About Sts. Cyril and Methodius · Corpus Christi, Texas
SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church is a multiethnic Catholic parish in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, currently serving more than 3,000 registered families from the Ayers, Gollihar, Everhart, and Holly areas (and beyond). The parish is a rare Texas link to the early 20th-century Czech and German farming communities of the Coastal Bend: it began in 1904 as the German national parish of St. Boniface on Agnes Street, was renamed Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1939, and built the present church on South Padre Island Drive in 1948. Today the parish runs a parish school (PK3–5th grade), an active Religious Education / CCD program for public-school children, a Life Teen program for high-schoolers, RCIA for adults, and a robust calendar of devotions including daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Saturday confessions.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Saints Cyril and Methodius (the parish's original patron, when founded as St. Boniface, was St. Boniface; the parish was renamed Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1939)
- Rector
- Rev. Father Chris Becerra
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
Ss. Cyril and Methodius is a large, multiethnic, 3,000-family parish where every Sunday liturgy is shaped for a different group — older parishioners at 7:00 am, families at 9:00 am, the parish school and bilingual community at 11:00 am, and teens through Life Teen at 5:30 pm (in Spanish). It pairs a century-old worship tradition with vibrant ministry life: an active Works of Mercy feeding and clothing the homeless, RCIA for adults, a CCD program for about 450 public-school children, Life Teen for about 60 high-schoolers, plus Guadalupanas, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, and the Altar Society — so it is genuinely easy to plug in here.
Mass times at Sts. Cyril and Methodius
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- Monday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm (with Holy Hour at 6:00 pm and Benediction at 6:55 pm)
About Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish
SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church is a multiethnic parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi that today serves more than 3,000 registered families from the Ayers, Gollihar, Everhart, and Holly areas — plus many registered families who live outside parish boundaries. Rooted in the German and Czech farming communities that built it more than a century ago, the parish runs a parish school, a CCD program for about 450 public-school children, a Life Teen program for about 60 high-schoolers, RCIA for adults, and outreach through Works of Mercy, Guadalupanas, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, and the Altar Society.
History of the Parish
The parish's story begins in 1904 on Agnes Street as the German national parish of St. Boniface, founded by Father F.J. Goebbels, who built the first church and dedicated it on January 26, 1908. The parish survived the 1912 rectory fire that killed Father Goebbels, the destruction of its parish-hall school in the 1919 hurricane, and the Great Depression. In 1939 it was renamed Ss. Cyril and Methodius under Monsignor Francis J. Kasper, who led the parish from 1930 to 1968 and built the present 1948 church, the rectory, and the parish school.
Early Years: St. Boniface (1904–1939)
Founded in 1904 as a national parish for German-descent Catholics, St. Boniface grew under a series of pastors before being renamed Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1939.
- 1904: Father F.J. Goebbels founds St. Boniface on Agnes Street.
- 1908: First church dedicated by Rev. Charles Jaillet on behalf of Bishop Peter Verdauguer.
- 1912: Rectory destroyed by fire on Feb. 3; Father Goebbels dies in the blaze.
- 1913: Father Joseph Klobouk arrives from El Campo, TX; builds a parish hall at his own expense that serves briefly as a school.
- 1919: Parish hall destroyed in a hurricane.
- 1923–1929: Six successive pastors assigned to St. Boniface — Fathers J. Kuratko, Netardus, Francis Cerny, John A. Walsh, Henry Richard, and Joseph Lebey.
Monsignor Kasper Era (1930–1968): Renaming, New Church, School
Reverend Francis J. Kasper arrived in 1930 and led the parish through the Great Depression, renamed it Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1939, built the present church (1947–1948) with the local Czech farming community, and then built the parish school in 1953. Kasper retired in 1968 having built over a million dollars' worth of parish plant (in today's prices) and left it free of debt.
- 1930: Rev. Francis J. Kasper appointed pastor of St. Boniface.
- 1939: Parish renamed Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church.
- May 20, 1947: Bishop E.B. Ledvina breaks ground at Lexington Blvd & Kostoryz Rd.
- April 11, 1948: Bishop Garriga dedicates the new church (built for $99,000 unfurnished; $4,000 marble altar donated by Jim Dougherty).
- 1953: Parish school built and staffed by four Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate from San Antonio and three lay teachers; later expanded to eight classrooms.
- 1957: CCD / Religious Education program organized under Fathers William Kelly and John Killeen.
Modern Era: Bartosch, Higgins, Killeen, Leddy, Lenihan, White
From the late 1960s onward the parish weathered Hurricane Celia (1970), implemented Vatican II, and undertook several major building campaigns — culminating in the sanctuary enlargement and front-porch addition under Monsignor Lawrence E. White, who served from 1991 until his retirement in 2019. Rev. Father Chris Becerra is the current pastor.
- 1968: Monsignor Englebert Bartosch succeeds Monsignor Kasper; parish council and school advisory board formed after Vatican II.
- Sept. 1970: Father Patrick Higgins becomes pastor; repairs $161,000 of Hurricane Celia damage.
- July 1981: Father John Killeen becomes pastor and begins planning the church expansion.
