St. Albert of Trapani Church was founded on July 1, 1970. It is named after a religious priest of the Order of Carmelites who lived in Sicily in the 13^th century. In his religious and priestly life Albert soon became famous for his preaching, miracles and a reputation for purity of life and prayer. Albert of Trapani was the Provincial Superior in Sicily in 1296. His feast day is celebrated by the Order of Carmelites on August 7^th. 

Lord God, you made St. Albert of Trapani a model of purity and prayer, and a devoted servant of Our Lady. May we practice these same virtues and so be worthy always to share the banquet of your grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

History of the Parish

The rapid growth of the Southwest section of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston led Bishop John L. Morkovsky to request the Carmelites to staff a new parish in the spring of 1970. The Very Rev. Malachy H. Smith, O.Carm., the Carmelite Provincial, appointed Thomas J. Walsh, O. Carm., as the founding Pastor and Franklin R. Tasker, O.Carm., as the first Parochial Vicar.

Frs. Walsh and Tasker visited Bishop Morkovsky and the parish boundaries were established: Everything west of Fondren Road and south of Bissonnet to the Harris-Fort Bend County line.

On July 1, 1970, St. Albert of Trapani Church was officially established with some 300 families. The first Sunday Masses were celebrated on the weekend of July 11^th and 12^th at the Braeburn Presbyterian Church and Bonham Elementary School. Two other Sunday Masses were scheduled at Cecil Foerster School to begin on July 26^th. Finally, in May 1971, the new auditorium at Sharpstown Senior High School was ready. All Sunday morning Masses were held there and the evening Masses were celebrated at Braeburn Presbyterian Church.

Fathers Walsh and Tasker moved into a residence on July 1, 1970, in the Braeburn Valley West subdivision. The air-conditioned garage became the focal point of most parish activities: daily Mass, Baptisms, Marriages, CCD Classes and parish meetings. 

From the beginning days of the the formation of the parish, personal involvement was encouraged. Lectors, Musicians, CCD Teachers, a Financial Advisory Board, Liturgical Commission, Men’s Club and Women’s Club, C.Y.O., and Parish Pastoral Council gradually developed to take an active role in the parish life. 

The biggest problem the parish faced from the outset was finding suitable acreage for the parish plant. Finally, in November 1971, the parish acquired seven acres on South Gessner Road. Plans were drawn up for the parish complex by Ressler and Applebaum, A.I.A., and the first phase of construction began with ground breaking ceremonies on July 23, 1972.  

The almost completed new church and new facilities opened with the first Mass on July 7, 1973. The priest moved to the new Rectory in August and the classrooms were ready for use by the CCD classes and the pre-school in September. On September 23, 1973, the Church, the classrooms and the Rectory were dedicated by Bishop John L. Morkovsky.

The large growth of families within the parish boundaries required more space for Religious Education and other parish activities. After a thorough examination, the Parish Pastoral Council gave approval for the second phase of construction on December 30, 1974. The new construction consisted of two buildings: one of eight classrooms and the others, a multi-purpose building that can be used as a large hall or as four classrooms. These buildings were ready for use in the Fall of 1975. 

In the summer of 1975, Fr. Franklin Tasker, O.Carm., the parochial vicar was transferred to become the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Joliet, Illinois, and was replaced at St. Albert’s by Fr. Tom Butler, O.Carm. In the summer of 1977 Bishop Morkovsky entrusted a new parish in Clear Lake to the Carmelites, and our two former parochial vicars, Frs. Tasker and Butler were assigned to begin St. Bernadette’s Parish. Fr. Stanley Kromer came to St. Albert as its new pastor.

During 1988-1994, while Fr. John Fogarty, O.Carm. served as pastor, St. Albert Church continued to grow and so the interior of the church was renovated so that it would remain the place for worship alone and the parish hall was enlarged to make a new parish center.  

Fr. Mark J. Schaffner, O.Carm, pastor from 1994-1999, encouraged further development of our Liturgy, supported present ministries such as Youth Ministry and was instrumental in beginning, with the help of many parishioners, a number of outreach ministries.

In 1995, as a sign of growth and outreach of the parish, St. Albert Church began its own conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society thanks to the initiative of Maria Elena Merino and under the guidance of the pastor, and with the leadership of Dennis and Ruth Helm to serve the needs of the poor in and around the parish. This ministry continues to grow today and we encourage all of our parishioners to become active members of our St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The year 1995 was the celebration of an important milestone. St. Albert Church celebrated its 25^th anniversary. All of the former pastors attended the special weekend of activities that culminated in a jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza.

St. Albert Parish Today

Receiving his first assignment as a pastor, Fr. Philip Wilhite was appointed as Administrator of St. Albert in June 1999 and was named pastor in June 2000. The Carmelite order, that cared for and shepherded our parish family so faithfully for 29 years, returned the parish to the diocese because of a shortage of priests to staff the parish and live in community.  St. Albert today is a diocesan parish, steeped in our Carmelite formation and devotion to our Blessed Mother. 

While maintaining present ministries we continue to shift and grow with the needs of our parish family and the surrounding community.  Beginning an Evangelization Ministry – Disciples in Mission – and continuing our Stewardship Ministry, we have seen the addition of 14 new ministries that signals both a response to present needs and an increased willingness to embrace our call to exercise leadership as Disciples of Christ.  The new areas are: Bereavement Ministry, Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, Young Adult Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Focolare, Couples for Christ/Teens for Christ, Nigerian Men and Women’s Groups, Baptism Teams (English/Spanish), Sacramental Preparation Teams for 1^st Reconciliation and 1^st Holy Communion, St. Albert’s CAFÉ (Catholic Adult Faith Enrichment), Landings – an outreach to inactive Catholics, Health Fair Ministry, ESL – English as a second language, and Al-Anon (Spanish). 

The 1200 families, which constitute the parishioners of St. Albert Church today, come from a wide variety of countries and cultures around the world. The multi-cultural life of the parish makes it a very special place to worship and build a Catholic Christian community life. By prayer and hard work and the selfless commitment of many men, women and youth of the parish, St. Albert Church has renewed itself once again as it entered into the third millennium. 

Together it is our hope to continue to build on the great work of the founders of the parish and maintain and build a faithful and prayerful community of believers who will serve the Lord and his people for many years to come.  May the Spirit of the Lord continue the good work he has begun in us!