Texas Catholic Herald - March 12, 2024

GIDDYUP! Parishes, schools mark Go Texan Day in trailrider style

▪ SEE PAGE 6

▪

MEET SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE Upcoming relic tour brings St. Jude to Houston

▪ SEE PAGE 9

Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964

‘CHOSEN IN CHRIST’

Stellar speaker line up joins Cardinal DiNardo in Indianapolis

NEC Archdiocesan pilgrimage registrations open through March 14

HOUSTON — As the multi-year National Eucharistic Revival inches closer to its milestone moment within the movement, the Archdiocese recently confirmed that Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of GalvestonHouston, will be amongst a star-studded line up of speakers at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress (NEC), the five-day event to be held in Indianapolis July 17 to 21, 2024.

The format for this summer’s National

See CONGRESS, page 10 MINISTRY

Kashmere Gardens community, churches protest another polluting company

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — With a dozen industrial companies already surrounding Kashmere Gardens, residents and medical staff of nearby Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital say they have enough air pollution and are protesting a proposed concrete crusher.

The historically African-American neighborhood inside Houston’s northern 610 Loop has held townhall meetings and protests since last year to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). But its Director approved a permit this past January for Texas Coastal Materials to build a concrete and

Looking towards Holy Week

BY DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

The days of Lent and Holy Week tend to arrive and beckon to us while we are in the midst of many other preoccupations, duties and amusements — from matters of work, business and family — to diversions and entertainments in sports or music. In fact, these very days of focus and concentration may appear as distractions and intrusions on our daily life.

Holy Week, in particular, does intrude on our ordinary existence. It is meant to do that. It wants to interrupt us. Business as usual ceases.

The days of Holy Week cause us to step back, think and contemplate, celebrate liturgically and in moments of personal devotion, sing and pray

in unison with the whole Church and realize that CHRIST IS THE CENTER.

We celebrate the life-giving days of His Passion, death, burial and Resurrection. But these days — these events — are not in the past tense, even though certain historical circumstances surrounding them are past. Christ is risen now, and the yearly observance of His final earthly days, His entrance into Jerusalem, final conflict with His known and unknown enemies, His contest with Satan in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest, death and burial, and His Resurrection on the third day, all point to something contemporaneous with each of us: His mysterious loving presence and His guiding us to the Father.

In Holy Week, we do not deal with a series of memorial services for a “nice”

CHRISM MASS

Annual celebration set for March 26 at the Co-Cathedral

▪ SEE PAGE 2

dead man but an encounter with the Living God. None of this is trifling!

On Passion (Palm) Sunday this year, after the initial blessing and procession with palms, we listen to the Passion narrative according to St. Mark. This Passion story is truly stark and dark. St. Mark is perhaps the most uncompromising in showing Jesus’ gradual abandonment by all, especially the loss of His Apostles who fled.

St. Mark also remembers that immediately at Jesus’ death, the veil

See MESSAGE, page 2

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, reads the names in a Book of the Elect during the Rite of Election at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston Feb. 18. At least 2,364 people from 108 parishes set to join or enter into full communion with the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese. SEE RELATED STORY ON PAGE 4.

El Cardenal Daniel DiNardo comparte su columna en línea en español. Visite www.archgh.org para leer su artículo en línea.

A Shepherd’s Message

By Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

MESSAGE, from page 1

of the temple is torn in two as if to comment that the presence of God is no longer to be found in the Holy of Holies, which enshrined the law, but in the broken body of the Father’s Crucified Son. A pagan centurion (what an irony) is the first to express belief: “Surely this was the Son of God.”

On Good Friday, the Passion narrative of the Gospel of St. John is proclaimed. Though the major details agree with St. Mark, the overall attitude is one of serene confidence and final glory as the Son of Man “is lifted up” on the Cross where He can then draw all to Himself.

Especially noteworthy are the scenes before Pilate where the chameleon governor seems Himself to be on trial. The Veneration of the Cross that follows this account is thus not only a making real of Christ’s

sufferings and death but a genuine homage to a victorious King who reigns from the wood of the Cross.

In between Sunday and Friday, the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday is a quiet moment of intensity where the Gospel of the Washing of the Feet and the new Commandment to love one another is enacted in the rite of the washing of the feet, with a collection taken for the needs of the poor. Jesus Christ is the new Paschal Lamb. His new Passover is renewed at each Mass and is poignantly recalled on Holy Thursday.

The Easter Vigil is celebrated on the night of Saturday and already anticipates Christ’s resurrection in the Rite of the Blessing of the New Fire, the procession with the Paschal candle, and the beautiful text of the Exultet, which cries out that Adam’s sin is a happy fault that gained for us so great a Redeemer. The Vigil Readings, which

extensively teach us about Creation, Exodus, Prophet’s waiting, warning and anticipation, St. Paul’s exhortation to be raised up with Christ, and the first Resurrection Gospel, is a liturgical Catechism in miniature.

The initiation of new members by Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist makes real the reason for the Easter Glory of Christ — to spread that glory throughout the world by those who are always being converted to witness Christ in His Church.

Holy Week may seem to be an interruption, a time to be ignored. Yet, if we enter into it with even a modicum of attention, we experience a hot molten core of brightness. Such matters strengthen our faith. †

Archdiocesan Chrism Mass set for March 26

HOUSTON — Every year during Holy Week, the faithful of the Archdiocese are invited to gather with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo for the celebration of the Chrism Mass — one of the most solemn and significant events of the liturgical year.

Catholics across the Archdiocese are invited to attend the annual Mass, which will be held on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston.

Cardinal DiNardo will be the principal celebrant for the Chrism Mass, during which the priests of the Archdiocese will renew their vows and commitment to the priesthood. As part of the Church’s preparation for Easter, the sacred oils are blessed and consecrated for the celebration of the Sacraments throughout the upcoming year. At the end of Mass, the oils will be presented to and received by all parishes of the Archdiocese.

These holy oils — the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the holy Chrism — are used in the Sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.

The Mass will also be livestreamed online at www.archgh. org/live. †

Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480)

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

EDITORIAL

tch@archgh.org • archgh.org/tch 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444

CIRCULATION

tdieli@archgh.org • 713-652-4444

ADVERTISING

ads@archgh.org • 713-652-4407

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

Archbishop, President & Publisher

Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor

Rebecca Torrellas

Managing Editor

James Ramos

Designer & Photo-Journalist

Catherine Viola Advertising Manager

Kerry McGuire and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors

An award-winning member of The Catholic Media Association

You make the ministry of our future Priests possible.

Nearly

To

The Texas Catholic Herald is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, with one issue in June, July and August, by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX and other distribution points.

Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001

Subscription rate: $15 per year; $20 outside Texas; $35 out of U.S.

TCH publishing schedule

Issue date: March 26

Deadline: Noon on March 5

Issue date: April 9

Deadline: Noon on March 19

Editorial deadlines are no later than Tuesday at noon, 21 days prior to the issue date.

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo prays over the holy Chrism prepared and consecrated at a Chrism Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. The next Chrism Mass is set for March 26 and will be livestreamed online.

THE FIRST WORD

A Lenten Culinary Tour: Meatless meals from around the globe

We’re excited to continue this series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season. This week, the Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program highlights a popular dish from Indonesia, a southeast Asian country home to 279 million people, the fourth largest nation in the world.

Sayur Asem is a traditional Indonesian sour soup known for its sweet and sour flavor. Sayur means vegetables, and asem refers to tamarind, which is the key ingredient that gives the dish its distinctive tangy taste. The dish is typically served with steamed rice. As we abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat — about $3 per person per meal — to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world.

For more information and other free recipes, including videos, visit www.crsricebowl.org/recipe. †

Sayur Asem - Sweet & Sour Vegetable Soup

45 MINUTES

4 - 5 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups water

• 1 vegetable bouillon cube

• 2 shallots, sliced

• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

• 1 red chili pepper, seeded and diced

LENT FOR LIFE FOR

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 chayote squash or zucchini, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup frozen green beans

• 1/2 cup frozen corn

This Lent, commit to our global human family through daily prayer , weekly fasting and almsgiving . Order your CRS Rice Bowls today.

• 1 cup fresh spinach

• 1 teaspoon tamarind paste or lemon juice

A STORY OF HOPE FROM INDONESIA

METHOD

In a large pot over medium-high heat, add water and vegetable bouillon.

In a food processor, blend shallots, garlic, ginger, chili pepper, salt and 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts.

Add mixture to the pot of water, along with the brown sugar and remaining peanuts. Stir to combine and cook for 15 minutes.

Add the chayote or zucchini, green beans, corn and spinach. Increase heat to high and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tamarind or lemon juice before serving.

BRIEFS

Bishop Rizzotto Golf Classic set for March 20 at Wildcat Golf Club

HOUSTON — The 20th Annual Bishop Rizzotto Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports the retired priests, religious and elders of St. Dominic Village, is set for Wednesday, March 20. Registration is at 11 a.m. The tournament is at the Wildcat Golf Club, 12000 Almeda Rd., in Houston. All proceeds directly benefit the residents of St. Dominic Village. Price per player is $300.

To register to play or sponsor-a-priest, visit www. stdominicvillage.org. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kimberly Elliott at 713-741-8722 or email kelliott@stdominicvillage.org. †

Tickets now on sale for annual priests vs. seminarians basketball game

HOUSTON — The seventh annual Priests vs. Seminarians Basketball Game is set for 7 p.m. on April 19 at Rice University-Tudor Fieldhouse, located at 6100 Main St. in Houston near the Texas Medical Center.

The seminarians’ Saints will face off against the priests’ Martyrs. Tickets range from $4 to $95, with all proceeds going to the seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary. Tickets are limited, and the event is expected to sell out. To purchase, visit www.houstonvocations.com/ events. †

Magnify is set for April 13

Located in Southeast Asia between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Indonesia has beautiful beaches, diverse cultures and nearly 280 million people — the fourth highest population in the world.

Many of the country’s more than 17,000 islands are in the Ring of Fire, a region around the rim of the Pacific Ocean where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common. Climate-related disasters such as cyclones also threaten the islands and are becoming more frequent and destructive.

Strong rains and wind from these storms — combined with long periods without rain, called drought — make it difficult for people like Evita Tiro Wada to grow food. Evita and her family live on Flores Island, where she keeps a home garden for food and income.

To help her family and community become more resilient against natural disasters and have more reliable access to food, Evita participated in a Catholic Relief Services’ program, through which she joined a disaster preparedness group.

The group helps their community stay safe during emergencies like cyclones and earthquakes. They created a system to warn people to evacuate and identified evacuation routes, assembly points and resources they can use during a crisis.

The group also maintains a community garden. They grow vegetables like beans, eggplant and water spinach to provide healthy food for their families. They use a drip irrigation system that conserves water so the vegetables can grow even during a drought. Evita and her group members use the garden to teach people from other communities how to start their own.

