If you’re driving down Seguin Avenue, you can’t miss Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. It’s the granddaddy of New Braunfels Catholicism, its twin spires piercing the Hill Country sky like a prayer. Built by German immigrants in the 1870s, it still holds a Mass in German every month—yes, you can hear “Vater unser” in a sanctuary that smells of old wood and incense.
Then there’s Holy Family Catholic Church, a more modern campus on the north side of town that feels like a community center disguised as a parish. Think coffee bars, a bustling school, and a youth group that actually makes teenagers want to show up. It’s the kind of place where you might run into your neighbor while grabbing a donut after the 9 a.m. Mass.
Fun fact: New Braunfels was founded by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels in 1845, and the Catholic faith came with the first settlers. The original wooden church was built before most homes had running water. Talk about priorities.
