Holy Sites in our diocese (1): Sarita – a prayerful place in the middle of ranch land

Pope Francis has chosen "Pilgrims of Hope" as the theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Every faithful is invited to undertake a pilgrimage to receive special graces and Plenary Indulgences. Since not everyone can make it to Rome or Jerusalem, there will be Holy Sites in every diocese. Alongside the Cathedral, Bishop Mulvey chose four churches dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt in our diocese. We will visit every Holy Site in our diocese for South Texas Catholic!

As I embark on my pilgrimage to Sarita, I consider several good pilgrimage practices: Turn off the radio, pray the rosary, listen to an inspiring talk, and think of people who need prayers right now. The drive, which lasts roughly one hour, passes quickly. 

After Riviera, houses alongside Highway 77 become rare. Fields and trees line the road; cattle sit peacefully on the meadows. Sarita is the only major settlement in Kenedy County, the third-least populous county in Texas and fourth-least populous in the United States, with around 320 inhabitants.

Arriving in Sarita, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is right at the entrance of the small town. The church was rebuilt in 1983, made possible through a donation from the Kenedy Family. It is the most southern church in our diocese, and the parish extends across the entire county. 
Fr. Andy Sensenig, OMIIt is a historical place: "Sarita is a very key place for the beginnings of the mission, particularly to the rural areas where the priests came from Brownsville on horseback all the way up to the Kennedy ground," explains Fr. Andy Sensenig, OMI, the pastor of OLG in Sarita. "Through the Oblates' interaction with the Kennedy family, Sarita Kenedy desired to have a church built for the people here in this new town." It served all the people who worked on the ranch or at businesses connected to it.

The Church has a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe right at the entrance and a stained-glass window of her on the front side. The church itself is dominated by a huge cross—a reference to Sarita Kenedy's connection to St. John of the Cross and his thoughts. Sunday Mass is celebrated in the church at 10 am.

Sarita is still very connected to the Kenedy Ranch—there is the Kenedy Ranch Museum (open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 12 to 4 pm). On the former ranch grounds, parish groups can stay at the Oblate Retreat Center—several small huts and meeting rooms are available for a retreat far from busy life. 

Fr. Andy hopes that many people will follow the invitation and embark on a pilgrimage: "Pope Francis will be opening the Jubilee doors in Rome, and therefore, the doors are open, and I hope that all of you may have the doors of your hearts open to receive God's grace. Sarita is a very prayerful place."

How to plan your pilgrimage:
Go on a Sunday for 10 am Mass or contact the parish beforehand: 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 103 Main St, Sarita, TX 78385. Phone: (361) 294-5350.

Travel: Highway 77 South to Sarita, ca. 1 hour from Corpus Christi.

Tips: Plan a visit to the Kenedy Ranch Museum at 280 East La Parra Ave.
Sarita, Texas 78385, (361) 415-2912. Tuesday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, Sundays 12 - 4 pm, Mondays closed. Tickets: Adults $3, children under 12 free, 13-18 years old and seniors $2.