About St. Charles Borromeo · Nederland, Texas
St. Charles Borromeo is a Roman Catholic parish in Nederland, Texas, serving the Mid-County area between Port Arthur and Beaumont as part of the Diocese of Beaumont. The parish was founded in 1922–1924 by Father Fred B. Hardy as a mission for the small Catholic community of Nederland and grew over the twentieth century into one of the largest parishes in the diocese. Today it offers daily and weekend Masses, an active music ministry, a comprehensive Pre-K through 12 Faith Formation program, RCIA, the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and ministries reaching the homebound, hospitalized, and grieving.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo (16th-century Bishop of Milan)
- Rector
- Rev. John H. Hughes
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a multigenerational parish where newcomers are greeted personally by the pastor and welcomed into a wide range of ministries that serve every age and stage of life — from a fully staffed Pre-K through 12 Faith Formation and youth ministry (Edge and ARISE), to a thriving Music Ministry with parish choir, youth ensemble, children's choir, men's ensemble, and handbell choir, to social outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, Christmas Giving Tree, the Quilters, Bereavement Committee, and Hospital/Homebound visitation. With daily and weekend Masses, a 100-rosary prayer tradition, and a legacy reaching back a full century, it offers both the rootedness of a historic parish and the active engagement of a large diocesan community.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, with Benediction at 5:45 pm
Our History
Saint Charles Borromeo traces its origins to 1921, when Father Fred B. Hardy celebrated his first Mass in Nederland on the second floor of the J. H. McNeill building. The mission was formally started in 1923 to serve twelve people; it struggled briefly and was closed in 1924 before reopening successfully in 1926. A new red-brick sanctuary was completed at South 27th Street and Nederland Avenue in 1938, replacing the original white wooden church, which was moved to 2604 Avenue A and repurposed as the first parish school. By the time of its hundred-year celebration in 2024, the parish had grown into one of the largest in the Diocese of Beaumont.
- 1921 — First Mass in Nederland at the McNeill building (1164 Boston Ave)
- 1923 — Mission formally founded to serve twelve families
- 1924 — First wooden sanctuary built at Ninth and Chicago Streets
- 1938 — Red-brick sanctuary completed at S. 27th St. and Nederland Ave
- 2023–2024 — 'Praying 100 Rosaries for 100th Year Anniversary' centennial devotion
Parish Staff
St. Charles is staffed by a pastor and an associate pastor along with a Director of Elementary Faith Formation. Father John H. Hughes, the seventh pastor, has served the Diocese of Beaumont since his ordination on June 11, 1994, with previous assignments at St. James in Port Arthur, St. Jude in Beaumont, and St. Louis in Winnie. He grew up in Port Acres, attended Bishop Byrne High School, and earned a BBA at Lamar University before working at the Catholic Newman Center at Lamar and the Diocesan Youth Office.
- Rev. John H. Hughes — Pastor (since July 2015)
- Rev. Emmanuel Odoemene — Associate Pastor (joined St. Charles at the end of May 2023)
- Jill Frost — Director of Elementary Faith Formation, (409) 722-0421, [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish operates a complete Pre-K through 12 Faith Formation program staffed by a Director of Elementary Faith Formation. Children in Pre-K through 5th grade gather for catechetical instruction on Wednesdays from 5:30–6:30 pm, with First Reconciliation and First Eucharist typically prepared in 2nd grade. Middle schoolers (6th–8th) meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:45–8:00 pm using the Edge curriculum, while the high school ministry continues with small groups, retreats, saint projects, and Confirmation preparation beginning in 9th grade, with the sacrament usually celebrated in 10th grade. Adult formation takes place through RCIA, which runs weekly from September to Easter and culminates at the Easter Vigil.
- Elementary Faith Formation (PK–5th) — Wed 5:30–6:30 pm
- Middle School Ministry (6th–8th) using Edge — Wed 6:45–8:00 pm
- High School Ministry (9th–12th) — small groups, retreats, Confirmation prep
- RCIC for children older than 2nd grade preparing for Reconciliation/Eucharist
- RCIA for adults — September through Easter, culminating at Easter Vigil
- Vacation Bible School in summer, 9 am–12 pm for K–5th
- Moore Scholarship
Sacraments
St. Charles celebrates all seven sacraments and provides structured preparation for each. Baptism is prepared via an online class, with parents then contacting the parish office to schedule. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are typically received in 2nd grade after at least one year of Religious Education. Confirmation is usually celebrated in 10th grade with two years of preparation; adults needing Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Couples preparing for Marriage should contact the pastor at least six months in advance.
