About St. Anthony · Violet, Texas
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a small, historic Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Violet, Texas, situated along County Road 61 about four miles east of Robstown in Nueces County. Part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the parish serves its German-heritage farming community with weekend and weekday Masses, Reconciliation before Mass, Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a Rosary hour, and outreach to the homebound. The parish is closely tied to its celebrated Old St. Anthony's, a 1910 wooden church designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1978 and now being renovated to once again serve as a place of worship.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. Anthony
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Hejdak (Hajdek) — Parochial Administrator, appointed by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey effective August 1, 2025
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Anthony's offers the rhythm of a small, faithful country parish — daily morning Mass four days a week, a Wednesday evening Mass preceded by the Rosary, two Sunday Masses, and a weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration with Divine Mercy devotions. Parishioners gather around shared ministries of music, the Altar Servers, the Women's Circle, the St. Anthony's Cemetery Association, and the Violet Historical Society, and First Friday visits keep the homebound connected. With its deep German-Catholic roots and a 1910 landmark church being brought back to life, belonging here is to join a tight-knit community that tends both its people and its history.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
- Wednesday 5:30 p.m. (before the 6:00 p.m. Mass)
- First Friday — by request to the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday 3:00 p.m. — Adoration / Divine Mercy
Parish Identity & Welcome
St. Anthony Catholic Church welcomes visitors to celebrate Mass in Violet, a small rural community east of Robstown in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish sees itself as 'A Place You Can Call Home,' offering daily and weekend Masses alongside a heritage of German-Catholic settlement that goes back more than a century.
- Diocese: Corpus Christi
- Mailing/community address: 3918 County Road 61, Robstown, TX 78380 (Violet, TX)
- Office phone: (361) 342-1878
- Office email: [email protected]
History of St. Anthony's
The parish was organized in November 1909 by Rev. J. Goebels for the German Catholic farming families of Land Siding (later Violet). A five-acre site donated by Louis Petrus hosted the original 1910 church, which served as both school and chapel. The 1919 remodel transformed the building into a three-towered, cypress-clad Romanesque landmark, and a rectory was added in 1920. A new parish church was built in 1952, the old building was moved to Clarkwood to serve the Our Lady of Mount Carmel mission, and in 1975 — after Clarkwood outgrew it — the structure was relocated back near its original foundation, restored by third-generation descendants, and recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1978.
- Founded as community: 1908 (Violet/Land Siding)
- Parish organized: November 1909 by Rev. J. Goebels
- Original church built: 1910 — foreman John W. Hoelscher
- Romanesque remodel with three towers: 1919
- New parish church built, old church moved to Clarkwood: 1952
- Returned near original site and restored: 1975
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmark: 1978 (Marker No. 6332)
- Parish status per GCatholic: 1923
Old St. Anthony's — The Historic Church
The 1910 church — board-and-batten in its first life, then enlarged and 'dressed in the Romanesque style' with three towers and horizontal cypress siding in 1919 — is the parish's most distinctive feature. After decades as a museum under the Violet Historical Society, it is currently undergoing renovation to once again serve as a place of worship. Artifacts previously on display have been catalogued and stored so that descendants of the original donor families can reclaim heirlooms through the parish and Mr. Sam Morris.
- Architectural character: 1919 Romanesque, three towers, cypress siding
- Restored to 1919 appearance in 1975 by descendants of the original builders
- Currently being renovated for renewed use as a worship space
- Artifact inquiries: Sam Morris, (361) 215-9163
St. Anthony's Cemetery
Alongside the historic church, the parish maintains St. Anthony's Cemetery, one of the tangible links to the German-Catholic founders. The St. Anthony's Cemetery Association, led by Sam Morris, oversees this ministry of remembrance.
- St. Anthony's Cemetery Association
- Contact: Sam Morris
Staff & Clergy
St. Anthony is pastored in close partnership with its lay leadership. As of August 2025, the Diocese of Corpus Christi appointed Rev. Andrew Hejdak (Hajdek) as Parochial Administrator, succeeding Rev. Tomasz Kozub, who was reassigned as Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle in Corpus Christi.
- Rev. Andrew Hejdak (Hajdek) — Parochial Administrator (effective Aug. 1, 2025)
- Rev. Tomasz Kozub — Pastor (preceding; reassigned Aug. 1, 2025)
- Yvette Cavazos — Administrative Assistant (cell: 361-876-2059)
- Bishop of Corpus Christi: Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates each of the seven sacraments. Couples are asked to give at least six months' notice for weddings and to complete the obligatory preparation program; those seeking Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, or full initiation through RCIA are invited to contact the parish office or pastor directly.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Reconciliation — before Mass; First Friday by request
- First Eucharist / Confirmation preparation
- Marriage — six months' notice; obligatory prep program
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- RCIA — contact the Pastor
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Anthony's ministries combine the spiritual with the cultural and historical. Music and liturgy are led by Music Directors Carolyn Snapka and Jose & Cecelia Lopez with organist Mary Helpert; the Women's Circle under Carol Kocurek gathers parishioners for fellowship and service; the Violet Historical Society and St. Anthony's Cemetery Association (both led by Sam Morris) care for the parish's heritage; and a First Friday Visiting Homebound outreach keeps isolated members connected to the parish family.
- Altar Servers
- Music Ministry — Carolyn Snapka
- Music Ministry — Jose & Cecelia Lopez
- Organist — Mary Helpert
- Women's Circle — Carol Kocurek
- Violet Historical Society — Sam Morris
- St. Anthony's Cemetery Association — Sam Morris
- Visiting Homebound — First Friday
Parish Office & Contact
Office hours are intentionally limited so that staff can serve the parish around Mass times. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead or use the contact emails for forms (Baptism, Parish Registration, and a forthcoming Volunteer Form are available under 'Parish Forms' on the website).
- Office Phone: (361) 342-1878
- Administrative cell (Yvette Cavazos): (361) 876-2059
- Office Email: [email protected]
- Web Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday 5:30–7:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Forms: Baptism, Parish Registration, Volunteer (coming soon)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. Goebels1909–
First pastor; called the November 1909 meeting that organized St. Anthony's parish and oversaw the 1910 construction of the original church.
- Rev. Tomasz KozubThrough mid-2025
Pastor immediately prior to the August 2025 reassignment; reorganized the parish bulletin 'A Place You Can Call Home'.
- Rev. Andrew Hejdak (Hajdek)Effective August 1, 2025
Appointed Parochial Administrator by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey.