About Good Shepherd · Schertz, Texas
The Church of the Good Shepherd is a Catholic parish in Schertz, Texas, part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, that serves the rapidly growing Schertz-Cibolo community northeast of San Antonio alongside its mission church, Immaculate Conception, in nearby Marion, Texas. Originally established in 1970 as Immaculate Conception Parish and soon renamed Good Shepherd Parish, the community worships at a church building completed in late 2002 on Live Oak Road that was dedicated by retired Bishop Bernard Popp. Under the current pastor, Fr. Octavio 'Father O' Muguerza (since July 2018), the parish offers daily and weekend Masses in English, a strong faith formation program, vibrant liturgical ministries, regular Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA/OCIA, youth ministry, ACTS retreats, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, and a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference serving neighbors in need.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Reverend Octavio A. Muguerza ('Father O')
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Good Shepherd is a thriving, growing parish family that has faithfully served the Schertz–Cibolo–Marion area for more than five decades, with a current pastor in Fr. Octavio 'Father O' Muguerza whose stated priorities are serving the poor and helping the laity live their baptismal call. Worshippers find a robust liturgical life — daily Mass, three Sunday Masses in Schertz plus a 10:15 AM Mass at Immaculate Conception in Marion, daily Eucharistic Adoration (Tuesday–Thursday 9 AM–9 PM at Good Shepherd; Thursdays 4–9 PM at Immaculate Conception), and frequent Reconciliation — supported by choirs, altar servers, lectors, and extraordinary ministers. The parish offers faith formation for every age (elementary through high school confirmation, adult OCIA/RCIA, Young Adult Ministry ages 18–35, and ACTS retreats), a strong fellowship network (Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Ladies Altar Society, Hospitality, Festival committee), and tangible outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity, Grace Ministries for individuals with special needs, and a food pantry — making it both a place to worship and a community to belong to.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM (Good Shepherd)
- Saturday 4:30 – 5:15 PM (Good Shepherd)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (210) 658-4350
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Good Shepherd)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Good Shepherd)
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Good Shepherd)
- Thursday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Immaculate Conception, Marion)
- Last Thursday of the month — Adoration for Vocations 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Immaculate Conception)
Parish History
Good Shepherd Parish grew out of two rural missions — Immaculate Conception in Marion (dedicated 1954) and a mission church in Schertz on FM 78 — both serving a then-rural area northeast of San Antonio. Archbishop Robert E. Lucey's 1967 purchase of ten acres on Live Oak Road set the stage for the Archdiocese to establish Immaculate Conception Parish on Christmas Day 1970, soon renamed Good Shepherd Parish.
- 1967 — Archbishop Lucey approves ten-acre purchase on Live Oak Road
- 1970 (Christmas Day) — Parish established
- 1972 — Original church built; Fr. Sean Moore pastored during construction
- 1972 (end of year) — Archbishop Francis Furey dedicates new church; Fr. Emmet Carolan installed
- 2001 — Construction begins on larger church
- 2002 (Nov 10) — Retired Bishop Bernard Popp dedicates the new church with Msgr. Robbins
- 2011–2018 — Fr. Ed Pavlicek serves as pastor; Christy Administration & Pastoral Building completed
- July 2, 2018 — Fr. Octavio 'Father O' Muguerza installed as current pastor
Immaculate Conception Mission Church (Marion)
Immaculate Conception in Marion, Texas, is the parish's mission church. Envisioned in 1952 and built in 1953 with volunteer labor from local Catholic families, it was dedicated on May 30, 1954 by Rt. Rev. Msgr. James T. Lockwood on behalf of Archbishop Lucey, with about 60 families and average Mass attendance of 160–180. Administration passed from Our Lady of Guadalupe (Seguin) to St. James (Seguin), then to Good Shepherd on Christmas Day 1970. It currently serves approximately 160 families and remains a vital part of the Marion community.
- Address: 212 N. Barnett St, Marion, TX
- Sunday Mass: 10:15 AM
- Adoration: Thursdays 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; last Thursday of the month 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM for Vocations
- Parish Director: Lorina Hoffmann
Our Pastor — Fr. Octavio A. Muguerza
Fr. Octavio Muguerza — known to parishioners as 'Father O' — has served as pastor since July 2018. Ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1992 in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, he previously served in parishes of both the Galveston-Houston and San Antonio archdioceses. His priestly motto is 'Living the truth in love' (Ephesians 4:15), and his priorities are serving the poor and helping the laity live their baptismal call.
- Ordained: May 23, 1992 (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)
- Pastor of Good Shepherd: July 2, 2018 – present
- Affectionately called 'Father O'
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The parish is served by its pastor and five deacons, supported by a lay staff and Faith Formation team. Deacon Larry Lindsey serves as Business Administrator.
- Fr. Octavio A. Muguerza — Pastor
- Deacon Larry Lindsey — Business Administrator
- Deacon Harvey Balcer
- Deacon Lorenzo Salazar
- Deacon Elmer Fernandez — Adult Confirmation, Altar Servers (IC)
- Deacon David Weekes
- Bert Hernandez — Faith Formation, Middle/High School
- Veronica Figueroa — Faith Formation, Elementary & OCIA for Youth
- Lorina Hoffmann — Immaculate Conception Parish Director
- Justine Hernandez — Administrative Assistant
- Dora Gignac — Office Clerk
- Denise Kelly — Bookkeeper
- Phyl Nielsen — Bulletin Editor
- Richard Bauman — Custodian/Maintenance
- Justis Vargas — Custodian/Maintenance
Sacraments
Good Shepherd celebrates the seven sacraments according to the norms of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Marriage preparation begins at least six months in advance and includes an initial interview with the Pastor, two clergy meetings, and four sessions with a sponsor couple. Confirmation for teens is a two-year high-school program beginning in 9th grade; adults 18+ may also be confirmed. Anointing of the Sick is offered in church during office hours, at home for the homebound, or after-hours through the parish's answering service.
