About Our Mother of Mercy · Ames, Texas
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church is a small historic parish in the unincorporated Creole community of Ames, Liberty County, Texas, in the Diocese of Beaumont. Founded by Black and Creole Catholic families who migrated from Louisiana in the 1890s, the parish is one of the oldest African-American Catholic communities in Southeast Texas and continues to celebrate Mass on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and alternating Saturdays. Today the parish is led by Fr. Francis Anozie, MSP, who also serves as Administrator of nearby Sacred Heart in Raywood, and the community sustains itself through traditional liturgical ministries, a CCE faith-formation program, VBS, a lively music ministry, and a deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Our Mother of Mercy (Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy)
- Rector
- Rev. Francis Anozie, MSP (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
Our Mother of Mercy is a tight-knit historic Creole Catholic community where every visitor is welcomed with a wave and a welcome packet from the ushers. Parishioners grow in faith through Sunday CCE classes for youth, the parish's free FORMED subscription, lively liturgical ministries (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, altar servers, music), and weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Monthly birthday and anniversary blessings, sick and homebound Communion visits, Vacation Bible School, and the diocesan Catholic Men's Conference all give families many ways to belong — and Fr. Francis's daily WhatsApp reflections keep the parish connected even between Masses.
Mass times at Our Mother of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Adoration times
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; alternating weekly between Our Mother of Mercy, Ames and Sacred Heart, Raywood)
Parish History & Creole Heritage
Catholicism in Ames traces back to 1890, when Black and Creole families — led by Sylvester Sostan Wickliff, Terence Trahan, Joseph Cormier, and James Albreaux — migrated from the Lafayette area of Louisiana and bought cheap farmland along the Texas & New Orleans Railroad. For seven years they walked or rode three miles to Immaculate Conception in Liberty for Mass. In 1897 the Rev. Fr. Pfiffner of Liberty encouraged them to build their own chapel; after a fire destroyed their first lumber, the families rebuilt with their own hands and dedicated Sacred Heart Chapel on 30 November 1897. Josephite (SSJ) priests from St. Nicholas in Houston began serving the mission, and in 1912 Fr. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ, was appointed the first resident pastor. A proper church was completed in 1913, and the present church building — renamed Our Mother of Mercy — was constructed in 1929. The parish gave rise to missions at Raywood and Dayton in 1919, both of which later became independent parishes. GCatholic dates the parish's formal establishment to 1903.
- 1890 — Creole families from Louisiana settle at 'Racial Station' (later Ames)
- 30 November 1897 — Sacred Heart Chapel dedicated after fire destroyed the first lumber
- 1912 — Fr. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ, named first resident pastor
- 1913 — First church building completed
- 1919 — Missions attached at Raywood and Dayton
- 1929 — Present church built and renamed Our Mother of Mercy
- Founding families: Wickliff, Trahan, Cormier, Albreaux, Mallet, Arceneaux, Domain, Pradier, Fruger, Donatto, Sias
Faith Formation — CCE & FORMED
The parish's youth faith-formation program is called CCE (Continuing Catholic Education), held on Sundays and focused on spiritual growth and understanding of the Gospel for the parish's children and teens. Parents are encouraged to bring their children every Sunday for CCE. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year process. The parish also provides a free subscription to FORMED, a digital Catholic platform with movies, documentaries, podcasts, downloadable books, Bible studies, catechesis, an online Catholic Bible, daily readings, and content for adults, children, teens, and catechists — accessible on web browsers, iOS, Android, tvOS, Roku, and Android TV.
- CCE — Sunday faith-formation classes for youth
- Two-year Confirmation preparation process
- FORMED — free digital Catholic platform for the whole parish (ourmotherofmercy.formed.org)
Liturgical Ministries & Music
The parish welcomes volunteers into its liturgical ministries, where parishioners can share their time and talents. Fr. Francis has a special appeal to enliven worship with music: he is seeking donations of guitars, tambourines, xylophones, saxophones, and drums to support the choir and instrumentalists. Visitors who feel called to serve are invited to approach the parish office to learn more about Virtus training and ministry onboarding.
