About St. Helen of the Cross · Eloy, Arizona
St. Helen of the Cross Roman Catholic Church is a bilingual parish serving the small desert city of Eloy, Arizona, within the Diocese of Tucson. The parish's story begins in 1936, when the first St. Helen church was built with the help of the people of Eloy and dedicated on December 12 of that year. It grew from a mission of Casa Grande into an independent parish in 1952, and today offers Mass in both English and Spanish along with daily weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and an overnight Thursday-to-Friday Eucharistic Adoration. The parish is also home to a venerated First-Class Relic of the True Cross, received in 1978, and runs active outreach through its St. Helen Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Helen of the Cross (Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine)
- Rector
- Rev. Rajeev Bobba (Parish Administrator, assigned July 2023)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson (Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger)
Why belong here
St. Helen of the Cross is a small, bilingual Catholic parish where every face is known — and where Mass in English and Spanish is offered every Sunday, every weekday, and at Saturday Vigil. The parish anchors a weekly Thursday-to-Friday overnight Eucharistic Adoration, hosts one of the few parish-based First-Class Relics of the True Cross in the United States, and reaches out through its St. Helen Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Society to the working families of Eloy. With 20 active ministries — from liturgical service as lectors, choir, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, to youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and an annual parish bazaar — newcomers can easily find a place to use their gifts and serve their neighbors.
Mass times at St. Helen of the Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM in the church
Adoration times
- Every Thursday from 7:00 PM until Friday 8:30 AM
Parish History
The first St. Helen of the Cross Church was built in 1936 with the help of the people of Eloy and dedicated on December 12, 1936, under Father Patrick J. Murphy, who was the first resident pastor of the Casa Grande–Coolidge–Eloy territory. From 1936 until 1952, St. Helen's remained a Mission of Casa Grande. As Eloy's population grew, the church became a separate parish in October 1952 with Fr. Paul Rook as its first resident Pastor. In 1948, four lots — and later an entire block — were donated to the parish by devoted Catholic John Alsdorf, and under Pastor Fr. Sylvio Ross the parish built and dedicated a new, larger church at the present 8th Street location on December 14, 1952. A parish garden and Parish Hall were added in subsequent years. Fr. Marco Carrasco pastored the parish from 2020 to July 2023, when Fr. Rajeev Bobba was assigned as Parish Administrator.
- 1936: First church dedicated December 12
- 1936–1952: Mission of Casa Grande
- October 1952: Becomes a separate parish; Fr. Paul Rook first resident Pastor
- December 14, 1952: New, larger church dedicated at present 8th Street location
- 2020: Fr. Marco Carrasco begins as Pastor
- July 2023: Fr. Rajeev Bobba assigned as Parish Administrator
Parish Staff & Leadership
Father Rajeev Bobba, the Parish Administrator, is described on the parish's About page as passionate about reaching people through the love of God, seeing the Lord in all aspects of life and conveying his deep faith through his homilies and actions. He is assisted by Deacon Pasqual 'Pat' Abiles, Jr. (and his wife, Connie Abiles). The parish's lay staff keep the office, bookkeeping, maintenance, and Sacramental preparation running throughout the week.
- Rev. Rajeev Bobba — Parish Administrator
- Deacon Pasqual 'Pat' Abiles, Jr. — Clergy Assistance
- Ms. Lynn Wilson — Office Manager, Compliance Rep., L.E.M.
- Ms. Veronica Renteria — Clerical Aide
- Mrs. Margie Ruiz — Front Office Volunteer
- Melissa Helwig — Bookkeeper
- Mr. Tom Curtin — Maintenance
- Mr. Pablo Avilez — Custodian
- A.J. Wilson — Maintenance Assistance
Councils & Boards
The parish is served by a Board of Directors, a Pastoral Council, and a Finance Council, each with parish members working alongside the Pastor and Deacon. The Bishop of the Diocese of Tucson, Edward J. Weisenburger, is also listed in the parish leadership record.
