St. Mary's Catholic Church

Welcome to St. Mary's Catholic Parish

St. Mary's Catholic Parish is the historic Catholic community of Sherman, Texas, with roots reaching back to 1872. Today the parish welcomes more than 2,000 people to its Sunday Masses, offered in both English and Spanish, and shares a campus with St. Mary's Catholic School — the oldest Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Dallas. The parish's present sanctuary, completed in 1906, is joined by the newer St. Anne Catholic Church directly across South Travis Street, dedicated in 2009.

Parish History

The first Mass in Sherman was celebrated in the spring of 1872 by Father Theodore Bufford in a hotel room at the Phoenix Hotel. The parish was formally established in 1874, and the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur arrived in 1877 to found St. Joseph's Academy — the origin of today's school. The present church, designed by the famous Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton, was completed in 1906 and is recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

• 1872 – First Mass celebrated at the Phoenix Hotel by Father Theodore Bufford.
• 1874 – Parish formally established; Fathers Hennessey, Thions, and Sevnard serve the community.
• 1876 – Small chapel completed at Travis Street and Eagle Lane.
• 1877 – Sisters of St. Mary of Namur found St. Joseph's Academy.
• 1905 – Construction begins on the Nicholas Clayton–designed church.
• 1906 – First Mass celebrated in the present sanctuary on the Feast of St. Anne.
• 1966 – Parish takes ownership of the school; renamed St. Mary's School.
• 2009 – St. Anne Catholic Church dedicated across the street by Bishop Kevin J. Farrell.
• 2024 – Parish celebrates its 150th anniversary with Bishop Edward J. Burns.

Architecture & Historic Landmark

The 1906 sanctuary is an excellent example of the work of Nicholas Clayton, the renowned Galveston architect who also designed the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Clayton combined Gothic and Romanesque elements in his design, and the building was constructed by contractor William Cornish & Sons. The Texas Historical Commission recognized the church as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2001 (marker #12710).

Clergy & Staff

The parish is led by Pastor Father Martin Castañeda, assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Merlito Abiog and Deacons Jim Adlof and Chris Schraeder. The lay staff includes a Business Manager, Secretary, Faith Formation Director and Assistant, Communications Coordinator, Youth and Young Adult Minister, Facilities, and the principal of St. Mary's Catholic School.

• Fr. Martin Castañeda — Pastor ([email protected])
• Fr. Merlito Abiog — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Dcn. Jim Adlof — Deacon
• Dcn. Chris Schraeder — Deacon
• Nancy Dobbs — Business Manager
• Shannon Henson — Secretary
• Dawn Purcell — Faith Formation Director
• Sandra Salas — Faith Formation Assistant
• Jose R. Acosta — Communications Coordinator
• Stephen Thompson — Youth and Young Adult Minister
• Tom Birchall — Facilities
• Annette Roraback — Principal, St. Mary's Catholic School

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The Department of Faith Formation serves more than 500 children in Sunday-morning religious education, alongside adult faith studies, RCIA, Vacation Bible School, and a youth ministry led by Stephen Thompson. The office is staffed by Director Dawn Purcell and Assistant Sandra Salas, working with the priests and deacons to help parishioners of every age come to know God more intimately.

• Children's Religious Education (500+ students)
• Adult Faith Formation studies
• RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Youth Group & Young Adult Ministry
• Vacation Bible School (VBS)
• Men of Joseph men's ministry
• Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (E.I.M.) safe-environment training

St. Mary's Catholic School

Founded in 1877 as St. Joseph's Academy by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, St. Mary's Catholic School is the oldest Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Dallas. After 114 years of religious teaching, the Sisters retired from active service in 1991 and the school transitioned to an all-lay faculty that continues the tradition of academic and moral excellence. Today the school serves roughly 170 students from Pre-K 3 through 8th grade on the campus adjacent to the church.

• Founded 1877 by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur as St. Joseph's Academy
• Renamed St. Mary's School in 1966 when the parish took ownership
• Pre-K 3 through 8th grade; mascot the Tigers
• Specials: STEM Lab (4th–8th), Makerspace (K–3rd), Art, PE, Strings Orchestra, Wednesday Morning Choir, Altar Serving
• Middle School electives: Latin, Home Economics, Architecture, Guitar
• Athletics: volleyball, basketball, archery, cross country, futsal (Dallas Parochial League, NASP)
• Bus service from McKinney, Anna, Van Alstyne, and Sherman
• Address: 713 South Travis Street, Sherman, TX 75090 — 903-893-2127

Parish Life, Ministries & Community

Beyond the sanctuary, St. Mary's is a community of organizations and apostolates — from the historic Altar Society (organized in 1886) and Knights of Columbus (housed in the 1925 former-church building) to school and parish service opportunities. In recent years the parish has installed a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a brick rosary walkway at the school, and parishioners have participated in 'Hands from Home' to restore headstones at Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

• Altar Society (organized 1886)
• Knights of Columbus Council (housed in the former 1880s chapel/rectory, moved 1925)
• HASA (Home and School Association) for school families
• Parish fundraising through North Texas Giving Day, Run Run Rudolph 5K, Casino Night, and Clay Skeet Shoot
• Service projects such as Holy Redeemer Cemetery headstone restoration

Sacraments

The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Faith Formation staff and clergy work with families preparing for First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, while Reconciliation is offered weekly with additional appointments available.

• Baptism — preparation required, contact parish office
• First Communion & Confirmation — through Faith Formation / school
• Reconciliation — see confession schedule above
• Marriage — contact parish to begin preparation
• Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office for homebound visits

Visit, Contact & Directions

St. Mary's Catholic Parish is located at 727 South Travis Street in Sherman, Texas. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; the parish secretary can be reached at 903-893-5148 or [email protected]. General inquiries may be sent to [email protected], and confessions or pastoral visits can be arranged by appointment.

• Address: 727 South Travis Street, Sherman, TX 75090
• Parish Phone: 903-893-5148
• Fax: 903-813-5489
• General Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM