About Holy Family Mission · Mereta, Texas
Holy Family Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church in the rural community of Mereta, Texas, served as a satellite of St. Ambrose Parish in nearby Wall. Established in 1963, it is part of the Diocese of San Angelo and follows the same parish schedule, bulletin, and pastoral leadership as St. Ambrose. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:45 AM, with the Rosary prayed before Mass. The parish office, staffed during weekday hours, is located at St. Ambrose in Wall and handles all administrative needs for the mission.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Choutapalli
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Angelo
Why belong here
Holy Family Mission offers the rural Mereta Catholic community a dedicated Sunday Mass (10:45 AM) within the Diocese of San Angelo, with the Rosary prayed before every Mass and the convenience of shared ministries, faith formation, and pastoral support from St. Ambrose Parish in Wall. The mission belongs to a close-knit, family-centered parish family committed to worship, proclaiming the Gospel, and serving its neighbors — a small but vibrant Catholic presence in the West Texas countryside.
Mass times at Holy Family Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 4:30 PM Saturday at St. Ambrose, Wall (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (at St. Ambrose, Wall)
Overview
Holy Family Mission is the Catholic mission church serving Mereta, Texas, an agricultural community in the Diocese of San Angelo. It functions as a satellite of St. Ambrose Parish in Wall, sharing its pastor and parish office. Weekend Mass is celebrated Sunday morning at 10:45 AM, with the Rosary prayed beforehand, providing rural West Texas Catholics a regular, family-centered Sunday worship in their own community.
History
In 1963, with the farming community around Mereta growing and the nearest Catholic parish several miles away in Wall, a new mission church was established and named Holy Family Catholic Church. According to the parish's own history page, the mission was built with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society under the guidance of Father Bernard J. Binversie of St. Ambrose. The land for the church was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wanoreck, Sr. of San Angelo. Since that founding, Holy Family has been served continuously by the pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, making it part of one parish family serving two worship sites.
- Founded: 1963
- Funding: $10,000 grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society
- Founding pastor / project lead: Father Bernard J. Binversie
- Land donors: Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wanoreck, Sr. of San Angelo
Leadership and Staff
Holy Family Mission is pastored by Rev. Joseph Choutapalli, who also serves the parent parish of St. Ambrose in Wall. The pastoral team listed on the parish bulletin includes Deacon Allan Lange and Deacon Dan Shannahan assisting with liturgical and pastoral ministry. All administrative work — bulletins, sacramental records, and offerings — is coordinated through the St. Ambrose parish office in Wall.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Choutapalli
- Deacon: Allan Lange
- Deacon: Dan Shannahan
- Parish Office: St. Ambrose, 8602 Loop 570, Wall, TX 76957 · (325) 651-7551
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for Holy Family families is provided through the St. Ambrose Parish Religious Education program, which serves elementary (Pre-K through 5th grade) as well as junior high and high school students, with a youth 'hang-out' and Wednesday-evening classes. A summer program is offered for elementary-aged children. Adult faith formation includes an RCIA process for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, a Friday-morning Bible Study, and seasonal Bible studies for adults.
- Elementary Religious Education (Pre-K – 5th grade)
- Junior High and High School Youth Ministry
- Summer program for elementary-aged children
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Friday morning Bible Study (8:45 a.m.)
- Seasonal adult Bible studies and formation events
Community Life and Outreach
The mission shares the active community life of St. Ambrose Parish. A married-couples Bible study meets Tuesday evenings in the parish fellowship hall, and the Senior Citizens ministry meets monthly on Thursday afternoons. The parish also runs an annual Festival, with all-ages decoration work days, and takes up special collections (such as the annual collection for the Honduran dioceses) advertised in the bulletin. A prayer list keeps the community connected to those who are sick, traveling, or in special need.
- Married Couples Bible Study (Tuesday evenings)
- Senior Citizens ministry (monthly, Thursday afternoons)
- Annual Festival and decoration work days
- Special collections (e.g., Honduran dioceses)
- Parish Prayer List
Sacraments
Sacraments for the mission are coordinated through the St. Ambrose Parish office. Baptisms, marriages, First Communion, and Confirmation are prepared and celebrated in cooperation with the pastor and deacons. A monthly Mass of Healing with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament includes the Anointing of the Sick. Reconciliation is offered Saturday at 4:30 PM and by appointment.
- Baptism — arranged through the parish office
- Marriage preparation and celebration
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Anointing of the Sick (monthly Mass of Healing)
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30 PM and by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bernard J. Binversie1963
Guided the establishment of Holy Family Mission in 1963 while pastor of St. Ambrose, Wall; secured the Catholic Church Extension Society grant used to build the mission church.