About Sacred Heart Catholic Church · Richmond, Texas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend County), seated in the historic Block 75 of downtown Richmond where Catholics have worshipped since the late 1860s. The parish was officially established on February 8, 1935, and today serves approximately 1,300 families from its campus at 507 S. 4th Street, where the present-day church — built in 1991 — anchors a campus that includes a chapel, family life center, faith formation building, Mother's Day Out program, and rectory. The parish is staffed by the Redemptorist Fathers (C.Ss.R.), offers daily and weekend Masses, a vigorous OCIA/faith formation program, perpetual Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, and dozens of ministries from the Knights of Columbus and ACTS retreats to a vocations chalice devotion. Its stated mission is to "provide the space and resources necessary for all people to encounter Jesus, unite in love and serve together."
- Established
- 1935
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Hoang, C.Ss.R.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers the rhythms of a small-town parish with the resources of a much larger one: three Sunday Masses (with sign-language interpretation at the 9:30 by request), a daily 8:00 AM Mass Monday–Saturday, weekday Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday from after the 8:00 Mass until 7:00 PM in the chapel. A 1,300-family community runs deep in fellowship through more than a dozen ministries — Knights of Columbus, ACTS retreats, SHYF young families, Golden Hearts for seniors, Community Outreach, a Little Way Lending Library, Vocations Chalice, and a Mother's Day Out program — alongside a full PreK–12 youth faith formation program and year-round OCIA. Volunteers built and fund-raised for nearly every building on campus, and that stewardship ethos is still the easiest way to plug in.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 8:30–9:15 AM (in the Church, after the 8 AM Mass)
- Saturday: 4:00–4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Every Thursday: after the 8:00 AM Mass until 7:00 PM, in the Chapel
- Adoration for Vocations: 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:00–8:00 PM, in the Church (with Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick)
- Children's Eucharistic Adoration: 2nd Saturday of the month, 9:30–10:00 AM, in the Chapel
Parish History
Sacred Heart's story begins in 1866 on the same Richmond city block the parish still occupies, with a small chapel serving scattered Catholic families from Houston. The current parish was officially established February 8, 1935 after Bishop Christopher E. Byrne of Galveston blessed the cornerstone laid March 10, 1935; the $8,000 church was dedicated May 9, 1935 by Bishop Byrne, with the high altar consecrated May 8 by Msgr. George Wilhelm. Growth in the 1960s–80s brought the rectory, bell (1960), CCE Education Building under Msgr. James J. Madden, and stained-glass windows. The present 600-seat church was built 1990–91, designed by architect Christopher DiStefano and dedicated February 23, 1991 by Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza. Subsequent decades added the Family Life Center (1997–98), prayer garden and gazebo (1999), and 2008–10 expansion of the chapel and CCE offices across the street.
- 1866 — Block 75 purchased for Bishop Dubuis
- 1868 — Bishop Dubuis visits chapel; Ursuline school opens
- Feb 8, 1935 — Sacred Heart Parish officially established
- May 9, 1935 — First church dedicated by Bishop Byrne
- 1960 — Church bell blessed
- 1991 — Present church dedicated by Bishop Fiorenza
- 2017 — Parish reaches ~1,300 families
Faith Formation & OCIA
The Faith Formation office (510 S. Fourth Street) offers Catholic education for every age. Youth Faith Formation is open to students in Pre-K through 12th grade with classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday evenings. Two adult tracks run in parallel: Elementary Faith Formation (1st Reconciliation/Communion) and High School Faith Formation (Confirmation), overseen by Director of Faith Formation Kim Roy. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) meets Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM in CCE rooms 1 & 2 and welcomes the unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholic adults needing sacraments. The OCIA process typically runs one to two years.
- Elementary (1st Reconciliation/1st Communion) — Tuesdays 5:30–6:45 PM or Wednesdays 5:00–6:15 PM or 6:45–8:00 PM
- Grades K–8 — Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 PM
- Grades 9–12 — Sundays 6:30–8:00 PM
- OCIA — Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM, CCE Building rooms 1 & 2
- Children & Teens with Disabilities track
- Home Study track
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA is a 1–2 year journey for those unbaptized, Christians entering into full communion, Catholic adults still needing sacraments, and unbaptized children over age 8. Sunday morning sessions from 9:30–11:00 AM cover Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, the sacraments of healing and vocation, Mass and liturgy, the creeds, eschatology, the Paschal Mystery, Church history, and the Triduum. Coordinator Nan Haskins can be reached at [email protected] or 281-342-8371. As Pope Francis wrote in Lumen Fidei, faith "takes the form of a journey" that begins with an encounter with the living God.
