GRACE IN DAILY LIFE
Through her quiet life, St. Thérèse teaches us about confidence in God
▪ SEE PAGE 3
PAINTING FAITH
Alvin parish iconography guild colors the lines between spirituality, art
▪ SEE PAGE 17
Little Tex says
Our youth leaders Meet the newest members of the Archdiocesan Youth Council
SEE PAGE 12
(OSV News) — Out in my perennial garden, nestled among the bleeding hearts and hyacinths, stands a well-worn clay statue of St. Francis of Assisi made by an artisan in Mexico. The unusual characteristics of the statue make it a conversation piece as well as a spiritual touchstone that helps keep me centered as I dig, weed and plant each spring and fall.
BY MARY DETURRIS POUST Special to the Herald
He is a saint of the people — all people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. His broad appeal is fascinating, but at the same time, it begs the question: Do those who plant St. Francis in their gardens really know what the medieval saint was all about?
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — Most of the 70-plus firefighters who will be memorialized at this year’s Firefighters Mass on Oct. 13 served 20 or 30 years before retiring, many living into their 80s. But that should not belie the job’s dangers, with many passing at earlier ages from breathing problems, cancer and cardiac arrest, officials said.
Father Jeffrey Bame, rector of the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston, will celebrate the Firefighters Mass at 11 a.m. that Sunday, Oct. 13. Helping to organize the service is the St. Florian Society, named after the
Of course, I’m not alone. Drive down any street, and you’re likely to find St. Francis peeking out from both well-manicured lawns and wildflower gardens run amok. He is just as likely to share a garden with a statue of Buddha as he is to share one with a statue of the Blessed Mother.
Today, St. Francis’ concerns are often compartmentalized and separated from true Franciscan spirituality by wellmeaning folks who want to claim him for their own. And who can blame them? He is certainly a challenging yet endearing saint for the ages. Environmentalists jump on Francis’ love for creation, his “Canticle of Brother Sun,”
See FRANCIS, page 6
Be pilgrims, not tourists in life, pope tells young people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To fully experience love and hope, young people must approach the journey of life as pilgrims and not just sightseers seeking the perfect selfie, Pope Francis said.
“Do not be like superficial sightseers, blind to the beauty around you, never discovering the meaning of the roads you take, interested only in a few fleeting moments to capture in a selfie. Tourists do this,” the pope said in a message to young people ahead of the local celebrations of World Youth Day on Nov. 24 in Rome.
“Pilgrims, on the other hand, immerse themselves fully in the places they
See VATICAN, page 2
encounter, listen to the message they communicate and make them a part of their quest for happiness and fulfillment,” the pope wrote in the message released by the Vatican Sept. 17.
The November celebrations of World Youth Day are taking place just a month before Pope Francis is scheduled to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and inaugurate the Holy Year 2025.
“The jubilee pilgrimage,” he told young people, “is meant to be the outward sign of an inward journey that all of us are called to make toward our final destination.”
While expressing his hope that many young people would be able to make a pilgrimage to Rome during the Holy Year, including the July 28 to Aug. 3 celebration of the Jubilee of Youth, the pope said he hoped the year would be an opportunity for all Catholics to have “a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘Door’ of our salvation.”
Three attitudes should characterize Catholics’ celebration of the Holy Year, he said.
“First, thanksgiving, with hearts open to praise God for his many gifts, especially the gift of life. Then, a spirit of seeking, as an expression of our heart’s unquenchable thirst to encounter the Lord,” he said. “And finally, penance, which helps us to look within, to acknowledge the wrong paths and decisions we have at times taken and, in this way, to be converted to the Lord and to the light of his Gospel.”
Bernini’s colonnade around St. Peter’s Square is meant to evoke an image of the Church as a mother embracing all her children, the pope said. “In this coming Holy Year of Hope, I invite all of you to experience the embrace of our merciful God, to experience His pardon and the forgiveness of all our ‘interior debts,’ as in the biblical tradition of the jubilee years.”
Knowing that one is loved and forgiven by God makes it possible to embrace others and help them sense the welcome and love of God, he said.
Pope Francis told the young people that he realizes how challenging it can be to look to the future with hope, especially “in times marked by dramatic situations that generate despair and prevent us from looking to the future with serenity: the tragedy of war, social
injustices, inequalities, hunger and the exploitation of human beings and the natural environment.”
Too many young people, he said, are “tempted to live without hope, as prisoners of boredom (or) depression” or destructive behaviors.
The key to overcoming those temptations, the pope said, is to trust in the Lord and keep turning to Him when the road gets rocky.
Getting tired is a normal part of any long journey, he said. But that is different from “ennui, the apathy and dissatisfaction that affect those who never set out, choose, decide, take risks, preferring to remain in their own comfort zone, closed in on themselves, seeing and judging the world from a distance, without ever ‘dirtying their hands’ with problems, with other people, with life itself.”
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At left, Pope Francis accepts a Singaporean government gift of an orchid hybrid named in his honor during a welcome ceremony in the Singapore Parliament Sept. 12.
Ennui is “a kind of wet cement in which we stand; eventually, it hardens, weighs us down, paralyzes us and prevents us from moving forward,” Pope Francis wrote. “I prefer the tiredness of those who are moving forward, not the ennui of those who stand still with no desire to move.”
The energy and nourishment to keep going, he said, are provided by Jesus in the Eucharist.
Pope Francis cited the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager set to be canonized soon, who “made the Eucharist his most important daily appointment!”
All Catholics should do the same, the pope said, “In this way, in union with the Lord, we can walk without tiring, for He is walking alongside us. I encourage all of you to rediscover the great gift of the Eucharist!” †
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St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Thérèse of Liseux and St. Thérèse of the Little Flower, is the patron of missions. Reflecting on her story, Pope Francis wrote a special apostolic exhortation for her 150th birthday last year.
In his message, he wrote: “St. Thérèse is one of the best known and most beloved saints in our world. Like St. Francis of Assisi, she is loved by non-Christians and nonbelievers as well. The earthly life of St. Thérèse was brief, a mere 24 years, and completely ordinary, first in her family and then in the Carmel of Lisieux.
The extraordinary burst of light and love that she radiated came to be known soon after her death, with the publication of her writings and thanks to the countless graces bestowed on the faithful who invoked her intercession.
Thérèse, for her part, wished to highlight the primacy of God’s action; she encourages us to have complete confidence as we contemplate the love of Christ poured out to the end. At the heart of her teaching is the realization that since we are
incapable of being certain about ourselves, we cannot be sure of our merits. It is most fitting, then, that we should place heartfelt trust not in ourselves but in the infinite mercy of a God who loves us unconditionally and has already given us everything in the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Thérèse does tell us of certain moments of grace experienced amid the simplicity of daily life, like the sudden insight she had when accompanying a sick and somewhat irascible sister. Even so, those experiences of a more intense charity came about in the most ordinary ways.
A century and a half after her birth, Thérèse is more alive than ever in the pilgrim Church, in the heart of God’s people. She accompanies us on our pilgrim way, doing good on Earth as she had so greatly desired.
The most lovely signs of her spiritual vitality are the innumerable “roses” that Thérèse continues to strew: the graces God grants us through her loving intercession in order to sustain us on our journey through life.” †
HOUSTON — The University of St. Thomas is set to host a special event on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the River Oaks Country Club: The Nesti Center for Faith & Culture’s Annual Faithful Citizenship Dinner. This year’s dinner marks the 30th anniversary of the Nesti Center and honors its founder, Father Donald S. Nesti, C.S.Sp., 88.
Under the theme, “Illuminating the Way,” the gathering will celebrate three decades of unwavering service and commitment to the study of faith and culture. Thirty years of bringing the Catholic voice to the ongoing conversation about the meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness held in common as Americans. With others, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, will preside over the evening.
Honoring Father Nesti for his decades
of faithful citizenship acknowledges his profound impact on the center.
“Father Nesti is not only the founder and namesake but the exemplar of what the Center for Faith & Culture is all about,” said Dr. Kevin Stuart, Nesti Center director. “A man of strong faith, learned scholarship and a deep love of his country, Father Nesti gave the center a sense of mission that we carry into our work every single day... and for many decades to come.”
Reflecting on the center’s mission, Father Nesti said, “What the center has
done over the years and will be challenged to do in the future is to model what Catholic higher education is all about. And to offer a glimpse of how all branches of knowledge in academia can be touched by the views of the Gospel and, therefore, work to bring all cultures to a ‘more perfect union.’”
Among the center’s beliefs and values is the conviction that there is a profound relationship between faith and culture because the message of God’s love builds on and is mediated by human culture in every age and place.
The center advocates for true human fulfillment found through loving relationships with others. It helps people to examine, discern and live out the relationship between the Gospel’s universal call to love and the worldview and values of the prevailing American culture. †
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Effective August 7
Father Andrew Do, C.S.Sp.
Parochial Vicar – Holy Ghost, Houston
Effective August 15
Father Jaime Ario Rodriguez Reyes, SSS
Parochial Vicar – Corpus Christi, Houston
Effective August 26
Father Miles Eduardo Useche Juliá
Hospital Chaplain
Effective September 2
Father Aloysius Angelus Fernandez
Parochial Vicar – St. Charles Borromeo, Houston
HOUSTON — Blue Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. The color guard line up will be at 10:45 a.m. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will be the celebrant.
The annual Mass is celebrated on behalf of civilian and classified law enforcement employees, police officers, their families and public supporters.
Officers are encouraged to wear dress uniforms without the hat. Agencies are encouraged to bring equipment for the public to see and to be blessed after the Mass. For more information, email Scott Underwood at sunderwood@archgh.org or call 713-741-8744. †
HOUSTON — The annual Red Mass for members of the legal profession will be celebrated at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston.
The Mass will be immediately followed by a ticketed dinner at the Cathedral Centre. Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee will serve as the dinner speaker. For more information, visit www.archgh.org/redmass. †
Oct. 29 White Mass honors healthcare professionals
HOUSTON — The annual White Mass celebrating those who work in healthcare will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at St. Anne Catholic Church, located at 2140 Westheimer Rd. in Houston. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will be the celebrant.
A reception follows the Mass in the St. Basil Hall with a discussion on “Recognizing & Responding to Human Trafficking as Caregivers.” To attend the reception, register for free at archgh.swoogo.com/whitemass2024. †
Asian Mass celebrates culture, faith on Nov. 3
HOUSTON — All are welcome to attend the 28th annual Asian Mass, set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, located at 10610 Kingspoint Rd. in Houston.
Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, is the main celebrant. The Mass unites and celebrates the various heritages of the faithful in the Archdiocese including Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese.
A reception with food samplings from each of the cultures and cultural entertainment in the parish hall will follow the Mass. Participants are encouraged to wear their traditional wear for the festivities. Within the Archdiocese, at least 15 parishes celebrate Mass in various Asian languages. †
patron saint of firefighters, St. Florian, a Roman military officer who organized one of the first fire brigades. Legend says that during his life, St. Florian put out a massive fire with only one bucket of water, saving a village from ruin before being martyred by the emperor for his Christian faith.
The Mass is open to the public and is also an opportunity for all active and retired firefighters to pray together, honor those who have passed away, and share fellowship with families.
During the Mass, a special tribute will be given to firefighters who have died in the previous year. The tribute will include the reading of the names of deceased firefighters, which will be accompanied by the ringing of bells.
This tribute includes Jody Harris, who served for more than 35 years with the Houston Fire Department, retiring in 2009 with the rank of captain before passing at 75 this April after a long battle with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Also on the tribute list is William “Butch” Leo Edmonds Sr., who passed away this May at the age of 82. He began his firefighting career in the Houston
At Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, staff and volunteers – with support from donors – bring hope, comfort and relief to thousands of vulnerable people, regardless of their faith. Families struggling to afford groceries and a decent place to live. New mothers who can’t buy diapers for their babies. We are there for our neighbors. We are there for you.
Fire Department in 1963, following in his father’s footsteps. In 2001, Edmonds was the Memorial Fund Committee chair and served a vital role in building the Houston Fire Department Memorial for fallen firefighters.
District Chief Charles Julian, who retired after 45 years of service, passed away last November. The family of Julian, a member of the Houston Black Firefighters Association, celebrated his funeral Mass at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church.
John P. Norris Jr. died suddenly last November at 55 after working a structure fire. He served both the Houston Fire
ANNUAL FIREFIGHTERS MASS
When: Sunday, Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. Where: Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1700 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston
Department and the Forest Bend Fire Department in the Webster area, where he served as a paramedic, airport rescue, wildland firefighter and up to the rank of chief.
At the time of his death, his family asked in lieu of flowers to donate to the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force in Norris’ name to support its work of assisting families and agencies that suffered the loss of a first responder.
Robert Wayne Ebert, 60, passed away in December 2022 after retiring from the Texas City Fire Department as a captain, paramedic and EMS administrator with 30 years of service.
According to a Firefighter Fatality Study for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as a group, firefighters are more likely than other American workers to die of a heart attack while on duty. Firefighters are more likely to suffer a heart attack while performing support duties working on the ground at fires, while in the fire station, or during training exercises. In contrast, deaths due to traumatic injuries are more likely to occur while mitigating or responding to an incident.
As part of the Firefighters Mass, fire trucks will line the street in front of the co-cathedral with ladders hoisting a large U.S. flag. †
for
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Issuing a Vatican postage stamp celebrating the 40th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Holy See is a sign of the importance the Vatican attributes to their relationship, said the president of the commission governing Vatican City State.
“Celebrating the event with a stamp is like producing a small work of art that will travel the world and bring the message entrusted to it as a kind of manifesto,” Fernando Cardinal Alzaga, commission president, said at a Vatican news conference to present the stamp and day-of-issue postmark Sept. 16.
Laura Hochla, chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, told the Catholic News Service that the commemorative stamp “is such a beautiful gesture.”
“Mail is something that unites, usually two individuals or two institutions, despite the miles, despite the distance,” she said, and the mail overcomes all adversity as exemplified in the U.S. Postal Service creed: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” can keep mail couriers from finishing their rounds.
“So a stamp is a perfect way to show the diplomatic relations and the strength of our relationship with the Vatican,” she said.
“The decision to dedicate a philatelic issue (stamp) to the anniversary is certainly a sign of the attention and importance that the Holy See and Vatican City State attribute to these diplomatic relations,” Cardinal Vérgez said in his speech.
“A letter is a gift. Especially when most of the mail is bills!” Hochla said in her speech. She reminisced about growing up in rural New Mexico and noted how important local mail carriers are in linking Americans together over such a vast continent.
“Especially in the digitized world we live in today, governed by lightning-fast exchanges, where it is so quick and easy to send a simple message, the enduring beauty of a postal item stands out even more in our eyes,” she said.
A 2.45-euro ($2.75) Vatican stamp (not to scale) features the seals of the
and the U.S. celebrates the 40th anniversary of the two establishing full diplomatic
The 2.45-euro ($2.75) stamp features the seal of the Holy See and the seal of the U.S. tied together with yellow and gold ribbons for the Vatican and red, white and blue ribbons for the U.S.
The stamp features the years 1984 and 2024 and notes it is the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The Vatican post office began selling the stamp Sept. 16, and the post office located by the Arch of the Bells in St. Peter’s Square was offering special cancellations for collectors Sept. 16 and 17.
The Vatican and the U.S. government announced the establishment of full diplomatic relations Jan. 10, 1984. Two months later, the Senate confirmed President Ronald Reagan’s choice of William A. Wilson as the first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, and a few weeks later, St. John Paul II appointed then-Archbishop Pio Laghi as the first pro-nuncio to the U.S.
“For Vatican City State, this
cooperation means being fully committed to defending the human dignity and rights of each person, promoting justice and defending the truth,” Cardinal Vérgez said. †
Oct. 10 panel event highlights 40th anniversary of VaticanU.S. diplomatic relations
HOUSTON — A special panel event titled “Popes and the Presidents” will explore the lasting effects of the diplomatic relations between the U.S. in light of its 40th anniversary on Oct 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nold Auditorium at St. Mary’s Seminary.
