Beginning, Monday June 29:
Monday through Friday at 9:00 am and 12:10 pm. Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 pm.
Catholic Church
Beginning, Monday June 29:
Monday through Friday at 9:00 am and 12:10 pm. Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 pm.
St. John Vianney Church has resumed weekend Masses.
We ask that all please be aware and follow the appropriate health protocols. Governor Abbott and the Open Texas Task Force ask that we:
When receiving Holy Communion, Cardinal DiNardo asks that we receive in the hand. Holy Communion is only distributed by the clergy.
For your protection and safety, all of the surfaces in the church and chapel have been treated with an anti-microbial barrier and the entire church and chapel have been sanitized.
There is no offertory collection or procession, parishioners are asked to make their stewardship offerings electronically, by mail or drop their offerings in the baskets at the doors of the church or bring them to the church offices during the week.
Parishioners who are in “at risk” groups should refrain from attending Mass and are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Word and make a Spiritual Communion. Those who are sick should not attend Mass until they are recovered.
Parishioners who are concerned about attending Mass at this time are also encouraged to stay home, pray the Liturgy of the Word and make a Spiritual Communion. For those concerned about coming to Sunday Masses, consider attending to weekday Mass.
Please continue to pray for an end of this pandemic.
The morning of Saturday, May 30, almost 100 volunteer SJV parishioners came together to collect food for our first-ever Drive-by Food Drive. For the health and well-being of our volunteers, SJV’s Pantry has been closed to the public and remains closed until further notice. In an effort to continue to assist those in greatest need, the Social Service Ministries’ Social Concerns Committee planned and organized the Drive-by Food Drive with the intent of delivering the collected items to Magnificat Houses and Catholic Charities’ Guadalupe Center. Magnificat operates 16 residential homes for the homeless, a clubhouse for the mentally ill and Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. Twice a week, the Guadalupe Center is currently assisting over 300 families per day with food, and it was becoming more and more difficult for them to receive food from other sources.
Twenty nine families, many of them with children, made up part of the 97 volunteers who came out to help direct traffic, unload donations from the donors’ cars and load them onto the vehicles, and drive their fully loaded vehicles to the receiving sites. The flow of cars was constant and steady throughout the day, but manageable. The event ran very smoothly, and all the volunteers and donors seemed to really enjoy themselves. The event was made even livelier by a DJ providing music courtesy of the Knights of Columbus.
In total, 370 cars/families dropped off and donated food over a span of 3 hours. In addition, the non-expired food that remained in SJV’s Pantry was also donated to these organizations. At the end, 17 fully loaded vehicles ranging from SUVs, pick-up trucks and trailers carried approximately 450 boxes of food to Magnificat Houses and Catholic Charities’ Guadalupe Center. Both organizations were very grateful and reported that SJV’s donations over-filled their pantries. Catholic Charities reported that they filled not only their food pantry but also an additional room with donations. Magnificat estimates the donation at 1,575 pounds of food. In total, we estimate that between 4,500-5,000 pounds of food were donated all together!
We thank all the SJV departments, ministries, groups, organizations, and everyone who made this possible by helping to plan or promote the event, and by volunteering or donating food! It was wonderful to come together again as a parish family to do what we are called to do: Living faith, changing lives and making a difference!
To view all the pictures, visit our Photo Gallery.
The long-awaited celebrations of the Initiation sacraments began Tuesday, May 26 evening at the 7 pm Mass, and continued on the Vigil of Pentecost, Saturday, May 30. Congratulations to the men and women who were received into full communion with the Catholic Church. After renewing their baptismal vows and making a solemn Profession of Faith, they were ritually received into the Church, strengthened to live that faith by the sacrament of Confirmation, and celebrated their communion with all others who profess that faith by receiving their First Holy Communion.
May they become known to us and us to them.
Praised be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever! Amen.
