Mission Statement
Embracing the Eucharist as the source and summit of our lives, we are a Catholic community committed to peace, justice and unity through worship, service, education and fellowship.
Definición de Nuestra Misión
Acogiendo la Eucaristía como la fuente y cima en nuestras vidas, somos una comunidad Católica comprometida a la paz, la justicia, y la unidad a través del culto, servicio, educación y fraternidad
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church was established on July 15, 1956 with Rev. Cornelius P. Flynn serving as pastor of some 250 Catholic families. The parish was created from the existing parishes of Saint Vincent de Paul and Holy Ghost for the southwest corner of Houston which was experiencing a period of rapid growth.
In the early months, Mass was celebrated at a local restaurant and then later at the neighborhood public school, Shearn Elementary. Over 600 attended the first Sunday Masses. Every Sunday morning a group of the men would go to the school early and set up the chairs and altar, and the parishioners were given scraps of carpet to serve as kneelers. Later a more sophisticated method was used, whereby long strips of carpet were unrolled by the ushers to form one long kneeler.
In 1957, a master plan was created with Charles Hightower, architect. The first church was built on the present site of the Parish Life Center. The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1957. The Women’s Club took on the duty of taking care of the altar and the vestments of Father Flynn and parishioners all brought grass sod to plant around the building which at the time saved the parish around $15,000.
Recognizing the need for a school and desiring to fulfill the parish's Christian mission of Catholic education, in 1958, the parishioners conducted a drive to raise money for a school. The school opened in 1959 and housed grades 1st through 6th under the leadership of the Dominican Sisters. The original buildings included nine classrooms, a library and the office. By that time, so many parishioners with school-age children had applied, there was a long wait list.
In 1959, the residence on the corner of Stella Link and Cheena was bought for a rectory and was remodeled to accomodate the needs of the parish.
In 1960, another drive was conducted to raise funds to add four more rooms to the school and to build a convent to house the Dominican Sisters who staffed the school with only a few lay teachers. The convent now serves as the parish office, known as the Eymard Center. By 1961, the parish had grown to 1200-1500 families. The parish boundaries were Almeda Road, Main Street and Braes Bayou, with no southern or southwest boundaries at all.
Msgr. Flynn retired in 1982 and Msgr. Jack Jones was appointed the second pastor and retired in 1987.
Since August 1, 1987, our parish has been administered by the priests, deacons and brothers of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, a worldwide religious order. The parish has benefited from exposure to the mission of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament with a growth of community spirit and devotion to the Eucharist.
Rev. Roland Laliberte, SSS - August 1987
Rev. Roger Prefontaine, SSS - October 1990
Rev. John Thomas Lane, SSS - August 1999
Rev. Dana Pelotte, SSS - August 2003
Rev. Tom Smithson, SSS - October 2013
Today, we are a culturally diverse and vibrant parish of over 1,400 families that continues to grow as a result of the generous sharing of time, talent and treasure by our wonderful parishioners. We offer numerous opportunities to serve and grow in community, prayer and education.
You will find a wonderful home here at Corpus Christi. Come and join us!
The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) is a religious order of Fathers, Deacons and Brothers dedicated to making known the mysteries of the Eucharist. Click here to go to the SSS website.
La Congregación del Santísimo Sacramento (SSS) es una orden religiosa de Sacerdotes, Diáconos, y Hermanos cuya misión es hacer mas conocidos los misterios de la Eucaristía. Haz click para entrar en el sitio del SSS
He once described himself as “a little like Jacob, always on a journey,” always seeking. But, in truth, it was there from the beginning―the great love and the driving passion of his life: Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
One day, young Peter Julian Eymard [pronounced A-mard], just five years of age, wandered off from the family home. His sister and half-sister searched frantically for the boy and finally located him in the parish church, standing on a stool close to the tabernacle of the high altar. In response to their anxious questioning, he answered simply, “I am here listening to Jesus.”
For more information about our Patron Saint visit Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.