The free event will feature speakers including Ambassador Kenneth R. Hackett, a former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See; and Father Matthew Súniga, vice rector of St. Mary’s Seminary, who will serve as moderator. The night will also include pre-recorded remarks from former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III.
Online registration is required. To register, visit www.bidpal.net/vatican40. †
“POPES AND THE PRESIDENTS”
When: Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: St. Mary’s Seminary Nold Auditorium
9845 Memorial Dr., Houston Register: bidpal.net/vatican40
Cost: Free
his diligence in protecting trees and even “brother” fire, and find in him a kindred spirit.
Animal lovers hear stories of him preaching to birds and taming a wolf and see in Francis the kind of saint who has rightly earned his status as patron of animals. His popularity comes into full view every Oct. 4, when adults and children alike line up outside churches with everything from goldfish swimming in glass bowls to German shepherds straining at leather leashes just for a chance to get their pets a blessing on Francis’ feast day.
Peace activists, interreligious leaders, social justice organizers — the St. Francis fan club goes on and on. It seems everyone can find a piece of Francis to suit their cause. But, if you put all of those individual causes into the Gospel context that was at the heart of Francis’ rule and spirituality, you come away with a very different picture of our lovable saint, one that is not so easily shaped and molded by the latest trends in activism.
Would we see quite so many St. Francis lawn statues if people stopped to reflect on the fact that Francis’ life was one centered on his love of Christ, his commitment to a radical living out of the Gospel, and his “marriage” to the bride he dubbed “Lady Poverty”? The path that St. Francis chose was not an easy one. He was ridiculed and mocked as a madman during his own lifetime for what appeared to be an extreme response to his conversion experience. He renounced his family’s fortune, fasted for days on end, heard the Lord speak to him from a cross in San Damiano and bore the stigmata. He lived and died for Christ. It would be a disservice to him and all he stood for to try to slip a politically correct mask over the spiritually devout saint who did not do anything halfway.
Sometimes, I wonder how I can possibly weave Francis’ difficult and often uncomfortable lessons into my exceedingly comfortable existence. How do those of us with warm homes, busy jobs and nice clothes make St. Francis into something more than a decoration or a mascot? †
Mary DeTurris Poust writes for OSV News from New York.
BY D.D. EMMONS Special to the Herald
(OSV News) — A priest friend visited a sister parish in Central America. On arrival, a young girl quickly directed him to the village center and excitedly pointed out a newly installed water spigot. Until the previous week, all water used by the inhabitants had to be transported from a nearby lake. The village — the entire village — now had a single source of running water. Eventually, the little girl asked my friend if his village had such a spigot. He was too embarrassed to tell her that he had seven at his house. The availability of clean water is one of the serious problems for mankind.
My friend’s experience comes to mind when reading Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” (“Praise be to you”). In it, the pope discusses, among many environmental issues, the worldwide shortage of fresh drinking water, which, as he emphasizes, is critical for all life. He points out that the demand for water far exceeds supply in many places, while in others, it is plentiful: “Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water. … This debt can be paid partially by an increase in funding to provide clean water and
sanitary services among the poor” (LS No. 30).
Much of our planet has been damaged and is under siege by its occupants. The shortage of clean, accessible water is merely one of many self-caused ecological issues facing mankind. The cartoon character Pogo would describe the situation thus: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
The plight of the planet is largely our doing and should be regarded as among the most serious issues confronting every citizen, but it is not. In the grand scheme of things, man’s harmful impact on creation is not well understood, much less acknowledged by the ordinary person. One who continues the clarion call about this situation and of our sin against creation is Pope Francis.
Nine years ago, he wrote the extensive, 42,000-word encyclical, “Laudato Si’” in which he cautions that we must change how we deal with creation both as individuals and as a world community. Last year, he wrote a follow-up apostolic exhortation, “Laudate Deum” (“Praise God”), to further underscore the call. While the encyclical delineates many environmental problems, causes and suggested solutions, more than anything, the pope is touting us to be attentive, to wake up to the ongoing defacement we are causing. He urges us to change our lifestyle and to end the careless use of natural resources.
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The papal encyclical, widely discussed by many Catholic leaders, is not wellknown by the average person in the pew. But awareness at the individual level is necessary if we are to begin to make a positive difference in the environment. Often, encyclicals take decades to affect change, but the ecological problems, as highlighted by the pope, need attention now, the pope said.
Following the issuance of the 2015 papal encyclical, the Church proclaimed that a special celebration for creation would be held every year from the beginning of September until the feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4. The time is designated as one of intense prayer and thanksgiving; it is a special opportunity to be aware of, to focus on, to be attentive to God’s gift of creation and to commit to ways we can protect this gift. It is a time to remind ourselves of our responsibility toward the future of the planet.
The Season of Creation calls for us to pray together as one human family, praying that the Holy Spirit provides us with needed wisdom and that through his awesome power, we collectively find
The Season of Creation spans five weeks between the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (Sept. 1) and the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct 4). It is the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. Together, the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray for and act to protect God’s creation. To learn more, visit archgh.org/ socialconcerns.
ways to protect the planet and begin to slow the decay that man has imposed.
On the first day of September, Pope Francis proclaims a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He issues a yearly letter reinforcing his “Laudato Si’” encyclical, exhorting every Catholic, every person, individually and collectively to live in harmony with the environment. This message and the day of prayer are the catalysts that start the annual Season of Creation.
The pope usually urges everyone to use this monthlong season to offer thanks to the Creator, acknowledge that our natural resources are not without limit, and encourage actions that lead to better care of the planet.
Pope Francis has continued to echo messages shared by his two predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II. Through several messages and encyclicals, Pope Benedict XVI called for the care for creation.
“The Earth is indeed a precious gift of the Creator who, in designing its intrinsic order, has given us guidelines that assist us as stewards of his creation,” he said in a Aug. 26, 2009 message. “Precisely from within this framework, the Church considers that matters concerning the environment and its protection are intimately linked with integral human development.”
In 2001, St. John Paul II called for a “rediscovered harmony” between men and nature, as the people of the world “are once again walking in the garden of creation, seeking to make the goods of the earth available to all and not just to a privileged few.”
To learn more about the Season of Creation, visit laudatosimovement.org, seasonofcreation.org and archgh.org/ socialconcerns. † D.D.
VATICAN CITY — A few hours after Pope Francis spoke against unjust immigration policies during his general audience on Aug. 28, he met privately with U.S. community organizers on their program welcoming and integrating migrants.
Three Houston-area leaders of The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) were among the delegation of 18 leaders from the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (WSWIAF) meeting with Pope Francis at his residence, Santa Marta, adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
WSWIAF is a regional network of community-based organizations that TMO has been a part of for 40 years.
Houston-based TMO director Elizabeth Valdez, discussing her third meeting with Pope Francis as part of the delegation, said, “I’ve never been in the presence of someone who listened so carefully and intently. Pope Francis sees the person in front of him. We shared stories of leadership formation and the pivotal role of the parish as a place to become a public person who engages in public life, a political life properly understood.”
“He recognized the value of such. He quoted Pope Paul VI, saying, ‘Politics is the highest form of charity.’ It was a good reminder,” she said.
In 20 U.S. dioceses, the foundation and its partners run “Recognizing the Stranger,” a leadership development program that helps immigrants and members of their new parishes develop stronger relationships and work together for the good of their community.
Pope Francis invited them to share their work with him, particularly efforts with immigrant communities through the WSWIAF bilingual leadership formation. The program has been working over the last seven years to prepare 5,000 immigrant and Spanish-speaking leaders in 20 dioceses and 375 parishes for effective participation in public life.
“Our visits have led to conversations with other Vatican offices, particularly the Pontifical Commission for Latin American, led by Dr. Emilce Cuda,” Valdez said. “We have since hosted the commission to visit our organizing efforts in Texas, and we then had the opportunity to journey to Argentina to learn about the Church’s work in the villas, the poorest shanty towns, and see the extraordinary role that parishes play to improve the lives of communities at the peripheries.”
In recent years, this effort has also begun to encompass a more interfaith dimension.
