Looking Back: 2022

Christmas
December 25 , 2022

"Et Verbum caro factum est,
et habitavit in nobis ...."
                           ~  Gospel, Third Mass, Christmas Day

An Arctic blast hit the country the week of Christmas, plunging Houston temperatures below freezing Thursday evening. At the Midnight Mass on Sunday, approximately 100 bundled souls stood in the 30º night to celebrate the First Mass of Christmas with Fr. Van Vliet at the Shrine, while inside the Chapel, most families celebrated a warm and joyous High Mass with Fr Rock. In past years, the Regina Caeli Choir sang Christmas carols before the Mass. This year, the Choir also sang the ordinaries with the Schola and led the faithful in “Silent Night” as Fr. Rock carried the Baby Jesus from the High Altar to the Nativity Scene

Photo Album:
2022 Christmas

Fall 2022

Rorate Mass
December 10 , 2022

"Be consoled, my people, be consoled:
quickly your salvation will come ...."
                           ~  Hymn, Rorate Caeli Desuper

The Mass of light in darkness; of the world lost in sin; of Our Lady, who God prepared from all eternity to bring forth our Savior; of the dawn breaking; of the darkness dissipating; of the Savior Who will come. "I shall save you, do not fear, for I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer." (ending line, "Rorate Caeli Desuper")

Photo Album:
2022 Rorate Mass

 

St. Nicholas Visits the Parish!
Dec. 4, 2022

There we were on the Second Sunday of Advent, honoring St. Nicholas two days before his feast day, and lo and behold: in pops the saint himself! Was it the coloring table, the craft table, the St. Nicholas bingo game, the guess-the number-of-coins-in-the-jar game, or the toss the money bag down the chimney that caught his attention? Or maybe it was the delightfully funny skit of his early life. Possibly, but most likely, it was the joy of  families remembering and honoring this faithful servant of God.

Photo Album:
2022 St. Nicholas Celebration

Mass for Deceased Members of FSSP
and the Confraternity of St. Peter
November 5 , 2022

"Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur."
                           ~  Epistle, Dail Mass for the Dead

On November 5th of each year, every Fraternity priest celebrates a Mass for the deceased members of the Fraternity and Confraternity of St. Peter. At a Sung Mass, a bare catafalque is used to represent the deceased. The Mass is transferred to Monday if the date falls on Sunday.

This year, the Mass fell on First Saturday. Fr. Van Vliet celebrated a Sung Mass after the conclusion of the First Saturday devotion that followed the earlier Marian Mass. Few could stay, but, for those who could, there was a certain intimacy, a poignancy in the sung prayers and solemn actions of the priest.

Photo Album:
2022 Mass for Deceased Members of the FSSP/CSP



Fall Festival
October 22, 2022

It's Fall, Y'all!  Don on the Cowboy Hat & Join the Fun!
                         

This year's Festival, held on Saturday from 10-6 p.m., featured something for everyone. Vendor booths, Silent Auction, raffle, saints costume contest for the children, square dancing and games, games, games! BBQ brisket sandwiches or South of the Border plates, corn dogs and funnel cakes, baked goodies and snow cones - a smorgasbord of fun activities and guilt-free indulgence. Tired? Take a load off by hopping on one of the mule-drawn wagon rides, courtesy of the Sam Houston Trailriders!

This year's festival netted over $52,000 for capital improvements. A lot of planning and hard work goes into making a festival successful, both in fun and finances. Special thanks to Lucy and Aaron Kildow, the Festival Team and all the volunteers and donors who made this our best yet!  May God reward you.

Photo Albums:
2022 Fall Festival I
2022 Fall Festival II

Portico Completed, Just in Time for the Festival!
Oct. 21, 2022

Work began earlier this year to add a portico to St. Athanasius and replace the main doors. The original doors were weather-beaten from long hours of summer sun and occasional heavy storms, some of which blew rainwater into the hallway. The portico, built in the Mission style, protects the entranceway and gives a sense of how the building will eventually look once its exterior is refaced to match the future church. 

The final addition was the cross, designed and built by Fr. Van Vliet. It was installed the day before the Fall Festival.

Summer 2022

Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel
September 29, 2022

"An Angel stood near the altar of the the temple ...."
                           ~  Offertory, Michaelmas

7 p.m., September 29: Fr. Rock enters the sanctuary in the Chapel and Fr. Alloy enters the Shrine. So begins the celebration of Michaelmas in honor of St. Michael and the holy angels.

