Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
On All Souls, pope prays at graves of children, miscarried infants
ROME (CNS) — Pope Francis prayed at the graves of children and of miscarried babies on the feast of All Souls before concelebrating Mass with several hundred mourners.
The pope traveled on Nov. 2 to Rome’s Laurentino cemetery, which has a special section for children who have died and, nearby, a section called the “Garden of the Angels” where parents who have experienced a miscarriage can opt to have their children buried rather than having a hospital dispose of the remains.
A father who had lost a son greeted the pope, kneeling to
kiss the pope’s hand, and then pointing to his son’s grave.
Pope Francis left a bouquet of white roses at the entrance to the garden where stuffed animals, toys, pinwheels and pots of white chrysanthemums in the shape of a heart stand in contrast to the candles and flowers on other graves. The grave markers have only one date on them.
Rather than giving a homily during the Mass, the pope led the congregation in a long moment of silent reflection.
Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of November is for See CHILDREN, page 2
Little Tex says
REVIVAL STARTS HERE
Reflections from the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage from Angela Pometto ▪ SEE PAGE 13
Anti-poverty program creates paths to the margins
HOUSTON — As the Catholic Church commemorates the World Day of the Poor on Nov. 17, dioceses across the U.S. will take up the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) annual collection on Nov. 17 to 18 for their anti-poverty program, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), including Galveston-Houston.
CCHD was founded to serve those who do not have access to the resources necessary to address poverty in their own communities. According to the mission statement, “CCHD’s pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice leading toward solidarity … rooted in our Baptism and faith commitment.” An Archdiocesan committee works with persons in Galveston-Houston who are addressing
Meet St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, a woman whose love for Christ moved her around the world, eventually making her a U.S. saint ▪
CNS PHOTOS
A visitor walks past a mausoleum adorned with flowers at Laurentino cemetery in Rome, where Pope Francis concelebrated Mass for the feast of All Souls, Nov. 2. He also visited a cemetery to pray at the graves of children and miscarried infants and met with a man who lost his son.
Pope Francis visits the graves of children at Rome’s Laurentino cemetery where he concelebrated Mass on All Souls Day, Nov. 2.
CHILDREN, from page 1
parents who have lost a child. In his video message asking people to join him in the prayer, he began by saying, “What can we say to parents who have lost a child? How can we console them? There are no words.”
At the end of the Mass, the pope prayed that by visiting the graves of their beloved deceased, people would renew their faith in Jesus, who died, was buried and rose again to save humanity.
The bodies of those who have died will rise again on the last day, he said, and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord will join Him in the triumph over death.
He prayed that God would hear people’s prayers for their beloved dead and would “open your arms of mercy” and receive them into the heavenly host.
“Comfort those who are suffering the pain of separation with the certainty that the dead live in you,” he prayed, “and that even the bodies entrusted to the earth will one day participate in the paschal victory of your Son.”
The main celebrant at the Mass was Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of papal liturgical ceremonies. However, unlike at most public Masses in the last few years where the pope presides, but does not concelebrate, Pope Francis stood for the Eucharistic prayer and concelebrated the Mass. †
THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
PRAYER INTENTION: FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD
Pope Francis invites us to listen in a particular way to those fathers and mothers who suffer this heartbreaking loss — to listen to them and be near them with love, just like Jesus when He cared for the most vulnerable. The pope stressed how important it is that families support each other, with their faith which is a great pillar on which hope can be reborn.
“Let us pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community, and may receive peace of heart from the Spirit of Consolation,” Pope Francis said. †
Cardinal DiNardo issues dispensation for Immaculate Conception 2024
HOUSTON — In an Oct. 29 message to Catholics in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Dec. 9, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Because the Dec. 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception falls on the Second Sunday of Advent, the liturgical celebration of the Immaculate Conception was transferred to Monday, Dec. 9.
“In the past, it was understood that when this situation occurred the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was not a Holy Day of Obligation due to its proximity to the obligation of Sunday. A recent clarification, however, from the Holy See stated that the obligation for the faithful to attend Mass for the Solemnity always remains in force,” he said. “As we are quickly approaching the end of the liturgical year, I am aware that many parishes and families already have in place the schedules for Advent and Christmas, and that this will cause confusion due to the short notice of this change. Thus, taking this into account, I have decided to grant a dispensation from this obligation in the Archdiocese this year.”
Even with the dispensation, “As the celebration of the Blessed Mother under her title of the Immaculate Conception is the Patronal Solemnity of our nation, I encourage all the faithful to make a special effort to attend Mass on Dec. 9 even though there is no obligation to do so this year,” Cardinal DiNardo said. †
What is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary? (USCCB) — An essential part of God’s plan for the mother of His Son was that she be conceived free from Original Sin. “Through the centuries the Church became ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception” (CCC, no. 491).
In anticipation that she was to bear the Son of God, Mary was preserved from the time of her conception from Original Sin. We call this the Immaculate Conception. No sin would touch her, so that she would be a fitting and worthy vessel of the Son of God. The Immaculate Conception does not refer to the virginal conception and birth of Christ but rather to Mary’s being conceived without inheriting Original Sin. In the course of time, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception became more precisely enunciated, as its truth — long supported by the universal popular devotion of the faithful — was better understood by deepening theological inquiry. In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed this dogma infallibly: that is, in his role as supreme teacher of the Church, he declared that this doctrine is divinely revealed and must be accepted with faith by the entire Church. (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, 142-143) †
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Scan to watch this month’s prayer video from Pope Francis
CNS PHOTO
Pope Francis greets a man whose son died as he visits the section of Rome’s Laurentino cemetery set aside for miscarried infants on the feast of All Souls, Nov. 2.
THE FIRST WORD
St. Frances Cabrini: A saint for America
HOUSTON (OSV News) St. Frances Xavier Cabrini lived the remarkable life of a holy immigrant woman. Her feast day is Nov. 13.
Mother Cabrini, as the saint is commonly known, was born in rural northern Italy in 1850 and suffered from bouts of serious illness throughout her life. She taught and worked as the administrator of an orphanage, became a religious sister, and, at age 30, founded a new order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mother Cabrini wanted to work in China, but Pope Leo XIII directed her to the U.S. instead. Mother Cabrini and six colleagues arrived in New York City to minister to Italian immigrants and orphans in 1889.
Working in crowded slums, Mother Cabrini and her sisters provided education, health care and catechism classes. They funded their early work by begging for alms. In 1899, she bought the property where the shrine is located to establish a boarding school for girls of wealthy families. She then used the tuition to fund orphanages and free schools for children in poverty.
Mother Cabrini maintained an intense prayer life, had a fierce devotion to the Sacred Heart and was tireless in her efforts on behalf of the poor. She founded 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages in the U.S., Europe, and Central and South America.
She became a U.S. citizen in 1909 and died in 1917 at age 67. Mother Cabrini was canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII, making her the first American citizen named a saint. Four years later, she was given the title, “Patroness of Immigrants.”
When Mother Cabrini’s body was exhumed prior to her
beatification, it was found to be subject to normal decay, except that her heart was intact. Her heart was returned to Codogno, Italy, where she had founded the Missionary Sisters. The rest of her remains, clad in a habit, are in a glass reliquary beneath the altar of the shrine dedicated in her honor in Upper Manhattan shrine in New York City, with her face and hands recreated in wax.
At the shrine, Julia Attaway, the shrine’s executive director, said in recent years, the shrine has made an effort to reach out to neighbors near and far, according to Attaway. Some visitors come as pilgrims or part of intentional groups and others discover the shrine in other ways.
“What happens here is between the pilgrim, Mother Cabrini and the heart of Jesus, and what we do is facilitate,” she added.
Longtime worshipper Omar Huster said the shrine is “like a second home to me. It’s a place to find peace and digest God’s wisdom. The fact that a woman like Mother Cabrini can pack such a powerful punch while facing adversity — people can relate to that, and it makes you stronger.”
In Houston, St. Frances Cabrini Parish, located at 10727 Hartsook St. in Edgebrook, offers a spiritual home to Catholics in southeast Houston.
Also named after Mother Cabrini, Catholic Charities’ St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance provides immigration legal services in greater Houston. A group of attorneys and legal professionals provide free and low-cost legal services to children who arrived in the U.S. alone, families seeking immigration assistance, crime victims, asylum seekers and immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens. †
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PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS
Effective October 14
Father Augustine Adetola
Pastor – St. Peter Claver, Houston
Father Renni Manuel Ariplackal
Hospital Chaplain – Catholic Chaplain Corps
Father Miguel Angel Ramirez Lepe, c.s. Pastor – St. Leo the Great, Houston
Effective October 15
Father Thuan Ngoc Nguyen, c.s.
Parochial Vicar – St. Leo the Great, Houston
Father Oktovinaris Sabnani
Parochial Vicar – St. John Neumann, Houston
Effective November 25
Father Reginald Samuels
Pastor – St. Laurence, Sugar Land
BRIEFS
Café Catholica Lite returns Nov. 14
HOUSTON — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at St. Mary of the Expectation Parish, located at 1612 E Walker St. in League City, on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 8:45 p.m.
The talk titled “Kairos: For such a time as this!” will be given by Sam Schoenfelder, director for St. Paul’s Outreach in Texas. The talk will include a message of hope about the call as Christians to spread the Gospel. The night will include snacks, presentation, Q&A and prayer.
The Café Catholica program helps young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778 or visit www.archgh.org/cafecatholica. †
Registration continues for Nov. 17 Silver Anniversary Mass
HOUSTON — The 2024 Wedding Anniversary Jubilee Mass honoring couples celebrating their Silver (25th) Anniversary of marriage in the Catholic Church is still open for registration.
The Mass is set for Sunday, Nov. 17, at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston, at 3 p.m. Couples are eligible to receive a special recognition whether they attend the ceremony or not. Registration, which is $40 per couple, includes an Archdiocesan certificate of the anniversary, a special issue worship aid and a commemorative pin. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/familylife. †
In Memoria set for Nov. 24
HOUSTON — On Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m., the Archdiocesan Choir, under the direction of Dr. Richard Lopez of the Archdiocese’s Office of Worship, will perform their 15th annual In Memoria concert at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
$25 tickets, with discounted price for seniors and students, are available online at archgh.org/inmemoria.
Priests and religious sisters and brothers who served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and passed away during the past year will be remembered during the performance. †
Registration for Feb. 8 race continues
HOUSTON — Registration is open for the 20th Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk, held Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. The event raises funds and awareness for the network of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
The event will start with Mass at 7 a.m., followed by the presentation of the David Guite Spirit Award. The timed 5K race will begin at 8:30 a.m.; a post-race party will follow the event along with the Catholic School Village. To register, visit www.steps4students.org. †
OSV NEWS PHOTO
People pray during Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel of St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Upper Manhattan in New York City. Mother Cabrini’s remains are encased in a glass casket embedded in the chapel’s altar. Her feast day is Nov. 13.
‘The Rosary in a Year’
The free podcast by Ascension, a Catholic multimedia network, begins Jan. 1, 2025 ▪ SEE PAGE 17
All Souls, All Saints celebrations showcase school, parish devotions
HOUSTON — As October ended, the faith of thousands of Catholics across the Archdiocese came alive through several celebrations, Masses and devotions for All Souls Day and All Saints Day. Parishes also hosted special trunk-or-treat celebrations paired with prayers in the church.
For All Saints, at Catholic schools, young students came dressed as their favorite saints. At St. Edward Catholic School in Spring, a young girl wore a candle-bearing crown as St. Lucy, while another boy was dressed as a Filipino saint, while others opted for more well-known saints like Padre Pio or Mother Teresa.
On Nov. 2, both in homes and at parishes, Catholics embraced the Day of the Dead tradition, creating beautiful and elaborate altars that recall beloved family members and friends who have died. Covered in marigolds, greenery and often favorite snacks and meals, the altars displayed pictures of loved ones.
The celebration includes a series of days dedicated to praying for specific intentions, which includes Masses, praying the Rosary and visiting gravesites and cemeteries in devoted prayer. †
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SACRED HEART SCHOOL - CROSBY
Collection helps aging priests, sisters, brothers in religious orders in Houston and nationwide
HOUSTON — The faithful have an opportunity to support the more than 20,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have devoted their lives to service in the Church, including many living in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) announced that the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection is set for parishes throughout the Archdiocese on the weekend of Dec. 7 to 8. This collection provides crucial financial aid to qualified religious institutes, enabling them to address the growing needs of their retired members.
Parishioners in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston contributed $565,582.29 to the collection in 2023. In the past, the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province and the Missionary Carmelites of St. Teresa received financial support made possible by the fund.
These men and women religious who taught in schools, served in parish ministries and helped provide social services for the Church selflessly devoted their lives to serving others, often for little to no pay. As they age, many religious communities face a significant gap between the cost of care and available resources. The rising cost of healthcare, coupled with the fact that religious past the age of 70 outnumber those younger than 70 by nearly three to one, has exacerbated this challenge. In 2024, 71% of religious communities providing data to the NRRO reported a median age of 70 or higher.
In 2023, the collection raised $29.3 million, yet the annual cost to support senior religious exceeds $1 billion. The average annual cost of care for each religious is roughly $59,700, with skilled nursing care averaging $90,700 per person. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious is only $8,551.
Those contributions enabled the NRRO to distribute $28 million in direct care assistance to 286 eligible religious orders throughout the U.S. When combined with these communities’ own income and savings, this funding helps cover various eldercare expenses, such as nursing care, medications and daily
AT A GLANCE RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS COLLECTION
When: December 7 - 8
Info: retiredreligious.org
living. Distributions may be applied toward immediate costs or invested for future eldercare needs. The NRRO also offers Management and Continuing Education Assistance, which amounted to $187,320, to help equip religious communities with the necessary tools and knowledge for their financial and retirement-related education needs.
John Knutsen, NRRO director, expressed gratitude for the “profound generosity”of U.S. Catholics, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the “comfort and dignity” of those who have served tirelessly.
“As we prepare for this year’s collection, we invite all Catholics to join us in honoring the legacy of these dedicated women and men by contributing to their well-deserved care,” he said.
Knutsen said the selfless dedication of these religious men and women has enriched countless lives.
“By contributing to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection, we ensure they receive the care and dignity they deserve while also upholding the values of compassion and solidarity within our faith community,” he said.
The NRRO coordinates the annual national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious and distributes financial assistance to eligible religious communities. It is sponsored by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since its establishment in 1988, the collection has raised over $1 billion, with nearly $870 million distributed for direct care and over $103.5 million allocated to self-help projects.
For more information, visit retiredreligious.org. †
PHOTO BY NATIONAL RELIGIOUS RETIREMENT OFFICE
The upcoming National Retirement Fund for Religious collection, set for Dec. 7 to 8, supports several local religious congregations.
CCHD opens doors as part of the Church’s social mission
those issues through their ministries.
“Working with our local committee and grant recipients is a humbling experience,” said Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, secretariat director of the Office of Justice and Peace at the Archdiocese. “I have a long history of working in this Archdiocese, and my experience with CCHD allows me to witness the care for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and the commitment of this Archdiocesan community to create an environment of justice and peace where all can thrive.”
Local grant recipients include:
1. Living Hope Wheelchair Association — Founded and led by disabled immigrants, most of whom have spinal cord injuries. They have created a remarkable mutual aid society from the grassroots, responding to needs that were unaddressed by other institutions.
2. Houston Legal Aid Center — Provides full legal representation in the areas of immigration, family law and criminal record expungement primarily to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, immigrants and refugees in the Greater Houston area.
3. Cypress Assistance Ministries — Provides emergency financial support, nutritious food, clothing and basic needs assistance in the northwest quadrant of the Archdiocese.
