Texas Catholic Herald - April 23, 2024

‘COMPLETING THE WALK’

Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza dedicated

HOUSTON — Gathered under the spring sun and blue skies, some 280 close family, friends and longtime collaborators of the late Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza rejoiced during the April 13 dedication and blessing of the new Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza across from the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Built as a sacred space in downtown Houston for Houstonians, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, the dedication and blessing officially opened the new plaza and brought to fruition a vision of the late Archbishop Fiorenza who died in 2022.

ARCHBISHOP

Father Jeff Bame, rector and pastor of the co-cathedral, recognized the efforts of many that continue to help complete Archbishop Fiorenza’s goals. Then, through a rite of blessing and sprinkling of holy water, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo blessed and dedicated the new space. Walking through the shaded plaza structure, Cardinal DiNardo also blessed the statue and memorial wall.

Archbishop Fiorenza’s family also gathered for a sunny reunion, with members traveling from as far as Florida to celebrate the occasion. Standing underneath the new pavilion dedicated to his uncle’s memory and legacy, Mark Fiorenza, Archbishop Fiorenza’s nephew, beamed.

“I know my Uncle Joe is smiling down from heaven.

See PLAZA, page 4

EDUCATION

Not total, but still totally cool Eclipse brings science, spirituality in focus

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON (OSV News) — Though the Archdiocese did not fall in the path of totality of what was dubbed “the Great American Eclipse” on April 8, God seemed to part the cloudy skies in time for many Catholics in the Archdiocese to witness the partial phenomenon and students to conduct science experiments, Archdiocesan school officials said.

From Huntsville to Galveston and everywhere in between, hundreds of thousands donned eclipse glasses and stared at the (cloudy) heavens, hoping to see the deep partial eclipse, when the moon covered more than 90% of the sun.

Perhaps parishioners and staff at Christ Our Light Church in Navasota and St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Huntsville were among the closest to seeing the total eclipse. Several Catholic

MINISTRY

Bringing hope to incarcerated youth

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent

HOUSTON — Within the confines of juvenile detention centers, where concrete walls and steel bars can cast shadows over the hopes and dreams of incarcerated youth, compassionate volunteers and staff from Special Youth Services (SYS) embark on a mission of hope and love to ensure these young souls are not forgotten.

Approximately 3,000 detained youth aged 10 to 17 are served annually by SYS ministers through weekly visits to juvenile justice centers, facilities, and programs in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, Brazoria County and Walker County. These ministers remind the youth of Jesus’ unconditional love and mercy, ensuring they know they are

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, at center, sprinkles holy water during a dedication ceremony for the new Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart on April 13 in Houston. The new plaza provides a new gathering space for parishioners and events at the Co-Cathedral.

A mother holds her child as she looks up towards a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the new Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart April 13. The statue, which sits at the center of the plaza, was originally located by the old Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral off Pierce Street. The zinc-based statue, which saw several minor restoration efforts since its installation in the 1930s, was fully restored to its original form.

JOSEPH A. FIORENZA PLAZA

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Humanity must have more direct contact with nature to counter the modern lifestyles that are destroying the planet, Pope Francis said.

Respecting and loving the earth, as well as seeking direct contact with nature, “are values that we need so much today as we discover ourselves increasingly powerless before the consequences of irresponsible and shortsighted exploitation of the planet,” he told members of the Italian Catholic Movement of Adult Scouts.

Meeting with the members, dressed in their scouting uniforms, at the Vatican on April 13, the pope said people in modern society are “prisoners of lifestyles and behaviors that are as selfishly deaf to every appeal of common sense as they are tragically self-destructive; insensitive to the cry of a wounded earth, as well as to the

voice of so many brothers and sisters unjustly marginalized and excluded from an equitable distribution of goods.”

“In the face of this, the Scouts’ sober, respectful and frugal style sets a great example for all,” he said.

Pope Francis highlighted the group’s recent charitable efforts, such as donating an incubator for infants to an emergency care center in Lampedusa, Italy, a landing point for migrants coming into the country. The incubator, he said, “symbolizes the joy of a child coming into the world, the commitment to ensure that he or she can grow well, the expectation and hope for what he or she may become.”

“We live in a time of a dramatically falling birthrate,” the pope said, noting that the median age in Italy is 46 while the median age in nearby Albania is 23. The falling birthrate shows that

humanity “seems to have lost its taste for creating and caring for others, and perhaps even its taste for living,” he said.

Sending the incubator to the Lampedusa reception center “further underlines that love for life is always open and universal, desirous of the good of all, regardless of origin or any other condition.

The scouts also helped build a nautical carpentry workshop in Zambia, which he said is aligned with the human vocation of transforming God’s gifts “into instruments of good,” particularly in a world “where there is so much talk, perhaps too much, about producing weapons to make war.”

Citing his 2015 encyclical“ Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home,” the pope encouraged the scouts to “take charge” of the current climate crisis and, from there, to deeply consider “the specific place that human beings occupy in this world and their relations with the reality that surrounds them.” †

them, visit www.smseminary.com.

THE FIRST WORD

Carrying the Easter spirit

How can we continue celebrating the Easter season?

HOUSTON (OSV News) — Most people don’t think in terms of Easter spirit. Yet the Easter season is a time that is filled with a spirit of joy and hope.

During the 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, we proclaim and sing the word “alleluia,” which means “praise the Lord.” We are reminded that Jesus has overcome death. We are given the assurance that our lives have meaning and purpose. And we have the promise of eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

Now that’s something to celebrate. But there’s even more!

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised His disciples they would never be alone because He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them. Then, He commissioned

His followers to spread His message all over the world and make disciples of all people.

Ten days later, on Pentecost Sunday, the apostles heard a loud noise and the Holy Spirit descended upon them in tongues of fire. When that happened, they received spiritual gifts that transformed their lives and gave them the power to touch the lives of others. They ran into the streets and began to tell people about Jesus. Each person in the crowd understood them in his or her own language. Thousands became believers that day.

So, Easter spirit is more than just experiencing joy and hope. It’s also a special call to share the Easter message with others.

Good news is contagious. Here are ways you can spread the good news this Easter season:

A Sunday gathering

out to play and meet and greet the people who live next door. Ask everyone to bring a dish or beverage to share. What a great way to live out Jesus’ command to “love our neighbor.”

Friday night movie night

BRIEFS

Priesthood and transitional diaconate ordinations set

HOUSTON — Catholics across the Archdiocese are invited to attend the ordinations of priests and transitional deacons.

The transitional deacon ordination is set for Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will ordain seminarians John Clark, Hubert Hai Dao and Carlos Velero as transitional deacons, continuing their path to the priesthood.

The priestly ordination is set for Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will ordain Deacon Luis Armas, Deacon Viet Nguyen and Deacon David Ramirez to the priesthood.

The ordinations will both take place at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Parkway in downtown Houston and will be livestreamed online at www.archgh.org/live. †

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continue

at three locations

HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offering food assistance at three locations.

In Houston, food distributions at the Guadalupe Center (326 S. Jensen St.) are Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. (drive-thru) and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (food distribution bags). The next community food fairs are set for April 27 and May 11 at 10 a.m. New clients should bring a photo ID and bill with a confirming address. No appointment is necessary. Call 713-874-6781 for more information.

May Day basket

Put together a small basket or box of goodies and deliver it to neighbors, shut-ins, grandparents or a young couple with a new baby. Be sure to stay anonymous — leave the basket on the front steps, ring the doorbell and run. Kids can make homemade greeting cards or cookies, or pass on a gently used toy that they’ve outgrown. Pluck some flowers or herbs from your spring garden, add a prayer card and all of a sudden you can be spreading the good news of Easter joy. † LIVING

Host a neighborhood gathering on Sunday afternoons. As the weather warms up, send the kids

Pick your favorite streaming service and watch a movie as a family every Friday night through the Easter season. Eat popcorn and movie snacks and talk about the takeaway lessons each person learned from the show.

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.

The Beacon of Hope Isle Market in Galveston (4700 Broadway, Suite B-101) is open for appointments Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To make an appointment, which is required, call 409-762-2064.

In Fort Bend County, the Mamie George Community Center (1111 Collins Rd., Richmond) hosts drive-thru food distributions and in-person shopping. Drive-thru distributions with the Houston Food Bank are on Tuesdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Clients should visit the pantry by appointment only on Mondays, 12 to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For help, call 281-202-6200. For more information, visit www.catholiccharities.org/ food or call 713-526-4611. †

A MARIAN MOMENT

H ail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A stained glass window depicts the Resurrection of Christ at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy.

LOCAL

Office of Corrections Ministry honored

Office of Correctional Ministries

New plaza completes Archbishop Fiorenza’s vision

1

It’s just great seeing all these people in this beautiful space; he loved them very much,” he said. “I felt his spirit here with us; I know we all did. We know he was present. It was just the perfect day.”

Attending the event with his wife Lisa, Mark Fiorenza echoed his family members when he said that they were “so blessed to have Uncle Joe” in their lives, that “he was a wonderful man, a great visionary [who] just always wanted to help people.”

Before the plaza’s dedication, Cardinal DiNardo celebrated a Mass that also marked the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedrals, which in the Archdiocese includes the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, built in 2008, and St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, which was dedicated in 1848.