- Baptism — children & adults; out-of-parish families need a permission letter
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Confirmation — two-year high school program or adult process
- Eucharist & homebound Communion
- Reconciliation (see schedule)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony — six-month preparation, two clergy meetings, four sponsor-couple sessions, both parties 18+
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Good Shepherd's Faith Formation program (called 'GSIC Faith Formation' alongside Immaculate Conception) helps children and their families grow in relationship with God and His Church through year-round religious education. Bert Hernandez coordinates Middle & High School programs and Youth Confirmation, while Veronica Figueroa coordinates Elementary and OCIA for Youth. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church go through OCIA (the new name for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Elementary Faith Formation — Veronica Figueroa
- Middle & High School Faith Formation — Bert Hernandez
- Confirmation — two-year high school program beginning 9th grade
- OCIA / RCIA — Order/Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Gordon Pfeil, Lorina Hoffmann, Bert Hernandez)
- Adult Confirmation — Deacon Elmer Fernandez
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Beyond classroom formation, the parish offers ACTS retreats (three-day, three-night Catholic lay retreats focused on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service), a dedicated High School Youth Ministry, and a Young Adult Ministry for ages 18–35 that meets the 2nd Wednesday (6:30–8:30 PM) and 4th Saturday (7:00–9:00 PM) of each month.
- ACTS Retreats (Women's, Men's, etc.)
- High School Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–35) — contact Tony Gonzalez / GroupMe chat
- Youth Confirmation prep
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Liturgy Committee oversees the celebration of the liturgical year — from Holy Week and the Triduum through Sunday Masses, Penance Services, and devotions. Dozens of lay faithful serve at the altar, in the sanctuary, and at the doors of the church.
- Altar Servers — contact Deacon Elmer Fernandez
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Trudy Brink
- Lectors — Clyde & Delfina Rothman, Brenda-Lea Hoage, Gregg Stevens, Amanda Tijerina
- Ushers — Patti Paulson
- Sacristans — Vicki Weekes (GS); Bobbie Ray Bray (IC)
- Ladies Altar Society — Yasmin Macfarlane, Nancy Paulson
- Music / Choirs — Timothy Tate (Music), Trudy Brink (Choir)
- Baptismal Class — Deacon Elmer Fernandez
- Altar Society / Sacristan contact: Marti Porter
Parish Life, Fellowship & Service Organizations
Good Shepherd's parish life area hosts fellowship events throughout the year — potlucks, receptions, and the annual Christmas party — and supports several fraternal and service organizations.
- Hospitality Ministry — Carol Schindler
- Knights of Columbus — John Hoeft
- Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary — Patsy Foxworth
- Catholic Daughters of America — Christina Lee
- Festival Committee — Jose Rodriguez
- Pins and Needles (sewing/crafting) — Jo Stuart
- AMIGA (A Mission In God's Amor)
- Parish Library — Margaret Riley
Outreach: Life, Peace & Justice
The parish's Life, Peace & Justice committee works to defend the gift of life from conception to natural death, supporting the unborn, orphans, the unemployed, the poor, the elderly, and immigrants. Outreach is carried out through several partner ministries.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food pantry, home visits, emergency utility/rent/medical assistance (David Dumas)
- Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio — ecumenical home-building partnership
- Grace Ministries — social and educational opportunities for individuals with special needs (meets first Saturday of each month at Good Shepherd)
- Life, Justice & Peace Committee
- Bereavement Ministry — Bertha Weigold
- Bereavement Meals — Ivey Spencer
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM, and Wednesday from 8:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM. For after-hours sacramental emergencies (such as Anointing of the Sick), the answering service can be reached at (210) 658-4350.
- Parish office: (210) 658-4350
- Fax: (210) 658-7051
- Mailing: PO Box 929, Schertz, TX 78154
- Good Shepherd physical address: 1065 E Live Oak Rd, Schertz, TX 78154
- Immaculate Conception address: 212 N. Barnett St, Marion, TX
- After-hours emergencies: (210) 658-4350
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Aloys M. Hepp, MSF1954 (dedication)
First pastor of Immaculate Conception mission in Marion; initiator of the request to build the church.
- Fr. Sean Moorecirca 1972
Pastored during construction of the original Schertz church (1972), with Masses held at the elementary school.
- Fr. Emmet (Emmett) Carolanend of 1972 onward
Dedicated by Archbishop Francis Furey at the close of 1972 as newly named pastor.
- Msgr. Robert Silverman (RIP)
Succeeded Fr. Carolan; served with parochial vicar Msgr. Albert Maneth (RIP).
- Fr. Michael (Msgr.) O'Gorman
Served as pastor after Msgr. Silverman.
- Msgr. Roger Robbins
Pastored through the construction and 2002 dedication of the new church; later joined by parochial vicar Fr. Gregory Nevlud.
- Fr. Gregory (Greg) Nevlud
Parochial Vicar under Msgr. Robbins, post-2002.
- Fr. Ed PavlicekJune 2011 – June 2018
Oversaw completion of the Christy Administration & Pastoral Building.
- Fr. Octavio A. MuguerzaJuly 2, 2018 – present
Current pastor; ordained May 23, 1992; motto 'Living the truth in love' (Eph 4:15).