About St. Michael Mission · Naco, Arizona
St. Michael Mission is a small Catholic mission church in Naco, Arizona, situated directly on the U.S.–Mexico border. It is served as a dependent mission of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Parish in nearby Bisbee, and together the two communities form one parish family under the Diocese of Tucson. The mission building, originally a Wells Fargo Express horse stable, was donated by the Humphrey family and dedicated in 1939. After a major 2013 renovation accomplished largely by parishioner labor, St. Michael continues to offer Sunday Mass for residents of Naco and the surrounding borderlands community.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Adolf
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Michael Mission offers a faithful, family-sized Catholic community right in the border town of Naco, where Sunday Mass is celebrated weekly and where parishioners know one another by name. As part of the St. Patrick Parish family, the mission shares in active ministries including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a long-standing Women's Club, a detention ministry at the Cochise County Jail, and a Religious Education / RCIA program — giving every member a real way to live the Gospel through service. It is a welcoming mission where your presence, time, and talent genuinely shape the life of the parish.
Mass times at St. Michael Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (call parish office at 520-432-5753); reconciliation is regularly offered 30 minutes before Mass at St. Patrick Church in Bisbee
St. Michael Mission in Naco, Arizona
St. Michael Mission is the Catholic mission church serving the small border community of Naco, Arizona. Although it has its own identity and weekly Sunday Mass, it shares its pastoral team, ministries, and parish life with St. Patrick Roman Catholic Parish in Bisbee — together they form one parish family under the Diocese of Tucson. The mission is a beloved place of worship for longtime Naco residents and a welcoming spiritual home for newcomers to the borderlands.
- Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM
- A mission of St. Patrick Parish, Bisbee
- Diocese of Tucson
History of St. Michael Mission
The Catholic presence in Naco began in 1903 as a mission of the old Sacred Heart Parish in Bisbee. The present mission building was originally a Wells Fargo Express horse stable that eventually passed into the hands of the Humphrey family, who donated it to become a church. It was dedicated in 1939, with Father Francisco Ramos as the local priest and Bishop Daniel J. Gercke, D.D. as the celebrating bishop. After more than eight decades, the mission continues its ministry on the border, and a 2013 renovation — much of it accomplished by parishioner labor — has prepared the building for another generation of worship.
- Catholic mission presence in Naco established in 1903
- Building originally a Wells Fargo Express horse stable
- Donated by the Humphrey family
- Dedicated in 1939 by Bishop Daniel J. Gercke, D.D.
- Father Francisco Ramos was the priest at dedication
- Major renovation completed in 2013 by parishioners
Parish Staff and Clergy
Because St. Michael Mission is part of St. Patrick Parish, it is served by the same pastoral team listed on the parish website. The canonical pastor leads both worship sites, assisted by a sacramental minister, a pastoral administrator, and two pastoral-associate deacons. A volunteer Director of Religious Education coordinates faith formation for both communities.
- Rev. Gregory Adolf — Canonical Pastor
- Rev. Amal Sebastiar, MSFS — Sacramental Minister
- Deacon Tony Underwood — Pastoral Administrator
- Deacon Bill Lugo — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Joe Delgado — Pastoral Associate
- Wanda Leikem — Volunteer Director of Religious Education
Ministries and Groups
Parishioners of St. Michael Mission participate in the wider ministries of St. Patrick Parish. From outreach to the poor, to prayer, to building maintenance, there is a long tradition of lay involvement — and the mission itself has been shaped by the hands of its people, most notably during the 2013 renovation.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Bisbee Conference (serving neighbors in need)
- Parish Women's Club — active for nearly a century; periodic fundraisers
- Detention Ministry — Catholic presence at the Cochise County Jail in Bisbee
- Religious Education & RCIA
- Youth Group (highlighted by Bishop Kicanas during his 2003 visit)
- Parish Pastoral Council — 12 members representing both St. Patrick and St. Michael
- Parish Finance Council — joint council with St. Patrick members from the mission
- Grounds and Landscaping volunteers
- Music Ministry
- Fundraising — bingo and collaborative events held throughout the year
Faith Formation and RCIA
The parish offers Religious Education programming and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Wanda Leikem serves as Volunteer Director of Religious Education for the combined parish.
- Religious Education classes for children
- RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church
Contact and Visiting the Mission
Parishioners and visitors can reach the mission through the St. Patrick Parish office, which serves both worship sites. The parish uses a weekly Flocknote email newsletter and a printed bulletin to communicate Holy Day schedules and special events.
- Parish Telephone: (520) 432-5753
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 164, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- Physical Address (parish office): 100 Quality Hill, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- St. Michael Mission address: 2090 W. Martinez St., Naco, AZ 85620
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francisco Ramos1939 dedication
Priest at the mission at the time of its dedication in 1939, when Bishop Daniel J. Gercke, D.D. celebrated the dedicatory Mass.