News

As the calendar year comes to an end, Catholics across our Diocese are invited to pause, give thanks, and consider how they might return to God a portion of the blessings they have received. End-of-year giving is a powerful way to thoughtfully support the Church’s mission and ensure that our parishes, schools and ministries continue to thrive in the year ahead and for generations to come.

The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is accompanying the parishes of Our Lady of Peace in Alpine, St. Mary in Marfa, St. John the Apostle in Monahans, and St. Thomas in Kermit as they participate in the Increased Offertory Program, a stewardship initiative made possible through the generous support of Catholic Extension.

As we journey closer to the sacred season of gratitude and reflection, the Catholic Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to each of you who have contributed to the 2025 Progress Annual Ministry Appeal. Because of your prayers, faith, and sacrificial generosity, we have reached 89% of our $1.9 million goal, with $1,701,178 in pledges.

The Catholic Foundation’s Patties & Pints for Priests event on El Paso Giving Day, October 16, 2025, was a rousing success — and thanks to the support of many generous donors, the Catholic Foundation raised over $11,000 for the Retired Priest Appreciation Endowment Fund!

There is a quiet traditional beauty in the story of our Church—a beauty that is written not only in stained-glass windows and ancient hymns, but in the hearts of those who give. Generosity is not measured only in dollars and cents, but in the love, sacrifice, and faith that move a person to say “yes” wholeheartedly to God’s call. Through the Annual Appeal, we are not merely raising funds; we are igniting a flame—a flame that will illuminate the path toward a kingdom built on unwavering faith and divine purpose.

Introduction: Over 600 attendees came together for the 19th Annual Foundation of Faith Event to celebrate the legacy of the Christian Brothers and to hear the inspiring words of Sister Josephine Garrett. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, the Catholic Foundation raised over $267,000 for our mission!

Sister Silvia is the heart of her small, rural, and predominantly migrant community in far West Texas. With no resident pastor, she has stepped into every role needed to keep parish life thriving—parish life coordinator, confirmation coordinator, choir director, ministry trainer, and even caretaker of the church grounds. The Catholic Foundation is honored to announce that Sister Silvia Chacón, Parish Administrator of Santa Teresa Parish in Fort Hancock, has been named the 2025 Steward of the Year.

The concept of an endowment goes back to the biblical teachings of Matthew 13:31-32, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Deborah Saucedo Llewellyn, a proud native of El Paso and a graduate of Father Yermo High School’s Class of 1988, is continuing her lifelong commitment to faith, education, and community through two scholarships endowments honoring her late mother, Nancy Saucedo.

Nestled along the sun-drenched border in West Texas, the Diocese of El Paso is home to a vibrant and diverse community of faith. Among its most powerful beacons of hope is the Catholic Campus Ministry, a vital outreach that brings the Gospel to life for the thousands of students attending colleges and universities throughout the region—including the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso Community College, and Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas.