Texas Catholic Herald - March 8, 2022

MARCH 8, 2022 • archgh.org/tch

celebrating st. joseph

texas catholic herald

Czech catholics

Communities prep for the return of the beloved Sicilian St. Joseph Altar tradition

Bishop Cahill dedicates Central Texas shrine to Sts. Cyril and Methodius ▪ See Page 15

▪ See page 7

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

March 8, 2022

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‘We can’t be indifferent’

VOL. 58, NO. 19

Service projects, retreats offer Lenten spiritual renewal, growth

By Jo Ann ZuÑiga Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to take part in a day of service on March 26 during the Lenten season on the theme “Come to Know Love” organized by the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry.

Others are invited to select from a plethora of retreats at various locations throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to replenish their spirits.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo said, “I suggest that more of our people avail themselves of the opportunity of a yearly

embracing lent

CNS photo

Ukrainians gather for prayer in a Kyiv church basement Feb. 26, as the Russian invasion of their country endured. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo echoed Pope Francis’s call for Catholics worldwide to dedicate Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting and prayer for Ukraine.

Locals pray for peace, justice in Ukraine as deadly war continued Houston’s Ukrainian Catholic parish hosting daily prayer service for peace

By James Ramos Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — While Father Mykola Dovzhuk chanted during a Feb. 28 prayer service at “Pokrova” Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Houston, 6,000 miles away in Ukraine, millions of his fellow Ukrainians hunkered down in basements, Metro stations and bomb shelters across the Eastern European country as Russian rockets and missiles rained down amid air raid sirens in the early morning hours.

Ever since Russian military launched its invasion of the eighth most populous European nation on Feb. 24 with bombs, tanks and other

weaponry, the north Houston parish began hosting daily prayer services at 7 p.m. to pray for peace and healing, in addition to daily 10 a.m. Divine Liturgies for peace.

As pastor, Father Dovzhuk leads Houston’s only Ukrainian Catholic Church, which is a parish of the sui iuris Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic church that is in full communion with Pope Francis and the Latin Church.

Ever since Russian aggressions began quickly growing in 2021, Father Dovzhuk and his fellow Ukrainian Catholic clergy and bishops have been calling for a peaceful resolution to the political and humanitarian crisis, which has roiled the region since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2014.

Their repeated calls for change were eventually met with violence when Russian President Vladimir

the first word † 3

See UKRAINE, page 4

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See RENEWAL, page 5

ministry

Rebuilding the lives of Galveston’s homeless communities through the healing love of Jesus

By Kerry McGuire Herald Correspondent

CNS photo

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington lit up in in the colors of the Ukrainian flag Feb. 27 to honor the battered country.

The shrine was set to be illuminated in Ukraine’s colors through March 6.

COLUMNISTS † 13 - 14

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español † 17 |

GALVESTON — Improving the lives of homeless individuals in Galveston involves more than giving them access to three meals a day, mental health counseling, medical services, clothing and other social services.

These efforts are made stronger when built upon Christ’s healing foundation of love provided day in and day out by the staff and volunteers at a local ministry, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread.

With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to homeless men and women in Galveston, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread works in partnership with other resources in

Milestones † 20

See DSF, page 9

2 Texas Catholic Herald

archgh.org/tch • MARCH 8, 2022

El Cardenal Daniel DiNardo comparte su columna en línea en español.

Visite www.archgh.org para leer su artículo en línea.

A Shepherd’s Message

THE Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

By Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480)

“Let us use these days of Lent to praise God, to fast and pray, to generously serve others, and to reach Easter with renewed joy!”

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Dear Sisters and Brothers, As I write these words, I am aware of the difficult situation of the people in Ukraine — a situation filled on one hand with violence, bloodshed, attacks on innocent civilians including children, but on the other hand a situation filled with a deep strength and resilience that endures and truly evokes our admiration. We need to pray earnestly for those caught up in this tragedy and also pray that this invasion cease and military forces be withdrawn.

The bishops of the United States have received a letter and appeal from our brother bishops of the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in the U.S. They remind us of hostile forces invading their ancestral land, the civilian casualties, the refugees, the economic and political shockwaves that this bloodshed has and will cause.

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians of the United States, wrote for his brothers when he mentioned the crucifixion that all of Ukraine is enduring. His appeal to all of us is for hearts full of prayer and full of hope. Give support to make that hope concrete.

Along with our prayer, we can aid by offering our generosity to Catholic Relief Services already in Eastern Europe. You can also give directly to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

After World War II, Stalin tried to liquidate the Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1947; it went underground and arose in the late 1990s seemingly from nothing. But the Church was active in persecution and martyrdom during that time. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is resilient and strong,

Advertising ads@archgh.org • 713-652-4407 Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop, President & Publisher Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Designer & Reporter Catherine Viola Graphic Designer & Ad Manager Kerry McGuire and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors

photo by james ramos/herald

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo blesses a pregnant mother and her unborn child after Ash Wednesday Mass on March 2 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

brave, charitable and very shrewd. It will thrive but we must grant support for this to be sustained. And we must support all the people of Ukraine. +++ In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, there is a remarkable passage in Chapter 6 where those who have witnessed with their blood to the Lamb who was slain, cry out: “Holy, true Master, how much longer will you wait before you pass sentence?” (Rev. 6:9) This loud cry of all oppressed peoples, of creation itself, is heard by the Father and is spoken aloud by Jesus Christ on the Cross. In His “hour” Jesus

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has taken the sufferings and cries of all, a suffering His Father has given him to bear for the life of the world, and redeems it.

