About Mary Mother of the Church · Brownsville, Texas
Mary, Mother of the Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Brownsville, Texas, established in 1967 and served by the Diocese of Brownsville. Located on Barnard Road on the city's north side, the parish offers one of the most extensive Mass schedules in the area — including a Spanish Mass, a bilingual Life Teen Mass, a bilingual Thursday evening Mass, and a perpetual adoration chapel. The faith community also operates St. Mary's Catholic School, an accredited K–8 school, and supports a wide range of ministries from youth discipleship (Totus Tuus, Vacation Bible School, Life Teen) to adult groups like the Altar & Rosary Society and parish Works of Mercy outreach.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of the Church (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Heberto M. Diaz, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
Mary, Mother of the Church is one of the most liturgically active parishes in the Brownsville area, with seven Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass, a bilingual Life Teen Mass, and an evening English Mass), a bilingual Thursday evening Mass, daily 7:00 AM Mass, and one of the few perpetual adoration chapels in the Valley open 24 hours. Families benefit from St. Mary's Catholic School, a robust CCE/Religious Education program, and youth offerings such as Totus Tuus and Vacation Bible School, while adults are served by groups like the Altar & Rosary Society and parish Works of Mercy outreach.
Mass times at Mary Mother of the Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, 24 hours — Adoration Chapel open 24/7 (from 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM by appointment only)
- Adoration Chapel contact line: (956) 203-1477
Parish Identity and Patron
Mary, Mother of the Church takes its name from the Marian title 'Mother of the Church,' a designation formally assigned by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council. The title honors Mary's unique maternal relationship to the whole Body of Christ, and the Church later added a memorial feast in her honor to the universal Roman Calendar, observed on the Monday after Pentecost. The parish was canonically erected in 1967 as part of the Diocese of Brownsville and remains a Roman-Latin rite parish today.
- Patron: Mary, Mother of the Church
- Memorial feast: Monday after Pentecost
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Diocese: Brownsville
- Founded: 1967
History and Founding
The parish was established in 1967, one of thirteen new parishes the Diocese of Brownsville created that year under Bishop Humberto Sousa Medeiros, during a wave of post-Vatican II expansion that took the diocese from 35 to 58 parishes. It grew alongside the parish school and was later identified with new ministries such as perpetual adoration and Life Teen. In 2011, Msgr. Heberto M. Diaz, Jr. was appointed pastor (effective March 28, 2011); he remains the current pastor and also serves as Diocesan Vicar for the Clergy.
- Established: 1967
- Diocese context: Bishop Medeiros's expansion era (Diocese of Brownsville grew from 35 to 58 parishes)
- 2011: Msgr. Heberto M. Diaz, Jr. appointed pastor
- 2022: Fr. Caleb J. De La Rosa appointed parochial vicar
Parish School — St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School is the parish elementary school, fully accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department and recognized by the Texas Education Agency. Its mission calls students to academic excellence and spiritual growth 'in the spirit of our Blessed Mother,' with a Profile of a Graduate that names faith, service, teamwork, character, and academics as core outcomes.
- Accredited by TCCED and TEA
- Principal: Mrs. Ana E. Gomez
- Assistant Principal: Ms. Judy Faulk
- Mission: academic excellence + spiritual growth in the spirit of Mary
- Profile of a Graduate pillars: Faith, Service, Team work, Academics, Character
Faith Formation and Religious Education (CCE)
The parish Continuing Catholic Education (CCE) program provides religious education for children not enrolled in the parish school. The Director of Religious Education, Betty Bonnet, coordinates sacramental preparation for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and ongoing faith formation, supported by a CCE Office Assistant.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Betty Bonnet
- CCE Office Assistant: Mrs. Mary Rivera
- Baptism Coordinator: Sr. Monica Garcia, O.P.
- Evangelization: Sr. Margarita Ortiz, O.P.
Youth Discipleship
The parish runs a dedicated Coordinator of Youth Ministry and offers a multi-pronged youth program that includes the weekly Life Teen bilingual Mass, the Totus Tuus summer program (grades 1–12), and Vacation Bible School themed 'The Great Journey with Jesus' for preschool through 5th grade. The Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community (ACC) coordinates these efforts across local parishes.
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Ms. Kimberly Garza
- Life Teen — bilingual Sunday 12:30 PM Mass
- Totus Tuus — week-long summer program (grades 1–12)
- Vacation Bible School — preschool through 5th grade
- Mary, Mother of the Church ACC — collaborative youth ministry
Parish Groups and Outreach
Adult parish life is anchored by the Altar & Rosary Society, which meets in the evenings for devotions like the Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary and runs the Annual White Elephant Sale fundraiser in the Parish Hall. A parish Works of Mercy outreach is funded by a designated second collection taken on the first Sunday of every month, and the local Knights of Columbus council meets at the parish.
- Altar & Rosary Society — Marian devotions and Annual White Elephant Sale
- Works of Mercy — first-Sunday second collection
- Knights of Columbus — parish council
Music and Liturgy
A dedicated parish Music Director coordinates liturgical music across the parish's seven Sunday Masses, daily Mass, and bilingual celebrations, supporting the parish's multilingual liturgical life (English, Spanish, and bilingual).
- Music Director: Mr. Joe Martinez
- Music at all Sunday and weekday Masses
- Music for bilingual Life Teen Mass and Spanish Mass
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by a monsignor-pastor, supported by a parochial vicar, three or four deacons, Dominican Sisters, and a full lay staff team for school, faith formation, youth ministry, business operations, and reception.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Heberto M. Diaz, Jr.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Caleb J. De La Rosa
- Additional priest: Rev. Emmanuel Kwofie
- Deacons: John P. Kinch, Juan Pablo Navarro, Luis Zuniga, George Terrazas
- Business Manager: Mr. David Ramirez
- Receptionist: Mrs. Lupita Resendez
Contact and Visiting
Parish offices are open at 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, TX 78520. Visitors can attend any scheduled Mass, spend time in the perpetual adoration chapel, or contact the parish by phone, fax, or email. The Diocese of Brownsville's parish finder provides a live reference for Mass, Confession, and Adoration times.
- Address: 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, TX 78520
- Phone: (956) 546-3800
- Fax: (956) 546-1589
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarysmc.org
- Diocesan listing: cdob.org/parishfinder
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Heberto M. Diaz, Jr.2011–present (effective 03/28/2011)
Current pastor; also serves as Diocesan Vicar for the Clergy from the diocesan curia on University Blvd.