About Jesus of Nazareth · Albany, Texas
Jesus of Nazareth is a small Roman Catholic parish in Albany, Texas, situated in the rolling ranch country of Shackelford County and part of the Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish serves the Albany community with Sunday Mass celebrated bilingually in English and Spanish, along with a Thursday evening Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation before each liturgy. Because Albany's Catholic community is small, Jesus of Nazareth has long been twinned with Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in neighboring Breckenridge, and the two share a single pastor.
- Patron
- Jesus of Nazareth
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
Jesus of Nazareth offers a faithful, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Albany's ranch country, with Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish and a welcoming Thursday evening Mass. The parish is cared for by a Pallottine (SAC) priest who, in the spirit of St. Vincent Pallotti, actively involves laypeople in parish life and uses the gifts of carpenters, welders, plumbers, teachers and others among the faithful. For Catholics in Albany and the surrounding Shackelford County area, it is a place to believe, belong and become.
Mass times at Jesus of Nazareth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Thursday 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration: Call Parish Office for schedule
About Jesus of Nazareth Parish
Jesus of Nazareth is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Albany, Texas, and the surrounding ranch country of Shackelford County. It belongs to the Diocese of Fort Worth and offers Mass in both English and Spanish each Sunday. Like many small-town Texas parishes, it is paired with a sister community — Sacred Heart of Jesus in Breckenridge — and the two share one pastor and pastoral staff.
- Type: Roman Catholic parish
- Diocese: Fort Worth
- Rite: Roman-Latin
- Languages: English and Spanish
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC, a Pallottine priest (Society of the Catholic Apostolate). He also serves as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Breckenridge. The previous pastor, Rev. Prakash Dias, SAC, also a Pallottine from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province in India, was reassigned effective August 1, 2023 to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mineral Wells and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Graford.
- Rev. Christopher Colombus, SAC — current Pastor
- Rev. Prakash Dias, SAC — former Pastor (reassigned Aug. 1, 2023)
- Both clergy are members of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines)
Pallottine Mission in Albany
The Diocese of Fort Worth has been served by Pallottine missionaries from India for roughly 15 years. Fr. Prakash Dias, the parish's recent pastor, embodied the Pallottine charism of a participatory Church founded by St. Vincent Pallotti — actively recruiting laypeople with hands-on skills (carpenters, welders, plumbers, computer technicians, teachers) to serve the parish and wider community.
- Society of the Catholic Apostolate (SAC) — Pallottines
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, India
- Lay-led service emphasized by parish leadership
Visiting & Location
The church is located west of Albany along US Highway 180, set on a hill just outside town. Visitors heading out of Albany will see the parish sign; the church driveway is on the south side of the highway.
- Address: 7950 US Hwy. 180 W, Albany, TX 76430
- Phone: (254) 559-2860
- Website: https://fwdioc.org/parish-finder/jesus-of-nazareth
- Mailing address shared with Sacred Heart of Jesus: 208 S. Miller Avenue, Breckenridge, TX 76424
Bilingual Catholic Life in Albany
Sunday Mass at Jesus of Nazareth is celebrated bilingually in English and Spanish, reflecting the area's Catholic community. Weekday Mass on Thursday evening gives Spanish- and English-speaking parishioners an additional opportunity for the Eucharist. Confessions before each Mass offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation in both languages as needed.
- Sunday Mass celebrated bilingually
- Reconciliation before Sunday and Thursday Mass
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone. The parish's online presence is housed within the Diocese of Fort Worth's Parish Finder page, and the parish office shares administrative correspondence with Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Breckenridge.
- Parish office: (254) 559-2860
- Diocese of Fort Worth Parish Finder: fwdioc.org/parish-finder/jesus-of-nazareth
- Linked parish: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Breckenridge, TX
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Prakash Dias, SACThrough summer 2023
Pallottine priest (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province in India. Served as pastor of both Jesus of Nazareth in Albany and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Breckenridge. Reassigned effective Aug. 1, 2023 to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mineral Wells and St. Francis of Assisi in Graford.
- Rev. Christopher Colombus, SACFrom 2023
Current pastor, also serving Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Breckenridge.