To protect their garden from the wind and prevent erosion from the ocean waves, Evita and her group planted trees. They also cleaned up the river and other areas in their town by picking up trash, which helped prevent flooding.

Evita says, “When I first joined the village disaster preparedness group, I thought, ‘What will I do or give to help the community?’ After I’ve been involved, I see the benefits of what the community and I did.” †

Save some trees and get the Texas Catholic Herald sent straight to your inbox with The Digest, our free email newsletter. For free features, exclusive content and more, sign up at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCHDIGEST. Want

HOUSTON — Magnify, formerly known as the Archdiocesan Young Adult Day, is set for Saturday, April 13, from noon to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Seminary, located at 9845 Memorial Dr. in Houston. The event features a keynote speaker, workshops, Mass and time for social activities.

The bilingual event’s theme is “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15-16). Early Bird registration is $40 until March 18, then $50 until April 12. At the door, registration is $60.

For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/magnify. †

Embracing Faith: Lenten guidelines

Lent continues through Good Friday, March 29, which is a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.

According to the U.S. bishops, fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Through works of fasting, prayer and abstinence, we heed the Prophet Joel’s exhortation to “return to God with our whole heart” (2:12). Lent is a penitential season and practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of charity and justice and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged. For more resources, including prayer guides, videos and links to stories, visit www.archgh.org/lent.

CRS PHOTO

Evita Tiro Wada, a farmer and member of her community’s Village Disaster Preparedness Group in Indonesia, has learned everything from improved farming techniques to how to better respond to natural disasters.

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — A couple gazed at each other, holding hands, as they stood as two of the 2,364 registered candidates and catechumens of the Archdiocese who were announced during four Rite of Election celebrations on Feb. 18 held around the Archdiocese.

Moments later, still holding hands, the couple beamed following the verbal and visible sign of their commitment to enter fully into the Catholic Church as a candidate or catechumen, thus reaching the final stretch of their journey to Easter and joining the Catholic Church.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, celebrated the Rite of Election for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church at Easter. The 2024 total is an increase over last year’s 1,820 and the first time the local Archdiocese has welcomed more than 2,000 since 2019.

After the catechumens publicly affirmed their intention to join the Church, the bishops, on behalf of the Church, accept or “elect” them as being ready to take part in the Sacraments of Initiation.

In the pews of the crowded churches were parents holding babies, teenagers, young adults, college students, grandparents and adults, each recognizing their next step on their journey to the Church. They came from 108 parishes around the Archdiocese, with more than 1,000 youth among them.

Slowly, catechist leaders from dozens of parishes lined up in front of the church altars, holding open their Book of the Elect containing the names of those from their parishes.

Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro viewed these names, with Cardinal DiNardo thumbing through the pages, complimenting and encouraging the catechists on their efforts to lead the faithful at their parishes.

Traditionally held on the first Sunday of Lent, the Rites were celebrated at St. Ignatius Church in Spring, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in northwest Houston, St. Maximilian Kolbe in Houston and Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood.

Catechumens are those who will receive Baptism, first holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter vigil, while candidates are those who have already been baptized and will receive one or both of the other two Sacraments of Initiation.

At the four parishes, during the Rite of Election, the catechumens are presented with their godparents to the bishops and the faith community. The faithful taking this next step in their journey represented a cross-section of the Archdiocese, diverse in age, race, ethnicity and background, with many families and young people alike standing as their names were called.

After the rites, both Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro signed pages upon pages of Books of the Elect, recognizing the names and journeys of the candidates and catechumens.

Also celebrated was the Call to Continuing Conversion, which presents the candidates, or those who were already baptized in other Christian traditions recognized by the Catholic Church, who desire to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Following the Rite of Election, the catechumens, now known as “the elect,” begin a period of purification and enlightenment, which is the final, intense preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter Vigil.

During Easter Vigil Masses on Saturday, March 30, at least 2,364 people from parishes across the Archdiocese will enter into the Catholic Church. †

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD Daniel Cardinal DiNardo reads names in a Book of the Elect during the Rite of Election at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Houston Feb. 18. Four Rites of Election were held around

registered

The ‘people of God’ should live, thrive in environment ‘that promotes the common good,’ leaders say

KASHMERE,

rock crusher across the street mere yards away from the busy public hospital.

Now residents, state representatives and Church leaders hope a letter-writing campaign gathering thousands of signatures to Gov. Greg Abbott will help him to overturn the Standard Air Quality Permit 173296 given to the company.

Father Martin Eke, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in that neighborhood, said, “The company tells us it will not be a problem. But my parishioners and I live here in the community. The crushed gravel with its particulates will only add to the air pollution here.”

Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, Archdiocesan director of Social Concerns, who has joined the community protests, said, “I think the letter writing is important not because the governor may or may not read them, but because it provides citizens the data regarding the lack of investment of our state leadership in local issues.”

She added, “The letters reflect the commitment of the people of God and their desire to live and thrive in an environment that promotes the common good.”

O’Connell said the TCEQ admitted to not reviewing that neighborhood’s air quality standards since 2008.

The Metropolitan Organization (TMO),

a nonprofit that works with communities and churches, is spearheading the call to action for the letter-writing campaign at www.tmohouston.org.

“TMO will collect all letters by April 1,” its website stated. “We only have until April 8 to change the decision” because of the appeals process.

Pastor Charles Turner of New Pleasant Grove Baptist and Pastor Tracy Philips

of New Hope Baptist Church, along with State Senator Borris Miles and State Representative Harold Dutton, have also spoken publicly against the concrete and rock crusher to be developed next to the hospital.

After voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion long-term bond issue last year, there were plans to expand the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital to a needed

Level I trauma center, the third in the county and its first outside of the Texas Medical Center, according to Harris Health System.

Currently, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital is the state’s busiest Level 3 trauma center, serving more than 80,000 emergency patients annually. State law also prohibits a crusher from being located within 440 yards of a school or place of worship.

The hospital, which contains both a school and a working chapel that holds regular services, is within 440 yards of the proposed crusher. The TCEQ director, in approving the permit, did not address how the development would violate the issue of the nearby school and church inside the hospital.

St. Francis parishioner and TMO member Sherry Dunlap said, “I think this is a horrible decision by the TCEQ, and it needs to be reversed. This is a lower socio-economic minority neighborhood, and companies feel like they can dump on the poor people, putting their lives even more at risk with noise and air pollution.”

“I love St. Francis,” said the retired principal from Spring Independent School District. “The state would not allow this plant in River Oaks.”

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee has stated his office would take legal action after the state agency approved the permit. †

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION Archdiocesan director of Social Concerns, Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, speaks during a podium protests at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston with other Church and community leaders, including Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, as the TCEQ in January permitted Texas Coastal Materials to build a proposed concrete crusher mere yards from the busy Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital public hospital and Kashmere Gardens. The leaders joined in urging the public to join in a letter-writing campaign to the governor to reverse the decision to allow yet another polluting development in the neighborhood already besieged by a dozen industries.

from page 1

HOUSTON — With a loud and raucous “HOWDY!” St. Jerome Catholic School students greeted the Salt Grass Trail Ride as the Texas heritage group made their 105-mile-long trek from Cat Spring to Houston for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Wearing cowboy hats, boots and fringe galore to mark Feb. 23 as Go Texan Day, the students stomped and hollered when the trail riders cheered in reply.

A hat tip to Texas history, the annual region-wide Go Texan Day celebration rallies communities across the region to celebrate Texas heritage and signals the beginning of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Young cowboys gave friendly hat tips to the women riding in the group, each earning a genial smile and happy wave. The school children also cheered for a group of youngsters who were new additions to the trail ride and its 145-plus participants and 22 wagons, eager to see someone their age sitting atop a horse.

A LONG HISTORY

Each year, several of the 11 official trail rides stop by a Catholic school or parish, echoing the roots of the Catholic Church in Texas, with its missionary priests on horseback.

Priests in the Archdiocese were saddled up to serve the faithful long before the trail rides began making their way to Houston. Missionary priests traveled by horse to minister to rural towns throughout southeast Texas, according to Archdiocesan history.

For years, the Salt Grass Trail Ride has passed generations of St. Jerome students, each year an iconic memory for many youngsters. On Go Texan Day, the students line Kempwood Drive and wait for the familiar clop-clop-clop sound of horse hooves.

Also on Go Texan Day, St. Ambrose Parish and School in Houston also welcomed a Western celebration when the Montgomery-based Sam Houston Trail Riders visited the northwest Houston school. The same group also camps

overnight the night before at Regina Caeli Parish, where Father Charles Van Vliet, FSSP; Father William Rock, FSSP; and Father Daniel Alloy, FSSP, welcomed the group.

The 63-year-old Texas Independence Trail Ride, which travels 75 miles from Hitchcock to Houston, brought its 14 wagons to the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston’s East End also on Go Texan Day, Feb. 23. Father Juan Pablo Orozco, CC, parochial vicar at the Charismatic Center, greeted the trail riders as they pulled into the parish. Earlier in their trail ride, the group passed St. Bernadette Parish and School on Feb. 20.

A GRAND EVENT

Throughout the rest of the rodeo, which continues until March 17, Catholic school students and parochial members are participating in the region’s largest event and the world’s largest livestock show and rodeo.

Some are showing livestock like chickens, cows and rabbits, others are attending with school or parish groups, and some braver (and helmeted) students are tackling the white-knuckled, pint-sized rodeo of the mutton-bustin’ tradition, where five- or six-year-old kids grab tight onto sprinting sheep.

Students of all ages seeking a less thrilling ride but with no less talent are also entered the art show, with entries (think charcoal, paint, sculpture and more) as diverse as the city itself. †

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD Students at St. Jerome Catholic School in Houston watch as the Salt Grass Trail Riders ride past the northwest Houston school on Go Texan Day, Feb. 23. The trail riders greeted the school and parish before heading to Memorial Park and are among the several trail rides that visit, stop or stay at parishes and schools in the Archdiocese. For more photos, visit

Cardinal DiNardo among seven U.S. cardinals pledging to help heal Ukraine’s wounds of war with new fund

HOUSTON (OSV News) — With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entering its third year, seven U.S. cardinals have become patrons of a new effort to heal the suffering of Ukraine’s people due to Russian aggression.

On Feb. 20, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S. announced that their Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund has been restructured as the “Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund.”

The fund is aimed at “healing physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds inflicted by the criminal Russian invasion,” said the four bishops, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky of the Eparchy of Stamford, Connecticut; Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk of the Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago; and Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio — in a report accompanying the announcement.

In the report, the U.S. Ukrainian bishops said they were “especially … grateful to the seven Cardinals of the Catholic Church in the U.S. — Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Blase Cardinal Cupich of Chicago, Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York, Wilton Cardinal Gregory of Washington, Robert Cardinal McElroy of San Diego, Sean Cardinal O’Malley of Boston, and Joseph Cardinal Tobin of Newark — who have graciously agreed to serve as patrons” of the new fund.

The Metropolia fund, representing the four eparchies of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S., was established in January 2022 as Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders signaled an invasion.

All contributions to the fund — which totaled more than $7.5 million from some 6,400 donors, with $7.2 million so far distributed — were dedicated to humanitarian projects operated by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) or by trusted nonprofits partnering with the UGCC.

Donations were applied to five focus areas of support: Internally displaced persons and refugees (now totaling 3.7 million and 6.5 million, respectively,

OSV NEWS PHOTO

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Sean Cardinal O’Malley of Boston, Robert Cardinal McElroy of San Diego, and Wilton Cardinal Gregory of Washington are pictured in a combination photo. They are four of seven U.S. cardinals who have become patrons of the “Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund,” launched by the nation’s Ukrainian Catholic bishops Feb. 20, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year.

according to the United Nation’s Displacement Tracking Matrix and the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees); medication and first aid; Church ministry; emergency food assistance, and supply chain and logistics.

The aid provided by the fund included over 13,000 hemostatic bandages and gauze, 11,000 tourniquets, 200 traumatic head injury kits, three anesthesia machines, and the creation of a fully stocked operating room, as well as more than 27,000 food kits and the feeding of more than 100,000 individuals.

The fund had no administrative costs, as Archeparchy of Philadelphia staff and volunteers donated their time to processing contributions.

“Dear friends, you have walked alongside priests ministering near the frontlines and supported the network of parishes of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. … You brought comfort, compassion, and restored hope,” the bishops wrote in their report.

The new fund has already been seeded by major contributions from the Archdiocese of Boston and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which had donated $500,000 and $529,056, respectively, to a Long Term Aid Fund that was subordinate to the Metropolia Fund.

That $1,029,056, to be redirected to the Healing the Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund, will, along with new contributions, help provide urgently needed assistance in addressing the often unseen wounds of war.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the unlawful deportation and transfer of at least 19,546 children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

“The solidarity demonstrated by people of goodwill with the brave people of Ukraine, who are defending their freedom with courage and resilience, is a source of authentic hope that God’s truth will prevail,” said the U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishops in their report. †

Gabe

Paul J. Kim Comedian,

Steve Ray Catholic Convert, Author, Pilgrimage Leader

Holy Cross Chapel offers a ‘shelter in the storm’ of Downtown Houston’s business districts

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent

HOUSTON — For Catholics navigating the demands of daily life when working in downtown Houston or commuting into the city from the suburbs, Holy Cross Chapel offers a place of peace and prayer away from the busyness and routineness of life.

Within these sacred walls, people like Helen Drab Stigant and William “Bill” Phillips have found an oasis away from the demands of life outside the chapel.

Stigant, from St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland, learned about Holy Cross Chapel several years ago and decided to commute downtown for daily Mass. Seeking a break from routine and a sense of anonymity, she, although devoted to St. Helen’s, found solace in the chapel’s peaceful environment, a departure from the bustling Sunday Masses she was accustomed to.

“Sometimes, when you want quiet and stillness, the Holy Spirit talks loudly to you, and there is no other distraction,” Stigant said. “I have received many blessings and encouragement just by focusing on the Cross, saying my Rosary or reading my Scripture inside the chapel. It’s deepened my faith, similar to going to an oasis, to the water fountain, to go and have a deep drink.”

Stigant extends an invitation to those seeking a break from their daily routines to experience Holy Cross Chapel, which is located at 901 Main St., during the weekdays. She finds delight in browsing the unique items offered at the bookstore run by “Martha and Mary,” and she actively participates in the women’s book club sessions during Advent and Lent, cherishing the opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship.

The convenience and availability of the chapel’s daily Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation are also cherished, especially under the direction of Opus Dei’s Father Frank Vera, whom she has found to be a very compassionate confessor. At times, Stigant brings her circle of retired friends at St. Helen’s to join her to meet Father Vera and to attend what she calls a “simple” Catholic Mass.

“I had four people come with me one time to see what the chapel is all about, and they loved it,” Stigant said. “I’ve had

“We are all a work in progress, but attending daily Mass and other Holy Cross Chapel activities has strengthened my faith and given me hope.”

WILLIAM ‘BILL’ PHILLIPS

Holy

Cross Chapel attendee

several come back for confession. It’s just a shelter in the storm, a quiet moment in that big bustling town when you hear the buses and trains going back and forth — it’s just a peaceful place.”

She also admires the busy office workers who take time on their lunch breaks to attend daily Mass, sometimes serving as lectors or Eucharistic ministers, as well as other ministry activities, such as workshops and lectures.

One of the office workers who frequently visits Holy Cross Chapel is Phillips, a resident of Kingwood and a parishioner of St. Martha Catholic Church. Commuting to downtown

Houston for work five days a week for over a decade, Phillips, like Stigant, is a member of a large parish in the suburbs but has discovered something unique at the chapel during his workweek.

“Something about the chapel drew me in for daily Mass,” Phillips said. “I remember Father Michael Barrett, the chapel’s director at the time, saying something that has stayed with me to this day: If you attend daily Mass at least once a week in addition to Sunday Mass, ‘it will change your life.’”

While these words didn’t resonate with Phillips initially, he found himself attending Mass regularly on Wednesdays and meeting with fellow men from St. Martha’s after Mass. Over time, as Father Barrett had predicted, Phillips experienced gradual growth in his spiritual journey, developing a deeper relationship with the Lord and discovering a newfound hope in his life.

“Today, I look forward to daily Mass and cherish the opportunity to take a mid-day break with our Lord,” Phillips said. “We are all a work in progress, but attending daily Mass and other Holy Cross Chapel activities has strengthened my faith and given me hope.”

In 2013, when Father Jerry Jung replaced Father Barrett as the chapel’s director, Phillips embraced a new opportunity — spiritual direction, which ultimately became life-changing for him.

“I had no experience with spiritual direction, and it was both scary and refreshing to be able to speak with a priest and friend about issues going on in my life,” Phillips said.

Four years later, when Father Vera assumed the role of director at Holy Cross Chapel, Phillips found renewed inspiration and then maintained his spiritual direction with Father Vera, increasing their frequency over time.

“Father Frank has become a good friend, and our visits and his guidance have been very important to me,” Phillips said. “He is a very encouraging mentor, and he, like myself, is an industrial engineer! As such, we had a few discussions on how to fix the pews, which originally prevented one’s shoes from being able to go under the pew.”

Over the years, Phillips has connected

The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “We are the Lord’s.” DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.

DSF IN FOCUS

This new video series brings to life the ministry featured in this story. Hear from people personally impacted by God’s grace through these DSF ministries and from leaders themselves who remind others that, no matter what happens, “We are the Lord’s.”

with other men who attend daily Mass, many affiliated with Opus Dei. Embracing their philosophy of finding joy in serving the Lord through daily work, he’s deepened his understanding of faith and purpose. He regularly participates in two Opus Dei member-led programs, Circles and Recollection, which offer talks and discussions on the faith that challenge him spiritually.

“I’ve found these programs to be a continuing way for me to be with our Lord, surrounded by other Catholic men on a spiritual journey together,” said Phillips. The Holy Cross staff frequently enlist Phillips’ help for special Masses like Ash Wednesday and other Holy Days, where he serves as a Eucharistic minister. He regards Father Vera and his staff as a close-knit family, appreciating their regular support and the Masses they’ve arranged for his loved ones, including his late father in June 2023.

Father Vera invites those working or visiting downtown Houston to attend Mass at Holy Cross Chapel held each Monday to Friday at 11:35 a.m., as well as visit the chapel from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for walk-in confessions and spiritualdirection appointments. For more details, visit www.holycrosschapel.org.

To donate to the DSF’s annual appeal, which supports Holy Cross Chapel and 60-plus additional ministries, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports each of these ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries. †

PHOTO BY MARCUS NORWOOD/HERALD

Holy Cross Chapel, located at 905 Main St. in downtown Houston, gives the opportunity for busy Catholics working in downtown Houston to attend daily Mass and pray.

Meet the ‘Apostle of the Impossible’ at upcoming St. Jude relic tour March 15 to 19

HOUSTON (OSV News) — St. Jude may be best known in the United States for being the patron saint of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, a cancer treatment center founded by Lebanese-American entertainer Danny Thomas.

Thomas credited St. Jude — also well known among Catholics as the patron saint of hopeless causes and desperate situations — with reviving his career during a particularly low moment. He founded the hospital in gratitude.

Now more Catholics are going to learn about this faithful apostle, martyr and saint as his relic bone fragments from an arm believed to be his left Italy for the first time in 2023, sponsored by Treasures of the Church, for a tour that has extended into 2024. The relic will make the following five stops in the Archdiocese, where there will be public veneration and special Masses:

• Friday, March 15 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (6646 Addicks Satsuma Dr., Houston). Public veneration of St. Jude’s relics begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., with a special Mass honoring St. Jude at 7 p.m.

• Saturday, March 16 - Epiphany of the Lord (1530 Norwalk Dr., Katy). A 1 p.m. Mass honoring St. Jude will be followed by public veneration of St. Jude’s relics until 8 p.m.

• Sunday, March 17 - Catholic Charismatic Center (1949 Cullen Blvd., Houston). A 3 p.m. Mass honoring St. Jude will be followed by public veneration of St. Jude’s relics until 8 p.m.

• Monday, March 18 - St. Anthony of Padua (7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands). Public veneration of St. Jude’s relics begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., with a special Mass honoring St. Jude at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 19 - St. Theresa (705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land). Public veneration of St. Jude’s relics begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., with a special Mass honoring St. Jude at 7 p.m.

As the church-appointed custodian of the relic, Father Carlos Martins, CC, a priest of the Companions of the Cross religious community, is directing the tour.

“The visit provides an opportunity for

AN EXTRAORDINARY PLENARY INDULGENCE

According to Treasures of the Church, pilgrims will be able to receive an extraordinary plenary indulgence issued by Pope Francis and published by the Vatican’s apostolic penitentiary.

An indulgence is either a partial or full (plenary) full remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven; a plenary indulgence is obtained by a person in the state of grace with the condition he or she must show detachment from sin, go to confession, receive the Eucharist and pray for the intentions of the pope.

individuals to experience intimacy with someone who dwells in Heaven and beholds God face-to-face. It allows devotees to receive his blessing and entrust him with their petitions,” Father Martins said, according to a press release.

St. Jude was a first cousin of Jesus Christ the son of Mary of Clopas (Cleophas), a relation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Along with St. Bartholomew, he is one of the patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The last Jewish bishop of Jerusalem, Judah Kyriakos, was the great-grandson of St. Jude.