WATCH MORE

COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH A. FIORENZA

A new 20-minute documentary film profiles Archbishop Fiorenza and his life and legacy through a series of interviews with those who knew him best, including family members and collaborators.

A longtime friend of Archbishop Fiorenza, Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, of Beaumont joined Galveston-Houston Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, in concelebrating the Mass. Bishop Guillory served as Archbishop Fiorenza’s auxiliary bishop for nearly 13 years before he was appointed to lead Archbishop Fiorenza’s hometown diocese. Also in attendance were large groups of consecrated women religious, including many sisters who worked closely with

Archbishop Fiorenza.

In his homily, Cardinal DiNardo recalled Archbishop Fiorenza as a priest who was dedicated to social justice, the end of racism and a “great friend to other amigos,” noting Archbishop Fiorenza’s longtime friendship and activism with Houston faith and civil rights leaders Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff and Reverend William Lawson. An effort that Cardinal DiNardo called a “triumph of diversity” in the city.

“As a priest, chaplain, bishop and Archbishop, he was a lover of the City of Houston and of [the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart],” Cardinal DiNardo said. Though Cardinal DiNardo dedicated the co-cathedral in 2008, Archbishop Fiorenza spearheaded the effort leading up to its construction, including presenting the design to thenpope St. John Paul II.

statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that once faced Pierce Street now watches over St. Joseph Parkway near green landscaping.

Originally installed in the 1930s, the statue is now the focal point of the parklike plaza and sits adjacent to the new landscaped parking area that includes safe access and space for 141 vehicles, accommodating an urgent need for the co-cathedral both during weekend and weekday Masses and events. The effort to restore the zinc-based statue included recovering its lost history, by tracing it back to its original artisan, 1929 catalog, and foundry origins to understand how it was made and looked before decades of weathering and subsequent upkeep and repair efforts.

Archbishop Fiorenza “loved the people whom Jesus loved,” Cardinal DiNardo said, “and that was frequently not only those who were well-off but also the poor, the immigrant, the stranger and the person on the side of the road.”

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH A. FIORENZA

“Uncle Joe was rooted here in Houston, and Houston became his family,” Lisa Fiorenza said. “Even though we as his family were seated in the front row, everybody in that church was his family, and if they had large enough front pew, everyone would have been sitting up there with us.”

As part of the $9.8 million “Completing the Walk” campaign, the new Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza commemorates the late Archbishop’s life and legacy and completes his vision for an open outdoor space to gather, Cardinal DiNardo said.

“We knew that moving forward with the vision, we wanted to stay connected with the history from which we come from,” said Father Bame. The towering

The statue links “us to our past and ensures that all people who gather here in the future can remember and know who is the true foundation,” said Father Bame.

In the plaza, a tall limestone memorial wall often glimmers in the sunlight and features the history of Archbishop Fiorenza, the campaign and the co-cathedral on temporary banners. The permanent bronze plaques are expected to be completed and installed by Memorial Day. The wall also showcases four intricate crosses originally seen on the old co-cathedral.

Other parts of the campaign include major infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to the co-cathedral and the neighboring Cathedral Centre. The final part of the campaign is the establishment of a $5 million endowment to ensure the future of the co-cathedral and its ministries.

For more information on the “Completing the Walk” campaign and to donate online, visit www. completingthewalk.org. †

PLAZA, from page

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Above, visitors, including many women religious, walk the plaza to view the memorial wall that features the history of Archbishop Fiorenza and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. At right, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo walks towards the Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza during a dedication ceremony on April 13.

SCAN TO WATCH

‘Awe-inspiring’

from page 1

schools also held experiments, including St. Cecilia School in west Houston which integrated several activities. Its 616 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students were among the millions of Texans lucky enough to be in the slim corridor stretching from Texas to Maine and see the near-total eclipse.

John Aylor, assistant principal, told his students, “This is your opportunity to see God’s creation in action.”

“At first, we couldn’t see the sun at all until the eclipse actually started, and the clouds began to part. For about 30 to 45 minutes, we saw glimpses of the different stages, seeing it appear and disappear again,” Aylor said. “The students outdoors started cheering whenever the sun and moon peeked out.”

Mary Margaret Leavitt, St. Cecilia’s STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) Integration Teacher, assembled a collection of different activities recommended by NASA and other institutions, providing teachers with a set of resources.

The elementary grades learned about physical science to understand the process of what would be happening, while more advanced grades studied the physics of the phenomenon through shadow and light waves.

“This is a chance for them to see what sort of design, what sort of beauty, is within the world — and just to help incorporate a better understanding of the science behind it all,” Aylor said. “And then, just the historical perspective of it: ‘I was there.’ We took time to learn; we took time to think — and stop and wonder.”

“Textbooks only take you so far. That’s why it’s so important to study, learn and conduct hands-on experiments,” he said.

At St. Theresa Catholic School in

solar eclipse a chance ‘to reflect on God’s grandeur’

Sugar Land, the science teachers also explained the eclipse beforehand and how it worked in class.

But once it began occurring, the group of St. Theresa students gathered in communion outdoors.

St. Theresa English teacher Samuel Klumpenhouwer, Ph.D., said, “During the eclipse itself, though, we just watched and sang the Salve Regina in honor of “the woman clothed with the sun.” (Rev. 12)

In other experiments conducted along the line of totality from Mexico, through the middle of the U.S. and up into Canada, professional physicists and student researchers were planning to run one of the most famous astronomical experiments in history — one that proved Albert Einstein’s theory of general

relativity during the 1919 solar eclipse.

“Our faith informs that science,” Aylor said.

For Father John Kartje, rector and president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, who also holds a doctorate in astrophysics, the eclipse reminded the world of who put things into motion in the first place.

“As extraordinary as an eclipse is, it’s simply the natural world behaving in the way the one and only God who created it set it up to behave,” Father Kartje said. “But I think anything that can give us a little jaw-dropping awe and wonder to stop us in our tracks — to quiet and silence the din and buzz of everyday busyness — can be a great opportunity to reflect on God’s grandeur.” †

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE EISTERHOLD/FOR THE HERALD AND ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

At left: The moon begins to eclipse the sun as seen from Huntsville April 8, which saw 97% totality. At right: St. Cecilia Catholic School students cheered in amazement viewing the solar eclipse April 8. They wore safety eclipse glasses that they then fashioned with decorated paper plates for added eye protection as staff supervised between their own glances upward to the heavens.

REUTERS

The Statue of Liberty is seen during a partial solar eclipse at Liberty Island in New York City April 8.

was visible

University

HOUSTON (OSV News) — As a headmaster, Kevin Stuart often wondered when the gender identity issue would touch his school community, and when it did, if he could handle the situation with truth and charity.

Now, as director of the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture at the University of St. Thomas Houston, he’s pioneering a program that he hopes will enable Catholic educators, health care workers, youth ministers and others to better understand, communicate and practically apply the Church’s teaching on gender and sexuality in the workplace.

This fall, the center is launching a new graduate certificate in sexuality and gender, an online four-course program that Stuart believes is the first of its kind. “There are plenty of programs at secular universities on women’s and gender studies, but this is the first one from a full, authentically Catholic perspective,” he said.“Lots of people are saying they’ve been waiting for something like this (and) we are hopeful and confident that will translate to students.”

Leah Jacobson, program manager, said she believes that many Catholic professionals feel alone and unequipped to handle this sensitive topic. “I think there’s a lot of administrators out there who are probably terrified that today is the day someone is going to walk into

their office with this issue,” she said. “I don’t think that there’s been a lot of guidance. There are so many questions that haven’t been answered on how we should be handling this as a Church. I think this program will help us to make really good, informed policy that helps humans.”

The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic school in Houston with 3,600 students. Founded in 1947 by the Basilian

Fathers, the school is recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society, which recommends universities with a strong Catholic identity. The Nesti Center offers academic programs and learning opportunities focused on faith and culture.

The certificate program combines the Catholic teachings on the human person with the science about human biology — information that is often politicized or distorted, Stuart told OSV News

“There is nothing more necessary in our cultural discussion around the topics of gender and sexuality than situating ourselves at the intersection of what science can tell us and the fundamental dignity of the human person created in the image and likeness of God,” he said.

“We must equip leaders in our world to become apologists of human dignity, empowering those around them to see themselves as God sees them.”

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo said he supports the program and that it meets a pressing need in the church and in the culture at large. “Pope Francis has reiterated the need to untangle the confusion and reaffirm the truths of the Church’s teachings on human sexuality and gender,” he said. “It is fitting for the task to be undertaken at the highest level and in a scholarly and scientific way by the University of St. Thomas.”

In addition to equipping Catholic professionals through the certificate, the center is also launching a master’s degree in Catholic women’s and gender studies. While the certificate is designed to equip busy Catholic professionals, the master’s allows students to dive deeper into the history, science, philosophy and theology of sexuality and gender, said Jacobson.

“Pope Francis has reiterated the need to untangle the confusion and reaffirm the truths of the Church’s teachings on human sexuality and gender.”

DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

“There is a need for study and academic rigor in these areas as Catholics because our voice needs to be heard, and we need to be able to go toe-to-toe with secular women’s studies programs,” she said. “It’s necessary for us to engage with feminist scholars to (share) what is actually going to bring equality and happiness.”

When she served as a campus minister, Jacobson remembers talking with faithful Catholic students who had bought into much of what the culture was teaching them about relationships, careers and family life. “It really opened my eyes to what the secular women’s studies programs were teaching — the right to suppress the female experience in order to show up and do the same thing that the men were doing,” she said. “I desire to create a women’s studies program that allows and expects for women to be fully women — our bodies intact, our gifts intact, our special, unique contributions to the world being honored and recognized.”

Jacobson sees the program as a chance for those who have shied away from women’s and gender studies to reclaim the subject. “I know Catholic women who have desired to engage on these topics, but they’ve leaned away from secular women’s studies programs because they’ve sensed just how toxic they can be,” said Jacobson. “I think there is going to be a new wave of women engaging on these issues. I’m hoping we attract some people who are intellectuals but also maybe revolutionaries.”

Jacobson is excited for Catholics to earn a degree in a field largely dominated by secular ideology. “(Now) when you get into these sticky conversations, and someone drops a credential on you, you can return with your own credential (and say) ‘I’ve studied these issues, too, as an intellectual, and I’ve come to a different conclusion,’” she said. “I think that is going to shake up this conversation tremendously.” †

Special to the Herald

Center for Faith and Culture at the University of St. Thomas in Houston is pictured in an undated photo. The center is launching a new graduate certificate in sexuality and gender aiming to answer a strong need for the knowledge, tools and skills required to navigate these topics with truth and compassion.

Synod Matters: Improving parish hospitality, equipping disciples to fulfill Church’s mission

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

HOUSTON — At Prince of Peace Catholic Church and Corpus Christi Catholic Church, participants met during Lent to discuss how the Church’s structures support or hinder the faithful’s embrace of the mission to bring people closer to God.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo’s request to conduct the next wave of synodal sessions in English and Spanish responds to Pope Francis’ call for profound dialogue and discernment in preparation for the upcoming Vatican Synod of Bishops in October.

A significant takeaway identifies transformative retreats, charismatic ministries and small faith-sharing groups as pivotal in promoting the Church’s mission.

Participants also emphasized the value of community and service ministries, the transformative power of Liturgy and Sacraments, and the importance of personal devotions and spiritual growth toward Christ by the faithful. From these discussions, a resounding theme emerged: the collective effort in communion of the entire Church — including clergy, staff, lay ministers and parishioners — is imperative for realizing this mission.

The need for more positive interactions with parish staff and the active formation and training of lay ministers were identified as key areas for improvement. These concerns underscored frustrations with perceived barriers to engagement and assistance within local parishes. Participants cited poor responsiveness to communication channels, disinterest, obstacles encountered when seeking assistance or Sacraments from parish staff, and even refusal to help those in need.

To address those items identified as hindering the Church in fulfilling its mission, Jim Barrette, secretariat director of Pastoral and Educational Ministries, will establish a team to address two primary challenges: enhancing the formation and training of lay ministers and improving the hospitality of parish staff.

For lay ministers, the focus will be on advocating for a relational and transformative approach to their development. Meanwhile, efforts to improve hospitality will provide pastors with effective strategies to cultivate a culture of encounter and community of their staff with the people approaching the parish front desk, parishioners and

committed disciples.

Ministry training and formation programs addressing these concerns are currently offered by various Archdiocesan offices, including those in the Pastoral and Educational Ministries. These programs encompass a variety of topics essential for effective ministry, such as altar server formation, catechesis, family ministry, retreat management, bioethics, young leader formation and others. Soon, the secretariat will offer and promote a workshop to front office parish staff on best practices for hospitality and engagement with lay leadership.

“Formation at every level of parish staffing is critical to the mission of the Church,” Barrette said. “We can never underestimate the importance of first impressions, beginning with people’s initial contact with our parishes all the way through well-formed disciples.”

As a cornerstone of pastoral planning efforts, the synodal disposition of reaching out, asking questions, and actively listening has been part of the Archdiocese for over two decades. For example, building on insights from synodal listening sessions held across the Archdiocese since 2021, parish pastoral councils have received guidance and practical support from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, ensuring the effective discernment, implementation, and adaptation of plans over time.

This collaborative approach enables pastors and parish leaders to pinpoint key focus areas, address specific spiritual needs, foster growth, and actively engage the community in living out the call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus.

“These synodal listening sessions have provided invaluable insights into the sentiments and aspirations of our local Church community, which has become a focus of our current pastoral planning efforts to ensure that our parish and Archdiocesan goals are aligned to meet the specific needs of each parish effectively,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “As we continue our journey of discernment, guided by the Holy Spirit, our commitment remains unwavering — to proclaim the Gospel message of love and mercy to all, ensuring the voices and concerns of the faithful are heard, acknowledged and addressed.”

To view the Lenten 2024 Synodal Sessions Report and to learn more about synodality in the Archdiocese and pastoral planning assistance, visit www. archgh.org/about/pastoral-plan. †

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PASTORAL AND EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES

Participants from Prince of Peace Catholic Community and Corpus Christi Catholic Church gathered during Lent to discuss how the Church’s structures support or hinder the Church in fulfilling its mission.

Special Youth Services driven by mission to bring Christ to the incarcerated

YOUTH, from page 1

not forgotten and that someone cares, regardless of their backgrounds and past actions.

Volunteer Delores Gibson once learned about SYS during a presentation from a visiting deacon at her parish. She truly grasped the significance of the ministry’s mission and felt a divine calling to get involved. She witnesses the transformative power of sharing the Word of God through her weekly Bible studies with the youth, which offers hope and guidance. She said she believes her role is to illuminate the Gospel message and allow the light of Christ to shine through to penetrate the harsh realities they face both within the detention center and in their troubled home lives.

Scripture.”

Gibson’s involvement with the youth has deepened her own connection to her Catholic faith and prayer life. She relies on the Holy Spirit to equip her and bring forth an encounter with Christ with the youth during her time with them.

DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND

“SYS provides the Bibles to these kids, so it’s rewarding to know that they are reading them during the week and coming to Bible study with their questions,” Gibson said. “I’ve had kids tell me, ‘Wow, you’re blowing my mind! I didn’t understand that before.’ So, it’s truly uplifting to see their eyes light up when they make that personal connection and develop a new understanding of

“It’s very important for me to demonstrate the compassion I have for each of them, and most importantly, the love that God has for them, to help guide them through their problems,” she said. Gibson witnesses the impact of SYS’ community engagement initiatives, such as the creation of Hope Bags by children in Catholic Schools, parish ministries and other organizations. The bags, adorned with artwork and filled with holy cards, snacks and handwritten messages of encouragement and inspiration, deliver more than just prayers and support to detained youth; they leave a profound and lasting impression.

“I had one young man approach me with his handwritten letter from the Hope Bag, and as he read it to me, tears welled up in his eyes,” Gibson said.“When he finished, he held the letter closely to his heart and said, ‘I will treasure this forever, Miss Delores!’”

Another dedicated volunteer with SYS, Adam Garcia, also witnesses the profound impact of the Lord’s mysterious ways in the lives of the youth he serves inside the detention centers.

“In our ministry, which is heavily focused on evangelization, we are constantly planting seeds in the kids’ hearts by discussing the Gospel, God and prayer,” Garcia said. “However, sometimes we encounter challenges such as kids being transferred to another unit or leaving for another location, which disrupts the continuity of our interactions. Despite these issues, we trust that the seeds we’ve planted will continue to grow and bear fruit in their lives.”

Garcia believes that consistent engagement with the same youth over time in Bible studies fosters trust and encourages them to open up about their faith. He recounted witnessing the transformation of a young man in his Bible study, from skeptic to advocate for Christ, as evidence of the profound spiritual growth that can occur.

“This young man initially tested us by joking around a lot to see if we truly cared,” said Garcia. “But over time, he regularly attended Bible study and actively participated in readings and discussions. He became a really good influence on the rest of the unit, making sure the other kids attended and were paying attention.”

The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme 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

This new video series brings to life the ministry featured in this story. Hear from people personally

Joe Barber, a candidate for the permanent diaconate, was assigned to SYS as his social service ministry. He understands that the youth often face difficult circumstances and systemic challenges. Yet, like other children, they have dreams and aspirations. He believes that with improved circumstances, their lives can go in a new direction.

Give online at give.archgh.org or scan here to give

“I’ve watched these youth grow and expand in their faith life, seeing their prayer life take root, far beyond what I ever imagined,” Barber said. “This experience has helped me become an ambassador for them, with a new appreciation for the challenging circumstances that many face in the juvenile justice system.”

He emphasized the importance of providing physical and pastoral support to these marginalized young individuals, fostering a renewed faith and hope, even in challenging situations.

“Interacting with these youth and knowing you are doing God’s work is a rewarding experience that will give you incredible peace and insight,” Barber said.

Franchelle Lee, director of SYS, shared her profound gratitude for the compassionate and dedicated services of Gibson, Garcia and Barber, as well as all the SYS volunteers and staff. They selflessly give their time and talent to support these detained youth, ensuring they are not forgotten and providing hope and guidance during challenging times, she said.

Given the vital role of SYS’ mission for the youth, at-risk families and

the Lord’s.” Use

society, Lee encouraged the faithful in the Archdiocese to support the annual appeal for the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF). This fund is essential for SYS to fulfill its mission of evangelizing and providing essential support, pastoral care, advocacy, and faith sharing for youth in local juvenile justice centers and programs.

“The DSF allows us to provide programs for youth and families that would not have access to quality services,” Lee said. “Contributions to the DSF do not stay within the four walls of our office but are taken into the communities, benefiting all those we serve.”

To learn more about SYS and its offerings for at-risk youth in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and to learn how to volunteer, visit www. archgh.org/sys.

To donate to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s DSF annual appeal, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports SYS and 63 additional 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. †

Catholic Communication Campaign connects the faithful with Christ in Houston and beyond

HOUSTON — On May 11 to 12, many Catholic dioceses will take up a special collection in their parishes for the Catholic Communication Campaign, which helps to spread the Gospel through print, radio, television, websites and social media. Funds raised in this campaign support the national media efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the media outreach efforts of local dioceses across the U.S., and communications initiatives in countries throughout the developing world.

The campaign “raises money for creative and far-reaching ways to share God’s love, leaving half of the donations in the diocese where they were collected for local Catholic communications needs,” said Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv. of Atlanta, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on the Catholic Communication Campaign.

In the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, where half of the funds collected that weekend will remain, the support allows the Archdiocesan Office of Communications to produce multimedia projects that bring the Gospel message to the faithful in Houston and beyond, according to Archdiocesan officials.

These digital products include the new “Around the Archdiocese” podcast, which releases new episodes weekly, as well as an active video series, which profiles different ministries and parishes in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Hartmayer emphasized the importance of having outlets that speak directly for the Church in an era when digital communications make it easy for others to misrepresent Catholic teaching. “The bishops use your gifts to provide these resources because Catholics deserve to hear what the Church teaches and does firsthand. You should have the opportunity to learn from sources that are as committed as you are to our shared faith,” he said.

In its most recent grant cycle in 2022, the Catholic Communication Campaign awarded national and international grants totaling more than $3.62 million. The largest group of grants, representing about 35% of the total, were for evangelization through the bishops’ national and international media efforts.

A nearly equal amount went to the Rome bureau of Catholic News Service for coverage of Pope Francis and the Vatican. Other major funding areas were digital communications, grants for Catholic media in developing nations, preserving Church history, and media training for Catholic leaders.

Where do the donations go?

Half of the collected funds for the Catholic Communication Campaign, set for May 11 to 12, remain in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to support local communications projects. The other half provide grants that support the collective communication work of the bishops of the United States as well as other national projects and around the world. To learn more about the CCC and the projects it supports, visit www.usccb. org/ccc. †

Half of the funds collected in each participating diocese remain there and support the communications outreach efforts of the local bishop within that diocese. Grants from the campaign support numerous media efforts across the U.S. and around the world, but Archbishop Hartmayer emphasized the communications work of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In particular, he cited:

The Rome bureau of Catholic News Service, which continues its legacy of covering the pope and current events at the Vatican with a selection of stories posted daily at www.usccb.org/newsroom and contributes to content for the Texas Catholic Herald and The Digest, the TCH’s email newsletter.

A weekly news show and podcast, Catholic Current, available at youtube. com/usccb, enables bishops and others with national leadership roles to speak directly to the public about the important issues on which they are working, liturgical feasts of the coming week, and current events in the Church.

While most dioceses will take this second collection on May 20 to 21, some choose a different date to accommodate local activities. #iGiveCatholicTogether also accepts funds for the collection. More information can be found at www. usccb.org/ccc.

“Through your gifts to the collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign, you allow the Church today to continue the work of the first apostles who set out to carry the saving message of Jesus to all who would listen,” Archbishop Hartmayer said. †

MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Questions about subscription, circulation or need to change an address? Call 713-652-4444 or email TDIELI@ARCHGH.ORG for assistance. Visit ARCHGH.ORG/TCH for more information.

May 1, 2008 Rev. Albert Moraczewski,

May 2, 2009 Rev. Royce Hughes

May 3, 1984 Rev. Wm. Peter Elder, OP

May 3, 1985 Rev. John F. Kiernan, SSJ

May 3, 1993 Rev. Ignatius Gutmann

May 4, 1977

May 5, 1897

May 5, 1972

May 5, 1991

Rev. Maurice Dho

Rev. Antoine Faure

Rev. Thomas H. Dailey, OP

Rev. Lawrence Fanning, OMI

May 5, 2002 Msgr. James A. Jamail

May 5, 2008 Rev. William H. Brenda, OP

May 5, 2015 Rev. Msgr. Paul Procella

May 6, 1946 Rev. Michael I. Hurley

May 7, 1974 Msgr. John A. Cummings

May 7, 1981 Rev. Leo Joseph Munelly, CSB

May 7, 2004 Rev. Sylvester Heppner, OFM

May 8, 1996 Rev. Walter H. Principe, CSB

May 9, 1965

May 9, 1974

Rev. Florencio Andres, OMI

Msgr. Victor A. DiPrimeo

May 9, 2003 Rev. Anton Sheltz

OBITUARY

Father Gan Minh Nguyen, C.Ss.R.

May 11, 1928 Rev. Theodore Buffard

May 13, 2020 Rev. Donnell Kirchner, CSsR

May 14, 1884 Rev. Victor de Lisicki

May 14, 2017 Rev. Joseph D. Bang

May 14, 2019 Rev. Patrick Cummings

May 15, 1962 Rev. Edward A. Sheffield

May 15, 1996 Rev. Jose Barandiaran, SSS

May 16, 1986 Rev. James O’Connell, CSsR

May 21, 1895 Bishop Claude M. Dubuis

May 21, 2012 Rev. Thomas P. Warden, CSB

May 22, 1944 Rev. Innocent Raska

May 22, 2017 Rev. Isidoro Vicent, OP

May 24, 1962 Rev. Joseph P. Sullivan

May 25, 1870 Bishop Jean M. Odin, CM

May 25, 2017 Rev. Edigio Vecchio, MS

May 27, 1929 Rev. Matthew McSorley

May 28, 1934 Rev. Benedict C. Pfiffner

May 28, 1990 Rev. Rudolph G. Beranek

May 29, 1958 Rev. Authur J. Flannagan, SSJ

May 29, 2009 Rev. Joseph Luc Van Do, OP

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Father Gan Minh Nguyen, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist who served at Holy Ghost Parish in Houston, died on April 14. He was 59 years old.

In 1999, he was appointed at Holy Ghost Parish, where he held additional responsibilities as community bursar. Father Nguyen returned to Houston in 2016 as parochial vicar of the church.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, April 27. Interment is in the Redemptorist Cemetery. †

Editor’s Note: For links to full obituaries of priests and women and men religious who have served in our Archdiocese, and to view obituaries printed in past Texas Catholic Herald issues, visit www.archgh.org/obituaries.

WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE

An Easter Reflection

- BY ST. JOHN PAUL II -

We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through His own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of His Paschal Mystery — the mystery of His Death and Resurrection. “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”

We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the “fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of joy.” We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “Be it done unto me according to thy word.”

— An excerpt from an Angelus message given by St. John Paul II on Nov. 30, 1986 in Adelaide, Australia.

HOLY THURSDAY - STRAKE JESUIT

PALM SUNDAY - ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, THE WOODLANDS

EASTER VIGIL - CORPUS CHRISTI

EASTER VIGIL - ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, THE WOODLANDS

EDUCATION Catholic middle school students delve into mysteries of Eucharist with poetry

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — Writing poetry of angst entitled “While the World Burns” to the peaceful “Tranquil Harbor,” Archdiocesan Catholic middle school students received awards on April 10 for participating in the Catholic Literary Arts Sacred Poetry Contest.

The ceremony attendees, including sixth through eighth-grade students and their families, on the University of St. Thomas (UST) campus were welcomed by UST President Richard L. Ludwick. He called this CLA poetry contest “one

part of the growing Catholic renaissance.”

One of the more personal poems among this year’s entries on the theme of Eucharistic Adoration was called “Never Too Young to Hear God.” Mason Wozniak, sixth grader at St. Anne Catholic School-Tomball, wrote about his father surviving a stroke and brain aneurysm and how prayer in their church’s adoration chapel helped the family cope with the trauma.

Part of the poem reads:

“My heart was open. I felt relieved. I had faith. I believed.

So, with God beside me, I weathered the storm.

Things got better, and I got used to a new norm.”

Sarah Cortez, president and founder of Catholic Literary Arts, a nonprofit that supports writing programs starting in third grade through adulthood, said the organization received more than 1,000 poems submitted for this contest. That number was whittled down by professional judges to 30 finalists, she said.

“Then we chose these nine poems — first, second and third place winners — for each of the grades sixth through eighth. And of those firstplace winners, an overall poet laureate is selected,” Cortez said.

“Dr. Klumpenhouwer is great, and so are all her teachers there,” Griffin said.

Samuel Klumpenhouwer, Ph.D., who studied medieval Latin and Church history, now holds the record for one of his students being selected as poet laureate three years in a row in this annual contest.

This year’s poet laureate is Nefellie Frankel, first-place winner for eighth grade at St. Theresa Catholic School-Sugar Land with the Latin title “Facie Dei” (Face of God):

“And blood, the mark of Christ, by malice drawn

In God’s almighty chalice rests untouched.

Though hard we pray, His pain is never gone.

‘Till end of times, we shall recall as much.

