About Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory · Victoria, Texas
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory is a Catholic cathedral and parish church located at 1309 Mesquite Lane in Victoria, Texas, United States. It is the mother church (seat) of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas and serves both as a parish church for local Catholics and as the liturgical center for the diocese around the cathedra, the bishop's teaching chair. Built in the Modern style of brick in 1957–1958 and elevated to cathedral status when Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Victoria in 1982, the church is known for its mid-century modern interior with abstract and figurative murals, statuary and mosaics that were carefully restored after Hurricane Harvey damage in 2017. It is home to Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (3K–8th grade, opened 1957) and an active parish life built around daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the OCIA process, ACTS retreats, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (BVM Victory)
- Rector
- Rev. Kirby Hlavaty
- Diocese
- Diocese of Victoria in Texas
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory is the spiritual and liturgical heart of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas, offering an unusually rich sacramental rhythm: daily Mass (including 6:00 a.m. on weekdays), Saturday Vigil and four Sunday Masses, weekly Confession times, weekly and all-night Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, and parish-wide ACTS retreats focused on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service. A parish school serving 3K through 8th grade has been on site since 1957, the active Cathedral Center hosts parish programs and gatherings, and the parish coordinates diocesan events — all of which makes it a natural home for families, returning Catholics, and anyone looking for a deeply Catholic liturgical life on the Texas coast.
Mass times at Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:15 PM
- Saturdays 4:00 – 5:15 PM
- Lenten Penance Services (additional priests available; e.g., Monday evenings during Lent)
- Holy Week: Monday and Wednesday, Noon – 1:00 PM (during Holy Week schedule)
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins at 7:00 AM (after the 6:00 AM Mass) and ends with Benediction prior to the 5:30 PM Mass
- Holy Hour for Vocations immediately following the 6:00 AM Mass on First Fridays
- All Night Eucharistic Adoration on the Thursday evening before each month's First Friday, beginning at 7:00 PM Thursday and continuing until right before the First Friday 6:00 AM Mass (overnight adorers asked to use the side entrance facing the front parking lot)
History of Our Lady of Victory Cathedral
Our Lady of Victory Parish traces its roots to 1956, when the O'Connor families donated 20 acres of land for a new Catholic parish in Victoria. Tom O'Connor Jr. gave more than $600,000 to build the church in honor of his wife 'Junie' Broussard O'Connor, and Archbishop Robert E. Lucey of San Antonio blessed the cornerstone on April 7, 1957. The parish was officially established on July 13, 1958, with Rev. Henry Rolf as first pastor. The church was dedicated on July 14, 1958 and solemnly consecrated on November 4, 1958, with relics of St. Severian and Pope St. Urban placed in the altar.
- 1956 – O'Connor families donate 20 acres of land
- September 1957 – Our Lady of Victory Catholic School opens
- April 7, 1957 – Cornerstone blessed by Archbishop Robert E. Lucey
- July 12, 1958 – Rev. Henry Rolf named first pastor
- July 13, 1958 – Parish officially established
- July 14, 1958 – Church dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop Stephen A. Leven
- November 4, 1958 – Solemn consecration; relics of St. Severian and Pope St. Urban sealed in altar
- 1982 – Designated Cathedral when Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Victoria in Texas
- 2009 – Parish acquires former Town Plaza Mall
- 2017 – Cathedral Center (former J.C. Penney) completed; rest of mall sold to University of Houston–Victoria
- 2017 – Hurricane Harvey causes water damage
- Summer 2019 – Cathedral closed for major interior restoration; murals, pews, statues, woodwork restored
Clergy & Staff
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory is led by Very Rev. Kirby Hlavaty, Rector/Pastor, who also serves as Executive Director of the Emmaus Counseling Center of the Diocese of Victoria. He is assisted by a vicar and parochial vicars, and supported by an extensive faculty and staff at the parish school.
- Very Rev. Kirby Hlavaty — Rector / Pastor
- Rev. Dalton Ervin — Vicar
- Rev. Jonas Kuubeta — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Samuel Asantey — Parochial Vicar
Our Lady of Victory Catholic School
Our Lady of Victory Catholic School has been in continuous operation since it opened in September 1957 — one of the oldest parish schools in the diocese. It currently serves 3K through 8th grade and celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2022. The faculty are degreed, qualified and experienced, with degrees ranging from Bachelors of Arts and Sciences to Masters of Education and doctorates. The school offers religion, music, art, technology, PE, JH Spanish, JH math, JH science, JH history, speech therapy, athletics (girls' basketball, cheer), an aftercare program, and a SOAR Ambassador Club.
