In 1839, just three years after the Battle of San Jacinto, Pope Gregory XVI officially recognized the new Republic of Texas by creating a Texas prefecture. The Rev Jean Tomon (1797-1867) was appointed Prefect, and the Rev Jean Marie Odin (1801-1871) was appointed Vice-Prefect. Both priests were members of the Vincentian Order established by St Vincent de Paul in Paris in 1626. During these early years, the two priests traveled through Texas dispensing justice and ending the shameless exploitation of impoverished parishioners by canonically deposing many Mexican missionaries who had grown rich at the expense of their spiritual flock.
Late in 1841, Bishop Odin founded the first Catholic Church in the five-year-old city of Houston and named it after the founder of his order, St Vincent de Paul. Soon Bishop Odin sent to New Orleans for two cast bronze bells, one installed at St Vincent in 1843 and the other for St Mary's Cathedral in Galveston. In the late 1890s the St Vincent bell was moved to St Joseph's Church, 1505 Kane. However, the great storm of 1900 blew down St Joseph's bell tower, destroying the bell's ringing arms. Discarded and forgotten, it was not until 1940 when a young priest named John D Connelly and his helper, August Kutach, rediscovered the old bell buried beneath St Joseph’s elevated rectory. Fr Connelly facilitated the bell's removal to Annunciation Church, where it remains today, inside the Crawford Street entrance.
In 1940 construction began on the new St Vincent under the leadership of its first pastor, Fr Michael Leahy. This new church and rectory were located on a 1.9 acre site purchased for $3,000 by J E Nowrey and Roy Dean. At 10:30 am on February 23, 1941 - a cold, rainy Sunday - Fr Leahy dedicated the church and celebrated its first Mass. At summer's end 1941, Fr Leahy retired due to ill health and Fr John D Connolly - who the year before had rediscovered the St Vincent bell - was summoned from St Joseph's to become St Vincent's second pastor.
Fr Connolly served St Vincent for 34 years until, a Msgr Connolly, he retired in 1975. During his long tenure at St Vincent many changes occurred and much was accomplished. In the early 1940s, the first school opened (with four temporary classrooms, 165 children and four teaching Sisters of the Incarnate Word), the Girl and Boy Scout units were formed and the Legion of Mary was organized. In 1944, a 3.5 acre tract was acquired and the school was expanded. By 1948 a two-story school building was completed and, a year later, the men of the parish built the Boy Scout House using donated materials.
The decade of the 1950s saw continued growth and major construction. However, acquiring expansion land to the east of the existing parish property proved a major challenge. Those lands, on which St Vincent now stands, consisted of a narrow holdout strip along Buffalo Speedway and a 3.5 acre portion of a huge 500 acre tract owned by 18 investors. The investors envisioned the 5 acre tract as a major "gateway entrance" to their proposed project, which would stretch to the south of Bellaire Blvd (now Holcombe). Refusing to partition and sell to St Vincent their 5 acre "entrance", they demanded $500,000 for the entire 500 acre tract.
Faced with an apparent hopeless situation, but inspired by faith, Fr Connolly and Billy Bellew planted a medal of St Jude (the patron of hopeless cases) on the desired land. In 1950 the investors relented and St Vincent acquired the 5 acres; the St Jude Chapel is built on the spot where the medal was buried, marking the dramatic commencement of St Vincent's annual novena to St Jude. Late in 1951, the holdout strip also was acquired, and parish property finally occupied the entire corner at what is now Holcombe and Buffalo Speedway.
By June 2, 1951 the parish initiated a Capital Campaign to construct a new sanctuary. Construction began in late 1951 and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1953. A new rectory followed in 1956, followed by the gymnasium, cafeteria, and adjoining primary school building in 1958. In 1960, renovation of the convent for the Incarnate Word sisters began, with the convent completed by Thanksgiving Day of 1963 and blessed by Bishop Markovsky on December 14, 1963.
From the early 1960s until 1981 the parish expanded its ministries, retired debt and settled into its new spiritual home. Two significant additions were the 14 solid bronze church bells, purchased in 1968, and, in 1974, the purchase and installation of the church's pipe organ. Complete with 34 "speaking" stops, 54 ranks, and 2,617 pipes, the organ was the culmination of 23 years of planning and saving by the parish.
On June 16, 1975, Msgr Dexter George became St Vincent's third pastor, upon the retirement of Msgr Connolly. Msgr George's special ministry was his emphasis on bringing the parish of St Vincent de Paul closer together by, for example, his re-institution of the annual bazaars, the strengthening of and reliance on the Parish Council, and the re-examination and restructuring of the parish ministries. Following more than 9 years of faithful service to the parish, Msgr George retired and Fr Laurence Connolly became the 4th pastor. Fr Connolly served the parish for approximately one year, from 1984 to 1985.
In 1985, Bishop Joseph Fiorenza appointed Msgr James a Jamail as the 5th pastor of St Vincent, following several years of dedicated service by Msgr Jamail as the head of Catholic Charities. Eager to return to parish service, this was Msgr Jamail's second appointment to St Vincent; earlier, as Fr Jamail, he was an Associate pastor to Msgr John D Connolly. Upon his return, Msgr Jamail once again challenged the parish, this time to upgrade the church facilities and ministries to the level necessary to meet the needs of the 21st century. With complete faith and joy, the parish accepted the challenge and from 1985 to 1996 the parish forged a Mission Statement and Master Plan calling for a millennial renewal of all aspects of parish life - liturgical and spiritual services, the parish school and Religious Education program, social ministries, and evangelization activities - as we moved into the next century. Capital funding campaigns raised more than $5 million before 1995, and five new buildings were built and all physical components of the campus were renovated or remodeled. The newly-restored church is the capstone of the 15-year effort. The Lord says, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." It was with great joy that we returned to worship in our very beautiful church.
Monsignor James Jamail, Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, 1985 to 2002, went Home to the God he loved and serve so well, on May 5, 2002. His memory is alive in the hearts and minds of the people here at our parish. Look around St Vincent's and you will see a beautiful campus, every building of which was built or renovated through his inspiration and guidance. Yet, the lasting buildings which Monsignor has left o us are those built, not of stone, but of renewed faith, prayer, a love for the Eucharist and a loving, gentle spirit. We were all very important to him and he loved us so well. He truly was our "Beloved Pastor."
"I will not leave you orphans", Jesus told us Jesus kept His promise and sent to us Father John Weyer to be our pastor. Fr. Weyer comes with his own gifts and his own style. A unique and wonderful blessing which we have experience through his guidance is a renewed devotion to Our Lord through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Divine Mercy.
Father John has a free and easy style of administration, trusting his staff to be responsible and dedicated in their respective ministry. His friendly personality is catching. He is easily approached and always ready to listen.
We are grateful to our Bishop Fiorenza for sending Fr. John to us and thank God for Fr. John's pastoral care.
Throughout the most recent period of construction, renovation, and change, the parish has experienced tremendous growth. There are now over 3600 registered families in our parish. Our Catholic school annually operates at full capacity and the numerous Religious Education Programs, carefully developed to respond to the needs of the parish's children, parents, single adults, the retired and the elderly, have increased in popularity and participation. As a result, St Vincent now has 59 organized ministries in which its parishioners may join in Christian fellowship, sharing their time, talents, and faith with others.
As the spiritual heirs to the first Roman Catholic Church in Houston, we, the parish of St Vincent, hope to be good stewards of the many gifts and blessings God has given us and trust that our continuing faithful stewardship bears witness to the love of Christ in our lives.
We welcome you to our church, our community, and our family.
