A Window from Spain, A Church on Main Street
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church sits at 2414 Main Street in Ingleside, Texas, a coastal town in San Patricio County served by the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The parish is best known for the 400-year-old stained-glass window of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple that fills the space behind its altar, the artifact around which the present church was designed and built.
The story begins long before the current building. In the summer of 1951, Father Poralis, a priest from Mexico, traveled to the Ingleside area and discovered that most local Catholics had to drive to Aransas Pass or Gregory to get to Mass. Families without cars had no way to attend church at all. He decided there were enough people to form a congregation, and the new community voted to collect twenty-five cents per family each week toward a building of their own. With fundraisers, family donations and a gift from Bob Welder of Sinton, the mission members bought land between Avenue F and Avenue G.
In 1952, with Reynolds Metal Company selling off its temporary buildings, the parishioners voted to purchase one of the small wooden-frame structures and move it to the site. Donated labor carried the project: parishioners built an altar, hung partitions, installed communion rails, refinished pews and painted the building inside and out, then added a rectory and later a parish hall so bingo could move indoors. Father Damien Hayes, the first pastor, named the new mission Our Lady of the Assumption, and the congregation became a mission church of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass.
Early in 1973, a 400-year-old stained-glass window of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple was found in Spain and graciously gifted to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Minor Culli. Father Charles Doherty, looking at the panel, was remembered as saying, "Now all we need is a church to go with the window." Pat King and Father Doherty staked out a corner of 8th Street and Highway 1069. Architectural designer John Kaler, Sr., of Corpus Christi drew the plans in twenty minutes and mailed them to Father Doherty the same day. Before the walls were poured, large rocks were set into the forms and covered with heavy plastic so the concrete would take on a bubble effect; the wall forms went up in six days using a 60-ton crane from TM Gunn Construction in Aransas Pass. The finished church measures 104 feet by 60 feet and seats 640 people in 68 pews.
The cross outside the church facing Highway 1069 came together with its own history. Father Doherty prayed to his deceased sister for help finding a cross, and a suitable one was located. Lightning struck that first cross in the 1980s and it had to be taken down; a second cross was built by Perry Construction with the help of Adan and Jesse Adame. The light fixtures inside were designed by Dick and Jo Ann Ehmann. Sal Hahn and Alvin Untermeyer built the altar, Gladys Noll and a friend made the altar pedestal, and Frank Sbrusch built the front entrance doors. Sal Hahn, Sharon and Leonard Untermeyer completed the paneling and framing around the stained-glass window that inspired the whole project.
Mass Schedule and the Adoration Chapel
Weekend Masses follow a familiar rhythm. The Saturday Vigil is celebrated at 5:00 pm, and three Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 am, 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. Daily Mass is celebrated at 8:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, followed by recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet. On Wednesdays, when there is no daily Mass, a Prayer Service is held at 8:30 am in the Adoration Chapel.
The Adoration Chapel is the spiritual heart of the parish. It is open for adoration and prayer around the clock, seven days a week, and is reached through a security door with a coded entry. The parish office provides the code during weekday office hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm) or arranges assisted entrance for those who need it. Adoration candles can be burned for a week in memory of a loved one or for a special intention; each candle costs $15 and can be reserved through the parish office.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays at 4:00 pm, immediately before the Vigil Mass, and by individual appointment with a priest. During Advent and Lent, communal celebrations of the sacrament are also offered.
Holy Days of Obligation are celebrated at 8:00 am and 7:00 pm, with additional services on Ash Wednesday (8:00 am, 12:00 noon, and 7:00 pm), the Easter Vigil (8:00 pm), Easter Sunday (8:00 am and 10:00 am), Christmas Eve (5:00 pm Vigil with a Children's Pageant), Christmas Day (12:00 am Midnight Mass and 10:00 am), and the Solemnity of Mary on New Year's Day at 9:00 am (following the Sunday schedule when it falls on a Sunday).
