About St. Louis · Castroville, Texas
St. Louis Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Castroville, Texas — the only Alsatian colony in the United States, founded by the French-Alsatian entrepreneur Henri Castro. The parish was established in 1844, just eight days after Castro founded the town, making it one of the first ten parishes in Texas. It is dedicated to St. Louis IX of France and belongs to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The current limestone church, built in 1870 in a simple Gothic Revival style, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (designated 1966) and is recognizable throughout the community by its tall spire.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Louis IX of France (King Louis IX of France)
- Rector
- Rev. Jean-Oscar (J.O.) Nlandu Bayekula, CICM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Louis Catholic Church is one of the oldest and most storied parishes in Texas — a living landmark of the state's Alsatian Catholic heritage — yet it remains a vibrant, active community. Worshippers can join daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, spend Thursdays in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and gather for the annual Saint Louis Day celebration with shuttle service from the parish grounds. With a parish school (3K–5th grade), an OCIA/RCIA program for adults, Faith Formation for grades 1–11, a pregnancy center, ministry to the sick, a choir, and many parish ministries, there are many ways to get involved.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.
- Thursday: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (English, Spanish & French)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Solemn Benediction with Liturgy of the Hours
Our History
St. Louis Catholic Church has been the spiritual heart of Castroville since 1844, only eight days after Henri Castro founded his Alsatian colony. The parish has been served by three successive stone churches, the present one erected in 1870 under Father Peter Richard. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966, its tall spire still rises above the town, visible from all of Castroville. Read more at the church's official Our History page.
- Cornerstone laid September 12, 1844 by Vicar-General Jean Marie Odin
- First parish priest: John Gregory Pfanner (1845)
- Second church built 1850 under Rev. Claude Marie Dubuis
- Current (third) church built 1870 under Father Peter Richard (pastor 1868–1880)
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmark — 1966
- Spire added 1908; stained-glass windows installed beginning 1908
Architecture
The third St. Louis Church (1870) is a limestone building whose simple Gothic Revival detailing is described by architectural historians as more stylish than most stone churches of the period in Texas. Its interior columns and timber trusses supporting the nave roof are unusually sophisticated for so remote a congregation, and the soaring spire (added 1908) makes the church a town-wide landmark.
Parish Team & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Jean-Oscar (J.O.) Nlandu Bayekula, CICM, appointed Pastor on October 1, 2024. He previously served as Pastor of St. Bonaventure Church in the Archdiocese of San Antonio from 2017 to 2022 and is a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionhurst/CICM). He is assisted by a pastoral team including full-time Deacon Dennis Lopez and retired/part-time Deacon Richard Hoedebecke, a faith-formation director, business manager, parish secretary, cemetery secretary, school bookkeeper, receptionist and other lay staff.
- Rev. Jean-Oscar (J.O.) Nlandu Bayekula, CICM — Pastor
- Deacon Dennis Lopez — Full-time Deacon
- Deacon Richard Hoedebecke — Retired / Part-time Deacon
- Faith Formation Director (Deborah Ruiz)
- Business Manager (Sylvia R.)
- Parish Secretary
- Cemetery Secretary
- School Bookkeeper
- Receptionist (Carolyn W.)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Louis offers a full faith-formation program from grade 1 through 11, plus a Family Catechesis option for parents who want to teach their children at home with monthly Sunday fellowship. Adult inquiry and sacramental preparation is handled through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), offered in both English and Spanish, with registration typically held in late September.
- Grades 1–7: Sundays 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
- Grades 8–11: Sundays 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
- Family Catechesis (monthly): Sundays 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
- OCIA adult classes in English and Spanish
- Director of Religious Education: Deborah Ruiz
- Registration held in August (after Sept. 1 by appointment)
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
Adults who are curious about the Catholic faith — unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already Catholic and seeking Confirmation — are welcomed through OCIA. The process is paced, with no pressure to sign up, and culminates in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) typically at the Easter Vigil.
- OCIA registration: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7:00 p.m. at Braden Keller Community Center
- Offered in both English and Spanish
- Contact: parish office 830-931-2826
St. Louis Catholic School
St. Louis Catholic School serves students from 3K through 5th grade on the parish campus. Its mission is a "God-Centered" education that develops the whole child — spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically — partnering with families to help every student reach his or her full potential.
- Grades served: 3K – 5th
- Christian, God-centered curriculum
- Complements the home in faith and formation
Outreach & Parish Life
Beyond the sanctuary and the school, the parish operates a Pregnancy Center and a Ministry to the Sick, supports St. Louis Youth, and maintains a parish cemetery. The annual Saint Louis Day celebration draws the wider community together and offers free shuttle bus parking from the church to Koenig Park.
- St. Louis Pregnancy Center
- Ministry to the Sick
- St. Louis Youth
- Parish Cemetery (Cemetery Secretary on staff)
- Saint Louis Day — annual community festival with church-to-Koenig Park shuttle
Visit & Contact
The parish office and church are located at 610 Madrid Street in Castroville, Texas. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to come for daily Mass, Thursday Adoration, or the Sunday Vigil — and to register through the parish if they want to call St. Louis their spiritual home.
- Address: 610 Madrid Street, Castroville, TX 78009
- Phone: (830) 931-2826
- Website: stlouiscastroville.com
- Facebook: St.Louis Catholic Church-Castroville Texas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- John Gregory Pfanner1845 (relieved of duties)
First parish priest of St. Louis; relieved of his duties in 1845.
- Rev. Claude Marie Dubuis1847–c.1850
Replaced Pfanner; erected the second St. Louis church in 1850 with assistant Rev. Emmanuel Domenech. Later became a Bishop of Texas.
- Order of Friars Minor Conventual1852–1858
European priests who staffed the parish; withdrawn due to high mortality from the unaccustomed climate.
- Benedictines1858–1868
Followed the Conventual Franciscans; also withdrawn from the Texas missions for the same health reasons.
- Father Peter Richard1868–1880
Under his pastorate, the parishioners erected the third (current) church in 1870.