About St. John Vianney · Houston, Texas
St. John Vianney Catholic Church is a large, active Roman Catholic parish located at 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail in the Memorial / Energy Corridor area of West Houston, Texas, within the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. Founded in 1966 and named for the Curé d'Ars, patron saint of parish priests, it began with 300 families and has grown into one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese, today numbering roughly 6,000 families with one of the most diverse ministry portfolios in the city. The parish campus includes the main church (completed 2002), the Activity Center, ministries and music buildings, the recently opened Caritas Center for Social Services, and is closely associated with St. John Paul II Catholic School (PreK–8). It offers daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, robust faith formation for all ages, an extensive Social Services outreach, and one of the area's best-known Catholic resale ministries, Joseph's Coat.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney), the Curé d'Ars — patron saint of parish priests
- Rector
- Rev. R. Troy Gately
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. John Vianney offers an unusually broad range of ways to plug into parish life, making it easy for newcomers to find community regardless of age, language, or stage of life. English- and Spanish-speaking families can worship side by side at one of six Sunday Masses (including a 2:00 PM Spanish Mass) and weekday Masses, and engage with parish life through an extensive list of groups — youth, young adults, women, men, families, married couples, and many enrichment and support groups. The parish pairs this fellowship with strong sacramental preparation (OCIA / RCIA, baptism, first Communion, confirmation), a Catholic grade school (St. John Paul II Catholic School), a full music ministry, and one of the most developed Catholic Social Services outreaches in the Houston area — all anchored in a large, recently renovated church with daily Mass, adoration, and reconciliation.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM (typical Catholic-church schedule; verify on the parish's current Mass & Confession Schedule page at https://www.stjohnvianney.org/worship/mass-confession-schedule/)
- Also by appointment — see parish office, 281-497-1500
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration chapel / Eucharistic Adoration is offered at the parish; consult https://www.stjohnvianney.org for current hours.
Parish History & Heritage
St. John Vianney was founded in August 1966 by Bishop John L. Morkovsky of the (then) Diocese of Galveston–Houston — exactly 250 years after the Spanish Franciscan Venerable Antonio Margil de Jesús set out from Zacatecas to evangelize the frontier of what is now Texas. First pastor Fr. William L. Tinney celebrated the inaugural Mass on October 13, 1968, with about 300 families. The parish's story is intentionally told as the latest chapter in a 300-year arc of Catholic missionary work in Texas, from Fr. Margil (1716) to Bishop Jean Marie Odin (1842) to Bishop Wendelin J. Nold's purchase of land in the Memorial area, to Bishop Morkovsky's establishment of the parish in 1966. The parish has had four pastors and now numbers about 6,000 families.
- Founded August 1966 by Bishop John L. Morkovsky
- First Mass: October 13, 1968
- Founding pastor: Rev. William L. Tinney (1966–1979)
- Activity Center construction began 1977
- Music / lecture hall and ministries buildings completed November 1985
- New church completed fall 2002; first Mass Dec. 21, 2002
- 50th anniversary celebrated 2016–2017
- Caritas Center construction Dec. 2023 – Sept. 2024; Social Services move-in June 2025
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John Vianney is organized into Adult Formation and Youth Formation departments, each led by a dedicated director and supported by coordinators. Programs range from OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) to ongoing adult scripture study, Catholic Continuing Education (CCE) for children, youth ministry for middle and high schoolers, and sacrament preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Adult Formation Director: Yvonne Gill ([email protected], 281-584-2022)
- Youth Formation Director: Carolina Sayago
- OCIA for adults; RCIC for children/youth
- Adult Confirmation Prep
- Bible Study, The Main Course, The Great Adventure, Re-Membering Church, Sacred Story, Theology in Color, Joyful Women
- CCE for school-age children; First Reconciliation & First Communion; Youth Confirmation
- Middle School & High School Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry; Young Children's Program (ages 1–4); Children's Liturgy of the Word; Vacation Bible School
St. John Paul II Catholic School
Closely associated with the parish, St. John Paul II Catholic School serves PreK through 8th grade at 1400 Parkway Plaza Dr., Houston, TX 77077, and is identified in the parish bulletin as a parish-affiliated Catholic school (281-496-1500). It is a key partner in the parish's faith-formation mission and serves many SJV parish families.
- PreK–8th grade Catholic school
- 1400 Parkway Plaza Dr., Houston, TX 77077
- Phone: 281-496-1500
- Identified in parish bulletins as a parish-affiliated school
Music & Liturgical Ministries
St. John Vianney maintains a large Music Ministry under Director Michael Madrid, with associate directors for organ and Spanish music, plus a coordinator for CCE music. The 2016–2017 church renovations included installation of a new organ. Liturgical ministries (lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, hospitality) round out the worship experience.
- Director of Music: Michael Madrid
- Associate Director / Principal Organist (Cathy Null referenced in staff listings)
- Associate Director – Spanish Music (Pablo Martinez)
- Coordinator of CCE Music (Paula Cole)
- New organ installed as part of 2016–2017 church renovations
Social Services & Outreach
Social Services is a defining ministry of St. John Vianney, dating back to programs established under Msgr. Crosthwait. The parish runs emergency assistance, counseling referrals, a food pantry, and other outreach — and supports Joseph's Coat Resale Shop, one of the parish's most recognized ministries. With the new Caritas Center (construction completed Sept. 2024; Social Service Ministries moved in June 2025), this work is now housed in a purpose-built facility, while the former Social Services building was renamed Nazareth Hall.
- Director of Social Services: Deborah Alvarenga (also referenced as Deborah Montez)
- Joseph's Coat Resale Shop
- Emergency assistance and counseling referrals
- Food pantry and Respect Life Ministry
- Quarterly publication 'Salt and Light'
- New Caritas Center — construction Dec. 2023 – Sept. 2024, opened June 2025
- Nazareth Hall (former Social Services building) opened August 2024
Parish Life, Fellowship & Service
The Parish Life Ministry, directed by Richard Fairly, coordinates the many fellowship and service activities that hold the parish together. A wide range of groups are organized by age and family status, alongside enrichment and support groups, retreats, service missions, the Fall Bazaar, pilgrimages and trips, and a robust volunteer corps.
- Director of Parish Life: Richard Fairly
- Groups by Age & Family: Youth, Young Adults, Women, Men, Families, Married Couples
- Enrichment & Support Groups; Prayer & Devotions groups
- Retreats; Service Missions
- Joseph's Coat Resale Shop; Fall Bazaar
- Pilgrimages and Trips; Volunteer / Stewardship program
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, including infant baptism (with Baptism Prep), First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation (youth and adult), Marriage (with a dedicated Wedding Coordinator), Anointing of the Sick, and OCIA for adults entering the Church. Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life is directed by Deacon Jeff Willard (as of the Nov. 2019 bulletin).
- Baptism — contact Sandra Perez / Tim Leite for Baptism Prep
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation (youth & adult)
- Marriage — Wedding Coordinator: Carolyn Greene (281-497-1500 ext. 138)
- OCIA for adults; RCIC for children/youth
- Anointing of the Sick; Pastoral Care & Spiritual Life
Campus, Buildings & Recent Expansion
The St. John Vianney campus has grown continuously since 1968. Major facilities include the original church (pre-2002), the Activity Center (construction began 1977), the music/lecture hall and ministries buildings (completed 1985), the current main church (completed fall 2002), the former Social Services building (renamed Nazareth Hall in 2024), and the newly built Caritas Center (completed September 2024). In 2017 the parish acquired additional property at the corner of Nottingham and Memorial, the future home of Social Services and now the Caritas Center.
- Main church completed fall 2002; first Mass Dec. 21, 2002
- Activity Center (construction began 1977)
- Music / lecture hall and ministries buildings (completed Nov. 1985)
- 2016–2017 church renovations: new plaza, organ, bell tower, interior updates
- Caritas Center built Dec. 2023 – Sept. 2024; Social Services moved in June 2025
- Nazareth Hall opened August 2024
- Acquired property at Nottingham & Memorial in 2017
Visit, Contact & Connect
St. John Vianney invites visitors and newcomers to 'connect' through one of its many groups, devotions, or ministries. The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, and can be reached at 281-497-1500 or [email protected]. News, the weekly bulletin, photo galleries, and the Adult Formation blog 'Developing News' are all linked from the parish website.
- Address: 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079
- Phone: 281-497-1500 | Fax: 281-584-2024
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Weekly bulletin (English) published on the parish website
- Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William L. Tinney1966 – 1979
Founding pastor. Loved the Houston Oilers and had a St. Bernard named Bernie. Oversaw the first Mass (Oct. 13, 1968) and growth from 300 to ~1,600 families; Activity Center construction began 1977.
- Msgr. Joseph H. (Joe) CrosthwaitFebruary 1979 –
Second pastor. Music/lecture hall and ministries buildings completed November 1985. Parish grew to 4,075 families by March 1990. Established enduring ministry programs and social services.
- Rev. John MorfinJuly 1996 –
Third pastor. Led the major church-expansion project raised by Bishop Fiorenza in fall 1997. New church construction completed fall 2002; first Mass in new church Dec. 21, 2002, when parish had ~6,000 families.
- Rev. R. Troy GatelyJuly 2008 – present
Fourth pastor. Oversaw 50th anniversary (2016–2017), church renovations (plaza, organ, bell tower, interior updates), acquisition of new property at Nottingham & Memorial (2017), and construction of the Caritas Center / opening of Nazareth Hall (2024–2025).