About St. William · Denver City, Texas
St. William Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish serving the Denver City community in Yoakum County on the South Plains of West Texas. Established in 1955 as part of what was then the Diocese of Amarillo (now Catholic Diocese of Lubbock, created in 1983), the parish is one of the larger faith communities in the area, with a recorded Mass attendance of 810 and an estimated 3,237 Catholics across Yoakum County. The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Raymundo Manriquez, with retired Deacon Angel Hernandez assisting, and offers a robust weekly schedule that includes three Sunday Masses (one in English, two in Spanish), weekday Masses, Saturday evening Mass, and bilingual faith-formation ministries.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. William
- Rector
- Rev. Raymundo Manriquez
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Lubbock
Why belong here
St. William is the Catholic heart of Denver City and Yoakum County — a medium-sized parish where nearly everyone at Mass knows one another, and where both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families can worship in their own language at one of three Sunday Masses. The parish runs an active OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, parish catechetical and youth ministry, and welcomes those needing the sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment or during the published Thursday and Saturday times. For Catholics in the western South Plains, St. William offers the rhythm of a well-staffed parish — full sacramental schedule, a retired deacon on hand, and a parish secretary in the office five days a week — without having to drive to Lubbock.
Mass times at St. William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 7:00 pm
- Saturday 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm
- Penance also by appointment
Adoration times
- Check Parish Bulletin
History of St. William Parish
St. William Catholic Church was established in 1955 as a mission church for the Catholic families of Denver City and surrounding Yoakum County. At the time, the entire South Plains region belonged to the Diocese of Amarillo. The parish grew alongside the oil-and-ranching economy of western Texas, and by the early 21st century it had become the dominant Catholic community for the county, serving an estimated 3,237 Catholics. When Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Lubbock on June 17, 1983, carving territory out of the Amarillo diocese, St. William was included in the new diocese, where it remains today.
- Established: 1955
- Original jurisdiction: Diocese of Amarillo
- Current diocese: Catholic Diocese of Lubbock (since 1983)
- Parish address since founding: 401 Mustang Avenue, Denver City
- Diocesan parish-history category: Yoakum County, 3,237 Catholics
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. Raymundo Manriquez, who was assigned as pastor on July 1, 2025. He is assisted by retired Deacon Angel Hernandez, who continues to minister at the parish. Mary Ann Escalante serves as parish secretary, with the office open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed for lunch). Faith formation is coordinated by Carlos Lopez and Mary Galvan (OCIA) and Monica Larrea, who directs the Parish Catechetical Leader, Youth Ministry, and WFFF programs.
- Pastor: Rev. Raymundo Manriquez (assigned July 1, 2025)
- Deacon: Angel Hernandez (Retired)
- Secretary: Mary Ann Escalante
- OCIA: Carlos Lopez & Mary Galvan
- PCL, YL, WFFF: Monica Larrea
Faith Formation and Ministries
The parish runs a full faith-formation program overseen by Monica Larrea, encompassing catechetical leadership (PCL), youth ministry (YL), and WFFF (a parish faith-formation track). Adults preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), directed by Carlos Lopez and Mary Galvan.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Carlos Lopez & Mary Galvan)
- PCL — Parish Catechetical Leader
- YL — Youth Ministry
- WFFF — Parish faith-formation program
- All programs coordinated by Monica Larrea
Parish Office and Contact
The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed for lunch), and can be reached by phone or email for appointments, sacramental requests, and general parish business.
- Address: 401 Mustang Avenue, Denver City, TX 79323
- Phone: (806) 592-2063
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed for lunch)
Denver City and Yoakum County
Denver City is a small community on the far western edge of the South Plains of Texas, in Yoakum County, where ranching, cotton, and oil are the historic economic mainstays. St. William is the only Catholic parish in the county and draws Catholics from Denver City and the surrounding rural communities. Diocesan figures list the parish's Mass attendance at 810 and the county's Catholic population at 3,237.
- County: Yoakum County, West Texas
- Diocesan Catholic population of the county: 3,237
- Reported Mass attendance: 810
- Languages of Mass: English and Spanish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eduardo C. Teo
Listed as pastor of St. William Denver City in the 2024-25 Diocese of Lubbock directory, also covering Sacred Heart, Plains.
- Rev. Heriberto Mercado
Listed as pastor on Catholic Church Directory and other aggregator sites prior to the 2025 assignment.
- Rev. Raymundo ManriquezAssigned July 1, 2025
Current pastor per the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock parish page.