About Regina Caeli Parish · Houston, Texas
Regina Caeli Parish is a personal parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston located in northwest Houston, Texas, entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Formally erected on August 15, 2013 by His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, it is the only Archdiocesan parish in Galveston-Houston to celebrate the sacred liturgy and sacraments exclusively according to the Traditional Latin rites (the liturgical books of 1962). The community first gathered for Mass on September 4, 2011 and now worships on a 40-acre master-planned Mission-style campus that is being built up around St. Athanasius Chapel Hall (blessed 2016) and the Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey Gatehouse (operational 2021).
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- Our Lady, Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli)
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Why belong here
Regina Caeli offers the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church in the Traditional Latin Rite (1962 liturgical books) — daily and Sunday Mass, Confession before every Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and the traditional sacraments (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Last Rites). It is a personal parish, so any Catholic may register as a full or supporting member regardless of geography, and the community runs a rich parish life — a children's summer Catholic Kids Camp, CCD and Home Study Catechism, a Schola and Children's Choir, Troops of St. George, a Legion of Mary praesidium, Knights of Columbus, the Gabriel Project for mothers in need, altar servers, ushers, and a welcoming committee — all on a 40-acre rural campus in northwest Houston being slowly built into a permanent Mission-style church complex.
Mass times at Regina Caeli Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily: 30 minutes before each Mass, ending 5 minutes before Mass begins
- Saturday: 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM, or until all confessions are heard
- No confessions after the Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 PM Masses
- Confession also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish Identity & History
Regina Caeli Parish was formally erected on August 15, 2013 (the Solemnity of the Assumption) by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, but its apostolate had already been gathering since the first community Mass on September 4, 2011. It is the only parish in the archdiocese dedicated exclusively to the Traditional Latin liturgy according to the 1962 liturgical books, and it is entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), an apostolic society erected by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. Its name, Regina Caeli ('Queen of Heaven'), honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in her Queenship.
- Apostolate launched late August 2011
- First community Mass: September 4, 2011
- Formally erected as a parish: August 15, 2013 by Cardinal DiNardo
- Entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
- St. Athanasius Chapel Hall blessed by Cardinal DiNardo on October 29, 2016
- Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey Gatehouse became operational November 2021
- Capital campaign for permanent church launched in 2025
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by founding pastor Fr. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP, assisted by parochial vicars Fr. William Rock, FSSP and Fr. Daniel Alloy, FSSP. Fr. Alloy, originally from Nebraska, was ordained June 1, 2020, served his first two years at St. Stephen of Hungary in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and is fluent in Spanish. The FSSP apostolate listing also names Fr. Benjamin Feuerborn, FSSP, as serving the parish.
- Rev. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP — Pastor (founding pastor; of Dutch-Canadian ancestry; former aircraft maintenance engineer)
- Rev. William Rock, FSSP — Parochial Vicar (joined as Priest in Residence, became Parochial Vicar effective August 1, 2021)
- Rev. Daniel Alloy, FSSP — Parochial Vicar (joined July 2022; fluent in Spanish)
- Rev. Benjamin Feuerborn, FSSP — Parochial Vicar (per FSSP apostolate listing)
- Jessica Betz — CCD Coordinator (Children)
- Elizabeth Padilla — Sacrament Records
- Barbara Jonte — Mass Requests
- Leezet Llorance, Ed.D. — Pro-Life Coordinator
- Julia Blasch — 2024 Fall Festival Coordinator
- Brenda Zemo — Raffle Coordinator
Sacraments
Regina Caeli offers the full sacramental life in the Traditional Latin form. First Communion preparation runs through the CCD program from September to May, with a personal interview with the pastor before reception. Confirmation is conferred annually according to the local ordinary's schedule. Infant baptisms, matrimony (Nuptial Mass), and Last Rites are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact the parish office for infants
- First Communion — CCD September through May; pastor interviews each child
- Confirmation — held annually in a group for CCD/Home Study students; baptismal certificate required (stamped within 6 months)
- Confession — daily 30 min before Mass; Saturday 8:30–9:00 AM; by appointment
- Matrimony — Nuptial Mass available; contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites — contact the parish office
Faith Formation: CCD & Catechism
The parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, coordinated by Jessica Betz, runs September through May for parish children and feeds into the reception of First Communion and Confirmation. Families whose children are homeschooled may enroll them in Home Study Catechism by submitting the CCD enrollment form and designating 'Home Study Catechism.' Children preparing for First Communion are interviewed by the pastor and must supply a baptismal certificate; Confirmation candidates also need a baptismal certificate stamped within six months of the ceremony.
