About Our Lady of Lourdes · Hitchcock, Texas
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a parish in Hitchcock, Texas, part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, that traces its roots to 1870, when the Diocese of Galveston established St. Mary's as a mainland mission. The mission was later renamed Our Lady of Lourdes and grew alongside the rural Galveston County communities it served, eventually consolidating with neighboring St. Elizabeth's in Alta Loma in 1948. Today the parish operates from 10114 Highway 6 in Hitchcock and offers daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Confessions, a First Saturday Holy Hour, Family Faith Formation, OCIA, youth ministry, choir, and outreach to the sick and homebound. It is pastored by Father Larry Wilson, appointed in January 2024, and assisted by two permanent deacons and a pastoral staff.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Father Larry Wilson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a long-standing Hitchcock parish with deep roots in Galveston County's 1870 mainland mission heritage, making it a great choice for Catholics who value tradition as well as a tight-knit, family-oriented community. Worship is supported by a full program of daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, weekly Confessions on Thursdays and Saturdays, and a First Saturday Holy Hour, so there are multiple ways to build a regular prayer life. The parish invests heavily in formation for every age — Family Faith Formation for children, Youth Ministry with Wednesday 'Youth Nites,' and OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) — and serves the homebound through a dedicated Ministry to the Sick and Homebound. Online giving, online registration, Flocknote email updates, and a lively music ministry round out a parish that is both rooted in history and active in present-day evangelization.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
- Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Adoration times
- First Saturday Holy Hour (monthly)
About Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston located at 10114 Highway 6 in Hitchcock, Texas. Its roots reach back to 1870, when the Diocese of Galveston established St. Mary's as a mainland mission church — one of a network of missions that also included Alta Loma, Dickinson, League City, and Texas City. The mission was later renamed Our Lady of Lourdes and is now part of a vibrant Catholic community serving Hitchcock, Alta Loma, and the surrounding Galveston County area.
- Parish established: 1870 (as St. Mary's mission)
- Renamed: Our Lady of Lourdes
- Merged with St. Elizabeth's (Alta Loma) in 1948
- Part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
- Documented on the 2006 Texas Historical Commission 'Mainland Mission Churches' marker
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes is pastored by Father Larry Wilson, who was appointed Pastor by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston effective January 22, 2024. He is assisted by two permanent deacons, Deacon Alvin Lovelady and Deacon Mike Carr. The lay pastoral staff coordinates the parish's sacramental, formation, music, and administrative life.
- Father Larry Wilson — Pastor (appointed January 22, 2024)
- Deacon Alvin Lovelady
- Deacon Mike Carr
- Janell Grassmuck — Parish Business Administrator / Bookkeeper (ext. 200)
- Mark Sabatier — Administrative Assistant (ext. 203); registration, certificates, annulments, Safe Environment Coordinator
- Mary Lares — Music Director (ext. 207); choir, lectors, cantors
- Alecia Lemelle — Adult Religious Education Coordinator (ext. 206); OCIA, adult confirmation, infant baptism, marriage prep
- Raquel Hinojosa — Children's Religious Education Coordinator (ext. 208); Family Faith Formation, First Reconciliation/Eucharist, Youth Ministry, Youth Confirmation, Vacation Bible School
- Javin Martinez — Maintenance Manager (ext. 205)
Parish Office and Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to noon. The mailing and physical address is 10114 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX 77563. The parish fax line is 409-925-5094. For Anointing of the Sick in danger of death, callers may dial 409-925-3579 and press 5 during the recording to reach the emergency line.
- Main phone: 409-925-3579
- Fax: 409-925-5094
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 8:30 am–noon
- Address: 10114 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX 77563
- Anointing of the Sick emergency: 409-925-3579, press 5
Parish Registration and Safe Environment
New parishioners can register their families in person at the parish office or by downloading the registration form from the parish website and returning it to the office. Online registration has been temporarily suspended by the parish while a technical issue is resolved. Mark Sabatier, the parish Administrative Assistant, also serves as the Parish Safe Environment Coordinator and handles annulments and sacramental certificates.
- In-person registration at the parish office
- Downloadable registration form available on the parish website
- Mark Sabatier — Parish Safe Environment Coordinator
- Mark Sabatier — handles copies of certificates and annulments
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
The parish offers age-appropriate faith formation for every stage of life. Family Faith Formation is open for the 2025–2026 year, with online registration available. Adult formation is led by Alecia Lemelle, who coordinates OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), adult Confirmation, infant Baptism, and marriage preparation. Couples are asked to contact her at least one year before their wedding to allow time to complete all requirements.
- Family Faith Formation (children) — Raquel Hinojosa
- OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) — Alecia Lemelle
- Adult Confirmation — Alecia Lemelle
- Infant Baptism preparation — Alecia Lemelle
- Marriage preparation — Alecia Lemelle (contact one year in advance)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — Raquel Hinojosa
- Youth Confirmation — Raquel Hinojosa
- Vacation Bible School — Raquel Hinojosa
Youth Ministry
Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Ministry exists to bring youth closer to Christ by fostering a personal relationship with Him and His Church. The parish hosts Wednesday-night Faith Formation sessions — known as Youth Nites — for high school teens, plus social activities for both high school and junior high youth. Beyond Youth Nites, teens can take part in weekend retreats, conferences, summer camps, Christian concerts, social events, service projects, and leadership opportunities.