This is the centerpiece of our faith because in Christ Jesus the compassion of the Father Himself is opened and shown to us all. The Holy Spirit is poured out in this action and that is why we can say that the Crucifixion really inaugurates the last times.

We are always in those times now, a period that can last for millennia, but the definite action of God’s grace to save us is in operation right now. Let us use these days of Lent to praise God, to fast and pray, to generously serve others, and to reach Easter with renewed joy! †

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THE FIRST WORD Next stop Burkina Faso: Our Lenten culinary tour continues With Lent in full swing, we’re excited to continue a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season.

This week, Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program highlights boussan touba, a bean cake dish from Burkina Faso. A landlocked country of 21.4 million people in Africa’s semi-arid Sahel and Savanna zones, about 80% of its working population relies on agriculture and raising livestock to make their living. Most farmers operate

you!

Fridays in Lent. It is an opportunity for families to experience new cultures through new ingredients and flavors.

As we abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat — about $3 per person per meal — to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world.

For more recipes, visit www. crsricebowl.org/recipe. †

Boussan Touba | Burkina Faso SCAN FOR RECIPE VIDEO

ped families me the challenges ion. Turn ingredients in your • • • • • • • •

at a subsistence level, and remain vulnerable to changes in rainfall (flooding and droughts).

As the country develops, it continues to face major challenges including low levels of education (for all children but especially for girls), poor healthcare (especially for pregnant women and children), and weak, uneven levels of economic development which often exclude women and the poor.

Coupled with your favorite hot sauce or condiment, this savory bean cake recipe is convenient for meat-free

1 can black-eyed peas, drained 1 small onion, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 1 egg, whisked ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 cup flour ¼ cup vegetable oil

30 minutes

Makes 6 - 8 bean cakes

Method

Place black-eyed peas in a blender with the onion, carrots and egg. Blend to a smooth paste, and add salt and pepper. If bean mixture has too much liquid to form cakes, add flour, ¼ cup at a time to thicken until you can form into cakes. Divide into 6 to 8 portions and place in hot vegetable oil. Flatten each one into a disc using a spatula. Fry until browned (about 5 to 7 minutes), turning occasionally. Serve with rice.

www.crsricebowl.org

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Pastoral appointment Effective Immediately Father Terence Kersch, CSB In residence at St. Joseph Mission, and part-time chaplain at St. Thomas High school.

in brief Next Café Catholica Lite set for March

SPRING — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at St. Edward Catholic Church, located at 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd. in Spring, on March 10 from 7 to 8:45 p.m.

The speaker for the in-person event is Sean O’Driscoll from the Office of Communications for the Archdiocese. His topic will be “Digital Evangelization: Sharing the Faith in New Contexts.” The night will include light snacks, the talk, a Q&A and communal prayer. The talk will be available to view online as well at www.archgh.org/cafecatholica.

The Café Catholica program seeks to help young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. All young adults are invited to join us for Café Catholica Lite throughout the year.

For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778. †

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continues in three locations

HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offers food assistance at three food pantries that are open for drive-thru food distribution: Guadalupe Center in Houston; the Mamie George Community Center in Richmond; and the Beacon of Hope Center in Galveston.

In Houston, drive-thru distributions at the Guadalupe Center, at 326 S. Jensen St. in Houston, are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. No appointment needed.

The Beacon of Hope Center, located at 4700 Broadway, Suite F-103 in Galveston, is a Galveston County super distribution site. Distributions are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, starting at 9 a.m. No appointment is required. The next distributions are March 9 and March 23. Call 409-762-2064 for more information.

In Fort Bend, The Mamie George Community Center, at 1111 Collins Rd. in Richmond, is a Houston Food Bank super distribution site. Register by texting HFBPS to 855-788-3663, then select Catholic Charities — Richmond. In 2022, drive-thru distributions will be on Tuesdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The next food fair is March 26. For help, call 281-202-6200.

For hours and addresses, visit www.catholiccharities.org/ food or call the Catholic Charities COVID Assistance Line at 713-874-6521. †

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synod resources For more information and resources about the local Synod process in the Archdiocese, visit the website at www.archgh.org/synod.

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corita kent’s art still inspires Priest finds inspiration for preaching in Corita Kent’s vibrant serigraphs. ▪ SEE PagE 18

‘Silence the weapons!’: Pope Francis calls for peace UKRAINE, from page 1 Putin authorized the bloody invasion of Ukraine.

Bomb shelters soon became places of refuge, prayer, and even maternity wards for newborns, as Ukraine’s military fought to repel Russian forces above ground and in the skies. At least 5,000 civilians and military forces from both sides have died. A 43-year-old Ukrainian Orthodox military priest chaplain was reported to have been shot and killed by Russian forces as he was leaving the town in a car. By March 1, many residential areas, schools and even churches, had been shelled and destroyed.

The violent urban warfare forcibly displaced more than 677,000 Ukrainians into neighboring countries, according to a March 1 United Nations report. Relief officials estimate that there are six million Catholics and 25 million Orthodox in Ukraine, a country of 44 million.

Day of fasting and prayer Ash Wednesday, March 2 this year, took on an even greater somber tone: Pope Francis had requested to use the day to fast and pray for peace in Ukraine and the world. He appealed “to everyone, believers and nonbelievers alike” to make Ash Wednesday “a day of prayer and fasting for peace.”

