About Santa Rosa de Lima · Andice, Texas
Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church is a thriving Roman Catholic parish in the tiny rural community of Andice, Texas — about 40 miles north of Austin in Williamson County — serving roughly 1,500 registered families. Founded in 1937–38 by Spanish-speaking migrant farm workers during the Great Depression, the parish began as a mission of St. Helen's in Georgetown and grew into its own parish in 1998, today sitting on a modern 40-acre compound with a sanctuary built in 2000, a parish hall, religious education building, rectory, and landscaped grottos. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with two priests on staff for the first time in the parish's history since 2022.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Saint Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima)
- Rector
- Rev. Larry "Larry" Stehling
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Santa Rosa de Lima offers a deeply rooted bilingual Catholic community where English and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side — a fulfillment of the dream of the original migrant-worker founders, who never heard the liturgy celebrated in their native tongue. With two priests, five deacons, a vibrant music program spanning four weekend Masses, a religious education program for grades K–8, RCIA and adult Bible studies, a twice-monthly food pantry, and St. Vincent de Paul outreach, the parish serves about 1,500 families with the warmth of a small-town church on a spacious 40-acre campus. Parishioners consistently highlight the friendly greeters, the strong volunteer catechist corps, and the visible leadership of longtime pastor Fr. Larry Stehling.
Mass times at Santa Rosa de Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 3:30 PM
- Tuesday & Thursday: ~5:20 PM (immediately following the 5:00 PM daily Mass)
- Wednesday: ~4:25 PM (after 4:00 PM daily Mass) and 5:30 PM in Spanish (before the 6:00 PM Mass)
- Friday: 10:30–11:20 AM during Advent and Lent (except Good Friday)
- 1st Friday: 10:30–11:30 AM
- Saturday: 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Thursday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (First Thursday celebrated in Spanish)
- Fridays during Advent
Our History
Santa Rosa de Lima was born during the Great Depression, when Spanish-speaking migrant farm workers and local laborers gathered for Mass on the stage of an abandoned movie theater in tiny Andice. After the theater was razed in 1937, the congregation worshipped outdoors at San José Cemetery and in the home of Juan Zavala before building their first 1,200-square-foot church on a $50 lot. Dedicated November 7, 1937 by Bishop Christopher Byrne, it became a mission of St. Helen's in Georgetown in 1938. For the next 57 years Holy Cross and diocesan priests celebrated Mass on alternate Sundays. The parish grew, became independent in 1998, and built a new sanctuary in 2000 on what is now a 40-acre campus. In 2022 the arrival of the first associate pastor revived Spanish-language liturgy, fulfilling a dream the founders never lived to see.
- Original church built 1937 on land bought from Charley Stapp for $50; $1,000 from the Catholic Church Extension Society
- Congregation of Holy Cross (founders of Notre Dame and St. Edward's) sent Brother Jerome Steffes, C.S.C., to build the first church
- A mission of St. Helen's, Georgetown from 1938 to 1998
- New sanctuary completed 2000 on a 40-acre campus
- Religious Education building destroyed by fire in spring 2011; rebuilt under Fr. Eliseus Ibeh
- First associate pastor, Fr. Cesar Guzman-Diaz, arrived June 2022
- 85th anniversary celebrated with bilingual Mass, October 2023
Priests Who Have Served Santa Rosa
The parish keeps a detailed list of every priest who has served since 1930, beginning with the Holy Cross missionaries and continuing through today's two-priest staff. The full chronological table — including Diocesan Pastors, Diocesan Assistants, Holy Cross Pastors and Holy Cross Assistants — is published on the Priests of Santa Rosa page of the parish website.
- Holy Cross pastors served 1930–1945 (Fr. Patrick J. O'Reilly, Fr. Angus MacDonald, Fr. Walter O'Donnell, Fr. Frank E. Drummey, Fr. Alfred Mendez, Fr. Frederick Schmidt and others)
- Diocesan pastors from St. Helen's oversaw the mission 1965–1995
- Fr. John Herledan became the first resident priest in 1984
- Fr. Walter F. Carr became the first resident pastor in 1995
- Fr. Eliseus O. Ibeh, MSP — 2006–2012
- Fr. Lawrence 'Larry' Stehling — 2012 to present
- Fr. Cesar Guzman-Diaz — 2022 to present (first associate pastor)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's religious education program, directed by Deanna Herrera, brings parish children to Christ through scripture, tradition, and doctrine, and prepares them for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Classes are in-person, run from September to April, and include an English track at 9:00 AM and a Dual Language/Spanish track at 11:00 AM. All catechists and volunteers must be EIM certified.
- Elementary & Middle School RE for grades 1–8
- Dual Language and Spanish faith formation classes
- RCIA for adults
- Bible Studies and book reflection groups (contact Fr. Larry or the DRE)
- Annual registration opens August 1
- RE Office open Tue–Thu 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM and Sun 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM during the RE year
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve in a wide range of liturgical roles, supported by the SRdL Ministry Scheduler portal. Music ministers rehearse weekly and play at all four Sunday Masses as well as the Saturday vigil.
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos — must have received First Communion; arrive 20 minutes early
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Homebound Communion Ministers — bring the Eucharist to the sick and hospitalized (contact Barbara Nehrbass)
- Lectors — ages 14+; contact Steve Kliman
- Ushers and Greeters (greeters arrive 30 minutes before Mass)
- Linen Care volunteers — wash altar linens at home every other month (contact Steve Kliman)
- Music Ministry choirs: Saturday 5 PM ensemble; Sunday 8 AM traditional choir; Sunday 10:30 AM traditional with organ; Sunday 4 PM contemporary ensemble (rehearses 3 PM); Spanish coro at 12:30 PM with flute, guitar, and piano
Sacraments
Information on celebrating the seven sacraments at Santa Rosa de Lima is published on the parish website's FAQ and Sacraments of Healing pages.
- Baptism: for registered parishioners and those within parish boundaries; parents and sponsors required to attend a baptism class
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: prepared through RE
- Confirmation: prepared through RE; first celebrated in 1976
- Marriage: contact the RE Office at least 6 months in advance
- Quinceañera: requires one full year of completed faith formation; booked up to 6 months ahead
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound Communion: contact Fr. Larry at 512-787-7954
- Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration: see schedules above
Outreach & Charity
Santa Rosa de Lima extends its Catholic mission beyond the sanctuary through food assistance and parish-based charity. The parish Food Pantry is operated by volunteers, open twice a month in the parish hall, and welcomes anyone in need of food.
- Santa Rosa Food Pantry — open twice monthly in the parish hall
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — financial and food assistance: (254) 317-2891
- Homebound Communion visits to the sick and hospitalized
- Christ Renews His Parish Retreats — first Spanish retreats held in 2024
- Annual Parish Festival (first held fall 1991 in Herledan Hall)
Campus & Facilities
The parish campus has grown steadily since the 1930s and now sits on roughly 40 acres in rural Andice. The original 1937 church served worshippers for 62 years; a larger new church was completed in 2000. Herledan Hall, the parish multi-purpose building, was completed in 1991 and hosts Religious Education classes, meetings, and the fall Parish Festival. The Holy Family Memorial Garden was completed in 2020 as a place of remembrance and gathering.
- Sanctuary completed 2000 (additions have been built to accommodate growth)
- Herledan Hall — 2,880 sq ft multi-purpose building completed Nov 28, 1991
- Religious Education building — rebuilt after the 2011 fire
- Rectory on campus
- Landscaped grottos for prayer
- Holy Family Memorial Garden — completed 2020
- Hearing loop system installed for hard of hearing
- Sound system upgraded December 2019; TV displays added 2021; altar-wall projectors installed fall 2022
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM; visitors are asked to call ahead. For after-hours priest emergencies call (512) 787-7954. To register, join the email list, schedule a Mass intention, or ask questions, stop by the Parishioner Services Desk before or after any weekend Mass.
- Parish phone: (254) 793-0273
- General email: [email protected]
- After-hours priest emergency line: (512) 787-7954
- St. Vincent de Paul assistance: (254) 317-2891
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Address: 6571 FM 970, Florence, TX 76527-4473 (Andice, TX)
Safety & Compliance
Santa Rosa follows the Diocese of Austin's Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) program. All clergy, diocesan employees, parish staff and volunteers who work with minors or vulnerable adults must be EIM compliant.
- EIM (Ethics and Integrity in Ministry) certification required of all catechists and volunteers serving youth or vulnerable adults
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) Mass intentions, registration, and parish communications
- Hearing loop system available for the hard of hearing
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Holy Cross pastors (mission era)1930–1965
Congregation of Holy Cross priests from St. Edward's University shepherded the mission, including Rev. Patrick J. O'Reilly, C.S.C., Fr. Thomas J. Culhane, C.S.C., Fr. Frederick Schmidt, Fr. Vincent Delavy and many others listed on the parish's Priests of Santa Rosa page.
- Rev. Victor B. Llorente1965–1967
Diocesan pastor of St. Helen's overseeing the Andice mission.
- Rev. Alfred Kallas1967–1969
Diocesan pastor.
- Rev. Charles Davis1970–1975
Diocesan pastor.
- Rev. Albert A. Palmero1976–1979
Diocesan pastor; presided over Santa Rosa's first Confirmation in 1976 with Bishop Vincent Harris.
- Rev. John D. Frizelle1979–1987
Diocesan pastor, assisted by Fr. John Herledan from 1980.
- Rev. George Tzanakas1988–1989
Diocesan pastor.
- Rev. Msgr. Louis Wozniak1989–1992
Diocesan pastor; alternated weekends with Parochial Vicar Fr. Greg McLaughlin.
- Rev. Walter F. Carr1993/1995–2006
Appointed first resident pastor of Santa Rosa in 1995; previously served 1993–95 as diocesan pastor of St. Helen's overseeing the mission.
- Rev. Eliseus O. Ibeh, MSP2006–2012
Missionary Society of St. Paul priest; took over as Administrator in July 2006 after Fr. Carr's health issues, formally appointed pastor November 8, 2006. Led the parish through the 2011 fire that destroyed the RE building.
- Rev. Lawrence "Larry" Stehling2012–present
Current pastor; welcomed Santa Rosa's first associate pastor in 2022.
- Rev. Cesar Guzman-Diaz2022–present
First associate pastor in parish history; celebrates the Spanish liturgy.