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors) — proclaim the Scriptures at Mass
- Eucharistic Ministers — assist clergy in distributing Holy Communion
- Hospitality / Ushers — greet parishioners, assist seating, hand out flyers, take up the collection
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at the altar
- Music Ministry — choir and instrumentalists; donations of instruments welcomed
- Sacristans & Environment — set up liturgical vessels and decorate the church
- Virtus compliance required for those working with children and vulnerable adults
Parish Events & Diocesan Gatherings
Beyond weekly Mass and Adoration, Our Mother of Mercy maintains an active calendar of community and diocesan events. Vacation Bible School for 2026 will be hosted at Sacred Heart, Raywood, on Saturday, July 11, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (registration deadline June 30; contact Patricia or Mike Espree). The 9th Annual Catholic Men's Conference takes place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Doggett Ford Arena in Beaumont, with the theme 'RENEW' from 2 Corinthians 5:17 — 'So whoever is in Christ is a new creation.' On the last Sunday of each month, parishioners celebrating birthdays or anniversaries are called forward for a blessing and gather for refreshments in the parish hall.
- VBS — Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12:00–4:00 PM at Sacred Heart, Raywood (register by June 30)
- 9th Annual Catholic Men's Conference — Saturday, August 15, 2026, Doggett Ford Arena, Beaumont (theme: 'RENEW')
- Monthly Birthday & Anniversary Blessing — last Sunday of each month
- Celebration of Fr. Francis's 29th year in the priesthood — Sunday, June 28, 2026, 9:30–10:30 AM
Outreach & Parish Giving
The parish participates each year in the Diocese of Beaumont's Appeal for Catholic Ministries (ACM). For 2026 the parish goal is $26,527, supporting ministries across the diocese's nine counties as well as local parish needs. Communion visits to the sick and homebound are available every Sunday by arrangement with the church office. The parish also shares daily reflections from Fr. Francis through its WhatsApp community group ('Our Mother of Mercy, Ames') at no cost.
- ACM (Appeal for Catholic Ministries) 2026 parish goal — $26,527
- Sick and homebound Communion visits — every Sunday by request
- Daily priest reflections via the parish WhatsApp group
Parish Staff & Clergy
Our Mother of Mercy is served by Rev. Francis Anozie, MSP — a member of the Missionaries of St. Paul — who serves as Administrator of both Our Mother of Mercy in Ames and Sacred Heart in Raywood. Fr. Francis is celebrating his 29th year in the priesthood in 2026. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at 936-336-3004 (office), 936-336-5955 (fax), or 936-334-8328 (parish hall).
- Rev. Francis Anozie, MSP — Administrator of Our Mother of Mercy, Ames, and Sacred Heart, Raywood
- Diocese of Beaumont priest contact line for Sacred Heart: 936-587-4631
- Parish office phone: 936-336-3004
- Parish fax: 936-336-5955
- Parish hall: 936-334-8328
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact & Visiting the Parish
Our Mother of Mercy is located at 101 Donatto Street, with its mailing address P.O. Box 264, Liberty, TX 77575. The church physically sits in the unincorporated community of Ames in Liberty County, just east of Liberty, Texas. Visitors are always welcome and are asked to raise a hand at Mass so the ushers can greet them and present a welcome packet at the end of Mass. Those unable to attend weekday Masses are encouraged to join the parish WhatsApp group for Fr. Francis's daily reflections on the day's readings.
- Physical address: 101 Donatto Street, Ames (Liberty), TX 77575
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 264, Liberty, TX 77575
- Office phone: 936-336-3004
- Parish WhatsApp group: 'Our Mother of Mercy, Ames' (chat.whatsapp.com)
- Visitors warmly welcomed; ushers offer a welcome packet after Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ1912–
First resident pastor; served from the Josephite order and oversaw construction of the 1913 church.