About St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church · Needville, Texas
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Needville, Texas, part of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. The parish has been the spiritual home of the Czech-heritage Catholic community of the Needville area since the original church was blessed by Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher on May 22, 1912, and it has grown from about 30 founding families into a multi-generational parish of several hundred families. Today the parish shares clergy, a website, and a weekly bulletin with its sister mission-turned-parish, Sts. Cyril & Methodius in Damon, and is led by Pastor Rev. Marty Pham and a lay staff of five.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Marty Pham
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a multigenerational Czech-heritage parish of about 750 families that still worships in the same sanctuary built in 1928 and rebuilt after the 1973 fire. With daily and weekend Mass, weekly Tuesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Saturday confessions, a parish-run Faith Formation program for elementary students and Youth Ministry, and active bodies like the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Knights of Columbus (Columbus Club Hall), it offers plenty of ways to worship, learn and serve. As pastor Fr. Marty Pham likes to say, the staff is available after every weekend Mass and the parish is looking for anyone who is looking for God.
Mass times at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Penance Services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM in the Chapel (suspended during summer; resumes after Labor Day in September)
- An additional Monday adoration schedule (6:00 AM – 10:00 PM) appears in an older parish bulletin
History of the Parish
St. Michael the Archangel traces its roots to Czech-settler Catholics who began arriving in the Needville area between 1901 and 1903. The first parish church was blessed by Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher on May 22, 1912 and paid for by about 30 Catholic families with help from non-Catholic neighbors. St. Michael was a mission of Holy Rosary in Rosenberg until January 17, 1926, when Bishop Christopher E. Byrnes appointed Father Innocent Raska as its first resident pastor. The current sanctuary, designed by Houston architect S. N. Nelson, was blessed on June 25, 1928, and was extensively restored by Te-Ko Contractors of Houston after a November 16, 1973 fire. Father James Ramsey, the fifteenth pastor, led the parish from 30 founding families to 750 families by 1994 and oversaw a 1992–1993 building program that added 16 classrooms, an Adoration Chapel and administrative offices.
- 1912: Original church blessed; 48 parishioners confirmed the same day
- 1926: St. Michael becomes a parish (ceases to be a mission)
- 1928: Present sanctuary blessed by Bishop C. E. Byrnes
- 1973–1974: Fire damage repaired by Te-Ko Contractors
- 1992–1993: 16 classrooms, Adoration Chapel, office space added
- 2014: Rev. Marty Pham installed as pastor (Aug. 4)
History of Needville
Needville was established in 1892 by Mr. and Mrs. August Schendel, who built a home and a general store on their 160-acre prairie tract. The community was successively named Schendelville, Needmore, and finally Needville. The Schendels supported many area churches by donating land and money, including the land for the first public school. In 1946–1947 the Needville, Brown, Forester, Seiler, Modena, Williams and Concord Schools merged to form the Needville Independent School District — the first merged district in Fort Bend County — and today the district serves over 2,500 students.
Parish Staff
The parish is pastorally led by Rev. Marty Pham, with a small but dedicated lay staff supporting worship, formation, administration and facilities. The Office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, at (979) 793-4477.
- Rev. Marty Pham – Pastor ([email protected])
- Patsy Pekar – Office Manager, Bulletin Editor ([email protected])
- Melissa Doggett – Parish Secretary/Receptionist ([email protected])
- Laura Buell – Bookkeeper, Housekeeper ([email protected])
- Veronica Kresse – Director of Religious Education, Liturgy Coordinator ([email protected])
- Junior Meuth – Maintenance
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish runs a Family Life Center-based program: elementary classes meet Wednesdays 5:45–6:45 PM, a Social Hour runs 5:45–7:15 PM in the FLC, and Youth Ministry classes follow from 7:15–8:30 PM. Online registration for the 2025–2026 school year opens July 1, 2025; classes for that year began Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Veronica Kresse serves as both Director of Religious Education and Liturgy Coordinator.
- Elementary Faith Formation, Wed 5:45–6:45 PM
- Social Hour (FLC), Wed 5:45–7:15 PM
- Youth Ministry, Wed 7:15–8:30 PM
- Three-step online registration opens July 1 each year
Sacraments
Information for Baptism and Marriage is published on the parish schedule page. Baptisms are normally celebrated on the second Sunday of each month after the 10:00 AM Mass; couples must contact the parish office at least six months before their wedding and complete required pre-marriage instruction. The Anointing of the Sick is offered communally at the First Friday Mass.
- Baptism: Second Sunday of the month after the 10:00 AM Mass
- Marriage: contact parish office at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: First Friday 8:00 AM Mass
- Confession: Saturdays 4:30–5:00 PM; Advent & Lent Penance Services
Parish Organizations
Lay associations include the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (Court chaplain Fr. Marty Pham) and the Knights of Columbus (which meets at the Columbus Club Hall; Monday-night bingo is currently suspended). The parish also has an Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry and committees for religious articles, mass cards, calling, senior meals, fundraising (July Raffle, February Drive-Thru & Bake Sale, Coushatta Trip), newsletter and budget/financial review.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Knights of Columbus (Columbus Club Hall)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry
- Religious Articles, Mass Cards, Calling Committee
- Senior Breakfast/Lunch, Fundraising, Newsletter, Finance
Parish Shrine & Memorials
During Father Joseph Klobouk's long tenure (1937–1954) the parish shrine was built and dedicated to parishioners who served in World War II and Vietnam. The names of those who gave their lives in active duty are inscribed on it, and the shrine remains a point of parish memory and prayer.
- WWII: Albert E. Jurca, Ignac W. Cernosek, Vit J. Barta, Edwin V. Janicek, Arnold Stavinoha, Peter Pekar
- Vietnam: Antonio Flores Jr., Manuel DeLuna Jr.
Visiting the Parish
St. Michael's is at 9214 Main Street, Needville, TX 77461. Important mailing note from the parish: mail MUST be addressed to P.O. Box 95, Needville, TX 77461 — the Post Office will not forward anything postmarked with the Main Street address. The church is open for silent prayer during Parish Office hours (Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM) and the pastor and staff are available after every weekend Mass.
- 9214 Main Street, Needville, TX 77461
- Mailing: P.O. Box 95, Needville, TX 77461
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Phone: (979) 793-4477
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Innocent Raska1926–1927
First pastor after St. Michael became a parish (no longer a mission) on January 17, 1926
- Father John E. Kalas1927–March 1933
Died suddenly in office; the only priest buried in St. Michael's Cemetery
- Father J. F. HanakMay 1933–June 1937
- Father Joseph KloboukJune 1937–January 1954
Longest-serving pastor; during his tenure the parish shrine was built honoring parishioners who served in WWII and Vietnam
- Father Gilbert F. PekarJanuary 1954–September 1960
Remodeled rectory with utility rooms and two-car garage; 1956 church redecoration
- Father T. W. KappeSeptember 1960 onwards
Followed Father Pekar; 'short' tenure at time of writing
- Father James RamseyFebruary 1991 onwards
Fifteenth pastor; oversaw growth from 30 founding families to 750 families by 1994 and the 1992–1993 building program
- Rev. Marty PhamInstalled August 4, 2014 to present
Ordained May 29, 2004; former Vietnamese 'Boat People' refugee, born in Da Nang in 1963; serves St. Michael and Sts. Cyril & Methodius jointly