The Seven Sacraments
As a Roman Catholic parish, Our Lady of the Assumption celebrates all seven sacraments instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage. The parish teaches that "the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments" (CCC 1113) and that sacramental rituals are the ordinary means by which the faithful are infused with God's grace.
Baptism is celebrated by appointment, and baptismal classes are scheduled individually with the parish office. The sacrament uses the four traditional signs: water, recalling Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan; oil, by which the newly baptized is claimed as priest, prophet and king; the baptismal candle, lit from the Easter candle as a sign of Christ's light; and the white garment, a symbol of victory over death and resurrection to new life.
Eucharist stands at the center of Catholic life. The parish teaches that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine, that the priest through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit transforms the elements, and that this change is called transubstantiation. First Communion is open to all Catholics who have celebrated the sacrament and are in the state of grace.
Confirmation perfects baptismal grace. Through the anointing with chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the bishop, the confirmed receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and are more strictly obliged to spread and defend it by word and deed.
Penance (Reconciliation) follows four movements: contrition for sins, confession to a priest, reception of absolution, and a renewed commitment to live a Christian life. The sacrament is offered Saturday afternoons and by appointment.
Anointing of the Sick is available upon request by calling the parish office and contacting one of the priests. The sacrament, broadened by the Second Vatican Council beyond the moment of death, is meant to bring strength, comfort and the grace of God's presence in times of serious illness.
Marriage is arranged with one of the priests, and six months of advance notice is advised. Weddings may take place any time on weekdays and on Saturdays no later than 2:30 pm. Holy Orders is welcomed and supported as a vocation, with discernment available through the pastor.
Becoming Catholic and Returning Catholics
For adults interested in joining the Church, the parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly known as RCIA). OCIA is described as "a return to the formation of the earliest members of the Church in the first and second centuries." It is a communal process that moves through stages of inquiry, catechumenate, the Rite of Election at the beginning of Lent, the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and a period of mystagogy afterward. Sessions include study of the Gospel, exploration of Church teaching, faith-sharing, and regular liturgical rites. The OCIA team and sponsors walk alongside participants throughout the journey. Registration forms are available from the parish office, and classes begin at announced times each year.
The parish also welcomes Catholics who have been away. Its Returning Catholics ministry reminds them, "The first thing you need to know is that you are always welcome back. The Church misses you and hopes that you will choose to come home as an active member." Resources from Catholics Come Home, a non-profit and independent charity that invites people to rediscover the Catholic faith, are shared through the parish.
Religious Education for Children and Youth
Catechetical formation for children and youth is offered through the parish's Religious Education program. Open enrollment for the year runs from mid-August through September, with classes beginning in late September. The program serves both Continuing Catechism (CCE) students and children preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC).
Sacramental preparation is a two-year commitment for each student under 18, requiring a minimum of two consecutive years of Catechism along with other basic requirements before receiving a sacrament. Scheduled parent meetings during the year help families prepare together. The Religious Education program also uses the Circle of Grace safe-environment curriculum, with an opt-out form available for parents who wish to decline participation.
Joey Polasek serves as Youth Minister, coordinating formation and activities for the parish's teenagers.
Parish Ministries and Groups
The parish life at Our Lady of the Assumption is shaped by a wide circle of ministries and societies.
Altar Servers are boys and girls of the parish, at least 8 years old, who have received Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist and who attend Mass regularly. Servers assist the priest or deacon at the altar: carrying the cross and liturgical books, lighting candles, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and processing at the beginning and end of Mass. Fr. Patrick Higgins and Altar Server Leader Art Lugo coordinate the program.
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers proclaim the Word of God and help distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. Catholics who attend Mass regularly and receive the sacraments are eligible to serve. Schedules are posted in the parish bulletin. Coordinator Rene Majek oversees sign-ups and training.
Music Ministry is led by Music Minister Victor Lara, who supports sung worship at weekend and daily Masses and seasonal liturgies.
