About Saint Barbara the Great Martyr [Melkite] · Houston, Texas
Saint Barbara the Great Martyr is a Melkite Greek Catholic Mission serving Houston, Texas, under the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (which covers the entire United States). A small Byzantine-rite community of Arabic- and English-speaking faithful, the mission is led by Father Fadi Al Mimass. From 2014 through 2025 the mission celebrated its Sunday Divine Liturgy in the Melkite/Arabic tradition at St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church on Acorn Street; beginning Sunday, January 4, 2026, the mission moved to St. Stephen Catholic Church at 1912 Center St., Houston. The parish describes itself as building toward the first standalone Melkite church in Texas, having completed the purchase of land on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross for what the community calls its 'Mother Church.'
- Patron
- Saint Barbara the Great Martyr
- Rector
- Father Fadi Al Mimass
- Diocese
- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (named for Newton, Massachusetts; covers all of the United States; established January 10, 1966; current eparch Bishop Francois Beyrouti)
Why belong here
Saint Barbara is a small, family-scale Melkite mission where Eastern Christian worship — Byzantine rite, Arabic and English, the troparia of the Resurrection and of St. Barbara sung in both languages — is the heart of parish life. Fr. Fadi is actively building toward a permanent Mother Church and invites parishioners to share in prayer, Sunday Liturgy, Sunday School, and the work of founding the first standalone Melkite parish in Texas. For Arabic-speaking Byzantine Catholics in Houston, or anyone drawn to the spirituality of the Christian East (healing, re-creation, theosis) united to Rome, it is a place to belong and to help build.
Mass times at Saint Barbara the Great Martyr [Melkite]
Weekly Mass schedule
About Saint Barbara Melkite Mission
Saint Barbara the Great Martyr is a Melkite Greek Catholic Mission in Houston, Texas — Eastern in faith, worship and spirituality, but in full communion with the Church of Rome. The parish belongs to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, which serves all Byzantine-rite Greek Catholics across the United States. The community gathers around the Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Byzantine rite, in Arabic and English, and describes itself as understanding the world's spiritual needs 'and the difficult life facing people today.'
- Type: Mission (Melkite Greek Catholic)
- Eparchy: Newton (covers all U.S. states)
- Tradition: Byzantine rite, Greek Patriarchate of Antioch
- Languages: Arabic and English
Parish Story & Building a Mother Church
In a bilingual parish letter, Fr. Fadi Al Mimass announced that the community had completed the purchase of land — paid in full on the Eve of the Holy Cross — as the 'first milestone' of building the first Melkite Church in Texas. He framed the work as a partnership with God: 'Nothing is greater for a man than partnering with his Lord to build His house on Earth in order to nourish and grow the community spiritually and physically.' On January 4, 2026 the mission moved from its long-time shared home at St. John Chrysostom to St. Stephen Catholic Church at 1912 Center St., beginning 'a new chapter in the life of our parish.'
- Land for a Mother Church purchased and paid in full (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- Project billed as the First Melkite Church in Texas
- New worship location: St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1912 Center St., effective Jan. 4, 2026
Melkite Faith and Worship
The parish's About page sets out its identity clearly: 'Authentic Christian faith is always about the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. From the beginning local Churches have expressed that relationship differently in various liturgies, hymns, theologies, icons and more. Melkites express their faith in the Byzantine tradition of the Greek Patriarchate of Antioch. Liturgically we follow the Byzantine rite. Our spirituality is that of the Christian East (healing, re-creation, theosis, etc.) in common with other Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox. In addition, our particular identity is as Greek Catholics: Eastern in faith, worship and spirituality but united to the Church of Rome.'
- Byzantine liturgical rite
- Greek Patriarchate of Antioch heritage
- Spirituality of the Christian East: healing, re-creation, theosis
- In full communion with the Bishop of Rome
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Fr. Fadi Al Mimass is pastor of the mission, having served since August 2014. His ministry background includes parish work in the Melkite Eparchy of Latakia (Safita, Tartus, Christians Valley), the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus (Jaramana), and the Melkite Eparchy of Zahle (Ain Kafar Zabad & Ryak) before coming to Houston. He trained at the St. Paul Theology & Philosophy Institute in Harissa, Lebanon. Deacon Jamil Daaboul assists the mission; he participated in the November 29, 2023 ordination of David Dominguez and Robert Klesko to the diaconate at St. John Chrysostom in Houston.
- Pastor: Fr. Fadi Al Mimass (since Aug 2014)
- Deacon: Deacon Jamil Daaboul
- Contact phone: 832-846-5720
- Pastor mailing address: 16802 Bonnie Sean Dr., Spring, TX 77379
Schedule of Services
Since the move to St. Stephen Catholic Church in January 2026, the Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Byzantine/Melkite tradition in Arabic and English. A Sunday School for children meets before Liturgy on Sundays. Confession times and weekday services are not currently posted on the mission website; the parish asks visitors to contact Fr. Fadi for details. Prior to 2026 the mission celebrated the 12:30 p.m. Sunday Liturgy at St. John Chrysostom.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 a.m. (Arabic/English, Byzantine rite)
- Sunday School before Liturgy
- Other services: announced by the parish
- Contact the rectory for Confession and weekday services
Sunday School & Christian Formation
The mission runs a Sunday School for the children of the parish, held every Sunday before the Divine Liturgy. The About page describes the parish community as having 'understanding the world spiritual needs and a rich understanding of the difficult life facing people today,' and Sunday School is its primary formation program alongside the Liturgy itself.
- Sunday School every Sunday before Liturgy
- Rooted in the Byzantine/Melkite liturgical tradition
Stay Connected & Support the Mission
Parishioners and friends are invited to sign up through the parish's Flocknote system for news and giving, and to support the Mother Church project financially. Checks may be made payable to 'St Barbara Melkite Church' and mailed to the pastor's address in Spring, TX. The parish maintains a Facebook page (facebook.com/stbarbaramelkite) for community news.
- Flocknote sign-up and giving: stbarbaramelkite.flocknote.com
- Donations by check: 'St Barbara Melkite Church', 16802 Bonnie Sean Dr., Spring, TX 77379
- Facebook: facebook.com/stbarbaramelkite
Contact & Visiting
The mission's current Sunday worship is held at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1912 Center St., Houston, TX 77007 (central Houston / near the Heights). The parish office and pastor's mailing address is 16802 Bonnie Sean Dr., Spring, TX 77379. Telephone: 832-846-5720. Emails: [email protected] or [email protected].
- Worship: 1912 Center St., Houston, TX 77007
- Mailing: 16802 Bonnie Sean Dr., Spring, TX 77379
- Tel: 832-846-5720
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Fadi Al MimassAugust 2014 – present
Mission pastor. LinkedIn profile records him at St. Barbara from Aug 2014; previously served parishes in the Melkite Eparchy of Zahle, the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus, and the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Latakia.