About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Houston, Texas
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), located at 2405 Navigation Blvd. in Houston's historic Second Ward (el Segundo Barrio), is the oldest Mexican-American Catholic parish in Houston and a part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Founded in 1912 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to serve the Spanish-speaking faithful during the Mexican Revolution influx, it is widely known as the 'Mother Church' of the Hispanic Catholic community in Houston and today serves about 3,500 families. Since 1973 the parish has been staffed by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians/SCJ), and the campus also houses Our Lady of Guadalupe School — the oldest Catholic grade school in the city — and the historic St. Vincent's Cemetery. The parish motto, 'Nuestra Casa es Su Casa' ('Our House is Your House'), and its 1991 Texas Historical Marker reflect more than a century of ministry to a predominantly Hispanic East End congregation.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe)
- Rector
- Fr. Jerzy (George) Mordalski, SCJ
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe is Houston's historic 'Mother Church' of the Hispanic Catholic community — a place where fifth-generation parishioners sit alongside newly arrived families, and where nearly every Sunday Mass is offered in Spanish (with one English Mass and bilingual Daily Mass). Families choose OLG for its bilingual weekday and Sunday schedule, daily Eucharistic Adoration, First Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart, sacramental preparation including a strong OCIA (formerly RCIA) and quinceañera program through Sr. Aida Ramirez, and the parish school — the oldest Catholic grade school in Houston, serving 500+ students from 30+ zip codes. Add in a robust food-and-shelter outreach, the on-site St. Vincent's Cemetery (Houston's oldest Catholic cemetery), and the welcoming motto 'Nuestra Casa es Su Casa,' and OLG is a deeply rooted spiritual home for anyone seeking a heritage-rich, mission-minded parish in Houston's East End.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After each Mon–Fri 8:15 AM Mass
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM (English • Spanish • Polish; catholicmasstime.org also lists Portuguese)
Adoration times
- Mon–Fri 7:30 AM (Adoration begins before the 8:15 AM Mass)
- First Friday of the month 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM Adoration; 6:30 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy; 7:00 PM Sacred Heart Mass
Parish History
Our Lady of Guadalupe was founded August 18, 1912 by Father Robert Chatillon, OMI, as a mission church of Immaculate Conception in Houston's Second Ward. The parish and school opened in a two-story frame building at Marsh and Runnels, a gift of the Catholic Church Extension Society; church upstairs, school downstairs. The Sisters of Divine Providence opened the school on September 8, 1912 with 30 pupils — the oldest Catholic grade school in Houston. In 1923 a new Lombard Romanesque church, designed by San Antonio architect Leo M.J. Dielmann, replaced the original building; the old structure was remodeled for school and parish use. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate staffed the parish from 1912 to 1973, when the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians/SCJ) assumed responsibility. A Texas State Historical Marker was dedicated on April 18, 1991, and on August 18, 2012 the parish celebrated 100 years of Masses with a centennial Mass.
- Founded August 18, 1912 — Father Robert Chatillon, OMI, first celebrant
- First Spanish-speaking priest: Father Esteban de Anta, OMI (1919)
- Original 1912 frame building replaced 1923 by Lombard Romanesque church (architect Leo M.J. Dielmann)
- Oblates of Mary Immaculate staffed parish 1912–1973
- Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) staffed parish 1973–present
- Texas State Historical Marker dedicated 1991
- Centennial of first Mass celebrated August 18, 2012
Parish School
Our Lady of Guadalupe School, opened September 8, 1912, is the oldest Catholic grade school in the City of Houston. Originally staffed by the Sisters of Divine Providence and now lay-led, it enrolls more than 500 students from over 30 Houston-area zip codes, with waiting lists in many elementary grades. The school remains central to parish life and the East End community.
- Opened September 8, 1912 — 30 pupils (Sisters of Divine Providence)
- Currently 500+ students from 30+ zip codes
- Oldest Catholic grade school in the City of Houston
- Phone: 713-224-6904
- Principal: Ms. Irazema S. Ortiz
- Secretary: Veronica Echavarria
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
Faith formation at OLG is led by Sister Aida Ramirez, who serves as Director of Religious Education (DRE) and directs both OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) and Quinceañera preparation. Programs serve school-age children through the parish school and adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation through OCIA.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — formerly RCIA
- Quinceañera preparation
- Children's religious education via the parish school
- DRE: Sister Aida Ramirez
Clergy & Parish Staff
Our Lady of Guadalupe has been served by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians, SCJ) since 1973. The current pastoral team includes a Polish-born pastor, two parochial vicars, and a retired SCJ priest, supported by a Sister serving as Director of Religious Education and a full parish office and school staff.
