About St. Mary · Hearne, Texas
St. Mary Parish is a Catholic parish in Hearne, Texas, in the Bryan/College Station Deanery of the Diocese of Austin. It serves a bilingual (English/Spanish) community at 402 West First Street, with weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses — one in English and one in Spanish. The parish's mission statement emphasizes worship, education, and service as a means of handing on an authentic Catholic faith to the next generation. The parish community is led by Fr. Ramon Frayna, pastor, and currently includes a retired deacon, a Director of Religious Education, a parish secretary, and a bookkeeper.
- Patron
- St. Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Ramon Frayna
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Mary's Hearne offers a welcoming, bilingual Catholic community where small numbers mean real fellowship. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, provides weekday and Sunday Masses alongside Saturday confessions, and runs a Faith Formation program that hands the faith to the next generation. Active outreach, the annual church festival, and opportunities to volunteer in religious education make it a place where parishioners can worship, learn, and serve together.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00–4:45 PM
- First Friday: 7:00–8:00 AM
Welcome & Parish Mission
St. Mary Parish in Hearne welcomes visitors and parishioners with a clear mission: 'Through dedication to our Catholic Faith and a caring environment, we strive to live a Christ centered life. We believe that through worship, education and service we may hand on an authentic faith to provide hope for our next generation.' The parish describes itself as a community where worship, education, and service meet, and it actively seeks volunteers for Faith Formation and festival work.
Parish History
Catholic worship in Hearne goes back to the 1870s, when the International & Great Northern Railroad erected St. Theressa's Hospital and a frame chapel served by the Sisters of Charity. In 1893 Bishop N. A. Gallagher of Galveston sent Father Thomas Keany to tend the Hearne faithful, and soon a chapel was built. Successors Father P. Bienman, Father Gustav Wiese, and Father J. B. Gleissner (December 1897 – March 1904) shaped the parish; Father Gleissner built a rectory in 1898 and oversaw missions at Mexia, Calvert, Rockdale, Caldwell, Milano, and Franklin. After 1904, Fathers Spinnweber, J. J. Gallager, and George Hynes continued the work.
- Earliest Catholic families: Crenans, Bradys, Currys, Martins, Rileys, Connors, and Teelings.
- 1935 windstorm destroyed the East Fourth & San Antonio church; parishioners used St. Philip's Episcopal Church while rebuilding.
- New church built at Cypress and First Streets after 1935.
- Parish incorporated as a Texas nonprofit on October 8, 2007.
Our Staff
St. Mary's is served by a small, dedicated team. Fr. Ramon Frayna is the pastor, and Deacon Conception Luna serves as a retired deacon in support of parish life. Emily Kubacak serves as Director of Religious Education and oversees Faith Formation; Leticia Garza serves as parish secretary; and Cathy Vega serves as bookkeeper.
- Fr. Ramon Frayna — Pastor
- Deacon Conception Luna — Retired Deacon
- Emily Kubacak — Director of Religious Education
- Leticia Garza — Parish Secretary
- Cathy Vega — Bookkeeper
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is a core ministry at St. Mary's, reflecting the parish's mission of handing on the faith to the next generation. The parish offers classes for children and actively recruits volunteers to serve as catechists. The current published fee is $35 per student, and registration requires that the child be baptized and that the family be registered parishioners.
- Emily Kubacak coordinates Faith Formation ([email protected]).
- Volunteer catechists needed for next academic year.
- Registration fee: $35 per student.
- Requirements: child must be baptized; family must be registered parishioners.
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond liturgy and formation, St. Mary's runs an annual church festival that is described as more than a fundraiser — it is a community celebration. The parish also invites parishioners and friends to sponsor its website to help support its mission, and to volunteer in roles like catechist and festival helper.
- Annual parish festival / church festival
- Volunteer opportunities: catechists, festival helpers
- Website sponsorship program for parish supporters
Diocese & Deanery
St. Mary's is listed in the Diocese of Austin's Parish Finder as 'St. Mary Parish — Hearne.' It belongs to the Bryan/College Station Deanery, a regional grouping of parishes in the Brazos Valley, where Fr. Ramon Frayna is the listed pastor and parish contact.
- Diocese of Austin
- Bryan/College Station Deanery
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visitors and parishioners can reach the office by phone or email, and are warmly invited to attend any Mass or stop by during office hours.
- Address: 402 West First Street, Hearne, TX 77859
- Phone: (979) 279-2233
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Website: https://www.stmaryhearne.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Keany1893–(transferred mid-construction)
Appointed by Bishop N. A. Gallagher of Galveston to visit Hearne Catholics monthly; organized the building of a chapel; celebrated Mass in the William Crenan home.
- Father P. Bienman
Succeeded Father Keany and oversaw completion of the new chapel.
- Father Gustav Wiese1897 (approx. four months)
First resident priest; transferred to the Tours Settlement.
- Father J. B. GleissnerDecember 1897 – March 24, 1904
Built a rectory in 1898; oversaw missions at Mexia, Calvert, Rockdale, Caldwell, Milano, and Franklin. Later went on to serve St. Joseph's in Bryan and Texas A&M for nearly fifty years.
- Father SpinnweberAfter 1904
Served Hearne after Father Gleissner's removal to Bryan.
- Father J. J. GallagerAfter Father Spinnweber
Materially assisted with parish duties at Hearne.
- Father George HynesFollowing Father Gallager
Served Hearne in succession.