About St. Francis of Assisi · Sandia, Texas
St. Francis of Assisi Mission (also known as the Lagarto Mission) is a small Roman Catholic mission church located at 303 County Road 185 in rural Sandia, Texas. It is served by and attached to St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in neighboring Orange Grove, under the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The mission offers Sunday Mass at 9:15 AM and confessions 15 minutes before Mass, and is supported by a Music Ministry, an on-site Christian Gift Shop, and the ministry of its pastor, Fr. Patrick Donohoe, and Deacon Armando Cavada. Because it is a mission rather than a full parish, its sacramental and formational programs (Religious Education, Sacramental Preparation, Confirmation, etc.) are coordinated through the parent parish in Orange Grove.
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick (K.) Donohoe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi Mission offers a small, intimate Catholic community in rural Sandia, TX, where weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:15 AM and confessions are heard 15 minutes before Mass. It is part of the St. John of the Cross Catholic parish family in Orange Grove, so parishioners have access to the larger parish's Religious Education, Sacramental Preparation, Confirmation, music ministry, and outreach programs while enjoying worship in a quiet mission setting. The on-site Christian Gift Shop (run by Mrs. A. Trevino) and a warm welcome from the pastor and deacon make it a friendly place for Catholic families, seasonal visitors, and ranch-country neighbors to gather around the Eucharist.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 15 minutes before Mass (Sunday)
Welcome to St. Francis of Assisi Mission
St. Francis of Assisi Mission is a small Catholic mission in rural Sandia, Texas, served from St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Orange Grove. The mission's page on st-johnog.org welcomes visitors and clearly lists the Sunday Mass time, confession opportunity, pastor, and deacon. The mission is part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi and serves ranch-country families and seasonal visitors on the Lagarto stretch of County Road 185.
- Pastor: Fr. Patrick Donohoe
- Deacon: Armando Cavada
- Mailing Address: PO Box 329, Orange Grove, TX 78372
- Physical Address: 303 Co Rd 185, Sandia, TX 78383
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Music Ministry
The mission's Music Ministry invites anyone interested in leading or joining to contact the St. John of the Cross Parish Office for more information. Cantors and musicians help lift the congregation in song each Sunday at 9:15 AM and are an important part of the mission's worship life.
- Open to volunteers who wish to lead or join the music at Sunday Mass
- Coordinated through the St. John of the Cross Parish Office in Orange Grove
Christian Gift Shop
A small on-site Christian Gift Shop is open at the mission, offering religious articles such as rosaries, holy water containers, crucifixes, images of Jesus, images of Mary, candles, and other devotional items. Mrs. A. Trevino runs the shop and is available to help before or after Mass. The ministry also accepts donations of broken or unwanted jewelry — chains, estate pieces, and similar items — which are repurposed to support the shop.
- Religious articles: rosaries, holy water containers, crucifixes, images, candles
- Operated by Mrs. A. Trevino (before/after Mass)
- Accepts donated broken jewelry for repurposing
Connection to St. John of the Cross Parish, Orange Grove
As a mission church, St. Francis of Assisi draws its sacramental, educational, and pastoral life from St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Orange Grove (200 S. Metz St., Orange Grove, TX 78372). The two share a pastor and parish staff, and the parent parish handles Religious Education, Sacramental Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, Baptism coordination, Marriage preparation, and other ongoing ministries.
- Parent parish: St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Orange Grove
- Parish Office Phone: 361-384-2795
- Parish Office Email: [email protected]
- Pastor Email: [email protected]
Sacramental Preparation & Religious Education
Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation / First Communion, Confirmation) and Religious Education for children and youth are run out of St. John of the Cross in Orange Grove. The 2025–26 Religious Education year began September 3, 2025, with K–5th grade classes from 5:30–6:30 PM and 6th–12th grade classes from 6:30–8:00 PM. Confirmation candidates are typically high school sophomores or older who have completed two years of Youth Ministry at 90% attendance.
- K–5 Religious Education: Wednesdays 5:30–6:30 PM
- 6th–12th Religious Education: Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM
- Confirmation: high school sophomores+ after 2 years of Youth Ministry
- Baptism: $30 church fee + $15 class fee; baptismal instruction required