HOUSTON — For Catholics navigating the demands of daily life when working in downtown Houston or commuting into the city from the suburbs, Holy Cross Chapel offers a place of peace and prayer away from the busyness and routineness of life. Within these sacred walls, people like Helen Drab Stigant and William “Bill” Phillips have found an oasis away from the demands of life outside the chapel.
Stigant, from St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland, learned about Holy Cross Chapel several years ago and decided to commute downtown for daily Mass. Seeking a break from routine and a sense of anonymity, she, although devoted to St. Helen’s, found solace in the chapel’s peaceful environment, a departure from the bustling Sunday Masses she was accustomed to.
“Sometimes, when you want quiet and stillness, the Holy Spirit talks loudly to you, and there is no other distraction,” Stigant said. “I have received many blessings and encouragement just by focusing on the Cross, saying my Rosary or reading my Scripture inside the chapel. It’s deepened my faith, similar to going to an oasis, to the water fountain, to go and have a deep drink.”
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Stigant extends an invitation to those seeking a break from their daily routines to experience Holy Cross Chapel during the weekdays. She finds delight in browsing the unique items offered at the bookstore run by “Martha and Mary,” and she actively participates in the women’s book club sessions during Advent and Lent, cherishing the opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship.
The convenience and availability of the chapel’s daily Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation are also cherished, especially under the direction of Opus Dei’s Father Frank Vera, whom she has found to be a very compassionate confessor. At times, Stigant brings her circle of retired friends at St. Helen’s to join her to meet Father Vera and to attend what she calls a “simple” Catholic Mass.
“I had four people come with me one time to see what the chapel is all about, and they loved it,” Stigant said. “I’ve had several come back for confession. It’s just a shelter in the storm, a quiet moment in that big bustling town when you hear the buses and trains going back and forth —it’s just a peaceful place.”
She also admires the busy office workers who take time on their lunch breaks to attend daily Mass, sometimes serving as lectors or Eucharistic ministers, as well as other ministry activities, such as workshops and lectures.
One of the office workers who frequently visits Holy Cross Chapel is Phillips, a resident of Kingwood and a parishioner of St. Martha Catholic Church. Commuting to downtown Houston for work five days a week for over a decade, Phillips, like Stigant, is a member of a large parish in the suburbs but has discovered something unique at the chapel during his workweek.
“Something about the chapel drew me in for daily Mass,” Phillips said. “I remember Father Michael Barrett, the chapel’s director at the time, saying something that has stayed with me to this day: If you attend daily Mass at least once a week in addition to Sunday Mass, ‘it will change your life.’”
While these words didn’t fully resonate with Phillips initially, he found himself attending Mass regularly on Wednesdays and engaging in discussions with fellow men from St. Martha’s after Mass. Over time, as Father Barrett had predicted, Phillips experienced a gradual transformation in his spiritual journey, developing a deeper relationship with the Lord and discovering newfound hope in his life.
“Today, I look forward to daily Mass and cherish the opportunity to take a mid-day break to be with our Lord and to receive the Eucharist,” Phillips said. “We are all a work in progress, but attending daily Mass and other Holy Cross Chapel activities has strengthened my faith and given me hope.”
In 2013, when Father Jerry Jung replaced Father Barrett as the chapel’s director, Phillips embraced a new opportunity — spiritual direction, which ultimately became life-changing for him.
“I had no experience with spiritual direction, and it was both scary and refreshing to be able to speak with a priest and friend about issues going on in my life,” Phillips said.
Four years later, when Father Vera assumed the role of director at Holy Cross Chapel, Phillips found renewed inspiration in his homilies, which resonated deeply with his personal journey and struggles. He opted to maintain his spiritual direction sessions with Father Vera, increasing their frequency over time.
“Father Frank has become a good friend, and our visits and his guidance have been very important to me,” Phillips said. “He is a very encouraging mentor, and he, like myself, is an industrial engineer! As such, we had a few discussions on how to fix the pews, which originally prevented one’s shoes from being able to go under the pew.”
Over the years, Phillips has connected with numerous men who attend daily Mass, many affiliated with Opus Dei. Embracing their philosophy of finding joy in serving the Lord through daily work, he’s deepened his understanding of faith and purpose. He regularly participates in two Opus Dei member-led programs, Circles and Recollection, which offer brief presentations on faith topics and foster deep discussions that challenge him spiritually.
“I’ve found these programs to be a continuing way for me to be with our Lord, surrounded by other Catholic men on a spiritual journey together,” said Phillips.
The Holy Cross staff frequently enlist Phillips’ help for special Masses like Ash Wednesday and other Holy Days, where he serves as a Eucharistic minister. He regards Father Vera and his staff as a close-knit family, appreciating their regular support and the Masses they’ve arranged for his loved ones, including his late father in June 2023.
Father Vera invites those working or visiting downtown Houston to attend Mass at Holy Cross Chapel held each Monday to Friday at 11:35 a.m., as well as visit the chapel from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for walk-in confessions and spiritual-direction appointments. For more details, visit www.holycrosschapel.org.
To donate to the DSF’s annual appeal, which supports Holy Cross Chapel and 60-plus additional ministries, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports each of these ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries.