About St. Mary · Cleveland, Texas
St. Mary Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish in Cleveland, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Beaumont. The parish traces its origins to 1951, when fifteen pioneer Catholic families in the Cleveland area realized their long-held dream of building a church. In February 2021, Bishop Toups blessed a new 13,000-square-foot church at 904 Kirbywood Drive on what was once the Kirbywood Golf Course. Weekend Masses are now celebrated in the new church while weekday Masses and the parish offices remain at the original 702 E. Houston St. site. The parish has been served primarily by priests of the Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.) since 2002, and is currently pastored by Fr. Andy Vu, S.V.D.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (the parish is named 'St. Mary's')
- Rector
- Fr. Andy Vu, S.V.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a welcoming bilingual Catholic community with deep pioneer roots and a brand-new church built for growth. Weekend Masses are offered in both English and Spanish, with daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before every weekend Mass, an active parish school of religious education (CCE classrooms completed in 1988), and ministries serving the Spanish-speaking and English-speaking faithful alike. Families looking for a parish that honors its history while building for the future will find St. Mary's a faithful home in the Diocese of Beaumont.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half an hour before every weekend Mass
- Sunday 7:00 am–7:20 am
- Sunday 9:30 am–9:50 am
- Sunday 11:30 am–11:50 am
- Saturday 4:30 pm–4:50 pm
- Saturday 6:30 pm–6:50 pm
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Mary's was dedicated on October 21, 1951, after fifteen pioneer Catholic families turned years of prayer, home gatherings, and fundraising into a permanent church in Cleveland, Texas. The parish's origin story — Mrs. Bessie Simms Austin's land donation, a $500 bank account found at the Farmers State Bank, and the matching grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society — is documented in detail on the parish's own 'About' page and reflects the close-knit, cooperative spirit that still defines the community.
- 1949: Mrs. Austin discovers $500 account intended for a Catholic church; donates land on Highway 321.
- 1951: Construction begins under Don K. Jones; church dedicated October 21, 1951.
- 1954: Parish buys adjoining lot and house from Mr. and Mrs. Don Belt, Sr. for its first full-time pastor.
- 1981: First St. Mary's Bazaar at Stancil Park (Oct 3); first Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass and Supper (Dec 12).
- 1983: Church enlarged, new roof, porch absorbed, parish hall extended with offices and conference room.
- 1988: CCE classrooms completed.
- 1990: Transferred from the Diocese of Houston–Galveston to the Diocese of Beaumont.
- March 8, 2020: Groundbreaking for the new church at 904 Kirbywood Drive.
- February 14, 2021: New church blessed by Bishop Toups.
New Church Building (2021)
On March 8, 2020, St. Mary's — described as one of the fastest-growing parishes in the Diocese of Beaumont — broke ground on a 13,000-square-foot church at 904 Kirbywood Drive, on what was formerly Kirbywood Golf Course. The building is Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan. Bishop Toups blessed the new church on February 14, 2021, joined by Bishop Emeritus Curtis Guillory, S.V.D.; Fr. Andy Vu, S.V.D.; Fr. Michael Jamail; Fr. Michael Somers, S.V.D. (Provincial of the Southern Province); and Fr. Justin Arockiasamy, S.V.D. (District Superior of Texas). Funding included a grant from The John G. and Marie Stella Kennedy Memorial Foundation.
- Address: 904 Kirbywood Dr., Cleveland, TX 77327.
- Site: former Kirbywood Golf Course.
- Area: 13,000 sq. ft., Phase 1 of multi-phase master plan.
- Blessing: February 14, 2021.
Original Church & Parish Hall
The original 1951 Swedish-style church at 702 E. Houston Street — designed by architect George C. McHale — was enlarged in 1983 (new roof, porch absorbed into nave) and remains in active use. The parish hall was extended that same year with a conference room and offices. The 702 E. Houston Street site continues to house the parish offices and weekday Masses.
- Designed 1951 by architect George C. McHale in a Swedish-style.
- Enlarged 1983 with new roof and parish-hall offices/conference room.
- Hosts weekday Masses and parish offices.
Hispanic & Spanish-Language Ministry
Spanish-language Masses at St. Mary's were organized by Fr. Leonard F. Will, S.C.J. (1975–1981) and continued under Fr. Charles McBride. The parish continues that tradition today with Spanish Masses every Saturday evening, twice on Sunday, and one weekday Mass, making St. Mary's a true bilingual community in the Diocese of Beaumont.
- Spanish Masses organized in 1975 under Fr. Will, S.C.J.
- First Spanish/English social: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass and Supper, December 12, 1981.
Parish Faith Formation & School
St. Mary's has long invested in the religious education of its children. CCE (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classrooms were completed in December 1988 and ready for students the following January. The parish continues to teach Christian doctrine to its young parishioners, in keeping with the original pioneer families' practice of teaching their children the faith at home.
- CCE classrooms completed December 1988.
- Religious education programs for parish children.
Parish Community Life & Festivals
Community life is central to St. Mary's identity. The first St. Mary's Bazaar was held at Stancil Park on October 3, 1981, and continues as an annual parish festival. The parish also hosts the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration (first held December 12, 1981), a beloved Spanish/English gathering. The original pioneer families' practice of gathering in homes to pray the rosary, study the Bible, and teach doctrine continues to shape parish life today.
- Annual St. Mary's Bazaar (since 1981, Stancil Park).
- Annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass and Supper (since 1981).
- Home prayer and study groups tracing back to the pioneer era.
Visit, Contact & Giving
St. Mary's welcomes new parishioners and visitors. The parish office is at 702 E. Houston Street, Cleveland, TX 77327, phone (281) 592-2985, email [email protected]. Weekend Masses are celebrated at the new church at 904 Kirbywood Drive. Online giving is available through the parish website, which is part of the Diocese of Beaumont's online platform.
- Parish office: 702 E. Houston St., Cleveland, TX 77327.
- Phone: (281) 592-2985.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: https://stmarysclevelandtexas.com/
- Diocese: Diocese of Beaumont.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerard Kennedy, O.M.I.1952–1954
First priest of St. Mary's; Oblate of Mary Immaculate from Immaculate Conception mother house in Houston. Also served mission in Humble.
- Fr. James J. Gordon, O.M.I.1954–1964
- Fr. James Conway, O.M.I.1965–1966
- Fr. Daniel J. Lynch, O.M.I.1966–1974
- Fr. Thomas Simcox, S.C.J.1974–1975
- Fr. Leonard F. Will, S.C.J.1975–1981
Organized the parish's first Spanish-language Masses.
- Fr. Charles McBride1981–1982
Continued Spanish Masses begun under Fr. Will.
- Fr. Anthony Stredney1983–1985
- Fr. Kenneth E. Mikulik1986–1987
- Fr. John B. Jones1987–1988
- Fr. Jeremiah Murphy, M.S.C.1988–1993
- Fr. Michael Dwyer, M.S.C.1993–1997
- Fr. Angelo D. Scolozzi, M.C.1997–1999
- Fr. Joseph Malayampuram, C.M.1999–2002
- Fr. Paul P. Kahan, S.V.D.2002–2008
Began long tenure of Society of the Divine Word pastors.
- Fr. Eric Groner, S.V.D.2008–2013
- Fr. Vincent Alexius, S.V.D.2013–2020
- Fr. Andy Vu, S.V.D.2020–present
Current pastor; led construction and 2021 blessing of the new church at 904 Kirbywood Drive.