The Society of Saint Pius X services two chapels that are in the path of Hurricane Harvey: Dickinson and Spring, TX.
UPDATE Monday 9/4, 2:32pm CT:
Volunteers are clearing out the school, offices, and bookstore in preparation for deep cleaning on Tuesday. All this as the relief center at Queen of Angels remains open for faithful and the broader community. The financial toll is still unknown and is likely to rise. Your support is still vital. God Bless you!
Photo Album
UPDATE Friday 9/1, 4:50pm CT:
Fr Kurtz thanks all those who donated, and appreciates your continued support, whether prayerful, with goods, or monetary! There is so much more damage yet to be discovered.
He passed along a video (Youtube Link / Facebook Link) which shows the relief center for the Queen of Angels Chapel attendees. He has graciously opened it to the public as well!
UPDATE Thursday 8/31, 11am CT:
From Fr. Kurtz: "Mass schedule at Queen of Angels back to normal. 8:00 am Saturday Mass will be Requiem Mass for faithfully departed flood victims."
Father sends along a video update (view on YouTube or Facebook) showing some relief due to your generosity, and takes us on a tour of the neighborhoods where faithful of Queen of Angels Church reside. Many are facing the total loss of their homes - which insurance may only partially cover. Please continue to pray for these fine people and support as you are able - the full scope of the resoures needed to repair / rebuild will likely rise in the coming weeks.
UPDATE Wednesday 8/30, 2pm CT:
Spring, TX chapel is dry. Waters have receded from Queen of Angels Church. We thank Divine Providence that the chapels have mostly been spared, but please know that the damage sustained at the Dickinson school and faithful's homes is still large. We are just starting to get word that deductibles will be overwhelming - we will update as we know more. In the meantime, the SSPX in Texas continues to rely on your generosity!
UPDATE Wednesday 8/30, 9:07am CT:
Noon Mass moved back to Queen of Angels church today! It seems the storm surge warning has moved to our East and outside of the bay. Now the cleanup and damage assessment begins...
UPDATE Tuesday 8/29, 3:47pm CT:
From Fr. Kurtz: "Mass times and venues will be the same tomorrow as today. Possible Mass in the afternoon at church but not certain."
Wednesday schedule:
- 9:00am home of Edinburgh Family
32 Prairie Knoll, Sante Fe, TX - 12:00pm, home of Matties Family
5027 Starboard Ln, Dickinson TX (Access from South of City)
UPDATE Tuesday 8/29, 2pm CT:
Fr. Kurtz has reported that they are in the lull of the storm while Harvey is back out into the Gulf, redeveloping.
He reports on damage to the church, which he describes as minimal compared to the surrouding devastation, but is still unknown in this yet-developing storm.
Your continued prayerful and monetary support is gratefully appreciated, for the school, church, and faithful.
See his full report on YouTube or Facebook.
UPDATE Tuesday 8/29, 10:15am CT:
Fr. Kurtz has recorded some new video and passed along pictures. Please see above, or view on YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook.
From Fr. Kurtz:
We had a full nights sleep for first time since Friday night. County Constable checking in church right now. Priest and brothers safe at two guest houses. Fr Haenny and Fr Post safe at San Antonio chapel where they went on Thursday afternoon."
Father was able, with permission from local law enforcement, to enter the chapel to assess damage. Water has sadly entered the chapel, and the level is rising, as shown in the video above.
The National Weather Service showed a single day rainfall record for the Queen of Angels Church area of 16+ inches yesterday alone. The Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from spillway, but Father says this is on the other side of the Houston Metro.
More faithful of our Texas chapels are becoming affected by the rising flood waters, but have, for the most part, been able to be evacuated. We request your continued prayers for the situation, and the repose of the souls of the two in the Queen of Angels family who have lost their lives.
UPDATE Monday 8/28, 7:11pm CT:
2 members of the Dickinson parish family have lost their lives. Requiescat in pace
Queen of Angels special Mass times and places for Tues - schedule to change due to weather:
- 9:00am home of Edinburgh Family
32 Prairie Knoll, Sante Fe, TX - 12:00pm, home of Matties Family
5027 Starboard Ln, Dickinson TX (Access from South of City)
UPDATE Monday 8/28, 5:58pm CT:
Local News 13KRCG's coverage of Queen of Angels Church:
"Harvey 'brings out the best in people' as Texas parish copes with severe flooding"
UPDATE Monday 8/28, 5:20pm CT:
Fr. Kurtz sends along a video message as well as the following: "School will not start until further notice. There is no mass at the church, and the National Guard will not let you near."
Father's Video Update
UPDATE Monday 8/28, 3:20pm CT:
It has been raining all day. The Bayou is coming back up. Mandatory evacuation for the area around the chapel.
Flooding Affects US District Chapel:
Dickinson, TX was an early center of extreme flooding. They received 15-20 inches of rain from 10pm Saturday night to 6am Sunday morning, and rain continues to fall through Monday.
Some water entered the school and bookstore, flooding the floors, carpets, and lower shelves. Thankfully, the church still remains dry with water coming inches from the floor level.
The faithful were not so fortunate. Fr Keiser's family was flooded very badly and had to evacuate to the church hall via boat, along with other families. There has also been great loss of life, including one of the faithful of the DIckinson parish, who drowned as he was attempting travel to Sunday Mass.
The U.S. District asks for prayers because the damage around Houston will be considerable, and rain is falling in the area still, possibly through Thursday.
The Society is working to find out information about Corpus Christi, which is close to where the storm came ashore. While the SSPX doesn't have a physical church there, a number of faithful who attend Society chapels live in the area.
There was no apparent damage to the church in Spring, Texas, but this could change because the weather is generally worse in the northern part of the city right now. There is no word yet concerning the faithful there.
Please pray for all of this afflicted during this difficult time.
See Monday, August 28 Video Update
Donations Needed:
Please assist the school and the faithful with whatever financial support you could provide! The online link is below, or you can send a check with the below info:
Make Check out to: "SSPX - United States of America District"
Memo: "Texas Flood"
Mail to:
Regina Coeli House
11485 N. Farley Road
Platte City, MO 64079
