About St. Mary Queen of Peace · Brownwood, Texas
St. Mary Queen of Peace is a Catholic parish in Brownwood, Texas, serving the Catholic community of Brown County since January 1896. Part of the Diocese of San Angelo, it offers Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass), and weekday Masses, along with regular confessions and Eucharistic Adoration. The parish operates from a 1955 white-Austin-stone church on Main Avenue, with a Religious Education Building and a parish hall, and serves more than 550 registered families.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Queen of Peace)
- Rector
- Rev. Emilio Sosa (per the Diocese of San Angelo parish directory)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Angelo (bishop: Most Reverend Michael J. Sis)
Why belong here
St. Mary Queen of Peace has served Brownwood Catholics since 1896 and welcomes both long-time parishioners and newcomers, including those from other faiths and non-believers. With more than 550 families, it offers bilingual weekend liturgies (English and a Sunday Spanish Mass), weekday Masses, regular confession and Eucharistic Adoration, a Religious Education Building for faith formation, and updated facilities for parish gatherings — a sturdy, multi-generational home for Catholic life in Brown County.
Mass times at St. Mary Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (per masstime.us)
- Thursday: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (per Discover Mass)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (per masstime.us)
- Thursday: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (per Discover Mass)
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (per masstime.us)
Parish Identity & History
St. Mary Queen of Peace is the historic Catholic parish of Brownwood, Texas, founded in January 1896. Originally belonging to the Dallas Diocese, it moved with Brownwood into the Austin Diocese in 1948 and into the Diocese of San Angelo in 1961, where it remains today under Bishop Michael J. Sis.
- Founded January 1896; first pastor Rev. P. O'Hara
- About twelve founding families in 1896; now more than 550 families
- Diocese: San Angelo; Bishop Most Rev. Michael J. Sis
Buildings & Campus
The current church, built of white Austin stone in 1955, replaced earlier wooden (1900) and concrete-block (1906) churches and seats about 320 people between the main sanctuary and a small adjacent chapel. The campus has grown organically to support worship, faith formation, and parish life.
- 1955 church of white Austin stone with 320-seat main sanctuary + chapel
- Adjoining two-story rectory in matching architecture
- Church activities building (1968; addition in 1980) with eight classrooms and an auditorium/kitchen/foyer/bathrooms
- Religious Education Building (REB) on Booker Street, completed late 2002
Sacraments — Baptism
Baptisms for children under age 7 are scheduled after parents and godparents complete a baptism-preparation class and brief paperwork. The parish warmly welcomes Catholic families, those of other faiths, and non-believers presenting a child for baptism.
- Contact: parish office, 325-646-7455
- English baptisms: every 2nd Saturday at 11:00 AM
- Spanish baptisms: every 4th Saturday at 11:00 AM
- Baptism-preparation class required for parents and godparents
Bilingual Catholic Life
Spanish-speaking Catholics have been part of St. Mary's since at least 1940, when the parish built an auxiliary chapel called St. Elizabeth's on Melwood Avenue to serve the Hispanic community. Today, a Sunday morning Mass in Spanish continues that tradition, alongside English-language Masses and sacraments.
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 9:30 AM
- Spanish baptisms: every 4th Saturday at 11:00 AM
- St. Elizabeth's Chapel (1940–1963) served as the original Hispanic apostolate
Priests & Pastoral Succession
St. Mary's has been served by diocesan priests and by a long line of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.). The parish's published history page lists the succession of pastors from 1896 to the present, including the 2023 assignment of Rev. Tony Franco by Bishop Michael Sis and the directory listing of Rev. Emilio Sosa as current pastor.
- Rev. P. O'Hara (1896) — first pastor
- First Oblate pastor: Rev. E. J. Leguyader, O.M.I.
- Rev. Edward P. Harrison (1907), Rev. Leo J. Bujnowski (1939), Rev. Emil J. Gerlich (1950)
- Rev. James R. Aaron (1962), Rev. Louis Moeller (1965)
- Rev. Benedict Zientek (1981), Rev. Barry McLean (1987)
- Rev. Serafin P. Avenido, Jr. (2003), Rev. Francis Njoku (2007)
- Rev. Bhaskar Mendem (2012), Rev. Francis Onyekozuru (2019)
- Rev. Tony Franco, assigned as pastor effective July 1, 2023 (Bishop Sis announcement)
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Mary's is located in central Brownwood on Main Avenue, across from Howard Payne University between Wesley and Gill Streets. The parish office and mailing address are a short block away on Booker Street.
- Church: 1103 Main Avenue, Brownwood, TX 76801
- Parish Office / Mailing: 1101 Booker Street, Brownwood, TX 76801-2509
- Phone: (325) 646-7455
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmarybwd.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaryqueenofpeace
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. P. O'Hara, P.P.1896
First pastor; lived with the Loretta family on Main Avenue.
- Rev. J.A. Schouf1905
- Rev. P.J. Cusick1905
- Rev. E. J. Leguyader, O.M.I.
First Oblate (Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate) pastor.
- Various Oblate Fathers (Rev. I. Tresch, O.M.I.; Rev. W.E. Long, O.M.I.; Rev. U. Wilson, O.M.I.; Rev. A.P. Fletcher, O.M.I.; Rev. C. Haas, O.M.I.; Rev. H. Engelhardt, O.M.I.; Rev. J. B. Lavoie, O.M.I.; Rev. F.X. Fassbender, O.M.I.; Rev. E.J. Murray, O.M.I.; Rev. C.J. Seimes, O.M.I.; Rev. E.P. Harrison, O.M.I.)
A succession of Oblate Fathers served St. Mary's.
- Rev. Edward P. Harrison1907
- Rev. Leo J. Bujnowski1939
- Rev. Emil J. Gerlich1950
- Rev. James R. Aaron1962
- Rev. Louis Moeller1965
- Fr. Francis Van Hee, Fr. James Huber, Fr. Joseph DeWaele, Fr. Robert Timperman, Fr. James Meuree1979
- Rev. Benedict Zientek1981
- Rev. Barry McLean1987
- Rev. Serafin P. Avenido, Jr.2003
- Rev. Francis Njoku2007
- Rev. Bhaskar Mendem2012
- Rev. Francis Onyekozuru2019
- Rev. Tony Franco2023
Assigned by Bishop Michael Sis as pastor effective July 1, 2023.