St. Stephen Catholic Church

About St. Stephen Catholic Church

St. Stephen Catholic Church is a thriving parish of more than 2,000 families serving Weatherford and Parker County from its main church at 1802 Bethel Road and its historic downtown chapel at 211 S Main Street. Since November 24, 1953, it has been continuously served by priests of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (the Pallottines), and it is among the oldest Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish community celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers year-round faith formation for children and youth, and supports more than 15 ministries, organizations, and clubs for every age and stage of life.

Parish History

Catholic life in Weatherford dates to 1882, when missionary priests under the Bishop of Galveston-Houston began celebrating Mass in private homes and recorded the first baptism on July 30, 1882. The first Catholic Church in town — a wooden structure — burned down between 1888 and 1889, and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word arrived from San Antonio in 1888 to open St. Mary's Convent and a school. The present red brick Chapel on South Main Street was completed in 1902 under Father Joseph Patrick Lynch (later Bishop of Dallas) in Queen Anne/English Gothic style; its stained-glass windows and rose window have survived intact. In 1951 artist Douglas Chandor redecorated the interior in faux-marble tones with gold-leaf accents, and the chapel was restored to its original multi-color painted scheme in 2008. In 1953, two Irish Pallottine priests — Father James Maher and Father Alphonsus Hayes — arrived to take over pastoral duties, beginning what became an unbroken 70-year line of Pallottine pastors at St. Stephen. Under their care the parish grew rapidly, founded the mission community at Holy Spirit in Granbury (first Mass July 21, 1963), and helped the Bishop of Dallas-Fort Worth recruit the order to staff other parishes across the diocese. Growth continued in the following decades: a new building opened in 1980, the present main Bethel Road church was dedicated April 21, 1988, and a portion of the adjacent golf course was purchased for expansion in January 2008.

• First baptism: July 30, 1882
• Original 1902 red brick Chapel — Queen Anne / English Gothic
• Pallottines arrive November 24, 1953
• Holy Spirit (Granbury) mission founded 1963
• Present main church dedicated April 21, 1988
• Golf course land purchased January 2008

Pastoral Team & Staff

The parish is led by Pallottine (S.A.C.) clergy working alongside a lay staff. The pastor and the Priest in Residence are both members of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, and a deacon assists with sacramental and parish life.

• Rev. Mariya James Susai Manickam, SAC — Pastor
• Rev. Brijil Lawrence, SAC — Priest in Residence
• Deacon Carlos Frias
• Todd Werts — Bookkeeper
• Kathy Harmon — Director of Faith Formation (817-381-4684)
• Yolanda Ruiz — Asistente de Formación de Fe Español (817-736-0257)
• Annette Calderon — Director of Youth Ministry (817-506-4315)
• Myra De La Garza — OCIA contact (817-683-3274)
• Rusty Gibson — OCIA contact (817-247-1477)

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. Stephen's Faith Formation program exists 'to support parents — the first catechists in their children's lives — as they teach and live a life of discipleship in Christ.' Catechists are parish volunteers (parents, grandparents, adults, and teens), and the program aspires to help every child come to know Jesus as a 'Beloved Child of God.' Spanish-language formation is offered through Yolanda Ruiz on the parish staff.

• Children's Faith Formation (English) — Kathy Harmon, Director, 817-381-4684
• Formación de Fe en Español — Yolanda Ruiz, 817-736-0257
• RCIA/OCIA for adults — Wednesday nights, 7:00 PM in the Holy Spirit Center (August–May)

OCIA — Becoming Catholic

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at St. Stephen is a gradual, guided period of formation and conversion rather than a course, leading participants toward the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist as needed. Classes meet Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM in the Holy Spirit Center from August through May, so newcomers may begin at any time; a Spanish RICA track is also available through the parish office. There is no charge to participate; all materials are provided.

• Wednesday classes, 7:00 PM, Holy Spirit Center
• Runs August through May (with summer break)
• Contacts: Myra De La Garza (817-683-3274); Rusty Gibson (817-247-1477)
• For Spanish: contact the church office

Youth & Young Adult Ministries

St. Stephen runs three age-specific ministries — 'The Way' (grades 6–12), 'Coyote Catholic' (ages 18–22, college-aged), and a Young Adult Ministry for adults in their 20s and 30s — under one mission: 'to see you connect, grow, serve, and be sent.' The Way Youth Group meets Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 PM in the Pallottine Building, with a typical evening of prayer, games, teaching, small groups, and social time. The Diocese of Fort Worth hosts retreats, and the parish has organized socials and outings to places including a Jewish temple, Urban Air, Steubenville Lone Star, Splash Kingdom, and Weatherford College concerts.

• Director of Youth Ministry: Annette Calderon — 817-506-4315
• The Way: grades 6–12, Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 PM, Pallottine Building
• Coyote Catholic: ages 18–22
• Young Adult Ministry: ages 21–30s

Live-Streamed Mass

Selected Masses are livestreamed from the church on Bethel Road for parishioners who cannot attend in person. Viewers are invited to subscribe to the parish's YouTube channel to be notified when Mass goes live.

• Tuesday–Friday 9:00 AM
• Sunday 10:45 AM (English)
• Sunday 12:30 PM (Spanish)

Pallottine Heritage

Since 1953 St. Stephen has been entrusted to the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (S.A.C.), founded by St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835, and to its Irish Mother of Divine Love Province (Dublin). The Pallottines are known for promoting collaboration between lay people, priests, and religious. The parish's founding mission in Granbury became Holy Spirit Parish, and St. Stephen is now building a new 'Pallottine Building' — a multi-purpose facility named for St. Vincent Pallotti — to mark more than 70 years of continuous Pallottine pastoral care and to serve as a second home for youth and adult ministry programs.

• Pallottines (S.A.C.) arrived Nov. 24, 1953
• Founded 1835 by St. Vincent Pallotti
• Irish Province = Mother of Divine Love Province, Dublin
• St. Stephen founded Holy Spirit Parish (Granbury) in 1963
• New 'Pallottine Building' being constructed for youth & adult ministry

New Parishioners, Welcome & Flocknote

The parish actively welcomes new families and invites them to register for a welcome packet at the parish office. Communication is handled through Flocknote — a text and email system managed by parish staff, with messages sent in English and Spanish — for event reminders and ministry updates. St. Stephen emphasizes that newcomers bring 'new perspectives, fresh ideas, and vast experience' that benefit the whole parish community.

• Register in person at the parish office for a welcome packet
• Sign up online for Flocknote text/email updates
• Messages sent in English and Spanish

Contact & Office Information

Parish offices are at the church on Bethel Road, with weekday office hours Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The historic downtown Chapel is at 211 S Main Street, Weatherford, TX 76086. The website can be reached at saintstephencc.org, with web issues directed to [email protected].

• Church & Office: 1802 Bethel Road, Weatherford, TX 76086
• Chapel: 211 S Main Street, Weatherford, TX 76086
• Phone: (817) 596-9585
• Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9–3; Fri 9–1
• Webmaster email: [email protected]