Risen Savior Catholic Church stands on Wyoming Boulevard in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights, a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe whose story begins with a small group of Queen of Heaven parishioners in 1977. It is known for a steady rhythm of Masses, regular confession, faith formation that runs from a preschool through adult study, and a parish life that reaches out to the homebound and to the Hopeworks Hospitality Center. It also operates the only stand-alone preschool in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Saturday at Four, Three on Sunday, and a Wednesday Morning Mass
The weekly schedule is generous. Saturday Mass is at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, Masses are celebrated at 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Mass is offered on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 a.m. and on Wednesday at 7:00 a.m., with a Friday 7:00 a.m. Mass during Lent.
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday: 7:00 a.m.
- Friday during Lent: 7:00 a.m.
Confession is heard on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 a.m., continuing until the start of Mass, and on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. A Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 9:00 a.m. Mass for families with young children.
The parish office and the preschool share the number 505-821-1571 at 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Newcomers can register as parishioners online, and the parish takes requests to add a name to its prayer list, asking first that the person give permission. Video of parish Masses is available on YouTube, along with a playlist of recorded celebrations.
From a Mausoleum to a Parish: 1977 to 1979
The parish's story begins in 1977, when parishioners from Queen of Heaven started meeting at the Mausoleum of Gate of Heaven Cemetery to lay plans for a satellite parish. By early 1978 a site had been purchased, plans approved, and construction begun on what would become Risen Savior. Some of the earliest floor plans carried the name 'Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.' Five hundred thirty-eight people attended Masses at the mausoleum on the first weekend of 1978.
The community moved into its new building the first weekend of October 1978. At first, the entire parish complex was only what the church alone now occupies: a rectangle with offices, storage rooms, restrooms, work rooms, classrooms, and a multi-purpose room carved out of it. Movable and accordion-fold walls, along with hundreds of folding chairs, let the worship space become classrooms or gathering spaces as the week required. On July 1, 1979, Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez dedicated Risen Savior as a parish.
Where the Parish Is Going
The parish calls its founding 'Faith and Charity' and is frank about the future. The things that make it Catholic will not change: there will always be daily and weekend Masses, and people will gather to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and the rosary. The hungry will be filled, the thirsty will be satisfied, and those who seek righteousness will find their way to the door.
Some things will change. Parish life is fluid and ever shifting, with programs that once met a need giving way to new ones. One thing is certain, the parish says: a community now approaching middle age intends to be here for future generations in the spirit in which it was founded, a spirit of service to others.
The Eucharist at the Center of Parish Life
Mass is the central act of Catholic worship, and Risen Savior holds that the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments are the center of the Church's liturgical life. The parish teaches that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, not as a sign or symbol but as Jesus himself received in the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus, a change the parish names transubstantiation.
The celebration follows the familiar shape: the Liturgy of the Word, where Scripture is proclaimed and the Psalm is sung, then the homily, the Creed, the communal prayers, the offering of bread and wine, and the reception of the Eucharist. Catholics who have made First Holy Communion are welcome to receive Communion, and the Church obliges them to receive at least once a year. Receiving the Eucharist signifies and effects the unity of the community and strengthens the Body of Christ.
Baptism: Water, Oil, Light, and White
Baptism ushers a person into divine life, cleanses sin, and initiates them as a member of the Christian community, and the parish calls it the foundation for the sacramental life. At the font, the presider prays over the water, asking that by the power of the Holy Spirit it be given the grace of the Son, so that those created in God's likeness may be cleansed of sin and rise to a new birth of innocence. Baptisms are commonly held for infants shortly after birth, while adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Those already validly baptized in a Christian church are not baptized again.
Four symbols carry the meaning. Water recalls Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan and stands for cleansing and renewal. Oil anoints the baptized as 'priest, prophet and king,' with a cross traced on the forehead. Light comes from the Paschal or Easter candle, a sign of Christ as light in the world. The white garment signifies victory over death and resurrection, and echoes the pall placed over a coffin.
Godparents are chosen to help parents raise a child in the Catholic faith, a role the parish calls more than ceremonial. A godparent must be a baptized Catholic at least 16 years old who has made First Holy Communion and Confirmation, attends Mass on Sundays and holy days, receives Penance at least once a year and Holy Communion at least once a year in the Easter Season, and has been registered in a Catholic parish for at least three months. Those who are married must have been married in the Church, and those who are single may not cohabit.
