About St. Anne Catholic Community · Houston, Texas
St. Anne Catholic Community is one of the oldest and largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, providing spiritual leadership to the Upper Kirby, River Oaks, and Montrose neighborhoods of Houston since 1925. Run by the Basilian Fathers (Congregation of St. Basil) since 1928, it was the first Basilian parish in Texas and remains a vibrant bilingual (English/Spanish) community celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. The parish offers a PK–8 Catholic school, an extensive faith formation program for all ages, a robust music and liturgy program, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and an annual outreach grant cycle.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. David Zapalac, CSB
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. Anne offers a rare combination of historic depth and contemporary vitality: a 100-year-old Basilian parish with a celebrated Spanish Mission church, daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish (with YouTube live streams), a PK–8 Catholic school, faith formation from childhood through adult OCIA, youth ministry, a strong music program, and a hands-on outreach ministry through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and an annual outreach grant program to local nonprofits. Located in the heart of Houston between Upper Kirby, River Oaks, and Montrose, it is both a neighborhood parish and a destination community for Catholics across the city.
Mass times at St. Anne Catholic Community
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (Bilingual)
Adoration times
- First Saturday of the Month, September through May: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
About St. Anne Catholic Community
St. Anne Catholic Community is one of the oldest and largest churches in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, providing spiritual leadership and guidance to the Upper Kirby, River Oaks, and Montrose areas of Houston since 1925. Under the direction of the Basilian Fathers, the parish offers PK–8 education at St. Anne Catholic School and a large array of religious formation for parishioners. Its mission: 'We, the Catholic Community of Saint Anne, are called to follow the example of Christ and witness His living presence as we welcome in love and respect all who walk on our journey of faith.'
St. Anne, Our Parish Namesake
The parish is named for St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name 'Anne' (Hebrew 'Hannah,' meaning grace; also spelled Ann, Anna) is her traditional name in Catholic tradition. Her feast is celebrated by the parish on July 26 each year.
- Patron: St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Feast Day: July 26
Parish History
Founded in 1925 by Rev. John O'Reilly at the request of Bishop Christopher Byrne, the parish grew from a four-room farmhouse church on McDuffie and Westheimer to a 216-family congregation by 1928 — when Bishop Byrne entrusted it to the Basilian Fathers. The current Spanish Mission-style church, the parish's third, was dedicated on December 10, 1939, and houses the only Catholic church interior in the southern United States that visually tells the story of both world Catholicism and the Mexican Missions. Its stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross mosaics were installed under Fr. Glavin by Charles J. Connick Associates of Boston. In Lent 1991, under Fr. Vincent J. Dulock, CSB, the sanctuary was renovated to embody the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council while preserving the original spirit.
- 1924 — Bishop Byrne asks Fr. O'Reilly to found a new parish
- 1925 — Parish established; first Mass in a renovated farmhouse ('the chicken coop') at McDuffie and Westheimer
- 1928 — Basilian Fathers take charge (first Basilian parish in Texas)
- 1929 — Second (Spanish Mission-style) church designed by Maurice Sullivan, completed October 1929
- 1938–1939 — Third and current church built; dedicated December 10, 1939
- 1940s–50s — Connick stained glass and mosaic Stations installed under Fr. Glavin
- 1991 — Vatican II liturgical renovation under Fr. Vincent J. Dulock, CSB
- 2025 — Centennial Anniversary ('100 Years of Grace')
Basilian Fathers (Congregation of St. Basil)
Since May 1928, St. Anne has been served by the Basilian Fathers (CSB). It was the first Basilian parish in Texas and one of only seven in the world at the time of its founding. The Basilian order is also linked to the University of St. Thomas and St. Thomas High School in Houston.
- First Basilian parish in Texas
- Pastoral leadership continuously Basilian since 1928
Centennial Anniversary — 100 Years of Grace
Throughout 2025, the parish is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of events under the banner '100 Years of Grace.' The parish has launched a $100 for 100 Years giving campaign, applied to the general fund to maintain the campus for the next century.
- Centennial Masses — January 11–12, 2025
- Feast of St. Anne Mass — Saturday, July 26, 2025, 5:15 p.m. (presided by Cardinal DiNardo)
- Centennial Picnic — October 5, 2025
- $100 for 100 Years giving campaign
Faith Formation
In response to the parish's mission, the Religious Formation department aspires to follow the example of Jesus, foster holiness, seek the Kingdom of God as a Eucharistic community, and offer profound hospitality through educational opportunities, whole-community celebrations, and formal instruction.
Children's Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation (CCE)
Sacramental preparation is a two-year process. Families wishing to enroll their children must be registered at St. Anne Parish. Open House/Meet the Teacher is held in early September each year and classes begin the following week.
- Parent meeting required prior to enrollment
- Classes begin September 14, 2025 from 3:00–4:45 p.m.
Youth Ministry & Confirmation (Chosen, Grades 9–12; Rooted, Grades 7–8)
St. Anne Youth Ministry helps young people foster a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. The Confirmation program ('Chosen') is a comprehensive ministry for all high school age students; the Sacrament of Confirmation is received in the 10th or 11th grade with at least one year of formation immediately prior. 'Rooted' serves 7th–8th graders.
