About St. Francis of Assisi · San Antonio, Texas
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, located at 4201 De Zavala Road on the city's north side. Founded in 1980 at the authorization of Archbishop Patrick Flores, it has grown from a community of about 100 founding families meeting in borrowed spaces into a parish whose weekend Mass schedule now serves English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, with weekly live-streamed liturgies and an octagonal sanctuary designed to reflect communal worship. The parish identifies itself as a Sacramental people journeying toward its Christian mission 'to know, love, and serve Christ,' emulating its patron saint through hospitality, peace, and care for God's creation under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Tony Vilano.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Tony Vilano
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers a bilingual Catholic community that welcomes families, young adults, teens and seniors into a Sacramental life centered on the Eucharist and the patron saint's example of peace, hospitality and care for creation. Beyond weekend and weekday Masses (in English and Spanish, with live-streamed liturgies), the parish sustains a wide formation ecosystem — Life Teen, EDGE middle-school ministry, Elementary Faith Formation, OCIA (Becoming Catholic), ACTS retreats, Bible study and Small Church Communities — together with outreach through St. Vincent de Paul and other service ministries. The octagonal sanctuary, the decades-old parish identity of family and the active staff of clergy, deacons and Religious Sisters make it an unusually full parish home for Catholics on San Antonio's north side.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (in Henke Hall)
Adoration times
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel — visitors are invited to continue prayer and adoration outside the chapel with the clear window looking in at the tabernacle (interior closed until further notice).
Parish History
Authorized by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores in December 1979 and born in 1980 from a community of about 100 founding families, St. Francis of Assisi grew through Masses in borrowed spaces and parish homes before dedicating its first permanent church in 1984 (now Henke Hall). The parish matured under three pastors — Fr. Bob Kownacki, Fr. James Henke and Fr. Larry Christian — each adding buildings, ministries and retreats, before dedicating the present octagonal sanctuary in October 2001.
- Dec 1979: Archbishop Patrick Flores authorizes formation of the parish.
- 1980: Founding Mass celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
- Ash Wednesday 1984: First liturgy in new sanctuary (now Henke Hall) under Fr. Robert (Bob) Kownacki.
- 1991: Fr. James Henke named pastor; first Fall Picnic, St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, first Women's ACTS retreat, Small Church Communities.
- 1993–94: Administration building, Parish Hall, education building and athletic fields built.
- 1997: Sr. Frances Briseno, CDP, becomes first Pastoral Associate.
- October 2001: New octagonal sanctuary dedicated.
- 2009: San Damiano Building completed; Sr. Rose Kruppa, CDP, becomes Pastoral Associate.
- January 30, 2010: 30th anniversary celebrated with theme 'Pearl of Great Price.'
- June 2010: Fr. James Henke retires; Fr. Larry Christian becomes pastor.
- Early 2016: Young Adult Ministry begins.
- July 1, 2016: Fr. Tony Vilano appointed pastor; introduces 1:30 pm Spanish Sunday Mass and oversees retirement of the parish debt.
Becoming Catholic & Adult Faith Formation
Adults discerning full entry into the Catholic Church walk the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process — called 'Becoming Catholic' on the parish site — in a welcoming community where the journey of faith and moments of conversion are celebrated. Beyond OCIA, the parish offers Bible Study (with studies such as 'Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John'), 'Catechism, Coffee, & Discussion' (using Fr. Mike Schmitz's 'Catechism in a Year' podcast), and Small Church Communities that meet in homes for Scripture, faith-sharing and discernment of service.
- OCIA – Becoming Catholic
- Bible Study (Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John)
- Catechism, Coffee, & Discussion (Catechism in a Year podcast group)
- Small Church Communities (parishioner-led Scripture and service groups)
- Young Adult Ministry (adults in their 20s and 30s)
Youth & Children Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Francis spans every age: Elementary Faith Formation anchors the children's catechesis, EDGE is the parish's middle-school faith formation program for 6th–8th graders (Tuesdays 7:00 PM in the St. JP II Room, plus a Sunday option), and Life Teen serves high-school teens with a Eucharist-centered movement that gathers after the Sunday 5 PM Mass. ACTS Retreats — Men's, Women's and Teen — provide deeper retreat experiences, and youth serve and are served through Teen ACTS, Vacation Bible School, Kids Day Out, and an annual mission trip.
