes itself as 'a functioning student-led on and off campus organization.' Its mission is to shepherd students by creating a space of Encounter, Belong, and Mission through the Church's sacred traditions, prayer, and fellowship. Its stated vision is rebuilding a culture of encounter with Christ through accompaniment — a phrase Bishop Mark Seitz has emphasized to the friars directing the ministry.
- Mission: Encounter, Belong, Mission
- Vision: Rebuilding a culture of encounter with Christ through accompaniment
- Operated as a ministry of the Diocese of El Paso and an official UTEP student organization
Staff & Leadership
Day-to-day leadership is provided by Conventual Franciscan friars of the Diocese of El Paso, supported by administrative staff and a UTEP faculty advisor, with a Student Council elected from among the students themselves.
- Fr. Rijo Mulavarickal (OFM Conv.) — Director of Catholic Campus Ministry
- Friar Mario Serrano, OFM Conv. — former Director; currently Vocation Director for the Province of Our Lady of Consolation
- Kristy Marroquin — Administrative Assistant
- Marissa Amador — Administrative Assistant
- Dr. Fernando Jimenez — UTEP Faculty Advisor
- Student Council: Chloe Trujillo (President), Abril Armenta (Vice-President), Omar Herrera, Joshua Lechuhga, Janel Quintana, Ricardo Martinez, Bryan Dominguez, Brittany Enciso
Faith Formation & Small Groups
Beyond the sacraments, San Romero runs a rolling program of bi-weekly sessions designed to accompany students in prayer, study, and authentic conversation about faith and life.
- Faith Formation Session — Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. (bi-weekly)
- Women's Session — Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. (bi-weekly)
- Men's Session — Fridays, 6:00 p.m. (bi-weekly)
- Weekend retreats
- Days of reconciliation
Student Council & Ministry Committees
Students themselves help shape the life of the center through a Student Council and several ministry committees developed in collaboration with the director and a Catholic Foundation stewardship conference held at San Antonio de Padua.
- Evangelization Committee
- Worship & Liturgy (Music/Liturgy) Committee
- Stewardship & Development Committee
- Social Recreation Committee
- Media Team
Outreach & Service
San Romero sees faith formation as inseparable from service and social justice. The center supports members preparing for sacraments they have not yet received, takes part in service and social justice projects, and reaches out to parishes throughout the Diocese of El Paso. It is also supported in part by the diocesan Progress: Catholic Ministry Appeal.
- Service and social justice projects
- Visits to parishes throughout the Diocese for outreach
- Sacramental preparation assistance for students
- Funding partnership with the Progress: Catholic Ministry Appeal
Visit, Connect & Support
All college students are welcome at San Romero — 'Catholic or not, holy rollers or seekers,' as one former director put it. Visitors are welcome, and adults in the community can help as mentors, donors, or hosts inviting students home for holidays.
- Address — 2230 N. Oregon Street, El Paso, TX 79902 (next door to Kinley's inside the GECU building, across from UTEP)
- Phone — (915) 838-0300
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — www.ccmelpaso.com
- Social — Instagram & TikTok @ccmutep; Facebook Ccmutep
- Donate — Progress: Catholic Ministry Appeal (catholicfoundationelpaso.org)
- Sister ministry — Sul Ross State University Newman Center, 306 S. Lackey Street, Alpine, TX
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Friar Mario Serrano, OFM Conv.
Director of University Ministry for the Diocese of El Paso at the time the Newman Center was renamed San Romero University Ministry Student Center in August 2019.
- Fr. Rijo Mulavarickal (OFM Conv.)
Current Director of Catholic Campus Ministry; oversees Student Council and ministry committees; emphasizes Bishop Seitz's vision of ministry of presence and spiritual guidance.