Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church |
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| Location | 4000 Sumpter St, Houston, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Religious institute | Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart |
| Website | https://www.ourmotherofmercy.net/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Dedication | Virgin of Mercy |
| Dedicated | June 9, 1929 |
| Consecrated | |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | April 28, 1928 |
| Completed | |
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church is a special church in Houston, Texas. It is located in a neighborhood called Frenchtown, which is part of the Fifth Ward. This church was one of the first Catholic churches built for African Americans in Houston. It was also the very first one started by people known as Louisiana Creoles. The church is part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Many people, both Creole and non-Creole African Americans, have been members here.
The Church's Story
For a while, the closest Catholic church for Black people in the Fifth Ward was St. Nicholas. That church was about 3 miles (4.8 km) away in the Third Ward. In the 1920s, many Louisiana Creole people from Frenchtown went to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. It was the closest church to their neighborhood.
However, the Creole people were not treated fairly at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. They were made to confess and take communion after people of other races. They also had to sit in the back pews. Because of this unfair treatment, the Creole community decided to build their own church.
To raise money, families in the Creole community held many events. They organized dinners, dances, and parties. They sold delicious Louisiana Creole cuisine to collect the money needed for their new church.
In 1928, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston bought two city blocks on Sumpter Street. On April 28, 1928, they started building the church. The building was finished in the spring of 1929. The Josephites, a group of priests, helped pay for the church. On June 9, 1929, Bishop Byrne of Galveston-Houston officially blessed the new church.
The church later became a "diocesan church" on June 30, 1930. This means it was officially part of the local Catholic area.
Community Life
Historically, Our Mother of Mercy Church was a lively center for the community. It sponsored fun events like bazaars and dances. Alcohol was sometimes sold at these bazaars. This was different from many Protestant churches in Texas. Those churches often did not allow alcohol or dancing to popular music at their events.
Our Mother of Mercy School
| Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School | |
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Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School
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2010 Benson Street, Houston, Texas 77020
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| Coordinates | 29°46′49″N 95°19′48″W / 29.7802°N 95.3299°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Parochial, segregated |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Opened | 1930 or 1931 |
| Closed | 2009 |
| Grades | PreK-8 (initially 1-12) |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Last updated: December 29, 2017 | |
Our Mother of Mercy School opened in the fall of 1930 or 1931. It was a school for grades 1 through 12. The first teachers were the Sisters of the Holy Family from New Orleans. A convent (where nuns live) and a rectory (where priests live) were also built on the church property.
By World War II, more than half of Houston's Black Catholics had attended this church. Over 4,000 Black children, both Catholic and non-Catholic, went to its school. Other Black churches in areas like Acres Homes and Sunnyside often sent their members to Our Mother of Mercy.
The school closed in 2009. At that time, it taught students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade.
Famous People
- Joe Sample, a very famous jazz musician, had his funeral at this church.
See also
- History of African Americans in Houston
- Christianity in Houston
- Frenchy's Chicken (a restaurant chain in Houston with Louisiana Creole-style food)
