About St. Mary Catholic Center · College Station, Texas
St. Mary's Catholic Center is the Catholic campus ministry serving Texas A&M University, Blinn College, and RELLIS in College Station, Texas. Founded in 1904 by Monsignor John Baptist Gleissner, it is one of the largest and most recognized Catholic college ministries in the United States, serving an estimated 17,000 Catholic students. The new 1,500-seat church, dedicated on July 29, 2023, combines Byzantine Romanesque and Spanish Colonial architecture and is decorated with stained glass and artwork in the Beuron Art School tradition. Two of its former pastors — Michael Sis (now Bishop of San Angelo) and David Konderla (now Bishop of Tulsa) — have been elevated to the episcopate, reflecting the parish's strong reputation for fostering priestly and religious vocations.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Will Straten ('00)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers Catholic students at Texas A&M, Blinn, and RELLIS an unusually large, vibrant, and intentional community: more than a dozen Masses each week (including a Spanish Mass), daily and extensive Eucharistic Adoration in the Historic Chapel (Mon–Fri 8 AM–10 PM during school year), small groups, FOCUS Bible studies, student-led ministry organizations, formation tracks, mission trips, and a beautiful new 1,500-seat church completed in 2023. Its reputation for fostering priestly and religious vocations — including two bishop-alumni pastors — makes it distinctive among U.S. campus ministries.
Mass times at St. Mary Catholic Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday 8:45 AM, 1:00 PM (Spanish), 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (during school year, Historic Chapel)
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
History of St. Mary's Catholic Center
Catholic ministry at Texas A&M began in April 1904 when Msgr. John Baptist Gleissner began offering Mass for A&M cadets in a classroom of the old Civil Engineering building, having been inspired by six cadets who walked six miles to attend Mass at St. Joseph's in Bryan. By 1927 the Knights of Columbus of Texas funded the construction of a 250-seat chapel, cornerstone laid January 9, 1927. After the Diocese of Austin was formed in 1948, Bishop Louis J. Reicher authorized $200,000 for a new student center, chapel, and priest's residence; Gleissner died in 1953 before the new chapel was built. A red-brick colonial chapel seating 550 followed in 1958, and St. Mary's was granted full parish status in 1968. Through the leadership of successive pastors — including Bishop Mike Sis, Bishop David Konderla, Fr. Brian McMaster, and current pastor Fr. Will Straten — the parish grew into one of the largest Catholic campus ministries in the country, culminating in the dedication of the new 1,500-seat church on July 29, 2023.
- April 1904: First Mass for A&M cadets in Civil Engineering building
- Jan. 9, 1927: Cornerstone laid for original St. Mary's Chapel (250 seats)
- 1948: Bryan–College Station transferred to the new Diocese of Austin
- Feb. 28, 1953: Msgr. Gleissner dies
- 1954: Fr. Charles Elmer becomes first resident chaplain
- 1958: Red-brick colonial chapel opens (550 seats)
- 1968: St. Mary's granted parish status; Fr. Bernard Mahoney named first full-time pastor
- 1982: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish founded, allowing St. Mary's to focus on students
- 1993: Fr. Mike Sis becomes pastor
- 2004: 100-year anniversary of Catholic ministry at A&M
- 2013: 'Fruit That Will Last' capital campaign launched
- Oct. 22, 2019: JPII Addition dedicated (feast of St. John Paul II)
- May 19, 2021: Groundbreaking for new church
- July 29, 2023: New 1,500-seat church dedicated by Bishop Joe Vásquez
Mission & Identity
St. Mary's Catholic Center exists 'to form apostles for the Church and the world by inviting college students into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.' The parish empowers and equips students to live out this encounter daily, surrounded by an authentic community of believers. As a ministry of the Diocese of Austin, it upholds the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and serves the Texas A&M University, Blinn College, and RELLIS communities.