Photo Album:
2022 Michaelmas

 

A Tribute to Ms. Betty Lee White
Aug. 15, 2022

Top photo, left to right: Fr. Rock, Fr. Braun, Fr. Van Vliet, Fr. Alloy, Seminarian Toan Cao. In front: Betty Lee White

On the ninth anniversary of the erection of Regina Caeli as a parish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, a special tribute was held in honor of Betty Lee White, who gifted the land to the Fraternity of St. Peter. The evening began with a Solemn High Mass celebrating the Feast of the Assumption. Fr. Alloy was celebrant, Fr. Rock, deacon and FSSP seminiarian Toan Cao, subdeacon. Afterwards a reception was held outside and people watched a short film about the history of the land and Betty's formative years, in which she developed a deep love for the Church and the Traditional rite. 

Special thanks to the Anderson, Bielakowski and Saenz Families who spearheaded this effort and all those who contributed to make this a beautiful and special night for our benefactress.

To read about:
The Land

¡Hola, Fr. Alloy! ​​​
Welcome to Regina Caeli!
July 21, 2022

After several years of prayer, Regina Caeli received a third priest to assist Fr. Van Vliet and Fr. Rock in taking care of our growing parish. Arriving late on July 20, Father came in time to join the last day of Catholic Kids Camp and meet many children and their parents. He is fluent in Spanish, having spent time in Guadalajara, Mexico.  We are immensely grateful to Fr. Lawrence and the Fraternity for assigning Fr. Alloy' to the parish.

To read about:
Reverend Fr. Alloy


Catholic Kids Camp
July 19-21, 2022

"The Holy Eucharist, Bread of Eternal Life"
                           ~  Theme of Catholic Kids Camp 2022

Catholic Kids Camp (CKC) is a kid's favorite: Catholic teaching and beaucoup Catholic fun! This year's camp focused on the Holy Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ. Every year, a play is performed each day the camp is held. The opening play on Tuesday was the Miracle of Bolsena, Italy, where the consecrated host began to bleed during the Mass. The next day, the request of Pope Urban IV for St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure to compose the Office of Corpus Christi was told and, on Thursday, the story of Little Nellie of Holy God.

Besides plays, the camp offers music, crafts and priest presentations centering on the current year's theme. Even the snacks follow the theme, which sometimes requires great creativity. Of course, there is also outdoor fun as well. The Camp is staffed by volunteers and their little ones are not forgotten. The children too young to formally participate in CKC attend their own special Little Kids Camp. This year, CKC even had a surprise guest. Fr. Daniel Alloy, our third priest, arrived in time to join in the final day of festivities.

Catholic Kids Camp (CKC) is eagerly awaited by the children, but unfortunately, space is limited. This year, the children who did not get to attend due to the spacing limits received camp t-shirts so that they, too, could be a part of the CKC team.

Photo Album:
2022 Catholic Kids Camp in July
 

Veneration of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
June 21, 2022

Spring 2022

Corpus Christi
June 16, 2022

"Verbum caro, panem verum Verbo carnem efficit ...."
                           ~  Hymn, Pange Lingua

Another beautiful pre-summer night, most fitting to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. First Communicants lead the faithful in a procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Chapel to the St. Michael Shrine and back. Rose petals strewn by the girls marked the way, double incense wafted heavenward, our voices joined with the  choir of angels as through faith,  we "behold the mystery", Bread of Angels, "every man's delight". Alleluia. 

Photo Album:
2022 Corpus Christi 

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 31, 2022

"Let us all rejoice ... and make a festive day in
honor of the blessed Virgin Mary, our Queen ..."
                           ~  Introit, Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The last day of the Month of Mary is our titular feast day. The parish celebrated a dawn Mass, which was a fitting beginning to this wonderful day, and an evening Mass that closed our month of devotions to Regina Caeli, Our Mother and Queen. A candlelit Rosary Procession from the Chapel to the St. Michael Shrine and back followed the evening Sung Mass. Afterwards, the faithful gathered at the Gatehouse to enjoy a potluck reception under the star-sprinkled sky. 

Photo Album:
2022 Queenship of Mary, Titular Feast Day

 

The Very Rev. William Lawrence Visits
May 29, 2022

Coming just after the FSSP priestly ordinations on Friday, May 27, Fr. Lawrence arrived in Houston for a three-day visit. This was his first visit as Provincial Superior, but his second visit to Houston. In July 2012, when Regina Caeli was an apostolate (it would be a year later before we became a parish), he served as replacement for  Fr. Van Vliet while he was at a plenary session of the General Chapter of the FSSP held in Denton, Nebraska. Although this was primarily an administrative/working visit, Father took the time to meet with parishioners on Sunday and hear their comments and concerns.

