About St. Jude · Allen, Texas
St. Jude Catholic Parish is the first Catholic parish established in Allen, Texas, a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Dallas. Founded in 1981 by a group of lay faithful from Allen, Fairview, and Lucas, the parish first worshipped in Rountree Elementary School and has since grown into a vibrant community with a 20-acre campus on North Greenville Avenue. Today St. Jude offers daily and Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a full faith formation program for children and youth, and a wide array of ministries. The current sanctuary, dedicated in 2005, was designed around a cross-shaped floor plan with shell-limestone arches, Italian statuary, and commissioned Texas and Pacific Northwest artwork.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- St. Jude Thaddeus (Apostle, patron of hopeless causes)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Semler
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
St. Jude is a large, active parish that grew out of a grassroots lay effort in 1980 and remains rooted in the same spirit of generosity. It offers an unusually rich sacramental life: multiple Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass, and essentially perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel throughout the week. Families benefit from a full faith-formation track (First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation, VBS, Youth Ministry/Life Teen, JYM), the on-campus Sunshine & Rainbows Early Learning Center, and scouting; adults find groups such as OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), CRHP/Welcome retreats, Women's Welcome and Men's Welcome retreats, the Good Timers social club (55+), Women of St. Jude, the Knights of Columbus, a Young Adult Ministry, and a 12-Step Recovery group sponsored by the Catholic Alcoholism and Addictions Ministry. Outreach runs through the Peace & Justice ministry, Catholic Charities, Allen Ministerial Alliance, Samaritan Inn, Gospel of Life, The Giving Tree, Habitat for Humanity, and Grief Support.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Chapel)
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Chapel)
- Sunday 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 8:30 PM – 8:00 PM in Chapel (extended overnight hours listed on parish calendar)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:45 PM in Chapel, continuing 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:45 PM in Chapel, continuing 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- 1st Friday 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Our Story & Heritage
St. Jude Catholic Parish was born in 1980 when a group of lay faithful from Allen, Fairview, and Lucas decided that their growing north-Texas community needed its own Catholic parish. The first Mass was celebrated in the Evans home by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe; the first public Mass followed on July 5, 1981, at Rountree Elementary School. The mission was originally attached to St. Michael's in McKinney, then St. Mark's in Plano, before becoming an independent parish. The permanent sanctuary, built largely through parishioner giving, was dedicated on November 12, 2005, by Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, with relics of five saints sealed into the altar.
- Founded July 4, 1981; first public Mass July 5, 1981, at Rountree Elementary
- Mission chapel under St. Michael's (McKinney), then St. Mark's (Plano)
- Land purchased 1982; temporary facility completed fall 1984
- Mortgage burned 2001; permanent sanctuary dedicated 2005
- 20-acre campus after 2007 land purchase
- Listed on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Jude_Catholic_Church_(Allen,_Texas)
Pastor & Clergy
The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. Andrew Semler, appointed in 2016 as the fourth pastor, alongside Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul Nguyen (ordained 2006, previously at All Saints Catholic Church). The clergy team continues the legacy of four pastors and two mission priests who built up the parish over more than four decades.
- Rev. Andrew Semler — Pastor (since 2016)
- Rev. Paul Nguyen — Parochial Vicar, (972) 727-2233, [email protected]
- Former mission priests: Rev. David Fellhauer (now Bishop of Victoria) and Rev. Duffy Gardner (now Monsignor, retired)
- Founding pastor: Rev. Tom Cloherty (1983)
- Fr. Bruce Bradley (1989–1999); Fr. Timothy Church (1999–2016, Pastor Emeritus)
Sanctuary, Art & Architecture
The 2005 sanctuary was built around a Latin-cross floor plan inspired by early Christian basilicas. Roman-arch construction, shell limestone, and Italian craftsmanship combine with Texas and Pacific Northwest artistry. The result is a worship space designed to focus attention on the altar, tabernacle, and crucifix.
- Latin-cross plan; central nave + two transepts
- Altar of shell limestone, >5,000 lbs, on the central axis
- Stained glass by Adrian Cavallini of San Antonio (flying roof and transepts)
- Crucifix by Ferdinando Perathoner of Ortisei, Italy (7 ft 8 in)
- Statuary carved in northern Italy to commissioned designs
- Stations of the Cross: 14 original pencil sketches by Seattle artist Cody Harrington (after The Passion of the Christ)
- Mural over main doors by Allen native Andy Buchanan (after Giotto's 'Christ Washing the Apostles' Feet', 120 sq ft)
- Relics of St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Pope Gregory the Great, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Maria Goretti entombed beneath the altar
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Jude runs a comprehensive faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults. Parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children, and the parish partners with families through graded Religious Education classes, sacramental preparation, and youth ministry.
- Grades 1–8 Religious Education (weekly during school year)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation preparation (8th grade)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass (school year)
- Vacation Bible School (annual summer program)
- Youth Ministry (Life Teen / JYM — middle & high school)
- Adult Faith Formation, Bible studies, and FORMED digital resources
OCIA & Adult Initiation
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) walks catechumens and candidates through the rites and formation leading to baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. A dedicated parish calendar tracks OCIA sessions.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) sessions published on the parish calendar
- Inquiry, catechumenate, and mystagogia stages
- Sponsors and team formation provided
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Jude is supported by a Music Ministry, a Choir Room housed in the Pastoral Center, and a full complement of lay liturgical ministers — altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and the Altar Society.
