Houston Catholic Books and Gifts started in the year 2000 as the inspiration of Bill and Janet Houston. They have been active participants within the Houston Archdiocese for years, as well as various Jesuit organizations, prison ministries, the Serra organization, pro-life causes and others.

The store has expanded each year in customers, sales, and inventory.  Recently settled into its third location, the store’s mission is ministering to Catholics hungry to know their faith; parents and grandparents trying to raise morally healthy children; business people who want to apply sound ethics in their work; school teachers looking for resources; the faithful bringing Catholicism to their friends and neighbors; and anyone questioning their faith.

The store’s patron is Saint Mark the Evangelist, one of the original Apostles and the author of the Gospel of Mark.  Usually depicted holding a book or a writing tablet, his feast day is April 25th, the day Houston Catholic Books and Gifts opened for business.

The Egyptian Coptic Church holds that St. Mark hosted the disciples in his house after the death of Jesus, that it was into his house that Jesus came after His resurrection, and that it was into his house that the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples at Pentecost.

A relic of St. Mark is kept in the store to grace all who come here.