St. Joan of Arc

Mission

St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church is 'a Christian and multicultural community where all are welcome.' As members of the larger community, the parish strives to meet the spiritual needs of all through the sacraments, religious education, and worship. Its motto is to 'Bring your family to the Lord, Pray with your family, and pray for all families.'

Parish History

St. Joan of Arc was officially established as a parish on December 9, 1971, by Archbishop Francis J. Furey, Archbishop of San Antonio. Formation began six years earlier in 1965 when a committee of local Catholic families (Leroy Muehlstein, Michael Krefrovich, Manny Solis, Jerry Lehman, and Robert Wolff) studied three tracts of land, counted 250 Catholic families in a census, and purchased a 20-acre site from the Ackermann family. A multi-purpose building was dedicated on November 14, 1973. The parish campus grew with an 18-acre land and farmhouse bequest from Mrs. Louise K. Ackermann in 1981, a rectory purchase in 1982, an additional ten-acre purchase on Ackermann Road in June 1984, and a groundbreaking 'Field Mass' on April 28, 1985, led by Bishop Bernard Popp and Reverend Thomas O'Callaghan.

• 1965 – Planning committee formed; 20-acre site purchased from Ackermann family
• December 9, 1971 – Parish officially established by Archbishop Furey
• November 14, 1973 – Multi-purpose building dedicated and blessed
• Spring 1972 – Parish Council, Council of Catholic Women, and Men's club established
• 1981 – 18 acres and adjacent farmhouse bequeathed by Mrs. Louise K. Ackermann
• 1982 – Rectory residence purchased
• 1984 – Additional ten acres purchased on Ackermann Road
• April 28, 1985 – Groundbreaking 'Field Mass' with Bishop Bernard Popp and Rev. Thomas O'Callaghan
• November 3, 1986 – Rev. Leslie A. Vance transferred to the parish
• December 6, 1996 – 25th anniversary celebrated with Auxiliary Bishop John W. Yanta
• December 8, 1996 – Baptismal Font dedicated in memory of Msgr. Thomas O'Callaghan
• January 19, 1997 – Memorial tombstone dedicated for victims of abortion

Pastor and Clergy

Rev. Heliodoro Lucatero has served as Pastor of St. Joan of Arc since July 2, 2018, and can be reached at 210-661-5277, Ext. 107, or [email protected]. He is assisted by three active deacons and two retired deacons, along with a small lay staff that keeps the parish office and religious-education program running.

• Pastor: Rev. Heliodoro Lucatero (since 7-2-2018)
• Deacon Victor Cepero (active since 2018; 210-632-5233)
• Deacon Jesus A. Almanza (active; 210-902-5971)
• Deacon Filimon Reyes (active since 2023; 210-632-4172)
• Deacon Todd Dapilmoto (Retired)
• Deacon Roberto L. Galan, Jr. (Retired)

Parish Staff

The parish office is staffed Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and coordinates weddings, funerals, religious education, and hall use.

• Secretary: Rosemary Soriano
• Bookkeeper: Evelyn Sotelo
• Director of Religious Education (DRE): Azalia C. Reyes
• Custodians: Norma Ruiz and Gilberto Ruiz

Sacraments and Devotions

Alongside daily and Sunday Mass, the parish offers Saturday confessions, weekday and overnight adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, daily and Wednesday-evening Rosary and meditation, and coordination for anointing of the sick, funerals, and Communion to the sick. The Virgen de Guadalupe is also honored on the parish services page. Call the parish office at 210-661-5277 to arrange any of these services.

• Confessions: Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM, or by appointment
• Blessed Sacrament Adoration: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (contact Gloria Daniels, 210-371-0497)
• Nocturnal Adoration – Men: First Saturday 7:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• Nocturnal Adoration – Women: Fourth Saturday 7:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• Rosary & Meditation: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM
• Wednesday Meditation & Rosary: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Anointing of the Sick, Communion to the Sick, and Funerals by arrangement through the parish office

Ministries and Faith Formation

St. Joan of Arc sustains a large lay-led network of ministries that reflect its multicultural, bilingual character. Roughly a dozen active groups — including a Knights of Columbus council, women's and marriage groups, several Hispanic devotional societies, retreat movements, youth and young-adult ministries, ten choirs, and a quilters ministry — collaborate in moving the parish forward alongside a robust religious-education program.

• Knights of Columbus Council #10181
• Pastoral Council
• Council of Catholic Women
• Guadalupanas
• Familias Unidas
• Familias Rosario
• ACTS Retreat Groups
• Grupo Matrimonial de St. Joan of Arc
• Young Adults Ministry
• Youth Ministry and Cristo Joven
• Ten different choir groups
• Quilters ministry
• Religious Education (DRE: Azalia C. Reyes)

Contact and Visit

St. Joan of Arc welcomes visitors and is located at 2829 Ackerman Rd. on the east side of San Antonio in the city of Kirby. The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with phone, fax, and email options below.

• Address: 2829 Ackerman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219
• Office Phone: (210) 661-5277
• Fax: (210) 661-5735
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Website: http://stjoanofarckirby.org/