About St. John the Evangelist - Hondo · Hondo, Texas
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish in Hondo, Texas — the county seat of Medina County — serving under the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The Catholic community of Hondo traces back to 1892, when Father Mattias Metzinger, an assistant pastor from nearby D'Hanis, built the first church; the historic 1912 seco-brick building that succeeded it (now the parish hall) was designed by San Antonio architect Frederick B. Gaenslen and is recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. Today the parish is led by Fr. John Cyriac, MSFS (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Lajarus Soreng, MSFS, and Deacon Mark Urby, and its life centers on the Eucharist, the Word, faith formation for children and adults, and a wide range of lay ministries including OCIA, ACTS retreats, St. Vincent de Paul, the Guadalupana Society, and the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. John Cyriac, MSFS
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. John's is a bilingual Catholic family in the heart of Hondo that welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners — one of its Sunday Masses is celebrated entirely in Spanish. The parish offers daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction, Saturday confessions, and a full sacramental life (baptism, marriage, quinceañera, funerals, anointing of the sick). For those wanting to grow, there are OCIA (adult initiation), ACTS retreats for men and women, Bible study, a youth ministry, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, the Guadalupana Society, and a Religious Education program for children — all supported by a hardworking Monday-night Bingo that funds Faith Formation.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist - Hondo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 5:00 PM
- Thursday — after morning Mass (let Fr. know in advance)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday — in the Chapel after 8:00 AM Mass
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — 10:00 AM
- Benediction — 10:30 AM
- Anointing of the Sick — last Thursday of the month, following the Divine Mercy Chaplet, right before Benediction
Parish Overview & Mission
St. John the Evangelist is a bilingual Catholic parish in Hondo, Texas (Medina County), under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Its published Mission Statement reads: 'St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a united community empowered by the Holy Spirit by modeling ourselves on Christ in sharing our heritage, preparing for our future and promoting Christian values through service to God and neighbor.' Pastor Fr. John Cyriac, MSFS, opens every issue of the parish communications with a challenge to 'help one person in a year to experience God in their life.'
History of the Parish
The Catholic community of Hondo grew out of the Alsatian-immigrant parish of St. Louis in D'Hanis. After Hondo became the Medina County seat, Father Mattias Metzinger — assistant pastor at D'Hanis — built the first St. John the Evangelist church in 1892. The handsome 1912 brick church that followed was designed by San Antonio architect Frederick B. Gaenslen, built by contractor Alfred R. Wottlin under Rev. J. J. Meyers, and is today a recorded Texas Historic Landmark. It served as the worship space until the present sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Stephen Leven on September 21, 1969. The 1912 building was rededicated as the parish hall in 1972.
- 1892 — first church built by Fr. Mattias Metzinger; first baptism: Lawrence Earl Patterson, Dec. 8, 1892.
- 1893 — first Catholic school opened by the Sisters of Divine Providence of Castroville.
- 1912 — second church (seco brick) completed; designed by Fred Bowen Gaeshen / Frederick B. Gaenslen.
- 1920 — Catholic school reopens in the old rectory after the 1894 diphtheria closure.
- 1924 — Sisters of the Holy Ghost take over the school.
- Dec. 8, 1968 — present church blessed at noon.
- Sep. 21, 1969 — present church dedicated by Bishop Stephen Leven; paid-off note burned before parishioners.
- 1972 — old 1912 church rededicated as parish hall; Catholic school closed.
Architecture & Historic Landmark
The 1912 building is a small basilican-plan church of seco brick in the Romanesque Revival style, with round arches over the doors and windows, tripartite windows, and a corbeled brick cornice along the gabled façade; wooden trusses carry the interior ceiling. SAH Archipedia calls it 'one of Gaenslen's smaller designs' but a 'well-detailed' one. It is recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark and is the parish hall today.
Clergy, Staff & Councils
The parish is led by Fr. John Cyriac, MSFS (Pastor), assisted by Fr. Lajarus Soreng, MSFS (Parochial Vicar) and Deacon Mark Urby. Patti Graff serves as Secretary/Office Manager and Joanne Bowker as Bookkeeper; the custodial team includes Genoveva Medina, Tony Ortiz, and Alma Garcia.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Rhonda Camacho, Genevieve Flores, Dave Hubalik Sr., Rose Mary Mares, David Hubalik Jr., Jonathan Velasquez, Marie Zeal.
- Finance Council — Kim Schoellman, Diane Cheney, Robert Knight, Stephen Long, Rey Bernal.