Following his martyrdom around 65 AD, when St. Jude was killed with an ax, his body was buried in Beirut, where he was slain. According to tradition, the apostle’s remains were transferred to Rome during the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine, and his tomb rests directly below the main altar of the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The arm was separated from St. Jude’s remains several centuries ago and placed in a wooden reliquary carved in the shape of an upright arm in the gesture of imparting a blessing. It bears the seals of Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani, who was vicar general of Rome from 1931 to 1951.

For more information, including links to parish websites, videos and more, visit www. archgh.org/juderelics24. †

IN BRIEF

Archdiocesan deaf ministry hosts retreat March 15 to 17

HOUSTON — The St. Dominic Deaf Center is hosting a retreat at the auditorium at St. Dominic Center and Warren Chapel on Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17. The weekend retreat includes the Sacraments, presentations by Father Len Broniak, C.Ss.R., former chaplain and St. Dominic Deaf Center program director, a potluck and social gatherings.

Saturday, March 16, evening events include a presentation and potluck dinner and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Father Broniak will celebrate an 11:15 a.m. Mass at Warren Chapel on Sunday, March 17. A closing celebration will follow in the auditorium.

Through the St. Dominic Deaf Center, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has ministered to the Catholic Deaf Community for more than 40 years with a mission is to serve all the Catholic deaf and hard of hearing.

For more information, visit www.archgh.org/deafministry. †

Walk the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, March 29

HOUSTON — On Good Friday, March 29, join more than 400 fellow pilgrims and walk a 2.2-mile long procession of the “Way of the Cross” beginning at 10:15 a.m. at the University of St. Thomas-Houston’s (UST) Chapel of St. Basil, 3802 Yoakum Blvd. in Houston. UST Campus Ministry and Communion and Liberation host this devotion, which features five stations where participants hear the Gospel, a reading from classical literature and a priest’s reflection relating to Christ. The Communion and Liberation choir will sing “Passion” and other choral pieces. From each station to the next, participants will walk in silence, following the cross and guided safely by bicycle police officers.

UST Houston chaplain, Father Eduardo Rivera, CSB, will lead with a reflection to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.The five stations include:

• First Station: University of St. Thomas-Houston Chapel of St. Basil, 3802 Yoakum

• Second Station: Edward P. White Memorial Plaza at the corner of West Alabama and

• Third Station: Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3617 Milam St.

• Fourth Station: Catholic Charities, 2900 Louisiana St.

• Fifth Station: Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy.

At the Co-Cathedral, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will greet and welcome pariticipants and offer a closing blessing. A shuttle bus return trip to UST is available for those who parked at UST for a $3 per person donation. For information, email

OSV NEWS PHOTO AND COURTESY OF TREASURES OF THE CHURCH

Above, a woman prays in front of at a glass-encased reliquary containing bone from the arm of St. Jude the Apostle at St. Jude Church in New York in 2023. The relic will tour five parishes in the Archdiocese March 15 to March 19. Below, detailed photo of the reliquary containing St. Jude’s relic.

Congress to be first national Eucharistic

Eucharistic Congress will be one of Encounter, Equipping, and Experience.

Each morning will offer Impact Sessions focused on encountering Christ as we form our minds and hearts in the mystery of the Eucharist, ending in liturgies where that encounter happens. The afternoon will focus on equipping the people of God to be missionaries in a world hungry for the peace that only God can provide. And every evening, all attendees will gather together for a powerful general session focused on experiencing Revival.

A DEEPER LOOK

In the morning, attendees will Encounter Christ within their pre-selected impact session, designed to form them according to their stages in life, cultural background and individual faith journeys.

It will set the tone for the day with moments of prayer, small group discussion, and inspiration from notable Catholic speakers such as Cardinal DiNardo, who will speak on Thursday, July 18, as part of the “Renewal” Impact session track, a series of programming dedicated for people who serve in parish, diocesan and ministerial leadership roles in any capacity.

Joining Cardinal DiNardo in presenting at other dedicated sessions are Brownsville’s Bishop Daniel Flores, Bishop

Robert Barron, Dr. Mary Healy, and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

The afternoon is geared toward Equipping attendees for mission, as individuals and groups are provided unique opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ. Attendees are encouraged

Special 5-day pilgrimage package includes:

• NEC Congress Pass with access to all programming

• Four nights accommodations in Indianapolis

• Daily transportation to the Congress ...AND MORE!

• Optional travel package available, includes roundtrip flights from Houston to Indiana and airport transfers

to participate in service projects, view the National Shroud of Turin traveling exhibit, and interact with Catholic vendors in the expansive exhibit hall where there will also be food and live music.

The plenary evening sessions will offer attendees a unique Experience of Revival. Thousands will gather together in Lucas Oil Stadium for Eucharistic Adoration, powerful moments of deep prayer and celebration, and inspiring talks from Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Father Mike Schmitz, Gloria Purvis and many more.

Throughout the weekend, other speakers and worship leaders, many recognizable to many Houstonians from local conferences and events, include Charleen Katra, formerly of the Archdiocese; Father Josh Johnson, Chika Anyanwu; Sister Josephine Garrett; Katie Prejean McGrady; Sister Miriam James Heidland; Sister Bethany Madonna; Josh Blakesley; Ennie and Cana Hickman; Edward Sri, Paul J. Kim; Oscar Rivera and others.

A high-tech educational exhibit at the Indiana Convention Center will feature a replica of the world’s most studied and controversial artifact, the Shroud of Turin, on display. The conference also includes a special worship session with contemporary Catholic singer and songwriter Matt Maher.

JOIN THE PILGRIMAGE

In addition to speaking at the Congress, Cardinal DiNardo, alongside Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, is leading a group of local parishioners, ministry leaders and clergy in a pilgrimage to Indianapolis. The deadline to register to join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage group is March 14.

Limited registrations, which range from $1,049 to $1,759, include a five-day Congress pass, four nights of housing in Indianapolis, continental breakfast, and motorcoach transportation to and from the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as gratuities for drivers. Costs reflect hotel accommodation choices, including triple, quadruple, double, and single occupancy registrations.

Family pricing is available for children and teenagers and includes a $200 discount on prices for children ages 3 to 12. Infants and two-year-old lap children are free with two paid adults in double occupancy. Registrants can also purchase package roundtrip airfare from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport

and Indianapolis International Airport, as well as airport transfers in Indianapolis, for an additional $775.

For more information or to register and join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage, visit www.archgh.org/congress24.

‘RENEWING HIS CHURCH’

Once the Archdiocesan pilgrimage reaches its maximum capacity, those interested in attending the Congress can register separately via the NEC website, www.eucharisticcongress.org.

Standard passes for the five-day congress are $299 to $375 for adults and $99 for children ages 2 to 18 traveling with their families. Passes include access to premium seating and digital access to congress content. The cost covers admission for congress events at Lucas Oil Stadium and includes general sessions, breakout sessions, Liturgies, the vendor hall and congress tracks. The cost does not include housing, transportation or meals related to the congress.

A limited number of single-day passes, range from $49 to $95 depending on the day, are also available, and weekend passes will be $125. Organizers have said they expect the event to draw 80,000 Catholics to Indianapolis. By November of 2023, officials said more than 30,000 congress passes had

CONGRESS, from page 1

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD AND OSV NEWS

Among the speakers joining Daniel Cardinal DiNardo at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis are (from left to right) Father Mike Schmitz, Father Josh Johnson of Baton Rouge, Sister Miriam Heidland and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio and many more. For more information and to see a list of speakers, visit ARCHGH.ORG/CONGRESS24

gathering since 1941

been reserved so far.

“God is renewing His Church, and we have seen it happening across the country in powerful ways during this year of Parish Revival,” said Tim Glemkowski of the NEC. “It is our sincere hope that no matter how many days you are able to join us in Indy, the NEC will be a profound festival-type experience of fellowship, worship, healing, and formation.”

NO TWO DAYS ARE ALIKE

This is the first National Eucharistic Congress held in the United States since 1941 and will be a milestone gathering for the Church in America. No two days will be alike, and each will feature opportunities connected to a daily theme and content focus. The conference also includes a special worship session with contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Matt Maher.

In Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium, with a capacity of nearly 70,000, is the hub of the five-day celebration. Additional events within walking distance will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Convention Center and other venues. Registration, which includes a “Congress

WANT TO GO?

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

When: July 17 - 21

Where: Indianapolis, Indiana

Register: archgh.org/congress24

Cost: $1,049 - $1,759

Pilgrimage costs reflect occupancy and do not include optional airfare. Limited availability and will sell out.

For full details for the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to the Eucharistic Congress and to register, visit the website at: WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/CONGRESS24

Pass,” offers participants entrance to all Congress programming, such as general sessions, catechetical sessions, and breakouts, along with arena seating at Mass, evening concerts and all entertainment.

A SPECIAL INDULGENCE

“Amidst the tremendous programming that’s been thoughtfully planned along with mountaintop moments of celebration we look forward to sharing together as a Church, a highlight will be the many opportunities for confession offered throughout the Congress at the Indianapolis Convention Center and at St. John the Evangelist parish,” said Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chair of the National Eucharistic Revival.

St. John the Evangelist Parish is located directly across from the convention center. Officials said the apostolic penitentiary is issuing a decree granting a plenary indulgence to anyone who participates in the Congress or in one of the four legs of the pilgrimage.

The revival includes a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will include pilgrims walking across the country along four designated pilgrimage routes with the Eucharist, converging in Indianapolis for the congress. The pilgrimage routes begin in Brownsville; New Haven, Connecticut; northern Minnesota; and San Francisco May 17 to 19, the weekend of Pentecost.

The St. Juan Diego walking pilgrimage will be in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston May 30 to June 2.

Here in Galveston-Houston, the pilgrimage will visit several locations, including St. Laurence Catholic Church and Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land; St. Joseph Syro-Malabar Church in Missouri City; St. Benedict Catholic Church in southwest Houston; the Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in Houston; the University of St. Thomas; and ending in Galveston at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica and Sacred Heart Church.

All are invited to join the routes’ for daily Mass and processions for hours or days. More details will be made available soon. †

Join Cardinal DiNardo for an incredible 5-day pilgrimage to the National

DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO

EDUCATION

IN ATHLETICS

SJ23 Lions compete at TAPPS with heart, reach championship for second time

MILESTONE CELEBRATION

Despite their efforts, neither side could break the deadlock, leading to a 0-0 stalemate after regulation time and two overtime periods, ultimately paving the way for penalty kicks to decide the outcome. Regrettably, the Lions were defeated in the penalty shootout.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Zayne Ramirez, the Lions finished their regular season undefeated with a 27-0-1 record, finishing with a 29-1-1 record overall. †

Crosby Catholic school celebrates 75 years

CROSBY — Sacred Heart Catholic School in Crosby celebrated their 75th anniversary with a Feb. 22 Mass presided by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. The students attended the Mass and shared their talents through award-winning Beta Club projects and songs, and recognized past pastors, faculty, staff, alumni and religious that have served the school. The celebration ended with a dinner and tours of the school.

