About Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston (Latin: Archidiœcesis Galvestoniensis–Houstoniensis) is a Latin-rite Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Catholic Church serving southeast Texas. Erected in 1847 as the Diocese of Galveston, it was re-designated Galveston–Houston in 1959 and elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese by Pope John Paul II on December 29, 2004. It is led by Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez and is the Texas archdiocese with the largest Catholic population (over 1.7 million) and the fifth-largest in the United States, organized into 146 parishes across 10 counties and about 8,880 square miles.
- Archbishop (Metropolitan)
- Joe S. Vásquez
- Established
- 1847
- Cathedral
- St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston
- Territory
- Ten counties in southeast Texas (approximately 8,880 square miles); organized into four vicariates. Counties include Galveston, Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, and Waller (per the archdiocesan site).
- Parishes
- 146
- Province
- Metropolitan See; its own Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston–Houston includes the suffragan dioceses of Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Tyler, and Victoria.
History of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
The archdiocesan website and Wikipedia together trace the see from its 1839 origin as the Apostolic Prefecture of Texas through seven boundary contractions to its 2004 elevation. The diocese was erected in 1847 under Bishop Jean Marie Odin, C.M., and after his departure for New Orleans was led successively by Bishops Dubuis, Gallagher, Byrne, Nold, Morkovsky, and Fiorenza. Each ordinary left a distinct mark: Gallagher rebuilt after the 1900 hurricane, Byrne shepherded a quarter-million Catholics, Nold racially integrated the schools in 1961, Morkovsky created diocesan ministries and the Texas Catholic Herald, and Fiorenza became the first archbishop.
- 1839 — Apostolic Prefecture of Texas established; Fr. John Timon, C.M., first Prefect
- 1841 — Prefecture raised to Vicariate Apostolic of Texas
- 1847 — Diocese of Galveston erected; Bishop Odin, C.M., first bishop; St. Mary's designated cathedral
- 1850 — Diocese transferred to Province of New Orleans
- 1874 — Diocese of San Antonio and Apostolic Vicariate of Brownsville carved off
- 1890 — Territory lost to Diocese of Dallas
- 1926 — Diocese transferred to Province of San Antonio
- 1947 — Diocese of Austin erected
- 1959 — Re-designated Diocese of Galveston–Houston; Houston named an episcopal city with Sacred Heart as co-cathedral
- 1966 — Diocese of Beaumont erected
- 1979 — St. Mary Cathedral elevated to minor basilica
- 1982 — Diocese of Victoria erected
- 1986 — Diocese of Tyler erected
- 2004.12.29 — Elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese by Pope John Paul II
Our Bishops and Archbishops in Succession
Nine ordinaries — six bishops of Galveston, three of Galveston–Houston, and three archbishops of Galveston–Houston — have led the local church from 1847 to today. Bishops Odin, Gallagher, Byrne, Nold, Morkovsky, and Fiorenza gave way to Archbishops Fiorenza, DiNardo, and Vásquez. Auxiliary bishops have included John McCarthy, Enrique San Pedro S.J., Curtis Guillory S.V.D., James Tamayo, Vincent Rizzotto, Joe S. Vásquez, and George Sheltz.
- Jean Marie Odin, C.M. (1847–1861) — first bishop
- Claude Marie Dubuis (1862–1892)
- Nicholas A. Gallagher (1892–1918)
- Christopher Edward Byrne (1918–1950)
- Wendelin Joseph Nold (1950–1975) — first native Texan bishop
- John Louis Morkovsky (1975–1985)
- Joseph A. Fiorenza (1985–2006) — first archbishop
- Daniel N. DiNardo (2006–2025) — first Cardinal from Texas
- Joe S. Vásquez (2025–present) — third archbishop
Our Cathedrals
The archdiocese is blessed with two cathedrals. St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston was dedicated on November 26, 1848 and was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1979. The original Sacred Heart Church in Houston was designated co-cathedral in 1959; the present Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, built to serve the growing archdiocese, was dedicated on April 2, 2008.
