Looking Back: 2021

Summer 2021

Fr. Van Vliet's 25th Anniversary as a Priest
June 15, 2021
 

"“Dearly beloved children, who are about to be
consecrated to the office of priesthood ...."
                           ~  Rite of Priestly Ordination, Fr. Van Vliet's serrmon

On this stormy Tuesday night, on the 25th Anniversary of his priesthood, Fr. Van Vliet celebrated a Solemn High Mass in honor of Regina Caeli, with Frs. Rock and Braun assisting as deacon and subdeacon, respectively. The Mass ended with the "Te Deum". In his sermon, Fr. Van Vliet walked through aspects of the Tridentine ordination that warn the priest of the solemness of his duty in the care of souls and encourage him to remain humble and keep praying to God. As he spoke, he gave personal details of his own journey into the priesthood and eventually to Houston. 

Fr. Van Vliet visited Houston several times in 2011 and celebrated Masses at Annunciation Church downtown, which was the only church offering the Traditional Mass. As the possibility of establishing an apostolate in Houston was getting closer to reality, the initial group of supporters needed a place to gather after Mass and, with the permission of Fr. Lockey, Fr. Van Vliet celebrated a Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, which had the facilities to host a reception afterwards. The date of that Mass was June 15, 2011, the 15th Anniversary of Fr. Van Vliet’s ordination. No one knew. Now, ten years later, he was celebrating his 25th and the parish rejoiced with him.

At the cake reception that followed Mass, Fr. Braun presented Fr. Van Vliet with a Spiritual Bouquet of rosaries and Masses offered by the faithful. Fr. Braun was part of the initial group of Trads at Annunciation Church before the Fraternity came to Houston. Fr. Van Vliet was his assistant at his ordination ceremony in 2018.

To read:
Fr. Van Vliet's sermon on the Occasion of his 25th Anniversary as a Priest

Photo Albums:
Fr. Van Vliet's 25th Anniversary as Priest

To see a photo history of the early years of Regina Caeli ParishPhoto Albums:
Index to the early years, 2011-2017

Spring 2021

Feast of Corpus Christi
June 3, 2021

First Communicant girls would have tossed rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament during an exterior procession but the procession was held inside due to rain.. 

Photo Album: 2021 Corpus Christi

Pandemic Protocols End
Pentecost 2021

Pentecost, May 23, 2021

On May 19, 2021, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo gave the welcome news that he was lifting the dispensation from the Sunday obligation, pandemic protocols, and suspension of parish activities effective Pentecost. The bishops of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and other dioceses also announced a lifting of the dispensation as of Pentecost and, to varying degrees, the lifting of some or all of the pandemic protocols. (The bishops of Corpus Christi and Tyler had lifted the suspension in October 2020 and March 2021, respectively.)

For 46 days in 2020, public Masses, including during the Triduum, were not celebrated and for a duration of 14 months, parish activities were suspended, with limited exceptions (see Looking Back: 2020). During the 14 months, faithful took advantage of Houston’s mild weather and our large acreage position to work on grounds maintenance and other outdoor projects. Our priests made extra efforts to keep the parish vibrant. They added Sunday Masses, extended Confession times and were available for counseling. The number of registered parishioners more than doubled and, with the lifting of the dispensation, those additional Masses the priests added are here to stay. Regina Caeli is anxious to resume a full parish life. God bless His Eminence and thanks be to Almighty God.

To read:
Fr. Van Vliet's Letter to Faithful dated May 20, 2021, click here 
Key dates of pandemic on Regina Caeli, click here.



Crowning of Mary
May 2, 2021

"Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria:"
                           ~  "Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above", hymn

First Communicants, most who received the sacrament the day before (see photo below) and some receiving today, gathered at the Gatehouse to gift Our Blessed Mother with a crown of flowers and to lead the faithful in the procession to the Chapel. Each boy carried a rose and a blue flag embroidered with an image of the parish shield and each girl carried either a formal bouquet of mixed flowers or loosely tied roses.

As the choir and faithful sang tradiitonal Marian hymns, the procession wound its way from the Gatehouse to the Chapel, where flowers were presented to Our Lady and a High Mass celebrated. Afterwards, there was a cake reception honoring Our Blessed Mother and the First Communicants.

