About St. Genevieve · Las Cruces, New Mexico
St. Genevieve Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Las Cruces, anchored at 100 S. Espina Street in downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1859, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in southern New Mexico and retains both an English and Spanish-speaking flock, with a fully bilingual schedule of Masses and devotions. The parish describes its mission as increasing the awareness of Christ's presence in homes and community, drawing on the long heritage of downtown Las Cruces and a robust calendar of weekday and Sunday Masses, weekly reconciliation, daily Rosary, First Friday Adoration, and active CCD, youth, and outreach programs.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. Genevieve of Paris (born c. 422 in Nanterre, France; died 512 in Paris)
- Rector
- Rev. Theophine Okafor (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Las Cruces (Las Cruces Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Genevieve offers a bilingual Catholic home in the heart of Las Cruces with one of the most generous weekly schedules in the diocese — daily 7:00 AM Mass, four Sunday options (including an 8:00 AM Mass in Spanish), Saturday confession, daily Rosary, First Friday all-day Adoration, and a Secular Franciscan Order meeting on the second Sunday of each month. Its ministries — CCD, Confirmation and Youth, RCIA, St. Vincent de Paul food service at the Parish Hall, Hospital and Jail/Prison ministries, the League of the Sacred Heart, the parish choir, and a Historical Society — give newcomers concrete ways to serve. Rooted in a parish founded in 1859 and animated by a priest, two deacons, and a long-tenured lay staff, St. Genevieve is both a deeply historic and a practically welcoming parish.
Mass times at St. Genevieve
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month — All-Day Adoration
- First Friday — Holy Hour 5:00 PM (Spanish)
- First Friday — Mass 6:00 PM (Spanish)
History & Heritage
St. Genevieve traces its story to 1859, when Father Manuel Chaves became the first pastor of the newly formed parish and an adobe church was raised at what would become the heart of downtown Las Cruces. The town grew up around the church, and for more than a century the parish was the most visible landmark and gathering place of the community.
The 1886 Brick Cathedral
By 1886 the adobe was replaced by a brick cathedral fronted by two 44-foot bell towers, built under Father Pierre Lassiange and Mother Praxedes Carty of the Loretto Convent. The new sanctuary was constructed around the old one so that not a single service was missed, and the building was solemnly dedicated on October 15, 1887. The French towers were eventually shortened when the foundation could no longer carry their weight. This cathedral stood until October 1967, when it was demolished and a new church built at the current South Espina location — a loss that still resonates with longtime Las Crucens.
- First pastor: Fr. Manuel Chaves (1859)
- Brick cathedral built 1886, dedicated October 15, 1887
- Demolished 1967; new church built on current site
The St. Genevieve Monument
To ease the public grief over the demolished cathedral, Torres Welding, Inc. built and donated a monument to the old church in 1998 and erected it near the original downtown site. A smaller replica, about three-quarters the size, now stands in front of the present St. Genevieve at 100 S. Espina — a painted reminder of the bell towers that once defined the parish skyline. The parish's Historical Society ministry continues to collect documents and photographs preserving this heritage.
- Original monument built by Torres Welding, 1998
- Replica placed in front of current church, 2015
- Historical Society contact: Rosemary Leyva, 575-524-9649
The Statue of St. Genevieve
The parish's carved statue of St. Genevieve was imported from France before 1881. It was shipped by railway to Kansas City and from there transported the rest of the way to Las Cruces by ox cart — a tangible link between the parish and the saint's homeland, still in use today. St. Genevieve's feast day is January 3.
Faith Formation & Youth
Children in the parish are catechized through CCD classes every Sunday during the school year, preparing them for First Communion and beyond. High-school-age youth are served by a Confirmation & Youth Ministry that both teaches the Catechism and forms young witnesses of the faith; chaperones are needed and welcomed. Adults preparing for full initiation into the Church are walked through the RCIA process, with a dedicated team of catechists who provide solid Christian formation.
- CCD — Sundays during the school year (Christina Abeyta, 575-495-0007)
- Confirmation & Youth Ministry (Christina Abeyta, 575-495-0007)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Liturgical Ministries
St. Genevieve offers a wide range of ways to serve at the altar. The Liturgy Ministry coordinates novenas, missions, rosaries, processions, and posadas; Art & Environment volunteers decorate the church according to the liturgical seasons (contact Amelia Angel, 575-405-3454). Ushers, Greeters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers (Veronica Garcia, 575-642-0215), Sacristans, and Altar Servers of all ages assist at Mass. The Music Ministry recruits singers and musicians for the parish choirs — contact the parish office for current choir openings.
