About Mary Queen
Clergy and our History:
Mary Queen Catholic Church is served by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, a Religious Order dedicated to making known the message of Our Lady of La Salette. Founded on the message and inspiration of Mary's apparition at La Salette, our ministry is to help people respond to the grace of reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ, especially those people who are alienated or estranged. Wherever we minister, we make this message known to all God's people.
Click here to learn more about the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.
Pastor
Rev. Thomas Vellappallil, M.S.
281-482-1391, ext. 312
frthomas@maryqueenchurch.org
Parochial Vicar
Rev. Trey Crespo, M.S.
281-482-1391, ext. 314
Deacon
Darrell Moulton
281-482-1391
Deacon
Paul Robison
281-482-1391
Priests in Residence
Rev. James H. Kuczynski, M.S.
Early Years:
The La Salette Missionaries, from the Mary Queen Province, St. Louis, Missouri, originally owned the 20 acres of land in the heart of Friendswood; land dotted with Texas cedar and pecan trees and in the heart of a small Quaker-established community between Houston and Galveston. The Missionaries had intended to build a seminary here, but changed their plans. In 1965, a group of over 55 Catholic families and households from Friendswood sought permission from the Bishop of Galveston-Houston, Bishop John Morkovsky, to establish the beginnings of a Catholic church in this growing community. The fact that this area, just outside of Houston, had been selected for the new Johnson Space Center and NASA Control was a major factor in its rapid growth.
The Bishop asked the La Salette Missionaries to serve this new Mission Chapel from the parish of St. Peter the Apostle, located in Houston. Fr. Edwin Egan, Fr. Thomas McNamara, Fr. Clarence Wheeler and Fr. John Zabelskas were some of the first priests to serve in early ministry and lay the foundation for a new Mission Chapel within the jurisdiction of the Midwest La Salette Province. The parish inherited the name Mary Queen from the name of this Province. A small wood-framed house on the premises was renovated to serve as a temporary church. In June of 1966 the frame structure was officially designated as a mission church. On January 21, 1969, Bishop Morkovsky issued a Decree of Erection, elevating Mary Queen from mission to parish status. The La Salette priests and brothers have continued to serve the parish from its origin.
Present Years:
As our community grew, so did our number of parishioners. A bigger building was constructed and on April 21, 2012, our new Church was officially unveiled and dedicated. Today, our parish is currently home to over 2,500 registered families.
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston:
Mary Queen Catholic Church is part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The current hierarchy consists of His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell'Oro, C.R.S., along with Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, D.D. There are three Catholic retreat centers, a major seminary, as well as more than 150 parishes within the Archdiocese. In Friendswood, Mary Queen parish now hosts two La Salette Missionaries, both in full time parish ministry: Rev. Thomas Vellappallil, M.S., Pastor, and Rev. Trey Crespo, M.S. During the year, many La Salettes assist and serve the local parish in seasonal liturgies and ministry. Click here to learn more about the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Have you visited our Memorial Prayer Garden?
Located between our Parish Office and the St. Charbel Youth Center, our Memorial Prayer Garden is a peaceful place to honor our loved ones who have passed on from this life to the next. Plaques with the name of your loved one can be purchased to be added to our memorial wall. Contact our Parish Office for more information on how to order a plaque. October, the month of the Holy Rosary, is the perfect time to visit our Memorial Prayer Garden! Don’t have a rosary with you? No problem. Pray the rosary for your loved ones while walking around the fountain.