To read about:
The Very Reverend Fr. Lawrence
His first visit, Looking Back: 2012


May Crowning
May 1, 2022

"Salve, Regina misericordiae: tu nos ab hoste protege ..."
                           ~  Alleluia prayer, Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Over 450 faithful came to offer presents of flowers to Our Lady, who was crowned Queen of Heaven and our hearts on this first Sunday of May. Each year, the youngest First Communicant girl has the honor of crowning Our Blessed Mother; after which, all the First Communicants lead the faithful into the Chapel to place their gifts of flowers at the feet of Our Lady. The First Communicant girls offer bouquets of flowers and the boys, along with the priests, offer individual red roses. Each boy carries a blue flag with the parish shield during the procession, along with the red rose to give Our Lady.

Photo Album:
2022 May Crowning

 

FIrst Communion
April 30, 2022

"O Lord, may the heavenly banquet of which
we have partaken confer on us everlasting life ...."
                           ~  Postcommunion Prayer, Mass of St. Catherine of Siena

Congratulations to our First Communicants: Adrian, Aileen Isabella, Andrew, Ben, Blaise, Bode, Camila, Coen, Cru, Elias, Elias, Emeris, Genesis, Isabel, Isabella, Isaiah, James, Joel, Lilia, Lucas, Luke, Maiyanni, Marisa, Mia, Michaela, Miryam, Mitchell, Nathalia, Osiel, Pia, Quentin, Rebecca, Samuel, Sarah, Scarlett and Stella! On this, the feast day of St.  Catherine of Siena, the children of Tower of David and CCD received First Holy Communion at either the 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. Mass. After each Mass, the Brown Scapular was conferred.

Photo Album:
2022 First Communion
 

A-Hunting We Will Go!
April 24, 2022



Let the Easter Egg Hunt begin!
Click here for fun photos!

 

Quasi Modo Sunday
(Altar Tour and Blessing)
April 24, 2022

On the Sunday after Easter, Fr. Rock gave the CCD First Communion class a personal tour of the sanctuary and sacristy, in which he explained aspects of the altar, candles, bells and other sanctuary appointments that are essential to the celebration of the Mass. He also discussed the various vestments, the order in which the priest vests and the significance of each item he dons. A similar tour was given to the First Communion children in the Tower of David program. In the photo above, he is showing the children the altar stone.

After the tour and the High Mass, Fr. Rock blessed the Blessed Solanus Casey statue that will grace the receptionist area in the Gatehouse. The statue arrived earlier this week and was commissioned from an artist studio in Italy using a photo of Solanus Casey. More information on Blessed Solanus Casey can be found here.

Triduum & Easter
April 14-17, 2022

"Deus, Deus meus, respice in me ...."
                           ~  Ps. XXI, Stripping of the altars

Rev. Mr. Noel Soares returned to assist the parish during the Triduum, as he had last year. He served in the position of deacon during the solemn liturgies from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday and gave the sermon on Good Friday and at the 10:30 a.m. High Mass on Easter Sunday. Fr. Van Vliet served as subdeaon on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and Fr. Rock took the position of subdeacon at the Easter Vigil.

There were changes during this year's Triduum. First, the foot washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday was re-instituted, having been cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic. A decision was made to have all the altar servers who were not directly serving the Mass but would be participating in the foot-washing to be vested and sit together in the first pew, Gospel side, during the Mass. In addition, the parish bell was rung outside in coordination with the ringing of the altar bells during the Gloria in Excelsis. This prayer is not sung again until the midnight Mass on Easter morning. And yes, the parish bell was rung in joy at that Mass, too.

During the Commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord, a change was made to have the Master of Ceremonies and the Schola join the celebrant and ministers in a shoeless procession to venerate the Cross. Arriving at the altar, single file, each person genuflected three times, in coordination with the person in front of them, before kissing the Cross. Another change from prior years is that the renewal of baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil was recited in Latin. 

Deacon Soares will be ordained to the priesthood next month. Please keep him and all the Fraternity seminarians in your prayers.

