Thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hexene-l hydrogenation (HD) and water-gas shift (WGS) activities were measured over molybdenum-loaded catalysts supported on alumina modified with rare-earth oxides. MoS2 supported on gamma-Al2O3/La2O3 and gamma-Al2O3/CeO2 showed better performance in HDS and HD than on non-modified alumina, whereas better activity in the WGS reaction was only observed for catalysts supported on gamma-Al2O3/CeO2.