St. Francis of Assisi

Parish History

Catholic life in Abilene began in 1880 with the first Mass celebrated in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Condon at North Third and Pine streets. Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church opened in 1891 and was served by Abilene's first resident priest, Father Henry D. Brickley. In July 1917, Father Rudolph A. Gerken began directing a relocation of the parish, and in 1918 the old Sacred Heart building was given to the Mexican population of the city and renamed St. Francis of Assisi. The church was physically moved to its present 826 Cottonwood Street location in 1919, with Father E. J. Cussen overseeing the move and Father Henry Knufer and Father Benjamin Rodarte following. The first person baptized at St. Francis was Felipa Lara on June 19, 1906, by Father James Anthony Schauf.

• 1880 — First Mass in Abilene at the Condon home
• 1891 — Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church opens
• 1917 — Father Gerken begins relocating the parish
• 1918 — Old Sacred Heart building given to the Mexican population as St. Francis of Assisi
• 1919 — Church moved to 826 Cottonwood St.
• 1928 — Father Benjamin Rodarte appointed to take charge of St. Francis

Mass and Worship Schedule

St. Francis offers a bilingual schedule of weekend and weekday Masses. The Saturday Vigil and a Sunday morning Mass are celebrated in English, with a Spanish Mass on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses alternate between English and Spanish throughout the week, and Holy Days of Obligation are celebrated at 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. (English)
• Sunday: 9:00 a.m. (English) and 11:00 a.m. (Spanish)
• Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. (Spanish)
• Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. (English)
• Thursday: 8:30 a.m. (Spanish)
• Friday: 8:30 a.m. (English); First Friday at 6:30 p.m.
• Holy Days of Obligation: 6:30 p.m.

Religious Education

The parish Religious Education program serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade and meets weekly from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The program is coordinated by Mrs. Jennifer Lopez. Students preparing for First Holy Communion must complete two consecutive years of religious education and typically receive First Communion in 2nd grade; Confirmation is ordinarily received in 11th grade. The RE calendar includes a fall registration night, mandatory Confirmation and RE parent meetings, Catechist Sunday, Called to Protect parent sessions, and the All Saints Fall Festival.

• Coordinator: Mrs. Jennifer Lopez — [email protected]
• Classes meet Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 p.m.
• First Holy Communion in 2nd grade (April 27, 2025 at the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
• Confirmation in 11th grade
• Two consecutive years of RE required for sacraments

Parish Ministries and Groups

St. Francis of Assisi sustains a rich network of lay ministries rooted in its bilingual and Hispanic heritage. In addition to faith-formation programs, the parish hosts a Women's Share Group, Adult Bible Study, RCIA for those seeking to become Catholic, the Guadalupana Society, Hijos de María, the Knights of Columbus, and Cursillo de Cristianidad. Liturgical roles are filled by lectors and altar servers, and parish life is guided by a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council.

• RCIA — Become a Catholic
• Women's Share Group
• Adult Bible Study
• Guadalupana Society (contact: Mrs. Linda Castillo)
• Hijos de María (contact: Ms. Socorro Hernández)
• Knights of Columbus
• Cursillo de Cristianidad (contact: Mrs. Elena Navejas)
• Lectors (contact: Mr. John Ford)
• Altar Servers (contact: Mrs. Maria Elena Devora-Portillo)
• Pastoral Council — Mr. John Ford
• Finance Council — Mr. Jose Corral
• Vocations — Rosalba Serrato
• Funeral Meals — Parish Office

Sacraments

The parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Families preparing for First Communion or Confirmation are asked to register through the Religious Education office.

• Baptism
• Holy Eucharist
• Reconciliation
• Confirmation
• Holy Matrimony
• Holy Orders
• Anointing of the Sick

Parish Staff and Office

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Innocent Eziefule, with the assistance of two deacons, a parish secretary, and a Religious Education coordinator. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., closing for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. each day.

• Pastor: Rev. Fr. Innocent Eziefule
• Deacon: Mr. Marc P. Main
• Deacon: Mr. Eduardo Castillo
• Secretary: Mrs. Joanne Herrera
• Religious Education Coordinator: Mrs. Jennifer Lopez — [email protected]

Mission Statement

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a community living out Christ's mission by extending our hearts to those in need through evangelization, nourished by the word and bread of life and with a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage, to become witnesses in faith and strive to empower our community to live as Disciples of Christ.

Visit, Contact, and Connect

Visitors are warmly welcomed at 826 Cottonwood Street, Abilene, TX 79601. From Highway 80, take the Treadaway Blvd. North exit and continue less than a mile; the parking lot is at the corner of 8th Street. For any schedule changes, consult the weekly bulletin posted online, or contact the parish office by phone at (325) 672-6695, fax at (325) 670-0129, or email at [email protected].

• Phone: (325) 672-6695
• Fax: (325) 670-0129
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.stfrancisabilene.com
• Diocese: Diocese of San Angelo