San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado was born in the City of Chihuahua on June 15, 1892. He was the son of Apolinar Maldonado and Micaela Lucero, and had seven siblings. San Pedro began his seminarian formation at the age of 17 where he was known for his piety and Eucharistic devotion. One day, after he had completed the Spiritual Exercises, he told the rector of the seminary, "I have thought of always having my heart in heaven and in the Tabernacle." 

After concluding his studies in Chihuahua, he was ordained a priest on January 25, 1918 in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, in the Diocese of El Paso, by Bishop Anthony Joseph Schuler, S.J., since the Bishop of Chihuahua was sick in Mexico City. His first Solemn Mass was on February 11, 1918 in the Church of the Holy Family in Chihuahua on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

During the Religious Persecuting of Christians between the years of 1926-1937, Father Maldonado had to flee from the police and government agents who constantly persecuted him. At one point, he was forced to seek refuge in the City of El Paso, but his vocation was stronger than his fears and he returned  to minister to his people of Santa Isabel. 

On February 10, 1937, Ash Wednesday, Fr. Maldonado was arrested by henchmen of the government, who had discovered his hiding place in a ranch and brought him barefoot to the town hall. There they beat him and fractured his skull, which caused his left eye to pop out. He had brought with him a Pyx with the Eucharist, which had fallen to the floor. One of the men who was beating him took one of the Hosts and handed it to Fr. Maldonado, saying, "Eat this and see if He can save you now." He did not know that he was fulfilling the Saint's last wish. Just the night before, during holy hour, the faithful heard Fr. Maldonado pray to the Lord that he would give his life for the end of the Christian Persecution, if only he would be allowed to take communion before his death. 

At the petition of some local women who saw the seriousness of his condition, he was allowed to be taken to Chihuahua City, where he died on February 11, 1937, on the 19th anniversary of his first solemn Mass. He died from severe cerebral damage. According to his death certificate, Pedro de Jesus Maldonado-Lucero died at 5:15 pm at age 44. 

On November 22, 1992, Fr. Maldonado was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II. On May 25, 2000, he was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II..

The relics of San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado can be found in a wooden urn in the Cathedral of Chihuahua. On January 25, 2018, on the 100th anniversary of his Priestly Ordination, the Archdiocese of Chihuahua donated an urn with remains to the Diocese of El Paso. The Faithful of our Diocese can now venerate his relics at Saint Patrick Cathedral.