About St. James · Beeville, Texas
St. James Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Beeville, Texas, serving the city's southwest side since it was built in 1946 as a mission of Our Lady of Victory Church. Located at 605 S. Alta Vista Street, the parish was raised to independent status on October 10, 1966, and today ministers in both English and Spanish under the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish describes itself as a community of 'loving and sensitive members seeking to meet their spiritual needs, strengthen their faith, and affirm their continued existence as the church of Jesus Christ today and tomorrow.' Daily Mass, the sacraments, youth ministry, a parish choir, and traditional Hispanic devotional societies such as the Guadalupanas and Cursillistas together form the rhythm of parish life.
- Established
- 1946 (built); October 10, 1966 (raised to independent parish)
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (the church was named in memory of James Dougherty II, a Beeville serviceman killed in World War II)
- Rector
- Rev. Jacob Valayath
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. James is a parish where bilingual Mass, traditional Hispanic devotional societies (Guadalupanas, Cursillistas), and a strong faith-formation program for children and youth meet under one roof. Parishioners can attend daily Mass, regular confession, the parish faith choir, the altar society, CYO youth group (grades 8–12), and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, marriage, and anointing of the sick — all within a community that traces its roots back to 1946 and that the parish itself describes as 'loving and sensitive members seeking to meet their spiritual needs and strengthen their faith.'
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 15 minutes before each Mass (Sat 4:20–4:50 PM, Sun 9:40–9:50 AM, Weekdays 7:45–7:55 AM)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 361-358-4825
About St. James Catholic Church
St. James Catholic Church is a bilingual parish in Beeville, Texas, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish community describes itself as made up of 'loving and sensitive members seeking to meet their spiritual needs, strengthen their faith, and affirm their continued existence as the church of Jesus Christ today and tomorrow.' Its stated mission is to assist everyone in experiencing 'a more abundant experience of the riches of their liturgy and sacraments' and to make the Lord's Day a priority for all.
- Parish offices are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Phone: (361) 358-4825
- Website: https://stjamesbeeville.org/
History of St. James Parish
Construction of the church began in 1946 under Rev. Herman H. Berg of Our Lady of Victory to serve Hispanic Catholics on Beeville's southwest side. Lumber came from Chase Field's Naval Auxiliary Air Station and a $2,000 donation from James R. Dougherty, given in memory of his son James Dougherty II who was killed in World War II, gave the church its name. The mission grew so quickly that it was expanded sideways by 1957, and a church hall was added in 1962 for catechism classes. On October 10, 1966, the mission was raised to parish status under Father Arthur Ockwood, MSF, who built the CCD Center and acquired the rectory.
- 1946 — construction begins as mission of Our Lady of Victory
- c. 1957 — church expanded sideways under Fr. Fiato
- 1962 — church hall built for CCD and parish organizations
- October 10, 1966 — raised to independent parish
- 1965 — Jim Walters home purchased and moved onto grounds as rectory
- November 23, 1969 — CCD Center dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Drury
Pastor & Clergy
St. James is currently served by Rev. Jacob Valayath, who became pastor on January 31, 2019. The parish has historically been served by religious-order priests — especially the Missionaries of the Holy Family (MSF), the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSC), and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) — alongside diocesan clergy. A complete succession of pastors and administrators is published on the parish's About page.
- Rev. Jacob Valayath — Pastor (2019–present)
- Past pastors and administrators are listed on the official About page, going back to the mission era under Fr. Herman Berg, MSF (1946–1957)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Altar Servers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers. The Faith Choir leads congregational singing as 'an expression of faith through sacred song,' and the Altar Society cares for the liturgical needs of the church — cleaning and maintaining the sanctuary, vestments, altar linens, and other sacred items used in worship.
- Altar Servers — meet on the third Sunday of the month (or as announced)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- The Faith Choir
- Altar Society
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious education for children and youth takes place in the parish's CCE Building (formerly the CCD Center). The CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) gathers 8th-through-12th-graders once a month on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the CCD Building for faith, fellowship, and community.
- CYO — monthly Wednesday meetings, 6:30–8:00 PM, in the CCD Building
- Baptismal Classes — 1st Monday of every month at 6:00 PM in the CCE Building
- Confirmation preparation — usually celebrated once a year around May
Sacraments
St. James prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Anointing of the Sick is available for those who are ill at home or in the hospital by calling the parish office.
- Baptism — applications due the previous month; baptism celebrated 3rd Saturday of the month after the 5:00 PM Mass
- Baptismal requirements: parents registered at St. James; godparents must be Baptized, Confirmed, and (if married) married in the Catholic Church
- Confirmation — for high-school students, usually in May
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
- Marriage (Wedding) — contact the parish office
Parish Devotions & Hispanic Apostolates
Reflecting its origins as a mission for Hispanic Catholics, St. James hosts traditional Spanish-language devotional societies such as the Guadalupanas (devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe) and the Cursillistas (the Cursillo movement). A weekly Divine Mercy Prayer gathering is also part of parish life.
- Guadalupanas
- Cursillistas
- Divine Mercy Prayer (Wednesday)
Facilities & Grounds
The parish campus at 605 S. Alta Vista St. includes the church, a rectory, the CCE/CCD Building (dedicated 1969), and a church hall originally built in 1962 for catechism classes and parish organizations. The rectory is a Jim Walters-construction home that was moved onto the grounds in 1965 and later enlarged to provide office space for the pastor.
- Church (built 1946, expanded c. 1957)
- Church Hall (1962)
- Rectory — Jim Walters home moved onto grounds in 1965
- CCE / CCD Center — dedicated Nov. 23, 1969 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury
Get Involved
Parishioners are invited to participate in liturgical ministries, faith formation, the CYO youth group, the choir, or the parish's devotional societies. To volunteer or learn more about any ministry, contact the parish office at (361) 358-4825 during office hours (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
- Join the Faith Choir, Altar Servers, Lectors, or Eucharistic Ministers
- Volunteer with the Altar Society
- Bring teens in grades 8–12 to CYO
- Participate in Guadalupanas or Cursillistas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Herman H. Berg, MSF1946–1957
Mission priest; oversaw initial construction of St. James mission
- Rev. William Janning, MSF1957–1963
Mission priest
- Rev. Alphonse M. Fiato, MSF1963–1964 (mission); arrived 1955
Expanded church ~1957; built church hall in 1962
- Rev. Aloys M. Hepp, MSF1964–1966
Mission priest
- Rev. Arthur Ockwood, MSF1966–1970
First pastor after parish status; built CCD Center (dedicated 1969) and acquired the rectory
- Rev. Stephen Devine, MSF1970–1989
Long-tenured second pastor
- Bro. Robert Manzer, MSF1989–1995
Administrator
- Rev. Simon Brzozowski, MSF1989–1995
Sacramental Minister
- Rev. Eugene T. Ronan, MSF1995–1997
Temporary Administrator, then Administrator
- Dcn. Cesar M. Ponce1997
Administrator (Apr–Aug)
- Rev. James Q. Dudley, MSC1997–1998
Pastor
- Rev. Timothy Kinast1998–1999
Administrator
- Rev. Edward Couch, OMI1999–2000
Pastor
- Rev. Tom P. O'Donovan2000–2001
- Rev. Balaswamy Pasala2001–2017
Administrator from 2001, then Pastor from 2006
- Rev. Paul Kottackal2017–2018
Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Jacob Valayath2019–present
Current pastor