About St. Philip Benizi · Poteet, Texas
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish in Poteet, Texas, a small community in Atascosa County south of San Antonio. Founded in 1896 according to diocesan records, the parish serves a diverse congregation that worships in both English and Spanish each Sunday. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of San Antonio and embraces its Pastoral Vision of being a welcoming, faith-growing, service-oriented, and culturally diverse community. Weekday and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation are all part of regular parish life, with the parish noted especially for reaching out to local nursing homes and the surrounding rural community.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- St. Philip Benizi (Philip Benizi de Damiani, 13th-century Servite friar and Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Albert Lelo, CICM (Missionaries of Scheut) – noted as Administrator/pastor in recent reporting and parish directories; Archdiocesan clergy assignments have also listed Father Paul Melgarejo in connection with the parish
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Philip Benizi is one of the longest-serving Catholic parishes in the Poteet / Atascosa County area, with a heritage going back to 1896. It is a genuinely bilingual parish — Mass is offered in Spanish, English, and a bilingual Sunday Mass at noon — making it a home for the region's growing Hispanic Catholic population alongside its English-speaking members. The parish combines a daily Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Thursdays and Fridays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM), and active outreach such as holiday gift collections for local nursing homes, reflecting the Archdiocese of San Antonio's vision of a welcoming, faith-growing, and service-oriented community.
Mass times at St. Philip Benizi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — contact the church office at (830) 742-3796 (per parish website)
Adoration times
- Thursday and Friday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (following the 6:00 PM Mass, per parish website)
Identity & Mission
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church identifies itself as a vibrant faith community in Poteet, Texas, and a member parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The parish publicly embraces the Archdiocese's Pastoral Vision, summed up in four commitments: being welcoming and engaging, growing in faith and fellowship, serving with compassion and love, and celebrating a diverse community. Its stated mission is to follow Christ's call to make disciples — building a community of faith through worship, education, and service, and helping each person grow in relationship with God and neighbor.
History & Patron Saint
St. Philip Benizi traces its history to 1896, when Catholic missionary activity brought regular worship to the small farming community of Poteet in Atascosa County. The parish takes its name from St. Philip Benizi de Damiani (1233–1285), a Servite friar, Doctor of the Church, and once vicar general of the Servants of Mary, whose feast the universal Church celebrates on August 23. The parish building stands at 274 Avenue H and has grown with the surrounding community over more than a century.
- Founded: 1896 (per GCatholic and Archdiocese of San Antonio records)
- Patron: St. Philip Benizi de Damiani, OFM
- Feast day: August 23
- Archdiocese: San Antonio
Sacramental Life
Confession is available by appointment with the parish office. Baptisms require that parents be registered parishioners and that godparents be practicing Catholics who have received all their sacraments; a pre-baptismal preparation class is required for parents and godparents. Families can begin the process through the parish's online baptism registration form. Other sacraments — First Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick — are arranged by contacting the parish office.
Parish Life & Outreach
Parishioners are regularly seen extending care beyond the church walls. In December 2023 the parish community — along with its pastor — gathered holiday gifts for residents of Pleasanton South Nursing and Rehab, a tradition that reflects the parish's ongoing service to the broader Atascosa County area. The parish also encourages registration as members and welcomes new families through its online registration form.
- Nursing-home outreach (Pleasanton South Nursing and Rehab)
- Parish registration via online form
- Welcoming of new members
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Albert Lelo, CICM (Missionaries of Scheut), who is identified publicly as administrator/pastor in local news coverage and Catholic directories. The Archdiocese of San Antonio has also listed Father Paul Melgarejo in connection with the parish in published clergy assignments. Day-to-day parish business is handled through the parish office at 274 Avenue H.
- Rev. Albert Lelo, CICM — Pastor/Administrator
- Father Paul Melgarejo — listed in Archdiocesan assignments
Visit & Contact
St. Philip Benizi is located two blocks east of TX-16 on Avenue H, at the corner of 3rd Street, in downtown Poteet. Visitors are welcomed at weekend Masses, weekday liturgies, and Thursday/Friday evening adoration. The parish office can be reached at (830) 742-3796 or by email for appointments, baptism inquiries, and general questions.
- Address: 274 Avenue H, Poteet, TX 78065
- Phone: (830) 742-3796
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: https://stphilipbenizipoteet.org/