Most sacred Lamb of God, through pain most sweet

Has sacrificed Himself for us to eat.”

Frankel said, “I prayed on it a lot. The Eucharist is a window into Christ’s life and into His death and resurrection.”

Her mother, Julie Griffin, also credited St. Theresa’s classical curriculum and her teachers.

“Nefellie’s title of her poem is very fitting since in Adoration, when we look at the Host, we are looking at God’s face,” he said.

Francesca Rice, principal at St. Theresa’s, said, “We embrace both Latin and poetry starting with our pre-K and Kindergarten through eighth grade according to their level.” The curriculum has enticed parents who are interested in such a classical education. Martin Lockerd, Ph.D., UST chair of English and Associate Division Dean of Liberal Studies, said his daughters attend St. Theresa. He said the girls are also excited about participating this summer in writing programs that CLA sponsors for students ranging from third grade to 12th grade at the UST campus.

Part of the prize for the contest’s winning poets is free tuition sponsored by the Scanlan Foundation, the Strake Foundation, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women and the Archdiocese to attend the Fearless Catholic Writing Camps for third to eighth grades. There is also a High School Writers Institute June 10 through 14 for grades nine through 12. For more information on the contests and the writing programs, www. catholicliteraryarts.org. †

NEFELLIE FRANKEL

YOUTH

Ministering to at-risk youth

After 22 years of youth ministry, with the last eight in mission with Adore Ministries, I can look back on the triumphs and the sad parts. I can also revel in the present by seeing the young people I have walked with who are now in college, graduated, married or even married with their own kids.

It’s been a privilege to work with such young people from all walks of life: from the youth who grew up in wealth, the quiet suburbs, or the sometimesdangerous streets of our wards. And after all of this, there is a mistake we can make with this nostalgia of looking back and thinking, “Look what I did.”

I had a teen in mission whose grandpa would bring her to everything. He’d say, “She’ll be here every week and early. I don’t care what you do, put her to work. But she’ll be here.” This grandparent was doing his best for his wayward grandchild.

She was making all the mistakes, getting caught up in drugs, stealing and fighting. She also did not have a healthy home life because everyone else was making the same decisions. At one point, something clicked, and she attended everything she could out of her own volition. On top of that, she said yes to discipleship.

Yet, after journeying with her for a few years, I did not see any of the things I wanted to see — deeper faith, better life choices, etc. The trouble continued at home and at school to the point of

by CHRIS DONATTO

expulsion. But she was still present at the mission. So, I got the opinion of a volunteer at the mission who knew her. “You know her. Here’s everything we’ve been doing, yet no change.”

And this volunteer had to remind me. “You’re right. She’s at everything here at the parish. Yet, you are only a small part of her life. The main examples of a life to be lived are back home. You need to be okay with just being a positive person in her life that has her back, no matter what. Remember, it’s the Spirit that does the real work.” That changed everything for me. No matter where a kid is from, whether wealthy or poor, good home life or rocky, can walk safely around the neighborhood or not allowed to go outside at night, all youth are at risk of something.

Some youth live in literal poverty. I’ve met some so privileged they didn’t know how to operate a broom. That’s a poverty in itself. Yet, all have the same needs and desires. They want to be heard. They want to know they matter. They want to be loved. Not being told, “You kids today,” or “back in my day,” etc. None of that is relevant to what is going on in their lives in the here and now. That will often close

A PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons and consecrated persons.

Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen –

“During this Easter season, consider who needs you as a positive role model in their life.”

them off to other approaches because they will realize you are now making it about you.

I often get asked “What do teens need today?” with the person wanting the silver bullet. But there is no quick fix. The Spirit will move when they open themselves up to Him. It is simply our job to create a space for those needs to be filled so that they feel safe enough to let the Spirit in.

I found out during the pandemic that I had done my part for that girl. She was

in dire straits and still making the wrong decisions. At one point, she had a health scare. She checked herself into the hospital because of chest pains. All the tests were clear. It was simply physical reactions to stress due to the situations she was in. And she had simply called me to pray for her.

In the grand scheme of things — outside looking in — it was no big deal. But I realized we were able to create some sort of safe space and build a trusting relationship to where she knew she had someone on her side. And that could be the kink in the armor that the Spirit can enter through.

During this Easter season, consider who needs you as a positive role model in their life. What one small thing can you do to let someone who is struggling know that you care? †

Chris Donatto is the director of Recruitment at Adore Ministries.

Celebrate the gifts of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics in May

In June 2018, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published “Encountering Christ in Harmony,” a pastoral letter addressing the gifts and challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics in the U.S. The bishops praise the ways in which Asian and Pacific Island Catholics have “infused” their faith with their unique cultures, histories and traditions. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us examine how three communities in particular have added to the spiritual riches of the Church:

The Vietnamese Catholic Community

The history of the Church in Vietnam is filled with stories of small Christian communities who held on to their faith despite social repression and government persecution. That tradition of faith in the face of persecution can be seen in the witness of our local Vietnamese Catholic community, whose parents and grandparents escaped Communist persecution on boats only to spend years in refugee camps and more

by AMY AUZENNE

years working to reunite their families, often in communities that did not welcome them. The tenacious faith of Vietnamese Catholics has gifted the Church with many martyrs and saints, such as St. Andrew Dung-Lac, and a beautiful devotion to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Lavang. Another name may soon be added to this list: mystic, preacher and political prisoner Nguyen Cardinal Van Thuan, whose cause for sainthood was opened in 2007.

The Korean Catholic Community Catholicism was brought to Korea by scholars who first encountered the Gospel by reading Chinese translations of European books. Thanks to the efforts of Korean diplomat-turned-evangelist Yi Seung-hun, a small, thriving community of Catholics was there to welcome

European missionaries when they arrived from France in 1836. Soon after this promising beginning, Korean Catholics began to suffer persecution from rulers who saw their faith as a threat to the social and political order. Beginning in 1866, thousands of Korean Catholics were arrested, imprisoned and killed for their faith in Christ. The martyrs of Korea, including St. Andrew Kim Taegon, a 24-year-old Korean priest who died encouraging others to come to faith in Christ so that they too might be “happy after death.”

The Filipino Catholic Community

Another thriving Asian community in our local Church is the 50,000 Filipino Catholics who worship in parishes across the Archdiocese. Beginning in the 1950s, Filipino nurses and medical professionals began arriving in Houston, drawn by the need for healthcare workers. They brought with them a Catholic identity deeply rooted in the Eucharist and a devotion to “Mama Mary,” the Blessed Mother. They also brought beautiful devotions like the

Misa de Gallo and Simbang Gabi that enrich our understanding of the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas. Just this month, a cause for sainthood has been opened for Nina Ruiz Abad, a 13 year-old Filipina girl. If canonized, she would join St. Lorenzo Ruiz to become the second recognized saint of the Philippines.

Our local Church is also home to at four other Asian Catholic communities, including Burmese, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian Catholics, in addition to other small but faithful communities.

Although diverse in language and culture, the Catholics of Asia and the Pacific Islands share a common experience of growth through adversity. Isolated, persecuted and often without ordained clergy, these churches raised up saints and martyrs who stood against empires. May each of us take courage from their holy example to stand against the empires of our own day. †

An Easter Journey: Exploring sacramentals, signs and symbols

As we journey through the Easter season, immersed in the joy and hope of Christ’s resurrection, we are surrounded by signs and symbols that enrich our faith experience. The Liturgy of the Church is filled with tangible expressions of our faith, imbued with spiritual significance and grace. From the Paschal Candle, ablaze with the light of Christ, to the sprinkling of holy water, each tangible expression invites us into a deeper encounter with God’s presence. These outward signs point us toward the divine reality they represent, stirring our hearts to reverence and awe. Let’s joyously delve into these sacred elements to deepen our connection with the mysteries we celebrate.

Take, for example, the Paschal Candle, a towering symbol of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Adorned with the cross, the Alpha and Omega, and the current year, it proclaims the victory of our Risen Lord in our day. Lighting this candle at the Easter Vigil and keeping it ablaze throughout the season reminds us of Christ’s continuous presence in our lives, dispelling darkness and kindling hope.

But these signs and symbols are not mere decorations; they are vehicles of grace, conduits of God’s love and mercy. The sprinkling of holy water is often done throughout the Easter season. The Church recommends this practice because the practice recalls our

by ADAM BRILL

baptismal promises, the cleansing us of sin, and invigorates us to renew our commitment to Christ. As the water cascades over us, we are reminded of the living waters that flow from Christ’s side, washing away our sins and refreshing our souls.

There are also special prayers that abound through the Easter season. At every Mass during the Easter octave and on Pentecost Sunday, Mass concludes with the “Double Alleluia.” The double Alleluia resounds with jubilation, echoing the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of eternal life. Even if we are not the best singers, this exultant refrain rings out, lifting our hearts in praise and thanksgiving. The use of the double Alleluia, as well as the Easter sequence, “Victimae Paschali,” and the special formulas inserted into the Eucharistic Prayers during the days of the octave, are ways of emphasizing the importance of the feast and prolonging its celebration.

The season is concluded with the Solemnity of Pentecost. The extended form of the Vigil Mass for Pentecost, recently revived in the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, invites us to enter

into a profound experience of waiting and watching for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Like Mary and the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room, we anticipate anew the Father’s gift promised by the risen Son. Mirroring the Easter Vigil with extra readings, prayers and sacred rituals, we prepare our hearts to receive the transformative power of the Spirit, renewing our commitment to live as joyful witnesses of the Gospel.

