City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Relocation

Telephone: (505) 243-4628

Address: 2005 North Plaza NW

Description: Although a busy tourist destination in the Old Town Plaza, San Felipe de Neri, the third-oldest church in America, continues to serve the spiritual needs of its parish. The first church here was established under the direction of Franciscan priest Fray Manuel Moreno, to serve the small community of the newly minted Villa de Alburquerque in 1706. It was originally called San Francisco Xavier Church and changed to San Felipe de Neri in honor of King Philip of Spain. The first church construction was completed by 1718–19, on the west side of the plaza, but following its collapse in 1792, the church that stands today was built on the north side of the plaza in 1793. San Felipe de Neri is the oldest building in Albuquerque and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mass is celebrated here daily, including a Sunday morning Mass in Spanish. The church has been actively involved in education since 1770, originally using the parish house for classrooms. Today’s San Felipe de Neri School, on nearby Lomas Boulevard in Old Town, teaches children from prekindergarten through eighth grade. San Felipe de Neri is located in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, which is responsible for 91 parish seats and 216 active missions across an area of over 61,000 square miles. Other Catholic churches in Albuquerque may be found on their Web site: www.archdiocesesantafe.org.