Our Pastor

Fr. John Daniel

Fr. John C. Daniel, is the third child of four Children born to Charles and Shelia Daniel. He was blessed to grow up in a Catholic Home with parents that actively practiced their faith. His, Grandmother took the family to Stations of the Cross during Lent and his Mother attended Daily mass during Lent. He grew up in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque, NM, attending Our Lady of Fatima and graduating from St. Pius X High School in 1984.

Fr. John knew at an early age that he had a calling to become and priest, and in his first year in college was accepted into the seminary. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in History from the College of Santa Fe, and his master’s degree in Theology from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He was ordained on June 6, 1992 and served as the Parochial Vicar for Immaculate Conception Parish in Las Vegas New Mexico, while there he was also the Chaplin for the State Mental Hospital and served the Community of Wagon Mound because they did not have a priest at the time. On November 27, 1993 he was appointed Pastor of St. Anne’s Parish in Tucumcari, NM. While in Tucumcari he also taught an Ethics Class at Mesalands Community College. He was in Tucumcari for 8 ½ years. On June 24, 2002 he was appointed Pastor of San Miguel Parish in Socorro, NM. While in Socorro he served San Miguel and it's 8 missions, he also purchased a building that became the St. Patrick Newman Center for the Students at New Mexico Tech. On August 31, 2007, he became Pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish. While at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish he worked with the members of the Community to design and build a new Church that was dedicated on October 28, 2011. The new Church seats 1,350 people and was needed due to the growing population of the parish.

On February 2, 2016 Archbishop John C. Wester appointed Fr. John as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and Fr. John held this position until January 16, 2019, when he was appointed Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Los Alamos.

Fr. John, is thankful to be able to return to Parish ministry and looks forward to being a part of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish including St. Joseph Mission and the communities of Los Alamos and White Rock. Know that you are welcome to attend any mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary or St. Joseph. If you would like to visit with Fr. John just call the parish office at 662-6193 and an appointment can be scheduled.