On Monday, May 18, Governor Greg Abbott initiated Phase II of the Open Texas recovery plan. As part of Phase II, churches and places of worship may have occupancy up to 50% of capacity. This now allows for up to 800 people per Mass at St. John Vianney Parish.
Beginning this weekend, May 23/24, we will resume our regular weekend Mass schedule.
The Directives require that non-household members maintain the practice of social distancing of six feet (two empty seats). Further, there will be no offertory collection taken. Instead, baskets will be at the entrance doors of the church. Parishioners are encouraged to give electronically, mail or drop off your envelope to the parish office. For information on WeShare and other electronic giving options please see our parish website or contact our parish offices. As a safety precaution Holy Communion will continue to be distributed only by the priests. The governor’s Directives ask that people consider wearing masks while at Church and our bishop, Cardinal DiNardo, has asked that people receive Holy Communion in the hand. We have taken the additional step of applying an antimicrobial barrier to all of our surfaces (pews, doors, missals, floors etc.) for the safety of our parishioners. We ask that those attending Mass please continue to follow the appropriate health protocols.
Those who are in “at risk” groups (those over 65 and those with underlying health conditions) are encouraged to refrain from Mass attendance at this time. Also, if being with a large number of people during this time is a cause for concern, it is best to refrain from Mass attendance at this time as well. Those who are ill should not come to Mass.
We will continue through the end of May to offer weekday Mass and Confessions three times per day (9:00 am, 12:10 pm and 7:00 pm). For those who may feel uncomfortable coming to Sunday Mass at this time, they may consider attending one of the 15 weekday Masses instead.
On Saturday, May 30, at the 5:30 pm Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost and, at the 12:30 pm on Pentecost Sunday, we will receive into the Catholic faith the candidates and catechumens in the RCIA and RCIC. These Masses will be longer than a normal Mass. Please remember to pray in thanksgiving for these soon–to–be new Catholics! Beginning now at the weekday Masses and in June at the weekend Masses, we will have nearly 250 of our children receiving their First Holy Communion. We rejoice for them and with their families.
While we still are unable to open up our Social Services Ministries due to so many of our volunteers being in the “at risk” groups, we will hold a Drive-by Food Drive on Saturday, May 30, in the Church parking lot to support other food pantries that are in need. For details please refer to the parish Bulletin and the website.
Our Summer Youth Program (Camp SJV) is set to proceed as scheduled. For the safety of our children and families every effort is being taken to ensure compliance with the State of Texas norms. For questions or details please contact our Parish Life Office.
Like all families our parish family has also had to adapt and deal with the many changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. While everyone desires to get back to normal it is important that we remember that this is not over yet! As with every household, business and organization, our parish is continuing to try to do our best in dealing with the uncertainty, the sometimes conflicting and changing directives, and the great disturbances to our daily activities, schedules, and routines. Patience, flexibility, and understanding are still very much required. Our parish has also had to face financial realities. At the onset of this emergency we dramatically cut our expenses and prioritized our bills to avoid a financial catastrophe. While we have been blessed not to have had to lay off any of our full time staff, we continue to rely on the generous and sacrificial financial support of our parishioners. Thank you to all who have been so generous and supportive during this time.
There are positive signs that the overall situation is improving throughout the United States and here in Texas. For this, we offer our heartfelt thanks to God and ask for His continued graces and protection. However, it is imperative to remember that we are very likely to be dealing with aspects of this pandemic for some time to come and that situations and conditions can and may change. If they do, we will respond accordingly.
Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding. Above all, I am most especially grateful for your prayers and the great example of your faith during this time. I know this has not been easy for any of us but with God’s grace we have continued to move forward in faith. We remember and recall St. Paul’s words to the Philippians, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!” ~Phil 4:6-7
In pace Christi,
Fr. Troy
The RCIA Elect and Candidates who have persevered in their journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church will celebrate the sacraments of Initiation on Saturday, May 30, in the 5:30 pm Mass. We give thanks to God for them and their steadfast faithfulness in their response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and look forward to the day they will join us at the table of the Lord.
