About Our Mother of Mercy · Houston, Texas
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church is a historic Black Catholic parish in Houston's Fifth Ward, in the Frenchtown neighborhood. Founded in 1928 by Louisiana Creole families displaced after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, and dedicated on June 9, 1929, it was the second Black parish established in Houston and the first established by Creoles. Now part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and served by the Society of St. Joseph (Josephites) since its origins, the parish sits at 4000 Sumpter Street and remains a spiritual, educational, and cultural anchor for Fifth Ward families.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- Virgin of Mercy (Our Lady of Mercy)
- Rector
- Rev. Rodney J. Armstrong, SSJ
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Our Mother of Mercy offers what few parishes can: nearly a century of Black Catholic and Creole heritage in Houston's Fifth Ward, a weekday Mass schedule that meets working families where they are, and more than 45 ministries serving children, youth, adults, the elderly and the disadvantaged — including a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and the parish-based Our Mother of Mercy Federal Credit Union (713-675-3000). Members worship alongside a Josephite SSJ priestly team with daily confession, Sunday and Saturday-Vigil Mass, livestreamed Sunday Mass on YouTube, RCIA and RCIC faith formation, and Zydeco family/community dances that keep Louisiana Creole culture alive.
Mass times at Our Mother of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (in the Church)
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (in the Church)
Parish History
Founded in 1928 by Louisiana Creole families displaced after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Our Mother of Mercy was blessed on June 9, 1929 and formally became a parish of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston on June 30, 1930, with Father Michael Flaherty as its first pastor. The church grew from Creole fundraising — Zydeco dances, gumbo, boudin and pralines — and the donated labor of the French Town community itself on land given on Sumpter Street, financed with the help of the Josephite Fathers.
- Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 displaces Creole families who settle Houston's Fifth Ward
- Creoles meet in homes and decide to build their own parish after discrimination at Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Zydeco dances and Creole cuisine fundraises provide construction money
- Ground broken April 28, 1928; Bishop C.E. Byrne blesses the finished church June 9, 1929
- Officially established as a parish June 30, 1930 with Father Michael Flaherty as first pastor (1930–1942)
French Town & Creole Heritage
The parish is the spiritual and social heart of French Town, a four-block Creole neighborhood in Houston's Fifth Ward bounded roughly by Collingsworth, Russell, Liberty Road and Jensen Drive. French Town was organized in 1922 by Louisiana Creoles of color — Francophone and Creole-speaking Catholics whose descendants continue to be the backbone of Our Mother of Mercy. The parish keeps that heritage alive today by fostering Zydeco family/community dances three times a year.
- Named for the Creole French spoken in the community
- Parish serves as the social center for the neighborhood
- Zydeco music and Louisiana Creole food traditions preserved through parish events
School (1930s–2009)
In the fall of 1930 or 1931 (the parish history page gives 1930, Wikipedia notes fall 1930 or 1931), Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School opened its doors offering grades 1 through 12, with students originally paying ten cents a week to attend. The school was staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Family, an African-American congregation from New Orleans, who also conducted home classes for students unable to attend regular school and offered Saturday tutoring.
- Opened grades 1–12, fall 1930/31
- Staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Family of New Orleans
- Over 25,000 students attended across its lifetime
- By WWII, over 4,000 Black children had attended
- Closed Spring 2009
Clergy & Staff
Our Mother of Mercy is currently served by the Society of St. Joseph (the Josephites) — the same congregation that helped found the parish in 1928. Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch noon – 12:30 PM). The Pastor invites the parish to pray the Angelus every day at noon with him.
- Rev. Rodney J. Armstrong, SSJ — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Chidiebere Dominic, SSJ — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Charles J. Allen, Sr. — Deacon ([email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Irvin Johnson, Jr. — Deacon ([email protected])
- Alicia Francis Yancy — Business Administrator ([email protected])
- Annette Metoyer-Babineaux — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Religious Education Office — [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Mother of Mercy runs an active Continuing Catholic Education (CCE) program on Sundays from 8:30–9:45 AM, with Confirmation classes and parish access to the FORMED digital platform for Bible studies, rosaries, movies and more.
