About Most Precious Blood · Corpus Christi, Texas
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church (MPB) is a large Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, located on Saratoga Boulevard in the fast-growing Southside of Corpus Christi, Texas. Established on October 10, 1966 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury, it has grown from 184 founding families to what the Diocese describes as the largest parish in the Diocese, now serving more than 2,600 families. The parish runs a PK3–5th-grade Catholic school, an extensive faith-formation program rooted in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an active youth ministry, and one of the most extensive daily Mass schedules in the diocese, with four Sunday Masses and twice-daily weekday Masses in St. Jude Chapel. Its mission statement is "To be Christ to each other and lead others to Christ," lived out through ministries that serve the homeless, the incarcerated, nursing-home residents, and people with disabilities.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- Most Precious Blood of Jesus (the Eucharist)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, JCL
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
MPB combines the warmth of a large Southside parish with an unusually rich schedule of devotions and formation. A visitor can attend four Sunday Masses, daily Mass seven days a week in St. Jude Chapel, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, the monthly Divine Mercy Holy Hour, a weekly Pro-Life Rosary, and a vibrant youth ministry, while children grow in faith through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program and the parish school (PK3–5th). Dozens of lay-led ministries — Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, W.I.N.E., Real Men, the Homebound and Hospital ministries, and the Ministry of the Third Cross serving inmates and the homeless — give parishioners concrete ways to live out the mission: "To be Christ to each other and lead others to Christ."
Mass times at Most Precious Blood
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office at 361-854-3800)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, 9:00 AM – 5:45 PM in St. Jude Chapel (Exposition follows the 8:30 AM Mass; Benediction at 5:45 PM; Holy Mass at 6:00 PM)
- Eucharistic Adoration — 1st Friday of every month, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Blessed Sacrament exposed and adored by volunteers signing up for one hour or more
Parish History & Heritage
Most Precious Blood was established on October 10, 1966 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury. The first 184 families worshipped at the Corpus Christi Minor Seminary before moving into a multi-purpose sanctuary on Saratoga Boulevard in 1968. Twenty years later, the parish built its current church — and what had been the old sanctuary became the school cafeteria. The original crucifix from that first church now hangs in the school library, where it originally hung before the new church was constructed.
- Established Oct. 10, 1966 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury
- First sanctuary (multi-purpose building) opened 1968
- Current church built ~1988 (twenty years after founding)
- Golden Jubilee celebrated Sept.–Oct. 2016 with Bishop Michael Mulvey
- Designated Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Corpus Christi (Jan. 2026)
Our Parish Family
MPB describes itself as a growing, welcoming community grounded in stewardship and gratitude to God. The parish mission statement is "To be Christ to each other and lead others to Christ," with Father Dunn having encouraged parishioners to be the "hands and feet of Jesus in the world." With over 2,600 registered families, it is reported as the largest parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
- Mission: "To be Christ to each other and lead others to Christ."
- Core value: Christian stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
- Reported 2,653 registered families at the 50th anniversary (2016)
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, JCL as pastor — himself one of six priests the parish has given to the Diocese — together with parochial vicar Father Arularasu (Arsul) Mathias. The team includes five active deacons (Ken Bockholt, Frank N. Newchurch, David Castillo, Mark Cazalas, and John Pierce, who also serves as Parish Operations Coordinator) plus Deacon Vince Stark.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, JCL
- Parochial Vicar: Father Arularasu (Arsul) Mathias
- Deacons: Ken Bockholt, Frank N. Newchurch, David Castillo, Mark Cazalas, John Pierce (Parish Operations), Vince Stark
- Director of Sacred Music: Dr. Meagan King
- Director of Parish Faith Formation & Discipleship: Tina Villegas
- Youth Minister: Justin De Los Santos
- Parish Secretary: Mari Donez
- Parish/School Bookkeeper: Dora Garcia
- Facilities Manager: Eloy Ozuna
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
MPB is known for one of the most extensive Mass schedules in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, with four Sunday Masses in the Main Church and twice-daily Mass Monday–Friday plus a Saturday morning Mass, all in St. Jude Chapel. Confessions are heard 30 minutes before every Mass and by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM (Main Church)
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 7:30 PM (Main Church)
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM (St. Jude Chapel)
- Saturday Mass: 8:30 AM (St. Jude Chapel)
- Confessions: 30 minutes before each Mass, and by appointment
Most Precious Blood Catholic School
Most Precious Blood Catholic School is an integral ministry of the parish, founded alongside it with the opening of a kindergarten class in October 1968. Today it serves 219 students (as of the 50th anniversary) across eight grade levels, from Pre-K 3 through fifth grade, with a mission to "develop the mind, body, and spirit based on Faith and academic excellence in service to God and our community." The school's cafeteria occupies what was the parish's original 1968 sanctuary, and the original crucifix from that first church now hangs in the school library.
