St. Hyacinth Church

About Us

John L. Morkovsky, who served as the Bishop of Amarillo from 1958-1963, saw a need for a church in northwest Amarillo.  Thus began the formation of St. Hyacinth parish in 1960.

The church/school was built on land donated by the Bush Estate in northwest Amarillo.  Sam Houston Middle School and a Quonset hut behind the Veteran’s Hospital were used for services until the school building was completed.  One of the rooms of the school building was used for worship services until the parish was able to build a church.  On May 9, 1962, the dedication of the new facility took place.

The parish was staffed by priest and sisters of the Dominican Order and the Extension Society of Lay Teachers from 1960-1971.  The school had been closed in 1967 due to the closing of Amarillo Air Force Base which had a direct bearing on student enrollment. 

A new church building was constructed and was dedicated on June 2, 1985.  Final payment was made on the building on March 1, 1996.  Renovation of the church offices and the kitchen areas took place in 1996-1997.

Dominican Priests who served at St. Hyacinth are:

Rev. Martin M. Scannell, O.P.                  1960-1962         Pastor

Rev. Michael A Kavannaugh, O.P.            1961-1963        Associate

Rev. Robert A. Kilbridge, O.P.                  1963-1969         Pastor

Rev. Richard E. Trutter, O.P.                    1969-1970         Pastor

With the departure of the Dominicans, Diocesan priest were assigned to the church:

Rev. James Comiskey                              1971-1978         Pastor

Rev. Dermot O’Brien                                 1974-1978         Associate

Rev. Donald Rusch                                   1978-1980         Pastor

Rev. Msgr. Peter DiBenedetto                    1980-1995        Pastor

Rev. Bill Brashears                                   1982-1984         Associate

Rev. Phil Lindley                                      1984-1986         Parochial Vicar

Rev. Richard Scully                                  1990-1991        Parochial Vicar

Rev. Bert Horvath                                     1993-2000        Parochial Vicar

Rev. Patrick Carathers                              1996-2005        Pastor

Rev. Msgr. Raymond Crosier                     2005-               Pastor

St. Hyacinth’s Catholic Church

Diocese of Amarillo

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St. Hyacinth Office

Easter 2006