About St. John the Evangelist · Luling, Texas
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish in Luling, Texas, established in 1879 and serving a small Central Texas community of roughly 5,000 located about 42 miles south of Austin and 62 miles east of San Antonio. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Austin and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education for children, a youth group, and a robust calendar of parish organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Guadalupanas, and the local St. Vincent de Paul conference. A welcoming bilingual parish, St. John's continues to serve as the spiritual home for Catholic families in Luling and the surrounding Caldwell County area.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Howard Goertz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in the heart of Luling, with two Sunday Masses (one in Spanish, one in English), daily weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, and Confession offered before every Sunday Mass and the Saturday Vigil. Parishioners can grow in faith through religious education for children, a junior high and high school youth group, RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic, and active lay organizations such as the Knights of Columbus Council 8190, Guadalupanas, the CRE Catechists, and the St. Vincent de Paul Luling Conference. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays and Sunday breakfasts hosted by various ministries make it easy to plug into parish life.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM (before the Saturday Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (before the Sunday Spanish Mass)
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (before the Sunday English Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Welcome to St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is the Catholic parish serving Luling, Texas and the surrounding area within the Diocese of Austin. The parish welcomes visitors, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the faith, with prominent links on its website for becoming Catholic (RCIA), registering as a parishioner, baptism, marriage preparation, religious education, youth ministry, and anointings and funerals.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's faith-formation program supports Catholic families in passing on the faith to their children. Registration for Religious Education classes is available through the parish, along with sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Religious Education (RE) for children — registration available through the parish office
- Junior High and High School Youth Group
- RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic
- Daily readings linked under the 'Faith Formation' tab on the parish website
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. John the Evangelist has an active network of lay organizations that serve the parish and the wider Luling community. These groups host parish events such as the well-attended monthly Sunday breakfasts, coordinate charitable outreach, and provide liturgical service.
- Knights of Columbus Council 8190
- Guadalupanas
- St. Vincent de Paul — Luling Conference
- CRE Catechists
- Liturgical ministers (scheduled monthly through the Ministries Schedule)
- Youth Ministry
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments, with information and registration readily available on the parish website. Families are encouraged to contact the parish office for details and scheduling.
- Baptism — preparation for infants and young children
- Marriage Preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Parishioner Registration for new families
Parish Staff
St. John the Evangelist is served by a small, dedicated staff and a roster of lay ministers who keep the parish running day to day.
- Pastor — Rev. Howard Goertz
- Deacon — Paul A. Easterling
- Parish Secretary — Patricia Gonzales
- Director of Religious Education (DRE) — Marilyn Williams
- Youth Ministry — Haurora Ordonez
- Parish Custodian — Gloria Riojas
- Website Administrator — Eric I. Lugo
Stewardship & Online Giving
Parishioners and visitors can support the mission of St. John the Evangelist through online giving, made available via the parish website. The parish also benefits from regular fundraisers, including the Sunday breakfasts hosted by various ministries throughout the year.
- Online Giving via the parish website
- Monthly Sunday breakfasts hosted by parish organizations
About Luling & the Diocese
Luling is a small Central Texas community of roughly 5,000 residents, located about 42 miles south of Austin and 62 miles east of San Antonio. St. John the Evangelist is part of the Diocese of Austin, which serves Central Texas Catholics across many counties. The parish's bilingual ministry reflects the heritage and demographics of the area.
- Diocese: Diocese of Austin
- Rite: Roman Rite
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Location: 500 East Travis Street, Luling, TX 78648