Because of pandemic restrictions, in-person religious education was limited to the two sacramental level classes - First Communion and Confirmation. Children enrolled in either Sunday CCD or Tuesday Tower of David, or were homeschooled using a parish provided curriculum. (A parish curriculum was also provided for children in other class levels since in-person classes were not offered for their levels.) Each child wanting to receive First Confession and First Communion was personally tested by Fr. Van Vliet to verify proper understanding and maturity to receive our Lord.

Photo Album: 2021 May Crowning

 

First Communion
May 1, 2021

Congratulations to our First Communicants: Ana, Anamaria, Arya, Aubrey, Benjamin, Boston, Corban, Gemma, Harper, Hope, Isabella, Itzel, Jeshua, Jesus, Jocelyn, John Marie, Kaily, Landon, Linus, Lucas, Luke, Madeleine, Mary Siena, Michael, Michael, Michael, Noah, Nora, Raphael, Rose, Samuel, Seidi, Timothy and Victoria! Most of the children received on May 1, but some received a day or few days later due to pandemic concerns or other reasons.

Blessing of Fr. Solanus Casey Gatehouse
April 24, 2021

"Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus:"
                           ~  Antiphon sung during blessing

A perfect day for a perfect blessing: sunny, breezy and wildflowers gracing the fields. At the outdoor Mass at the St. Michael the Archangel Shrine, Fr. Van Vliet spoke of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey, who, serving in the humble role of porter at the Capuchin monastery in Detroit, brought healing and consolation to many. It seemed fitting to name the Gatehouse in his honor since the bulding with his massive gate (yet to be installed) will serve as the entrance to the parish complex.

From the Shrine to the Gatehouse, the faithful chanted the Litany of the Saints, then sang the Vidi Aquam and Confitemini Domino as Fr. Van Vliet entered the building to bless and incense the interior. After the blessing, Fr. Van Vliet thanked the many volunteers who worked over several weeks to prepare the Gatehouse and grounds for the ceremony and the many donors whose gifts and pledges financed construction. He invited all to tour the building and to stay for the reception.

The blessing ceremony was originally planned for late March, but pandemic-related bottlenecks in production and shipment of building materials as well as the freeze in February delayed construction. Athough substantially complete, the building lacks the gate, the elevator, baseboards and other items. Occupany is not expected until mid to late May.

To read:
About Blessed Fr.Solanus Casey, click here.
2021-05-17, FSSP Missive, Gatehouse Blessing

Photo Albums:
2021 Gatehouse Blessing
Phase III: Gatehouse Construction

 

Easter Egg Hunt
April 11, 2021
(Bunny Got Lost Looking for Parish Entrance)



Photo Album: 2021 Easter Egg Hunt



Visit of Our Lady of Fatima
International Pligrim Statue
April 9-10, 2021

The International Pilgrimage Statue of Our Lady of Fatima made an overnight visit to the parish, arriving Friday morning, April 9. As in prior visits, a Mass was celebrated upon her arrival and before her departure, the Brown Scapular and Miraculous Medals were conferred after Mass on the day of her arrival and the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration and silent prayer during the day and overnight.


Holy Week
Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021
Triduum, April 1-4, 2021

" For tribulation is very near;
for there is none to help me....
They have dug my hands and feet. They have numbered all my bones."
                           ~  Psalm 21, Stripping of the altars

Holy Week was poignant and jubilant this year as faithful, remembering the mournful silence of closed churches last year, passionately embraced the solemnities of this week. Those that participated in the Easter Vigil had the joy of witnessing two catechumens enter the Church. Congratulations to Samona and Michael!

Rev. Mr. Noel Soares, a Fraternity seminarian ordained to the diaconite in March of this year, assisted with the ceremonies, arriving in time for Palm Sunday and staying until the morning of Easter Tuesday. This was his first time in Texas and he assured us he loved it. Deacon Soares chanted some of the readings and gave the sermon on Good Friday. 

Solemn High Masses were celebrated on Palm Sunday and throughout the Triduum, but certain usual practices were deferred due to continuing covid concerns. Among these were the kissing of the priest's hand at the dissemination of palms (the faithful picked up palms before the blessing ceremony; palms were blessed as the priest walked down the center aisle), washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday and individual veneration of the Cross on Good Friday (the Cross was held high for veneration as the faithful remained in their pews). The altar servers performed their duties with flawless precision, despite the unique complexities of the liturgy. The original plan for Palm Sunday was a procession from the Gatehouse to the chapel, but a rainy cold front caused the procession to be limited to the covered patio area. 

Photo Album:
2021 Palm Sunday
2021 Holy Thursday
2021 Good Friday
2021 Easter Vigil

Winter 2021

A Busy Saturday in March
March 20, 2021

Saturday, March 20, was chock full of events. After the morning Masses, volunteers gathered for a Parish-wide Work Day to level the ground and seed grass around the Gatehouse, remove old fencing, and clean up construction debris. As work commenced under the direction of Fr. Van Vliet, Fr. Rock led a Youth Group meeting, the first since the covid shut-down in 2020.  Deo gratias for the acreage we have and the beautiful springtime weather that allows outside activiies!

Later that same day, there was the annual Patrician Meeting of the Legion of Mary, followed by a Legion of Mary discussion at 5 p.m. on penance and fasting that was open to all. At 7 p.m., the Men's Recollection occurred. An exhausting agenda. A fun, informative agenda. God bless our priests!

Photo Album: Busy Morning, March 20, 2021

 

St. Joseph's Altar
March 19, 2021

"Behold a faithful and wise servant, whom the
Lord hath set over His family."
                           ~  Second Vespers, Antiphon at the Magnificat

Our parishioners love St. Joseph, who throughout his life, protected Our Lady and our Lord and now protects Mother Church and our families. For his feast day, Angela Hebert, whose family has a strong tradition with the St. Joseph's Altar, organized the event, as she has done in the past. She and a band of 25 families set up an elabortate altar under the outdoor canopy. Children preparing for First Communion re-enacted the scene wherein St. Joseph tries to find lodging in Bethelem. In this scenario, however, when he and Mother Mary are sent to the stables, a feast awaits them.

The children led the recessional at the end of the evening Mass from the sanctuary to the St. Joseph's Altar, re-enacting the scene on the way. Fr. Rock blessed the altar, the Litany of St. Joseph was prayed, and then the children dug into their platters of spaghetti. The event raised over $1,000 for the parish. 

Photo Album: 2021 St. Joseph Altar

 

Season of Lent
February 17 - April 3, 2021

In past years, the Stations of the Cross were prayed outside on Fridays when the weather was favorable, but this year, the Stations are being prayed in the Chapel because of muddy grounds and construction. It is a small price to pay when we see the Gatehouse nearing completion. Faithful were grateful that this year, unlike last, the annual outdoor Fish Fry sponsored by the Kngihts of Columbus re-commenced.

The Thursday before the fourth Sunday of Lent is the midpoint of the Lenten fast under the 1962 Laws of Discipline. Holy Mother Church expresses the joy of arriving at this point on that following Fourth Sunday, also known as Laetare Sunday. Vestments change from violet to rose and the Mass encourages the faithful to continue in their penitential acts for Passiontide and Easter are coming soon, 

Photo Album: 2021 Scenes of Lent



Ashes to Frost?
February 17, 2021

".Momento, homo, quia pulvis es,
et in pulverem reverteris."
                           ~  Ash Wednesday

An Artic blast tore through Texas the week preceding Valentine’s Day, bringing record freezing temperatures, sleet, snow and freezing rain. Another blast roared in the following Wednesday. Hitting the northern and central areas of Texas before reaching the southeast, the blasts wreaked havoc on roads, power grids, communications and water systems. Freezing rain hit the Greater Houston area on Sunday, Feb. 14 and overnight temperatures plunged to the 10’s. Houston woke to a frigid blanket of snow mixed with ice and rolling outages that eventually consigned 1.1 million to no power for several days to protect hospitals and other critical areas. This was the coldest Houston had been since 1989 and prior to that, 1899.

