About Our Lady of Refuge · Refugio, Texas
Our Lady of Refuge is a Roman Catholic parish in Refugio, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. It stands on the original site of Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, the last Spanish mission established in Texas, founded by Franciscan friars in 1793. The current sanctuary, completed in 1901, is a Gothic Revival/Victorian landmark that dominates the town's skyline as travelers approach on U.S. Highway 77. Today the parish is grouped into a Tri-Parish Community with St. James the Apostle (Refugio), St. Therese of the Little Flower (Woodsboro), and the Mission Chapel of St. Dennis (Tivoli).
- Established
- 1795
- Patron
- Our Lady of Refuge (Nuestra Señora del Refugio)
- Rector
- Rev. William J. Marquis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Our Lady of Refuge is one of the oldest living Catholic communities in Texas, still worshipping on the exact site where Franciscan friars celebrated Mass in 1795. It belongs to a warm Tri-Parish Community — Our Lady of Refuge, St. James the Apostle (Refugio), St. Therese of the Little Flower (Woodsboro), and the Mission Chapel of St. Dennis (Tivoli) — served by Fr. William J. Marquis. The parish offers Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and a deeply rooted Spanish-and-Irish Catholic heritage that is unique in Texas.
Mass times at Our Lady of Refuge
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM (also by request)
Parish Identity & Diocese
Our Lady of Refuge Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, located at 1008 S. Alamo St. in Refugio, Texas. It is the direct institutional successor of Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, the last Spanish mission established in Texas, and is recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark candidate (Atlas No. 5391003886).
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
- 1008 S. Alamo St., Refugio, TX 78377
- Phone: (361) 526-2083
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: christonhwy77.com
History: From Mission to Parish (1793–Present)
Our Lady of Refuge is the spiritual continuation of Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, founded February 4, 1793 by Franciscans Fray Manuel José de Silva and Fray José Francisco Mariano Garza of the College of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zacatecas. The mission, the last of the Texas Spanish missions, was established to convert the Karankawa Indians. After two moves caused by Karankawa resistance and supply problems, it was dedicated at its present site on January 10, 1795. Secularized in 1824 and abandoned by 1830, the ruins were repaired by Irish immigrants in 1834 and used as a church and hospital — only to be bombarded during the Battle of Refugio in 1836. The mission stones were later used to build the so-called 'Rock Church' in 1866, which itself was replaced in 1901 by the present sanctuary.
- 1793 — Mission founded by Franciscan friars at Goff Bayou (Calhoun County).
- 1795 — Mission relocated to present-day Refugio and formally dedicated.
- 1824 — Mission secularized; final abandonment by 1830.
- 1834 — Irish settlers repair the old mission as church and hospital.
- 1836 — Building bombarded during the Battle of Refugio.
- 1866 — 'Rock Church' built from the original mission stones.
- 1901 — Present Gothic Revival sanctuary completed.
- 1946 — School, convent, and auditorium facilities added.
- 1975 — Church rehabilitated.
- 1994 — Texas Historical Commission marker erected (No. 3886).
Architecture & Landmark Status
The 1901 sanctuary was designed by James Wahrenberger, a Texas-born, German-trained San Antonio architect, and built by Refugio contractor George Strauch. The clapboard-faced church features round-arched windows, a slender centered Gothic-styled spire, and pinnacled piers. It is Refugio's identifying architectural landmark, with the spire visible from miles away as U.S. 77 curves across the Mission River valley into town. The Texas Historical Commission describes it as 'an impressive Victorian/Romanesque sanctuary,' while a THC survey of Refugio County classifies the style as Gothic Revival.
- Architect: James Wahrenberger
- Builder: George Strauch (Refugio)
- Style: Gothic Revival / Victorian-Romanesque (clapboard)
- Features: Round-arched windows, slender Gothic spire, pinnacled piers
- Mission bell from 1795 exhibited inside
- THC Atlas No. 5391003886 / Marker No. 3886
Tri-Parish Community
Our Lady of Refuge is part of a Tri-Parish Community formed with three neighboring parishes in Refugio and surrounding Refugio County, all served by the same pastoral team. This collaborative model allows the small rural parishes to share clergy and resources while preserving their individual identities.
- Our Lady of Refuge, Refugio (1008 S. Alamo St.)
- St. James the Apostle, Refugio
- St. Therese of the Little Flower, Woodsboro
- St. Dennis Mission (Mission Chapel), Tivoli
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The current pastor of Our Lady of Refuge and the Tri-Parish Community is Rev. William J. Marquis, also known as Fr. Bill Marquis, ordained June 14, 2003. He is listed by the Diocese of Corpus Christi as pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Parish, St. James the Apostle Parish (Refugio), and St. Therese of the Little Flower Parish (Woodsboro), and as Parochial Administrator of St. Dennis Mission (O'Connor Ranch).
- Rev. William J. Marquis — Pastor, Tri-Parish Community
- Ordained: June 14, 2003
Visiting Our Lady of Refuge
The parish sits on U.S. Highway 77 on the north edge of Refugio, just off the Mission River. Travelers entering town from the south see the spire above the river valley as the highway curves into town — the same view that has welcomed visitors since the 18th century. Parking is on-site; accessibility features are present on the grounds.
- Location: 1008 S. Alamo St., Refugio, TX 78377
- On Hwy. 77, north edge of Refugio
- Contact: (361) 526-2083 / [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vandenberg
Earlier pastor remembered by long-time parishioners.
- Monsignor Dominic Daly, R.I.P.
Welcomed Fr. Bill (O'Keeffe/Marquis era clergy) and earlier pastors; longtime pastor of the parish.
- Fr. Bill (Monsignor William J. O'Keeffe / Fr. William J. Marquis)Arrived September 1980; approximately 41 years of service
Longest tenured pastor in parish history; retired to Nazareth House, Los Angeles, CA.
- Fr. Ray
Served after Fr. Bill, before Fr. Gerard.