In Houston, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo agreed and asked all the clergy and laity of Galveston-Houston to offer penance for peace in Ukraine and around the world.

“Ukraine is being crucified right now,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo in his homily Ash Wednesday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. He was quoting Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians of the United States.

“So many people are becoming refugees. This action is sending shock waves politically and economically,” Cardinal said. “Pope Francis has asked us instead of our usual Lenten prayers and fasting, to especially pray and fast for Ukraine. We hope to come to Easter knowing peace.”

“During the Lenten season we take up the cross of penance to unite ourselves to the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, and to share in the burdens of others. May

CNS photo

A woman and her son look out from an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station in Ukraine Feb. 25, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine and invade the Eastern European country. To learn how to help Ukraine, visit www.archgh.org/ukraine.

our sacrifices ... throughout the season of Lent help us to grow in holiness and in mercy towards those who suffer,” said Cardinal DiNardo.

In addition to the 800 attending the Co-Cathedral 12:10 p.m. Mass, pastors at parishes across the Archdiocese report thousands are returning to parishes on Ash Wednesday with full attendance even at 6:30 a.m. Masses.

At the Feb. 28 evening prayer service, Father Dovzhuk also encouraged Catholics to commit to fasting and prayer for peace every day. He also welcomed visitors to the parish for Divine Liturgy and to the prayer service for peace.

The vigil included an adaptation of St. John Paul II’s Prayer for Peace, which said: “To You [Jesus] we entrust all families and pray that they may never yield to discouragement and despair, but become heralds of new hope to one

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another in this challenging time.”

The prayer continued: “May You continue to inspire all of us to oneness of heart and mind, to work generously for the common good, to respect the dignity of every person and the fundamental rights which have their origin in the image and likeness of God impressed upon every human being.”

‘We are united in the body of christ’ Several parishes in Galveston-Houston joined Father Dovzhuk’s earnest prayers for peace, including St. Joseph Catholic

Church near downtown Houston.

More than 100 people from the vibrant parish’s diverse communities united for a bilingual Rosary for peace to end the war in Ukraine on Feb. 25.

FatherVictor Perez, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Stephen parishes, said the prayer vigil recalled Our Lady’s apparitions and messages in Lourdes and Fatima.

“People who attended all felt called to draw near to the heart of God in love, prayer, fellowship and in solidarity with people of Ukraine [that] we cannot even See UKRAINE, page 6

A Prayer to Our Lady of Pochaev In the 17th century, an army threatened to invade Pochayiv, Ukraine, causing the people to turn to Our Lady for protection and help. Our Lady is said to have appeared over a monastery, where the people hid, and spread her mantle over them in protection.

The following is an excerpt of a prayer to Our Lady of Pochaev: Mother most good, cover our Church and [the] Ukrainian people with your mantle. Help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in their suffering. Give them strength in their fight ... be consoling and unfailingly firm in their harassment and shield them in their misery.

Be for them and us All-Merciful Guardian and let us praise you openly and freely together with them, O Virgin, among all virgins, and your Son, our God, Jesus. Let there be glory, honor and adoration now, always, and forever. Amen. †

Photo by james ramos/herald

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Retreats offer a time to draw closer to God RENEWAL, from page 1 retreat, either as part of a parish group, a family retreat or a personal day apart from our frenzied lives to allow the Word of God to address you.”

The Young Adult Day of Service 2022 is set for March 26 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church (10330 Hillcroft St., Houston).

Angie Pometto, director for the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, said, “For the first time, we will have all young adults who attend the English or Spanish program to do service together in one place.”

The day starts at 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. opening Mass along with a welcome and introduction afterward, she said. Then the service project will begin at 10:30 a.m. with participants packaging food for the global Rise Against Hunger experience.

“When we’ve done Young Adult Days of Service in the past, we all came together for a Mass to start the day, and then the whole group would split up and go to 20 different locations in the surrounding area to serve. This year, I wanted to host a service event where we could all stay together in one place and serve as one young adult community,” Pometto said. “This will be the first time we will have young adults from the English

herald file photo

Men on a retreat walk through a garden praying the Stations of the Cross in a garden at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston.

and Hispanic young adult communities working together on one project, and I believe there will be a real beauty in that unity.”

Pometto said the office chose to work with Rise Against Hunger because it helps worldwide and knows how to provide a service event that will effectively incorporate numerous volunteers.

“We’re anticipating around 150 total people to attend Young Adult Day of Service, and I believe Rise Against Hunger will help make sure that all 150 people feel like they are contributing to the project. With everyone working together, we’ll be packaging meals to feed more than 75,000 people around the world,” she said.

The office also thanked the Scanlan Foundation, which provided a grant with the purpose of involving young adults in mission and service. After the service project, the group will join for lunch and close the day out with a reflection speaker (available in English or Spanish) and time for small group discussions.

“I hope that this new format will provide some extra time for connection, community and prayer. And I’m very excited to have all young adults, both English- and Spanish-speakers, working together on one project,” Pometto said.

The cost for the day is $35 for those who register by March 12. The price includes lunch and a t-shirt. Registration is available online at www.archgh.org/ yaday. For more information, contact the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-7418778.

Other Lenten events are scheduled by various retreat centers ranging from overnight events costing hundreds of dollars to free events, including a Taize prayer service on April 9, Saturday at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (11720 Joan of Arc Dr., Houston).

