About St. Rita · Ranger, Texas
St. Rita Catholic Church is a parish in Ranger, Texas, part of a four-parish collaborative Catholic community that also includes Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cisco, St. Francis Xavier in Eastland, and St. John in Strawn, all in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Located at 1109 Blackwell Road, St. Rita serves the faithful of Ranger and surrounding Eastland County with Sunday and Tuesday Mass, weekly confession and adoration, and parish life rooted in hospitality and tradition. The parish building itself dates to around 1920, and the parish once ran a Catholic school (St. Rita's Parochial School, 1921–1952).
- Established
- c. 1920 (church building dated to 1920; parish school opened 1921)
- Patron
- St. Rita of Cascia
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Pudota
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Rita welcomes Catholics and seekers into a small, close-knit parish family that shares its worship, faith formation, and outreach with three neighboring parishes across Eastland County. Newcomers are personally greeted by Pastor Fr. Joseph Pudota after registration, and the community is known for hospitality, traditional worship, weekly adoration and confession, and a mission of growing in faith, serving others, and sharing the Gospel — 'to make present the kingdom of God.'
Mass times at St. Rita
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM, St. Rita, Ranger
- Or By Appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM, St. Rita, Ranger (combined with Confession)
About St. Rita Catholic Church, Ranger
St. Rita Catholic Church is the Catholic parish of Ranger, Texas, located at 1109 Blackwell Road. It belongs to the Diocese of Fort Worth and is one of four parishes sharing a single pastoral team and parish office. The current parish building dates to 1920, making it a recognized historical structure in a town defined by the early-20th-century Eastland County oil boom.
- Patron: St. Rita of Cascia (feast day May 22)
- Diocese: Fort Worth
- Mailing/Physical Address: 1109 Blackwell Rd, Ranger, TX 76470
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 AM – 3 PM
History of the Parish
St. Rita's roots run back to the Ranger oil-boom era. The 1920 church building remains a piece of local history, and the parish opened St. Rita's Parochial School in 1921. That school educated local Catholic children for about thirty years before closing in 1952. Today, St. Rita continues its mission as part of a five-parish family (St. Rita, St. John, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Boniface) that the parish website describes as 'the embodiment of the Catholic tradition for a century and more.'
- c. 1920 — St. Rita's Catholic Church building constructed (historical marker site)
- 1921 — St. Rita's Parochial School opened
- 1952 — St. Rita's Parochial School closed after 30 years
- Present — Operates collaboratively with parishes in Cisco, Eastland, and Strawn
Our Four-Parish Catholic Family
St. Rita shares its pastor and parish office with three other parishes across Eastland County. Together they form a single Catholic community in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
- Ranger — St. Rita Catholic Church (1109 Blackwell Rd)
- Cisco — Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (1106 Ave F); Sunday Mass 8:00 AM
- Eastland — St. Francis Xavier (800 S Halbryan St); Spanish Sunday Mass 11:15 AM, Thursday Mass 7:00 PM
- Strawn — St. John (126 Hickory St); Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 PM, Wednesday Mass 5:00 PM
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Contacts
The four-parish community is led by Pastor Fr. Joseph Pudota, with parish office support from staff member Danielle Harper. New parishioners registering at St. Rita are invited to set up an in-person welcome meeting with Fr. Pudota.
- Pastor: Fr. Joseph Pudota
- Office staff: Danielle Harper
- Parish phone: 254-647-3163
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastoral emergency: Fr. Joseph Pudota 817-821-5821; Danielle Harper 254-631-7484
Parish Mission Statement
The combined faith community of St. John, St. Rita, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Boniface has published a unified mission: 'We gather as the Body of Christ: to grow in our faith, to serve, to share.' Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the parishes commit to worship, faith education, fellowship, and outreach — 'to make present the kingdom of God.'
- Gather as the Body of Christ
- Grow in faith, serve, and share
- Hospitality, diversity, and tolerance
- Called to be Christ's hands in the world
Parish Registration & Becoming a Member
St. Rita welcomes new members from across the region. Registration forms are available online via the parish website and as hard copies at the back of the church. After registering, parishioners are personally invited to meet with Fr. Joseph Pudota, who welcomes each new family to the parish.
- Online registration form on stritacatholicranger.org
- Paper forms available in the church
- Registration questions: call 254-647-3163
- Welcome meeting with the Pastor after registration
Ministries & Liturgical Roles
Across the four-parish family, parishioners serve in liturgical roles such as altar server and lector, supported by published schedules. The community also participates in the Diocese of Fort Worth's Annual Diocesan Appeal and maintains a Safe Environment Program in compliance with diocesan standards.
- Altar Server ministry (scheduled across parishes)
- Lector ministry (scheduled across parishes)
- Annual Diocesan Appeal participation
- Safe Environment Program
Sacraments & Devotions
St. Rita celebrates the central sacraments of the Catholic faith: Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration. First Communion is prepared for and celebrated across the cluster, with bilingual celebrations scheduled at St. Rita and other parish sites. In a pastoral emergency, Fr. Joseph Pudota and the office staff can be reached directly by phone or text.
- Sunday & weekday Mass
- Reconciliation (Tuesdays 6:00–6:30 PM or by appointment)
- Eucharistic Adoration (Tuesdays 6:00–6:30 PM)
- First Communion preparation
- Pastoral emergency line
Community Outreach & Events
The cluster of parishes hosts community fellowship events such as the Friendship Meal at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish Hall — a free dinner open to everyone in the community — and other gatherings highlighted on the parish calendar. The community also celebrates bilingual feast-day Masses, such as a Rosary to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Friendship Meal community dinner (free, open to all)
- Rosary to Our Lady of Guadalupe
- First-Sunday fellowship breakfasts
- Annual Diocesan Appeal
Visit, Contact & Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through the parish office, the official website, social media, and Flocknote email updates. The parish office, located in the white building next to St. Rita's, is open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM.
- Office: 1109 Blackwell Rd, Ranger, TX 76470
- Phone: 254-647-3163
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stritacatholicranger.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stritaranger
- Flocknote email list: stritacatholicchurchrang.flocknote.com