About the Catholic Church in the Houston Area:
The city of Houston is part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Although the population of Houston far overshadows the city of Galveston today, at one time Galveston (just 25 miles away on the Gulf coast) was a major city in Texas, while Houston was much smaller. The Diocese of Galveston encompassed the entire state of Texas, was ministered to by Bishop Odin and ten priests. In 1874, the Diocese of Galveston was split when the western half of the State of Texas was established as the Diocese of San Antonio. Since then of course, Texas has grown tremendously and has several more Dioceses in the state.
The economic engine that was Galveston changed after the hurricane of 1900, which basically destroyed almost the entire city of Galveston and its economy.
Although it never regained its prominent position on the Texas Gulf Coast, the city was re-built and today Galveston is a major cruise port as well as a popular vacation destination.
Due to the tremendous growth in the city of Houston, Pope John XXIII designated the city of Houston to be an episcopal city, effective on December 24, 1959. Thus the Diocese of Galveston was henceforth to be known as the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.
This did not change the status of the city of Galveston as an episcopal city established in 1847, the first such city in the state of Texas. With the elevation of Sacred Heart Parish to a Co-Cathedral, it became co-equal in rank with Saint Mary Cathedral in Galveston. With this designation, an episcopal chair was also installed in Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.
Here are a few Catholic places of interest in the Houston area:
City of Houston:
Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (Anglican use of the Roman Rite)
Christ the Incarnate Word Catholic Church (Vietnamese)
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church (Mass in Polish)
Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (first Catholic church in Houston…Adoration Chapel)
Nearby Houston:
Dickinson: Shrine of the True Cross
Friendswood: Mary Queen Church (La Salette Fathers mission church)
Galveston: Many Catholic places of interest plus cruise port.
Pattison: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Pearland: Saint Mary’s Syro Malabar Catholic Church
Sugar Land: Saint Vincent Catholic Church
Traveling to Houston, Texas:
By air: There are two major commercial airports in Houston.
Houston Intercontinental Airport (code IAH), located north of the city, is the main airport for international and many domestic flights.
The older Houston Hobby Airport south of the city is closer to downtown and serves mostly commuter airlines such as Southwest Airlines.
By car: Houston is located along Interstate 10.
By train:
There is currently only one option, but work is progressing on a second option.
Amtrak: Amtrak has train service to Houston on its Sunset Limited route, connecting travelers to destinations across Texas, Louisiana, and beyond. The station is located at 1066 Elder St, Washington Avenue-Memorial, TX. Opened by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1960, the depot features a bright and airy waiting room with full length windows. Wall panels trace the history of railroading in the city and region
Texas high-speed train: Texas is pursuing a $30 billion high‑speed rail between Dallas and Houston using Japanese Shinkansen N700S technology, aiming to cut the 240-mile (386 km) trip to under 90 minutes. Proposed by Texas Central Partners as a fully private venture, it promises economic growth, reduced traffic on I‑45, and lower emissions. The project has faced decades of delays from legal disputes, land acquisition resistance, leadership changes, and funding challenges, but recent collaboration with Amtrak and a federal planning grant have revived optimism for its future.
The Houston high-speed passenger station will be located at the Northwest Mall site near the interchange of US 290 and Interstate 610 in northwest Houston. The terminal will be ideally located in a high-growth area, with easy access to employment centers, including the Galleria, the Energy Corridor, the Medical Center and downtown.