About Christ the Incarnate Word · Houston, Texas
Christ, the Incarnate Word (Giáo Xứ Đức Kitô Ngôi Lời Nhập Thể) is a vibrant Vietnamese-American Catholic parish in southwest Houston, Texas, established in 1998 by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza as a parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Founded by the late Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong, it grew from about 300 families into one of the largest Vietnamese parishes in the Archdiocese, now serving roughly 1,500 families (over 6,000 people). The parish offers Mass in both Vietnamese and English, an extensive faith-formation program, a Vietnamese language school, the Life Teen youth ministry, RCIA, and a wide range of parish organizations; in 2005 it completed the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center to accommodate its growing community life.
- Established
- 1998
- Patron
- Christ the Incarnate Word (Đức Kitô Ngôi Lời Nhập Thể)
- Rector
- Rev. John Vianney Thu Ngoc Nguyen (Lm. Gioan Viannêy Nguyễn Ngọc Thụ)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Christ, the Incarnate Word offers one of the largest and most active Vietnamese-American Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, with Masses every day of the week in Vietnamese and English, plus a full English-language Life Teen liturgy for young people. The parish is grounded in Vietnamese Catholic tradition while reaching out to a younger, English-speaking generation through faith formation, a children's Vietnamese language program (Trường Mẫu Tâm), RCIA, Bible study, and active community-outreach groups — all supported by the modern Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center built in 2005. It is a place where newly arrived families and long-standing parishioners alike can find prayer, sacraments, fellowship, and a strong Vietnamese Catholic identity rooted in Houston's southwest side.
Mass times at Christ the Incarnate Word
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 – 5:45 pm
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 8:00 – 9:00 pm
About Christ, the Incarnate Word Parish
Christ, the Incarnate Word (Giáo Xứ Đức Kitô Ngôi Lời Nhập Thể) is a Vietnamese-American Catholic personal parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, located in southwest Houston near the intersection of South Kirkwood Road and the US-59 (Southwest Freeway) corridor. Since its founding in 1998 it has grown into one of the largest Vietnamese Catholic communities in Texas, with roughly 1,500 registered families and more than 6,000 faithful. Mass is offered every day in Vietnamese, with an additional English Mass on Sunday afternoon, an English-Language Life Teen liturgy, and an active sacramental and faith-formation life for children, youth, and adults.
History of the Parish
The parish was canonically established in 1998 by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza to serve the rapidly growing Vietnamese Catholic population of greater Houston. Its founding pastor, Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong, had previously been pastor of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1990–1998) and had earlier served in Vatican diplomatic posts in Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, and Chile. Under his leadership the parish grew from about 300 families to roughly 1,500 families / 6,000 people. Monsignor Phillipe died suddenly at the rectory on January 16, 2015; his funeral Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on January 23, 2015. Father John Vianney Thu Ngoc Nguyen was appointed the second pastor on April 28, 2015.
- 1998: Parish canonically established by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza.
- 1999: Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong installed as first pastor.
- 2005: Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center completed.
- January 16, 2015: Monsignor Phillipe dies at the rectory, age 71.
- January 23, 2015: Funeral Mass presided by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.
- April 28, 2015: Father John Vianney Thu Ngoc Nguyen appointed second pastor.
Founding Pastor — Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong (1998–2015)
Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong (October 6, 1943 – January 16, 2015) was born in Tan Tai, Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan, Vietnam. He entered the minor seminary in Nha Trang in 1952, was ordained a priest in Manila on November 28, 1970, and later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He served as a papal diplomat in Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, and Chile before coming to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 1983. In Houston he served as parochial vicar at St. Jerome, helped organize the Vietnamese Catholic community as the bishop's delegate, and was pastor of the Vietnamese Martyrs Parish and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart before founding Christ, the Incarnate Word in 1998. He led the parish for 16 years until his sudden death from a fall in the parish rectory in January 2015.
- Born: October 6, 1943, Phan Rang, Vietnam.
- Ordained: November 28, 1970, Manila, Philippines.
