About St. Joseph · Alice, Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Alice, Texas, the county seat of Jim Wells County in South Texas. It belongs to the Diocese of Corpus Christi and worships in a bilingual English/Spanish community that celebrates Mass multiple times a day, including a daily 7:00 AM and 12:05 PM Mass Monday through Friday. The parish also ministers to St. Peter Mission in nearby Ben Bolt. According to the parish, its roots go back to a chapel of Sacred Heart in 1885, with the community becoming a mission in 1932 and being formally erected as a parish the same year.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos De La Rosa (Parish Administrator, beginning July 6, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a bilingual, multi-generational parish where daily Mass, perpetual adoration, and a robust OCIA (RCIA) process make Catholic life accessible at every stage of faith. The parish supports families with religious education, Vacation Bible School, the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters, the Crusillistas, and ministries spanning youth, the sick, social service, and evangelization. Welcoming new pastor Fr. Carlos De La Rosa in 2026 and rooted in the legacy of the Dominican Sisters, St. Joseph offers a real home for anyone seeking to deepen their walk with Christ in the Alice–Jim Wells County area.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (in the church)
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Holy Hour)
- By appointment
- Note: confessions are heard in the church; if a wedding or funeral is taking place, another priest will continue hearing confessions
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel (access code 2-0-1-8)
- Thursday Holy Hour & Adoration 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (with confessions available)
About St. Joseph Catholic Church, Alice, TX
St. Joseph Catholic Church is the historic Catholic parish of Alice, Texas — the seat of Jim Wells County in the heart of South Texas. A parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, St. Joseph worships in a vibrant bilingual community that gathers daily for the Eucharist and serves Catholics across Alice and the surrounding ranching and oil country. Beyond its main church on South Reynolds Street, the parish also ministers to St. Peter Mission in nearby Ben Bolt.
- Parish of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Bilingual parish (English & Spanish)
- Main church at 801 S. Reynolds St., Alice, TX 78332
- Also serves St. Peter Mission, Ben Bolt
History & Heritage
Catholic life in Alice is as old as the town itself. Settled predominantly by Catholic families from its earliest days, the community built a chapel of Sacred Heart in 1885, was formally recognized as a Catholic mission in 1932, and was established as a parish under the name St. Joseph the same year. The parish's identity was profoundly shaped for generations by the Dominican Sisters, whose convent stood as a place of prayer, teaching, and formation. After the Sisters' departure, their convent continued to serve the parish until 2025–2026, when the parish discerned, with the approval of Bishop Mario Avilés, to demolish it and build a new rectory.
- Chapel of Sacred Heart: 1885
- Established as a mission: 1932
- Established as a parish and named St. Joseph: 1932
- Served for generations by the Dominican Sisters
- Approved by Bishop Mario Avilés to build a new rectory on the former convent site
Alice: The Birth of a Metropolis
The parish's website preserves a historical essay titled 'Alice: The Birth of a Metropolis,' tracing how a small 1851 trading post in southwest Nueces County became the 'Hub of South Texas.' First called 'Collins,' the town was renamed 'Bandana,' then 'Kleberg,' and finally 'Alice' after Alice King Kleberg, wife of King Ranch patriarch Robert Kleberg. The arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway in 1886 and the discovery of the Alice Oil Field in 1938 transformed the community into a major inland cattle-shipping center and oil-services hub, and the Catholic Church grew with it.
- 1851 — Settlement founded as 'Collins'
- 1886 — San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway arrives
- April 17, 1938 — Alice Oil Field discovered by H. H. Howell
- Alice named for Alice King Kleberg of the King Ranch
- Known as 'The Hub of South Texas'
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is currently led by Parish Administrator Fr. Carlos De La Rosa, a native of Corpus Christi who grew up at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, was formed at Holy Trinity Seminary, and was ordained a priest on June 18, 2022 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. Fr. Carlos previously served at St. Pius X, St. John the Baptist, the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Newman Center, Most Precious Blood, and St. John Paul II Academy, and begins his ministry at St. Joseph on July 6, 2026. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Fernando Game. Lay staff keep the parish office running day to day.
