Mary Queen of Heaven

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On April 17, 1996 approximately 60 local Catholics gathered with diocesan officials in a 10,000 sq. ft. metal building formerly a sewing factory owned by Dutch and Peggy Lodewyks. The purpose of their meeting was to explore the possibility of transforming this building into a Catholic Church. Three months later on July 21, 1996, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the first time in the conference room of the factory.

Mary Queen of Heaven was established as a mission by the Most Rev. Edmond Carmody, D.D., the second bishop of Tyler, in the summer of 1996. The bishop entrusted the care of the parish to Father Joseph Kallookalam, a native of India, who shepherded the flock for nearly 8 yrs. His Excellency also appointed Father Raymundo Garcia to minister to the spanish speaking members. By April 1999 the renovations were complete and the city of Malakoff had a Catholic Church.

In May 2004, Father Kallookalam’s religious order called him to work in Shreveport, Louisiana. The third bishop of Tyler, the Most Rev. Alvaro Corrada, D.D., S.J., appointed Father Anthony McLaughlin, JCL, JCD (Cand.), to administer the mission.

Our mission has experienced tremendous growth over the past nine years. We now have over 185 families registered and approximately 330 people attend the Sunday Masses. 106 children are enrolled in our faith formation classes and anywhere from 50-75 adults attend the weekly bible study. Attendance at our daily masses has also improved and sometimes averages 20-25 persons. The Church building has also undergone various renovations: three new classrooms, parish offices, landscaping improvements, a storage shed, a larger sacristy, and just recently we broke ground for a permanent rectory.

It is my sincerest hope that once we have a permanent rectoly that our mission will be established as a ‘parish’! I am deeply grateful to all our parishioners who continue to give so selflessly so that the mission of Our Lord may be realized in this small part of His vineyard. May the Lord bless all of you and may He grant eternal rest to all our dead family, friends and benefactors.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

-Rev. Fr. A. McLaughlin, JCL, JCD (Cand.). KCHS.