On Kashmere Street in northeast Houston, just east of Interstate 69 and a short drive from downtown, stands a brick-and-tile Catholic church that has served the Liberty Road area for nearly nine decades. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, named for the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish every weekend and on weekdays. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. David Garnier, the parish is known for its welcome to newcomers, its lively Spanish-language liturgical life, and a schedule of Masses and sacraments designed to meet the rhythms of a working, multi-generational community.
Mass in English and Spanish, Every Day of the Week
The Mass schedule at Our Lady of Sorrows is built around the parish's two-language identity. Saturday evening brings a bilingual Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM, celebrated in Spanish and English. On Sunday, the 8:00 AM Mass is celebrated in Spanish and the 10:30 AM Mass in English, with both liturgies livestreamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot attend in person. Weekday Mass is offered three days a week: Tuesday at 9:00 AM in English, Thursday at 9:00 AM in English, and Friday at 9:00 AM in Spanish.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from 3:45 to 4:45 PM, immediately before the Vigil Mass, and on weekdays by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows the Friday morning Mass, with exposition from 9:30 AM until 3:00 PM.
Sunday and weekday homilies by Fr. David are also available as a podcast, and recorded homilies from the 10:30 AM Mass go back to mid-2018 in the parish archive, allowing the sick, those traveling, or anyone who missed a Sunday to keep up with the pastor's preaching.
A Parish Born on Liberty Road in 1936
The story of Our Lady of Sorrows begins in 1936, when the Liberty Road area was still part of the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Many Latin American families were building homes in the area, and it became necessary to erect a separate church to serve them. Father Caldwell, O.M.I., a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, built the first church on the site, a modest wooden structure. As the community grew, Father Santos, O.M.I., his successor, began constructing the present brick-and-tile church, which was completed in February 1942 and seats 300 people.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate continued to staff the parish through the next several decades, with names like Fathers Delaney, Conaty, Busch, and Wagner shaping its early history. In June 1942, Father Santos was transferred to Del Rio, and the parish's first resident pastor, Father J. P. Delaney, O.M.I., took over. Under his leadership, the debt on the new church was paid off between 1942 and 1946, and a fund was set aside for a parish school that ultimately was never built. In 1947, Father Delaney purchased land in the 7500 block of Hirsch Road in Bonita Gardens, and a year later Father John L. Busch, O.M.I., built the Church of Our Lady of St. John there as a chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The original wooden church served as a parish hall until 1963, when Father B. Wagner, O.M.I., built the present parish hall and CCD center, dedicated on February 17, 1963. The current rectory was built in 1949 during the pastorate of Father C. Conaty, O.M.I. In 1969, the interior of the church was completely remodeled. Father John L. Busch, O.M.I., was appointed pastor on September 23, 1966, and continued to lead the parish as the surrounding neighborhood changed around it. Today's parish, while no longer staffed by the Oblates, continues to be marked by the bilingual, working-class Catholic identity shaped in those first decades.
The Building and the Worship Space
The church is a single-story brick-and-tile structure, completed in 1942, with a seating capacity of 300. The interior was fully remodeled in 1969, and the parish continues to use the original building along with a separate Religious Education Building and a parish hall. Expanded parking has been added in recent years, easing the arrival of families and visitors to weekend Masses. The directions page welcomes drivers with a simple line: "We now have more parking!"
The worship space is the heart of parish life. It is here that the bilingual Vigil Mass draws a Saturday-evening congregation, the early Sunday Spanish Mass brings longtime parishioners and visitors from the surrounding neighborhoods, and the 10:30 AM English Mass fills the pews with families, religious education students, and newcomers. A bilingual announcement loop and bulletin keep everyone in the parish connected, regardless of which Mass they attend.
Faith Formation for Children and Adults
Religious Education for children takes place on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Religious Education Building, fitting neatly between the two Sunday Masses so families can attend one liturgy and children can attend class. The program is directed by Oralia Guerrero, who also coordinates the preparation of children for the Sacraments of Initiation and oversees the catechists and aides who teach each week. Registration for the 2026-2027 academic year opens online, with in-person registration in late July and August, and classes beginning August 23. Catechists and aides are parish volunteers who generously give of their time and talent to supplement the faith formation that begins at home.
Baptism classes are offered every two months, and parents and godparents are required to attend before an infant is baptized. Flocknote alerts announce the next available session. Baptism classes are part of the parish's broader Baptism Preparation ministry, which exists to help parents and godparents understand what it means to form a child in the Catholic faith.