Emmaus Spirituality Center, reincarnated from the former Cenacle Retreat House, is hosting a four-day, See RENEWAL, page 11

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Guidelines for Lenten Observance Lent continues through Good Friday, April 2, which is a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence. According to the U.S. bishops, fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year.

Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal.

Through works of fasting, prayer and abstinence, we heed the Prophet Joel’s exhortation to “return to God with our whole heart” (2:12). Lent is a penitential season and practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of charity and justice and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged. For more resources, visit archgh.org/lent.

UKRAINE, from page 4 see or know,” he said. “We are united in the Body of Christ. When one member suffers, we all suffer. We can’t be indifferent, but as Christians we come together and pray.”

Parishioner Elizabeth Williamson said she contacted Father Perez about hosting the prayer vigil and that he was “absolutely” open to the idea.

“I knew I could not sit idle as a bystander. I felt the Spirit moving my heart towards prayer,” she said, adding that hearing the Hail Mary echo throughout the church was a “heavenly encounter.”

‘With a heart broken,’ pope prays for peace in Ukraine VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said his heart was “broken” by the war in Ukraine, and he pleaded again, “Silence the weapons!”

“Many times, we prayed that this path would not be taken,” he told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the midday recitation of the Angelus prayer Feb. 27. But rather than giving up, he said, “we beg God more intensely.”

With many of the people in the square holding Ukrainian flags, Pope Francis greeted them the way they traditionally greet each other, “Slava Isusu Chrystu,” meaning, “Glory to Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis has continued to personally express his concern about

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to appeal for peace.The previous evening, he phoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The call to Zelenskyy came a day after Pope Francis made the diplomatically unusual gesture of visiting the Russian Embassy to the Holy See himself to express his concern over the war.

Usually, a head of state would have an ambassador visit the pope.

Prayers, solidarity for people in Ukraine help charities feel hope VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The flood of support from people inside and outside Ukraine is a source of strength and hope for the people receiving aid and for the Caritas organizations coordinating efforts, said two Caritas directors from Ukraine.

Pallottine Father Vyacheslav Grynevych, director of Caritas-Spes, said the prayers, assistance and offers to help are so important for them “to see that we are not alone in this terrible situation.”

He also urged people to reach out to and spiritually support Ukranians who are living abroad and who are worrying about family members in conflict zones.

Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine, said, “I can’t emphasize enough the expressions of solidarity that we see at every corner inside the country; it’s very inspiring.”

With the support of at least 35 other Caritas organizations, the two local

archgh.org/tch • MARCH 8, 2022

charities have been providing essential information, food, water, hygiene kits and safe places for shelter.

Sisters: ‘None of us have left’ Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN, a Tyler, Texas-based counselor, speaker and Houston native, said her community of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth has several communities in Ukraine.

“For eight years we have lived in a state of war, and the most recent days of our lives are filled with fear and anxiety.

We fear for our country, our families, our future,” the sisters wrote in a Feb. 19 letter. “None of us knows what our tomorrow will look like, whether we will be awakened by an alarm clock or the sound of a siren. But for now, none of us has left, because after all, the people remain here, our people, who need us.”

As the violence continued, the sisters shared in a Feb. 26 report that while two sisters were forced to flee their homes, others stayed “in their places, supporting the people, encouraging them, praying with families, helping to calm children, supporting and courageously helping as they can and where they can.”

In Hniwan’, in western Ukraine, the sisters said there is Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel for nearly the whole day: “Here we seek, first of all, peace of heart and we pray for those who fight with weapons in their hands.”

To support the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, visit www.archgh.org/ukraine. †

In 1866, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word arrived in Galveston with a mission to heal “the sick and infirm of every kind.” In 1887, they expanded their reach with St. Joseph’s Infirmary, Houston’s first general hospital.

It started with a call to care for the underserved, and over 150 years later the mission continues.

While the focus has shifted from hospital care to primary healthcare and related services, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare continues the original mission by serving the needs of underserved and uninsured communities of all faiths, ages and cultures in the Greater Houston and Galveston areas.

To learn how you can be a part of our mission,

visit www.christusfoundation.org or call 713.652.3100.

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is a 501(c)3 non-profit, relying on the generous support of individuals like you.

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St. Joseph Altar celebrations return to continue beloved Sicilian tradition HOUSTON — After a two-year hiatus in the Archdiocese, a centuries-old Italian tradition comes alive once again throughout the region. Parishioners celebrate the feast of St. Joseph in March with elaborate St. Joseph Altars that honor the patron of Sicily and the poor.

The tradition is carried on from Sicily.

The story holds that, during the Middle Ages, a famine struck the island of Sicily, who, in turn, sought help from St. Joseph to end their starvation and death, promising a feast in his honor if he did save them.

The famine soon ended, and altars were prepared throughout the island. To honor St. Joseph, the food was given to the poor.

Faithful keep this tradition alive with its recipes, intricate bread plaiting and more, all handed down from generation to generation. The altar is still prepared today in gratitude.

Reaching upwards towards the ceiling, the altars are often multi-tiered delicate constructions. Usually, the altar’s three tiers represent the Holy Trinity, with a statue of St. Joseph on the top tier.

While no meat is ever used in the altar, or the meal, since the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) is during Lent, dozens of baked breads, cakes and hundreds of treats — many in symbolic Christian shapes like monstrances, chalices, crosses, fish and wreaths — fill the different levels.

