About St. Thomas the Apostle · Robstown, Texas
St. Thomas the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in the Riverside community of Robstown, Texas, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Founded in August 1980 on roughly ten acres along FM 624, it grew from Masses celebrated in private homes into a thriving parish and the sponsoring church of St. Patrick Mission in nearby San Patricio. The parish offers weekday and weekend Masses, the full sacramental life of the Church, faith formation for youth and adults, and a robust schedule of liturgical ministries, all under the pastoral leadership of Father Philip J. Panackal.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Philip J. Panackal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is a close-knit parish where the Catholic faith is lived out in a small, rural South Texas setting. Members can attend daily Mass five days a week, gather for the Holy Rosary before Thursday Mass and the Divine Mercy Chaplet before Friday Mass, and prepare for the sacraments through RCIA, youth ministry (Life Teen and EDGE), and a strong line-up of liturgical ministries. Belonging here means being part of the founding community of Riverside and helping sustain a parish that also shepherds St. Patrick Mission in San Patricio.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
- By appointment (contact the parish office)
Parish History
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was formed by the Diocese of Corpus Christi in August 1980 on approximately ten acres along FM 624 in the growing Riverside community near Robstown. Father Louis Joseph was given the task of starting the church, and the first Sunday Masses were said in the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Marek and Dr. and Mrs. Walter Hartman. As the community grew, worship moved temporarily to the Pax Christi Residence for Girls and Magee Elementary School's cafeteria.
- Founded August 1980 by the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Founding pastor: Fr. Louis Joseph
- First home-Mass sites: Marek home and Hartman home
- Temporary worship sites: Pax Christi Residence for Girls and Magee Elementary cafeteria
- Rectory blessed and dedicated by Bishop Thomas Drury, December 20, 1982
- Sarita Kenedy East religious education center built in 1984
- Immaculate Conception Hall built in 1988
St. Patrick Mission, San Patricio
St. Thomas the Apostle is the sponsoring parish of St. Patrick Mission in the nearby town of San Patricio, Texas. The mission extends the pastoral care of St. Thomas into a neighboring community and shares the same pastor. The mission's church is located at 20742 Magnolia Street, San Patricio, TX 78368, and its Mass schedule is coordinated with the parish.
- Mailing: c/o St. Thomas the Apostle, 16602 FM 624, Robstown, TX 78380
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m.
- Holy Day Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- First Friday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Philip J. Panackal as pastor, with Deacon Bill Cleavelin assisting. A small staff handles the day-to-day operation of the parish office, faith formation, music, and facilities. The parish office is open weekday mornings and early afternoons.
- Pastor: Rev. Philip J. Panackal (361-387-1312)
- Deacon: Bill Cleavelin (361-208-2146; [email protected])
- Secretary: Ann Clarke
- Bookkeeper / DRE: Michele Hoelscher ([email protected], 361-244-2138)
- Sacristan: Jerry Knesek
- Music Director / Youth Choir: Vic Benys
- Plant Manager: Gary Clarke
- Custodians: Andrea Peña, Yolanda Tobòn
Liturgical Ministries
St. Thomas the Apostle invites parishioners to share their time and talent as liturgical ministers. Volunteers are needed at every Sunday Mass and on holy days to assist the celebrant, proclaim the Word, lead music, distribute Holy Communion, welcome worshippers, and prepare the sanctuary. New volunteers can contact the parish office or the individual ministry leader listed on the website.
- Altar Servers — contact: Paul Silva
- Lectors — contact: parish office
- Musicians (including Sunday Youth Choir) — contact: Vic Benys
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — contact: parish office
- Ushers / Greeters
- Sacristans — contact: Jerry Knesek
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith formation is coordinated through the parish DRE, Michele Hoelscher. The parish runs an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation, and provides youth ministry through the Life Teen (high school) and EDGE (middle school) programs.
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith
- Life Teen — high school youth ministry (Rachel Unterbrink)
- EDGE — middle school youth ministry (J.T. Tovar)
- Director of Religious Education: Michele Hoelscher
Sacraments
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated at the parish. The parish website's Sacraments page teaches that 'the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments' (CCC 1113). Parishioners are encouraged to contact the office to arrange preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and to learn about vocations to Holy Orders.
- Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
- Sacraments of Healing: Penance (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick
- Sacraments of Vocation: Marriage, Holy Orders
Devotions
In addition to weekday Mass, the parish gathers for two regular pre-Mass devotions that anchor the middle of the week: the Holy Rosary before Thursday's noon Mass and the Divine Mercy Chaplet before Friday's noon Mass.
- Holy Rosary — Thursday 11:40 a.m.
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Friday 11:45 a.m.
Contact & Visiting
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish is located at 16602 FM 624, Robstown, Texas 78380. The parish office can be reached by phone at (361) 387-1312 or (361) 387-7842, by fax at (361) 387-9311, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00–11:00 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome at all scheduled Masses.
- Address: 16602 FM 624, Robstown, TX 78380
- Phone: (361) 387-1312 or (361) 387-7842
- Fax: (361) 387-9311
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.christon624.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Joseph1980 – founding
First pastor, tasked with starting the parish; presided over early house Masses and the early construction of parish facilities.