Rabbi David Lyon of Houston’s Congregation Beth Israel, among the delegates meeting with the pope, said, “I shared my vignette on how IAF has made me a more effective rabbi in interfaith and organizational work.”
“I highlighted interfaith work in Houston with my good friend [Daniel] Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop [John D.] Ogletree (of First Metropolitan Baptist Church) and how TMO has given us ways to hear stories to make a difference and to express our gratitude with greater generosity,” Rabbi Lyon said.
Near the end of their 90-minute discussion, the pope asked an aide to get each of the organizers a copy in English or Spanish of his three encyclicals and three of his apostolic letters.
They told the pope they were studying his “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship,” about love without borders or barriers. They and the people they train were also reading “Power and Responsibility” by Father Romano Guardini, one of the pope’s preferred theologians.
Pope Francis praised the community organizers for being concrete, for looking around them, listening to
people’s needs and then collaborating to find solutions. He spoke of the need to organize relational power and foster a healthy political culture, reminding the group that “the wealth of a people lies in its ability to organize.”
Both Valdez, who said she came from a farmworker background, and Rabbi Lyon, who described his synagogue as middleclass Jews, said their families overcame issues of immigration, discrimination
and barriers.
“The bipartisan Immigration Reform Initiative that was rejected recently needs to be revisited, tweaked and signed into law,” Rabbi Lyon said. “IAF and TMO can engage in advocating for this to happen just as we have in the past. We have the know-how, the tools, and the ambition, and now we have the pope’s blessing.”
– Compiled by Jo Ann Zuñiga
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
HOUSTON — In the words of St. John Paul II, all Catholics are invited to embrace a “spirituality of communion” in their homes, parishes, Archdiocese and communities. This call from the Holy Father encourages recognizing the divine presence in every person and understanding the deep connection that unites them. It is a faith that inspires seeing Christ in others and working together as one Church to share His light and love.
At the heart of this mission is the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC), a group of 40 laypeople and clergy who assist Daniel Cardinal DiNardo in addressing the spiritual needs of the local Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the APC collaborates with parishes to live out this spirituality of communion, connecting faith with daily life, embracing each person’s unique gifts and supporting spiritual growth within the broader mission of the Church.
An example of living out this mission is Vianey Romero, a dedicated member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston and a valued APC member. Romero has been involved in various events and ministries, including catechesis, faith formation and the parish council. Her involvement has deepened her understanding of the importance of creating a hospitable community that connects members with God’s presence and supports their faith journey, fostering spiritual growth and unity.
The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “We are the Lord’s.” DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.
This video series brings to life the ministry featured in this story. Hear from people personally impacted by God’s grace through these DSF ministries.
“When I came to St. Joseph, I was looking for a community that was welcoming and helped us find what our hearts most long for — God’s presence in our lives,” Romero said. “The parish community is very important, where we worship, gather and share experiences, journeying deeper into our faith in connection with God. It can be as simple as offering a smile, a helping hand or a warm welcome and sharing information about available ministries with our members and newcomers.”
Through collaborative efforts with fellow APC members, Romero has learned the importance of sharing new ideas and encouraging parishioners to prayerfully discern and respond to God’s call to serve. This collective effort not only strengthens and unifies the parish community but also assists pastors in managing the often overwhelming behind-thescenes responsibilities of the parish.
“Being part of the APC also gives us a chance to evaluate whether our parishes are growing, how welcoming we are to new members, and the strength of our relationships with current members,” Romero said. “Our parish councils can then adjust our pastoral plans or create new ones to better support the specific needs of our community.”
Fellow APC member Jason Muriby, a parishioner at Annunciation Catholic Church since 2016, believes his unique
background and experiences give him a distinct perspective to contribute.
“My journey is interesting because I started as an engineer, then became a lawyer and later became Catholic,” Muriby said. “I believe this background and my path to Catholicism offer a unique perspective and have provided me with valuable insights as a participant in both the APC and the parish council.” Muriby’s diverse experiences have also deepened his understanding of the Archdiocese and his connection with fellow Catholics like Romero. This broader perspective has enhanced his awareness of its operations and collaborative efforts.
“I have gained valuable insights into how the Archdiocese operates and its many moving parts,” Muriby said. “Updates from Cardinal DiNardo and understanding his vision for what he wants to learn from parishioners have helped me feel more connected and see the bigger picture. I believe the APC’s primary function is to provide guidance
SCAN TO WATCH OR VISIT
and feedback on what works well and what needs improvement in support of the direction set by the Cardinal and (Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro).” Jim Barrette, secretariat director of the Archdiocese and executive officer of the APC, said the council had a key role in updating the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan. This plan identifies pastoral priorities, proposes initiatives, and aims to enhance parish communities within the Archdiocese. By fostering collaboration among parishes and bolstering their evangelization efforts, the plan supports a unified approach to addressing the
See PASTORAL PLAN, page 11
HOUSTON — The Catholic Organization Of Life (COOL) will host its annual March of the Surviving Youth (MOTSY) at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Catholic Charismatic Center, 1949 Cullen Blvd. in Houston.
The event includes Mass, a presentation and concludes with a procession. The event features speaker Sister Beatrice, O.P., of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia with music by Father J.P. Orozco, CC, associate director of the Catholic Charismatic Center. The event will conclude with a walking procession and prayer vigil outside the nearby Planned Parenthood.
MOTSY is the largest pro-life march in the Houston area, with more than 500 participants. The COOL, a Catholic pro-life youth group in the Archdiocese whose mission is to be the pro-life generation that ends abortion, has led the event for over 15 years.
For more information about MOTSY, visit thecoolyouthgroup.com. †
Miguel Sanchez
HOUSTON — Miguel Sanchez, principal at Our Lady of Fatima in Galena Park, died on Friday, Aug. 30, after a brief illness. He was 38 years old.
A funeral Mass was held Sept. 11 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Interment is in San Jacinto Memorial Park. †
Father Drew Wood
HOUSTON — Father Drew Wood, pastor at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, died on Thursday, Sept. 12. He was 78 years old.
He was ordained on April 28, 1973, and served as parochial vicar at several parishes, including Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary Magdalene, St. John Vianney and St. Cecilia.
He was also pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea, St. Peter the Apostle, St. Augustine. Father Wood also served as associated director and then director of the Vocations Office, faculty and spiritual director at St. Mary Seminary and vice chancellor. In 1998, he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Laurence and then subsequently named pastor in 2002 until his death.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at St. Laurence Catholic Church. Interment is private. †
. . .
Please pray for all victims of violence everywhere and their families. Pray for those being executed in Texas and their families:
October 1: Garcia White
October 17: Robert Roberson III
Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of October.
Oct. 1, 1853
Mr. Jean Pierre Bajard
Oct. 1, 1853 Rev. Jean-Marie Baudrand, OMI
Oct. 1, 1981 Bishop Wendelin J. Nold, STD
Oct. 2, 2014 Rev. Edward W. Abell
Oct. 3, 2012
Rev. Christopher A. Billac, SJ
Oct. 5, 1866 Rev. Jean Bigat
Oct. 5, 1962
Rev. Max E. Budnik
Oct. 5, 1970 Rev. John J. Brady, MS
Oct. 9, 1993 Bishop Bernard J. Ganter, DD
Oct. 10, 1972
Msgr. Joseph C. Kunc
Oct. 10, 1993 Rev. Cornelius Ryan, OMI
Oct. 12, 1847 Rev. Bartholomew Rollando,CM
Oct. 12, 1993 Msgr. John C. Perusina
Oct. 14, 1928 Rev. A. DeSimone
Oct. 14, 1996 Rev. Ernest Perhach
Oct. 14, 2020 Rev. Carl Tenhunfeld
Oct. 15, 1884 Rev. Claude Martinierre
Oct. 15, 2001
Rev. George S. Silvester, CSB
Oct. 15, 2009 Rev. Jose Maria Fernandez
Oct. 16, 1967 Rev. Leslie J. Vasek, CSB
Oct. 16, 1983
Rev. Eugene Lynch, MS
Oct. 16, 2002 Rev. A.J. Chandonnet, CSSR
Oct. 16, 2007 Rev. Alcuin E. Greenburg
Oct. 17, 1953 Rev. Michael Leahy
Oct. 17, 2014 Rev. Peter Thien Hoang, OP Oct. 19, 1903 Rev. Odilo Schorer
Oct. 19, 1966 Rev. George Black
Oct. 19, 1969 Rev. John F. Collins, CSB
Oct. 19, 1969 Rev. Dennis Kennedy
Oct. 20, 2003 Msgr. Frank A. Lagana
Oct. 20, 2004 Rev. Joseph T, O’Malley
Oct. 21, 1929 Rev. Emile L.J. Fluery
Oct. 21, 2004 Msgr. Sylvester J. Fuchs
Oct. 24, 1867 Rev. Alex Renoux
Oct. 24, 1896 Rev. Joseph N. Jacquet
Oct. 25, 2005 Msgr. George V. Rhein
Oct. 25, 2009 Rev. John Chinh Chan Tran
Oct. 26, 1970 Rev. Wilfrid J. Murphy, CSB
Oct. 27, 1853 Rev. Edward Hug
Oct. 27, 1953 Rev. J.P. Dillon, CSB
Oct. 30, 1888 Rev. Francis Derue
Oct. 30, 1946 Rev. Alfred G. Grattan
Oct. 30, 1977 Rev. Anselm Townsend, OP
Oct. 30, 1988 Rev. Joseph R. Plummer
Oct. 30, 1990 Rev. Ludon Angelle
Oct. 30, 2013 Rev. Joseph L. Phung, CSsR
Oct. 31, 2016 Rev. Rawlin Enette
Have questions about subscriptions, delivery or circulation? Call 713-652-4444 or email TDIELI@ARCHGH.ORG for help. Visit ARCHGH.ORG/SUBSCRIBE for more information.
BY HOLLY BERETTO Special to the Herald
KATY — Aug. 16, 2004, dawned bright and clear, a cool, crisp morning with a hint of fall already in the air. While it would be in the low 80s by lunchtime, it was barely 65 degrees as the first students came through the doors of the new Pope John XXIII High School, beginning their journey in a brand-new building.
“It was a unique experience,” said Roland Millare, who is now the vice president of curriculum and directory of clergy initiatives at the St. John Paul II Foundation, but back in 2004, was a newly minted theology teacher. “I remember walking through the site before we opened and noting this is where the chapel will be. On that first day of school, the kids were putting together their own desks, that’s how new it was.”
The 45 students and the accompanying faculty who began classes that day were part of something special. It had been more than 40 years since the last new Catholic high school opened in the Houston area. In the two generations since, the world has changed, and Pope John XXIII High School was built to reflect that. Its 65,000 square feet sat on 34 acres at the corner of Franz Road and the yet-to-be-completed Grand Parkway, overlooking a wide stretch of prairie, offering plenty of room to expand. There was a band room, a library, computer and science labs, a gym and a chapel. Its academic building housed 19 classrooms, a cafeteria and space for the administration.
It had taken four years and $12 million to make Pope John XXIII High School a reality. And this was only phase one.
But for the students in those first classes, it wasn’t one phase of several. It was a place to call home.
“I saw the school as a new place where students could participate in founding traditions,” said Father Matthew Kruleski, a class of 2011 graduate. Father Kruleski is now the parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe and was the first graduate to be ordained as a priest.
PLAN, from page 9
spiritual needs of the local Church.
“Each parish council collaborates with its pastor to create a plan that addresses the current parish community’s spiritual needs and lays the path to achieve its mission,” Barrette said. “These efforts are central to the mission of every parish. Because we are funded by the DSF, we are able to provide access to highquality demographic data and analysis, along with professional consultations and training that support these vital missions.”
Reflecting on his experience with updating the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan, Muriby felt guided by the Holy Spirit and appreciated the value of his skills in collaboration and idea synthesis.
“When working on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan, the process of discussing and narrowing down diverse viewpoints into a cohesive plan aligns with what I
“There was also excitement about being part of building up an institution that would affect the lives of many,” he said.
“The school was very faithful to the Church,” Father Kruleski said. “My theology classes were, for me, an opening into a new world; by studying the faith in depth, I felt that I learned more about Catholicism than I had in my elementary school, and I felt called to become personally responsible for my faith.”
“I remember touring and just feeling like it was a fit and that it felt like home,” said Ellen (Stidham) Emerick. Graduating in 2009, she was a member of the second graduating class.
“There were not very many people. I didn’t feel pressured. It wasn’t as stuffy as some of the other tours that we went on,” she said.
Both Kruleski and Emerick call the school essential to their foundation as students and, later, adults. Ellen met her husband, Andrew Emerick, when
enjoy and am experienced in, including capturing and summarizing discussions through meeting minutes,” Muriby said. “I view the work of the APC as a valuable asset to the Archdiocese, Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Italo, especially since each meeting is well-planned and structured to ensure that every minute and resource is used effectively.”
To learn more about the APC, go to www.archgh.org/pastoralcouncil.
To access the APC’s pastoral planning resources for pastors and parish councils, go to www.archgh.org/pastoralplan.
To donate to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s DSF annual appeal, go to www.archgh.org/DSF.
The DSF supports 64 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. †
he transferred in as a sophomore; he would go on to receive the school’s first Distinguished Alumni Award.
“The teachers that we had were all strong,” Andrew said. “They all actually cared for us, and it was a great place to grow as a teenager. I felt like a person there, and I felt like I was part of a bigger community.”
Fellow student Millare would later attend the couple’s wedding.
Community was always a part of the plan for the school. Houston’s other Catholic high schools were all inside the Beltway; Pope John XXIII would be the first — and is currently still the only — high school that was geographically situated for students from Katy, Fulshear and Houston’s other western suburbs.
Grounded in both the Catholic faith and specifically the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the spirituality of St. John XXIII, the high school has sought to provide a college preparatory education emphasizing scholarship and service to others. This philosophy is reflected in the school’s pillars — Oboedientia, Pax, Virtus and Renovatio.
At the end of its first decade, there was cause for great celebration as Pope John XXIII was canonized, prompting the school to change its name to reflect the former pontiff’s elevation. The newly renamed St. John XXIII College Preparatory would also see its first expansion projects, including a new gymnasium and student center to accommodate the weekly school Mass, cafeteria and kitchen, classrooms and additional arts facilities.
Throughout its history, the high school has continued to grow. During the last school year, the student body numbered 434. And there are plans for additional campus improvements to help the school impact the student experience. School leaders said they hope to continue to offer a Catholic high school option to families on Houston’s west side. †
Cathedral Centre – 7:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker Archbishop Jerome Listecki Archbishop of Milwaukee For
The Archdiocesan Youth Council is composed of almost 100 high school youth from across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. These young people were nominated by their parish or Catholic school and go through a discernment process before being commissioned. Youth Council members serve for a one-year term during which they assist with the planning and implementation of various programs sponsored by the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization. The members of this year’s council are listed below. For more information, visit ARCHGH.ORG/OACE.
Ascension Chinese Mission, Houston
Ariyana Dai
Christ Our Light, Navasota
Celeste Coronilla
Carmen Herrera
Avah Tejeda
Edgar Ascencio
Christ the Incarnate Word, Houston
Trina Tang
Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston
Laylah Martinez
Dayannara Zepeda
Fabian Hernandez
Epiphany of the Lord, Katy
David Calderon
Guardian Angel, Wallis
Meghan Sury
Holy Family, Missouri City
Fatima Diaz
Layla Gonzales
Angelli Zepeda
Holy Family, Galveston
Benjamin Crossno
Jonathan Damian Morán
Holy Rosary, Rosenberg
Juliet Sulak
David Wolfgang
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston
Vanessa Cadengo
Casandra Vagliente
Matthew Valle
Mary Queen, Friendswood
Noah Lenderman
Isabella Hernandez
Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park
Janet Lara
Alice Mayorga
Jasmine Armenta
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rosenberg
Maria Celeste Gutierrez
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston
Christopher Gonzalez
Sanjuanita Pineda
Our Lady of La Vang, Houston
Joseph Hoang
Anh Pham
Our Lady of Lourdes, Hitchcock
Drake Patterson
Our Mother of Mercy, Houston
Keriston Yancy
Sacred Heart, Conroe
Nicolas Rincon
Sacred Heart, Richmond Marcella Sicking
Shrine of the True Cross
Veronica Clements
St. Anthony of Padua, The Woodlands
Dylan Day
Cadence Moorman
St. Bartholomew, Katy
Emmanuel Ugwuanyi
Aidan Cronin
St. Benedict the Abbot, Houston
Roberto Cruz II
Brianna Cruz
St. Bernadette, Houston
Haley Holifield
St. Catherine Montessori School
Mercedes Segovia
Gabriela Palmer
St. Clare of Assisi, Houston
Madelyn Cabrera
Fenton Perryman
St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston
Josue Vega
Jackie Gaytan
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Houston
Landon Castro
Mariela Avalos Le
St. Edith Stein, Katy
Nicolas Negron
St. Helen, Pearland
Katherine Marchand
Isaac Pedraza
Mary Kate Sanders
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spring
Christina Dao
St. John of the Cross, New Caney
Johnny Solis
St. John the Evangelist, Baytown
Antonella Rodriguez
Julissa Zuñiga
St. John Vianney, Houston
Laura Lopez
Josephine Segrist
Briana Reese
St. Laurence, Sugar Land
Katie Kerwin
Diego Salinas
St. Luke the Evangelist, Houston
Ben Guajardo
Sts. Martha, Kingwood
Graham Karl
Julia Labbe
St. Mary, Frydek
Lani Krenek
Lexa Eschenburg
Samantha Weber
St. Mary of the Purification, Houston
Braylon McMorris
St. Matthew the Evangelist, Houston
Rubi Lopez
Veronica Gonzalez
St. Matthias the Apostle, Magnolia
Lindsie Vasquez
Nazli Rios
Mayara Bureau
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Houston
Alessandra Snyder
St. Michael, Needville
Nolan Wendt
Sts. Peter and Paul, Bellville
Sophia Broz
Ethan Wright
Sts. Simon & Jude, The Woodlands
Jude Haney
St. Theresa, Houston
Claire Cordova
St. Thomas Aquinas, Sugar Land
Angelica Lopez
Joachim Panam
St. Thomas High School
Anthony Pellerin
St. Thomas More, Houston
Kimberly Fortanel
Michael Hayes
Strake Jesuit College
Prepatory, Houston
Bryce LaRue
This summer, I went on a super long bike ride following my friend’s advice and directions. I went by myself, and because the area was completely new to me, I had to stop often to figure out where I was and look at the directions. I was even getting nervous since my phone was running out of battery. I was really far from my lodging, and even if I got to my destination, I would still have to bike back. After about 2 hours of biking, not knowing how long it would take me to get to my destination, I started to really wonder: “Is this even possible?”
With this frustration nagging at me, I came to a huge bridge. It was so long and so tall that it looked dangerous for me to go by myself. Telling myself, “My friend would never send me biking on that bridge,” I automatically went the
by JOELMA REGIS
other direction — away from the bridge — paying no mind to the directions.
However, after searching for the beach (my destination) and not finding it, I finally looked at my phone. To my dismay, it kept directing me over that bridge. At a certain point, I told myself, “Just trust your friend and go up the bridge!” I crossed over, and after another two miles, I finally found the Gulf and was able to refresh myself in that beautiful, clear water — what a relief and joy! This experience reinforced a valuable lesson: To trust that when God, who is my best
friend, asks me something, I should not think that I am incapable of doing it. Even if the problem looks bigger than I can handle, I need to trust that He will give me the grace for anything, since nothing is impossible for Him.
On the way back, I stopped at the highest point of the bridge not only for a selfie but to reflect on what had just happened. I thought of a few things in my life that I have been struggling with, some difficulties that I currently find hard to handle.
I recalled again the words of the angel to Mary at the Annunciation, “for nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:37), and felt a great peace. I recognized again, although in a much smaller way, that I’ve been called like Mary to say my small “yes” every day. And even though my “yes” is only a little piece of the whole
work of God, I know that God needs my little piece — my 1% — even as God takes care of the rest.
A couple of days later, I decided to go to the same place one more time, and I received another beautiful lesson. As I was biking, I couldn’t help but notice how much easier it was this time since I already knew where to go.
I reflected on my spiritual journey. I do know my final destination, or at least where I want to arrive: Heaven! I also know the way to get there — Jesus was very clear about that: by loving.
The experience of that bike journey was worth it, and I’m sure heaven will be way better! †
Joelma Regis is an associate director with the Office of Vocations.
An ancient Chinese parable recounts a tale of three men — Fact, Faith, and Feeling — walking along on the top of a wall. As long as Faith keeps his eyes on Fact ahead of him, all three keep walking forward with no problem. However, when Faith takes his eyes off Fact and turns around to look at Feeling to see how he’s doing, both Faith and Feeling fall off the wall. But Fact never does.
This parable illustrates our Christian faith journey and, like all parables, expresses a life lesson: Jesus gifts us with faith, which is based on the divine revelation of facts. At the same time, the Devil strategizes ways to tempt us by misconstruing our personal feelings. Jesus is the Fact, and every Christian is the Faith. We Christians are not robots; we are human beings with feelings and emotions, which makes our faith journey a strenuous challenge, especially in this age where belief in God is often questioned. We Christians
must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and His teachings.
The most challenging teaching of our Church is the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. What a timely call for our recent National Eucharistic Revival! At the National Eucharistic Congress, many hearts rekindled a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The Congress has launched the U.S. into a Year of Mission, encouraging Catholics to go and share Christ’s love to the world. We cannot share Christ’s love unless we are convinced of His love for us.
In Scripture, Christ’s love through the Eucharist is exceedingly real and profoundly true. When something is real and true for all times, it is
ratified as a fact.
The person of Jesus Christ is real. Jesus Christ was a historical figure who was born and lived in a particular time (first century) and place (Israel). For centuries, He, with Mary and Joseph, like many other Jews, celebrated the memorial of the Passover of Egypt, remembering how God rescued them from the wicked pharaoh. Then, at Jesus’ final Passover, He did something extraordinary. During the meal, instead of speaking about the past exodus from Egypt, He revealed His future suffering and death. That night, instead of explaining the meaning of the flesh of the Passover lamb, Jesus identified the bread and wine of the supper as His own body and blood, the new sacrificial Lamb.
the Christian Eucharist — are nothing less than the new Passover of Christ.” Our Church’s Eucharistic teaching is firmly rooted in the Jewish tradition. The Eucharistic covenant — the new Passover — is the sign of God’s love for humanity. Jesus had to go through suffering, death, resurrection and ascension to save us. At every Mass, this Eucharistic love is made present to strengthen our faith. Therefore, Faith (Christians), fix your eyes on Fact, regardless of how you feel, and be assured that Jesus’ love is always “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8). Are you up for the challenge of the Year of Mission, to be sharers of Christ’s Eucharistic love? I pray that you are. †
Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP, is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. by
As theologian author Brant Pitre describes the scene, Christ commanded the disciples to become “sharers in his Passover” (CCC 1337) to eat and drink. “The Last Supper — and, by extension,
Our downtown location has temporarily relocated. We are NOW OPEN at 2409 Austin Street (two streets behind our San Jacinto Street building) We
re-open our main location as soon as possible. Order by phone or email 713-659-4709 or sacco@saccos.com
PARIS (OSV News) — The excitement is mounting in Paris ahead of the Dec. 8 reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral with only a few cranes remaining on the outside of the iconic French church.
As scaffolding has largely been removed from the outside structure, the inside renovation work continues at full speed to finish it on time for the most anticipated church event of the decade in the French capital.
Those involved in the reconstruction told OSV News that anyone who enters the cathedral testifies to their amazement and wonder at the new luminosity of the interior, thanks to the restoration of the limestone blocks, which have regained their blond hue.
What has electrified France in the final months leading to the reopening is the question of whether Pope Francis himself will come for the occasion — an invitation extended to the pope by President Emmanuel Macron in December 2023.
The Archdiocese of Paris was responsible for the interior finishing work, which must be completed “within a very tight timeframe.”
