About Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Cestohowa, Texas
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small historic Catholic parish in Cestohowa, an unincorporated rural community in Karnes County, South Texas, within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio. Founded in 1873 by Polish settlers who had previously worshiped with the "Mother Colony" at Panna Maria, the parish remains a living link to the Polish Catholic pioneer heritage of the region, and today gathers a small flock of roughly 380 registered members for weekly Mass, devotions, and an annual parish picnic. The parish church, located on FM 3191 a short drive from Falls City, Texas, is marked by a Texas Historical Commission medallion placed in 2000.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Our Lady of Czestochowa, Patroness of Poland)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary offers a small, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in the Polish pioneer heritage of Karnes County and still organized around the rhythms of a country parish: a Saturday evening and Sunday morning weekend Mass schedule, weekday Masses through the week, and a strong women's Altar Society that marked 70 years of service in 2025. It is a place where families register as members, neighbors help run the annual parish picnic, and the same building blessed in 1878 remains the center of worship — a tangible link to the Polish settlers who founded it.
Mass times at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
History & Polish Pioneer Heritage
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary traces its roots to 1873, when Polish settlers in what is now Karnes County formally organized the second Polish colony in the area, taking the name Czestochowa — after the Polish shrine city — and later adopting the Americanized spelling 'Cestohowa.' For its first years the community worshipped with the older Mother Colony at Panna Maria, and the decision to build a separate church in 1877, after Panna Maria's church was destroyed by lightning, was contentious. The blessing of the new church on February 10, 1878 by Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer, the assignment of Father W. Pelczar as first pastor that September, and the gift of a painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa from Panna Maria parishioners in 1878 marked the beginning of an independent Catholic life that has continued for nearly 150 years. The Texas Historical Commission recognized the parish with a state historical marker in 2000.
- Settlement formally established 1873 as the second Polish colony in Karnes County
- Church blessed February 10, 1878 by Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer; first baptism August 23, 1878
- First pastor Father W. Pelczar assigned September 1878
- Painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa gifted by Panna Maria parishioners in 1878
- Texas Historical Commission marker dedicated in 2000
- 125th anniversary celebrated in 1998 with 380 registered members
Founding Families & Builders
The land for the church was donated by two Polish pioneer farmers, Anton Jarzombek (1836–1922) and Frank Mutz (1814–1891), and area residents contributed their labor to build the original eighty-five-by-forty-foot structure under contractor Gervase Gabrysch (1830–1904).
- Anton Jarzombek (1836–1922), land donor
- Frank Mutz (1814–1891), land donor
- Gervase Gabrysch (1830–1904), building contractor
Architecture & 1930s Remodeling
The original 1878 wooden church measured 85 by 40 feet and was raised almost entirely by local labor. In the 1930s the building received an extensive remodeling: while the original walls were preserved, the roof was removed, the ceiling raised, north and south wings added, and the steeple increased in height — giving the structure the basic form parishioners still recognize today.
- Original walls preserved during 1930s remodeling
- Roof removed and ceiling raised
- North and south wings added
- Steeple heightened
Cestohowa Altar Society
The Cestohowa Altar Society is the parish's longest-running lay organization. It was organized on July 3, 1955, under the direction of then-pastor Rev. Julius Dworaczyk, with the purpose of drawing women of the parish into active parish life — giving them a unified voice on matters of parish interest and promoting spiritual and social activities. Adopting bylaws from the start, the society has hewed closely to its founding vision for seventy years and, in 2025, marked that anniversary with a Mass celebrated June 29 in honor of living and deceased members.
- Founded July 3, 1955 under Rev. Julius Dworaczyk
- Marked 70th anniversary in 2025
- Anniversary Mass held June 29, 2025 for living and deceased members
Annual Parish Picnic
The parish's flagship community event is its Annual Picnic, which the parish website currently advertises for Sunday, May 3, 2026. The picnic is the visible expression of the parish's identity as a small, tightly-knit rural community descended from the Polish pioneers of Karnes County.
- Annual Picnic scheduled Sunday, May 3, 2026
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during the week, and the parish maintains an email address for general inquiries. The parish website hosts a weekly bulletin and announcements, and the church sits on FM 3191 (Cestohowa Boulevard) a short drive from Falls City, Texas.
- Parish phone: (830) 745-2633
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 300 FM 3191 (Cestohowa Blvd.), Falls City, TX 78113
- Parish website: nbvmcestohowa.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father W. PelczarSeptember 1878 –
First pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cestohowa, assigned in September 1878 after Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the new church on February 10, 1878.
- Rev. Julius Dworaczyk
Pastor at the time the Cestohowa Altar Society was organized on July 3, 1955.