About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Sarita, Texas
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a small Catholic parish in the ranching town of Sarita, Texas (Kenedy County), one of several rural parishes served together as a single missionary team by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish offers bilingual (English/Spanish) Sunday Mass and serves the surrounding ranching and farmworker communities of southern Kenedy and northern Kleberg counties. The Oblate community residing at the nearby Oblate La Parra Center (on the historic Kenedy Ranch) provides pastoral care to this parish alongside Our Lady of Consolation in Vattmann, Sacred Heart Mission in Ricardo, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Riviera.
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Rev. James Foelker, OMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a welcoming bilingual parish at the heart of one of the most historic ranching regions of South Texas, where the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have committed to a long-term resident presence at the Oblate La Parra Center. Worshippers can worship in both English and Spanish at the Sunday Mass, find the sacrament of confession offered before Mass or by appointment, and be part of a small but devout rural Catholic community that gathers families from across Kenedy and northern Kleberg counties.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
- By appointment
Parish Overview
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a small Catholic parish serving the ranching town of Sarita in Kenedy County, South Texas. It belongs to the Diocese of Corpus Christi and is staffed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), who maintain a resident community at the Oblate La Parra Center on the historic Kenedy Ranch just outside town. Bilingual (English/Spanish) Sunday Mass is the principal weekly liturgy, with confessions heard beforehand.
- Located in Sarita (Kenedy County), Texas
- Part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Bilingual Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM
- Confessions before Sunday Mass or by appointment
History & Oblate Mission
The parish has long served the families of the Kenedy Ranch and surrounding South Texas ranchlands. In 2021, Bishop Michael Mulvey of the Diocese of Corpus Christi installed Fr. James Foelker, OMI, as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe together with three companion parishes, returning a resident Oblate presence to the area after the pandemic. The Oblates' nearby retreat ministry at the Oblate La Parra Center (the ranch's original Spanish name, meaning 'the vine') complements the parish's regular sacramental life.
- 2021 installation of Fr. James Foelker, OMI as pastor by Bishop Michael Mulvey
- Resident OMI community at Oblate La Parra Center on the Kenedy Ranch
- Long-standing Oblate presence in South Texas mission country
Clergy & Pastoral Team
The parish is pastored by Rev. James Foelker, OMI, supported by a community of Missionary Oblates living at the Oblate La Parra Center who rotate through the parish's sacramental ministries.
- Rev. James Foelker, OMI — Pastor
- Rev. Andrew Sensenig, OMI
- Rev. Robert Leising, OMI
- Rev. Roger Bergkamp, OMI
- Rev. David Ullrich, OMI
- Rev. Jim Chambers, OMI (temporary)
- Rev. Jim Taggart, OMI (announced)
Mass & Sacraments
The parish celebrates one weekly Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM in a bilingual (English/Spanish) format, with the sacrament of confession available 9:30–10:00 AM that morning or by appointment.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 AM, bilingual
- Confessions — Sunday 9:30 to 10:00 AM, or by appointment
Visiting & Location
The parish is located a block west of U.S. Highway 77 on La Parra Avenue, in the small ranching community of Sarita about 22 miles south of Kingsville. It serves a wide rural area including Vattmann, Ricardo, and Riviera.
- Address: 140 S. Main Street, Sarita, TX 78385
- Phone: (361) 294-5350
- One block west of US-77 on La Parra Avenue
- ~22 miles south of Kingsville
Companion Parishes (OMI Pastoral Cluster)
Fr. James Foelker, OMI was installed as pastor of a four-parish pastoral cluster covering small Kenedy and northern Kleberg County communities.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sarita
- Our Lady of Consolation, Vattmann
- Sacred Heart Mission, Ricardo
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Riviera