HOUSTON — Faith is an important part of Black history in Houston. KHOU 11 News is profiling two Catholic churches who’ve left a spiritual impact in the Third and Fifth Wards.
In the heart of the Third Ward, where the Sacred Heart of Virgin Mary’s statue stands, is where a specific Houston church made history in 1887.
St. Nicholas is the very first Catholic church in the diocese opened to formerly enslaved Black people in Houston, with a historical marker on the grounds to commemorate it.
“It brought it to life you know people recognize this church by putting that historical marker out there,” said Hayden Mullone who was baptized at St. Nicholas.
Mullone is turning 80 and grew up in this church.
“For this church to still be here, It’s something,” said Mullone.
In 1961, the Catholic Church Diocese of Galveston-Houston was one of the first to integrate its schools in the area.
“This was the only place blacks were coming to church back when it first started off. You know we weren’t allowed to go nowhere, no other churches, but the catholic church accepted us,” said Mullone.
This year, St. Nicholas turns 137.
“We are remodeling the church and everything for the celebrations,” said Mullone.
“Everybody calls me Miss Patti,” said Patti Collins who’s also a lifelong member at St. Nicholas.
The 84-year-old said she has a lot of memories to last a lifetime.
“I graduated here, and I got married here,” said Rollins.
She still has her diploma after all these years.
“In the school from kindergarten to the 12th grade, I was taught by the holy family nuns, and they are a black order, which is a rarity,” said Collins.
St. Nicholas not only schooled many of the children in Third Ward, but food was given to those who needed it Catholic or not.
“Our church is steeped in black history, especially being in historic Fifth Ward Frenchtown,” said Bianca Henny, a longtime member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church.
Twelve minutes away from St. Nicholas, Our Mother of Mercy in Fifth Ward is approaching its 96th year since its founding. On their balcony are paintings of Black Catholics on the road to sainthood.
“We do not currently have an African American who is a saint,” said Henny.
Henny went to the National Black Catholic Congress in Washington D.C. and brought portraits back to hang in her church.
“You see our church statues in a darker hue. It became important that our people see a reflection of themselves in that holiness,” said Our Mother of Mercy Catholic priest Father Rodney Armstrong.
This community of Black Catholics Father Armstrong said are from Southwest Louisiana with Creole backgrounds settling in Houston in the 1920’s.
“African American Catholics were able to establish their own Catholic parish at that time. That factor is amazing to me,” said Armstrong.
“Our forefathers and foremothers were having a zydeco band selling food having a bazaar for the entire community to contribute so they could build their own church,” said Henny.
In 1952, 90-year-old Bertha Dorian joined this church 20 years after it opened and has been here ever since.
“I tell ya, but when I came to Houston the first thing my mother said is you must find a church, you know as if I wasn’t going to try and do that first,” said Dorian.
Our Mother of Mercy church doesn’t just share good news and good laughs, but they also share good deeds, by partnering with Harris Health to give free COVID-19 and flu shots to others all while praising Christ the best way they know how.
“Our liturgy here is reflective of our culture as black people and we worship with expression,” said Armstrong.
Both Houston churches showing the history of Black culture has a place in the Catholic church.