Perhaps you are wondering why this church is named Santa Maria de la Paz. It means Our Lady of Peace in Spanish. Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Church is a beacon of faith. It stands in Santa Fe. Its story is one of community and devotion.
In 1990, Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez saw the need for a new parish. The south side of Santa Fe was growing fast. He established this new faith community. He placed it under the protection of Our Lady of Peace. He hoped for peace among all people. Father Jerome Martinez y Alire became the founding pastor. He guided the community for its first decade.
The first Mass was a humble affair. It took place on January 13, 1990. Parishioners gathered in the gym of Piñon Elementary School. This was about two miles from where we stand now. About 250 families initially registered. The parish boundaries covered the southwest part of Santa Fe.
Soon after the parish formed, Father Jerome sought volunteers. He wanted to create a Building Committee. This committee would oversee the design and construction of a new church. By the end of the summer in 1991, they had a design concept. Parishioner involvement was a guiding principle.
Parishioners had many chances to help build Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Church. They carved corbels for the worship space. They built the wall around the apple orchard. Even children contributed. They donated money to buy bushes for the parish grounds.
A fundraising campaign called “A Time to Build” ran from 1991 to 1992. By September 1992, the detailed design and costing were done. Ground was broken on February 28, 1993. The first liturgy in the new church took place on June 11, 1994. Archbishop Michael Sheehan formally dedicated the church on July 10, 1994.
In 2000, Father Jerome departed and Father Adam Ortega y Ortiz arrived. The parish paid off its entire debt in June 2001. This was seven years ahead of schedule. Father Adam asked parishioners for suggestions. They decided to build a social center and a small chapel.
The capital campaign “A Time to Grow” was launched. In 2003, Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan dedicated the San José Chapel. It provided a smaller worship space. It is perfect for daily Mass, weddings and funerals. The Social Center was also completed and dedicated in 2003. It hosts wedding receptions, parish dinners and youth events.
Father Adam departed in 2012 and Father Daniel M. Balizan arrived. The parish building was nearly 20 years old. It needed repair and maintenance. Under Father Daniel’s leadership, the parish began “A Time to Renew” in 2016. They replaced the brick floor pavers in the main church. They refinished the chairs and pews. They replaced the lighting and dimming system. All projects were completed except for the parking lot.
Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Church has grown significantly. In 1990, it had about 250 families. By 2019, it had over 1850 registered families. They celebrated their 25th anniversary of the Church Edifice. Five Masses were celebrated each weekend. This included a bilingual Mass for the growing Hispanic population. Over 700 volunteers were active in various ministries before COVID-19.
In 2022, Father Daniel departed. Father Darrell J. Segura Jr. became the new pastor. The parish looks forward to a thriving community. It embraces positive transformation. It remains steadfast in its shared journey of faith.
Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Church has a history of outstanding parishioner commitment. It is a spiritual home. Each lives for the other. All live for God. This is more than just a building. It is a testament to faith, community and peace.