About St. Frances Cabrini · Houston, Texas
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in southeast Houston, Texas, canonically erected on June 22, 1962 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold as part of the (now) Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Located at 10727 Hartsook Street in the 77034 ZIP code, the parish serves a diverse, largely Hispanic community with an unusually rich liturgical schedule — five Sunday Masses, five weekday Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Sacred Heart Chapel, and frequent devotional opportunities. The parish is also well known for its long-running annual Fall Festival, which funds ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul, the Gabriel Project, youth programs, and CCE religious education.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Francesca Saverio Cabrini), Missionary and Patron Saint of Immigrants
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Alonso
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. Frances Cabrini is one of the most liturgically active parishes in southeast Houston, offering five Sunday Masses (English and Spanish) plus daily Mass, a near-perpetual Adoration chapel (Monday 9 a.m. through Friday 8:30 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Chapel), and frequent devotions including the Rosary and Divine Mercy Novena. It is a true bilingual community that welcomes immigrants — fitting its patron, St. Frances Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants — with ministries like CCE (Continuing Christian Education), the Youth Group, RCIA/OCIA, Guadalupanas, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry supported by the long-running annual Fall Festival. Families looking for a parish where Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Catholics worship side by side, with strong sacramental-preparation programs and a visible commitment to outreach, will find St. Frances Cabrini an unusually complete parish home.
Mass times at St. Frances Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday / Miércoles: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday / Viernes: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
- Saturday / Sábado: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Sacred Heart Chapel / Capilla del Sagrado Corazón — 9:00 AM Monday through 8:30 AM Friday
Parish History & Heritage
St. Frances Cabrini Parish was canonically erected on June 22, 1962 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold and has been a steady presence in southeast Houston ever since. Its growth from 550 founding families meeting in a school auditorium to a multi-building bilingual parish with its own day school, sister-parish outreach, and one of the area's largest annual festivals is documented in detail on the parish's 'Our Story' page. The official pastor succession lists nine priests, from founding pastor Rev. Allen Ray Doga to the current pastor, Rev. Jose Alonso.
- Erected June 22, 1962 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold
- First Mass: July 15, 1962 at A.B. Freeman School
- Founding pastor: Rev. Allen Ray Doga
- Ground broken July 14, 1963 by Bishop Morkovsky
- First Mass in new complex: May 10, 1964 (Mother's Day)
- Dedication and blessing: August 15, 1964 (Assumption)
- Day school operated 1964–1969 (Dominican Sisters)
- St. Luke the Evangelist Parish founded from Cabrini in 1975
Devotions & Special Celebrations
Cabrini maintains a robust traditional devotional calendar — Rosary before weekend Masses, weekday Divine Mercy Novena and Rosary, monthly Guadalupanas meetings, and the special First Friday (Sacred Heart) and First Saturday (Immaculate Heart) Masses. The Divine Mercy Sunday feast day is also observed with parish-wide celebration.
- Divine Mercy Novena — weekdays 3:00–3:30 PM
- Rosary — weekdays 3:30–4:00 PM
- Rosary before weekend Masses
- First Friday 7:00 PM Spanish Mass — Sacred Heart of Jesus
- First Saturday 8:00 AM English Mass — Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Guadalupanas monthly meeting
- Talleres de Oración y Vida (Prayer and Life Workshops)
Faith Formation: CCE & Sacramental Prep
CCE (Continuing Christian Education) is the parish's religious-education program for public-school children, Pre-K through 12th grade. Separate Spanish- and English-language tracks are offered, plus a home-school option. Sacramental preparation (First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation, Quinceañera) is coordinated by the Director of Religious Education, Patty Ramirez.
- CCE K–5 English (Wed 6:30–7:45 PM)
- CCE K–5 Spanish (Sat 10:00–11:30 AM)
- CCE Grades 6–8 (Tue 6:30–7:45 PM)
- CCE Grades 9–12 (Mon 6:30–7:45 PM)
- RCIA adapted for Children (Thu 6:30–7:45 PM, ages 7–17)
- CCE Home School option
- Tuition: 1 child $90; 2 children $115; 3+ $140 (20% discount if paid in full)
- Sacraments: First Penance (fall only), First Communion (2nd grade+), Confirmation (10th–11th grade+), Adult Confirmation, Quinceañera (requires 25 community-service hours)
RCIA / OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
The parish's OCIA / RCIA process welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians from other traditions, and Catholics completing their initiation. Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM, with a mandatory retreat ($10 fee). A separate RCIA adapted for children (ages 7–17) meets Thursday evenings.
- Tuesday evening classes 7:00–8:15 PM
- Mandatory retreat ($10 additional fee)
- Children's RCIA — Thursday 6:30–7:45 PM
- Adults may also receive Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation through this process
Youth Group
The parish sponsors an active Youth Group for teens, including attendance at the Archdiocesan Youth Council (AYC) three-day retreat held in late July. Adult volunteers must be Virtus-certified and at least 18 years old; recent high-school graduates may serve as Young Adult volunteers.
