About St. Frances of Rome · Agua Dulce, Texas
St. Frances of Rome is a small Roman Catholic parish in Agua Dulce, Texas, a rural ranching community in Jim Wells County in South Texas. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Corpus Christi and traces its origins to 1934, when Czech immigrant families gathered to build their own church rather than continue traveling 31 miles to Corpus Christi for Mass. Today the parish maintains a regular sacramental life at 410 Simmons Avenue, offering a Saturday vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, and a daily weekday Mass, together with Saturday confessions and weekday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1934
- Patron
- St. Frances of Rome (the parish is named in honor of Mrs. Frances Mrazek, with St. Frances of Rome as patron of the parish)
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob J. Valayath
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Frances of Rome is the spiritual home for a small but tightly-knit ranching community in rural South Texas, and it offers the faithful a full Catholic sacramental life close to home — including a Saturday vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, a daily weekday Mass, Saturday confessions, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and the convenience of a parish cemetery on the same grounds. For Czech-heritage families and ranching neighbors across Jim Wells County, the parish continues a 1934 tradition of faith, family and stewardship that the founding Mrazek, Sablatura and Spicak families entrusted to their descendants.
Mass times at St. Frances of Rome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM (or by appointment)
- 30 minutes before any Mass (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (First Fridays)
Parish History & Founding
St. Frances of Rome was founded in 1934 in the small South Texas ranching community of Agua Dulce, in Jim Wells County. Czech settlers such as J.C. Mrazek, John Sablatura and Karel Spicak organized their neighbors after years of driving 31 miles to Corpus Christi for Sunday Mass. With Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina's permission, the families raised funds, donated land and hauled materials themselves. The church was blessed on April 15, 1934, dedicated in memory of Mrs. Frances Mrazek, and the parish was named for St. Frances of Rome as her spiritual patron. Within months of its dedication the parish was debt-free and had acquired adjoining land for a future rectory and school.
- Founded 1934
- Czech-immigrant founding families
- Land donated by J.C. Mrazek
- Blessed April 15, 1934 by Msgr. J.J. Lannon
- Named for St. Frances of Rome in memory of Frances Mrazek
- Original parish membership: ~30 souls
Sacraments & Devotions
In addition to the Mass schedule, the parish offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons before the vigil Mass, and by appointment at other times. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is offered from 8:30 to 9:00 AM. Baptisms, funerals and other sacraments are coordinated through the parish office.
- Confession: Saturday 5:00–5:20 PM (or by appointment)
- Confession also offered 30 minutes before any Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 8:30–9:00 AM (First Fridays)
- Baptism and funeral arrangements by appointment
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Frances of Rome is served by Rev. Jacob J. Valayath as Pastor, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish is part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi's network of small rural parishes and shares diocesan priest resources for liturgical coverage.
- Pastor: Rev. Jacob J. Valayath
- Diocese: Corpus Christi
- Parish listed in Diocese of Corpus Christi priest directory (1997 ordinations cohort includes Rev. Balaswamy Pasala, who has served in the diocese)
Pastoral Leaders Through the Years
The first pastors of the Agua Dulce mission in 1934 were Father F.J. Kasper — pastor of Corpus Christi's SS. Cyril & Methodius Czech parish — and Father Jiri (George) Scecina, pastor of nearby Robstown, who alternated celebrating the early Masses. Since then the parish has been served by successive diocesan priests of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
- Father F.J. Kasper (founding pastor, 1934)
- Father Jiri (George) Scecina, pastor of Robstown (co-served 1934)
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Rooted in the founding families of Agua Dulce, the parish's lay life continues through traditional parish societies. The Altar Society of St. Frances — the same society that donated the original linens and vestments in 1934 — remains a centerpiece of parish volunteer life. The parish also maintains a cemetery on the Simmons Avenue grounds for the local Catholic community.
- Altar Society of St. Frances
- Parish cemetery on Simmons Avenue
- Pastoral Council support for parish governance
Contact & Parish Finder
Because St. Frances of Rome is one of many small rural parishes in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, its primary online listing is through the diocese's Parish Finder. Up-to-date information and contact for sacramental scheduling is handled through the parish office phone line and the diocesan directory.
- Diocese of Corpus Christi Parish Finder: https://diocesecc.org/parishfinder/
- Email (parish finder): [email protected]
- Phone: (361) 998-2216
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father F.J. Kasper1934–
Founding pastor; pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Czech parish in Corpus Christi; celebrated the first Mass in the new Agua Dulce church and alternated with Father Scecina of Robstown
- Father Jiri (George) Scecina1934–
Pastor of Robstown who alternated with Father Kasper in serving the new Agua Dulce mission in its first year