About St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus · Corpus Christi, Texas
St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, located on the south side of Corpus Christi, Texas, at 7634 Wooldridge Road. Established in 2004 and pastored by Father Richard Libby (who also serves as chancellor of the Diocese of Corpus Christi), the parish serves an estimated 220 registered families with a robust schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, regular confessions, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide array of lay ministries. The community sits on a 20-acre campus — only four of which are currently developed — and is in the midst of a multi-phase expansion plan that includes a new parking lot, a future parish hall, and a new church building, funded in part by the parish's Exaltation Capital Campaign.
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- Saint Helena (Empress, mother of Constantine the Great; finder of the True Cross)
- Rector
- Father Richard Libby
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus is a welcoming south-side Corpus Christi parish with multiple Sunday Mass options, daily morning Mass Tuesday through Friday, and an unusually full confession schedule — including opportunities before every Sunday Mass and by appointment. The parish community is actively engaged: there are ministries for lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, cantors, altar servers, the Voce Angeli Choir at the 12:15 PM Mass, a Homebound/Elderly Ministry led by the deacon, the Gabriel Project for crisis pregnancy support, the St. Helena Handmaids, and a religious education program for families. With 20 acres of land and a published 10-year expansion plan that includes a new church building and parish hall, it is a growing community where new members can both worship and serve.
Mass times at St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM
- Wednesday 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM
- Thursday 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM
- Friday 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM (before 10:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (before 12:15 PM Mass)
- 1st Friday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- 1st Saturday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- By appointment — call 361-994-8783
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus
St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, located at 7634 Wooldridge Road on the south side of Corpus Christi, Texas. It was established in 2004 and serves an estimated 220 registered families under the pastoral care of Father Richard Libby, who also serves as chancellor of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish community is named after Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who, according to tradition, discovered the relic of the True Cross in Jerusalem in 326 AD — the event the universal Church commemorates on September 14 as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
- Diocese: Corpus Christi
- Pastor: Father Richard Libby
- Deacon: Deacon Richard Longoria
- Established: 2004
- Families: ~220 registered
- Feast day observed: September 14
History and the 2020 Expansion
On September 14, 2020, Bishop Michael Mulvey traveled to the parish for a groundbreaking ceremony blessing the site of a new parking lot. Father Libby deliberately tied the milestone to the parish's feast day and to the one-year anniversary of the Exaltation Capital Campaign, which had raised approximately $85,000. The parking lot is the first visible step of a 10-year master plan: of the parish's 20 acres, only four are developed today, and the plan also envisions an additional parking lot, a parish hall, and a new church building. Father Libby credited the parishioners directly, saying, 'It all goes back to the people.'
- September 14, 2020: Bishop Mulvey blessed new parking lot
- Exaltation Capital Campaign launched in September 2019
- 20 acres owned; 4 developed (as of 2020)
- 10-year master plan: new parking lot, second lot, parish hall, new church
Parish Staff and Contacts
The parish office is staffed by a small team led by Father Richard Libby (pastor) and Deacon Richard Longoria. Catalina Longoria serves both as parish secretary and as Director of Religious Education, and is the primary contact for most inquiries.
- Pastor: Father Richard Libby — [email protected] — 361-994-8783
- Deacon: Deacon Richard Longoria — [email protected]
- Secretary & DRE: Catalina Longoria — [email protected] — 361-994-8783
- Office phone: 361-994-8783; Fax: 361-994-7918
- Mailing: PO Box 81210, Corpus Christi, TX 78468
Liturgical Ministries
The parish actively recruits adults and teens for the ministries that make Sunday and weekday Mass possible. The Ministries page on the parish website describes the role, expectations, and formation provided for each role. Training sessions are scheduled several times per year, and anyone interested is encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Sacristans (prepare liturgical books, vestments, vessels)
- Lectors (proclaim the Word of God)
- Eucharistic Ministers (distribute Communion and bring it to the sick)
- Cantors
- Altar Servers — directed by Father Richard Libby
Music Ministry — Voce Angeli Choir
The Voce Angeli Choir leads music at the 12:15 PM Sunday Mass. It is directed by Dr. Rafael Rada with Dinzin Bronola-Rada serving as pianist.
- Director: Dr. Rafael Rada
- Pianist: Dinzin Bronola-Rada
- Mass served: 12:15 PM Sunday
Parish Service and Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, parishioners serve the parish and the wider community through the Altar Society, Sacristy crew, Ushers, Lectors team, Homebound/Elderly Ministry (led by Deacon Richard Longoria), the Gabriel Project (a crisis-pregnancy outreach coordinated by Ray Reeves), and the St. Helena Handmaids (led by Nury Satery).
- Altar Society — Irene Pena
- Sacristy — Irene Pena
- Ushers — Kevin Limerick
- Lectors — Tracy Mora
- Homebound/Elderly Ministry — Deacon Richard Longoria, 361-446-2291
- Gabriel Project — Ray Reeves, 361-939-9537, [email protected]
- St. Helena Handmaids — Nury Satery, 361-548-3616
Religious Education
Faith formation for children and families is coordinated by Catalina Longoria, who serves as Director of Religious Education in addition to her role as parish secretary. Families seeking enrollment information should contact the parish office.
- Director of Religious Education: Catalina Longoria
- Contact: [email protected] — 361-994-8783
Visit, Register, and Give
New parishioners and visitors can register online through the Parishioner/Guest Registration Form on the parish website. Online giving is available, and the parish participates annually in the Bishop's Stewardship Appeal (2026 campaign currently displayed on the homepage).
- Online registration: Parishioner/Guest Registration Form on sthelenacc.com
- Online giving available via the parish website
- Bishop's Stewardship Appeal — annual diocesan campaign
- Address: 7634 Wooldridge Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78414
- Mailing: PO Box 81210, Corpus Christi, TX 78468
- Phone: 361-994-8783
Exaltation Capital Campaign and Future Building
The 'Exaltation' Capital Campaign funds the parish's expansion plan. Its name references both Saint Helena's discovery of the True Cross and the parish's September 14 feast day. Donations are accepted online through the parish website or by check addressed to the Exaltation Capital Campaign at the parish mailing address.
- Campaign name: Exaltation Capital Campaign
- Launched: September 14, 2019
- First project: new parking lot (groundbreaking September 14, 2020)
- Future projects: second parking lot, parish hall, new church building
- Donate: www.sthelenacc.com or mail check to Exaltation Capital Campaign, St. Helena Catholic Church, 7634 Wooldridge Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78414