About St. Patrick Mission · Waelder, Texas
St. Patrick Mission is a bilingual Catholic mission church serving the small community of Waelder, Texas, in Gonzales County. It is one of three parishes that together form the Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder, alongside St. James (the parish church in Gonzales) and Sacred Heart (also in Gonzales). Founded in 1918 and located on Highway 90 East, St. Patrick welcomes worshippers to a noon bilingual Mass every Sunday as well as a Thursday evening bilingual Mass. The mission is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio and serves a faithful, predominantly Spanish-speaking community in rural South Central Texas.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Jason Martini
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Patrick Mission offers the warmth of a small, bilingual rural Catholic community in Waelder with two regular Masses each week and a devoted congregation that has rallied around recent improvements to its historic worship space. The parish's Jeremiah Ministry channels regular second collections to local families in need, while faith formation classes meet in Waelder for children in K–8th grade. Joining or visiting St. Patrick means becoming part of a tri-parish Catholic Community (with St. James and Sacred Heart in Gonzales) that worships in both English and Spanish, celebrates the annual Fiesta Guacamole on Labor Day Weekend, and stays rooted in over a century of faith along Highway 90 East.
Mass times at St. Patrick Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Bilingual, at St. Patrick)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (at St. Patrick)
St. Patrick Mission — Waelder, Texas
St. Patrick Mission is the Catholic mission church serving the small rural community of Waelder in Gonzales County, Texas. Founded in 1918 and located at 613 Hwy. 90 E, St. Patrick is part of the tri-parish Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder along with St. James and Sacred Heart, both in Gonzales. The mission belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio.
History
According to GCatholic, St. Patrick traces its origins to 1918. A parish-gallery caption also references a '140th Anniversary celebration — Since 1884,' commemorating the wider Catholic heritage of the Gonzales/Waelder region. The mission functions as part of St. James Parish in Gonzales. In January 2025, parishioners gathered to remove the old pews and install new ones, with photographs of a renovated tabernacle documenting ongoing care for the historic worship space.
- Founded 1918
- Older Catholic roots in the area since 1884
- Mission of St. James Parish, Gonzales
- Pew renovation project completed January 2025
Leadership & Staff
The Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder is served by Pastor Rev. Jason Martini and three deacons: Deacon Alfonso Moreno, Deacon Terry Brennan, and Deacon John Klapuch. Parish staff includes Hope Guevara (Office Manager), Patricia Gonzalez (Director of Religious Education), Lisa San Miguel (Bookkeeper/Social Media), and Tim Decker (Custodian).
- Rev. Jason Martini — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Alfonso Moreno
- Deacon Terry Brennan
- Deacon John Klapuch
- Hope Guevara — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Patricia Gonzalez — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Lisa San Miguel — Bookkeeper/Social Media
- Tim Decker — Custodian
Faith Formation
The Faith Formation Office offers educational and formational opportunities for all ages and is always seeking volunteer catechists. Waelder-based Faith Formation for K–8th grade meets Sundays from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Other programs across the community include Children's Faith Formation (Pre-K–5), Youth Faith Formation (6th grade through High School), Confirmation preparation, OCIA for adults 17 and up, and a summer Vacation Bible School for K–5.
- Waelder Faith Formation K–8th grade: Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM
- Children's Faith Formation Pre-K–5th grade
- Youth Faith Formation 6th–High School: Wednesdays 6:15–7:45 PM
- Confirmation I & II (High School)
- OCIA for adults 17 & up
- Summer Vacation Bible School (K–5th)
- Registration fees: $15 K–5th; $20 6th–8th (with book fees extra); $40 First Communion I & II; $60 Confirmation I & II
- Contact: Patricia Gonzalez, 830-672-6291, [email protected]
Ministries
Parishioners can serve through several ministries that sustain the mission's outreach and community life. The Jeremiah Ministry of St. Patrick channels second collections into help for local people in need. The Guacamole Festival Committee organizes the annual Labor Day Weekend fundraiser. The Youth Ministry gathers teens for spiritual growth and Confirmation retreats on Wednesday evenings.
- Jeremiah Ministry — President: Martha Melchor (assists local people in need)
- Guacamole Festival Committee — President: Freddie Noyola; Vice President: Adam Ibarra
- Youth Ministry — Wednesdays evenings; Confirmation I & II retreats
- St. James Altar Society
- Catechist volunteers (always needed)
Sacraments
Reconciliation is offered at St. Patrick on Thursdays from 5:00–5:45 PM in both English and Spanish. Children in 2nd grade begin preparation for First Reconciliation, while adults and older children who have not yet received the sacrament are also welcome to prepare (contact the Faith Formation Office). First Communion preparation (First Communion I & II) and Confirmation for High School students are scheduled through the Faith Formation Office, and OCIA is offered for adults 17 and up. Other sacraments such as Baptism and Marriage are arranged through the parish office.
- Reconciliation: Thursday 5:00–5:45 PM (Bilingual)
- First Reconciliation preparation begins in 2nd grade
- First Communion I & II ($40 fee)
- Confirmation I & II ($60 fee)
- OCIA for adults
- Baptism and Marriage: contact parish office
Fiesta Guacamole (Annual Fundraiser)
Sponsored by St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Fiesta Guacamole is the mission's signature fundraiser and is held annually on Labor Day Weekend at the City Park in Waelder. The event includes a Pre-Festival Live Auction (typically held at St. Patrick Hall the week before), a 3:00 PM Guacamole Mash, raffle drawings, food, music, and family fun — described by the parish as 'a spiritual gathering of all the people of our Catholic Community for fun and fellowship.'
- Held annually on Labor Day Weekend
- Location: City Park, Waelder, TX
- Pre-Festival Live Auction at St. Patrick Hall
- Guacamole Mash at 3:00 PM
- Raffle Drawing in the evening
- Proceeds benefit St. Patrick Catholic Church
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Patrick Mission is located at 613 Hwy. 90 E (Railroad St.), Waelder, TX 78659 — about two blocks southeast of the intersection of Highway 90/Railroad St. and E Street. The tri-parish office can be reached at (830) 672-2945 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office address is 417 N College St., Gonzales, TX 78629.
- Address: 613 Hwy. 90 E (Railroad St.), Waelder, TX 78659
- Phone: (830) 672-2945
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: 417 N College St., Gonzales, TX 78629
- Religious Education: (830) 672-6291
- Website: http://www.ccgaw.org/