Mary Queen Catholic Church sits at 606 Cedarwood Drive in Friendswood, Texas, a small community with Quaker roots between Houston and Galveston. The parish is served by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette and currently counts more than 2,500 registered families, making it one of the larger Catholic parishes in the area. Its character is shaped by the reconciliation message of La Salette and by an unusually wide network of ministries, from perpetual adoration to a food pantry to a junior high program called Come to the Shore.
The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette
Mary Queen is one of a small number of parishes in the United States staffed by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, a religious order devoted to making known the message Our Lady gave to two young shepherds in the French Alps on September 19, 1846. The parish's mission is to help people respond to the grace of reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ, especially those people who are alienated or estranged. Wherever the La Salettes minister, they make this message known to all God's people.
Two La Salette priests serve the parish in full time ministry: Rev. Thomas Vellappallil, M.S., as pastor, and Rev. Paul Mandziuk, M.S., as parochial vicar. During the year additional La Salettes assist with seasonal liturgies and ministry. The wider parish is supported by six permanent deacons: Vince Eklund, Darrell Moulton, Paul Robison, Scott Ryan, Max Silva, and Derick Soares, who preach, assist at Mass, preside at baptisms, and visit the homebound.
From Twenty Acres to a Parish of 2,500 Families
The story of Mary Queen begins with twenty acres of land in the heart of Friendswood, dotted with Texas cedar and pecan trees. The La Salette Missionaries of the Mary Queen Province in St. Louis, Missouri, originally owned the property and intended to build a seminary there. Those plans changed, and in 1965 a group of more than fifty-five Catholic families from Friendswood asked Bishop John Morkovsky of the Galveston-Houston diocese for permission to establish a Catholic church in their growing community. The selection of nearby land for the new Johnson Space Center and NASA Mission Control was fueling a wave of new arrivals.
The bishop asked the La Salettes to serve the new mission from the parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Houston. Fr. Edwin Egan, Fr. Thomas McNamara, Fr. Clarence Wheeler, and Fr. John Zabelskas were among the first priests to celebrate Mass and lay the foundation for what would become Mary Queen. A small wood framed house on the property was renovated to serve as a temporary church, and in June 1966 the frame structure was officially designated a mission church. On January 21, 1969, Bishop Morkovsky signed the decree elevating Mary Queen from mission to parish status, and the name of the parish was inherited from the La Salette province itself.
The parish continued to grow, and a larger church was constructed on the campus. On April 21, 2012, the new church was officially dedicated. Today the grounds also include the Parish Office, the St. Charbel Youth Center, and a Memorial Prayer Garden tucked between the office and the youth center, where plaques may be purchased to honor loved ones who have passed.
Mass, Reconciliation, and 33 Hours of Adoration
Sunday Mass at Mary Queen is offered four times a day, with an anticipatory vigil on Saturday evening. The full schedule: Saturday Vigil at 5:30 pm; Sundays at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 am, and 4:30 pm. The 9:30 am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a 6:30 pm Mass on Wednesday. On the first Saturday of each month an additional 8:30 am Mass is offered in St. Joseph Chapel. Morning Prayer is prayed in the church at 8:10 am on the same weekdays that have an 8:30 am Mass.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Wednesday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30 pm and on Saturday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
Mary Queen keeps one of the more striking devotional schedules in the area: a continuous 33 hours of Eucharistic Adoration that begins with Exposition on Tuesday morning at 9:00 am and concludes with Benediction on Wednesday at 5:45 pm. On First Fridays the Blessed Sacrament is exposed from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Adorers sign up for regular hours through Joyce Miner or the reception desk.
The Seven Sacraments
Mary Queen prepares parishioners for each of the seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is celebrated on the third Sunday of each month after the 11:30 am Mass, and interviews are scheduled with one of the deacons on the first Monday of the month in the parish center. Parents and godparents must complete a baptism class beforehand, and baptismal certificates, registration forms, and godparent covenant forms are required. Children over the age of seven receive individualized preparation. Anita Shorosky serves as Baptism Coordinator.
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are typically received in second grade, after two consecutive years of Faith Formation. Older children who have not yet received these sacraments are prepared individually. Confirmation for high school students is a two year program led by Trey Brock, the parish's Director of Youth Faith Formation, meeting on Sunday evenings from 5:45 to 7:00 pm in the St. Charbel Youth Center. Confirmation may be celebrated during the high school years for any student in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade.
Couples preparing for Holy Matrimony are asked to contact the parish office at least seven months in advance. Marriage preparation follows the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, with clergy and mentor couples collaborating on catechesis. The parish offers an extensive Wedding Policies Handbook, a Wedding Reservation Form, and a Marriage Preparation Only Form. Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by calling the parish office, and arrangements for a sick or hospital visit by Fr. Dominic, who serves the Bay Area Deanery, can be made through the same number. The parish Vocation Ministry, Houston Vocations, and La Salette vocations serve those discerning a vocation to ordained or consecrated life.
Elementary Faith Formation, K through 5
The Elementary Faith Formation program welcomes children from kindergarten through fifth grade, using Finding God: Our Response to God's Gifts from Loyola Press, along with materials from the Archdiocese. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in two sessions each day, from 4:00 to 5:15 pm and from 5:45 to 7:00 pm, and follow the Friendswood ISD and Clear Creek ISD school calendars. Children in kindergarten through third grade must be escorted into and out of the building with an Exit Ticket; fourth and fifth graders may be dropped off under the covered area.
A Home Study Program is available for families who prefer to make faith formation a part of daily home life. Parents serve as catechists and meet with parish staff several times a year for support and accountability. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 9:30 and 11:30 am Sunday Masses for children ages five through ten, with a Children's Mass designed at an age appropriate level.
Throughout the year, Friday Family Fun evenings gather families for pumpkin decorating, trunk or treat, cookies and caroling, pancakes and prayer, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and a concert in the park. Vacation Bible School runs for one week each summer. Linda Smith directs Elementary Faith Formation, with Andrea Richards serving as the program's administrative assistant.
Come to the Shore: Junior High Faith Formation
Junior High Faith Formation meets twice a month from 5:45 to 7:15 pm in the St. Charbel Youth Center, with the 2026-2027 year opening on September 24. The program is branded "Come to the Shore" and follows the year's theme, "Jesus has been there all along," tracing the biblical and Eucharistic story from the Old Testament through Christ's life, the Last Supper, the Road to Emmaus, and the appearance on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
The junior high program includes the C.R.E.W. youth council, Catholic, Relational, Engaged, Witnesses, which meets once a month and is open to every middle school student who wants to be involved, with Spiritual, Service, and Social committees. Students also have opportunities to take part in Extreme Challenge in October, the Junior High Youth Rally in February, and Expedition summer camp. Sarah Kennepohl, a lifelong Mary Queen parishioner with nearly twenty years of ministry experience and a certified Catechist who has written curriculum for the archdiocese, coordinates the junior high program.
High School and Confirmation
High school students meet every Sunday from 5:45 to 7:00 pm at the St. Charbel Youth Center under the direction of Trey Brock, M.A. The program offers a Confirmation prerequisite Year 1, Confirmation Candidate Year 2, and a post-Confirmation track called The Deep, as well as junior high and high school OCIA for teens not yet baptized. Activities include catechesis, retreats, parish life volunteer opportunities, Bible studies, the Youth Schola Cantorum, and youth council events and fundraising.
Confirmation is a sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts, one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics, most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Candidates prepare through proximate formation sessions, a retreat, immediate formation sessions, and a Confirmation celebration.
Adult Faith Formation, OCIA, and ACTS Retreats
Eby Kurian, M.A., directs Adult Faith Formation and OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. The parish offers adult catechesis events and classes, DVD adult faith formation series, Scripture study sessions, Scripture prayer groups, prayer and faith sharing groups, study groups, support and meditation groups, retreats for men, women, and families, ministry discernment and spiritual enrichment, ministry development and leadership workshops, and special speakers and parish missions.
The Men's ACTS Retreat is a signature annual gathering. The 2026 retreat was held May 28 through May 31 at the Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson, Texas, with round trip transportation from Mary Queen. The retreat begins Thursday evening and ends Sunday with a fellowship meal in the Main Hall following the 11:30 am Mass. The Director is Dan Levin; the Co-Directors are Mike Stuart and Chris Nguyen, with Deacon Vince Eklund serving as Spiritual Companion.
That Man is You! and Walking With Purpose are among the parish's small group offerings. ACTS retreats for women are also part of the rhythm of the parish.
