About Sts. Peter and Paul · New Braunfels, Texas
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a historic parish in downtown New Braunfels, Texas, serving the surrounding Comal County community since 1845. With about 5,900 registered families, it is one of the largest and oldest parishes in central Texas, located just two blocks from the New Braunfels town plaza at 386 N. Castell Avenue. The parish belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio and offers a full program of Masses in English and Spanish, Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a PreK-3 through 8th-grade Catholic school, a thrift store, two parish centers, a parish cemetery, and a wide array of ministries for children, youth, young adults, and adults.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Steven Gamez, VF
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul is a large, historic, multicultural Catholic family just two blocks from downtown New Braunfels, with five Sunday Masses (one in Spanish) and two daily Masses to fit any schedule. Parishioners can pray before the Blessed Sacrament any hour of the day or night in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, send their children to a PreK-3 through 8th-grade Catholic school on the same campus, grow in faith through OCIA, Bible studies, ACTS, religious education for 650+ children, and a thriving youth ministry of 450+ high schoolers, and serve through the parish thrift store (which contributed over $130,000 to the school last year), Helping Hands, the School Charitable Trust, and numerous service and outreach ministries.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the Adoration Chapel in the Parish Center
Parish History
Sts. Peter and Paul traces its origins to 1845, when German Catholic immigrants settled New Braunfels under Prince Carl of Solms. The parish was formally incorporated in 1849 under its first pastor, Fr. Gottfried Menzel, who ministered to the entire West Texas region. A stone church — cornerstone laid 1871 — replaced the original 1849 black walnut church and was expanded in 1963 and 2000 into the present sanctuary attached to the Parish Center. The parish was designated a Jubilee Church in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 and now serves roughly 5,900 registered families.
- 1845 — Parish begins gathering in worship on present grounds
- 1849 — First resident pastor, Fr. Gottfried Menzel, arrives; parish incorporated
- 1849 — Black walnut church dedicated
- 1871 — Cornerstone of stone church laid; parish school opens under Sisters of Divine Providence
- 1881 — Stone church completed
- 1963 — First major church expansion
- 2000 — Second expansion; new gym added to school
- 2009 — School administrative building built
- 2016 — Designated Jubilee Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
Parish Clergy and Staff
Sts. Peter and Paul is staffed by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a large team of permanent deacons (active and inactive) along with a full lay staff overseeing liturgy, music, faith formation, youth ministry, finance, cemetery administration, and parish reception. Father Steven Gamez serves as pastor (styled 'Muy Reverendo' with the title VF — Vicar Forane).
- Rev. Steven Gamez, VF — Pastor
- Father Patrick Okoroh — Parochial Vicar
- Father Robert Shelton — Parochial Vicar
- 8 active and inactive deacons
- Marianna Underwood — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Francesca Allen — Associate Director of Liturgy & Music / Bulletin Editor
- Dora Morris — Administrator of Cemeteries
- Lupita Mandujano — Finance Manager
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation serves more than 650 youth from preschool through 5th grade and approximately 50 adults each year through OCIA, Bible studies, and other programs. Director of Faith Formation Sister Sheeja Thomas and Religious Education Coordinator Mary Kravec lead the team, supported by an administrative assistant.
- Religious Education for Preschool–5th grade (650+ youth)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — about 50 adults
- Adult Bible Studies
- Other adult formation programs
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Director of Youth Ministry Brenda Gualandri coordinates programs for more than 450 youth, including religious education classes, Confirmation preparation, retreats, service projects, and liturgies. A separate Middle School Youth Minister and Young Adults Coordinator (Angela Schwab) and a Life Teen Coordinator (Shelby Fredrickson) round out the team.
