On September 1, 1965, Bishop John L. Morkovsky
established the 47-family Catholic community of
St. Bartholomew the Apostle, naming Fr. Lawrence
Simon as pastor. At this time there was no church
building, so the Sacred Liturgy was celebrated
at the Katy VFW hall. The first Mass ever held
in Katy was on Sunday, September 12, 1965.
CCE classes were held at Katy Elementary
School. Construction for the first Catholic
Church in Katy began in 1966 and the first Mass was celebrated on April 23, 1967. Fr. Anthony T. Orlando was appointed administrator in June 1967, and in July 1967, Fr. Charles C. Domec was appointed pastor.
Bishop Morkovsky dedicated St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church on September 24, 1967. However, this new building was designed to become the parish hall when a large permanent church was to be built in the future.
Since there was no rectory at this time, the priests lived in Brookshire until the rectory was built in 1974. Deacon Paul Hunsucker joined the pastoral staff in 1974 and retired in 1995. Deacon William Wagner joined the staff in 1975. Because of continued growth, educational facilities were added at the rear of the church building in 1977. The facilities included 12 classrooms, the parish office, the CCE office, and a conference room.
Fr. Milam E. Kleas was appointed pastor on September 1, 1979 and guided the parish for 11 years. He was assisted by associate pastor Fr. Kenneth Mikulik from 1982 until 1985. The Parish has had a full-time director of religious education since 1980 and a youth minister since 1981. In 1984, a parish hall was constructed. In June 1990, Fr. Ed Abell was appointed pastor and Fr. Larry Lee came to the parish shortly thereafter to serve as priest in residence until 1994.
On July 1, 1991, Fr. Alberto A. Maullon, Jr. was appointed pastor by Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza. Little Blessings Child Enrichment Program began September 1992. A full-time director for music and liturgy joined the staff in 1994. On January 2, 1996, Deacon William Hamilton was appointed to the parish, and Deacon Art Chin-Fatt followed on December 2, 1998.
On Christmas Day 1995, Fr. Maullon announced that Bishop Fiorenza had given the parish approval to begin plans for a permanent church to replace the temporary church building. In February 1996, thirty years after the parish was founded, the more than 1800 Catholic families of St. Bartholomew the Apostle parish began plans to build a new church. A building committee was formed to proceed with the plan to construct a new worship space and meet the growing needs of the parish. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 17, 1998 with Auxiliary Bishop Curtis J. Guillory presiding.
The first Mass in the new church was held on May 1, 1999. It began with the procession of the faithful and a crowning of the statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fr. Maullon. During the summer, the original parish hall was demolished and replaced by a large gathering plaza, which forms an apron welcoming guests and parishioners; and the parish offices moved into the rectory.
The Rite of Dedication of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church was held on October 30, 1999 with the most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bishop of Galveston-Houston Diocese, as the celebrant. It began with a procession to the entrance of the church where the celebration of the Rite of Dedication and Eucharist was held. Former pastors, neighboring clergy and parishioners, and Katy Community officials were among the more than 1000 people in attendance. At that time, the parish had grown to 2150 families. Fr. Josefino Templado was appointed associated pastor on August 15th , 2001
On August 25, 2002, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza appointed Fr. John Tran Kha pastor of St. Bartholomew and the parish continues to grow. In early 2003, there were 2,476 registered families. Deacon Mike McGuire was ordained and appointed to the parish on February 25, 2003. On January 2004, the first Bingo game was played in the parish hall. The new Rectory was dedicated in December 2004. On July 1, 2005, Archbishop Fiorenza appointed Fr. Jose Maria Fernandez parochial vicar of the Parish. The Youth and St. Vincent de Paul Social Sevice Minstry building was completed and dedicated in Feburuary 2006. Fr. Fenandez retired , and Fr. Humberto Sanchez was appointed parochial vicar of St. Bartholomew on July 1, 2006. Deacon Rolando Garcia came to us in 2008 and serves our Hispanic community.
