About St. John · Strawn, Texas
St. John Parish in Strawn, Texas is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Fort Worth with deep roots in the immigrant heritage of Palo Pinto County. Founded in 1912 as St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church amid the coal-mining boom that drew European and Mexican workers to the area, the church was rebuilt after a fire and renamed St. John in 1930. Today it is one of four linked parishes — together with St. Rita in Ranger, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cisco, and St. Francis Xavier in Eastland — served by a single pastoral team headquartered in Ranger.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. John
- Rector
- Rev. Maria Joseph Kiran Kumar Pudota, SAC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. John is a small-town parish where the Catholic tradition has been kept alive for more than a century — a place where faith has outlasted the coal mines and oil booms that originally drew its families. Joining St. John also means joining a four-parish Catholic family across Strawn, Ranger, Cisco, and Eastland, with regular Mass, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration each week and a single pastor and staff who know their people personally. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed to register at the parish office and to meet the pastor, Fr. Joseph Pudota, to be formally received into the community.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- 2nd Thursday (Monthly): 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- 2nd Thursday (Monthly): 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
History of St. John Parish, Strawn
St. John was established in 1912 as St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church during the coal-mining boom in Palo Pinto County. After a fire destroyed the original building, the church was rebuilt and rededicated under the name St. John in 1930. Generations of families descended from Czech, Italian, Irish, German, Polish, and Mexican immigrants who came to work the Strawn and Lyre mines have shaped the parish.
- Founded 1912 as St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
- Rebuilt after a fire and renamed St. John in 1930
- Heritage: Czechoslovakia, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Mexico
- Coal mines and oil boom of the early 1900s fueled growth
- Coal mines in Strawn finally closed in 1946, but the parish endured
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
St. John is served by a Pallottine priest who is the pastor of the four-parish family of Strawn, Ranger, Cisco, and Eastland. A small staff keeps the office running and welcomes visitors and new parishioners.
- Pastor: Rev. Maria Joseph Kiran Kumar Pudota, SAC
- Bookkeeper: Patricia Davis
- Secretary: Danielle Harper
- Pastoral emergency line (Fr. Joseph): 817-821-5821
- Office staff cell (Danielle Harper): 254-631-7484
Parish Office and Contact
Because St. John shares its pastoral team with three other parishes, the parish office is physically located in Ranger next to St. Rita's. The same phone line, email, and staff handle registrations, sacramental inquiries, and pastoral emergencies for all four churches.
- Parish Office: 1109 Blackwell Road, Ranger, TX 76470
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: 254-647-3163
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: 1109 Blackwell Road, Ranger, TX 76470
Becoming a Parishioner
Anyone wishing to join St. John — or any of the linked parishes of St. Rita, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, or St. Francis Xavier — can register online through the parish website or pick up a paper registration form at the back of the church. After registering, parishioners are invited to make an appointment to meet Fr. Joseph Pudota so he can personally welcome them to the parish.
- Online registration available via the parish website
- Paper registration forms available at the back of the church
- New parishioners encouraged to meet Fr. Joseph Pudota
- Registration line for questions: 254-647-3163
The Four-Parish Catholic Family
St. John Strawn is part of a single Catholic community serving the towns of Strawn, Ranger, Cisco, and Eastland under one pastor, one staff, and one parish office in Ranger. The four churches share a joint mission statement, joint schedules, and joint pastoral planning, including the Safe Environment program required by the Diocese of Fort Worth.
- St. John — Strawn (126 Hickory St.)
- St. Rita — Ranger (1109 Blackwell Rd.)
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary — Cisco (1106 Ave F)
- St. Francis Xavier — Eastland (800 S Halbryan St.)
- St. Boniface — Dodson Prairie (linked mission parish)
Safe Environment and Diocesan Programs
As a parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth, St. John participates in the diocese's Safe Environment program for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. The parish family also participates in the Annual Diocesan Appeal and other diocesan-wide initiatives.
- Diocese of Fort Worth Safe Environment compliance
- Annual Diocesan Appeal participation
- Joint Safe Environment coordination across all four parishes
Getting to St. John
St. John sits in the small town of Strawn in Palo Pinto County, just off Interstate 20. From I-20, take the Strawn exit, head north for five town streets, turn right, and the church is about 100 yards on the right at 126 Hickory Street.
- From I-20: take the Strawn exit
- North five town streets, then right
- Church is ~100 yards on the right
- On-site parking available
- Physical address: 126 Hickory Street, Strawn, TX 76475