Corpus Christi Catholic Church

1114 30th St.
Lubbock, Texas 49411
806.744.6363

Corpus Christi is a Catholic parish that celebrates only the Latin Mass. The Latin language has been used by the Church since the first centuries of the Church. It is still the official language of the Church.

The Mass as said here is not the “indult” Mass. The Church has solemnly state since the 16th century that Catholic clergy do not need permission to say this Mass. Most Catholics have been told otherwise.

The laity are easily able to follow the priest as he says Mass by making use of a missal. These missals contain both the Latin and English languages. Contrary to common opinion, the laity are note required to understand the Latin language. By attending Mass regularly, the laity are able to learn how to follow the priest as he says Mass.

As you will notice, the priest says Mass with his back to the people. This is an ancient tradition which has been maintained because in this position the priest is a mediator between the laity and God. It is, therefore, the only proper position for the priest.

Corpus Christi does not have Eucharistic ministers. This is an abuse started after Vatican II. The Church previously did not allow such innovations, setting aside the celebration of Mass and all that it entails only to the priesthood. The clergy are quite capable of fulfilling their duties in the sanctuary without the assistance of the laity. The alter servers are either young boys or men. Historically, they represent the clergy, which is why female servers are not allowed at this parish. Corpus Christi rejects the Permanent Diaconate and a married priesthood. It also rejects the use of the laity for reading the Epistle and Gospel and for giving sermons.

The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is distributed only on the tongue and in the kneeling position. Standing for Holy Communion and taking It in the hand are serious abuses allowed only since Vatican II.

You are welcome to speak to the liasons who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. They would also be happy to introduce you to the pastor of the parish, Fr. Joseph, OFM.

History of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christ Catholic Church was founded as Corpus Christi Mission through the effort of Dr. John and Mrs. Cathy Mottet in September 1991 in Lubbock, TX with the permission of Most Rev. Louis Vezelis, OFM and is operated under the auspices of the Franciscan Friars.

In September 1992, the property at the present location was purchased.

From the fall of 1992 until October 2000 the Franciscan Friars came to Lubbock once a month (except for 18 months in the mid-90’s) to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the traditional Latin language.

In October 2000, Fr. Bernard Colussy, OFM was sent to Corpus Christi for about two months as a full-time pastor. In late November of the same year, he and Fr. Joseph Noonan, OFM switched positions, Fr. Joseph coming from Our Lady of the Rosary in Milwaukee, WI and Fr. Bernard returning to his former parish. Fr. Joseph has remained as pastor since December 1, 2000.

The parish, beginning in 2015, underwent a modest expansion to accommodate the needs of Sacred Heart Seminary which is now located on the same property. The new building is the current church which doubled in size.

The congregation at Corpus Christi has always been small and for the most part a faithful one. This parish has had to battle the local diocese against the same errors that we face in each region where we are located. The error is that of Modernism which has been externalized through the changes in the Catholic Church since 1958 and was condemned by Popes previous to the Modernist era (1958).

Holy Mass continues to be said each Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Weekday Masses are usually said at 8:00 a.m. when Father Joseph is in Lubbock. It is necessary to check the schedule each week. Mass on Saturday is always said at 8:00 a.m. The Franciscan Friars do not accept the practice of the so-called vigil Mass on Saturday evenings. The vigil Mass has no precedence in Church history and clearly has been shown to destroy the sacredness of Sunday.

The history of this parish is necessarily intertwined with work of the mission churches operated by the Franciscan Friars. Missions have been established over a period of years in numerous location sin the West and Southwest. Presently (2021), mission are located in Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX; and Hallettsville, TX. 

It should be noted that nearly all those who attend Corpus Christi have come from local Catholic churches. At different times in the recent past they have come to realize heresies and abuses and the general destructiveness of the changes in the Church. 

Biographies of The Clergy

RIP Most Reverend Louis Vezelis, OFM

Bishop Louis Vezelis, OFM was a native of Rochester, New York. He entered the Franciscan Order in 1949 with the Lithuanian Franciscan Community in Kennebunkport, Maine. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 16, 1956 in Montreal, Canada by His Eminence Emile Cardinal Leger.

Father Louis was sent to South Korea in 1956 to help re-establish the Franciscan Order there after the devastation of the Korean War. He spent 18 years in South Korea as a religious, priest, missionary, chaplain to the Armed Forces, and pastor of local churches.

He returned to the United States in 1975 and began to educate himself on the changes in the Church resulting from Vatican II. In 1977, he made the decision to separate himself from his religious community and the Diocese of Rochester, NY. As he said many years ago, he could no longer be a part the Modernist destruction of the Catholic Church.

Father began to say the Latin Mass, turning away from the so-called New Mass and changes of Vatican II. In 1977, he formed a Franciscan Community in Rochester, NY, accepting qualified men who desired to live a traditional religious life according to the Rule of St. Francis.

In September 1980, he started The Seraph, a magazine dedicated to teaching the Deposit of Faith and exposing the errors of the Modernists. The magazine is now in its forty-second year of publication.

On August 24, 1982, he was consecrated a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church according to the Traditional (Old) Rite of the Catholic Church. In the following years he continued to fight against the Modernist heresies and the destructive changes of Vatican II.

He ordained several men to the Holy Priesthood in the years which followed. These priests celebrate only the Latin Mass. This Mass is not the so-called Indult Mass promoted by the Modernists.

In 2005, Bishop Louis Vezelis consecrated Father Giles Butler, OFM to the episcopate, thus assuring the community and laity of having a Catholic bishop for the future.

Infirmities burdened him in the last years of his life. He died on January 1, 2013 in Rochester, New York.

May he rest in peace.

Mass Schedule

Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.