About St. Monica · Converse, Texas
St. Monica Catholic Church is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish in Converse, Texas, just outside San Antonio in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Founded in 1960 as a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, the parish became independent in 1963 and today nearly 3,000 families call it home. The parish community includes an Elementary/Middle School and is known locally for the strength of its ministries, its outreach programs, and its lively liturgical services offered in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Monica
- Rector
- Fr. Lubin Moreno
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Monica welcomes roughly 3,000 families in and around Converse — including all of Converse and parts of Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, San Antonio, and unincorporated Bexar County — with parishioners traveling from as far as Stone Oak, Marion, and New Braunfels. The parish runs Community Life programs for parishioners, Care and Justice outreach for those in need, and Adult Enrichment for those deepening their faith, while offering Mass in both English and Spanish seven days a week plus perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. With an attached Early Childhood–8th-grade Catholic school, Stuebben Hall for parish events, and a memorial Stations-of-the-Cross garden, it is a full, multigenerational Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
- Saturdays: 3:30 pm – 5:15 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: Sunday 8:00 pm to Saturday 5:15 pm
- Chapel/Sanctuary open for personal prayer and adoration during the day, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Contact the office for an entry code for after-hours (overnight) adoration access
About St. Monica Parish
St. Monica is a vibrant Catholic community in Converse, Texas, in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. From its 1960 origins as a small parish, it has grown to one of the most active faith communities in the archdiocese, with almost 3,000 families today. The parish and its attached Elementary/Middle School are known locally for the strength of their ministries, outreach programs, and lively liturgical services in English and Spanish. The parish's stated mission is: 'To build a welcoming community of faith, making God's love visible through service to others.'
- Founded 1960; independent parish status granted 1963
- Parish boundary covers all of Converse and parts of Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, San Antonio, and unincorporated Bexar County
- Parishioners travel from as far as Stone Oak, Marion, and New Braunfels
History of the Parish
St. Monica was born from a 1958 donation of land by Mrs. Ida Kneupper and a $10,000 Catholic Extension Society grant. The first Mass was celebrated October 1, 1960, and the community began as a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma. The early decades brought rapid growth under three pastors and major campus expansion, including a new sanctuary in 1978, an expanded school, a gymnasium and child development center, Stuebben Hall (2006), and a memorial Stations of the Cross garden.
- 1958: Mrs. Ida Kneupper donates 4.5 acres to the Archdiocese
- 1960: First Mass celebrated October 1; St. Monica Catholic School opens in two surplus military barracks
- 1963: Granted independent parish status; Fr. George Stuebben named first pastor
- 1968: Fr. Hubert L. Bauman succeeds as pastor
- 1977: Fr. Bauman passes away; plans for a new sanctuary were already underway
- 1978: New church dedicated August 19 by Msgr. Alois Goertz
- 1988: Current two-story main school building completed
- 1990s: Gymnasium, classrooms for Child Development Center, School Administration building added
- 2000s: Eight acres purchased; soccer field, new parking lot, Mollicone Middle School, Library/Computer lab added
- 2006: Stuebben Hall completed (capacity ~370)
- 2010: Two additional acres purchased; memorial garden with Stations of the Cross added
- 2020: Cry room remodeled and restrooms added
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Lubin Moreno as pastor, with Fr. Thumma Prathap serving as vicar. Six deacons assist in ministry, including Deacon David Espinoza as Liturgy Coordinator and Deacon Sean Dooley leading the Bereavement Ministry. The parish staff supports faith formation, liturgy, Christian initiation, religious education, and parish administration.
- Fr. Lubin Moreno — Pastor
- Fr. Thumma Prathap — Vicar
- Deacon David Espinoza — Liturgy Coordinator (x237)
- Deacon Sean Dooley
- Deacon Raul Mata
- Deacon Jose Joel Castellanos
- Deacon Luis Horacio Gomez (transitional)
- Deacon Jacques Abat (retired)
- Mrs. Toni Espinoza — Director of Religious Education
- Mrs. Adriana Perez — Assistance to DRE
- Mr. Timo Zepeda — Christian Initiation Coordinator (English)
- Mrs. Delia Medrano-Finch — parish staff / Bereavement contact
- Mrs. Christine Pacheco — Bookkeeper (x235)
- Mrs. Martha Gonzalez / Administrative Assistant (x240)
Parish Devotions & Devotional Groups
In addition to weekly Mass and Adoration, the parish hosts a regular Holy Hour, the Rosary before Saturday Mass, and active Divine Mercy and Spanish prayer groups.
- Holy Hour: Thursdays 7:00 pm
- Rosary: Saturdays 9:00 am (before the 9:30 am Bilingual Mass)
- Divine Mercy Prayer Group (Spanish): Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 pm and Wednesdays 9:00–11:00 am, Parish Hall
- Divine Mercy Prayer Group (English): 2nd & 4th Saturday 10:00 am and following Monday 6:00 pm
- Spanish Prayer Group: every Friday 7:00 pm, Parish Hall
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Monica spans children, teens, and adults, including sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, the EDGE middle-school program, and RCIA for adults seeking initiation or returning to the sacraments.
- Religious Education (K–High School) — includes First Communion and Confirmation prep
- EDGE (grades 7–8) youth ministry
- GLOW (grades 5–6) youth ministry
- Teen Life (grades 9–12) youth ministry
- RCIA — adult converts and those needing sacraments (contact Timo Zepeda)
- Sacramental Preparation
- Bereavement Ministry — support for those grieving, led by Deacon Sean Dooley
- Adult Enrichment programs
St. Monica Catholic School
St. Monica Catholic School was founded in 1960 by Father George Stuebben, opening its doors in two surplus military barracks buildings purchased for the parish. Today the school serves Early Childhood through 8th grade and includes an Academy Day Care for children 18 months to 3 years old. The current two-story main school building was completed in 1988.
- Founded 1960 by Fr. George Stuebben
- Originally housed in two surplus military barracks
- Grades: Early Childhood through 8th (Academy Day Care 18 months – 3 yrs)
- Principal: Mrs. Karmen Chavez
- Phone: (210) 658-6701
- Email: [email protected]
Music & Liturgical Life
Music is central to St. Monica's liturgy, with multiple choirs serving the various weekend Masses in English and Spanish. The parish also livestreams liturgies and uses PowerPoint slides to support worship.
- Music directors listed per Mass (Gil Lugo, David Rodriguez, Bill Staggs, Michelle Hernandez, Jorge Castellanos, Lilli Soto, Lupita Gonzalez, etc.)
- PowerPoint Ministry
- Live Streaming Ministry (Delia M. Finch & Pablo Garcia)
- Art & Environment Ministry — decorations
- Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers
Outreach, Fellowship & Service
St. Monica describes its ministries in three families: Community Life programs for parishioners, Care and Justice programs to help those in need, and Adult Enrichment for those seeking to deepen their faith. Outreach is woven into nearly every ministry, from the Altar Society's thrift store to the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters.
- Altar Society Thrift Store — open Wednesdays & Saturdays 9:00 am – noon
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm (Grand Knight Steve Steele)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — 3rd Saturday 9:00 am (no meetings June/July)
- Healing Heart
- Homebound Visits
- Welcome Ministry
- Military Ministry
- Vocations
- Lovestrong
Youth, Young Adult & Family Life
Parish life includes ministries for every stage — from grade-school faith formation through senior fellowship. Youth nights, young adult gatherings, family prayer groups, and senior activities all run out of the Parish Hall.
- Youth — GLOW (grades 5–6)
- Youth — EDGE (grades 7–8)
- Youth — Teen Life (grades 9–12)
- Young Adult ministry
- Young at Heart — senior fellowship
- Family of the Rosary
- Family of Families
- Marriage Enrichment
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and lists clear contact points and preparation requirements for each. Marriage and Quinceañera celebrations require at least six months' notice through Deacon David at the parish office.
- Baptism (English): 3rd Saturday of the month
- Baptism (Spanish): 4th Saturday of the month
- Marriage & Quinceañera: 6+ months' notice; contact Deacon David
- Anointing of the Sick: appointment with a priest
- RCIA: contact Timo Zepeda
- First Communion and Confirmation: through Religious Education
Campus, Facilities & Memorial Garden
The parish campus has grown steadily since the original 1960 church. Today it includes the current sanctuary, the original church (now the Knights of Columbus Hall and Altar Society Thrift Shop), the parish rectory, Stuebben Hall (events), a memorial garden, and the full school complex.
- Current sanctuary — dedicated 1978, seating ~550–700
- Original 1960 church — Knights of Columbus Hall & Thrift Shop
- Stuebben Hall — completed 2006, capacity ~370 (receptions, parish events, meetings)
- Goertz Room — within Stuebben Hall, used for Bereavement Ministry meetings
- Parish Hall — hosts prayer groups, youth meetings, and the bilingual Ash Wednesday Mass
- Memorial garden — wooded Stations of the Cross walk behind the Parish Hall
- Two-story main school building (1988), gymnasium / Child Development Center (1990s), Mollicone Middle School building
Visiting & Getting Involved
St. Monica invites visitors to attend Mass, one of its many parish events, or to pray in the chapel. The parish office is the main point of contact for registration, sacramental prep, and ministry sign-ups.
- Parish office phone: (210) 658-3816
- School office: (210) 658-6701 — [email protected]
- Bereavement Ministry contact: Deacon Sean Dooley, (210) 274-7085
- Perpetual Adoration sign-up: Christian Zunino, (210) 725-4908
- Office hours (per 2024 bulletin): Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00 am–5:30 pm; Wed 9:00 am–7:00 pm; Sat 10:00 am–2:00 pm; Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm; closed for lunch 12:30–1:00 pm Mon–Fri
- Website: http://saintmonicaconverse.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMonicaConverseTX/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Stuebben1963–1968
First pastor; previously assistant pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma. Parish began with about 200 families. Stuebben Hall (2006) is named in his honor.
- Father Hubert L. Bauman1968–1977
Oversaw major growth projects including expanded seating in the original church, central heating and cooling, and the parish rectory. Developed plans for the new sanctuary but passed away in 1977 before it was built.
- Msgr. Alois Goertz1978–
Named pastor after Father Bauman's death; dedicated the new church on August 19, 1978. The Goertz Room in Stuebben Hall is named for him.