About St. Mary · Gainesville, Texas
St. Mary Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Gainesville, Texas, the county seat of Cooke County, located about 65 miles north of Fort Worth on Interstate 35. Established in 1894 and currently serving roughly 1,200 registered families, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Fort Worth and offers Mass in both English and Spanish across eight weekly celebrations. Under the pastoral leadership of Father John Pacheco, supported by three permanent deacons, the parish also operates St. Mary's Catholic School (PK3–8) on the same Weaver Street campus. The parish lives out the diocesan motto 'One Bread, One Body' through daily and Sunday Mass, three weekly periods of Eucharistic Adoration, a parish-wide religious education program, and sacramental preparation including RCIA.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. John Pacheco
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers one of the most complete Catholic experiences in north Texas, with eight Masses each week celebrated in both English and Spanish, weekly confession on Saturday afternoons, and three distinct periods of Eucharistic Adoration during the week. Families with school-age children can send their children to St. Mary's Catholic School on the same block, and the parish runs a parish-wide religious education program under a Director of Religious Education who coordinates RCIA and sacramental preparation for all ages. With three permanent deacons, a Spanish-language Mass each Sunday, and a Spanish Holy Hour on the last Saturday night of the month, the parish is a true bilingual Catholic home for Cooke County.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM (in the Rectory / Church)
- 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM (following the School Mass)
- 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Last Saturday of the month, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Spanish)
About St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Mary Catholic Church, located on Weaver Street in Gainesville, Texas, is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth that lives out its identity under the banner 'One Bread, One Body.' The parish was established in 1894 in the county seat of Cooke County, about 65 miles north of Fort Worth on Interstate 35, and today serves roughly 1,200 registered families. St. Mary's is a bilingual parish, offering liturgical and sacramental life in both English and Spanish, and partners with its parish school to form the next generation of Catholics in north Texas.
- Established 1894
- Diocese of Fort Worth
- Approximately 1,200 registered families
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, Rev. John Pacheco, who serves alongside three permanent deacons — Jerome Caplinger, Gelasio García, and David Finch — and a lay Business Manager, Pam Hoedebeck. The St. Mary's Catholic School office is staffed by Principal Amber Fuhrmann, Business Manager Pam Hoedebeck, and Administrative Assistant Diana Schumacher. Parish and school work in close cooperation to deliver faith formation across all age groups.
- Pastor: Rev. John Pacheco
- Deacon: Jerome Caplinger
- Deacon: Gelasio García
- Deacon: David Finch
- Business Manager: Pam Hoedebeck
- School Principal: Amber Fuhrmann
- School Administrative Assistant: Diana Schumacher
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Mary offers eight Masses each week, welcoming Catholics of Cooke County and visitors passing through on Interstate 35. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:15 AM and 11:15 AM in English and at 1:00 PM in Spanish. A vigil Mass is held Saturday evening at 5:00 PM. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 AM and on Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM. For those unable to attend in person, the parish points to the live broadcast of the 11:00 AM Mass from St. Patrick Cathedral via the Diocese of Fort Worth website.
- Monday 8:00 AM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM
- Friday 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday 8:15 AM (English)
- Sunday 11:15 AM (English)
- Sunday 1:00 PM (Spanish)
Sacraments & Faith Formation
A parish-wide Director of Religious Education (DRE) coordinates faith formation for all ages under the guidelines of the Diocesan Office of Religious Education. The DRE supports catechists, selects curriculum, and directs sacramental preparation programs including First Communion, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The DRE collaborates with the pastor, school principal, and parish staff to maintain continuity between the parish school and the wider parish's religious education programs.
- Parish Director of Religious Education
- RCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Catechist formation and support
- Coordination between parish and St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School is a parish school serving students from Pre-K3 through eighth grade at 931 North Weaver Street, adjacent to the church campus. According to the school, its mission is to 'foster a faith-filled community of lifelong learners and compassionate leaders committed to living out Catholic values and following Jesus' example through prayer, service and love.' Students are known as the Mustangs, and the school partners closely with the parish DRE to ensure parish and school religious-education programs reinforce one another.
- Grades: PK3–8
- Address: 931 North Weaver, Gainesville, TX 76240
- Principal: Amber Fuhrmann
- Business Manager: Pam Hoedebeck
- Administrative Assistant: Diana Schumacher
- Mascot: Mustangs
Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary Catholic Church by phone, fax, email, or by stopping by the parish office in person. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Address: 825 N. Weaver St., Gainesville, TX 76240
- Phone: (940) 665-5395
- Fax: (940) 665-0957
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Diocese of Fort Worth
St. Mary Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth, and the parish schedule is published in the diocesan parish finder (fwdioc.org). The diocese also provides a daily livestream Mass from St. Patrick Cathedral (11:00 AM) for those who cannot attend in person.