About St. Augustine · San Augustine, Texas
St. Augustine Catholic Mission is a small bilingual Roman Catholic mission church serving the Roman Catholics of San Augustine County in the deep East Texas Piney Woods, under the Diocese of Tyler. The mission traces its Catholic roots to 1716, when Franciscan missionaries first celebrated Mass in this vicinity, making it one of the oldest sites of Catholic worship in the region. Today the parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil in Spanish and Sunday Mass in English, alongside weekday and First Friday devotions, fulfilling its mission to proclaim the Gospel and build up a community of disciples.
- Established
- 1716
- Patron
- St. Augustine
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi (Administrator, St. Pius I / St. Augustine)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
St. Augustine Catholic Mission is a small, close-knit bilingual Catholic community where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship together and care for one another. The parish proclaims its purpose plainly: to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the celebration of the Sacraments and to build disciples who live by Christ's command to love one another (John 13:35). Visitors and parishioners alike will find a welcoming mission with weekday and weekend Masses, regular Confession, First Friday devotions, and ties to a centuries-old Catholic heritage in East Texas dating to the Franciscan missions of 1716.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday: 10:10 AM – 10:45 AM
- 1st Friday: 6:15 PM – 6:45 PM
About St. Augustine Catholic Mission
St. Augustine Catholic Mission is a Roman Catholic mission church in San Augustine, Texas, under the Diocese of Tyler. According to the parish's own website, it was founded in 1716 and exists to serve the Roman Catholics of San Augustine County by promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the celebration of the Sacraments and by building up a community of disciples who live by the words of Jesus: 'This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another' (John 13:35). The mission is a small, bilingual parish welcoming both English- and Spanish-speaking faithful.
- Mission status within the Diocese of Tyler
- Administered jointly with St. Pius I Parish, Hemphill
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) worship
History of the Parish
Catholic life in San Augustine is rooted in the Spanish Franciscan mission era of East Texas. Franciscan missionaries first celebrated Mass in this vicinity in 1716, but regular pastoral leadership was absent for many years. In 1847 the Diocese of Galveston formally recognized the community as a mission and assigned Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut as its first resident pastor. A church was built on a lot deeded by M. C. Tynan in 1880 and completed the following year. That structure was replaced in 1937, and the parish — then known as St. James — was renamed St. Augustine by the Diocese of Beaumont in 1975. The 1982 Texas Historical Commission marker on West Market Street commemorates this long Catholic heritage.
- 1716 — First Catholic services celebrated by Franciscan missionaries
- 1847 — Diocese of Galveston recognizes the mission; Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut becomes first resident pastor
- 1880–1881 — M. C. Tynan deeds the church lot; church completed
- 1937 — Original church replaced by a new structure (then named St. James)
- 1975 — Diocese of Beaumont renames the parish St. Augustine
- 1982 — Texas Historical Commission marker erected at the original West Market Street site
Clergy and Leadership
According to the Diocese of Tyler's official clergy directory, St. Augustine Mission is administered jointly with St. Pius I Parish in Hemphill. The current administrator listed by the diocese is Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi. The parish can be reached through the rectory/office phone line for sacramental needs and inquiries.
- Administrator (Diocese of Tyler listing): Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi
- Parish phone: (936) 275-1514
Pastoral Lineage
The earliest recorded resident pastor of the San Augustine Catholic community was Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut, sent by the Diocese of Galveston in 1847 when San Augustine was formally recognized as a mission. A complete list of subsequent pastors is not published on the parish website or in readily available online sources for this small mission.
- Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut (1847) — first resident pastor after formal recognition as a mission
Visit and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Augustine Catholic Mission. For the most up-to-date information on Mass times, Confession, and sacramental needs, the parish asks that you call the office directly.
- Parish website: http://catholicsanaugustinetx.org/
- Parish office: (936) 275-1514
- Address: 621 State Hwy. 21 W, San Augustine, TX 75972
- Diocese: Diocese of Tyler
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut1847
First resident pastor sent by the Diocese of Galveston when San Augustine was recognized as a mission.