On March 12, the St. Joseph Altar Guild at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, located at 7810 Cypresswood Dr. in Spring, will host their St. Joseph Altar at 6:30 p.m. following the 5:15 p.m.

Mass. Father Norbert Maduzia, pastor, will lead the “Tupa Tupa,” a children’s depiction of the Holy Family, alongside some saints, going door-to-door looking for food and shelter before finding the St. Joseph Table. A Sicilian meal will be served, including pasta, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, salad and bread.

Homemade Italian cookies and cannoli will be available for sale.

Other activities include a raffle.

Admission is free, but donations are

LEARN MORE Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to see a video about the St. Joseph’s Altar or visit www. ctrcc.com/st-joseph-altar

file photo by james ramos/herald

Intricate handmade baked goods are seen in front of a recent St. Joseph Altar at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Memorial Park in Houston. The St. Joseph Altar, a Sicilian tradition that honors the patron saint of the poor, features dozens of baked goods fashioned in Christian shapes like fish, crosses, wreaths and other symbols.

accepted, which with proceeds, will benefit the St. Ignatius Outreach Ministry, which helps those in need in the parish and neighboring communities.

For more information or donations, call contact 713-825-4576 or email stjosephaltarguild@silcc.org.

From March 14 to 22, the Daughters of Italian Heritage are set to hold a virtual St. Joseph’s Table fundraiser. During this time, members can support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of GalvestonHouston’s Food Network. To donate, visit www.svdphouston.org/st-josephs-altar.

On March 19, Catholics can also find a day-long, family-friendly festival celebrating St. Joseph at the Dickinson Little Italy Festival of Galveston County.

The free event, hosted at the Dickinson City Centre/City Hall (4403 TX-3, Dickinson), begins with a St. Joseph’s Day procession at 9:30 a.m. The festival

features its namesake St. Joseph Altar, an auction, Italian food and drinks, a heritage exhibit, a Little Italy market, live music and entertainment, grape

stomping, a spaghetti eating contest, bocce ball tournament, kids’ activities and more.

To learn more, visit www. dickinsonlittleitalyfestivalofgalveston county.com, or call 713-594-3641.

Then on March 20, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church’s St. Joseph Altar Society will host its annual St. Joseph Altar, with a spaghetti luncheon served after the 11 a.m. Mass in the parish hall, located at 11507 Huffmeister Rd. in Houston.

The event features its ornate St. Joseph Altar, a procession of “Little Saints,” a traditional Sicilian lunch, and a baked good sale of homemade Italian cookies and other items. Proceeds benefit Cypress Assistance Ministry. While admission to view the altar is free, meal tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Kids under three eat free. To learn more, visit www. ctrcc.com/st-joseph-altar. †

You can put your faith into action this Lent.

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2900 Louisiana Street • Houston, Texas 77006

8 Texas Catholic Herald LOCAL

archgh.org/tch • MARCH 8, 2022

Journeying together: Synod listening sessions underway

By Jonah Dycus Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Listening sessions for the Synod on Synodality are currently taking place in various venues and communities all over Galveston-Houston.

“It is definitely great to see the blossoming activity of the Synod work across the Archdiocese,” said Jim Barrette, secretariat director for Pastoral and Educational Ministries. “But the real measure of the works of the Synod can only be taken in active listening sessions, one after the other, where the experience of the Holy Spirit in the sharing and listening is astonishing and exciting.”

Through the Synod process, Pope Francis is inviting the faithful and those in the peripheries to share, discover and learn through diocesan listening sessions. In the local Archdiocese, session facilitators continue to be trained at parishes. Currently, there are more than 700 facilitators trained to lead listening sessions in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

“Sharing their experiences of ‘journeying together’ and noticing the presence of the Holy Spirit in those moments ignites the interactions between laity, religious and clergy,” Barrette said.

Almost 40 Catholic school principals have also been trained to lead listening sessions with faculty and staff in all elementary schools in the Archdiocese.

In February, Archdiocesan schools hosted multiple listening sessions to support the activities called for

by Pope Francis and the Synod, said Debra Haney, superintendent of Catholic Schools. Based on averages

for each campus, approximately 1,000 educators participated in approximately 200 listening sessions to support the pope’s call to hear the voice of the people committed to the Catholic Church, according to Haney.

“Each listening session addressed the ways in which the Church responds to current issues within the Catholic community, as well as how people feel about how they have been accompanied or excluded based on their perspectives,” she said.

Approximately 20 staff members participated in a recent listening session at St. Jerome Catholic School.

Those in attendance broke out into small groups to discuss their journey at St. Jerome, their experience journeying with others and focusing on a common mission.

“I think the group makeup steered the direction of the discussion. Some really took a deeper dive than others,” said Janet Krametbauer, St. Jerome principal.

“It was a positive experience here and I feel like the comments the groups recorded were very much driven by the St. Jerome School experiences.”

In addition to parishes and Catholic schools, Barrette said several ministries are also actively participating in the local synod process: the Office of Deaf Ministry is currently inviting community members to share feedback on the synod through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Office of the Permanent Diaconate has scheduled several listening See SYNOD, page 10

Join Us for Upcoming Programs March 21-24, 2022 4 days, 3 nights

Lenten Silent Retreat: Seeds in Our Covid Time

430 Bunker Hill Rd Houston, TX 77024

Presented by Jacqueline Loh and Bishop Ronald Gilmore, the focus will be on what God might want for your life, and how to discern it, as they offer prayers for healing during these Lenten days.

