About St. Francis Xavier · Tulsa, Oklahoma
St. Francis Xavier Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, located at 2434 East Admiral Boulevard in Tulsa's historic Kendall-Whittier neighborhood. Founded in 1926 by Bishop Francis Kelley as Tulsa's fifth parish and the city's first Hispanic parish, it has grown into one of the most bilingual Catholic communities in Oklahoma, with the majority of its Masses celebrated in Spanish and an active American Sign Language liturgy on Sundays. In 2004 it was dedicated as a Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and in 2026 the parish will celebrate its centennial. The parish also operates Instituto Bilingüe Guadalupano, a Catholic elementary school serving the surrounding community.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Elmer Rodriguez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier welcomes Catholics seeking a truly bilingual and multicultural parish home. With seven Sunday Masses including English, Spanish, and American Sign Language liturgies, plus a daily 8 a.m. Mass and a Spanish evening Mass Tuesday through Friday, virtually any schedule can find a home here. The parish runs the Instituto Bilingüe Guadalupano school, supports families through sacramental preparation and faith formation, hosts daily Eucharistic Adoration in its chapel across Atlanta Avenue, and serves as a Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe — making it both a devotional destination and a tight-knit neighborhood parish in the heart of Tulsa.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- During every Sunday Mass
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel, 2443 E. 1st Street (across Atlanta Avenue from the sanctuary)
Parish Identity & History
St. Francis Xavier was established in 1926 by Bishop Francis Kelley as Tulsa's fifth Catholic parish and the city's first Hispanic parish. The first Mass was celebrated where Circle Cinema now stands in the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood, and the permanent sanctuary on East Admiral Boulevard was completed in 1937. Designated a Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2004 and approaching its centennial in 2026, the parish carries a century of bilingual Catholic life.
- Founded 1926 by Bishop Francis Kelley
- First Hispanic parish in Tulsa
- Permanent church built in 1937
- Dedicated Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2004
- Centennial celebrations held in 2026
Clergy & Staff
St. Francis Xavier is served by a pastor, two associate pastors, a deacon, and a bilingual parish staff. Rev. Elmer Rodriguez has served as pastor since 2022 and is leading the parish into its centennial year. He is assisted by Associate Pastors Rev. Juan Grajeda and Rev. Juan Antonio Hernandez, and by Deacon Carlos Ambriz. Lay staff include Director of Instituto Bilingüe Maria Inez Alcaraz, Administrative Assistant Laura Mercado, and Secretary Melissa Hyde.
- Pastor: Rev. Elmer Rodriguez
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Juan Grajeda
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Juan Antonio Hernandez
- Deacon: Carlos Ambriz
- Director of Instituto Bilingüe: Maria Inez Alcaraz
- Administrative Assistant: Laura Mercado
- Secretary: Melissa Hyde
Instituto Bilingüe Guadalupano (Catholic School)
The parish campus houses Instituto Bilingüe Guadalupano, a bilingual Catholic elementary school serving local families. The school is one of four Tulsa-area Catholic schools supported by Friends of Catholic Education (FOCE), a zero-overhead 501(c)(3) trust that matches donated tuition-assistance dollars. Families interested in the school can contact Director Maria Inez Alcaraz at 918-592-9179.
- Bilingual Catholic elementary school on the parish campus
- Director: Maria Inez Alcaraz (918-592-9179)
- Supported by Friends of Catholic Education (FOCE) tuition-assistance trust
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Francis Xavier prepares children and adults for the sacraments in both English and Spanish. The parish's Director of Religious Education (Sr. Gloria Gerardo, 918-592-0033) coordinates catechesis for First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing faith formation. Sacramental preparation is offered in Spanish and English, reflecting the parish's bilingual identity.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Gloria Gerardo
- Sacramental preparation in English and Spanish
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Phone: 918-592-0033
Hispanic Ministry & Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
As Tulsa's first Hispanic parish, St. Francis Xavier has long been the principal spiritual home for Spanish-speaking Catholics in the city. Most Sunday Masses and three of the four weekly evening Masses are celebrated in Spanish. The church was formally dedicated as a Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2004, giving it a special Marian and Hispanic devotional character. The parish is a place where families have been able to baptize their children, marry, and receive the sacraments in their language for a century.
- Tulsa's first Hispanic Catholic parish
- Designated Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2004
- Most Masses celebrated in Spanish
- Welcomes Tulsa's Latino Catholic community
American Sign Language (Deaf) Ministry
St. Francis Xavier is one of the few Catholic parishes in Oklahoma that offers a regularly scheduled American Sign Language Mass. Each Sunday at 1:30 PM, the Mass is interpreted into ASL alongside the Spanish liturgy, making the parish an important spiritual home for Tulsa's Deaf Catholic community.
- ASL-interpreted Mass every Sunday at 1:30 PM
- One of the only regular ASL liturgies in the Diocese of Tulsa
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open weekdays and welcomes visitors and new parishioners. The main church is at 2434 East Admiral Boulevard; the Adoration Chapel is directly across Atlanta Avenue at 2443 E. 1st Street. Visitors coming from South Lewis Avenue head east on Admiral Boulevard one block and turn right.
- Address: 2434 East Admiral Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74110
- Phone: (918) 592-6770
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Timothy Davison
Former pastor who learned Spanish to better serve the Hispanic community and helped grow Hispanic attendance.
- Fr. José María Briones
Former pastor who helped grow Hispanic attendance at the parish.
- Rev. Elmer Rodriguez2022–present
Current pastor; leading the parish's centennial in 2026.