Franciscan priests came from St. Peter's and St. John's churches in Roswell, NM to build the Immaculate Conception Mission Church in Dexter in 1955. The first priest was Father Francis Keehn OFM. The Catholic Extension Society contributed a large amount toward financing the new church building. Franciscan priests served the community until 2000, when Deacon Jesus Herrera began serving under Father Paul Murtagh OFM from Our Lady of Grace Church in Artesia, NM. This parish consists of Immaculate Conception members from St. Catherine's in Hagerman and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lake Arthur.