About St. Joseph Catholic Church · Rockdale, Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Rockdale, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Austin and tracing its roots to Catholic families who settled in the area in the 1870s. The first church was built in 1880 on property donated by the Strelsky brothers at the corner of San Gabriel and Bell streets, and the parish grew through mining, farming, and later the ALCOA aluminum smelter community. Today it serves as a self-sustaining parish with weekly Masses in both English and Spanish, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, a Knights of Columbus council (Council #7014), and a Ladies Altar Society, anchored at 234 San Gabriel Street in Rockdale.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. John Boiko
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a historic, bilingual parish where the same faith has been preached since 1880, today offering a full weekly schedule with Masses in both English and Spanish, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and Saturday Reconciliation. The parish community is bound together by long-standing ministries like the Ladies Altar Society (founded generations ago) and the active Knights of Columbus Council #7014, whose members host the annual MayFest, Lenten Friday Fish Fries, and charity bingo. Visitors will find a parish that takes seriously its sacramental life, its traditions of the Rosary and Liturgy of the Hours, and its service to the broader Rockdale community.
Mass times at St. Joseph Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office at 512-446-2049)
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
History of St. Joseph Parish
Catholic families of different nationalities began settling in the Rockdale area in the 1870s. Mr. Leo Strelsky, Mr. Anton Wolf, and Father John Luath led the early progress, and the first church was built on Strelsky-donated property at San Gabriel and Bell streets in 1880 — originally part of the Galveston Diocese and made a mission of Cameron in 1890. Holy Cross priests from St. Edward's University in Austin served from 1880–1893, visiting every two to three months. The parish ran a Catholic school (with the Sisters of Divine Providence) from 1890 until 1911. A second church replaced the first in 1912 at a cost of $2,000. After difficult decades through the Great Depression and the decline of mining, the parish revived under the Diocese of Austin (created 1948) and became self-sustaining in 1952, riding a wave of growth from the ALCOA aluminum smelter and lignite mine.
- 1880: first church built at San Gabriel and Bell streets (Galveston Diocese)
- 1890: becomes mission church of Cameron; Catholic school opened (Sisters of Divine Providence)
- 1911: school building sold; Spanish Masses at St. Anne in mining area begin (1911–1924)
- 1912: second church erected, cost $2,000
- 1940: transferred as mission from Cameron to Guadalupe Parish in Taylor
- 1948: joins newly created Diocese of Austin
- 1952: becomes self-sustaining parish
- 1967: third (current) church dedicated on Feast of St. Joseph, Palm Sunday, March 19 — cost ~$78,000
- 1977: new rectory built on Davilla Street
- 1985: Educational Building dedicated by Bishop Vincent M. Harris on September 22
- 2014: church re-dedicated by Bishop Joe S. Vasquez on February 26 after Palmer Fund renovations
- 2020: parish celebrates 140th Anniversary (downloadable PowerPoint on site)
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Office
St. Joseph is currently served by a priest, a deacon, and lay staff managing the parish office and faith formation. Fr. John Boiko is the pastor (assigned 2024), with Deacon Gus assisting, and the parish office is staffed by Bonnie Holub (Parish Administrator) and Maria Santellano (DRE — Director of Religious Education). Parishioners can register online, call the parish office at 512-446-2049, or reach the administrator by email.
- Rev. John Boiko — Priest / Pastor (since 2024) — also Chaplain, Knights of Columbus Council #7014
- Deacon Gus — Deacon
- Bonnie Holub — Parish Administrator (phone 512-446-2049; cell 512-429-3365; [email protected])
- Maria Santellano — Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- Parish office phone: 512-446-2049; mailing P.O. Box 548, Rockdale, TX 76567
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education at St. Joseph continues a tradition that began in 1890 with the Sisters of Divine Providence running a Catholic school that served Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant students. After that school was sold in 1911, instruction shifted over time to the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program taught by lay parishioners in the educational wing of the parish. Faith formation today is directed by the parish DRE and is supported by the Ladies Altar Society's donations and gifts to Confirmation classes and graduating seniors.
