About Blessed Sacrament - Poth · Poth, Texas
Blessed Sacrament Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the rural community of Poth, Texas, in Wilson County southeast of San Antonio. Founded in 1912 when Catholic families in the area raised subscriptions to build their first church on land donated by A. H. Poth, the parish today is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio and ministers to a multi-generational congregation with daily and Sunday Mass, a monthly Spanish Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, and active lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society, and the parish choir. Its mission, as the parish states it, is to worship God and promote holiness of life through the Sacraments, the sharing of the Gospel, and charitable pastoral care.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament (Corpus Christi)
- Rector
- Father Damian Jaje
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament offers the rhythms of a close-knit rural parish: weekday Mass four days a week, two Sunday morning Masses plus a Saturday vigil, and a once-a-month Spanish Mass to welcome the area's Hispanic Catholic families. Parishioners are cared for by a stable staff led by Father Damian Jaje and two deacons, with two deacon couples offering spiritual direction, an RCIA team for adults entering the Church, a Funeral Committee, and a Victim Assistance / Safe Environment director. Active organizations — the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Junior Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society, ACTS Mission, and the Blessed Sacrament Choir — give families of every age a place to serve and belong.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament - Poth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before all Masses (Saturday vigil, Sunday, and weekday Masses)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- First Saturday of the month: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Prayers and Rosary begin at 4:40 PM)
Parish History
Blessed Sacrament traces its roots to 1910, when Catholic families in the Poth area organized and raised about $1,400 in subscriptions for a church. After receiving permission from the Bishop of San Antonio, they built their first church on land donated by A. H. Poth. Construction ran from April 20 to mid-June 1911 at a cost of $2,492, and the church was dedicated on January 12, 1912 by Right Reverend Bishop J. W. Shaw. A priest from the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, first shepherded the mission, and on May 12, 1912, Reverend J. Heinglmier was given Poth as a mission from Hobson. The Stations of the Cross, a gift from St. Mary's of Wiley, and a bell named John the Baptist were blessed on November 4, 1912; electric lights and bathrooms followed in 1926. The parish remains a part of the (now Metropolitan) Archdiocese of San Antonio.
- 1910 — Catholic men in Poth organize to build a church, raising about $1,400
- 1911 — Construction begins April 20; completed by mid-June at $2,492
- January 12, 1912 — Church dedicated by Bishop J. W. Shaw
- May 12, 1912 — Rev. J. Heinglmier assigned as Poth's pastor from Hobson
- November 4, 1912 — Stations of the Cross (gift of St. Mary's, Wiley) and bell "John the Baptist" blessed
- 1926 — Electric lights and bathrooms added to the church
Mission Statement
The parish's stated mission is to worship God and promote holiness of life through the celebration of the Sacraments, the sharing of the Gospel, the promotion of Catholic values, and the offering of pastoral care through ministries devoted to charitable acts of kindness and to proclaiming Christ and teaching the 'Good News' to all.
Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership
Blessed Sacrament is led by Father Damian Jaje, Pastor, supported by two deacons — Deacon Alan Crosby and Deacon Jesse Nunez — and a small lay staff. Laurie Lipscomb serves as Bookkeeper & Secretary; Becky (Rebecca) Raabe is the Coordinator of Religious Education / DRE; and Deborah Wiatrek is the Pastoral Council President. The Archdiocesan Victim Assistance & Safe Environment Director, Steve Martinez, is listed for parish safeguarding.
- Father Damian Jaje — Pastor
- Deacon Alan Crosby
- Deacon Jesse Nunez
- Laurie Lipscomb — Bookkeeper & Secretary
- Becky (Rebecca) Raabe — Coordinator of Religious Education / DRE
- Deborah Wiatrek — Pastoral Council President
- Steve Martinez — Victim Assistance & Safe Environment Director (210-734-7786)
Sacraments
Families seeking Baptism are asked to contact the pastor for a Pre-Baptismal class and to set a date. Couples planning Marriage must contact the pastor at least six months ahead for preparation and a date. Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office (830-484-3302). Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are guided through the RCIA process.
- Baptism — Pre-Baptismal class required; contact the pastor
- Marriage — contact the pastor at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — call 830-484-3302
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Gerri Garza, 830-200-9854)
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Blessed Sacrament is sustained by a robust set of lay-led organizations that serve every age and interest, from the parish choir to the Knights of Columbus. Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Junior Catholic Daughters offer fellowship and service opportunities for women and girls, the Altar Society cares for the sanctuary, and ACTS Mission supports retreat ministry. The Funeral Committee walks families through funeral planning, while the Pastoral Council, led by Deborah Wiatrek, guides parish governance.
- Blessed Sacrament Choir — Director: Ginger Jarzombek (830-534-9340)
- Altar Society — President: Ester Luna
- ACTS Mission — Core: William Hons
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Regent: Cynthia Kruse
- Junior Catholic Daughters — Olivia West, President; Danette Lyssy, Chairman; Stacy Koether, Co-Chairman
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight: Mark Moczygemba
- Funeral Committee — Leader: Carolyn Krawietz (830-484-3329)
- Altar Flower Coordinator — Linda Moczygemba (830-484-2351)
- Spiritual Direction — Deacon Jesse Nunez (210-705-3029); Rosie Nunez (210-705-3472)
- Pastoral Council — President: Deborah Wiatrek
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes for children are coordinated by the Director of Religious Education, Rebecca (Becky) Raabe, who can be reached at 830-484-3303. The parish runs an annual Vacation Bible School — in 2025 scheduled for the week of June 22 — and is already preparing the 2026–27 Faith Formation year, with class times including 3:30, 5:30, and 7:00 PM.
- DRE: Rebecca (Becky) Raabe — 830-484-3303
- Vacation Bible School: week of June 22, 2025
- Class times: 3:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 7:00 PM
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in learning about or entering the Catholic Church are invited into the parish's RCIA process. The team is coordinated by Gerri Garza, who can be reached at 830-200-9854 or [email protected].
- Contact: Gerri Garza — 830-200-9854 — [email protected]
Parish News & Building Committee
In mid-2025 the parish announced the formation of a Building Committee to explore upgrades and remodeling projects — particularly the brown sanctuary wall that displays the Crucifix, and improvements to the Faith Formation Building. The committee will serve as a liaison between the parish, the pastor, the Archdiocese, and construction professionals; the parish is seeking 5–7 committed members and a mature chairperson. The plan was discussed at the Parish Council Meeting on June 25 at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall. The parish also hosts an Annual Fundraiser (August 8, 2025) and welcomes volunteers.
- Building Committee forming (2025)
- Target projects: sanctuary Crucifix wall; Faith Formation Building upgrades
- Parish Council meeting: June 25, 6:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Annual Fundraiser: Saturday, August 8, 2025 (contact Becky Raabe 830-484-3303 / 830-391-1015)
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is at 488 W. Westmeyer, Poth, Texas 78147 (mailing address PO Box 339). The phone number is (830) 484-3302, the fax line is (830) 484-2903, and the parish email is [email protected]. New parishioners are invited to complete the parish Registration Form and return it to the rectory. The weekly bulletin is available for download on the parish website.
- Address: 488 W. Westmeyer, Poth, TX 78147 (PO Box 339)
- Phone: (830) 484-3302
- Fax: (830) 484-2903
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://blessedsacramentpoth.org