- For the unbaptized, baptized Christians, and Catholic adults needing sacraments
- Meets Sundays 9:30–11:00 AM
- Coordinator: Nan Haskins, [email protected], 281-342-8371
Mother's Day Out
Sacred Heart Mother's Day Out is a Christian-based early-childhood program for children 18 months through 5 years old, offered 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM either two days (T/Th) or three days (T/W/Th) a week. Tuition in 2024–25 runs $300–$375 per month with a one-time $100 registration fee (family cap $150) and supply fees. The program does not discriminate on race, religion, or national origin and is led by Co-Directors C.J. Pisani and Rosa Garcia.
- Ages 18 months to 5 years
- 2-day (T/Th) or 3-day (T/W/Th), 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Co-Directors: C.J. Pisani & Rosa Garcia
Parish Ministries & Service
Sacred Heart runs more than a dozen ministries for discipleship, fellowship, and outreach. Worship ministries staff the Mass (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers and Greeters); the Music Ministry leads congregational singing. The Knights of Columbus serve Church, Country, Community, Council, Family, and Youth. ACTS Retreats offer a parish-based model for deepening fellowship. SHYF (Sacred Heart Young Families) gathers parents and young children; Golden Hearts welcomes parishioners 50+ for covered-dish luncheons. Community Outreach coordinates Visitation of the Sick and Nursing Home Ministry. A Little Way Lending Library shares Catholic books parish-wide. All volunteers must complete Safe Environment Training required by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
- Knights of Columbus
- ACTS Retreats
- Worship Ministries (EMHCs, Lectors, Servers, Ushers/Greeters)
- Music Ministry
- Sacred Heart Young Families (SHYF)
- Golden Hearts (50+)
- Community Outreach / Nursing Home Ministry
- Vocations Ministry & Vocations Chalice
- Little Way Lending Library
- Liturgical Environment
- Safe Environment Training (required)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Redemptorist (C.Ss.R.) priests. The current pastor is Fr. Paul Hoang, C.Ss.R., assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. John Doan, C.Ss.R. Five permanent deacons serve the parish: Dcn. Don Ries, Dcn. David Hobson, Dcn. John Placette, Dcn. Chris Adams, and Dcn. Chris Haskins. Lay staff include Office Manager Karina Dauz, Bookkeeper, Receptionist Kelly Strnadel, Communications Coordinator Stacey Kuskie, Music Director Sandra Hartfiel, Director of Faith Formation Kim Roy, and Mother's Day Out Co-Directors C.J. Pisani and Rosa Garcia, plus coordinators for Elementary Faith Formation, Confirmation, OCIA, and youth ministry.
- Pastor: Fr. Paul Hoang, C.Ss.R.
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. John Doan, C.Ss.R.
- Deacons: Don Ries, David Hobson, John Placette, Chris Adams, Chris Haskins
- Director of Faith Formation: Kim Roy
- Music Director: Sandra Hartfiel
- Office Manager: Karina Dauz
Campus, Sacraments & Visiting
The parish campus centers on the 1991 church at 507 S. 4th Street, with the chapel, Family Life Center, rectory, and offices across S. 4th Street at 510. The church is open for private prayer 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday (use the side door nearest the Church Office). Parish and Faith Formation offices are open 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and closed Friday. For sacraments — baptism, marriage, anointing of the sick — parishioners should contact the parish office. To register as a family or arrange a tour, contact [email protected] or call (281) 342-3609.
- Address: 507 S. 4th Street, Richmond, TX 77469
- Parish office: (281) 342-3609 — [email protected]
- Faith Formation office: (281) 342-8371
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM; closed Friday
- Private prayer: Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM (side door of Church Office)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James K. Reybaud1935–1936
Founding pastor; dedicated the first church May 9, 1935
- Rev. Thomas A. Ryan1936–1937
- Rev. Michael M. Murray1937–1939
- Rev. Anthony J. Nicholson1939–1954
- Rev. Eugene C. Fowler1954–1958
- Rev. Thomas J. Prendergast1958–1967
- Msgr. James J. Madden1967–1969
First term; built the Education Building (CCE)
- Msgr. Victor A. Diprimeo1969–1970
- Rev. Patrick J. O'Brien1970–1973
- Msgr. James J. Madden1973–1988
Second term; original church renovated, stained-glass windows added
- Rev. Eric J. Pitre1988–1999
Second church built and dedicated February 23, 1991
- Rev. Howard Drabek1999–2010
- Rev. Ralph O. Roberts2010
- Rev. Josefino P. Templado2010–2015
- Rev. Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R.2015–2017
- Rev. Joseph Ho, C.Ss.R.2017–2023
- Rev. Paul Hoang, C.Ss.R.2023–present
Current pastor