As we embrace these signs and

symbols during the Easter season, let us open our hearts to the grace they convey. And as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, may our faith in the Risen Lord be enkindled anew, filling us with the fire of God’s love and empowering us to spread the good news to all the world. †

Amy Auzenne is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.

NATION Bishops visit Selma, Montgomery in ‘powerful encounter’ with legacy of racism

(OSV News) — A group of Catholic bishops recently traveled to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, in what trip organizers called a “powerful encounter” amid the nation’s long-running reckoning with racism.

Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, former chairman of a U.S. bishops’ committee against racism, and current committee chair retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry of Chicago hosted a March 18 to 20 “Bishops’ Lenten Experience” in the two cities.

Both cities were the endpoints of a five-day, 54-mile nonviolent march led by civil rights leader and pastor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965 in support of voting rights for Black Americans. The 2024 trip also happend to retrace the steps of the late Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto and Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who participated in those marches as priests.

At its March 25, 1965, conclusion on the steps of the Capitol in Montgomery, Rev. King told the 25,000 participants, “There never was a moment in American history more honorable and more inspiring.”

The bishops’visit to the sites, which was closed to media, had been coordinated by the committee on racism and the Washington-based Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works closely with the U.S. bishops to end the death penalty, promote restorative justice and advance racial equity.

Joining Archbishop Fabre and Bishop Perry for the three-day gathering were Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, California, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and Bishop William M. Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa.

Among the stops on the itinerary were Montgomery’s three Legacy Sites — the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park — the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, renamed in honor of King, who served as its 20th pastor from 1954-1960; and the City of St. Jude, founded by Passionist Father Harold Purcell as part of what he called “a long-cherished ambition” to work directly among Southern Black communities. The parish complex’s nowclosed hospital treated those injured during the March 7, 1965, “Bloody Sunday” clashes and tried to save the life of activist Viola Liuzzo, who was killed on the final day of the Selma to Montgomery

OSV NEWS PHOTO

In the shadow of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., bishops and others pose during a recent pilgrimage to Selma and Montgomery. From left are Bishop William M. Joensen of of Des Moines, Iowa, retired Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Ky., Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Danielle Brown, associate director of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, and Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, Calif.

march by Ku Klux Klan members.

The group also journeyed along the National Historic Selma to Montgomery Trail and, while in Selma, silently crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where state and local law enforcement had attacked peaceful civil rights marchers — including future Congressman John Lewis (19402020) — who were attempting to transit on Bloody Sunday.

Following their time at the bridge, participants met for prayer and dinner with staff at the Edmundite Missions. Founded in 1937 by two Society of St. Edmund priests, the missions serve the area’s most impoverished communities by providing meals, education, youth and senior services.

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, told OSV News the tour focused on three lines of inquiry.

“What is the relationship between the nation’s past and modern-day systems of oppression, particularly related to the criminal legal system?” said Murphy. “What is required of the Church, its leadership and its faithful in order to be ministers of reconciliation? How can the Church play a more active role in truthtelling to move our ministries forward?”

“Locating ourselves within these pivotal places of the civil rights movement

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“Let us follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi and take care of our common home.”

“Let us follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi and take care of our common home.”

during this trip was an opportunity to engage in intentional and potentially challenging conversations about the legacy of racism — in our society and in our Church,” she said.

Bishop Perry told OSV News that he was particularly moved by his

IN BRIEF

Encouragement, Adoration key to fostering priest vocations, report shows

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Personal encouragement and Eucharistic Adoration are crucial in fostering vocations to the priesthood, according to data from a newly released report.

On April 15, Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released the 2024 “Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood,” a report made directly to the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Most respondents said they had first considered a vocation to the priesthood when they were 16 years old, and the average age of ordination was 34, a number consistent with the range of 33 to 37 reported since 1999.

CARA’s executive director, Jesuit Father Thomas Gaunt, told OSV News that direct encouragement of young men to consider priestly life is a “perennial factor” in vocations, with 89% of the respondents, or nine in 10, reporting they had received such support — usually from a parish priest (63%), friend (41%) or parishioner (41%). “You could almost say that ... no one shows up at the seminary who was not encouraged,” Father Gaunt said. Eucharistic Adoration also emerged as significant in vocational

visit to the Legacy Museum, which “powerfully traced the slave trade through emancipation and the summary execution of Blacks — mostly Black men — in an effort to preserve distance between the white and Black communities on through the civil rights struggle.

“I don’t think anyone can journey through the exhibits without registering great emotion in the face of the human devastation involved in our American history,” he said.

Bishop Perry told OSV News that eradicating racism is a matter of “conversion of mind and heart,” admitting that“this whole issue of race differentiation is probably one of the slowest pieces of the human situation that we know of and experience from day to day. And it’s hard to get people to turn around attitudes or entrenched perceptions of one another.

“We continue to work on it to make sure that that conversion becomes a reality,” said Bishop Perry. The upcoming feast of Pentecost presents an opportunity for the faithful to recommit themselves to “the value of diversity in the Christian experience from the beginning,” he said. “Can we allow others to voice and celebrate their cultures in our schools and churches and workplaces?”

Quoting the U.S. bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter on racism, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love,” Bishop Perry said, “Only by forging authentic relationships can we truly see each other as Christ sees us.” †

discernment, with 75% of the respondents noting they had regularly prayed before the Blessed Sacrament prior to entering the seminary. †

‘Blessed by Cancer’ social media evangelist, dies leaving powerful witness

DETROIT (OSV News) — When Jessica Hanna was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant, she fought to find treatment that would heal her and preserve the life of her unborn child. Months later, she had a healthy baby boy, and scans showed no sign of cancer. But tragically, her cancer soon returned. Through the ups and downs of her illness, the Catholic wife and mother of four shared her story with her nearly 50,000 followers on social media using the powerful handle @blessed_by_cancer.

She died on April 6, leaving behind a legacy of pro-life advocacy and an example of a steadfast trust in God, no matter what. On her Instagram page, Hanna frequently shared that she was grateful for the physical healing but more grateful for the spiritual transformation God had begun in her.

“We have to stop thinking earthly. We have to always focus on eternity,” she wrote. “Yes, I am blessed by cancer, by suffering, by my cross … because it is how He found me and made me new. There is no greater blessing than that.” †

STATE

A bishops’ encounter: Congregations welcome El Paso bishop at consecrated religious gathering in San Antonio

Special to the Herald

SAN ANTONIO — On March 2, the Inter-Congregational Religious Formation Group gathered on the Oblate campus in San Antonio, ahead of a day of prayer and reflection with the Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso.

The 79 culturally diverse men and women religious who participated in the event came from 16 different religious congregations, all of whom were involved in active ministry and initial formation for religious life in one or more of our 15 Texas dioceses.

The day began with song and prayer aimed at raising participants’ awareness of how faithfully they live the Gospel values of love and justice. Bishop Seitz followed with several presentations centered on Liturgy and social justice.

He reminded all that both Liturgy and justice revolve around Christ making all things new.

In Liturgy, he said, “I” becomes “We.” In Liturgy, the faithful become a corporate body, the Body of Christ. The true power of Liturgy is that it inaugurates a new social reality. It reveals life’s true meaning and involves a new self-giving that transforms the world.

The bishop emphasized that Liturgy and work on behalf of the world go together. The celebration of the Eucharist brings the faithful into a relationship with God and one another and share in each other’s lives, he said.

Transformed into the Body of Christ, the faithful live now, not for themselves, but for others. A Eucharistic community,

he said, can never be closed in on itself. As brothers and sisters, Catholics celebrate a unity that no power can divide.

While referring to his work for more than a decade on the U.S. border, Bishop Seitz reminded his audience that social justice is about bringing all into the right relationship.

When hundreds of people arrive at the border daily, instead of speaking of everything as a crisis and willfully mischaracterizing the situation, the bishop says he and city leaders and the people of El Paso work compassionately and collaboratively with the migrants and refugees. All play a vibrant role in helping each other see “our shared

humanity” and take appropriate action, he said.

The Catholic Church is already speaking clearly and strongly on immigration issues, the Bishop said.

He encouraged the congregations:

• To speak as disciples of Jesus and act more courageously from a Gospel perspective, not just focus on what politicians say.

• To focus on migrants and immigration issues, not just border issues.

• To address the situations that make people want to or need to migrate from their home countries.

• To organize opportunities for personal encounters with immigrants and hear their stories so that anti-immigrant sentiment changes.

• To organize trips to the border and visit immigrant shelters to help ourselves humanize the persons who are arriving at our borders and change the dehumanization they experience.

• To educate our local people so they can speak to their pastors and elected officials and work together to find better ways of addressing real needs.

Among numerous other points shared throughout the day, Bishop Seitz urged all present to reflect also on whatever borders they may have set up internally to keep themselves at a distance from their brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, especially those who are poor and on the periphery. He urged all to recover their spiritual gaze as a solution to the current problem.

“We need contemplatives and mystics — people who see interconnections and interrelationships,” Bishop Seitz said.

He also expressed particular gratitude to the religious communities of women who have come to the border and ministered there with great generosity of spirit.

Following the presentations and prayer, the group took time over lunch and breaks, as well as in more formal small and large groups, to process all they had heard.

The first gathering of its kind, with so many others in initial religious formation, their energy easily filled the room, organizers said.

Attendees made efforts to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones while also enthusiastically sharing their own insights, questions, and experiences of the day with Bishop Seitz as well as with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, of San Antonio, who joined the group in the afternoon.

“It was a wonderful experience to see a glance of the universal Church,” Brother Heimer Vargas, MSpS, said. “The different religious communities present made me realize how alive the Church is.”

He said that even though every institute has a different identity and a particular charism, “we all have the same mission: building the kingdom of God on earth. I experienced the Holy Spirit being present within us and allowing Bishop Mark to deliver a very needed and powerful message.”

Others also focused on the gathering being a time of inspiration, hope and grace for them. Another gathering is expected in Fall of 2024. †

PHOTO COURTESY OF SISTER DOROTHY BATTO, CCVI Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, and Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, of San Antonio, (both center front) shared a day of reflection with 79 men and women from around Texas who are involved in the Inter-Congregational Initial Religious Formation Program on March 2 in San Antonio.

MUNDO CATÓLICO

Mostrando la misericordia de Dios a los jóvenes encarcelados

Como pueblo de Resurrección, esperamos que nos espere vida nueva al otro lado del dolor, el sufrimiento y la muerte, como la experimentó Jesucristo para que tengamos vida eterna. Entendemos lo que viene después del sufrimiento y estamos llamados a compartir ese mensaje. Special Youth Services (SYS), un ministerio financiado por el DSF, llevan este mensaje de esperanza a los centros de detención juvenil de toda la Arquidiócesis a través de estudios bíblicos semanales y visitas pastorales.

Algunas personas tienen miedo de ir a un centro juvenil porque esperan criminales empedernidos, pero se sorprenden cuando ven que los niños, de entre 10 y 17 años, en realidad son niños. Hemos sido testigos de pandilleros, tanto hombres como mujeres, riendo, saltando y divirtiéndose en eventos especiales porque se sienten libres de actuar según su edad real. Hay una sensación de liberación en su detención. Nos encontramos con niños inteligentes, educados y talentosos que merecen una segunda, tercera o cuarta oportunidad de vivir una vida mejor. La mayoría de los jóvenes reciben visitas de voluntarios con mente y espíritu abiertos. Hubo un joven que se sintió

por ALEJANDRA M. GARZA

inspirado a realizar su propio estudio bíblico con otros jóvenes entre las visitas semanales de los voluntarios.

Muchos de nuestros jóvenes terminaron en un centro porque su vida familiar los llevó a tomar decisiones que los metieron en problemas. Sufren en casa y buscan amor y aceptación en otros lugares. Pueden ser parte de un ciclo del que sienten que no pueden escapar porque sus padres también tienen problemas con la ley. Pero incluso esos niños pueden decidirse a tomar mejores decisiones, incluso a empezar a ir a la iglesia. Algunos lo hacen cuando regresan a casa y nunca los volvemos a ver. Sembramos semillas espirituales y esperamos que algún día florezcan. Hemos tenido jóvenes a quienes servimos que se comunicaron con nuestra oficina con buenas noticias sobre cómo se convirtieron en pastor de jóvenes, consiguieron un trabajo, realizaron estudios de pre-medicina y se convirtieron en padres. Apreciamos esas flores y oramos por su éxito.

APOYO PASTORAL A VÍCTIMAS DE ABUSO SEXUAL DEL CLERO

En un continuo esfuerzo por facilitar atención pastoral a las victimas de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, el Cardenal DiNardo gustaría recordar a los fieles de la Arquidiócesis la disponibilidad del Coordinador de Ayuda a Víctimas. Si alguien ha sido victim de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, se les anima llamar a la Diane Vines al 713-654-5799. Por favor rece por la sanación de las víctimas del abuso y por todos los que sufren de alguna manera.

Hemos tenido niños que piensan que no merecen el perdón de Dios por lo que han hecho o niños que no sabían que podían ser perdonados y por eso las visitas de nuestros voluntarios son necesarias y valoradas. Cuando nuestros voluntarios visitan a los jóvenes, los ayudan a abrir los ojos y el corazón a la omnipresencia, el amor y el perdón de Dios. Los guían para que comprendan el mensaje de Dios a través de Su Palabra. Ayudan a los jóvenes a identificar las bendiciones en sus vidas confinadas y a

Esperamos, junto con nuestros jóvenes, que todos amemos y confiemos plenamente en el Señor y que cuando los jóvenes sean liberados, reciban la ayuda y el apoyo que necesitan para tomar mejores decisiones que los lleven al éxito.

Si siente un llamado a servir con SYS en cualquier capacidad, no dude en contactarnos en sys@archgh.org o 713-741-8739. †

WITHIN THE ARTS

In ‘Irena’s Vow,’ a view of heroism in the face of evil

(OSV News) — On the first day of filming for “Irena’s Vow” (Quiver), Sophie Nélisse had to witness a mass hanging.

The Canadian actor, 24, has been making movies since childhood. So the scripted summary executions by Nazis — meant to terrorize the population of occupied Poland during World War II — were all in a day’s work.

Yet evoking an atrocity was not the problem. Instead, it was the possibility of running afoul of Polish child labor laws. “We had so many background actors. (But) a lot of the kids had to wrap up in the afternoon,” Nélisse told OSV News

As a result, Nélisse’s close-ups didn’t involve watching the gallows but rather following a tennis ball that an assistant director was moving to direct her horrified gaze.

The movie is based on the real-life experiences of Catholic nurse Irene Gut Opdyke (1918-2003). Famed for her rescue of Jews, Opdyke was named Righteous Among the Nations by the Israeli Holocaust Commission. In 1995, she received a special blessing from St. John Paul II, who also invited her to a personal audience.

The hanging is not the most uncomfortable moment in the R-rated film. It’s surpassed, in that regard, by a scene of infanticide that’s explicit enough to make many viewers cringe. A sadistic German officer grabs a newborn child from its mother, stomps the infant to death, then shoots the mother.

Grim fare, indeed. Yet it was this incident that inspired Irene’s resistance, as the movie — directed by Louise Archambault and adapted from his play of the same name by screenwriter Dan Gordon — explains.

Unflinching depictions of history can be both troubling and complicated. But that was the point of Opdyke’s 1999 memoir “In My Hands,” which discussed her decisions.

Another challenging theme crops up in the plot when Irene is asked to perform an abortion. By now, she’s hiding a dozen Jews in the basement of a capacious villa requisitioned by Wehrmacht Major Eduard Rügemer (Dougray Scott), for whom she works as a housekeeper.

When one of the women under Irene’s protection becomes pregnant, the motherto-be asks her rescuer to terminate the child’s life. Irene refuses, not out of stated religious principles, but on more broadly humanitarian grounds.

Because of what she’s witnessed, Irene announces, “I refuse to participate in the death of another Jewish baby.” (Before the end credits, the real Irene is shown hugging the man she refused to abort.)

Remarkably, this is Nélisse’s second role as a young wartime hero. Her first was as Liesel in“The Book Thief”(2013). In that film, her fictional German character — a member of the female equivalent of the Hitler Youth, no less, who is shown

OSV NEWS PHOTO

Sophie Nélisse as Irene Gut Opdyke, left, stars in a scene from the movie “Irena’s Vow.”

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

► FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS AND MORE LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

APRIL 26

CAJUN DINNER, 4 to 7 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes (10114 Hwy 6, Hitchcock). Food includes Cajun pork and sausage jambalaya with maque choux corn, Cajun cornbread and dessert. Drive-thru and dine-in available. Cost: $14 pre-sale tickets available at school office, $16 day-of. Open to the public, free parking. 409925-3224; mcarr@ololchurch.org.

APRIL 27

BINGO, 6 to 9 p.m., St. Hyacinth (2921 Center St., Deer Park). Bingo benefiting the parish recovering from tornado damage. Bingo cards are $1 each. Concessions will be available. 281479-4298.

CRAWFISH BOIL, 12 to 4 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). All-youcan-eat crawfish and beverages. Event includes a silent auction. bbenavidez@silcc.org.

GALA, 6:30 p.m., Marquee at the Mainland (10000 Emmett F Lowry Expy., Texas City). Gala benefits for Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School with mariachis, DJ, ballet folklorico, dinner and drinks. 409-945-3326.

APRIL 27-28

FESTIVAL, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). Event includes food, music, kids’ games, auctions and Bingo. ctrcc. com/festival.

BAZAAR, Saturday 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Francis de Sales (8200 Roos Rd., Houston). Saturday includes crawfish and shrimp boil, live music, hamburgers, hotdogs and pie contest. Sunday features a variety of American and ethnic food, live music, silent auction, live auction at 1:30 p.m., Bingo, kids’ games and a raffle. sfds-houston.org/bazaar-1.

APRIL 28

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Hyacinth (2921 Center St., Deer Park). “Almost... Gone With

the Wind” includes food, music and games benefiting the parish recovering from tornado damage. Cost: $1 food tickets, $0.50 game tickets. 281-479-4298.

