Name of Church Queen of Life Catholic Chapel
Address Located at the Busch Group Offices, 2532 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone number 949-474-7368
Website www.queenoflifechapel.org
Mass times Monday – Friday, 11:50 a.m. The chapel is an oratory operating with the blessing of the Bishop of Orange Kevin Vann; you’re also welcome to come to pray daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Check the website for the schedule of Masses, as well as other activities. Additionally, on Sundays, Mass is celebrated at 9 and 11 am according to the Anglican Roman Rite as part of Blessed John Henry Newman Catholic Church (visit www.newmanonline.org). Fr. Andrew Bartus serves as celebrant (see Previous CalCatholic story on Blessed John Henry Newman Catholic Church in Irvine here).
Names of priests Varies. Fr. Mike Pontarelli, OSM is a regular celebrant, Fr. James Barrand is another, or one of the Norbertine Fathers.
Special events and activities The chapel periodically hosts cardinals, bishops and other clergy for retreats and spiritual talks (see the website for upcoming retreats). On third Thursdays, there is exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with the host remaining in the monstrance throughout the business day.
Music The congregation sings.
Fellow parishioners Some business people, as well as people who live in the area. Masses are all in English.
Parking The Busch parking lot is often full, but you are allowed to park across Bardeen Avenue in the business lot there. Do not enter through the main entrance of the law firm; the chapel entrance is on the side.
Acoustics Fine.
Cry room No.
Additional observations Queen of Life Chapel was established by Catholic philanthropist Tim Busch. It’s located in a business park not far from the Orange County airport. It is a quaint little chapel, with nice art and a pious community. Busch is a successful businessman who supports a variety of Catholic apostolates, including the Magis Center of Reason and Faith, Napa Institute and Legatus. He also founded two Catholic schools in southern Orange County, JSerra Catholic High School and St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. He’s a committed Catholic who has used his considerable professional talents to spread the message of the Gospel. If you go to Mass, you’ll sometimes see him assisting at the altar and serving as Eucharistic minister.
The Anglican Use Mass is lovely, far superior to the Novus Ordo. However, this photo seems to suggest a set-up for the NO. In any event, if the Catholic Church insists on ignoring its own history and not returning to the TLM, it should fully embrace the Ordinariate Mass and dump the NO.
Interesting photo. The entrance seems to be next to a truck unloading dock or garage door.
The interior photo seems to show a small seating capacity.
Perhaps this all comes down to ‘big tent’ versus ‘small tent’.
I personally believe God hears us all, in the various forms of Catholic worship, in a big tent.