About St. Mary - Stockdale · Stockdale, Texas
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small historic parish in Stockdale, Texas, in Wilson County, that traces its origins to 1877 when Irish Catholic immigrants erected the community's first church on land donated by W. S. Palm. Now in its third building — relocated into town in 1951 — the parish belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio and is served by Administrator Rev. Dennis Jarzombek. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a weekly Sunday Mass, daily weekday Masses, and Friday Adoration.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary's Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Jarzombek (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a close-knit, bilingual Catholic community rooted in more than 145 years of faith in Stockdale, with daily Mass most weekdays, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, weekly Friday Adoration, and Saturday confessions. As a small parish in the Archdiocese of San Antonio it still carries the heritage of the Irish and Silesian families who built and rebuilt its churches, and it welcomes new parishioners into that same lived tradition of prayer, family, and rural Catholic life.
Mass times at St. Mary - Stockdale
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Adoration times
- Friday 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Mary's began in 1877 as a small stone church built by Irish Catholic immigrants on land donated by W. S. Palm; that first building was destroyed by a severe storm in 1886. After the disaster, Polish (Silesian) families in the area joined with John Richter to build a second, wood-frame St. Mary's on his farm in 1891. Through its mission-church years it was served by priests traveling from Floresville (until 1901), St. Ann's in Kosciusko (1901–1928), and St. Joseph's in Nixon (after 1928). In 1951 the present church was built in town and the old church was carefully dismantled, with its lumber, bell, organ, and statues all carried forward into the new building.
- 1877 — First stone church erected on land donated by W. S. Palm
- 1886 — First church demolished by a severe storm
- 1891 — Second church built on land deeded by John Richter, with help from the Bednorz, Dlugosch, Nieschwietz, Pilarczyk, Richter, Skrobarczyk, and Sowa families
- 1877–1901 — Served by priests from Floresville
- 1901–1928 — Mission of St. Ann's, Kosciusko
- After 1928 — Mission of St. Joseph's, Nixon
- 1951 — Third (present) church built in town using lumber salvaged from the second
The Richter-Farm Church (1891–1951)
The second St. Mary's, locally called St. Mary's Immaculate Conception, was a humble wood-frame building about 25 feet wide and 50 feet long with exposed metal bolt braces, a small bell tower, a choir loft, a sacristy behind the altar, and an upstairs room where a visiting priest could stay overnight. Without electricity it was lit by candles and oil lamps; Pauline Richter Esparza led the choir and Albina Skrobarczyk Sowa served on the Altar Society. Because Mass was offered only about once a month, the Sowa family prayed the Rosary in Polish at home on the other Sundays and made the trip to Nixon for their children's Catechism classes.
- Site: John Richter farm, about three miles northwest of Stockdale
- Bell tower, choir loft, sacristy, and upstairs priest's room
- Choir led by Pauline Richter Esparza
- Altar Society member Albina Skrobarczyk Sowa helped clean the church
- Rural site is now marked by a cross
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Mary's celebrates Mass in English most days of the week, with worship also offered in Spanish for the surrounding community. The Saturday Vigil and a Sunday morning Mass form the backbone of parish life, complemented by a Tuesday evening Mass and three weekday morning Masses Wednesday through Friday.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday Mass — 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Mass — 7:00 a.m.
Parish Leadership
St. Mary's is currently administered by Rev. Dennis Jarzombek, who can be reached through the parish office. Like many small rural parishes in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, it has historically been served by priests sent from larger neighboring parishes — Floresville, Kosciusko, and Nixon.
- Administrator — Rev. Dennis Jarzombek
- Parish office — (830) 996-3415
- Email — [email protected]
Visit & Directions
St. Mary's sits in the town of Stockdale in Wilson County, southeast of San Antonio. The church is one mile west of the Highway 123 / Highway 87 intersection — from Highway 87 westbound, turn right onto W. St. Mary's Street.
- 1201 W. St. Mary's Street, Stockdale, TX 78160
- 1 mile west of the Hwy. 123 and Hwy. 87 intersection
- From Hwy. 87 west, turn right onto W. St. Mary's Street
- Mailing address: PO Box 535, Stockdale, TX 78160
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priests from Floresville1877–1901
Served St. Mary's as a mission church without a resident pastor; traveled from Floresville.
- Priests from St. Ann's, Kosciusko1901–1928
St. Mary's on the Richter farm was a mission of St. Ann's during these years.
- Priests from St. Joseph's, Nixon (incl. Fr. Edward Marco)1928 onward
After 1928 St. Mary's became a mission of St. Joseph's in Nixon; Fr. Edward Marco made the 12-mile trip from Nixon for sacraments such as the 1939 Sowa–Krawczynski wedding.