About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Alice, Texas
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi located in Alice, Texas, a small city in Jim Wells County in South Texas. With more than 200 registered families, it serves a bilingual (English and Spanish) community from its campus on Beam Station Road, where it also oversees Santo Niño de Atocha Mission. The parish offers weekday and weekend Masses, sacramental preparation, youth ministry (Life Teen), OCIA, and a monthly food bank, and is led by its Parish Administrator Fr. James Thoompunkal.
- Established
- 1942 (as mission); 1970 (as parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Fr. James Thoompunkal (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a warm, bilingual Catholic community of more than 200 families in Alice, Texas, where weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday and three weekend Masses (one in Spanish, two in English, plus one English Mass at Santo Niño de Atocha Mission). Parishioners can grow through Life Teen youth ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Confirmation preparation, the CCD program for grades K–8, ongoing adult faith formation, liturgical ministries (lectors, altar servers, sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, greeters/ushers), and outreach such as the monthly food bank. The parish also gathers for special devotions like Adoration every Tuesday and the celebration of Fr. James's 25th Anniversary of Ordination.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday 4:00pm – 5:00pm
- By appointment (all other times/days)
Adoration times
- Every Tuesday after 6:00pm Mass
- Daily, at any time, in St. Michael Chapel
About Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, located on Beam Station Road in Alice, Texas. Rooted in a 1942 mission community, today the parish serves more than 200 families in a bilingual (English/Spanish) community. It maintains the Santo Niño de Atocha Mission and offers a full range of sacraments, faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach such as a monthly food bank.
- Mission founded December 12, 1942 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- Elevated to diocesan parish in 1970
- Member of Diocese of Corpus Christi
- More than 200 registered families
- Sister mission: Santo Niño de Atocha
Parish History
From humble beginnings in 1942 to today's active parish on Beam Station Road, Our Lady of Guadalupe's story is one of steady growth. The community began as a mission of St. Joseph's Parish in Alice, was served by Spanish Dominican Fathers through its early decades, and eventually grew large enough to construct its current church, dedicated in 1969.
- 1942 – Mission of St. Joseph's Parish in Alice established
- 1944 – First church completed on Farm Street
- 1950s – Church expanded for growing congregation
- 1960 – Parish hall built for religion classes
- 1966 – Parish hall relocated to Beam Station Road
- 1969 – New Beam Station Road church dedicated
- 1970 – Became an official parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- 1994 – Santo Niño de Atocha Mission built
- 2003 – New bell tower erected
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Lifelong Faith Formation program supports parishioners of every age – children, teens, and adults – in growing as disciples. The CCD program serves children in grades K–8, while teens encounter Christ through Life Teen and sacramental preparation, and adults are formed through Bible studies, retreats, and small groups.
- CCD / Religious Education for grades K–8
- Sunday morning classes for K–2 (after 9:30am Mass, until 11:40am)
- Wednesday afternoon classes for 3rd–5th grade starting 5:30pm
- Wednesday evening classes for 6th–12th grades at 7:00pm
- Registration fee: $25.00 per student
- Adult Faith Formation opportunities include F.L.A.M.E. Retreats, Women of Grace, Endow, Bible Studies, Young Adult Ministry
Youth Ministry – Life Teen
Life Teen is the parish's high school youth ministry, offering a non-classroom model of catechesis that reaches teens emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and relationally. Open to all 9th–12th graders, Life Teen gatherings begin with the 11:30am Sunday Mass and conclude at 2:30pm in the parish hall, with additional retreats and events throughout the year.
- Open to all high school students (grades 9–12)
- Begins with 11:30am Sunday Mass
- Concludes at 2:30pm in the parish hall
- High School and Middle School Parental Consent Form required
- Teen Bible Study also offered (e.g., every Monday in summer)
Sacramental Preparation
The parish walks families and adults through the Church's sacraments of initiation and healing. Children prepare for First Communion and First Penance through CCD; teens prepare for Confirmation; unbaptized or uncatechized adults prepare for full communion through OCIA; and parents and godparents prepare for infant Baptism through monthly classes.
- Baptism Preparation – third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm
- First Communion & First Penance – through CCD
- Confirmation Preparation – for teens
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) – directed by Rachel Munoz
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 4:00–5:00pm or by appointment
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in many ways. Coordinators lead teams of lectors, altar servers, sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, greeters/ushers, and offertory counters. The parish is also served by dedicated English and Spanish music ministries.
- Greeters/Ushers – hospitality and offertory support
- Lectors – proclaim the Word of God
- Altar Servers – open to youth who have made First Communion (coordinator: Larissa Gonzalez)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion – distribute Body and Blood of Christ
- Sacristans – prepare worship space (coordinator: Angie Sendejo)
- Offertory Counters – count weekly collection
- Acolyte Groups
- English Music Directors – Noe & Marisa Cadena
- Spanish Music Director – Sandra Gonzalez
Parish Councils, Committees & Outreach
Beyond liturgical service, parishioners help guide and support the parish through councils and ministries. The Finance Council advises the pastor on financial matters; the Youth Faith Formation Council coordinates youth ministries; and F.L.A.M.E. ministries offer men's, women's, and teen retreats. Outreach includes a monthly food bank and parish bingo as a fundraising/social event.
- Parish Finance Council – advisory body to the pastor
- Youth Faith Formation Council – coordinates Life Teen, Sacramental Prep, CCD, Teen Retreat Ministry
- F.L.A.M.E. Ministries – Women's, Men's, and Teen
- Monthly Food Bank – second Tuesday of each month (07/14/26, 08/11/26, 09/08/26, 10/13/26, 11/10/26, 12/08/26)
- Parish Bingo – social/fundraising event
Parish Staff
Our Lady of Guadalupe is served by a parish administrator, a deacon, and a dedicated team of lay staff and ministry coordinators. The parish office is the central point of contact for all sacramental, formation, and administrative needs.
- Parish Administrator – Fr. James Thoompunkal ([email protected])
- Deacon – Emede Gonzalez
- Office Admin/Bookkeeper – Delicia S. Rodriguez ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary – Delicia S. Rodriguez
- Director of Faith Formation – Diana B. Martinez ([email protected])
- Youth Director – Christina Villegas
- Spanish Music Director – Sandra Gonzalez
- English Music Directors – Noe & Marisa Cadena
- Sacristan Coordinator – Angie Sendejo
- Lector & Eucharistic Ministry Leader – Cindy Sandoval
- Altar Server Coordinator – Larissa Gonzalez
- OCIA/OCIC Director – Rachel Munoz
- Bulletin Editor – Hilda B. Fonseca ([email protected])
Office Hours, Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (361) 664-2953 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is closed every Tuesday; otherwise, it is open mornings and afternoons to assist with sacramental registration, Mass intentions, and general inquiries. The mailing address is Alice, Texas 78333.
- Phone: (361) 664-2953
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 9:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 5:00pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Office closed every Tuesday
- All other times/days available by appointment
- Mailing address: Alice, Texas 78333