Remember them in prayer in these final days of preparation and anticipation and also pray for their godparents, sponsors, and RCIA team members, who journey with them.
May they become known to us and us, to them!
“Mothers often also transmit the deepest sense of religious practice. (…)It is a message that mothers who believe know how to transmit without much explanation; this arrives later, but the seed of faith is planted in those first precious moments. Without mothers (…) faith would lose a good part of its simple, profound warmth.”
~ Pope Francis
Are you an Instagram user? Already following our Youth Ministry or Young Adults on Instagram? Follow our new parish-wide Instagram too and stay current with news and events, find us at: instagram.com/sjvhouston
While we still cannot meet for Sunday Mass, please remember to keep the Lord’s Day holy by praying the Liturgy of the Word together as a family tomorrow at your regular Mass time.
We will resume weekday Masses on Monday, May 4. Masses will be at 9:00 am, 12:10 noon and 7:00 pm in the church.
Confessions will be heard 20 minutes before each Mass in the cry rooms.
Until we can all meet on Sunday, please consider coming to one of the 15 daily weekday Masses.
When coming to church, please remember to observe the health protocols.
For more information, please visit our website, and follow us on Facebook.
Be holy and keep smiling!
In pace Christi,
Fr. Troy.
Christ is risen! Alleluia! He is truly risen. Alleluia!
Even during this most trying time, we continue to proclaim the power of God’s love for us in Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I would like to thank you again for your countless prayers and wonderful support during these days. Please be assured of my continued prayers and the prayers of the clergy and staff of the parish for you and your families. With Governor Abbott’s Executive Order on April 28 re-opening Texas, we enter into a new period in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Cardinal DiNardo has also given instructions in how the Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston are to proceed.
After consulting with our parish staff and our Pastoral Council, I am pleased to announce that we will begin the process of re-opening our beloved parish and resuming the public celebration of the sacraments. This is NOT going to be all at once. It is going to take time and will be in phases. We are limited and restricted by numerous factors in trying to serve the needs of our many parishioners during this time. There are physical limitations in addition to the guidelines and timelines established by the civil authorities and by our archbishop. It is important to remember that these guidelines are intended for the health and safety of all. Not every parish is in the same situation. We are not all able to do all of the same things at the same time. Patience and understanding are required.
In compliance with Governor Abbott’s order and Cardinal DiNardo’s instruction, St. John Vianney Parish will once again be open beginning Monday, May 4, 2020.
Due to the size of our parish (15,000 people), it is not feasible to re-open for Sunday Masses prior to the completion of Phase I. Were we to do so, we would be turning away more people than could possibly attend. This will be a challenge even during Phase II as most of our regular Sunday Masses are usually at or near capacity (1600 persons). While I would very much desire to return our normal routine immediately, for the health and safety of our parishioners, it is best to be prudent and follow the guidelines. During this time when we cannot accommodate all of the people who regularly attend our Sunday Masses, I would like to strongly encourage you and your family to attend one of the 15 weekday Masses.
We are all aware of the immense stress, pain, anger, fear and anxiety that so many people have suffered. Being deprived of the greatest resource that we possess, the sacraments, has been a hardship that is beyond description for many. This is only the beginning of our road back. It is not going to happen as fast or as complete as any of us would like. However this is also a time of opportunity. It is a time to grow in our faith, to give witness to our faith and to share our faith. The cross of Jesus is and remains our only hope! It is the cross of Jesus that has saved us. As Catholics, we live in the sure and certain faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Rm 8:39
In pace Christi,
Fr. Troy
Pope Francis asks that we rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home as a family and recite two prayers at the end of the Rosary, which he himself will say during the month of May in spiritual union with all of the Church.
As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB has announced that the U.S. bishops will join the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 1 in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother.
Archbishop Gomez will lead a brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration on Friday, May 1 at 3:00 pm EDT (2:00 pm CST).
Visit the USCCB site for more information on how to join in prayer.