About St. Joseph · Alice, Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Alice, Texas, the county seat of Jim Wells County in South Texas. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Corpus Christi and worships at the corner of South Reynolds Street and Cactus Avenue, where Bishop Mariano S. Garriga dedicated the present church on October 18, 1953. Its roots go back to a Sacred Heart chapel built in 1885; the community was formally established as a Catholic mission in 1932 and erected as the parish of St. Joseph the same year. It is currently led by Parish Administrator Rev. Carlos De La Rosa (beginning July 6, 2026), with Fr. Fernando Game as Parochial Vicar, and is supported by the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters Court #1770, the Crusillistas, ACTS CORE, and an active OCIA (formerly RCIA) process.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- St. Joseph (the parish is named for St. Joseph, foster-father of Jesus and spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos De La Rosa (Parish Administrator, begins July 6, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a bilingual, multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of Alice that makes Catholic life accessible at every stage of faith — daily Mass in English and Spanish, a weekly Thursday Holy Hour with Adoration and Confessions, Saturday confession from 1:30–3:30 PM, and a full sacramental and formation program. Families are supported through religious education, Vacation Bible School, a robust OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) process, and parish groups like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters Court #1770 (St. Jude Thaddeus), the Crusillistas, ACTS CORE, and a baptism class that meets monthly. Rooted in nearly a century of Dominican faith formation and currently in a season of renewal — including a new pastor in 2026 and a new rectory rising on the site of the historic Sisters' convent — it offers a real home for anyone seeking to deepen their walk with Christ in the Alice and Jim Wells County area.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (Reconciliation in the church)
- Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Holy Hour and Adoration)
- By appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Holy Hour with Adoration and Confessions, followed by Crusillistas meeting)
Parish History
Catholic life in Alice began with the building of a Sacred Heart chapel in 1885. On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity in 1932, the mission was elevated to the parish of St. Joseph through a generous gift from Mrs. Alice Smith, and the first pastors — Fr. Alejandro Primo and Fr. Macario López — were followed by Fr. Ángel Álvarez, under whose tenure Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel was blessed by Bishop Ledvina in 1940. The present church and rectory were begun in 1952, blessed on November 16 of that year, and dedicated on October 18, 1953 by Bishop Mariano S. Garriga. From 1931 until 1986 the Dominican Fathers and Sisters staffed the parish; Bishop René Gracida installed diocesan priests on May 1, 1986. The parish is now in a season of renewal under Bishop Mario Avilés and a new pastor in 2026.
- 1885 — Sacred Heart chapel built
- 1932 — Parish of St. Joseph erected (Feast of the Most Holy Trinity)
- 1936–1952 — Fr. Ángel Álvarez serves; Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel blessed in 1940
- 1948 — Bishop Ledvina encourages Fr. Juan Zabala, O.P. to plan a new church
- 1952 — Construction Committee formed; ground blessing November 16, 1952
- 1953 — Present church dedicated by Bishop Garriga on October 18, 1953
- May 1, 1986 — Bishop Gracida releases Dominican Fathers; diocesan priests installed
- 2025–2026 — Convent demolition and new rectory approved by Bishop Mario Avilés
- July 6, 2026 — Fr. Carlos De La Rosa begins as Parish Administrator
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Joseph is a bilingual, multi-generational parish where daily Mass, perpetual adoration on Thursdays, and a robust OCIA process make Catholic life accessible at every age. Beyond the OCIA, parish life is shaped by Religious Education and Vacation Bible School, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters Court #1770 (St. Jude Thaddeus), the Crusillistas prayer group, ACTS CORE, the Liturgical Team, and parish councils that steward both spiritual life and temporal goods.
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA)
- Religious Education / Vacation Bible School
- Knights of Columbus — regular and officer meetings
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — St. Jude Thaddeus Court #1770
- Crusillistas (weekly Thursday meetings)
- ACTS CORE Team
- Liturgical Team / Pastoral Team / Finance Team / Staff
- Baptism Preparation Class
- Visits to the sick and homebound ministry
- Social service and evangelization (parish vision rooted in the Corporal Works of Mercy — Matthew 25:31–40)
Dominican Sisters and the Convent Legacy
For generations the parish was blessed by the presence and ministry of the Dominican Sisters, whose charism of teaching, prayer, and service made them pillars of faith formation for Alice families — guiding children in catechism, strengthening liturgical worship through music and prayer, supporting the clergy, and nurturing Catholic identity. After the Sisters' departure, their convent continued to serve the parish until 2025–2026, when both the Pastoral Council and the Finance Council — with the approval of Bishop Mario Avilés — discerned that the aging structure could no longer adequately serve the clergy or parish mission, and demolition began to make way for a new rectory.
