About St. Joseph · Arlington, Texas
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish is a large, ethnically diverse Catholic parish in South Arlington, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Fort Worth. Founded in 1988, it grew from a handful of families meeting at a local elementary school into a community of nearly 10,000 members and more than 2,700 registered families, now worshipping in a 1,600-seat church and an adjoining community center. The parish is known for its multicultural character, offering Masses in English, Spanish, and reaching out to Ghanaian, Nigerian, Filipino, and other communities. Its patron is St. Joseph, and weekly Mass, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration form the backbone of parish life.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Ronaldo Mercado
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rare combination of a large, welcoming parish with the diversity of a small Catholic world: English and Spanish Masses every Sunday, a weekly Ghana Mass, and ministries reaching Filipino, Nigerian, and other communities. Strong sacramental life — daily Mass, Saturday confessions, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a twice-yearly nocturnal First Friday Adoration — anchors the parish, while St. Joseph Catholic School on campus, robust Religious Education, OCIA (RCIA), Hispanic Ministry, and a live-streamed liturgy make participation easy for working families, the homebound, and travelers.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (in the Church)
- First Friday of the month: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- First Friday (monthly): 7:00 PM through Saturday 7:00 AM (nocturnal Adoration)
- Adoration also available 7 days a week during normal business hours in the Adoration Room
Our Story: From Bebensee Elementary to a 1,600-Seat Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church was born on July 1, 1988 when Bishop Joseph P. Delaney of the Diocese of Fort Worth appointed Rev. James R. Miller as founding pastor, effective August 3, 1988. The first parishioners met at Bebensee Elementary School, outside parish boundaries, before moving into a Community Center in 1994 — affectionately nicknamed 'Mass in the gym.' A 1997 Capital Campaign enabled the construction of today's 1,600-seat church in 2000. The parish marked its 25th anniversary in 2013–2014 and launched a second capital campaign in 2016 for a Facilities Endowment, lighting upgrades, and a Catholic School Endowment.
- Founded August 3, 1988 under Bishop Joseph P. Delaney
- Founding pastor: Rev. James R. Miller
- First worship site: Bebensee Elementary School
- 1994: Community Center opens — 'Mass in the gym' begins
- 1997: First Capital Campaign launched
- 2000: Current 1,600-seat church completed
- 2013–2014: 25th anniversary celebration
- 2016: Second Capital Campaign for Facilities Endowment, lighting, and School Endowment
Who We Are and What We Believe
The parish describes itself as 'a diverse family of God united in His Son, Jesus Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit,' with a mission to see the Lord in all around them, to serve one another, and to live as a visible sign of Gospel love. Parishioners are formed through the Gospel and Eucharist and are called to share their Time, Talents, and Treasures in building the Kingdom of God. The parish is the Living Body of Jesus Christ, joined in belief in the Holy Eucharist and in the eternal presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Mission: to see the Lord in all around us and reach out to all God's children
- Goal: to serve one another and build the Kingdom of God
- Covenant: to pursue the mission as instruments of the Holy Spirit with Time, Talents, and Treasures
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor, four deacons, and a team of lay ministers coordinating religious education, Hispanic ministry, OCIA, funerals, safe environment, communications, and parish activities. Pastor Rev. Ronaldo Mercado leads the community, supported by Deacons Jimmy García, Rodney Asebedo, José Román-Maldonado, and Hoang Trinh.