HELPING OTHERS MOVE IN LIFE
Living Hope Wheelchair Association is a community based non-profit
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
WHEN: NOV. 17 - 18
Nearly 38 million people in the United States live in poverty. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection supports programs that empower people to identify and address the obstacles they face in bringing permanent and positive change to their communities. In the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, of donations given that weekend, 25% of the overall total remains in the Archdiocese to support local ministries and organizations.
organization formed by people with spinal cord injuries as well as with other mobility disabilities working together to improve their quality of life and promote their rights.
Modesto Hinojosa, a staffer with the organization, thanked the Archdiocesan faithful for their support, adding they have been able to make significant strides in improving the services they offer.
“The new equipment, from the welding machine to the emergency generator, is already making a huge difference in the work we do every day,” he said. “With the table lift and additional tools, our team is able to fix wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters and all kinds of medical equipment. We are now able to provide safer, more efficient work environments for our team and those we serve.”
Hinojosa said the funds have allowed them to better serve those who rely on them for hands-on skills training and job readiness programs. The organization was also able to get security cameras and a generator, which Hinojosa said, “provide peace of mind.”
“Whether it’s welding, organizing materials with the new racks, or simply having reliable power during an emergency, it’s clear that this support is helping us build a stronger foundation for the future,” he said. “I feel more confident in the skills I am learning, and I’m excited for the new possibilities that are opening up.”
Founded in 1970, CCHD focuses on promoting the active participation of people experiencing poverty in the U.S., working together to create job opportunities, improve conditions in their neighborhoods and address the root causes of poverty in their communities.
“When you give to CCHD, you uphold the dignity of the poor by creating a path to good jobs and better, stronger communities,” said Bishop Timothy C. Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the
USCCB’s subcommittee on the CCHD. “CCHD opens the door to the active participation of those experiencing poverty to convene, identify barriers, research issues, brainstorm solutions, and take action to change problematic structures and systems in their communities and is an essential part of the social mission of the Church in the United States.”
Last year, CCHD distributed more than $12.7 million to non-partisan grassroots organizations that help poor or marginalized people across the country work together to rise above the obstacles to living wages, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. Additionally, 25% of all contributions to Archdiocesan CCHD collections stay in the Archdiocese, where they were given funding for local anti-poverty projects.
Grant applications are reviewed and approved by both the local bishop and the U.S. bishops’ subcommittee on CCHD following site visits and recommendations of the local CCHD Committee.
“Organizations that receive funding from CCHD reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and bring together Catholics, ecumenical and interfaith leaders, and non-religious members dedicated to making positive change. While they are religiously diverse, these funded organizations commit to advancing and uplifting Catholic moral and social teaching,” Bishop Senior said. “Once a grant is awarded, CCHD staff maintain close relationships with organizations throughout the length of the grant.”
#iGiveCatholicTogether also accepts funds for CCHD. For more information about CCHD, visit www.usccb.org/cchd. †
COURTESY OF LIVING HOPE WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION
Annual Red Mass unites legislative community in
HOUSTON — Following bright red banners that led the procession to open the annual Red Mass, a group of nearly 20 active and retired judges dressed in black robes joined hundreds of others from Houston’s legislative community for the annual Mass and dinner on Oct. 23 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo presided over the Mass, with Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, who was the dinner’s keynote speaker, concelebrating. In his homily, Cardinal DiNardo called for a life of justice, mercy and peace, urging those in the legal profession to embody these values and to strive for a more just and merciful world.
In Archbishop Listecki’s address, he emphasized the importance of religious freedom in today’s society, including its historical roots. He also discussed the challenges faced by religious institutions in modern times, particularly in education, healthcare and social services.
Red Mass organizers noted the Oct. 23 feast of St. John of Capistrano, a Franciscan friar-priest who was also a lawyer, as fitting as a patron for the community’s annual gathering. The Mass also prays for and remembers those who belonged to the legal community in the Archdiocese and have died in the past year. †
We Transform the World!
Archdiocesan young adult pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi celebrates Jubilee year
HOUSTON — Pope Francis has declared that 2025 will be a Jubilee year, and all young adults, ages 18 to 39, are welcome to register for the Archdiocesan pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi to participate.
This pilgrimage offers an opportunity to explore the rich history of Rome, walk through the holy doors for the Jubilee year, participate in Adoration and Mass with Pope Francis, and visit the home of Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi. Cost for the trip is $3,881 per person (flights not included). A deposit of $500 is due upon registration. The remaining payments can be spaced out over the next 6 months. All payments are due to Verso ministry by March 31, 2025.
Spaces are limited on this trip. For more information or to register go to www.archgh.org/ yapilgrimage. †
Faithful Citizenship Dinner celebrates the Nesti Center’s 30th anniversary and its founder
FATHER DONALD S. NESTI, CSSp.
HOUSTON — The University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST) commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Nesti Center and honored its founder, Father Donald S. Nesti, CSSp., on Oct. 17 at the River Oaks Country Club.
Under the theme, “Illuminating the Way,” the gathering celebrated three decades of unwavering service and commitment to the study of faith and culture and to bringing the Catholic voice to the ongoing conversation about the meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness held in common as Americans.
Kevin Stuart, director of The Nesti Center, said 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,” he said. “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.’”
The center advocates for true human fulfillment found through loving relationship 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. †
HOUSTON Margo P. Geddie, international vice president of Serra International, and Monsignor Louis Pavlicek, a priest in residence at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock in the Diocese of Austin, were the recipients of the 2024 Rt. Rev. Msgr. James M. Kirwin Medal at the third-annual Rector’s Dinner held on Oct. 2.
The event is honors and celebrates supporters of St. Mary’s Seminary. Geddie serves on the board of St. Mary’s Seminary, promoting vocations to the priesthood around the world. Monsignor Pavlicek served as a mentor and a guide for priesthood for all of the men training for the priesthood at the seminary. †
Spring-area parishes to host four-day Eucharistic procession ahead of Solemnity of Christ the King
SPRING — A Eucharistic procession spanning four days, four parishes and a Catholic school, from Nov. 18 to Nov. 21, will take place in Northwest Houston and Spring in the days prior to the Nov. 24 Solemnity of Christ the King.
On Monday, Nov. 18, there will be Mass, Adoration, a procession around the Frassati Catholic High School campus and a procession to St. Edward Parish, located at 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd. in Spring. There, confessions will be heard at 5 p.m., followed by a Mass at 7 p.m. with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, a Mass will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a Eucharistic Procession from St. Edward to Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, located at 18511 Klein Church Rd. in Spring. At the church, there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. Confessions will be heard at 5 p.m., followed by a Mass at 7 p.m. with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament through the night.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, a 9 a.m. Mass is followed by a Eucharistic Procession from Christ the Good Shepherd to St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, located at 7810 Cypresswood Dr. in Spring. At the church, there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the day. Confession will be held at 5 p.m., followed by 7 p.m. Mass, with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament through the night.
On Thursday, Nov. 21, a Mass will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a Eucharistic Procession from St. Ignatius of Loyola to Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 19222 TX 249 in Houston. At the church, there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the day. Confession will be heard at 5 p.m., followed by 7 p.m. Mass.
For more information, to sign up to be part of the processions or for a Holy Hour, visit ignatiusloyola.org/eucharistic-procession. Inspired by the Eucharistic Revival, the procession mirrors part of the Eucharistic Revival’s ‘Walk with One’ initiative.
The U.S. bishops’ Walk with One initiative, launched with the congress, that provides resources to help Catholics engage in “spiritual companionship” and effectively evangelize through their existing relationships. †
CCSF presents checks to Cardinal DiNardo, burse honorees
HOUSTON — The Catholic Clerical Student Fund (CCSF) Luncheon was held on Sept. 28 at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. Burse honorees included Father Tom Ponzini, pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Father John Rooney, pastor of St. Mary of the Expectation in League City, and Shirley Weaver (Mary Queen). Daniel Cardinal DiNardo was presented with a check by Beverly Brumbaugh, CCSF’s acting president, and Sarah Snell, treasurer and bookkeeper at CCSF, in the amount of $130,000 for the Seminary.
