About Holy Cross · Houston, Texas
Holy Cross Chapel is a weekday Catholic chapel and Catholic Resource Center in Downtown Houston, Texas, located on the ground floor of the historic 1929 Jesse Jones building at 905 Main Street. Founded on Ash Wednesday 1982 by Msgr. Albert J. Beck, it was created specifically to serve the spiritual needs of Catholics who work in Houston's central business district. The chapel offers daily midday Mass, walk-in confessions, spiritual direction, formation talks, and a Catholic bookstore, and is staffed and directed by priests of the Opus Dei prelature. It is a parish-chapel of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and is regarded as an 'oasis of tranquility' for thousands of downtown workers.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- The Holy Cross (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14)
- Rector
- Rev. Jerome L. (Jerry) Jung (Rector / Chapel Director)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Holy Cross Chapel exists for Catholics who spend their weekdays in Downtown Houston and want a true spiritual home during the workday. It offers an 11:35 a.m. daily Mass timed for the lunch hour, walk-in confessions from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., spiritual direction with Opus Dei priests, and formation in the spirituality of work drawn from the life of the Holy Family. Its calendar of Days of Recollection, Lenten and Advent forums, the Thomas More Society, the Business Ethics Forum, men's and women's circles, and a well-stocked Catholic bookstore makes it a weekday Catholic resource center as well as a chapel. Visitors of all denominations are welcome to stop in for quiet prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (call ahead to confirm priest availability)
- Monday–Friday: 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. (call ahead to confirm priest availability)
- Holy Thursday and Good Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Available throughout the day during chapel hours (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) in front of the Blessed Sacrament
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the monthly Men's Morning of Recollection (2nd Wednesday, 6:45 a.m. start)
About Holy Cross Chapel
Holy Cross Chapel and Catholic Resource Center is the Catholic chapel of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston dedicated to the spiritual care of people who work in Downtown Houston. Founded in 1982, it sits on the ground floor of the historic 1929 Jesse Jones building at 905 Main Street, offering a quiet, traditional Catholic sacred space in the middle of the central business district. The chapel is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Mass, confession, spiritual direction, and silent prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Center of Catholic worship and education in Downtown Houston
- Open weekdays only — Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Welcomes people of all denominations for quiet prayer
Our Story
Holy Cross Chapel was founded on Ash Wednesday in 1982 by Msgr. Albert J. Beck in the basement of the Jesse Jones 1929 building at 905 Main Street, with his retired brother Msgr. George Beck. The chapel remained in the basement until 2001, when the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston purchased the building. After years of work, the new chapel was constructed on the ground floor and was dedicated in December 2005 by Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who said in his homily that the community was 'finally leaving the catacombs.' A 2009 renovation of the second floor added a Catholic bookstore, conference room, meeting room, offices, and a kitchen, completing the transformation into a Catholic Resource Center.
- 1982: Founded by Msgr. Albert J. Beck in the basement of the Jesse Jones building
- 1980s–1990s: Msgr. George Beck joins his brother in serving downtown workers
- 2001: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston purchases the building
- December 2005: Chapel dedicated on the ground floor by Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza
- 2009: Second floor renovated into bookstore, conference room, meeting room, offices, kitchen
Clergy and Staff
Holy Cross Chapel is led by priests of the Opus Dei prelature, who form the core spiritual team. The current Rector / Chapel Director is Rev. Jerome L. 'Jerry' Jung, a priest of Opus Dei who also serves as Director of the Maris Stella Institute. He is assisted by fellow Opus Dei priests Msgr. Javier Garcia, Rev. Christopher Schmitt, Rev. Martin John Miller, and Rev. John Boles, who celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and give spiritual direction at the chapel. The chapel is regularly visited by the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, the Cardinal, and the Bishop of the Downtown Chancery (Bishop Italo Dell'Oro, C.R.S.).
- Rector / Chapel Director: Rev. Jerome L. Jung
- Opus Dei priests: Msgr. Javier Garcia, Rev. Christopher Schmitt, Rev. Martin John Miller, Rev. John Boles
- Visiting clergy: Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Italo Dell'Oro (Downtown Chancery)
Pastoral History of the Chapel
Holy Cross Chapel has been led by a succession of directors since its 1982 founding. Msgr. Albert J. Beck and his brother Msgr. George Beck served the chapel's early decades. In the 2000s the chapel came under the direction of Opus Dei priests, beginning with Rev. Michael J. Barrett, who was succeeded in July 2013 by Rev. Jerome L. Jung. Rev. Frank Vera subsequently served as director and was featured in Texas Catholic Herald coverage in 2023. In September 2024 the Archdiocese announced Father Jung's return to Holy Cross Chapel with the title of Rector.