- High School Youth Ministry (450+ youth)
- Middle School Youth Ministry
- Life Teen
- Confirmation Preparation
- Retreats and service projects
- Young Adults ministry
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School
The parish school, founded in 1871 under the auspices of the Sisters of Divine Providence, educates more than 375 students in PreK-3 through 8th grade. Students attend liturgy together at the parish each Wednesday at 8:00 AM and take part in Adoration and Benediction every Friday beginning at 10:30 AM, in addition to celebrating the High Feast Days of the Church. Principal Norma Landa leads the school, supported by an Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, full-time school counselor, business director, security resource officer, faculty, and staff.
- Founded 1871 by Sisters of Divine Providence
- PreK-3 through 8th grade; 375+ students
- Principal: Norma Landa
- Pastor chaplain: Father Steven Gamez
- Parochial Vicar chaplain: Father Robert Shelton
- Weekly school Mass on Wednesdays at 8:00 AM
- Weekly Adoration and Benediction on Fridays at 10:30 AM
- All students complete service hours
Parish Campus and Facilities
The campus sits two blocks from the downtown New Braunfels plaza and includes the historic stone church, the attached multi-story Parish Center, the school and playground, and two additional parish facilities. The Parish Center's first floor houses the Adoration Chapel, St. Mary's Hall, the Family Room, and the parish reception office; the upper floor contains parish offices, the choir room, and several conference rooms and classrooms used by OCIA, Bible studies, ACTS, and youth ministry.
- Historic stone church (1871; expanded 1963, 2000) attached to Parish Center
- St. Joseph Center — multipurpose facility for classrooms, meetings, cafeteria
- Good Shepherd Center — multipurpose parish facility
- Adoration Chapel — inside the Parish Center, open 24/7
- St. Mary's Hall and Family Room
- Choir room, conference rooms, classrooms upstairs
- School playground and gym
Parish Thrift Store
Traveling northwest on Seguin Street toward Landa Park, the Parish Thrift Store greets passersby at the corner of Bridge Street and Seguin Street. Staffed by volunteer parishioners, the thrift store is open Wednesday through Friday and on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings; in a recent year it contributed over $130,000 to the parish school's budget.
- Corner of Bridge Street and Seguin Street
- Open Wednesday–Friday
- Open 2nd & 4th Saturday mornings
- Volunteer-staffed
- Phone: 830-629-3504
- Recent contribution: $130,000+ to school budget
Parish Cemetery
The parish operates a cemetery administered by Dora Morris, supporting traditional Catholic burial for parishioners and their families. (See parish staff page for contact.)
- Administrator of Cemeteries: Dora Morris
Outreach, Service, and Charitable Works
The parish maintains dedicated Service, Community Outreach, and Parishioner Outreach ministries, plus a School Charitable Trust. The Helping Hands program, coordinated by Christy Samarripa, assists parishioners in need. The Parish Thrift Store channels volunteer labor and donated goods into direct financial support of the parish school.
- Service Ministries
- Community Outreach
- Parishioner Outreach
- Helping Hands — Christy Samarripa
- School Charitable Trust
- Parish Thrift Store (Bridge & Seguin)
Music and Liturgy
The Music Ministry supports the celebration of the parish's six weekend Masses and two daily Masses, with choirs and cantors drawn from the parish community. Marianna Underwood serves as Director of Liturgy & Music, and Francesca Allen as Associate Director of Liturgy & Music and Bulletin Editor.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Marianna Underwood
- Associate Director of Liturgy & Music & Bulletin Editor: Francesca Allen (ext. 229)
- Choir room in Parish Center
Sacramental and Funeral Planning
The parish offers the full suite of Catholic sacraments and assists families in funeral planning — including pre-planning and grief support — through the parish office and the Administrative Assistant to the Priests, Virginia Baker.
- Funeral Mass and vigil in church or funeral home
- Pre-planning welcomed
- First point of contact: Parish Manager / Virginia Baker
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gottfried Menzel1849–
First resident pastor; formally incorporated the parish. Wrote in 1850 that he was the 'only priest' in all of West Texas, living in New Braunfels.