About St. Patrick · Shamrock, Texas
St. Patrick's is a small Catholic mission parish serving Shamrock, Texas — the little Route 66 town on the high plains of the Texas Panhandle. Founded by Irish settlers in 1929 with help from the Catholic Extension Society, the parish has grown into a culturally diverse faith community of European, Hispanic, and Filipino families, sharing its priest with Our Mother of Mercy in Wellington, 25 miles south. Mass is celebrated in English every Sunday morning and several weekdays, with confessions before Mass and Adoration on First Sundays.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony Kowntiki (labeled 'Kowtiki' on the parish site)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Amarillo
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a small, close-knit mission parish where 'we are a very diverse community,' in the words of its own parishioners, blending Irish Catholic roots with Hispanic and Filipino family traditions. Members gather for Sunday and weekday Mass, share confessions before Mass and on appointment, and worship in a prayerful Adoration hour on First Sundays. It is the kind of place where the priest wears a green hat for the St. Patrick's Day parade down Main Street, religious-education students build a parish float, and families keep coming back for generations.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM (or by appointment)
- Saturday: 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM (or by appointment)
- Before Mass or by appointment (per parish website)
Adoration times
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM (First Sundays only)
About St. Patrick's Parish
St. Patrick's is a Catholic mission parish in the Diocese of Amarillo, located at 500 South Main Street in the West Texas town of Shamrock on historic Route 66. The parish is pastored by Rev. Anthony Kowntiki (Kowtiki) and shares its priest with Our Mother of Mercy in Wellington, about 25 miles south. Its worship is conducted entirely in English, with a daily schedule that includes Sunday morning Mass plus several weekday evening Masses. The parish describes itself with the greeting 'God is great! Come let us celebrate!' and welcomes visitors warmly.
History of St. Patrick's, Shamrock
Catholic life in Shamrock began in the late 1800s when Irish pioneers — among them the grandfather of parishioner Kathleen Cross, who was born on a ship from Ireland in 1876 — settled the rolling plains and built dugouts while waiting to construct proper homes. A priest would arrive by train, say Mass in someone's house, and leave the next day until, in 1929, the Catholic Extension Society helped the community build its first church, dedicated on St. Patrick's Day with 17 children confirmed. As the congregation grew, Catholic Extension returned in 1966 to fund a larger church, the building in use today. Current families trace their roots to European, Hispanic, and Filipino heritage, all of which now shape parish life.
- 1876: First Irish settlers arrive, including Cross family forebears
- 1929: First Catholic Extension-funded church built, dedicated on St. Patrick's Day (17 children confirmed)
- 1966: A second, larger church built with Catholic Extension Society help
- Today: Diverse faith community of European, Hispanic, and Filipino families sharing a pastor with Our Mother of Mercy, Wellington
Sister Parish: Our Mother of Mercy, Wellington
Because St. Patrick's is classified as a mission, the Diocese of Amarillo pairs it with Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Parish in Wellington, some 25 miles south on the South Plains. The two churches share a pastor, and both trace their origins to 1929 Catholic Extension Society foundations. This twinning is reflected in the contact details listed on parish directories.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Parishioners of all ages participate in faith formation at St. Patrick's. Children enrolled in religious-education classes famously build a St. Patrick's Day float each year that travels down Main Street during the town's annual celebration, with the pastor joining the parade in a green hat.
- Religious Education (CCD) program
- Student-built St. Patrick's Day parade float each March
Cultural Life and Annual Celebrations
St. Patrick's blend of European, Hispanic, and Filipino heritage is one of its most distinctive features. Members mark their patron's feast day with a town-wide parade on Main Street, Hispanic families celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December, and Filipino families observe Simbang Gabi — the Advent novena of Masses — with a Christmas party, gift exchange, and games.
- St. Patrick's Day parade on Main Street
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Simbang Gabi (Advent novena of Masses) with Christmas party and gift exchange
Contact and Location
St. Patrick's Catholic Church is at 500 South Main Street in Shamrock, Texas 79079 (mailing address P.O. Box 49). It can be reached by phone at 806-216-2834 or by email at [email protected]. The parish website is stpatrickshamrocktx.com. The parish is located approximately one and a half miles south of the I-40 / US-83 interchange on US-83 South.