About St. Stanislaus · Bandera, Texas
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is a historic parish in Bandera, Texas — the 'Cowboy Capital of the World' — founded in 1855 by Silesian immigrant families brought to the Texas Hill Country under Franciscan priest Rev. Leopold Moczygemba, O.F.M. The parish, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio, serves a bilingual community (English, Spanish and Polish-rooted devotions) from its 1876 native-limestone church at 311 Seventh Street, and is led today by Rev. Msgr. Franciszek 'Frank' Kurzaj, a Polish priest who has been parish pastor since 2017. A mission chapel, St. Victor, extends the parish's reach into the surrounding ranch country, and a full range of ministries — from Life Teen to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to the Guadalupanos — support worship, formation and outreach.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus (Stanisław) of Szczepanów — Bishop and Martyr of Kraków (d. 1079, canonized 1253 in Assisi)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Franciszek 'Frank' Kurzaj (pastor since 2017)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus welcomes parishioners and visitors into a deeply rooted Hill Country Catholic community that still carries the spirit of its 1855 Silesian founders. Worshippers find a full weekly schedule — including a bilingual Sunday Mass, weekday Masses at the parish church, and additional Masses at mission chapel St. Victor — plus Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel, regular confession before every Mass, and a vibrant celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe each December. Active ministries (Life Teen, Religious Education, OCIA, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Guadalupanos, Knights of Columbus, Music Ministry, Lectors, Greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Society, Rosary Makers, ACTS, and Sick & Homebound visits) make it easy to plug in, while the historic 1876 limestone church anchors parish identity.
Mass times at St. Stanislaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 20 minutes before each Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel (parish)
History of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
The parish traces its origin to the Silesian immigration of 1854–1855, when Polish families led by Fr. Leopold Moczygemba, O.F.M. settled in Bandera at the invitation of Bishop Odin of Galveston. The first Catholic worship site was a 20-by-30-foot log structure built in 1858 on land Bishop Odin purchased for $1.00. The current native-limestone church was constructed in 1876–1877 and has been lovingly maintained and expanded ever since — receiving a steeple in 1906, stained glass windows in the 1940s and 1990, an all-steel steeple in 1988, a major interior renovation from 2002 to 2008, and the illuminated Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto in 2019.
- 1855 — Silesian families arrive in Bandera on February 2
- 1858 — Bishop Odin buys church land for $1.00; first log church built
- 1876–1877 — Present limestone church constructed
- 1874 — Stone convent built for the Blue Veil Sisters (teachers)
- 1906 — Steeple completed
- 1924 — Two-story limestone St. Joseph's School built
- 1988 — Steel steeple and stainless steel cross installed
- 1990 — Six additional stained glass windows installed
- 1999 — Sanctuary room converted to a Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- 2002–2008 — Major exterior and interior renovation
- 2016–2017 — Old convent/school redesigned as an Adoration Chapel
- 2019 — Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto constructed and dedicated
Mass and the Liturgical Schedule
St. Stanislaus offers a full week of Masses, including a bilingual Sunday Mass, while its mission chapel St. Victor extends the parish's reach into the surrounding area. Confessions are heard 20 minutes before every Mass, or by appointment. Fr. Frank celebrates a special Family Mass on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 10:15 am during the Religious Education school year, and visits the Bandera Rehabilitation Center on the First Friday of each month to bring Mass, Anointing of the Sick, and Rites of Welcoming to residents.
- Monday — No Mass
- Tuesday — 6:30 pm
- Wednesday — 12:15 pm
- Thursday — 7:00 am
- Friday — 12:15 pm
- Saturday — 5:00 pm (St. Stanislaus)
- Saturday — 7:00 pm (St. Victor Chapel)
- Sunday — 8:00 am, 11:30 am (Bilingual), 4:00 pm (St. Stanislaus)
- Sunday — 9:45 am (St. Victor Chapel)
- Family Mass — 3rd Sunday, 10:15 am (during RE school year)
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the Sacraments of Initiation through a strong Religious Education program and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the adult formation process formerly called RCIA. Children in 1st and 2nd grade prepare over two years for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist; teens in 10th and 11th grade prepare over two years for Confirmation. Baptism is welcomed with preparation of 2–3 months including a meeting with Deacon Carl Rutkowski.
- Baptism (registration 2–3 months in advance; meeting with Deacon Carl Rutkowski)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (two-year prep for 1st–2nd graders)
- Confirmation (two-year prep for 10th–11th graders)
- OCIA for adults — unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic seeking First Communion/Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion for the homebound, Bandera Rehabilitation Center, and Cedar Creek Nursing Home
Faith Formation — A Lifelong Journey
St. Stanislaus views faith formation as ongoing from childhood through adulthood. The Children's Faith Formation program runs from Kindergarten through 12th Grade, with St. Stanislaus classes on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 am (September through April) and St. Victor classes on Sundays from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Registration is $15 per child or $30 per family. Adult formation includes the OCIA process, Bible Studies, and other Adult Faith Formation opportunities advertised through the parish bulletin and Upcoming Events page.
