About St Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church · Fort Worth, Texas
St. Mary of the Assumption is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Near Southside of Fort Worth, Texas, founded in 1909 as the fourth Catholic parish in the city and long regarded as the mother church of Fort Worth's southside Catholic community. Its current Romanesque Revival church building, completed in 1924 and designed by the noted Texas firm Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Today the parish is staffed by priests of the Heralds of Good News (HGN) and the Diocese of Fort Worth, offering Mass in English and Spanish, weekday adoration, and a robust schedule of formation and outreach ministries. The church is sometimes called 'the grand lady of Catholic life on the near south side,' having served generations of Fort Worth Catholics for more than a century.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. John Perikomalayil, HGN
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a rare combination of historic Catholic devotion and active multicultural parish life on Fort Worth's near south side. A century-old Romanesque Revival sanctuary—listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with stunning stained glass and freshly restored Rosary murals—anchors a parish that celebrates both English and Spanish Masses, hosts weekday noon Masses with regular Eucharistic Adoration (including Wednesday evenings with confession during adoration), and runs religious formation, youth ministry, social outreach, and the annual Fall Festival that fundraises directly for the building. Generations of Fort Worth families have worshipped here, and the parish continues its identity as the 'mother church' of the south side while welcoming newcomers from across the diocese.
Mass times at St Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (during Adoration)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM (Chapel)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Church, following the 6:30 PM Mass)
Parish History
Founded in 1908/1909 and the fourth Roman Catholic parish in Fort Worth, St. Mary's of the Assumption has served the south side Catholic community for more than a century. After the original wood-frame church was destroyed by fire in 1922, the present Romanesque Revival church was built, dedicated on July 20, 1924 by Bishop Joseph P. Lynch of Dallas. The parish was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and the 2024 centennial saw a major interior restoration by Conrad Schmitt Studios.
- Founded 1908; first Mass May 4, 1909
- Original frame church survived fires in 1918 and 1922
- Present church designed by Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick; dedicated July 20, 1924
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 (NRHP #84001998)
- Texas Historical Landmark since 1979 (Marker #4464)
- 2024 centennial interior restoration by Conrad Schmitt Studios; rededicated by Bishop Michael Olson
The 1924 Church Building & Architecture
Designed by the prominent Fort Worth firm Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick, the red-brick Romanesque Revival building has been called an 'intact example' of the firm's ecclesiastical work. Notable interior features include the apse Assumption mural flanked by angels, twelve painted medallions by Danish artist Harry Larsen, and stained-glass windows depicting the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Following a 2010–2012 restoration of the stained glass in Munich, the building was extensively refurbished for its 2024 centennial, with new ceiling murals of the Sorrowful and Luminous Mysteries added to unite all four sets of Rosary Mysteries in the church.
- Architect: Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick (Fort Worth, 1900–1935)
- Style: Romanesque Revival
- Dedicated July 20, 1924
- Bells installed 1956 (originally cast for Sacred Heart, Muenster, TX)
- Stained glass restored in Munich, Germany, 2010–2012
- Apse Assumption mural and Harry Larsen medallions (1944)
Religious Orders Who Have Served the Parish
In its more than 115 years, St. Mary's has been a foundation parish staffed successively by four Catholic religious orders and, since 2001, the diocesan clergy of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Each order left its mark on the parish's schools, music, and devotional life.
- Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) – founding era, led by Rev. Edward F. Park through the 1918 fire
- Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines) – 1928–1978, led by Very Rev. Aemelian Schmitt, OSB; built the parochial school (1946), Assumption mural, and Larsen medallions
- Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) – 1978–1982
- Society of Mary (Marianists) – 1982–2001
- Diocese of Fort Worth (diocesan priest + deacon) – from 2001 onward; Society of the Divine Word (SVD) 2016–2022; Heralds of Good News (HGN) from July 1, 2022
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
The parish's liturgical schedule centers on a Saturday Vigil Mass and three Sunday Masses (two English, one Spanish), supplemented by four weekday noon Masses and a Wednesday evening Mass with Adoration and Confessions. Confessions are heard during Wednesday Adoration (7:00–8:00 PM) and on Saturday afternoons. Eucharistic Adoration is offered twice weekly.