- Slogan: 'Forming apostles for the Church and the world'
- Primary community: Texas A&M, Blinn College, RELLIS students
- Approximately 17,000 Catholic students served
Architecture of the New Church (2023)
The new St. Mary's church was designed in a hybrid Byzantine Romanesque and Spanish Colonial vernacular style, with interior artwork and stained glass in the Beuron Art School tradition. Katherine Kelly served as consultant on stained glass and art integration. Key features include a dome-on-cube design, a domed apse housing the tabernacle, a prominent rose window depicting Christ (visible inside and out), a 9-foot gold statue of Our Lady of Victoria atop a cupola, and a baptismal font supporting both pouring and full-body immersion, topped with a gold statue of John the Baptist baptizing Christ. The church seats approximately 1,500, nearly double the 800-seat predecessor.
- Style: Byzantine Romanesque / Spanish Colonial vernacular
- Seating: ~1,500
- Art consultant: Katherine Kelly (Beuron Art School tradition)
- Dedicated July 29, 2023 by Bishop Joe Vásquez
The Historic (1958) Chapel
The 1958 red-brick colonial-style chapel remains on the property and is now used as the 'Historic Chapel' for daily Mass and Eucharistic Exposition. It features tall white columns supporting the entry portico, a white tower with green slate roof, an altar of maroon and white oriental and domestic marble, Stations of the Cross and crucifix executed in Belgium and Italy, and a tabernacle made in the Netherlands that is still in use today. The marble-topped communion rail was removed after the Second Vatican Council.
- Built June 1956–1958
- Original capacity: 550 nave + 50 choir loft/cry room
- Marble altar and Dutch tabernacle preserved
- Currently used for daily Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Pastoral Staff
The current pastor is Fr. Will Straten (Texas A&M Class of 2000). Fr. Fernando Ricaud serves as Associate Pastor. Three deacons — David Reed, Aurelio Cadena, and Tom Collier — assist in ministry. Sister Briana Santiago ('13) is on staff as a member of the Apostles of the Interior Life. The broader staff includes a Director of Music (Mike Macicek '97), Assistant Music Director (Truely Nguyen '21), Director of Liturgy (David Ojeda '19), Director of Campus Ministry (John Stevenson '11), Director of Pastoral Counseling (Amanda Kapchinski '12), Formation Campus Minister (Kevin Pesek '10), Men's Campus Minister (Matt Castaneda '23), Organizations & Service Campus Minister (Jenny Lynn Pelzel '08), and Pastoral Assistant (Libby Diamond '22).
- Pastor: Fr. Will Straten
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Fernando Ricaud
- Deacons: David Reed, Aurelio Cadena, Tom Collier
- Sister: Briana Santiago (Apostles of the Interior Life)
- FOCUS missionaries on campus: 8 full-time
Student Ministries & Small Groups
St. Mary's offers a wide spectrum of student-led groups and ministries. Catholics on the Quad, John 15, and Home Groups provide small-group community and Bible study. Pescadores serves Spanish-speaking students. SMYRT (St. Mary's Youth Retreat Team) leads retreats for junior high and high school students. Kappa Theta Beta (KTB) — Daughters of the King — is a women's fellowship and service group. The Rock is a student-led praise and worship ministry. Knights of Columbus has a council active on campus. FOCUS sends 8 full-time missionaries who lead Bible studies, discipleship, and over 150 mission trips annually.
- Catholics on the Quad
- John 15 small groups
- Home Groups
- Pescadores (Spanish-speaking)
- St. Mary's Youth Retreat Team (SMYRT)
- Kappa Theta Beta (KTB — Daughters of the King)
- The Rock (praise & worship)
- Knights of Columbus
- FOCUS Bible studies and discipleship
Outreach & Service
Service is integrated into the parish's mission of forming apostles. St. Mary's offers local service opportunities in Bryan–College Station, mission trips over winter, spring, and summer breaks (more than 150 options through FOCUS), and long-term service discernment. Jenny Lynn Pelzel serves as Organizations & Service Campus Minister. Events such as Nun Run (visiting religious sisters) and Seminary Sprint (visuing seminarians) encourage discernment of consecrated life and priesthood.