- St. Mary Cathedral Basilica — 1848 (mother church); minor basilica since 1979
- Original Sacred Heart (Houston) designated co-cathedral in 1959
- New Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart dedicated April 2, 2008
- Bishop's Palace, Galveston — purchased by the diocese in 1923
Territory, Parishes, and Catholic Population
Today the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston covers 10 counties in southeast Texas over roughly 8,880 square miles and is divided into four vicariates. With 146 parishes and more than 1.7 million Catholics — the largest Catholic population in Texas and the fifth-largest in the United States — it is one of the most populous Latin-rite sees in the country. The faithful worship in more than 14 languages, reflecting parishes serving African American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and other communities.
- 10 counties — approximately 8,880 square miles
- 146 parishes across four vicariates
- 1.7+ million Catholics
- Liturgy celebrated in 14+ languages
- Multicultural parishes serving African American, Mexican American, Vietnamese, and Spanish-speaking Catholics
Suffragan Dioceses of the Province
Since December 29, 2004 the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston has been a Metropolitan See with its own Ecclesiastical Province covering east Texas. The Metropolitan Archbishop oversees the suffragan dioceses of Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Tyler, and Victoria — making Texas the province with the most dioceses in the United States.
- Austin — erected 1947 (from Galveston)
- Beaumont — erected 1966 (from Galveston–Houston)
- Brownsville — Apostolic Vicariate 1874; restored 1965
- Corpus Christi — erected 1912
- Tyler — erected 1986 (from Galveston–Houston, Dallas, Beaumont)
- Victoria — erected 1982 (from Galveston–Houston and Corpus Christi)
Faith Formation, Catholic Schools, and Seminaries
Catholic education has been a priority since Bishop Nold's tenure, when Catholic high schools and new St. Mary's Seminary facilities were constructed. St. Mary's Seminary at La Porte was founded by Bishop Gallagher in 1901. Bishop Odin founded St. Mary's University at Galveston in 1854. The archdiocese today operates an extensive Catholic school system and faith-formation programs for children and youth.
- St. Mary's University at Galveston — founded 1854 by Bishop Odin
- St. Mary's Seminary at La Porte — founded 1901 by Bishop Gallagher
- Catholic high schools expanded under Bishop Nold
- Texas Catholic Herald diocesan newspaper — founded 1964 by Bishop Morkovsky
Multicultural Ministries and Outreach
The archdiocese is a multicultural Church with active members from every continent. Bishop Morkovsky established African American and Mexican American ministries and gave special attention to Houston's Vietnamese community; Bishop Gallagher established parishes for Spanish-speaking and African-American Catholics more than a century ago. Today the archdiocese supports ministries in social justice, international mission, youth formation, and persons from other countries.
- African American ministry (since Bishop Gallagher, c. 1900)
- Mexican American ministry (since Bishop Morkovsky)
- Vietnamese ministry (since Bishop Morkovsky)
- Spanish-speaking parishes in Austin and Houston (since Gallagher)
- Diocesan mission in Guatemala City (founded 1966)
- Social-justice and international-outreach programs
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez — Installation and Background
On January 20, 2025 Pope Francis accepted Cardinal DiNardo's resignation and named then-Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin as the third Archbishop of Galveston–Houston. Archbishop Vásquez, 67, had served as Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston–Houston from 2002 to 2010 before being appointed the fifth Bishop of Austin. He also served briefly as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tyler (November 2023 to February 2025). His installation Mass was celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on March 25, 2025 — the feast of the Annunciation — with Cardinal Daniel DiNardo presiding and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio, attending. The new archbishop delivered his homily partly in Spanish, pledging to serve 'with all my heart.'
- Installed March 25, 2025 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
- Third Archbishop; ninth ordinary of the local church
- Former Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston–Houston (2002–2010)
- Fifth Bishop of Austin (2010–2025)
- Apostolic Administrator of Tyler (Nov 2023 – Feb 2025)
Contact and Offices
The Chancery of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston is located at 1700 San Jacinto Street in downtown Houston, adjacent to the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The mailing address is P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001-0907, and the main telephone is (713) 659-5461. Live Masses and events from the Co-Cathedral are livestreamed at www.archgh.org/live.
- Chancery: 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002
- Mailing: P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001-0907
- Phone: (713) 659-5461
- Website: www.archgh.org
- Livestream: www.archgh.org/live