The CCSF was established in 1933 to feed the seminarians during The Great Depression and the beginnings of what would lead to World War II. The fund is supported by Mass enrollments through gifts of $3 or more. Those who are enrolled are the beneficiaries of the prayers of the seminarians and of Masses regularly celebrated at the seminary for the intentions of the members.
The money received by the fund from memberships is invested, and the income from the investments is given to help support the seminary. Enrollments are tax-deductible. These enrollments are included in a working burse until the burse totals $15,000. †
Proclaim Conference draws hundreds to St. Ignatius of Loyola
BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo preaches the homily during the Opening Mass of the 2024 Proclaim Conference on Oct. 25 at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Spring. The biennial two-day conference drew hundreds of ministry leaders, educators, catechists and volunteers from the Archdiocese’s lay and religious communities for a day of formation, prayer and renewal. During his homily, Cardinal DiNardo encouraged attendees to reflect on Pope Francis’ newest encyclical, “Dilexit nos,” which focuses on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He encouraged them to carry a contemplative spirit to reflect on their work as ministry leaders and volunteers, as it is crucial for understanding Jesus’ mission and proclaiming the kingdom of God to the world. Conference keynote speakers included Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, Father John Ignatius, Father Jorge Alvarado and Father Đaminh Giuse Nguyễn Thiết Thắng, SDD.
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Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 24
First Sunday of Advent
December 1
Second Sunday of Advent
December 8
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22
Sacred Heart welcomes historical marker in Conroe
PHOTO BY MARK CANADA
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe celebrated the installation of a historical marker at the parish, which has been part of the Conroe area since around 1910. Parochial Vicar Father Matthew Krusleski and Pastor Father Nicolas Ramirez dedicated the marker on Sept. 30, which is located in front of the parish’s newer church sanctuary that was built and dedicated in 2018.
PHOTO
Camp Kappe fosters spiritual renewal among the pines in Plantersville for young Catholics
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
PLANTERSVILLE — Four generations of Catholics have cherished their experiences at Camp Kappe Youth Retreat Center, where they have deepened their faith and reconnected with God, one another and His beautiful creation. Located on 130 acres of wooded land an hour north of Houston in Plantersville, the camp continues to nurture discipleship among young people today — from fifth graders to young adults.
“Through formation programs, the School of Environmental Education (S.E.E.) and young adult retreats, they come to this place to renew themselves, grow spiritually and participate in the greater mission of the Church,” said Randy Adams, executive director of Camp Kappe. “Our hope is that they will go forth to evangelize and share the Gospel in other places within the Archdiocese and beyond.”
Designated as a center for youth retreats, camping and spiritual-growth programs, Camp Kappe is operated by the Archdiocese’s Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization. Weekend retreats for youth and young adults from parishes within the Archdiocese and dioceses of Austin and Beaumont can host a little over 150 guests. A peaceful chapel provides space for Mass and prayer, while a recreational center features a pool, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, and an outdoor pavilion with basketball, volleyball, soccer and community-building games. Additional activities include archery, canoeing, a scenic nine-hole disc golf course, and nature trails for exploring the woods and observing wildlife.
A group of Catholic school students listen during an outdoor lesson at Camp Kappe in Plantersville. Camp Kappe, operated by the Archdiocese’s Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, hosts weekend retreats for youth and young adults from parishes within the Archdiocese and dioceses of Austin and Beaumont and can host more than 150 guests.
stay. Students explore renewable energy, life cycles and resource conservation, and learn about humans’ impact on the environment through activities like gardening, pond studies, caring for animals and orienteering.
DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND
Amanda Smith, assistant principal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, said her own experience at S.E.E. as a fifth-grade student left a deep impression, and now, as an educator, she sees those same lessons shaping a new generation of students. With so many children spending time indoors and on electronic devices, Smith finds the amount of outdoor time provided at Camp Kappe invaluable, as it gives students a chance to unplug, connect and pray together in nature.
camp encourages them to disconnect from screens and engage in meaningful conversations while surrounded by God’s natural beauty.”
Nathaniel Wooten, director of S.E.E. at Camp Kappe, said the retreat center has served thousands of students since its establishment, including his own camping experience in 1998. Global Village, first introduced in the 20052006 school year and updated in 2021, evolved from a previous activity called “Starving Breakfast.” This program engages students in Catholic social teaching through a variety of interactive experiences.
The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “We are the Lord’s.” DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.
DSF IN ACTION
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.
At the heart of Camp Kappe’s mission is the S.E.E., an accredited program offering fifth-grade students hands-on learning experiences over a four-day
“One of the most beneficial aspects of Camp Kappe, aside from gaining independence and bonding with their peers, is learning to be good stewards of God’s creation,” Smith said. “The
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One key activity illustrates how people live in different regions worldwide, contrasting their living conditions. Students are divided into groups representing countries with varying economic levels and asked to share food items — such as beans, meat, corn, and water — to create a meal together. This collaboration not only demonstrates the interconnectedness of global communities but also reinforces the importance of human dignity and stewardship, reflecting core Catholic values.
“They explore the importance of sharing resources and ensuring that everyone on Earth is cared for,” Wooten said. “Witnessing poverty is an education; having to share and work with others to meet their needs is a real gift. It’s a true blessing for students to realize that this is a daily reality for people around the world.”
Smith said fifth-grade classes at St.
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Elizabeth Ann Seton have attended S.E.E. for many decades, and she considers the program an integral part of the school’s curriculum. The most impactful lesson for her as a student was the “Starving Breakfast” activity, which emphasized the daily realities many people face and the importance of the Corporal Works of Mercy, gratitude and sharing with those in need.
“I witnessed the same ‘light bulb’ moment with my students when they participated in the Global Village activity now offered,” Smith said. “After the activity, many students expressed how blessed they were to live in a country with an abundance of resources and how important it was for them to share with each other to accomplish their goal.”
Camp Kappe is one of more than 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF). Adams said without this financial assistance, the
See KAPPE, next page
PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE
In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo would like to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713654-5799. Please keep in daily prayers the healing of victims of abuse and all who suffer in any way.
PHOTO BY MARCUS NORWOOD/HERALD
EDUCATION
Blue Ribbon award-winning schools rally to celebrate national honor
HOUSTON — A trio of Houston-area Catholic schools recently honored by the U.S. Department of Education for excellent academics and community service celebrated the awards with rallies cheering on their students and parents.
The three local Catholic schools are among 40 non-public schools across the country and 356 schools overall to receive the prestigious U.S. Department of Education recognition. The honor highlights schools excelling in academic performance or closing achievement gaps among different student groups.
School staff decorated the halls and gyms of
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S.E.E. program, parish retreats, and various facilities and activities would not be available.
“In 1981, when the Archdiocese purchased this property, I was a high school student, so I got to experience firsthand Camp Kappe in its very beginning when it consisted of only four buildings,” Adams said. “Because of DSF, we now have this beautiful campus where not only my children but also my grandchildren can return to experience the camp. Kappe allows all parishes and schools, no matter their economic status, the ability to provide their youth a unique and wonderful retreat opportunity to commune with God.”
In addition to contributing their
treasure through DSF, Adams encourages those interested in volunteering to share their time. Volunteers help prepare the camp for summer programs, maintain trails and cabins, care for livestock, and support new initiatives, such as the upcoming launch of a STEM camp in 2025.
Discover more about Camp Kappe and how to volunteer by visiting www. archgh.org/campkappe.
To donate to the DSF that supports the retreat facility and 60-plus ministries, go to www.archgh.org/DSF.
The DSF supports all ministries, including direct services and education, which rely on this critical funding. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to support these ministries. †
Friday, November 15
St.
Friday, November 15
Monday, December 9
Friday, December 13
An evening of prayer, group sharing, and dinner with parish priests for young men ages 14 – 18.