The school was founded in September 1948 by two sisters of Incarnate Word and the Blessed Sacrament in Victoria, Texas, along with Father Chas Kunc. The school served grades first through eighth. In 1981, the original school building was destroyed by fire, and on April 17, 1983, the present school building was dedicated and blessed by Bishop John Morkovsky. †

The Christian Renewal Center

Hiring Full-Time Live-On Missionaries

If you are passionately Catholic, desire to serve the Lord with a servant’s heart, and are willing to commit at least one year (option to extend and promote), then the job of CRC Missionary might be for you!

CRC Missionaries help fulfill the mission of the CRC, which is to draw people into a relationship with Jesus Christ through retreat ministry. Daily tasks are based on your skills, talents and abilities. Missionaries live in a community and share a communal prayer life that is opened to the laity. Missionaries help build the Kingdom of God through hidden areas of work such as housekeeping, food service, grounds, giving retreats and office work.

CRC Missionaries receive free housing, utilities, health, dental, vision, a 401K 10% match, as well as an annual salary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PREPARATORY IN KATY ROUND ROCK — On March 6, the St. John XXIII Lions girls soccer team clashed with the Grace Community Cougars of Tyler, Texas, in the TAPPS Division II State Championships in Round Rock, near Austin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN CROSBY Sacred Heart Catholic School in Crosby celebrated their 75th anniversary with a Mass presided by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. Pictured with him, left to right, are Dr. Christopher Pichon, assistant superintendent of Operational Vitality; Susan Harris, principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Crosby; Father Emmanuel Akpaidem, MSP, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crosby; and Dr. Debra Haney, superintendent of Catholic Schools.

YOUTH

Annual conference brings teens on ‘Journey to Heaven’

The Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC) is an annual celebration of the young Church of Galveston-Houston. This gathering is a place — in the words of Pope Francis where “… there is room for everyone. Everyone. In the Church, no one is left out or left over. There is room for everyone. Just the way we are. (Pope Francis, World Youth Day 2023)

I am truly eager about the upcoming 68th AYC, where the youth of the Archdiocese, coming as they are, will be invited to meet this challenge to continue to grow in holiness. We will celebrate the gift that the young people are to the Catholic Church. We will listen to their voices and challenge them to live an authentic and deep Catholic faith.

The youth conference theme for 2024 is “Journey to Heaven,” inspired by Ephesians 6:11-13.

From July 26 to 28, more than 1,500 young people will gather to break open the theme by focusing on three subthemes: First, An Epic Journey will focus on how love and truth will always overcome the darkness we encounter.

Next, we will explore the Supplies for the Journey — Our spiritual supplies. It includes prayer, the Sacraments (especially Eucharist and Confession), Scripture, the Church (her wisdom on how to live a holy life of virtue), and more.

by TIM COLBERT

Finally, we will prepare the young Church to have Companions on the Journey — mentors and trusted adults, certainly — but also to know and experience that the presence of Jesus Christ is real and He desires a real relationship with us.

He is our companion, there always even if we feel alone, abandoned, scared, overjoyed, sorrowful and everything in between. He can relate to our human situations: the death of someone close to Him, being deserted by His friends, flipping tables in anger, and going through agonizing or painful situations.

One of the blessings of the Church is that in addition to the presence of Christ, we also find companions and support from Mary and the Communion of Saints, who inspire us, intercede for us, and accompany us in our search for God.

AYC 2024 will be led by three dynamic and faithful Catholic leaders: Steve Angrisano, Mari Pablo and Oscar Rivera.

Infused throughout this three-day youth conference are opportunities for a

PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo would like to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713-654-5799. Please keep in daily prayers the healing of victims of abuse and all who suffer in any way.

ton of fun, building new friendships and experiencing prayer with the Body of Christ. Most of all, there will be time to receive healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and moments of silence in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The conclusion of our time together will be the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Christian life. As is tradition, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will be our main celebrant and homilist for Sunday Mass.

The Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization challenges each of you to encourage and invite the young people in your lives — graduating eighth graders through graduating seniors — to contact their local parishes to join us in this unique and dynamic celebration of our Catholic faith.

Participants will leave the experience of AYC 2024 equipped and inspired to joyfully respond to this challenge of Pope Francis: “Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the

“As God shares more of His heart with us, He calls us to respond by surrendering more of our hearts to Him.”

Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us.” (Christus Vivit #299). †

Timothy E. Colbert is the director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.

COLUMNISTS

A Lenten reflection on a portrait of the Suffering Christ

Late Lent is upon us, and our journey will soon turn toward Holy Week. We should prepare ourselves to walk with Jesus throughout the remainder of this season.

One preparation we should undertake is to see Our Savior in His suffering as He goes through His passion out of His deepest love for us. An image, even a crucifix, can serve as a focal point of meditation. We need to impress on our hearts His suffering image because all images of His Passion are expressions of His love. Thus, I would like to offer a reflection of the expressive painting “SIC DEUS DILEXIT MVNDVM.”

This painting of “For God So Loved the World” is a mystery since the artist is unknown. It was painted somewhere, perhaps in Germany, in the 17th century, but it became very popular in the 18th century. Believe it or not, it was once slated to be destroyed but was saved by a priest from Michigan. From henceforth, it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and devotion.

It strongly resembles the image on the Shroud of Turin. It is a beautiful expression of Jesus’ passion. The portrait itself is very rich in symbolism. For one, Our Savior appears bright against a very dark or even black background. The darkness can be seen as the world that is

by CARL ERICKSON

mired in its sins and the awful consequences that follow. Here, we see Jesus coming forth with His agony and tears to somehow light up the world that His Passion must take place to save our souls.

He seems bright because He is the Light of the World, yet, also, He seems to step forward from the darkness to show His radiance to the entire world, doing so in His agony!

So many of us suffer the blisters of sin, but Jesus takes on all sin and death to defeat it! It is amazing that this portrait can express this sign of love and hope for mankind.

The crimson red of His tunic certainly represents the blood that flows from His Most Sacred Body. Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart is slightly brighter than His blood-soaked tunic.

It beats blood from the fifth wound and flows down in front of the heart. A flame of His most passionate love burns at the apex of the heart with the cross at its center. The cross on top of Jesus’ heart is not consumed by the flames. This part of this sacred image recalls

Moses and the burning bush. Fire would not consume the bush because the flame was God himself. The flames of God’s compassionate love can never be extinguished.

The circle of thorns surrounding His heart represents His crown of thorns. For a heart to receive such a crown takes humility. The thorns prick not only at His head but also at His Most Sacred Heart.

We see the humility in the crown on His Most Sacred Head. The thorns press hard into His precious head.

Then, there is the large halo surrounding His Sacred Head. The gold trim and lines signify His royalty, and we can see that His crown of thorns points to His Kingship as one of supreme love and deep humility. The big encirclement also seems to be filled with a dry red wine color to possibly reflect the Eucharistic image of the portrait. His holy halo is also shaped like a host.

Then there are arrows in the halo, possibly to show the direction of where His love flows. It flows everywhere His mercy is needed.

Finally, the letters at the bottom of the painting say it all: SIC DEUS DILEXIT MVNDVM, which means “for God so loved the world.”

As we head toward Holy Week, perhaps we should reflect on this image. Meditating on the image draws us closer to His Most Sacred Heart and leads us to a grand desire to find Him in the Eucharist and in all aspects of our lives.

Let us walk with Him as He is about to give His all for us! †

Carl Erickson serves as director of the Galveston Newman Center.

Celebrating St. Joseph as patron of the universal Church

In just a week’s time, on March 19, we will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Shortly before the start of Holy Week, we get a break from our Lenten fast and have an opportunity to feast and celebrate.

This will be the one time this year we have a Gloria at Mass after Ash Wednesday and before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. We celebrate Joseph as the patron of the universal Church, and his feast has been universally celebrated in the Roman Rite on this date for nearly 500 years and in some locations for over a millennium.

While there are many traditions and stories surrounding Joseph, our only certain information about him comes from the Gospels. Even there, the information is a bit thin, with no mention of him in the Gospel of Mark and only two brief references to Jesus being the son of Joseph in the Gospel of John. It is only in Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels that we get much information.

In the Gospel of Matthew, there are many details that make us associate this Joseph (the husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus) with the patriarch Joseph (the favored son of the patriarch Jacob, he of the multi-colored coat sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt).

by BRIAN GARCIALUENSE

According to the genealogy in Matthew, both of them have a father named Jacob. The Joseph of Genesis was a noted interpreter of dreams. Three times, St. Joseph received a message from an angel of God in a dream. The patriarch Joseph trusted God, even in the midst of dire circumstances that brought him as a slave to Egypt. St. Joseph trusts the message of his dreams and responds immediately, even when the message seems impossible (that his betrothed is with child by the Holy Spirit) or requires him to go to Egypt and sojourn there for a time. Matthew uses this connection between St. Joseph and the patriarch Joseph to help us see how Joseph’s foster son, Jesus, is the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament. In the person of Joseph, we get the very Lenten reminder of the essential connection between old and new.

The Gospels tell us that Joseph was a “tekton.”This is usually translated into English as carpenter, but there is some

scholarly disagreement as to whether it should be understood more generally as “craftsman,” with the possibility of including not only woodwork but also either stone masonry or metalwork. Regardless of the details, he was a person who engaged in skilled manual work that had a creative element. It is worth taking a moment to reflect on these three aspects of his work.

Joseph’s work has a manual and physical quality. It requires actual physical effort and exertion. In venerating Joseph the worker, we highlight the dignity we have as embodied beings. What we do with and in our bodies matters; our bodies are a pathway God uses for our sanctification. This is a good reminder of why fasting is a part of our Lenten discipline.

Joseph’s work is skilled. It must be learned from someone and practiced over a lifetime. Those who develop this skill have a responsibility to pass it on to the next generation. Several comments in the Gospels suggest that he did just that with Jesus. This aspect of Joseph’s work, therefore, highlights our existence as social creatures. We exist not alone and independently but as part of a society and community. We depend on the community and contribute to it. This

is a good reminder of why almsgiving is a part of our Lenten discipline.

Finally, Joseph’s work has a creative aspect to it. Any craftsman, regardless of medium, does not merely reproduce exactly what has been done before. Each project requires some level of innovation and adaptation to the particular circumstances. This highlights the unique way in which God has chosen to associate humanity to Himself as co-creators and partners in the ongoing project of the unfolding of creation. Therefore, in Joseph, we are reminded of the dignity of the human person and humanity’s special place. That special place includes how our Creator uniquely desires to be in relationship with us. This is a good reminder of why prayer is an essential part of our Lenten journey.

