THE
Texas Catholic © 2016 The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
The official newspaper of the Diocese of Dallas
Vol. 65, No. 15
YEAR OF MERCY
Teaming up to help those in need By Cathy Harasta The Texas Catholic
SCHOOLS
Acts of Mercy Students from St. Joseph Catholic School in Richardson craft and donate blankets to the sick.
See Page 8.
WORLD
Martyrs of Charity Pope Francis responds to the March 4 murder of four Missionaries of Charity in Yemen.
See Page 9.
NATION
U.S. Catholic Schools A new report states that U.S. Catholic schools are falling short in serving Hispanic Catholics.
See Page 14.
A new strategic partnership between Catholic Charities of Dallas and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul created a food program that has generated positive feedback and fruitful innovations since its launch at Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church in Irving in December. Organizers said that the charities, which represent the two main service arms of the nine-county Diocese of Dallas, began in 2014 to discuss the food program collaboration—the “Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Family of Nazareth Conference Food Program.” Bill Keffler, the chief operating officer for the Diocese of Dallas, said that the initiative demonstrates Bishop Kevin J. Farrell’s commitment to promoting collaboration among entities in the diocese. “The bishop wants our agencies to work together to best serve those in need,” Keffler said. “Customer service, optimism, outreach and service to others seem to be wellreflected in this project.” Father Albert Becher, the pastor of Holy Family of Nazareth, said that the new program unites the charities in a ministry that epitomizes Pope Francis’Year of Mercy. “It is a beautiful ministry and a
Jesuit senior midfielder Mabeth Diaz hasn’t let the loss of part of his leg keep him from chasing his dreams.
See Page 16.
joining of forces to help the needy,” Father Becher said. “I consider it a blessing for our parish, our ministry and people. It’s a Gospel in action.” In its first two fully operational
months, the new partnership distributed 36 boxes of more than 1,200 pounds of food to help 26 families totaling 89 people, said Ryan Bennett, the program
manager at Catholic Charities’ Financial Stability and Career Services Division. He said that the See PARTNERSHIP, Page 12
Father’s passion leads family to Catholicism The Texas Catholic
Inspiration to others
Notre Dame School of Dallas vocational student Chris Motes packs a jar of peanut butter while volunteering to make food packages at the San Felipe Food Distribution Center on March 2. The packages will be distributed to people in need as part of a food program created through a strategic partnership between Catholic Charities of Dallas and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
FAITH
By Seth Gonzales
SPORTS
BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
A lifetime of prayer, curiosity and learning is about to bear some major fruit for Steve Daily and his family. On March 26, Daily, his wife Becky, his daughter Natalia and son Connor will all enter the Catholic Church as a family during Easter Vigil Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in McKinney. “I think I’ve always been a Catholic,” said Steve, whose journey to the church has taken him through the Baptist, Lutheran and Methodist denominations. “I’ve explained that
I’ve come to my faith through logic first, and then the emotions have followed and reaffirmed that.” The Daily family will be among several thousand who will be welcomed into various parishes within the Diocese of Dallas at the Easter Vigil Masses, according to statistics provided to the diocese’s Office of Worship. Those will include 810 children and 337 adult catechumens who will be baptized, confirmed and will receive their first Holy Communion; 892 Catholics (243 children and 649 adults) who will be confirmed and See FAMILY, Page 11
RON HEFLIN/Special Contributor
Becky and Steve Daily with their children Natalia, 16, and Connor, 15, at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in McKinney on March 6. The family will enter the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on March 26.
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VOCATIONS
The Texas Catholic
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell Publisher
March 18, 2016
Focus on faith and justice
Editor David Sedeño Managing Editor Michael Gresham Managing Editor Revista Católica Constanza Morales Business Manager Antonio Ramirez Jr. Staff Writer Cathy Harasta Staff Writer Seth Gonzales Photographer Jenna Teter
BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
Accounting Manager Leigh Harbour The oldest Catholic newspaper in Texas ©2016 The Texas Catholic THE TEXAS CATHOLIC (USPS 616620) ISSN: 0899-6296 is published biweekly, except for the months of June, July, August and December when it is published monthly by The Texas Catholic Publishing Co., 3725 Blackburn, P.O. Box 190347, Dallas, TX 75219. Subscription rates are $20 for one year, $35 for two years, $55 for three years. Periodical postage paid at Dallas, TX. Extra copies are $4.00 each; if mailed, add $1.00 per piece for handling and postage. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Texas Catholic, P.O. Box 190347, Dallas, TX 75219. TELEPHONE: 214-528-8792 FAX: 214-528-3411 WEB: www.texascatholic.com The Diocese of Dallas is comprised of 69 parishes and 5 quasi parishes in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Navarro, Grayson, Hunt and Fannin counties. Estimated Catholic population:1,236,944.
Texas Catholic Publishing Co. Board of Directors Most Rev. Kevin J. Farrell Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas Publisher of The Texas Catholic Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel Vicar General Mary Edlund Chancellor
BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
FROM THE BISHOP
Catholics urged to support Middle East Christians Good Friday Collection
By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell Publisher of The Texas Catholic
Our help is needed to preserve a living Christian faith in the land of Jesus. Christianity is struggling to survive in the land where it originated. Christians have been forgotten in the Israeli-Palestinian Bishop conflict and the Farrell Catholic Church is fighting to keep Christianity in the Holy Land a living faith and not a relic. Franciscan priests and brothers have been caring for Holy Sites for more than 700 years dating back to the meeting of St. Francis of Assisi and the Sultan Malek-el-Kamel in the early 13th century. Their custody was made a pontifical mandate by Pope Clement VI in 1342. Today, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land is doing much more than looking after the holy places, although that is a significant part of their work. They operate schools with more than 10,000 pre-K-through-12 students. They have constructed more than
On March 25, a collection will be taken in every Catholic Church in the Diocese of Dallas and around the world to help fund efforts to keep Christianity in the Holy Land. For more information, please visit www.myfranciscan.org.
Catholic News Service
Pope Francis prays for peace in front of the Israeli security wall in Bethlehem, West Bank in May 2015.
1,000 residential units where Jesus walked and preached in Bethlehem, Bethpage and Nazareth and 80 homes have been rehabilitated for Christian families in the Old City of Jerusalem. Friars provide pastoral care in 29 parishes and maintain guest houses and pilgrimages for visitors from around the world.
Bill Keffler Chief Operating Officer Annette G. Taylor Communications Director David Sedeño Editor of The Texas Catholic
Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Kelly reflects in prayer during Mass at the annual Diocese of Dallas Deacon Congress, held March 5 at Bishop Dunne Catholic School. Bishop Kelly celebrated the Mass for a crowd of more than 170 deacons and their wives. At left, Deacon Richard Nelson with Sherry Nelson stand in prayer during the Mass. During the congress, deacons discussed Catholic social teaching and Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.”
Their pro-active efforts to maintain a dynamic Christian presence in the Holy Land have resulted in 120 young men preparing to become Franciscan priests and brothers. Franciscan archaeologists are seeking to discover new information about the beginnings of the Christian faith in places like Magdala, the home of
Mary Magdalen. On Good Friday, a collection will be taken up in every Catholic Church to fund the works of the Franciscans in the Holy Land. We cannot allow the faith to be snuffed out in the Holy Land, we cannot allow the holy places to fall into disrepair. Please assist in this most important mission. I ask you to give generously to the Holy Land Collection on Good Friday or donate online at www.myfranciscan. org/our-mission/the-good-fridaycollection/ Keep Christianity in the Holy Land a living faith and not a relic.
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell is the seventh bishop of Dallas. Read his blog at bishopkevinfarrell.org/blog.
CLERGY ASSIGNMENTS n Father Israel Alejandro González Rodríguez, F.N., assigned as Parochial Vicar of Good Shepherd Parish, Garland, effective March 3, 2016.
n Father Edward Bentley, L.C., assigned to oversee Regnum Christi’s Young Men’s Section, effective March 3, 2016.
n Father Mathias Martin, Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Dallas, returned to his home Diocese of St. Polten, Austria, effective March 4, 2016.
VATICAN / DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
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ST. PETER’S BASILICA
Holy Year brings more people to confessionals By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY—The number of people going to confession in St. Peter’s Basilica increased noticeably in the first months of the Year of Mercy, but not among English-speakers, who apparently are staying away from Europe out of fear of terrorism, said the rector of the basilica’s team of confessors. Conventual Franciscan Father Rocco Rizzo, the rector, told the Vatican newspaper that from the opening of the Holy Year Dec. 8 and through February, he heard about 2,000 confessions in St. Peter’s. But, he said, “we are noticing that the majority of penitents are Italian. I think that is due to the alarm over terrorist attacks” following the series of attacks in Paris in November. “This is why the English-language priests have fewer confessions this year.” In an interview published in the March 10 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, Father Rizzo said that in addition to the 14 Conventual Franciscans assigned full time to the confessionals
Catholic News Service
A priest participates from his confessional as Pope Francis leads a Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in this March 13, 2015, file photo.
in St. Peter’s Basilica, another 30 of their confreres are supplementing their work during the Holy Year. The Conventual Franciscans hear confessions every day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3:30
HOLY WEEK at a Glance MARCH 20 – Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the beginning of Holy Week, commemorates Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem. Palms are blessed and distributed recalling the hosannas of the crowd and the Passion is read for the first time. Please check with your parish for Mass times. MARCH 22 – Chrism Mass— Holy Oils used in administering the sacraments are blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass and distributed to all the parishes. Bishop Kevin J. Farrell will be joined by priests of the Diocese of Dallas to concelebrate the Mass and renew their priestly promises at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
April 3 3 p.m.
parish for Mass times. MARCH 25—Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord — On this day by ancient tradition no sacraments are celebrated except for Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick. Holy Communion is distributed only within the liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, which includes solemn intercessions and Adoration of the Cross. Please check with your parish for times.
Paris, Texas
MARCH 26—Holy Saturday— At sundown, parishes begin the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night in anticipation of Jesus’ Resurrection. The Vigil includes the blessing of the new fire from which the Easter Candle, representing Christ, is lighted; and the Easter Proclamation sung. Readings MARCH 23—The Light Is recount the of history of salvation, On For You — An invitationyour to Deepen experience the catechumens are baptized and all forgiveness andMercy healing through of God in this Holy Year renew their baptismal promises. the Sacrament of Reconciliation The church, which has been silent will be extended in every parish in the Diocese of Dallas. Please check and barren since the Lord’s Supper liturgy, bursts forth in light with your parish for confession and music at the Gloria in joyful times on this date. celebration of the Resurrection. MARCH 24—Holy Thursday— Please check with your parish for Lent ends and the Sacred TriduumEATURING Mass times. begins with the celebration of the
Divine Mercy Sunday
Mission F
Fr. Bill Casey, CPM
MARCH 27—Easter Sunday— Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The The celebration of the Resurrecliturgy commemorates the institution of the Eucharist at the Last tion of the Lord continues during Supper and the beginning of the ONTRIBUTOR the day withAND the Gospel story of priesthood and includes reenactthe finding of the empty tomb. ORMER UPERIOR OF THE ATHERS OF ERCY The Sacred Triduum, which began ment of Jesus washing the feet Holy Thursday evening, ends with of the Apostles. The Eucharist is evening vespers on Easter. Please removed from the church no Our Lady of and Victory Catholic Church check784-1000 with your| parish for@ Mass Mass will be celebrated OLVPARISTX GMAIL.COM 3300 CLARKSVILLE ST. | until PARIS,the TEXAS | (903) Easter Vigil. Please check with your schedules.
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p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the winter; they stay until 7 p.m. in the spring and summer. In addition to Italian, Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese and Polish, confessors can offer the sacrament in a variety
of languages, including Maltese, Chinese and Croatian. Father Rizzo said he usually hears 20-30 confessions a day in Italian or Spanish, but the number of penitents increases on Saturdays and Sundays, and he will offer the sacrament to at least 50 people each day on the weekend. Another phenomenon that is increasing, he said, is people coming to the confessionals who are not Catholic. “They want to confess to see what it is about,” he said. While confessors can listen to and counsel non-Catholics, it is not considered a sacramental confession in most cases. Even Catholics visiting St. Peter’s Basilica as tourists or even pilgrims may not be very familiar with the sacrament, Father Rizzo said. Many young people will say they have not been to confession since they made their first Communion, and it is not unusual for someone to come and say it has been 30 years since they last confessed. “I have had people come who listened to the words of the pope and then remembered that 30 or 40
years ago they committed a serious sin and they now feel the need to reconcile with the Lord,” he said. “In particular, women have come to me who have had an abortion, and they carry with them this open wound that never heals. Even if they already have confessed the sin, they want to re-confess it.” For the Year of Mercy, Father Rizzo and the other priests who hear confessions at St. Peter’s and the major basilicas of Rome have been given special faculties to extend absolution even in cases like abortion that normally require consultation with the local bishop or even with the Vatican. Another Year of Mercy change, he said, is in the penance given to those coming to confession. Increasingly the priests in the basilica will ask someone to show their repentance not by reciting a set number of prayers, but through a work of mercy, “like visiting someone who is sick, doing the shopping for an older person, paying a bill for someone who is lacking money” or helping someone get to church.
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DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
MASS READINGS March 20, 2016 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion At the Procession with Palms Gospel Lk 19:28-40 Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” At the Mass Reading 1 Is 50:4-7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. Reading 2 Phil 2:6-11 Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
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which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Gospel Lk 22:14—23:56 When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. “And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed. Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink
at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.” He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing, “ they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.” Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!” Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”
While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.” After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying many other things against him. When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us, “ but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.” Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against
him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.” Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.” On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.”— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. — Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
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MASS READINGS Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull,they crucified him and the criminals there,one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God.
RON HEFLIN/Special Contributor
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell celebrates Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church on March 12. Pictured are, from left, Deacons Victor Carpio and Bob Bonomi, Father Tuan Le, Farrell and Father Josef Vollmer-König, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.
March 24, 2016 Holy Thursday Chrism Mass Reading 1 Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn; To place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. You yourselves shall be named priests of the LORD, ministers of our God shall you be called. I will give them their recompense faithfully, a lasting covenant I will make with them. Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, and their
offspring among the peoples; All who see them shall acknowledge them as a race the LORD has blessed. Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8 [Grace to you and peace] from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his Blood, who has made us into a Kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Gospel Lk 4:16-21 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your
hearing.”
March 25, 2016 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passions Reading 1 Is 52:13—53:12 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him— so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man—so shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us
all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses. Reading 2 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Gospel Jn 18:1—19:4 Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground.
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So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
March 18, 2016
MASS READINGS
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Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon.
And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes
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weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
MASS READINGS
March 27, 2016 The Resurrection of the Lord; The Mass of Easter Day Reading 1 Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”Tell the Israelites to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and, with
March 18, 2016
Catholic News Service
hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land. But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory
through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.” The angel of God, who had been leading Israel’s camp, now moved and went around behind them. The column of cloud also, leaving the front, took up its place behind them, so that it came between the camp of the Egyptians and that of Israel. But the cloud now became dark, and thus the night passed without
the rival camps coming any closer together all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the Israelites marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians. Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army which had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the Israelites had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they
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feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses. Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. Reading 2 Col 3:1-4 Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Gospel Jn 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
Experiencing Holy Week and the church’s living memory By Father Thomas Esposito Special to The Texas Catholic
Someone you know, whether your spouse, a pouty child, or a friend, will soon complain about the interminably long liturgies they will be subjected to this coming Holy Week. Instead of the usual icy glare or a fed-up “because I’m your parent and God expects you there” approach, you might ask them to ponder why it is that the church subjects her faithful year after year to the same ceremonies, the identical words and actions seemingly on “rinse and repeat.” (I don’t pretend for a moment that what follows will get a jaded 18-year-old jazzed for the Holy Thursday washing of the feet; these words might, however, prompt a believer responding to that teenager to ponder the mysterious purpose behind the church’s liturgical life and the grace flowing from that life.)
The church recognizes that a culture without a memory has no future. A distinct Catholic culture developed quite organically from the desire to offer liturgical praise to God, commemorating his mighty deeds in history and making them present in our here and now. For example, the death and resurrection of Jesus ensure that our Lord is not bound by the constraining straps of space and time, and can therefore be truly present to us in every Eucharistic feast. Our recollection of Jesus’ selfsacrifice on the cross is a matter of obedience to his own words, uttered hours before his passion and death: “Do this in memory of me.” This liturgical memory is our living link to the ministry of Jesus, and channels to us the joyful zeal which animated the first disciples who shared the Eucharist (see 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17-34). Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem, so terrible and fateful for the salva-
tion of the world, are brought to life again in our liturgical prayer. The details of Jesus’ loving sacrifice are re-presented to us when we hear the words of Scripture proclaimed; this is done as we participate in those sacred events through our prayers, music and actions. Two examples of this enacted memory (besides the Eucharist itself) will suffice. On Palm Sunday, a long Passion narrative is read to prepare us for the coming week; yet we also imitate the very procession Jesus makes into Jerusalem, re-enacting the triumphant arrival of the blessed one “who comes in the name of the Lord.” The palm branches we hold are the tangible sign that our Christian faith is neither isolated away in an ancient age nor lifeless like the pages of a history book, but rather expressed in the life of the church, who nurtures that faith for all generations past, present, and future.
What happens in the Holy Week liturgies is, in a most beautiful way, a blending of historical times and places by the Lord who draws all ages to himself as he extends his arms on the cross. The unrivaled apex of this liturgical time comes at the Easter Vigil, when we hear in the dead of night the first good news of Christ’s victory over the tomb. The church is dark, symbolizing the defeat death had inflicted on the crucified Jesus, but light from a single candle soon scatters the blackness of night. That most exquisite hymn of praise, the Exsultet, then resounds as the light of Christ is spread to all the faithful. Just one sample lyric from this ancient song reveals the church’s understanding of her own mission to exult in God’s salvific plan across the centuries. For on this very night, God brings about the salvation of Israel from the hands of Egypt, the liberation from death through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, and the renewal of our baptismal faith in the Lord of life: “This is the night when first you saved our fathers: you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea […] This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.” No other earthly honor could possibly equal the privilege of standing shoulder to shoulder on the night of Christ’s resurrection with your family and friends, but also with Moses, the Israelites, the prophets, the apostles, and all the saints, who have lived for the hope generated at the first Easter.
Father Thomas Esposito, O.Cist., is a theologian and monk at the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Dallas in Irving. His column appears occasionally in The Texas Catholic.
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The Texas Catholic
DIOCESE SCHOOLS
March 18, 2016
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Students craft blankets for ill parishioners, patients By Jacqueline Burkepile Special to The Texas Catholic
During his 2016 Lenten message, Pope Francis called on Catholics to overcome “existential alienation by listening to God’s word and by practicing the works of mercy.” St. Joseph Catholic School in Richardson responded to Pope Francis’ call of mercy when its National Junior Honor Society middle school students decided to make fleece blankets for hospital patients and ill parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church. The project began two years ago when students wrote get well letters to parishioners. While brainstorming new service project ideas, the school’s NJHS adviser Naomi Welch suggested that they make blankets for the sick. So far, they have donated 20 blankets to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Garland, and will soon donate 12 more to Children’s Medical Center in Plano. The students said they hope to reach their blanket-making goal of 50 by the end of March. “This service project is truly an act of mercy,” Welch said. “It is self-sacrificing anytime our NJHS members can help others in need, especially those from our
JENNA TETER/The Texas Catholic
National Junior Honor Society members from St. Joseph Catholic School in Richardson donated 20 fleece blankets to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Garland in February.
parish and in nearby hospitals. This is what Jesus calls us to do: serve.” Welch added that the students held
a fundraiser so they could purchase the blanket materials. They also received a $500 grant from the Meadows Foundation.
Eighth-grade student and NJHS member Saul Cano enjoys making the blankets because he has fun with friends while serving the community. “When I passed out the blankets, the patients were filled with joy. It made me feel good about what I was doing,” Cano said. Eighth-grade student Cameron Pham, also a member of St. Joseph Catholic School’s NJHS, said that the blankets were blessed by Father Juan Carlos Marín, the parish’s parochial vicar. “It not only helped them to feel good, but us, too. We let them know that there are young men and women in local communities who try to help other people,” Pham said. “I think the blankets give them physical and spiritual comfort, especially because they are blessed.” Baylor Scott & White Marketing and Public Relations Manager Robin Kraase said the hospital staff and patients were touched by the students’ acts of service. “We explained to our patients that students at a local school donated the blankets as part of a service project so it would have more of an impact on those who received them,” Kraase said. “The patients were happy to see the younger generation come to the hospital to give back.”
Is your school parrciparng in the food drive? Last year, ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL led the way. This year, it could be your school.
Ask your child’s school to join our food drive! Each month, the Food Program at Catholic Chariies of Dallas provides an average of approximately 18,000 meals to around 1,600 people who are in need of food. We provide nutriiously balanced boxes of food as well as fresh fruit and vegetables in order to promote healthy eaing habits and fight obesity. To coninue our mission of alleviaing hunger, we invite your school to paricip in our Food Roundup. A special recogniion will be given to the paricipate school that rounds up the most food. All Saints Catholic School won the 2015 Food Roundup by collecing 1778 pounds of food! Join Catholic Chariies of Dallas in the 2016 Food Roundup! For more informaaon, email Connally Erwin at 214-960-0069 or email cerwin@ccdallas.org.
ccdallas.org /ccdallastx
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Summer is our TOUGHEST season. AAer the holidays, there are sall more people to feed. Help us conanue our mission by donaang.
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The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
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YEMEN
Pope: Slain Missionaries of Charity are ‘martyrs of charity’ By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY—The four Missionaries of Charity murdered March 4 in Yemen “are the martyrs of today,” Pope Francis said. “They gave their blood for the church.” After reciting the Angelus with thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square March 6, Pope Francis publicly offered his condolences to the Missionaries of Charity and prayed that Blessed Teresa of Kolkata would “accompany to paradise these daughters of hers, martyrs of charity, and that she would intercede for peace and a sacred respect for human life.” The four Missionaries of Charity and 12 other people were killed by uniformed gunmen, who entered the home the sisters operate for the elderly and disabled in Aden. The superior of the Missionaries of Charity at the home survived by hiding, according to the Vatican’s Fides news agency. Father Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian Salesian priest who had been living at the home since Holy Family Parish in Aden was sacked and burned in September, was missing after the attack.
Catholic News Service
Yemeni pro-government fighters guard outside a Missionaries of Charity elderly home March 4 after unidentified gunmen targeted the home in Aden, Yemen. Four Missionaries of Charity and 10 to 12 other people were killed in the attack.
Pope Francis said the martyred sisters “gave their blood for the church.” The sisters and the others killed “are victims of the attack by those who killed them, but also (victims) of indifference, this globalization
of indifference that just doesn’t care,” the pope said. Yemen has been experiencing a political crisis since 2011 and is often described as being in a state of civil war with members of the Shiite and Sunni Muslim communities
vying for power; in the midst of the tensions, terrorist groups have been operating in the country, including groups believed to be associated with the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaida. Although most Christians have fled the country, a handful of Salesian priests and about 20 Missionaries of Charity chose to stay and continue their ministry. In a condolence message released March 5 by the Vatican, Pope Francis described the Aden murders as an “act of senseless and diabolical violence.” The pope “prays that this pointless slaughter will awaken consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down their arms and take up the path of dialogue,” the message said. “In the name of God, he calls upon all parties in the present conflict to renounce violence, and to renew their commitment to the people of Yemen, particularly those most in need, whom the sisters and their helpers sought to serve.” Bishop Paul Hinder, head of the vicariate of Southern Arabia, which includes Yemen, told AsiaNews, a Rome-based missionary news
agency, that at 8:30 a.m. March 4, “persons in uniform” broke into the Aden compound, killing the guard and all employees who tried to stop them. “They then reached the sisters and opened fire.” Two of the sisters killed were Rwandan, one was from India and one was from Kenya, the bishop said. Father Uzhunnalil apparently was kidnapped, he added. “The signal was clear: This has to do with religion,” Bishop Hinder said. In a statement released March 8, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee said that, through their sacrifice, the “martyrs of charity” were “transformed into signs of Christ’s victory over sin, violence and death.” They echoed the remarks of Pope Francis and invited people to join in solidarity with people “who see their lives threatened by evil, indifference, hatred, and terrorism.” The bishops also urged the U.S. State Department to issue a declaration that genocide is occurring against Christians, Yezedis and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
Looking for a fun and healthy way for your daughter to hone her sports skills this summer? Sign her up for one or more of these camps offered for girls in grades 1–12. She can choose from basketball, crew, softball, soccer, and volleyball, all taught by Ursuline Academy’s outstanding high school coaching staff. Basketball Camps 6/20-6/23: 9 am – 12 pm: Grades 5–8 6/20-6/23: 1 pm – 4 pm: Grades 9–12 Crew: Learn to Row Camp 6/9-6/11: 7 am – 9 am: Grades: 9–11 7/7-7/9: 7 am – 9 am: Grades: 9–11 Softball Camps 7/11–7/14: 10 am – 12 pm: Grades 3–5 7/11-7/14: 1 pm – 3 pm: Grades 6–9
Soccer Camps 6/13-6/16: 8:30 am – 11 am: Grades 1–5 6/20-6/23: 8:30 am – 11:30 am: Grades 6–9 7/11-7/14: 8:30 am – 11:30 am: Grades 7–9 7/18-7/21: 8:30 am – 11 am: Grades 1–5 Volleyball Camps 6/13-6/16: 9 am – 11 am: Grades 5–6 6/13-6/16: 1 pm – 3 pm: Grades 7–8 7/18-7/21: 9 am – 11 am: Grade 9 7/18-7/21: 1 pm – 3 pm: Grades 10–12
To register or to learn more, visit www.ursulinedallas.org/summersports. Or call Mike Jensen, Athletic Director, at 469-232-1819.
URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS
10 The Texas Catholic
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March 18, 2016
HAITI
Church reconstruction continues after election violence lull By Catholic News Service Reconstruction of churches, schools and novitiates destroyed in Haiti’s 2010 earthquake is continuing following brief work stoppages because of pre-election protests that at times turned violent. The confrontations forced construction managers to suspend the work at several sites around the capital of Port-au-Prince as Haitian officials dealt with a vacant presidency and settled on April 24 as a new date for the twice-delayed national election. Where construction is continuing, progress is advancing at a good pace, said Jacques Liautaud, Haiti manager in the U.S. bishops’ Office of National Collections, who returned from the country in late February. Four facilities are completed
or near completion and were to be dedicated in April. Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, planned to represent the bishops at the dedication of the new buildings. On tap for dedication are St. Augustine School in Trouin, near the coastal community of Jacmel; St. Genevieve Church in the mountains northwest of the capital; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Carrefour; and a novitiate in Leogane for the Companions of Jesus, an indigenous religious congregation. The people in the villages around St. Genevieve Church particularly are pleased with their new church, Liautaudsaid. “The people call it ‘The Palace,’ “ he said of the modest structure that happens to be the largest for miles around. It is the only rural church the
Partnership for the Reconstruction of the Church in Haiti, or PROCHE, has built. Parishioners at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Hartford, Conn., assisted in the project, raising about $50,000. PROCHE is a cooperative venture involving the Haitian bishops’ conference; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Catholic Relief Services; Adveniat, the German bishops’ agency for solidarity with Latin American development agencies; other bishops’ conferences and private foundations. The partnership began in late 2010 with $33 million, a portion of a special collection initiated by the U.S. bishops after the earthquake. Liautaud said about $11 million remains from those funds to be allocated. Several new projects are under consideration and will be discussed when PROCHE meets in the fall.
Catholic News Service
Reconstruction was continuing on Christ the King Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in January as seen in this image from a drone. It is being built by the Partnership for the Reconstruction of the Church in Haiti with funds donated by U.S. parishioners and other donors worldwide.
Easter Rising: Insurrection marked beginning of modern Irish Republic By Catholic News Service DUBLIN — Easter Monday 1916 was a sunny day. Patrick Pearse, a young poet and teacher, stood in front of the General Post Office on O’Connell Street in Dublin and, to the astonishment of passersby, began to read: “Irishmen and Irishwomen: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.” Around the city, copies of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic were posted on buildings, declaring Ireland a sovereign state, guaranteeing fundamental rights and declaring a provisional government, pending elections by all the people, men and women. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, as it was known. The six-day insurrection by Irish rebels against British rule has divided Ireland for a century; some see the rebels as martyrs, others as leaders of a treacherous revolt. “What happened developed out of a huge ferment that included the Gaelic language revival, the explosion of what’s sometimes called Anglo-Irish literature, along with both a strong nationalist party under (John) Redmond and, of course, a secret wing, the Irish Republican Brotherhood that wanted independence by violence,” said Irish Father Brendan Purcell, adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia. “Many of the 1916 leaders were personally devout Catholics — maybe (nationalist leader) Joseph Plunkett was a mystic too, so they linked their insurrection to Easter
Catholic News Service
The damaged Dublin General Post Office is seen in a photograph taken after the Easter Uprising of 1916. The six-day insurrection by Irish rebels against British rule divided Ireland for a century.
as if it were a religious event, too.” “Unfortunately, the independence that resulted didn’t really include a religious development in itself,” said Father Purcell, although he noted Irish Catholicism was strong at the time. The Rising began April 24, 1916, when diverse republican groups, acting together, seized a number of prominent buildings in Dublin, raised the green, white and orange flag over the post office and holed up. For six days 1,600 rebels fought off a 20,000-strong British army. On April 29, Pearse called a surrender “to prevent the further slaughter of Dublin citizens.” The insurrection left around 500
dead, mostly civilians, and thousands injured. Approximately 1,500 Irish men were interned in Wales, while the 16 rebel leaders were imprisoned and executed. Dublin’s city center lay in ruins. “People will say hard things of us now, but later on they will praise us,” Pearse wrote on his execution day. His words proved prophetic. The executions galvanized public opinion. In the 1918 British Parliament elections, nationalists won 70 percent of the Irish seats. After those elections came a wider armed campaign against British rule, the War of Independence, which ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921. The Treaty split the nationalist movement and led to a civil war and the partition of Ireland. Former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton said the Rising was not a “just war” because, in time, Britain would have delivered home rule for 26 counties and many lives would have been saved. “Living for Ireland is better than dying for Ireland,” he said in his 2015 book, “Faith in Politics.” However, the rebel leaders and others were convinced they did right. It was “a sacrifice which God asked of me,” wrote Pearse. The primate of all Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Northern Ireland, has urged people to redouble “efforts to find safe spaces where we can hear one another’s stories and pain, and bolster friendship, justice and peace.” During the Rising, the Capuchins turned their Father Matthew Hall into a shelter for children and allowed the women volunteers to minister to fighters. The Capuchins also went out into the streets to minister to the wounded.
DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic PERSPECTIVE
Beauty is found in the eye of collector By Father Timothy Gollob Special to The Texas Catholic
Ever since the days of my longago youth, I have always had an eye peeled for things to collect. This got me in trouble when I was about six years old after something glittering in a trash fire caught my attention. On reaching into the ashes to retrieve the treasure, a piece of jagged glass tattooed my hand with a cut which has left a scar to this day. But that has not discouraged me from collecting. My brother, Michael, and I made nets out of cheese cloth and clothes hangers to gather butterflies and bugs. Later we were introduced to stamp collecting as we visited the home of a widow in Tyler, Angela Kaemerlen, who was selling her late husband’s stamps. She gave us more than we bought, but we became avid enthusiasts and learned much about the geography and history of the world. We learned from our father to check out our change and collect coins. After retirement, he became a “rock hound.” That inspired me to pick up rocks along the shores of my fishing lakes. Then I discovered that rural folks had filled the gullies on their ranches with debris. Poking through these places I found discarded barbwire, antique medicine bottles and old door knobs. Along with these were bricks left abandoned from wells and from chimneys and from foundations. Some had impressions
advertising the quarry from which they came. So you can imagine the delight I had recently on being informed of a contest announced by the Perot Museum concerning their exhibit, “The Eye of the Collector.” Along with the collections they had selected, they were asking for all us collectors to submit one of our precious accumulations. I selected to enter in the “Unique” category with my 150piece brick collection with names and symbols from many places on their faces. One problem arose. Where were they? I had made a patio of bricks under my clothesline many years ago and the ivy had covered all vestiges of them. We cut a small hole in the mass of ivy and pulled out the vines. A photo was taken and entered into the contest. Then I waited impatiently for a call from the museum. None came. Finally I found the list of the finalists on their website. Bricks did not finish in the top five! But I was a big winner. My backyard has been cleaned up. Several interesting objects have come back into the light of day. Now I can continue with my most important collection, namely gathering friends to save our Earth and finally leading them to Heavenly glory.
March 18, 2016
Family comes together in Catholic faith (Continued from Page 1) receive first Holy Communion; and 301 other Christians who will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church and will be confirmed and receive first Holy Communion. The couple have taken different paths to the Catholic faith but said, in retrospect, they see God’s fingerprints all over their respective journeys. Born in Nebraska, Steve grew up in Iowa and was raised in the Baptist church. His faith and curiosity began to deepen as early as 10 after a “born again” experience. One of his most memorable brushes with Catholicism came in 1979, when St. John Paul II visited Iowa. He said he and his family were incredulous that everything seemed to come to a halt for the late pontiff’s visit. In 1982, while attending Grand Island School of Business, he met Becky. It was the same school where his parents and grandparents had met. Steve and Becky married three years later and soon began a life together in Kansas City. While working as a paralegal in Kansas City, Becky said she was approached by a temporary worker who was pregnant and wanted to give the child up for adoption. She asked Becky and Steve to become the adoptive parents. Becky said she believes it was
God’s way of nudging them down the path of adoption. Only months after moving to Florida, the couple adopted two Russian children from Belarus – Natalia and Connor. All the while, the couple continued to nurture their faith through their Methodist church in Florida. After hearing a musical composed by the church’s music minister on the life of the apostle Peter, Becky said she began to understand and become more open towards Catholicism. “It made me have this conscious realization that Peter in fact was the rock, and looking back on that musical I realized it was pulling me towards the true church,” Becky said. “That musical helped not just me, but the kids realize that Peter was this fallible, pious, grubby fisherman who asked, ‘What would the Messiah want of me?’ ” By this time, Steve had already become an avid listener of Catholic radio. He was especially drawn to EWTN’s Mother Angelica and later to the talks and sermons of Father John Riccardo and then-Father and now Bishop Robert Barron. “That style was very calming, very reassuring, very confident, but not judgmental,” Steve said. When the couple moved to Plano in 2005, they sent Connor to a preschool program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, even though the
family still belonged to a Methodist church. It wasn’t until their move to McKinney in 2007 that Steve discovered St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church and immediately felt a sense of peace. On Sept. 6, 2015, after participating in the parish’s Christ Renews His Parish weekend, Steve brought his family to Mass at St. Gabriel for the first time. The Daily family began faith formation classes last fall. “Steve is one of those rare men who takes on the role of being the religious head of your household; he actually fills that role,” Becky said “There are not many men who do that anymore.He took the lead and found a faith that he grew to understand and love.” Initially skeptical, Natalia and Connor said they have grown to love the faith and are excited about joining the church on Easter Vigil. One of Connor’s high school friends even volunteered to be his sponsor. While his career and faith have taken him many places, Steve said he believes the Catholic Church, and St. Gabriel, in particular, will be a permanent home for his family. “Standing there in Mass, people have been doing this for 2,000 years,” he said. “For me, it just brought a sense of peace, that ‘you’re where you belong.’ ”
Father Timothy Gollob is the pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Oak Cliff.
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12 The Texas Catholic
DIOCESE
March 18, 2016
Partnership fuels food distribution program in Irving (Continued from Page 1) new food program differs from conventional pantries in that people in need do not come to a facility to pick up staples, but receive customized food deliveries in their homes during visits by members of Holy Family’s St. Vincent de Paul conference. Catholic Charities of Dallas, which is an agency partner of the North Texas Food Bank, boxes the food at its San Felipe Food Distribution Center in Dallas. Bennett said that food donations, including those from Holy Family parishioners, contribute to the customized packages that Catholic Charities’ food trucks transport to a Holy Family-owned building near the parish. Holy Family’s Vincentians pick up the boxes and take them to individuals and families at their homes. Bennett said that the collaboration’s database allows the St. Vincent de Paul members at Holy Family to inform Catholic Charities’ staff and volunteers at the San Felipe center of the specific food needs. “The missions and values of Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul are aligned,” Bennett said. “The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will continue to help the people they normally would help, but what is
BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
Vocational students from Notre Dame School volunteer to make food packages at the San Felipe Food Distribution Center on March 2.
new is that Catholic Charities of Dallas will supply the food packaged in what usually is one week’s worth of food for each individual or family. By having us provide the boxed food, the Vincentians can focus on their mission, service and house visits. They can spend more time addressing other needs and social services.”
Bennett said that he met with members of the St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on March 8 to give them a tour of the facilities that are part of the new food program. He said that they had called him about learning more about starting a food pantry. “They were interested in seeing
how it works,” Bennett said. “We’re excited, because this is what it is all about.” Keffler said that the strategic partnership offers a great example of collaboration and exciting potential. “In keeping with Bishop Farrell’s interest to promote collaborative relationships within the Catholic community, the Holy Family Food Pantry is an outstanding partnership between the two key service providers of the Dallas Diocese,” Keffler said. “The positive contributions resulting from this initiative between Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul provide an invaluable service to those in need of such assistance.” Michael Pazzaglini, the executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Diocesan Council of Dallas, Inc., said that he was interested in Catholic Charities’ food service from when he began in his position with the Society in August 2014. He started meeting with Bennett later that year. Pazzaglini said that they spoke with several of the 36 St. Vincent de Paul conferences in the Diocese of Dallas. “I was aware that in Irving there was a huge need for food, and many
of the requests that Holy Family of Nazareth’s conference was getting were for food,” Pazzaglini said. “What’s unique about this food service idea is that we incorporated food into the Vincentians’ home visits. We’re relationship-building. We work with families long-term.” With the partnership’s groundwork in place, Catholic Charities of Dallas and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — which dedicated the new program with a ceremony at Holy Family of Nazareth on Dec. 16 — came together to coordinate long-term recovery efforts after deadly tornadoes struck North Texas in late December. Cristi Martinez, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at Holy Family of Nazareth, said that the new partnership gave everyone involved the sense of being groundbreakers. “We feel wonderful about it,” said Martinez, whose conference has 18-20 Vincentians. “We feel like pioneers. There’s been so much discouragement in what we hear. We can say, ‘If you’re hungry, we’re going to feed you.’ ”
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Divine Mercy conference
Above: Auxiliary Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel blesses a young girl during Holy Communion during the celebration of the closing Mass for The Divine Mercy Conference on March 5 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Mesquite. At left: Paige Murray, right, hugs Beth Kraner during the celebration of the closing Mass for The Divine Mercy Conference in Mesquite. BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
Installation of Bishop Deshotel in Lafayette On Feb. 17, Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel was appointed to serve as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, La. A Mass of Reception and Installation is set for 2 p.m. April 15 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette.
WORLD DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
13
VATICAN
Statistics report increase in baptized Catholics worldwide By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — The number of baptized Catholics worldwide has grown at a faster rate than that of the world’s population, according to Vatican statistics. Although the number of priests has increased globally, the number has decreased slightly in Europe and Oceania, according to the Vatican’s Central Office for Church Statistics. The figures are presented in the “Annuario Pontificio 2016,” the Vatican yearbook, and will appear in the Statistical Yearbook of the Church, which gives detailed figures on the Catholic Church’s workforce, sacramental life, dioceses and parishes as of Dec. 31, 2014. The number of baptized Catholics reached 1.27 billion or 17.8 percent of the global population, the statistics office reported March 5. Despite the increase of Catholics worldwide, the yearbook noted a “less dynamic”
Catholic News Service
Family members hold babies as Pope Francis celebrates the baptism of 26 babies in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 10. The baptisms were held on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
growth of only 2 percent in Europe. While the continent is home to almost 40 percent of the Catholic global population, the percent of the world’s Catholics living in Europe has slowly
Diocesan Time Capsule 50 Years Ago Bishop Thomas Tschoepe became the sixth priest of the Diocese of Dallas to be elevated to the episcopate when he was consecrated bishop at Sacred Heart Cathedral on March 9, 1966. Bishop Tschoepe was installed as third Bishop of San Angelo on Mar. 23. Msgr. James I. Tucek was succeeded as editor of The Texas Catholic by Steve Landregan on Mar. 1. 1966. 25 Years Ago A grant of up to $200,000 was made to the Diocese of Dallas Education Office for use in assisting schools with a large percentage of low-income students. The first installment of $100,000 was used to assist Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Anthony parochial schools and Pope John XXIII regional school. 10 Years Ago Bishop Charles V. Grahmann kicked off the first event of his triple jubilee in his hometown of Hallettsville, TX on March 19. In 2006 Bishop Grahmann marked 50 years as a priest, 25 years as a bishop and his 75th birthday. The celebration began with Mass in his home parish of Sacred Heart, concelebrated with Bishop David Fellhauer, the Dallas priest who succeeded him as Bishop of Victoria in April 1990. Excerpts taken from The Texas Catholic and compiled by Steve Landregan, diocesan historian and former editor of The Texas Catholic. Landregan can be reached by email at slandregan@cathdal.org.
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decreased over the past nine years, it said. However, with the exception of Oceania, the number of baptized Catholics has grown faster than the general population growth on
every continent. “The African continent remains without a doubt the one with the highest growth,” the report said; the number of Catholics in Africa increased by 41 percent, while the number of Catholics in Asia grew by 20 percent. The percentage of baptized Catholics as part of the general population remains highest in North and South America where they “make up almost half” of the world’s Catholics, it said. The number of bishops of the world continued to increase, reaching 5,237 worldwide compared to 4,841 a year earlier. The total number of priests — diocesan and religious order — around the world was 415,792, which the report said was statistically “stable.” There was a steady increase of diocesan priests in Africa, Asia and Central and South America, while numbers in North America, Europe and Oceania continued to decrease. The number of permanent deacons reported — 44,566 — was an increase of more than
1,000 over the previous year. The number of religious brothers was down slightly, going from a total of 55,253 at the end of 2013 to a total of 54,559 at the end of 2014. The number of women in religious orders continued to decrease, dropping by 10,846 in 2014.The biggest decreases were seen in North and South America, Europe and Oceania while numbers in Africa and Asia continue to rise. The number of candidates for the priesthood — both diocesan seminarians and members of religious orders — who had reached the level of philosophy and theology studies showed a slight downturn. The number of candidates fell to 116,939 men at the end of 2014 compared to 118,251 men at the end of 2013. The variation in the number of men training to become priests varies by continent, the report said. There is an “evident decline” in the numbers from Europe and North America, while “Africa and Asia show great vitality,” it said.
14 The Texas Catholic
DIOCESE / NATION DIOCESE
March 18, 2016
EDUCATION
Report: U.S. Catholic schools not doing enough for Latino Catholics By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON — Catholic schools in the United States are falling short in serving the growing number of Latino Catholics, according to a new report released March 7. The Boston College report, “Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church,” looks at the disparity between the number of school-age children who are Hispanic — 12.4 million — and the number of these students enrolled in Catholic schools — 296,203 or 2.3 percent. Of the total 12.4 million Hispanic students, about 8 million are Catholic. “The numbers are without a doubt sobering,” the report says, pointing out that even with stronger efforts by Catholic leaders and school communities to recruit Hispanic students, “the total enrollment of Hispanic children in Catholic schools remains almost stagnant.” The report also notes that the growing number of Latino Catholic school-age children in the U.S., especially in the past two decades, has “coincided with considerable challenges to the Catholic school educational system and a decline
in its resources.” It points out that 50 years ago, there were more than 13,000 Catholic elementary schools, compared to 6,568 in 2015.
Dallas opportunities
Matthew Vereecke, superintendent of Dallas Catholic schools, agreed with the report’s findings, but pointed to specific “rays of hope” within the Diocese of Dallas that have been identified as fundamental opportunities to transform schools. “There are currently two schools that are doing outstanding outreach to the Latino / Hispanic community: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy,” Vereecke said. “They are not the only ones making inroads specifically within this community, but they are two success stories which are seeing significant enrollment growth and progress.” Vereecke noted that OLPH, in particular, is showing its value to the community. “They have a public school right across the street and yet still see new students every year,” he said. “Meanwhile, Santa Clara offers a bilingual education, and that, too, is attracting a number of families.” From a diocesan level, Vereecke
Texas Catholic Archive Photo
Students Lucas Alexander, left, and America Juárez hold their hands together during prayer at the beginning of the school day at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in August 2014 .
said there are approximately 55,000 students in faith formation, many of them of Latino/Hispanic backgrounds. “It is a priority to make sure that the programs we offer from an education perspective – and not just within the traditional Catholic school – are meeting their needs,”
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Vereecke said. “The ministry department and the Catholic Schools Office will continue to work closely together to ensure that college readiness programs, etc., can exist in both formats and help us reach students regardless of their location from 8 to 3.” Vereecke also pointed to the hiring of Veronica Alonzo, a new associate superintendent directly responsible for Latino/Hispanic ministry, recruitment and retention, as a positive factor in the diocese’s efforts to accommodate all students. “We firmly believe that we have an ethical and moral responsibility to help all students get access to a Catholic education, and that we need to do more to make families feel welcomed and cared for within the schools that we have now,” Vereecke said.
New approach needed
The 56-page report conducted by researchers from Boston College’s Roche Center for Catholic Education and its School of Theology and Ministry, unpacks findings from the college’s 2014 study, “National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry,” conducted with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. It also includes survey results from principals at 656 Catholic schools out of the 1,488 identified as serving Hispanic families in the United States. The survey findings indicate a fair amount of work needs to be done, but also that “there is no magic bullet.” The report emphasizes the need for a “renewed approach” that will “engage as many voices and perspectives as possible” when looking at finances, personnel, curriculum, enrollment, facilities or governance of Catholic schools. The data the researchers collected from school principals provides a somewhat telling snapshot of U.S. Catholic schools: n Fourteen percent of Catholic school leaders and 12 percent of teachers self-identify as Hispanic,
while 17 percent of school leaders reported they speak Spanish. n Only 17 percent of the schools have recruitment strategies to hire bilingual teachers. n Approximately 23 percent of school leaders received training about Hispanic culture, but only 17 percent received training about Hispanic ministry and theology. n About 200 schools did not have any Hispanic board members and the 68 percent that did had only two Latinos or fewer as school board members. n At the diocesan level, Catholic schools administrative offices and offices focused on Hispanic ministry interact rarely or infrequently. The disparities amount to missed opportunities in mission and ministry for Catholic schools and the church, according to the researchers. “The response to the growing Hispanic presence in the church in the United States, particularly Hispanic children and youth,” the report says, “must be the result of a concerted, collaborative effort among all its units -- no exception. If we fail to do this, the entire church body suffers.” The report credits many schools for increased efforts to be welcoming to Hispanic students and families, but it also notes that “unknowingly, some Catholic schools exhibit what has been described as a ‘chilly climate’ when hosting Hispanic families.” In part, this could be from not fully embracing Latino culture because the schools surveyed revealed that 21 percent used Spanish and English for prominent signs and about 35 percent had students say school prayers in Spanish and English. A majority of the responding schools reported providing needbased financial aid to approximately half of their Hispanic students. For one in five of these students, that assistance covers at least 50 percent of their tuition. But the study also showed that a lack of family finances or school revenues “has not deterred healthy Hispanic enrollments in many schools. Rather, low Hispanic enrollment might be more related to school cultures attached to embedded practices of exclusivity, coupled with the absence of strong stewardship practices.” The report used the word Hispanic throughout, pointing out in the notes that it is a “stylistic preference, keeping with official use by government agencies, church documents and traditional pastoral practice.” In September, the Boston College researchers will hold the first National Summit on Catholic Schools and Hispanic Families to examine challenges raised by the research and develop strategies for Catholic schools to engage a demographic seen as critical to the church. Texas Catholic managing editor Michael Gresham contributed to this story.
NATION DIOCESE
The Texas Catholic
March 18, 2016
15
SCOTUS
Ryan: Pro-lifers want court to uphold ‘common-sense law’ By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The pro-life rally in front of the Supreme Court March 2 was under siege. It was outnumbered and at times shouted down by thousands of opponents, but it had something the others did not: House Speaker Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin Republican, a Catholic who has been a longtime supporter of the pro-life movement, is now the highest-ranking politician to speak at a rally outside the Supreme Court as the justices heard oral arguments. He emerged from the front door of the court building flanked by U.S. Capitol Police officers, and spoke for just a minute before heading back inside. “We are the pro-life generation,” he said to cheers. “We are here to stand up for the rule of law. We are here to defend Texas. We do not want the Supreme Court to overturn a very common-sense law.” Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the
Catholic News Service
A person holds up the American flag in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington March 2.
first major abortion case before the court in nine years, deals with a challenge to a 2013 Texas law imposing new restrictions on abortion clinics. Provisions would require clinics to meet the same physical and professional
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requirements as a surgical center, and require doctors to have admitting privileges at a fullscale hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. The solid wall of noise on the sidewalk had Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, screaming and gesturing broadly as she pointed toward the competing demonstration: “They don’t care if women die, because they’re losing the hearts and minds of women in our country when it comes to abortion! Today, we’re winning!” All the other politicians who spoke are Republicans. “They are greedy!” U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, said of abortion clinics. “It’s not about the woman, it’s not about the child. It’s about making huge profits! They are greedy!” “I am blessed to have a mother who believed in life,” said U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska. “Our family is in prayer for what you do.” Pro-life activities on the sidewalk began the previous evening with an all-night prayer vigil. The rally itself, organized by Students for Life, the Christian Defense Coalition and
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Americans United for Life, had only about 200 in attendance. A coalition of groups supporting Planned Parenthood and the court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in 1973, had a few thousand, many of whom were bused in. That rally began before 8 a.m. local time while the pro-life rally began at 10 a.m. Both dispersed shortly after noon when the oral arguments concluded. The supporters of keeping abortion legal flanked the pro-life rally on all sides, occasionally bursting into chants of “Stop the sham!” “We basically expected that we’d have to shout over each other,” said Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. “This happened two years ago during the oral arguments for the Hobby Lobby case, too.” As for the imbalance in numbers, “we don’t have the funds to bus people in,” said Kristina Hernandez, the publicist for Students for Life. She compared the two crowds to “spiritual warfare. The other side is pushing in all the time.”
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16 The Texas Catholic
SPORTS DIOCESE
March 18, 2016
Jesuit senior overcomes tragedy to become
a story of faith and inspiration By Cathy Harasta The Texas Catholic
L
iam Finn tossed an arm around Mabeth Diaz’s shoulders as the senior soccer players took the field for one of their last regularseason games as Jesuit College Preparatory School students. They matched strides, their smiles mirroring one another as Finn, a forward, and Diaz, an attacking midfielder, prepared for pregame warm-ups. In the rapid flux of racing legs, it was hard to detect much difference between Diaz and his teammates on Jesuit’s Senior Night at Postell Stadium on March 1. And it was difficult to tell, for anyone who didn’t know, that Diaz had a prosthetic right leg below the knee. Diaz, 17, suffered an injury to his right leg in an all-terrain vehicle accident in July 2010. The accident resulted in the amputation of the leg below the knee, after Diaz had undergone months of surgeries and treatments in an attempt to save his leg. But regaining athletic skills represented just one facet of the faith and resolve that he demonstrated to his family, friends, teammates and teachers, they said.
Earning respect
Diaz, who started the game, scrambled with the best of them, went after the ball and played with intensity as the Rangers beat Irving Nimitz, 2-0. Other than the No. 12 on his jersey, Diaz’s uniform differed from those of his teammates only in that he wore a “shrinker”—a supportive elastic stocking—under his socks and shin guards. “He’s earned his spot on the field by being a good player,” said Jesuit head soccer coach Charlie DeLong, who is in his 36th year as the Rangers’ coach and led the team to the 2010 University Interscholastic League Class 5A state championship. “He gets regular playing time. He embraces his experience and passes it on to other kids. Mabeth has an engaging personality, leadership qualities and he’s an inspiration. “He just got on with life, saying, ‘I’m normal.’ The kids are impressed by that.” Jesuit, with a record of 14-2-4 and undefeated in UIL District 9-6A as of March 14, is playoffbound—continuing the Rangers’ streak of having made the playoffs every year since Jesuit became a UIL school in 2003. Playing on such a distinguished varsity gives him great joy, Diaz said. But his story transcends the pitch and parlance of soccer,
BEN TORRES/Special Contributor
Senior Mabeth Diaz on March 14 at Jesuit College Preparatory School. Diaz, who suffered an injury that led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee in 2010, plays midfielder for Jesuit’s varsity soccer team.
Video coverage | Find additional photos and video coverage of Mabeth Diaz’s story online at TexasCatholic.com. because his faith and his family strengthen him off the field.
Finding inspiration
One of the biggest lifts of his life occurs when he spends time with his brother Nathaniel, 22, who has Down syndrome. Diaz’s expression went from pleasant and studious to pure elation when Nathaniel took his spot on the sideline by his parents before the Senior Night pre-game ceremonies. “Nathaniel always brings a smile,” Diaz said. “He just cracks me up. He’s inspiring, just by being himself.” A fleeting look of alarm crossed Diaz’s face as he recalled going to pick up Nathaniel at the restaurant where he works as part of the Notre Dame School of Dallas’ vocation program for students and young people with developmental challenges. “I couldn’t find him,” Diaz said. “But then there he was with the other employees in a break room, laughing and talking with them, and having a soda.” Diaz smiled then, at the thought of Nathaniel with his co-workers, and at how much it meant to belong, to be accepted and valued. Their father, John, said that Nathaniel and youngest son Dorian, 8, will profoundly miss their brother when Diaz leaves Dallas in the fall for Creighton University, a Jesuit college in
Nebraska. Diaz plans to become a doctor. “He is everything—like a hero—for his brothers,” John said. “He does a lot for them and with them. His brothers want to be like him. When Mabeth goes to college, it’s going to be hard for the kids.” John said that Diaz heartened the family with his courage following the ATV accident. “He handled it in a strong way,” John said. “He was fighting and fighting to save his leg as the doctors tried to save it. When they said it had to be amputated, he said, ‘Dad, I’m ready. God is up there. He knows why this happened.’ “Mabeth is a very positive kid with a good attitude to move forward in life.” St. Monica Catholic School, where Diaz was a student, and St. Monica Catholic Church parishioners raised money to help with his medical expenses and tutored him in his school subjects. The community prayed the rosary for his recovery, which Diaz said remains an unforgettable gesture of faith and generosity.
older brother’s situation and what happened to Mabeth’s leg, he’s wise beyond his years. He never complains, no matter what.” Segal said that Diaz embodies volunteerism, citing examples including his work to help single, expectant mothers who were spending their pregnancy at a shelter. “He helped them with things that required physical labor— building baby beds and working on the grounds,” she said. “He was eager to help and hear the women as they talked to us about their circumstances. He’s so
compassionate and caring. I think he’ll make an excellent doctor.” Diaz said that he grew interested in studying medicine while he was recovering from the ATV accident. “It feels incredibly long ago,” he said. “Through soccer, I’ve been able to adapt to my prosthesis really well. At first, it was quite a shock for everyone for me to be out there. In my freshman year, I could see the look of confusion on opponents’ faces. People wondered if it was a knee brace or a prosthesis. “By my sophomore year, they said, ‘We have so much respect for you.’ ” He said that he experiences some soreness after some games, but nothing more than any athlete might expect to feel. Jesuit senior Adam Garcia, Diaz’s soccer teammate and a close friend since both were students at St. Monica, said that Diaz never contemplated failure in any context. “He’s very disciplined and hard-working, on and off the field,” Garcia said. “He’s also a really great guy who shows no negativity. I remember during a practice when we were freshmen, and he was running toward the ball when his leg fell off. For a second or so, no one knew what to do. Then Mabeth started laughing, and then when he was laughing, everyone started laughing along with him. Everyone is supportive.” Diaz said that he will miss Jesuit, but feels that it prepared him well to pursue his goals. “I’ve loved every single moment at Jesuit,” Diaz said. “It’s been such a gift. Every moment has been a blessing. It’s going to hurt to say goodbye to these years. But it’s time for a new chapter.” charasta@cathdal.org
Unwavering faith
Diaz’s generosity deeply impressed Jesuit history teacher Katie Segal. “The thing that I appreciate is that Mabeth has an unwavering commitment to social justice,” she said. “He’s always looking for ways to help others. Given his
JENNA TETER/The Texas Catholic
Mabeth Diaz, right, a senior at Jesuit College Preparatory School, plays against Irving Nimitz in the soccer team’s final regular-season home game at Postell Stadium on March 1.