About Immaculate Conception · Asherton, Texas
Immaculate Conception Church is a Catholic parish serving Asherton, Texas, in Zavala County. The parish, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, belongs to the Diocese of Laredo and serves the surrounding ranches and small communities that have been the backbone of Asherton's Catholic life since the late 1800s. Today the parish provides weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, faith formation for children and adults, the sacraments, and pastoral care through the Knights of Columbus, Guadalupanas, the Ladies of the Vela Perpetua, lectors, altar servers, and choirs.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Jerzy Krzywda
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a small, tight-knit parish with deep roots in Asherton and the surrounding ranches — a community that has worshiped together for more than a century and just celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. It welcomes families in both English and Spanish, offers faith formation for children and adults, and gathers the Guadalupanas, Knights of Columbus, Ladies of the Vela Perpetua, lectors, altar servers, and choirs to serve the parish each month. Visitors and parishioners find a bilingual Catholic home where the sacraments, devotions to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and lifelong service are part of the everyday rhythm of life.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Immaculate Conception Parish in Asherton celebrates more than a century of Catholic life in Zavala County. What began as mission territory served by the Oblate Fathers from Eagle Pass in 1880 became a resident parish in 1917, and the parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2018. Through fires that destroyed the first church and school, through the long Oblate era and the transition into the new Diocese of Laredo in 2000, Immaculate Conception has remained the spiritual home of generations of ranching and farming families.
- 1880: Oblate Fathers (O.M.I.) from Eagle Pass given charge of the Catholic population and ranches around Asherton; missionary status for 30+ years.
- 1917: Mr. and Mrs. Asher Richardson donate the block of land on which the church is built.
- 1917–1920: Rev. Charles Siemes, O.M.I., first resident pastor; first frame church blessed Dec. 17, 1918.
- 1928: St. Thomas School erected under Rev. Charles Taylor, O.M.I.; staffed by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Victoria, TX.
- Spring 1935: St. Thomas School destroyed by fire; rebuilt of native stone and blessed July 21, 1935 under Rev. C. Ayala, O.M.I.
- Jan. 20, 1937: First frame church destroyed by fire under Rev. V. Liberto.
- March 27, 1938: New native-stone church blessed by Archbishop Drossaerts.
- 1943: Sisters of St. Benedict from Crookston, MN begin teaching at St. Thomas School.
- January 1948: Parish census records nearly 1,000 souls.
- 1959–1977: Rev. Xavier Francisco, O.M.I. — longest-serving priest — receives sizable donation from Archbishop Francis Furey for repairs to the parish, convent, and CCD center.
- 1969: St. Thomas School closed and consolidated with public schools.
- 1972–2015: Missionary Carmelite Sisters of Houston and Sisters of Divine Providence of San Antonio serve the parish.
- 1984: St. Henry Mission in Catarina established under Msgr. Henry Moczygemba.
- 1985: Msgr. Henry Moczygemba Parish Hall constructed and inaugurated.
- July 3, 2000: Parish transferred into the newly created Diocese of Laredo under Bishop James Anthony Tamayo.
- 2018: Immaculate Conception Parish celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Pastor & Parish Staff
Immaculate Conception Parish is currently served by Rev. Jerzy Krzywda, who became pastor in 2023. Parish contact and day-to-day administration is handled by Esther L. Rodriguez, Parish Secretary/Bookkeeper, who can be reached through the parish office at 830-468-3343.
- Pastor: Rev. Jerzy Krzywda (2023–present)
- Parish Secretary/Bookkeeper: Esther L. Rodriguez
- Phone: 830-468-3343
- Fax: 830-468-3342
- Email: [email protected]
Parish Ministries
Immaculate Conception supports a wide range of lay ministries, from Marian devotion to liturgical service and faith formation. Each ministry is led by a named coordinator or president and gathers during weekend Masses throughout the month.
- The Guadalupanas Society — prayer and service under the advocacy of Our Lady of Guadalupe; meets the second weekend of the month during Holy Mass. President: Mrs. Valeria Rubalcaba.
- Lectors — Coordinator: Mr. Eliseo Gutierrez.
- Altar Servers — Coordinator: Mrs. Alma Ortiz.
- Ladies of the Vela Perpetua — adoration and service to the Blessed Sacrament at the altar the first weekend of the month during Holy Mass. President: Ms. Lorena Rodriguez.
- Choirs — Coordinator: Mrs. Olga Sosa.
- Knights of Columbus — Immaculate Conception Council #8312. Grand Knight: Mr. Arnold Muñoz. Pray and serve the third weekend of the month during Holy Mass.
- Religious Education for Children — Coordinator: Mrs. Sonia Navarro.
- Religious Education for Adults — Coordinator: Mrs. Sonia Alfaro.