As we celebrate St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, we take a brief break from the severity of our Lenten disciplines to be reminded of why we do what we do — to recall that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the ancient promises and of our own hearts’ desires. †

Brian Garcia-Luense is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

WORLD Pope asks children to make the world better, one little step at a time

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Making the world a better place for everyone starts with prayer and little steps like saying hello, sorry or thank you, Pope Francis said in a letter to the world’s children.

“Our world will change if we all begin with these little things, without being ashamed to take small steps, one at a time,” he wrote in the letter that was released March 2.

The letter included an invitation for the youngsters to participate in the first World Children’s Day meeting in Rome May 25 to 26. At a news conference after the letter was published, organizers said 57,000 children from 60 countries already had signed up, and they hoped 100,000 children ages 6 to 12 would attend the opening event at Rome’s Olympic Stadium and Mass with Pope Francis the next day in St. Peter’s Square.

In his letter, Pope Francis told children that they are “a source of joy for your parents and your families, but also for our human family and for the Church, in which each of us is like a link in a great chain stretching from the past to the future and covering the whole earth.”

Children also remind everyone of their need and desire “to grow and flourish” and that all people are someone’s sons and daughters and are brothers and sisters, he said. “We would not be alive unless others brought us into this world, nor could we grow without having others to love and from whom to receive love.”

“The fact that we are small reminds us that we are also frail and need one another as members of one body,” the pope wrote.

Pope Francis explained to the children that he chose the Bible passage, “Behold, I make all things new,” as the theme for World Children’s Day because it is a reminder that to make the world a better

place, people need to be united with Jesus and with others.

“With Jesus, we can dream of the renewal of our human family and work for a more fraternal society that cares for our common home,” the pope wrote.

Sharing “a special secret” with the children, Pope Francis told them that if they really want to be happy, they need to pray every day “because prayer connects us directly to God” and “fills our hearts with light and warmth.”

And even the youngest people can understand that they cannot be happy all alone “because our joy increases to the extent that we share it,” he said. “Joy is born of gratitude for the gifts we have received and which we share in turn, and it grows in our relationships with others.”

“When we keep the blessings we have received to ourselves or throw tantrums to get this or that gift, we forget that the greatest gift that we possess is ourselves, one another: all of us, together, are God’s gift,” the letter said. “Other gifts are nice, but only if they help us to be together. If we don’t use them for that purpose, we will always end up being unhappy; they will never be enough.”

“Think of your friends and how great it is to spend time with them: at home, at school, in the parish and the playground, everywhere,” Pope Francis wrote.“Playing, singing, discovering new things, having fun, everyone being together and excluding no one. Friendship is wonderful, and it grows only in this way: through sharing and forgiving, with patience, courage, creativity and imagination, without fear and without prejudice.”

In preparation for World Children’s Day, the pope asked them to pray the “Our Father” every morning and every evening with their families and to think about the words. †

OSV NEWS

PHOTO

Children are pictured in a file photo carrying the gifts during their First Communion.

NATION & STATE

IN BRIEF

Texas bishops call for prayers, support for fires in Panhandle region

AMARILLO — In a March 1 statement, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops recognized the great tragedy in the panhandle region of Texas and Oklahoma and asked for prayers and support for all.

“Our Catholic brothers and sisters are united with all who are suffering from the tragic wildfires,” said Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Amarillo Diocese, where the wildfires are burning. “We are grateful to the firefighters and first responders for their work to save lives and contain the fires. The loss of life and livelihood for our families and neighbors in the Texas Panhandle is devastating, and we are blessed in the knowledge that our Catholic community is standing in solidarity with us.”

A Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ convent some 50 miles northwest of Amarillo had to be evacuated and the sisters remained safe, congregational officials said. Photos showed smoke and flames near the convent grounds.

Agencies were working to battle five major wildfires spread across at least 1.2 million acres in late February, with one as the “largest and most destructive fire in Texas history,” reports said.

Approximately 85% of the cattle raised in Texas, which provides food for the rest of the U.S. and the world, is being directly impacted by the fires. The Texas bishops encouraged donations to Catholic Charities USA at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org, which coordinated with local agencies. †

Texas executes death-row inmate despite allegations of false testimony at trial

HUNTSVILLE (OSV News) — Ivan Cantu was executed Feb. 28 by the state of Texas despite claims that the Texan’s 2001 conviction for killing James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, his cousin and his cousin’s fiancee, was based on false testimony.

In a statement issued through the progressive group MoveOn, Sister Helen Prejean, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph and death penalty abolitionist, said her mission was both to serve as Cantu’s spiritual adviser during his incarceration and “publicly share the injustice of this execution.”

“We took up the cause of this man because mistakes were made at his trial,” Sister Prejean said. “And we have a deficient and flawed appeal system that refused to review the substantive issues in this case. Ivan is a very brave man. In the final hours of his life, I granted Ivan peace as he readied himself to die. Ivan initiated more avenues in the pursuit of his exoneration than any single person I’ve counseled on death row.”

“My hopeful prayer is for the victims’ families, friends and loved ones to find a long-awaited sense of peace,” Willis said, arguing that “clear and powerful evidence” backed up the sentence.

But multiple jurors from Cantu’s original trial have said they did not support his execution, The Texas Tribune reported.

Cantu’s case garnered national attention after allegations that false testimony contributed to his conviction. More than 151,600 people signed an online petition calling for a stay of his execution.

Collin County Prosecutor Greg Willis said in a statement, “After over two decades of multiple state and federal courts comprehensively reviewing his conviction, Ivan Cantu has finally met with justice tonight.”

stdominicvillage.org/events

One such advocate was reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who has previously expressed interest in overturning cases with allegations of wrongful convictions. Kardashian circulated the petition prior to Cantu’s execution and afterward wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Cantu was “someone I believe is an innocent man.”

“My prayers go out to his family and loved ones and everyone involved,” she said.

Sister Prejean said, “Ivan was grateful for everyone who supported him in his fight for a fair trial. Remember, by speaking up and taking action for Ivan together, we are bending the arc toward justice and are one step closer to ending the death penalty.”

The Catholic Church teaches the death penalty is incompatible with the sanctity

IN BRIEF

of human life. In his 2020 encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” Pope Francis cited the writings of St. John Paul II, explaining his predecessor “stated clearly and firmly that the death penalty is inadequate from a moral standpoint and no longer necessary from that of penal justice.”

“There can be no stepping back from this position,” Pope Francis wrote. “Today we state clearly that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible’ and the Church is firmly committed to calling for its abolition worldwide.” Pope Francis also revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2267) in 2018 to reflect that position.

In a Feb. 29 statement, Jennifer Allmon, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, called for people to “pray and petition our representatives for a reform of our death penalty due process.”

“It is simply unconscionable that the courts have set an impossibly high threshold to present new evidence when a person’s life is at stake,” she said.

Catholic Mobilizing Network executive director Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy also released a Feb. 29 statement, saying Cantu’s execution, “despite serious doubts about his guilt and newly discovered evidence,” demonstrated how “our criminal legal system is more interested in vengeance than fairness.”

She noted that since 1976, when capital punishment in the U.S. was restored, “196 people have been exonerated from death row after being sentenced to death for a crime they didn’t commit.” †

LA auxiliary Bishop O’Connell ‘still looking out for us’ one year after death, friends say

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (OSV News) —- One year since the death of Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, the shock over his murder has largely worn off, the tributes have died down and the billboards that briefly lit up Los Angeles freeways flashing his smiling face are gone.

While a grieving city may have begun moving on, a portrait of “Bishop Dave” as a priest and a man has come more sharply into focus.

“He was a mystic in the sense of his love affair with Christ,” Monsignor Timothy Dyer, his friend and pastor of St. Patrick and St. Stephen’s in South LA, said in his homily at a Feb. 24 memorial Mass marking a year since the bishop’s death. “All that he did in the streets and people’s homes, all the places he went to when he was bishop, he was conscious of this love in Christ in his own life.”

His purpose in life, Monsignor Dyer said, was “to bring that love to others.”

But rather than memorialize the bishop, the morning Mass at Mission San Gabriel Árcangel’s Chapel of the Annunciation was mostly a chance to reflect on what Bishop Dave left behind and what he was still doing.

The Irish-born bishop was shot and killed Feb. 18, 2023, at his home in Hacienda Heights. He was 69. He was ordained a priest for the LA Archdiocese in 1979, and he was ordained an LA auxiliary in 2015.

“He’s still looking out for us,” said his longtime friend, former LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who attended the Mass with his wife, Kathy. “We continue to move forward with his guidance and, more so, his inspiration.”

“He was kind of a man of the heavens but a man of the streets,” said McDonnell, whose friendship with Bishop O’Connell continued from those early days. †

IVAN CANTU

MUNDO CATÓLICO

Más detalles de lo que se vivirá en el Congreso

Nacional Eucarístico este julio

(OSV News) — Las decenas de miles de católicos que planean asistir al 10º Congreso Eucarístico Nacional de cinco días en Indianápolis en julio experimentarán liturgias a gran escala, oradores dinámicos y oportunidades para orar en silencio y compartir la fe, con seis diferentes “sesiones de impacto” adaptadas a sus diferentes grupos o a su camino de fe.

Los líderes esperan que los asistentes se conviertan en “una levadura para la Iglesia en los EE.UU. como misioneros eucarísticos que regresan a sus parroquias, pero también en una especie de reunión de personas que están de pie en la brecha, o en representación, para toda la Iglesia a través de los EE.UU., invitando a ese nuevo Pentecostés, y ese nuevo envío (de) sanación y vida plena”, dijo Tim Glemkowski, CEO del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional Inc., en una reunión con los medios de comunicación en enero.

“salir en misión”.

Los líderes católicos describen al Congreso Eucarístico Nacional como potencialmente transformador para la Iglesia católica en Estados Unidos.

El evento es la cumbre del Avivamiento Eucarístico Nacional, una iniciativa de tres años de los obispos estadounidenses para inspirar un amor más profundo por Jesús en la Eucaristía que comenzó en 2022. El avivamiento se centró su primer año en las diócesis, el segundo y el actual en las parroquias, y el último año, que comenzará después del congreso, en

“Creo que este evento y la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional que lo precede tendrán un impacto generacional en nuestro país”, escribió el obispo Andrew H. Cozzens de Crookston, Minnesota, y presidente del consejo del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional, en un comentario publicado por OSV News en enero. El congreso se celebrará en el Lucas Oil Stadium, sede de los Indianapolis Colts, y en el Indianapolis Convention Center. El congreso se distingue de otras conferencias católicas porque “invita a toda la Iglesia a venir a rezar juntos por el avivamiento”, dijo Joel Stepanek, vicepresidente de programación y administración del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional.

