About St. Jerome · San Antonio, Texas
St. Jerome Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) parish located in the Martinez community on the northeast side of San Antonio, Texas, within the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The parish describes itself as 'a family of families' proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through sacrament, prayer, word, and ministry, and worships in a beautiful 800-seat church built in 2011 with stained glass by Cavallini Studios. Weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, perpetual adoration on Wednesdays, and a robust calendar of ministries and parish festivals mark its active community life.
- Established
- 1925 (first Mass); parish established September 13, 1972
- Patron
- St. Jerome
- Rector
- Rev. Krzysztof (Kris) Pawlowski (Parochial Administrator; named pastor effective July 1, 2025 per Archdiocese of San Antonio 2025 presbyteral assignments)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Jerome is a warm, growing bilingual parish with something for every age and stage of life: weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, Wednesday adoration, frequent confession, RCIA, ACTS retreats, faith formation for children and youth, a food pantry serving neighbors in need, and beloved parish festivals that have funded building improvements for decades. Set on a spacious, prayer-garden campus in Martinez with a beautiful 2011 Cavallini-stained-glass church, the community calls itself 'a family of families' dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel through sacrament, prayer, word, and ministry.
Mass times at St. Jerome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 PM – 4:55 PM (in the church before the Vigil Mass)
- Tuesday–Friday 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM (in the church before 8:00 AM Daily Mass)
- By appointment: contact the parish office at (210) 648-2694
- Held in the confessional next to the cry room
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- 1st Wednesdays – Night of Reflection and Adoration 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
History of St. Jerome Parish
St. Jerome parish traces its roots to a two-acre tract of land in Martinez, Texas, donated by John and Brigitte Jonietz in 1925. Originally a Redemptorist mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, then a mission of St. Benedict under Father Liam P. Brosnan, the community was formally established as a parish on September 13, 1972. From the 1930 'little red brick' church to today's 800-seat worship space, the parish's growth has been shepherded by a succession of pastors whose names live on in campus buildings—Pruski Hall, the O'Brien Center, the Flanagan Administrative Center, and the parish rectory.
- 1925: First Mass celebrated on donated land in Martinez
- 1930: 'Little red brick' church built and given the name St. Jerome; first baptism and marriage; fifteen confirmations
- 1962: Placed under Father Robert E. Schmidt as a mission of St. Benedict
- 1963: Groundbreaking for catechetical center and hall
- 1971: Archbishop Francis J. Furey celebrates cemetery expansion field Mass
- September 13, 1972: Parish established
- August 20, 1974: Father Benedict A. Pruski appointed first pastor
Church Building & Campus
The current worship space was completed in 2011—a 20,000-square-foot, 800-seat church dedicated by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller on August 7, 2011. Stained glass was crafted by Cavallini Studios, with original windows from the prior church carefully restored and reinstalled. The campus also includes the Flanagan Administrative Center (the renovated former church, completed fall 2012), Pruski Hall, the O'Brien Center, an adoration chapel, a bell tower, a prayer garden, baseball field, BBQ pavilion, and a two-story rectory purchased in 2016.
- New church groundbreaking: May 2, 2010
- New church dedicated: August 7, 2011 by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller
- Stained glass: Cavallini Studios (plus restored originals)
- Capacity: 800 seats
- Flanagan Administrative Center named fall 2012
- St. Jerome Prayer Garden dedicated April 6, 2014
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and youth has been central to St. Jerome since the parish's earliest decades; CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) programs expanded considerably during Father Pruski's tenure. In 1977 a new building was constructed for CCD classes and parish activities, and a 1991 addition gave rise to Pruski Hall, which remains central to youth and faith formation use today. The CCD facilities underwent a major summer 2014 renovation, adding new restrooms, water line, air conditioning, windows, ceilings, teacher workstations, and updates to the library and classrooms.
- CCD religious education classes for children
- CYO youth organization
- Pruski Hall — hub for parish activities and faith formation
- 2014 CCD renovation: new restrooms, AC, windows, ceilings, workstations
RCIA & Adult Initiation
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process at St. Jerome prepares unbaptized adults, those baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics seeking full communion for reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Father John Flanagan notably expanded the RCIA program during his pastorate.
- Inquiry and formation adapted for English- and Spanish-speaking adults
- Expanded under Father John Flanagan's pastorate
ACTS Retreat Ministry
The ACTS Ministry (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) was fully established at St. Jerome in 2002 under the leadership of Father John Flanagan. ACTS retreats are offered for men, women, and teens, forming disciples through the four pillars named in the apostolate's mission.
- Men's ACTS retreats
- Women's ACTS retreats
- Teen's ACTS retreats
- Established at St. Jerome in 2002
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers—two ministries Father Flanagan notably expanded during his pastorate. These volunteers assist with daily Mass, the Vigil, and the bilingual Sunday liturgies.
