About St. Stephen the Martyr · Pointblank, Texas
St. Stephen the Martyr is a small rural Catholic mission church in Point Blank, Texas, administered as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in nearby New Waverly. It sits off State Highway 156 between the communities of Point Blank and Coldspring, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston, and was established in 1974. The mission gathers for a single Saturday Vigil Mass, offers weekday Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and is currently served by Rev. Daokim Nguyen, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. Its simple tagline, 'Inviting All to Become One In Christ,' reflects the warm, community-focused character of this rural East Texas mission.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. Stephen the Martyr (Saint Stephen, first Christian martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Daokim Nguyen
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. Stephen the Martyr offers a welcoming, intimate Catholic worship experience in a quiet rural setting, with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM, Wednesday morning Eucharistic Adoration from 9:00–10:00 AM, and Saturday Rosary and Confession at 4:00 PM. As a mission of St. Joseph Parish in New Waverly, it shares that parish's wide network of lay ministries — CCE (religious education), RCIA, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands, Vocations Committee, music ministries, Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, and a Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano) — meaning visitors and parishioners can plug into a vibrant faith community while worshipping in a small-town church. The mission's own tagline says it simply: 'Inviting All to Become One In Christ.'
Mass times at St. Stephen the Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:20 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00–10:00 AM (Holy Hour / Eucharistic Adoration)
About St. Stephen the Martyr Mission
St. Stephen the Martyr is a rural Catholic mission church serving Point Blank, Texas, and the surrounding communities of San Jacinto County in East Texas. Founded in 1974 and listed by the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston as an active mission, it is administered together with St. Joseph Parish in New Waverly, sharing one pastor (Rev. Daokim Nguyen) and a unified network of lay ministries. The mission gathers for Mass in a simple church at 101 Stagecoach Road, just off Highway 156, and describes itself with the tagline 'Inviting All to Become One In Christ.'
- Type: Mission church (not an independent parish)
- Founded: 1974
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
- Pastor: Rev. Daokim Nguyen
- Tagline: 'Inviting All to Become One In Christ'
History & Heritage
The mission was established in 1974 to serve Catholics in and around Point Blank and nearby Coldspring. From the start it has been tied to St. Joseph Parish in New Waverly as its supporting parish — a common arrangement in rural Texas where a single priest and lay leadership team pastor multiple worship sites. That pastoral partnership continues today: the mission's mailing address, business phone, and pastoral staff are all administered from the St. Joseph Parish office in New Waverly.
- Founded 1974 (GCatholic)
- Continuously administered as a mission of St. Joseph Parish, New Waverly
- Located between Point Blank and Coldspring on Hwy 156
Mass & Service Schedule
Because it is a small mission, St. Stephen the Martyr celebrates Mass on a limited schedule: one Saturday Vigil Mass each weekend at 4:30 PM, plus a 4:30 PM Mass on First Fridays. The Rosary is prayed before the Saturday Vigil Mass, and Confessions are heard immediately beforehand as well. Wednesday mornings are reserved for a quiet Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 PM
- First Friday Mass — 4:30 PM
- Rosary — Saturday 4:00–4:20 PM
- Confessions — Saturday 4:00–4:20 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration — Wednesday 9:00–10:00 AM
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Stephen the Martyr shares its pastoral team with St. Joseph Parish in New Waverly. The mission's pastor is Rev. Daokim Nguyen. Parish operations are supported by parish secretaries/bookkeepers Elizabeth Billnoske and Norma Bignall, and custodian Carolyn McClure. Lay leadership is provided through a Parish Pastoral Council (members include Ernest Butler, Joe Creppon, Maria Cardenas, Jonathan Currey, Carolyn McClure, and Joe Morrison) and a Finance Committee (Jane Ellisor, Raymond Belinowski, John Hunt).
- Pastor: Rev. Daokim Nguyen
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Elizabeth Billnoske, Norma Bignall
- Custodian: Carolyn McClure
- Pastoral Council: Ernest Butler, Joe Creppon, Maria Cardenas, Jonathan Currey, Carolyn McClure, Joe Morrison
- Finance Committee: Jane Ellisor, Raymond Belinowski, John Hunt
- Parish Webmaster: David Gergen
Ministries & Lay Groups
Through its relationship with St. Joseph Parish, the mission participates in a broad ministry network — faith formation for children and adults, music and liturgical service, outreach to those in need, prayer groups, and community fellowship.
- CCE (religious education): Carolyn Ross, Christina Escobedo
- RCIA: Keith Musgrove
- Music Ministries: Jane Ellisor (Sat Vigil), Clara Malak (Sun 9 AM), Emily Mendoza (Sun 11 AM), Raghu & Barbara Narayan (Youth Choir)
- Altar Servers: Maria Albiter
- Extraordinary Ministers: Frances Venarske
- Lectors: Frances Venarske, Fernando Garcia
- Communion for the Homebound: Katy Parkans
- Knights of Columbus: Mike Killgore
- St. Vincent de Paul: Joanne Reyes
- Helping Hands: Joyce Gregory, Libby Novark, Verna Bilnoski, Linda Slott
- Legion of Mary: Lisa Sanchez
- Our Lady of Fatima: Elizabeth Sanchez
- Vocations Committee: Darlene Mann
- St. Joseph Ladies Group: Laura Weber
- Adoration Coordinator: Charlotte Schrader
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
Although the mission's regular Mass schedule is in English, the broader St. Joseph / St. Stephen pastoral family supports a Spanish-language ministry (Ministerio Hispano), with named contacts who coordinate outreach, fellowship, and sacramental support for Spanish-speaking Catholics in the area.
- Ministerio Hispano contacts: Emily Mendoza, Maria Albiter, Rita Garcia
Sacraments & Devotions
The mission offers regular opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration in addition to the weekend and First Friday Mass schedule. Homebound parishioners can receive Holy Communion through the lay-led Communion for the Homebound ministry.
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:20 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 9:00–10:00 AM
- Rosary: Saturday 4:00–4:20 PM (pre-Mass)
- Communion for the Homebound: Katy Parkans
Parish Registration
Anyone wishing to formally join the parish can do so by completing a registration form found in the back of the church. Completed forms may be placed in the collection basket or mailed to the parish office at 101 Elmore St., New Waverly, TX 77358.
- Forms available in the back of the church
- Return by collection basket or mail to 101 Elmore St., New Waverly, TX 77358
Visit & Contact
St. Stephen the Martyr Mission sits at 101 Stagecoach Road @ Highway 156 in Point Blank, Texas 77364. Although it has its own physical address, its mailing address, business phone, fax, and email are administered through the parent St. Joseph Parish office in New Waverly. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the listed Mass, Adoration, or Confession times.
- Physical address: 101 Stage Coach Rd @ Hwy 156, Point Blank, TX 77364
- Mailing address: 101 Elmore St., New Waverly, TX 77358-4105
- Phone: (936) 344-6104
- Fax: (936) 344-2818
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.st-josephtx.org