Churches in Texas/Vacations

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Hilarion1021

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I live in Houston and I would like to make visiting historically important or aesthetically beautiful Catholic churches a part of my family’s vacations and as pilgrimages.

**I’d like to make a list of potential churches to visit and I’m coming to you fine folks for suggestions. ** Surely there are some Catholic Texans here. I know that the missions in San Antonio, along with the three basilicas (Little Flower in SA, St. Mary’s in Galveston, and St. Anthony’s in Beaumont) are obvious musts.

In general I’m looking to stay in-state, but if there is something nearby in a border state or Mexico that you know of, I’d like to include it as well.

Also, I’m more interested in the church itself, meaning the building, grounds, etc. If the current pastor is, um, less than orthodox, that’s good information, but it’s not going to affect my decision to include it on a list of churches to visit. Likewise, it’s useful if you know that Fr. John of St. Uglys is a great priest who is 100% orthodox, but I’d only be interested in taking my kids to ugly churches just to show them the contrast.
 
Hilarion1021 said:
I live in Houston and I would like to make visiting historically important or aesthetically beautiful Catholic churches a part of my family’s vacations and as pilgrimages.

**I’d like to make a list of potential churches to visit and I’m coming to you fine folks for suggestions. ** Surely there are some Catholic Texans here. I know that the missions in San Antonio, along with the three basilicas (Little Flower in SA, St. Mary’s in Galveston, and St. Anthony’s in Beaumont) are obvious musts.

In general I’m looking to stay in-state, but if there is something nearby in a border state or Mexico that you know of, I’d like to include it as well.

Also, I’m more interested in the church itself, meaning the building, grounds, etc. If the current pastor is, um, less than orthodox, that’s good information, but it’s not going to affect my decision to include it on a list of churches to visit. Likewise, it’s useful if you know that Fr. John of St. Uglys is a great priest who is 100% orthodox, but I’d only be interested in taking my kids to ugly churches just to show them the contrast.
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The painted churches of Texas are such a big deal that there are organized trips to go look at them.

There must also be some interesting New Orleans churches.
 
Hilarion1021 said:
I live in Houston and I would like to make visiting historically important or aesthetically beautiful Catholic churches a part of my family’s vacations and as pilgrimages.

**I’d like to make a list of potential churches to visit and I’m coming to you fine folks for suggestions. ** Surely there are some Catholic Texans here. I know that the missions in San Antonio, along with the three basilicas (Little Flower in SA, St. Mary’s in Galveston, and St. Anthony’s in Beaumont) are obvious musts.
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Painted Churches. Go to the Schulenburg chamber website.

Sacred Heart & St Patrick’s in Galveston

Annunciation in downtown Houston

The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle
 
I was going to say the painted churches also. Some of those are an easy drive for you.

A little further out, I would suggest St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rhineland,TX
stjosephrhineland.org/

A small church, a long ways from you, is St Mary’s in Umbarger (not the same priest was the founder of the town of Rhineland and Umbarger). It is small, but very beautiful. It has a unique history, as the art (mainly beautiful murals) and finish work was done by Italian POWs during WWII. Many of those POWs would come back for reunions they were so proud of their work.

stmarysumbarger.com/

Finally, there are actually four basilicas in Texas, you missed:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_the_National_Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_San_Juan_del_Valle
 
tafan said:
I was going to say the painted churches also. Some of those are an easy drive for you.

A little further out, I would suggest St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rhineland,TX
stjosephrhineland.org/

A small church, a long ways from you, is St Mary’s in Umbarger (note: the same priest was the founder of the town of Rhineland and Umbarger). It is small, but very beautiful. It has a unique history, as the art (mainly beautiful murals) and finish work was done by Italian POWs during WWII. Many of those POWs would come back for reunions they were so proud of their work.

stmarysumbarger.com/

Finally, there are actually four basilicas in Texas, you missed:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_the_National_Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_San_Juan_del_Valle
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Look up the painted churches of Texas. These include several Polish, Czech, and German parishes across south Texas. The most beautiful ones in my opinion are: St. Mary’s in Fredericksburg, Immaculate Conception in Panna Maria (a tiny Polish community about an hour SE of San Antonio), Nativity of the BVM in Schulenburg, and SS Cyril and Methodius in Dubina (a tiny Czech community about 5 miles NE of Schulenburg; off of I-10).
 
atonementonline.com

Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio is an Ordinriate parish with historical significance. It is the first “Anglican Use” parish in the US. Meaning, before the Ordinariate was formed, JPII offered a safe haven on an individual basis.

This parish was formed during that time under the protection of the local Bishop. They came into the Ordinariate earlier this year.
 
ChurchSoldier said:
atonementonline.com

Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio is an Ordinriate parish with historical significance. It is the first “Anglican Use” parish in the US. Meaning, before the Ordinariate was formed, JPII offered a safe haven on an individual basis.

This parish was formed during that time under the protection of the local Bishop. They came into the Ordinariate earlier this year.
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Our Lady of Walsingham is another beautiful Ordinriate parish in Houston. In fact, I believe it is another one of the Anglican use parishes that preceded the Ordinriate.
 
You specify historically or aesthetic, so a new church should be ok to recommend:. St Francis of Assisi in Frisco TX is great.
 