- Msgr. Albert J. Beck – Founder (1982)
- Msgr. George Beck – Co-served with his brother
- Rev. Michael J. Barrett – Director (pre-2013)
- Rev. Jerome L. Jung – Director (July 6, 2013 – c. 2017); Rector (effective September 4, 2024 – present)
- Rev. Frank Vera – Director (c. 2017 – 2024)
Men's Activities
Holy Cross Chapel supports Catholic professional men through regular formation opportunities, including a monthly Morning of Recollection, an Evening of Recollection, and an annual Lenten forum. The Morning of Recollection follows a structured schedule beginning at 6:15 a.m. with confessions and contemplative prayer, moving through meditation, Holy Mass, personal reflection, a spiritual talk, and adjournment to breakfast at a nearby restaurant. Men also participate in Opus Dei member-led programs known as Circles and Recollection, which offer brief faith presentations and deep discussion.
- Monthly Morning of Recollection for Professional Men — 2nd Wednesday, 6:45 a.m. start
- Monthly Evening of Recollection
- Annual Lenten Forum for Men
- Opus Dei Circles and Recollection programs
Women's Activities
The chapel hosts formation specifically for Catholic women professionals, including an annual Advent forum and a Lenten forum. A women's book club meets during Advent and Lent, and women also participate in the ENDOW study/discipleship program. Many women who work downtown stop in during the lunch hour for Mass, confession, and spiritual direction.
- Annual Advent Forum for Women
- Annual Lenten Forum for Women
- Women's Book Club (Advent and Lent)
- ENDOW women's study program
Professional and Lay Groups
Several distinct Catholic professional communities have grown up around Holy Cross Chapel over the decades, taking advantage of the second-floor meeting and conference space added in the 2009 renovation. The Thomas More Society is a Catholic lawyers' guild; the Business Ethics Forum brings together executives and professionals to discuss ethical issues in the light of Catholic social teaching. The chapel also hosts the Houston Chapter of ACTS Missions.
- Thomas More Society (Catholic lawyers' guild)
- Business Ethics Forum (for executives and professionals)
- ACTS Missions Houston Chapter (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service retreats)
- Chapel Prayer Line
- Children of the Cross
Catholic Resource Center & Bookstore
The second floor of the Jesse Jones building, renovated in 2009, houses a Catholic bookstore staffed by a team known as 'Martha and Mary,' along with a conference room, large meeting room, offices, and a kitchen. The bookstore offers solid and trustworthy Catholic literature, and the meeting spaces — equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities — host Days of Recollection, forums, and small-group talks.
- Catholic bookstore ('Martha and Mary')
- Conference room and large meeting room
- State-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities
- Offices and kitchen for hospitality
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions include when Mass and confession are offered, whether non-Catholics may visit, and how to access spiritual direction. Mass is Monday through Friday at 11:35 a.m.; confession is offered twice each weekday morning and afternoon (call to confirm priest availability). The chapel is open to the public — including non-Catholics — for quiet prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Spiritual direction is available with the Opus Dei priests, and the main contact is 713-650-1323 / [email protected].
- What time is Mass? — 11:35 a.m., Monday–Friday
- When is confession? — 10:00–11:15 a.m. and 1:15–1:45 p.m., Monday–Friday
- Can non-Catholics visit? — Yes, the chapel is open to all for quiet prayer
- How do I reach the chapel? — Phone 713-650-1323, email [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Albert J. Beck1982 – c. 2000s
Founder of Holy Cross Chapel on Ash Wednesday 1982; began the chapel in the basement of the Jesse Jones 1929 building at 905 Main Street to serve downtown Catholic workers with daily Mass, confession, and spiritual direction.
- Msgr. George BeckJoined Albert in the 1980s–1990s
Retired brother of Msgr. Albert J. Beck; assisted in serving downtown workers at the chapel for many years.
- Rev. Michael J. BarrettPre-2013
Priest of Opus Dei; Director of Holy Cross Chapel until July 2013. Remembered for his encouragement of daily Mass attendance.
- Rev. Jerome L. 'Jerry' JungJuly 6, 2013 – c. 2017
Priest of the Opus Dei prelature; appointed Director of Holy Cross Chapel effective July 6, 2013 (Archdiocesan Pastoral Appointments 2013). Also Director of the Maris Stella Institute. J.C.D. from Catholic University (1997).
- Rev. Frank Verac. 2017 – 2024
Priest of Opus Dei; served as Director of Holy Cross Chapel; featured as director in Texas Catholic Herald articles (2023), discussing the chapel's role as an oasis for downtown workers.
- Rev. Jerome L. JungEffective September 4, 2024 – present
Reappointed to Holy Cross Chapel with the title of Rector (Archdiocesan Pastoral Appointments 2024), returning after his earlier tenure as Director.