About St. John the Baptist · Fayetteville, Texas
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic parish in Fayetteville, Texas, serving the Catholic faithful of Fayette County and surrounding communities in the Diocese of Austin. Founded in 1870 by Czech and German immigrants, it is considered one of the famous Painted Churches of Texas, with interior murals painted in the 1870s by Moravian artist Ignaz Johann Berger. The parish runs a continuous Mass schedule in English, maintains a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, hosts the annual Kolache Festival and parish bazaar, and is linked with its mission chapel of St. Martin in Warrenton.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Nock Russell (current pastor per public listings)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers daily and weekly Mass in English, three weekly confession slots, and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel for round-the-clock prayer. It is also a living piece of Texas Catholic heritage: the 1870s Moravian-painted sanctuary draws visitors from across the country, and the parish still celebrates an annual Czech-style feast with polka Mass and thousands of homemade kolaches. With ministries for youth, vocations, pro-life work, the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, and Vacation Bible School, there are many ways for new parishioners to plug in and belong.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- 1st Friday: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Chapel (24 hours)
Our Story: Czech Heritage in Fayetteville
Founded in 1870 by Czech and German Catholic immigrants, St. John the Baptist has anchored the faith life of Fayetteville for more than 150 years. The parish's most famous chapter began when Rev. Joseph Chromcik arrived on Christmas Day 1872 to become the first Czech-speaking priest in Texas. He opened the Chromcik School in 1875, planted the Warrenton mission in 1886, and was remembered affectionately as 'Taticek.' The parish continues that legacy today through its Painted Church heritage, its Czech-style annual feast, and its outreach to surrounding communities.
- 1870: Sanctuary erected
- 1872: Rev. Joseph Chromcik arrives
- 1875: Chromcik School founded
- 1886: Warrenton mission established
- 1910: Fr. Chromcik dies
- 1911: New sanctuary built
- 1915: New two-story school
- 1964: Sisters of Divine Providence convent
- 1969: Current sanctuary built
Architecture & the Painted Church Murals
St. John the Baptist is counted among the celebrated Painted Churches of Texas. The original sanctuary was decorated in the 1870s by Ignaz Johann Berger, a Moravian painter whose religious frescoes are considered some of the finest examples of Central European religious folk art to be found outside Europe. The present-day sanctuary was erected in 1969, but visitors continue to experience the parish's distinctive heritage through the preserved decorative program and the wider church complex, which includes a 1964 Sisters of Divine Providence convent, a parish hall, and the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Information on preparation for Baptism, Marriage, First Reconciliation / First Communion, Confirmation, adult initiation (RCIA), and Anointing of the Sick is handled through the parish office at (979) 378-2277 or by email.
- Baptism
- Marriage
- First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Confirmation
- RCIA (adult initiation)
- Anointing of the Sick
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith formation for children and youth is provided through parish catechists, with a dedicated pathway for adults who feel called to teach the Catholic Faith. Junior High and High School Youth Ministry form a core part of parish life, alongside the annual Summer Vacation Bible School.
- Becoming a Catechist (training for teachers of youth)
- Junior High / High School Youth Ministry
- Summer Vacation Bible School
Adult Organizations & Outreach
St. John the Baptist hosts a strong network of lay organizations that anchor parish life and serve the wider community. These include long-standing women's and fraternal groups as well as ministries devoted to respect life and vocations awareness.
- Altar Society
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA)
- Knights of Columbus
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Vocation Awareness Ministry
St. Martin of Tours Chapel — Warrenton
The parish continues to care for St. Martin of Tours Chapel in Warrenton, a tiny chapel originally built in 1888 by Czech, German, and Polish Catholic families and reportedly the world's smallest Catholic church. Twelve wooden benches seat roughly twenty people, and many of the original families are buried in the adjacent cemetery. The chapel remains under the care of St. John the Baptist Parish.
- Founded 1886 as a mission of St. John the Baptist
- Chapel built 1888 from the original frame church
- Reportedly the world's smallest Catholic church
Annual Kolache Festival & Feast Day Celebration
Each year the parish hosts a much-loved Czech-style feast that doubles as a homecoming for alumni and former residents. The weekend opens Saturday with the sale of more than 200 dozen fresh-baked kolaches from the parish hall (301 Bell Street), followed on Sunday by a Mass with polka music and a parish bazaar with entertainment and activities for all ages. Past feast beneficiaries have included Hospice Brazos Valley.
- Polka Mass at 10:00 AM Sunday
- Kolaches available Saturday 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM and Sunday
- St. John's Recreation Hall, 301 Bell Street
- Beneficiary gifts to community causes (e.g., Hospice Brazos Valley)
Connect & Register
Newcomers can register as parishioners via the online Parish Registration Form on the parish website. The site also offers a downloadable 'Spiritual Bouquet' for the priest and posts Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections. The parish office can be reached by phone, mail, or email.
- Online Parish Registration Form
- Spiritual Bouquet download
- Bishop Barron's Reflections
- Office: (979) 378-2277 | [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/sjmfayetteville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Chromcik1872–1910
First Czech-speaking priest in Texas; arrived Christmas Day 1872; founded Chromcik School (1875) and Warrenton mission (1886); affectionately called 'Taticek.'
- Rev. John Vanicekearly 1900s–1910s
Oversaw construction of the 1911 sanctuary and the 1915 two-story school.
- Rev. Steve Sausercirca 2010s
Officiated the annual St. John the Baptist Feast Day Mass with polka music and led parish feast preparations.
- Rev. Nock Russellpresent
Listed as current pastor on church-directory services.