KAPPE, from previous page
ST. PETER CATHOLIC HOSTS EIGHTH GRADERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. PETER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
St. Peter Catholic High School had their largest single school visit with 32 eighth-grade students from Assumption Catholic School. Other schools have had more than 200 eighth graders visit the campus, including Holy Ghost Catholic School and St. Francis de Sales Catholic School. They held their open house on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Christ the Redeemer in Cypress, St. John Paul II Catholic School in Houston’s energy corridor off I-10 West and St. Helen Catholic School in Pearland with blue balloons and confetti while children cheered. †
ST. JOHN PAUL II
ST. HELEN
COLUMNIST
Stir into flame the grace of the Eucharistic Congress
I did not attend the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this summer. However, I did attend virtually from my home in Houston. My dad had been visiting that week, and we ended up watching almost the whole congress together on EWTN.
I have attended many big Catholic events in my life, so it was easy for me to imagine what it would have been like to be in Lucas Oil Stadium for the programs. As a virtual attendee, I got to enjoy all the programs without encountering the suffering of waiting in line for food or sweating in the summer heat during the outdoor Eucharistic procession.
There are many people who, like me, were not able to attend the congress this summer. From some of those folks, I’ve heard questions like “What’s the big deal, anyway?” or “I love the Eucharist, but why did we need a big event for it?”
Others critiqued the event by saying that it is easy to love the Eucharist when you have all the grand lighting and music from the congress, but how many of
by ANGELA POMETTO
those people will still love the Eucharist when they’re back home in the simplicity of their parish church?
To these objections, I respond that the National Eucharistic Congress this summer was a big deal! It started with the four routes of Eucharistic pilgrims who traveled from four corners of our country with the
Eucharist to make a benediction-like cross over the nation. It continued with more than 60,000 people gathered in unity to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Social media was overrun for those four days with beautiful images of all the priests, religious sisters and bishops who attended and exuded a deep, powerful joy. The Eucharistic Congress was an outpouring of grace upon our whole country, and that grace is needed for such a time as this! According to St.
Paul, when we receive grace, we need to “stir into flame the gift of God that you have received” (2 Tim 1:6).
The Eucharistic Revival is a call to all Catholics to “stir into flame” the graces that have been outpoured upon our faithful through this event. Whether you attended the congress or not, we all have the ability to receive this grace and put it into action in our own lives.
How? First, I would encourage those who did not attend the congress this summer to take some time to view the talks available on YouTube. We have links for these sessions saved on our young adult website at www.archgh.org/ yaworkshops.
Second, I would encourage you to make a sacrifice for the Eucharist. All 60,000 people who attended the congress this summer made sacrifices to be there. They sacrificed money needed for the registration fee; they sacrificed time away from work or other regular commitments;
they sacrificed the inconvenience of traveling — families who drove miles with young children or long bus trips to hotels that were far away from the stadium, leaving little time for sleep. All of us can make a sacrifice for our Lord in the Eucharist. We can make a commitment to sign up for a regular hour of adoration, make it to Mass an extra time during the week, or invite a non-Catholic friend to join us for Mass on Sunday.
The grace of the Eucharistic Congress is available to all. I hope all Catholics take some time to accept those graces and make a sacrifice to increase our devotion to the Eucharist. The graces have been outpoured upon us, and I can’t wait to see how the Church comes alive as those graces are stirred into flame.
Angela Pometto is the director of the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry.
Sainthood cause to open for beloved Irish actress turned nun, parish priest confirms
DUBLIN (OSV News) — The sainthood cause of an Irish nun killed in an earthquake in Ecuador in 2016 is to open early next year, it has been revealed.
Derry-born Sister Clare Crockett was a promising actress with little interest in religion when she went on a Holy Week retreat in Spain in 2000, which changed her life.
The then 18-year-old self-confessed “wild child” felt a profound call to religious life, and entered the convent of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother.
Following her death in the 2016 Ecuador earthquake, stories soon began to spread of her holiness of life and devoted pastoral service. Her grave in her native Derry soon became a place of pilgrimage, and devotion to her intercession has grown. She has been credited with bringing many young people back to the practice of their Catholic faith.
Father Gerard Mongan, parish priest of her native parish of St. Columba’s in Derry’s working-class Bogside neighborhood, told OSV News that “news of the opening of Sister Clare’s cause for canonization has been received with great joy and anticipation in Derry.”
Father Mongan confirmed to OSV News that the cause for Sister Clare will open in Madrid on Jan. 12. From this point she will be declared a servant of God and the intensive scrutiny of her life and ministry will continue with both a postulator and vice postulator appointed to present the case to the Vatican.
Father Mongan said he hopes that the news will help devotion to Sister Clare spread far and wide. “She already has a huge following of devotees who are inspired by her remarkable conversion story.
“The people of Derry and beyond are
overwhelmed by the possibility that one day, they will have their own saint. In particular, she has been an inspiration to many young people who have been inspired by her life, especially her infectious joy.
“She has already brought countless people back to the practice of their faith. We all look forward to the official opening of her cause when she will become (a) servant of God. Exciting times ahead!”
Father Mongan said.
Sister Clare was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1982 at the height of the sectarian conflict known as The Troubles, in which over 3,000 people lost their lives.
Her hometown is featured in the popular comedy series “Derry Girls,”
which follows the antics of teenagers in the city.
Shortly after her death, her religious congregation, the Home of the Mother, released a film charting her life. “All of Nothing” documents the last 15 years of her life and includes interviews with her family, childhood friends and the sisters from the Home of the Mother order. The film now has more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.
In 2020, the order published the first full-length biography of the religious sister.
“Sister Clare Crockett: Alone with Christ Alone” is written by Sister Kristen Gardner, who was also responsible for the documentary.
The book is based on Sister Clare’s
IN BRIEF
notebooks of spiritual writings, discovered after her death. In one passage, she recalls the experience that brought her to rediscover her faith on Good Friday in 2000.
“I do not know how to explain exactly what happened. I did not see the choirs of angels or a white dove come down from the ceiling and descend on me, but I had the certainty that the Lord was on the Cross for me,” she recalled.
“And along with that conviction, I felt a great sorrow, similar to what I had experienced when I was little and prayed the Stations of the Cross. When I returned to my pew, I already had imprinted in me something that was not there before. I had to do something for Him who had given His life for me,” she wrote.
It was the start of a journey of conversion and healing that led to her — despite protests from her family and acting manager — joining the sisters and taking her first vows in 2006.
Her first assignment was in the community at Belmonte, in Cuenca, Spain, in a residence for girls who came from families in difficulty. “Her zeal for souls, especially those of the youth, was immense,” the sisters wrote in her online biography.
Soon after, she was sent to the new community that was about to open in Jacksonville, Florida, in October 2006. The sisters began pastoral work at Assumption Parish and School.
Father Frederick Parke, who died on Oct. 18, 2021, remembered Sister Clare as one beaming with enthusiasm and joy.
“The children picked up on the enthusiasm that she had for the Eucharist. She overflowed with enthusiasm for the Lord. Once you had been with her, you knew you had to pick up that same enthusiasm. It was so catchy.” †
Pope: Love is the most important commandment
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The guiding principle of love extolled by Jesus cuts through confusion around how to uphold God’s commandments to humanity, Pope Francis said.
Reflecting Nov. 3 on the day’s Gospel reading from St. Mark in which Jesus responds to the question, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” the pope said, “Jesus gives us the answer, putting together two commandments that are the primary ones: the love of God and the love of neighbor.”
Like the Jews of Jesus’ time who sought truth through discussion and debate of religious teaching, “we too at times feel lost among so many things,” he said before praying the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter’s Square. Yet, attempting to bring into focus the fundamental teachings of God’s commandments to humanity “is essential for us, too, for our life and for the journey of our faith.”
In one’s faith journey, Jesus teaches that “what counts are not exterior practices, such as burnt offerings and sacrifices, but the readiness of heart with which you open yourself to God and to others in love,” Pope Francis said. People do many things in the name of faith, but to do them “only for ourselves and without love,” he said, “this will not do; we do them with a distracted heart or even with a closed heart, and this will not do. All things must be done with love.” †
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OSV NEWS PHOTO
Sister Clare Crockett, a member of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, is pictured in a 2011 photo. A sainthood cause for the Irish sister, who was killed in Ecuador during an 2016 earthquake, is to be opened in early 2025.
