About Santa Monica · El Cenizo, Texas
Santa Monica Mission is a Roman Catholic mission church located at 507 Morales in El Cenizo, Texas, within the Diocese of Laredo. It is classified as a mission of its mother parish, Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church in nearby Rio Bravo, and shares the same pastor with that parish. The mission serves the small, working-class border community of El Cenizo (population roughly 3,500), most of whose residents are immigrants from Mexico and Central America, and where nearly 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. Sunday Mass and bilingual (English/Spanish) weekday Masses are celebrated at the mission, and it is well known locally for its faith formation programs and food pantry outreach supported by Catholic Extension.
- Patron
- Saint Monica
- Rector
- Rev. Jan (full name not published on the official diocesan page)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
Santa Monica Mission is a close-knit bilingual mission church that serves one of the poorest communities along the Texas-Mexico border. It offers Sunday and weekday Masses in both English and Spanish, sacramental preparation (baptism, marriage, quinceañeras) coordinated with the mother parish in Rio Bravo, and a children's religious education program coordinated by the lay Santa Monica Angels. The mission is also known for its food pantry and direct outreach to immigrant families — a parish where visitors can find a warm, family-oriented Catholic community deeply committed to helping its neighbors in need.
Mass times at Santa Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Mother Parish Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church (Rio Bravo)
About Santa Monica Mission
Santa Monica Mission is a Roman Catholic mission church in the Diocese of Laredo, located at 507 Morales in El Cenizo, Texas, just outside Laredo along the U.S.–Mexico border. It is formally a mission of its mother parish, Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church in Rio Bravo, and shares the same pastor. The mission serves a predominantly immigrant, working-class community of about 3,500 residents, the great majority of whom are from Mexico and Central America.
- Diocese of Laredo
- Mission of Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church, Rio Bravo
- Address: 507 Morales, El Cenizo, TX 78046
- Phone: 956-725-7215
History and Community
Santa Monica Mission serves one of the most economically challenged communities along the Texas–Mexico border. According to Catholic Extension's Winter 2019 feature on the parish, about one third of El Cenizo's roughly 3,500 residents are connected to the mission, and nearly 70% of the town's population lives below the poverty line. Since 2002, Catholic Extension has channeled nearly $170,000 into Santa Monica Mission for evangelization, social services, religious education programs, and salary support for priests and religious sisters assigned there. Bishop James A. Tamayo of Laredo has publicly praised the lay leaders of the mission as 'a model of stewardship, sacrifice and service for the people of Santa Monica Mission.'
- Catholic Extension support since 2002 totaling nearly $170,000
- Father Joel Pérez served as pastor/leader as of 2019
- Ursuline Sister Theresa Sarich served earlier as religious education coordinator
- Santa Monica Angels laywomen's group drives much of the parish's outreach
Patron Saint
The mission is named after Saint Monica (c. 332–387), the Christian mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, who is the patron saint of mothers, wives, and those seeking the conversion of family members. Her feast day is celebrated on August 27.
- Patron: Saint Monica
- Feast day: August 27
Office Hours
Parish office services for Santa Monica Mission are handled through the mother parish, Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church in Rio Bravo.
- Office inquiries directed to Santa Rita de Casia Catholic Church, Rio Bravo, TX
Sacraments
Santa Monica Mission prepares and celebrates the three primary life sacraments in coordination with its mother parish in Rio Bravo. Couples must contact the priest at least six months before a wedding.
- Baptisms — Baptismal class held the Friday before every fourth Sunday of the month
- Matrimony — Register six months in advance with the priest
- Quinceañeras — Arranged through the parish office
Ministries and Outreach
The mission's most distinctive apostolate is run by a group of laywomen known as the Santa Monica Angels, who coordinate children's religious education, youth activities, fundraisers, and direct outreach to local families in need. They also run a weekly feeding program that provides food to immigrant families in El Cenizo, one of the poorest communities in the diocese.
- Santa Monica Angels lay leadership group
- Children's religious education (catechism) program
- Youth activities and faith formation
- Weekly food pantry / feeding program for local families
- Fundraising events and community outreach
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joel Pérez
Served as pastor/leader of Santa Monica Mission as of the Catholic Extension Winter 2019 magazine feature.