Annual US – Mexico Border Mass Set For November 2nd

The Annual US - Mexico Border Mass celebration slated for Saturday, November 2, 2019.

The US - Mexico Border Mass will take place simultaneously on both sides of the US and Mexico border and will be conducted by three border dioceses including El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, and Las Cruces.

The annual tradition began sixteen years ago at the US – Mexico border fence in Anapra back in 1998 but in 2016 the mass was moved to the Rio Grande canal nearby the Santa Fe Bridge.

The El Paso diocese of El Paso issued the following statement saying:

"When we celebrate this Border Mass here where El Paso meets Ciudad Juarez and the U.S. meets Mexico, we are proclaiming the Good News of a Eucharistic Border. In this time of high polarization around the immigration debate, discrimination, militarization of the border and a widespread spirit of exclusion in our nation, the Border Mass continues to remind us, missionary disciples of Christ, that we are primarily called to live in communion. For our Catholic faith, there is no “us and them”, but one family of God.  Borders, in the spirit of the Eucharist, exist not to separate and divide, but to identify and complement one another.  Borders are where we encounter each other and create thriving communities in unity and diversity.  Borders are places where we share each other’s journey."

The mass will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2019 beginning at 9 a.m. – For directions see below:

Directions:

Coming from the East:

• Take I-10 West and exit on Mesa, downtown.
• Go straight on Yandell until you reach the light on the crossing of Santa Fe Street
• Turn left on Santa Fe and go straight passing the Judson F. Williams convention center and the Sun Metro terminal, towards the pedestrian entrance of the Santa Fe Bridge.
• Turn right on Calleros street.
• Park on the streets and walk to the end of Calleros to cross the train tracks.
• Cross the train tracks and walk towards the fence across the levee.
• Enter the ramp to the canal and go down to the canal apron where people will be gathering for the mass.  Please bring your own chair.

Coming from the West:

• Take I-10 East and exit on Santa Fe, Downtown.
• Go up the exit ramp to the light and turn right on Santa Fe Street.
•  Go South straight on Santa Fe passing the Judson F. Williams convention center and the Sun Metro terminal, towards the pedestrian entrance of the Santa Fe Bridge.
• Turn right on Calleros street.
• Park on the streets and walk to the end of Calleros to cross the train tracks.
• Cross the train tracks and walk towards the fence across the levee.
• Enter the ramp to the canal and go down to the canal apron where people will be gathering for the mass.  Please bring your own chair.