Prayer Groups and Devotional Life
The Christian Meditation Group gathers on Wednesdays at 9:00 am in the St. Ann Room, entering through the side door of the church and turning right. After thirty minutes of silent prayer the group reads and discusses spiritual material, meeting twice a year for Silent Days of Prayer at the Villa de Matel Convent in Houston. Sandy Sorrell leads the group.
The Divine Mercy Prayer Ministry promotes the devotion given to St. Faustina Kowalska, with the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm, Wednesdays at 3:00 am and 3:00 pm, and First Fridays at 3:00 pm, all in St. Joseph Chapel. The ministry distributes Divine Mercy leaflets, prayer cards, and images free of charge to area Catholic churches and supplies materials for retreats. Each year the group prays the Nine Day Divine Mercy Novena beginning on Good Friday after the 3:00 pm Stations of the Cross, and holds a Holy Hour at 3:00 pm on Divine Mercy Sunday. Carol Willenborg coordinates the ministry.
Our Lady of La Salette Prayer Group meets Monday evenings at 7:00 pm in Room 125 of the Parish Hall. Under the leadership of Marina Gosselin, the group gathers to praise the Lord and exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit, praying for the parish, the country, and anyone who asks for healing.
Joyful Lights Study Group is a women's group meeting Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in Mary's House, studying Catholic Christian values through DVDs and study aids from September through May, coordinated by Sandy Sorrell.
Women Under Mary's Mantle
Women Under Mary's Mantle, often shortened to WUMM, is a spiritual growth ministry for women, their friends, and their teenage and young adult daughters. The group meets on First Friday evenings at 7:00 pm and is led by Linda Robison. WUMM studies the diary of St. Faustina Kowalska and the works of other saints, gathers for group Spiritual Direction exercises in the Ignatian tradition, and sponsors the First Saturday Mass of Reparation in St. Joseph Chapel at 8:30 am. The ministry also promotes Consecration to Jesus According to St. Louis de Montfort using Fr. Michael Gaitley's 33 Days to Morning Glory, with annual group formation offered in the lead up to the Marian Feast of the Coronation of Mary on August 22. The Novena to Mary, Undoer of Knots begins on the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Divine Mercy Novena and Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations round out the year.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Jose Arredondo directs Liturgy and Music at Mary Queen. The Mary Queen Choir serves at the 9:30 am Sunday Mass from September through June, rehearsing on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 pm and gathering at 8:45 am on Sunday mornings for warm-ups. The Children's Choir, made up of students in third through sixth grade, serves on Holy Days and special occasions, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Cantors serve as psalmists and leaders of congregational song, rehearsing on Monday evenings with the choir director. Instrumentalists enhance the liturgies on Holy Days and special occasions, with Tuesday evening rehearsals.
The parish uses the Gather hymnal from GIA Publications. Hymnals are available for purchase by parishioners who attend Mass via livestream. The Advent Choir Concert and the Stations of the Cross are featured musical events during the year.
Liturgical ministries include lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ministers of hospitality (ushers and greeters), and music ministers. The parish is always seeking new cantors and is actively recruiting camera crew members for the Livestreaming Ministry, which livestreams Masses on Facebook and YouTube and provides recordings of funerals, weddings, and daily Masses.
Altar servers carry the cross, processional candles, the Book of the Gospels, incense, and censer, present the bread, wine, and water at the Preparation of the Gifts, and assist the priest and deacon as needed. Training is offered during the summer and by appointment, and an Altar Server Training Handbook is available.
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry serves all parishioners of Mary Queen by coordinating religious activities with a Hispanic character, holding monthly meetings on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in Mary's House. Although the ministry celebrates Hispanic traditions, meetings are conducted in English and are open to all parishioners. The most visible activity is the annual December celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which includes a bilingual rosary and Mass with children presenting roses to Our Lady. The ministry also sponsors bi-monthly bilingual rosaries, breakfast taco fundraisers, and support for the Sunday coffee and donuts, and awards two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in May. Aurora Garza coordinates the ministry.
Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry is open to every woman of the parish. Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from September through May at 7:00 pm in the Mini Hall, following evening Mass, with light refreshments, ministry announcements, guest speakers, and fellowship. Linda Smith serves as President, Joann Bowes-Taylor as Treasurer, and Robin Mingarelli as Secretary. The newsletter and a Facebook group keep members connected.
