About Mary, Star of the Sea of Holy Family Parish · Jamaica Beach, Texas
Mary, Star of the Sea is a Catholic mission church located at 16626 San Luis Pass Road in the small coastal city of Jamaica Beach, Texas, on Galveston Island. Established in 1980 as a mission of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, it was originally created to serve the growing Catholic community on Galveston's west end. After Hurricane Ike devastated the island in September 2008, Mary, Star of the Sea was merged with five other historic Galveston-area parishes — St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary, and Our Lady by the Sea — into the unified Holy Family Parish, canonically erected on August 15, 2009 by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo as part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Today the Jamaica Beach church operates as one of six worship sites of Holy Family Parish, offering a Saturday vigil Mass each weekend.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title 'Star of the Sea' (Stella Maris)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Jude Ekenedilchukwu Ezuma (Fr. Jude Ezuma)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston)
Why belong here
Mary, Star of the Sea gives residents and visitors of Jamaica Beach a convenient, year-round Catholic presence on Galveston's west end without having to cross the island to the cathedral or other historic churches. As a worship site of Holy Family Parish, it draws on the rich liturgical, charitable, and faith-formation resources of a six-church parish — including daily Mass at the Cathedral Basilica, perpetual adoration at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, OCIA (formerly RCIA), marriage and baptism preparation, and the parish's monthly Galveston County Food Bank distribution — while keeping a small-mission intimacy that suits a coastal community of part-time residents, retirees, and beach-weekend visitors.
Mass times at Mary, Star of the Sea of Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at Mary, Star of the Sea: approximately 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM (30 minutes before the 7:00 PM vigil Mass)
- Saturday at Our Lady by the Sea: approximately 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM (before 6:00 PM vigil Mass)
- Saturday at St. Patrick: approximately 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (before 5:00 PM vigil Mass)
- Sunday at Sacred Heart: approximately 10:30 AM – 10:50 AM (before 11:00 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, located at the Holy Family Parish Life Center, 1525 25th Street, Galveston (next to Ursuline Chapel & Parish Office). Access by code; contact the Parish Office to sign up.
About Mary, Star of the Sea & Holy Family Parish
Mary, Star of the Sea Church is a Catholic mission chapel located in Jamaica Beach on the western end of Galveston Island, Texas, and is one of the six worship sites that together constitute Holy Family Parish of Galveston & Bolivar. The parish was canonically erected on August 15, 2009 by Archbishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, bringing together — in the wake of catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ike (September 2008) — the historic Catholic communities of St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary, Mary Star of the Sea, and Our Lady by the Sea. The parish's stated mission is: 'One Holy Family Parish, united in the joy of the Holy Spirit and in charity, as missionary disciples.' All sacramental records, registrations, and pastoral inquiries are coordinated through the central Parish Office at 1525 25th Street, Galveston.
- Six worship sites: St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary, Mary Star of the Sea (Jamaica Beach), Our Lady by the Sea (Bolivar)
- Parish Office: 1525 25th Street, Galveston, TX 77550
- Phone: 409-762-9646
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Very Rev. Jude Ekenedilchukwu Ezuma
History of Mary, Star of the Sea
The Catholic community on Galveston Island traces its origins to the mid-19th century: on May 4, 1847 Pope Pius IX named St. Mary's Cathedral the mother church of the newly created Diocese of Galveston. As Galveston grew westward across the 20th century, the diocese founded St. Patrick (1870), Sacred Heart (1884), Holy Rosary (1889, the first Black Catholic parish in Texas), Our Mother of Mercy on the Bolivar Peninsula (mid-20th century), St. Peter the Apostle (1964, formally dedicated 1967), and finally Mary, Star of the Sea — dedicated by Bishop John Morkovsky on May 24, 1980 — to serve the Jamaica Beach area. Hurricane Ike in September 2008 damaged church properties across the island, prompting Cardinal DiNardo to merge the surviving parishes into the unified Holy Family Parish on August 15, 2009.
- May 4, 1847 — St. Mary's Cathedral named mother church of the Diocese of Galveston by Pope Pius IX
- 1889 — Holy Rosary founded by Bishop Gallagher (first Black Catholic parish in Texas)
- 1964 — St. Peter the Apostle Parish established by Co-Adjutor Bishop Morkovsky
- September 10, 1967 — St. Peter the Apostle formally dedicated
- May 24, 1980 — Mary, Star of the Sea dedicated by Bishop Morkovsky
- September 2008 — Hurricane Ike devastates Galveston Island
- August 15, 2009 — Holy Family Parish canonically erected by Cardinal DiNardo
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
Holy Family Parish is currently led by its Pastor, Very Reverend Jude Ekenedilchukwu Ezuma, and is assisted by parochial vicars (Fr. Stephen Payne, Fr. José Alonso, and/or Fr. Jacob Ramirez and Fr. J. Serrato — the parish website's About page lists Fr. José Alonso and Fr. Stephen Payne, while the homepage and the hfpgb.org site also reference Fr. Jacob Ramirez and Fr. J. Serrato). Five deacons — Kimble Nobles, Doug Matthews, Jeff Willard, Robert 'Buzz' Standridge, and John Pistone — serve the parish. The lay staff includes Jonathan Wright (Director of Liturgical Music), Sr. Solange Uzoigwe (Child Catechesis & Evangelization), Sr. Emilia Ogar, HHCJ (Coordinator of Family Life and Pastoral Ministries), Racheal Schraufnagel (Pastoral Assistant), Debbie Nichols (Administrative Assistant), Julie Chavez Zavala (Bookkeeper), Allan Weilert (Facilities Manager), and Kenneth Nichols (Custodian/Porter).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Jude Ekenedilchukwu Ezuma
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Stephen Payne, Fr. José Alonso, Fr. Jacob Ramirez, Fr. J. Serrato
- Deacons: Kimble Nobles, Doug Matthews, Jeff Willard, Robert 'Buzz' Standridge, John Pistone
- Religious Sisters: Sr. Emilia Ogar HHCJ, Sr. Solange Uzoigwe
- Director of Liturgical Music: Jonathan Wright
Sacraments
Holy Family Parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments across its six worship sites. Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral arrangements are coordinated through the Parish Office. The parish also runs formal preparation programs for First Eucharist, Youth Confirmation, Adult Confirmation, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA). Adult Confirmation candidates must present a recently issued baptismal certificate and complete a discernment interview and Proximate/Immediate Preparation Lessons. The Marriage preparation process emphasizes the sacramental dignity of marriage as 'a partnership of the whole of life… ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring' (CCC 1601). Annulment information and assistance are also available through the parish office.
