About St. Jude Catholic Chapel · Dallas, Texas
St. Jude Catholic Chapel is a Roman Catholic chapel located at 1521 Main Street in the heart of downtown Dallas, Texas, that has maintained a Catholic presence in the city's central business district since 1968. Its mission is to serve the downtown business community, downtown residents, and visitors through daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a religious gift shop. Dedicated to Saint Jude Thaddeus — patron saint of hopeless or difficult causes — the chapel welcomes people of all Christian denominations for prayer and meditation. The chapel was founded through the vision of Arthur C. Hughes and a small circle of Dallas friends, and the building itself is a renovated late-19th-century commercial structure fitted out with Italian marble, modern mosaics, stained glass Stations of the Cross, and a celebrated exterior sunburst mosaic by Hungarian-American artist György Kepés. It is a personal parish of the Diocese of Dallas, currently led by a chaplain appointed by the bishop.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- Saint Jude Thaddeus
- Rector
- Rev. James Dorman (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
St. Jude Chapel offers something rare for a major American city: a downtown Catholic oasis with daily Mass Monday through Friday at 11:40 AM and 12:15 PM, a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM, and two Sunday Masses (9:30 and 11:30 AM), along with daily confessions and scheduled Eucharistic Adoration. Devotees of Saint Jude Thaddeus — the patron of hopeless or 'difficult' causes — travel here specifically to ask his intercession, and a volunteer is always on hand to welcome first-time visitors. Its Italian-marble altars, Kepés sunburst mosaic, and stained-glass Stations of the Cross make it one of downtown Dallas's most distinctive sacred spaces, while its gift shop, bible studies and downtown outreach make it a true community parish for people who live and work in the central business district.
Mass times at St. Jude Catholic Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Tuesday: 6:10 PM – 6:50 PM
- Wednesday: 6:10 PM – 6:50 PM
- Friday: 6:10 PM – 6:50 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM (and 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:55 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 6:55 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 6:55 PM
- Friday (First Friday): 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (unless on an Observed Holiday, when adoration moves to the second Friday)
About St. Jude Chapel
St. Jude Chapel is a downtown Catholic oasis at 1521 Main Street in the heart of Dallas, open daily to the business community, downtown residents, and visitors. Its mission statement (published by the parish, the North Texas Giving Day portal, and Benevity) is to 'maintain a Catholic presence in downtown Dallas' through daily Mass, daily Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a gift shop for religious articles. The chapel was founded through the vision of Arthur C. Hughes and a small circle of friends who nurtured the idea of a Catholic chapel downtown for more than a quarter of a century before its first Mass in April 1968.
- Mission: Catholic presence in downtown Dallas; daily Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Dedicated to Saint Jude, patron of hopeless cases
- Welcomes all denominations for prayer and meditation
- Volunteers always available to welcome first-time visitors
History
The building at 1521 Main Street was constructed between 1892 and 1899 and historically housed a vaudeville theater, a Nickelodeon, part of the Woolworth's expansion, and a jewelry store. It was purchased by the Diocese of Dallas specifically to establish a Catholic house of worship for the city center. After more than 25 years of planning by Monsignor Arthur C. Hughes and friends, the chapel held its first Mass on April 28–29, 1968 and was formally dedicated by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman on September 15, 1968. The 1966 architectural rendering is by Eugene F. Boerder. Since the 1980s a small gift shop has complemented the sanctuary, and in 2017 the interior and exterior mosaics were repaired as part of a parish-wide 'Project 55+' stewardship campaign.
- Original building erected 1892–1899
- First Mass April 28–29, 1968
- Formal dedication by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, September 15, 1968
- Gift shop added after the 1980s
- Project 55+ stewardship campaign launched after the 55th anniversary
Architecture and Sacred Art
The 1968 renovation by architect Eugene F. Boerder created a worship space seating roughly 300, arranged so every seat is close to the sanctuary. Italian Carrara-marble altars and appointments anchor the interior, surrounded by a mosaic of the Risen Christ, stained-glass Stations of the Cross, communion-rail panels with apostolic symbols, and a baldacchino over the main altar. Statues of the Virgin Mary as Regina Mundi and of Saint Jude are enshrined on chapel walls. The defining exterior element is the modern sunburst mosaic over the front entrance, designed by Hungarian-American artist György Kepés.
- Architect of record: Eugene F. Boerder
- Italian Carrara-marble altars and appointments
- Mosaic of the Risen Christ
- Stained-glass Fourteen Stations of the Cross
- Twelve communion-rail panels bearing symbols of the Apostles
- Statue of Mary Regina Mundi and of Saint Jude
- Exterior sunburst mosaic by György Kepés (1968)
Mass and Sacraments
The chapel's published Mass schedule offers two weekday Masses (11:40 AM and 12:15 PM, Monday–Friday), a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM, and two Sunday Masses at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. Holy Day Masses are at 11:00 AM, 12:15 PM, and 5:10 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered daily Monday through Saturday, with additional evening slots on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (6:10 PM – 6:50 PM).
