About St. James · Seminole, Texas
St. James Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lubbock serving the Catholic faithful of Gaines County in West Texas. Established in 1958 and located at 1010 Hobbs Highway in Seminole, the parish now serves a Catholic community of roughly 2,348 in the county, with weekend Mass attendance of around 575-578. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program staffed by lay coordinators, and ministries coordinated through the Parish Council of Laity. It is pastored by Rev. Eduardo Teo, with Deacon Saul Hernandez assisting, and the office is staffed by secretary Yadira Mendoza and PCL/YFF coordinator Coral Rivera.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. James (the Apostle, after whom the parish is named)
- Rector
- Rev. Eduardo Teo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lubbock
Why belong here
St. James offers a welcoming, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Gaines County, with daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, a regular Saturday evening confession schedule, an active OCIA process for adults seeking full initiation, and parish life coordinated through a Parish Council of Laity with youth and family faith formation programs. Weekend Mass attendance of nearly 600 reflects a parish that is small enough to know one another by name but active enough to sustain devotions, faith formation, and outreach. Whether you are a long-time Catholic, a newcomer to Seminole, or someone exploring the faith through OCIA, St. James offers a complete schedule of Masses, the sacrament of Penance on Saturdays, and a lay staff ready to help you get connected.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 pm – 6:20 pm (per diocesan schedule)
- Saturday 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm (per Discover Mass)
- Penance also by appointment
Adoration times
- 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm (per diocesan schedule)
Parish Overview
St. James Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lubbock serving Gaines County, Texas. Established in 1958, it sits on Hobbs Highway on the south side of Seminole and operates as the principal Catholic parish for the surrounding West Texas communities. The parish's weekend Mass attendance is reported at about 575-578, and Gaines County's Catholic population is approximately 2,348.
Location and Contact
St. James is located at 1010 Hobbs Highway, Seminole, Texas 79360, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 898, Seminole, TX 79360. The parish office can be reached at (432) 758-2371 and by email at [email protected].
- Address: 1010 Hobbs Hwy, Seminole, TX 79360
- Mailing: P.O. Box 898, Seminole, TX 79360
- Phone: (432) 758-2371
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjamesseminole.org/
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor, with the support of a permanent deacon and lay staff in the parish office. Bilingual ministry is central to parish life.
- Pastor: Rev. Eduardo Teo (assigned July 1, 2025)
- Deacon: Saul Hernandez
- Secretary: Yadira Mendoza (also listed as Terry Conejo in one diocesan source)
- Parish Council of Laity / Youth & Family Faith Formation: Coral Rivera
- OCIA Coordinators: Shane Wimmer, Manda Anderson, and Maria Hernandez
Faith Formation and OCIA
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — formerly RCIA — to welcome unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and catechized but unconfirmed Catholics into the sacramental life of the Church. The program is coordinated by a team of lay faithful and culminates at Easter with the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist for those ready.
- OCIA team: Shane Wimmer, Manda Anderson, Maria Hernandez
- Welcomes adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church
Diocese and Wider Church
St. James is one of the parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock, which oversees Catholic ministry across a large swath of West Texas including Gaines County. The parish cooperates with diocesan ministries and reports regularly to the diocese on attendance and sacramental life.
- Diocese: Lubbock
- Gaines County Catholics (diocesan count): 2,348
- Weekend Mass Attendance (diocesan count): 575–578