Our Lady of Lourdes

We will be having work done on the ceiling of the church beginning Monday, June 14. Therefore, we will have Masses in Madonna Hall from Tuesday, June 15 through Sunday, June 20. Confessions will be heard at regular times in Madonna Hall.

Cardinal DiNardo has issued a statement about updated pandemic protocols. Today, Father David will make decisions about how we will implement the updated protocols. So if you come to Mass beginning Saturday, May 22, there will be some changes, but our Ministers of Hospitality will be there to assist us.

Cardinal DiNardo said:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic I modified the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and non-liturgical parish gatherings from becoming sources of community spread for the virus. These modifications were aimed at the common good of all who live within our communities. 

The local pandemic situation is greatly improved. Therefore, I have amended our pandemic protocols. Beginning with the celebration of the Vigil Mass of Pentecost on the evening of Saturday, May 22, 2021 social distancing no longers needs to be maintained during liturgical celebrations. Parish churches and chapels may be filled to 100% of the building's occupancy load. Masks will not be required, but they are encouraged.

Also effective on the evening of May 22, 2021, the temporary suspension of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue is removed. Holy Communion may be received on the tongue, or in the hand, at the communicant's discretion. The temporary suspension of receiving Holy Communion under the appearance of wine from a common chalice remains in effect until further notice.

For the time being, the general dispensation from the Sunday obligation remains in effect for all Catholics within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

With assurances of my prayers, and commending the local Church to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Here is the original letter.

MAY 18, 2021

Office of Communications

Father Italo Dell’Oro, C.R.S., was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston by Pope Francis on May 18.

“It is with great pleasure that I introduce Bishop-elect Italo Dell'Oro, C.R.S,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. “I also wish to express my profound gratitude to Pope Francis for appointing him as the next Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston.”

Bishop-elect Dell’Oro has served as a priest for almost 40 years, 30 of those in the local Archdiocese. Since 2015, he has served as Vicar for Clergy and the Secretariat Director for Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services. He was named Vicar General in 2021.

“In all of his years in Galveston-Houston, Bishop-elect Dell'Oro has been a genuine, pastoral presence to the many people and cultures of our great region, along with being a mindful ambassador to the wonderful religious orders and communities in the area,” Cardinal DiNardo said.

When Bishop-elect Dell’Oro first arrived in Galveston-Houston in 1992, his initial assignment was as pastor of Assumption Church in Houston. Growing up in Valmadrera, Italy, the Somascan priest was an avid rock-climber and mountaineer during his teen years on the pristine countryside of Lake Como. He wasn’t familiar with topography of the Bayou City upon arrival.

“When I came to Houston I started looking for mountains, excited to have found near Assumption Church the street named ‘W. Mount Houston,’” he said. “I followed it and found myself in the subdivision Hidden Valley. So I took up jogging, which I still try to do.”

In 2001, he served as Director of Vocations for the Somascan Fathers in Houston before taking on the role of Formation Director in 2014. From 2005 to 2012, he also worked as Director of the Ministry to Priests for Galveston-Houston.

When reflecting on his call to the priesthood: “Although I always felt some sort of attraction to it, as I had for other career options, it was at 15 that the possibility of being ‘called’ dawned on me. A few young men in my home parish left home to enter the seminary, and that impacted me. However, I went on building my life until at 21 and 22 the ‘vocational restlessness’ grew to an unbearable level. I had to do something.”

Somasca, the place where St. Jerome Emiliani organized the first community of followers of the Somacan Order, is a located approximately six miles from Bishop-elect Dell’Oro’s hometown.

“Somasca is a place of pilgrimage, to which devotees to the saint come from the surrounding area — the most famous being the little boy Giuseppe Roncalli, now St. John XXIII,” he said. “I would bike with my cousins to Somasca … but I didn’t know about the Somascans as a boy. During my discernment, however, a very good friend of mine, one of those who had left home years earlier, became very persistent in telling me that I needed to make a decision about my vocation. He was with the Somascan Fathers. Well, in the end I knocked at that door and it opened.”

Everyone age 12 and older are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Here is a list of facilities that are offering the vaccine.

Fort Bend County Health Department 832-471-1373 
Galveston County Health District 409-938-7221 
University Of Texas Medical Branch Hospital 800-917-8906 
CHI St Luke’s Health 832-844-6352 
Harris County Public Health 
Houston Health Department 
Houston Methodist Hospital 281-626-5551 
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center 833-772-2864 
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
CHI St. Luke’s Health Woodlands Hospital 936-202-2060 

We invite you to attend GriefShare, a 13 week, Christ-centered, biblically-based support group seminar, if you are experiencing grief from the loss of a family member or friend. Each session includes a video presentation, followed by a small group discussion about the video. The videos present experts, ministers, and Christian counselors discussing grief and recovery subjects helpful to a person in grief. Real people share their stories of what has helped them deal with the pain of losing a family member or friend through death. During the week between meetings, group members are encouraged to complete a daily bible study and practical exercise to help them heal from grief.
 
GriefShare is for men and women who have lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend through death, regardless of how long your loss has been.
 
A grieving person can join at any time during the 13 weeks. Advance registration is appreciated. Call Regina Foreman at 281 382 4386 to register. GriefShare will be on Thursday evenings, beginning on May 6 at 6:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 11100 Highway 6, Satna Fe.

We continue to livestream our 10:00 am Sunday Mass.  This is the preferred method of keeping in spiritual communion with each other for those who are 65 or older or are vulnerable due to health.  

The following instructions are necessary so that we can keep the parish open!  Other churches have been forced to close due to exposure to Covid-19.  We need to keep our Pastor and all of our parishioners safe!

By choosing to enter the church, you agree to abide by our seating, masking, and distancing requirements. Masks must be worn at all times, and cover both the mouth and the nose. If you do not intend to follow these guidelines, please stay home! The dispensation by Cardinal DiNardo remains in effect.

Our maximum capacity at this time is 150 people.  After we reach capacity, we will lock the front door and put out a speaker so that those who are outside will be able to hear.  Bring your own chair!


Parking will remain “open parking” as it has been.  The church will remain closed/locked until 30 minutes prior to each service. Please remain in your car once you have arrived, until the opening of the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Then, pay attention and social distance while walking toward the one open door of the church.

There will be ONE usher outside. It is necessary that you follow his/her instructions!  Timing, social distancing, and mask-wearing will be enforced.  Be cooperative with your fellow parishioners who have volunteered to help!

Again, wear a mask that covers both your nose and your mouth, for the entire period of time until you return to your car after Mass!

Remember to greet your fellow parishioners verbally from a distance only!  Do not hug or shake hands as you are accustomed to doing.

Please carry your offering with you when entering the church.  A basket will be available in the Gathering Space in which you can drop your offering.  

At the font, please accept holy water and a bulletin from the Usher, and tell him/her the number in your group.  All who wish to be seated together must enter at the same time!

The 2nd person, the Pew Seater (with a Red Nametag), will verify the number in your group and escort you to the next available pew.  This is non-negotiable!  It is essential that you follow the seating instructions of this usher so that we may serve as many of God’s people as possible! 

Please remain where you are seated throughout Mass except for severe need (restroom, etc.).  Continue to wear your mask correctly, covering nose and mouth, for the entire time you are in the church.

Communion procedures.  Yes, all Catholics (in good standing) are eligible to receive Communion! 
However, note these instructions carefully, and abide by them!

            A.  Only those actually receiving Communion should enter the Communion procession. 

                  An usher will direct you when it is time for you to line up to receive, and spray a small amount of sanitizer on your hands.  There will be only one line. Maintain 6 feet between one family/group and another. Please practice patience and respect.

            B.  Only Fr. David and/or Deacon Alvin will distribute Communion. 

            C.  You must continue to wear your mask until after Fr. David has given you Eucharist in your hand. (No one can receive on the tongue during this time, by order of Cardinal DiNardo.) 

            D. Properly place your hands for reception of Communion (dominant hand under other hand cupped, so that Sacred Host cannot fall between hands!)

            E.  After receiving the Sacred Host, please step aside significantly (note the feet on the floor), lower your mask, and consume immediately.  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will be at the corner to ensure that Communion is consumed properly before returning to your pew!

            F.  Return to your pew.  Do not leave early—you have not received the Final Blessing yet!

Upon being blessed and dismissed from Mass, please follow usher instructions to leave in an orderly and timely fashion, through any open door.  We must diligently sanitize the Church after each Mass.  Again, resist the natural urge to linger and hug!

Thank you for abiding by these necessary instructions.
 

Parish Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday
8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Friday
8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Parish Office Phone Numbers:
409-925-3579
409-925-5094 (fax)

Address:
10114 Highway 6
Hitchcock, TX 77563
 

Current Bulletin
 

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston requires all volunteers must be safe environment certified (meaning has had training and has undergone a background check) in order to volunteer in any capacity, whether or not the person works with or around children. 

Please click here for more detailed information on how to become certified or renew your certification.