Looking Back: 2019

Fall 2019

Nativity of Our Lord
"Thou art the Father's splendid light,
Thou art the eternal hope of all ...."
                           ~  Hymn, First Vespers, Nativity of Our Lord


Photo Albums: Christmas Midnight Mass

 

Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 15, 2019


Photo Albums: Our Lady of Guadalupe Reception

Rorate Caeli Mass
December 14, 2019

"Drop down dew, ye heavens ... let the
earth be opened and bud forth a Savior."
                           ~  Introit, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Advent

Last hour before dawn, Saturday, Dec. 14. The faithful, some with sleep-eyed toddlers in tow, walk into the dark hallway, light a candle and quietly enter the chapel. It is a cold morning, but the chapel, lit with flickering candles, warms the soul. The schola begins to chant the Introit as Fr. Van Vliet and the servers process into the sanctuary. This is a Mass of visual symbolism and profound theology and as it concludes, the first rays of the sun pierce the dimly lit chapel in a final imagery of the "true Light, that enlightenth every man".

The Rorate Caeli Mass honors the Light of the World, Who became an infant for our sake. The readings and prayers tell of the prophecy of the Virgin who would bear a Son called Emmanuel.

Photo Albums: 2019 Rorate Caeli Mass
 

Honoring the Immaculate Conception 
Catechism Students Sing and Present Artwork
December 8, 2019

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski Visits Parish
On Nov. 24, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, well-known Traditionalist theologian, writer and composer, gave a presentation after the 10 a.m. Mass on the Amazon Synod. The presentation was held under the covered porch to accomodate the large crowd. Afterwards, he took questions. Fr. Van Vliet and Dr. Kwasniewski both attended Thomas Aquinas University in California and knew each other, but were not in the same class year.

 

Working on the St. Michael Shrine
(Hey guys, it's quitting time ....) 
Nov.-Dec. 2019


Photo Albums: Work on St. Michael Shrine

 

2019 Third Annual Fall Festival
October 27, 2019

The Mass of the last Sunday in October: Christ the King. The weather: sunny and crisp. The plans for the day: Festival! Held after the 10 a.m. High Mass and lasting to 5 p.m., the Festival raised over $23,000 in net proceeds for the capital campaign. Each year, more activities and events are added and all the parish groups pitch in to make the event fun for children and adults. The Knights of Columbus served pulled pork sandwiches with potato salad and all the fixings for lunch and the Troops of St. George sold desserts and munchies such as ice cream, popcorn and cotton candy.

Parish groups ran game booths, from the favorites of last year to new games of chance that tested all ages, and outside vendors set up booths selling their wares. Among items added this year were: inflatable slides, inflatible boxing ring, cake walk, auction of religious and other items, including prie dieus. Of course, the Festival also included the ever popular laser tag game pitting a certain young priest against very savvy younger opponents. A blast for all, the festival ended with a raffle drawing. 

Photo Albums: 2019 Third Annual Fall Festival
 

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
October 7, 2019


Photo Albums: Our Lady of the Rosary Procession

 

Troops of St. George Camping Trip
September 27-29, 2019

Open to boys ages 6 and up, the Troops of St. George is an apostolate that uses the outdoors and sacraments to form holy Catholic boys and men. Children learn outdoor skills, grow in the virtues and develop a love of God that will carry them through their lifetime. On the last weekend in September, the Troops went on a camping trip to Lake Tombigbee in Livingston, TX. For more information on the Troops, click here.

Photo Albums: 2019-09 Troops of St. George Camping


Summer 2019

Our Second Annual Catholic Kids Camp
July 16-18, 2019

Children waited all year for our second annual Catholic Kids Camp and it was well worth the wait! Adult and teen volunteers under the direction of Rae Biellakowski planned and coordinated the three-day event, which included a play each day, crafts, outdoor sports, music training and special presentations by our priests. The theme of this year's camp was Catholic Missions. The first day focused on the FSSP Missions, specifically, the one in Peru that Fr. Kodet with other FSSP priests would be conducting the following week. The second day concerned the Jesuit North American Martyrs and the final day the Franciscan Missions in Texas. Since Fr. Kodet was leaving that week, the children in the crafts class made little gifts for the families in Peru.

