Do you hear the bells? They call us to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. This church stands as a beacon of faith in San Antonio. It welcomes all.
St. Joan of Arc began as a vision in 1965. Parish creation and worship site land purchase planning meetings took place. Leroy Muehlstein, Michael Krefrovich, Manny Solis, Jerry Lehman and Robert Wolff formed a committee. The committee studied three land tracts. After a census, they counted two hundred fifty Catholic families. The Ackermann Family sold them a twenty-acre site.
Archbishop Francis J. Furey officially established St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church as a parish on December 9, 1971. On November 14, 1973 Archbishop Furey dedicated a multi-purpose building. A parish council and the Council of Catholic Women were established in the spring of 1972. Also a Men’s club was founded to help administer the parish. Louise K. Ackermann bequeathed eighteen acres of land and a farmhouse to the Archdiocese of San Antonio in 1981. This gift was for parish use.
A private residence next to the parish became the rectory in 1982. Over time the church outgrew its site. Plans emerged for a new church. In June 1984 they bought ten acres on Ackermann Road. Bishop Bernard Popp and Reverend Thomas O’Callaghan held groundbreaking ceremonies. A “Field Mass” took place on April 28, 1985.
Rev. Leslie A. Vance transferred to St. Joan of Arc on November 3, 1986. Many deacons have served here. They include Joseph B. Kopecky, John Buchanan and Frank O’rouke. Robert L. Galan, John Huttinger and Joseph Nash also served. Gilbert Rivera, Todd Dapilmoto and Victor Cepero ministered here. Valentin Lucero and Filimon Reyes have also served.
Msgr. Thomas O’Callaghan passed away on August 13, 1995. On December 8, 1996, they dedicated a Baptismal Font to his memory. It was the twenty-fifth anniversary. Reverend Leslie Vance celebrated his twentieth ordination anniversary on March 26, 1996. St. Joan of Arc parish celebrated its 25th anniversary on December 6, 1996. Auxiliary Bishop John W. Yanta and Msgr. Les Vance celebrated. On January 19, 1997 Rev Vance dedicated a tombstone. It memorialized those lost due to abortions. Rev. Samuel Heitkamp was Pastor from 1998 to 2007. Rev. Jose Puente served as pastor from 2009 to 2014. Rev. Michael E. Peinemann served from 2014 to 2018. Since 2018, Rev. Heliodoro Lucatero has been the Pastor.
Today, various groups thrive here. These include the Knights of Columbus, Pastoral Council and the Council of Catholic Women. Guadalupanas, Familias Unidas and Familias Rosario also contribute. ACTS Retreat Groups and Grupo Matrimonial de St. Joan of Arc are active. Young adults, youth ministry and Cristo Joven participate. Ten choir groups and quilters add to the community. Large Religious Education enrollments are moving the parish forward.
Masses are held in both English and Spanish. Weekday Masses start at 8:30 am bilingual. Saturday Masses are at 5:30 pm in English and 7:00 pm in Spanish. Sunday offers Masses at 9:00 am and 11:00 am in English. A Spanish Mass takes place at 1:00 pm.
St. Joan of Arc continues to grow. The faith community progresses through cooperation. Multicultural collaboration helps meet ambitious goals. The parish journeys physically and spiritually onward. Remember the words of St. Joan. “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”