History

On November 14, 1974 the Carmelite nuns held an open house following the consecration of their chapel at the Monastery in Roman Forest in New Caney. Several families attended and eventually began attending Mass on Sundays at the Monastery Chapel. In February 1975 a special dispensation was granted by Bishop John Morkovsky for the families in the general area to attend the Chapel to fulfill their Sunday obligation. The sisters became friends and a very important part of the spiritual life of these parishioners.

Rev. Ovila Meunier, O.M.I., Chaplain to the Nuns from November 1974 to August 1976, made the suggestion to the growing number of families attending the chapel to start a council. He helped in getting them organized and also in starting an account at the bank.

Rev. Msgr. A. L. “Gus” O'Connell became the next Chaplain to serve the Nuns from September 1976 to August 1980. He helped the Church Council get in touch with Msgr. William Tinney, Pastor of St. Martha' s Catholic Church in Kingwood, Texas. A discussion with Msgr. Tinney about having an official mission or parish established in the New Caney area was very encouraging. In a January 22, 1981 letter, Rev. Msgr. Tinney reaffirmed the announcement by Bishop John Morkovsky of the formation of “a new mission to serve the spiritual needs of the Catholic people of Porter, New Caney, Splendora and Roman Forest”. He stated that the Sunday Mass obligation could no longer be fulfilled at the monastery beginning with the first Sunday of February, 1981. Msgr. William L. Tinney was appointed Pastor of St. John of the Cross Mission, with Msgr. Leo J. Price as Priest in Charge. The first Mass as a Mission Church was celebrated by Msgr. Price at the New Caney Middle School Cafeteria on February 1, 1981 with approximately 170 persons attending.

A Parish Council, Altar Society, and Catholic Youth Organization were active in 1981. There was a director for C.C.E, Liturgy, C.Y.O., and Altar Boys, in addition to persons responsible for ushers and the bulletin.  With strong leadership among the church members already in place, a search for a proper site for a church building was undertaken. In September 1982, Msgr. Tinney informed the people in writing that three acres of land (including the building that is now our present office building) were purchased for about $95,000 from the former Friendship Methodist Church as the future site of St. John of the Cross Mission Church. The physical site for the upcoming church was on Loop 494, one block north of FM 1485. A rosary was held at the church site in October I982.

The first Men's Club began in January 1983. In March 1983, Msgr. Tinney met with the parish council and again with the general congregation to announce that the diocese had approved the plans to build a permanent church building. Raymond Rapp was selected to be architect for the building, a building to be “rustic in appearance, with materials and motif in keeping with the history and rural setting of the community”. A family fun day, a giant yard sale, and additional fund-raising activities, including a pledge drive, took place in 1983 to help finance the building expected to seat 300 people.

 January 15, 1983 was the last time that parishioners of St. John of the Cross Mission met in the New Caney Middle School Cafeteria for Mass. On the following Sunday, January 22, 1984, our first service was held in our new building. Three weeks later, on February 12, 1984, Bishop Morkovsky celebrated Mass and dedicated the New Church/Multi-Purpose Building.

In 1986, a most generous donation was given by Stella Bonafide in memory of her brother, Stellario Bonafide, and the present rectory was constructed. In the same year, we held a major fundraiser on our church grounds, our first Spring Bazaar. We continued to hold St. John of the Cross Spring Bazaars on our church property through 1990, building community within our parish and the surrounding area.

In 1989 we bid a fond farewell to Msgr. Price as he retired from parish ministry, and we welcomed Rev. James Harnan, M.S.C., as Priest in Charge on September 10, 1989. On November 14, 1989, Bishop Joseph Fiorenza elevated St. John of the Cross Mission to the status of Parish, and Father Harnan was installed as first pastor of the newly formed parish on December 14, 1989, the feast of St. John of the Cross.

Shortly after Fr. Harnan' s arrival a Saturday evening Mass was added to the weekend schedule. On August 25, 1991 a Spanish Mass was celebrated at St. John's for the first time. St. John' s Hispanic Club began in March 1993 and celebrated Fiestas Patrias in the fall of 1993”.

In January 1992 the church acquired 12 additional acres, 8 of which were donated to the parish at a value of $ I75,000. The church on the property that was constructed in 1931 was renovated and turned into our Community Building. On March 14, 1993, DRM Construction Company was awarded the contract for our Education Building of 9 classrooms and 2 offices, at the cost of $425,175.00.

On June 27, 1993, Rev Jeremiah Murphy, M.S.C., became pastor of St. John of the Cross, replacing Father Harnan. On September 19, 1993, Bishop Tamayo dedicated the new Education Building. In October the Community Building was remodeled with the addition of four more offices. In the summer of 1994, to make St. John of the Cross more visible in the community, our church building was repainted, signs were erected along 494 and the feeder on highway 59, and a major cleanup of the cemetery on our property was completed.

In 1995 St. John's opened a Day Care Center in the Education Building as a service to the local community and a way to reduce the debt on the building. Much work was expended by dedicated parishioners to pass the State guidelines and to provide all the materials needed and capable personnel as well. A large passenger van was purchased to satisfy transportation needs. The program was of good quality, but the daycare program was closed by our Bishop in May, 1996 after only a year of operation. God had other plans for the removal of the $235,000 which was owed at the end of 1996.

In 1995 Fr. Robert Ramon replaced Fr. Murphy as pastor. Near the end of 1996 we received a gift of church benches from a parish in our diocese. After these were installed, we felt more like we were “in church”, and the building was no longer used as “multi-purpose”. Our education building had already begun to serve well for religious education classes, meetings, social functions, and various activities of the parish and civic community.

Fr. Frank Guenter became our resident priest in December 1996. Increased registrations and participation, and generous contributions,   plus successful spring festivals enabled our outstanding debt to be reduced to approximately $73,000 by the beginning of 1999.

In early 1996 the parish had 459 registered families, and by mid-1999 the number had increased to 683. The geographical breakdown of these 683 households is:

Our religious education program had grown to 249 young people who participated in the 1998-1999 school year. These included kindergarten through grade 12.

In the beginning of 1999, we were blessed by a generous donation which eliminated the outstanding debt. For the very first time in many years, we were - and are - free from debt!

However, we are greatly indebted to a generous God and the many persons who make this day possible. On this date of September 12, 1999, we celebrate 25 years as a community in formation, 15 years with a parish church, and 10 years as an official parish.

As we celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving today, we are indeed grateful to God for many blessings, asking Him at the same time to keep us a united, growing, more loving community.