St. Joseph

About St. Joseph Catholic Church, Donna

St. Joseph Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish Roman Catholic parish located at 306 South D. Salinas Boulevard, Donna, Texas 78537, in the Diocese of Brownsville. It is one of the parishes shepherded by the Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.), a religious congregation that has served the Rio Grande Valley since the 1950s. The parish offers a daily Mass schedule, weekend Masses in English and Spanish (including a bilingual Children's Mass), religious education, and a range of lay ministries for youth, families, and the broader community.

History of the Parish

The St. Joseph community traces its roots back to the early 1900s. A first chapel in Donna was built by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and dedicated June 18, 1916. That chapel was replaced by a new church on November 12, 1922. In 1928 the community was formally established as an independent parish under Father James Smith, O.M.I., who also founded a parochial school directed by the Holy Ghost Sisters from San Antonio. In the 1950s, pastoral care was passed to the Missionaries of the Holy Family, and to serve a growing population the present church was built in 1979.

• 1916 — First chapel built by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; dedicated June 18.
• 1922 — Original chapel replaced by a new church on November 12.
• 1928 — Becomes an independent parish under Father James Smith, O.M.I.
• Parochial school founded by Fr. Smith, staffed by the Holy Ghost Sisters from San Antonio.
• 1950s — Pastoral care entrusted to the Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.).
• 1979 — Present church building constructed.

Clergy & Staff

The parish is staffed by the Missionaries of the Holy Family, with two priests serving, a deacon, parish secretarial staff, and a Director of Religious Education coordinating the CCD program.

• Rev. Franciscus Asisi Eka Yuantoro, M.S.F. (Fr. Eka) — Pastor
• Rev. Benoit F. Ramanandraibe (Fr. Ben) — Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Hugo DeLaCruz
• Martha Rocha — Secretary
• Diana Zuniga — Receptionist
• Director of Religious Education — position listed as vacant; CCD Office line (956) 464-3472

Faith Formation & CCD (Religious Education)

The parish Religious Education Program (CCD) at St. Joseph forms children in the Catholic faith beginning in September each year. Class registration for 2026–2027 is held on two Sundays in July from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Required documents for registration include the child's Baptism Certificate (or Birth Certificate if not baptized), First Communion Certificate (if applicable), proof of residence, and registration by a parent or legal guardian. Cell phone use is prohibited in the drop-off and pick-up area; drivers are asked to drive carefully and watch for students.

• 2026–2027 CCD registration: Sun., July 12 & 26, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., St. Joseph Parish Hall
• Fees: $10 per child (regular) / $25 per child (sacramental), due at registration
• Classes commence September 14
• CCD Office line: (956) 464-3472

Sacrament of First Eucharist (First Communion)

St. Joseph prepares children for First Holy Communion as a two-year process that begins with the First Reconciliation class the prior year. Candidates must be baptized Catholics, have already received First Reconciliation, have some desire to receive Jesus, know basic prayers by heart (Our Father, Hail Mary, Act of Contrition, Glory Be, Sign of the Cross), and be in third grade or older. Parents are expected to take part in a minimum of three two-hour formation sessions (about six hours total) so that, as primary catechists of their child, they can more deeply understand the Eucharistic Celebration as a sacrificial banquet.

• Pre-requisite: First Reconciliation the previous year
• Family Mass attendance on Sundays and Holy Days required
• Parent formation: three 2-hour sessions (six hours total)
• First Communion age: 3rd grade or older

Altar Servers

The altar server ministry assists the priest at Mass and other liturgical celebrations, carrying the cross and candles, holding liturgical books, presenting the gifts, and managing incense when used. Open to youth in 4th grade or higher who have received First Holy Communion and who are actively participating in CCD, the ministry is open to both boys and girls and meets monthly for practice. The parish is currently seeking new altar servers.

• Director: Lisa E. Gonzalez
• Sponsors: Mary Lou Torres
• Requirements: 4th grade+, First Communion received, active in CCD, must serve at any weekend Mass, attend training and monthly meetings
• Meetings: monthly on Sundays, 1:00–2:00 p.m. at the church
• Contact for information: MaryLou (956) 454-4419

Junior Catholic Daughters

The Junior Catholic Daughters is a parish organization for the daughters (and members) of the parish that fosters faith, fellowship, and service among the youth of St. Joseph. It is one of the recognized youth ministries on the parish's organizations and ministries page.

Friends of the Missionaries of the Holy Family

Friends of the Missionaries of the Holy Family is a parish prayer network inviting individuals, couples, and families to pray daily at meals for the parish family, for the Missionaries of the Holy Family who minister to St. Joseph, and for religious vocations. It is a way to support the priests who serve the parish spiritually from the home.

• Coordinator: Tina Lukaszek — (956) 464-4898

Summer Bible Camp & Parish Events

Beyond weekly liturgy, St. Joseph hosts a Summer Bible Camp for children and Bingo nights to support parish needs. The parish also publishes a quarterly announcement on Diocesan 'Ethical and Responsible Conduct in Ministry' policies to keep ministries serving youth and vulnerable adults in compliance.

• Summer Bible Camp (children)
• Parish Bingo fundraising event
• Quarterly Diocesan policy announcements for ministry compliance

Cristo Rey (Christ the King) Mission, Colonia Nueva

Cristo Rey is the mission chapel sponsored by St. Joseph Parish and located about a mile from the main church in the colonia. It serves a Sunday Mass attendance of more than 100, mostly Spanish-speaking families without easy access to a car. Each year on the feast of Christ the King in November, the mission holds a bilingual (Spanish/English) religious tradition with a procession from the Cristo Rey chapel to St. Joseph Parish, praising Jesus and honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe along the mile-long route. (Note: as of the parish bulletin, the Sunday 8:00 a.m. Spanish Mass at Cristo Rey was listed 'No mass until further notice.')

• Sponsored by St. Joseph Parish through the Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.)
• Serves the colonia community of Nueva outside Donna
• Annual procession on the Feast of Christ the King in November

Visit & Contact

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, email, or in person. The CCD/Religious Education Office has a separate direct line. The parish does not list an active Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube on its official site.

• Address: 306 South D. Salinas Boulevard, Donna, TX 78537
• Phone: (956) 464-3331 · Fax: (956) 464-6808
• Email: [email protected]
• Religious Education / CCD Office: (956) 464-3472
• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/stjosephdonna3/