- Doctorate in Canon Law, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
- Pastored Christ, the Incarnate Word 1998 – 2015.
- Died: January 16, 2015, Houston, Texas.
Faith Formation & Religious Education (Giáo Lý)
The parish's Faith Formation program (Ban Giáo Dục) provides religious education for children and youth on parish grounds. The principal, lay catechetical leaders, and deacons together coordinate classes, sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), and adult catechesis. The program is led by the school principal Nguyễn Ngọc Bích and the Director of Religious Education Lê Thị Hiền.
- Principal: Nguyễn Ngọc Bích — 713-907-1678
- Director of Religious Education: Lê Thị Hiền — 713-256-7349
- Baptism class for children: Nguyễn Ngọc Thảo — 832-298-5463
- Pre-Marriage class: Deacon Nguyễn Cường and Đoàn Hằng — 713-446-3591
- RCIA (Giáo Lý Tân Tòng): Deacon Đoàn Hồng Phúc — 281-250-8579
Trường Mẫu Tâm — Vietnamese Language School
In addition to faith formation, the parish operates Trường Mẫu Tâm (Immaculate Heart of Mary School), a Vietnamese-language and culture program for children of the parish and surrounding community. The school meets on the parish campus and is closely linked to the parish's religious education; the Sunday 2:00 pm English Mass is celebrated in conjunction with its program. The director is Đặng Chí (713-906-1661).
- Director: Đặng Chí — 713-906-1661
- Linked to the 2:00 pm Sunday English Mass and parish faith formation.
- Housed in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center (completed 2005).
Life Teen & Youth Ministry
The parish runs an active Life Teen program for high-school-age youth, with a dedicated English-language Life Teen Mass at 2:30 pm on Sundays during the school year. The youth also gather monthly for JAM (Jesus and Me) sessions. The Life Teen Mass and JAM program draw hundreds of teens to the parish each week and are a major point of contact for the English-speaking second generation.
- Life Teen Mass: Sunday 2:30 pm (English)
- Monthly JAM (Jesus and Me) youth gatherings
- Hundred of teens participating weekly during the school year
Music, Liturgy, and Parish Organizations
The parish's Liturgical Music Ministry (Phụng Vụ Thánh Nhạc) prepares music for each Mass in both Vietnamese and English, under Music Commissioner Nguyễn Duy Khang. A Liturgy Committee (Ban Phụng Vụ), led by Deacon Phạm Harry Hưng, coordinates servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, and other liturgical roles. The Social Outreach ministry (Ban Xã Hội), led by Nguyễn Văn Bản, coordinates charity and community-aid efforts, while the Order and Hospitality ministry (Ban Trật Tự), led by Phạm Phan Anh Dũng, assists with parking, ushering, and security at large liturgies.
- Liturgical Music Commissioner: Nguyễn Duy Khang — 281-975-xxxx
- Liturgy Committee head: Deacon Phạm Harry Hưng
- Social Outreach: Nguyễn Văn Bản — 281-565-1185
- Order and Hospitality: Phạm Phan Anh Dũng — 832-614-2311
Parish Staff and Office
The parish is led by a pastor, an associate pastor, and a team of permanent deacons who assist with liturgy, RCIA, marriage preparation, and other ministries. The office staff supports sacramental records, bulletin production, and parish communications. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a lunch closure from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.
- Pastor: Rev. John Vianney Thu Ngoc Nguyen
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Joseph Bui Phuong Tien
- Deacons: Peter Nguyen Duc Cuong, Vincent Doan Hong Phuc, Joseph Maria Pham Harry Hung, and others
- Secretary: Maria Lê Thị Hiền
- Office: Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (closed 12:00 – 1:00 pm)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Phillipe Le Xuan Thuong1998–2015
Founding pastor; led the parish from about 300 families to roughly 1,500 families / 6,000+ people. Died suddenly on January 16, 2015, at the parish rectory at age 71.
- Rev. John Vianney Thu Ngoc Nguyen2015–present
Appointed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on April 28, 2015, as the second pastor of Christ, the Incarnate Word.