About St. Benedict Catholic Church · Fort Worth, Texas
St. Benedict Catholic Church is a personal parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth located at 2920 Azle Avenue on the north side of Fort Worth, Texas. It is staffed exclusively by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a society of apostolic life headquartered in Fribourg, Switzerland, and is one of the diocesan homes of the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal). The parish was canonically erected in 2015 by Bishop Michael Olson to serve Catholics in the diocese who desire the ancient liturgy, beginning with 35 registered families and growing steadily in the years since. As a personal parish it has no territorial boundaries but exists for the benefit of the faithful attached to the traditional Latin liturgy within the geographical territory of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
- Established
- 2015
- Patron
- St. Benedict of Nursia
- Rector
- Rev. Simon Harkins, FSSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Benedict exists specifically to be a home for Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass within the Diocese of Fort Worth, offering the Mass and all seven sacraments exclusively in the 1962 Roman Rite every day of the week. It is a small family parish with daily Mass, generous confession schedules, Saturday Holy Hours, and a clear identity rooted in reverence for the ancient liturgy. If you are seeking the Extraordinary Form in the Fort Worth area and want a parish where that tradition is not an occasional chapel Mass but the regular spiritual life of the community, St. Benedict was built precisely with you in mind.
Mass times at St. Benedict Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekdays: 20 minutes before Mass
- 1st Friday: 30 minutes before Mass
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Saturday Holy Hour: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Immaculate Heart Holy Hour: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (monthly/recurring devotion)
- Adoration outside scheduled times: Call the parish office
About St. Benedict Catholic Church
St. Benedict Catholic Church is an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and a personal parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish exists to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the sacraments exclusively according to the ancient liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church (the 1962 Roman Rite). The parish describes itself as 'a small family parish of committed Catholic faithful devoted to Christ and His sacraments as expressed by the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church' and warmly welcomes visitors and new parishioners. As a personal parish it has no territorial boundaries and is served entirely by FSSP priests.
- Personal parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth
- Served by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
- Exclusive use of the 1962 Roman Rite / Extraordinary Form of the Latin Mass
- Small family parish; welcomes visitors and new parishioners
History of the Parish
The parish was erected in July 2015 (canonically effective August 1, 2015) by Bishop Michael Fors Olson with the support of the FSSP. Before its erection, the Fraternity had offered the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments to the Fort Worth area from Mater Dei parish in Dallas. The founding FSSP priests began by celebrating Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption and moved into their permanent home on Azle Avenue in the former St. Thomas the Apostle campus by Christmas 2016. The parish grew from 35 registered families at founding to several hundred, and in 2021 Bishop Olson reaffirmed its mission after the issuance of Traditionis Custodes. The parish marked its tenth anniversary in 2025.
- Erected July 2015 by Bishop Michael Fors Olson
- Canonically effective August 1, 2015
- Predecessor ministry: FSSP Latin Mass at Mater Dei, Dallas
- First permanent location: former St. Thomas the Apostle campus, 2920 Azle Avenue
- Founding pastor: Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP
Patron and Liturgical Identity
The parish is named for St. Benedict of Nursia (feast day July 11 in the Traditional Roman Calendar), patron of Europe and founder of Western monasticism. The parish's whole identity is shaped by its liturgical patrimony: every Mass and sacrament is celebrated in the Traditional Latin form using the 1962 Roman Missal and the corresponding liturgical books. This makes St. Benedict a focal point for Catholics attached to the Extraordinary Form in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
- Patron: St. Benedict of Nursia
- Exclusive use of the 1962 Roman Rite (Extraordinary Form of the Latin Mass)
- All Masses are in Latin; vernacular only for the readings/homily as per rubrics
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Simon Harkins, FSSP, as pastor (per the Diocese of Fort Worth parish-finder page and the FSSP apostolate directory). The founding pastor was Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP, who led the parish from 2015 and served on the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors; he was assisted for many years by Fr. J. Peter Byrne, FSSP, as parochial vicar. The parish also has a Business Manager, Alicia Moreno.
- Pastor: Rev. Simon Harkins, FSSP
- Founding Pastor: Rev. Karl Pikus, FSSP (also served on Presbyteral Council & College of Consultors)
- Former Parochial Vicar: Rev. J. Peter Byrne, FSSP
- Business Manager: Alicia Moreno
Parish Office and Visiting
Office and church-opening logistics for visitors and new parishioners.
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Church & Courtyard: Sunday 7:00 AM–2:30 PM; Mon–Fri one hour before scheduled Mass; Saturday 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
- Phone: (817) 439-9944
- Email: [email protected]
Our Lady's Book Nook and Parish Resources
The parish maintains a small lending library called Our Lady's Book Nook, which is staffed after Sunday Masses and during Monday–Thursday office hours. Online giving is also offered so parishioners and friends can support the parish electronically.
- Our Lady's Book Nook — Saturday & Sunday after Mass; Mon–Thu during business hours
- Online Giving available via the parish website (stbensfw.org)
- Parish bulletins published on the parish blog
Annual and Special Liturgical Schedules
St. Benedict publishes special schedules online for major seasons of the liturgical year, including a detailed Christmas/Christmastide and Epiphany schedule with High Masses on Christmas Day, the Octave Day of Christmas (Jan 1), and the Vigil of the Epiphany with an Epiphany water blessing.
- Christmas Midnight High Mass
- Christmas Dawn Mass and Christmas Day Mass
- Octave Day of Christmas (Holy Day of Obligation)
- Epiphany vigil and Epiphany water blessing
- First Friday and First Saturday Masses
Diocese and FSSP Affiliations
St. Benedict belongs to the Diocese of Fort Worth (Bishop Michael Fors Olson) and is staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a society of apostolic life of pontifical right headquartered in Fribourg, Switzerland. The parish is listed in the diocese's official parish-finder and on the FSSP's apostolate directory as one of the Fraternity's North Texas apostolates.
- Diocese of Fort Worth (Bishop Michael Fors Olson, S.T.D.)
- Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) — exclusive pastoral staffing
- FSSP apostolate page: fssp.com/apostolate/fssp-fort-worth/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Karl Pikus, FSSP2015–c.2024
Founding pastor of St. Benedict, erected in 2015 by Bishop Michael Olson. Served with Fr. J. Peter Byrne, FSSP. Commissioned a replica of the Great Gero Crucifix for the parish. Member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.
- Rev. Simon Harkins, FSSPcurrent pastor (listed by Diocese of Fort Worth parish finder and the FSSP apostolate page)
Current pastor per the Diocese of Fort Worth and FSSP directories. Spoke to the Serra Club of Fort Worth on the Traditional Latin Mass.