About Immaculate Conception · Denton, Texas
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (ICC) is a Roman Catholic parish in Denton, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Fort Worth. Founded as a mission of the Dallas Diocese around 1890, the parish traces its origins to a small Catholic community that worshipped in a barn loft before the first church building was erected in 1893–94. After more than a century on North Elm Street — where a 1956 brick sanctuary replaced the original 1890s structure — the parish moved in 2004 to its current campus at 2255 North Bonnie Brae Street. Today ICC is one of the largest and most diverse parishes in Denton County, offering Mass in English and Spanish, a parish school (Immaculate Conception Catholic School), a full faith-formation program from elementary through high school, perpetual adoration, and an extensive ministry network serving Denton and the surrounding North Texas communities.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Tatyrek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
ICC is one of the largest and most diverse parishes in Denton County, offering Mass in both English and Spanish every day of the week — including three Sunday Masses (9:00 AM English, 11:00 AM Spanish, 1:00 PM Spanish, and 3:00 PM English) plus a Saturday Vigil — together with daily Eucharistic adoration on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and weekly confession on Mondays and Saturdays. It runs Immaculate Conception Catholic School on-site, a complete faith-formation program for children and youth (elementary through high school), adult formation and RCIA led by a deacon, and a Hispanic Ministries program. Add in the parish's long-running hospital ministry and outreach to the needy (since 1970), its Music and Liturgy ministry, and its 2255 N. Bonnie Brae campus with chapel, parish center, and school, and ICC offers Catholics in Denton a single parish home where families can worship, be formed, serve the poor, and raise their children in the faith.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (no adoration on April 27 and May 4)
- Wednesday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Parish History
Immaculate Conception traces its origins to about 1890, when it was established as a mission of the Dallas Diocese under the Rev. F. X. Meilinger. The small Catholic community in Denton initially worshipped on the second floor of a local barn, then built its first church in 1893–94. That structure stood on North Elm Street for more than half a century before being replaced in 1956 with a new brick sanctuary. A parish center was added in 1966, and in 1970 the parish launched its hospital ministry and outreach program for the needy. In 1994 the Texas Historical Commission placed Marker No. 2618 at the Elm Street site, and in 2004 the parish relocated to its present 2255 N. Bonnie Brae Street campus to accommodate its growing school, faith formation, and bilingual ministries.
- Founded as a Dallas Diocese mission, c. 1890 (Rev. F. X. Meilinger, first mission priest)
- First church erected 1893–94 at 1215 N. Elm St.
- Original wood church razed and replaced with brick church in 1956
- Parish center built adjacent to the church, 1966
- Hospital ministry and outreach for the poor established, 1970
- Texas Historical Commission Marker No. 2618 erected at old site, 1994
- Parish relocated to 2255 N. Bonnie Brae St., 2004
Clergy & Staff
ICC is led by Pastor Rev. Matthew Tatyrek, who began his assignment on July 1, 2022, after a decade of pastoral leadership from Rev. Tim Thompson. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Khiem Van Nguyen and five deacons: Deacon Alfonso Ramírez, Deacon Barry Sweeden, Deacon Arturo S. Casias (who also directs Adult Formation), Deacon Robert Moreno, and Deacon Angelo Lombardo. Lay staff include Business Manager Mark Lindsey, Communications & Liturgy Coordinator Cristy Lindsey, Music Ministries Coordinator Esteban Rojas, Hispanic Ministries Coordinator Paty Mireles, Sacramental Coordinator Elsa Camizzi, Safe Environment Coordinator Terry Scaggs, Database Manager & Facilities Coordinator Chuck Moore, Parish Secretary/Receptionist Margaret Casias, Maintenance Technician Edgar Jimenez, and Bookkeeper Jeanette Robinson.
- Rev. Matthew Tatyrek — Pastor
- Rev. Khiem Van Nguyen — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Alfonso Ramírez
- Deacon Barry Sweeden
- Deacon Arturo S. Casias — Director of Adult Formation
- Deacon Robert Moreno
- Deacon Angelo Lombardo
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
The parish's K–8 Catholic school, Immaculate Conception Catholic School, operates on the Bonnie Brae campus and is one of the parish's most visible ministries. The school is led by Principal Andrea Gahler and partners with the parish in faith formation, sacramental preparation, and community life. The school building shares the Bonnie Brae campus with the church, parish offices, and faith-formation classrooms.