- Liturgy, Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Ushers, Greeters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Music Ministry
Outreach & Service
Outreach is rooted in the Corporal Works of Mercy. The St. Vincent de Paul conference serves the poor every Thursday at the Parish Hall (contact Margie Rodriguez, 575-524-9649); Eucharistic Ministers visit and bring Communion to patients at local hospitals; and other Eucharistic Ministers take Communion to the Detention Center (contact the Diocese at 575-523-7577). The League of the Sacred Heart meets for Mass and Holy Hour on First Fridays and supports the parish's annual Enchilada Fundraiser.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Parish Hall, Thursdays
- Hospital Ministry — Communion visits to local hospitals
- Jail & Prison Ministry — Detention Center visits via the Diocese
- League of the Sacred Heart — First Friday Mass/Holy Hour; Enchilada Fundraiser
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by Rev. Theophine Okafor, Parochial Administrator, assisted by Deacon Robert Gallo and Deacon Steve Apodaca. Day-to-day operations are carried out by a long-standing lay staff: Frank Sanchez (Business Manager), Maggie Candia (Bookkeeper), Veronica Garcia (Secretary / DRE / Liturgy), Susan Brusuelas (Secretary), Albert Carrasco (Facility / Cemetery Manager), Jose Valenciano (Facility Maintenance), Ofelia Narvaez and Bertha Hernandez (Housekeeping). Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to noon.
- Rev. Theophine Okafor — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Robert Gallo
- Deacon Steve Apodaca
- Frank Sanchez — Business Manager
- Maggie Candia — Bookkeeper
- Veronica Garcia — Secretary / DRE / Liturgy
- Susan Brusuelas — Secretary
- Albert Carrasco — Facility / Cemetery Manager
- Jose Valenciano — Facility Maintenance
- Ofelia Narvaez, Bertha Hernandez — Housekeeping
Sacraments
St. Genevieve prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments through both parish programs and direct contact with the office. Couples preparing for marriage (or Quinceañera) must contact the parish office well in advance — both parties are required to participate in preparation, and dates cannot be reserved until that work is underway. Anointing of the Sick is celebrated as a community Mass on the first Tuesday of each month after the 7:00 AM Mass. Children receive First Communion through CCD; teens receive Confirmation through Confirmation & Youth Ministry; unbaptized adults enter the Church through RCIA. Reconciliation is offered twice on Saturdays.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation via CCD / Youth Ministry / RCIA
- Marriage and Quinceañera: contact parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick: First Tuesday after 7:00 AM Mass
- Reconciliation: Saturday 10:00–11:00 AM and 4:00–5:00 PM
Facilities, Cemetery & Hall Rentals
Beyond the church at 100 S. Espina, St. Genevieve maintains a Parish Hall at 1025 East Las Cruces Avenue that is available for rental; inquiries can be made through the parish office at 575-524-9649. The parish also operates a cemetery, managed by Facility/Cemetery Manager Albert Carrasco, with inquiries handled through the same office.
- Church address: 100 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88001
- Parish Hall: 1025 E. Las Cruces Ave., available for rental (575-524-9649)
- Cemetery services managed by the parish office
Getting Involved
St. Genevieve's ministries are open to newcomers and longtime parishioners alike. Practical, behind-the-scenes roles — Greeter, Usher, Sacristan, Art & Environment — invite members of any age, while service ministries like St. Vincent de Paul, Hospital Ministry, and Jail & Prison Ministry offer corporal works of mercy. For men discerning priesthood, contact Rev. Ruben Romero at the Diocese (575-523-7577).
- Music Ministry — join a parish choir
- Marriage Preparation — experienced couples mentor engaged couples
- Historical Society — preserve and share the parish's long history
- Vocations — contact Rev. Ruben Romero, Diocese of Las Cruces, 575-523-7577
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Manuel Chaves1859
Installed as the first pastor of the newly formed parish when the original adobe church was built.
- Rev. Pierre Lassiange1886–1887
Led the construction of the brick cathedral with Mother Praxedes Carty of the Loretto Convent; the new church was solemnly dedicated on October 15, 1887.
- Msgr. Moreno (referenced in 2024 parish bulletin)
A 2024 parish bulletin noted a 'Birthday Mass for Monsignor Moreno', indicating a prior long-time pastor or retired priest honored by the parish.