St. Peter Claver Church, Houston Texas, has the distinction of being the first in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston to have an African American pastor, Father Elbert F. Harris, SSJ. Father Harris succeeded Father John B. Doyle, SSJ the second pastor on February 8, 1969. 

The frame structure was in place over four months when Bishop John L. Morkovsky elevated it to parish status in November, 1964 with Father Henry Harper, SSJ as pastor.  The population totaled 125 families.  On July 27 of the same year Bishop Morkovsky blessed the 300 seating capacity church, a mission of Our Mother of Mercy Church.  The rectory was erected in 1967 and the parish plant also includes a parish hall.

St. Peter Claver is located in the Settegast Community, which was established in the late 1940s.  Catholic residents motored to Our Mother of Mercy Church, then administered by Father Doyle, to attend Mass until the mission church was completed.

Father Harper was succeeded by Father Doyle as pastor in September, 1967.  It is the seventh parish established and staffed by the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephite Fathers) in Houston.