St. Thomas More

Parish Identity & Patron

St. Thomas More Catholic Church takes its name and identity from Sir Thomas More (1478–1535), the English lawyer, scholar, author of Utopia, and Lord Chancellor of England who was executed by Henry VIII for refusing to acknowledge the king's supremacy over the Church. He was beatified in 1886 and canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI on the 400th anniversary of his martyrdom. In the year 2000, St. John Paul II declared him patron of political leaders. His famous last words, 'The King's good servant, but God's first,' are the parish's spiritual motto and the inspiration for the parish's call to integrate faith, family, and civic life. The parish's June 22 patronal feast day is observed each year in his honor.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Thomas More is a multi-track, age-tiered ministry that serves everyone from preschool through adulthood. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process welcomes adults and older children into the Catholic Church, and there are dedicated OCIA tracks for children in grades 2–5 and grades 6–8. Parish First Sacraments (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist) are offered at both the 2nd–5th grade and 6th–8th grade levels. Confirmation is a two-year journey: Year 1 ('Wonders of Faith') and Year 2 (Confirmation). High-school youth are served by Threshold, the parish youth group. Adult formation includes the Imago Dei program, Moral Theology Study, Bible Study, and an Infant Baptism Preparation course for parents.

• OCIA — Becoming Catholic (adults)
• OCIA for Children (grades 2–5 and 6–8)
• Parish First Sacraments (grades 2–5 and 6–8)
• Wonders of Faith (Confirmation Year 1)
• Confirmation (Year 2)
• Threshold Youth Group (high school)
• Infant Baptism Preparation
• Imago Dei adult formation
• Moral Theology Study
• Adult Bible Study

St. Thomas More Parish School

St. Thomas More Parish School is a Catholic Preschool–8th grade elementary school that has been part of the parish since 1965, when it opened with 513 students in grades 1–8. It has twice been honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1994 and 2014), the 2014 award placing it among only 50 private schools nationwide that year. The campus today features 28 classrooms, a cafeteria, library, science lab, art room, computer lab, two gymnasiums, a music room, a clinic, preschool and elementary playgrounds, and an athletic field. The school also runs an Extended Day Program (launched 1987) and an Early Childhood Program for three- and four-year-olds (launched 1988), both created to support working and single-parent families. Enrollment has averaged roughly 300–475 students in recent years, with 97–100% of graduating 8th graders typically accepted into private Catholic high schools.

• Opened September 7, 1965 (grades 1–8, 513 students)
• Kindergarten added 1981
• Extended Day Program launched 1987
• Early Childhood Program launched 1988 (16 pre-K students)
• National Blue Ribbon School 1994 and 2014
• Preschool (3 & 4 year olds) through 8th grade

Music & Liturgical Arts

Music is a central pillar of parish liturgy at St. Thomas More. Christopher Popelka serves as the full-time Director of Music ([email protected], 713-729-0221 x412), directing choirs and coordinating music for the parish's Sunday and weekday Masses. Each summer the Music Ministry hosts an Annual Choir Camp for students entering grades 4–8; the camp runs Monday through Friday with campers singing at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass on the final day. A $50 per-singer tuition helps support the program, which trains young voices for ongoing participation in the parish choir.

• Director of Music: Christopher Popelka
• Annual Choir Camp (typically July, grades 4–8)
• Parish choirs for English and Spanish Masses

Parish Staff & Clergy

The pastoral team is led by Rev. Oscar H. Dubon, named pastor in the most recent Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston appointment cycle (effective July 1). He succeeds Rev. Clark Sample (a 2001 St. Thomas High School alumnus who served first as administrator and then as pastor before being named Episcopal Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese) and Rev. Hai Duc Dang (pastor from July 1, 2014). Parochial vicars who have served the parish include Rev. Christopher Plant and Rev. Joseph Methanath, O.S.H., as well as Rev. Michael Faneye, M.S.P., who was assigned as parochial vicar in 2014. The lay staff includes Christopher Popelka (Director of Music), catechetical leaders, school faculty and administration, and parish office personnel.

• Pastor: Rev. Oscar H. Dubon
• Past Pastor: Rev. Clark Sample (Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston)
• Past Pastor: Rev. Hai Duc Dang (2014)
• Parochial Vicars (recent): Rev. Christopher Plant; Rev. Joseph Methanath, O.S.H.; Rev. Michael Faneye, M.S.P.
• Director of Music: Christopher Popelka

Get Involved: Ministries & Volunteering

St. Thomas More bills itself as a 'Family of Families' and offers extensive volunteer pathways. Anyone wishing to serve in any ministry involving children or vulnerable adults must complete the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training called CMG Safe Haven (galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org). Open volunteer roles include Nursery Leader and Assistant, Elementary and Middle School Catechists, Substitute Catechists, Classroom Aides, High School General Catechesis and Confirmation Team members, Bible Study Facilitators, and Infant Baptism Preparation and RCIA team members. The parish also relies on volunteers for its music ministry, annual Choir Camp, school programs, and social events.

• All parish ministers must complete CMG Safe Haven training
• Catechist roles: Nursery, Elementary, Middle School, High School
• Substitute Catechist opportunities
• Bible Study Facilitator
• Infant Baptism Preparation team
• RCIA / OCIA team

Sacraments & Devotions

The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptism requires parents to complete a preparation course; children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through the Parish First Sacraments program; Confirmation is the two-year 'Wonders of Faith' program culminating in Year 2. Adults and older children enter the Church through OCIA (English) or RICA (Spanish). Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation; the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request. Beyond the sacraments, the parish sustains Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and a daily weekday Rosary at 5:00 PM.

• Infant Baptism (preparation required)
• First Reconciliation & First Eucharist
• Confirmation (two-year)
• OCIA / RICA — Becoming Catholic
• Marriage (contact parish)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
• Daily Rosary (Mon–Fri 5:00 PM)

Visiting & Contact Information

St. Thomas More Catholic Church is located at 10330 Hillcroft St., Houston, TX 77096, on the Hillcroft corridor in southwest Houston near the Brays Bayou. The parish office can be reached by phone at (713) 729-0221 during business hours. The official website at stmhouston.org carries the live Mass and confession schedule, bulletins, online giving, new parishioner registration, faith formation sign-ups, and information on sacraments and devotions. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass, and perpetual adoration makes private prayer possible at any hour.

• Address: 10330 Hillcroft St., Houston, TX 77096
• Phone: (713) 729-0221
• Website: http://stmhouston.org/
• Online giving available via website
• New parishioner registration available via website