- Grades: 3K through 8th grade
- Opened: September 1957
- 65th anniversary celebrated in 2022
- Athletics: Girls' Basketball, Cheerleading, SOAR Ambassador Club
- On-site: Music, Art, Technology, PE, JH Math, JH Science, JH History, JH Spanish
- Support services: Speech Therapist, Aftercare, Counselor
Faith Formation & OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish runs a year-round OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for the unbaptized, baptized but uncatechized, those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and Catholics who wish to serve as companions to inquirers. The group meets on Mondays at 6:30 PM in the Cathedral Center (St. Raphael Meeting Room). Questions are directed to Jenny Vincent at 361-575-4741 or jvincent@olvcathedral.org. A separate Religious Education program serves parish youth.
- OCIA meetings: Mondays 6:30 PM in Cathedral Center, St. Raphael Meeting Room
- Contact: Jenny Vincent — 361-575-4741 / jvincent@olvcathedral.org
- Religious Education Classes for parish youth
ACTS Retreats
ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) is the parish's signature retreat ministry, modeled on the early Church in Acts 2:42–47. ACTS sponsors weekend lay retreats and ongoing community life through reunions, prayer groups, evangelization, and service projects. The mission is to help parishioners attain a deeper relationship with the Lord and with one another through adoration and daily prayer, community within the parish, theological study rooted in Scripture, and service to God and the parish family. The ACTS Core — a group of men and women — governs the community under the pastor and for the good of the parish.
- Four pillars: Adoration, Community, Theology, Service
- Scripture basis: Acts 2:42–47
- Governing body: ACTS Core (men and women of the parish)
- Ongoing community: retreat reunions, prayer groups, evangelization, service projects
Cathedral Center & Facilities
In 2009 the parish acquired the former Town Plaza Mall next door to the church. The former J.C. Penney store was converted into the Cathedral Center — a parish hall and meeting room complex used for receptions, conferences, and parish programs. The conversion was designed by the Victoria architectural firm Rawley McCoy & Associates and completed in 2017. The remaining mall site was sold to the University of Houston–Victoria the same year; a driveway and green space separate the parish building from the university's facility. Meeting rooms such as the St. Raphael Meeting Room host OCIA and other parish programs.
- Acquired former Town Plaza Mall in 2009
- Cathedral Center (former J.C. Penney) completed 2017
- Architect: Rawley McCoy & Associates (Victoria, TX)
- Includes parish hall, meeting rooms (e.g., St. Raphael Meeting Room)
- Adjacent University of Houston–Victoria campus
Hurricane Harvey Restoration & Mid-Century Modern Art
Hurricane Harvey in 2017 caused severe water damage to the cathedral's roof and wooden rafters. In the summer of 2019 the cathedral was closed for interior renovations necessitated by the storm: high murals near the ceiling had to be removed and recreated on new panels, pews refurbished, statues reconditioned, walls cleaned of mold, interior woodwork restored, and walls repainted — all while maintaining the integrity of the original murals. EverGreene's conservation team documented, treated and replicated damaged artwork so that the restored mid-century modern interior looks as good as new. The abstract and figurative murals, statuary and mosaics remain central to the cathedral's identity.
- 2017 – Hurricane Harvey water damage
- Summer 2019 – Cathedral closed for full interior restoration
- Murals, pews, statues, woodwork and walls restored
- Murals replicated on new panels by EverGreene conservators
- Mid-century modern interior preserved
Diocese of Victoria in Texas
Our Lady of Victory is the cathedral church (mother church) and seat of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas, established by Pope John Paul II in 1982. As cathedral, it serves both as a parish church and as the liturgical center of the diocese, united around the cathedra — the authoritative teaching chair of the bishop. The Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill is the current Bishop of Victoria, and the Most Reverend Charles V. Grahmann was installed as the diocese's first bishop in 1982.
- Diocese established: 1982 (diocesan records note May 29, 1982)
- First Bishop: Most Rev. Charles V. Grahmann
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. Brendan J. Cahill
- Diocesan website: victoriadiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Frederick O'BeckPre-1958 (planner)
Pastor of St. Mary's in Victoria; led initial planning and design of parish buildings.
- Rev. Henry Rolf1958
Named first pastor of Our Lady of Victory on July 12, 1958; parish officially established July 13, 1958.