About St. Ignatius Martyr · Christine, Texas
St. Ignatius Martyr is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Christine, Texas (Atascosa County), part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio. Founded in 1936, it has historically been twinned as a sister parish with St. Matthew Catholic Church in neighboring Jourdanton and shares its priests, secretary, and pastoral staff. The parish serves a close-knit farming and ranching community in south-central Texas and is presently cared for by an administrator appointed from the archdiocese.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Antioch (Martyr)
- Rector
- Fr. Kazimierz Oleksy (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Ignatius Martyr is the sacramental home for Catholics across the Christine and rural Atascosa County area — a place where families have worshipped for nearly 90 years. As the sister parish of St. Matthew in Jourdanton, it shares a full staff (pastor, secretary, faith-formation coordinator, and maintenance), so parishioners receive the full range of Catholic life — weekday and Sunday Mass, confession, first-Friday adoration, faith formation, and sacramental preparation — while still keeping the warmth and familiarity of a small rural mission church.
Mass times at St. Ignatius Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (at St. Matthew, Jourdanton, before vigil Mass) and by appointment
- Wednesday 6:30 PM (Lenten Penance Service, shared with St. Matthew)
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM (shared with St. Matthew)
- Holy Thursday: Adoration after the 7:00 PM Mass until Midnight (shared with St. Matthew)
About the Parish
St. Ignatius Martyr is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the rural community of Christine, Texas, in the heart of Atascosa County. Listed in the official directory of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio, it has been a faithful presence in the area since 1936. The parish is closely twinned with St. Matthew Catholic Church in nearby Jourdanton — sharing clergy, office staff, faith-formation programs, and most sacramental ministries — so that rural and town Catholics together enjoy a full Catholic life.
History
The parish was established in 1936 according to the GCatholic church directory. For most of its modern history it has operated as a sister parish to St. Matthew in Jourdanton, sharing a pastor, secretary, maintenance team, and faith-formation coordinator. The cluster publishes a single weekly bulletin and operates from one parish office (1608 Campbell Ave., Jourdanton).
- Founded: 1936 (per GCatholic Church ID 33035).
- Long-standing twinning with St. Matthew, Jourdanton.
- Recorded in the Archdiocese of San Antonio parish directory as 'St. Ignatius Martyr, Christine.'
Mass and Liturgy
The weekly Sunday Mass at St. Ignatius Martyr is celebrated at 9:00 AM in English. Because the parish shares clergy with St. Matthew in Jourdanton, daily Masses (Tuesday–Friday), the Saturday vigil, and an additional Sunday morning Mass are all celebrated at St. Matthew. Holy Days and special liturgies (Easter, Holy Thursday, Good Friday) follow the shared cluster schedule.
- Sunday 9:00 AM Mass (English) at St. Ignatius Martyr, Christine.
- Saturday 5:00 PM vigil, Sunday 7:15 AM and 11:00 AM at St. Matthew, Jourdanton.
- Weekday Masses Tue 5:00 PM, Wed–Fri 11:30 AM at St. Matthew.
Clergy and Staff
St. Ignatius Martyr is cared for by an Administrator appointed by the Archdiocese of San Antonio and supported by the staff of the Jourdanton–Christine cluster. Pastors of the shared cluster have included Fr. Isak Keyman-Ige and Fr. Tu T. Nguyen. The cluster staff includes a secretary, faith-formation coordinator, and maintenance personnel, all based at the Jourdanton parish office.
- Administrator: Fr. Kazimierz Oleksy
- Cluster staff (shared with St. Matthew): Secretary — Virginia Marshall / Linda Casas; Faith Formation — Kathleen Quinn; Maintenance — John Earnest
Faith Formation
Religious education for children and sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation) for both parishes is coordinated through the shared Faith Formation office in Jourdanton. Families from Christine and the surrounding rural area attend classes and retreats together with St. Matthew families.
- Faith Formation Director: Kathleen Quinn (shared).
- Sacramental prep offered through the Jourdanton–Christine cluster.
Parish Ministries and Lay Service
Although a small mission parish, St. Ignatius Martyr has a robust set of lay ministries. Long-time parishioner Paul Parsons was recognized by the Archdiocese of San Antonio with the Lumen Gentium Award for his decades of service as sacristan, lead altar server, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and hospitality minister, as well as his role in organizing parish festivities.
- Altar Servers.
- Sacristans.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Ushers / Hospitality.
- Parish festival and feast-day celebrations.
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the cluster. Parents should contact the parish office to schedule Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation. Couples wishing to marry at St. Ignatius Martyr begin the process through the shared office. The Anointing of the Sick and home visits are arranged by calling the parish.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation.
- Matrimony.
- Anointing of the Sick and homebound visits.
Visit and Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office (shared with St. Matthew) is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and serves both Christine and Jourdanton. Mass attendance, registration forms, and sacramental scheduling are all handled through this single office.
- Address (church): F Ave. & 10th St., Christine, TX 78064.
- Address (office): 1608 Campbell Ave., Jourdanton, TX 78026.
- Phone: (830) 769-3687.
- Email: [email protected].