About St. Lawrence Brindisi · Waskom, Texas
St. Lawrence of Brindisi is a Catholic mission parish located in Waskom, Texas, in the East Central Deanery of the Diocese of Tyler. It is a mission church of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Jefferson, and was established on February 12, 1982. The parish serves a bilingual community, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish, and is currently administered by Rev. Gabriel Uzondu. The mission's website is stlawrencewaskom.org, and it is supported by a Facebook community group for ongoing parish news and events.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. Lawrence of Brindisi
- Rector
- Rev. Gabriel Uzondu (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
St. Lawrence of Brindisi is a small, bilingual mission parish that warmly welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Waskom area of East Texas. With daily and Sunday Mass in both languages, regular Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and Stations of the Cross during Lent, it offers a rich devotional life. The parish is deeply woven into the community — co-hosting the annual Spring Highway 80 Yard and Bake Sale with the City of Waskom — and it is supported by a dedicated Facebook group and the Diocese of Tyler's East Central Deanery. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic in Harrison County or passing through on I-20, it's an accessible place to worship and belong.
Mass times at St. Lawrence Brindisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Holy Week only)
- Tuesday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (before or after evening Mass on request)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM (anytime after the 9 AM Mass, including during Adoration until evening Mass)
- Thursday: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (before or after evening Mass on request)
- 1st Friday: 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM (also during the Vigil for Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays after the 9:00 AM English Mass until 10:00 AM
- Wednesdays after the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass until 8:00 PM
About St. Lawrence of Brindisi Mission
St. Lawrence of Brindisi is a small bilingual Catholic mission parish serving Waskom, Texas, and the surrounding Harrison County area. Established on February 12, 1982, and entrusted to the Diocese of Tyler, it operates as a mission of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Jefferson. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish every Sunday and offers a robust weekly devotional schedule that includes daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and Lenten Stations of the Cross. The mission is part of the Diocese of Tyler's East Central Deanery, which includes parishes across Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, and Rusk counties. As a mission of Immaculate Conception in Jefferson, it is shepherded by priests assigned to that parish and to St. Joseph Parish in Marshall, ensuring the small community is connected to the wider diocesan family.
History & Pastoral Leadership
The mission was canonically erected in February 1982 to serve Catholics in and around Waskom, a small city along Highway 80 east of Marshall. Over the decades the parish has been cared for by priests assigned from neighboring parishes — chiefly St. Joseph in Marshall and Immaculate Conception in Jefferson — reflecting the mission's collaborative role within the deanery. Rev. Gabriel Uzondu currently serves as Parochial Administrator, having been assigned responsibility for the mission in July 2023 in conjunction with his role as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall and Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson. The Diocese of Tyler clergy directory lists him as Administrator of St. Lawrence Waskom.
- Canonically established February 12, 1982
- Mission of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Jefferson
- Part of the East Central Deanery, Diocese of Tyler
- Current Administrator: Rev. Gabriel Uzondu (since July 2023)
- Previously administered by Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi (2020–2023)
- Pastoral care supported by priests assigned from St. Joseph Parish in Marshall
Devotions & Special Liturgies
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish keeps several traditional Catholic devotions active, including First Friday Reparation to the Sacred Heart, First Saturday Mass for the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Lenten Stations of the Cross in both English and Spanish. The parish has also hosted a multi-session catechetical series featuring Scripture scholar Dr. Brant Pitre, covering topics such as 'The Jewish Roots of the Sanctuary,' 'The Mass as a Sacrifice,' 'The Real Presence,' and 'The Biblical Mysticism of the Mass.'
- First Friday Vigil for Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (7:30 PM English)
- First Saturday Mass for the Immaculate Heart of Mary (9:00 AM English)
- Stations of the Cross during Lent — English after Friday 9 AM Mass
- Vía Crucis during Lent — Spanish after Friday 6 PM Mass (except First Fridays)
- Dr. Brant Pitre catechetical series on the Mass and the Eucharist
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Although a small mission, St. Lawrence of Brindisi maintains an active community life. Its ministries center on bilingual liturgical celebration, Eucharistic adoration, traditional Catholic devotions (First Friday, First Saturday, Lenten Stations), and ongoing catechetical formation through parish study series. The mission is also known for partnering with the City of Waskom to host the annual Spring Highway 80 Yard and Bake Sale, drawing local vendors and visitors to the parish grounds.
- Bilingual liturgical celebrations
- Eucharistic Adoration ministry (Wednesdays)
- First Friday / First Saturday devotional programs
- Lenten Stations of the Cross (English and Spanish)
- Parish study series (Dr. Brant Pitre)
- Annual Spring Highway 80 Yard and Bake Sale with the City of Waskom
- Parish communications and updates via Facebook group
Community Events: Spring Highway 80 Yard & Bake Sale
Each spring, St. Lawrence of Brindisi partners with the City of Waskom to host the Spring Highway 80 Yard and Bake Sale on the parish grounds. The two-day event opens at 7:00 AM each day and opens to the broader community to walk and shop at 11:00 AM. Local vendors — including Cyntia's Tamales, Elli's Crafts, Ramoncito's Ice Cream Truck, a BBQ Food Truck, and Lazy Beagles Farm — set up alongside parish bake sales and yard-sale booths, making it one of the most visible moments of parish outreach in the region.
- Co-hosted with the City of Waskom each April
- Two-day festival format (starts 7 AM, opens for walking shopping at 11 AM)
- Vendor inquiries: Sarah Lirette at (985) 688-0057
- Featured local vendors include Cyntia's Tamales, Elli's Crafts, Ramoncito's Ice Cream Truck, BBQ Food Truck, and Lazy Beagles Farm
Visit, Contact & Location
Parishioners and visitors can find the mission at 1465 West Texas Avenue in Waskom, Texas — a location on Highway 80 east of Marshall that's easy to reach from Interstate 20. The parish office can be reached at (903) 687-2385, and the parish maintains an active Facebook community group at facebook.com/groups/1668581533517535/ for news, event updates, and announcements.
- Address: 1465 W Texas Ave, Waskom, TX 75692
- Phone: (903) 687-2385
- Website: https://stlawrencewaskom.org/
- Facebook group: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church, Waskom, Texas
- Located on Highway 80, convenient to Interstate 20
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard Botejuuntil November 2018
Priest-in-Charge; granted temporary medical leave effective January 1, 2019
- Rev. Msgr. Zach KunnakkattutharaNovember 2018 – c. June 2020
Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Jefferson and Priest-in-Charge of St. Lawrence Waskom, while remaining Pastor of St. Joseph Marshall
- Rev. Daniel OghenerukevweJanuary 2019 – c. June 2020
Assisted in pastoral care of St. Lawrence as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Marshall / Immaculate Conception Jefferson
- Rev. Emmanuel AkpobolokemiJune 2020 – c. July 2023
Parochial Administrator; transferred from Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall
- Rev. Gabriel UzonduJuly 2023 – present
Assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Marshall and Immaculate Conception Jefferson with responsibility for St. Lawrence Mission; currently listed as Administrator on the Diocese of Tyler clergy page