April 09, 2022

Taizé Prayer Service

Holy Name Retreat Center

9:30 am -11:30 am

St. Cecilia’s Church 11720 Joan of Arc Dr Houston, TX 77024

April 23, 2022 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (includes lunch)

Emmaus Spirituality Center 12211 Memorial Dr Houston, TX 77024

May 14, 2022 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Emmaus Spirituality Center 12211 Memorial Dr Houston, TX 77024

Originating from an ecumenical Christian community formed in France, Taizé services typically include a combination of scripture readings, silence, and simple chants to encourage focus and deep meditation. Presented by Emmaus, St. Cecilia and Chapelwood.

Exploring Implications of Near Death Experiences What can Near-Death Experiences tell us about consciousness? Featuring two guest speakers and four panelists, this symposium provides current thinking on this question. Cosponsored by Emmaus and The Institute of Spirituality & Health.

Faith and Science - A Journey into God’s Mystical Love

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Couriel

Young adults visit after a Café Catholica event in 2021. More than 60 young adults participated in a Feb. 16 listening session on the Synod and continued their discussions well after the session had wrapped.

LENTEN FASTING & ABSTINENCE Fasting

Abstinence

Ash Wednesday Good Friday

Every Friday during Lent

Ages 18-59

Ages 14+

How do we fast?

When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.

Am I excused from fasting and abstinence?

Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.

For information on fasting and abstinence, visit www.archgh.org/lent.

Formore more information on fasting and abstinence, visit usccb.org.

Join the author, Deacon Robert J. Hesse, Ph.D., in offering a fresh voice into the polarizing subject of faith and science as he explores how these topics come together and what ways they meet.

www.emmausspiritualitycenter.com

281-241-9678

Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

MARCH 8, 2022 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

9

Galveston’s Our Daily Bread ministry serves growing need DSF, from page 1 the Gulf Coast community to provide guidance and structure to help clients develop a plan of action to break the cycles of addiction and despair.

According to the Texas Homeless Network’s report for 2020, nearly 400 individuals experienced homelessness in Galveston County, 26% without shelter. In the fiscal year 2021, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread experienced 16,381 encounters from this homeless population, serving approximately 100 individual clients each week.

Angela Joseph, director of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, believes these numbers will continue to rise.

“What is clear is that an increase in those served during the pandemic and continues today are mostly due to individuals that worked in the service industry and were unable to work and support or maintain their households,” said Joseph. “Because many of our clients are on Galveston Housing Authority’s waiting list or working with other social service agencies that offer rapid rehousing programs, we have had a rise in the need for some of our services, including our assistance with document recovery of birth certificates, Social Security cards, and state-issued identification.”

This is the case of John, a homeless client of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for the past four years. He needed the document recovery service to apply for housing to one day become selfsufficient.

He also suffered from mental illness and was unmedicated because he said the meds made him feel bad when he took them. He often stayed at the Salvation Army shelter, but his diminishing mental state caused him to leave and live on the street.

Because of this, John sometimes did not come to CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread and further delayed getting the services he needed. Through the loving and dedicated efforts of the ministry’s staff and volunteers, John was able to get the required documents and other needed social services to help get him back on his feet.

“Our Daily Bread helped me with meals, referrals and clothing,” said John.

“They also replaced my birth certificate and ID, something I was unable to do for many years. They also helped me with medical care.”

CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread is one of over 60 ministries supported by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) that bring much-needed help to clients like John.

“Supporting the annual DSF allows CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread to continue providing life-changing services to those who need a hand up, with dignity and respect,” said Joseph.

Currently, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread receives DSF funding for the purchase of disposable goods necessary for to-go meals, a service that was adopted as a result of the pandemic.

If additional funding was available through the DSF, Joseph said the ministry would like to provide transportation services for clients, especially those

The 2021 Diocesan Services Fund theme draws from 1 Corinthians: “All For the Glory of God.” 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 60-plus ministries.

“Supporting the annual DSF allows CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread to continue providing life-changing services to those who need a hand up, with dignity and respect.”

Angela Joseph Director, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread Galveston with disabilities, that require travel to make their appointments.

She said an additional $1,500 annually from DSF would allow the ministry to provide gas cards, purchase bus tokens for local travel, and assist with transportation on and off the island, assisting 50 to 75 clients monthly.

“One example of clients with transportation needs are those that need a replacement social security card but are unable to obtain acceptable supporting documents for backup,” said Joseph. “These requests require an inperson appointment at the League City office. In this case, a ride share service would allow the client to make the appointment.”

Joseph said another transportation need is for those clients that receive medical care from a local clinic or at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston but are physically unable to walk and suffer through the pain. Those that are wheelchair-bound would definitely benefit from the transportation services, also.

For more information about how to assist CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, with their efforts to help the homeless by giving to the 2022 Annual DSF Appeal, visit www.archgh.org/dsf.

The DSF supports over 60 ministries, whether direct service or education, that require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries. †

Photo courtesy of Our Daily bread

Faithful CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread Volunteers and a CHRISTUS team member joyfully prepare and serve meals to the hungry and homeless in Galveston each day.

10 Texas Catholic Herald

SYNOD, from page 8 sessions for deacons and their wives; the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis is sponsoring several listening sessions for parish catechetical leaders across the Archdiocese, in-person and virtually; and the Ecumenical Commission is planning to convene members of the ecumenical community for a listening session.

