CHRISTMAS COMEDY BOOK HITS THE SCREEN
The Chosen’s Dallas Jenkins brings “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” comedy to life ▪ SEE PAGE 18
Preparing a heart and home for Advent
With synod in mind, U.S. bishops focus on advancing core mission priorities
BALTIMORE (OSV News) — The U.S. bishops’ annual fall assembly in Baltimore saw the shepherds of the Catholic Church in this country, including Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, make intentional steps toward integrating their work with the synodal missionary style called for by the global Church’s recently concluded Synod on Synodality.
At the outset of the Nov. 11 to 14 plenary assembly, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), delivered a homily in
the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — “the mother Church of the synodal activity of the hierarchy in this country” — where he called upon the bishops to beg for wisdom “because we recognize that we are servants of the truth and charged to find ways to help those entrusted to our care.”
At the opening public session, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, the papal ambassador to the U.S., told the bishops that Pope Francis’ recent encyclical “Dilexit Nos,” on the Sacred Heart See ASSEMBLY, page 2
“When we let the world know that there is more to the holiday than presents and decorations, we fulfill our mission as Christians to evangelize the world.”
BY WOODEENE KOENIG-BRICKER Special to
the Herald
Imagine expecting a new baby. For months, you prepare to welcome this addition, but in the last month, the preparations really step up. You make sure that the crib is clean, the diapers are in place, the car seat is installed, and family and friends are ready to meet the new baby.
That sense of joyful preparation combined with anticipation is the attitude we bring to Advent as we await the arrival of Christ the Lord. Christmas is the high point, but using the days leading up to Dec. 25 to prepare both spiritually and materially is what Advent is all about!
What sets Advent apart from the usual secular preparations for Christmas is the spiritual dimension: Advent is a time of both prayer and penance. As Catholics, we are called to exercise a more disciplined approach to our spiritual lives during the four weeks of Advent and to pay special attention to our words and deeds as we wait patiently for the coming of Christ.
Waiting is a challenge, but instead of just counting down the days, we are called to use Advent as a time to deepen our relationship with God. Keep things simple: Read a Psalm as a
OSV NEWS PHOTO
Advent calendars, with one box to open each day from Dec. 1 to 25, vary from simple paper calendars with religious images to more elaborate calendars with actual gifts for each day. The tradition of these calendars began in the mid-19th century in Germany.
OSV NEWS PHOTO
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, gather with bishops from around the country gather at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Nov. 11, for the opening Mass of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ fall plenary assembly.
ASSEMBLY, from page 1
of Jesus, is a call to “return to the heart” of Jesus — and key to understanding the Church’s call to synodal evangelization, Eucharistic revival and the upcoming Jubilee 2025.
“The deeper we go into his heart, the more strengthened we will be to proclaim the Good News together,” he said Nov. 12.
Over the course of the assembly’s Nov. 12 and 13 public sessions, the bishops voted to approve a new “mission directive” for 2025-2028, which commits USCCB committees and staff to prioritize in their work “evangelizing those who are religiously unaffiliated or disaffiliated from the Church, with special focus on young adults and the youth.”
Regarding the global synod that concluded in October, a majority of the U.S. bishops, in a voice vote on Nov. 12, called for the USCCB’s Committee on Priorities and Plans to discern developing a task force to help the conference and dioceses implement the final synod document approved by Pope Francis.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, who has led the USCCB’s involvement in the synod process, briefed the bishops on the synod’s October meeting. He said that more theological work needs to be done alongside efforts to develop a synodal missionary culture among Catholics.
“If it doesn’t reach the parishes, it hardly reaches the people of God,” he noted.
The bishops also decided to go ahead with drafting a new document on lay ecclesial ministry in the U.S. that would take into account what Bishop Robert E. Barron of WinonaRochester, Minnesota, chair of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, called “the experience of co-responsibility in the Church, the evolving nature of parish and diocesan workplaces, and above all the call to greater synodality.”
Bishops from around the country gather at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Nov. 11, for the opening Mass of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2024 fall plenary assembly.
Inc. (NEC), discussed the NEC’s next steps after the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the 2024 national Eucharistic pilgrimages and congress, saying the organization would support dioceses in their own events, “especially helping to form and send Eucharistic missionaries.”
U.S. BISHOPS CONFERENCE FALL ASSEMBLY
The bishops also discussed how to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ encyclical on integral ecology. Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of Philadelphia, chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, suggested the encyclical could be “integrated into our core mission of evangelization,” and that bringing back fasting practices, such as regularly abstaining from eating meat on Fridays, “would be good for the soul and for the planet.”
of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, encouraged his brother bishops and their priests to speak loudly and unified on the issue of migration, especially in light of recent rhetoric from public figures, saying the lay faithful have a “real hunger ... for leadership from their priests and bishops alike on this issue.”
The conference also passed an operating budget for 2025 with no increase in diocesan assessment.
ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-
PUBLISHING SINCE 1964 (USPS 936-480)
EDITORIAL
tch@archgh.org • archgh.org/tch 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444
CIRCULATION
tdieli@archgh.org • 713-652-4444
ADVERTISING ads@archgh.org • 713-652-4407
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Archbishop, President & Publisher
Jonah Dycus
Communications Director & Executive Editor
Rebecca Torrellas
Managing Editor
James Ramos
Content Editor
Catherine Viola
Advertising Manager
Kerry McGuire and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributor
They also approved a final draft of “The Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Spanish texts for the Liturgy of the Hours, and the revised New American Bible for use in Liturgy.
The conference also saw exemplars of American holiness promoted. The bishops affirmed two new causes brought to them for consultation: Benedictine Sister Annella Zervas of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Gertrude Agnes Barber, a laywoman from Erie, Pennsylvania.
Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell of Washington, president of the National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC), who presented on the NBCC’s 2023 congress and resulting pastoral action plan, called on the bishops to promote the canonization causes of Black Catholics known collectively as the “Holy Six” — Venerable Mother Mary Lange; Venerable Father Augustus Tolton; Venerable Mother Henriette DeLille; Venerable Pierre Toussaint; Servant of God Julia Greeley; and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. Bishop Stepan Sus, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Pastoral and Migration Department, received a standing ovation from the bishops after sharing with them Ukraine’s plight under Russian occupation and thanking the U.S. church for its continued solidarity.
“As a Church we cannot change all realities of the world,” he said. “But we can be next to those people who suffer and wipe their tears.”
Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, and board chair of the National Eucharistic Congress
The bishops also heard a presentation offered by the committees on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth; ProLife Activities; and Catholic Education in relation to implementing the Vatican declaration on human dignity, “Dignitas Infinita,” released in April.
The looming potential of Presidentelect Donald Trump implementing his campaign promise to enact mass deportations also shaped the bishops’ conversation. Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chair of the U.S. Conference
They elected bishops to several USCCB leadership positions. Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis was voted in as treasurer-elect and chairman-elect of the budget committee. Auxiliary Bishop Michael G. Woost of Cleveland was elected chairman-elect for the Committee on Divine Worship; Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, was elected chairman-elect of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop Edward J. Burns was elected as head of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; and Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, was elected chairman-elect of the Committee on Migration. The prelates assume their positions at the conclusion of the bishops’ 2025 fall assembly.
The bishops also confirmed two bishops to the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services, the international relief agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S.: Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, and Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala of Washington. †
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. †
The Texas Catholic Herald is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, with one issue in June, July and August, by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX and other distribution points.
Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001
Subscription rate: $15 per year; $20 outside Texas; $35 out of U.S.
An award-winning member of The Catholic Media Association
TCH PUBLISHING SCHEDULE
Issue date: December 10
Deadline: Noon on November 19
Issue date: December 24
Deadline: Noon on December 3
Editorial deadlines are no later than Tuesday at noon, 21 days prior to the issue date. THE
HOUSTON
PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSEO DEL PRADO
An oil on canvas painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (circa 1767-1768) depicts the Immaculate Conception.
OSV NEWS PHOTO
THE FIRST WORD
ST. ANDREW, pray for us!
The St. Andrew Novena: Prayerful preparation for Christmas
ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — Eleven years ago, Erika Kidd sat at the edge of a family member’s hospital bed. It was almost Christmas; wind buffeted the window. Quietly, she recited the St. Andrew Novena over and over again.
“Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.”
ST. ANDREW NOVENA
Say this prayer 15 times each day, either all at once or throughout the day, starting Nov. 30 to Christmas Eve.
“Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.”
It is a curious novena. Unlike a traditional novena, which spans nine days, it lasts from the feast of St. Andrew on Nov. 30 to Christmas Eve. On each of these days, it is repeated 15 times, either all at once or throughout the day. The novena has a reputation for answered prayers. The prayer recalls the “hour and the moment” of Christ’s birth “at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.” It evokes, with precision, the moment of the incarnation is revealed. For Kidd, the darkness at the moment of Christ’s birth was reminiscent of the cold hospital room.
“Waiting in the hospital, I felt myself to be in those dark moments, just before the arrival of Christ,” Kidd said. “And I prayed that He would come and set all things right... that He would come and save us.” Her request — that her family member return home in time for Christmas — was answered. Prayers of thanksgiving trod on the heels of her novena.
“The prayer invites us to take seriously the darkness of our current situation: The fact that Christ has not yet come again in glory, the fact that we are often living with difficult and troubling situations, and it invites us to welcome Christ and rejoice in Christ’s coming,” said Kidd, an associate professor of Catholic studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, who teaches a class on Mary.
For Father Edward Looney, president of the Mariological Society of America, the St. Andrew Novena is “prayerful preparation” for Christmas.
“We can be caught up in the busyness of preparing for Christmas — going to concerts, shopping, all of these things — but at least this prayer allows us to stay rooted and grounded and to think about what it is and why it is that we are celebrating Christmas,” said Father Looney, a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay. It can be difficult to keep track of the prayer’s 15 daily repetitions; even if a person misses a day or prays less than 15 repetitions, Father Looney said that the novena is still efficacious.
“There can be a specific grace that you request, but then I think there are just the different graces of the Christmas season …. joy, hope, peace,” he said. “The joy of the incarnation — that is what we are praying for.”
Father Looney said that what we pray the novena for might be answered in a different way than we expected.
“There is always going to be a grace given by God. We believe, in our finite knowledge, that we know what God should do. But God, who is greater than us and knows all things, knows what is for our good or their good,” he said. “God is still at work, and God is aiding that situation.”
The prayer has an obscure history. Rachel Fulton Brown, an associate professor of medieval history at the University of Chicago and an expert in medieval Marian devotions, said that the repetition of 15 has a long tradition in the Church.
While the monks of the Middle Ages ascended into the chapel, they recited the 15 psalms traditionally associated with Mary — Psalms 119-133 in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible prepared by St. Jerome. Over time, these 15 psalms became associated with the stairs that the 3-year-old Mary ascended into the temple as recorded in the “Protoevangelium of James,” an apocryphal, or non-scriptural, Gospel account from the second century that describes the infancy of Mary. Although the text does not specify the number of steps, the monastic tradition associated each psalm with a step into the temple. Brown said that the St. Andrew Novena’s 15 repetitions likely stem from this tradition. †
some trees and get the Texas Catholic Herald sent straight to your inbox with The Digest, our free email newsletter. For free features, exclusive content and more, sign up at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCHDIGEST.
BRIEFS
Retirement Fund for Religious Collection set for Dec. 7 to 8
HOUSTON — The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection is scheduled in parishes throughout the Archdiocese from Dec. 7 to 8.
The funds from the collection provide financial assistance for retirement needs for women and men religious who have selflessly served for decades without significant financial compensation, including several within communities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Due to escalating healthcare costs, numerous U.S. religious communities face a substantial gap between their elderly members’ needs and the financial resources available for their care. Many religious orders currently experience insufficient retirement savings. To address the deficit in retirement funding among U.S. religious orders, the Catholic bishops of the U.S. initiated the collection in 1988. For more information, visit www.retiredreligious.org. †
Archdiocesan Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration set for Dec. 7 in downtown Houston
HOUSTON — The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will host a Mass at 9 a.m. on Dec. 7 to commemorate the anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to a humble Mexican peasant, St. Juan Diego, in 1531.
Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will preside over the Mass. The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. †
DSF annual appeal to support Archdiocesan ministries continues
HOUSTON — This year, the theme of the annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) appeal is “We are the Lord’s.”
The annual campaign to support 64 Archdiocese-wide ministries is underway, and the local Church is asking parishioners to continue their generous giving to DSF.
The fund supports a variety of ministries, such as those forming youth in the Catholic faith; providing support and preparation for clergy; teaching, evangelizing, worshiping and outreach to the incarcerated, aging, poor and sick; and programming to strengthen Christian families, among many others.
To pledge online or see a full list of the ministries supported, visit www.archgh.org/dsf. †
A MARIAN MOMENT
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
OSV NEWS PHOTO
LOCAL
U.S. bishops: ‘We stand in firm solidarity’ with immigrants
U.S. bishops stress need to develop an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution. ▪ SEE PAGE 16
Small
bedtime prayer, go to confession, pray the Rosary (especially on the special Marian feasts of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12), spend some time in Eucharistic Adoration, or go to daily Mass.
You could also say the traditional St. Andrews novena — 25 days of prayer for a holy Christmas, beginning on the feast of St. Andrew, Nov. 30. (See Page 3 for more). If you have children, grandchildren or god-children, make a “good deed” crèche: Put a slip of paper, acting as a piece of straw, in the manger each time you do a good deed so that the bed will be filled with “holy softness” for the Christ Child.
LIVING AS WITNESSES
Some of the major signs of the season are decorations and lights, especially those on the outside of the house. As you decorate your house, think about how lights are more than just pretty objects. Lights, especially candles, have been used for centuries at Christmas time as a symbol of the star that showed the shepherds and wise men where to find the Christ Child. Your lights can serve as a witness to the “light of the world” that is both coming and has already arrived.
Each household develops its own traditions about when to put up a tree, stockings and other decorations. Some people like to do a little bit over the weeks; others prefer to make decorating a major part of Christmas Eve. (And in case you feel as if putting up decorations early is perhaps improper, the Vatican puts up its Christmas scene, consisting of trees and a crèche, in very early December!)
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene. Invest in having a crèche of your own. Some people put theirs under the tree, others create a special scene on a table. Some families make the crèche into an ongoing tradition by adding a new figure each year.
A MEAL AS A MEMORY
Many families have special foods that they serve only at Christmas. As you prepare these treats, use the time to recall — and pray for — all those family members who have gone before us in death. You might want to begin building some new and flavorful traditions. One idea from the Anglican tradition is to begin your holiday baking on the last Sunday before Advent. This Sunday is called “Stirup Sunday” because traditional fruit cakes were mixed on this day and left to“mellow” until Christmas. The name comes from the collect prayer from the day’s Liturgy: “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people.” Put a new twist on the tradition by making and freezing batches of treats to be baked later in the month. (See Page 6 for a new recipe).
Advent is a time of hope and light. It is a time when we reaffirm that “nothing is impossible with God,” not even a virgin bringing forth a child. This Advent, find hope as you recommit yourself to spiritual renewal. This Advent, look for the Light in everything you do, from shopping for presents, to mailing cards to making special food, to decorating the house. This Advent, prepare your home and your heart for the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-Us, Jesus Christ. †
– Woodeene Koenig-Bricker writes for OSV News from Oregon.
Seminarians to sprint for Catholic education at Steps for Students
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA
Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — On Saturday mornings along the wooded trails of St. Mary’s Seminary off Houston’s Memorial Drive, about 20 young men studying to become priests clock several miles of running.
Seminarian Alex Burns, the school’s sports coordinator, is pumping up the recently formed running club to participate in the Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk to support Catholic education, set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in downtown Houston by the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
More than 4,000 Catholic school students and their families from 55 schools have registered so far in the upcoming Steps for Students, one of the largest fundraisers for the Archdiocese. These funds help with student tuition and Catholic schools’ equipment and supply needs. This year is even more special since the event is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
“We’re hoping to make it into an even higher-energy event complete with blasting music, decorated booths from the seminary and other Catholic schools with students excitedly running around,” Burns said.
A Texas A&M University graduate and former engineer, Burns said his love for Jesus deepened to the point where he left corporate America to join the seminary.
“The kids who run in Steps for Students are not that much younger
SAVE THE DATE
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston
Register: www.steps4students.org
Cost: $17 - $20
7 a.m. Sunrise Mass
8:30 a.m. Race start
than us seminarians, so they can see vocations as a real possibility,” he said. Burns has been encouraging members of the all-inclusive “R-J-W Club” (RunJog-Walk), including seminarians and some faculty members, to pre-register at www.steps4students.org.
A fellow seminarian, Adrian Garcia, of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, added, “I’m excited to support our Catholic schools, an integral part in providing an education properly centered on the foundation of faith for the future generations of Christ’s Church.”
Father Matthew G. Súniga, St. Mary’s Seminary vice rector and coordinator of human formation, said the event helps both the seminarians as well as the
younger Catholic school students.
“Our support of Steps for Students is a natural fit,” Father Súniga said. “The mission of St. Mary’s Seminary is to form parish priests to build up the Body of Christ. This means that seminarians should have an understanding and appreciation of the importance of Catholic schools in making the Lord Jesus known and loved among young people.”
Father Richard “Luke” Millette, serving on the Steps for Students organizing committee for years, encourages pastors and even churches with no Catholic schools to raise funds for the students.
As a regular runner, Father Millette
9:30 a.m. Post Race Party in Catholic School Village
also teaches what he preaches by strapping on his sneakers to participate annually in the Steps race, usually winning the timed run for his age category.
“Over the past few decades, the Church has continued to recognize the great value and importance that athletics plays in the development of the human person,” the priest said, explaining treating the body as a temple.
