About Our Lady of the Pines · Woodville, Texas
Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Catholic population of Tyler County in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Located in the small town of Woodville, the parish had about 200 registered households (roughly 500 individuals) as of 2018, with an age and ethnic mix that reflects the surrounding area. It belongs to the Diocese of Beaumont and shares pastoral care with nearby missions including Our Lady of La Salette in Kirbyville, St. Michael in Jasper, and St. Raymond at Sam Rayburn. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly adoration on the first Sunday of the month, and a full schedule of sacraments.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Our Lady (the Blessed Mother) — parish also honors St. Lawrence, the original mission's patron
- Rector
- Rev. Rejimon George, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Pines is a small, welcoming parish at the heart of Tyler County where English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics gather together — the parish itself notes that its mixture of age and ethnicity 'richly expresses the universality of the Church.' With two weekend Masses (one in Spanish), a Wednesday Mass preceded by the Rosary, a Thursday Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary, and first-Sunday Eucharistic Adoration, there are multiple ways to encounter Christ during the week. The parish belongs to a tight-knit cluster of East Texas missions served by the same pastor, so worshippers also become part of a wider Catholic community across Jasper, Kirbyville, and Sam Rayburn.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Pines
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
- Saturday: 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM (First Sunday of the Month, during Adoration)
Adoration times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM (First Sunday of the Month)
History of Our Lady of the Pines
Our Lady of the Pines traces its roots to the late 1940s, when Catholics in Woodville had to travel to Jasper, Lufkin, or other towns for Mass. Father Walter Fraher, MS, and Father Thomas Nolan, MS, made monthly visits to celebrate Mass in private homes. After three and a half years of fundraising, the original St. Lawrence Church was dedicated in 1950. The parish grew steadily — opening its doors to Hurricane Carla refugees in 1961 and eventually outgrowing its original building — before a new seven-and-a-half-acre property was acquired and the current church was dedicated on April 12, 1970, with the new name Our Lady of the Pines.
- 1940s: Monthly home Masses by Fr. Walter Fraher, MS, and Fr. Thomas Nolan, MS
- 1950: St. Lawrence Church dedicated on the feast of St. Lawrence
- 1961: Parish hosted Hurricane Carla refugees
- 1970: New church dedicated April 12 and renamed Our Lady of the Pines
- Original 1950 mission building moved to Livingston (became St. Joseph Church)
Clergy & Pastoral Care
The parish is currently served by Father Rejimon George, CMI, as Pastor, with Father James Aherne, MS, serving as Parochial Vicar. Fr. George also ministers to a wider cluster of East Texas parishes: St. Michael in Jasper, Our Lady of La Salette in Kirbyville, and St. Raymond at Sam Rayburn / Toledo Village. This shared-pastor model reflects the rural character of the Diocese of Beaumont, where one priest often serves multiple small faith communities.
- Pastor: Rev. Rejimon George, CMI
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. James Aherne, MS
- Fr. George also serves St. Michael (Jasper), Our Lady of La Salette (Kirbyville), and St. Raymond (Sam Rayburn)
Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic
The parish welcomes adults inquiring about the Catholic faith through its 'Becoming Catholic' link on the website, which leads newcomers toward the OCIA/RCIA process. Families and adult parishioners also have access to FORMED®, a digital Catholic media library of videos, audio, and study programs that the parish provides at no cost.
- Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA inquiry)
- FORMED® digital subscription for parishioners
- Children's faith formation / First Communion and Reconciliation preparation
Sacraments
Standard parish sacramental preparation is offered, including Baptism, Marriage (with required preparation), First Communion and First Reconciliation for children, and the OCIA/RCIA process for unbaptized adults or those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the office at (409) 283-5367 for current preparation schedules.
- Baptism
- Marriage preparation
- First Communion / First Reconciliation
- Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Stewardship & Diocesan Appeal
The parish maintains a 'Donate Now' link on its website for online giving and participates in the Diocese of Beaumont's annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries (ACM), which funds diocesan ministries across East Texas. A weekly parish bulletin is published online so parishioners can follow announcements and prayer intentions.
- Online giving via 'Donate Now'
- Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries (ACM)
- Online weekly bulletin
Parish Identity & Setting
The parish sits in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods and embraces that natural setting as part of its identity — both in its name, Our Lady of the Pines, and in the three pine poles crowned with anodized aluminum crosses standing in front of the church. Its small but diverse flock (around 200 households as of 2018) reflects the broader Catholic presence in Tyler County, a region historically served by visiting priests and small mission churches.
- Located in Tyler County, East Texas Piney Woods
- Three pine poles with anodized aluminum crosses in front of the church
- About 200 registered households / ~500 individuals as of 2018
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Our Lady of the Pines at the parish office on North Pine Street in Woodville, by phone at (409) 283-5367, or by email at [email protected]. The parish also maintains a Facebook page where it posts bulletins, announcements, and parish news.
- Address: 1601 N. Pine Street, Woodville, TX 75979
- Phone: (409) 283-5367
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/OLOP.Woodville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Walter Fraher, MS1940s
Visited scattered Catholic families in the Woodville area, celebrating Mass in their homes once a month.
- Father Thomas Nolan, MS1940s
Also made monthly visits to minister to the small Catholic population around Woodville before the mission was established.