Last month, the Office of Aging hosted a listening session with residents of St. Dominic Village, a senior care provider and residence, and a ministry of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston. The reflections shared by those in attendance captured both their former parish as well as current St. Dominic Village experiences, said Mark Ciesielski, Office of Aging Ministry director.

“They shared the joy of companionship especially in regard to prayer and worship together,” Ciesielski said. “They noted the challenge to engage in conversations that required respectful listening, understanding, compassion and openness to different viewpoints. They emphasized the importance of speaking openly and honestly with others and with leaders.”

“Finally, they wanted Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Italo Dell’Oro and the 2022 DSF 9.75x7 Familythey Life Synod of Bishops to Office knowof that still have tremendous value to offer

synod resources For more information and resources about the local Synod process in the Archdiocese, visit the website at www. archgh.org/synod.

the Church through their wisdom, life experiences, talents and treasures.”

On Feb. 16, the “Young Adult Listening Session for the Synod” was held at St. Dominic Center, in both English and Spanish. A total of 25 parishes were represented during the English session; 13 parishes were represented in the Spanish session.

Angela Pometto, Young Adult and Campus Ministry director, said she was somewhat anxious going into the final.pdf 1/10/22 since 1:47 PM listening 1 session the response from young adults on social media to the

Synod seemed very mixed.

“What I witnessed through the process proves the genius of Pope Francis,” she said. “The young adults who came to the listening session did share some frustration about the current state of the Church. These hurts were heard and recorded, but then, through the Synod process, the same young adults were asked to reflect on what they love about the Church. In these areas, the young adults shared about why they remain committed to Catholic Church — they remain for the truth present in her teachings, the beauty present within her churches and liturgies, and the goodness offered through true Christian community.”

After the listening session had ended, Pometto saw young adults continue their small group conversations in the lobby.

“I heard laughter, joy and camaraderie — no negativity at all,” she said. “As I drove away, many of the young adults remained outside in the parking lot, continuing to be in community.”

And to Pometto, that proves the genius of Pope Francis in this synod process.

“It is so easy to be negative on social media — to rant and rave at a screen that seems disconnected from a person,” she said. “But when we take that negativity and share it with another person in a loving and safe environment, that negativity can be transformed. And this truth really shouldn’t surprise us as

archgh.org/tch • MARCH 8, 2022

“The Paschal mystery is precisely about the fact that God can walk with us through the negative, through the confusion, through the frustration, and bring us out on the other side into resurrection.” angie pometto Director, Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry Catholics. Isn’t this at the heart of the Paschal mystery? The Paschal mystery is precisely about the fact that God can walk with us through the negative, through the confusion, through the frustration, and bring us out on the other side into resurrection. For me, I saw that lived out in a new way through this Synod process with the young adults of our Archdiocese.”

The Synod on Synodality is a twoyear process of listening and dialogue commissioned by Pope Francis and culminating in 2023. The theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.”

For information about the local Synod process, visit www.archgh.org/ synod. †

The future of humanity passes by way of the family.

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Diocesan Services Fund MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

– Pope Saint John Paul II

The Office of Family Life offers over 50 programs that accompany spouses and ministry leaders in forming, revealing, enjoying and protecting our families.

To support the Office of Family Life, and over 60 ministries like it, make a gift to the DSF at www.archgh.org/dsf

Scan to Give

MARCH 8, 2022 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

11

The Gift of forgiveness: A Guide to the sacrament

herald file photo

A porcelain Station of the Cross depicts Jesus Dying on the Cross at Holy Name Catholic Retreat Center in Houston. Holy Name is one of several retreat centers within the Archdiocese offering special programming and retreats for the Lenten season.

RENEWAL, from page 5 three-night Lenten silent retreat called “Seeds in our COVID Time” from March 21 to 24. Costing $543 including rooms and meals, the retreat is at Holy Name Retreat Center at 430 Bunker Hill. The main speakers and directors will be Jacqueline Loh and Bishop Emeritus Ronald Gilmore of Kansas. Loh is from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada, who founded Grace that Reigns Society, a parish missions and retreats ministry.

Bishop Gilmore serves as spiritual director with Grace that Reigns.

Emmaus Spirituality Executive Director Mary Pierson said, “We realize that the community needs us now more than ever. People are suffering from isolation, seeking mindfulness and purpose, and we need to be here for them.”

The center is also co-sponsoring both virtual and in-person events, including the Taize prayer event at St. Cecilia along with the Chapelwood Methodist Church choir. “Our goal, as well as the Cenacle Sisters’ goal, was to remain deeply embedded in the St. Ignatius principles,

but to work together ecumenically,” Pierson said.

For more information for events and spiritual direction, visit www. emmausspiritualitycenter.com The Christian Renewal Center (CRC), located at 1515 Hughes Rd. in Dickinson, was set to offer a free pre-Lent mission

by Director Kim Brown on March 1. Then each Tuesday during Lent from 6 to 7 p.m., the CRC will host a Holy Hour with Exposition, confession and a reflection inside the chapel. Health guidelines will be in place, and temperatures will be checked at the door.

Other retreats at CRC for costs will be a Lenten Teen and Parent Silent Retreat from March 25 to 27 as well as an adult Lenten Silent Retreat on April 1 to 3 with guided meditations. For prices and registrations, visit www.retreatcentercrc. org.

