Saint Christophers Catholic Church

Step back in time, and picture the Park Place Addition, a burgeoning area in southeast Houston. In the 1920s, this was a thriving community with spacious houses, gardens, and orchards, offering a feeling of country living. However, local Catholics had a different vision. They yearned for a church of their own, a place to gather as a faith community. So, in January 1922, several Catholic families came together to discuss building a church and school. They named it Park Place Catholic Association and set about finding a perfect spot for their future church. They found five home sites and traveled to Galveston to meet with Bishop Christopher Byrne, who gave his approval for the land purchase. The Association’s members, with generous support from the community, organized bazaars, sold home-made chili, even raffled off a quilt, to raise funds for the construction. They knew the church was going to be named after the patron saint of travelers, Saint Christopher. On August 31, 1924, the small one-story brick building was dedicated by Bishop Byrne, marking a monumental day for the community. They named the diocesan Chancellor, Fr. Louis Reicher, as the first pastor. For the next seventeen years, Father Reicher, despite his busy schedule at the Chancery in Galveston, would commute every Sunday and holy day to offer Mass at Saint Christophers Catholic Church. He helped to establish several groups like the Women’s Club, the Holy Name Society, and the Third Order Franciscans. St. Christopher continued to blossom, and within a year, the student population at the three-room school had more than doubled. The parish grew, and by 1941, it counted 173 families. Sadly, in 1948, St. Christopher had to relocate due to the city’s plans for a new freeway. It was a bittersweet moment for the community because, in the same year, Fr. Reicher, their beloved first pastor, was named Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Austin. The celebration, however, was short-lived. With the new freeway construction planned, the church’s land was divided, and they had to move to ensure they stayed strong and united. The community rallied once again, and on July 25, 1948, a new church site was chosen on Park Place Boulevard. Bishop Byrne, at the time, supported the move and blessed the new church and rectory, built the year after. Their dedication to serve their community didn’t stop there. The parish school was expanded in 1963, and two years later, another story was added to the building. They continued to expand, sponsoring various social and service groups. By 1974, they celebrated their 50th anniversary, and by the end of the 1970s, the parish began to reflect the changing demographics of Houston, becoming more ethnically diverse. Today, St. Christopher’s remains a place of unity and spiritual growth. It’s a testament to the enduring power of faith and community spirit.