About Our Lady of Lourdes · Vidor, Texas
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in Vidor, Texas, serving the Catholic faithful of northwest Orange County in Southeast Texas. Founded in 1937–1938 as a mission of St. Mary's Church in Orange, it was raised to parish status in 1948 and was shepherded for 55 years by the Augustinian Fathers (Order of St. Augustine, O.S.A.) from the Province of Castile, Spain, before the return to diocesan clergy in 2003. Today the parish continues its mission to glorify God through worship and to bring the Gospel to the people of northwest Orange County, with weekly Masses, the sacraments, faith formation, and active parish organizations.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Ross Waggoner
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a faithful Roman Catholic home in northwest Orange County with a rich heritage dating to 1937 and a strong sense of community. The parish nurtures the faithful through daily and Sunday Mass, regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, CCD and adult faith formation, an active Altar Society, a Lourdes Senior Citizen Group, and Council 5789 of the Knights of Columbus (famous locally for its Lenten fish fries and BBQ fundraisers). Families find a welcoming place where the legacy of the Augustinian fathers still shapes a devout, sacramental, and outreach-minded parish life.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Family Rosary Across America — weekly, 7 PM (parish)
Our Lady of Lourdes — Parish Overview
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church sits at 1600 N. Main Street in Vidor, Texas, and has served the Catholic faithful of northwest Orange County since 1938. Its mission is to glorify God through worship and to bring the saving Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of the area. The weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist is described by the parish as the liturgical heart of parish life, where parishioners celebrate the paschal mystery and draw strength to live out their baptismal promises. Church members explicitly offer warm hospitality to all who seek a spiritual home in which to follow Jesus Christ.
- Parish name: Our Lady of Lourdes
- Location: 1600 N. Main Street, Vidor, TX 77662
- Diocese: Diocese of Beaumont (Eastern Vicariate)
- Founded: 1937–1938 as a mission; became an independent parish in 1948
History & Journey of Faith
The parish traces its origins to November 6, 1937, when two acres of land were purchased in downtown Vidor. Twenty-five Catholic families first gathered for Mass in the local high school auditorium and later in a sub-courthouse hall. Father Joseph O. Berberich secured the financing for a church building from Mr. & Mrs. John H. Phelan of Beaumont, and the Mission-style church (40′ × 85′) was completed and dedicated by Bishop C.E. Byrne of Galveston on Labor Day, September 5, 1938. The mission was tended from St. Mary's in Orange until 1948, when, with 80 families, Bishop Byrne raised it to parish status. From 1948 to 2003 the parish was served by Augustinian priests (O.S.A.) from the Province of Castile in Spain. Expansion included a rectory, parish hall, grotto, and catechetical center, and a new, larger church was dedicated in the late 1970s — the note on the new church was burned on Mother's Day 1980.
- 1937 — Land purchased; 25 Catholic families begin gathering for Mass.
- 1938 (Sept. 5) — Mission-style church dedicated by Bishop C.E. Byrne.
- 1948 — Mission elevated to parish status; Augustinian Fathers (O.S.A.) of Castile, Spain, take over.
- 1978 — Major expansion phase ends with a new, larger church under construction.
- 1980 (Mother's Day) — Note burned on the new church.
- 2003 — Augustinian Fathers return parish to diocesan clergy.
- 2022 — Rev. Ross Waggoner appointed pastor.
Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Ross Waggoner (Pastor), assisted by Deacon Stephen Sellers, with JayMarie Granger serving as Secretary/Bookkeeper. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Rev. Ross Waggoner — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Stephen Sellers — Deacon
- JayMarie Granger — Secretary / Bookkeeper
Ministries & Organizations
The parish sponsors a vibrant mix of spiritual, educational, and fraternal organizations. The Altar Society cares for the sanctuary and hosts parish events; the Lourdes Senior Citizen Group meets regularly for fellowship; the Knights of Columbus Council 5789 is one of the most active parish organizations, with monthly business meetings, Lenten Friday Fish Fries (dine-in or drive-thru), summer BBQ fundraisers, and family socials. Faith formation for children and youth includes CCD classes for K–8th graders and High School CCD for grades 9–12, alongside an Adult Faith Formation group that meets in the parish hall.
- Knights of Columbus Council 5789 (Vidor) — fish fries, BBQ fundraisers, family socials
- Altar Society
- Lourdes Senior Citizen Group
- Adult Faith Formation
- CCD Classes (K–8th grade, Sunday mornings)
- High School CCD (9th–12th grade, Wednesday evenings)
- Family Rosary Across America (weekly)
Devotions & Seasonal Services
Beyond weekly Mass and Confession, the parish gathers for seasonal devotions including the Stations of the Cross during Lent (typically Friday evenings in church) and a weekly Family Rosary (in connection with Family Rosary Across America). Holy Day Masses and other special liturgical celebrations are announced in the bulletin and on the website's events calendar.
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays in church during Lent
- Family Rosary Across America — weekly, 7 PM
- Holy Day Masses — as announced
Sacraments
Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates the full range of Roman Catholic sacraments. The Eucharist is celebrated at the scheduled Mass times; Reconciliation is heard Saturday and Sunday before Mass and by appointment. Baptisms, Marriages, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through the parish office during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass
- Reconciliation — Saturday & Sunday before Mass, and by appointment
- Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office at 1600 N. Main Street, Vidor, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 4:00 PM and Sunday morning at 10:00 AM, with daily weekday Masses (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 9:00 AM and Wednesday at 5:30 PM). The parish can be reached by phone at (409) 769-2865 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 1600 N. Main Street, Vidor, TX 77662-3014
- Phone: (409) 769-2865
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: olol.weconnect.com
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Parish Patron & Dedication
The parish is named for Our Lady of Lourdes, commemorating the Marian apparitions to St. Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858. The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated on February 11. The original church was dedicated on Labor Day, September 5, 1938, by Bishop C.E. Byrne of Galveston. The current church was dedicated in the late 1970s, with its note burned on Mother's Day 1980.
- Patron: Our Lady of Lourdes
- Feast Day: February 11
- Original Church Dedicated: September 5, 1938 (Bishop C.E. Byrne)
- Current Church Note Burned: Mother's Day 1980
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph O. Berberich1937–1948 (mission era)
Founded the mission; secured funding from Mr. & Mrs. John H. Phelan of Beaumont for the original church building; ministered together with his brother Father George Berberich from St. Mary's in Orange.
- Father George Berberich1937–1948 (mission era)
Co-ministered with his brother Father Joseph O. Berberich; served both St. Mary's in Orange and the Our Lady of Lourdes mission.
- Augustinian Fathers (O.S.A.) of the Province of Castile, Spain1948–2003
The parish was run for 55 years by Augustinian priests from Spain (the Castilian Province), headquartered at Residencia Provincia San Juan de Sahagún, Madrid.
- Rev. Ross Waggoner2022–present
Current pastor; listed in the Diocese of Beaumont Priest Directory as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Vidor.