Confirmation and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Confirmation is where baptized Catholics receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm their baptismal promises, through the anointing of chrism and the laying on of hands by the bishop. The parish holds that it is the sacrament that perfects baptismal grace, rooting a person more deeply in divine filiation and binding them more closely to the mission of the Church.
Youth Confirmation belongs to Youth Faith Formation and is open to students in 9th through 12th grade, with a sponsor affidavit for candidates and a chance for teens to take part in the sacrament of Penance. Adults can join Confirmation classes as well. The scripture behind it is Pentecost: baptism initiates a person into the Church and names them children of God, while confirmation calls them forth as God's children and unites them more fully to the mission of Christ in the world.
Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick
Penance is the sacrament in which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven, bringing reconciliation with God and with the Church. Confession at Risen Savior follows four movements: contrition and conversion of heart, confession of sins to a priest, acceptance of absolution, and a commitment to live out a Christian life. Only ordained priests have the faculty to absolve sins, and individual confession with a priest is the principal means of absolution for grave sins.
The Anointing of the Sick may be arranged through the parish office when someone faces an upcoming surgical procedure or a chronic illness that has worsened, and there is no need to wait until the point of death. The hoped-for effect is physical healing if it is God's will, but the sacrament's primary effect is spiritual, giving the sick person the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage. All hospitals in Albuquerque have a priest on call for emergency anointings, and hospital chaplains can reach the on-call priest.
Preparing for Marriage at Risen Savior
Couples seeking a sacramental marriage are asked to meet with Father Charles before making any plans, at least six months before the intended wedding date. Dates are not set or reserved on the parish calendar until after that meeting.
Preparation is part of the process. In the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, a four to six month preparation period is recommended for couples who have completed their eighteenth birthday and have not been civilly united, and every couple must attend a Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter program. A wedding may be celebrated at the parish church of either the bride or the groom, and nuptial Masses are not celebrated on Sundays or holy days of obligation.
Documentation matters as well. A civil marriage license from New Mexico is required, along with questionnaires establishing freedom to marry, witness forms, recently issued baptismal certificates with all notations for anyone baptized, and a certificate of participation in an approved marriage preparation program. A dispensation for mixed religion or disparity of worship is required when the couple's situation calls for one. The parish also sets expectations for the day itself: photographers are asked to limit their work in the church to 20 or 30 minutes after the ceremony and not to move altar furnishings such as candles, prayer books, kneelers, or the altar itself.
Marriage is framed as a covenant, a lifelong union of spouses that images the covenant between God and his people and the union of Christ and the Church. The sacrament gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love Christ has for the Church, and it perfects human love in a bond of unity and indissolubility.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith formation here is catechesis, teaching that deepens contact with Jesus Christ through educational and enrichment opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Child Faith Formation serves kindergarten through fifth grade, Youth Faith Formation covers middle and high school students along with Confirmation, and adult faith formation welcomes anyone who wants to keep learning, with registration possible at any point in the year. The parish also names Bible study and a group called F.I.R.E. among its ways of understanding the heart and mind of Jesus Christ and the sacraments.
Adults preparing for full membership in the Church join the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, which meets on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. OCIA is described not as a class or a series of lectures but as a communal conversion journey. Catechumens are unbaptized adults seeking full initiation through Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, while candidates are baptized Catholics or Christians who want full communion with the Church and complete initiation through the Eucharist and Confirmation. Participants are introduced to the liturgy, the teachings, and the life of the Church, and they walk the road with parishioners rather than alone.
Young Adults Finding Purpose, Belonging, and Friendship
The Young Adult Ministry creates a space for adults roughly 21 to 35 in Albuquerque to find purpose, belonging, and friendship centered on Catholic faith, with a goal of building a culture of discipleship, fellowship, and service. The group takes outings outside the parish, joins other young adults around the city for gatherings such as Come to Christ and Theology on Tap, and volunteers as a ministry when called to serve. Regular gatherings pair discussion of Catholic teachings and topics with fellowship among peers.
