About St. Jude Thaddeus · Albuquerque, New Mexico
St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church is a large, active Roman Catholic parish in the Paradise Hills neighborhood of northwest Albuquerque, New Mexico, within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The parish traces its origins to the early 1960s when Catholic families in the new West Mesa subdivision began gathering for Sunday Mass in a community building. It was erected as a metal all-purpose structure in 1968 under the name St. Jude Thaddeus, became a quasi-parish in 1969 under Father Thomas Keane of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rio Rancho, and was formally elevated to parish status by Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez in April 1977. Today the parish serves roughly 3,750 registered families with a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses (including a bilingual English–Spanish Mass), Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel Monday through Friday, and a wide range of faith formation, youth, outreach, and devotional ministries.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Jude Thaddeus
- Rector
- Fr. Tien-Tri Nguyen (Fr. Tri)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
St. Jude Thaddeus offers one of the most accessible liturgical schedules in northwest Albuquerque, with five Sunday Masses — including a bilingual English–Spanish Mass at 1:00 pm — daily Mass Monday through Friday, daily livestreamed Masses, and extended weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. A large pastoral team of one priest and seven deacons shepherds a parish of about 3,750 registered families, with active ministries in religious education, youth, OCIA/Adult Confirmation, OCIA for children, pro-life advocacy, grief support, help for neighbors struggling with utility bills, lending library, Vacation Bible School, and a brick-paver memorial program supporting parish improvement projects.
Mass times at St. Jude Thaddeus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Church)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Church)
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Church)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
History of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish
The parish's roots reach back to 1961, when Catholic pioneers like Herb and Dorothy Schuster moved into the new Paradise Hills subdivision on Albuquerque's West Mesa. After a disturbing incident at the local community building, Dorothy said simply, 'We need a church.' A raffled lot donated by her late brother Lambert Krueger — with permission from Archbishop James Peter Davis — launched a building fund. Families began gathering for Sunday Mass in the community building under Msgr. Tito Melendez of San Ysidro Parish. With help from the Extension Society and land donated by Horizon Corporation, a metal all-purpose church was erected in 1968 and named St. Jude Thaddeus after the community unanimously chose the patron from two names offered.
- 1961 – Herb and Dorothy Schuster move to Paradise Hills; community-building gatherings inspire the push for a Catholic parish
- Archbishop James Peter Davis permits a raffle of a donated residential lot to start a building fund
- 1968 – Metal all-purpose church erected; first Mass celebrated
- 1969 – St. Jude becomes a quasi-parish under Fr. Thomas Keane, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rio Rancho
- April 1977 – Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez formally elevates St. Jude as a parish of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- March 16, 1980 – Ground breaking for a larger church; December 13, 1980 – church dedicated
- 1985 – Debt on the 1980 church paid off through parishioner donations
- 1993 – Parish Hall dedicated by Archbishop Michael Sheehan; rectory built the same year
- October 26, 2010 – Ground breaking for the current 1,200-seat church
- October 28, 2011 – New church dedicated
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program for children as well as OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Adult Confirmation tracks, all coordinated by Ms. Yvette Serna.
- Religious Education classes for children — register via the parish
- OCIA — Tuesdays 6:30–8:30 PM; next session begins September 2026; Sacraments received at the Easter Vigil
- Adult Confirmation — nine-week class on Wednesdays 7:15–8:30 PM; next session begins August 26, 2026
- Vacation Bible School scheduled 6/22 – 6/26
- Contact: Yvette Serna — [email protected], 505-897-4006
Youth Ministry
St. Jude runs a Youth Group for middle school and high school students, with registration available online. Youth are integrated into parish life through Mass, service, and parish-wide events.
- Open to all Middle and High School youth
- Online registration available through the parish website
Outreach & Charity
Outreach ministries are a central part of parish life, with concrete, practical help for parishioners and neighbors as well as public witness on life issues.
- Support and Grief Ministry — meets Fridays 9:00 AM in Room 6 of the Parish Hall
- Help for the Needy Committee — Thursdays 8:30 AM; assists with gas, electric, and water bills; contact Dolores Salazar, 505-310-2162
- St. Jude Volunteer Ministry — one-time and ongoing service opportunities; contact Mary Papuyo, [email protected], 505-898-0826
- Pro-Life Ministry (Fridays for Life) — sidewalk counseling and prayer at Planned Parenthood, 701 San Mateo Blvd NE, in partnership with Project Defending Life; 61 lives saved last year; contact Doug Price, 505-890-2900, [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation, with Baptism classes held monthly and OCIA/Adult Confirmation programs for those entering or completing the faith.
- Baptism Class — third Tuesday of every month, 7:00 PM in the Church, in English and Spanish; register at the class
- First Holy Communion and Confirmation — through Religious Education and youth programs
- Adult Confirmation and OCIA — see Faith Formation section
- Marriage — contact the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care — through the pastoral team
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish fosters daily devotion and parish-community connection through a perpetual chapel adoration schedule, daily livestreamed Masses, a lending library, and parish improvement fundraisers.
- Rosary prayed before the 8:00 AM Mass (7:30 AM)
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel — Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- St. Jude's Lending Library — two shelves in the back of the church; borrow for two weeks
- Family-name Memorial Bricks — $100 per brick (3 lines × 20 characters) displayed near the St. Jude statue; funds go to landscaping, parking lot re-coat/stripe, a playground, statues, and a Divine Mercy mosaic
- Veteran/First Responder Memorial Bricks — $40 each, ordered at the Parish Office
Catholic School Subsidies
St. Jude subsidizes Catholic elementary education for parish families, paying between $80,000 and $90,000 per year from its operational account — roughly $500 per registered student. A dedicated 'School Support' envelope in the regular Sunday packet funds this subsidy, and parents are asked to participate actively in parish life in return.
- Subsidy: $500 per registered student in a Catholic elementary school
- Eligibility: registered in the parish one year prior, attending Mass twice a month, and participating in parish functions
- Funded via the School Support envelope in the Sunday collection packet
Parish Staff & Pastoral Team
The parish is served by a pastor and seven deacons, supported by parish office staff. Pastoral Care is highlighted as a core ministry of the team.
- Fr. Tien-Tri Nguyen (Fr. Tri) — Pastor
- Deacon Faustin Archuleta
- Deacon Andrew Hadcock
- Deacon Kiko Martinez
- Deacon Salvador Mercado
- Deacon Chuck Metzler
- Deacon Robert Tarin
- Deacon Dominic Valencia
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday with a midday break and an early Monday afternoon closure for staff meetings. Phone, email, and walk-in contact are all available.
- Address: 5712 Paradise Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
- Parish Office: 505-898-0826
- Religious Education: 505-897-4006
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, closed 12:00–1:00 PM, open 1:00–4:30 PM (closed Mon 2:30–3:30 PM for staff meeting)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Tito Melendezearly-mid 1960s
Pastor of San Ysidro Parish who first made a priest available to celebrate Sunday Mass for Catholic families in Paradise Hills in the community building.
- Fr. Thomas Keane1969-1977
Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Rio Rancho who oversaw St. Jude as a quasi-parish; Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez formally elevated it to parish status in April 1977.
- Fr. John Conway
Pastored the parish during the construction of the Parish Hall; the hall was dedicated by Archbishop Michael Sheehan in 1993, the same year the rectory was built.
- Fr. John C. Daniel
Led the effort to obtain Archdiocesan approval and break ground (October 26, 2010) for the current 1,200-seat church, dedicated October 28, 2011.
- Fr. Tien-Tri Nguyen (Fr. Tri)present
Current pastor.