About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Sweeny, Texas
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic parish in Sweeny, Texas, in Brazoria County, that has served the local Catholic community since 1954. The parish is twinned with St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in nearby West Columbia, and the two communities are administered together from the parish office on N. McKinney Street in Sweeny. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston and is currently led by Father Preston Quintela as Administrator. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a full faith formation program for children and youth, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (O.C.I.A.), and active outreach through ministries such as the Legion of Mary and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Father Preston Quintela (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a welcoming parish family rooted in the Eucharist and dedicated to spreading the Light of Christ throughout Brazoria County. It offers bilingual weekend Masses (English and Spanish), weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a rich sacramental life including Baptism preparation, Marriage preparation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick. Active ministries such as the Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Music Ministry, Knights of the Altar, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and a vibrant Youth Ministry give parishioners of every age and language a way to grow in faith and serve their neighbors.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (St. John the Apostle, West Columbia)
- Wednesday 8:15 am – 8:25 am (or after Mass) and by appointment
- Friday 8:15 am – 8:25 am (or after Mass) and by appointment
- Advent and Lent: a parish celebration of reconciliation is offered
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 10:00 am (OLPH, Sweeny) — ends with Benediction
- Thursday 9:00 am – 10:00 am (St. John the Apostle, West Columbia)
About Our Lady of Perpetual Help & St. John the Apostle
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic parish in Sweeny, Texas, twinned with St. John the Apostle in West Columbia. The parish describes itself as 'the family of God, united by the Eucharist, rooted in Truth, Beauty, and Goodness to help spread the Light of Christ in Brazoria County.' Its mission is to provide for the worship needs and spiritual growth of the Catholic community, foster unity, offer lifelong faith formation, amplify the Kingdom of God through prayer, participation, and generosity, and promote truth, peace, justice, charity, and sanctity of life in the parish and beyond.
Parish History & Founding
Founded in 1954, Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established to serve the Catholic families of Sweeny and Brazoria County during the post-war growth tied to the local petroleum industry. Today it operates jointly with St. John the Apostle in nearby West Columbia, with the parish office housed between the church and parish hall on N. McKinney Street. The parish is named after the Byzantine icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Marian devotion especially cherished by the Redemptorist order.
Devotions
Beyond Mass and Adoration, the parish maintains a rhythm of traditional Catholic devotions before weekend Masses.
- Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet before each weekend Mass
- Sunday 8:00 am Rosary/Chaplet at OLPH (English)
- Sunday 12:00 pm Rosario/Coronilla at OLPH (Spanish)
- Saturday 4:30 pm Rosary/Chaplet at St. John the Apostle (July–December)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation (formerly CCE) and Youth Ministry provide ongoing religious education for children and teens. Programs are centered on the Eucharist and participation in the liturgy, reflect Gospel values and Church teaching, support family enrichment, and are developmentally appropriate. Registration for the 25–26 year runs $40 for the first parishioner student, $30 for the second, and $20 for each additional student.
- Elementary (K–5th): Wednesdays 4:15–5:45 pm at OLPH and at SJA (with West Columbia Elementary pickup available)
- Junior High and High School (6th–12th): Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 pm at OLPH in Fall and SJA in Spring
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (O.C.I.A. / RCIA): year-round for uncatechized adults and those seeking to become Catholic
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptism preparation classes are required for parents and godparents and are offered quarterly in English and Spanish. Marriage requires a minimum of six months' notice to the parish office before any arrangements are made. Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in 1st grade (for First Eucharist/First Reconciliation) or in high school.
- Baptism — quarterly prep classes (next: Sept. 5, 2026 and Dec. 5, 2026 at SJA); contact Rebecca Giles 832-212-4988
- First Eucharist / First Reconciliation — two-year prep beginning in 1st grade
- Confirmation — two-year prep for high school; separate Adult Confirmation track
- Marriage — six months' minimum notice; contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm, Wed & Fri before Mass, and by appointment
Parish Ministries & Groups
A wide range of ministries gives parishioners of every age and language a way to participate in the life of the Church. Liturgical roles include Music Ministry, Knights of the Altar (altar servers), and Lectors (English and Spanish). Service and outreach are led by the Legion of Mary (English and Spanish praesidia), the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Respect Life committee. Pastoral leadership is supported by the Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, Building Committee, Art and Environment Committee, Bereavement Committee, and General Maintenance teams. The parish also maintains a Sacred and Safe Environment program in line with the USCCB's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
- Music Ministry — Mary, 979-548-2020 ext. 7, [email protected]
- Knights of the Altar — Mary, parish office ext. 7
- Lectors (English) — Mary, ext. 7
- Lectors (Spanish) — Yolanda, 979-240-9312
- Legion of Mary (English) — Linda, 979-345-5288
- Legion of Mary (Spanish) — Rosario, 979-548-3614
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Susan, 979-345-4999
- Youth Ministry — parish office, ext. 4
- Pastoral Council — parish office, ext. 4
- Respect Life — parish office, ext. 4
- General Maintenance (OLPH) — Dennis Mican
- General Maintenance (SJA) — Ron Smith
Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Father Preston Quintela, Administrator, with Trish Speers serving as Business Manager. Father Preston was appointed to OLPH and St. John the Apostle effective May 1 per the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston pastoral appointments. The parish office staff can be reached at 979-548-2020, ext. 4.
- Pastor / Administrator: Father Preston Quintela
- Business Manager: Trish Speers
- Parish Office Phone: 979-548-2020, ext. 4
- Parish Office Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–4:30 pm; Fri 9:00 am–12:30 pm
Locations & Contact
The parish operates two church sites in Brazoria County. The parish office is located at the Sweeny campus.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help — 310 N. McKinney Street, Sweeny, TX 77480
- St. John the Apostle — 807 Loggins Drive, West Columbia, TX 77486
- Parish Office — middle building between the church and hall at OLPH, Sweeny
- Phone: 979-548-2020, ext. 4
- Fax: 979-548-4253
- Email: [email protected]
Joining the Parish & Online Giving
Families wishing to register can download the Family Registration Form from the parish website and either bring it completed to the Parish Office, email it to [email protected], or place it in the collection box when attending Mass. The parish also accepts online donations through its website. The parish has posted a scam notice warning that Father Preston will never personally contact parishioners by email, text, or phone to solicit donations.
- Family Registration Form available on olphsja.org
- Registration submission: Parish Office, [email protected], or collection box at Mass
- Online giving available via the parish website
- Scam alert: Father Preston will not personally request donations by email/text/phone
Safe Environment
The parish participates in the Archdiocese's Safe Environment program, which is committed to maintaining a safe environment for children and youth through background checks and training in recognizing and reporting abuse, in line with the USCCB's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
- Safe Environment Renewal Training instructions available on the parish website
- Training instructions for new users available on the parish website
- Contact: parish office, 979-548-2020, ext. 4