About St. Paul · Smithville, Texas
St. Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Smithville, Texas, located in Bastrop County and belonging to the Diocese of Austin. The parish serves the local Smithville community and the surrounding rural area, including managing Sts. Peter and Paul in Kovar — a historic mission chapel built by Czech-Moravian settlers in 1921. St. Paul offers Mass in English and Spanish on weekends, weekday Masses in its chapel, and the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration. The parish is currently in the middle of a Capital Campaign to restore its historic stained glass windows, with Foster Stained Glass Company carrying out the multi-phase work.
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Pius Thekkevayalil Mathew
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Paul offers a bilingual weekend Mass schedule (English at 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Sunday; Spanish at 12:30 p.m. Sunday) plus Tuesday-through-Friday evening Masses in its chapel, making it easy for working families and Spanish-speaking Catholics to attend. The parish reaches beyond its walls by maintaining the historic Sts. Peter and Paul chapel in nearby Kovar and the surrounding Barton's Creek Catholic Cemetery, keeping the rural Catholic heritage of Bastrop County alive. Its ongoing stained-glass capital campaign is a chance for parishioners and visitors to leave a permanent, personal mark on a historic house of worship.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mass & Service Schedule
St. Paul publishes a clear, bilingual schedule on its homepage: a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM in English, three Sunday Masses (8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in English; 12:30 PM in Spanish), and weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday at 6:30 PM celebrated in the on-site Chapel. The parish also sends its pastor monthly to celebrate Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul mission chapel in Kovar on the last Sunday of the month at 12:00 PM.
- Saturday Vigil — 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday — 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM (English), 12:30 PM (Spanish)
- Tuesday–Friday — 6:30 PM (in the Chapel)
- Kovar mission — Last Sunday of the month at 12:00 PM
Mission: Sts. Peter and Paul in Kovar
St. Paul Parish is the steward of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kovar, a white wood-frame chapel built in 1921 by Czech-Moravian settlers on land donated by Anton and Sophia Psencik, under the leadership of Father John Andres. The chapel, with an ornate 20-foot gold-leafed altar, octagonal oak baptistry, pump organ, pine confessional and ten long pews beneath a 25-foot domed ceiling, sits about eight miles from Smithville off Highway 95 on Stolle Lane. Sts. Peter and Paul is no longer used for regular Mass, but the parish celebrates Mass there on All Souls Day and on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, plus the convenience Mass described above. Descendants of the chapel's founding families help with upkeep of the chapel and the nearby Barton's Creek Catholic Cemetery under the direction of St. Paul's pastor.
- Chapel built 1921 by Czech-Moravian settlers under Fr. John Andres
- Mass on All Souls Day and the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
- Barton's Creek Catholic Cemetery also under St. Paul's care
- Address: 310 Stolle Lane, Flatonia, TX 78941
Stained Glass Window Restoration Campaign
The parish is funding the restoration of its historic stained glass windows through Foster Stained Glass Company, which is working in three phases: 8 windows on the right side of the church, 8 on the left side, and 7 in the back. The two windows behind the tabernacle have already been installed and the parish community has given thanks for that milestone. Families and individuals may sponsor a window in honor or memory of loved ones for a $30,000 donation, with names to be submitted before the production phase.
- Phase 1: 8 right-side windows
- Phase 2: 8 left-side windows
- Phase 3: 7 back windows
- Two tabernacle windows already installed
- Window sponsorship: $30,000 with personal dedication
Parish Mission & Welcome
St. Paul Parish states its mission as nurturing a diverse and welcoming community committed to following wherever God is leading and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Smithville and the world. The parish embraces diversified cultures, ages and abilities united in belief in Jesus Christ, and is dedicated to family education, evangelization, and the celebration of the sacraments. Visitors can register as parishioners online through the parish website.
- Diverse, multicultural community
- Emphasis on family faith education and evangelization
- Online registration available via stpaulsmithville.org
Visit Us & Contact
The church is on the corner of Loop 230 (3rd Street) and Mills Street in downtown Smithville. The office can be reached by phone or email, and the parish also offers online giving through its website.
- Address: 204 Mills St., Smithville, TX 78957
- Phone: (512) 237-3299
- Email: [email protected]
- Online donation and registration links on stpaulsmithville.org