“As St. John Paul II once said when
See STEPS, page 8
Our aging religious need your help. Like those pictured, more than 24,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have dedicated their lives to serving others through prayer and ministry. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings to care for them. Your support of the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide care, medicine, and other necessities. Please give back to those who have given a lifetime.
PHOTO BY OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL HOUSTON AND JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
At left, Roman Martínez greets a student at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School during a Steps for Students rally on Nov. 8 in Houston. At right, Father Oscar Dubon is among the several priests, deacons and seminarians who run during the annual race.
A recipe for Thanksgiving: Apple Pie Oat Bars
BROTHER ANDREW CORRIENTE, OFM
BY BROTHER ANDREW CORRIENTE, OFM Special to the Herald
(OSV News) Thanksgiving is always a logistical nightmare. It’s a relentless juggling act of consolidating kitchen space, frantically searching for that tool you use only once a year, and pacing back and forth because you don’t know if the turkey still needs more time.
Many things can go wrong, and no one wants to sit with the uncomfortable silence of guests gnawing through your dry turkey. However, Thanksgiving is different this time around. After all, these past years have taught us to cherish moments together. In a sense, we’ve collectively shifted our priorities from just getting things done to enjoying our time together. In a way, this year is calling us to be extra thankful.
I’m rereading a favorite, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection’s “The Practice of the Presence of God.” Essentially, this Carmelite friar and cook says we don’t have to wait to be in the chapel to encounter God; He is always present. In the busyness of Brother Lawrence’s life in the kitchen, he always took a moment to say thanks to God. Every moment is an opportunity to enter a sacred space.
So, I designed a simple recipe so we could enter a moment of thanksgiving during Thanksgiving preparation. It’s without fuss and can be made the day before.
The crust is earthy and buttery and finishes with a hint of salt. Molasses and a healthy dose of cinnamon provoke cozy autumn vibes. The apple filling is bright and sweet with a luscious glaze. Feel free to make a mixture of apples, but ensure the apples are firm!
Sisters and brothers, this Thanksgiving is different. Instead of a manic frenzy to get things done in the kitchen, we could enter a sacred space of thanksgiving to God.
After all, if the turkey comes out dry, just cover it with gravy. †
Brother Andrew Corriente is a Capuchin Franciscan friar in formation for the priesthood. He is the winner of the fifth season of ABC’s “The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition.”
Start to finish: 60 to 70 active minutes, and three-plus hours for cooling • Serves 12
INGREDIENTS
Dough:
• 1 cup (220 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
• 2 cups (200 grams) old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt or table salt)
• Powder sugar (for dusting)
Apple Mixture:
• 2 pounds (3 to 5) firm baking apples (Honeycrisp works best, but Gala, Pink Lady, Granny, Golden Delicious or Ambrosia also work)
• 2/3 cup (140 grams) sugar (or add to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (or 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt or table salt)
• 2 tablespoon (20 grams) cornstarch
• Juice of one lemon
METHOD
Preheat oven to 350°F and position rack in the middle. Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with foil with enough overhang to help lift out the finished bake. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with the molasses, cinnamon and optional nutmeg. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk oats, flour, brown and white sugars, baking powder and salt. Pour in melted butter and stir until combined (the saucepan will be used later for the apples).
Evenly pat approximately two-thirds of the dough into the foil-lined baking dish; set aside the other third. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes until puffy.
While that’s baking, peel, core and slice apples about a 1/4-inch thick. In the used saucepan, cook apples, sugar and salt over medium high heat for 5 to 7 minutes until sugar is melted and apples start to soften.
In a small bowl, use a fork to whisk cornstarch and lemon juice until dissolved. Add this to the apples and stir over medium high heat. Cook until a translucent glaze forms around the apples (5 to 10 minutes); it should adhere to the apples and not be watery. Spread hot apples evenly on top of the hot crust. Crumble the remaining dough on top.
Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes (rotate pan halfway through baking) until the crumble is browned and the entire bake is bubbling. Let cool in room temperature for three-plus hours. Carefully lift out the bake and cut edges with a very sharp knife. Slice into 12 squares and serve with powdered sugar on top.
PHOTO
BY
JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
St. Peter’s Basilica is seen from across the Tiber River in Rome. The Vatican City will host millions for the 2025 Jubilee year, including a pilgrimage of young adults from GalvestonHouston.
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, coordinated by Verso Ministries and the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries, offers an opportunity to explore 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 are not included. A deposit of $500 is due upon registration. A payment plan is available, with all payments due to Verso Ministries by March 31, 2025. Spaces are limited on this trip. For more information or to register go to www. archgh.org/yapilgrimage. †
from page 5
speaking to a gathering of athletes: ‘Sport, as you well know, is an activity that involves more than the movement of the body; it demands the use of intelligence and the disciplining of the will. It reveals, in other words, the wonderful structure of the human person created by God as a spiritual being, a unity of body and spirit,’”
Father Millette said.
Plus, healthy competition among the schools always helps, said Catholic Schools Superintendent Mazie McCoy. The superintendent has participated in Steps for the entire past 20 years, first as a teacher, then as a principal and now as head of Catholic schools.
Other longtime supporters, Step co-chairs Roman and Diana Dávila Martínez, have seen the event evolve, soaring to more than 10,000 supporters and raising $1 million. Since the pandemic, when the event was canceled
in person and was done virtually, it has not rebounded to such a high peak, but this coming year is looking good so far.
The co-chairs recently attended one of the Catholic schools’ kickoff rallies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in Houston’s East End to encourage students and families to sign up. Students and teachers are competing for prizes to get their classes at 100% participation. They were ahead of raising funds, so far totaling $28,386, but the school was recently surpassed by St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School in Clear Lake, raising $31,790.
Roman Martínez asked the students at their rally why so many people help in supporting the race.
“One student said for Catholic education, another said because of the love of God. Finally, one little girl said, ‘You all do it because you love us!” he said and grinned.
To register or sponsor the event, go to www.steps4students.org. †
Thousands attend funeral of Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia hailed as ‘hero’
HOUSTON — About 2,000 family, friends and uniformed first responders flowed into the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Nov. 13 to honor Houston firefighter Marcelo “Ox” Garcia III, who died Nov. 6 fighting a warehouse fire when a wall collapsed on him.
Multiple emergency vehicles arrived downtown for the funeral Mass, with a fire truck delivering Garcia’s flag-draped brown wood casket. Another massive U.S. flag strung between two fire trucks’ ladders billowed in the wind along St. Joseph Parkway in front of the blocked-off streets around the Co-Cathedral.
Speaking from the cathedral ambo about her 42-year-old “little brother,” Garcia’s sister Erica Garcia, said, “He was my hero. Now he’s everyone’s hero.”
Both Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz also spoke. Addressing Garcia’s parents, Marcelo Garcia Jr. and Rosa Giannukos, who sobbed in the front pews with family, the chief said, “I need you to know that you have another 3,600 sons and daughters (Houston fellow firefighters) ready to help you.”
“Every call we answer may be our last,” Muñoz said. “We will carry on your son’s legacy. Marcelo, it’s time for you to come home. Your tour of duty is done.”
The family was presented with a firefighter medal of honor, Garcia’s helmet, U.S. and Texas flags, and a Bible. His name will also be
engraved on the national Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs as well as the Wall of Honor at the local Houston Firefighters Memorial Garden in north Houston.
Station 23 fire engineer operator Max Archer spoke on behalf of Garcia’s crew, who helped fight the fatal three-alarm warehouse fire before a wall collapsed on Garcia. Archer recounted how they still feel Garcia’s presence at the station on Lawndale in the heart of the Magnolia Park neighborhood where the 10-year HFD veteran grew up.
“We were all grieving, sitting around the station’s dinner table talking about Marcelo and what he meant to each of us when all of a sudden, a picture fell off the wall,” Archer said. When they picked it up, it was Marcelo’s photo. “It’s like he was telling us that he was still with us and to stay strong. Like he would say, ‘Let’s get to work!’”
Father Steven Tran, parochial vicar of the Co-Cathedral, presided over the standingroom-only Mass, assisted by Deacon Joe Millhouse. A solemn moment during the Liturgy included the ringing of a bell to honor Garcia, followed by a farewell message broadcast from a radio dispatch to the entire Co-Cathedral.
“Firefighter Garcia served with pride, honor and integrity,” the dispatcher said. “You will be truly missed.” † Jo Ann Zuñiga and James Ramos
First Sunday of Advent: December 1
Second Sunday of Advent: December 8
Third Sunday of Advent: December 15
Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 22 archgh.org
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A fire engine holds a memorial wreath is seen under an American flag at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which hosted a funeral Nov. 13 for Houston firefighter Marcelo “Ox” Garcia III.
STEPS,
Wine and dine event benefits Catholic Charities
HOUSTON — Generous guests enjoyed wines meticulously paired with four courses at the 2024 Wine & Dine Dinner on Nov. 16, according to event organizers.
Benefiting Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, co-chairs were Mikki Hebl and David E. Harvey Jr., and Kerri and Downey Bridgwater, who all hosted nearly 400 guests at The Revaire in Houston for an evening focused on fine dining and philanthropy.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo provided a blessing for the meal. Master Sommelier Brandon Kerne and Executive Chef Ryan Bouillet curated the dinner to enhance international wine pairings with each course.
Major dinner underwriters included Hebl and Harvey Jr.; the Hildebrand Foundation; Sue and Charles Adcock; Mrs. Raye G. White; Alicia and Dave Freysinger; Ellen and Jim Ginty, Debbie and Matt Kemple, and Ginger and John Niemann; Dr. Angela Apollo; Peter and Alice Arbour; Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word; and Cuenod families.
A highlight of the evening was the Secret Sip Challenge, when guests pooled their knowledge as wine enthusiasts to guess the identity of the mystery entrée wine, a 2015 Merite Cabernet Sauvignon from the Wrattonbully wine region in Australia. A live auction, emceed by Johnny Bravo, and an opportunity to “fund a need” benefited Catholic Charities’ network of life-changing programs that work together to alleviate poverty.
Last year, Catholic Charities provided service to people in need 358,000 times through its locations in Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris counties through programs that prevent hunger and homelessness, and programs that answer needs such as employment, positive mental health and immigration legal assistance. †
DIVERSITY IN SAINTS
A man from Houston’s Korean Catholic community carries a
of St. Andrew Kim Taegon during a procession of Asian saints at the 2024 Asian Mass on Nov. 3. Celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church in Houston, the Mass draws together Asian Catholics from at least eight Asian communities, including Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese Catholics.
WANT TO ADVERTISE?
Find the media kit online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCH or email ADS@ARCHGH.ORG to for more information.
PHOTO BY JOHNNY THAN
Honorees Paul and Penny Layne join board chair Alicia Reggie Freysinger, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Catholic Charities President Cynthia N. Colbert and dinner co-chairs David E. Harvey Jr., and Kerri and Downey Bridgwater at the 2024 Wine & Dine Dinner, benefitting Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, held on Nov. 16 at the Revaire in Houston.
PHOTO MARCUS NORWOOD/HERALD
portrait
City proclamation honors St. Dominic Village
HOUSTON — St. Dominic Village (SDV), a senior living community located in the Texas Medical Center, held its fifth annual Fall Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 3.
The event is one of SDV’s largest fundraisers of the year, drawing in supporters and community members for an afternoon filled with fellowship, fine dining and philanthropic spirit. Featuring David E. Harvey Jr. of Harvey Builders as their keynote speaker, the event raised $66,000.
Attendees also heard from SDV resident Jane Bemko, who shared her story of resilience after Hurricane Beryl destroyed her home. Organizers said her message of hope resonated deeply with attendees as she described the warm welcome she received once she arrived at St. Dominic Village and how quickly God turned her situation around. †
Monsignor Jack Dinkins
BEAUMONT — Monsignor Jack Dinkins died on Wednesday, Nov. 13. He was 87 years old. Born on Feb. 1, 1937, he was ordained a priest on May 25, 1963. Monsignor Dinkins served as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi, Queen of Peace in La Marque, St. Francis de Sales and St. Vincent de Paul parishes.
He also served as the director of the Office of Vocations and as the director of the Permanent Diaconate. He then served as pastor of St. Pius V in Pasadena, St. Francis de Sales and Epiphany of the Lord in Katy. Monsignor Dinkins retired in 2013.
A funeral Mass, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, was held Nov. 22 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont. Interment is in Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches. A memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy. †
IN MEMORIA
Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of December.
Dec. 1, 1940
Dec. 1, 2014
Dec. 1, 1973
Dec. 1, 1987
Dec. 1, 1989
Dec. 1, 2002
Dec. 1, 2007
Dec. 2, 1997
Dec. 2, 2000
Dec. 2, 2005
Dec. 2, 2015
Dec. 3, 1900
Dec. 3, 1911
Dec. 3, 1947
Dec. 3, 1962
Dec. 3, 1963
Rev. Paul F. Nemec
Rev. Bernard Mahoney
Rev. William Duggan, CSB
Msgr. Thomas F. O’Sullivan
Msgr. Christopher J. Martin
Rev. G. Patrick Dougherty
Rev. Albert Walsh
Rev. Bernard Doyon, OMI
Rev. Doug Smith
Rev. John C. Wick, CSB
Rev. E. Arthur Roberts, CSB
Rev. Peter Berthet
Rev. A. Badelon
Rev. Douglas A. Moore
Rev. George T. Koen
Rev. Charles V. Palazzo
Dec. 3, 1987 Rev. John F. McMahon
Dec. 3, 1995
Dec. 4, 2008
Dec. 4, 2021
Dec. 5, 1981
Msgr. Andrew Deslatte
Rev. John T. Weyer
Rev. Timothy Bucek
Rev. Gilbert Kroger, CP
Dec. 5, 1998 Rev. Francis X. Chang-Lei, SJ
Dec. 6, 1988 Rev. James A. Matzinger
Dec. 6, 2001 Rev. Mark Horacek
Dec. 7, 1880 Rev. Louis Chambodut
Dec. 7, 1995 Rev. William Bosworth
Dec. 8, 1986 Msgr. James F. Welsch
Dec. 9, 1943 Rev. Michael Munar, TOR
Dec. 10, 1915 Rev. John M. Haughran
Dec. 10, 1969 Rev. John W. Meyer, CSB
Dec. 11, 1909 Rev. Joseph Legardeur
Dec. 11, 1914 Rev. George Montreuil
Dec. 11, 1940 Msgr. Joseph Pelnar
Dec. 12, 1927 Rev. Peter Litwora
Dec. 12, 1989 Rev. Benigno Gonzalez-Diez
Dec. 12, 2010 Msgr. Francis G. Wearden
Dec. 13, 2002 Rev. Philip R. Elmer, SCJ
Dec. 13, 2016 Rev. Charles Borski, OMI
Dec. 19, 1909 Rev. R. Drohan, CSB
Dec. 19, 2009 Rev. John F. Robbins, CSB
Dec. 20, 1940 Rev. Theodore Drees
Dec. 21, 1992 Msgr. Marcel Notzon
Dec. 21, 2021 Most Rev. George A. Sheltz
Dec. 22, 2016 Rev. Stephen Mandry
Dec. 23, 1871 Rev. Peter Lacour
Dec. 23, 2021 Rev. Albert Gaelens, CSB
Dec. 24, 2010 Msgr. Ralph C. Salazar
Dec. 25, 1918 Rev. J.C. Magnan, OMI
Dec. 25, 2016 Rev. George Hosko, CSB
Dec. 26, 1998 Msgr. Thomas A. Wendland
Dec. 26, 2012 Rev. Eduardo Lopez
Dec. 26, 2017 Rev. Mario Baldero, DS
Dec. 27, 1942 Rev. Kaspar Kaler
Dec. 28, 1953 Rev. John P. Campbell
Dec. 28, 1991 Rev. Emil Furlong
Dec. 29, 1994 Msgr. Bernard J. Roemer
Dec. 30, 1924 Rev. M.J. O’Callahan
Dec. 30, 1934 Rev. Thomas C. Healy
Dec. 30. 1942 Rev. John Leahy
Dec. 30, 1952 Rev. Paul Michalka
Dec. 31, 1870 Rev. Andres Farges
Dec. 31, 1926 Rev. Francis Pridal
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 COURTESY OF ST. DOMINIC VILLAGE
Houston City Council member Carolyn Evans Shabazz, at left, presented St. Dominic Village (SDV) with
a City of Houston Proclamation in recognition of their outstanding work and efforts as Houston’s only Catholic Care continuum. Pictured with her, left to right, are SDV’s CEO John Connolly, SDV’s Executive Director of Senior Living Randy Fleenor, and SDV’s RNC Administrator Bryant Sam.
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
HOUSTON — Homeless men, women and children face struggles that go beyond the lack of meals, clothing, shelter or medical care. The Catholic Church calls the faithful to look deeper, responding with Christ’s compassion and care to honor the inherent dignity of every person, no matter their circumstances.
Rooted in this mission, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, one of seven programs supported by CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare and its Gulf Coast community partners, provides a path toward healing by offering critical services to the homeless in Galveston near Church Street.
Those with no place of their own can seek medical care, social service referrals and mental health counseling. The dedicated team of staff and volunteers works compassionately to help individuals break free from cycles of addiction and despair.
“Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” said Angela Joseph, director of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. “We offer hope. We are sometimes that listening ear our clients need to just get through the day.”
The ministry serves approximately 60 homeless individuals daily. Joseph finds fulfillment in knowing that she and her team make a difference in each of their lives, even if it’s just by offering a small piece of guidance that brings them one step closer to a better place.
“We may not have all the answers, but we try to direct them to the right resources and give them a chance to feel hopeful again,” Joseph said.