Feb. 17 was Ash Wednesday. Twenty parishioners braved icy roads to attend the 6:30 a.m. Mass, which was celebrated by candlelight until the Gospel, when the power came on. Power was intermittent during the day and thankfully on throughout the evening Mass that was attended by ninety people. Due to covid concerns, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments modified the Ash Wednesday rites to have ashes sprinkled on the head without words.

Pipes, which were already suspectable to freezing due to the icy weather, were even more so when buildings lost power. At the parish, a pipe burst, flooding water into the sacristy and part of the sanctuary. The burst was discovered by Fr. Van Vliet shortly after power kicked on Tuesday. Volunteers came to assist in repairing the pipe, protecting items and drying the area. By the grace of God, vestments and precious articles were unharmed.


 

Blessing of Throats in Honor of St. Blaise
February 3, 2021


St. Blaise, en route to his martyrdom, healed a choking child.

Candlemas
February 2, 2021

"... we humbly entreat ... that Thou wouldst ...kindle with the
light of Thy heavenly benediction these candles ...."
                           ~  Second prayer, Blessing of the Candles

Candlemas begins with the blessing of the candles to be used throughout the liturgical year and is followed by a procession and Sung Mass. Many faithful bring their own candles to be blessed and thier candles, preferably 51% or more beeswax (because of the symbolism inherent in the beeswax), are used as sacramentals during devotions and storms. Over 350 faithful came to offer their love to the Light of the Gentiles and His mother. Some had paticipated in the novena to Our Lady of Good Success, which ended the day before. Her image was carried in the bier.

Photo Album: 2021 Candlemas

St. Michael Eagle Scout Project
January 16 & 23, 2021

Thomas Pham received permission from Fr. Van Vliet to design and coordinate an Eagle Scout project to provide landscaping for the St. Michael Shrine. He presented his plan to parishioners after the Sunday Masses on January 10, and upon receiving donations and making a list of those who wanted to assist, began assembling the materials necesary to get the work done the two following Saturdays. The project included erecting an iron fence, adding plants and installing a crushed granite walkway.

At the same time ....

Once-a-Month Parish Wide Workday Resumed!

Saturday work days died when the shutdowns began in March 2020, but as the stay safe restrictions continued, parishioners got tired of being cooped up at home. Over time, one volunteer, then another and another began reappearing on Saturdays or other days to help Fr. Van Vliet maintain the acreage and get projects, such as the building of the St. Michael Shrine, completed. By January, it was time to make the unofficial official and re-launch the monthly parish wide Saturday work day. On Jan. 23, teams worked on cleaning and updating the media in the focal point at the north side of the Gatehouse and picking up loose trash and debris around the property. 

Children are welcome to join in the monthly Saturday work day and many families bring all their children for a day of work, play and accomplishment. To learn more about the once-a-month workday or volunteer, contact workcrew@reginacaeliparish.org. 

Photo Albums:
2021 St. Michael Shrine Eagle Scout Project
2021 Ongoing Parish Wide Workday


Blessing of the Epiphany Water
January 5, 2021

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immunde spiritus,
omnis satanica potestas ... in nomine et virtute
Domini Nostri Jesu Christi ...."
                           ~  Exorcism prayer, Blessing of Epiphany Water

In the Traditional rite, the blessing of the Epiphany Water occurs every January 5th, on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany. The prayers reference three-fold manifestations of Christ to the gentiles: the star that led the Magi to the Infant, the baptism of Jesus in which the Father spoke and the Dove descended on our Lord and the miracle of the water changed to wine by Christ at the wedding feast in Cana. The Epiphany blessing is the most powerful of the holy water blessings because of its connection to the baptism of our Lord in which Christ purified the waters of baptism.

Families are encouraged to bless their homes during the octave of Epiphany. During this blessing, the lintel of each exterior door is marked with the initials of the three Magi to invoke their intercessory prayers. 

Click the following to read:
2021 Epiphany Home Blessing Booklet
Blessing of the Epiphany Water and Homes.

Photo Album: 2021 Blessing of the Epiphany Water
 

Click here to see Christmas 2020