About St. John Chrysostom [Ruthenian] · Houston, Texas
St. John Chrysostom is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in northwest Houston, Texas, belonging to the Byzantine Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Though located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston, it is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris parish serving Byzantine Catholics of the greater Houston area. The parish worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, with English used for most of the Ruthenian Divine Liturgy and a Melkite Arabic/English liturgy also celebrated on Sundays. A small but devoted Byzantine Catholic congregation, it is led today by Father Thomas (Tom) Wells and two permanent deacons.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) Wells
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Metropolitan Church sui iuris) — geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. John Chrysostom offers Houston-area Byzantine Catholics a parish home in the Ruthenian liturgical tradition, with Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated in English, weekday services for Holy Days and Vigils, and the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent. Families considering the Catholic faith are welcomed through informal Inquirer Meetings, and the parish also hosts the Hungarian Greek Catholic (Melkite) Mission for Arabic-speaking faithful, making it a diverse center of Eastern Catholic worship in northwest Houston. With weekly Confession, online giving, online registration, and a livestreamed Sunday Liturgy, the parish is accessible for both longtime Byzantine faithful and newcomers exploring Eastern Christianity.
Mass times at St. John Chrysostom [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM
- By appointment (contact the rectory)
Parish Overview
St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church is the Ruthenian Catholic parish serving northwest Houston and the surrounding region. It is part of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church sui iuris, under the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, even though it sits geographically inside the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. The parish is led by Father Thomas (Tom) Wells as pastor, with two permanent deacons: Deacon Andrew F. Veres and Deacon David Dominguez (ordained in 2023).
- Jurisdiction: Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian)
- Pastor: Fr. Thomas (Tom) Wells
- Deacons: Andrew F. Veres; David Dominguez
- Address: 5402 Acorn Street, Houston, TX 77092
- Phone: (713) 681-3580
- Email: [email protected]
Parish History
The parish's roots go back to March 1982 and a meeting with Bishop John Bilock at Houston's Knights of Columbus Council #803. Father Robert Karl became the parish's first pastor in August 1982 and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy on Acorn Street on Christmas Day 1982. The church building (originally a 1963 Baptist church) was formally dedicated on October 21, 1984. The parish celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2022, and the mortgage was burned ten years after dedication in 1994.
- 1982 — Organizational meeting with Bishop John Bilock (March 12)
- June 20, 1982 — First Divine Liturgy at University of St. Thomas chapel
- August 1982 — Father Robert Karl becomes first pastor
- December 19, 1982 — Property at 5402 Acorn St. purchased
- December 25, 1982 — First Liturgy at the Acorn Street site
- October 21, 1984 — Church formally dedicated
- November 13, 1994 — Mortgage burning celebration
- 2022 — 40th Anniversary of the parish
Divine Liturgy & Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the Ruthenian tradition, primarily in English. The Sunday Liturgy at 10:00 AM is livestreamed, and the Third Hour is prayed at 9:40 AM before it. A second Sunday liturgy for the Melkite (Arabic/English) mission follows at 12:30 PM. During Great Lent, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts replaces the regular weekday liturgy on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 PM.
- Sunday Ruthenian Divine Liturgy — 10:00 AM (livestreamed)
- Sunday Melkite Mission Liturgy — 12:30 PM (Arabic/English)
- Third Hour — 9:40 AM Sunday
- Weekday Holy Days & Vigils — 6:00 PM
- Great Lent: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts — Wed & Fri 6:00 PM
- Saturdays: See Bulletin Liturgical Schedule
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) & Devotions
The parish prepares the faithful for, and celebrates, the seven Holy Mysteries of the Byzantine Catholic tradition. Confessions are heard each Sunday before Liturgy, and anointing and marriage are arranged through the rectory.
- Confession — Sunday 8:15–9:00 AM or by appointment
- Holy Matrimony (Marriage) — contact the rectory
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory
- Eucharist (Divine Liturgy) and other Mysteries celebrated according to the Byzantine calendar
Becoming Catholic & Parishioner Life
Inquirer Meetings are offered for those discerning the Catholic faith. These informal gatherings provide a relaxed environment for conversations about Catholic teaching and personal questions, with no fixed number of meetings and no commitment required. Contact Fr. Tom Wells for details.
- Inquirer Meetings — contact Fr. Tom Wells
- Online parish registration available via the parish website
- Online giving / donations supported
- Parish bulletins published regularly (available on the website)
Clergy & Diaconate
Father Thomas Wells serves as the current pastor. The parish is served by two permanent deacons: Deacon Andrew F. Veres, and Deacon David Dominguez, a longtime Houstonian who was ordained on November 29, 2023 by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the parish itself.
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) Wells — Pastor
- Deacon Andrew F. Veres
- Deacon David Dominguez — ordained November 29, 2023 at the parish
- Archbishop William C. Skurla — chief celebrant of the 2023 ordination
Greater Byzantine Catholic Context (Archeparchy of Pittsburgh)
St. John Chrysostom belongs to the Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh, the only Eastern Catholic Metropolitan Church in the United States. Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla heads the council of bishops that includes the Byzantine Catholic eparchies of Passaic, Parma, and Phoenix. The parish's website features an introduction to the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church for visitors and inquirers.
- Jurisdiction: Ruthenian Metropolitanate sui juris of Pittsburgh
- Head: His Eminence Archbishop William C. Skurla, D.D.
- Related eparchies: Passaic, Parma, Phoenix
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or social media. The church building sits in northwest Houston at 5402 Acorn Street, in the 77092 ZIP code.
- Address: 5402 Acorn Street, Houston, TX 77092
- Rectory phone: (713) 681-3580
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Deacon David Dominguez email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stjohnchrysostom.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintjohnchrysostomhouston
- Online registration available
- Livestreamed Sunday Divine Liturgy available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Karl1982 (first pastor)
First pastor of the parish; celebrated the inaugural Divine Liturgy on June 20, 1982 at the University of St. Thomas chapel and led the parish during its first months at the Earthman Funeral Home chapel before the Acorn Street property was purchased.