Whoop! Aggie Catholics say ‘Howdy’ to their new parish church

(Photo courtesy of St. Mary Catholic Church in College Station)

COLLEGE STATION — Aggie Catholics have a new church to call their spiritual home.

Located in the area known as Northgate across from Texas A&M University in College Station, St. Mary Catholic Church was crowded in recent years, having “standing room only” during their nine weekend Masses.

Originally built in 1958 (the original St. Mary was built in 1927 at a different location), it was evident the parish was going through another growth spurt.

After a decade of fundraising, the new church, which has nearly double the seating capacity as its predecessor across the street at 1,500, was dedicated on Saturday, July 29. Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin was the main celebrant of the dedication Mass. Concelebrating was Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, as well as Bishop of San Angelo Michael Sis and Bishop of Tulsa David Konderla, both of whom were former pastors of St. Mary’s before they were ordained bishops. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Father Jeff Bame, pastor of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and an Aggie graduate, were in attendance.

On July 28, Bishop Sis celebrated Vespers in the old church.

The new church features a domed apse that houses the tabernacle, an arch over the sanctuary and a dome-on-cube design. A rose window with an image of Christ in the center can be seen from both the inside and outside, and a gold-colored, 9-foot statue of Our Lady of Victoria sits atop a cupola. The Baptismal font is configured for both pouring and full-body immersion with a gold-painted statue atop the font depicting John the Baptist’s Baptism of Christ.

The new church is located at 603 Church Ave. in College Station. For more information, visit aggiecatholic.com.