- Baptism — register through Parish Office
- Marriage — at least six months' preparation recommended
- Adult Confirmation — discernment interview + Proximate/Immediate Preparation
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — runs September to May
- Annulment information through Parish Office
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at Holy Family Parish is led by Deacon Doug Matthews (Faith Formation Assistant) with Sr. Solange Uzoigwe coordinating Child Catechesis & Evangelization, and Sr. Emilia Ogar, HHCJ coordinating Family Life and Pastoral Ministries. The parish runs OCIA (formerly RCIA) from September through May for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and offers preparation classes for Adult Confirmation, marriage, and baptism. Children preparing for First Eucharist and Confirmation are served through age-appropriate catechetical programs. Holy Family Catholic School, located adjacent to the Parish Office at 1525 25th Street, is supported by the parish's 'Adopt-a-Student' sponsorship program, allowing parishioners to help fund Catholic education for children whose families could not otherwise afford it.
- OCIA / RCIA — September to May
- Adult Confirmation preparation
- Child Catechesis & Evangelization (Sr. Solange Uzoigwe)
- Family Life & Pastoral Ministries (Sr. Emilia Ogar, HHCJ)
- Holy Family Catholic School (Adopt-a-Student program)
Outreach & Charity
Holy Family Parish runs a monthly Food Distribution in partnership with the Galveston County Food Bank, held on the first Thursday of each month from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the Holy Rosary Church parking lot. Volunteers sort and bag food and place it in the vehicles of neighbors in need. The parish also maintains a weekly Communion Service for Catholic residents of Gulf Health Care Center of Galveston (3702 Cove View Blvd), led each Friday at 10:00 AM. All volunteers, regardless of role, must complete the diocesan CMG Safe Environment training (which has replaced the older Virtus program) before serving in any parish ministry.
- Food Distribution — 1st Thursday, 8:30 AM–12:00 PM, Holy Rosary parking lot
- Friday Communion Service — 10:00 AM, Gulf Health Care Center of Galveston
- CMG Safe Environment Training required for all volunteers
- Adopt-a-Student — Catholic education sponsorship
Bulletins, News & Stewardship
Holy Family Parish publishes a weekly bulletin — most recently dated April 27, 2025 — accessible through the 'Weekly Bulletins' category on holyfamilygb.com. Bulletin categories on the parish site include Message from the Pastor, News/Updates, Pastoral Plan, Events, Masses, Worship Aid, Year of St. Joseph, Religious Education, How to Donate, Services, and Holy Family Catholic School. The parish encourages stewardship through volunteer time, talent, and treasure: anyone interested in serving may email [email protected] or call the Parish Office to request a stewardship directory listing all active organizations and ministries. Communications for the parish flow through the Communications Department, with bulletins archived in dated PDF form.
- Weekly bulletins published on holyfamilygb.com
- Categories: Message from the Pastor, Pastoral Plan, Religious Education, etc.
- Volunteer inquiries: [email protected]
- Parish phone: 409-762-9646
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop John Morkovskydedicated May 24, 1980
Co-Adjutor Bishop (later Bishop of Galveston-Houston) who formally dedicated Mary, Star of the Sea Mission on May 24, 1980 as an outreach of St. Peter the Apostle Parish to serve the Jamaica Beach community.
- Daniel Cardinal DiNardoAugust 15, 2009
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston who erected Holy Family Parish on August 15, 2009, canonically uniting Mary, Star of the Sea with five other island and Bolivar Peninsula parishes in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
- Fr. Jude Ezuma (Very Rev. Jude Ekenedilchukwu Ezuma)current
Current Pastor of Holy Family Parish, overseeing all six worship sites including Mary, Star of the Sea in Jamaica Beach.
- Fr. Stephen Paynecurrent
Parochial Vicar assisting the pastor across the parish's six worship sites.
- Fr. José Alonsocurrent (per About Us page)
Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish.
- Fr. Jacob Ramirezcurrent (per homepage)
Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish.
- Fr. J. Serratocurrent (per hfpgb.org About Us)
Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish.