About St. John Paul II University Parish · Denton, Texas
St. John Paul II University Parish is the first university parish of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, located at 909 McCormick Street in Denton, Texas, on the south side of the University of North Texas (UNT) campus. It serves the Catholic students, faculty, alumni, and staff of UNT, Texas Woman's University (TWU), and North Central Texas College, while also welcoming about 250 registered local parishioners. Established on July 1, 2012 by then-Bishop Kevin Vann, the parish grew out of the earlier Catholic Campus Center known simply as 'the C,' which had ministered to college Catholics in Denton since the 1980s. Today the parish combines daily Mass, three Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, confession, a robust campus ministry with full-time missionaries, Bible studies, retreats, and a wide array of parish organizations for students, young adults, and Denton-area families.
- Established
- 2012
- Patron
- St. John Paul II (Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła, Pope 1978–2005)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Francis, TOR (Pastoral Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. John Paul II University Parish is the spiritual home for Catholics at the University of North Texas, Texas Woman's University, and North Central Texas College — a place built specifically to walk with college students through the most formational years of their lives. Daily Mass, three Sunday Masses, weekly confession, and Eucharistic Adoration (especially Thursday all-day Adoration during the academic year) are all designed to give young Catholics daily access to the sacraments. Beyond the sanctuary, full-time campus missionaries lead five to nine weekly Bible studies, feed roughly 70 students each Wednesday night, run retreats like the Bread of Life Retreat, and meet one-on-one with students — a ministry model that has formed hundreds of young adults. Local parishioners and families anchor the same community through parish groups such as the Catholic Daughters, the Knights of Columbus Council #16393, the COR men's group, Altar Society, Cenacle, liturgical ministries (usher, lector, altar server), and Religious Education / OCIA.
Mass times at St. John Paul II University Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM (academic year only — college-student focused)
- Thursday 12:45 PM – 8:00 PM (academic year only — college-student focused, August to early May)
Parish Identity and Campus Ministry
St. John Paul II University Parish exists to be a 'second home' for the Catholic students, faculty, alumni, and staff of the University of North Texas, Texas Woman's University, and North Central Texas College, while also serving about 250 registered local parishioners. Its mission statement — 'Our parish community welcomes all, supports campus ministry, and forms saints for the world' — captures the dual identity: a full parish and a vital campus apostolate in one. Full-time parish-based campus missionaries regularly meet one-on-one with students, run five to nine weekly Bible studies per semester, and host a Wednesday community night that feeds around 70 students. Dances, campfires, service projects, spiritual retreats, prayer nights, and visits from friars and nuns round out the social and devotional life.
- Serves UNT, TWU, and NCTC
- Around 250 registered local families
- Five to nine weekly Bible studies per semester
- Wednesday community night feeding ~70 students
- Full-time parish-based campus missionaries
- Bread of Life Retreat and other student retreats
History: From 'the C' to a University Parish
Catholic ministry at UNT dates to the 1980s, when the Catholic Center — 'the C' — served students under visiting and Marianist priests including the late Fr. Bob Lewandowski (campus chaplain 1990–2003) and Fr. Eugene Sweeney of St. Mark Parish. On July 1, 2012, Bishop Kevin Vann elevated this apostolate into Blessed John Paul II Parish, the first university parish in the Diocese of Fort Worth, and appointed Diocesan Vocations Director Fr. Kyle Walterscheid as founding pastor. The parish was renamed St. John Paul II following the pope's canonization on April 27, 2014.
- 1980s — Catholic Center ('the C') founded on the UNT campus
- 1990–2003 — Fr. Bob Lewandowski serves as campus chaplain
- July 1, 2012 — Bishop Kevin Vann establishes Blessed John Paul II Parish
- 2014 — Renamed St. John Paul II after canonization
- Founding pastor: Fr. Kyle Walterscheid
Building the New Church (2012–2020)
Fr. Walterscheid recognized from the start that the original building could not hold the growing community. Working with business manager Julie Garrison, the parish spent four years raising $1.9 million through student-led Christmas cantatas, dinners, dances, raffles, and booths at German Fest and Taste of Poland. A capital campaign launched in December 2016 added another $1 million. Throughout this season, Fr. Walterscheid drove a portable altar and tabernacle between three campus locations, celebrating Sunday Mass on UNT and TWU campuses for 380 consecutive weekends. On October 12–13, 2019, more than 100 parishioners filled the new 10,400-square-foot church, and Bishop Michael Olson consecrated the altar and solemnly dedicated the building on February 15, 2020.