If you are ever nearby, I would suggest St. Paul the Apostle in Horseshoe Bay. It has an interesting history (served both Catholics and Protestants of the town for 10 years), beautiful etched glass, statues and icons, and a new Honor Garden that has taken shape but is still in progress. It sits atop Thanksgiving Mountain and overlooks Lake LBJ and the surrounding hill country… beautiful panoramic views.

I am a recent convert and have not visited many Catholic churches but this one I believe many will find memorable. The style is understated and simple, with surprising, hidden beauty that reveals itself in a natural way. For me it is as close to finding a lovely place in nature to worship the Lord as could be found within a building.

It is a Paulist church.

stpaulshorseshoebay.org/about-us-1

Hope you will post pictures of the places you visit!

eel 🙂
 
ChurchSoldier said:
👍 Thanks!
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I guess I should suggest my own parish haha! If you’re ever in the Dallas area, visit St. Thomas Aquinas parish, or Mater Dei Latin Mass Parish. They’re both beautiful traditional parishes that I frequently attend Mass at.
 
giuseppe96 said:
Our Lady of Walsingham is another beautiful Ordinriate parish in Houston. In fact, I believe it is another one of the Anglican use parishes that preceded the Ordinriate.
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It is also our cathedral church. His Excellency Bp. Steven Lopes was appointed to be our first bishop and was consecrated last year, thus transforming Walsingham from the principal church of the ordinariate to a cathedral proper.
 
Hilarion1021 said:
I live in Houston and I would like to make visiting historically important or aesthetically beautiful Catholic churches a part of my family’s vacations and as pilgrimages.

**I’d like to make a list of potential churches to visit and I’m coming to you fine folks for suggestions. ** Surely there are some Catholic Texans here. I know that the missions in San Antonio, along with the three basilicas (Little Flower in SA, St. Mary’s in Galveston, and St. Anthony’s in Beaumont) are obvious musts.

In general I’m looking to stay in-state, but if there is something nearby in a border state or Mexico that you know of, I’d like to include it as well.

Also, I’m more interested in the church itself, meaning the building, grounds, etc. If the current pastor is, um, less than orthodox, that’s good information, but it’s not going to affect my decision to include it on a list of churches to visit. Likewise, it’s useful if you know that Fr. John of St. Uglys is a great priest who is 100% orthodox, but I’d only be interested in taking my kids to ugly churches just to show them the contrast.
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For an Eastern Catholic church in San Antonio, try St. George Maronite Catholic Church. While the inside may not be much to look at from a Latin perspective, I do think it is important to introduce our children (speaking in general terms) to the Eastern Catholic churches sui juris, that way they don’t grow up thinking that to be in full communion with the Pope of Rome (as opposed to the Pope of Alexandria), one has to be of the Latin Church, or that to be Eastern one has to be Eastern or Oriental Orthodox.
 
tafan said:
I was going to say the painted churches also. Some of those are an easy drive for you.

A little further out, I would suggest St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rhineland,TX
stjosephrhineland.org/
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Speaking of St. Joseph, you might want to try St. Joseph Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX, next to the Rivercenter Mall.
 
angelic06 said:
For an Eastern Catholic church in San Antonio, try St. George Maronite Catholic Church. While the inside may not be much to look at from a Latin perspective, I do think it is important to introduce our children (speaking in general terms) to the Eastern Catholic churches sui juris, that way they don’t grow up thinking that to be in full communion with the Pope of Rome (as opposed to the Pope of Alexandria), one has to be of the Latin Church, or that to be Eastern one has to be Eastern or Oriental Orthodox.
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I wholly agree with this. I went to St. George’s many years ago. I’ve never taken my kids to an Eastern Catholic parish, but we do have a variety of them here in Houston, including St. John Chrysostom.
 
You’ve all listed some great places. Thank you for your suggestions. I’m always open to new ones!
 
tafan said:
You specify historically or aesthetic, so a new church should be ok to recommend:. St Francis of Assisi in Frisco TX is great.
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Thanks. New churches are great, too. The point is that I’d like to use the buildings themselves as a teaching tool. The church (both building and parish) we go to now is new and beautiful. However, they are quite familiar with the drab churches in the area. I want them to be exposed to the beauty of the church as much as possible. In my opinion, this sticks to people’s hearts better than any homily, CCD class, or lecture.
 
Hilarion1021 said:
Thanks. New churches are great, too. The point is that I’d like to use the buildings themselves as a teaching tool. The church (both building and parish) we go to now is new and beautiful. However, they are quite familiar with the drab churches in the area. I want them to be exposed to the beauty of the church as much as possible. In my opinion, this sticks to people’s hearts better than any homily, CCD class, or lecture.
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Completely understood. You will not be disappointed with St Francis of Assisi in Frisco if you ever go. I love old beautiful churches as much as anyone, and I dislike most modern churches, but there is a revival that is now happening. I am finding even some modern style churches finally being well done. Though, St Francis is not really even a modern style, it is very much a traditional design.

I second the vote for St Thomas Aquinas in Dallas, it is likely the most beautiful church in Dallas. Christ the King is also very beautiful.

Finally, I should have thought of this one: if you are ever making the drive between Houston and Dallas, stop in Ennis Tx and see St. John Nepomucene.
 
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