- Eucharist Ministry (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Altar Servers
- Music ministry (implicit in Sunday and daily Mass schedule)
Outreach & Charity: St. Jerome Food Pantry
The St. Jerome Food Pantry serves neighbors in need in the Martinez and greater San Antonio community. It is staffed in coordination with the parish office and is listed in the Catholic Charities / archdiocesan outreach directory.
- Contact: Father Krzysztof Pawlowski at (210) 648-2694
- Volunteer contact: Delia Lopez at (210) 648-2694
Sacraments
St. Jerome celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered multiple times weekly and by appointment; baptisms and marriages are scheduled through the parish office (the parish's history notes the first baptism and first marriage were both celebrated in 1930). Adult initiation is prepared through RCIA, and the parish maintains a tradition of First Friday devotions.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 PM, Tues–Fri 7:30 AM, or by appointment
- Baptism: contact parish office
- Marriage: contact parish office
- RCIA for adult initiation
- First Friday devotions
Parish Festivals & Parish Life
Parish festivals—reincarnated by Father Thomas O'Brien in 1995—have been a beloved tradition at St. Jerome for three decades. Proceeds from the festivals have funded and continue to fund parish building projects and improvements, including the O'Brien Center (the new hall completed May 2000 and dedicated by Bishop Thomas Flanagan). The festivals remain a major annual community gathering, alongside parish BBQs at the pavilion next to the baseball field.
- Annual parish festivals (since 1995)
- O'Brien Center — meeting/event space built with festival proceeds
- BBQ pavilion next to the baseball field
Our Pastor
Father Krzysztof (Kris) Pawlowski, a priest from Poland, was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Jerome on July 1, 2020, succeeding Father Scott Janysek. He previously served eight years in missionary ministry in Peru and four years in the Archdiocese of San Antonio at St. Francis of Assisi. He speaks Polish, Russian, Quechua, and Spanish, enjoys bicycling and hiking, and plays piano and guitar. In the Archdiocese's 2025 presbyteral assignments, Father Pawlowski was named pastor of St. Jerome.
- Born and ordained in Poland
- 5 years ministry in Poland, 8 years in Peru, 4 years in San Antonio
- Hobbies: bicycling, hiking, piano and guitar, European soccer
- Named pastor effective July 1, 2025
Parish Staff
Day-to-day parish operations are supported by Father Kris Pawlowski and Marisol Lopez, the Administrative Assistant. Inquiries can be directed to the office at (210) 648-2694 or [email protected]; hall rentals are handled by Diane Swientek at (210) 219-6646.
- Rev. Krzysztof (Kris) Pawlowski — Pastor / Administrator
- Marisol Lopez — Administrative Assistant
- Diane Swientek — Hall Rentals (210) 219-6646
Mission, Vision & Stewardship
St. Jerome Catholic Church describes itself as 'a family of families that creates a faith-based community dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as affirmed by the Roman Catholic Church through sacrament, prayer, word and ministry.' The parish vision, rooted in the Gospel, calls the community to love Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist, form a welcoming faith-based community, rejoice in its Christian way of living, humbly minister to others, and give fully of time, talent, and treasure through faithful stewardship.
- Identity: 'a family of families'
- Pillars: sacrament, prayer, word, and ministry
- Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Benedict A. 'Ben' Pruski1974–1991
First pastor after parish was established in 1972; oversaw construction of the white brick church (1975–1976) and Pruski Hall; retired in 1991.
- Fr. Thomas O'Brien1991–May 26, 2001
Built BBQ pavilion, upgraded baseball field, restarted parish festivals in 1995; the parish hall was dedicated to him in 2000; died while still pastor.
- Fr. John FlanaganAugust 2001–July 9, 2013
Expanded Eucharist Ministry, Altar Servers, RCIA, and Pastoral Council; established ACTS ministry (2002); led groundbreaking for and completion of the new 800-seat church (2010–2011); died while pastor. Administrative center named in his honor.
- Fr. Alberto Colin-MarinJuly 8, 2013–November 8, 2013
Served briefly as Parish Administrator.
- Fr. Rodolfo Caballero, LCNovember 8, 2013–
Appointed after Fr. Colin-Marin; served with Fr. Gustavo.
- Fr. Gustavo (with Fr. Rodolfo)
Served alongside Fr. Rodolfo until summer 2016 reassignment.
- Fr. Scott JanysekJuly 1, 2016–July 1, 2020
Parish Administrator; reassigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Helotes.
- Fr. Krzysztof (Kris) PawlowskiJuly 1, 2020–present
From Poland; previously at St. Francis of Assisi, San Antonio, and earlier eight years in mission work in Peru; speaks Polish, Russian, Quechua, and Spanish.