About St. Stanislaus · Chappell Hill, Texas
St. Stanislaus Catholic Parish is a small, historically Polish-American Catholic community in Chappell Hill, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Austin. Founded in 1889 by Polish immigrants from the Poznań region who settled in Washington County, it is one of the earliest Polish parishes in Texas. The parish worships in a striking 1924 Spanish mission-style stone church — the third on the property — which was lovingly restored and rededicated in 2015. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Thaddeus Tabak, SDS (a Salvatorian priest appointed July 2022), the community gathers for Mass, sacraments, the annual Bazaar and Polish Harvest Festival (Dożynki), and Kolędy Christmas caroling, proudly keeping its Polish heritage alive in rural Texas.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus of Kraków (Stanisław ze Szczepanowa), Bishop and Martyr, primary patron saint of Poland
- Rector
- Fr. Thaddeus Tabak, SDS (Salvatorian) — appointed July 2022
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin, Texas
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus offers a warm, small-town Catholic community where the same families have worshipped for over 130 years. Visitors and parishioners celebrate the Eucharist in a beautifully restored 1924 Spanish mission-style stone church, share fellowship in the parish hall, are buried together in the parish cemetery, and gather annually for the Polish Bazaar–Dożynki Harvest Festival each September and Kolędy Christmas caroling. Rooted in Polish Catholic heritage and guided by Salvatorian priest Fr. Thaddeus Tabak, the parish lives out its mission to know the one true God and Jesus Christ, passing the best of its traditions to the next generation through education, evangelization, and Gospel living.
Mass times at St. Stanislaus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Welcome & Parish Mission
St. Stanislaus Parish, in Chappell Hill, Texas, is part of the universal Catholic Church in communion with Pope Leo XIV and belongs to the Diocese of Austin under Bishop Daniel E. Garcia. The parish community gathers in its historic church for the Most Holy Eucharist, other sacraments and sacramentals; uses the parish hall for social events, receptions and parties; and buries its beloved dead in the parish cemetery. The parish mission, anchored in John 17:3, is to know the one true God and Jesus Christ, and to pass its best traditions to the next generation through education, evangelization, and Gospel living.
Our Patron — St. Stanislaus of Kraków
The parish takes its name from St. Stanislaus (Stanisław ze Szczepanowa), Bishop of Kraków and Martyr. Born around 1030 AD to a noble Polish family, he was educated at the Cathedral school in Gniezno, ordained a priest in 1066, and became Bishop of Kraków in 1072. He was venerated as a martyr-saint almost immediately after his death and was canonized by Pope Innocent IV on September 17, 1253, at the church of St. Francis in Assisi. He is venerated today as the primary patron saint of Poland.
- Bishop and Martyr
- Primary patron of Poland
- Feast day: April 11
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to 1889, when Polish immigrants organized a Catholic mission in Chappell Hill. Over more than a century it has survived the Great Hurricane of 1900 and a devastating 1921 fire, and now worships in its third church building. The community's deep Polish heritage is reflected in annual traditions that continue today.
- 1889 — Parish organized on Pentecost Sunday; six laymen elected as building committee
- 1889 — Two-acre tract purchased from John W. Lockhart for $100
- 1894 — Original wooden church completed
- September 9, 1900 — First church destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1900
- December 4, 1921 — Second church destroyed by accidental fire
- January 1922 – October 1924 — Present Spanish mission-style stone church built
- November 25, 1924 — Current church dedicated
- 1937 — First Parish Bazaar held on the first Sunday of September
- 2011–2015 — Extensive restoration of the church building
- November 14, 2015 — Rededication by Bishop Daniel E. Garcia (then Auxiliary Bishop of Austin)
- 2017 — Parish Bazaar linked with the Polish Harvest Festival, Dożynki
Polish Heritage & Annual Traditions
St. Stanislaus is proud of its Polish roots and integrates several Polish traditions into the community calendar, welcoming all who wish to experience this heritage.
- Parish Bazaar — held on the first Sunday of September every year since 1937
- Dożynki (Polish Harvest Festival) — combined with the Bazaar since 2017
- Kolędy — Christmas caroling to parishioners' residences on the Saturday after Christmas
The Church Building
The current place of worship is a large stone structure in Spanish mission style, begun in January 1922 and completed in October 1924 after the second church on the property burned. It has served the Chappell Hill Catholic community continuously since its first dedication on November 25, 1924. An extensive renovation and restoration project that began in 2011 renewed the building inside and out — including new stained-glass windows, repainting of the exterior and interior, new air-conditioning and heating systems, new electrical wiring, and refurbished pews and floors — while taking special care to preserve the historic architecture.
- Spanish mission-style stone construction
- New stained-glass windows installed during 2011–2015 restoration
- Rededicated November 14, 2015 by Bishop Daniel E. Garcia
Pastor & Staff
The current pastor of St. Stanislaus is Fr. Thaddeus Tabak, SDS, a priest of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) who has served the parish since July 2022. The parish falls under the spiritual authority of Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of the Diocese of Austin and in communion with Pope Leo XIV.
- Pastor: Fr. Thaddeus Tabak, SDS (since July 2022)
- Diocesan Bishop: Daniel E. Garcia (Diocese of Austin)
- Holy Father: Pope Leo XIV
Sacraments
Information about the Church's seven sacraments — including Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — is published on the parish website, along with the parish's role in nurturing each.
- Baptism — parents should arrange infant Baptism promptly after birth; adult candidates participate in RCIA
- Marriage — couples should contact the parish at least 6 months before the desired wedding date
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturday 5:00–5:45 PM and Sunday 8:00–8:45 AM
- Godparent / sponsor requirements per Canon Law (baptized and practicing Catholic, age 16+, First Eucharist and Confirmation)
Getting Involved & Community Life
Beyond the liturgy, the parish hall hosts social events, receptions and parties throughout the year. The annual Bazaar–Dożynki in September and Kolędy Christmas caroling in late December are the two flagship community gatherings that draw together generations of parishioners, friends, and neighbors. Members also care for the parish cemetery, where their beloved deceased are laid to rest.
- Parish Bazaar / Dożynki committee
- Kolędy caroling
- Parish Hall events and receptions
- Parish cemetery care
Visit & Contact
St. Stanislaus Parish welcomes all visitors and looks forward to meeting you. The parish office can be reached by phone during regular hours, and the parish provides a 'Contact Us' form on its website for email inquiries.
- Address: 9175 FM Road 1371, Chappell Hill, TX 77426
- Phone: (979) 836-3030 — also (979) 836-9588
- Fax: (979) 836-7170
- Diocese: Austin, Texas
- Online contact form via ststanislauschappellhill.com