St. Mary of the Visitation

About St. Mary of the Visitation

St. Mary of the Visitation is the historic Catholic parish of Lockhart, Texas, a bilingual community in the Diocese of Austin. The parish traces its origins to 1885, was renamed in honor of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary after the 1918 church fire, and today gathers at a mid-1950s brick church on West Pecan Street. Its mission statement centers on five commitments: Divine Encounter (especially at Sunday Mass), Missionary Discipleship, Radical Hospitality, Discipleship & Education, and Charity & Justice.

• Founded 1885 (originally as St. Ignatius)
• Renamed St. Mary of the Visitation in 1918/1919
• Current church built 1955–1956
• Parish of the Diocese of Austin
• Bilingual: English and Spanish

Our History

The parish began in 1885 as St. Ignatius with a small wooden chapel moved from Seguin. A second church was built in 1887–1888 at Church and Bois d'Arc streets, only to be destroyed by fire in the early hours of June 30, 1918. The current site was acquired, the cornerstone laid December 29, 1918, and the rebuilt church dedicated May 11, 1919, now under the name St. Mary of the Visitation. A colonial-style rectory followed in 1950, and a new sanctuary matching its style was completed in 1956.

• 1885 – first wooden chapel erected; parish known as St. Ignatius
• 1887 – second church begun; first Mass November 5, 1887
• 1888 – first High Mass at Easter; dedication October 7, 1888
• June 30, 1918 – fire destroys church and rectory
• December 29, 1918 – cornerstone laid on current site; renamed St. Mary of the Visitation by Fr. Zuber
• May 11, 1919 – dedication of the rebuilt church
• 1950 – colonial-style brick rectory added (now parish offices)
• March 20, 1955 – groundbreaking for present-day church
• May 1956 – current church completed

Sacraments

The parish prepares members for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, including Baptism (forms available in English and Spanish), Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral / Mass of Christian Burial. Families arranging a funeral are asked to first contact the funeral home, which then coordinates with the parish office.

• Baptism – forms in English and Spanish
• Reconciliation – Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM and by appointment
• Eucharist – see Mass Times
• Confirmation – via Religious Education
• Marriage – contact the parish office for priest availability
• Anointing of the Sick
• Funeral / Mass of Christian Burial – family contacts funeral home first

Parish Staff

The parish is led by its pastor and served by two deacons, with a lay staff supporting faith formation, youth ministry, administration, and facilities.

• Rev. Ramiro Tarazona – Pastor ([email protected])
• Deacon Daryl Haywood
• Deacon Scott Dillon
• Priscilla Ruiz – Director of Religious Education 6th–12th & Youth Ministry
• Irene Sanchez – Director of Religious Education K–5th & OCIA Adapted for Children
• Sylvia Rodriguez – Business Administrator
• Rhonda Till – Bookkeeper
• Mary Helen Juarez – Office Assistant
• Keith LaTour – Custodian

Ministries & Organizations

A wide range of parish organizations supports worship, charity, and community life. The Knights of Columbus Council 8131 is one of the most active, sponsoring food drives for St. Vincent de Paul, hosting the Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose pilgrimage, and supporting the American Wheelchair Mission. The Creative Hands Ministry sews blankets and other items for nursing homes and Child Protective Services. The Bereavement Ministry assists grieving families with funeral-day meals and hospitality.

• St. Mary's Scholarship Committee
• Knights of Columbus Council 8131 (meetings 2nd Tuesday, 7:30 PM, KC Building behind the rectory)
• Creative Hands Ministry (Fridays 11 AM – 2 PM in Portable Building #1)
• Bereavement Ministry (quarterly meetings, 2nd Tuesday at 7 PM, CCD Building)
• Respect Life Ministry
• Annual Jamaica Festival committee

Jamaica Festival

St. Mary's signature community event is the annual Jamaica Festival, a two-night outdoor gathering with live bands, food, dancing, and a raffle. The 47th edition was held in 2023, and the 48th in 2024 — a tradition that has run for nearly five decades. The Knights of Columbus run a fries-and-corn-dog booth, contributing significantly to parish fundraising.

• Held in late July each year (47th in 2023, 48th in 2024)
• Gates open at 5:00 PM
• Features DJs, live bands, food booths, and a raffle
• Knights of Columbus booth sells fries and corn dogs

St. Mary Cemetery & Veterans Memorial

The parish maintains St. Mary Cemetery in Lockhart, where Council 8131 and Assembly 3052 of the Knights of Columbus lay flags on veterans' graves each Memorial Day. Deacon Scott Dillon has blessed the flags and led opening and closing prayers at the observance.

Parish Facilities

Beyond the church and the colonial-style brick rectory (built 1950, now parish offices), the campus includes the CCD Building (used for Religious Education and ministry meetings) and the KC Building behind the rectory, home to the Knights of Columbus. There is also a Portable Building (#1) that hosts the Creative Hands Ministry.

• Main church (built 1955–1956)
• Rectory / Parish Offices (1950 colonial brick)
• CCD Building
• KC Building (behind the rectory)
• Portable Building #1 (Creative Hands Ministry)

Visit, Contact, and Office Hours

Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The office is closed Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. The parish can be reached by phone at 512-398-4649, with messages left for the pastor or staff via email addresses listed on the website.

• Address: 205 W. Pecan Street, Lockhart, TX 78644
• Phone: 512-398-4649
• Fax: 512-398-2285
• Office Hours: Tue–Fri 9 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–5 PM (closed Mon, Sat, Sun)