- Wednesday-night 'Youth Nites' for high school
- Social activities for junior high and high school
- Weekend retreats, conferences, summer camps
- Christian concerts and service projects
- Contact: Raquel Hinojosa, [email protected], (409) 925-3579 ext. 208
Music Ministry
The OLOL Music Ministry is led by Music Director Mary Milady Lares. The OLOL Choir sings at either the Saturday 4:30 pm or Sunday 10:00 am Mass and also for feasts and solemnities throughout the year. The ministry's mission is to promote 'full, active, conscious participation of all the faithful' (Sacrosanctum Concilium) and to inspire the highest praise and glory to God through music. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the choir loft of the church.
- Director: Mary Milady Lares (ext. 207, [email protected])
- Choir sings at Saturday 4:30 pm or Sunday 10:00 am Mass
- Sings for feasts and solemnities throughout the year
- Also coordinates lectors and cantors
- Choir rehearsal: Thursdays 7:00 pm in the choir loft
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at Our Lady of Lourdes is supported by a team of liturgical ministers who serve at Mass and other celebrations. In addition to the choir, the parish enlists lectors who proclaim the Word of God and cantors who lead the sung prayer of the assembly. Together they form the parish's Music and Liturgical Ministries under the direction of Mary Lares.
- OLOL Choir
- Lectors
- Cantors
- Coordinated by Music Director Mary Lares
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
The parish maintains an active Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, bringing Holy Communion, prayer, and the Anointing of the Sick to parishioners who cannot attend Mass in person. In danger of death, families may call the parish office at 409-925-3579 and press 5 during the recording to reach the emergency Anointing line.
- Visits and Communion to the homebound
- Anointing of the Sick available
- Emergency line: 409-925-3579, press 5 on the recording
First Saturday Holy Hour
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a monthly First Saturday Holy Hour as a devotion in the tradition of the First Saturdays popularized by the Fatima apparitions. The Holy Hour is promoted prominently on the parish homepage and is an important part of the parish's Marian devotional life.
- Offered on the first Saturday of each month
- Featured devotion on the parish homepage
- Connects the parish to Our Lady of Lourdes and Fatima First Saturday tradition
Stewardship, Online Giving, and Parish Life
Parishioners and visitors can support Our Lady of Lourdes through Online Giving, by dedicating altar flowers ($45–$200 depending on size and season) or a weekly sanctuary candle ($15), and through parish fundraisers such as the 2026 'No Bazaar' Bazaar. The parish also operates a Flocknote email list with weekly news, events, announcements, and the bulletin, and publishes a weekly Sunday bulletin that can be viewed on the parish website.
- Online Giving available through the parish website
- Altar flowers: $45 (small) to $200 (Easter/special dates)
- Sanctuary candle: $15 per week
- Flocknote weekly email blast
- Weekly Sunday bulletin available online
- 2026 'No Bazaar' Bazaar — parish fundraiser
History and Heritage
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in mainland Galveston County. According to the 2006 Texas Historical Commission marker 'Mainland Mission Churches,' the Diocese of Galveston recognized the need for mainland churches in 1869 and established St. Mary's mission in Hitchcock the following year. A sister mission, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, was also established in 1870 in Alta Loma. Father Jerome A. Rapp, the first priest assigned to Hitchcock and Alta Loma, went on to plant additional missions at Dickinson (St. Joseph), League City (St. Mary), and Texas City (St. Mary).
- 1869: Diocese identifies need for mainland churches
- 1870: St. Mary's mission established in Hitchcock (later Our Lady of Lourdes)
- 1870: St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception established in Alta Loma (later St. Elizabeth's)
- Father Jerome A. Rapp — first priest assigned to Hitchcock and Alta Loma
- 1946 & 1963: Parochial schools opened under the mainland missions
- 1948: Hitchcock and Alta Loma congregations consolidated to one location
- 2006: Texas Historical Commission marker 'Mainland Mission Churches' dedicated
- St. Mary of League City — only original mainland mission building still standing
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Our Lady of Lourdes is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which oversees Catholic parishes across the greater Houston and Galveston region. Father Larry Wilson's appointment as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hitchcock was announced by the Archdiocese in its 2024 Pastoral Appointments, effective January 22, 2024.
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
- Website: https://www.archgh.org/
- Father Larry Wilson appointed Pastor effective January 22, 2024
- Parish is listed in the Archdiocese's parish directory and pastoral appointments page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jerome A. Rapp1870s (first priest assigned)
First priest assigned to Hitchcock and Alta Loma; instrumental in founding mission churches at Hitchcock (St. Mary / Our Lady of Lourdes), Alta Loma (St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception / St. Elizabeth's), Dickinson (St. Joseph), League City (St. Mary), and Texas City (St. Mary).