“The liturgical platform is still being laid,” Véronique Creissels, director of
internal metal structure to accommodate electrical and digital cables.
The liturgical furniture — imagined and designed by the French designer and sculptor Guillaume Bardet — is composed of five elements: the altar as a natural centerpiece, the cathedra and the associated seats, the ambo, the tabernacle and the baptistery. Each of the
crafted in a style that Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris described as of “noble simplicity,” in a reference to how the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (“Sacrosanctum Concilium”) describes what should distinguish the rites. “This liturgical furniture will arrive in the second half of October,” Creissels told OSV News
“Bronze was used to be able to exist without shouting, without ‘over-showing,’” Bardet said of the choice of material.
The Archdiocese of Paris also entrusted Bardet with the design of liturgical objects, notably sacred vessels.
The entire order includes the chalice and paten, a monstrance, a large ciborium and several small ciboria, a censer and a boat, cruets, an ewer and a basin. According to the liturgical prescriptions, the sacred vessels are made of noble metal, silver and gold, but have a modern
yet simple look.
As the whole country watches the last touches of the reconstruction, the process is not free from controversy. The new altar will replace the one installed in 1989 by Jean-Marie Cardinal Lustiger, archbishop of Paris from 1981 to 2005.
Cardinal Lustiger’s redesign involved the controversial removal of a huge light fixture overhanging the altar, known as the “crown of light.” In 2014, the large neoGothic chandelier designed and created in the 19th century by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was placed in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the necropolis of the kings of France, north of Paris.
After the fire in 2019, the question arose of bringing the “crown of light” back to the Paris cathedral. “I personally would have liked to have it reinstalled in Notre Dame as part of this restoration, out of loyalty to Viollet-le-Duc,” Philippe Villeneuve, France’s chief architect for historic monuments, told OSV News. “But the clergy in charge of the cathedral did not want it (to return),” he said.
“The idea was not to go back on a decision made long before the fire,” Father Mornas explained to OSV News
Meanwhile, on Sept. 20, 21 and 22, the public institution Rebâtir Notre Dame de Paris, in charge of the cathedral’s restoration, will be welcoming visitors to a “worksite village” on the cathedral forecourt as part of European Heritage Days.
For three days, craftsmen from the various trades involved in the restoration will be demonstrating their work. This will be an opportunity to showcase the new fire protection system, currently being finalized, which will be installed in the cathedral’s spire and roof timbers. †
UVALDE — Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde has opened a new, on-site counseling facility to provide ongoing community healing and support following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
The school held a grand opening ceremony on Sept. 6, celebrating with key community partners and leaders in attendance, including representatives from partner organizations supporting the new center, such as the Catholic Extension Society, the Children’s Bereavement Center of San Antonio, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, William and Salome Scanlan Foundation and Carlos Lopez & Building Management Group.
Dedication of the facility occurred immediately following the celebration of a community-wide Mass.
“We are humbled and honored to support this new center for healing in the Uvalde community,” Father Jack Wall, president of the Catholic Extension Society, said in a statement. “We pray that it will be a source of hope to those who receive services here, reminding them that they are not alone or abandoned in their search for peace.”
Based in Chicago, the nonprofit Catholic Extension was founded in 1905 to build up Catholic faith communities in underserved regions. According to a news release, Catholic Extension “has
a rich and long-standing history with the Uvalde community and helped build Sacred Heart Catholic Church and school over a century ago, provided funding for the facility.”
The counseling facility “will be made available to the entire Uvalde community as families and individuals continue the long process of healing” in the wake of the mass shooting that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers, “and left countless other bystanders, families and friends of the victims physically and psychologically wounded,” the release said.
Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio assisted with furnishing the facility. The Children’s Bereavement Center in San Antonio will donate up to 25 hours a week of licensed staff, consisting of onsite, full-time counselors at the school, which will support Sacred Heart’s fulltime counselor.
Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde “has played a pivotal role” in helping the community heal since the mass shooting, according to Catholic Extension.
To date, the Chicago-based nonprofit has awarded 30 full scholarships to children of Robb Elementary who sought to transfer to Sacred Heart Elementary in 2022 as a means to heal. Additionally, Catholic Extension has partnered with the Uvalde-based Teresian nuns to support camps for children, therapeutic programs and outreach to families in Uvalde. †
‘Livin’ on a prayer’: Catholic-raised Bon Jovi helps save woman on Nashville bridge
(OSV News) — Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi reportedly saved a woman’s life when he talked her into stepping off the ledge of a bridge over the river in Nashville, Tennessee, Sept. 10.
In a video shared by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer is seen with another woman approaching the woman on the ledge. Footage captures Bon Jovi talking to the woman who appears poised to jump.
The footage shows Bon Jovi and his fellow good Samaritan helping the woman climb over the railing back onto the sidewalk, after which he hugs her.
Bon Jovi, who was raised a Catholic and spent a couple of years in Catholic high school, was reportedly filming a music video at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Cumberland River, at the time that he approached the woman and coaxed her away from the ledge.
Good works are not new to the 62-year-old singer-actor, whose eponymous band, Bon Jovi, was the subject of a recently released documentary “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which chronicles the platinum album-awarded and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band’s nearly 40-year history. †
In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo would like to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713654-5799. Please keep in daily prayers the healing of victims of abuse and all who suffer in any way.
BY JAMES RAMOS
Texas Catholic Herald
ALVIN — On three of the four Wednesdays of a month, Sherry Cavallo makes the trip to her home parish of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Alvin. Joining more than a dozen others, she donned an apron and lined up her paint and brushes as the parish’s Icon Guild met for its annual summer iconography workshop in the parish hall.
“Iconography is a ministry that is just a beautiful art, a sacred art,” Cavallo said. “It allows us to enter into holy places of our faith. When we paint, we pray, and we enter into the subject that we’re painting.”
Cavallo started the guild in 2016, which now has grown to include dozens of members who meet several Wednesdays in the month.
“It’s a wonderful way to build community and to live life,” Cavallo said.
The summer workshop features Father Elias Rafaj, pastor of St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Irving, near Dallas.
“Iconography is an art form that is intimately tied to the early Church, specifically to the experience of Christians living in the Middle East as well as in Rome and Constantinople,” Father Rafaj said. “Iconography is the theology of the Church in painted colors.
Father Rafaj, who previously served as pastor of St. John Chrysostom in Houston, has been teaching iconography for about 20 years.
“It teaches us about the encounter with God through the incarnation, through the fact that God became one of one of us, so that we can see Him and interact with Him in the person of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Iconography is an ancient art that continues to influence the life of the Church because its primary goal is the teaching of faith and the sharing of faith through this art form.”
Father Rafaj said there’s a difference between iconography and painting: “It’s not about the interpretation of the artist, but rather we follow forms and designs that have been canonically established by the Church for centuries and indeed for millennia.”
Icons often reflect depictions of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Mother and various saints and angels.
Another unique aspect of iconography is that its reflective of the “growth and spirituality of the iconographer, the
At left, a member of the iconography guild at St. John the Baptist Parish in Alvin adds paint to an icon of the Blessed Mother and the Christ Child during a recent iconography workshop in the parish hall. At right, a group of icons are seen in various stages of painting.
person who was painting the icon,” he said. Through prayer, study and fasting, participats encounter the divine “through the painted color on the board.”
Each color used in an icon has its own meaning, he said.
For example, gold expresses a divine light,“that illumination that we hear about in the Transfiguration. We participate in that through the use of bright colors and gold, and then provide in the icon a means of prayer and encounter with the
face of God.”
Through the years, the iconography guild gatherings at St. John have inspired Cavallo.
“I feel very blessed to have been introduced to iconography, and I just feel like it’s a ministry that I hopefully can keep working on ‘til I die.”
She said she hopes the guild’s efforts spread the message of the Good Word of Jesus Christ.
guild at St. John in Alvin, visit www. stjohnalvin.org/icon-guild. †
▶ SEE MORE TO WATCH & HEAR THE ICON GUILD IN ACTION, SCAN THE QR CODE AND TAP THE LINK
To learn more about the iconography
The Popes and the Presidents: Celebrating 40 years of Diplomatic Relations Between the Holy See and the United States
October 10, 2024 | 6:30 p.m.