Photo Albums: Second Annual Catholic Kids Camp

 

N. American District Superior Visits!
Rev. Michael Stinson 
July 28, 2019

The last time Fr. Stinson visited Regina Caeli was in 2013, a few months after the parish was erected and celebrating Mass in the Family Life Center at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Now District Superior, he stopped by en route to spending time with family in Austin. He toured the property and learned from Fr. Van Vliet about the current capital campaign for the Gatehouse and plans for the future. Impressed with the growth of the parish, he urged the faithful to get the Gatehouse built so that a third priest can be stationed here.

His Sunday sermon was about the duty to prevent evil and confirm to God's will. Allegiance to God's will can be difficult because our free will is corrupted by habitual behaviour and personal sins. We must endeavor to  do God's will as perfectly as possible through perserverance and love and doing our duty according to our current aspect of life. If we conform to His will, God will keep us and perserve us.

To read about Rev. Michael Stinson, FSSP, click here.


Corpus Christi
June 20, 2019 (Feast)
June 23, 2019 (External Solemnity)

"Here beneath these signs are hidden 
Priceless things, to sense forbidden ...."
                           ~  Sequence, "Lauda, Sion", Mass of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a much anticipated event at the parish and, every year, two processions are held. The first occurs on the feast day at evening and the second on the following Sunday in unison with our sister Novus Ordo parishes. The candles flickering in the still of the night (Thursday) and dancing with the wind (Sunday), the rising clouds of incense from double censors, but most of all, the beauty and solemnity in which Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is carried from altar to altar raises the mind to the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. The First Communicant girls strewed rose petals before the way of the Blessed Sacrament and each of the First Communicant boys carried either a flag or a candle in the processions. A Norbetine seminarian joined us for the procession on Thursday. He was in Houston for a 24-hour layover.

Photo Albums: 2019 Corpus Christi and 2019 Ext. Solemnity of Corpus Christi


Spring 2019

Donated Door for Our Future Church
June 17, 2019

A gift from the Ohlhausen Family. Restored door from the
original Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Houston, TX.

 

More Priests Come Visiting!
June 10-17, 2019

In addition to Fr. Jambon (see Marian Mini-Mission below), two other priests came calling. Fr. Hinckley, a diocesan priest from St. Helen's Church in Pearland came on Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11, to celebrate the Traditional Mass while both our priests were absent. Fr. Van Vliet had left for a weeklong retreat in Nebraska and Fr. Kodet had not yet returned from his visit to the Benedictine nuns of Gower, Missouri. Arriving late Tuesday, Fr. Kodet was on the road again on Friday for the second Annual Single Young Adults Conference held at Mater Dei in Dallas. Fr. Brian McDonnell swapped places with him and both priests returned to their respective parishes on June 17. In his sermon on Sunday, Fr. McDonnell noted that Trinity Sunday is a summary of the three great feasts of the liturgical year: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.

Information on the conference and the Fr. McDonnell can be found on the 2018 Look Back webpage.
 

Marian Mini-Mission
May 29 - May 31, 2019


Frs. Kodet and Van Vliet with Fr. Jambon (center).

Every year, the parish holds a three-day mini-mission that ends on May 31, our titular feast day. The guest speaker this year was Fr. Jeffery Jambon, a New Orleans native. Each day of the mission centered on a specific aspect of Our Beloved Mother and Queen. On the first day, he explored who Mary is relative to each of us and how she is the only person in salvation history to be described as having the fullness of grace. The next day, which was Ascension Thursday, Fr. Jambon quoted Christ as saying "All power is given to Me in heaven and earth". Mary participates in her Son's power as queen and mother and it is impossible to separate her from Christ. She is our advocate in times of turmoil, both private and societal. He continued this theme the final day, reminding us that she promised her Immaculate Heart will triumph. The mission ended with a reception honoring the Queen of Heaven. Not content with only one celebration for Our Mother, families in the parish threw a potluck dinner on Sunday, June 2, in her honor.

