About St. John the Evangelist · San Marcos, Texas
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-generational Roman Catholic parish in San Marcos, Texas, serving over 2,000 families and growing. The parish describes itself as a community of faithful Christians who generously share their time, talent, and treasure in service of God, gathering to worship, celebrate, educate, and evangelize. Located at 624 E. Hopkins Street in the Diocese of Austin, the parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, religious education for youth, marriage preparation, a charismatic prayer group, and a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Victor Mayorga
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a bilingual Catholic home with Mass in English and Spanish, a long-standing presence in San Marcos dating to 1883, and a full range of ministries for families, youth, and adults — including altar serving, altar server training, marriage preparation (Together in God's Love), a charismatic prayer group, and faith formation grounded in eucharistic spirituality. With over 2,000 families and a multi-cultural, multi-generational identity, the parish welcomes newcomers into a community that emphasizes worship, formation, evangelization, and service.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursdays 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church describes itself as a community of faithful Christians who generously share their time, talent, and treasure in service of God. The parish is multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-generational, gathering to worship, celebrate, educate, and evangelize. Serving San Marcos since 1883, the community shares in what the parish calls the 'one, holy, catholic, apostolic faith of the Church established by Jesus in 33 A.D.'
- Founded 1883 in San Marcos, Texas
- Serves over 2,000 families
- Part of the Diocese of Austin (Roman Rite)
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish publishes its Mass schedule on the official website (sanmarcoscatholic.org/calendar) with weekend and weekday celebrations in English, plus a Sunday Mass in Spanish. Times reflected here are taken directly from the parish's published schedule.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM (English); 12:00 PM (Spanish)
- Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 AM (English)
Marriage Preparation — 'Together in God's Love'
'Together in God's Love' is the parish's weekend marriage preparation series, which focuses on the Sacrament of Marriage as a visible sign of the Holy Trinity and the relationship of Christ to the Church. The series includes talks on faith, communication, sexuality, and stewardship in the context of a Sacramental Marriage, with couples engaging in conversation, self-reflection, and journaling. The weekend fulfills the Diocese of Austin premarital requirements for formal marriage preparation and provides the one-hour introduction to Natural Family Planning.
- Satisfies Diocese of Austin formal marriage preparation requirements
- Includes one-hour Natural Family Planning introduction
- Upcoming session info available via the Diocese of Austin website
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports religious education for youth through a Life Teen-style program built around seven Core Values: Eucharistic Spirituality, Evangelization, Primary Vocation, Authenticity, Affirmation, Love, and Joy. The program emphasizes encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, witness beyond the parish walls, affirmation of each teen, and the joy of the Christian life. Families are invited to contact the Religious Education Director or Youth Coordinator for assistance.
- Life Teen Core Values framework
- Eucharist-centered spiritual formation
- Evangelization outreach to teens
- Contact: Religious Education Director / Youth Coordinator
Liturgical Ministries — Altar Servers
Altar Servers assist the Priest and Deacon during liturgies at St. John the Evangelist. The ministry involves one major training session per year, plus seasonal/special training on an as-needed basis. Servers are typically scheduled once a month, though they are encouraged to serve as often as openings allow. The ministry is open to both males and females from 4th grade (or age 10) through High School, with the expectation that servers have already received First Holy Communion and continue to receive the Eucharist whenever they participate.
- Open to students in 4th grade through High School
- Monthly scheduled service with encouragement to serve more often
- Contact: Liturgy Director
Charismatic Prayer Group
The parish hosts a Charismatic Prayer Group whose mission is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, helping the baptized open themselves more fully to the Spirit's movement in their lives. The group gathers weekly to help one another grow in the Holy Spirit through prayer, study, and service. The group's purpose is summed up in the words, 'Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a life-transforming experience of the love of God the Father poured into one's heart by the Holy Spirit.'
- Weekly prayer and study gatherings
- Open to anyone seeking a deeper life in the Holy Spirit
- Ministry leaders: Michael and Joan Guzaldo
- Reflects the charisms of 1 Corinthians 12:7–11
Parish Registration & Community Life
St. John the Evangelist invites households to register as parishioners in order to enjoy the benefits of parish membership. As the parish notes on its registration page, it is 'a San Marcos church that has been serving the area since 1883,' and welcomes new families to the community.
- Online registration available via the parish website
- On-line giving also offered through the parish
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Rev. Victor Mayorga as Pastor, as named on the parish's joinmychurch listing and parish directories. A Spanish-language 'Carta del Pastor' page on the parish website also lists Rev. Brion Zarsky as Pastor, suggesting continuity of pastoral leadership across bilingual communications. The parish office can be reached at (512) 353-8969.
- Pastor: Rev. Victor Mayorga
- Contact: (512) 353-8969
- Spanish-language pastoral letter published on the parish site
Diocese & Canonical Identity
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is listed by GCatholic (ID 33643) and the Diocese of Austin Parish Finder as a parish (Roman Rite) of the Diocese of Austin, located at 624 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, Texas 78666.
- Diocese of Austin
- Roman Rite (Latin Catholic)
- Listed in the Diocese of Austin Parish Finder
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Brion Zarsky
Listed as Pastor on the parish's 'Carta del Pastor' (Spanish pastor's letter) page on sanmarcoscatholic.org