About St. Mary Magdalen · San Antonio, Texas
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is a bilingual, spirit-filled parish on the near-west side of San Antonio, within the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Founded in 1940 and served since 2000 by priests of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple, a charismatic Catholic community rooted in the Archdiocese, the parish today numbers roughly 2,500 families and runs more than fifty ministries, including the parish school (PK3–8th), faith formation, a vibrant adoration chapel, and outreach. Its mission statement is to 'help people have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, for the salvation of souls, the holiness of the Church, and the glory of God.'
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalen
- Rector
- Rev. Will Combs, BBD
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Parishioners keep coming back to St. Mary Magdalen for its warm bilingual worship, with English and Spanish Masses every day of the week, a packed healing Mass on the last Thursday of the month, and a quiet adoration chapel where the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed in Spanish and English each afternoon. With more than fifty ministries — from RCIA in both languages and teen Confirmation prep to a young-adult VERTS group, the school, food assistance, and a charismatic prayer community — there is a real place for every age and stage. The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple keep the focus on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the salvation of souls, which gives the parish a clear, hope-filled sense of purpose.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 – 5:45 PM (Spanish & English)
- Monday 8:00 PM
- By appointment; additional times offered during Lent and Advent
Adoration times
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayed Monday through Friday at 3:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- Holy Hours and Nocturnal Adoration organized through the parish Adoration ministry
Parish History
St. Mary Magdalen Parish was founded on January 1, 1940, by Rev. James M. Boyle, with its territory carved from Saint Ann's parish to the south to serve San Antonio's growing west side. The parish school opened in 1942 in a five-room frame residence moved onto the property, with two Incarnate Word Sisters teaching forty-five students in grades 1–4. The current church was built in 1960, and Jubilee Hall and the gym followed in 1990. Since 2000 the parish has been served by the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple, and under their leadership the parish has resurfaced its parking lot, stabilized its gym, purchased two houses on Alametos, and renovated the church with a new roof, A/C units, bathrooms, drainage, and entrances.
- Founded January 1, 1940
- First pastor: Rev. James M. Boyle
- School opened 1942 (first principal: Sister Mary Patricia, IW)
- Church built 1960; Jubilee Hall and Gym 1990
- BBD took over pastoral care June 1, 2000
- Pastors since 2000: Fr. Bob Hogan, Fr. Joseph Mary Marshall S.M., Fr. Will Combs BBD
Brothers of the Beloved Disciple
St. Mary Magdalen is the home parish of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple (BBD), a charismatic Catholic community founded in San Antonio in 1997 by Fathers George Montague, S.M., and Bob Hogan, taking their inspiration from the moment on Calvary when Jesus gave his mother to the Beloved Disciple and 'handed over the Spirit' (John 19:30). The Archdiocese entrusted St. Mary Magdalen to the BBDs on June 1, 2000, and the community's first member to be ordained priest was Will Combs in 2004. Fr. Bob Hogan switched his membership from the Marianists to the BBD in 2007.
- BBD founded August 1, 1997 on Davy Crockett Street, San Antonio
- Archdiocesan approval October 1998 (first stage of consecrated life)
- Given care of St. Mary Magdalen June 1, 2000
- Charism: bringing 'the full role of the Holy Spirit to the heart of the Church'
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, supported by two deacons, a treasurer, an office manager, a director of religious education, youth ministry, communications, music, kitchen, hall, and janitorial staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Will Combs, BBD
- Deacon Art Lozano — coordinates visits to the sick, homebound, and elderly
- Deacon Edgar Lozano
- Treasurer: Michael Hymel ([email protected])
- Office Manager: Karinna Soto ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Francis Portillo ([email protected])
- Office Staff: Consuelo Patiño, Lorena Valenzuela
- Scheduling/OVASE: Jovita Baltazar
- Youth Ministry Assistant: Allyssa Trujillo
- Communications: Martin Montalvan
- Music: Cindy Castillo (210-218-6111)
- Kitchen Manager: Raul Martinez
- Hall Manager: Jose Tienda
- Janitor: Magdalena Zapata
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation is offered for every age — children, teens, and adults — in both English and Spanish, through year-long programs meeting August through May.