Fr. Jambon posts his sermons on his website,www.reginaecclesiae.com.

May Crowning
May 5, 2019

"O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today, 
Queen of the angels, Quieen of the May."
                           ~  Refrain, "Bring Flowers of the Rarest"

May 5, Good Shepherd Sunday, was also the first Sunday in May and the first Sunday in May is always the day of the May Crowning! As in the past, First Communicants led in the presenting of flowers. Faithful joined the long procession line, patiently waiting to offer their personal gift of flowers to Our Blessed Mother. Once the last flower was presented, a little girl helped by her father, crowned her Queen of Heaven.

Each year, many aspects of the May Crowning remain the same, but there are differences. For the first time, the Tower of David Children’s Choir participated and their strong voices added to the beauty of the devotion. An unusually large number of First Communicant boys relative to girls resulted in a vibrant sea of blue flags by the statue.

After the Mass, the parish honored the First Communicants with a delicious lunch reception. Because of the large number of children receiving, First Communion was offered at both morning Masses on Mother’s Day, May 12. In honor of mothers, our parish KC gave each a red carnation as they entered the building and a Tower of David art exhibit in the large meeting room added to the joy of the day.

Congratulations to First Communicants: Antonio, Brittaney, Canon, Dillon, Evelyn, Genevieve, James, Katarina, Landon, Lincoln, Logan, Luke, Mercedes, Noah, Reyansh, Robert, Thomas, Tyler, and Zachary!

Photo Albums: 2019 May Crowning


Holy Week
Palm Sunday - Easter Sunday
April 14-21, 2019

"O God, Who hast bestowed on the faithful 
the fire of Thy brightness by The Son ...."
                           ~  Blessing of the New Fire, Easter Vigil

Easter came late this year and the mild April days and spring flowers perfectly heralded this highest feast day of Mother Church. Membership in our parish has grown and for many of our newest members and visiting faithful, it was their first Holy Week to experience in the Traditional rite. Reverend Mr. Javier Ruiz Velasco Aguilar, FSSP joined us mid-week, which allowed the Triduum Masses to be Solemn High Masses. Rev. Mr. Javier hails from Jalisco, Mexico and was ordained a deacon at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Lincoln, Nebraska, two weeks prior to coming here. This was his first trip to Houston. He gave a powerful sermon on Easter Sunday at the High Mass, stating that belief in the Resurrected Christ is our Hope. He reminded us not to despair (there had been church bombing in Sri Lanka on Easter) because Hope is with us, in the tabernacle and in our hearts at communion.

This was our second year to participate in a Lenten Food Drive, which benefited St. Maximilian Kolbe Food Pantry. Faithful donated over 1,200 items, double the amount of last year. In addition, many children in the parish participated in a Lenten almsgiving project, raising over $850 for the capital campaign. Deo gratias!

Two additional firsts this year: The Way of the Cross prayed on Fridays during Lent was held outside unless inclement weather and our first Children's Easter Egg Hunt, on Low Sunday, following the 10 a.m. Mass.

Photo Albums:
2019 Palm Sunday
2019 Maundy Thursday
2019 Good Friday
2019 Easter Vigil
2019 Easter Egg Hunt
 

 

Winter 2019

St. Joseph Altar and Reception
March 17, 2019




New Look at Our Entrance: the Marian Project
February 15 - March 17, 2019

In January, Patrick Pham (upper right photo), approached Fr. Van Vliet about a possible Eagle Scout project to beautify the entrance onto the property. With Father on board, Patrick raised the funds, got the materials and supervised the installation. Primarily completed by February 16, the project could not be finalized until weather conditions allowed for a protective coating to be painted on the statue. Blessing of the statue and site occurred on Sunday, March 17, after the 7:30 a.m. Mass.