- Rev. Carlos De La Rosa — Parish Administrator (begins July 6, 2026)
- Rev. Fernando Game — Parochial Vicar
- Susana Garza — Office / Rectory
- Norma R. Acuna — Secretary
- Violet G. Loney — Accounting
- Raquel Martinez — VBS Director / Religious Education
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Joseph is rooted in the parish's historic mission to catechize children, youth, and adults. The Religious Education office, directed in part by Raquel Martinez, hosts Vacation Bible School each summer at the St. Joseph's Youth Center for children entering 1st through 5th grade. The 2026 VBS is scheduled for July 6–10. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Vacation Bible School (July 6–10, 2026) at St. Joseph's Youth Center, 801 S. Reynolds
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Mondays 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- OCIA culminates at the Easter Vigil with Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist
- Religious Education directed by Raquel Martinez
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) is the formal process by which adults enter the Catholic Church. St. Joseph welcomes three groups into OCIA: those needing Baptism, Christians baptized in another tradition who wish to become Catholic, and Catholics seeking First Communion and/or Confirmation. Classes meet weekly on Mondays from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The journey includes the Scrutinies during Lent and culminates at the Easter Vigil, after which new Catholics continue a year of mystagogy as fully initiated members.
- OCIA classes: Mondays 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- For unbaptized adults, Christians from other traditions, and Catholics needing sacraments
- Scrutinies celebrated on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent
- Initiation at the Easter Vigil; mystagogy continues through the year
Parish Organizations & Ministries
St. Joseph's parish life is enriched by a range of lay organizations and devotional groups that meet regularly at the parish. Together they support the parish's mission in family life, social service, evangelization, and outreach to the sick and homebound, in keeping with the parish's own published mission statement.
- Knights of Columbus (officer meetings)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court #1770 (regular meetings)
- Crusillistas
- Religious Education / VBS team
- Social Service / Corporal Works of Mercy outreach
- Visitation of the sick and homebound
- Family Life, Evangelization, and Liturgical / Music ministries
Mission Statement
The published mission of St. Joseph's Catholic Church is 'the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ and the growth of its members in the divine life of the Lord.' The parish envisions this mission being lived out across eight principal areas of parish life.
- Liturgical Life — celebrating Christ's redeeming love
- Spiritual Life — a growing union with the Lord
- Family Life — Christian love lived in accord with Church teaching
- Religious Education — lifelong catechesis
- Evangelization — systematic outreach to proclaim the Gospel
- Social Service — the Corporal Works of Mercy (Matthew 25:31–40)
- Ecumenism & Interfaith relations
- Administration
Vacation Bible School 2026
St. Joseph's Religious Education program hosts Vacation Bible School each summer for children entering 1st through 5th grade. The 2026 VBS runs July 6–10 at the St. Joseph's Youth Center, 801 S. Reynolds, Alice, TX. The week is designed to help children explore Scripture, learn about God's love, and grow in friendship with Jesus through prayer, music, crafts, and uplifting activities.
- Dates: July 6–10, 2026
- Location: St. Joseph's Youth Center, 801 S. Reynolds
- For children entering 1st through 5th grade
- Director: Raquel Martinez
- Registration forms available online and at the parish office
The Ministerial Priesthood & Vocations
The parish website includes catechetical pages on the ministerial priesthood and on religious and consecrated life, explaining the difference between diocesan and religious priests, the meaning of Holy Orders, and the vocation of lay consecrated persons. Readers discerning a call are directed to the Diocese of Corpus Christi's Vocation Office for further guidance.
- Diocesan priests serve in obedience to the bishop of Corpus Christi
- Religious priests serve under their own superiors with the local bishop's permission
- Pages also cover Consecrated Virgins and lay consecrated life
- Discernment inquiries: Diocesan Vocation Office
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, and the office is open mornings and early afternoons Monday through Thursday with a half-day Friday. The church is located at the corner of Reynolds Street and Cactus Avenue, and the parish also serves the Mission Church of St. Peter in Ben Bolt.
- Address: 801 S. Reynolds St., Alice, TX 78332
- Phone: (361) 664-7551
- Fax: (361) 664-2388
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–12:00 PM & 1:00–4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- St. Peter Mission: Ben Bolt, TX