- Pastor: Rev. Ronaldo Mercado
- Deacon Jimmy García (Pastoral Minister)
- Deacon Rodney Asebedo
- Deacon José Román (Pastoral Minister)
- Deacon Hoang Trinh
- Michelle Ebambi – Coordinator of OCIA
- Daisy Finnegan – Parish Secretary
- Laura Stephens – Coordinator of Funerals & Safe Environment
- Samantha Finnegan – Parish Activity Schedule & Communication Coordinator
- Ramon Contreras – Coordinator of Religious Education (Children & Youth)
- Martin Pena – Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry and Coordinator of Baptisms
- Reyna Castelán
- Veronica Palomo – Bookkeeper
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Joseph runs a wide range of ministries serving English-, Spanish-, Ghanaian-, Nigerian-, Filipino-, and other communities. All ministry leaders must be Safe Environment compliant. Beyond parish staff-led programs, lay faithful serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — bringing the Eucharist to fellow parishioners at Mass and to the sick and homebound.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (weekend Masses and care of the sick)
- Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Religious Education for Children and Youth
- Funerals Ministry
- Safe Environment Program
- Live-Stream Ministry
- Ghana Catholic Community (weekly Ghana Mass)
- Nigerian Catholic Community
- Filipino and other Asian Catholic groups
- Quarterly Mass for Africa (DFW-wide)
Sacraments
The parish website details preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation. First Communion is a two-year process: Year 1 in Sunday Morning Faith Formation or St. Joseph Catholic School, Year 2 in the separate Sacrament Preparation program (which requires a Baptism certificate and an additional fee). Baptisms are coordinated through Hispanic Ministry. Confessions follow the schedule above, with Saturday and First Friday times offered in both English and Spanish.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 10:00–11:30 AM; First Friday 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
- First Communion: two consecutive years of preparation
- Year 1: Sunday Morning Faith Formation or St. Joseph Catholic School
- Year 2: Sacrament Preparation program with Baptism certificate
- Baptism: coordinated by Martin Pena, Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry and Baptisms
- Funerals: coordinated by Laura Stephens
- Anointing of the Sick: by request through the parish office
Faith Formation: Religious Education and OCIA
Ramon Contreras coordinates Religious Education for children and youth, which feeds into the two-year First Communion/First Reconciliation track and supports families throughout the school year. Michelle Ebambi coordinates OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (the U.S. equivalent of RCIA) — for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Religious Education for Children & Youth — Ramon Contreras
- Sunday Morning Faith Formation classes
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Michelle Ebambi
- Sacrament Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Safe Environment compliance required for all ministry leaders
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
The Hispanic community is one of the most visible communities at St. Joseph. A Spanish-language Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 1:00 PM and on Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Chapel, and the parish publishes its confession schedule in Spanish as well. Martin Pena serves as Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry and Coordinator of Baptisms, with Reyna Castelán and Veronica Palomo on staff supporting Hispanic families.
- Sunday Mass in Spanish: 1:00 PM
- Thursday Mass in Spanish: 6:00 PM (Chapel)
- Spanish-language confessions published on the website
- Coordinator: Martin Pena
- Staff support: Reyna Castelán, Veronica Palomo
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School operates on the parish campus and shares Wednesday morning Mass with the parish during the school year. The school benefits from the Catholic School Endowment Fund established through the parish's 2016 Capital Campaign, and its families are woven into the parish community.
- Campus-based Catholic school (stjosephtx.org)
- Joins the parish for 8:00 AM Wednesday Mass during the school year
- Endowed through the parish's 2016 Capital Campaign
Facilities and Giving
The parish campus includes the 1,600-seat church (built 2000), the Community Center (built 1994), a Chapel used for daily Mass, an Adoration Room, and on-site parking. Two capital campaigns — in 1997 and 2016 — have funded the church, Community Center renovations, lighting upgrades, a Facilities Endowment, and a Catholic School Endowment. A Key Card access request and Facility Request Form are linked from the parish website for parish groups.
- 1,600-seat main church
- Community Center ('Mass in the gym' since 1994)
- Chapel for daily Mass
- Adoration Room (open 7 days/week during business hours)
- Key Card Access Request and Facility Request Form available online
- Capital Campaigns in 1997 and 2016
Visiting, Contact, and Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (817) 472-5181 (fax 817-467-9319) during business hours, or visit in person at 1927 SW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX 76017. Mass is live-streamed for those unable to attend in person, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is also broadcast.
- Address: 1927 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX 76017
- Phone: (817) 472-5181
- Fax: (817) 467-9319
- Website: stjoe88.org
- Live-stream of all Masses and Adoration online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James R. Miller1988 (founding)
Appointed by Bishop Joseph P. Delaney on July 1, 1988 as founding pastor; began ministry August 3, 1988. Began the parish by gathering parishioners at Bebensee Elementary School.