Our Lady of the Valley
Our lady of the Valley Church began at St. Margaret's Home on Valdespino Road with the first Mass celebrated by the founding pastor, Monsignor Henry D. Buchanan on November 4, 1945 with 36 people in attendance. The present church on Winchester Road was originally the West Ysleta Country Club and was purchased on November 24, 1945. The first Mass at this location was celebrated in what is now the parish hall on December 2, 1945 for 50 families on an altar borrowed from St. Joseph Church.
The Altar Society was started in December 1945 and a Newman Club in November 1945. In March 1946, the Men's Council was organized; the Laetare Club was organized in February 1947 and held its first dance that month. The new church, originally named Our Lady of the Rosary, was completed and blessed on Easter Sunday 1949. In January 1950, Monsignor Eugene B. Geary was appointed pastor and became the longest serving priest, caring for the faith community for more than 20 years. in 1974, Father Stephen Gotwals began the successful integration of the English and Spanish-speaking communities into the parish.
Today, Our Lady of the Valley Church includes more than 700 families and provides outreach to the community through various ministries including the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, St. Vincent de Paul, Evangelization, Bible Studies, and a Youth Group. The parish has been served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Consolation Province since 2005: Friars John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. (now Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky), Maurice Hayes, O.F.M. Conv., Cyprian Uline, O.F.M. Conv. and Friar Don Adamski, O.F.M. Conv.
Source: Janine Young and Christ Chavez, “Our Lady of the Valley,” in Diocese of El Paso: Centennial History (Strasbourg Cedex, France: Éditions du Signe, 2013), 160-161.
The Altar Society was started in December 1945 and a Newman Club in November 1945. In March 1946, the Men's Council was organized; the Laetare Club was organized in February 1947 and held its first dance that month. The new church, originally named Our Lady of the Rosary, was completed and blessed on Easter Sunday 1949. In January 1950, Monsignor Eugene B. Geary was appointed pastor and became the longest serving priest, caring for the faith community for more than 20 years. in 1974, Father Stephen Gotwals began the successful integration of the English and Spanish-speaking communities into the parish.
Today, Our Lady of the Valley Church includes more than 700 families and provides outreach to the community through various ministries including the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, St. Vincent de Paul, Evangelization, Bible Studies, and a Youth Group. The parish has been served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Consolation Province since 2005: Friars John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. (now Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky), Maurice Hayes, O.F.M. Conv., Cyprian Uline, O.F.M. Conv. and Friar Don Adamski, O.F.M. Conv.
Source: Janine Young and Christ Chavez, “Our Lady of the Valley,” in Diocese of El Paso: Centennial History (Strasbourg Cedex, France: Éditions du Signe, 2013), 160-161.