About Holy Redeemer · San Antonio, Texas
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio located on the East Side of San Antonio, Texas, in the 78203 ZIP code at 1819 Nevada Street. The parish describes itself as 'a unique spiritual home for African American Catholics in Bexar County,' a welcoming community that reflects the cultural diversity of the Church in Texas. It is currently served by Very Reverend Kevin P. Fausz, CM, a Vincentian (Congregation of the Mission) priest who has been pastor since 2008. Holy Redeemer is known for its strong outreach to the surrounding East Side neighborhoods, including a St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, a community garden, a mobile food pop-up with the San Antonio Food Bank, and a Tuesday noon meal program.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ, the Redeemer)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin P. Fausz, CM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer is a faithful, culturally rooted African-American Catholic community on San Antonio's East Side with a 120-year history. It offers daily and Sunday Mass (with the Sunday 9:00 am Mass live-streamed on Facebook), a sacramental life celebrated by a long-tenured Vincentian pastor, and a remarkable range of outreach — a St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, the St. Vincent de Paul Community Garden at 303 Vargas Alley, a Tuesday noon meal in the parish hall, parenting classes with Catholic Charities, the ACTS-HIV ministry, and recurring Mobile Food Pop-Ups in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed and can connect through the parish's online Ministry Interest Form.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call the parish office to schedule a time with Father Kevin
Welcome to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio located at 1819 Nevada Street on the East Side of San Antonio. The parish describes itself as 'a unique spiritual home for African American Catholics in Bexar County' and a welcoming, faith-filled community that reflects the rich cultural diversity of the Church in Texas. The pastor, Very Rev. Kevin P. Fausz, CM, extends a personal welcome on the parish website, inviting longtime parishioners, visitors to San Antonio, and anyone seeking a new parish home to journey in faith at Holy Redeemer.
- Pastored by Father Kevin P. Fausz, CM
- Address: 1819 Nevada Street, San Antonio, TX 78203
- Phone: (210) 532-5358
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: holyredeemersa.com
Parish History
Holy Redeemer was born on Thanksgiving Day, 1901, when Father John A. Dumoulin, S.S.J., pastor of St. Peter Claver, opened the Divine Redeemer Home on four diocesan lots at Gevers, Vargas and Nevada Streets on the East Side — a home for the elderly, orphans, and Black Catholics. Father Lambert Welbers, S.S.J., arrived in 1905, reopened the mission as a chapel, and in 1912 became the first pastor when Holy Redeemer was constituted an independent parish. Bishop John Shaw dedicated a 29' x 67' brick church on July 13, 1913, and a school staffed first by the Sisters of the Holy Ghost and then, from 1914, by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Louisiana. The Josephite Fathers served Holy Redeemer for 62 years before departing in 1968, after which it became a mission of St. Joseph's Church. The parish was reinstated in 1979 under Father John Wagner and has been led since April 2008 by Father Kevin Fausz, CM, a Vincentian priest.
- Founded: 1901 as Divine Redeemer Home
- Independent parish: 1912
- Josephite era: 1905–1968 (62 years)
- Mission status: 1968–1979
- Reinstated as a parish: 1979 (Father John Wagner)
- Current pastor since 2008: Father Kevin P. Fausz, CM
Sacraments
Holy Redeemer celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation are all arranged through the parish office. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available by appointment with Father Kevin. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact Father Kevin to begin the process.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony
Parish Staff
Holy Redeemer is led by Very Rev. Kevin P. Fausz, CM, a Vincentian priest of the Congregation of the Mission who has served as pastor since 2008. He is assisted in the parish's liturgical music ministry by Music Director John Hardin. Parish office contact is (210) 532-5358; the pastor can be reached directly at [email protected].
- Pastor: Very Rev. Kevin P. Fausz, CM — [email protected]
- Music Director: John Hardin
- Parish office phone: (210) 532-5358
Father Kevin P. Fausz, CM — A Vincentian Pastor
Father Kevin is a Vincentian (Congregation of the Mission, C.M.) priest who, before seminary, worked as a registered nurse after graduating from DePaul Hospital School of Nursing in 1975. He was ordained in 1991 with an M.Div., MA in Theology, certificates in Spiritual Direction and Youth Ministry from St. Thomas Theological Seminary in Denver, and has studied at Xavier University's Institute for Black Catholic Studies. After serving as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville, Missouri for 14 years and administrator of St. Vincent High School, he took a sabbatical at the North American College in Rome and was appointed Pastor of Holy Redeemer in April 2008. He later added Our Lady of Perpetual Help (2014) and St. Michael Catholic Church (2018) to his pastorate. He is Dean of the Central Urban Deanery, Chair of the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, Chaplain at Our Lady of the Lake University, State Chaplain of the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and a Golden Life Member of the NAACP. He was inducted into the Black Clergy Hall of Fame in February 2020.