Photo Album:
2022 Holy Thursday
2022 Good Friday
2022 Easter Vigil


Palm Sunday
April 10, 2022

"Ave, Rex noster, Fili, David, Redemptor mundi ...."
                           ~  Antiphon, Procession

A sunshiny spring day, but oh my! - hold onto your hats, veils, skirts and vestments! An unusually strong wind gusted up to 40 miles per hour, rising and falling, swirling around this corner, than that. Not that it kept the faithful away. The crowd was so large that just the distribution of the palms took 30 minutes. Some of the people had come to the 8:15 Mass and stayed for the blessing ceremony; others came to the blessing ceremony and stayed for the Solemn Mass. At both Masses, faithful overflowed from the chapel into the side rooms and hallway. Deacon Soares assisted at the Solemn Mass and will be with us until shortly after Easter. This is his second visit to Regina Caeli Parish, his first being Holy Week last year.

Photo Album:
2022 Palm Sunday

 

Two Consecrations
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
March 25, 2022

Upper photos: Consecration to Immaculate Heart of Mary prayed in union with the Holy Father and benediction; lower photos: Evening High Mass and consecration of Jesus through Mary afterwards.

In response to the war in Ukraine, the Holy Father requested that bishops, parishes and faithful worldwide join with him to consecrate Russia, Ukraine and all humanity to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration was originally set for 5 p.m. in Rome, which is 11 a.m. in Houston, but was later changed to 6:30 p.m. in order to allow a penitential service prior to invoking the aid of Our Blessed Mother. In 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children in Fatima and said she would request the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart at a future date. This request was made in 1929.

Regina Caeli offered exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Confession from 11-12:30 p.m. The revised time for recital of the consecration prayer was learned too late for the Archdiocese to change its schedule, so Fr. Van Vliet decided the parish would recite the prayer at 11 a.m., which was said in union with Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell'Oro, and again at the very moment the Holy Father began the prayer in Rome.

Today was the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many in the parish participated in the 33-day spiritual exercises leading to this day and, after Mass, made or renewed a personal consecration to Jesus through Mary. In addition, the Brown Scapular was conferred to all who wanted to be enrolled. To learn more about the Consecration to Jesus through Mary, click here.


Winter 2022

Confirmation and St. Joseph's Altar
March 19, 2022

"May the Holy Ghost come down upon you ...."
                           ~  Invocation, Confirmation Ceremonial 

Congratulations to our Confirmati: Aaliyah, Abigail, Alan, Alexander, Amy, Angela, Ataliya, Chastine, Elizabeth, Emma, Faith, Flavius Andreas, Grace, Helena Sophia, Jason, John-Paul, Jose Alfredo, Jude, Kate, Katryna, Kolbe, Laura, Lizeth, Lorenzo, Madeleine, Maria, Maria, Martha, Mary, Mary Elizabeth, Matthew, Matthew, Mia, Miguel, Molly, Rhapsody, Robert, Teddy and Valentina! Cardinal DiNardo conferred the sacrament in a morning ceremony, assisted by Fr. Matthew Suniga, Priest Secretary to Cardinal DiNardo, and Frs. Van Vliet and Rock. The Cardinal chose not to meet privately with the Confirmati to question their readiness, as he has done in the past, but tested them in the Chapel prior to conferring the sacrament. Safely to say, their responses met with his approval.

This beautiful day was blessed, not only by the Cardinal's visit, but also because it was the feast day of St. Joseph, to whom we entrusted the property before the first building was constructed. Every year since 2017, except the pandemic year of 2020 when parishes were shut down, we have had a St. Joseph's Altar. The St. Joseph's Altar begins with a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The Confirmati, our priests and the children who served in the re-enactment, were guests of honor at the reception held after the blessing of the Altar. 

Read Items Unique to a Pontifical Ceremony.
For other articles about the liturgy and the Mass, click here.

Photo Album:
2022 Confirmation Day
 

Ash Wednesday
March 2, 2022

Lent has started; that means Stations of the Cross and Fish Frys on Friday evenings until Holy Week. Come hungry and come prayerful.
 

Welcome Back, Cowboys & Girls!
We've Missed You!
February 24-25, 2022

The Houston Rodeo was cancelled on its ninth day in 2020 due to the pandemic and was not re-opened until this year. The Sam Houston Trailriders last visited in 2020 prior to the closure and returned this year.

Photo Album:
2022 Trailriders Ride Again


Apparition of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Immaculate
February 11, 2022

"O Lord, may the right hand of Thine 
Immaculate Mother uplift us ...."
                           ~  Postcommunion Prayer 

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a 14-year old French peasant girl, St. Bernadette Soubirous, at a grotto in Lourdes eighteen times, from Feb. 11-July 16, 1858.  When the future saint relayed to her priest the woman's message to build a chapel there, he told Bernadette to ask her name. The lady in white waited until Mar. 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, to say, "I am the Immaculate Conception". The Church celebrates these series of apparitions on Feb. 11.

