Our Priests and Deacons

MSGR. WILLIAM L (BILL) YOUNG, PASTOR 

Ordination Date: May 20, 1970
Contact Number: 713-663-3542
Email: msgrbill@svdp-edu.org 
Msgr. Bill's Weekly Letter
Msgr. Bill's YouTube Playlist
Msgr. BIll's Homilies

Rev. Msgr. William L. Young, III was born April 11, 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey. He was second of four children. He grew up in Syracuse, New York. After his first year in seminary, his family moved to the Houston area and he transferred to Saint Mary Seminary.

After ordination, he served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Augustine 1970 -1973, Saint Ambrose 1973 – 1976, and Saint Thomas More 1976 – 1980. He worked as Campus Minister at Marian Christian High School 1980 – 1986, Diocesan Director of Radio and Television 1978 – 1984, Principal, Mount Carmel High School 1986 – 1992.

In July, 1992 he was named administrator of Saint Thomas More Parish and in 1993 he became pastor and served there as pastor until January, 2009. He was named Prelate of Honor by his Holiness, Saint Pope John Paul II in February 2000.

He came to St. Vincent de Paul as pastor in January 2009. He is also Dean of the Southwest Deanery. 

FR. HOUSTON OKONMA, PAROCHIAL VICAR 

Ordination Date: June 5, 2021
Contact Number: 713-663-3547
Email: frhouston@svdp-edu.org
Fr. Houston's YouTube Playlist
Fr. Houston's Homilies

Fr. Houston was born on February 4, 1991 in Houston. He is the oldest of four, his dad named him “Houston” because he wanted him to be as big, great, and industrious as the city that adopted him. His parents are immigrants from Nigeria. They sought a life of stability and growth in the United States. Hence, the priesthood was a far departure from the idea of doctor, engineer, lawyer, or Mayor of Houston, TX.

Father served mass at his home parish, St. Christopher, with his siblings for well over a decade before going to seminary. Serving mass proved great in his future calling to the priesthood. He is a first-generation Nigerian American, and he sought to be a great example for his siblings to follow. There was a abundant need for priests in the Church, something he realized early but did not, at first, want to embrace.

He attended Cornelius Elementary, Ortiz Middle School, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions, with aspirations to continue in the medical field. Prior to college during confirmation preparation, he selected the saint name of “Peter” to always remind him of the priesthood and its possibility. He realized that this vocation would allow him to be a rock in the lives of many.

He studied Nutritional Sciences at the University of Houston, where he found the notion of the priesthood as a destiny that he welcomed with great openness, instead of an obligatory burden. After graduation from the University of Houston, Father went to St. Ben’s Seminary in Louisiana for minor seminary, and subsequently St. Mary’s Seminary for major seminary. Instead of becoming a doctor of the human body, he was called to stand in as a doctor of the soul. This is a path uncharted for Nigerians born and raised in the United States, but it is one that he embraced. Father came to realize that there is more to life than wealth, titles, and honor.

FR. CHRISTOPHER PLANT, PAROCHIAL VICAR 

Ordination Date: May 31, 2008
Contact Number: 713-667-9111
Email: frcplant@svdp-edu.org
Fr. Plant's YouTube Playlist
Fr. Plant's Homilies

Born in Laredo, Texas on March 7, 1979, to Marianne and Charles, (who is an ordained deacon), Fr. Christopher Plant grew up in Converse, Texas. Later he and his family moved to Missouri City, Texas during his high school years. During this time, Fr. Plant became very passionate about playing football, even to the point of desiring to play in the NFL. It was his passion until he started to discern the priesthood when he started college at Texas A&M Kingsville. Even though he was offered to play on the football team there, his discernment led him to quit the sport and pursue a life of prayer dedicated toward knowing God's will for him. This especially included the possibility of the priesthood. During this time, he transferred to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. There he pursued a degree in Aerospace Engineering. But he never finished his degree. With four semesters left, he entered the seminary for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2001.

In 2008, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese. Since then, he has served in many assignments before his current assignment as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. He was parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Conroe and St. Thomas More in Houston. Then he served as pastor at Resurrection Catholic Church and School. His next assignment was pastor of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Katy.

Fr. Plant enjoys golf, 3d printing, and working on his YouTube channel, Conversing Clergy. He is also a big fan of Star Wars. Of course, his ultimate passion is serving Jesus by serving His people in the priesthood through teaching, sanctification, and the sacraments.

DCN. DANIEL PAGNANO

Ordination Date: February 3, 2007
Contact Number: 713-667-9111
Email: dpagnano@outlook.com

Deacon Dan moved to Houston in April 2002 and with Msgr. Jamail’s nomination began formation for the permanent diaconate in November of that year.  

Dan has taught junior high school, has been a lawyer since 1978, and since 1990 has been an arbitrator and mediator. Before ordination in February 2007, he began working with Sr. Virginia and became the director of parish ministries when Sister left.  

He served as the parish business manager until March 2019 when he reached three milestones - becoming a grandfather, reaching age 70, and retirement.  Though now a retired deacon and spending most of the summers in New Mexico, Deacon Dan still serves St. Vincent de Paul Parish at liturgies, as well as counseling and marriage preparation.

DCN. GUSTAVO (GUS) CAMACHO DEL RIO

Ordination Date:  February 11, 2011 
Contact Number: 713-667-9111
Email: gcamacho@svdp-edu.org
Dcn. Gus Camacho del Rio Homilies

Deacon Gustavo "Gus" Camacho was ordained in 2011. He has been married since 1986 to his wife and love of his life, Marta Irizarry, Registered Nurse since 1993. He loves to ride his Harley Davidson, loves the ocean and loves spending time with family and friends, but above all loves God and serving God's people. Dcn. Gus fights against injustice and has a special place in his heart for the marginalized. 

DCN. BURT MARTIN

Ordination Date:  February 20, 2021 
Contact Number: 713-663-3585
Email: bmartin@svdp-edu.org
Dcn. Burt Martin's Homilies

Burt began working at St. Vincent de Paul Church in May 2017 as the Director of Parish and Family Life Ministries. Prior to that time, he was a practicing corporate lawyer at a worldwide law firm and served as general counsel and corporate executive of an international oil and gas corporation for many years. He is a lifelong “Longhorn” with multiple degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (BBA in 1986, MBA in 1988 and JD in 1993). 

Burt was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on February 20, 2021. He and his wife, Allyson, have been married since 1995 and have been members of SVdP for over 10 years and were members of St. Thomas More prior to that time. Allyson is also the founding director and coordinator of Walking With Purpose, a very popular women’s Bible study at SVdP. Burt and Allyson enjoy spending time together with their four Standard Poodles  (Flurry, Baron, Maggie and Bentley), exercising together, taking trips to Italy and Sonoma, wine tasting, cooking together, and relaxing at home.