About St. Joseph · Mason, Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small mission parish set on a hill overlooking the historic town square of Mason, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. A community church within the Diocese of Austin, St. Joseph sits among the far western parishes of the diocese and serves both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics with bilingual Masses. The parish, founded in 1872 and housed in a stone church built in 1873, is celebrating more than 150 years of faith in Central Texas and recently completed a major restoration of its historic sanctuary. Visitors are invited to worship, walk to the town square, and pause for prayer or relaxation in the parish's Mother Mary garden.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Payden "Red" Blevins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a close-knit bilingual Catholic community tucked into the Hill Country, with Mass offered in both English and Spanish every Sunday and weekday Mass on Thursdays and Fridays. The parish sits atop a hill with a panoramic view and a Mother Mary garden for prayer, and it is within walking distance of Mason's historic town square — making it a peaceful place to worship, gather, and put down roots. Under Father Red's leadership, St. Joseph is a growing, revitalized mission where longtime ranching families and newer arrivals worship together in a beautifully restored 150-year-old sanctuary.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Welcome to St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph Church of Mason is a community church in Central Texas, in the Diocese of Austin. The parish is set atop a hill overlooking the town, with a panoramic view and a charming setting that invites visitors to take a moment at the Mother Mary's garden for prayer or relaxation. The church is within walking distance of Mason's historic town square. Visitors are invited to join the community for worship and reflection.
- Mission parish in the Diocese of Austin
- Set on a hill overlooking Mason
- Mother Mary garden for prayer and reflection
- Walking distance to the historic town square
Parish History
Catholic presence in Mason began in 1851, when Father M. J. Fairer — described in local memory as a red-haired priest — rode into the new town on a hack drawn by two mules. The parish was formally founded in 1872, and the present stone church was built in 1873. Over more than 150 years, generations of families and visiting priests have nurtured the faith here, even as the surrounding Hill Country population has ebbed and flowed.
- 1851: Father M. J. Fairer brings Catholicism to Mason
- 1872: Parish founded
- 1873: Stone church built
The 2023 Sanctuary Restoration
Under Father Payden "Red" Blevins, the parish undertook a $500,000 restoration of the sanctuary. A generous bequest from a family estate plus $100,000 raised in a local capital campaign funded the project without parish debt. The electrical system was brought up to code, warped wood was repaired, and water-damaged plaster was fixed. A new altar was installed, incorporating relics of St. Faustina, St. Padre Pio, and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Bishop Joe Vásquez celebrated Mass and dedicated the renovated sanctuary in October 2023.
- Cost: ~$500,000
- Funded by family estate bequest plus $100,000 local capital campaign
- Bishop Joe Vásquez dedicated the renovated sanctuary in October 2023
- New altar with relics of St. Faustina, St. Padre Pio, and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
The 1916 Lopez Ceiling Mural
In 1916, local parishioner Manuel Lopez painted the church ceiling with clouds, stars, angels and a dove. A 1963 addition dropped a new ceiling and pendant lights that hid the original artwork. Before the 2023 renovation, detailed photographs of each angel were taken so the imagery could be restored. The Illinois-based group Murals by Jericho carefully preserved the still-intact images and extended the painted angels onto the portion of ceiling added in 1963. The Stabat Mater Foundation of East Texas provided the artists who stenciled new wall patterns and added a tree-of-life mural behind the crucifix.
- Original 1916 painting by Manuel Lopez
- Restored by Murals by Jericho (Illinois)
- Stencils and tree-of-life mural by Stabat Mater Foundation (East Texas)
- Angel imagery extended into the 1963 portion of the ceiling
Sunday Masses
Two Sunday Masses serve the bilingual community of Mason.
- Sunday 11:00 AM — English
- Sunday 2:00 PM — Spanish (Español)
Weekday Masses
Weekday Masses are celebrated in English on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Thursday 5:30 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
St. Joseph is pastored by Father Payden "Red" Blevins, who became the mission's pastor in July 2020. As the sole priest serving both St. Joseph in Mason and Holy Trinity Parish in Llano, Father Red relies heavily on diocesan support and on the parish's own pastoral and finance councils to plan parish life.
- Father Payden "Red" Blevins, Pastor (since July 2020)
- Also pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Llano
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council guide parish decisions
Connection to the Diocese of Austin
St. Joseph is one of the far western parishes of the Diocese of Austin and remains closely tied to diocesan life. Through the annual Catholic Services Appeal (CSA), the parish has received grant funding to support its mission. In the 2021–2022 CSA, St. Joseph was one of 16 parishes to win a grant, receiving $5,000 to support parish operations. Parishioners are encouraged to follow the Diocese of Austin online for up-to-date news and information.
- Diocese of Austin: www.austindiocese.org
- Diocese of Austin Facebook: 'Diocese of Austin' (English) and 'Diócesis de Austin' (Spanish)
- Diocese of Austin Twitter: @AustinDiocese
- St. Joseph is among the furthest parishes from Austin in the diocese
Visit & Location
St. Joseph is located in the small Hill Country town of Mason, Texas. The church is set on a hill with a panoramic view of the town and within walking distance of the historic town square. Visitors are invited to stop for worship, to pray in the Mother Mary garden, or simply to take in the setting.
- 216 N Avenue B, Mason, TX 76856
- Phone: (325) 347-6932
- Website: stjosephmason.org
- Walking distance to Mason's historic town square
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father M. J. Fairer1851
Red-haired frontier priest who rode into Mason on a hack drawn by two mules to bring the Catholic faith to the new town.
- Father Payden "Red" BlevinsJuly 2020–present
Another red-haired priest who arrived in Mason in July 2020; also serves as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Llano.