- July 1983: Father Aidan Leddy arrives; $725,000 Kenedy Foundation grant funds a new parish hall, rectory, and offices (completed 1986).
- Jan. 1987: Father Michael Lenihan becomes pastor; completes the church expansion — Blessed Sacrament moved March 18, 1989.
- March 1991: Monsignor Lawrence E. White becomes pastor; renovates church, enlarges sanctuary, relocates Blessed Sacrament centrally, adds covered porch and concrete parking lot; begins ACTS Retreats in 2006.
- 2019: Monsignor White retires.
- Current: Rev. Father Chris Becerra serves as pastor.
Sunday and Saturday Masses
- Saturday 7:30 am — Morning Mass
- Saturday 5:30 pm — Sunday Vigil Mass
- Sunday 7:00 am — English
- Sunday 9:00 am — English
- Sunday 11:00 am — English (bilingual community)
- Sunday 5:30 pm — Spanish Mass (Life Teen)
Weekday and Holy Day Masses
- Monday–Friday 7:30 am
- Monday–Friday 12:00 noon
- Friday during school session 8:00 am
- Holy Day Vigil 6:00 pm
- Holy Day 8:00 am
- Holy Day 6:00 pm
Parish School (SSCM Catholic School)
SSCM Catholic School serves children in PK3 through 5th grade and has been a part of the parish since 1953, when Monsignor Kasper built it and staffed it with four Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate from San Antonio and three lay teachers. The school has since expanded to eight classrooms, with the majority of graduates going on to honor classes in the public schools, according to the parish.
- Grades served: PK3 (three-year-olds) through 5th grade.
- Address: 5002 Kostoryz Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78415.
- Phone: 361-853-9292.
- Approximately 130 students enrolled (per parish); NCES data (2021–22) lists 128 students.
- Affiliation: Roman Catholic; member of NCEA.
- Tours: 361-853-9292.
Religious Education (CCD) and Youth Ministry
The Religious Education / CCD program was organized in 1957 and has grown to serve about 450 public-school children from kindergarten through middle school. The Life Teen program is centered on the Eucharist and walks with about 60 high-school teens weekly in living the Catholic faith as teens. The parish CCD handbook is available for download on the parish website.
- CCD / Religious Education (K–middle school, ~450 children).
- Life Teen (high-school youth ministry, ~60 teens weekly).
- RCIA for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation through CCD.
Parish Ministries, Groups, and Outreach
Ss. Cyril and Methodius has a notably active lay life for a parish of its size, ranging from traditional Catholic societies to a direct-service Works of Mercy that feeds and clothes the homeless and helps local families in need.
- Works of Mercy — feeds and clothes the homeless; helps families in need.
- Guadalupanas
- Catholic Daughters
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society
- ACTS Retreats (started 2006)
- Parish Council
- School Advisory Board
Pastoral Staff and Contact
The parish is led by Rev. Father Chris Becerra as Pastor. General inquiries are handled by the parish office at the phone number and email below; the SSCM Catholic School has a separate line. The rectory / parish office is open 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Pastor: Rev. Father Chris Becerra
- Parish Office: 361-853-7371
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- SSCM School: 361-853-9292
- Address (mailing): 3210 SPID, Corpus Christi, TX 78415
- Rectory/Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Visit, Location, and Hours
The parish church sits at 3210 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78415, and is open during rectory hours for in-person inquiries. A large covered porch was added to the front of the church under Monsignor White, and a concrete parking lot and additional Hakel Street parking serve the parish.
- Address: 3210 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78415.
- Phone: 361-853-7371.
- Email: [email protected].
- Rectory / Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
- Parking: on-site concrete lot (added under Monsignor White) plus additional lot on Hakel Street.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father F.J. Goebbels1904–1912
Founding pastor of St. Boniface; built the first church, dedicated Jan. 26, 1908; died in the Feb. 3, 1912 rectory fire.
- Father Joseph Klobouk1913–1918
Arrived from El Campo, TX; built a parish hall at his own expense that briefly served as a school.
- Fathers J. Kuratko, Netardus, Francis Cerny, John A. Walsh, Henry Richard, and Joseph Lebey1923–1929
Series of short-term assignments to St. Boniface.
- Reverend Francis J. Kasper (later Monsignor)1930–1968
Led the parish through the Depression; renamed it Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1939; built the 1948 church and the 1953 school; retired 1968.
- Monsignor Englebert Bartosch1968–c.1970
Established the parish council and school advisory board after Vatican II.
- Reverend Patrick Higgins (later Monsignor)1970–1981
Repaired hurricane (Celia, 1970) damage to the parish plant.
- Reverend John Killeen1981–1983
Initiated plans for enlarging and renovating the original church; transferred to St. Joseph, Beeville.
- Reverend Aidan Leddy1983–1987
Used a $725,000 Kenedy Foundation grant to build a new parish hall, rectory, and offices (completed 1986).
- Reverend Michael Lenihan1987–1991
Completed the major church expansion; Blessed Sacrament moved to the remodeled church March 18, 1989.
- Reverend Monsignor Lawrence E. White1991–2019
Renovated church, enlarged sanctuary, relocated Blessed Sacrament centrally, added porch and parking; began ACTS Retreats in 2006; retired 2019.