- Local service projects
- FOCUS mission trips (150+ options)
- Nun Run and Seminary Sprint discernment events
- Loving Others outreach ministry
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
St. Mary's celebrates the sacraments of Baptism (the font in the new church supports both pouring and full-body immersion), Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (six days a week plus Sundays), Marriage (with preparation), and Anointing of the Sick. Pastoral counseling is available through Director Amanda Kapchinski. The Director of Liturgy (David Ojeda) coordinates accommodations for those with celiac disease or extreme gluten allergy — a separate chalice is used. The church is accessible: ramps, accessible seating, and the Listen Everywhere assistive-listening app for the hearing impaired.
- Baptism (pouring or immersion)
- Reconciliation: 6 days/week
- Eucharist: 14 Masses/week + Adoration
- Marriage preparation
- Pastoral counseling (Amanda Kapchinski)
- Gluten-free accommodations available
Campus & Community Life
Beyond liturgical life, St. Mary's integrates into the rhythms of Texas A&M. The community shares in campus traditions such as Midnight Yell (the Aggie football pep rally), Silver Taps (a memorial tribute), and other signature events. Magnify — a monthly gathering featuring a speaker, musicians, praise and worship, and Eucharistic Adoration — is one of the largest recurring events. The parish also publishes an Aggie Catholic book chronicling the history and culture of the community.
- Magnify (monthly speaker + Adoration)
- Midnight Yell, Silver Taps, Reveille traditions
- Aggie Catholic book by Larry G. Pesek
- Custom parish app for community communication
Visiting St. Mary's
St. Mary's is in the Northgate area across from Texas A&M at 603 Church Ave., College Station, TX 77840. Parking is available around the center; a parking map is published on the website. Sunday Masses at 8:45 and 11:00 AM fill quickly — early arrival is encouraged. The new church was designed to be aesthetically beautiful, encounter-focused, and rooted in Catholic tradition. Visitors are welcomed in the Narthex after Mass.
- Address: 603 Church Ave, College Station, TX 77840
- Phone: (979) 846-5717
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: aggiecatholic.org
- Parking map available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John Baptist Gleissner1904–1953
Founder of Catholic campus ministry at Texas A&M; began saying Mass for A&M cadets in April 1904; oversaw construction of original 1927 St. Mary's Chapel; made Monsignor in 1931; died February 28, 1953.
- Fr. Charles Elmer1954–
First resident chaplain to A&M students after Gleissner's death; raised funds for the student center behind the original chapel.
- Fr. Bernard Mahoney1968–
First full-time pastor of St. Mary's after it received parish status in 1968 from the Bishop; established the first parish council.
- Fr. Elmer Holtmanafter Mahoney
Succeeded Fr. Mahoney and provided continuity after a period of priestly turnover in the late 1960s.
- Fr. Adam Martinezearly 1990s–January 1993
Pastor in early 1990s; reassigned in January 1993, succeeded by Fr. Mike Sis.
- Fr. Mike Sis1993–~2006
Now Bishop of San Angelo; transformed the parish into a nationally recognized campus ministry by the 100-year anniversary in 2004; created student groups SMYRT, Kappa Theta Beta, Pescadores, daily Adoration, The Rock, Nun Run, Seminary Sprint.
- Fr. David Konderlaafter Sis
Now Bishop of Tulsa; launched the 'Fruit That Will Last' capital campaign in 2013 which raised $11 million for the JPII Addition (dedicated 2019).
- Fr. Brian McMaster2016–October 2020
Texas A&M Class of 1995 — the first Aggie pastor of St. Mary's; launched the formal 'New Church Campaign' in 2017; resigned October 2020 after the diocese received a report he had crossed emotional and physical boundaries with an adult.
- Fr. Will Straten2020–present
Texas A&M Class of 2000; oversaw construction and July 29, 2023 dedication of the new 1,500-seat church; continues as pastor.
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