- CCE (Continuing Catholic Education) Sundays 8:30–9:45 AM
- Confirmation preparation
- FORMED faith-formation digital tools available to parishioners
Sacraments & Initiation
The parish prepares Catholics for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and full reception into the Church through RCIA and RCIC.
- Baptism class every second Saturday at 9:00 AM, Senior Building 1st Floor (birth certificate required at application)
- One parent must be a registered parishioner; one godparent must be a practicing Catholic
- RCIC for children ages 7–17 (must be enrolled in Sunday CCE; parent must be a member)
- RCIA & Adult Confirmation — monthly classes on the second Saturday and Sunday, with morning scripture study after the 8:30 AM service
- Marriage — couple must meet with a priest well before setting a wedding date
Ministries & Outreach
The parish counts more than 45 ministries and programs that serve children, youth, adults, the elderly and the disadvantaged of the Fifth Ward, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society with its food pantry, the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver (Council and Court #72, the largest Black Catholic fraternal organization in the U.S.), and the parish-based Our Mother of Mercy Federal Credit Union. Annual fundraisers include the Fall Bazaar, festivals, the Joe Bourgeois Golf Tournament and the Annual Family Picnic.
- Over 45 ministries and programs in the parish
- St. Vincent de Paul Society and food pantry
- Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver, Council & Court #72
- Annual Fall Bazaar, festivals, Joe Bourgeois Golf Tournament, Annual Family Picnic (in memory of Cleveland Glenn)
- Zydeco family/community dances three times a year
Our Mother of Mercy Federal Credit Union
Founded in 1965 to meet the financial needs of parishioners, the Our Mother of Mercy Federal Credit Union grew into the largest church-affiliated credit union in Texas, with assets reported at over $3 million. It is an outreach of the parish and is open to the wider community.
- Founded in 1965 by the parish
- Largest church-affiliated credit union in Texas
- Assets reported at over $3 million
- Phone: 713-675-3000
Notable Parishioners
Our Mother of Mercy has produced a remarkable roster of civic leaders, musicians and athletes, including Illinois Jacquet (the jazz saxophonist behind 'Flying Home'), Joe Sample (founding member of The Jazz Crusaders), and Congressman Mickey Leland, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Civil rights leader and Congressman George Thomas "Mickey" Leland was funeralized at the church.
- Illinois Jacquet — jazz tenor saxophonist ('Flying Home')
- Joe Sample — founding member of The Jazz Crusaders
- Congressman Mickey Leland — former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
- El Franco Lee — Harris County Commissioner
- Harold Dutton, Esq. — Texas State Representative
- A.M. Wickliff, Esq.
- Leonard Llorens, Sr. — first Black man knighted by a Pope (Order of St. Gregory the Great, 1966)
- Charles Broussard, Lee Andress and John Clouser — fellow papal honorees
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish offices are open Tuesday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed noon – 12:30 PM for lunch). Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Church (Rectory): 4000 Sumpter Street, Houston, Texas 77020
- Mailing: P.O. Box 15640, Houston, TX 77220-5640
- Phone: 713-672-0026 — Fax: 713-672-2031
- Email: [email protected]
- Driving directions: From US 59 take Lyons, then Benson, turn left on Sumpter Street
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30 PM)
- Online Mass livestreamed Sunday mornings on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Flaherty1930-1942
First pastor when Our Mother of Mercy officially became a parish on June 30, 1930.
- Father Joseph Lally
Josephite pastor listed in parish history.
- Father Anthony Kiel
- Father Charles Tobin
- Father John Doyle
- Father Henry Harper
- Father Henry Dickson
- Father Joseph Doyle
- Father Charles Moffat
- Father Kenneth Howard
- Father Roger Caesar
- Father Charles (Chuck) Andrus
- Father Lowell Case
Listed as 'current pastor' in the 2008 archived parish history page.
- Rev. Rodney J. Armstrong, SSJpresent
Current pastor as listed on the official website and staff contact page.