About All Saints · Houston, Texas
All Saints Catholic Church is a historic parish in the Houston Heights neighborhood of Houston, Texas, founded in January 1908 by Father George Walsh and belonging to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Located at 215 East 10th Street for more than a century, the parish serves roughly 2,000 families in a bilingual (English/Spanish) community and worships in a Romanesque Revival church that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Under current pastor Rev. Elias Lopez, with Parochial Vicar Fr. Leon Strieder and Deacons Alex Gallardo and José Romay, All Saints celebrates daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust sacramental and outreach life including Faith Formation, RCIA/OCIA, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- All Saints
- Rector
- Rev. Elias Lopez
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
All Saints offers the rare combination of a deep historic setting — a 1928 Romanesque Revival church listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and a vibrant, bilingual present: three Sunday Masses (two English, one Spanish), a daily 8:00 AM Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and three regular confession times each week. A family-focused Faith Formation office prepares children and teens for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, while the parish reaches outward through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, parish pilgrimages, the annual "Great Taste of the Heights" fundraiser, and an immersion mission outreach to Puerto Rico. With two deacons, a parochial vicar, two seminarians, and a music-and-liturgy program, the parish actively welcomes newcomers and invites all to "become one in Christ."
Mass times at All Saints
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
History of All Saints Catholic Church
All Saints was organized in January 1908 by Father George T. Walsh, who was commissioned by Bishop N. A. Gallagher of Galveston and commuted up from the coast to celebrate the parish's first Eucharist in the Fraternal Hall at 12th and Yale. The cornerstone of the first church at 10th and Harvard was laid in March 1909 and Bishop Gallagher dedicated the white-brick Romanesque Revival building that August for 650 families. All Saints School opened in 1913, run by Dominican Sisters who traveled from St. Agnes Academy; a larger brick school followed in 1922. As the parish outgrew the 1909 building, the present church was constructed in 1927 and dedicated in 1928, with the original 1912 rectory relocated by mule team to Cortlandt Street. The school closed in 1986, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and in 2013 Br. Robert Lentz, OFM, completed the icon wall behind the altar.
- January 1908 — Parish organized in the 'Village of the Heights' by Father George Walsh
- March 1909 — Cornerstone of first church laid at 10th and Harvard
- August 1909 — First church dedicated by Bishop Gallagher (300-seat, 650 families)
- 1913 — All Saints School opens, staffed by Dominican Sisters
- 1914 — Father Walsh transferred; Father John Gallagher succeeds him
- 1922 — Two-story brick school building completed
- 1927–1928 — Present Romanesque Revival church and rectory dedicated
- 1949 — Auditorium/cafeteria built (now the parish hall)
- 1960 — Convent built for eight teaching sisters
- 1974 — Joint venture with other Heights congregations builds Heights Tower (19th Street senior residence)
- 1983 — Church added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 1986 — Parish school closed; convent becomes Parish Office
- 2003 — Designated a City of Houston Historical Landmark
- 2013 — Br. Robert Lentz, OFM, completes 14 icons on the icon wall
Parish Mission & Commitments
All Saints describes itself as 'the People of God of All Saints Catholic Community in the Heights,' responding to its baptismal call by living the great commandment: 'Love one another as I have loved you.' The parish commits to four pillars — Worship, Hospitality, Education, and Discipleship — and invites all to become one in Christ regardless of race, color, creed, culture, or sexual/gender orientation.
- Worship — building a community of faith through the Eucharist with full, active participation
- Hospitality — being an inclusive, welcoming community that celebrates diversity
- Education — providing opportunities for every person to grow into a mature faith in Christ
- Discipleship — being faithful stewards of time, talent, and treasure
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Faith Formation office states its mission is 'to lead our community's families, youth, and children to Christ through catechetical resources and growth opportunities that strengthen the domestic church.' Programs are theologically sound and spiritually enriching, spanning parish catechesis (Faith Formation classes) and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist. RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) is offered for adults and is listed among the parish's active programs.
- Parish catechesis / Faith Formation classes for children and youth
- Baptism preparation (children and teens)
- First Reconciliation preparation
- First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / OCIA — Becoming Catholic (adults)
Outreach & Charity
All Saints reaches beyond its walls through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, which operates out of the historic 1922 brick school building, and through a long-standing immersion mission outreach to Puerto Rico. The parish also partners annually in 'The Great Taste of the Heights,' a community fundraiser, and organizes parish pilgrimages for members. In 1974 the parish entered an ecumenical joint venture with other Heights congregations to build the $3-million, non-profit Heights Tower senior residence on 19th Street.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (housed in the 1922 school building)
- Puerto Rico immersion mission trips
- "Great Taste of the Heights" annual fundraiser
- Parish pilgrimages
- Heights Tower senior residence (1974 ecumenical joint venture)
Architecture, Art & Historic Landmarks
The present church is a Romanesque Revival structure built in 1927 and dedicated in 1928, housing beautiful Italian stained-glass windows and a 14-icon icon wall behind the altar completed by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM, in 2013. The 1922 brick school — once staffed by Dominican Sisters — still serves the parish as CCE classrooms, a nursery, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. The 1949 auditorium/cafeteria is now the parish hall, the 1959 classrooms house the Third Age Learning Center, and the 1960 convent has been the Parish Office since 1986.
- 1927 church — Romanesque Revival, dedicated 1928 (NRHP #83004425)
- Italian stained-glass windows
- 14-icon icon wall by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM (completed 2013)
- 1922 brick school building — now CCE, nursery, and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
- 1949 auditorium — now parish hall
- 1959 classrooms — now Third Age Learning Center
- 1960 convent — Parish Office since 1986
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Elias Lopez and Parochial Vicar Fr. Leon Strieder, with the assistance of two permanent deacons and two seminarians in residence. The staff team includes a Pastoral Catechetical Leader, Director of Music and Liturgy & Communications, Business Manager, Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistants, Facility Manager, Assistant Facility Manager, and Pastoral Assistant. The parish office is open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, with a lunch break; the main line is (713) 864-2653 (fax 713-864-0761).
- Pastor — Rev. Elias Lopez
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Leon Strieder
- Deacon — Alex Gallardo
- Deacon — José Romay
- Seminarian in Residence — Joseph Spencer
- Seminarian in Residence — Kỳ Lân
- Pastoral Catechetical Leader — Mitchell Schumann
- Business Manager — Joe Doran
- Bookkeeper — Jeanenne Hagerman
- Administrative Assistant — Lupe Padilla
- Administrative Assistant — Monica Smith
- Facility Manager — Esteban Laynes
- Assistant Facility Manager — Santos Reynoso
- Pastoral Assistant — Gonzalo Ramos
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George T. Walsh1908–1914
Founding pastor; commissioned by Bishop N. A. Gallagher; commuted from Galveston; built the 1909 white-brick church.
- Father John Gallagher1914–
Succeeded Father Walsh; oversaw the parish's growth leading to the construction of the present church.
- Rev. Msgr. Adam McClosky1999–
Native of Anderson, Texas; priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
- Rev. Elias Lopez
Current pastor; appointed by the Archdiocese effective July 1 per the most recent pastoral appointments list.