- Elementary Faith Formation
- EDGE – Middle School (Tue 7:00 PM; Sunday 10–11 AM option)
- Life Teen – High School (after Sunday 5 PM Mass)
- Teen ACTS Retreats, Men's and Women's ACTS Retreats
- Vacation Bible School, Kids Day Out, Youth Mission Trip
Clergy, Deacons & Parish Staff
Fr. Tony Vilano has served as pastor since July 1, 2016, and is assisted by a parochial vicar, a pastoral associate from the Sisters of Divine Providence, and four permanent deacons. The lay staff leads formation, youth, music, communications, facilities, business and parish life. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Rev. Tony Vilano — Pastor
- Rev. Tomichan Moonnanappillil, MSFS — Parochial Vicar
- Sr. Rose Kruppa, CDP — Pastoral Associate
- Deacons: Jim Hewson, Mike Portele, Johnny Flores, Tim Tucker
- Larry Perry — Director of Faith Formation / Director of Parish Life and Family Life
- Jordan Lux — Director of Youth Ministry
- Don Bernhard — Director of Music Ministry
- Linsey Serwer — Director of Music Ministry (current listing)
- Communications / Facilities / Business staff supporting the parish office
Music & Liturgy
Liturgy at St. Francis is shaped by a Director of Music Ministry and a Spanish Mass Choir, and the parish community has used the Mass of Christ the Savior setting in recent seasons. Liturgical preparation, the Spanish Music ministry and the parish Music Director support the celebration of Mass each weekend and on holy days.
- Director of Music Ministry
- Spanish Mass Choir
- Mass setting: Mass of Christ the Savior (used in current liturgical year)
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses: 11:15 AM (English) and 1:30 PM (Spanish)
Spanish-Language & Hispanic Ministries
Recognizing the growth of the Hispanic Catholic community in north San Antonio, St. Francis added a Spanish Sunday Mass in 2016 under Fr. Tony Vilano and now celebrates a weekly Spanish Mass on Thursday mornings in addition. The Spanish Mass is supported by a Spanish Mass Coordinator, Spanish Mass Choir, and Spanish Spiritual Direction, with named contacts Noelia Saavedra and Cesar Garcia for community members wishing to connect.
- Sunday 1:30 PM Spanish Mass (live-streamed)
- Thursday 10:00 AM Spanish weekday Mass
- Spanish Mass Coordinator (Noelia Saavedra)
- Spanish Mass Choir
- Spanish Spiritual Direction (Cesar Garcia)
Outreach & Service
Service to the wider San Antonio community has been part of the parish's identity since the 1990s through the St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, Boy Scouts, CYO, Habitat for Humanity, the Men's Club and Teen ACTS outreach. The parish also partners with Pilgrim's Pantry on the Thanksgiving food effort and supports other works of charity as part of its Stewardship of time, talent and treasure.
- St. Vincent de Paul Ministry (founded 1991)
- Men's Club and Women's Council
- Boy Scouts / CYO
- Habitat for Humanity
- Pilgrim's Pantry Thanksgiving food distribution (volunteer and donation partner)
- Stewardship of time, talent and treasure
Becoming a Parishioner
Registration as a parishioner is the way the parish tracks family growth and supports the work of planning Masses and programs. According to the parish site, the number of registered families and parishioners is one of the factors the Archdiocese of San Antonio uses to determine priestly assignments and parish programming. Registration is available through a secure online form at sfasat.org/welcome.
- Online registration at sfasat.org/welcome
- Registration influences Archdiocese priestly-assignment and programming decisions
Parish Identity & Mission Statement
The parish family describes itself as 'Sacramental people journeying toward our Christian mission to know, love, and serve Christ.' Echoing St. Francis of Assisi, the community focuses its greater concern on the building of its people, gives its time, talent and treasure in reaching out to others, and works to promote peace and harmony within God's creation.
- Sacramental people on mission to know, love, and serve Christ.
- Stewardship of time, talent and treasure.
- Building of God's people, outreach to others, promotion of peace and harmony within God's creation.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert (Bob) Kownacki1984–c.1991
Founding pastor who celebrated the first liturgy in the new permanent sanctuary (Ash Wednesday 1984, now Henke Hall).
- Fr. James Henke1991–June 2010
Saw the parish through the construction of the administration building, Parish Hall, education building and athletic fields (1993–94), and the dedication of the octagonal sanctuary in October 2001; oversaw the first ACTS retreats, Small Church Communities, St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, and the arrival of Sr. Frances Briseno as the first Pastoral Associate in 1997.
- Fr. Larry ChristianJune 2010–2016
Launched the Young Adult Ministry in early 2016 and continued a focus on young adults and young families, spiritual growth, and stewardship.
- Fr. Tony VilanoJuly 2016–present
Introduced the 1:30 pm Spanish Sunday Mass in 2016 and, with the Finance Council, retired the parish's outstanding debt.