CELEBRATION, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., St. Mary in Frydek (10471 Grotto Rd., Sealy). “Grotto Celebration” includes Mass at 10 a.m., kolaches, barbecue dinner with beef, chicken and sausage, auction at 1 p.m., raffle, kids’ games and continuous entertainment and dancing with music by Krenek Band, Chris Wallace DJ and Dujka. 979-885-3131; stmary@twlt.net.

FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., St. Jerome Parish Activity Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Event features marketplace, food and drinks, games, entertainment and a raffle. stjeromefestival.com.

MAY 1

HOLY HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). A Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour, held every first Wednesday of the month, includes Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. sacredhrt.com/adoration.

MAY 3-5

WEEKEND RETREAT, 7 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Time away from the distractions of everyday life for a married couple to reconnect and revitalize their marriage by focusing on each other and learning new ways to communicate more effectively in a private, positive atmosphere. $200 application fee. artgingerotto@comcast. net; 281-460-5739.

MAY 4-5

BAZAAR, St. Matthias (302 Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia). Saturday cook off and barn dance. Sunday outdoor bazaar, food, auction and games. 281-356-2000.

MAY 5

BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes (10114 Hwy. 6, Hitchcock). Annual bazaar with fried chicken dinners, Mexican enchilada dinners, with silent and live auctions. Kids’

Cinematic Universe.

singing anti-Semitic lyrics in a choral number — steals books to share with the Jews taking refuge in her basement.

Nélisse, currently one of the stars of “Yellowjackets,” a Showtime drama series set in the Canadian wilderness, insists this was never her career plan. Still, she enjoyed the evident parallels between the protagonists — in this world but not of it, and being caught up in a milieu of unspeakable evil, yet finding the inner courage to remain moral.

Both the fictional Liesel and the real Irene “put others’ needs in front of their own,” she says. (“Irena’s Vow”) “went beyond a Holocaust movie, I think. It helped me grow as a human being and brought me so many values.”

Real heroes, she observed, “are often the most quiet ones,” and operate, as both characters did, “in the shadows.”

She’s quick to point out that, as a working actor, she seeks diversity in her roles. In addition to the next season of “Yellowjackets,” Nélisse has a horror movie coming up. Additionally, she’s looking for parts in comedies and romances and — like every young performer in the business — hopes to land a role somewhere in the Marvel

games with cake, plant and grocery booths, live music and more. ololchurch.org/bazaar.

PICNIC BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Skrabanek Park (1800 Main St., Danbury). St. Anthony sponsors a picnic with $15 plates of barbecue brisket and sausage with homemade trimmings, kolaches and tea rings. Event includes country store, kids’ games and more. Auction at 12:30 p.m. st1523@sbcglobal.net.

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). Event features food, kids’ games, live and silent auctions, Bingo, a raffle, a plant booth and more. Free admission. andrew.mambretti@gmail.com; bit.ly/MQParishFest.

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). Event features food, kids’ games, silent auction, a raffle, dance and live music by The Telstars and more.

FESTIVAL, 12 to 9 p.m., Blessed Sacrament (4015 Sherman St., Houston). Spring festival celebrates 100 years of serving the community. Cost: Free admission. bsccarchgh.org.

MAY 11

TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE ORDINATIONS, 10 a.m., Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will ordain seminarians John Clark, Hubert Hai Dao and Carlos Velero as transitional deacons, continuing their path to the priesthood. Open to the public. Livestream: archgh.org/live.

CONCERT, 7 p.m., Holy Ghost (6921 Chetwood Dr., Houston). A free will offering concert of well-known hymns in English, Spanish and Latin. cchavarrieta@sbcglobal.net.

MAY 17-18

CONFERENCE, St. Joseph (1505 Kane St., Houston). “The Time For St. Joseph” conference includes presentations by Father Victor Perez, Devin Schadt, Dr. Leonora Butau and Mike Aquilina, Eucharistic Adoration, confession and prayer focused on St. Joseph’s devotion. Cost: $40. stjosephconferencehouston@gmail.com; 713-222-6193; saintjoseph.org.

MAY 18

CONFERENCE, St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). “Filled with the Spirit” conference closes with Father Richard McNeillie celebrating Pentecost Vigil Mass.

JUNE 1

PRIESTHOOD ORDINATIONS, 10 a.m., Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will ordain Deacon Luis Armas, Deacon Viet Nguyen and Deacon David Ramirez to the priesthood. Open to the public. Livestream: archgh.org/live.

JUNE 5

HOLY HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). A Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour, held every first Wednesday of the month, includes Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. sacredhrt.com/adoration.

Nélisse is not Catholic; neither is Opdyke’s daughter, Jeannie Smith, who identifies as a non-denominational Christian.

Smith vouched for her mother’s selfeffacement about saving lives. Growing up in Orange County, California, “I didn’t know anything about that until that phone call (in 1976) when I was 14.”

It was a hostile call from an antiSemite. Her mother — who had married William Opdyke, a United Nations employee, in 1956 — was asked “whether she thought the Holocaust was makebelieve,” Smith told OSV News

This event only spurred further activism and a campaign of public speaking — which, in turn, brought hostility from neo-Nazis in California. Smith remembers accompanying her mother to a talk at a Los Angeles high school in the late 1970s, where there were swastikas painted on the sidewalk as well as threats saying “Jew-lover, stay home or else.”

But the students responded well to her mother’s honesty, Smith recalls, “one after another, they got back in line to get another hug and kiss.”

Her mother, Smith says, “taught me that a little can go a long way.” †

VOW, from previous page

MILESTONES

Harris County Sheriff’s Office honors Office of Correctional Ministries

HOUSTON — On April 2, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales honored the Office of Correctional Ministries of the Archdiocese and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at the April 2024 Harris County Sheriff’s Office Commendations Ceremony held at Second Baptist Church.

The ministry was one of 51 community partners and Sheriff’s Office personnel to receive recognition from Sheriff Gonzales and his Command Staff.

During his opening remarks, Sheriff Gonzales said, “We can never have enough prayer,” which highlights what the Office of Correctional Ministries does for not just the incarcerated individual but also for the officers who arrest criminals or are responsible for the custody of the inmates.

Catholic Charities recognizes Fort Bend County resident for his dedication to educating others

KATY — During April, National Volunteer Month, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston proudly recognized the exemplary service of Michael Sullivan, a Katy resident whose dedication to education and community support has significantly impacted the lives of refugees and immigrant individuals in the Houston area.

Officials at Catholic Charities said that for the last two years, Sullivan has volunteered with the organization, focusing on tutoring refugee and immigrant high school students in English. Using his teaching experience at various institutions, including Houston Community College, Sullivan conducts one-on-one tutoring and coordinates the efforts of other volunteers. Collectively, the group has helped many Catholic Charities’ clients pass STARR testing, obtain their GEDs, and given them muchneeded confidence to succeed in school and eventually get jobs.

instruction, life skills training and education.

Sullivan describes his approach to tutoring as both compassionate and practical, recognizing his students’ diverse backgrounds and educational experiences.

Many of the students enrolled in the Catholic Charities program are orphans, come from war-torn countries, or have experienced some other type of suffering.

“One student at a time, one to two hours a week — it’s about making a personal connection and offering consistent support,” Sullivan said. “We aim to empower these individuals, helping them gain confidence and skills to succeed in their education and beyond.”

“I’ve seen the growth of these young people firsthand, and it’s gratifying,” Sullivan said. “Whether I’m helping them master the English language, guiding them through schoolwork, or offering mentorship and support, I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Sullivan attends St. Faustina Catholic Church in Fulshear, where he spearheaded the development of an employment ministry to help others who had fallen on hard times.

He is also involved in English as a Second Language tutoring for Catholic Charities’ St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care program, which recruits loving foster families for youth who come to the U.S. with no parent or guardian. The program works with the foster parents to provide ongoing support for each youth to help them adjust to life in the U.S. The youth are prepared to be self-sufficient when they reach adulthood through language

Ashley Hudson, director of Catholic Charities’ St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care program, is grateful to Sullivan for his work with her clients and his role in leading the other volunteer tutors.

“Michael has helped many of our clients pass the STARR test, obtain their GEDs, and give them the confidence to succeed in school. Many clients now want to further their education and attend college because of the support Michael has provided. He has done exceptional work with St. Jerome, and we are so blessed to have him as part of the Catholic Charities family,” Hudson said.

Beyond his volunteer work with Catholic Charities, Sullivan’s commitment to education and community service extends to his personal life. His wife, also an educator at Katy ISD, shares his passion for helping others, and together, they embody the spirit of giving back.

“Catholic Charities reaches out to the segments of the population that need help. All their programs, not just the tutoring program, make an impact physically, mentally and psychologically for those who have fallen through society’s safety net,” Sullivan said. †

The Office of Correctional Ministries could not minister to the incarcerated and the officers without the support of both Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro. This honor is just one of many accolades that the ministry, specifically, and the Archdiocese, in general, have received from the Harris County Sheriff’s

Office since Bishop John Morkovsky called upon the previous director, Father Ron Cloutier, to begin jail ministry at the Harris County Jail, starting a partnership that has lasted for 45 years. †

SULLIVAN

PHOTO BY ADAM BRILL/OFFICE OF WORSHIP

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, dedicated the new altar at the Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson on April 15, which was recently renovated and can now seat more than 200 adults. The retreat center continues its efforts to renovate and improve its facilities as a spiritual retreat center for parishes and ministries in the Archdiocese.