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (English), 10:00 AM (English, livestreamed), 12:15 PM (Spanish, livestreamed)
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM (English)
- Weekday Masses: Mon 12:00 PM; Tue 12:00 PM (Chapel); Wed 6:30 PM (followed by Adoration to 8:00 PM); Thu 12:00 PM; Fri 12:00 PM
- Confessions: Wed 7:00–8:00 PM (during Adoration); Sat 3:00–4:00 PM
- Adoration: Tue 12:00–12:30 PM; Wed 7:00–8:00 PM
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and OCIA available through the parish office
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
St. Mary's runs religious formation (CCD) for children, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those seeking baptism or full communion, and a youth ministry program. Adult formation, Bible studies, and ongoing faith enrichment are offered throughout the year, with Spanish-language evangelization and Grupo de Oración supporting the parish's growing Spanish-speaking community. Outreach programs and the annual Fall Festival organize parish-wide service and stewardship.
- Religious Formation (CCD)
- OCIA / OCIC
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
- Spanish-language evangelization and Grupo de Oración
- Parish Social Outreach
- Music Ministry and choirs
- Liturgical ministries (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers)
- Annual Fall Festival (major parish fundraiser)
Schools & Former Buildings on the Parish Campus
The parish's Near Southside campus includes the 1924 church, the 1951 two-story rectory on Magnolia Avenue, and the former St. Mary's Parochial School (completed 1946 on South Jennings Avenue) which is now the Religious Formation Center and a gathering space for parish events. The 2024 restoration project notably used the former school's cafeteria as a temporary Mass chapel while scaffolding filled the nave.
- 1924 Romanesque Revival church
- 1951 two-story rectory (Magnolia Avenue)
- 1946 St. Mary's Parochial School (now Religious Formation Center) on South Jennings
- 2024 temporary Mass chapel in the former school cafeteria during ceiling restoration
Visiting & Worship at St. Mary's
Visitors and pilgrims are welcome at any of the posted Masses or by appointment for a tour. The historic building is an active place of worship, not a museum, so daily and Sunday Masses are the principal way to experience the space while the parish community offers its rosary-stained-glass interior and Conrad-Schmitt-studios murals in their restored 2024 splendor.
- Sunday Mass attendance recommended for first-time visitors
- Wednesday evening Adoration open to the public (with Confessions)
- Saturday morning ideal for Confessions and a tour request through the parish office
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM (English) and 12:15 PM (Spanish) via the parish website
Contact, Office & Getting Involved
The parish office is open Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM and closed Fridays). The pastor, Rev. John Perikomalayil, HGN, is happy to be reached for sacramental emergencies, baptism and marriage preparation, OCIA inquiries, or volunteer opportunities. The parish participates annually in the Diocese of Fort Worth's Annual Diocesan Appeal and runs its own Fall Festival fundraiser.
- Address: 509 W. Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104
- Phone: (817) 923-1911
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarysftw.org
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM – 5 PM (closed for lunch 12–1 PM; closed Fridays)
- Annual Diocesan Appeal (Diocese of Fort Worth)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Edward F. Park, C.M. (Vincentian)early 1909–c. 1928
One of the first Vincentian pastors; led the parish through the 1918 fire and early depression-era financial pressures.
- Reverend Anthony Malloyc. 1918–c. 1927
Rebuilt and enlarged the original frame church after the 1918 fire; led the parish through the catastrophic 1922 fire that destroyed the church; from 1922–1924 celebrated Mass in the basement of nearby Laneri High School while the present church was planned and built.
- Reverend Aemilian Schmitt, O.S.B. (Benedictine)1928–c. mid-1940s
First Benedictine pastor (1928), beginning a half-century of Benedictine oversight that lasted until 1978. Commissioned the interior Assumption mural and the 1944 Harry Larsen medallions; spearheaded fundraising for St. Mary's Parochial School (completed 1946). Bishop Lynch of Dallas granted him the title 'Very Reverend.'
- Reverend Damian Wewers, O.S.B. (Benedictine)c. mid-1940s–1950s
Installed the church's bells in the tower in 1956 (a set originally cast for Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas, but never installed there due to a design error).
- Benedictine pastors (continuing)1950s–1978
Order of St. Benedict oversight continued until 1978.
- Salvatorian Fathers (Society of the Divine Savior)1978–1982
Pastoral care by the Salvatorian religious order.
- Society of Mary (Marianists)1982–2001
Marianist fathers assumed pastoral care of the parish in 1982.
- Reverend David L. Bristow (Diocese of Fort Worth)2001–April 2016
Arrived in 2001; first pastor to be a priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Retired April 2016.
- Reverend Jaison Mangalath, SVD (Society of the Divine Word)September 17, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Installed September 17, 2016 by Bishop Michael F. Olson. Relocated per his order in 2022.
- Reverend John Perikomalayil, HGN (Heralds of Good News)July 1, 2022 – present
Assigned by Bishop Olson effective July 1, 2022. Leading the parish through the 2024 centennial restoration of the church interior by Conrad Schmitt Studios.