Clients receive support through various program tracks, including work, housing, treatment or relocation. Weekly or monthly meetings with a case manager or client navigator break down goals into manageable steps, offering a clear path forward tailored to everyone’s needs.
Johnathen Vallery, a client navigator with CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for nine years, began his journey as a security officer before transitioning into his current role. His professional background in security and the oil industry has equipped him with the experience necessary to guide many clients through their challenges.
“When our clients come in, some are feeling low,” Vallery said. “Being able to give them an encouraging word, especially in a job where you can talk about God and Jesus Christ, is incredible. Some come in with a frown, and they leave with big smiles on their faces.”
Assisting clients in their struggles reminds Vallery how easily anyone can lose their way. Through his work, he finds purpose and a humbling reminder of the shared humanity that unites all people as children of God.
“I like to tell our clients that we’re here to help them, and in doing so, it helps put our own lives into perspective,” Vallery said. “It reminds us that if we lose our way, this could happen to us, too. We do as much as we can for them, but by working together and them doing their part, we can make it happen.”
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. SCAN TO WATCH OR VISIT ARCHGH.ORG/ DSFINACTION
A key service the client navigators provide is the recovery of vital documents, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and state-issued identification. This service has become increasingly important, as these documents are often required for eligibility in government housing programs, job applications and other essential services. Many clients have lost their personal records, making this assistance most important in helping them regain stability and take the necessary steps toward rebuilding their lives.
Another way CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread embodies the heart and hands of Jesus is through its partnership with Krist Samaritan Counseling Service. This community partner offers counseling, education and training, promoting emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
Joseph said this collaboration had been a blessing for many CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread clients, and she and her team witness daily how crucial this support is for the client’s well-being.
“I can remember a time when mentioning mental health counseling would make clients go the other way,” Joseph said. “Now, we often have clients ask to see the counselors before giving us their name to sign in. Partnering with Krist Samaritan Counseling Service has been a game-changer for them.”
As one of over 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), Joseph emphasized that the faithful’s contributions to the annual appeal are crucial in helping CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread fulfill its mission. She believes the ministry’s work is sustained
by the ongoing generosity of donors, community partners and volunteers who are dedicated to assisting clients in navigating their daily struggles.
“Come visit us, take a tour and see what we’re all about — there are plenty of opportunities to contribute, whether volunteering in our clothing closet, helping in the kitchen or assisting at the front desk,” Joseph said. “I guarantee it’s never the same experience twice, and you’ll leave feeling inspired and uplifted,
knowing you’ve contributed to someone’s smile.”
Learn more about CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread and how to volunteer by visiting christusfoundation.org/odb.
To donate to the DSF, which supports 60-plus ministries, go to 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. †
EDUCATION
IN CELEBRATION
Assumption School hosts supply drive for DePelchin Children’s Center
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Students at Assumption Catholic School in Houston partnered with parish community members, created various care items for infants and toddlers, and organized a diaper drive to benefit DePelchin Children’s Center in Houston. On the Sept. 27 Feast of Mary, Mother of Orphans, the patronal feast of the Somascan Fathers who lead Assumption School and Parish, a group of Assumption students, with Father Osas Onaiwu, CRS, pastor, and Father Raju Vadicharla, CRS, parochial vicar, delivered donations to DePelchin, providing vital support to those in need.
Schools host Veterans Day celebrations
HOUSTON — Students, staff and faculty at Catholic schools across the Archdiocese welcomed veterans to their campuses for annual Veterans Day celebrations on Nov. 11
Many waving American flags or clad in hand-draw decor, students met with veterans, often family, in appreciation for their military service. Programs included patriotic performances, addresses and other gestures. †
PHOTO COURTEYS OF STEFANIE TELLIER/ST. ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL
Students at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Houston meet with veterans during a Veterans Day gathering on Nov. 11.
COLUMNISTS
Embracing Hope: Welcoming the Jubilee Year 2025
In the year 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year. The Church has celebrated Jubilee Years for centuries, reminding us of the joy and peace that come through reconciliation with God and one another. We find the roots of this practice originating in the Old Testament as a time of forgiveness of debts and granting freedom.
The Jubilee Year of 2025 can be a profound opportunity for spiritual renewal. Pope Francis has called this Jubilee under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” highlighting a time when we can look to God for strength and renewal. The Jubilee officially begins on Dec. 24, 2024, and ends on Jan. 6, 2026. This holy year invites every Catholic to grow in holiness, experience God’s mercy more deeply and bear witness to hope amid our world’s struggles.
Jubilees offer plenary indulgences, pilgrimages and unique celebrations to draw us closer to Christ and His love. This upcoming year will feature Holy Doors in Rome, opportunities for indulgences and gatherings of pilgrims worldwide. It’s a time for Catholics everywhere to come together as a global family of faith. There are many ways to engage in the Jubilee Year. Here are a
by ADAM BRILL
few suggestions to get started:
1. Attend an Opening Mass: Join us in celebrating the official start of the Jubilee Year with special Opening Masses. Attend on Dec. 29 at either the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston at 11 a.m. or the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary in Galveston at 12:30 p.m. These Masses mark a powerful beginning to our journey of hope and renewal as a faith community led by our episcopal shepherds.
2. Make a Pilgrimage: Rome remains the primary pilgrimage site for the Jubilee, with Holy Doors open for visitors to receive special graces. Throughout the year, there will be gatherings for various groups, vocations and occupations to journey to Rome together. Closer to home, our designated local pilgrimage sites at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary. Try
“This Jubilee is a chance to renew our trust in God’s promises, knowing that His mercy and love are endless.”
making a journey to the cathedrals in prayer to be reminded that we are all pilgrims on a journey supported by hope in God’s promises.
3. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation: A key element of any Jubilee Year is reconciliation. Confession is a powerful way to experience God’s mercy and refresh our hearts, leaving behind past burdens and accepting the grace of a new beginning.
4. Perform Works of Mercy: The theme of hope calls us to be active in showing love and mercy to those around us. This Jubilee invites us to follow Christ by reaching out to the vulnerable, feeding the hungry, supporting the poor and comforting those in pain. Each act of mercy makes God’s love visible in our world.
Engaging in Christ’s gift-giving
SAVE THE DATE: JUBILEE OF HOPE OPENING MASSES
Sunday, Dec. 29 at 11 a.m.
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston Celebrant: Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Sunday, Dec. 29 at 12:30 p.m.
St. Mary Cathedral Basilica 2011 Church St., Galveston, Celebrant: Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS
Pope Francis reminds us that “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). This Jubilee is a chance to renew our trust in God’s promises, knowing that His mercy and love are endless. In a world facing many challenges, let us, as “Pilgrims of Hope,” bring light wherever we go. May this year be an opportunity to strengthen our faith, uplift our spirits, and come together as the Body of Christ. †
Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.
As the last days of November roll by, we are entering into a season known particularly for the giving and receiving of gifts. This gift-giving time stands out as special in both our activities and our imaginations. But gift giving is not limited only to Christmas.
We give gifts at other times as well: birthdays, weddings, Baptisms, retirements and other moments that mark major life transitions. But in the Church, we speak of gifts far more frequently and regularly. We speak of gifts at every celebration of the Eucharist.
In the Eucharist, after we have completed the Liturgy of the Word, we have what we call the “Preparation of the Gifts.” We are referring especially to the gifts of bread and wine. We bring forward bread, not many grains of wheat. We bring forward a single container of wine, not a collection of grapes. Many grains of wheat were ground into flour, and from that flour came bread.
So, too, the wine. Many grapes were crushed, and the juice mingled so that we brought forward a single cup of blessing whose contents could no longer be distinguished or separated. In this, we see the ecclesial character of our actions. We, though many individuals, have come together into a single assembly. What happens in our
by
churches is not the activity of lone and separated individuals but of the one Church of God, made present in our coming together. Gift-giving is more about the relationship that exists between those who give and receive than it is about the things exchanged.
These are our gifts, which come forth from the midst of the assembled people of God, carried in procession by representatives of this assembly. In this rite, we are all actively engaged in gift-giving.
We bring forward gifts of bread and wine — both of them the product of human action and activity. We receive gifts from God, transform them through human effort and ingenuity into human things, and bring them back again as gifts we are prepared to offer. When we place them on the altar, we do not expect God to consume them.
No, we place them on the altar with the full expectation that God will act to transform them into the very body and blood of Christ — the gift of God’s own self — to be given back to us. Gift-giving is about relationships that constantly
“We take what we have received from God, transform it by our human effort, and offer it back to God in the hopes that God will transform it further and offer it back to us. Should not this pattern be the pattern of our entire Christian lives?”
grow and deepen through the mutual exchange of gifts.
In the preparation of the gifts, we see this basic pattern. We take what we have received from God, transform it by our human effort, and offer it back to God in the hopes that God will transform it further and offer it back to us. Should not this pattern be the pattern of our entire Christian lives?
The exchange of gifts is not primarily about what is offered but about who is offered. These gifts of bread and wine, these human things, stand not just for our efforts, but for ourselves. In a real way, it is not just the work we do that we bring as a gift, but our very being. It is not just bread and wine we placed on the altar during the preparation of the gifts, but our entire selves.
