Worship

Parish Mission Statement

We, the Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea, are a people united in the love of Jesus Christ. We use our different talents and gifts to encourage the spread of God's Kingdom on earth, which is the will of our Father in Heaven.


Parish History

The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea was established in 1926 by Bishop Christopher E. Byrne. The Hunt Lumber Company built the white, frame church with a high peaked roof, braced to withstand the elements of the Gulf of Mexico.

That same year St. Agnes Church was razed and from the salvaged lumber, a parish hall was erected adjacent to the church at 410 Broad Street. Bishop Byrne appointed Father L.A. Sampson as resident pastor. At the time the parish population totaled 75 families with 80 percent of them of German descent. The other 20 percent consisted of American, French, Bohemian, and Mexican families.

Two years later, Father George Elmendorf succeeded Father Sampson. He attended the surrounding missions of Danbury, Brazoria, Anchor, and Angleton, an area of over 50 miles. Serving 800 scattered Catholics (many of whom spoke only their native language), Father Elmendorf had to brush up on many languages in order to hear confessions and administer the other sacraments properly. The first Baptism was conducted on February 18, 1928 for a one month old infant named Willie May Mendoza.

In 1947, the old church and rectory were turned in a convent and school in preparation for the arrival of the Sisters of Loretto who came to staff the parish elementary school. (After many years of dedicated service, the Sisters of Loretto left the parish in 1965.)
 
During that time, the parish plant was moved from West Broad to Velasco Boulevard.
St Mary Star of the Sea Church and rectory were built in 1949 under the direction of Fr. Thomas J. Prendergast with a proposed cost of $250,000. The church was dedicated on May 11, 1949. Father Prendergast was the pastor from 1947-1959.
 
The present church has a Spanish design and was damaged by Hurricane Carla in September 1961, with subsequent restoration under the guidance of Father George Beck.
 
On June 30, 2004, the parish welcomed the congregants from the former St. Henry Catholic Church in full fellowship with the St. Mary community.

Today, St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church has eight staff members assisting the approximately 550 families that it services.