About St. Francis De Sales · Houston, Texas
St. Francis de Sales is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston located in the Sharpstown area of Southwest Houston, Texas. It was officially established on July 1, 1962 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold to serve the then-newly developing neighborhoods of southwest Houston. The parish is a culturally rich community celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese each week, and it is also home to St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, a PreK-8 elementary school with a long Dominican Sisters heritage. It is regarded locally as a microcosm of the city itself, drawing families of many national, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds into one worshipping community.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Enrique V. Salen, Jr. (Fr. Joseph Son Thanh Phan is listed as In Residence on the parish staff page)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is a long-established, multicultural Catholic community in the heart of Sharpstown that welcomes families in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese every week. It combines a thriving PreK-8 Catholic school, daily Eucharistic Adoration, a robust youth ministry, RCIA adapted for children and youth, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and a Grief Support/Bereavement Ministry — all on a single campus just minutes from the heart of Southwest Houston. Newcomers and longtime Houstonians alike are drawn to its spirit of unity in diversity, its 2012-dedicated renovated sanctuary, and its reputation for strong lay formation that has produced parish leaders serving the wider Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Mass times at St. Francis De Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation rooms available as part of the 2012 renovated sanctuary; consult the parish office at (713) 774-7475 for the current confession schedule
Adoration times
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM in the Day Chapel
Parish History
St. Francis de Sales was officially established on July 1, 1962 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold and grew from roughly 800 founding families into one of the most multicultural parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Its history runs through the founding pastorate of Fr. Albert Beck (1962–1972), the 1980 construction of the Roos Road sanctuary under Msgr. Vincent Rizzotto, and the major 2011–2012 renovation and expansion realized by Fr. Wayne Wilkerson and dedicated by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on December 22, 2012.
Architecture & 2012 Renovation
The campus has been built in three main phases: the original 1960s sanctuary (now repurposed as the gym/parish hall), the 1980 church at Roos Road and Mary Bates Boulevard, and the 2011–2012 renovation designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects. The most recent project added an Adoration Chapel with Narthex, Sanctuary Sacristy, Work Sacristy, Priest's Sacristy, Bride's Parlour, three reconciliation rooms, a quieting room, Nursery, Groom's room, baptistery, radius pews, and a 150-seat Day Chapel — and was formally dedicated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo on December 22, 2012.
- Architect: Ziegler Cooper Architects (Houston)
- Original sanctuary (1960s) → repurposed as gym/parish hall
- 1980 church at Roos Rd & Mary Bates Blvd
- 2012 dedication by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo
Mass & Liturgy
St. Francis de Sales celebrates the Eucharist in three languages each week, reflecting the multicultural character of Southwest Houston. Weekday Mass is celebrated in the Chapel, while Sunday and Saturday-Vigil Masses are held in the main sanctuary.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Vietnamese
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM English; 12:00 PM Spanish
- Monday: 7:00 PM Spanish (Chapel)
- Mon–Fri: 8:15 AM English (Chapel)
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday–Friday 9 AM–6 PM in the Day Chapel
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates all three sacraments of initiation plus Matrimony, in English and Spanish.
- Baptism — preparation required; Vicky Quiray (English) and Yolanda Salazar (Spanish)
- Matrimony — six months' notice to the parish; email Fr. Joseph at [email protected]
- First Communion and Confirmation — through school and CCE programs
- RCIA Adapted for Children and Youth — Sundays & Wednesdays 6:30–8 PM
Faith Formation & School
Faith formation has been central to the parish since its founding in 1962, when Fr. Albert Beck invited the Dominican Sisters to open the day school. That legacy continues today through St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (PreK-8, Principal Anne M. Quatrini) and the parish's Continuing Christian Education (CCE) program for children in public school or homeschool.
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (PreK–8) — fully gated, key-card access
- Continuing Christian Education (CCE) for grades 1–8
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- Hispanic Faith Formation
Parish Ministries & Outreach
A broad range of lay-led ministries serve both the parish family and the wider Sharpstown community, including charitable outreach, youth work, bereavement support, and ongoing spiritual formation.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — confidential direct aid; assistance line 832-280-7837
- RCIA Adapted for Children and Youth
- Youth Ministry — Bible study, adoration, retreats, socials
- Bereavement Ministry
- Grief Support Ministry
- Music Ministry (Director: Mrs. Vicky Quiray)
- Liturgy of the Word for Children
- Filipino and African Heritage community groups
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by a pastor with an in-residence priest, two deacons, and a team of lay directors for faith formation, religious education, youth, music, liturgy, and parish operations.
- Rev. Enrique V. Salen, Jr. — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph Son Thanh Phan — In Residence
- Deacon Michael R. Quiray
- Deacon Alberto Ospina — Deacon and Director of Liturgy
- Susan Kirksey — Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Yolanda Salazar — Director of Religious Education / Hispanic Ministry
- Hilda Martinez — Youth Ministry
- Wilma De La Garza — Parish Administrator
- Vicky Quiray — Director of Music
- Andy Biba — Coordinator of Maintenance
- Marco Martinez — Parish Receptionist
- Gracie Medina — Parish Census / Contributions
- Gloria — Custodial
Capital Campaigns & Parish Life
The parish has conducted formal capital campaigns to fund building and ministry growth, beginning with the multi-year campaign launched in February 2011 to finance the 2012 renovation and expansion. A subsequent IGNITE campaign continued the effort to retire the renovation debt, with plans to redirect freed-up funds into community-building initiatives.
- 2011 Capital Campaign — funded 2011–2012 church renovation
- December 22, 2012 — church dedication by Cardinal DiNardo
- IGNITE Campaign — debt retirement for community-building
Visit, Contact & Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach the office Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 5 PM at 8200 Roos Road, on the corner of Roos Road and Mary Bates Boulevard in Sharpstown. The on-campus complex includes the renovated church, Day Chapel, school, gym/parish hall (originally the 1960s sanctuary), and the Family Life Center.
- Address: 8200 Roos Road, Houston, TX 77036
- Phone: (713) 774-7475 • Fax: (713) 774-6591
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM, 1–5 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Albert Beck1962–1972
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass on July 15, 1962 at Sharpstown Country Club with about 800 families; launched school with Dominican Sisters and CCE program; reassigned to All Saints Church in 1972.
- Msgr. Vincent Rizzotto1972–1982
Initiated and oversaw construction of the new church at Roos Road and Mary Bates Boulevard, completed in 1980. Reassigned in 1982 to St. Cecilia's Church.
- Msgr. Jack Dinkins1982–1990
Pastored the parish until 1990.
- Msgr. William Pickard1990–2000
Arrived as pastor in 1990.
- Rev. Joseph Limanni2000–2006
Assigned in 2000.
- Rev. Wayne WilkersonOctober 2006 – 2014
Led the 50th-anniversary era; launched the master plan and the Capital Campaign in February 2011; oversaw the major 2011–2012 church renovation and expansion dedicated by Cardinal DiNardo on Dec. 22, 2012.
- Rev. Joseph Son Thanh PhanJuly 2014 – present
Came to the parish in July 2014; currently listed as In Residence on the staff page.
- Rev. Enrique V. Salen, Jr.present
Listed as current Pastor on the parish staff page.