St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church sits along Eldorado Parkway in Frisco, Texas, a parish that grew from a handful of founding families into one of the largest Catholic congregations in the Diocese of Dallas. More than nine thousand active families now call St. Francis their spiritual home, and the parish welcomes newcomers with a dozen weekend Masses, a year-round slate of formation programs for every age, and outreach ministries that reach across Collin County.
Parish History: The Twelve Families of 1966
In the summer of 1966, twelve families stepped out in faith to establish a mission parish in the small farming town of Frisco, then a way station on the old Preston Road cattle drive trail. Catholic families in Frisco had been scarce for much of the twentieth century; long-time members of the community still remember when there was no Catholic Mass offered in town. The closest parishes were in Denton, Plano, and McKinney, and it was not until Spanish-speaking ranch hands and farmworkers settled in the area in the 1950s that a stable Catholic community began to form.
Through decades of growth, St. Francis added its first parish center in 2001 and, after more than two years of construction, dedicated a new church and chapel on Saturday, December 7, 2013. Bishop Kevin J. Farrell presided at the dedication, joined by Msgr. Pichard, Fr. Holmberg, Fr. Cloherty, Fr. Webb, Fr. Ascencio, Deacon Gregg Kahrs, and Deacon John Carlisle. Around 1,300 parishioners braved icy roads and freezing temperatures to be part of the celebration. The parish has continued to grow alongside the city of Frisco itself, adding an average of twenty-five new families each week and welcoming more than a thousand new households in a recent year.
A Mission Built on Matthew 28
The Mission Statement of St. Francis of Assisi is the same one Jesus gave to his eleven disciples in the last chapter of Matthew: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
That passage from Matthew 28:16-20 shapes every aspect of parish life. The parish vision statement says simply, "To help one another get to Heaven by building God's Kingdom." Five core values flow from the mission: Servant Leadership, Creative Fidelity (walking in step with the Church, never behind and never ahead), a Culture of Prayer and Discipleship, a Family Focus that welcomes households of every shape and size, and the conviction that the parish is "Many Parts, One Body."
Five parish goals translate the mission into action: Excellence in Worship, Missionary Discipleship, Transformation Through Formation, Compassionate Outreach, and a long-range Campus Improvement Plan. The current campus expansion takes its name from the closing words of Matthew 28 - the I Am with You Always Capital Campaign.
A Weekend of Twelve Masses
St. Francis is a vibrant, diverse parish, and its Sunday schedule reflects that. Twelve Masses are offered each weekend, six in English, five in Spanish, and one in Latin.
The Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm in the Church features organ-based traditional Catholic music with a choir and cantor. Sunday morning opens with a 7:00 am Spanish Mass in the Chapel, led by the "Instrumento de Tu Paz" choir, whose music draws on the sound and authentic songs of Hispanic culture.
The 8:00 am English Mass in the Church uses organ-based traditional music with choir and cantor. At 9:30 am, the English High Mass brings together classical Catholic hymnody, incense, choir, and cantor in the Church. A 10:00 am Spanish Mass, now temporarily relocated to the Chapel from the Great Hall, is led by the "Soldados de Cristo" choir, which combines Spanish praise and worship with contemporary and traditional pieces.
Two special Sunday offerings follow. A Sensory Friendly Mass is celebrated at 10:00 am on the first and third Sundays of the month in the Chapel for families who need a calmer setting. The 11:30 am Mass in the Chapel is celebrated Ad Orientem, with priest and congregation together facing liturgical east, using the Novus Ordo in Latin. Readings, homily, and prayers of the faithful are in English, while the prayers and hymns are in Latin. This is not the Tridentine Latin Mass; Vatican II's Novus Ordo is the form used.
The 11:00 am English Mass in the Church is the contemporary offering, drawing on the best of Catholic contemporary liturgical composers and led by choir and cantor. The 12:30 pm English Mass is the Young Adult Led Mass, where the parish's young-adult community takes a leading role in the liturgy. At 2:00 pm, a Spanish Mass in the Church features music from a Mariachi band with guitars, trumpets, and violins. The 4:30 pm Mass is the Youth Led Mass, with praise and worship music. The day closes with a 6:00 pm Spanish Mass in the Church, led by the "Divina Providencia" choir, whose repertoire blends contemporary Catholic music with traditional Spanish hymns in a fresh style.
Weekday Masses continue the rhythm. Monday brings a Mass at 8:30 am in English and another at 6:30 pm in English. Tuesday offers 8:30 am in English and 6:30 pm in Spanish. Wednesday has three Masses: 8:30 am English, 12:15 pm English, and 6:30 pm English. Thursday begins at 6:30 am in English, with an 8:30 am English Mass and a 7:00 pm Spanish Mass. Friday brings 8:30 am English and 6:30 pm Spanish. Saturday has an 8:30 am English Mass in addition to the 5:00 pm Vigil.
A full choir rehearsal schedule supports this rich musical life. New choir members and cantors are always welcome; the only requirements are a pleasing voice and the desire to serve.