And it is our sure and certain hope that the transforming power of the gift of God’s grace acts not only on the gifts
of bread and wine but on us as well. Not only do they become the body of Christ, but we, the Church, gathered together, become the body of Christ.
At the preparation of the gifts, we again come to know our unity as a Church. In the dialogue of the gift, acknowledging our dependence on God, we offer our entire selves, confidently expecting that God will transform the gifts and transform us, drawing us into ever deeper relationship.
We leave different from when we came, knowing that in and through the Liturgy, our relationship with God is deepened and renewed, and the dialogue continues. †
Brian Garcia-Luense is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
BRIAN GARCIALUENSE
Encouraging Catholic college students: Boldness in prayer
“What would you like for Christmas this year?” As a child, this question excited me, but now it makes me feel uneasy. Either I don’t really know what I want, don’t think I need anything or don’t want to burden my loved ones.
Now that Advent approaches, I like to believe that God, who loves and cares for us so deeply, asks us the same question, and I realize my own instinctive response to Him is much like how I react to other people. I’m called to pause and reflect on why I hesitate to ask Him for His gifts. Do I think I would burden God with my heart’s needs and desires?
God deeply desires us to ask Him for His gifts. Our heavenly Father promises each of us abundant and limitless gifts if we seek Him and simply ask. “For everyone who asks, receives” … “how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Lk 11:11-13). The Holy Spirit, our great Advocate, provides every spiritual gift that God desires to give us. God longs for us to come to Him in prayer for our every need. I like to imagine that each time we pray for a need, God, who loves us and knows us so perfectly, is
by MIMI TRAN
already and almost surreptitiously holding for us a beautiful glittering package with the very gifts we need wrapped inside. We simply need to accept and be willing to open them up and use them for the purpose which He gives them to us.
Isn’t the gift of Jesus enough? Of course, Jesus is more than enough. But we need the gifts of the Spirit in order to fully embrace the gift of the Son. A relationship with the Holy Spirit brings extraordinary dynamism to our Christian faith and living. Not only do the gifts of the Spirit transform our own spiritual life, but they are just as importantly meant for the building up of the Body of Christ. The Church needs the gifts that God gives you for its flourishing. The world needs your God-given gifts so it can encounter and come to know Jesus’ presence more fully lived through you. The presence of Jesus carried within you can change the
Turning the
In a sea of Christmas green and red, the purple and pink advent candles draw us into the sacredness of this season. Advent as a season of preparation for the coming of Christ dates back into the early centuries.
Derived from the Latin word Adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival,” it is a time of anticipation, hope and preparation for the birth of Christ. The journey through Advent is a journey of hope, peace, joy and love, celebrated candle by candle around the Advent wreath.
I will confess that there are times when my preparation for Advent feels much more frantic and far less spiritual than I would like. Over the years, the Advent wreath that I light each evening
by KRISTINE KERLIN
world!
The social, political, economic and environmental challenges of our world at times may cause us to feel disheartened and to lose hope. We fear that the great dreams we have for our world and future are unattainable, and we may be tempted to think that we fall short.
In Pope Francis’ homily at the closing Mass at World Youth Day 2023, he shares, “As young people, you want to change the world(...) but it still seems insufficient. Yet, the Church and the world need you as much as the earth needs rain. To all of you, dear young people, who are the present and the future, Jesus now says: ‘Have no fear,’ ‘Do not be afraid!’”
As Advent approaches, I invite you in prayer to make a sort of spiritual wish list to God. I hope these reflection questions might help you on your journey: Are there things in my life which are not of God that are keeping me from accepting the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What spiritual gifts do I still need for Jesus to become more fully present in my life? Do I turn to God with childlike dependency, trust and joyful
page towards Advent
before dinner and Advent prayers have created that moment of pause and reflection for me during this busy season.
When I truly reflect on the mystery that God came to us, to be with us, in the human form of a baby within a family, I am awed and amazed. I can only imagine that Mary and Joseph may not have felt too prepared for Jesus’ arrival, given that they were in the middle of a census that required travel and landed them in a town with no accommodations. And yet,
“The Holy Spirit, our great Advocate, provides every spiritual gift that God desires to give us. God longs for us to come to Him in prayer for our every need. ”
anticipation of His gifts?
I pray we will each ask for an increase of the Holy Spirit and His gifts this Advent so that all those we encounter would experience Jesus’ presence within us and be transformed by Him. May God grant each of us an outpouring of His gifts and a great spiritual renewal! †
Mimi Tran serves as a campus minister at the Rice Catholic Student Center.
in the Scriptures, we hear that the entire world changed, and a brand-new chapter in the story of faith began when Jesus arrived. Shepherds stopped what they were doing and sought out Jesus, wise men from lands far away were drawn to meet Jesus, an infant. Light came into a dark world.
God chose the holy family to express the love of God. Family is such a representation of our shared humanity. No matter where you go in the world or what language people speak, we all begin as infants, and we all need family, biological or chosen, to grow and thrive. Christmas time has always been one of my favorite times of year because of the coming together of the people I love.
I cherish each season I have with my daughter, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, knowing that some people cannot be with their loved ones and some people are grieving loved ones who are no longer with them here on Earth. For those for whom this season is a time of darkness, let us be kind and
loving and seek to bring some light into their world.
When we come together as a family this season, we have the opportunity to share life from generation to generation, deepen relationships, and create meaningful traditions that can be handed down from generation to generation.
This season, consider one of the following to bring the sacredness of the season into your home and family:
• Advent wreath;
• Advent calendar;
• Advent service project;
• Prayer;
• Storytelling;
• Crafts and decorations; and
• Advent reflection and study.
May we all experience the profound love of God and a season where “all is calm, all is bright.” †
Kristine Kerlin is the director for the Office of Aging Ministry.
Enjoy the Good News? Pass it on!
Finished reading your Texas Catholic Herald? Recycle it or pass it on to someone else!
“Lord, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of creation and reawaken our gratitude and sense of responsibility.” – Pope Francis
WORLD Pursuing common good in economics is part of being pro-life, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Defending the dignity and sacredness of every human life requires working to create economic and social systems that promote the common good of all, Pope Francis said.
“If the defense of life is limited only to a few aspects or moments, or entirely denies the existential, social and cultural dimensions, it risks being ineffective and falling into the temptation of an ideological approach where abstract principles are defended, rather than concrete people,” the pope said in a message Nov. 14.
“The quest for the common good and justice are central and indispensable aspects of any defense of every human life, especially the most fragile and defenseless, with respect for the entire ecosystem we inhabit,” the pope said.
The message was read at the beginning of a conversation sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life and featuring the economist Mariana Mazzucato and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.
The two women have been working together on the Bridgetown Initiative, a project to reform the global financial system with the “common good” as its main objective rather than individual profit. It recognizes capitalism as the financial system with the greatest chance of helping the most people but insists governments have myriad tools at their disposal not simply to correct mistakes or fill gaps but to direct spending and investment.
“We can find a way to put a man on
IN BRIEF
the moon, but we cannot find a way to distribute the ample food and water that exists on Earth,” Mottley said. Those problems, as well as climate change mitigation and relief efforts, “require moral strategic leadership at a global level.”
Mazzucato said one place to begin is with government procurements or purchasing agreements, which use a significant portion of local, regional and government spending. The contracts, she
Pope asks parishes, religious orders to help alleviate housing crisis in Rome
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is asking parishes, Catholic institutions and religious congregations in Rome to celebrate the Holy Year 2025 by offering a home to someone who is without.
“In view of the Jubilee, I am asking my diocese to give a tangible sign of attention to the housing problem so that, alongside the welcome given to all the pilgrims who will come, forms of protection are activated for those who do not have a home or are in danger of losing it,” Pope Francis said in a letter dated Nov. 8 and released by the Vatican press office a week later. Addressed specifically to “the superiors of religious orders, the legal representatives of Church entities, pastors and the clergy,” the pope’s letter requested that any Church body in Rome that owns real estate contribute to alleviating the city’s housing crisis. †
Nicaragua expels bishops’ conference’s president
JINOTEGA, Nicaragua (OSV News) — The ruling Sandinista regime expelled the president of the Nicaraguan bishops’ conference, further decimating the country’s Catholic leadership as clergy are forced into exile.
Bishop Carlos Enrique Herrera of Jinotega was forced to leave Nicaragua after accusing a local Sandinista mayor of sacrilege for disturbing a celebration of a Mass by blaring loud music outside the cathedral, according to Nicaraguan media.
The bishop was to board a Nov. 12 flight from the country’s capital to Guatemala City, according to local news. His whereabouts are unknown, though reports said he was received by the Order of Friars Minor, which he belongs to.
The expulsion of clergy has left four dioceses without bishops. Just 22 priests remain in the Diocese of Matagalpa, which had 70 priests prior to the regime’s attacks on the church and Bishop Álvarez, according to Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan lawyer in exile who tracks Church persecution in the Central American country.
The regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, have targeted the Catholic Church as they concentrate power and stamp out any space for dissenting voices. †
said, can and should insist that companies doing business with the government are environmentally friendly, pay workers well and reinvest a portion of their profits in research or manufacturing and not just in stock buybacks or payouts.
Pope Francis, who had met privately with the women earlier in the day, told participants at the evening conversation that “the common good is first and foremost a practice, made up of fraternal welcome and a common search for truth
and justice.”
“In our world, marked by so many conflicts and contrasts that are the fruit of the inability to look beyond particular interests,” he said, “it is of great importance to recall the common good, one of the cornerstones of the social doctrine of the Church.”
The world, he said, needs “solid economic theories that take on and develop this theme in detail, so that it can become a principle that effectively inspires political choices — as I indicated in my encyclical ‘ Laudato Si’ ’ — and not merely a category much invoked in words but disregarded in deeds.”
In a paper published in the Journal of Economic Policy Reform , Mazzucato argued that “the common good is not merely about maximizing the sum of aggregate individual interests, but about common interests and mutual concern.”
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life and host of the conversation, told the gathering that the “dramatic inequalities” between the world’s richest and poorest people “are not the result of chance, but the bitter fruit of exasperated capitalism that has generated a hyper-individualist culture.”
“Such a culture is undermining the push toward unity at its root, thus shattering the ‘we’ that is central to the common good for peaceful coexistence and a good life for all peoples,” the archbishop said. †
CNS PHOTO
Pope Francis welcomes Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados to the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Nov. 14.
NATION & STATE
U.S. bishops: ‘We stand in firm solidarity’ with immigrants
(OSV News) — With immigration an ongoing issue after the 2024 U.S. general election, three U.S. Catholic bishops issued a Nov. 14 statement of pastoral concern pledging support for immigrants.
“Compelled by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and recognizing the inherent dignity of each person as a child of God, we stand in firm solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters who live and labor in these United States,” wrote Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration; and Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, chairman of the board for Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC).
CLINIC is a Maryland-based nonprofit that provides advocacy, training and support for more than 400 Catholic and community-based immigration law providers in 49 U.S. states.
The bishops noted that “from the founding of our nation, immigrants have been essential to this society’s growth and prosperity.”
“They come to our shores as strangers, drawn by the promises this land offers, and they become Americans,” said the
bishops. “They continue to provide food security, health services and many other essential skills that support our prosperous nation.”
According to data from the Pew
Find the media kit online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCH or email ADS@ARCHGH.ORG to for more information.
Research Center, immigrants currently account for 14.3% of the U.S. population — the highest level since 1910, but still less than the 14.8% marked in 1890.
Data for 2022 showed that the majority of immigrants (77%) are in the U.S. legally, with close to half (49%) being naturalized citizens, just under a quarter (24%) lawful permanent residents and 4% legal temporary residents. Slightly less than one quarter (23%) are unauthorized.
While President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, the bishops said in their statement that “our country deserves an immigration system that offers fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within our borders.”
In particular, they said, “We need a system that provides permanent relief
for childhood arrivals, helps families stay together and welcomes refugees.”
With much of global migration driven by conflict and natural disaster, the bishops stressed the need to “develop an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution.”
Under international human rights law — such as the U.N.’s 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the latter of which the U.S. acceded to in 1968 — the fundamental principle of non-refoulement provides that refugees cannot be expelled to territories where substantial threats to life or freedom exist.
At the same time, the bishops called for “an immigration system that keeps our borders safe and secure, with enforcement policies that focus on those who present risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs and end human trafficking.”
Catholic social teaching on immigration balances three interrelated principles — the right of persons to migrate in order to sustain their lives and those of their families, the right of a country to regulate its borders and control immigration, and a nation’s duty to regulate its borders with justice and mercy.
The bishops said the U.S. “should have an immigration system that protects vulnerable migrants and their families, many of whom have already been victimized by criminal actors.”
“Together, we must speak out on behalf of the ‘huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ and ask our government to provide fair and humane treatment for our beloved immigrant brothers and sisters,” said the bishops, quoting a line from poet Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus,” the full text of which is inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. “It is our hope, and our prayer, that all of us can work together to support a meaningful reform of our current immigration system.” †
Texas high court rejects execution delay for man convicted of ‘shaken baby’ murder
AUSTIN (OSV News) — The Texas Supreme Court Nov. 15 denied a state House committee’s attempt to delay the execution of a man convicted of murder in the 2002 death of his daughter after they questioned the evidence behind his conviction.
Robert Roberson was scheduled Oct. 17 to become the first person in the U.S. executed over a murder conviction connected to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome in the death of his 2-year-old daughter. A group of Republican and Democratic legislators argued that the conviction was based on outdated science and called into question whether a crime was committed at all, arguing evidence instead suggests that the chronically ill child likely died from complications with severe pneumonia. They argued such a mistake was a common misdiagnosis at the time.
The group of state House lawmakers seeking to delay Roberson’s scheduled execution issued a subpoena for his testimony before the state House of Representatives, an unprecedented maneuver. The Texas Supreme Court temporarily halted the execution in response to the subpoena in October. But in its November opinion, the Texas Supreme Court said, “The dispute before us has nothing to do with Roberson’s guilt or innocence or with the propriety of his sentence, and we express no view on any of those criminal-law matters.”
Other Texas Catholic bishops joined Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, in urging prayer for Roberson and for a stay of his execution. †
OSV NEWS PHOTO/ADREES LATIF, REUTERS
The Border Wall is seen in the background as migrants from South and Central America look to surrender to immigration officials after crossing into the United States from Mexico in Ruby, Arizona, June 24.
MUNDO CATÓLICO
Actualización: Obispos estadounidenses: ‘Nos solidarizamos firmemente’ con los inmigrantes
(OSV News) — Tres obispos católicos de EE.UU. emitieron el 14 de noviembre una declaración de preocupación pastoral — en inglés y posteriormente español — en la que se comprometen a apoyar a los inmigrantes.
“Impulsados por el Evangelio de Jesucristo y reconociendo la dignidad inherente de cada individuo como hijo de Dios, nos solidarizamos firmemente con nuestros hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes que viven y trabajan en estos Estados Unidos”, escribió el arzobispo Timothy P. Broglio de la Arquidiócesis para los Servicios Militares de Estados Unidos, quien es el presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE.UU.; Mons. Mark J. Seitz, obispo de El Paso, Texas, presidente del Comité de Migración de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE.UU.; y Mons. Jaime Soto, obispo de Sacramento, presidente del consejo de Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC).
Conocida como CLINIC, la red es una organización sin ánimo de lucro con sede en Maryland que ofrece defensa, formación y apoyo a más de 400 proveedores de servicios jurídicos católicos y comunitarios en materia de inmigración en 49 estados de EE.UU. Los obispos señalaron que “desde la fundación de nuestra nación, los inmigrantes han sido esenciales para el crecimiento y la prosperidad de esta sociedad”.
MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News
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)
• Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story (NR)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (PG)
• The Carpenter (PG-13)
• White Bird (PG-13)
• Wicked (PG)
▶ For full movie reviews, visit www.osvnews.com/category/reviews
“Llegan a nuestras costas como extraños, atraídos por las promesas que ofrece esta tierra y se convierten en estadounidenses”, dijeron los obispos. “Continúan brindando seguridad alimentaria, servicios de salud y muchas otras habilidades esenciales que apoyan a nuestra próspera nación”.
Según datos del Pew Research Center, los inmigrantes representan actualmente el 14,3% de la población estadounidense, el nivel más alto desde 1910, pero aún inferior al porcentaje de 14,8% de 1890.
Los datos de 2022 muestran que la mayoría de los inmigrantes (77%) están en EE.UU. legalmente, con casi la mitad (49%) como ciudadanos naturalizados, algo menos de una cuarta parte (24%) como residentes permanentes legales y un 4% como residentes temporales legales. Algo menos de una cuarta parte (23%) están en el país sin autorización.
Mientras que el presidente electo Donald Trump ha prometido deportar a millones de inmigrantes indocumentados, los obispos dijeron en su declaración que “nuestro país merece un sistema de inmigración que ofrezca caminos justos y generosos hacia la ciudadanía para los inmigrantes que viven y trabajan durante muchos años dentro de nuestras fronteras”.
En particular, afirmaron, “necesitamos un sistema que brinde alivio permanente para los inmigrantes que llegan en la
A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
• Here (PG-13)
• Red One (PG-13)
• Trap (PG-13)
• Venom: The Last Dance (PG-13)
L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Conclave (PG)
• Heretic (R)
• Joker: Folie a Deux (R)
• Megalopolis (R)
• Saturday Night (R)
O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE
• Smile 2 (R)
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.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ, REUTERS
Migrantes que buscan asilo en los Estados Unidos intentan cruzar una cerca de alambre de púas desplegada para impedir su cruce a Estados Unidos, vista desde Ciudad Juárez, México, el 4 de junio.
infancia, que ayude a mantener a familias juntas y que dé la bienvenida a refugiados”.