Faith Formation
Faith formation at Immaculate Conception is offered for both children and adults, with two coordinators overseeing the parish's catechetical work. CCD classes are part of the sacramental preparation pathway, especially for First Communion and Matrimony.
- Religious Education for Children — Coordinator: Mrs. Sonia Navarro.
- Religious Education for Adults — Coordinator: Mrs. Sonia Alfaro.
- CCD classes are required for at least six months prior to First Communion and Matrimony celebrations.
Sacraments
The parish prepares its members for the sacraments with clear requirements: regular Mass attendance, registration, and contact with the parish office. Baptismal registration forms with guidelines and required documentation are available at the entrance of the church.
- Baptism: Parents must attend Mass for a minimum of two months before baptism; registration required by the 15th of each month to schedule the baptismal class.
- Matrimony: Couples must be registered in the parish and attending Mass for a minimum of six months before marriage; must meet with the priest six months prior to the wedding date; must be attending CCD classes.
- Anointing of the Sick: Contact the parish office as soon as surgery, hospitalization, or serious illness or injury is scheduled.
- Quinceañera: Family must be registered in the parish; call the parish office for all requirements.
- Funeral Arrangements: Notify the parish office of preferred language, burial or cremation plans, lector, readings, and music; funeral reception hall rental must be paid six days prior to use.
Missions
Immaculate Conception is the mother parish for two missions serving smaller communities in the surrounding area of Zavala and neighboring counties.
- Mission of St. Michael, Big Wells, Texas.
- Mission of St. Henry, Catarina, Texas — established in 1984 under Msgr. Henry Moczygemba. Mass and sacrament details are handled through the mother parish office at 830-468-3343.
Buildings, Facilities & Fundraising Legacy
The parish campus has grown organically over more than a century, with major additions funded by donations, bingo proceeds, and the generosity of benefactors such as Archbishop Francis Furey. The current church is built of native stone, blessed in 1938; a parish hall now bears the name of Msgr. Henry Moczygemba, who served as pastor from 1982 to 1990.
- Native-stone church (blessed March 27, 1938) — the present worship space, rebuilt after the 1937 fire.
- Msgr. Henry Moczygemba Parish Hall — constructed and inaugurated in 1985.
- Seniors' Building — formerly the old parish hall where church bingos were held from the 1960s onward.
- Former convent and CCD center — repaired in the 1960s–70s through Archbishop Furey's donation.
- Church bingos — a roughly 50-year fundraising tradition (from the 1960s) that financed much of the parish's construction and repair work.
Diocese of Laredo
Immaculate Conception is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo, a diocese created by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 2000, which drew its parishes from the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The first bishop of Laredo was Most Reverend James Anthony Tamayo. The parish sits within a broader diocesan family that today numbers some 50+ churches across the border region of South Texas.
- Diocese of Laredo, established July 3, 2000.
- First Bishop of Laredo: Most Reverend James Anthony Tamayo.
- Languages used across the diocese's parishes include English and Spanish, reflecting the bilingual character of the border region.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Siemes, O.M.I.1917–1920
First resident pastor; blessed the first frame church on Dec. 17, 1918.
- Rev. Charles Taylor, O.M.I.1921–1928
Erected St. Thomas School in 1928.
- Rev. C. Ayala, O.M.I.1934–1936
Rebuilt St. Thomas School in native stone after 1935 fire; blessed July 21, 1935.
- Rev. V. Liberto1936–1943
Oversaw rebuilding of the church in native stone after the 1937 fire; blessed March 27, 1938.
- Rev. Leo St. John, O.M.I.1943–
Welcomed the Sisters of St. Benedict from Crookston, MN to teach at St. Thomas School.
- Rev. Arthur N. Kaler, O.M.I.to 1952
- Rev. J. Diehl1953–1956
- Rev. Thomas M. O'Conner1956–1959
- Rev. Xavier Francisco, O.M.I.1959–1977
Longest-serving priest; oversaw major repairs funded by Archbishop Furey's donation; St. Thomas School closed in 1969.
- Rev. Felipe Matias1977–1978
- Rev. Donald Haile1978–1982
- Rev. Msgr. Henry Moczygemba1982–1990
Established St. Henry Mission (1984) and the parish hall that bears his name (1985).
- Rev. Emmet Carolan1990–1995
- Rev. Mauricio Lopez1995–1997
- Rev. Miguel Arrango1997–1998
- Rev. Toribio Guerrero1998–2004
First pastor after the parish joined the newly created Diocese of Laredo in 2000.
- Rev. Agustin Escalante2004–2005
- Rev. Salvador Pedroza2005–2011
- Rev. Oscar Martinez2011–2013
- Rev. Fidel Gonzalez2014
- Rev. Jan M. Ziemniak2015–2021
- Very Rev. Francisco M. Quiroz-Carrizales2021–2023
- Rev. Jerzy Krzywda2023–present
Current pastor.