Adults seeking to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith have a number of resources at the parish. Adult Education classes on Church history, tradition, theology, the lives of the saints, and other topics are offered periodically by Fr. David. The parish also walks adults who have not been baptized, or who were baptized in another Christian tradition, through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - the ancient, restored process by which new members enter the Church at the Easter Vigil.
A Wide Range of Ministries
The parish's ministries are organized into liturgical, formation, and service groups, and most are open to new volunteers who call the parish office.
Liturgical roles include:
- Altar Servers: Boys and girls from the third grade upward assist the priest at Mass. Coordination is handled by Deacon Humberto Carrasco.
- Choir: Volunteers sing from the choir loft and are invited to share their vocal talents with the parish.
- Lectors: Readers proclaim the Scriptures at Mass and other services. New lectors are trained and welcomed through the deacon.
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion): These lay ministers distribute Holy Communion at Mass and bring it to the sick and homebound of the parish.
- Ushers: Volunteers who greet parishioners and visitors, help people to their seats, and take up the collection.
Beyond the sanctuary, other parish groups include:
- Altar Society: A dedicated group of families who care for the beauty and upkeep of the church.
- Baptism Preparation: Required classes for parents and godparents preparing for a child's baptism.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Volunteers assist with the Friday morning Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Finance Council: A consultative body that advises the pastor on the parish's finances, monitors income and expenses, and approves the annual budget.
- Pastoral Council: Members are involved in most activities and programs affecting the liturgical and spiritual life of the parish.
- Offertory Counters: A group that counts the funds collected at Mass each week.
- Quinceañeras: A coordinator, Oralia Guerrero, helps families prepare for and celebrate a young woman's fifteenth birthday. Classes are held during Lent in the year of the celebration, and the Mass itself is celebrated at the parish.
The parish also welcomes new ideas. Anyone with a vision for a new parish ministry is invited to contact the office, and the parish's parish life page reminds readers that "God calls us to use our gifts and talents to glorify Him and make life better for other people."
The Seven Sacraments
As a Roman Catholic parish, Our Lady of Sorrows celebrates all seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. The parish describes the sacramental life as the heart of Catholic practice, with the Mass and the Eucharist as its source and summit.
Baptism is celebrated for infants shortly after birth and for adults at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Parents and godparents attend required preparation classes, and the parish teaches the traditional symbols of the sacrament: water recalling Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan, the oil of catechumens traced on the forehead in the sign of the cross, the baptismal candle lit from the Paschal candle, and the white garment as a sign of new life in Christ. In an emergency, any person can baptize, provided they have the intention of doing what the Church does and pour water while saying the Trinitarian formula.
Eucharist is the central act of Catholic worship. The parish teaches, in accord with Catholic doctrine, that through the words of consecration and the action of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of Christ - a change called transubstantiation. First Communion is typically received in the second grade after a period of catechetical preparation. The Eucharist is distributed at Mass and brought to the sick and homebound by Extraordinary Ministers.
Confirmation completes the Sacraments of Initiation and is generally received by teens in the parish after suitable preparation.
Penance (Reconciliation) is heard on Saturdays from 3:45 to 4:45 PM and on weekdays by appointment.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to those facing serious illness or the frailties of old age, in keeping with the Church's belief that Christ is present in the sacrament to give strength and peace.
Marriage is prepared with the parish priest over a period of months, with the Church's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage as its foundation. Couples meet with Fr. David to plan the liturgy and complete the necessary paperwork.
Holy Orders - the sacrament by which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops - is identified on the parish's faith pages as a vocation to be discerned. The parish is blessed to have a permanent deacon, Dcn. Humberto Carrasco, in active ministry.
Funerals are coordinated with the parish office, and the parish provides the traditional Catholic funeral rites, including the Vigil, the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal. Quinceañeras are a particularly meaningful celebration in this bilingual parish, marking a young woman's fifteenth birthday and her transition into young adulthood, with classes offered during Lent.
Becoming Catholic: The RCIA Process
The parish's Becoming Catholic ministry is built around the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, the ancient and restored process by which new members enter the Catholic Church. The parish describes the RCIA as a journey that unfolds in stages: the Period of Inquiry, the Rite of Initiation that welcomes new members into the worshipping community, the long Catechumenate of study and formation, the Rite of Election at which the bishop accepts the candidates, the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and the period of Mystagogy that follows.
The process is for both unbaptized adults who seek full initiation into the Church and baptized Christians from other denominations who seek full communion through Confirmation and the Eucharist. Fr. David meets personally with those who are interested, and the parish RCIA team accompanies inquirers through the weeks and months of formation. The parish also provides a separate page for returning Catholics, reminding them that the door is always open, and linking to the Catholics Come Home apostolate for those who wish to explore the Church further on their own.