- Andrea Gahler — Principal
- On-site at 2255 N. Bonnie Brae campus
- Faith-formation partnership with the parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
ICC's faith formation program serves children, youth, and adults and is grounded in the USCCB Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Pope Francis's 'The Joy of the Gospel.' Elementary formation covers Kinder through 5th grade (Director: Cindy Cepeda). Middle-school formation is directed by Dominic Drews, and high-school youth ministry by Ben Briones. Adult formation and RCIA are directed by Deacon Arturo S. Casias, who leads the parish's efforts to welcome new Catholics and deepen adult faith.
- Elementary Formation (K–5) — Cindy Cepeda, Director
- Middle School Formation — Dominic Drews, Director
- High School Ministry — Ben Briones, Director
- Adult Formation / RCIA — Deacon Arturo S. Casias, Director
Hispanic Ministries
Because more than a third of the parish's Sunday Masses are celebrated in Spanish, ICC maintains an organized Hispanic Ministries program. Paty Mireles serves as Hispanic Ministries Coordinator, supporting the parish's Spanish-speaking faithful and the parish's two Sunday Spanish Masses (11:00 AM and 1:00 PM) and the Wednesday evening 6:30 PM Spanish Mass.
- Paty Mireles — Hispanic Ministries Coordinator
- Spanish Masses: Sun 11:00 AM, Sun 1:00 PM, Wed 6:30 PM
- Annual 'Horas de Adoración' (30 Hours of Adoration in Spanish)
Music & Liturgy
Esteban Rojas serves as Coordinator of Music Ministries, supporting the parish's English and Spanish choirs and musicians at weekend and weekday liturgies. Liturgy questions and ministry coordination are handled by Communications & Liturgy Coordinator Cristy Lindsey, who can be reached at [email protected] or 940-565-1770 ext. 217. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and monthly Mass intention lists.
- Esteban Rojas — Coordinator of Music Ministries
- Cristy Lindsey — Communications & Liturgy Coordinator
Outreach & Hospital Ministry
In 1970 ICC established both a hospital ministry and an outreach program to provide for the needy — two ministries that have continued without interruption for more than half a century. The parish continues to support the poor in Denton and engages in ongoing parish stewardship and volunteer ministries. The parish's Stewardship & Ministries page invites parishioners to share their God-given gifts in at least one parish ministry.
- Hospital Ministry (since 1970)
- Outreach program for the needy (since 1970)
- Parish Stewardship & Volunteer Ministry Form
- Safe Environment Training required for all volunteers
Sacraments
ICC celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and is served by a Sacramental Coordinator (Elsa Camizzi). Baptisms, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and adult initiation through RCIA are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — through Sacramental Coordinator
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — via Elementary Faith Formation
- Confirmation — via Youth Ministry and Adult Formation
- Matrimony — through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Reconciliation — Mon 6–7 PM, Sat 3–4:30 PM
- RCIA — Deacon Arturo S. Casias, Director of Adult Formation
Visiting, Membership & Community Life
ICC welcomes new members through its Membership page and gathers the parish regularly for 'Faith, Food & Fellowship' events, an annual Spring Festival / Ministry Fair, and an annual 30 Hours / Horas of Adoration devotion. Parish Office Hours (after the 2025 summer adjustment) are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 AM–noon and 1:00–4:30 PM; Tuesday and Friday the office is closed and the chapel closes at 4:30 PM on Tuesdays and noon on Fridays.
- Membership registration via parish office
- Faith, Food & Fellowship community gatherings
- Annual Spring Festival / Ministry Fair
- Annual 30 Hours / Horas of Adoration
- Weekly bulletin (online)
- Holy Father's Monthly Prayer Intentions published in bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F. X. Meilingerc. 1890
First mission priest of the Dallas Diocese who served the Denton Catholic community, which worshipped on the second floor of a local barn.
- Rev. Tim Thompsonc. 2011 – end of 2021
Pastor for approximately 10 years; guided the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic; reassigned by the Diocese of Fort Worth to All Saints Catholic Church in Fort Worth at the end of 2021.
- Rev. Matthew TatyrekJuly 1, 2022 – present
Current pastor; previously pastor of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Lindsay; ordained May 2016; served as parochial vicar at St. Michael (Bedford) and chaplain at Nolan Catholic High School.