Cristo Rey Catholic Church - El Paso

In 1970, the community of Cristo Rey began as a mission of Our Lady of the Valley Parish under Monsignor Eugene B. Geary. When this new community started, Father Tomas Parra, the Vicar, celebrated two Masses every Sunday at nearby Jesuit High School. The groundbreaking ceremony for a chapel took place on December 20, 1970. In April 1971, Bishop Metzger blessed and dedicated the new chapel and named Rev. Robert Getz the first pastor. Three years later, Cristo Rey Mission was erected as a parish on January 2, 1973 and Rev. Rafael Miranda was assigned as pastor.

In 1975, construction on the parish hall was started to accommodate the growing religious, cultural, and social activities of the Cristo Rey Parish. By 1982, the parish was under the care of Augustinian Recollect priests. Rev. Carmelo Arroyo was the first Augustinian priest followed by Fathers Antonio Martinez, Angel San Eufrasio, and Jesús María Mena. On July 25, 1995, the parish was once again placed under diocesan priests when Rev. Raul Trigueros was named pastor. Father Trigueros served as pastor for 16 years and under his care the Religious Formation Building and a beautiful fountain plaza were constructed. On October 31, 2003, Our Loving Mother’s Day Care and Learning Center was opened in the Religious Formation Building.

History was made in the Diocese of El Paso on September 8, 2011 when Bishop Ochoa appointed a lay minister, Jose “Manny” Barrios, Jr., as the Parish Life Coordinator and Church Administrator for Cristo Rey with Rev. Benjamin S. Mones, a retired priest, serving as the Priest in Residence and Sacramental Minister. Cristo Rey is the first parish to receive a layman as administrator.