In 2008, Fr. John Kha Tran initiated a Capital Campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new religious education building, to begin in 2010. By September of 2009 there were over 2800 registered families at St. Bartholomew.
established the 47-family Catholic community of
St. Bartholomew the Apostle, naming Fr. Lawrence
Simon as pastor. At this time there was no church
building, so the Sacred Liturgy was celebrated
at the Katy VFW hall. The first Mass ever held
in Katy was on Sunday, September 12, 1965.
CCE classes were held at Katy Elementary
School. Construction for the first Catholic
Church in Katy began in 1966 and the first Mass was celebrated on April 23, 1967. Fr. Anthony T. Orlando was appointed administrator in June 1967, and in July 1967, Fr. Charles C. Domec was appointed pastor.
Bishop Morkovsky dedicated St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church on September 24, 1967. However, this new building was designed to become the parish hall when a large permanent church was to be built in the future.
Since there was no rectory at this time, the priests lived in Brookshire until the rectory was built in 1974. Deacon Paul Hunsucker joined the pastoral staff in 1974 and retired in 1995. Deacon William Wagner joined the staff in 1975. Because of continued growth, educational facilities were added at the rear of the church building in 1977. The facilities included 12 classrooms, the parish office, the CCE office, and a conference room.
Fr. Milam E. Kleas was appointed pastor on September 1, 1979 and guided the parish for 11 years. He was assisted by associate pastor Fr. Kenneth Mikulik from 1982 until 1985. The Parish has had a full-time director of religious education since 1980 and a youth minister since 1981. In 1984, a parish hall was constructed. In June 1990, Fr. Ed Abell was appointed pastor and Fr. Larry Lee came to the parish shortly thereafter to serve as priest in residence until 1994.
On July 1, 1991, Fr. Alberto A. Maullon, Jr. was appointed pastor by Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza. Little Blessings Child Enrichment Program began September 1992. A full-time director for music and liturgy joined the staff in 1994. On January 2, 1996, Deacon William Hamilton was appointed to the parish, and Deacon Art Chin-Fatt followed on December 2, 1998.
On Christmas Day 1995, Fr. Maullon announced that Bishop Fiorenza had given the parish approval to begin plans for a permanent church to replace the temporary church building. In February 1996, thirty years after the parish was founded, the more than 1800 Catholic families of St. Bartholomew the Apostle parish began plans to build a new church. A building committee was formed to proceed with the plan to construct a new worship space and meet the growing needs of the parish. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 17, 1998 with Auxiliary Bishop Curtis J. Guillory presiding.
The first Mass in the new church was held on May 1, 1999. It began with the procession of the faithful and a crowning of the statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fr. Maullon. During the summer, the original parish hall was demolished and replaced by a large gathering plaza, which forms an apron welcoming guests and parishioners; and the parish offices moved into the rectory.
The Rite of Dedication of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church was held on October 30, 1999 with the most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bishop of Galveston-Houston Diocese, as the celebrant. It began with a procession to the entrance of the church where the celebration of the Rite of Dedication and Eucharist was held. Former pastors, neighboring clergy and parishioners, and Katy Community officials were among the more than 1000 people in attendance. At that time, the parish had grown to 2150 families. Fr. Josefino Templado was appointed associated pastor on August 15th , 2001
On August 25, 2002, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza appointed Fr. John Tran Kha pastor of St. Bartholomew and the parish continues to grow. In early 2003, there were 2,476 registered families. Deacon Mike McGuire was ordained and appointed to the parish on February 25, 2003. On January 2004, the first Bingo game was played in the parish hall. The new Rectory was dedicated in December 2004. On July 1, 2005, Archbishop Fiorenza appointed Fr. Jose Maria Fernandez parochial vicar of the Parish. The Youth and St. Vincent de Paul Social Sevice Minstry building was completed and dedicated in Feburuary 2006. Fr. Fenandez retired , and Fr. Humberto Sanchez was appointed parochial vicar of St. Bartholomew on July 1, 2006. Deacon Rolando Garcia came to us in 2008 and serves our Hispanic community.
In 2008, Fr. John Kha Tran initiated a Capital Campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new religious education building, to begin in 2010. By September of 2009 there were over 2800 registered families at St. Bartholomew.
We Pray, We Grow, We Build!