About St. Michael · Uhland, Texas
St. Michael Catholic Church is a small bilingual Catholic parish in Uhland, Texas, in Hays County between Austin and San Marcos. Founded in 1924, it serves the historic German-heritage community of Uhland and surrounding rural Hays County as part of the Diocese of Austin. The parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, reflecting the area's growing Hispanic Catholic population, and is the spiritual home to longtime families whose ancestors are buried in the adjoining St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Michael is a small, family-sized parish where longtime Uhland Catholic families and newer Hispanic members worship side by side. Weekend Masses are offered in both English and Spanish, with a bilingual Tuesday evening Mass and weekday Eucharistic Adoration, making it a true spiritual home for the bilingual community of northern Hays County. Worshipping here also means belonging to a parish that rebuilt itself from the ground up — the current church was dedicated in 2015 after the original 1924 building had to be demolished — so parishioners share a strong sense of stewardship, history, and gratitude.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30-8:00 AM
- Sunday 9:30-10:00 AM
- Sunday 11:30 AM-12:00 PM
- Tuesday 5:30-6:00 PM
- Tuesday 6:30-7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00-6:00 PM
Parish History
St. Michael Catholic Church traces its roots to 1924, when it was founded to serve the German-settled farming community of Uhland in northern Hays County. The parish functioned as a mission church for decades, and was closed for an extended period before being reopened in 1981. The parish was led successively by Father Henry Luna (1986), Sister Nancy Pewterbaugh, CSC (1989), and Deacon Everardo Duran (1995). The original building deteriorated badly and was closed in 2003, then demolished in 2007, with only the bell tower preserved. The present church was dedicated and its altar consecrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on December 20, 2015.
- Founded 1924 as a mission to Uhland's German-heritage community
- Closed and reopened in 1981
- Father Henry Luna named mission administrator in 1986
- Sister Nancy Pewterbaugh, CSC, served as Pastoral Administrator from 1989
- Deacon Everardo Duran succeeded her in 1995
- Original church closed 2003, demolished 2007; bell tower preserved
- New church dedicated and altar consecrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, December 20, 2015
The Bell Tower — A Link to 1924
When the deteriorating 1924-era church was demolished in 2007, the parish made the deliberate choice to save the original bell tower. It remains the only surviving element of the historic structure and now stands beside the new 2015 church as a physical link between the parish's founding generation and the present congregation.
Diocese of Austin
St. Michael is a parish in the Diocese of Austin, which covers a large swath of Central Texas. It is listed in the diocesan Parish Finder and falls under the pastoral care of the diocesan bishop. The new church and altar were consecrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on December 20, 2015.
- Diocese of Austin
- Listed in the diocesan Parish Finder
- Church and altar consecrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, Dec. 20, 2015
Location & Grounds
The parish sits at 80 South Old Spanish Trail in Uhland, between San Marcos and Bastrop along Highway 21. Its grounds include the new church (2015), the preserved bell tower from the original 1924-era structure, and the adjoining St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, which is separated from the neighboring Live Oak Cemetery by a chain-link fence.
- 80 South Old Spanish Trail, Uhland, TX 78640
- Preserved original bell tower on site
- Adjacent St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery
- Located along Old Spanish Trail near Highway 21
Ethics & Integrity in Ministry
The parish website references the Diocese of Austin's Ethics & Integrity in Ministry program, under which all clergy, employees, and volunteers who work with minors or vulnerable adults receive training and background screening in keeping with the diocese's safe-environment standards.
Plan a Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the four weekly Masses. Parking is available on the parish grounds off Old Spanish Trail. The parish office can be reached at (512) 398-7475 for sacramental enquiries, baptisms, weddings, quinceañeras, or to arrange a visit with the Pastoral Administrator.
- Four weekly Masses: Sun 8:00 AM (Spanish), 10:00 AM (English), 12:00 PM (Spanish); Tue 6:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Confessions before every Mass
- Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration 5:00-6:00 PM
- Parish office: (512) 398-7475
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Henry Luna1986-1989
Appointed administrator of the St. Michael mission in 1986
- Sister Nancy Pewterbaugh, CSC1989-1995
Pastoral Administrator; member of the Congregation of Holy Cross
- Deacon Everardo Duran1995-
Succeeded Sister Nancy as Pastoral Administrator