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 11:40 AM and 12:15 PM
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM
- Holy Days: 11:00 AM, 12:15 PM, 5:10 PM
- Confession: Mon–Fri 11:00–11:30 AM; Tue/Wed/Fri 6:10–6:50 PM; Sat 3:00–3:45 PM (with second Saturday slot 4:00–4:20 PM and 5:30–5:50 PM)
Clergy and Staff
St. Jude Chapel is led by a chaplain appointed by the Bishop of Dallas rather than a residential pastor. Father James Dorman was appointed Chaplain effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Father Stephen Bierschenk (who retired June 30, 2025) and Father Jonathan Austin (who led the chapel in the 2013–2021 era). Carol Schultz serves as Business Manager and Cyril Fernandes as Facilities Manager.
- Chaplain: Rev. James Dorman (2025–present)
- Previous Chaplain: Rev. Stephen Bierschenk (2021–2025)
- Previous Chaplain: Rev. Jonathan Austin (c. 2013–2021)
- Business Manager: Carol Schultz
- Facilities Manager: Cyril Fernandes
Ministries and Outreach
Beyond its liturgical schedule, the chapel maintains a small but distinctive portfolio of ministries suited to its downtown setting: a daily-reconciliation and weekday-Mass apostolate for the central business district, RCIA/OCIA inquiry for those becoming Catholic, a Living Rosary group, Bible studies, and volunteer greeters who welcome first-time visitors. The gift shop is part of the chapel's evangelization and is staffed in connection with the parish's North Texas Giving Day and iGiveCatholic fundraising presence.
- Visitor welcome ministry
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Living Rosary
- Bible studies
- St. Jude Chapel Gift Shop — rosaries, candles, bibles, statues, chapel-branded items
- North Texas Giving Day and iGiveCatholic fundraising partner
Gift Shop
The St. Jude Chapel Gift Shop was added after the 1980s and now serves as both a convenience for downtown Mass-goers and a small outgrowth of the chapel's evangelization mission. Its stock includes Root Candles, Tiny Saints, 'Sock Religious' socks, bracelets, rosaries, holy water, statues, plaques, and chapel-branded t-shirts and notecards featuring photographs of the exterior mosaic and other sacred images from inside the chapel.
- Candles (Root Candles)
- Tiny Saints figurines
- 'Sock Religious' socks
- Rosaries, bracelets, holy water
- Statues and plaques
- St. Jude Chapel t-shirts and photo notecards
Project 55+ — Stewardship and Capital Improvements
Project 55+ is the parish's stewardship campaign for capital improvements and preservation of its historic home. Completed projects include replacement of all 107 fire-head sprinklers, repainting around the sprinklers, new sanctuary flooring after flooding from a neighboring property, conversion of interior lighting to efficient LED, an AED in the lobby, replacement of two restroom vents, an ADA-compliant water fountain with bottle dispenser, and repairs to a stairwell transition. Outstanding priorities include replacement of the pew seating (estimated $108,000), repair and lighting upgrade for the exterior mosaic, and a $3,500 vandalism repair to two front windows.
- 107 fire-sprinkler heads replaced
- New sanctuary flooring
- Interior LED lighting conversion
- AED installed in lobby
- ADA-compliant water fountain with bottle dispenser
- Stairwell transition repair
- Future projects: pew replacement ($108,000), exterior-mosaic lighting upgrade, front-window vandalism repair ($3,500)
Patron Saint — Saint Jude Thaddeus
Saint Jude Thaddeus, one of the Twelve Apostles and a relative (according to tradition) of Jesus, is venerated as the patron saint of hopeless or 'difficult' cases — and is invoked by those facing seemingly impossible situations. The chapel is officially dedicated to him, and people of all Christian denominations are invited to ask his intercession. His feast day is celebrated on October 28, alongside Saint Simon.
- Patron of hopeless / difficult cases
- Apostle and Martyr
- Feast day October 28 (with Saint Simon)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jonathan Austinserving c. 2013–2021
Led St. Jude Chapel during the mid-2010s; described in a 2014 parish profile as the priest leading daily Mass, daily confessions, Bible studies and other devotions downtown.
- Rev. Stephen Bierschenk2021–2025
Reassigned as Chaplain of St. Jude Chapel in July 2021 from the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, where he had been rector. Retired effective June 30, 2025, after four years as chaplain at St. Jude.
- Rev. James DormanJuly 2025–present
Appointed by Bishop Edward J. Burns as Chaplain of St. Jude Chapel and Chaplain of Baylor University Medical Center, effective July 1, 2025; previously Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Parish, Dallas. Ordained a Catholic priest May 26, 2018.
- Monsignor Arthur C. Hughesfounder; dream nurtured c. 1942–1968
Lay/clerical founder whose quarter-century vision produced the chapel; honored as the realization of a 'long-held dream' in a 1968 letter from John Kebrle.
- Bishop Thomas K. Gorman1968 (dedication)
Bishop of Dallas who formally dedicated the chapel on September 15, 1968.