About St. John Nepomucene · Robstown, Texas
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church is a historic parish in Robstown, Texas, within the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Founded by Czech-Moravian immigrant families in the early 20th century, it has served the Slavic Catholic community of the Coastal Bend for more than a century. The parish continues to celebrate the Mass in its 1937 church building — renovated in 2011 — and offers a daily Mass schedule, Reconciliation, Sunday Adoration, and preparation for all seven sacraments.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. John Nepomucene (John of Nepomuk, c. 1345–1393), Bohemian martyr and patron of confessors, bridges, and protection against water hazards; widely venerated by Czech-speaking Catholics.
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Wheelan, SOLT (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. John Nepomucene is a historic Robstown parish with deep Czech-Moravian roots, offering daily Mass in both the main church and chapel, weekend and Monday confessions, four hours of Sunday Eucharistic Adoration after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, and preparation for all seven sacraments. Parishioners are welcomed into a community that has celebrated the Eucharist continuously since 1934 in a church renovated in 2011, and that still honors its immigrant Slavic heritage. It is a place where the faithful can find reverent liturgy, frequent confession, Adoration, and sacramental preparation grounded in more than a century of Catholic life in the Coastal Bend.
Mass times at St. John Nepomucene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekends: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Monday: 6:30 p.m.–7:25 p.m. (per the Reconciliation page; the Mass Schedule page lists Monday 6:45–7:15)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Welcome to St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church
St. John Nepomucene is a historic Catholic parish in Robstown, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish worships at 603 N. 1st St. and serves Slavic-heritage Catholics and the wider Robstown community with daily Mass, Reconciliation, Sunday Eucharistic Adoration, and preparation for all seven sacraments.
- 603 N. 1st St., Robstown, TX 78380
- Phone: 361-933-1200
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Parish History
The parish traces its origin to Czech-Moravian immigrant families who settled in Robstown in 1907. Without a local church offering worship in their language, they were served in homes and nearby communities by Father Joseph Klobouk of St. Boniface in Corpus Christi. In 1924 they purchased a former Methodist building and named it for St. John Nepomucene, the beloved patron of Czech-speaking Catholics. The community was constituted as a parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1934, and the current church was built on this site in 1937.
- 1907 — Czech-Moravian families arrive in Robstown
- 1924 — First church (former Methodist building) purchased
- 1934 — Officially established as a parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- 1937 — Current church built for $17,504.39
- 1938 — Rectory added
- 1945 — Convent and school built near the church
- 1955 — First high-school graduating class (13 students)
- 1970 — Parish high school closes after 320+ graduates
- 1986 — Grades 1–8 close at the original site
- 2011 — Main church renovated
- 2015 — Texas Historical Commission marker erected
Father George Steven Scecina — First Resident Pastor
Newly ordained in 1934, Father George Steven Scecina was appointed the first resident pastor of St. John Nepomucene — a role he held for an extraordinary 49 years, until his death in 1988. He also simultaneously served as pastor of St. Frances of Rome Mission Parish in nearby Agua Dulce from 1934 to 1961. Under his leadership the parish built the 1937 church, the 1938 rectory, the 1945 convent and school, and sustained a K-12 Catholic education program for decades.
- Father Scecina served 1934–1988
- Co-pastor of St. Frances of Rome Mission, Agua Dulce (1934–1961)
- Built the 1937 church, 1938 rectory, and 1945 convent/school
The Seven Sacraments
St. John Nepomucene provides preparation for all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, quoting the Catechism (CCC 1113, 1210) on the centrality of the Eucharist and the sacraments in Christian life. Sacramental preparation pages are linked from the parish website for Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, and the others.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
Marriage Preparation
The parish's marriage page cites Matthew 19:5-6 and instructs couples to meet with the priest at least six months prior to preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. Additional marriage guidelines specific to St. John Nepomucene are available on the parish website.
- Couples must meet with the priest 6 months prior
- Matthew 19:5-6 referenced
- Parish-specific marriage guidelines published online
Baptism
The Baptism page quotes John 3:5 and Matthew 28:19, and directs families to the parish office to schedule the sacrament.
- Schedule through the parish office
- John 3:5 and Matthew 28:19 referenced
Devotions
The parish website prominently features the Fatima Prayer as part of its devotional life.
- Fatima Prayer (O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy)
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parishioners and visitors are invited to worship at 603 N. 1st St., Robstown, TX 78380, and to call the parish office at 361-933-1200 for more information about Mass times, sacraments, or parish life.
- Address: 603 N. 1st St., Robstown, TX 78380
- Phone: 361-933-1200
- Website: https://stjohnnrtx.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Kloboukearly 1900s–1920s
Pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Corpus Christi; traveled to serve the Czech-Moravian Catholic families of Robstown in homes and nearby communities before they had a church.
- Father George Steven Scecina1934–1988
First resident pastor; served 49 years. Also pastor of St. Frances of Rome Mission in Agua Dulce 1934–1961. Oversaw construction of the 1937 church, rectory (1938), convent and school (1945), and the parish high school that graduated 320+ students before closing in 1970.