Mexico

Historical Background

In 1987, the Congregation of Holy Cross sent missionaries to take pastoral responsibility for Santo Tomás Moro, a large urban parish in the Archdiocese of Monterrey. The Congregation had been ministering to Spanish-speaking Catholics in the United States, primarily in Texas, for over a century. The new parish commitment was initially envisioned as a way to enhance the Congregation’s work with the wave of immigrants coming north, primarily from Mexico.

Under the Congregation’s leadership, Santo Tomás Moro flourished, and in 1996, it was divided into two by the Archdiocese. Holy Cross assumed leadership of the new parish, Nuestra Madre Santísima de La Luz (“La Luz Parish”), which was the poorer of the two.

Today, La Luz Parish, which is located in the city of Guadalupe, remains the center of the growing work of Holy Cross in Mexico. The parish consists of four chapels that, together with the main church, serve over 30,000 Catholics. Sacramental preparation and the celebration of the sacraments are a large part of the parish’s life.

La Luz also offers a wide array of pastoral outreach and social services, including a catechesis program for those with mental and physical disabilities, a network of support and counseling for victims of drug-related violence, a soup kitchen for the elderly (Comidor), and physical therapy sessions.

The work of the Congregation in Mexico is looking to expand as more local vocations have come to Holy Cross. The Congregation’s House of Formation in Mexico is located near La Luz Parish in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon.

Resources for Partnerships

Ministries in Guadalupe, Nuevo León

La Luz Parish
Mailing Address: Plutarco E. Calles #710, Colonia Rio, 67160 Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, México
Residential Address: Valle de Texas #406, 67164 Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, México
Rev. Jorge Armando Morales, C.S.C., Pastor
Rev. Marin Hernández Campos, C.S.C., Associate Pastor
Rev. Pedro Carreño Medina, C.S.C., Associate Pastor

Experience with Immersion Groups

After hosting nearly 70 immersion groups between 1997 and 2020, La Luz Parish has begun hosting immersion groups in the post-pandemic period. In 2023, La Luz Parish hosted three immersion groups with great success. Each lasted for one week and included about twelve students and at least two chaperones, with separate housing facilities for males and females. Immersion trips to La Luz Parish are primarily about getting to know the culture and, if necessary, the Spanish language. Immersion participants typically spent time visiting the sick and elderly, distributing food, providing ministries of presence, experiencing culturally distinct religious traditions, and exploring factors shaping Mexican immigration and regional poverty. These experiences will require considerable walking through the neighborhoods with La Luz Parish supervisors.

Nearest Airport

Monterrey International Airport (MTY)
Carr. Miguel Alemán Km 24, 66600 Cdad. Apodaca, N.L., México

Nearby Universities for Potential Partnership

Institution of Higher Education	Rank in Bangladesh
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education	2
Regiomontana University	71
Monterrey Metropolitan University	82
TecMilenio University	84
Monterrey Center for Higher Learning or Design	146
Centre of University Studies of Monterrey	218
Northern University A.C.	306
Arte A.C.	328
University for Advanced Communication	404
Inter-American University of the North and Sierra Madre Tech	411
Ateneo de Monterrey University	507

Health & Safety

Visit the Center for Disease Control for up-to-date vaccine and medication recommendations for U.S. travelers to Mexico.

Fr. Jorge Armando Morales Trejo, C.S.C., the pastor at La Luz Parish, actively monitors regional safety and communicates with immersion groups as necessary. In 2023, he and his community successfully hosted 3 immersion groups, each with approximately twelve students and at least two chaperones.

For every region of the world, the U.S. Department of State maintains updated travel advisories for U.S. citizens to consider when traveling abroad.

U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey
Avenida Alfonso Reyes 150
Colonia Valle Poniente
66196 Santa Catarina, Nuevo León
Telephone from Mexico: 81 8047 3100
Telephone from United States: 011 52 81 8047 3100

Travel Documentation

The following documents are needed for entry into Mexico:

A passport that is valid for at least six months after the anticipated departure date. One blank page is required.
Tourist visa, if staying more than 180 days.

Visit the U.S. Department of State webpage on Mexico for more information.

Partner With Us

Join our global Mission.

To further explore partnership opportunities with the Holy Cross Mission Center and our ministry partners around the world, contact Assistant Director for Community Engagement Michael Jezewak at mjezewak@holycrossusa.org or (574) 631 – 8884; or schedule a discovery call using the link below:

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