- Ordained: 1991
- Religious order: Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian), C.M.
- Pastor of Holy Redeemer since: April 2008
- Dean, Central Urban Deanery, Archdiocese of San Antonio
- State Chaplain, Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to the East Side of San Antonio is at the heart of Holy Redeemer's mission. The parish partners with the San Antonio Food Bank on a recurring Mobile Food Pop-Up Market in the parish parking lot, runs a St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry with drop-off bins at the parish offices, and operates the St. Vincent de Paul Community Garden at 303 Vargas Alley. Every Tuesday a noon meal is served to adults in the parish hall, and the parish hosts parenting classes in cooperation with Catholic Charities and Community Wellness and Resource Fairs alongside Catholic Charities and Christus Santa Rosa Hospital. Father Kevin also serves on a Neighborhood Advisory Committee for Crosspoint, a transitional housing program for individuals re-entering society after incarceration.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (drop-off at parish office and 'Old Church')
- St. Vincent de Paul Community Garden — 303 Vargas Alley, 78203
- Mobile Food Pop-Up Market with San Antonio Food Bank
- Tuesday noon meal in the parish hall
- Parenting classes with Catholic Charities
- Community Wellness & Resource Fairs with Catholic Charities and Christus Santa Rosa
ACTS-HIV Ministry
The ACTS-HIV Community, a retreat and support ministry for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, has found a home at Holy Redeemer. Father Kevin serves as Spiritual Advisor and board member, and the ministry continues to provide retreats, support groups, spiritual development, and socialization opportunities.
- Spiritual Advisor: Father Kevin Fausz, CM
- Services: retreats, support groups, spiritual development, socialization
Parish Events & Devotions
The parish follows the traditional Catholic liturgical year with special celebrations. Recent posts on the parish website have highlighted the Easter Triduum, Palm Sunday (with the Holy Rosary recited at 8:30 am followed by Mass at 9:00 am), the annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (often celebrated with the Archbishop of San Antonio), the Feast of St. Peter Claver (the patron of Black Catholic ministry to whom Father Kevin has a special devotion), Mardi Gras fundraisers, and other parish socials.
- Easter Triduum
- Palm Sunday — Rosary at 8:30 am, Mass at 9:00 am
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration Mass (with the Archbishop)
- Feast of St. Peter Claver
- Mardi Gras parish fundraiser
- Mobile Food Pop-Up Saturdays
Joining the Parish & Getting Involved
New parishioners are invited to register using the downloadable Parish Registration Form (mailed to 1819 Nevada Street, San Antonio, TX 78203 or handed to Father Kevin). Anyone who wants to learn about or join a ministry is encouraged to fill out the parish's online Ministry Interest Form. Donations to the parish are accepted by mail, in the parish office, or through the parish's GiveCentral online giving platform.
- Downloadable Parish Registration Form
- Online Ministry Interest Form
- Online Giving via GiveCentral
- Direct donations to parish ministries supported via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John A. Dumoulin, S.S.J.1901
Founder; pastor of St. Peter Claver who opened the Divine Redeemer Home on Thanksgiving Day 1901.
- Father Lambert Welbers, S.S.J.1905-1947
Reopened mission in 1905; became first pastor when Holy Redeemer was constituted an independent parish in 1912; served 42 years total, 37 as pastor; died 1947.
- Father Henry (Harry) Kane, S.S.J.c. 1912
Josephite priest appointed pastor of St. Peter Claver and Holy Redeemer.
- Father John Lennon, S.S.J.1968
Last Josephite pastor; his departure June 7, 1968 ended 62 years of Josephite service, after which Holy Redeemer became a mission of St. Joseph's Church.
- Father John Wagner1979
Reinstated Holy Redeemer as a parish in 1979 as a diocesan priest.
- Father Kevin P. Fausz, CM2008-present
Vincentian priest appointed pastor in April 2008; also serves as Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (since 2014) and St. Michael Catholic Church (since 2018); Dean of the Central Urban Deanery.