About St. Dominic · Houston, Texas
St. Dominic Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in the Sheldon Reservoir area of eastern Harris County, Houston, Texas, serving the faithful of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. Founded in the mid-1960s to bring the sacraments to a fast-growing rural-suburban community, the parish is now home to roughly 3,500 registered families and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a robust catechetical program with about 550 children enrolled, and a wide range of outreach, youth, and devotional ministries.
- Established
- 1965 (mission); 1969 (parish)
- Patron
- Saint Dominic, Confessor
- Rector
- Rev. Roger Estorque
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. Dominic is a multicultural, bilingual parish that welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking families in east Harris County with Mass in both languages and a Mission Statement committing the community 'to help each other grow in the understanding of our faith, celebrate this faith in Liturgy and live it out by using the gifts of each person in the service of others, especially those in need.' Members benefit from a Sunday Mass schedule with two Spanish and two English services, First Fridays with all-day Adoration, a large parish-based catechetical program with about 550 children, an active Thursday-evening youth group, a Spanish prayer assembly ('Asamblea de oración / Jesús está vivo'), and an outreach tradition spanning North Channel Assistance Ministries, hospital, nursing home, and prison ministries.
Mass times at St. Dominic
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
History of St. Dominic Parish
St. Dominic began as the 'Sheldon Area Catholic Church' in 1965 after a Houston Chronicle column prompted local Catholics to petition the Diocese of Galveston–Houston. A census in April 1965 found 119 Catholic families and around 258 children. With priests from Resurrection Church and a diocesan land purchase, the mission built a metallic church, celebrated its first Midnight Mass on December 25, 1966, and was canonically erected as the parish of St. Dominic on January 21, 1969 by Bishop John L. Morkovsky.
- 1965: Census taken and diocesan land purchased
- 1966: First CCD classes (Sept. 17) and Sunday Mass in old Sheldon Elementary School
- Dec. 25, 1966: First Mass at the new metallic church (Midnight Mass)
- Jan. 21, 1969: Parish erected by Bishop John L. Morkovsky
- Aug. 10, 1980: Present church dedicated
- May 15, 2016: Parish Life Center dedicated by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza
Pastor and Parish Staff
St. Dominic is led by Rev. Roger Estorque, who became pastor on September 1, 2008 and oversaw the construction and 2016 dedication of the Parish Life Center. Deacon Philip Arlen Wiles assists in ministry and sits on the Finance Council. The parish team includes Spanish Ministry / DRE Hmna. Olga Rivera, DJ; Hmna. Azucena Sanchez; Office Manager Irma Galvan; Office Assistants Claudia Ramirez and Alejandro; Bookkeeper Duc Man Ho; and Housekeeping staff Socorro Rodriguez and Estela Sandoval.
- Rev. Roger Estorque — Pastor (since September 1, 2008) — 281-458-2910 Ext. 11
- Rev. Mr. Philip Arlen Wiles — Deacon
- Hmna. Olga Rivera, DJ — Spanish Ministry / Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- Hmna. Azucena Sanchez — 281-458-2910 Ext. 18
- Irma Galvan — Office Manager — 281-458-2910 Ext. 10
- Claudia Ramirez & Alejandro — Office Assistants
- Duc Man Ho — Bookkeeper — 281-458-2910 Ext. 15
- Socorro Rodriguez & Estela Sandoval — Housekeeping
Pastoral and Finance Councils
Lay leadership helps guide the parish. The Pastoral Council and Finance Council include elected and appointed parishioners working with the pastor on parish mission, planning, and stewardship.
- Pastoral Council Chairman — Juan Hernandez
- Pastoral Council Co-Chairman/President — Jocelyn Vera
- Pastoral Council Secretary — Juanita Hernandez
- Pastoral Council Members — Salvador & Maria Manzo, Valentin Cobos, Bill Burling, Rosanna Gonzales, Beatriz Lopez
- Finance Council — Hector Hernandez, Albert Allala, Deacon Phil Wiles, Miguel Leyva, Osvaldo Segura
Faith Formation and Religious Education (CCE/OEC)
The parish runs a large catechetical program with about 550 children registered. CCE classes begin formally in September and continue through the school year. Faith formation covers sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, as well as youth ministry.
- CCE/OEC Catechism Classes — formally begin September 7 (announced for 2025-2026 year)
- Elementary / First Communion preparation — Ana García Martínez
- Confirmation / High School / Youth Group — Elizabeth Estrada; youth group meets every Thursday evening
- Registration for 2026-2027 year opens June 16, 2026 by appointment
Ministries and Outreach
St. Dominic lives out its mission to serve the 'especially those in need' through long-standing community outreach. The parish was a founding member of North Channel Assistance Ministries and reaches out to the sick, the elderly, and the incarcerated.
- North Channel Assistance Ministries (founding member)
- Hospital ministry
- Nursing home ministry — Silver Spring and Legend Oaks
- Prison ministry
- Asamblea de oración / Jesús está vivo (Spanish prayer group)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and welcomes families to prepare for them through the parish office. Sacramental preparation for youth is coordinated through the CCE office.
- Baptism — register through parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Communion (elementary)
- Confirmation (high school, two-year preparation)
- Marriage — preparation arranged through the parish
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30–5:45 PM or by appointment
Parish Office and Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday to assist parishioners with registration, sacramental preparation, and general inquiries. After-hours emergencies are handled by the office secretary and office manager.
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)
- Phone: 281-458-2910 (also 281-458-5703)
- Fax: 281-458-7114
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergency contacts: Maria Ramos (office secretary) 832-812-5378; Irma Galvan (office manager) 281-639-1947
Mission Statement
The parish mission, as published on its website, identifies St. Dominic as a 'multi-cultured community, joined together by faith in Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church,' committed to growing in faith understanding, celebrating it in Liturgy, and serving others.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Louis Cotrone / Rev. Paul Fee1965–1969
Mission clergy from Resurrection Parish who guided the parish's founding and early years
- Rev. Gil LeducJanuary 1969 – August 1969
First administrator of St. Dominic after it became a parish
- Rev. George OlsovskyAugust 1969 – March 1971
- Rev. Charles BurnsMarch 1971 – August 1973
Built the present rectory during his term
- Rev. Wayne ElkinsAugust 1973 – June 1985
Oversaw construction of the present church, dedicated August 10, 1980
- Rev. Gary WanzongJune 1985 – August 1990
- Rev. John WeyerAugust 1990 – February 1994
- Rev. Anton SheltzFebruary 1994 – May 2003
- Rev. Chacko PutthumayilAugust 2003 – August 2008
- Rev. Roger EstorqueSeptember 1, 2008 – present
Led the construction of the St. Dominic Parish Life Center, dedicated May 15, 2016