- Chosen: High School Confirmation (Grades 9–12)
- Rooted: Middle School (Grades 7–8)
Adult Faith Formation — OCIA & Adult Confirmation
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process by which interested adults can prepare for full sacramental initiation into the Catholic Church. It is open to un-baptized persons, those baptized in another Christian faith, and baptized Catholics in need of Eucharist and Confirmation. A separate ten-week course is offered for practicing Catholics seeking to complete their Sacraments of Initiation through Adult Confirmation.
- OCIA / RCIA
- Adult Confirmation (ten-week course)
Infant Baptism Preparation
St. Anne offers online Parent and Godparent Baptism preparation classes to provide essential knowledge and guidance to families as they prepare for the Baptism of their child.
- Online Parent and Godparent Baptism preparation classes available
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is held each summer for children of the parish. The 2025 session took place June 9–13, 2025, with registration closing June 1.
- VBS 2025: June 9–13, 2025
St. Anne Catholic School
Under the direction of the Basilian Fathers, St. Anne operates a PK–8 Catholic school (St. Anne Catholic School) as part of its educational mission to parish families and the broader Houston community.
- PK–8 Catholic education
- Operated under the Basilian Fathers
Outreach Ministries
The mission of outreach at St. Anne Catholic Church is to model the love of Jesus Christ by helping the disadvantaged, the underserved, and those experiencing difficult life circumstances. Funding is targeted toward Christian programs in the Houston area that provide for immediate needs of food, clothing, shelter, and health care, and to programs offering volunteer opportunities for parishioners.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference is to grow spiritually through person-to-person service to all in need. Volunteers answer calls and visit clients in their homes to assess needs and provide material, spiritual, and referral assistance. The conference meets monthly after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on the 2nd Sunday.
- Assistance line: 832-852-1300
- Monthly meeting after 9:00 a.m. Mass on the 2nd Sunday
- Volunteers visit clients in pairs (Vincentians)
Outreach Grants Program
St. Anne Catholic Community makes grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt, faith-based organizations serving the Houston area. Priority is given to projects that bring systemic change, address hunger, and provide volunteer opportunities for parishioners. Applications are due December 1 each year for consideration at the January meeting, with notifications by the end of February and checks mailed the first week of April.
- Eligibility: tax-exempt, faith-based Houston-area nonprofits
- Application deadline: December 1
- One application per organization per calendar year
- Grants for project support, matching, capacity building, evangelism, and hunger
Music & Liturgy
The parish maintains a robust music and liturgy program with a full Director of Music, an Assistant Music Director and Organist, and a Hispanic Music Director supporting both English and Spanish Masses. The 11:00 a.m. English and 12:45 p.m. Spanish Sunday Masses are live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel with prelude music included.
- Tom Jaber — Director of Music
- Katherine Jolliff — Assistant Music Director and Organist
- Beatrice Garcia — Hispanic Music Director
Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by Fr. David Zapalac, CSB (Pastor) and staffed by two Parochial Vicars, a Priest in Residence, two Deacons, and a full lay staff overseeing music, faith formation, accounting, communications, operations, and development.
- Fr. David Zapalac, CSB — Pastor
- Parochial Vicars (two) and Priest in Residence
- Deacon Thaddeus Kudela
- Deacon José Antonio Saucedo
- Paulette Golden — Business Manager
- Mark Thomas — Director of Faith Formation and Liturgy
- Maria Noguera — Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
- Tom Jaber — Director of Music
- Katherine Jolliff — Assistant Music Director and Organist
- Beatrice Garcia — Hispanic Music Director
- Brian Powers — Coordinator of Spiritual Direction
- Joan O'Leary — Pastoral Assistant
- Julie Lorenz — Communications Coordinator
- Denise Rivera — Operations Coordinator
- José Antonio Saucedo — Building and Grounds Coordinator
- Melissa Hernandez Clayton — Parish Secretary, Development Assistant, Safe Environment Coordinator
- Jerry Aucoin — Accountant
Contact & Visit
St. Anne Catholic Community is located at 2140 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77098-1419, in the central Houston area between Upper Kirby, River Oaks, and Montrose. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.) and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Use area code 713 when dialing staff extensions.
- Address: 2140 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77098-1419
- Phone: 713-526-3276
- Parish office: Mon–Thu 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (closed noon–1:00 p.m.); Fri 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John O'Reilly1925–1928
First pastor; founded the parish in 1925 under Bishop Christopher Byrne.
- Rev. John J. Glavin, CSB1928–1932, 1940–1942, 1950–1958
First Basilian pastor; oversaw the stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross mosaics by Charles J. Connick Associates.
- Rev. Thomas O'Rourke, CSB1932–1940
Commissioned architect Maurice Sullivan to build the second (Spanish Mission-style) church.
- Rev. Joseph Walsh, CSB1942–1947
- Rev. Daniel Forestell, CSB1947–1948
- Rev. A. Leland Higgins, CSB1948–1950
- Rev. Lawrence Lacey, CSB1958–1964
- Rev. Francis Monaghan, CSB1964–1973
- Rev. William Coughlin, CSB1973–1977
- Rev. William Gibbons, CSB1977–1980
- Rev. James Rent, CSB1980–1984
- Rev. Vincent J. Dulock, CSB1984–1991
Led the 1991 Lenten renovation implementing Vatican II liturgical reforms.
- Rev. Charles Christopher, CSB1991–2000
- Rev. John Robbins, CSB2000–2009
- Rev. Al Sinasac, CSB2010–2020
- Rev. David Zapalac, CSB2020–Present
Current pastor; leading the parish's 2025 Centennial ("100 Years of Grace").