- $1.9 million raised over four years of community fundraisers
- December 2016 capital campaign adds $1 million
- First Mass in new church: October 12–13, 2019
- Solemn dedication by Bishop Olson: February 15, 2020
- 10,400 sq ft building — five times the original
Stained Glass: The Doctors of the Church
On August 28, 2022, Cavallini Stained Glass Studios installed more than ten stained-glass windows designed by David Gardiner. Fr. Walterscheid chose to depict the Doctors of the Church along the nave aisle leading to Communion — a deliberate visual catechesis to remind students that the Church's greatest intellectual saints are at least the equal of their university professors. Two rose windows complete the program: one of the Lamb of God with the seven seals from the Book of Revelation, and one of Jesus the Good Shepherd that illuminates at night to greet students walking past on McCormick Street.
- Cavallini Stained Glass Studios; designer David Gardiner
- Installed August 28, 2022
- Windows: St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gregory the Great, St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis de Sales, St. Leo the Great, St. Alphonsus Liguori
- Rose window 1: Lamb of God with the seven seals (Revelation)
- Rose window 2: Good Shepherd, illuminated at night
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Parish life at St. John Paul II blends traditional Catholic organizations with ministries built for young adults. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Knights of Columbus Council #16393 anchor the family side of the parish; Liturgical Ministries train ushers, lectors, and altar servers for the sanctuary. Spiritual formation groups include Cenacle, COR (a men's prayer and fraternity group), Altar Society, and Religious Education / OCIA for adults entering the Church. The Campus Ministry side layers on top, with full-time missionaries, weekly Bible studies, retreats, and one-on-one discipleship.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA)
- Knights of Columbus Council #16393 (Chaplain: Rev. Jose Francis, TOR)
- Liturgical Ministries — ushers, lectors, altar servers
- Cenacle
- COR men's group (contact Greg Pyle, 940-453-0716)
- Altar Society
- Religious Education / OCIA (RCIA)
- Campus Ministry Wednesday Night Meal
Sacraments and Faith Formation
The parish prepares Catholics of all ages for the seven sacraments. OCIA (formerly RCIA) walks adults and older students through the process of entering the Catholic Church, while ongoing Religious Education supports children and youth. Marriage preparation begins by contacting the parish office; families needing Anointing of the Sick or funeral rites can call the office at 940-566-0004. Reconciliation is available weekly on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA for adults
- Funeral rites through the parish office
Spanish-Language and Cultural Devotions
Alongside the primarily English schedule, the parish hosts a Spanish-language weekly devotion: 'Reparación al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús,' held every Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM as reparation for all priests in the world. The parish also celebrates an African Heritage Lunch after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass in the parish hall, reflecting the diversity of the UNT and TWU student body.
- Reparación al Sagrado Corazón — Fri 9:00–11:00 AM (Spanish)
- African Heritage Lunch — after 11:00 AM Sunday Mass
Parish Staff and Contacts
Day-to-day operations are led by Pastoral Administrator Rev. Jose Francis, TOR (a Franciscan friar of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance), with Robert Black serving as Business Manager and Sam Macaraeg as Head Campus Missionary. Fr. Kyle Walterscheid continues to be honored as founding pastor. The parish office can be reached at 940-566-0004 (extension 110 for Campus Ministry) and [email protected].
- Rev. Jose Francis, TOR — Pastoral Administrator
- Robert Black — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Sam Macaraeg — Head Campus Missionary ([email protected])
- Fr. Kyle Walterscheid — Founding Pastor (now former pastor)
- Parish office: 940-566-0004, [email protected]
Support and Giving
Operating the campus ministry alone costs roughly $150,000 per year, much of it fundraised by the campus missionaries each summer. Though the parish has around 250 registered families, growth of the campus outreach depends on parents, alumni, and other benefactors. Donations can be made online through the parish website, by check payable to 'St. John Paul II University Parish' (memo: Campus Ministry), or via qualified charitable distributions and appreciated assets — contact Robert Black at [email protected] or 940-566-0004 to arrange those gifts.
- Annual campus ministry budget: ~$150,000
- Online giving via jp2denton.org
- Checks payable to 'St. John Paul II University Parish'
- QCDs and appreciated assets accepted — contact Robert Black
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Kyle Walterscheid2012 – c. 2022/2023
Founding pastor. Previously Diocesan Vocations Director for six years. Named first pastor by Bishop Kevin Vann when the parish was established July 1, 2012. Led the seven-year fundraising campaign and construction of the new church building. Personally transported a portable altar and tabernacle to celebrate Sunday Mass on UNT and TWU campuses for 380 weekends. Chose the Doctors of the Church motif for the stained-glass windows installed in 2022.
- Rev. Jose Francis, TORPresent (Pastoral Administrator)
Member of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance (TOR). Listed by the Diocese of Fort Worth as Pastor / Pastoral Administrator. Serves as Chaplain of the parish's Knights of Columbus Council #16393.