- Baptism Preparation (online, then arranged with parish office)
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade)
- First Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (10th grade; preparation begins in 9th)
- Marriage (contact pastor 6+ months in advance)
- RCIA / RCIC for adults and children
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry coordinates a robust lineup of ensembles serving every weekend Mass and holy day. The Parish Choir sings at the Sunday 9:30 am Mass; MICAH 6:8 Singers, a contemporary ensemble for high-school-aged and adults, covers the Saturday 4:30 pm and Sunday 9:30 am Masses; and the ARISE Singers youth contemporary ensemble leads the Sunday 11:30 am Mass. Children's and men's ensembles — Charlie's Angels (3rd–7th grade) and Sons of God — round out the schedule, while a Handbell Choir brings special music at Christmas and Easter and Cantors proclaim the Psalm and Gospel Acclamation at every Mass.
- Parish Choir — Sunday 9:30 am; rehearsals Thu 7:00 pm
- ARISE Singers — Sunday 11:30 am; rehearsals Thu 6:00 pm (audition)
- MICAH 6:8 Singers — Sat 4:30 pm & Sun 9:30 am; rehearsals Thu 7:00 pm (audition)
- Charlie's Angels (Children's Choir, 3rd–7th grade) — Sun 11:30 am on 1st Sunday
- Sons of God (Men's Ensemble) — Sun 9:30 am on 3rd Sunday
- Handbell Choir — Christmas and Easter seasons
- Cantors — Psalm and Gospel Acclamation
Knights of Columbus
The Nederland Knights of Columbus is Father William Brooks Council #5145, named for the parish's second pastor and housed at 315 Hardy Ave, Nederland, Texas, telephone (409) 722-9091. Father John Hughes serves as Chaplain, with Chad Sandwell as Grand Knight for the listed term. The council is led by a full officer corps including Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside and Outside Guards, and three Trustees.
- Council name: Father William Brooks Council #5145
- Location: 315 Hardy Ave, Nederland, Texas (phone 409-722-9091)
- Chaplain: Rev. Father John Hughes
- Grand Knight: Chad Sandwell
- Patron: Venerable Michael McGivney
Social Outreach
Outreach is organized around a dozen practical ministries aimed at parishioners and the wider Nederland community. The St. Vincent de Paul conference provides food, rent, and utility help, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. The Christmas Giving Tree partners with Nederland ISD to provide gifts for local families. A Bereavement Committee supports grieving families with food trays, the Greetings-by-Mail ministry sends cards to the hospitalized and bereaved, and the Homebound and Hospital Visitation teams keep isolated parishioners connected to the parish.
- St. Vincent de Paul (food, rent, utility assistance; Thanksgiving/Christmas baskets)
- Christmas Giving Tree (Nederland ISD families, late Nov–mid-Dec)
- Bereavement Committee
- Greetings by Mail
- Homebound Ministry
- Hospital Visitation
- Hospitality Committee
- St. Charles Quilters — Monday mornings at 9:00 am
Praying 100 Rosaries for Our 100th Year Anniversary
For its centennial year the parish undertook a special devotion: a goal of praying the rosary 100 times over the year leading to its November 2024 anniversary. Public group rosaries were scheduled on Wednesdays at 5:15 pm during Adoration (beginning November 1, 2023) and on Saturdays at 4:00 pm before Mass (beginning November 4, 2023), continuing weekly through November 2024. Parishioners were invited to sign up as rosary leaders or to commit to praying 100 rosaries privately.
- Wednesday group rosary at 5:15 pm during Adoration
- Saturday group rosary at 4:00 pm before Mass
- Sign-up option as a leader or private intercessor
- Tied to the parish's 100th anniversary celebration in November 2024
For New Parishioners
Newcomers are welcomed personally by the pastor and offered an online parish registration form via the website, with a separate link to RCIA for those inquiring into the Catholic faith. The parish encourages registration so that staff and ministry leaders can support new families pastorally, and connects new arrivals to its active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
- Online parish registration form on stcharlesnederland.org
- RCIA inquiry link for those new to the Catholic faith
- Parish social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fred B. Hardyc. 1921–1956
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass in Nederland in 1921 at the McNeill building; established the mission in 1923; built St. Elizabeth Church in Port Neches and St. Catherine's School earlier; oversaw the 1938 red-brick sanctuary and first parish school; delivered his last sermon on May 27, 1956.
- Rev. William BrooksJune 17, 1956 – retirement
Native of Waco/Austin; ordained May 12, 1945 at St. Mary's Seminary, LaPorte; came from All Saints Church in Houston; oversaw explosive growth from 350 to about 1,400 families as Nederland's population ballooned from 5,000 to 16,000; Brooks Hall, the parish recreation center, was named in his honor.
- Rev. A. W. Pucar
Listed in succession on parish history page.
- Rev. Edward Mazzu
Listed in succession on parish history page.
- Rev. Joseph P. Daleo
Listed in succession on parish history page.
- Rev. Dan Malain
Listed in succession on parish history page; previously mentored Fr. John Hughes at St. James Parish in Port Arthur.
- Rev. John H. HughesJuly 2015 – present
Seventh and current pastor; ordained June 11, 1994 for the Diocese of Beaumont; previously served St. James (Port Arthur), St. Jude (Beaumont), St. Louis (Winnie), and again St. Jude (Beaumont 2000–2015).