For approximately six months, this church has been a place of regular worship after moving closer…read moreto the city from The Woodlands. Weekday Mass is attended twice a week at 12:10 p.m., and many genuinely kind neighbors and friends have made the church feel welcoming. Unfortunately, an experience on September 18, 2026, changed whether this could remain a primary church home.
During Mass, while sitting alone in the usual aisle, a woman seated in front turned around and appeared frightened after seeing me. She gathered her belongings, said, "Peace be with you," and moved several aisles away after receiving Communion. When I returned to my seat, she could not look me in the eye.
What would you do if you came to church seeking peace, prayer, and God's presence but were treated as though you might be a thief or a threat?
No one should have to bring a résumé, bank statement, or list of academic degrees to prove that they deserve dignity. It should not matter how educated a person is, how much money they have, what profession they hold, or how well they are dressed. In that moment, none of those things mattered. What mattered was the color of my skin, and the experience left me feeling profiled, judged, and unwelcome in a place where every person should feel safe before God.
Mass was left early, something that rarely happens. The pain did not end there.
The following day, the incident was brought directly to the priest with the hope of receiving understanding, compassion, and spiritual guidance. Instead, the conversation felt dismissive. The focus appeared to be on how the situation should have been handled rather than on listening to why the experience was so painful.
What hurt most was the priest's lack of empathy. There was no meaningful acknowledgment of the emotional harm, no comforting words, and no sense that the pain being expressed truly mattered. Tears came from genuine hurt, yet the response did not feel compassionate or pastoral. The church was left in tears.
Later, after arriving at my business, people immediately noticed something was wrong. After hearing what had happened, they encouraged me to share this experience publicly. Their concern helped me understand that remaining silent would not bring healing or encourage change.
Cameras are present throughout the church during Mass for everyone's safety. I sincerely wish this incident had never happened. More than anything, the hope was that bringing it to the priest would lead to compassion and understanding. Instead, the response deepened the pain.
After praying about whether to post this review, the decision was made to speak honestly--not to attack anyone, but to encourage reflection. Faith calls us to treat our neighbors with kindness, dignity, compassion, and respect. When someone comes forward in pain, especially in a church, the first response should be to listen with empathy.
There is still gratitude for the many people who have offered kindness and friendship during the past six months. This experience has not changed my faith, and occasional visits may continue. However, this will no longer be my primary church. More time will likely be spent at my original churches in The Woodlands and at St. Ignatius.
May this experience remind all of us to look beyond skin color, assumptions, and fear. Every person entering a church deserves to be seen as a child of God--not as a threat.
Thank you to everyone who has shown kindness and made me feel welcomed. God bless everyone.
