Founding and Early Years (1964-1969)
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The Settegast Community, where St. Peter Claver is located, was established in the late 1940s. Initially, Catholic residents traveled to Our Mother of Mercy Church to attend Mass until the mission church was completed. The early catechism classes were held in local homes and stores, with guidance from Josephite Fathers Charles Tobin, Cornelius S. Sullivan, and Ralph U. McLane.
Under the leadership of Bishop Nold, a substantial amount of land was acquired for the Diocese, allowing the mission to evolve into a vibrant territorial parish. The support from African American founding parishioners and subsequent generations has been crucial to the parish’s growth.
In the year 1964, the need arose to build a Church closer to the people and make the presence of the Catholic Church felt in the Settegast Community. The church to be built was named Saint Peter Claver Catholic Church to reflect the heroic qualities of Saint Peter Claver, who is referred to as the "slave of slaves." This new church was established as a mission of Our Mother of Mercy Church.
The church’s frame structure was completed in June 1964. On July 27, 1964, Bishop Morkovsky, then the co-adjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, blessed the church, which was elevated to parish status in November 1964. Father Henry Harper, SSJ, served as the first pastor. At the foundation of the Church, the parish consisted of 125 families. The rectory was built in 1967, and the parish also includes a parish hall.
The early years of the Church were very important as the pastor, Father Harper, helped in strengthening the baby steps of the young parish, and he was greatly supported by the founding members of the Church. In September 1967, Father Harper was succeeded by Father John B. Doyle, SSJ. Notably, on February 8, 1969, St. Peter Claver Parish "became the first parish to have an African American pastor in the then Diocese of Galveston-Houston, in the person of Father Elbert F. Harris, SSJ. This marked a significant milestone in the African American community as one of our own was deemed fit to be a pastor. It should also be noted that this church became the seventh parish established by the Josephite Fathers and brothers in Houston.
Over the years and during her history, St. Peter Claver has not just been a place o worship for parishioners, it has also been a place of refuge, hope and shelter for the community of Settegast. Houston has experienced severe weather and hurricanes that have displaced people from their homes. Notable among the series of hurricanes that have caused great destruction in the community are Hurricane Rita in 2005, Hurricane Ike in 2008, and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. During these hurricanes, the Church became a shelter for the community, offering hope, faith, and love to the displaced people.
When Covid-19 hit in early 2020, and church doors were locked, Masses were streamed online, we pushed through it all and continued to reach out as much as possible. When the church was reopened after COVID, many still find it difficult to come back to church because of the traumatic experiences of the virus. As a church, we continued reaching out to our members through online masses and regular visits to the sick and elderly. We appreciate the support of parishes like Saint Rose of Lima and Saint John Vianney, which have been of great help to us in the Church.
Transition to a Full Parish Years of Growth, Hurricanes and Covid-19 (1970-2022)
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Celebrating 60 Years
The sixtieth anniversary of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in 2024 marked its Diamond Jubilee. The parish has been enriched by the contributions of every Josephite Priest and all priests who have served and enhanced the spiritual and cultural well-being of parishioners.
Since the last anniversary celebration, the parish has been guided by several priests, including Rev. Roland Ennette, SSJ; Rev. Romanus Muoneke, SSJ; Rev. Kenneth J. Howard, SSJ; Rev. Kingsley Ogbuji, SSJ; Rev. Thomas Frank, SSJ; and the current pastor, Rev. Augustine Adetola. These, and many others before them, have helped in shaping the course of our history as a church. They have nurtured and continue to nurture the faith in the minds of both young and old.
Community Impact and
Future Aspirations
Since its inception, St. Peter Claver Catholic Church has been a cornerstone of social service and support for its parishioners and the surrounding community. The parish has also embraced cultural diversity, offering Mass services in Spanish for Hispanic American families. The Spanish mass was added in 2013 to reflect the presence of the Hispanic population in the Settegast community and to make the church a home for everyone. From a church that began with 125 families, we can now boast of a church with over 300 families, as of our 60th anniversary.
We remain grateful to God who has led us for all these years, and we appreciate every family that has contributed to the growth and progress of this Church. We are filled with great eagerness and joy as we look to the future with hope and faith, confident that the next sixty years will be better than before.
Our 267th Pope
Pope Leo XIV
The 267th Bishop of Rome and the first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost) was elected after serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. Originally from the United States, he spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being chosen to lead the Augustinians for two terms. He is the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas, following Pope Francis.
HIS EXCELENCY JOE S. VASQUEZ
His Excellency Joe S. Vásquez is the metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston and pastor to its 2 million-plus Catholics (and the 7.1 million people within the Archdiocese) and 435 priests in 146 parishes and 54 schools spread over 8,880 square miles. His seats are St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Learn More
THE ARCH DIOCESE
We are a multicultural Church with active members from every continent of the world. We pray and celebrate in over 14 languages in 146 parishes. We participate in activities of social justice, support the good works of persons in other countries, prepare our children and young people to be responsible members of the community, and we do all this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Learn More