- Pastor: Fr. Jerzy (George) Mordalski, SCJ (since June 1, 2025)
- Vicar: Fr. Ricardo Teixeira, SCJ
- Vicar: Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ
- Priest-in-Residence: Fr. Richard MacDonald, SCJ (since June 1, 2025)
- Retired: Fr. Richard Johnston, SCJ
- DRE / OCIA / Quinceañeras: Sr. Aida Ramirez
- Office/Business Manager: Elizabeth Torres
- Bookkeeper: Jessica Martinez
- Administrative Assistant: Micaela Gomez
- Principal: Irazema S. Ortiz
Outreach & Social Justice
Living out its mission to 'be a source of faith, hope, love and acceptance to all' and to 'serve the needs of others through the intercession of Mary, Our Mother,' Our Lady of Guadalupe operates ongoing food and shelter programs for the poor and homeless of Houston's East End — even while remaining one of the poorest Catholic parishes in Greater Houston. The parish also actively participates in the Archdiocesan Services Fund (DSF).
- Food and shelter outreach
- Annual participation in the Archdiocesan Services Fund (DSF)
- Welcoming 'nuestra casa es su casa' outreach to newcomers and longtime Hispanic Catholics alike
St. Vincent's Cemetery & Historic Grounds
The parish property has been owned by the diocese since about 1856 and includes St. Vincent's Cemetery, the oldest Catholic cemetery in Houston. The Texas State Historical Marker (dedicated 1991) stands on parish grounds, attesting to OLG's role in the development of the Mexican-American community in Houston.
- St. Vincent's Cemetery — oldest Catholic cemetery in Houston (diocese-owned since ~1856)
- Texas Historical Marker dedicated 1991
- Original 1912 frame building preserved in remodeled form
Visit Us — Practical Information
Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at 2405 Navigation Blvd., Houston, TX 77003, in the historic Second Ward (el Segundo Barrio) of the East End. Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch); the church opens 30 minutes before each Mass. On-site parking is available, and the parish is accessible from Downtown Houston via US-59 / I-45.
- Address: 2405 Navigation Blvd., Houston, TX 77003
- Parish office: 2412 Ann St. (behind the church)
- Phone: 713-222-0203
- School phone: 713-224-6904
- Email: [email protected]
- Free on-site parking
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) parish environment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Chatillon, OMI1912–
First celebrant of the first Mass on August 18, 1912; Oblate of Mary Immaculate. Opened the parish and school.
- Father Esteban de Anta, OMIfrom 1919
Spanish-born Oblate; first Spanish-speaking priest at OLG and the third pastor of record. Together with Sister Benitia Vermeersch credited with building up Catholic ministry to Houston's ethnic Mexican community.
- Sister Benitia Vermeersch, CDP1920s
Sister of Divine Providence who worked alongside the Oblates and parish priests; cited in the parish's centennial history as central to the growth of Catholic ministry among Houston's Mexican people.
- Various Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)1912–1973
The OMI staffed the parish continuously from 1912 until 1973, when they handed pastoral care over to the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
- Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ / Dehonians)1973–present
The Dehonians assumed responsibility for the parish in 1973 and have staffed it continuously since; OLG is among the SCJ signature US parishes.
- Fr. Joseph Thien Dinh, SCJAug. 1, 2020 –
Assigned as Priest-in-Residence at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston.
- Fr. Jerzy Mordalski, SCJOct. 2020 – June 2025 (Parochial Vicar); June 1, 2025 – present (Pastor)
Polish Dehonian (b. 1969, Chrzanów, Poland); professed vows 1991, ordained 1998; studied Spanish in Ecuador 2019–2020; arrived at OLG Oct. 2020; named pastor June 1, 2025; also goes by 'Fr. George'.
- Fr. Ricardo Teixeira, SCJOct. 27, 2020 –
Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston (Archdiocesan appointment effective Oct. 27, 2020).
- Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJDec. 1 –
Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston.
- Fr. Richard MacDonald, SCJJune 1, 2025 –
Assigned as Priest-in-Residence at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston, effective June 1, 2025.
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