The Altar and Rosary Society is a ministry of parish women devoted to the Most Holy Rosary and to the care of the altar and sacristy. The Society supports parish functions including bingo, funeral receptions, the Lenten Fish Fry and church festivals, hosts a booth at the annual Family Fun Festival, and prepares holiday baskets for the sick, elderly and homebound at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Four women of the Society keep the parish Food Pantry running on the third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The Guadalupanas (Our Lady of Guadalupe Society) was started about 35 years ago by parishioners who wanted a devotion centered on the Virgin of Guadalupe and her December 12 feast day. Members gather on Fridays after the 8:00 am Mass to pray the Rosary, processing in front of the priest in the Virgin's colors. They also work the bingo concession to raise funds for parish repairs, attend Federation meetings, and provide honor-guard service when one of their members passes away. The Society joins the parish's December 12 celebration with a special rosary, Mass and shared meal.
Knights of Columbus Council 11570 was founded on April 26, 1995 and currently has 71 members. The council meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the parish hall. Their work supports the local parish and community through volunteer efforts, fundraisers, and benefit events including the weekly Tuesday bingo, an Annual Shrimporee, Family Fun Day, the Lenten Fish Fry, and occasional raffles. Donations have gone to parish education, scholarships, and church repairs. The Knights also assist families affected by fires, hurricanes, floods, illness or loss, and contribute to state and national charities including Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, the American Wheelchair Mission, and support for Ukrainian refugees.
ACTS Retreats (Adoration, Community, Theology and Service) have been offered at Our Lady of the Assumption since 2019 in coordination with a core team from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Portland, Texas. The four-day parish retreats begin Thursday evening and conclude with Sunday morning Mass, and are intended to foster intentional discipleship and Christian community. The parish Core ACTS Team meets on the second Sunday of each month at 12:30 pm in the rectory conference room.
The Food Pantry is led by Petra Sellers and supported by volunteers from the Altar and Rosary Society. It serves as a point of contact for households in need of food assistance.
Catholic Beliefs and the Faith
The parish holds the traditional teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It professes belief in the Holy Trinity, God revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the Incarnation, God becoming human in Jesus Christ; in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ as the Paschal Mystery at the heart of every liturgical celebration; and in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Catholics see all creation as sacramental, speaking of God's goodness and love, and emphasize the dignity of the human person, stewardship, the communion of saints, and the Church's call to care especially for the poor, the sick and the imprisoned.
The parish identifies itself as part of the Church that is "one, holy, catholic and apostolic," united under the leadership of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome and successor of Saint Peter. The parish offers catechetical resources on the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Triduum, Easter and Ordinary Time), on the Seven Sacraments, on Catholic prayer (including the Psalms, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, Lectio Divina and contemplative prayer), on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, on the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Stations of the Cross, and on the Precepts of the Church.
Parish Life, Visiting, and Giving
Parish life goes well beyond the church building. Weekly Bingo (Tuesdays, doors open at 5:30 pm, play begins at 7:00 pm, players 16 and older) draws a regular crowd and helps fund parish operations. The Altar and Rosary Society and the Knights of Columbus host the annual Family Fun Festival and other seasonal events. Photo galleries on the parish site record parish life, altar servers, baptisms, quinceañeras, and milestone celebrations including Fr. Charles Doherty's 90th birthday.
Quinceañeras are celebrated at the parish; Father Higgins is to be contacted six months in advance of the proposed date. Marriage preparation resources such as Marriage Encounter and Engaged Encounter are available through the Diocese.
First-time visitors and returning parishioners are encouraged to make themselves at home. Those interested in registering as parishioners can do so through the parish office, and online giving is available through Our Sunday Visitor at the parish's giving page. For those unable to attend in person, Mass from Corpus Christi Cathedral is televised on Sundays at 9:30 am in English and 11:30 am in Spanish on KDF-TV, and KLUX also carries the broadcast. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 361-776-2446, and messages for Fr. Patrick can be left with the secretary, Rosemary Morin. Visitors are welcome to stop by in person at 2414 South Main Street in Ingleside.