About Holy Rosary · Frenstat, Texas
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church is a small mission parish in the rural community of Frenstat, in southern Burleson County, Texas, about eight miles south of Caldwell. Founded in the 1880s by Czech Catholic immigrants from the village of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm in Moravia, it is the oldest Catholic church in Burleson County and was formally recognized as a parish in 1888. Since 1947 it has belonged to the Diocese of Austin and today is served as a mission parish of St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes in Caldwell, sharing its pastor, Father Melvin Dornak. With roughly 85 families, seven active ministries, a religious education program, and a Texas Historical Marker (2004), the parish remains a living expression of its Czech-Moravian Catholic roots.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Melvin L. Dornak
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Holy Rosary offers a tight-knit, faith-enduring Catholic community rooted in more than 140 years of Czech-Moravian heritage. Parishioners worship at the oldest Catholic church in Burleson County, share in seven active ministries (Altar Rosary Society, KJT, DCCW, Bible Study, Knights of Columbus, Bereavement Committee, and Pro-Life), and are part of a family-sized congregation of about 85 households that emphasizes Catholic education, sacramental life and outreach. It is a place where visitors are welcomed as warmly as lifelong members, and where small-town parish life and old-country tradition still meet.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM (commonly listed as 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM)
- Tuesday: 5:45 PM – 6:00 PM (approximately 15 minutes before Mass)
About Holy Rosary
The parish's own mission statement describes Holy Rosary as "a small but giving community dedicated to the spiritual growth of the family, the parish, and the community." Its vision is to be "a bright light for the future to carry on the Mission of Christ, not only for the residents of this community, but also for the many people who visit Frenstat." Although only about 85 families strong, the parish is deeply rooted in faith, tradition and service.
Parish History
Holy Rosary traces its origins to 1884, when Czech Catholic settlers from Frenštát pod Radhoštěm in Moravia began arriving in southern Burleson County. They gathered for Mass in one another's homes by 1885, took the community name Frenstat in 1886, received regular pastoral visits from Rev. Joseph Chromcik in 1887 (when Adolph Polansky donated land for church, school and cemetery), were officially recognized as a parish in 1888, and built their first sanctuary in 1889. The present church was built in 1963, and a Texas Historical Commission marker was dedicated in 2004/2005.
- 1884 — First Catholic settlers from Moravia arrive
- 1885 — Masses celebrated in private homes
- 1886 — Community named "Frenstat"; about 40 Czech families settled
- 1887 — Rev. Joseph Chromcik makes regular visits; Polansky land donation
- 1888 — Officially recognized as a parish
- 1889 — First sanctuary built
- 1947 — Transferred to the new Diocese of Austin; placed under St. Mary's Caldwell
- 1963 — Present church built
- 1999 — Formally assigned as a mission parish to St. Mary's Caldwell
- 2004/2005 — Texas Historical Marker dedicated
Clergy and Staff
Holy Rosary is cared for as a mission parish of St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes in Caldwell. The pastor of both parishes is Rev. Melvin L. Dornak, who was assigned to Caldwell and Frenstat in July 2019 and celebrated his 30th anniversary of priestly ordination in December 2022. Sacramental records and office business are handled through the shared Caldwell parish office.
- Rev. Melvin L. Dornak — Pastor (since July 2019)
- Shared parish office with St. Mary's, Caldwell
Faith Formation
The parish is "strongly committed to the Catholic education of anyone who seeks God's truth." About 20 students participate in religious education classes, and the parish also shares in St. Mary's Vacation Bible School programs each year.
- Religious Education classes for school-age children
- Shared participation in St. Mary's VBS
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Seven ministries are active at Holy Rosary, reflecting both its Catholic faith and its Czech-Moravian heritage. Several are shared with neighboring St. Mary's.
- Altar Rosary Society
- KJT (Catholic fraternal — Czech heritage society)
- Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW)
- Bible Study
- Knights of Columbus (with St. Mary's Caldwell)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Bereavement Committee
- Pro-Life ministry
Sacraments
Because Holy Rosary shares its pastor and office with St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes in Caldwell, most sacramental preparation (Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick) is coordinated through the Caldwell parish office. Funerals, however, are regularly celebrated at Holy Rosary with burial in the parish cemetery.
- Sunday and weekday Mass
- Reconciliation before Masses
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation — coordinated through St. Mary's office
- Funeral Masses and burial in Holy Rosary Cemetery
Parish Campus, Grotto and Cemetery
The parish grounds include the 1963 church, a parish hall, office with a guest room, the Grotto of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes, and Holy Rosary Cemetery. Recent improvements include a handrail to the tabernacle, new roofing, repaved parking, a renovated vestry and upgraded office accommodations, with a planned Veterans Memorial at the cemetery.
- 1963 church building
- Grotto of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes
- Holy Rosary Cemetery (with planned Veterans Memorial)
- Parish hall and office with guest accommodations
Community and Diocesan Life
Father Dornak has described Holy Rosary as "a strong and faith-enduring parish community" dedicated to "growing in faith and building the kingdom." The parish takes part in wider diocesan events — most recently baking kolaches for the Diocese of Austin's 75th anniversary — and works closely with St. Mary's Caldwell on ministries, religious education and sacramental preparation.
- Active participation in Diocese of Austin life
- Close mission partnership with St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Caldwell
- Czech-Moravian heritage preserved through KJT and parish traditions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Chromcik1887
First priest to regularly visit the Frenstat settlement.