- Religious Education — RE Coordinator Julie Urby; Office Clerk Kristopher Cardenaz; OCIA Coordinator Mary Jo Peters.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education (RE) Office serves children and adults of the parish. RE Office hours are Mon/Tues/Thurs 10 AM–6 PM and Wed 10 AM–7 PM (closed daily 12–1 PM), with phone 830-741-2284. Adult formation runs through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — the parish's name for the RCIA process), and a Monday-night Bingo underwrites the program; no child pays a RE registration fee.
- OCIA / Christian Initiation — Coordinator Mary Jo Peters; inquiry form available on the parish site.
- Monday Night Bingo — 6 PM to 10 PM; volunteers needed (one Monday a month); register at txbingo.org and complete Archdiocesan Safe Environment (VIRTUS) training.
- Confirmation 2026 — recently celebrated.
ACTS Retreats
ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) is one of the parish's signature formation programs, with separate Men's and Women's retreat weekends. The Women's 2026 retreat is scheduled for August 6–9, 2026; nominations are open for the Men's ACTS Director for 2027.
- Officers — Facilitator Lorraine Lopez; Co-Facilitator Tony Ortiz; Financial Coordinator Audrey Garza; Communications Coordinator Stephen Wilson.
- Retreat Support — Roland Deleon, Jeanie Gomez.
- Music & Events — John Wheaton, Mille Theis.
- Spiritual Coordinators — Larry Huesser, Linda Cote.
- Retreat Supply — Bobby Ibarra, Lisa Lilie, Luis Ramos.
- Teen ACTS — Coordinator Christine Ortega.
- Pastor's Liaison — Mark Urby (non-voting).
Youth Ministry
The parish youth ministry is led by Christine Ortega and invites young people to a daily 9:31 PM prayer: '1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory Be,' praying for peace, unity and growth in the parish. The verse anchors the prayer in Acts 9:31 — 'Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened.'
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. John's supports a broad network of lay-led ministries, including service, spiritual, cultural, and outreach organizations. The Spanish-speaking Guadalupana Society keeps Marian devotion alive, while St. Vincent de Paul carries out works of charity under the parish name.
- Altar Society — Ellen Schueling.
- Guadalupana Society — Rosa Garcia.
- St. John's Historical Association — Renae McNiel.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Linda Fillinger.
- Knights of Columbus — Tony Ortiz.
- Church Environment — Linda Fohn, Michele Mechler.
- Outdoor Environment — Garland Bader, Linda Ulbrich, Linda Fohn, Randy Graff.
- Ministry for Homebound & Nursing Home — English: Diane Mann, Karen Moos; Spanish: Lydia Villarreal, Norma Gutierrez, Diane Ybarra.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms require a Pre-Baptism Class on the third Sunday of the month at 2:00 PM in the Religious Education Building (followed by scheduling with the Parish Office). Couples must contact the Pastor at least six months before a wedding; Quinceañera candidates must be enrolled in and attending RE classes and meet with the priest. Anointing of the Sick is offered on the last Thursday of the month after the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Contact, Office & Parish Hall Rental
The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at 2102 Avenue J, Hondo, TX 78861. Phone 830-741-2236; Fax 830-426-3339. The parish hall (the historic 1912 building) is available for rental; inquiries go through Tony Ortiz at 830-931-4683.
- Address — 2102 Avenue J, Hondo, TX 78861.
- Phone — 830-741-2236.
- Fax — 830-426-3339.
- Office Hours — Mon–Thu 9 AM – 4 PM.
- Parish Hall Rental — Tony Ortiz, 830-931-4683.
Communications & Giving
The parish maintains an active communications presence: a website, a printed bulletin (submissions due Monday at noon for the upcoming weekend), a July newsletter referenced on the home page, FlockNotes e-mail sign-up, online giving, and a Facebook page under the name 'St John's Catholic Church - Hondo.' VIRTUS Safe Environment training is required of all adult volunteers.
- Website — stjohnshondo.com.
- Bulletin — published weekly; download link on the parish site.
- FlockNotes — parish e-mail newsletter sign-up.
- Online Giving — linked from the parish home page.
- VIRTUS — Archdiocese of San Antonio Safe Environment training (required for RE/Bingo volunteers).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. J. Meyers
First resident pastor; commuted from D'Hanis by horse and buggy during the construction of the 1912 brick church.
- Fr. Mattias Metzinger1892
Assistant pastor from D'Hanis who built the original 1892 wood-frame church that preceded the present sanctuary.
- Bishop Stephen Leven1969
Dedicated the present (third) church on September 21, 1969.