- Grades served: PK3 through 5th grade
- Founded 1968 alongside the parish
- Mission: develop mind, body, and spirit through faith and academic excellence
- Currently enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year and hiring a K-4 teacher
- School website: https://www.mpbcs.net/
Faith Formation & Religious Education
MPB runs one of the largest parish faith-formation programs in the diocese, enrolling roughly 750 students and using the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum. Sessions are organized by age group, with separate Pre-K3–6th-grade, 7th–8th-grade, and 9th–12th-grade tracks.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Pre-K3 through 6th grade): Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM
- 7th & 8th grade Faith Formation: Sundays 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
- 9th–12th grade: Sundays 2:00–3:30 PM
- Director: Tina Villegas ([email protected])
Youth Ministry
The MPB Youth Ministry reaches roughly 200 young people with the vision of "introduc[ing] people to Christ through Eucharistic prayer, Christ-centered community, and dynamic catechesis." Programs meet at the MPB–St. Maria Goretti Youth Center and include dedicated tracks for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and the High School Confirmation preparation program.
- Vision: "Introduce people to Christ through Eucharistic prayer, Christ-centered community, and dynamic catechesis."
- Middle School Youth Group (7th & 8th grade): Mondays 6:00–7:15 PM
- High School Confirmation sessions: Sundays 5:00–7:00 PM
- High School Youth Group sessions begin September 14, 2025
- Splash Kick-Off event September 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM in the Youth Center
- Youth Minister: Justin De Los Santos ([email protected])
- 7th & 8th Grade Coordinator: Stacie Bunting ([email protected])
Parish Ministries & Service
MPB has a deep bench of lay-led ministries — both liturgical and outreach-oriented. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters/Ushers, Music Ministry, and the Liturgical Linen Service. Outreach includes a Homebound Ministry, a Hospital Ministry visiting The Palms Center & Rehab and Solstice, and support for the Mother Teresa Shelter and a monthly downtown feeding ministry for the homeless.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, EMHCs, Lectors, Greeters/Ushers, Music Ministry, Liturgical Linen Service
- Outreach: Homebound Ministry (Alan & Deb Morgan), Hospital Ministry (Elsa Canales), Mother Teresa Shelter support, monthly homeless feeding downtown
- Parish organizations: Catholic Daughters, Junior Catholic Daughters, Women's Council, Our Lady of Guadalupe Society
- Quinceañera preparation with Tina Villegas
- Annulment assistance with Deacon John Pierce
Knights of Columbus, W.I.N.E. & Men's Groups
MPB hosts St. Jude Council #11238 and Assembly #2987 of the Knights of Columbus, with a strong tradition of fundraising BBQs, smoked turkeys at Thanksgiving, and service support for the parish festival, school, and clergy. The parish also runs W.I.N.E. — Women in the New Evangelization — and Real Men, a men's fellowship.
- Knights of Columbus — St. Jude Council #11238 (Grand Knight Yuma Martinez, 361-562-6343)
- Knights of Columbus Assembly #2987 (4th Degree)
- Council meets 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 PM; officers meeting 4th Wednesday
- Assembly meets 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 PM
- Annual fundraisers: October & March BBQs, Smoked Turkeys at Thanksgiving
- W.I.N.E. — Women in the New Evangelization: Wednesdays at 6:45 PM, Family Center Room C2
- Real Men (Men's Group): Thursdays at 7:00 PM
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday–Friday and can be reached by phone, email, or in person at 3502 Saratoga Boulevard on Corpus Christi's Southside. Confessions are heard 30 minutes before every Mass, and the parish welcomes new families to register and get involved.
- Address: 3502 Saratoga Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78415
- Phone: (361) 854-3800
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.mpbchurch.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpbchurchcctx/
- School website: https://www.mpbcs.net/
- Parish is in the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father (later Msgr.) William Kinlough1966–1990 (approx., 24 years)
Founding pastor; established the parish on Oct. 10, 1966 and oversaw the move into the first sanctuary and the opening of the school.
- Msgr. William Thompson1990–2000 (approx., 10 years)
Second pastor; the parish's Msgr. Thompson Family Center is named in his honor.
- Father (Rev.) Robert D. "Bob" Dunn2000–2016+ (at least 16 years)
Third pastor; led the 50th anniversary (Golden Jubilee) celebrations in 2016 and launched the Mission of the Third Cross and other community-service ministries.
- Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, JCLCurrent pastor
One of six priests who grew up in the parish; succeeded Father Dunn.