About St. Pius the First · Hemphill, Texas
St. Pius the First (also styled St. Pius I) is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Hemphill, Texas, the seat of Sabine County in East Texas. It belongs to the Diocese of Tyler and has been a continuous Catholic presence in the Sabine National Forest / Toledo Bend area since 1939. The parish shares its name with Pope St. Pius I, who led the Church in the second century. Today the church is administered by Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi and offers a full weekly Mass schedule plus regular confession times for the local community.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Pius I (Pope St. Pius the First)
- Rector
- Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
St. Pius I is the Catholic home for Catholics in Hemphill and across Sabine County, offering Mass seven days a week — Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays — along with regularly scheduled confession before both the Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass. Its small-town setting means parishioners know one another by name, and the parish welcomes visitors and newcomers to its worship and sacramental life.
Mass times at St. Pius the First
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- Saturday: 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Discover Mass) / 4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (parish site)
- And by appointment
About St. Pius the First Parish
St. Pius the First (also written St. Pius I) is a Roman Catholic parish in Hemphill, Texas, the county seat of Sabine County in the East Texas Pineywoods near Toledo Bend Reservoir. The parish is part of the Diocese of Tyler and, according to the diocesan directory on GCatholic, was established in 1939, giving it more than eighty years of continuous Catholic ministry in this rural part of the state. The parish draws its name from Pope St. Pius I, who led the Church from roughly 140 to 155 A.D. and is honored as a martyr; his feast day is July 11.
- Established 1939 (GCatholic)
- Diocese of Tyler
- Patron: Pope St. Pius I
- Feast day: July 11
Our Patron Saint
St. Pius I was pope of the Catholic Church in the second century, succeeding Pope Hyginus and serving until around 155 A.D. He is remembered for his pastoral letter concerning the dating of Easter and is venerated as a martyr. His memorial in the Roman calendar is July 11.
Parish Leadership
The parish is currently led by Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi, who serves as Administrator. The parish office can be reached at (409) 787-4189, with fax (409) 787-2048.
- Administrator: Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi
- Phone: (409) 787-4189
- Fax: (409) 787-2048
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office and church are located at 309 Starr Street in Hemphill, near the intersection of Hwy. 184 and Barber Street. The mailing address is PO Box 1925, Hemphill, TX 75948-1925.
- Address: 309 Starr St., Hemphill, TX 75948
- Mailing: PO Box 1925, Hemphill, TX 75948-1925
- Phone: (409) 787-4189
- Website: stpiushemphill.org
Diocese of Tyler
St. Pius I is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, which covers the eastern part of Texas. The parish is registered in GCatholic's directory as Church ID 33964 within the Diocese of Tyler.
- Diocese of Tyler
- GCatholic Church ID 33964