- Weekly meetings — adult volunteers meet Thursdays at 5:30 PM
- AYC retreat: three days, last weekend of July ($95 registration + ~$296 room)
- Open to incoming freshmen and graduating seniors
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to the local community is a defining feature of parish life, supported substantially by the annual Fall Festival. Ministries focus on food insecurity, vulnerable mothers, religious formation for children, and pastoral counseling.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
- Gabriel Project — outreach to mothers in need
- Annual Fall Festival proceeds fund parish apostolates
- Parish Counseling through MyParishCounseling (Rejoice Counseling Apostolate) — bilingual, sliding scale
- Ministry of Service — teen community-service opportunities (classroom helper, office helper, Guardian Angel)
Annual Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is the parish's signature community and fundraising event, now in its 63rd year (2025). Originally held in spring, it was moved to fall to coincide with the November 13 feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who is patron of immigrants. Proceeds underwrite the food pantry, Gabriel Project, youth programs, CCE, and other social-outreach efforts. The festival is coordinated entirely by parish volunteers.
- 2025 Fall Festival: Sunday, November 9, 2025
- Festival Chair: Yolanda Garcia; Co-chairs Jesse & Cristina Rangel
- Decision Executive: Fr. Jose Alonso; Parish Business Manager: Deacon F. Ramirez
- Bingo, Trash & Treasure, Food & Booths, Silent Auction, Kiddie Land, Entertainment, Raffle
- 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donations and sponsorships
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a permanent deacon who also serves as Business Manager, a Director of Religious Education, the Fall Festival leadership team, and on-site bilingual counselors from the Rejoice Counseling Apostolate.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Alonso
- Deacon F. Ramirez — Parish Business Manager
- Patty Ramirez — Director of Religious Education & Coordinator of Sacramental Prep
- Maria Hinojos — Ministry of Service coordinator (ext. 713-946-5768)
- Guadalupe Fajardo — LPC Associate, Rejoice Counseling (parish counselor)
- Samantha Tavares — LPC Associate, Rejoice Counseling (parish counselor)
Pastoral Succession (Complete List)
The parish's official 'Our Story' page enumerates every priest who has served as pastor since its 1962 founding. The current pastor is the ninth in the succession. Years are not all published on the website, but they are listed below in the order confirmed by the parish.
- Rev. Allen Ray Doga (founding)
- Rev. John T. Keller
- Rev. Milam Kleas
- Rev. Dennis Peterson
- Rev. Reginald Nesvadba
- Rev. Norbet J. Maduzia, Jr.
- Rev. Frank Fabj
- Rev. Nicolas Ramirez (Administrator, 2024)
- Rev. Jose Alonso (Administrator 2024; Pastor from Aug. 2, 2025 — current)
Getting Involved
St. Frances Cabrini offers multiple entry points for new members — joining a Mass regular schedule, registering children for CCE or sacramental preparation, signing up to serve at the Fall Festival, enrolling in OCIA as an adult, or volunteering with the Youth Group, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, or the Ministry of Service teen program. Parish registration is completed at the parish office.
- Parish office: 10727 Hartsook St., Houston, TX 77034 — open Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM and 1–5:30 PM
- Phone: (713) 946-5768
- Emergency / Anointing line: (346) 202-2674
- Visit cabrinihouston.org for online giving, event calendars, and parish news
- Youth volunteer opportunities in the Ministry of Service (Sat 9:30–noon, Sun 8:45–11 AM, weekday evenings)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Allen Ray Doga1962 (founding) – ?
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold when the parish was canonically erected June 22, 1962; celebrated the first liturgy on July 15, 1962 at A.B. Freeman School.
- Rev. John T. Keller
Successor pastor; name appears on the parish's official 'Priests who have served as Pastor' list.
- Rev. Milam Kleas
Successor pastor; name appears on the parish's official list of former pastors.
- Rev. Dennis Peterson
Successor pastor; name appears on the parish's official list of former pastors.
- Rev. Reginald Nesvadba
Successor pastor; name appears on the parish's official list of former pastors.
- Rev. Norbet J. Maduzia, Jr.
Successor pastor; name appears on the parish's official list of former pastors.
- Rev. Frank Fabj
Successor pastor; named on the parish's official list. (Earlier third-party Catholic directories listed him as pastor of record.)
- Rev. Nicolas RamirezMarch 1, [2024] – 2024 (Administrator)
Listed among the parish's past pastors on the official 'Our Story' page; Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston pastoral appointments list records him as Administrator of St. Frances Cabrini effective March 1, before later being assigned Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Conroe (Effective July 1, 2024).
- Rev. Jose AlonsoJuly 1, 2024 – present (Administrator from July 1, 2024; Pastor from August 2, 2025)
First appointed as Administrator of St. Frances Cabrini per 2024 Archdiocesan Pastoral Appointments; subsequently named Pastor effective August 2 per the 2025 appointments list. Named on official parish clergy page and as current pastor on the 'Our Story' page.