NATION & STATE
‘Whatever comes, Jesus is still Lord,’ says newly installed Boston archbishop
(OSV News) — “Jesus is still Lord” and “the Eucharist is still real” no matter what challenges and sufferings lay ahead, said Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston in his homily during his Oct. 31 installation Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
The 60-year-old archbishop, who succeeds the retired Seán Cardinal O’Malley, is the 10th bishop and sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, home to 1.8 million Catholics.
The Rockville Centre, NewYork, native was ordained as a priest of the Rockville Centre Diocese and, in 2018, was named one of its auxiliary bishops. In November 2022, Pope Francis appointed him as coadjutor bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, and in May 2023 he succeeded Bishop Thomas J. Tobin in that diocese.
After quipping that he’d frequently been asked if he would become “a Red Sox fan,” Archbishop Henning began his homily at the installation Mass — which was attended by Cardinal O’Malley and more than 1,400 guests, including 50 bishops and 500 priests — by saying that “the most important thing that you, the people of this archdiocese, need to know about me is that I believe.”
He then reflected on the words of the Nicene Creed and the nature of God.
“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,” said the archbishop, quoting the creed’s opening line, before commenting, “This God is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, and shockingly, in accord with the Scriptures, this God is love itself.”
Acknowledging God as creator of all things is “a somewhat scandalous thing to say, given the world in which we live,” said Archbishop Henning, noting that while “we are mere mortal creatures, sinners all,” who have failed in fidelity to the Lord, “God does not give up on us.
“God follows after us, seeks us out. And this God longs to be in a relationship with us,” said the archbishop. “I believe that God desires us to be a part of a partnership. If you really think about this truth of what we believe, it’s a little bit crazy.”
That relationship between God and humankind “is deeply personal,” Archbishop Henning said. “Not in the usual cultural sense of individuals, or
me and Jesus against the world, but in the sense that, when God desired to fully reveal His heart to His human family, He does so in a person.”
Jesus Christ is God’s “greatest gift, the gift of His own heart, His beloved Son,” who willingly sacrificed His life to redeem humanity, Archbishop Henning said.
“Jesus ... comes among us, and he reveals to us the heart of God, the compassion of God, the healing, reconciling power of this God, who is love,” he said. “We see it in His ministry. We see it in His own self-gift. For His ministry is just that: It’s gift, it’s grace. We could not save ourselves.”
From Jesus’ self-gift, “the Lord builds up a people, particularly through the gift of that Eucharist,” Archbishop Henning said.
He added, “This Jesus, who is the face of God, the God who is love and is just as much a mirror held up to us to show us who we were made to be, who we are truly in the sight of God. This I believe. I hope you do, too.”
At the same time, said the archbishop, faith — which is “not just a list of beliefs” or “just a feeling” — is “a whole life” that rightly makes demands upon the believer. He said, “That faith, that belief, finds its true expression in the living of it.”
Since “a relationship also has demands,” God “demands of us that we be changed, that these beliefs transform us, for he wishes us to become what he has made us to be,” the archbishop said.
Among those demands are worship, with Catholics “acknowledging that we are not gods and that there is one God, and that we need the grace and the mercy, the forgiveness, of that God,” he said. “So, we give God the glory.”
Also required by God is “the truth of solidarity,” he said, adding that “we all know how human it is to define and divide, to put up the walls, us and them.
“Yet the Scriptures and the prophets remind us of this fundamental truth — that we all are, as the Holy Father, Pope Francis, teaches, ‘Fratelli tutti’ — ‘brothers and sisters all,’ inside the Church and out, every human person,” Archbishop Henning said.
In turn, solidarity is linked to compassion, he said.
“When human beings forget
“Let us follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi and take care of our common home.” – Pope Francis Enjoy the Good News? Pass it on! Finished reading your Texas Catholic Herald? Recycle it or pass it on to someone else!
themselves and give themselves away when they turn to each other, we find ourselves, we find our truest selves, we find who we are, made to be in the image and likeness of God,” said Archbishop Henning.
Along with worship, he said, “God demands of us solidarity, compassion, healing and hope.”
In Jesus, that demand can be met; Jesus reveals God is love and that love is “a love that sweats and bleeds and dies”to redeem humanity, said Archbishop Henning.
“I know at the start of my journey here with you that there will be many things that are difficult to come. There’ll be many challenges. I’m sure there’ll be days when we’ll have a hard time, I’ll be exhausted,” he said. “But I will know this, believe this, that whatever happens on any day, whatever comes, Jesus is still Lord. Whatever makes me fear, whatever tires me out, the Gospel is still true. Whatever may come, whatever suffering, whatever moments of darkness, the Eucharist is still real.” †
OSV NEWS PHOTO
Archbishop Richard G. Henning smiles as he delivers remarks before the final blessing of his installation Mass as archbishop of Boston at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston Oct. 31.
MUNDO CATÓLICO
La virtud de la gratitud
Las votaciones en los Estados Unidos han pasado, y ¿ahora qué? Pues para un católico todavía hay mucho trabajo por hacer para el bienestar de nuestras comunidades locales. A la vez, la Iglesia Católica en todo el mundo ha llevado a cabo el Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad y ahora veremos cuáles serán los pasos por seguir. Pero, a la vez en este mes de noviembre quiero detenerme en lo que se estará celebrando en este país en un par de semanas, el día de Acción de Gracias.
Esta tradición se remonta desde el año 1621, cuando los colonos ingleses celebraron con los nativos de la zona el éxito de su primera cosecha. Y uno se preguntará, y ¿Qué tiene esto de
cosecha exitosa del siguiente año fue motivo suficiente para celebrar y agradecer, y se conoce ahora como Dia de Acción de Gracias. No fue hasta 1789, cuando el presidente George Washington lo declaró como festividad nacional y en 1941, el Congreso de los Estados Unidos lo decreto como feriado legal.
Pero ¿Qué nos dice nuestra fe sobre la virtud de la gratitud? El Papa Francisco en una de sus homilías dijo lo siguiente: “La gratitud, el saber decir ‘gracias’, nos lleva en cambio a atestiguar la presencia de Dios-amor. Y también a reconocer la importancia de los demás, superando la insatisfacción y la indiferencia que deforman nuestro corazón. Saber dar las gracias es esencial. No nos olvidemos de
las bendiciones derramadas, la gratitud es una de las mayores medicinas espirituales que toda persona puede aplicar. El vivir la virtud de ser agradecido ayuda a contrarrestar la soberbia, la envidia, la ira entre otros tantos pecados capitales.
por ADRIAN HERRERA
Sis de la Diócesis de San Angelo escribió acertadamente al decir: “Aquellas ocasiones en las que sufras sin merecerlo, o pases por cualquier tipo de dificultad, agradece el privilegio de compartir las aflicciones de nuestro señor Jesús. La cruz que llevas te acerca a Él” (Obispo M. Sis, 21 de Noviembre de 2023).
tiempo para dar gracias a Dios por todas
Ahora, no con esto quiero decir que solamente damos gracias el Dia de Acción de Gracias. Al contrario, tenemos que acrecentar nuestra actitud de gratitud. Hay que practicarlo todos los días y en todos los momentos para que se convierta en habito, y una vez teniendo raíz, será más fácil practicar la virtud de la gratitud. Tenemos que dar gracias a Dios por el don de vivir, por el diario vivir, por los alimentos, por los familiares, por los recursos naturales que dispones, por la oportunidad de trabajar y servir a los demás.
Pero también habrá momentos difíciles donde uno pudiera creer que no hay nada por agradecer, pero esto es una equivocación, inclusive en el sufrimiento se puede agradecer. El Obispo Michael J.
Nuestra fe nos llena de Cristo y mas crece nuestro agradecimiento, y nuestra vida y perspectiva cambia, inclusive en las tribulaciones. Es por eso, que en este mes de noviembre da gracias a Dios por todo lo que ha hecho en tu vida y pide que te de la sabiduría para hacer acrecentar la virtud del agradecimiento. Y con esto quisiera terminar, gracias a ti por ser fiel lector, te comparto este bello pasaje del libro de números.
