About Our Lady Star of the Sea · Corpus Christi, Texas
Our Lady Star of the Sea is a historic Catholic parish located on North Beach in Corpus Christi, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The church building itself is the relocated 1882 sanctuary of the original St. Patrick's, which served as the cathedral of the new diocese from 1912 until a new Corpus Christi Cathedral was built in 1940. After a 1951 fire, the old frame church was dismantled and rebuilt on East Causeway Boulevard, where it reopened as Our Lady Star of the Sea. The parish is known for its original altar, statues, stained-glass windows (including two Tiffany windows behind the altar), and an extensive collection of over 300 first-, second-, and third-class sacred relics amassed by its longtime pastor, the late Msgr. Vincent Patrizi.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- Our Lady Star of the Sea (Blessed Virgin Mary, Stella Maris)
- Rector
- Rev. Francis Makut
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Our Lady Star of the Sea offers a small, intimate 'country church' atmosphere on North Beach that draws Catholic families from across Corpus Christi and surrounding coastal communities including Portland, Gregory, Taft, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass. Parishioners worship in a building that is itself a piece of Texas Catholic history — the relocated sanctuary of the original 1882 St. Patrick's Cathedral, complete with Tiffany stained-glass windows and an extraordinary collection of over 300 sacred relics. With weekday and Sunday Masses, regular Confession, Lenten Stations of the Cross, Faith Formation for children, and Confirmation celebrations, it is a welcoming Eucharistic community where the Good News is shared in a personal setting.
Mass times at Our Lady Star of the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:35 AM – 8:50 AM
- Saturday: 4:50 PM – 5:20 PM
- Tuesday: 5:35 PM – 5:50 PM
- Wednesday: 7:35 AM – 7:50 AM
- Thursday: 7:35 AM – 7:50 AM
Welcome to Our Lady Star of the Sea
Our Lady Star of the Sea is a welcoming Catholic community centered in the Eucharist, striving to live and share the Good News and grow in discipleship with the Lord. Sitting on North Beach in Corpus Christi, the parish draws families from across the city and surrounding coastal towns — Portland, Gregory, Taft, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass — who value a small 'country church' atmosphere of worship and fellowship.
- Eucharistic-centered Catholic community
- Draws families from across the Coastal Bend
- Small, intimate parish setting on North Beach
Parish History
The parish's roots go back to 1853, when Rev. Bernard O'Reilly became Corpus Christi's first resident pastor and built the city's first Catholic church — a small adobe on Tancahua Street donated by Henry L. Kinney. Named St. Patrick's for its Irish immigrant congregation, it was replaced in 1882 by a larger frame church with two towers designed by architect Charles Carroll and outfitted with bells donated by Mifflin Kenedy. When the Diocese of Corpus Christi was created in 1912, St. Patrick's was elevated to cathedral; the name reverted to St. Patrick's parish after the new Corpus Christi Cathedral was built on Upper Broadway in 1940. A 1951 fire led to the old frame church being dismantled and moved to North Beach, where it reopened as Our Lady Star of the Sea, preserving the original altar, statues, and stained-glass windows.
- 1853: First resident pastor Rev. Bernard O'Reilly arrives in Corpus Christi
- 1857: First adobe Catholic church (St. Patrick's) completed
- 1882: Second St. Patrick's dedicated — designed by Charles Carroll, with bells from Mifflin Kenedy
- 1912: Diocese of Corpus Christi formed; St. Patrick's becomes cathedral under Rev. Claude Jaillet
- 1940: New Corpus Christi Cathedral dedicated on Upper Broadway (Spanish Colonial Revival, Charles Monot architect)
- 1951: Old St. Patrick's frame structure dismantled and moved to North Beach as Our Lady Star of the Sea
Architecture, Art, and Sacred Relics
Because the church was rebuilt from the dismantled 1882 St. Patrick's sanctuary, the building is itself a historic artifact. The altar, statues, and stained-glass windows — including two Tiffany windows behind the altar — were carefully reinstalled after the move. OLSS is also home to an extensive collection of over 300 sacred relics, with examples of all three classes (first-class bodily remains of saints, second-class items belonging to or used by saints, and third-class objects touched to a first-class relic). The collection was amassed by the late Msgr. Vincent Patrizi, who served the parish for many years.
- Two Tiffany stained-glass windows behind the altar
- Original 1882 altar and statues
- 300+ sacred relics (first, second, and third class)
- St. Patrick Chapel inside the church (blessed and rededicated)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes for children are held at the Msgr. Vincent Patrizi Center, the parish's education and fellowship building located across the neighborhood at 3205 Seagull Blvd. on North Beach. The parish celebrates Confirmation Mass annually and hosts a special Graduates Mass each year for high-school seniors.
- Religious Education classes at the Msgr. Vincent Patrizi Center
- Annual Confirmation Mass
- Annual Graduates Mass
- Blessing of St. Patrick Chapel and new confessional (recent parish milestone)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently served by Rev. Francis Makut as pastor. The late Msgr. Vincent Patrizi was pastor for many years and is remembered through the parish center named in his honor and through the relic collection he assembled.
- Rev. Francis Makut — Pastor
- Msgr. Vincent Patrizi — Pastor (deceased); relic collection bears his legacy
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard O'Reilly1853–1875
First resident pastor of Corpus Christi; oversaw construction of the first adobe Catholic church (named St. Patrick's for the parish's many Irish immigrants).
- Rev. Claude Jaillet
Served St. Patrick's for 30 years; pastor when St. Patrick's was raised to cathedral status in 1912 with the founding of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
- Msgr. Vincent Patrizi
Longtime pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea (now deceased); assembled the church's extensive collection of first-, second-, and third-class sacred relics. The parish hall/office building bears his name.
- Rev. Francis Makut
Current pastor.