- CCD Coordinator: Jessica Betz ([email protected])
- CCD classes: September through May
- Home Study Catechism option for homeschooled children
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation built into CCD/Home Study
- Pastor interviews required before First Communion and Confirmation
Parish Groups, Choirs & Youth
Regina Caeli sustains a robust lay life through its Schola (choir open to children 12+ and adults), Children's Choir (ages 6–12), Youth Group (ages 13–17, led by Fr. Alloy), and Young Adults Group (ages 18–35, led by Fr. Rock). Boys who have received First Communion are eligible to train as altar servers under Fr. Rock. The parish also sponsors a Troop of St. George (boys 6+), a Legion of Mary praesidium, Knights of Columbus (who serve as ushers), and a St. Philomena Toddler Group for moms and children ages 5 and under.
- Parish Schola — meets 7:00–8:15 PM on the 2nd and 4th Mondays
- Children's Choir (ages 6–12) — Saturdays 10:30 AM or Sundays 1:00 PM
- Youth Group (ages 13–17) — 3rd Saturday of the month, 9:30–11:30 AM, led by Fr. Alloy
- Young Adults Group (ages 18–35) — led by Fr. Rock
- Altar Servers — boys post–First Communion; training 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 AM
- Troops of St. George Troop 1839 — boys 6+; 1st and 3rd Mondays, 7:00–8:15 PM
- Legion of Mary — contact Karen Rodriguez ([email protected])
- Knights of Columbus — serve as Ushers
- St. Philomena Toddler Group — moms and children ages 5 and under
- Board Game Sundays
- Welcoming Committee — contact Rae Bielakowski
- Homeschool groups (Men's, Girls' Virtue, Junior Virtue, Adult Virtue)
- Work Crews — grounds and exterior work (Vincent Dominic, [email protected])
Outreach, Pro-Life & Charitable Works
Outreach at Regina Caeli centers on pro-life and family ministries. The parish has a dedicated Pro-Life Coordinator on staff and participates in the Gabriel Project, which reaches out to expectant mothers in need. A Fall Festival and parish raffle are organized annually as community-building fundraisers.
- Pro-Life Coordinator: Leezet Llorance, Ed.D.
- Gabriel Project ministry for mothers in need
- Annual Fall Festival and parish raffle
- Altar Guild — meets in the small room after the 7:30 AM Mass on the 3rd Saturday
Catholic Kids Camp (Summer)
Since 2018 Regina Caeli families, working closely with their priests, have run Catholic Kids Camp, a three-day summer program for children ages 5–11 featuring original skits, crafts, outdoor games, musical instruction, and traditional catechesis. The 2025 camp ran July 14–16, 9:00 AM to noon, on the theme 'Commendo animam meam Jesu Christo' — the last words of Blessed Solanus Casey, one of the parish's patrons.
- Ages 5–11
- Three-day program of skits, crafts, games, music, and catechesis
- 2025 dates: July 14–16, 9:00 AM to noon
- Theme draws on the parish's three patrons: St. Athanasius, Blessed Solanus Casey, and Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Campus & 'Building a Sacred Home' Campaign
The 40-acre property in northwest Houston is being developed in the Mission Style as a fenced rural complex with future outdoor shrines and Stations of the Cross. St. Athanasius Chapel Hall, blessed by Cardinal DiNardo on October 29, 2016, served as the first worship and gathering space and will eventually be repurposed as a meeting hall once the permanent church is built. The Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey Gatehouse, operational since November 2021, now houses the temporary rectory, parish offices, and meeting rooms. In 2025, with Cardinal DiNardo's permission, the parish launched its 'Building a Sacred Home Campaign' to fund a permanent Regina Caeli Church, a chapel dedicated to St. Joseph, an educational facility, and a permanent rectory.
- 40-acre Mission-style master plan
- St. Athanasius Chapel Hall (2016) — to become meeting hall after main church is built
- Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey Gatehouse (November 2021) — temporary rectory, offices, meeting rooms
- Future buildings: permanent church, St. Joseph chapel, educational facility, permanent rectory
- Most of the 40 acres to remain rural with outdoor shrines and Stations of the Cross
- 2025: Building a Sacred Home Campaign launched for the permanent church
Visit, Register & Contact
As a personal parish, Regina Caeli welcomes any Catholic who wishes to join as either a full member (transferring registration from their previous parish) or a supporting member (while remaining registered at their home parish). The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and can be reached by phone at 832-328-0876 or by email at [email protected].
- Physical and mailing address: 8121 Breen Dr., Houston, TX 77064
- Phone: 832-328-0876
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Email: [email protected]
- Registration form downloadable from the parish website
- Personal parish: full-member or supporting-member registration available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Van Vliet, FSSP2011–present
Founding pastor; of Dutch-Canadian ancestry; worked 11 years as an aircraft maintenance engineer before entering the FSSP; established the Houston apostolate of the Fraternity.