Con gran parte de la migración mundial impulsada por conflictos y desastres naturales, los obispos subrayaron la necesidad de “desarrollar un sistema de asilo eficaz para aquellos que huyen de la persecución”.
Según la legislación internacional sobre derechos humanos — como la Convención de la ONU sobre el Estatuto de los Refugiados de 1951 y su Protocolo de 1967, al que Estados Unidos se adhirió en 1968 — el principio fundamental de no devolución establece que los refugiados no pueden ser expulsados a territorios donde existan amenazas sustanciales
para su vida o su libertad. Al mismo tiempo, los obispos pidieron “un sistema de inmigración que mantenga nuestras fronteras seguras y protegidas, con políticas de aplicación de la ley que se enfoquen en quienes presentan riesgos y peligros a la sociedad, particularmente esfuerzos para disminuir actividad pandillera, frenar el flujo de las drogas y eliminar la trata de personas”.
La doctrina social católica sobre la inmigración equilibra tres principios interrelacionados: el derecho de las personas a emigrar para mantener sus vidas y las de sus familias, el derecho de un país a regular sus fronteras y controlar la inmigración, y el deber de una nación de regular sus fronteras con justicia y misericordia.
Los obispos dijeron que Estados Unidos debe tener un sistema de inmigración que proteja “a los migrantes vulnerables y a sus familias, muchos de los cuales ya han sido víctimas de actores delincuentes”.
“Juntos, debemos hablar en nombre de las ‘masas apiñadas que quieren respirar en libertad’ y que nuestro gobierno brinde un trato justo y humano a nuestros queridos hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes”, dijeron los obispos, citando una línea de “El nuevo coloso” de la poeta Emma Lazarus, cuyo texto completo está inscrito en la base de la Estatua de la Libertad. “Es nuestra esperanza y nuestra oración que todos podamos trabajar juntos para apoyar una reforma significativa a nuestro sistema de inmigración actual”, añadieron los prelados. †
• Mail Room Coordinator
• Senior Accountant
• Stewardship and Engagement Manager
• Facilities Manager
• Systems Administrator
• Pension Specialist and more
• Religious education
• Liturgy & Worship
• Secretary
• Bookkeepers and more
WITHIN THE ARTS
‘The
Best
Christmas Pageant Ever’ movie
‘as long as there’s snacks!’
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — While churches across the world have children rehearsing nativity plays, the recently released movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will have families laughing, rolling their eyes, and possibly shedding a tear.
Barbara Robinson’s 1972 book about the “worst children in the world” is brought to life by director Dallas Jenkins, creator of crowdfunded “The Chosen,” about the life of Jesus, popular for its down-to-earth rendition of how Christ first became friends with His disciples.
In the PG-rated Pageant film now showing in theaters, two redheaded sisters and four brothers are the only members of the Herdman family whom we meet since their mother is always working and their dad is not around. The main narrator of the movie, a young girl, introduces the group of impoverished and troublesome siblings as “absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied, they stole, they smoked cigars, they hit little kids…”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/ALLEN FRASER, LIONSGATE
Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman, Ewan Wood as Leroy Herdman, Lorelei Olivia Mote as Alice, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Molly Wright as Beth, Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie star in a scene from the movie “Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” OSV News classified the movie as A-II, for adults and adolescents.
Lessons & Carols
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Festival of Lessons & Carols
6:00 P M
Advent Reception
Cathedral Centre
We see the narrator Beth (Molly Belle Wright) sadly allowing the threatening gang ringleader Imogen Herdman (Beatrice Schneider) to steal her necklace. Beth doesn’t even want to squeal to her mother, Grace (Judy Greer), who gifted her the necklace and is the harried firsttime director of the play.
Only a bit longer than an hour and a half, the movie clips along quickly, perhaps angering some viewers as it succinctly shows several church members as harshly judgmental and wanting to throw the bullies out of the production.
But the Herdmans hijack the pageant, taking over the main roles of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men. The littlest Herdman Gladys (Kynlee Heiman), losing her baby teeth, plays the Angel of the Lord with a toothless smile, shrieking her lines, “HEY! Unto you a child is born!”
And play director Grace reminds her
engaging
own frustrated daughter, narrator Beth, and son that “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was born for us.”
Meanwhile, the Herdman brothers want to “hang Herod” and beat up the innkeeper as they learn more about the injustices of those ancient times. They are furious in self-identifying with the victims of abuse and being outcasts. Seeing the play in a new light, congregation members get off autopilot. They are reminded of how brave and vulnerable Mary and Joseph were and how even the best-known story can be refreshed with renewed attention and deeper meaning.
Children’s choir members, including narrator Beth, highlight traditional Christmas hymns throughout the play, singing soothing renditions of “Away in the Manger,” “Little Town of Bethlehem,” “What Child is This?” and “Silent Night.” At the pageant’s conclusion, church members light each other’s white candles, symbolizing the light Christ brings to the world, similar to what Catholics do at Easter Vigil.
A ragged Imogene as Mary cradling her baby Jesus on stage finally understands how the Holy Family was dirt-poor, had no status, not even a crib for the baby born to change the world. As she stares meditatively out into the audience, a single tear rolls down her cheek. She experiences almost a lectio divina moment reflecting on a scene showing the actual Mary embracing Jesus in the stinky stable, still filled with love.
The church members burst out in applause. Still undecided? Then think of this sentimental movie as a comedic combo of “Christmas Story,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” and a literal “Home Alone.” As director Dallas Jenkins said before the U.S. presidential election, in hopes of the movie’s impact, “We live in very divided times. We’re in a very tribal election year… But something about Christmas has always united people.” †
Thursday, December 14, 7:30 p.m.
1701 San Jacinto St , Houston, TX 77002
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Join Cardinal DiNardo and the Cor Jesu Choir of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for a celebration of song and prayer as we approach the Christmas season!
6:00 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
Advent Reception
Festival of Lessons & Carols
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Cathedral Centre
1111 St. Joseph Pkwy, Houston, TX 77002
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston, TX 77002
1701 San Jacinto St , Houston, TX 77002
This event is free and open to the public. Free parking available. All are welcome!
7:30 P M
Festival of Lessons & Carols
Co-Ca h d l f h S d Heart 1111 St Jo TX 77002
AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE
Having an Event?
Share your event with thousands of print and digital readers. Scan the QR code to fill out the form and send your event to Around the Archdiocese. Learn more at ARCHGH.ORG/ATA
► FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS AND MORE LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
NOVEMBER 24-26
MISSION, St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland). 3-day parish mission with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers features five different sessions. 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 6
ADORATION, 6 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman, Houston). Adoration, dedicating the night to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Free entry. parishinfo@stroselima.org; stroselima.org.
DECEMBER 6-8
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S RETREAT, Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston).
WHITE MASS HONORS HEALING PROFESSIONS
Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, accepts the offertory during the Oct. 18 White Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston. The annual Mass, hosted by San José Clinic, the Office of Pro-Life Activities and the Catholic Chaplain Corps, unites the region’s professionals who work in healthcare and healing ministries. Following the Mass, a reception featured speakers Lucresia Monteza and Dr. Mollie Gordon, who spoke on human trafficking awareness.
Three-day retreat includes Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and time for private prayer. Open to parish groups, mother/daughters (16+) and individuals. Cost: $265. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
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. Cost: Free. parishinfo@ stroselima.org; stroselima.org.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jerome’s Parish Activity Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Holiday shopping with local vendors, breakfast plates, pictures with Santa, hot chocolate bar and kid crafts. Free entry. Breakfast plate $12 (presale) or $15 (at the door). Hot chocolate $3 per cup. Pictures with Santa $20 for two pictures. vgonzalez@ stjeromecs.org; 281-513-3362.
ARCHDIOCESAN OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CELEBRATION, 9 a.m., Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration includes Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, to commemorate the anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego in 1531.
Messina, director of the Spiritual Direction Institute at the Emmaus Spirituality Center. Free, registration 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 Seafarers Port Ministry for the Archdiocese. ghcw.org; ghaccwboard@gmail.com.
DECEMBER 20
LIVE NATIVITY, 3 to 9 p.m., Sacred Heart (109 N Frazier St., Conroe). Live nativity outside the church at Frazier and FM 2854 with live animals, prayer, Posada, music, light refreshments and children’s activities. The nativity will move indoors in the event of rain. Cost: Free. the99SH@gmail.com.
DECEMBER 14
DAY OF REFLECTION, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Angela Merici (9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City). “Journey to Bethlehem: According To Thy Will” day of reflection with Kathleen
FREE CONCERT, 6 p.m., Shrine of the True Cross (300 FM 517 Rd. E., Dickinson). Free Steven Termini concert with Jeffrey Ragsdale and James “Joey” Martel followed by a reception. info@truecrosschurch.org; truecrosschurch.org.
For additional listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
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