About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Decatur, Texas
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Catholic parish in Decatur, Texas, founded in 1939 by twelve pioneer families and now part of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish shares clergy with St. John the Baptizer in Bridgeport and St. Mary in Jacksboro in a Tri-Parish arrangement, with the central office and rectory located in Bridgeport. Today's community numbers more than four hundred households, with parish statistics showing over 80% Hispanic membership, and the parish offers Mass, confession, adoration, and formation in both English and Spanish. It is served by the Pallottine Fathers (SAC) and staffed by three deacons and a committed lay team.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Anto Vijayan Carloose, SAC
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a bilingual, family-oriented parish where twelve founding families of 1939 have grown into a community of more than four hundred households. Members find a full schedule of English- and Spanish-language Masses, weekly reconciliation, and several weekly adoration hours, alongside active ministries for every age — Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Youth Ministry, RCIA, Quinceañera preparation, altar servers, and the Guadalupanas. Because the parish shares clergy with St. John the Baptizer (Bridgeport) and St. Mary (Jacksboro) in a Tri-Parish partnership, parishioners experience a tight-knit rural Catholic community in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:45 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursday: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- 1st Friday (Monthly): 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- 1st Friday (Monthly): 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM (overnight into Saturday)
History of the Parish
The first Mass in Decatur was offered on August 15, 1938, by Rev. Edward J. Devers at the Flusche family home. Twelve founding families dedicated the first native-stone church on North Trinity Street on November 26, 1939, and the parish grew steadily through the decades — surviving a devastating 1951 fire, building a rectory in 1948, and dedicating the present church on Deer Park Road in 1989 on its 50th anniversary. In 1993 the parish entered a Tri-Parish arrangement with St. John the Baptizer in Bridgeport and St. Mary in Jacksboro, sharing clergy and a central office.
- First Mass: August 15, 1938 (Flusche home)
- First church dedicated: November 26, 1939, North Trinity Street
- Rectory built: 1948
- Fire destroyed church interior: November 1951; rededicated February 1952 by Bishop Augustine Danglmayr
- Present church dedicated: 1989, by Bishop Joseph P. Delaney of Fort Worth
- Tri-Parish formed: 1993
Founding Families and Heritage
The twelve founding families of 1939 — Shaw, Tumelty, Weinet, Clark, Green, Thames, three branches of the Flusches (Lawrence, Al, and Conrad), McDermott, and Pennartz — established the parish through donations and the work of local craftsmen, supplemented by funds from the Extension Society. The parish itself notes that 'many family descendants have continued to be members through the years that have followed.'
- Mrs. A.M. Shaw
- Miss Margaret Tumelty
- John and Phil Tumelty
- Rupert Weinet
- The Clark family
- The Green family
- The S.D. Thames family
- The Flusche families (Lawrence, Al, and Conrad)
- Robert F. McDermott
- Albert Pennartz
Clergy and Staff
The Tri-Parish is staffed by Pallottine Fathers and three deacons, with a committed lay team handling faith formation, liturgy, and parish operations. Contacts are listed on the parish website for DRE/Youth Ministry, Liturgy, Las Guadalupanas, Safe Environment, and Maintenance.
- Pastor: Rev. Anto Vijayan Carloose, SAC
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David Amal Raj Maria, SAC
- Dcn. Mauricio Hernandez
- Dcn. Eldon Gray
- Dcn. Myles Miller, Jr.
- Bookkeeper: Mr. Oscar Tovar
- Office Assistant: Mrs. Luly Duran
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Mrs. Ana Mancilla
- DRE / Youth Ministry Coordinator (Decatur): Mrs. Anna Boyles, 940-390-9596
- DRE 6th–12th: Mrs. Cindy Tovar, 940-395-2848
- Liturgy: Victor Gomez, 940-229-9149
- Las Guadalupanas: Blanca Leon, 940-229-9063
- Maintenance: Alonso Piedra, 940-567-1595
- Parish Council: Luis Gonzales, 940-507-1005
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish runs a rich variety of ministries serving families, youth, adults, and the wider community, with strong lay leadership and several long-standing fraternal and women's organizations. The Knights of Columbus have been chartered at the parish since 1948 and the Catholic Daughters since 2006.
- RCIA for Adults (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Formation / Formación de Adulto (English & Spanish Bible study)
- Altar Servers
- Catholic Daughters of America — Court Pope John Paul II #2580 (est. October 2006)
- Knights of Columbus — Rev. Edward J. Devers Council #9644 (chartered October 1948)
- Las Guadalupanas
- Ladies Group
- October Festival Committee
- Outreach Ministry
- Parish Life / Hospitality Outreach for new parishioners
- Quinceañera preparation
- Ultrellas
- Youth Ministry (grades 7–12, est. 2007)
- Young Adult Group (ages 18–30)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at ABVM is provided through parish-based CCD/PSR programs led first by church volunteers, then by a sister with teacher volunteers, and now coordinated by the Director of Religious Education. Youth Ministry for grades 7–12 was established in 2007, and a young adult group serves ages 18–30. Two Spanish-language Bible studies — Estudio de la Biblia — meet weekly at the church.
- DRE / Youth Ministry Coordinator (Decatur): Mrs. Anna Boyles, 940-390-9596
- DRE 6th–12th: Mrs. Cindy Tovar, 940-395-2848
- Adult Formation / Formación de Adulto
- Estudio de la Biblia — Sunday 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM @ABVM
- Estudio de la Biblia — Wednesday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM @ABVM
- No Greater Love — A Biblical Walk Through Christ's Passion (adult study program)
- RCIA for Adults
- Quinceañera preparation
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical coordination at the Decatur campus is led by a lay Liturgy coordinator, supported by the parish's altar servers and other liturgical volunteers. Bilingual celebrations (English and Spanish) are the norm at weekend and weekday Masses.
- Liturgy coordinator: Victor Gomez, 940-229-9149
- Altar Servers (eligibility and requirements listed on the website)
- Bilingual weekend Mass schedule (English + Spanish)
Tri-Parish Partnership
Since 1993, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has shared one priest with St. John the Baptizer in Bridgeport and St. Mary in Jacksboro, forming the 'Tri-Parish' of the Jack and Wise Catholic Community. The central office and rectory are located in Bridgeport (1801 Irvin Street, Bridgeport, TX 76426), where the main telephone and email are also routed.
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Decatur (this parish)
- St. John the Baptizer — Bridgeport (central office & rectory)
- St. Mary — Jacksboro
- Central mailing address: 1801 Irvin Street, Bridgeport, TX 76426
- Tri-Parish main phone: 940-683-2743
- Tri-Parish email: [email protected]
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish prepares the faithful for and administers the seven sacraments, with sacramental preparation typically beginning in the family and continuing through the parish's formation programs. The parish has a special devotion to Marian celebrations under the patronage of Our Lady of the Assumption and supports quinceañera celebrations for young women of the community.
- Baptism (infant and adult via RCIA)
- First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation
- Reconciliation (Saturday 4:30 PM, Sunday 9:45 AM)
- Anointing of the Sick (contact the parish office)
- Quinceañera
- Holy Orders discernment
Visiting and Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, fax, or email. The physical church is on Deer Park Road in Decatur; the Tri-Parish central office is in Bridgeport. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the scheduled English or Spanish Masses.
- Address: 1305 Deer Park Road, Decatur, TX 76234
- Mailing: 1801 Irvin Street, Bridgeport, TX 76426
- Phone: 940-683-2743
- Fax: 940-683-5958
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jbdcatholics.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward J. Devers1938–
Recently ordained priest for the Diocese of Dallas who offered the first Mass in Decatur on August 15, 1938, at the home of Lawrence and Anna Mae Flusche; built the first native-stone church dedicated November 26, 1939.
- Rev. Richard McGowan1986–1993
Led the building committee that planned and dedicated the present church on Deer Park Road in 1989.
- Rev. Gonzo Moralesafter 1993
Tri-Parish pastor under whom Art Casias of Jacksboro was ordained a deacon.
- Rev. Sojan George
Added daily Masses to the parish schedule during his pastorate.
- Rev. Robert W. Thames
Son of the parish (offered his first Mass at ABVM) and ordained for the Diocese of Fort Worth; later served in Cabezas, Bolivia.
- Rev. Anto Vijayan Carloose, SACpresent
Current pastor, a Pallottine (SAC) priest.