St. Francis of Assisi

About St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a small, bilingual Catholic parish serving Gilmer, the county seat of Upshur County, Texas. Founded in 1994 as the first Catholic community in Gilmer, the parish today offers Mass in English, Spanish, and Latin (Novus Ordo), a full Faith Formation program, an active Ladies' Guild, and a parish food pantry. It sits in a quiet, rural setting on FM 852 just minutes from downtown Gilmer and a short drive from Lake Gilmer, and welcomes all visitors to worship with the congregation.

History of the Parish

The parish was born when Catholic families in Gilmer, with no local parish to call home, began gathering for Mass together. Bishop Carmody of the Diocese of Tyler, traveling to a confirmation, joined them — making him, the parish proudly notes, the first visitor at what would become the first mission in the Diocese of Tyler. On Corpus Christi Sunday, May 22, 1994, the bishop confirmed the name St. Francis of Assisi for the new mission, chosen because of St. Francis's connection as patron of animals and the environment — fitting for a rural, agricultural town.

• Spring 1994 — parish mission officially established
• April 1994 — 14 founding families committed: Barber, Bruns, Bukowsky, Cavazos, Daniels, Hudgins, Jones, Loy, Mannis, Osborne, Parsons, Pitman, Raabe, Santos
• 1994 — first year lease signed on a western-style building creatively adapted as a worship space
• Catechetical Sunday 1994 — religious education organized, teachers commissioned
• Christmas 1994 — first Midnight Mass; first Holy Communion for 17 children the following year
• May 31, 1998 — congregation enters their new church building for the first time
• Pentecost Sunday (2002) — Bishop Carmody dedicates the church with a relic of St. Francis from Rome; Fr. Dan installed as first pastor
• By dedication the parish already had two congregations (English and Spanish), a Ladies' Guild, religious education, a Catholic library, and a yearly St. Francis festival

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is currently led by Rev. Father Andrew Smith as Parochial Administrator and is served by retired Deacon Guy Blasingame, who has been a deacon since June 2, 1979, and was recognized as the oldest serving deacon in the Diocese of Tyler with 43 years of service. A convert to the Catholic faith, Deacon Guy continues to assist the parish in retirement.

• Parochial Administrator: Rev. Father Andrew Smith
• Deacon (Retired): Guy Blasingame
• Bookkeeper: Lupe Salinas
• Offering Counters: Karen Mannis, Dona Johnston, Ken Smith
• Faith Formation / CCD Directors: Sister Maria Carmen, Edna Landeverde
• Music Director — English: Donna Osborne
• Music Directors — Spanish: Jovita & Angel Romero
• Adult Bible Study: Karla Ormsby

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith Formation, formerly known as CCD or Religious Education, is directed by Sister Maria Carmen and Edna Landeverde. The program focuses on forming faith rather than only teaching religion and encompasses Christian initiation, sacramental preparation, adult faith formation, and formation for children and youth. Classes are offered bilingually for parish families.

• Faith Formation (children & youth) — Sundays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Sacramental Preparation Classes & RCIA — Thursday evenings 6:30 – 7:30 PM
• RCIA / RICA — spiritual formation process for unbaptized adults and those baptized in other Christian denominations; begins each August and culminates at the Easter Vigil with Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist; continues through Pentecost for the Period of Mystagogy
• Adult Bible Study — led by Karla Ormsby

Ladies' Guild

The St. Francis of Assisi Ladies' Guild helps the parish spiritually, socially, and financially while contributing to the spiritual and social life of its members. The Guild sponsors bake sales, socials after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, rummage sales, the Christmas and Easter basket raffles, and breakfasts; proceeds go toward cleaning the church, candles, hosts, wine, and other parish necessities. The Guild also hosts deanery meetings, runs a bereavement committee for funeral dinners, organizes the Mardi Gras Tuesday Celebration before Lent, serves Soup and Sandwiches after Stations of the Cross, and assists with the Friends of Francis Fall Festival.

• President: Karen Mannis
• Secretary: Donna Johnson
• Treasurer: Diana Seahorn
• Annual dues: $20
• Meetings: first Sunday of the month, September – June, 8:30 AM (before the 10:00 AM Mass)
• Open to all women of the parish

Parish Food Pantry

For neighbors in need, the parish maintains a Food Pantry stocked with canned and dry goods as well as perishables in a freezer and refrigerator. Anyone who needs a helping hand is welcome to take what they need or contact the parish office during office hours. The parish also accepts food donations: non-perishable items may be left in the basket beside the front door, and perishables in the refrigerator or freezer.

• Open pantry — take what you need
• Donations accepted at the parish during office hours
• Non-perishables: basket by the front door
• Perishables: refrigerator/freezer at the parish

Music and Liturgy

Music at St. Francis of Assisi is led bilingually. The English choir is directed by Donna Osborne, while the Spanish music ministry is led by Jovita and Angel Romero. Together they support both the English and Spanish Masses each Sunday and help the parish mark the seasons of the liturgical year, including Living Stations of the Cross during Holy Week and the annual Friends of Francis Fall Festival.

• English Music Director: Donna Osborne
• Spanish Music Directors: Jovita & Angel Romero
• Liturgical highlights: Living Stations of the Cross (Holy Week), Stations of the Cross during Lent, annual Friends of Francis Fall Festival

Sister Parishes in the Diocese of Tyler

St. Francis of Assisi belongs to the Northeast Deanery of the Diocese of Tyler and shares ministry with neighboring parishes in the region. Visitors to the parish's website can find Mass times and confession schedules for these sister parishes as well.

• St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Longview
• St. Theresa Catholic Church, Gladewater
• St. Theresa Catholic Church, Winona
• Other Northeast Deanery parishes: St. Catherine of Siena (Atlanta), Our Lady of Fatima (Daingerfield), St. Michael (Mt. Pleasant), St. Mary of the Cenacle (New Boston), Holy Cross (Pittsburg), Sacred Heart (Texarkana)