“Vamos a reunirnos con los ahí presentes para rezar para que el Espíritu Santo caiga sobre nosotros, para rezar por el avivamiento de la Iglesia en Estados Unidos, para rezar por la sanación de nuestras propias vidas para que podamos ser misioneros eucarísticos, y lo haremos a través de poderosas experiencias

El paquete especial de peregrinación incluye:

• Pase al Congreso (5 días)

• Cuatro (4) noches de hotel en o cerca de Indianápolis

• Transportación diaria al Congreso ...Y MÁS!

• Paquete aéreo grupal opcional, incluye vuelo redondo de Houston a Indianápolis y aeropuerto transporte

de oración y con el aliento de unos maravillosos oradores principales”, dijo Stepanek.

La inscripción está abierta para todo el evento y para pases de un solo día en eucharisticcongress.org/register.

El tema del congreso se centra en el pasaje de Lucas 24, que describe el encuentro de Jesús con dos discípulos en el camino de Emaús tras su muerte y resurrección. Los discípulos no le reconocieron al principio, pero le escucharon explicar las Escrituras, para darse cuenta más tarde de que su compañero era Jesús durante la cena “al partir el pan”. Regresaron corriendo a Jerusalén para contar a los demás lo que habían visto.

El primer día, el miércoles 17 de julio, tiene por tema “Desde las cuatro esquinas”. Está previsto que el congreso comience a las 7 p.m. con una ceremonia de apertura en el Lucas Oil Stadium. Entre

los oradores de la tarde figuran el obispo Cozzens, el cardenal Christophe Pierre, nuncio apostólico en Estados Unidos, y la hermana Bethany Madonna, Hermana de la Vida, superiora local y coordinadora de misiones de la fundación de las religiosas en Phoenix.

La segunda jornada, el jueves 18 de julio, tiene por tema: “La mayor historia de amor”. El programa de la mañana comienza con la Misa de las 8:30 a.m., con opciones para participar en inglés o español, y una Misa adicional para jóvenes.

A la Misa le siguen las sesiones de impacto, en las que los asistentes pueden elegir entre seis opciones con “predicación dinámica y música adaptada a su estado de vida y misión”, según la página web del congreso. Tras el almuerzo hay sesiones de trabajo y “experiencias especiales” adaptadas a grupos o intereses específicos. †

WITHIN THE ARTS

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA

Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — Being just five-foot tall and suffering lifelong lung damage after nearly drowning in childhood did not deter Maria Francesca Cabrini. Born in 1850 to a farm family in Italy, she followed God’s call to form a worldwide missionary order comprised solely of women.

Brought to life by actress Cristiana Dell’Anna, the film named simply “Cabrini” shows how hard she fought against many rejections. Other religious orders denied her admission to their convents because of her frail health. Yet she resolutely maneuvered through the male-dominated hierarchy of the Church and hateful prejudices spewed upon her and her group of six sisters upon arriving in America in 1889.

Mother Cabrini began by founding her own Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880. She petitioned Pope Leo XIII (actor Giancarlo Giannini) to allow her to follow the path of her saint namesake, St. Francis Xavier, who traveled to Asia as a missionary.

But the Holy Father pulled out an ornate wooden box atop a desk, calling it the “tomb of dreams.” He opened the top to show her a pile of pleading letters from Italian immigrants who had traveled more than 5,000 miles by cargo ship to America only to be crushed.

Mother Cabrini obeyed the pope, leaving Italy and following the immigrants’ trail, traveling with her sisters by ship to New York to serve the poor, especially orphaned Italian immigrant children. This first biopic ever dedicated to the life of Mother Cabrini premiered in theaters on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

The high production quality and

caliber of actors for the PG-13 film come from Angel Studios Inc., which produced the series “The Chosen” on the life of Jesus. Its director, Alejandro Monteverde, also directed the film “Sound of Freedom.” The 2023 independent movie about human trafficking grossed more than $240 million worldwide.

Mother Cabrini repeats her faith in divine providence several times throughout the film, saying, “Begin the mission, and the means will come.”Despite what is thrown at her and her sisters, she is kind and loving but unflinching in her persistence and determination.

Even after they arrive in New York, the priest who closed the orphanage for lack of funds tries to push her and her group, wearing dark habits and bonnets, back to Italy. She moves beyond to meet with New York Archbishop Michael Corrigan

Become a Pastoral Visitor

Course Dates, Time and Locations:

Two Locations: Tuesdays, 10 am– 1pm at St. Anthony Padua in The Woodlands 7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands TX 77382

Dates: August 20, Sept 10, Oct 1 and 22, 2024

Thursdays, 10 am 1 pm St. Dominic Village in the Texas Med Center 2403

(played by David Morse), who is shown as sensitive but politically astute. He also tries to persuade her to return to her homeland; failing that, he then warns her not to solicit funds from wealthy New Yorkers but only from deeply impoverished fellow Italians.

Another award-winning actor, John Lithgow, performs as the hardened New York mayor, threatening both the archbishop and, in turn, Mother Cabrini as he puffs his cigar and waves about a whiskey decanter in his City Hall office.

For viewers entranced by the HBO Max drama series “The Gilded Age” about wealthy New Yorkers at the turn of the century like the Vanderbilts and Astors, “Cabrini” displays some of that extravagance. But the film also shows the flip side of the muddy stench of Five Points in Manhattan, which housed the shabby and squalid neighborhood of Italian immigrants. The reality-based conditions are duplicated from photographs of actual slums shot by a 19th-century journalist and photographer.

The film shows Mother Cabrini striding into the New York Times building to meet with reporter Calloway (actor Jeremy Nobb), who is convinced by the persuasive, matter-of-fact sister to tour the immigrant neighborhood and shed

MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News

A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL

• Migration (PG)

A-II

•

•

light on how Italian children were living worse “than the rats.”

In her long habit and lantern in hand, she climbs down a metal ladder into a dungeon-like sewer to show him where orphans hide away for the night. But the movie does take poetic license on events in her life. A newspaper interview did take place three months after she and six of her Missionary Sisters arrived in New York.

However, the website of the St. Cabrini Shrine in New York City stated this interview was published in New York’s The Sun on June 30, 1889. The article by an unnamed reporter highlighted Mother Cabrini’s courage, compassion and persistence, quoting her mission “to rescue the Italian orphans of the city from the misery and dangers that threaten them and to make good men and women of them.”

The movie also shows composite figures of the many children Mother Cabrini saved, such as street girl Vittoria (actor Romana Maggiora Vergano), forced into prostitution to survive (implied, not shown). And young boys run about like sweet-faced Paolo (Federico Ielapi), who, in the opening scene of the film, desperately races around the streets of New York pulling a cart carrying his dying mother as he pleads for help and is turned away from the hospital.

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, originally from Italy, saw the film “Cabrini” when it was previewed at a recent U.S. bishops gathering.

“A very good, genuine movie that shows the strong faith and perseverance of Mother Cabrini. It didn’t show her many hours of prayer, but it demonstrated the fruits of those prayers in all she was able to accomplish with God’s grace,” Bishop Dell’Oro said.

Before she died in 1917, Mother Cabrini made 23 transatlantic voyages and established 67 institutions, including schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the U.S. and the world, even in Asia, where she originally wanted to begin her mission of “an empire of hope.”

She was canonized as a saint in 1946 by Pope Pius XII, making her the first American saint. The Archdiocese has its own church named after St. Frances Cabrini in southeast Houston. †

► For more full movie reviews online, visit www.osvnews.com/category/reviews

• Mean Girls (PG-13)

• Origin (PG-13)

•

• Argylle (PG-13)

• Bob Marley: One Love (PG-13)

• Dune: Part Two (PG-13)

• I.S.S. (R)

• Madame Web (PG-13)

L

• The Iron Claw (R)

O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE

• The Beekeeper (R)

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGEL STUDIOS INC.

Mother Cabrini (actress Cristiana Dell’Anna), who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 in Italy, personally petitions Pope Leo XIII (actor Giancarlo Giannini) to allow her to follow the path of her saint namesake, St. Francis Xavier, who traveled to Asia as a missionary. But the Holy Father points her instead to the West — America where ships of Italian immigrants followed their dreams

many were crushed, leaving behind their orphaned

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

LENTEN FISH FRYS

Contact parishes for latest information.

FRIDAYS OF LENT

CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD, 5 to 7 p.m. (18511 Klein Church Rd., Spring). Plates include fried pollock fish, French fries, hush puppies, green beans, coleslaw, tea and lemonade. Desserts offered. Cost is $15 for adults, $6 for children under 12.

CHRIST THE KING, noon to 6 p.m. (4419 N. Main, Houston). Fish fry from $12 to $15 per plate.

HOLY FAMILY, 5 to 7 p.m. (7721 Whiting Rock, Baytown). $15 plates of catfish, potato salad, green beans and dessert. Dine in or drive thru. 281-426-8448.

HOLY ROSARY, after 5:15 p.m. Mass (3617 Milam St., Houston). $10 plate includes fried fish, hush puppies and coleslaw.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (7250 Harrisburg, Houston). $13 plates include fried fish, French fries, hush puppies, salad and corn. 713-921-1261.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, 4 to 6:30 p.m. (KC Hall, 11100 Hwy. 6, Santa Fe). KofC #10393 fish fry with $12 plates of fried or baked fish, French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, veggies, tea or water and desserts. Dine in or carry out.

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1401 Fidelity St., Houston). $15 fish fry or crawfish etouffee plates with green beans and potato salad and $20 crawfish etouffee and fish combos. Dine in or carry out. Delivery available for 10 orders or more. 713-674-9206.

RESURRECTION, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (915 Zoe St., Houston). $12 plate includes fried catfish or $10 plate of fried tilapia. Both plates include hush puppies, green salad, corn and French fries. Can add fried shrimp for $4. Also available are $7 baked potatoes with toppings, $5 nachos, $3 dessert cake, $8 funnel cake. Dine in or carry out. 832-971-4230.

SACRED HEART, 4 to 7:30 p.m. (507 Fourth St., Richmond). $12 plate includes fried or grilled fish, green beans, coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies. Desserts are also available. Dine in, carry out or drive thru.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS, 5 to 7 p.m. (Columbus Hall, 129 CR 146, Alvin). KofC #6403 host a fish fry with $12 dinner plates.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, 5 to 7 p.m. (7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands). KofC #12327 fish fry with $14 fried catfish, French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw and tartar sauce. Desserts available for purchase.

ST. BERNADETTE, 4:30 to 7 p.m. (15500 El Camino Real, Houston). KofC #10959 fish fry with $12 fried catfish, French fries, hush puppies and coleslaw.

ST. CECILIA, 5:30 to 8 p.m. (11720 Joan of Arc Dr., Houston). KofC fish fry with fried or baked fish plates (Adults: $12; Seniors: $10; Kids under 10: $7) with French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw and macaroni and cheese for kids. Drinks and desserts also available. Add shrimp for $3. Dine in or drive thru. saintcecilia.org.

ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, 5:30 to 8 p.m. (10503 Westheimer Rd., Houston). KofC #8024 fish fry with fried or baked fish plates ($12 for adults,

PRAYING FOR PRIESTS, BISHOPS

The Galveston-Houston area Seven Sisters Apostolate met at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in Houston for a Lenten Evening of Prayer led by Father Charles A. Hough IV. The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a national women’s devotional prayer group who works to ensure that one hour is prayed every day for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop at a parish or diocese. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is one of the more than 70 priests and bishops in the Galveston-Houston area for whom the Apostolate prays.

$10 for seniors, $8 for kids) with sides. Desserts by Women of St. Cyril Group.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, 5 to 8 p.m. (8200 Roos Rd., Houston). $15 for 10 large fried catfish nuggets, six fried shrimp, secret recipe tartar sauce, French fries and a drink. Dessert available for purchase. Dine in or carry out.

ST. HYACINTH, 5 to 7 p.m. (2921 Center St., Deer Park). Drive-thru $15 plate of fried catfish, macaroni and cheese. hush puppies and coleslaw. Bake sale for $2 each.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner 5 to 7 p.m. (800 W. Baker Rd., Baytown). CDA Court Mary St. John #2197 $12 fish fry is catered by Catfish on Wheels. Dine in or carry out. 281-837-8180.

ST. LAURENCE, 5 to 8 p.m. (3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). KofC fish fry plates (Adults: $15, Kids: $8) with hush puppies, French fries, tater tots, green beans and coleslaw. $56 togo family four-pack meal includes fish, hush puppies, French fries, tater tots, green beans, and coleslaw, pre-order only. stlaurence.org/ fish-fry.

ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST, 4 to 7 p.m. (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). KofC #9201 fish fry with $15 fried fish plates with French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, corn on the cob and ice tea. Homemade desserts by the Catholic Daughters also available. Dine in or drive thru.

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES, 10:30 a.m. (12606 Crosby Lynchburg Rd., Crosby). $15 plates with fried fish, potato salad, green beans, or $17 Coubian plates. Tickets available from bazaar committee.

ST. MARY OF THE PURIFICATION, 11 a.m. (3006 Rosedale, Houston). Fish dinners will be sold in the center.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE, 5 to 7 p.m. (527 S Houston Ave., Humble). $12 meal includes fried fish, French fries, coleslaw and hush puppies. Dine in, carry out or drive thru.

ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA, 5 p.m. (1019 W 6th St., Freeport). $12 plates served in the parish hall followed by Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.

ST. MONICA, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (8421 West Montgomery Rd., Houston). $15 fried fish or $18 baked fish dinners with green beans, potato salad, bread and cake; $8 fried fish sandwiches with chip; $5 garden salads. Sweets also for sale. Dine in or carry out. Delivery available for 10-plus orders. 832-567-8539.

ST. PETER CLAVER, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6005 N.

Wayside Dr., Houston). KPC and Ladies Auxiliary fish fry with $15 fried fish or crawfish etouffee, or $20 combos, all served with green beans, potato salad, bread, cake and soda or water. Pre-Order: 713-674-3338. Day of: 832-786-0668.

STS. SIMON AND JUDE, 5 to 7 p.m. (26777 Glen Loch Dr., The Woodlands). $12 for adults, $6 for kids. Plates include fried fish, French fries, hush puppies and coleslaw. Bake sale accepting donations.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston). KofC #10390 fish fry with $10 fish meals (fried or baked), two sides (rice, green beans or coleslaw) and corn bread. Drive-thru available.

More listings at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

CALENDAR LISTINGS

MARCH 14

ITALIAN MASS & LUNCH, 10:30 a.m., Italian Cultural & Community Center (1101 Milford St., Houston). Mass celebrated by Father Julian Gerosa, CRS, followed by an authentic Italian lunch ($10) of pasta, meatballs, salad, dessert and iced tea or coffee. 713-524-4222; iccchouston.com.

MARCH 16

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, 6:30 p.m., St. Ignatius Loyola-Christus Center (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Event follows 5:15 p.m. Mass with traditional children’s saints procession to Christus Center and Sicilian pasta dinner, with homemade Italian treats by St. Joseph’s Altar Guild available for purchase. Raffle drawings conclude the night. Free, open to the public. stjosephaltarguild@silcc.org; 713-825-4576.

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, after 5 p.m. Mass, St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland). Procession from Mass for the traditional “Tupa-Tupa” to a pasta dinner served in Helena Hall. Donate via Venmo: @Kaylin-Olson. 281-485-2421.

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR , after 5 p.m. Mass, Queen of Peace (1224 Cedar Dr., La Marque). Sicilian celebration honors St. Joseph with procession after Mass to Parish Life Center followed by pasta marinara dinner. Cost: $10. Proceeds benefit charity ministries in Galveston County.

MARCH 17

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). Proceeds of 15th annual St. Joseph Altar benefit Cypress Assistance Ministries. Free admission. Meal tickets cost: $10 per adult, $5 per child 10 and

under. gomaryannrowell@gmail.com; ctrcc. com/st-joseph-altar.

MARCH 20

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA BUSINESS MEETING, 6 p.m., St. Hyacinth (2921 Center St., Deer Park). Social/Food until 6:45 p.m., Business meeting at 7 p.m. Visitors welcome. ladysthyacinth@gmail.com.

MARCH 21

PRESENTATION, St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland). “Made for More” features a blend of teaching, live music and art by Christopher West and Mike Mangione, offering a vision of the Gospel through St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Cost: $25. Tickets: M4MTX. eventbrite.com. paul@sthelenchurch.org.

MARCH 22

FISH FRY, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). $13 plate includes fried catfish, hush puppies, French fries, coleslaw, and iced tea. Pre-order: stroselima.org/events.

MARCH 22-24

WEEKEND RETREAT, Ruah Center at Villa de Matel (6510 Lawndale St., Houston). “Dancing with the Divine: Claiming Your Sacred Story through the 12-Steps” is a contemplative recovery retreat open to anyone working a 12-Step program, led by Eileen Meinert. Suggested donation $250. For registration include name, phone and email address. Register: jeasley@ ccvi-vdm.org.

MARCH 29

WAY OF THE CROSS PROCESSION, 10:15 a.m., Chapel of St. Basil, University of St. Thomas (3802 Yoakum Blvd., Houston). Communion & Liberation and UST Campus Ministry host 2.2 mile-long Stations of the Cross procession with choir, starting at Chapel of St. Basil, with stops at Holy Rosary, Catholic Charities, and ending at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with prayer service with Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS. $3 return bus ride available from Co-Cathedral.

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA AND CHAPLET, Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). Novena and Chaplet begins in the St. Joseph Chapel after the 3 p.m. Stations of the Cross held in the Church. Each remaining day of the Novena, March 30 to April 6, continues at 3 p.m. in the St. Joseph Chapel, including Easter Sunday. On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7, at 3 p.m. prayers include Divine Mercy Chaplet, Adoration and Benediction in the St. Joseph Chapel.

•••

For submission details and more listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEVEN SISTERS APOSTOLATE

MILESTONES

Sister Jane Meyer honored with Spirit of Francis Award

HOUSTON — Catholic Extension Society honored Sister Jane Meyer, O.P., former Head of School at St. Agnes Academy, with its seventh annual Houston Spirit of Francis Award for her decades of commitment to Catholic education and promotion of social justice.

The prestigious award recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant impact on the mission of the Catholic Church in America through service or philanthropy.

Sister Meyer received the award at a benefit dinner on Feb. 15 in River Oaks, where other notables such as Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., of the Diocese of Beaumont, and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, were in attendance.

Sister Meyer’s passion and commitment to education began when she served at Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont as a teacher and principal from 1971 to 1981. She then transferred to Houston, where she was Head of School at St. Agnes Academy until her retirement in 2022. Under Sister Meyer’s leadership, St. Agnes’ enrollment increased by 50% to 900 students.

Outside of education, Sister Meyer’s passions extend to worldwide social

justice advocacy.

Following the 2010 earthquakes that devastated Haiti, St. Agnes students challenged Sister Meyer to jump out of a plane if they raised $25,000 for disaster relief. The campaign far exceeded the

original goal, raising more than $82,000. Sister Meyer kept her promise to the students and was therefore dubbed “The Flying Nun.” In 2012, she founded a Sister School Partnership with Our Lady Grace in Kisumu, Kenya — establishing annual

computer, calculator and book donations for this African Catholic community.

“Thank you, Catholic Extension, for this incredible honor; I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” Sister Meyer said. “As a Dominican sister, I truly believe in the spirit of St. Francis, and I’m grateful to Catholic Extension’s mission of serving the most vulnerable populations and building up transformative, Catholic faith communities.”

Past award winners have included the late Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza and Trinidad “Trini” Mendenhall. Spirit of Francis Award recipients are laudable for their commitment “to reach out to the margins of society” in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis, and the founder of Catholic Extension, Father Francis Clement Kelley.

For more than 118 years, Catholic Extension built up and strengthened vibrant Catholic faith communities in the poorest areas of the U.S.

The organization supports the construction and repair of churches, invests in the education, training and support of seminarians, priests, sisters, deacons and lay leaders and supports vital ministries in 90 mission dioceses across the U.S. †

HOUSTON — Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Superintendent Debra Haney received the first-ever Community Ally Award from Catholic Literary Arts (CLA) for her support of student writing programs.

The award was given at the 2024 CLA’s annual fundraising event on Jan. 27 to support its ministry of teaching the skills of written self-expression through poetry, fiction, personal essay and sacred story.

Houston Christian University’s Louis Markos, Ph.D., was the keynote speaker and shared how to create a “Culture of Beauty” anchored by Christian virtues with a primary goal to reach God.

“If you want to see literature that is edifying to Christians, and especially Catholics, you need to get involved with Catholic Literary Arts,” says CLA board member and Scanlan Foundation President Larry W. Massey Jr. “They have something for everyone and are the flagship organization supporting Catholic writers in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and beyond.”

CLA Founder and President Sarah Cortez invites those interested in “Spirit-filled writing with a Christian worldview” to “take a glimpse at the kind of work that Catholic Literary Arts is doing to create a safe and productive learning environment for writers of all ages and skill levels.”

For more information, visit www.catholicliteraryarts.org. †

Superintendent Debra Haney honored at Catholic Literary Arts gala

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE ROSSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY Catholic Schools Superintendent Debra Haney was honored with the first-ever Community Ally Award from Catholic Literary Arts (CLA) at its annual gala. Pictured with her are CLA Founder and President Sarah Cortez and CLA board member and Scanlan Foundation President Larry W. Massey Jr.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHOLIC EXTENSION

Sister Jane Meyer, O.P., received the Spirit of Francis Award from the Catholic Extension. Pictured with her (from left) are Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Father Jack Wall, president of the Catholic Extension.