The Fall Luncheon is a signature event with lunch, a fashion show, and a silent auction. The Karam Steak, Wine and Lobster Dinner, hosted each February at the home of Jerome and Leslie Karam, is a festive pre-Lenten tradition with proceeds benefiting the Women's Ministry. Other activities include a silent retreat at the RUAH Center, a Nutcracker Market bus trip, the Christmas Bazaar, Stations of the Cross, and a Painted Churches bus trip.
The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, a separate affiliated organization, meets on the third Wednesday of each month from September through May at 9:00 am at Bay Area Deanery parishes, supporting the Catholic Clerical Student Fund, an endowment for St. Mary's Seminary, a Christmas package project for cargo ships out of the Port of Houston, a January baby shower for mothers in need, and the 40 Days for Life prayer campaign.
Service Ministries: Food Pantry, Ministry of Care, Meals for Clergy
The Mary Queen Food Pantry and Social Concerns Ministry, coordinated by Chris Austgen, can be reached at 281-482-1950. The parish also supports the wider community through the Emergency Management Committee, which develops and maintains an All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan consistent with archdiocesan requirements and coordinates the Safety Team, Medical Response Team, Tropical Weather Team, and Parish Festival Safety Team.
The Ministry of Care sends teams each Sunday after the 7:30 am Mass to bring Holy Communion to the homebound and to residents of local nursing homes. The ministry meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in Room 120 of the Parish Center and hosts a Summer Social and a Christmas party. Charlene Otto coordinates visits to private homes, and David and Mary Merlau coordinate visits to nursing homes.
Meals for Clergy is a quiet but practical ministry: volunteers plan, prepare, and deliver a meal for the priests at the rectory on a rotating schedule. Participants choose when and how often to serve, receive a reminder the week they are scheduled, and select either a homemade or takeout meal.
Welcome, Vocation, and Other Ministries
The Welcome Ministry staffs the Welcome Desk in the Church Narthex before each weekend Mass and hosts a bi-annual New Parishioner Luncheon. Greeters are scheduled once a month.
The Parish Vocation Ministry fosters vocations to the priesthood, sisterhood, brotherhood, and permanent deaconate through prayer activities, awareness events such as Priesthood Sunday and National Vocation Awareness Week, and affirmation activities including seminarian care packages and anniversary celebrations. Dan Levin coordinates the ministry.
The Quinceañera and Sweet Sixteen Blessing Program, coordinated by Alma Balderas, prepares young women for the celebration of their fifteenth or sixteenth birthday as a recognition of their entry into an important level of maturity before God. The program includes formation on faith, the Mother of God, and virtue.
Dinner With Our Priests, called Bringing Them Home Through Faith and Fellowship, invites parish families to host Father Thomas, and often Father Paul, in their homes for an evening of fellowship, blessing of the home, and breaking of bread.
The Stewardship Council, chaired by Randy Waibel, plans witness talks at Mass, hospitality events, the Ministry Fair, Ministry Leads Day of Spiritual Enrichment, and Advent Wreath family events. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Steve Elsner, meets on the third Thursday of each month to advise the pastor on the pastoral plan. The Finance Council, chaired by Don Adam, meets four times a year and includes members with experience in business, finance, or law.
Visiting Mary Queen
The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and can be reached at 281-482-1391, with a separate Food Pantry line at 281-482-1950. The church is located at 606 Cedarwood Drive in Friendswood, Texas 77546, with a mailing address of PO Box 207, Friendswood, TX 77549.
New parishioners are asked to complete a Parish Registration Form, available from the office or online. The Stewardship and Ministry Volunteer Opportunities form is the doorway into more than forty active ministries. Safe Environment training, required of every adult volunteer working with children or vulnerable adults, is provided through CMG Connect, the archdiocesan online platform, and includes a three-part video and a criminal background check valid for five years.
Giving is accepted online through Pushpay at pushpay.com/g/maryqueencatholicchurch, or by texting the words Mary Queen to 77977. One-time and recurring gifts are supported, along with second collections, IRA donations, planned giving, and gifts of stock. The parish bulletin is published weekly and available online.
The Mary Queen 50th Jubilee Video, marking a half century of parish life, joins daily and Sunday Mass livestreams on the parish YouTube channel. Flocknote sign-ups and the parish app are at maryqueenchurch.flocknote.com.