- Dominican Sisters served the parish for generations
- Convent served as a place of prayer, teaching, and formation
- Demolition and new-rectory project approved by Bishop Mario Avilés (2025–2026)
Sacraments
Information about the parish's seven sacraments is shared through preparation programs and the bulletin. Baptism is preceded by a class (typically the Monday before the baptism); the parish publishes guidance on the role of godparents (must be at least 16, fully initiated Catholics, no more than two, ordinarily one male and one female). Anointing of the Sick follows the 7:00 AM and 12:05 PM weekday Masses on First Fridays, with a communal celebration scheduled during major feasts. Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and Reconciliation are prepared through the parish (Marriage details by inquiry to the office).
- Baptism (with required prep class)
- Confirmation and First Communion (through Religious Education / OCIA)
- Reconciliation (Sat 1:30–3:30 PM; Thu 6:00–7:00 PM)
- Anointing of the Sick (First Fridays & communal celebrations)
- Marriage (by appointment with the parish)
About Alice, Texas
The city of Alice — county seat of Jim Wells County in South Texas — is named for Alice King Kleberg, wife of Robert Kleberg of the King Ranch. The settlement, originally called Collins, passed through the names 'Bandana' (after the Cleveland–Thurman Red Bandana) and 'Kleberg' before the U.S. Post Office settled on 'Alice' in the early 1900s. Alice was incorporated in 1904, became the seat of the newly created Jim Wells County on March 11, 1911, and grew dramatically with the 1938 Alice Oil Field discovery by E.H. Howell. The Texas-Mexican Railway (built 1877) and the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway (1886) made Alice a shipping crossroads known as 'The Hub of South Texas.'
- Named for Alice King Kleberg
- Jim Wells County seat (created 1911)
- Alice Oil Field — 1938 (E.H. Howell)
- Home of St. Joseph Catholic Church (est. 1932) and St. Peter Mission in Ben Bolt
Clergy, Staff & Office
St. Joseph is led by Parish Administrator Rev. Carlos De La Rosa (beginning July 6, 2026), a Corpus Christi native formed at Holy Trinity Seminary and ordained on June 18, 2022, with previous assignments 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. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Fernando Game. The parish staff — Susana Garza (Office/Rectory), Norma R. Acuña (Secretary), Violet G. Loney (Accounting), and Raquel Martinez (VBS Director / Religious Education) — keep the parish office running day to day.
- Parish Office: Monday – Thursday 9 AM–12 PM & 1 PM–4:30 PM; Friday 9 AM–12 PM
- Phone: (361) 664-7551 | Fax: (361) 664-2388
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alejandro Primo, O.P.April 1932 – October 1933
First pastor of the newly erected parish of St. Joseph (formerly Sacred Heart Mission)
- Fr. Macario LópezNovember 1933 – December 1935
Early diocesan pastor
- Fr. Ángel Álvarez1936 – June 22, 1952
Pastored the boom-town era; oversaw completion of Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel (1940) and launched the campaign for a new St. Joseph church building
- Fr. Juan Zabala, O.P.c. 1948 (planning role)
Encouraged by Bishop Ledvina to begin planning for the new St. Joseph church; the actual construction fell to his successor
- Fr. Ángel Vizcarra, O.P.June 22, 1952 –
Under his leadership the present church building and rectory were completed and dedicated by Bishop Garriga on October 18, 1953
- Fr. Manuel López Tascónfrom June 22, 1952
Assistant to Fr. Vizcarra during construction of the new church
- Dominican Fathers (Order of Preachers)1931–1986 (approx. 55 years)
Cared for St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Mission from 1931 until released by Bishop René Gracida on May 1, 1986
- Diocesan priests1986 – present
Installed in St. Joseph (and Sacred Heart Mission) after Bishop Gracida released the Dominicans
- Rev. Carlos De La RosaJuly 6, 2026 – present (Parish Administrator)
Native of Corpus Christi; grew up at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; formed at Holy Trinity Seminary; ordained June 18, 2022 at Corpus Christi Cathedral; 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