- Children's Faith Formation (K–12)
- Two-year Sacramental prep for First Eucharist/Reconciliation and Confirmation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Bible Studies and Adult Faith Formation offerings
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Rebecca Neill
Youth Ministry — Life Teen
St. Stanislaus runs a Life Teen Youth Ministry program focused on empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, drawing them into responsible participation in the faith community, and fostering personal and spiritual growth. High-school Life Teen gatherings are held from 12:45 pm to 2:45 pm in St. Joseph's Hall and include a meal. All Bandera-area youth are invited; activities include community outreach such as Christmas caroling at local nursing homes alongside the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Life Teen for high-school teens — Sundays 12:45–2:45 pm in St. Joseph's Hall
- Director of Youth Ministry: Dan Sevigny
- Youth activities include community outreach and seasonal celebrations
Parish Ministries and Organizations
A wide range of ministries make it easy to get involved at St. Stanislaus — from liturgical roles at Mass to charitable outreach and cultural groups. All adults working with children must complete Safe Environment and Child Protection training (OVASE) and a background check through the Archdiocese, renewed every three years; OVASE Coordinator Ed Flemma assists parishioners with this requirement.
- Life Teen Youth Ministry
- Religious Education (CCD)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Guadalupanos
- Knights of Columbus
- Music Ministry (English and Guadalupano Spanish)
- Lectors / Commentators
- Greeters
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- ACTS — Adoration Community Theology Service
- Rosary Makers (His Holy Face)
- Sick and Homebound Ministry
- Altar Society (hosts Polish Heritage Dinner)
- Finance Council
- OVASE / Safe Environment
Devotions and Special Celebrations
Perpetual Adoration is available year-round in the parish Adoration Chapel, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 is celebrated with great cultural fervor — including an early-morning serenade of Las Mañanitas, Pan Dulce and coffee in St. Joseph Hall, a public recitation of the group Rosary (the last of 46 Rosaries representing the 46 stars on the Tilma that begin in homes on October 28), traditional Matachines dancing, and Holy Mass led by the pastor with the Guadalupano Spanish Musicians and Choir. The annual St. Stanislaus Parish Festival is held around Cinco de Mayo, with food, music, games, a live and silent auction, and free church tours and history lessons.
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12
- St. Stanislaus Parish Festival (with Cinco de Mayo)
- Altar Society Polish Heritage Dinner
- Family Masses on the 3rd Sunday during the school year
Buildings, Grounds and Heritage
The parish campus includes the 1876–1877 limestone church, St. Joseph Parish Hall (the 1924 limestone schoolhouse remodeled in 1982 and used for meetings, choir practice, youth gatherings, Catechism classes, and the St. Vincent de Paul ministry), the parish office (built in 1963 as a convent), the Adoration Chapel (rededicated 2016–2017), and the 2019 Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto. In 2015 the early Silesian settlers' memorabilia were transferred from the Old Convent Museum into St. Joseph's Parish Hall, keeping the parish's founding story visible to visitors.
- 1876–1877 native-limestone church
- 1924 St. Joseph's School — now St. Joseph Parish Hall
- 1963 convent — now Parish Office
- 1999 Perpetual Adoration Chapel (sanctuary room)
- 2016–2017 Old Convent/Museum redesigned as Adoration Chapel
- 2019 Our Lady of Guadalupe limestone grotto
Clergy, Staff and Contact
The parish is served by Rev. Msgr. Frank (Franciszek) Kurzaj, a Polish priest who has been in Texas since 1987 and pastor of St. Stanislaus since 2017, and Deacon Carl Rutkowski. Lindsay Mace serves as Parish Office Manager and Michelle Frost as Administrative Assistant. Rebecca Neill is the Coordinator of Religious Education, Dan Sevigny is the Director of Youth Ministry, Ed Flemma coordinates OVASE (Safe Environment), and John Escalera handles maintenance. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Pastor — Rev. Msgr. Frank Kurzaj
- Deacon — Carl Rutkowski
- Parish Office Manager — Lindsay Mace
- Administrative Assistant — Michelle Frost
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Rebecca Neill
- Director of Youth Ministry — Dan Sevigny
- OVASE / Safe Environment Coordinator — Ed Flemma
- Maintenance — John Escalera
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stanislaw Oleksy, S.D.S.
Former pastor honored posthumously by the Polish American Council of Texas (PACT) in 2019 for restoring and renovating the interior of St. Stanislaus; the PACT Lifetime Achievement Award was accepted by his brother Rev. Kazimierz Oleksy.