El Señor dijo también a Moisés:
«Di a Aarón y a sus hijos: Así bendecirán a los hijos de Israel. Dirán:
“¡El Señor te bendiga y te guarde!
¡El Señor haga resplandecer su rostro sobre ti y te mire con buenos ojos! ¡El Señor vuelva hacia ti su rostro y te dé la paz”. †
Adrian Alberto Herrera es actualmente director asociado para la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.
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.
HOUSTON — Los fieles tienen la oportunidad de apoyar a más de 20,000 hermanos, hermanas y sacerdotes de órdenes religiosas ancianos que han dedicado su vida al servicio de la Iglesia.
La colecta anual que beneficia a los religiosos jubilados en todo Estados Unidos se llevará a cabo en las diócesis participantes el fin de semana del 7 y 8 de diciembre Coordinada por la Oficina Nacional de Jubilación para Religiosos (NRRO, sigla en inglés), esta colecta proporciona a los institutos religiosos calificados ayuda financiera esencial para abordar las necesidades crecientes de sus miembros jubilados.
Estos religiosos y religiosas que enseñaron en escuelas, sirvieron en ministerios parroquiales y en los servicios sociales de la Iglesia generosamente dedicaron su vida al prójimo, generalmente a cambio de poca o ninguna remuneración.
A medida que envejecen, muchas comunidades religiosas enfrentan una gran brecha entre el costo de atención y los recursos disponibles. El aumento del costo de la atención médica, junto con el hecho de que los religiosos mayores de 70 años sobrepasan a los menores de 70 por casi tres a uno, ha exacerbado esta dificultad. En 2024, el 71 % de las comunidades religiosas que brindan datos a la NRRO tiene una edad media de 70 o más.
La colecta, que se lanzó en 1988 para abordar la falta de fondos de retiro para los religiosos, sigue siendo fundamental. En 2023, recaudó
$29.3 millones; sin embargo, el costo anual para mantener a los religiosos ancianos supera los $1 mil millones. El costo anual promedio de la atención de cada religioso es aproximadamente $59,700, y la atención especializada de enfermería promedia los $90,700 por persona. El beneficio anual promedio del Seguro Social para un religioso es de solamente $8,551.
En 2023, los feligreses de la Arquidiócesis de Galveston-Houston contribuyeron $565,582.29 a la colecta. “La dedicación abnegada de estos religiosos ha enriquecido innumerables vidas”, dice el director de NRRO John Knutsen. “Su generosidad asegura que reciban la atención que merecen durante su jubilación. Apoyar a nuestros religiosos ancianos constituye una responsabilidad compartida y una oportunidad de expresar nuestra gratitud por su servicio de toda la vida. Al aportar al Fondo para la Jubilación de Religiosos, nos aseguramos de que reciban la atención y dignidad que se merecen mientras también defendemos los valores de compasión y solidaridad dentro de nuestra comunidad de fe”. Desde su inicio, la colecta ha distribuido más de $973 millones, apoyando el cuidado diario y los proyectos de autoayuda. Asimismo financia programas educativos para la planificación del retiro a largo plazo. Cada dólar que se dona proporciona atención esencial y dignidad. Para más información, visiten retiredreligious.org. †
WITHIN THE ARTS
Host of new ‘The Rosary
in a Year’
podcast
hopes people ‘fall in love’ with the devotion
(OSV News) — A new podcast about the Rosary promises to deepen listeners’ love of the Marian devotion and draw them closer to Jesus and His mother, Mary, in the new year.
“I hope people fall in love,” Father Mark-Mary Ames, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, the host of “The Rosary in a Year” podcast, said during a virtual press conference on Oct. 28. “I hope our listeners and those who make this journey with us ... fall in love with the Rosary because they experience it as ... a privileged door for encounter with Our Lord and Our Lady.”
The free podcast by Ascension, a Catholic multimedia network, begins Jan. 1, 2025, and continues through the year with a new episode released daily. Listeners can tune in on platforms, including the Ascension App, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, for the episodes that run 10 to 15 minutes long. Each one will feature guidance and instruction, a prayer prompt and prayers from the Rosary.
Father Mark-Mary, director of communications and director of priestly studies for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, said he hopes the podcast meets people where they are, from those who pray the Rosary regularly to those who are beginners.
“I believe that our journey for ‘The Rosary in a Year’ is going to be learning how to — and actually being accompanied in — praying with the truths of our faith,” he said during the virtual event.
The podcast will walk listeners through six phases of deepening prayer by starting small and gradually growing over time. It promises to help people of faith learn how to build a daily prayer habit, form relationships with Jesus and Mary, discover the biblical foundations of the Rosary, realize Mary’s influence in one’s own life and meditate with sacred art, the writings of the saints and Scripture.
Listeners can follow along with the podcast by signing up online for a free prayer plan at Ascension’s website, ascensionpress.com. Other related resources are available there, too,
A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL
• The Wild Robot (PG)
A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN
• Lost on a Mountain in Maine (PG)
• Piece by Piece (PG)
• Reagan (PG-13)
• The Carpenter (PG-13)
• Transformers One (PG)
• White Bird (PG-13)
including “The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide,” a free parish kit, and a package of 50“How to Pray a Better Rosary”booklets. Ascension also offers rosaries inspired by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and their devotion to their patroness, Our Lady of Guadalupe. A new “The Rosary in a Year” YouTube channel will provide video content.
The podcast is the fourth of Ascension’s popular “In a Year” podcasts, following “The Bible in a Year,” its sister podcast in Spanish, “La Biblia en un Año,” and “The Catechism in a Year.”
Father Mike Schmitz, host of “The Bible in a Year” and “The Catechism in a Year” podcasts, will appear on bonus episodes with Father Mark-Mary.
This latest podcast comes after Father Mark-Mary did a video for Ascension in 2021 about learning to pray the Rosary in a year. He has spoken about the Rosary for Ascension before, including in a 2019 pray-along Rosary video that went viral with more than 5 million views.
At the virtual press conference, Father Mark-Mary revealed that he struggled with the Rosary as a teenager and hoped that this podcast would serve as the resource he wished he had as a young man. Pointing to St. John Paul II’s apostolic letter on the Rosary, which
A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
• AfrAId (PG-13)
• Trap (PG-13)
• Venom: The Last Dance (PG-13)
L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PG-13)
• Conclave (PG)
• Joker: Folie a Deux (R)
• Megalopolis (R)
• Saturday Night (R)
• Speak No Evil (R)
O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE
• Never Let Go (R)
• Smile 2 (R)
• The Crow (R)
• The Front Room (R)
• The Killer’s Game (R)
▼ For full movie reviews, visit www.osvnews.com/ category/reviews
A new podcast about the Rosary promises to deepen listeners’ love of the Marian devotion and draw them closer to Jesus and His mother, Mary, in the new year.
kicked off the “Year of the Rosary” from October 2002 to October 2003, he shared how the Rosary has impacted him personally.
At the end of the year, in October 2003, Father Mark-Mary was in his first semester of college and had stopped attending Mass for the first time, he said in response to a question by OSV News Then, out of nowhere, he found himself speaking with a young woman at a dorm party who identified as an atheist.
“I said like, ‘How can you not believe?’” he remembered. “I started to defend the faith, and all of a sudden, like all of the lights went on. It’s like, I believe, and it needs to affect my whole life.”
“The timing of it — it just can’t be coincidental,” he said of the event, adding that he believes that the grace of his own conversion came from all of the prayers said during the Rosary year.
Today, he said, he prays the Rosary every day and wears a rosary as a part of his habit.
For those who want a preview of Father Mark-Mary’s podcast, a bonus introduction episode is available.