Parish Life and Outreach
The parish's life extends well beyond the church walls. The weekly bulletin, archived on the parish's website, keeps parishioners up to date on Mass intentions, ministry news, parish events, and pastoral letters from Fr. David. A Flocknote text-and-email messaging system delivers urgent announcements and reminders. Those who wish to support the work of the parish can do so through online giving, with the option to set up recurring gifts, give to specific funds, or make one-time donations through a secure portal.
In the wider community, the parish's outreach reflects the traditional Catholic commitment to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Parishioners visit the homebound, serve the poor, and volunteer with food pantries and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The parish sponsors an annual parish bazaar, and men's and women's groups, youth ministry, and other parish life activities bring parishioners together throughout the year.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston requires all volunteers and employees to complete the CMG Connect Safe Haven online training, which has replaced the older VIRTUS program. The parish provides clear instructions for completing the background check and the three training vignettes, available in English and Spanish.
The Parish Team
The parish is pastored by Fr. David Garnier, who also records the Sunday homily podcast, oversees adult faith formation, and meets with those inquiring about the Catholic faith. Assisting him is Deacon Humberto Carrasco, the parish's pastoral assistant, who coordinates altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers, and who is a frequent presence at the altar and in the community. Oralia Guerrero serves as Director of Religious Education, coordinates the quinceañera program, and walks children and families through the early years of faith formation. The parish office, located at 3006 Kashmere Street, is staffed during regular hours and can be reached at 713-673-5600 or by email at web@olosch.com. Staff email addresses follow the pattern of first initial and last name, all ending in @olosch.com.
Visiting Our Lady of Sorrows
The parish is at 3006 Kashmere Street in northeast Houston, near the intersection with Liberty Road. From the north, drivers take I-45 to Exit 51 for I-610 East, then Exit 20 to I-69/US-59 South toward downtown, exit at Quitman Street/Lyons Avenue, turn left onto Quitman, bear right onto Liberty Road, and turn left onto Kashmere Street; the church is on the right. From the south, drivers take I-45 to Exit 48A for I-10 East, take Exit 771A for Waco Street, turn left on Waco, right onto Liberty Road, and left onto Kashmere Street.
Expanded parking is available on the parish grounds. Visitors are welcome to introduce themselves to Fr. David before or after Mass. New parishioners are encouraged to register online, which automatically enrolls them in the parish's secure family records system and the text-and-email notification system unless they opt out. For those who wish to give online, the parish provides a secure giving portal.
Mass is livestreamed on the parish's Facebook Live page at 8:00 AM (Spanish) and 10:30 AM (English) every Sunday, and homilies are posted as a Sunday podcast for later listening. The weekly bulletin carries the most up-to-date parish announcements and a letter from the pastor.
What Catholics Believe at Our Lady of Sorrows
The parish describes its identity with the ancient summary of Catholic belief: one God in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - who created the world out of love, became human in the person of Jesus Christ, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide the Church. The Church's life revolves around the seven sacraments, the Word of God in Scripture and Tradition, and the central act of worship, the Mass, in which the faithful are nourished by the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The parish's online faith pages walk readers through the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, the seven sacraments, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the 14 Stations of the Cross, the seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and the Four Marks of the Church - one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. There are also pages on the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time), the communion of saints, prayer in its many forms, and the role of the Pope as the successor of Peter and the chief pastor of the whole Church.
The parish's devotional life includes the praying of the Memorare ("Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided"), the Act of Contrition, the Hail Mary, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Holy Queen, and the Glory to the Father. The Friday morning Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of the major feasts of the liturgical year round out the rhythm of parish prayer.
Joining the Parish
Newcomers, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the Catholic faith are warmly welcomed at Our Lady of Sorrows. Registration is open to any household, and a series of pages on the parish's website guide visitors through the steps: registering as a new parishioner, returning to the practice of the Catholic faith, learning more about the Catholic Church, or beginning the process of becoming Catholic through RCIA. The parish motto is: "Loving Christ, Loving Others."
Our Lady of Sorrows is, at its heart, a parish that lives at the intersection of cultures and languages, generations and needs, on a quiet stretch of Kashmere Street in northeast Houston. Its weekend Masses in Spanish and English, its school of faith for children, its long history of Oblate stewardship, and its commitment to the traditional works of mercy make it a place where many have found a Catholic home, and where many more are warmly invited to do the same.