- Board of Directors / Pastoral Council: Mark L. Hubanks (Treasurer), Richard Cariño, Mary Lou Martinez, Samantha Alvarez, Jesse Gonzalez, Narda Ferguson, Jose Muñiz, Luis Alvarado
- Finance Council: Rev. Rajeev Bobba (Chairman), Dcn. Pasqual Abiles Jr. (Assistance), Denise Perreault (Secretary), Michael Sandoval (Treasurer), Richard Carino, Mark Hubank, Melissa Helwing (Diocese Accountant)
- Diocesan Bishop: Edward J. Weisenburger (Diocese of Tucson)
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish describes itself as having 20 active ministries, ranging from liturgical service to social justice outreach. Newcomers are encouraged to use their gifts in choir, lector, altar server, or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist roles; to visit the homebound; to serve the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the St. Helen Food Pantry; or to join youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar. All volunteers working with minors must be cleared through the parish's Safe Environment program.
- Liturgical ministries: Choir, Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Outreach: St. Helen Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Homebound Visits
- Community life: Youth Ministry, Men's Group, Women's Group, Annual Parish Bazaar
- Operations: Office Volunteers, Safe Environment Compliance Volunteers
St. Helen Food Pantry
The St. Helen Food Pantry Ministry is a cornerstone of the parish's outreach to Eloy's working families and neighbors in need. The parish collects food and essential-item donations year-round, and welcomes volunteers — retirees, college students, or anyone with time to give. Donations may be dropped off at the Parish Office or at the Church. The pantry also appears on the published parish calendar (Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 AM in recent months). All volunteers must be cleared through the parish's Safe Environment program.
- Donations accepted at the Parish Office or the Church
- Volunteers needed — retirees, college students, community members welcome
- Open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM (per parish calendar)
The Relic of the True Cross
St. Helen of the Cross is home to one of the most venerated Catholic relics in the region — a sliver of wood from the cross on which Jesus died. On March 12, 1978, the parish received a First-Class Relic of the Wood of the Holy Cross from the Office of the Postulator General of the Franciscan Order, Capuchin Preserve of the Relics of the True Cross. The accompanying Document of Authentication, ascribed with the signature and seal from the Curia General in Rome in 1955, is on display in the church adjacent to the Relic. All are welcome to come and pray at St. Helen of the Cross and venerate the Relic of the Cross whenever the church is open throughout the year. Beginning with Good Friday 2020, the assembled faithful may venerate the Relic with a kiss or touch on Good Friday each year.
- Relic received March 12, 1978 from the Franciscan Order, Capuchin Preserve of the Relics of the True Cross
- First-Class Relic authenticated by the Curia General in Rome, 1955
- Open for veneration whenever the church is open
- Good Friday: special veneration with a kiss or touch (since 2020)
- Annual Feast Day Mass for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14
Feast Days & Patron
The parish is named for St. Helen of the Cross — Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, famed in Orthodox and Roman Catholic tradition for her piety and for her discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem in 326 AD. Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on August 18. The parish also specially celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14, the date the Church of Rome officially adopted to commemorate the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius in 629 AD.
- Saint Helena — mother of Emperor Constantine
- Feast of St. Helen: August 18
- Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: September 14
Annual Catholic Appeal
Each year the parish participates in the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA), the diocesan fundraising effort that supports the majority of the work of the Diocese of Tucson. The parish tracks its goal and progress on the parish website.
- St. Helen's 2026 ACA parish goal: $23,340
- Fulfilled to date (as published on site): $12,337
- Ways to give: return completed envelope, text 'ACA' to 41444, donate at cathfnd.org/donate, or scan the QR code
Contact & Visit
The parish office is located at 205 W 8th St, Eloy, AZ 85131. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed for the lunch hour, National Holidays, and Holy days), closed on Friday, and open Sunday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. In addition to the main office line, an emergency phone number is listed for after-hours pastoral needs.
- Address: 205 W 8th St, Eloy, AZ 85131
- Office: (520) 466-7258
- Emergency Phone: (520) 466-1461
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sthelenofthecross.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St.Helen.of.the.Cross/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick J. Murphy1936–1952
First resident pastor of the Casa Grande–Coolidge–Eloy territory; oversaw St. Helen's as a Mission.
- Rev. Paul Rook1952–
First resident Pastor of Saint Helen's after Eloy became a separate parish in October 1952.
- Rev. Sylvio Ross
Pastored the building and 1952 dedication of the new, larger church at the present 8th Street location.
- Rev. Marco Carrasco2020–July 2023
Reassigned by the Diocese of Tucson to Queen of All Saints, Tucson, effective July 2023.
- Rev. Rajeev BobbaJuly 2023–present
Appointed Parish Administrator by the Diocese of Tucson in the July 2023 assignment cycle.