“In a difficult world and a difficult time where it’s so easy for us to turn our attention towards everything going wrong, brothers and sisters, here is the response,” Father Mark-Mary says toward the end of that episode. “Let’s go to the Lord, let’s pray, let’s focus on Him, let’s focus on the great mysteries of our salvation, let’s turn back to Our Lady, let’s remember that we have a mother who loves us, who is also powerful, who is queen of heaven and earth.” †
OSV NEWS PHOTO
AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE
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NOVEMBER 13
DINNER AND PROGRAM, 6 p.m., The Bell Tower on 34th (901 W. 34th St., Houston). “Blossoms of Change” honors the 101st birthday of Magnificat Houses founder, Rose Mary Badami, and raise funds to support her enduring legacy of serving and empowering marginalized people in need through MHI housing, The Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, and St. Joseph House. mhihouston.org/special-events.
NOVEMBER 15-16
MARKET, Friday 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Michael Archangel PLC - A room and the Tiger Gym (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). Catholic Daughters of the Americas - Court Queen of All Apostles #2258 host 44 unique quality vendors, food and drinks, 40 raffle items and a children’s choir. Free entry. martinezmaggiem@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER 16
DINNER, 6 p.m., The Revaire (7122 Old Katy Rd., Houston). Catholic Charities hosts “Wine & Dine Dinner,” a gourmet meal with international wine pairings, honoring Penny and Paul Layne. Cost: Tables - $5,000, Individual - $500. Info: nrivera@catholiccharities.org; 713-874-6629; catholiccharities.org/wineanddine.
NOVEMBER 19
ADORATION, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Event includes Adoration in candlelight and sacred music. office@sacredhearthouston.org.
NOVEMBER 20
PRESENTATION, 8:30 a.m., St. Paul the Apostle (18223 Point Lookout, Nassau Bay). Bay Area Council of Catholic Women host Mass, breakfast and presentation called “The Catholic Art of Dying-End of Life Pastoral Care and Preparations,” by the Office of Aging with Dcns. Tom Whited, Dennis Hayes and Terry Martin. 713-412-8559.
NOVEMBER 21
MARKET, 1 to 7 p.m., St. Laurence Ave Maria Parish Life Center (3103 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). “Ladies Guild Shop Til You Drop” features 70 vendors booths, including toys, gifts, home decor, jewelry, silent auction and door prizes are awarded each hour. Free admission and parking. SLLG.shop@gmail.com; 281-703-8615.
NOVEMBER 23
FRIENDSGIVING, 6:30 p.m., St. Justin Martyr (13350 Ashford Point Dr., Houston). St. Justin Martyr young adult ministry hosts a Thanksgiving meal for Catholic young adults and games night. Main dishes will be provided, but bringing favorite appetizers, sides or desserts are encouraged. Free. 832-602-6396; sokafor61@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER 24-26
MISSION, St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland). Parish mission featuring Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. Five different sessions across three days. See the schedule at sthelenchurch.org. paul@sthelenchurch.org.
DECEMBER 1
COOKIE WALK, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., Francesca Hall (10727 Hartsook St., Houston). Homemade
holiday cookies by the pound — all proceeds benefit St. Francis Cabrini Women’s Club.
DECEMBER 4
ADORATION 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. Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are also offered.
DECEMBER 7
MARKET, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., East and West Hall St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman, Houston). Handmade products and home goods available for purchase. Free entry. parishinfo@ stroselima.org; stroselima.org.
DECEMBER 14
DAY OF REFLECTION, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Angela Merici (9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City). The theme is “Journey to Bethlehem: According To Thy Will” led by Kathleen Messina, director of the Spiritual Direction Institute at the Emmaus Spirituality Center. Free, but registration is requested. stamericigh.com; 281-778-0400.
DECEMBER 16
ADVENT SEAFARERS MASS, 9:30 a.m., St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel (9845 Memorial Dr., Houston). Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Council of Catholic Women host an Advent Mass and luncheon with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo to honor, thank and promote the donations, service and works of the Seafarers Port Ministry for the Archdiocese. ghcw.org; ghaccwboard@ gmail.com.
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MILESTONES
San José Clinic celebrates 102 years of providing healing to those in need
HOUSTON — More than 225 guests celebrated San José Clinic providing more than a century of healthcare in the community, supporting its annual “Forever Healing Gala” Oct. 17.
Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, a San José Clinic board member and Archdiocesan secretariat director for social concerns, prayed the blessing over those in attendance on behalf of Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.
“All caring God, you lead us beyond ourselves to care and protect, to nourish and shape, to challenge and energize both the life and the work you have given us,” she said.“We are grateful for our families, our faith, our work, our friends, our health. We are particularly grateful for St. Luke’s Health with such compassionate and generous support of our ministry of healing at San José Clinic.”
San José Clinic President and CEO Margo Melchor-Hernandez, EdD, also recognized the St. Luke’s Health System as the recipient of the clinic’s Spirit of Compassion Award for their commitment and partnership since 2021. Present to receive the award were Joel James, senior
vice president of Mission Integration, and Dr. Bradley Lembcke, president of Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Melchor-Hernandez, praising St. Luke’s, said, “Our partnership is a match made in heaven in that we align ourselves to provide healing through God’s compassion with a Christian ministry. Their investment in our disease management program has allowed us to better serve the community by empowering self-care and self-management for diabetic and hypertensive patients, ultimately preventing them from unnecessary and financially burdening hospitalizations.”
“St. Luke’s Health’s Common Spirit also helped us provide a healthcare home for 121 survivors of human trafficking. Through this initiative, medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health services are made accessible to this very vulnerable and underserved patient population,” she said.
Because of the generosity of patrons, volunteers, community partners, and supporters of San José, the clinic’s gala raised $325,000 to continue healing the uninsured and underserved population. †
Congregation celebrates centenary anniversary of the arrival of foundress, silver jubilees
HOUSTON — The Sisters of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, USA Mission celebrated the centenary arrival of their foundress, Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, to Calabar, Nigeria, and two Silver Jubilees on Oct. 18 to 19 at St. Justin Martyr Parish.
Sister Chinwendu Nnokwutem, HHCJ, and Sister Ogechi Offurum, HHCJ both celebrated 25 years since taking their vows.
The two-day event began with a Rosary/candlelight procession on Friday, followed by a Thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, with main celebrant and homilist Father Clark Sample, episcopal vicar for clergy and secretariat director for Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services of the Archdiocese.
Superior General Mother Germaine Ocansey, HHCJ, flew in from Nigeria for the event, as well as many Handmaids friends from different parts of the U.S. along with many priests, deacons, religious and Handmaids sisters.
The highlight of this celebration was when the elementary students at Holy Family Catholic School in Galveston, acted in a drama on the life of Mother Walker, especially the years preceding her missionary journey to Southern Nigeria.
Mother Walker came to the Southern Vicariate of Nigeria in 1923 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, CSSp, and worked tirelessly as an educator, social walker, catechist, and architect, and provided health care services in the Calabar area. †
The Archdiocese has open positions in our Schools, Parishes and the Chancery.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF THE HANDMAIDS OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS, USA MISSION
Sister Chinwendu Nnokwutem, HHCJ, and Sister Ogechi Offurum, HHCJ, both Silver Jubilarians, cut the Jubilee cake.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN JOSÉ CLINIC
San José Clinic President and CEO Margo Melchor-Hernandez, EdD, presented the award to Joel James, senior vice president of Mission Integration, and Dr. Bradley Lembcke, president of Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
STRAKE JESUIT
OPEN HOUSE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024 | 7PM
THE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2025
CURA PERSONALIS
At Strake Jesuit, we have been successfully building Men for Others for over 60 years. A key to that success is the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis — the care for the individual.
This core value translates into a personal care and attention for each Jesuit student. It also means that we concern ourselves with the education of the whole person. Students at Jesuit learn much more than math and science — they learn about community service, about their faith, and about their responsibilities to the world around them.
At Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, we do much more than prepare our students for college — we prepare them for life as men of God and Men for Others. Learn all about Strake Jesuit at our annual Open House. Don’t miss your chance to get a tour of the campus, hear from school leaders, learn about life at Jesuit from the student perspective, ask questions about your favorite subjects or extra-curricular activities, and more! To register or to learn more, visit www.strakejesuit.org/openhouse
