St. Joseph Catholic Church

Welcome and Mission

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston is a welcoming, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in the Old Sixth Ward that gathers a long-standing Anglo congregation alongside Black, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities. Its mission statement reads: 'Blest with families of multi-cultural diversity and empowered by the Holy Spirit, our welcoming community is committed to worship God, faith formation and spiritual growth as part of the Church's mission. We treasure our unity with the Catholic Church and its apostolic tradition. We gather in the name of Christ and are eager to know him and spread his Gospel.'

Our History

Founded in 1880 in Houston's Old Sixth Ward after the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament opened a school there in 1879, St. Joseph's is the first Catholic church built north of Buffalo Bayou and the second oldest existing parish in Houston. Its original wood-frame sanctuary was destroyed by the 1900 Galveston Hurricane; the present Romanesque Revival brick church was designed by Patrick S. Rabbit, built in 1901, and dedicated on February 23, 1902 by Bishop Gallagher of Galveston.

• 1879 — Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament open a school on Houston Avenue at Kane Street
• 1880 — Parish organized; Father James Grabinger appointed first pastor in 1881
• 1885 — Father Anthony Maury becomes pastor; builds first rectory
• 1893 — Parish purchases school from the sisters
• 1895 — Father J. B. Quinlin, S.J. arrives — parish's first Jesuit (six-month tenure)
• 1895/96 — Father Thomas Banfield begins 42-year pastorate
• September 8, 1900 — Great Galveston Hurricane destroys the church; only the Sacred Heart statue survives
• May 19, 1901 — Cornerstone laid for new brick church on Kane Street
• February 23, 1902 — Church dedicated by Bishop Gallagher of Galveston
• September 1938 — Father Banfield dies; succeeded by Rev. Joseph P. Sullivan and later Rev. Lawrence Lee
• July 1971 — Father Maurice Dho takes over; stabilizes parish finances
• 1974 — Restoration completed; Jesuits assume pastoral care
• 1977 — Multi-Ethnic Festival inaugurated
• 1981 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 1985 — 144 children paint the 'A United Community' mural on the school
• 1988 — Texas Historic Landmark designation; bronze St. Joseph statue by Eric Kaposta dedicated August 21, 1988

Architecture and Notable Interior Features

The current church is a Victorian Italian Romanesque (Romanesque Revival) basilica-plan building designed by Patrick S. Rabbit and constructed in 1901. The brick structure measures 53 feet wide by 123 feet long with a 40-foot clear ceiling height and features a composition gable roof, stone trim, and opus spicatum decorative brickwork.

• Architect: Patrick S. Rabbit (Galveston, trained under Nicholas J. Clayton)
• Construction supervisor: George E. Dickey
• American-marble main altar trimmed with Italian marble (installed March 1910, built by Ott Memorial Company of Galveston)
• Estey organ once displayed at the World's Fair in St. Louis
• Salvaged pews from the original wood-frame church (destroyed 1900)
• 1988 life-size bronze statue of St. Joseph by sculptor Eric Kaposta

Devotions and Special Services

Beyond the regular schedule, St. Joseph's hosts recurring devotions including Divine Mercy Adoration and Rosary several days a week, weekly Devociones a San José, monthly First Saturday Mass, and the First Friday 'Nicodemus' night of Eucharistic adoration and praise.

• First Saturday of the month: 9:00 am English Mass
• First Friday of the month: 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm 'Nicodemus' (Eucharistic adoration, passionate praise & worship)
• Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri at 3:00 pm — Divine Mercy Adoration & Rosary
• Wednesday 6:00 pm — Devociones a San José
• Wednesday 7:00 pm — Bible Study via Zoom

Clergy and Parish Staff

The parish is led by Fr. Victor C. Perez as Pastor (who also serves St. Stephen Parish), assisted by Fr. Paul Hoang, C.S.Sp. as Priest in Residence and Deacon Glen Pennell. A full lay staff handles faith formation, music, liturgy, social ministry, youth and young adult outreach, and parish operations.

