About St. Jerome Catholic Church · Houston, Texas
St. Jerome Catholic Community is a multicultural parish in the Spring Branch area of northwest Houston, Texas, belonging to the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. Founded in 1960 on a 14-acre campus at 8825 Kempwood Drive, the parish serves an international congregation that worships in both English and Spanish at weekend Masses. It is paired with St. Jerome Catholic School (opened 1962) and a St. Jerome Early Childhood Center, and it runs a robust St. Vincent de Paul food-and-clothing outreach for neighbors in its zip codes.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Jerome
- Rector
- Fr. Jonathan Moré
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. Jerome is a true bilingual, multicultural Catholic home in Spring Branch where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side at more than six weekend Masses. Members can grow in faith through faith formation (Pre-K through Confirmation), LIFETEEN youth ministry, an Early Childhood Center, and a K–8 Catholic school, while living their faith through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Vincentian Center, which distributes food and clothing to neighbors in the surrounding zip codes. With weekday and Saturday Masses, regular confession times, and active ministries for every age, the parish makes it easy for newcomers to register, get involved, and call St. Jerome their spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Jerome Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
About St. Jerome Catholic Community
St. Jerome Catholic Community is a bilingual, multicultural parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston located at 8825 Kempwood Drive in the Spring Branch neighborhood of northwest Houston. The parish combines a worshipping community, a K–8 Catholic school, an Early Childhood Center, and an active St. Vincent de Paul outreach serving neighbors in surrounding zip codes. Its motto on the Archdiocese directory is "Inviting All to Become One In Christ."
- Address: 8825 Kempwood Dr, Houston, TX 77080
- Parish Office: (713) 468-9555 • [email protected]
- Archdiocese: Galveston–Houston
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
History
Bishop Wendelin J. Nold purchased 14 acres in Spring Branch in 1960 and appointed Rev. Msgr. Alfred W. Raye as founding pastor. The school opened September 4, 1962, and the parish and school have grown side by side for more than six decades. In 2024, Fr. Jonathan Moré was appointed pastor, continuing the mission of the founding community.
- Founded 1960 by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold
- Founding pastor: Rev. Msgr. Alfred W. Raye
- School opened September 4, 1962, with 405 students in K–5
- First 8th-grade class graduated 1966
- Fr. Jonathan Moré appointed pastor in 2024
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and two deacons, supported by an administrative staff and directors of faith formation, youth ministry, communications, and operations.
- Fr. Jonathan Moré — Pastor
- Fr. Alfonso Tran — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Dan O'Dowd — Parish Deacon
- Deacon Jose Guadalupe "Lupe" Montoya — Parish Deacon
- Flor Gonzalez — Director of Faith Formation
- Jocelyn Castaneda — Youth Ministry Coordinator (LIFETEEN, 7th–12th)
- Carmen Torres — Religious Education Assistant (CCE, Pre-K–6th)
- Dee Dee Rzasnicki — Principal (St. Jerome Catholic School)
- Luz Vinasco — Registrar/Receptionist (school)
- Robert Alcala — Business Manager/Operations
- Bridgett Macias — Bookkeeper
- Leslie Lopez — Director of Communications
- Mirna Grant — SJECC Director
- Jesus Uroza — Morning Receptionist; Valeria Salazar — Afternoon Receptionist; Fernanda Gonzalez — Parish Secretary
- Everardo "Junior" Servin and Adolfo Aleman — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Jerome serves children from Pre-K through high school, with a parish school, a religious education (CCE) program, and a two-year Youth Confirmation process. Flor Gonzalez serves as Director of Faith Formation, with Carmen Torres assisting in Pre-K through 6th-grade CCE.
- Pre-K through 6th-grade Religious Education (CCE)
- Youth Confirmation: 9th–12th grade, two-year process, Sundays
- LIFETEEN Youth Ministry: 7th–12th grade (Coordinator: Jocelyn Castaneda)
- Contact: [email protected]
St. Jerome Catholic School
St. Jerome Catholic School is the parish's K–8 elementary school, founded alongside the parish in the early 1960s. It currently serves a multicultural, international student body with families speaking more than ten languages and representing dozens of cultural backgrounds. The campus includes three educational buildings around a central courtyard, a library, computer lab, gym, parish hall, community center, church, outdoor fields, playgrounds, and a covered pavilion.
- Opened September 4, 1962, with 405 students in K–5
- Reached K–8 by 1965; first 8th-grade class graduated 1966
- Principal: Dee Dee Rzasnicki (since 2023)
- Originally staffed with Dominican Sisters
- School website: www.stjeromecs.org • (713) 468-7946 • [email protected]
St. Jerome Early Childhood Center (ECC)
The St. Jerome Early Childhood Center provides early-childhood care and education on the parish campus, open year-round Monday through Friday 7:00 AM–6:00 PM (closed on holidays). It is staffed by a director and assistants and welcomes registrations throughout the year.
- Director: Mirna Grant
- Office: (713) 461-0835 • [email protected]
- Website: stjeromehou.org/ECC
- Open Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–6:00 PM year-round (closed holidays)
St. Vincent de Paul & Outreach
The St. Jerome Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul operates the St. Jerome Vincentian Center, distributing food and clothing to the poor and underprivileged in the parish's zip codes. The Center depends on private donations and parish contributions, and it is staffed by religious and lay volunteers.
- Center hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (food deliveries and clothing donations accepted)
- Chapter meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month, September through May
- Equal Opportunity Provider
- SVDP Office: (713) 468-5910
- President: Jack Fisher; 1st VP: Richard Hoffman; 2nd VP: Fred Herveat; Financial Advisor: Claire Burum; Treasurer: Kathy Ehlinger; Secretary/Spiritual Advisor: Dora Freeman
Becoming a Parishioner
St. Jerome welcomes new parishioners in person at the parish office. Registration establishes your family as members of the parish community, enables sacramental records and sponsor-eligibility verification, and connects you with ministries, faith formation, and parish communications.
- Register in person at the Parish Office, Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Bring full names, address and contact information, and dates of birth for all household members
- Questions: (713) 468-9555 • [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Alfred W. Raye1960 (founding)
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold; established the parish and St. Jerome Catholic School.
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel L. Scheelthrough 2024
Long-serving pastor recognized on the Archdiocese directory; led the parish through the COVID-19 community vaccination partnership with Spring Branch Community Health Center.
- Fr. Jonathan Moré2024–present
Current pastor, appointed in 2024.