Serving the Lord with Gladness for 30 Years

In three decades, we’ve been blessed with three pastors, 14 parochial vicars and 7 deacons; our parish family has grown from a couple hundred people gathering in rented office space to over 7,000 registered families; and in response, over 80 distinct parish ministries were created, providing various ways to serve, worship, pray and learn. From the very start, we have been a people centered in the love of Christ – serving with gladness – to glorify God in all we do!

1985 St. Laurence Catholic Church established on Aug 1, 1985, in the
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza appoints Fr. Laurence Connelly first pastor
of St. Laurence.
First Mass held in rented office space on Sweetwater Boulevard on
Sept 1, 1985.

1988 Parish Hall built; serves as multi-purpose room for Masses, Sacraments,
classes & meetings.
St. Laurence Ladies Guild established.
400 families registered as parishioners.

1990 1,000 families registered as parishioners.

1992 Church, courtyard offices and classrooms built; church building
dedicated on April 26, 1992.
St. Laurence Catholic School established; 200 students in preK thru
4th grade, with Renee Nunez as Principal.
St. Laurence holds its first Parish Bazaar.

1994 Fr. John Weyer appointed as second pastor of St. Laurence.
Knights of Columbus charter Council #11343 at St. Laurence.

1995 Catholic Daughters establish Court St. Laurence #2402.
2,400 families registered as parishioners.

1996 School building and adjacent Divine Mercy Chapel opens.
First St. Laurence Dinner Theater held to raise money for an organ.

1998 Parish purchases Williams Trace Baptist Church property.
Fr. Drew Wood assigned to St. Laurence as Parochial Vicar.
Nancy Taylor becomes second Principal of our parish school.

1999 Director Becky Wilkinson opens Weekday Children’s Program for
crib through 5 years old.
St. Laurence establishes a dedicated Social Concerns Ministry.

2000 Medical Missionaries of Divine Mercy go on first mission trip.

2002 Fr. Drew appointed as third pastor of St. Laurence.

2004 First Heart of Worship.

2005 4,300 families registered as parishioners.

2006 Debra Haney becomes third Principal of St. Laurence Catholic School.

2007 Reconstruction of church building; we “Journey to the Gym” with Masses
held in school gym for one year.

2008 Rededication of church, doubles the square footage of original church.

2010 6,300 families registered as parishioners.

2014 Construction of Ave Maria Parish Life Center begins.

2015 7,000 families registered as parishioners.
Dedication of Ave Maria Parish Life Center on December 6, 2015.