• Rev. Victor C. Perez — Pastor
• Rev. Paul Hoang, C.S.Sp. — Priest in Residence
• Deacon Glen Pennell
• Anahi Gonzalez — Business Manager
• Diana B. Treviño — Parish Secretary
• Juanita Alonso — Receptionist
• Viridiana Gamboa / Maria R. Castillo — Director of Faith Formation / DRE
• Ani Gonzalez — Music Director
• Brystin Whitinger — Youth Ministry (Adore Ministries)
• Angie Hilbun — Coordinator for Young Adult Evangelization
• Janie Benitez — Liturgy Coordinator
• Clarivel Rodriguez — Social Ministry Coordinator
• Lina Salgado — Housekeeping; Juan Carlos Restrepo — Maintenance
• Javier David Tamayo — Pastoral Council Chairman
• Adrian Gonzalez — Finance Council Chairman

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The Faith Formation Department serves the communities of both St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parishes under Fr. Victor C. Perez. Programs are offered in English and Spanish for every age, from pre-K through adulthood, including preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation. All catechists, teachers, and volunteers must complete the Archdiocesan Safe Haven training and pass a background check.

• Elementary (Pre-K through 6th grade) — English and Spanish
• Junior High (grades 7–8) — English
• High School Youth Ministry — Adore Ministries, English
• Young Adult Ministry — Adore Ministries, English
• RCIA for children and adults — English and Spanish
• Adult Faith Formation — classes, retreats, seminars, workshops, guest speakers
• Contact: 713-222-6579 / [email protected]

Social Ministry and Outreach

St. Joseph's is recognized as a model of inner-city church revitalization. Its Social Ministry Office coordinates help for the homeless, low-income families, the homebound, and seniors, supported by a food pantry and financial assistance program. The parish also runs a senior citizens' nutritional center and a job placement program.

• Services for the Homeless: Monday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Wednesday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Services for Low-Income Families: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, and 4th Saturday 8:30 – 11:30 am
• Food Pantry — non-perishable food and monetary donations accepted
• Financial Assistance Program
• Senior Citizens Nutritional Center
• Job Placement Program
• Homebound Ministry (Communion visits: 713-882-7075)
• Social Ministry Office: 713-222-8903 / [email protected]

Parish Groups, Councils, and Community Life

Beyond the liturgy and outreach, St. Joseph's is sustained by parish councils, lay groups, and an annual community festival that draws Sixth Ward residents and visitors from across Houston.

• Grupo Guadalupano — meets 2nd Sunday of the month; contact Eloisa Villarreal 832-495-6240
• Legion of Mary — Tuesdays 6:30 pm in the School Building
• That Man Is You (TMIY) — Wednesdays 6:00 am online; info 832-392-1514
• Pastoral Council — chaired by Javier David Tamayo (832-392-1514)
• Finance Council — chaired by Adrian Gonzalez (713-628-3266)
• Multi-Ethnic Festival — annual two-day community festival founded 1977

Sacraments at St. Joseph's

The parish prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, with separate channels for sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA) and for the sacraments of healing and service (Anointing, Matrimony, Holy Orders referrals, Funerals).

• Baptism (newborns to age 6) — register at the parish office on weekdays
• First Communion & Confirmation — via the CCE / Faith Formation Office (713-222-6579)
• Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office before surgery or in serious illness
• Matrimony — contact the parish office to begin preparation
• RCIA — via the CCE Office (713-222-6579)
• Funerals — call the Parish Office (713-222-6193)
• Sacramental emergency: 713-222-6193, extension #7

Visit, Giving, and Contact

Parishioners and visitors can worship, register, and give online through Pushpay. The parish also publishes a weekly bilingual bulletin with Mass intentions, announcements, and parish news, and offers a free parish app for iOS.

• Address: 1505 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007-7711
• Phone: (713) 222-6193 | Fax: (713) 222-1729
• Email: [email protected]
• Online giving: pushpay.com/stjosephhouston or text stjosephhouston to 833-245-5445
• Parish notifications: text SJHouston to 84576 (Flocknote)
• Parish app: 'St Joseph Church Houston' on the App Store
• Festival Facebook: facebook.com/SaintJosephFestival