Confession and Adoration
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered four days a week. Wednesday confessions are heard in the Chapel from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm; Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm; Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 am; and Saturday from 9:15 to 10:15 am.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the Chapel on Thursdays from 9:15 am to 6:45 pm and on Fridays from 9:15 am to 10:00 pm.
Monthly Eucharistic Revival Nights bring the parish together for an evening of Adoration. On the first Wednesday of each month (except July), from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Church, teens, families, and friends gather to worship and encounter the Living God in the Eucharist. A traveling collection of saint relics, on loan from the University of Dallas, is displayed in the church for spiritual encouragement, with patrons that include St. Albert the Great, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Augustine, St. Benedict, St. Bernadette, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Pope St. Pius V, among many others.
Faith Formation from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade
St. Francis organizes faith formation around a clear rhythm: encounter Christ, grow as his disciple, and live out his mission.
Kids in kindergarten through fifth grade meet as "Origin Kids." Children in K-5 choose either Sunday sessions from 12:30 to 1:45 pm or Wednesday sessions from 5:45 to 7:00 pm. K-1 children are released fifteen minutes early. The Spanish Children's Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00 pm in the Choir Room, and the English Children's Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm in the Church. Children in second through fifth grade may add First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation, which includes a mandatory parent session, an at-home online course, an in-person workshop, and an in-person learning center.
Middle school youth, sixth through eighth grade, gather as "Origin Youth: Middle School" on Sunday evenings from 5:45 to 7:00 pm in the Great Hall. Large group fellowship, games, faith talks, and small group community fill the night. Teens preparing for First Communion (sixth and seventh graders) or Confirmation (eighth graders) complete a series of at-home Milestones in addition to attending Youth Night.
High school youth, ninth through twelfth grade, meet as "Origin Youth: High School" on Sunday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Great Hall. "Acts29" is the Wednesday evening discipleship pathway, meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the Youth Room, designed for teens already coming to Youth Night and seeking to grow in their faith. First Communion and Confirmation are also available for high schoolers through the Milestone journey.
A special-needs ministry called "God Loves All" extends the parish's formation work to children and families who need a tailored approach.
The Summer program keeps K-12 formation going with Vacation Bible School in English and the Campamento de Verano in Spanish, a fully Catholic week of Bible adventure, music, games, and faith formation for children entering K through sixth grade.
The Seven Sacraments
St. Francis prepares parishioners for each of the seven sacraments.
Baptism of infants begins with a baptismal preparation class held on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon in the Parish Center. Both parents and godparents are required to attend in person. English baptisms are celebrated at 9:30 am in the Church; Spanish baptisms at 11:00 am. Parents and godparents must be registered, practicing Catholics, and the parish requires letters of good standing for godparents from their home parish.
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the St. Francis Kids program for second through fifth graders, with separate tracks for sixth through seventh graders and older youth. The Kids Sacrament journey includes online coursework, an in-person workshop, and a learning center.
Confirmation at St. Francis is celebrated beginning in eighth grade. Teens complete nine Milestones at home with their parents and sponsor, then are welcomed to receive the sacrament.
Marriage preparation is coordinated through the parish office; couples meet with a priest and complete required coursework. The Marriage Enrichment Ministry, Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial, and Worldwide Marriage Encounter support couples at every stage. Natural Family Planning is part of the marriage prep journey, and the parish walks couples through the choices and connects them with instructors.
Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing illness, surgery, or the effects of aging. Priests visit hospitals and homes to bring this sacrament.
Holy Orders: men discerning a call to the priesthood are pointed toward the Diocese of Dallas vocations office.
Funerals and quinceañeras are celebrated through the parish liturgy office.
Liturgical Volunteers and the Music Ministry
The parish could not run without its liturgical volunteers. The Altar Guild cares for altar linens and cloths. Altar Servers assist the priests on the altar at every liturgical event. Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion during Mass; a Homebound Ministry brings Communion to the elderly and sick, and a Hospital Ministry brings it to patients. Lectors proclaim God's Word. Ushers assist with seating, collections, communion flow, and the distribution of bulletins at the end of Mass, working in coordination with the Safety Ministers. The Music Ministry, under Music Director Jon Zellhart, leads the parish in song; new choir members and cantors are always welcome. Nursing Home Ministry brings Communion and fellowship to local senior care facilities, and the Prison Ministry collaborates with the diocesan Kolbe Ministry to hold retreats within correctional systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Training is offered throughout the year for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, and altar servers (open to anyone in fifth grade and above, in both English and Spanish).
A Campus of Outreach
St. Francis extends its care well beyond the church walls.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides financial support and Christ's love to neighbors in need, regardless of race, origin, religion, or gender. Those needing help can call the helpline; those wanting to volunteer can connect through svdpfrisco.org.
Stephen Ministry equips lay caregivers to provide confidential, one-to-one, Christ-centered care for people experiencing grief, divorce, hospitalization, chronic illness, job loss, or other life struggles. The English help hotline is (469) 956-9419.
Grief Ministry accompanies those mourning a loved one, providing "The New Day Journal Program" and facilitated group support. A Divorce Support Group welcomes people of any faith tradition in a confidential setting. A Substance Abuse Ministry supports those affected by addiction and their families, with all calls confidential.