Many miracles have occurred, and continue to occur, at Lourdes and the Immaculate Conception continues to intercede for those who call upon her in fervent prayer. The Fraternity chose this feast day for its priests and seminarians worldwide, in union with the faithful who support the FSSP, to recite an Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day, too, the Holy Father issued a decree confirming the use of the 1962 liturgical books by the FSSP for all its sacraments, rites and prayers.

Photo Album:
2022 Our Lady of Lourdes

 

“Traditionis Custodes” and the Parish, 2022

Please see Looking Back: 2021 for the "Motu Proprio" and its impact in 2021 and going forward. The following are events in 2022.

To read:
Message to Faithful, Fr. Van Vliet, dated Jan. 27, 2022
“Decretum”, Pope Francis, dated Feb. 11, 2022
Official Communique from FSSP, Fribourg & Statement from N. American Province, dated Feb. 21, 2022
“Good News for the Fraternity of St. Peter, An Interview with Father Benoît Paul-Joseph”, Anne Le Pape, dated February 21, 2022

Special prayers during this time

1. Jan., 2022, Living Rosary prayed by supporters world-wide.
2. Jan. 9,  2022 and every second Sunday of the month, Fraternity priests in apostolates world-wide will celebrate one Mass each for the intentions of the FSSP and the preservation of the Traditional Mass. Effective September 2022, our priests changed the offering of this Mass to the 7 a.m. Mass on the first three Sundays of each month.
3. Feb. 2-10, 2022, Novena Prayer, consisting of one decade of the Rosary, followed by the Memorare Prayer (preparatory to the Act of Consecration of the FSSP).
4. Feb. 11, 2022, Act of Consecration of the FSSP to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Blessing of Throats in
Honor of St. Blaise
February 3, 2022

Candlemas
February 2, 2022

"Hodie beata Virgo Maria puerum Jesum
praesentavit in templo ...."
                           ~  Antiphon, Vespers, Candlemas

On Feb. 2, Holy Mother Church celebrates the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when Our Lady redeemed her first-born after 40 days, as prescribed under Mosaic law, and received a blessing from Simeon. Under the law, a mother who gave birth to a male child was ritually unclean for seven days, then an additional 33 days. When Simeon took the Christ Child in his arms, he prophesied that Christ was "a light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Lk. 2:32). The tradition of blessing candles used throughout the liturgical year on this day developed over time, but was in existence at least by the 11th century; the procession was part of the celebration as far back as the reign of Pope Sergius I, which was 687-701AD (source: Catholic Encyclopedia). Because of the blessing of the candles, the Sung Mass became known as Candlemas.

Today began the first day of the Novena Prayer leading to the Consecration of the FSSP to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. See more information above at “Traditionis Custodes” and the Parish, 2022 and Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate, Feb. 11, 2022.

Photo Album:
2022 Candlemas


Blessing of the Epiphany Water
January 5, 2022

"Non ultra audeas, serpens callidissime,
decipere humanum genus ...."
                           ~  Exorism Against Satan, Blessing of the Epiphany Water

The blessing of the Epiphany Water is considered most efficacious due to the nature and extent of the prayers. Under the Traditional rite, the salt is exorcised and blessed first, then the water is exorcised and blessed. The ceremony was moved outside this year to accommodate the large quantity of water brought by parishioners for use in their homes: six-foot tables extended the length of the covered patio and were packed with liter containers on top and larger containers below. The ceremony lasted over an hour and half, delaying the start of Mass.

Chalk was blessed on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, and booklets provided for families to do their own ceremony at home during the Octave of the feast. In addition, the priests offered home blessings to those families who had never had a priest bless their home during the Epiphany season.

Photo Album:
2022 Blessing of Epiphany Water
 

Sunday Obligation & Other Matters

Effective Jan. 2, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo restored the obligation of the faithful to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. A dispensation from the obligation was set in place in March 2020 due to the pandemic. To read: Letter from His Eminence, click here.

On Jan. 3, Fr. Rock held a one-day seminar for young adults entering college and work to prepare them for the challenges they will face as Catholics in a secular world.
 

And the Year Begins
January 1 and 2, 2022

From 11:30 p.m., New Year's Eve to 12:30 a.m., New Year's Day, the parish offered adoration before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for his blessings in the year just ended and invoke His blessings in the year about to begin. This year, the parish also decided to celebrate with a potluck Christmas supper after the Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass, complete with Christmas caroling and S'more making. A new tradition going forward!