About St. Mary · Nacogdoches, Texas
St. Mary's Catholic Chapel is the Catholic campus ministry serving the students, faculty, and staff of Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches, Texas. Operating under the Diocese of Tyler as a mission of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nacogdoches, the chapel worships at 211 East College Street and operates offices from St. Joseph's Home on 214 Wettermark Street. With the slogan 'Come as Jacks. Leave as Disciples,' St. Mary's offers daily Mass, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, Bible studies, and a robust Catholic student-life program supported by four full-time FOCUS missionaries.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Chapel of St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Nick Nappier (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the spiritual home for Catholic Lumberjacks and a welcoming faith community for anyone in Nacogdoches, with Mass celebrated every day of the week and two Sunday liturgies during the SFA academic year. Students can deepen their faith through Awakening retreats, Bible studies, one-on-one mentoring with FOCUS missionaries, and student organizations such as Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Kappas, COre team, and DOTS — all while serving in liturgical ministries like choir, lectors, altar servers, and Eucharistic adoration. The chapel's daily confession schedule, multiple weekly adoration hours, and an active social outreach make it a vibrant Catholic home in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:30–10:15 AM* and 5:00–5:45 PM
- Monday: 4:30–5:20 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM–5:20 PM* and 4:30–5:20 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30–8:15 PM*
- Thursday: 4:30–5:20 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
- *Not during SFA school breaks
Adoration times
- Monday: 4:30–5:20 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM–5:20 PM* and 4:30–5:20 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30–8:15 PM* (with Praise, Worship & Music)
- Thursday: 4:30–5:20 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
- *Suspended during SFA break
Welcome Lumberjacks
St. Mary's Catholic Chapel exists to serve the students, faculty, and staff of Stephen F. Austin State University and the wider Catholic community of Nacogdoches. The community's tagline is 'Come as Jacks. Leave as Disciples' — a nod to both the SFA Lumberjack identity and the lifelong mission of Catholic discipleship.
- Slogan: Come as Jacks. Leave as Disciples
- Chapel of St. Mary, 211 East College Street
- Part of the Diocese of Tyler
A Brief History
The campus Catholic presence dates back to 1959, originally as the Newman Club. Over the decades it has been known by several names — Christ the Teacher, the Catholic Student Center, and St. Mary's Chapel — while remaining dedicated to forming disciples at SFA. Father Ron Groschen, together with students and alumni from the early years, compiled a historical account of the first three decades of the ministry (through 1991).
- Founded 1959 as the Newman Club
- Historic names: Newman Club → Christ the Teacher → Catholic Student Center → St. Mary's Chapel
- Mission of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Nacogdoches
Chaplains and Pastoral Leadership
Father Nick Nappier presently serves as chaplain of St. Mary's (also listed as Parochial Vicar for Catholic Nacogdoches on the Diocese of Tyler clergy page). The chapel was previously shepherded by Father James Rowland of Ireland and then by Father Denzil J. Vithanage, a native of Sri Lanka who took up the role in July 2015 after 13 years at St. Joseph Parish in Marshall.
- Fr. Nick Nappier — current chaplain ([email protected])
- Fr. Denzil J. Vithanage — chaplain 2015–; from Sri Lanka, incardinated in the Diocese of Tyler 2009
- Fr. James Rowland — predecessor chaplain, Ireland
- Fr. Ron Groschen — author of early ministry history
A Three-Phase Vision for the Campus
Father Vithanage outlined a three-phase plan for the renovation of the St. Mary's property: build a new student center and demolish the existing one; demolish the old offices and build a new church chapel; and renovate the existing chapel into a common hall. His pastoral motto — 'great communities build cathedrals' — frames the work of disciple-making as the foundation for any physical expansion.
- Phase 1: new student center
- Phase 2: new chapel replacing old offices
- Phase 3: existing chapel renovated into common hall
Student Organizations and Ministries
Students can plug in through parish organizations, service fraternities, and ministry teams — alongside formative opportunities like the Awakening retreat, weekly Bible studies, and one-on-one mentoring from FOCUS missionaries.
- Awakening retreat
- Bible studies
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters
- Kappas
- COre team
- DOTS
- FemGen (Feminine Genius — women's ministry)
Liturgical Ministry
St. Mary's draws students into the sacred liturgy through a robust set of liturgical ministries — Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, altar servers, and the Music/choir team that supports the chapel's sung prayer. Music interns and a Music Director help shape the worship repertoire for daily and Sunday Masses.
- Eucharistic ministers
- Lectors
- Altar servers
- Choir and music directors
- Music interns (Cecilia Muth and others)
FOCUS Missionaries
Four full-time FOCUS missionaries serve the SFA campus alongside the chaplain. FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) sends trained missionaries to college campuses to evangelize and disciple future leaders through Bible studies, large-group outreach, and one-on-one mentoring of student leaders.
- Kevin Maile — FOCUS Team Director ([email protected])
- Emerson Mader — FOCUS team member
- Rooted in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition
- Hosts Bible studies, large-group outreach, and student mentoring
Parish Staff and Ministries
Beyond the chaplain and FOCUS team, St. Mary's runs with a small paid staff and student interns in Media, Music, and Events. The Media Director (Nicole Sanchez) and Event Director keep the chapel's communications, social media presence, and programming running smoothly across the academic year.
- Nicole Sanchez — Media Director ([email protected])
- Adelle Grau — Event Director
- Alumni & Development Director
- Media, Music, and Event interns
How to Get Involved
Visitors and students can plug in through retreats, classes, Bible studies, and student organizations — and through liturgical and outreach ministries. The Newman Connection listing invites newcomers to attend daily Mass and to join the daily Reconciliation opportunities offered before and after Mass.
- Join an Awakening retreat
- Attend weekly Bible study or class
- Serve as lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, or choir member
- Daily Mass and daily Reconciliation available
Contact, Address, and Service Times
The chapel/Student Center is at 211 East College Street, with the mailing address PO Box 6125, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962. Campus ministry offices are at St. Joseph's Home, 214 Wettermark Street. Phone: 936-564-0661 (chapel) / 936-564-7807 (student center).
- Chapel: 211 East College St., Nacogdoches, TX 75965
- Office: 214 Wettermark St. (St. Joseph's Home)
- Phone: 936-564-0661 / 936-564-7807
- Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Rowland
Chaplain from Ireland; preceded Fr. Vithanage.
- Fr. Denzil J. VithanageJuly 2015–
Native of Sri Lanka; previously reopened Catholic school at St. Joseph, Marshall; laid out three-phase campus renovation plan.
- Fr. Nick Nappier
Current chaplain as listed on sfacatholic.net and Diocese of Tyler (Parochial Vicar for Catholic Nacogdoches).