- St. Joseph Catholic School (1890–c.1911): Sisters of Divine Providence from San Antonio; closed for lack of students and funds
- CCD classes moved into educational wing after 1977 rectory construction
- 1985: new Educational Building dedicated by Bishop Vincent M. Harris
- Director of Religious Education: Maria Santellano
- Ladies Altar Society provides gifts to Confirmation classes and graduating seniors of the parish
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Joseph is served by a robust network of lay organizations, anchored by the Ladies Altar Society and Knights of Columbus Council #7014, with consultative Pastoral and Finance Councils supporting the pastor in the governance of the parish. The Pastoral Council typically meets monthly at 7:00 PM, while the Finance Council meets quarterly — both under the bylaws and norms of the Diocese of Austin.
- Ladies Altar Society — women 18+; monthly meetings, altar care, liturgical supplies, funeral meals, December Christmas Bazaar (President Maria Santellano)
- Knights of Columbus Council #7014 — chartered 1978; first Grand Knight Ike Korenek; current Grand Knight Kenny Svrcek; Chaplain Fr. John Boiko
- Pastoral Council — consultative body to the pastor, meets ~monthly at 7:00 PM
- Finance Council — meets quarterly; established under 1983 Code of Canon Law and diocesan norms
- Youth Ministry — supports the monthly Youth Mass
Knights of Columbus Council #7014 — Rockdale
Council #7014 was chartered at St. Joseph in 1978 with Ike Korenek as its first Grand Knight and has grown into an iconic institution of the Rockdale community. The Council operates the 'KC Hall' on HWY 79 east of Rockdale, hosting charity events, wedding receptions, quinceañeras, the Christmas Round-up, and the annual MayFest that benefits both the Knights and St. Joseph parish. Members also lead charity bingo and the popular Lenten Friday Fish Fries. Membership is open to practicing Catholic men aged 18 or older.
- Council #7014 established 1978; first Grand Knight Ike Korenek
- Meets 2nd Tuesday each month at 7:00 PM (officers meet last Tuesday at 6:00 PM)
- Drives annual MayFest fundraiser (with St. Joseph parish) and Lenten Friday Fish Fries
- Manages KC Hall on HWY 79 — venue for community, private, and parish events
- Contact Phil Konarik (cell 512-446-3159; [email protected])
Ladies Altar Society
The Ladies Altar Society unites women of the parish in religious, educational, and social service and partners with the diocesan and national councils of Catholic Women. Members care for the altar (cleaning, flowers, linens) and liturgical expenses (candles, wine, hosts), donate to religious education, provide gifts to Confirmation classes and graduating parish seniors, and prepare funeral meals. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is the December Christmas Bazaar.
- Open to parish women 18+, married or single
- Monthly meetings: first Monday, 5:00 PM Rosary in RE building, then meeting with refreshments
- President: Maria Santellano (254-760-0568)
- Vice President: Pat Doud (512-429-0569); Treasurer: Margaret Coker; Secretary: Rita Juergens
- Annual Christmas Bazaar held in December
Giving, Registration, and Visiting
Sunday offerings may be placed in the donation box in the narthex before Mass, given during the collection, mailed to P.O. Box 548, Rockdale, TX 76567, or made online through the Giving link on the parish website. New parishioners can register online through the Parish Registration Form linked from the Contact page. The parish also notes that during MayFest weekend, all Masses move to the KC Hall east of Rockdale on HWY 79, including a bilingual Saturday Vigil and 9:00 AM Sunday — with no 11:30 Spanish Mass that Sunday.
- Sunday collection box in the narthex before Mass
- Online giving via the parish website
- Mail contributions to P.O. Box 548, Rockdale, TX 76567
- Online parish registration form on the Contact page
- MayFest weekend Masses: held at KC Hall on HWY 79 (bilingual Sat 5 PM and Sun 9 AM; no 11:30 Sun)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Fuchs1952–1954
First pastor after the parish became self-sustaining.
- Fr. Clyde Holtman1954–1957
- Fr. S. Montenegro1957–1967
Served on the building committee for the third church, dedicated March 19, 1967.
- Fr. Paul McCallum1967–1980
- Fr. Albert Ruiz1980–1982
- Fr. Tom Hanus1982–1991
- Fr. Victor Mathias1991–1997
- Fr. G. Amasekera1997–1998
- Fr. Robert Herald1998–2003
- Fr. Edwin Kagoo2003–2008
- Fr. Gregory Hanks2008–2011
- Fr. Anselm Anukam2011
- Fr. Ramon Frayna2011–2017
- Fr. Pedro Castillo2017–2024
- Fr. John Boiko2024–present
Current pastor; also Chaplain of Knights of Columbus Council #7014.