The Mobile Food Pantry Ministry partners with Catholic Charities Dallas to distribute non-perishable food donations to families experiencing hardship. A food cart in the Great Hall collects donations throughout the month, with Catholic Charities bringing food on the second and fourth Saturday of each month for distribution.
Respect Life and Pro-Vida promote a culture of life from conception to natural death. The Prayer Shawl Ministry creates prayer shawls every Thursday at 9:30 am in the Parish Center meeting rooms. Deployed Military Care Packages collects and sends packages each May. Angel Christmas Wishes provides more than 1,400 gifts each year to over 600 children, seniors, and organizations in the parish and community. The Thanksgiving Box Ministry assembles ingredients in November for distribution through Frisco Family Services.
Parishioners also walk alongside Rogers Elementary, a Title 1 school in Frisco ISD, through a community-school partnership that provides positive role models and classroom support.
Young Adults and Marriage Preparation
The St. Francis Young Adults community, for those 18 to 35, meets most Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, with locations announced on the parish calendar. The community is shaped by the four pillars of the early Church described in Acts 2:42 - the teaching of the apostles, the communal life, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. The 12:30 pm Sunday Mass is the designated Young Adult Led Mass.
The parish takes a particular interest in Natural Family Planning, treating it as a science-based, accurate, natural, healthy, and effective approach to family planning that aligns with Catholic teaching. A team of NFP Ambassadors welcomes questions and connects couples with certified instructors in the Billings, Creighton, Marquette, SymptoPro, and Boston Cross Check methods, as well as the Couple to Couple League. The parish links couples with My Catholic Doctor and FertilityCare for medical support and offers presentations from the USCCB, Humanae Vitae, and other trusted sources.
Little Friends Preschool
Little Friends Preschool, also known as KDO (Kids Day Out), is the parish's Catholic preschool program. Children enjoy a curriculum that blends socialization, motor skills, letter and number recognition, reading and writing readiness, faith, science, music, and enrichment. Each month follows the liturgical calendar and seasons, introducing a different Commandment alongside a nursery rhyme and a fairy tale. Three, four, and five year olds participate in a weekly Faith Formation program during Chapel time. Teachers prepare children for Kindergarten through hands-on learning, creative play, books, songs, and daily interaction with peers and teachers.
Gubbio's Coffee
The parish also operates Gubbio's Coffee as part of its hospitality outreach, a gathering spot on campus named after the Italian town associated with St. Francis. Volunteers who enjoy the welcoming side of parish life find a home there.
"I Am with You Always" Capital Campaign
In response to years of rapid growth, the parish launched the I Am with You Always Capital Campaign to fund four major projects:
- A new Family Life Center ($35 million) with an outdoor gathering area, at least twenty new meeting rooms, an 800-seat auditorium for additional Masses and events, a formal banquet hall, communal gathering spaces, a second-floor youth space, and a new adoration chapel to seat 126 for perpetual adoration, along with six new confessionals.
- A new Rectory ($2.5 million) with six living suites for priests, visiting priests, and seminarians, a private chapel, updated kitchen, formal dining area, and a comfortable shared living room. The existing rectory will be demolished to make way for 96 new parking spaces near the Church.
- Parish Center Renovations ($2.5 million) that reconfigure space for safety and security, expand parish offices, relocate Kids Day Out for a better nursery experience at Mass, and refresh the Great Hall.
- Funding for Mother Teresa Catholic School, with ten percent of the funds raised going toward the Diocese of Dallas's planned Pre-K through eighth-grade Catholic school at Independence and Main in Frisco.
More than 1,900 families have already pledged over $19.2 million toward the campaign. Pledges may be fulfilled over a three-year period through monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual installments.
Stewardship and Giving
The parish accepts online gifts through Pushpay, by texting "give" to (877) 743-1881, by check mailed to the parish office, and through stock, bond, mutual fund, IRA/QCD, planned, and wire transfers. Kroger Community Rewards and Tom Thumb Good Neighbor programs allow shoppers to direct a portion of their spending to St. Francis at no additional cost. Matching gift programs offered by employers are welcomed.
Visiting St. Francis
The parish campus is at 8000 Eldorado Parkway in Frisco. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed for lunch) and on Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The main phone line is (972) 712-2645, and the office email is office@stfoafrisco.org.
A Nursery is available on a first-come, first-served basis during the 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:00 am, 2:00, 4:30, and 6:00 pm Sunday Masses. On weekdays, reservations are required for the 5:00 to 10:00 pm block. The nursery holds up to 24 children due to fire code regulations.
Newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners through the parish office or online, and Mass intentions may be requested by stopping by the Parish Office during regular business hours. Worship aids are available online for every Sunday Mass, and Sunday Masses are livestreamed.
Clergy Leading St. Francis
Fr. Rudy Garcia serves as Pastor. The parish is blessed with three Parochial Vicars: Fr. Joe Lee, Fr. Alex Fry, and Fr. Robert Brawanski. Six deacons assist in ministry: Deacon Martín Armendaríz, Deacon Francisco Gomez, Deacon Henry Wiechman, Deacon Alex Barbieri, Deacon Saul Vazquez, and Deacon Michael Hastings.