About Visitation · Lott, Texas
Church of the Visitation is a small, historic Catholic parish situated in the rural farming community of Westphalia in Falls County, Texas (mailing address Lott, TX). Established by German-Catholic immigrant families in the early 1880s, the parish grew around a striking wooden Latin-cross church that became one of the largest wooden churches in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After a devastating 2019 fire destroyed the historic building, the parish rebuilt on the same hilltop and the new church was dedicated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin on August 27, 2023. The parish is served today by Fr. Ranjan Cletus and continues its tradition of worship, Eucharistic celebration, and lay-led ministry under the motto of welcoming all and personifying the compassion of God to the world.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Ranjan Cletus
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Visitation is a deeply rooted German-heritage parish where every member of a small community can find a way to serve — the bulletin lists roles from altar servers and lectors to ushers, rosary leaders, money counters, choir members, and gift bearers. Parishioners built the church twice themselves: hauling 80 wagon-loads of materials a day from Lott in 1895, and rebuilding on the same hilltop after the 2019 fire for the 2023 rededication. Worship is intimate and traditional, with weekly Mass in English, Saturday confession, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration (outside Lent), and music carried by a Casavant Frères pipe organ. It is a parish where history, faith, and hands-on ministry meet on the same family-farmland ridge of Falls County.
Mass times at Visitation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (no adoration during Lent)
Welcome from the Pastor
Fr. Darrell Kostiha (Pastor at time of writing) greets visitors with a welcoming letter that captures the parish's vision: 'At Church of the Visitation we are a Catholic community welcoming all, consciously celebrating the Eucharist with joy, and together personifying the compassion of God to the World. We celebrate the Eucharist as the center of our life as a parish and grow in discipleship as we give our time, talent and treasure to others.' He identifies the liturgy as 'the source and summit of our life' and recalls Christ's words, 'Do this in memory of me,' as an invitation both to the Eucharistic act and to being the Body of Christ in the world. The letter closes with an invitation to share one's gifts with the community and the world.
History of the Parish
Founded by German-Catholic immigrants from the Westphalia province who arrived in 1879 and gathered for prayer in Theodore Rabroker's home, the parish celebrated its first Mass in 1882 and rebuilt twice after storm damage. In 1893 Rev. Michael Heintzelman led the design and construction of a Latin-cross church completed in February 1895 and dedicated on May 23, 1895 by Bishop N. A. Gallagher of Galveston. Parishioners hauled up to 80 wagon-loads of stone and timber a day from the Lott railroad — eight miles away — and the building grew to 120 by 52 feet with twin bell towers, copper-sheathed spires, and more than 20 stained-glass windows from Germany. A 1914 dome and a 1921 Kilgen pipe organ (refurbished 1979) expanded the sanctuary.
- Texas Historical Marker erected December 31, 1978
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Westphalia Rural Historic District) May 15, 1996
- Destroyed by fire on July 29, 2019
- Rebuilt 2021-2023 under Fr. Darrell Kostiha; consecrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on August 27, 2023
The 2019 Fire and Rebuilding
On July 29, 2019 a spark of undetermined origin ignited the historic wooden church; fanned by a strong south wind, the fire consumed the entire structure in less than an hour, sparing only a handful of statues and a single bench. In November 2019 Fr. Darrell Kostiha, a Westphalia native and the 13th priest raised from the parish, was assigned as pastor to oversee the rebuilding already underway. K4 Construction of Waco (owner Keith Helpert) was engaged as builder, with architect Julie Ellison designing a structure that intentionally echoed the original: Latin-cross layout, twin bell towers, and faithful recreations of the stained-glass windows (by Fosters of Bryan, Texas), reredos, and statuary (hand-carved and painted at ALBL in Oberammergau, Germany). Upgrades included a brick exterior, pendant lights, chandelier, sound system, irrigation, expanded restrooms, and a sprinkler system; a new pipe organ was built by Casavant Frères of St. Hyacinth, Canada. Bishop Vásquez broke ground September 9, 2020 and the new church was dedicated and consecrated on August 27, 2023.
Priests Who Served
The parish website publishes a full succession of pastors stretching back to the first resident priest. The 1895 builder, Fr. Michael Heintzelman, served for 36 years (1893–1929). The longest tenured modern pastor on the list is Fr. Robert P. Schertz (1935–1969). Fr. Darrell Kostiha (2019–2026) led the reconstruction after the fire, and Fr. Ranjan Cletus is the parish's current pastor (2026 – present).
- Rev. Ranjan Cletus (2026 - Present)
- Rev. Darrell Kostiha (2019 - 2026)
- Rev. Edwin Kagoo (2016 - 2019)
- Rev. Walter Dhanwar (2005 - 2016)
- Rev. Harold Hughes, CSC (1975 - ?)
- Rev. Gideon Stram (1969 - 1975)
- Rev. Bernard Snock (1969)
- Rev. Aleck Lazek (1968 - 1969)
- Rev. Ben Goertz (1966 - 1968)
- Rev. Harry Bilski (1965 - 1966)
- Rev. Leonard Buxkemper (1956 - 1965)
- Rev. Robert P. Schertz (1935 - 1969)
- Rev. Otto Bauer (1929 - 1935)
- Rev. Michael Heintzelman (1893 - 1929)
- Various visiting priests from Austin, Ohio, and Temple (1884-1886)
- Rev. John Lauth, CSC (1882 - 1884)
Vocations from Westphalia
A separate page on the parish website honors priests, nuns, and deacons raised in the Westphalia community. According to local reporting, 38 nuns, 2 deacons, and 13 priests have come from this small parish — Fr. Darrell Kostiha being the 13th and last priest to be ordained there at the time of the 2019 fire. Ordination dates for nuns raised in Westphalia include May 18, 1939 (Rev. Msgr. Herbert Bockholt and Rev. Henry Gottschalk), May 11, 1941 (Msgr. George Rabroker and Msgr. Robert Fuchs), December 19, 1942 (Rev. Andrew Didner), May 22, 1948 (Msgr. Edward Rabroker), May 15, 1949 (Msgr. Clyde Holtman and Msgr. Sylvester Fuchs), May 18, 1950 (Msgr. Werner Bockholt), May 13, 1961 (Rev. Alvin Wilde, ordained in Wall, TX), and May 30, 1964 (Rev. Elmer Holtman). Fr. Darrell Kostiha was ordained June 6, 2015. Ordained deacons include Bill Smetana (June 9, 1991), Leroy Beach (1979), and Charlie Wright and Johnnie Thornton, Jr. (both June 18, 2000).
Parish Ministries and Service
The ministries page describes both formal councils and the long roster of lay roles that keep the parish running. Two councils — the Pastoral Advisory Council and the Finance Council — provide governance and stewardship. Day-to-day liturgical and service ministries include Money Counters, Ushers, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Rosary Leaders, the Music Ministry, Lectors, Church Cleaners, Gift Bearers, and the Vocation Cross program. Several parish-life and community ministries extend the church's reach beyond Sunday worship.
- Pastoral Advisory Council
- Finance Council
- Money Counters
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Rosary Leaders
- Music Ministry
- Lectors
- Church Cleaners
- Gift Bearers
- Vocation Cross
Community and Cemetery Ministries
In addition to liturgical ministries, the parish supports several community and charitable organizations, including those that care for the church grounds, the historic community, and the deceased. The Altar Society, Bereavement ministry, and St. Mary's Cemetery tend to the spiritual and physical care of parishioners across all stages of life. Celebration Park, the Knights of Columbus, the Westphalia Historical Society, and the Westphalia Parish Hall connect the parish to civic and heritage life in the surrounding rural community.
- Altar Society
- Bereavement
- Celebration Park
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- Westphalia Historical Society
- Westphalia Parish Hall
Sacraments
Parishioners and visitors seeking sacraments are directed to contact the parish office. Baptism and marriage preparation begin with the parish secretary; Holy Communion is offered within Mass and through the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion ministry. More details are available by emailing the parish office or calling the rectory.
- Baptism — registration form available from the parish office
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Holy Communion — distributed at Mass and through EMHC ministry
Contact and Visit
The parish office is staffed on Fridays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visitors are invited to call the rectory (254-584-4983) or email [email protected]; written correspondence or registration forms can also be dropped by the parish office. The mailing and physical address is 144 County Road 3000, Lott, TX 76656, situated in the unincorporated community of Westphalia in Falls County. Turn-by-turn directions are available via the parish contact page.
- Address: 144 County Road 3000, Lott, TX 76656
- Phone: 254-584-4983
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Friday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Rectory phone: 254-584-4983
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The parish takes its name from the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary — the visit of the pregnant Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, celebrated in the Roman Calendar on May 31. The original 1895 church's largest stained-glass window depicted this mystery directly behind the main altar, with side windows honoring St. Monica and the Archangel Michael; the 2023 rebuild intentionally recreated those windows.
- Feast day: May 31 — Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Largest 1895 stained-glass window depicted the Visitation; windows and statuary were faithfully recreated in the 2023 rebuilding
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ranjan Cletus2026 - Present
Current pastor.
- Rev. Darrell Kostiha2019 - 2026
Native of Westphalia; led the rebuilding after the 2019 fire; oversaw the 2023 dedication by Bishop Vásquez.
- Rev. Edwin Kagoo2016 - 2019
- Rev. Walter Dhanwar2005 - 2016
- Rev. Harold Hughes, CSC1975 - ?
- Rev. Gideon Stram1969 - 1975
- Rev. Bernard Snock1969
- Rev. Aleck Lazek1968 - 1969
- Rev. Ben Goertz1966 - 1968
- Rev. Harry Bilski1965 - 1966
- Rev. Leonard Buxkemper1956 - 1965
- Rev. Robert P. Schertz1935 - 1969
- Rev. Otto Bauer1929 - 1935
- Rev. Michael Heintzelman, Galveston Diocese1893 - 1929
Led the design and construction of the 1895 church; served 36 years.
- Rev. John Lauth, CSC (St. Edward's College, Austin)1882 - 1884
First recorded resident priest.