October 10, 2024 | 6:30 p.m.
MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News
A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL
• Despicable Me 4 (PG)
A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN
• Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG)
• Reagan (PG-13)
• Transformers One (PG)
St. Mary’s Seminary • Nold Auditorium 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024
St. Mary’s Seminary | Nold Auditorium 9845 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77024
A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
Join us for a conversation reflecting on the fruits of official diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See since 1984.
Join us for a conversation reflecting on the fruits of official diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See since 1984.
This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required to attend. Please reserve your spot today by visiting www.bidpal.net/vatican40
This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required to attend. Reserve your spot by visiting www.bidpal.net/vatican40
Hon. James A. Baker III
U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State (1989-1992) pre-recorded remarks
• AfrAId (PG-13)
• Horizon: An American Saga –Chapter 1
• Fly Me to the Moon (PG-13)
• It Ends With Us (PG-13)
• Trap (PG-13)
• The Convert (NR)
• Twisters (PG-13)
L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Alien: Romulus (R)
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PG-13)
• Longlegs (R)
• Speak No Evil (R)
O
– MORALLY OFFENSIVE
• Blink Twice (R)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (R)
• Maxxxine (R)
• The Crow (R)
• The Front Room (R)
• The Killer’s Game (R)
To find full movie
► FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS AND MORE LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
SEPTEMBER 24
WOMEN’S SPEAKER SERIES, 7 p.m., Holy Rosary (3617 Milam St., Houston). Dr. Jessie DiCarlo, a physician who specializes in adult and child psychiatry, speaks about “Women’s Mental Health: Before, During and Post-Partum.”
SEPTEMBER 25
RELIC TOUR, 2 to 8 p.m., St. John Vianney (625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston). Venerate a relic of the blood of St. John Paul II. SCNH. Vocations@gmail.com; SerraClub.ClubExpress. com/NHoustonJP2Relic.
SEPTEMBER 26
RELIC TOUR, 2 to 8 p.m., Ascension Chinese Mission (4605 Jetty Ln., Houston). Venerate a relic of the blood of St. John Paul II. SCNH. Vocations@gmail.com; SerraClub.ClubExpress. com/NHoustonJP2Relic.
SEPTEMBER 27
RELIC TOUR, 2 to 8 p.m., Christ the Good Shepherd (18511 Klein Church Rd., Spring). Venerate a relic of the blood of St. John Paul II. SCNH.Vocations@gmail.com; SerraClub. ClubExpress.com/NHoustonJP2Relic.
SEPTEMBER 28
FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., St. Jerome (8825 Kempwood Dr., Houston). Event includes live music with “Grupo Zenzio,” food, petting zoo, includes display of Astros Championship baseball trophies and visit by Astros Shooting Stars. Free entry. stjeromehou.org.
RELIC TOUR, 8 a.m. to noon, St. Matthias the Apostle (302 S. Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia). Venerate a relic of the blood of St. John Paul II. SCNH.Vocations@gmail.com; SerraClub. ClubExpress.com/NHoustonJP2Relic.
RELIC TOUR, Saturday 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 9 p.m., Holy Family (1510 5th St., Missouri City). Venerate a relic of the blood of St. John Paul II. SCNH.Vocations@gmail.com; SerraClub. ClubExpress.com/NHoustonJP2Relic.
SEPTEMBER 28-29
BAZAAR, Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Christopher (8150 Park Place Blvd., Houston). 100th Annual Bazaar includes games, music, food, drinks, family fun and a raffle. Free entry. 713-645-6614; dtorres@ stchristopherhouston.org.
SEPTEMBER 29
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Sealy Columbus Club Hall (1310 US Hwy 90 West, Sealy). Conception in Sealy hosts a bazaar with $15 barbecue plates for dine-in, to-go and drive-thru. Live auction at 1 p.m.
BARBECUE FUN DAY, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Philip Neri (10960 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston). Event features $15 chicken and sausage barbecue and $20 brisket plates with music and Bingo. 713-734-0320.
MASS WITH BISHOP, 10:45 a.m., Waldorf Astoria Ballroom, Hilton University of Houston (4450 University Dr., Houston). Annual University of Houston Family Weekend begins with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, followed by a reception at the Catholic Newman Center at the University of Houston. Free. 713-748-2529; smiller@archgh.org.
SEPTEMBER 30
PRESENTATION, 6 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). “Called to Faithful Citizenship” with Rhonda Sepulveda from Catholic Charities talking about forming consciences; teaching those entrusted to care; contributing to civil and respectful public dialogue; and shaping political choices in light of Catholic teaching. ctrcc.com.
MOVIE SCREENING, 6 p.m., University of Houston Student Center Theater (4455 University Dr. #103/203, Houston). The University of Houston Catholic Newman Center hosts a free screening of “Love God’s Will,” a film about Father Ryan Staiwaisz. Dinner served at 6 p.m., with movie at 7 p.m. followed by a panel discussion. uhcatholic.org.
GOLF TOURNAMENT, 9 a.m., South Shore Harbour Country Club (4300 South Shore Blvd., League City). Charity golf tournament benefits St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Nassau Bay. Cost: $125 per golfer, breakfast, lunch and prizes included. 832-428-0163; stpaulcatholic.org.
OCTOBER 2
HOLY HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). Vocation Adoration Hour on the first Wednesday of the month to pray for vocations with Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. 281-342-3609; sacredhrt.com.
OCTOBER 4-6
WOMEN’S RETREAT, Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). “Jubilant Pilgrims: Prepare, Pray, Profess, Praise” is a three-day day women’s retreat with Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and prayer. Parish groups, mother/ daughters (16+) and individuals welcome. Cost: $265. registrar.holyname@passionist.org.
OCTOBER 5
PRAYER MEETING, 11 a.m. to noon, Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). A contemplative prayer meeting is held every first Saturday of the month to practice silent prayer. Cost: Free. emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
FESTIVAL, Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Edith Stein (3311 N. Fry Rd., Katy). Founder’s Day Festival celebrates 25 years with live music, international food and drinks, silent auction, raffle, country store, inflatables and more. stedithstein.org.
FESTIVAL, Saturday 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., St. Faustina (28102 FM 1093, Fulshear). Festival event with food, carnival games, musical entertainment, live and silent auctions. Free entry. Saintfaustinachurch.org.
OCTOBER 6
CZECH FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Crosby Fairgrounds (14900 FM 2100, Crosby). Sacred Heart in Crosby hosts festival with barbecue dinner, games, snacks, caricatures and a live auction. shcrosby.org/czech-fest-news.
FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Matthew the Evangelist (9915 Hollister St., Houston). Live music, Bingo, thrift shop, games, rides, food and beverages. Free entry. 832-877-3858
LIFE CHAIN, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., St. Hyacinth Guyot Hall (2921 Center St., Deer Park). Prayerful public witness to life. Folding chairs and umbrellas welcome. 832-262-7795.
FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Queen of Peace (1224 Cedar Dr., La Marque). Event includes games, food, a live auction, silent auction, a raffle, music and folklore dancers. Free entry. queenofpeacelamarque.org.
WORKSHOP, 1 to 3:30 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). Maureen Bacchi presents “Culture’s Challenging Voice Hidden in Faith,” which explores culture’s impact on questions of life and death. Cost: $30. emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., St. Laurence (3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). Houston Choral Society presents Voices Take Flight, a concert featuring the choral sound with heartfelt and uplifting works by Mendelssohn, Hagenberg, Hogan, and more. www.houstonchoral.org.
OCTOBER 5-6
FESTIVAL, Saturday noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Parish festival includes food, games, Bingo, shopping, live and silent auctions, raffle tickets and more. silcc.org/fall-festival.
BAZAAR, noon to 8 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi (5102 Dabney St., Houston). Event includes live music by DJ Walter D; Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers; Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws; food, drinks, raffle, variety booth, market vendors, Bingo, kids’ games and more. Cost: $5 entry. stfrancisofhouston.org.
OCTOBER 11-13
MEN’S RETREAT, Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). “Jubilant Pilgrims:
