The team is looking at various possibilities, but our mission is to serve our community with a large enough church that will support the growth expected over the next 20 years, which is presently the forecasted end of growth period for our area. A church with a seating capacity that will comfortably hold our congregation while at the same time avoid back-to-back masses is being considered. While many factors go into determining the seating capacity of the church, we anticipate it will be over 1700 seats, minimum, meaning it will be one of the largest in the Archdiocese.

During the formation of the Building Team, we were asked by Father Dat to prayerfully consider, amongst many things, the overall design of the church.  And in that prayerful reflection, continuously seek the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  From our very first meeting, every meeting begins and ends with prayer.  Shortly after the formation of the team, we were inspired by the Collect of the Mass, from the Thursday following Ash Wednesday:  

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord,
and further them with your constant help,
that all we do may always begin from you
and by you be brought to completion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

This has become our humble prayer for the closing of each meeting and it aptly sums up what the team has been chartered to accomplish.  

So – why a traditional cruciform design?

Guiding principles for the church design began to emerge within a few weeks of the team’s formation, with a deeply held belief that these principles were revealed and guided by the Holy Spirit.  The principles have since matured into a very clear vision, that the church design should embody a transcendent and timeless beauty, and clearly be recognized by all who see her as Catholic.  Traditional cruciform designs are the essence of these principles and overall vision.  Unmistakably Catholic and timeless, with a transcendent beauty that compels anyone that sees our church to be drawn to her doors.  And within her doors, draws everyone heavenward into the mystery of God and to the real presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.  

With absolute certainty, the church will have modern characteristics.  Warmth and brightness, grand yet unimposing, inviting and welcoming are just a few of these characteristics.  The church will reflect St. Faustina Parish’s Vision and Mission. All who enter the church will feel welcome and experience a personal relationship with the Lord, with the beauty of the church drawing a spiritual sense of heavenly awe and wonder.  It will attract people, allow them to experience warmth and hospitality, and most importantly - experience Jesus’ Divine Mercy.

The church will be a cruciform design, and will be of such design that will remain timeless. Our vision is for a strong foundation in timeless traditional latin church architecture while engendering great awe and beauty combined with warmth and welcome on the inside. We envision a church which will be a beacon of hope to the entire Fulshear/Katy area, drawing many to experience God’s Divine Mercy.

The Phase 3 scope includes expanding our parking capabilities to match the expected parking needs of a larger church, along with other simultaneous activities outside of weekend masses. These additional areas are presently under review, and will be included with the Phase 3 feasibility study

The Phase 3 Building Team is currently working to identify an architect that is suitable for a church of this style and size. Once the architect has been identified, a conceptual design will be developed, with one outcome of that study being a cost estimate. In parallel, the parish is conducting a funding feasibility assessment to determine our overall capability to fund such a project. These will be reviewed and harmonized as best possible and then reviewed with the Archdiocese as we will be requesting a loan from them. A final decision on whether or not we are ready and able to move forward is expected around the end of the summer.