About St. Anthony Mary Claret · San Antonio, Texas
St. Anthony Mary Claret Roman Catholic Church is a parish in the far west of San Antonio, Texas, within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio. Founded on July 9, 1988, by Father Albert Hubertus with just thirty-two founding families, the parish grew rapidly with the expansion of the city and today serves a community of roughly 4,000–4,500 registered families. It is named after Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870), the Spanish-born founder of the Claretians and Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. The current pastor, Rev. Dr. Jan P. Klak, leads the parish alongside two parochial vicars, six deacons, and a full lay staff.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Anthony Mary Claret
- Rector
- Rev. Dr. Jan P. Klak, Ph.L., S.T.L., Ph.D.
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Anthony Mary Claret is a growing, family-oriented parish in the rapidly expanding far west of San Antonio, with Mass offered in both English and Spanish and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. It runs a full faith-formation program (Religious Education, OCIA/OCIC, Confirmation prep, Vacation Bible School, adult Confirmation, and a youth/young-adult group) and an unusually broad roster of lay-driven liturgical, outreach, and social ministries. The parish describes itself as a community that 'opens its hearts and doors to those from all walks of life' and that 'strives to grow closer to Jesus Christ through the Holy Eucharist.'
Mass times at St. Anthony Mary Claret
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekdays at 7:30 a.m.
- Saturdays at 4:00 p.m.
- Sundays at 4:00 p.m. (when a priest is available)
- First Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (call parish office to register)
Adoration times
- Monday Holy Hour at 6:30 p.m. (before the 7:30 p.m. Mass)
About St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish
St. Anthony Mary Claret Roman Catholic Parish was founded on July 9, 1988, on land acquired from the Sisters of the Cordi-Marian Convent. Father Albert Hubertus, the founding pastor, celebrated the first Mass on July 24, 1988, with 32 families. After meeting in makeshift spaces — outdoors, a mobile home, the Cordi-Marian Chapel, and Knowlton Elementary School — the community built a metal building (Hubertus Hall) in 1990 and the Pavilion in 1995. Under Father Jan Klak, who became pastor in 2000, a permanent church was dedicated on May 2, 2004, and a three-story Religious Education Building followed on November 6, 2016. The parish now numbers roughly 4,000–4,500 families.
- Founded July 9, 1988
- First Mass July 24, 1988 — 32 families
- Hubertus Hall built 1990; Pavilion added 1995
- Permanent church dedicated May 2, 2004
- Religious Education Building dedicated November 6, 2016
Clergy and Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Dr. Jan P. Klak, Ph.L., S.T.L., Ph.D. and assisted by two parochial vicars, Rev. Thomas Olikkunnel, Ph.D., H.G.N. and Rev. Thomas Abraham, M.A. Six deacons minister at the parish: Jerome (Jerry) Kozar, Gene Festa, Tom Elms, Antonio 'Tony' Valdez, Jose Bermea, and Larry Vines. Lay staff include a Business Administrator (Luis E. Astorga, MBA), a bookkeeper and assistant bookkeeper, a Director of Religious Education & Evangelization (Jennifer Rupert, C.Th.), coordinators for grades 1–8, Confirmation, OCIA/OCIC, youth, and Vacation Bible School, a Music Director (Paul Rauschhuber), and a secretary.
- Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jan P. Klak (ext. 205)
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Thomas Olikkunnel, Rev. Thomas Abraham
- Deacons: Jerry Kozar, Gene Festa, Tom Elms, Tony Valdez, Jose Bermea, Larry Vines
- Director of Religious Education & Evangelization: Jennifer Rupert (ext. 204)
- Music Director: Paul Rauschhuber (ext. 207)
- Youth/RCIA Coordinator: Nita Feliciano (ext. 209)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Anthony Mary Claret encourages faith formation 'for everyone of all ages.' The Religious Education program uses the Faith and Life and Didache series, with the parish positioning itself as a partner with parents (who the Catechism names 'the first teachers'). Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is woven into the program. Classes are offered in English and Spanish and meet in person only.
- Grades 1–3 (First Communion prep): Sun 8:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)
- Grades 3–8 catechesis: Sun 8:45 a.m. or Wed 6:45 p.m.
- High School Confirmation prep (90 minutes): Sun 8:15 a.m. or Wed 6:30 p.m.
- OCIA (adults) and OCIC (children)
- Adult Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, Spiritual Direction, FORMED online content
Liturgical Ministries
The parish maintains a rich roster of liturgical ministries. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be at least 16 and confirmed; if married, married in the Catholic Church. Hospitality Ministers (greeters, ushers, collection, communion lines, bulletins) must be at least 16. The Music Ministry runs choirs for each Mass — 8 a.m. (Glenn James), 12 p.m. (Martie Kokotajlo), and Saturday 5 p.m./Sunday 6 p.m. (Mark Kokotajlo) — under Parish Music Director Paul Rauschhuber.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Deacon Jerry Kozar
- Hospitality Ministers — Vickie Wood (210-305-0771)
- Sacristans: Teresa Revilla, Rita Valdez, John Pena
- Choirs for each Mass; instrumentalists welcome; no audition required
Parish Organizations and Social Ministries
Beyond liturgical service, the parish supports a wide range of lay organizations. Once a year all ministries come together for Unity Day, a festival that both raises funds and builds community across the parish. Outreach and Social ministries complete the parish's three-fold structure alongside Liturgical ministries.
- American Heritage Girls Troop #1988
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
- Knights of Columbus Council #10090
- Legion of Mary
- Annual Unity Day festival
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments on a regular schedule, with preparation programs for each. Marriage preparation requires at least one year of planning and a mandatory orientation held the third Thursday of March or September at 7:00 p.m.; for Marriage, parishioners must reside in the parish's zip-code boundaries (most of 78253 and the portion of 78254 outside Loop 1604). Quinceañera preparation requires at least one year and a mandatory orientation the fourth Thursday of March or August at 7:00 p.m., and the child must be enrolled in religious education for at least one year.
- Baptism — required class through the parish office
- First Communion and Confirmation — through Religious Education
- Marriage — one-year notice; orientation third Thursday of March/September
- Quinceañera — one-year notice; orientation fourth Thursday of March/August
- Anointing / Visitation of the Sick — by appointment
- Funerals — call parish office before making arrangements
Parish Office and Facilities
The parish office sits underneath the church, labeled 'A' on the side of the building, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone 210-688-9033; Fax 210-688-0187. Email: [email protected]. Major facilities include the permanent church (2004), Hubertus Hall (1990), the Pavilion (1995), and the three-story Religious Education Building (2016).
- Address: 6150 Roft Road, San Antonio, TX 78253
- Phone: 210-688-9033 | Fax: 210-688-0187
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Stewardship and Capital Campaigns
The parish runs a stewardship program called 'God's Plan for Church Support,' based on the scriptural concept of tithing, and accepts online credit-card donations. Two capital campaigns have been completed under Father Klak — the 2004 church campaign and the 2013 Religious Education Building campaign. A third effort, 'Rooted in Christ, Building for Tomorrow,' is now being organized with the Steier Group to fund athletic fields, ministry storage, and repairs to the church tower.
- Stewardship program: 'God's Plan for Church Support'
- Online donations accepted
- 'Rooted in Christ, Building for Tomorrow' capital campaign in planning
Communications and Live Stream
All Masses are live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The parish uses Flocknote for announcements and prayer alerts; parishioners can text 'SAMCSA' to 84576 to sign up. Archbishop Gustavo's March 13, 2020 dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect until repealed.
- Live-streamed Mass on Facebook and YouTube
- Flocknote parish alerts — text SAMCSA to 84576
- Prayer resources for Spiritual Communion and pandemic prayer available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Albert Hubertus1988–circa 2000
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass on July 24, 1988, with thirty-two families on land acquired from the Sisters of the Cordi-Marian Convent.
- Father Jan P. Klak2000–present
Second pastor; led the 2004 permanent-church capital campaign (church dedicated May 2, 2004) and the 2013 capital campaign that produced the Religious Education Building dedicated November 6, 2016.