About St. Francis of Assisi · Franklin, Texas
St. Francis of Assisi is a small Catholic parish in Franklin, Texas, in the rural Brazos Valley, that belongs to the Diocese of Austin and is served by the Congregation of Missionaries of Faith (MF). The parish community worships at 1371 W FM 1644 and offers daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil Mass, and a Sunday morning Mass, with weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays. Under Pastor Fr. Celso A. Yu, MF, and Associate Pastor Fr. Richard Dee Du, MF, along with Deacon Luis Doriocourt, the parish runs Religious Education, a Vietnamese community Mass, the Ladies of St. Francis (LOSF) organization, a Memorial Cross Wall, a Gift Station, and a recently completed Bell Tower project.
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Celso A. Yu, MF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a tight-knit rural parish where parishioners can know their priests by name and join in tangible community life — from weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and a Vietnamese-language Mass several times a year, to Religious Education classes, the Ladies of St. Francis service organization, and ongoing parish projects like the Memorial Cross Wall and the recently completed Bell Tower. It is a place where every member is invited to find a ministry or organization that matches their gifts, in the words of the parish itself: 'there is a ministry that will make use of at least one of your talents.'
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Father is available for Confessions half an hour before each Mass
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:30 AM Mass, concluding with Benediction)
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi is a Catholic parish in the small rural community of Franklin, Texas, in Robertson County. It is part of the Diocese of Austin and is served by the Congregation of Missionaries of Faith (MF). The parish worships at 1371 W FM 1644 and is a community where daily Mass, weekly Adoration, Religious Education, and active organizations come together in an intimate country-parish setting.
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is staffed by two priests of the Missionaries of Faith and one permanent deacon, supported by a small lay staff. The Missionaries of Faith (MF) — a religious institute of pontifical rite — provide pastoral care, and the parish website also lists a 'predecessors' page of former priests and the parish's first administrator.
- Pastor: Fr. Celso A. Yu, MF ([email protected])
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Richard Dee Du, MF ([email protected])
- Deacon: Dcn. Luis Doriocourt ([email protected])
- Secretary / Office Manager: Sandra Macias
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Mary McNair
- LOSF President: Joan Guild
- Liturgy Planner: Kathy Russell
Parish Ministries
The parish welcomes parishioners to find a ministry that fits their gifts: 'God has given each one of us special gifts. Here at St. Francis of Assisi, we believe that there is a ministry that will make use of at least one of your talents.' Ministries touch faith formation, liturgy, service to the sick, and the spiritual life of the parish.
- Religious Education (DRE: Mary McNair)
- Liturgy Planning (Kathy Russell)
- Altar Society
- SonShine (visitation of parishioners who are ill or bereaved)
- Spirituality committee
- CEF (giving/extension support)
- SF Gift Station — devotional items supporting Altar maintenance
- Memorial Cross Wall — parish memorial project
Ladies of St. Francis (LOSF)
The Ladies of St. Francis is a spiritual, social, and service organization of the women of the parish, affiliated with the Austin Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (ADCCW) — which has served as the united official voice of Catholic women in Central Texas since 1948 — and through it with the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW). The group conducts fundraisers benefiting the parish, prepares meals and prayer blankets for parishioners in need due to illness or the death of a loved one, and supports liturgical supplies (altar linens, wine and hosts, clergy vestments, sanctuary candle) and church receptions.
- President: Joan Guild
- Vice President: Donna Manthei
- Treasurer: Jayne Longley
- Secretary: Emily Priestly
- Spirituality: Linda Braswell & Donna Manthei
- Altar Society: Jayne Longley
- CEF: Sandra Macias
- SonShine: Lorine Corn & Jayne Longley
- Meetings: first Wednesday of the month at 10 AM (preceded by Mass offered for the intentions of the organization); a Christmas Social is held in December
Parish Projects & Community Life
Beyond the regular schedule, the parish highlights several ongoing projects and events on its home page. These range from capital improvements to community-building and outreach to the local Vietnamese Catholic community.
- Bell Tower project — recently completed; landscaping is the next planned phase
- SF Cross Wall (Memorial Wall) — LOSF project adorning the alcove wall with Memorial Crosses for deceased parishioners
- SF Gift Station — devotionals for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and the home; proceeds go to Altar maintenance. Open during office hours and on Wednesdays before and after Religious Education classes
- Vietnamese Mass — periodic Mass celebrated by Fr. Andrew Dinh for the local Vietnamese Catholic community
Religious Education
Mary McNair serves as Director of Religious Education (DRE), coordinating catechesis for the parish's children. The parish schedule references 'PS @ St. Francis – Franklin' (Parish School of Religion / religious education classes) on Wednesdays and Sundays, with the SF Gift Station open before and after RE classes on Wednesdays to support sacramental preparation.
- DRE: Mary McNair
- RE Classes referenced on Sundays and Wednesdays
- Sacramental gifts available through the SF Gift Station for Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation
Office & Contact
The parish office is open three days a week and serves as the hub for scheduling, ministry coordination, sacramental requests, and visiting the SF Gift Station.
- Phone: (979) 828-1269
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 543, Franklin, TX 77856
- Office Hours: Monday 9 AM – 5 PM; Wednesday 9 AM – 5 PM; Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
- Pastoral referrals link to Missionaries of Faith: http://missionariesoffaith.us
Visiting & Directions
The parish is located just off FM 1644 outside the small town of Franklin in the Brazos Valley region of Central Texas. Driving directions from US-79 lead visitors to Cooks Lane and then FM 1644.
- Address: 1371 W FM 1644, Franklin, TX 77856
- From US-79: turn at Cooks Lane, then turn onto FM 1644
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. David Leibham
Now Pastor of Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway
- Fr. Joseph Kim
Retired
- Fr. Melvin Dornak
Now Pastor at St. Mary's (Caldwell) & Holy Rosary (Frenstat)
- Fr. Joe Frazer
Deceased
- Msgr. John McCaffrey
First Administrator of St. Francis Parish; also Chaplain at CHI St. Joseph, BCS