About St. John Neumann · Houston, Texas
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a multilingual, Scalabrinian-missioned parish located at 2730 Nelwood Drive in northwest Houston, Texas, serving the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1977. The parish is staffed by the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians), a religious congregation founded by St. John Baptist Scalabrini to accompany migrants, and reflects that charism through weekend Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is a worshiping, catechetical, and fellowship community described by its mission as disciples who celebrate the Liturgy, formation, fellowship, and ministry together.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (patron of the parish); St. John Baptist Scalabrini is patron of the religious congregation (Missionaries of St. Charles / Scalabrinians) that staffs the parish
- Rector
- Rev. Clair Antonio Orso, c.s.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. John Neumann offers something rare in the Archdiocese: a trilingual Catholic community where you can hear the Gospel proclaimed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese in a single weekend. The parish is a Scalabrinian mission — staffed by the Missionaries of St. Charles, the congregation founded by St. John Baptist Scalabrini for migrants — so newcomers and immigrants find a home here that takes seriously being 'a Church without borders, a safe home and a family for all.' Daily Mass, a Saturday vigil, and a full Spanish and Portuguese Sunday schedule, plus Eucharistic Adoration several times a week and a confessional ministry on Saturdays and Wednesdays, make it a richly sacramental parish in northwest Houston.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (English)
- Wednesday & Thursday 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Español)
Our Identity and Mission
St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Houston is a Roman Catholic community called by the Father in the Spirit to celebrate diversity and to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ through the Liturgy, Christian Formation, Fellowship, and Ministry. Following the charism of St. John Baptist Scalabrini, the Missionaries of St. Charles (the Scalabrinians) staff the parish with a mission they describe as 'migrants with migrants.' In the words of the parish: 'In every brother who journeys, we see the face of Christ. Let us open our hearts, becoming a Church without borders — a safe home and a family for all.'
- Trilingual worship: English, Spanish, and Portuguese
- Scalabrinian missionary identity and charism
- Mission: Liturgy, Christian Formation, Fellowship, and Ministry
History
Founded in 1977 (per the GCatholic directory), St. John Neumann parish has served the northwest Houston area for nearly five decades as part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The community developed into a multicultural home anchored by the Scalabrinian Fathers, and today Mass is regularly celebrated in three languages. Pastoral care has been provided by a series of Scalabrinian priests assigned through the Archdiocese.
- Founded: 1977
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
- Scalabrinian Fathers (Missionaries of St. Charles) on staff continuously
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by a team of Scalabrinian priests (Missionaries of St. Charles, c.s.) assigned by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, with lay staff supporting parish operations.
- Rev. Clair Antonio Orso, c.s. — Pastor
- Rev. Pierre Vertus, c.s. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Oktovinaris Sabnani, c.s. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Toan Nguyen, c.s. — Parochial Vicar
- Hector Carr — Maintenance
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteers serve the parish through a variety of liturgical ministries, with rosters scheduled for each Mass time in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The parish website describes their purpose as facilitating 'a reverent, orderly, and deeply prayerful celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, enabling the congregation to actively encounter Jesus Christ.'
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (distribute the Eucharist at Mass and bring it to the homebound)
Parish Groups
The parish hosts lay and devotional groups that build community and extend the Scalabrinian mission.
- Amigos de Scalabrini
Faith Formation and Catechism (Catecismo)
St. John Neumann runs a parish catechetical program (catecismo) for children and youth, with both English and Spanish tracks. Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the program, and parents attend mandatory orientations before their children begin preparation for First Confession and First Communion, Confirmation, and the children's RCIA (RICA) process.
- Catechism Office: 281-931-1884
- Sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- RCIA / RICA for adults and children (bilingual orientation)
- Office hours for the CCE Office: Monday–Wednesday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Thursday 9:30 AM–4:30 PM; Wednesday evening 12:00 PM–8:00 PM
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The website gives particular attention to the Anointing of the Sick and to the family-oriented programs of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and the RCIA process).
- Anointing of the Sick
- Baptism and Christian Initiation (RCIA / RICA)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (contact the parish office)
- Holy Orders / Vocations (through the Archdiocese)
Contact, Office Hours, and Location
The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday. Both the main Parish Office and the Catechism Office (CCE) share the same physical address on Nelwood Drive in northwest Houston, and the parish publishes both phone lines, fax, and a single parish email ([email protected]).
- Address: 2730 Nelwood Drive, Houston, TX 77038
- Parish Office: 281-931-0684 — Fax: 281-931-5363
- Catechism / CCE Office: 281-931-1884
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (Thursday opens at 9:30 AM); closed for lunch 1:00–2:00 PM daily
- Facebook: St. John Neumann Catholic Church-Houston, Texas
- YouTube: St John Neumann Houston