The Only Stand-Alone Preschool in the Archdiocese
Risen Savior Catholic Preschool serves 3- and 4-year-old students, and it is the only stand-alone preschool in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to offer families a choice of two, three, or five days a week. Its motto is 'We pray, we play, we learn, we love.' Guided by prayer, the school aims to provide a quality education in a safe environment that cultivates independent learners, effective communicators, and responsible citizens through academics, creativity, and play.
Because it is an Archdiocesan preschool licensed by CYFD, its instruction reflects the standards of both, and a low teacher-to-student ratio lets teachers identify each child's strengths and areas of need and build differentiated instruction around them. The curriculum is hands-on and practical, with a daily rhythm of prayer, science, art, music, and movement and an emphasis on phonemic awareness in preparation for kindergarten reading. The school reports a 97% retention rate and offers extended care registration for families who need more hours than the classroom day provides.
Preschool Director Christina Medina frames the school's purpose in terms of formation: Catholic education is at the heart of the mission of the Church, and the faculty works to form students as saints and citizens for this world and the next. Vanessa Montoya, a recent high school graduate pursuing early childhood education, helps with the Children's Liturgy of the Word and assists in children's faith formation. Teacher Angela Alonen brings years of early childhood experience in the Los Lunas and Albuquerque public schools, including work with preschool children with developmental delays, and she believes early childhood education involves the whole family.
Choir Members, Lectors, and Volunteers at Hopeworks
The parish's liturgical ministries cover singing, reading, serving, and communion: choir members, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, with liturgical ministers always needed. Parish life also reaches outward. Outreach ministries include visiting the homebound, serving the poor, volunteering at the Hopeworks Hospitality Center, and serving with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Mary Bruce leads the homebound ministry.
There are also men's and women's groups, a youth ministry, and an annual parish picnic, and the parish invites ideas for new ministries. Youth faith formation, the young adult ministry, and the preschool each keep their own Facebook presence. A weekly bulletin and a seasonal newsletter keep people connected to parish life, and online giving makes it possible to support the parish with one-time or recurring gifts.
Giving Online, Whenever You Like
Online giving is available at any hour from a computer or phone. Donors can create an account, choose a fund, enter an amount and a frequency, set a start date, and schedule recurring or future gifts to line up with a pay period. Credit card rewards can be used, bank information is entered directly into the secure giving service, and contributions are credited to the end-of-year tax statement unless a gift is made anonymously. Donors can adjust amounts or continue supporting the parish through one-time gifts when they cannot attend Mass.
Living the Catholic Year
The parish follows one universal liturgical calendar. Advent opens the year with the four Sundays leading to Christmas, which begins on Christmas Eve, runs through the Epiphany and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and ends with the Baptism of the Lord in January. Lent's forty days recall Jesus in the desert and run from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. The Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday is the most important three days of the year, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night is when new members receive the Sacraments of Initiation and are welcomed into the Church.
Eastertide celebrates Christ's resurrection and victory over death, his Ascension on the seventh Sunday after Easter, and concludes at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is sent upon the apostles. Ordinary Time follows, exploring Christ's mission and message through the Gospels and including Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, and the Solemnity of Christ the King. Through the year, solemnities, feasts, and memorials commemorate people and events held in deep reverence by the Church.
What Risen Savior Believes
The parish teaches that God reveals himself through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, with the Incarnation as the ultimate sign of that love, and it holds to the Holy Trinity and to Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection as the Paschal Mystery at the heart of every liturgical celebration, especially the Mass. The Nicene Creed is recited at Mass each Sunday, the Church is founded by Christ and carried forward by the Apostolic Tradition, and the seven sacraments nourish and strengthen faith.
Catholic social teaching places the dignity of the human person above all else, from conception to natural life, and calls believers to tend the poor, care for the environment, ensure just working conditions, and work toward equal treatment for all. Prayer is communion with God, public or personal, spoken or silent, with the Psalms sung as the Church's communal prayer and the Liturgy of the Hours and the rosary part of the parish's rhythm. The Pope is the chief pastor and shepherd of the whole Church.
Risen Savior remains, by its own account, a parish in the middle of its story: born in a mausoleum in 1977, dedicated in 1979, and still arranging its days around daily and weekend Masses, prayer, formation for every age, and a steady spirit of service to others.