Another group of parishioners tackled a separate task that was equally important, but of a more utilitarian purpose. In the early years, when the parish operated out of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a carport was installed at the property and used as a staging ground for various activities. Since it was open on all sides, planned activities were subject to weather conditions. Parishioners volunteered funds and labor to enclose the carport.

Special thanks to all who contributed to these great projects!

End of Season of Septuagesima
Beginning of Lent

On March 3, the parish held overnight adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The vigil, offered each year on Quinquagesima Sunday, began at the end of Vespers and concluded the next morning before the 6:30 a.m. Mass. Ash Wednesday that followed reminded the faithful that to dust we return, and keeping that in our thoughts, to use Lent as a time of profound spiritual growth. Already, many in the parish chose to participate in a 33-day spiritual exercise that started February 20 and ends March 25 with the public Consecration of Jesus through Mary. On Fridays during Lent, the Way of the Cross is prayed at 6:30 p.m.
 

Altar & Sacristy Tour
February 24 & 26, 2019

Fr. Van Vliet grants a private tour to First Communicants
in the Tower of David and CCD classes.

 

Trail Riders Spend Night
En Route to Houston Rodeo
February 20, 2019

 

Visit from Fr. Alfaro Rivero, FSSP
February 17, 2019

Fr. Alfaro Rivera from Spain heads the FSSP Mission in Anolaima, Columbia, where he has worked to spread the Faith since the apostolate was formed in 2004. As Fr. Rivera explained, the apostolate has a three-fold mission: spiritual, educational and agricultural. The farm sustains the apostolate and teaches skills to the locals, the school educates the children, and the spiritual draws the faithful back to the Church. Many grandparents have a strong faith, but it has been lost in the younger generations. The apostolate draws these souls back to the sacraments and the Mass. Demand is great and the priests often travel long distances to attend to the spiritual needs of the community and surrounding areas. The fruits of their labors have blessed the Mission: one of the former students is now a Fraternity priest, who heads the school.

To learn more about the Columbian Mission, please click here.



Candlemas
February 2, 2019

"... pour forth Thy blessings upon these candles
and sanctify them with the light of Thy grace ...."
                           ~  Third Prayer, Blessing of the Candles

February 2 was both First Saturday and the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Vigin Mary, which marks the end of Christmastide. The Low Mass at 7:30 a.m. included the customary First Saturday devotion offered by the parish each month. A High Candlemas followed with a blessing of the candles used in the liturgical year and a procession. Faithful also brought their own candles to be blessed and these candles will be used in devotions at home and during times of danger.

The next day, throat blessings were offered after the Sunday Masses in honor of St. Blaise. Having been enriched by the Mass and received throat blessings, the faithful stepped outside to a tamale sale offered by the Knights of Columbus. The parish really loves tamales for the entire inventory was sold out after the first Mass!

Photo Albums: 2019 First Saturday & Candlemas


Epiphany
Blessing of the Water, Jan. 5, 2019
Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2019

"Non ultra audeas, serpens callidissime, decipere humanum genus ...."
                           ~  Exorcism, Rite of Blessing of the Epiphany Water

"The Catholic Church takes the existence of the devil seriously." So began Fr. Van Vliet in explaining the exorcism prayers recited in the blessing ceremony. He further stated that exorcisms of salt and water make use of Epiphany water a powerful sacramental against demons and the strife they cause in families. Some of the faithful who were familiar with the rite brought their own salt and water to be blessed. The parish provided blessed chalk and booklets for families who want to bless their homes during the octave of Epiphany. In addition, Frs. Van Vliet and Kodet visited the homes of those families who had never had an Epiphany blessing of their homes by a priest. With only two priests, the sign up sheet was limited to about fifty homes. On Epiphany Sunday, some of the ladies surprised the parish with an El Dia de los Reyes celebration after the High Mass. Children and adults both enjoyed eating the King Cake and learning who had found the Baby Jesus hidden inside.

Photo Albums: 2019 Epiphany

To read about the Blessing of the Epiphany Water, click here.