- RCIA (English): Cathy Shafer, 210-843-9622
- RICA (Español): Minerva & Francisco Herrera, 210-508-0861 / 210-471-1901
- RCIC — children's catechumenate age 6+: Ofelia Rivera, 210-387-5377
- Teen Confirmation — grades 9–11; one year of Youth Ministry, one year of Confirmation classes, 10 community service hours, sponsor and retreat requirements
- Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation for children (parents assist)
- Natural Family Planning (Planificación Natural de Familia)
Youth & Young Adults
Discipleship and formation continue through school years and beyond with a parish Youth Group for teens and a young-adult ministry for the 18+ crowd.
- Youth Group — Alex Hayes, 210-994-3934
- VERTS Young Adult Ministry — Alyssa Trujillo, 210-632-5581
- Youth Ministry Assistant: Allyssa Trujillo ([email protected])
St. Mary Magdalen School
Founded in 1942 in a frame house moved onto the parish grounds, St. Mary Magdalen School — 'La Escuela' — is a PK3 through 8th-grade Catholic school and is recognized as San Antonio's only dual-language Catholic school. Students participate in daily prayer, religion classes, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration, along with a robust service program. The school is a member of the University of the Incarnate Word Brainpower Connection.
- Address: 1700 Clower St., San Antonio, TX 78201
- Phone: (210) 735-1381
- Website: stmmsa.org
- Contact: William Daily
- Grades served: PK3 – 8th grade; co-ed
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Founded 1942; ~90% of students receive financial aid
- Extracurriculars: Athletics, San Antonio Mariachi Academy, clubs
Liturgical Ministries (English & Spanish)
Every weekend Mass is supported by teams of lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, and bulletin distributors. New volunteers are warmly welcomed and can sign up through the contacts listed below.
- 7:30 AM English — Vangie Villafranca, 210-422-4507
- 10:45 AM English — Bobby & Paula Sanchez, 210-861-8667
- 12:30 PM English — Alyssa Trujillo / David Carey, 210-422-4507 / 832-683-1179
- Sábado 6:00 PM Español — Aide Aguirre, 210-669-6885
- Domingo 9:00 AM Español — Kika Mata / Magda Nieves
- Domingo 2:30 PM Español — Ana Patricia y Juan Garcia / Rebeca y Julio Castillo
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Faith at St. Mary Magdalen extends beyond the church walls through Communion visits to the sick and homebound, a Sharing / food assistance ministry, women's ministry and support groups, and the annual Family Festival that gathers the parish each October.
- Deacon Art Lozano coordinates Communion visits to the sick, homebound, and elderly
- Sharing / food assistance ministry
- Women's ministry and support groups
- Annual Family Festival in October (most recently October 6, 2024)
Visit Us & Contact
Everyone is welcome. The parish office is on Clower Street, west of downtown San Antonio, and the parish team is happy to help with any sacrament or service request.
- Address: 1710 Clower Street, San Antonio, Texas 78201
- Phone: (210) 735-5269
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarymagdalensa.org
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch 12:00–12:30 PM); closed Fri/Sat/Sun
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James M. Boyle1940–
Founding pastor of St. Mary Magdalen when the parish was established on January 1, 1940, with territory taken from St. Ann's.
- Fr. Bob Hogan2000–
First Brothers of the Beloved Disciple pastor of St. Mary Magdalen; previously a Marianist priest, he switched his membership to the BBD in 2007. Served for six years as pastor.
- Fr. Joseph Mary Marshall, S.M.
Succeeded Fr. Hogan as pastor before Fr. Will Combs.
- Rev. Will Combs, BBDpresent
Current pastor; born 1969 in New Jersey, joined the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple in 1996 after encountering the BBDs through Bowdoin College and a Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Ecuador; serving at St. Mary Magdalen for 18+ years.