- Music Ministries (published calendar)
- Liturgical Ministries: Altar Servers, Lectors, EMHC, Altar Society
- Choir room located in the Pastoral Center (built 2012)
Community Life & Groups
Adult community life at St. Jude is anchored by small groups and signature retreats. The Women's Welcome Retreat and Men's Welcome Retreat are long-standing parish traditions. The Young Adult Ministry meets twice monthly, and the Good Timers social club serves parishioners 55+.
- Women's Welcome Retreat (annual)
- Men's Welcome Retreat (annual)
- Young Adult Ministry — 1st & 3rd Mondays 7 PM (Lecture Hall); Men's/Women's Bible Study 2nd & 4th Mondays
- Good Timers Social Club (55+)
- Women of St. Jude
- Knights of Columbus
- Career Alliance
Outreach, Charity & Justice
The Peace & Justice Commission coordinates St. Jude's outreach partnerships and charitable giving. The parish also hosts a CAAM-sponsored 12-Step Recovery group and a Grief Support ministry, and reaches into the wider community through People Helping People programs.
- Catholic Charities
- Allen Ministerial Alliance
- Samaritan Inn
- Gospel of Life
- The Giving Tree (Christmas giving)
- Habitat for Humanity
- Grief Support
- Catholic Alcoholism and Addictions Ministry (CAAM) — 12-Step meeting Mon 6:30–7:30 PM (Family Room)
- People Helping People
Sunshine & Rainbows Early Learning Center
St. Jude operates the Sunshine & Rainbows Early Learning Center, a parish preschool that has been part of the campus since at least 2005. The preschool typically meets Monday through Thursday during the school year, with a summer program in June and July.
- Parish preschool on the St. Jude campus
- School year: Monday–Thursday, August–May
- Summer sessions in June and July (Tue/Wed)
- Listed under 'Early Learning Center' on the parish web calendar
Campus & Facilities
The St. Jude campus sits on roughly 20 acres along North Greenville Avenue and has been built in distinct phases — the temporary facility (1984), the Education Building, the permanent sanctuary (2005), the columbarium (2008), the Pastoral Center (2012), and the renovated Education Building, Loggia walkway, and bell tower (2019).
- Sanctuary (dedicated 2005)
- Chapel / daily Mass chapel
- Education Building (expanded and re-dedicated November 2019)
- Pastoral Center — parish offices, reception hall, lecture hall, choir room (2012)
- Columbarium between church and chapel (2008)
- Bell tower (completed as part of the 2018–2019 capital campaign)
- Loggia covered walkway connecting campus facilities
- 88 additional parking spaces off Greenville Avenue; circle drive for drop-off
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond Mass and Confession, the parish prepares Catholics for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Funeral vigils and funerals are scheduled through the parish office, and weddings use a separate published calendar.
- Baptism with required Baptism Preparation Class
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade)
- Wedding & Wedding Rehearsal calendar published
- Funeral & Funeral Vigil calendar published
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Getting Involved & Staying Connected
Parishioners can plug in through dozens of ministries, by joining the Music or Liturgical Ministries, signing up for the Welcome Retreat, joining the Knights of Columbus or Women of St. Jude, or simply signing up for the parish Flocknote email newsletter. Masses and many events are livestreamed via the parish Facebook page for those at home or traveling.
- Sign up for Flocknote emails on stjudeparish.com
- Follow the parish Facebook and YouTube channels
- Livestreamed Sunday (10:00 AM) and weekday Masses (Wed & Fri 8:30 AM)
- Safe Environment (Virtus) training required for ministry volunteers
- Contact the parish office at (972) 727-1177
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Davis E. Fellhauer (and Rev. Glenn 'Duffy' Gardner)1981–1983 (alt. Sundays, as mission priests)
Served St. Jude while it was a mission chapel under St. Michael's (McKinney) and later St. Mark's (Plano); Fellhauer is now Bishop of Victoria; Gardner is now Monsignor, retired.
- Rev. Tom ClohertyMay 1983 – c. 1989
First resident pastor; oversaw construction of and move into the temporary parish facility (completed fall 1984 after tornado damage).
- Rev. Bruce Bradley1989–1999
Second pastor; completed the Education Building, expanded staff, and drove down construction debt, paving the way for the 2001 mortgage burning.
- Rev. Timothy A. Church1999–2016
Former Episcopalian priest converted and ordained Catholic in 1995; burned the mortgage in 2001; led capital campaign for the new sanctuary dedicated in 2005; named full Pastor in 2011–2012 by rare Vatican exception; retired as Pastor Emeritus 2016; died 2018.
- Rev. Andrew Semler2016–present
Fourth pastor; led 2018 capital campaign, 2019 Education Building expansion/dedication, Loggia walkway, and bell tower project.