For a list of retreat centers in the Archdiocese, visit www.archgh.org/ resources/retreats. Contact your local parish for parish-based Lenten events, such as days of recollection, penance services and more. †

When was the last time you went to confession? Has it been a while? The Sacrament of Penance, also known as reconciliation or confession, may seem intimidating for many, but with some simple preparation, it can be a peaceful healing encounter with Christ and His Church. Take this guide with you to confession as a way of reflection and rediscover the Sacrament of Penance.

Reconciliation is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God. At the same time, sinners reconcile with the Church because it is also wounded by our sins.

Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and His Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and His Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future.

The Four Parts of Confession

• Contrition: a sincere sorrow for having offended God, and the most important act of the penitent. There can be no forgiveness of sin if we do not have sorrow and a firm resolve not to repeat our sin.

• Confession: confronting our sins in a profound way to God by speaking about them — aloud — to the priest.

• Penance: an important part of our healing is the “penance” the priest imposes in reparation for our sins.

• Absolution: the priest says the words by which “God, the Father of Mercies” reconciles a sinner to Himself through the merits of the Cross.

A BRIEF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Adapted from Examination of Conscience based on the Ten Commandments

Take a moment to reflect on how sin has damaged your relationships.

▪ Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God? ▪ Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, the Church, or people?

▪ Do I ‘keep Holy the Sabbath’? Do I go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) and on Holy Days of Obligation, as is possible? Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God, joy for the Lord’s Day, and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on Sunday?

▪ Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain good communication with my parents where possible? Do I criticize them for lacking skills I think they should have?

▪ Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind?

▪ Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself?

▪ Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another?

▪ How do I protect and care for God’s creation, including my family, the environment and those around me?

RITE OF RECONCILIATION STEPS

▪ If it has been a while, let the priest know and he can help guide you through the steps for a good confession.

1. Priest gives a blessing or greeting.

2. Make the Sign of the Cross and say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was [length of time] ago.”

3. Confess all of your sins to the priest. (If you are unsure or uneasy, tell him and ask for help.)

4. Say, “I am sorry for these and all of my sins.”

5. The priest gives a penance and offers advice to help you be a better Catholic.

6. Say an Act of Contrition, expressing your sorrow for your sins. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you from your sins.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION

God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

12 Texas Catholic Herald

archgh.org/tch • March 8, 2022

education UST men’s basketball crowned conference champions

photo courtesy of the university of st. thomas athletics

University of St. Thomas Men’s Basketball Coach Anthony Medina lifts up a basketball net following his teams Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title win after powering past the secondseeded Trinity Tigers, 77-58, in Sherman, Texas at Austin College. The team became the first team in school history to win both the regular season title and the tournament championship since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

SHERMAN — University of St.Thomas Men’s Basketball clinched their third, straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship (SCAC) with a 62-49 victory over the Colorado College Tigers on Feb. 19.

St. Thomas would be crowned as SCAC regular-season champions as the final buzzer sounded. This marked the fourth consecutive year the Celts have cut down the nets, dating back to the program’s times in the Red River Athletic Conference prior to making the transition to NCAA Division III. The win punched their ticket to the SCAC tournament, which took place in Sherman, Texas, on Feb. 25 to 27. After winning the conference tournament last season, the Celts looked to become the first team in school history to win both the regular-season title and the tournament championship since joining the SCAC. Wrapping up the 2021-22 season with a 20-5 record, going 14-2 in conference play, the men earned the top-seed in this year’s SCAC Basketball Tournament.

And that weekend, their dreams came true. The team claimed their second consecutive SCAC tournament title after powering past the second-seeded Trinity Tigers, 77-58. The Celts became the first team in school history to win both the regular-season championship and the conference tournament in the same season.

St. Thomas started the contest on fire from deep, opening the frame with eight consecutive three-pointers.

Junior Andrew Nguyen sparked the hot shooting, drilling five triples within the first five minutes of action. The Celts held a comfortable lead for the entire first half, shooting nearly 50% from the floor

while totaling 11 three-pointers. On the defensive end, they stumped the Tigers, limiting them to under 30% shooting while only surrendering 26 points.

Heading into the break, three Celts already sat at the double-digit scoring mark, led by Andrew Nguyen’s 15 points.

Trinity clawed their way back into the game after kicking off the second half with a 10-0 run. They continued to threaten the Celts lead, but St. Thomas responded with timely scores to fend off the Tigers.

With just a six-point advantage, Cameron Gims and Christian Alaekwe combined for three-straight mid-range buckets to shift momentum back towards the Celts.

St. Thomas soon closed the door on Trinity by scoring 13 unanswered points in the final three minutes of the game.

Christian Alaekwe, the SCAC Player of the Year, paced the Celts in scoring with 21 points. Alaekwe also recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Also logging a double-double was Cameron Gims, who added 11 points, nine of which came in the second half, and 13 boards. Andrew Nguyen finished with 15 points, all of which coming in the first frame. Chipping in 10 points on four-for-eight shooting from the floor was senior Juan Hood in his final game as a Celt.

Alaekwe was named SCAC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by senior Cameron Gims and junior Freddie Ricks III. This marks the end of the 2021-22 season for St. Thomas. They finish up with a 22-5 record, closing out the year on an eleven-game win streak. †

Lent and Easter 2022 Palm Sunday is April 10 Holy Thursday is April 14 Good Friday is April 15 Easter Sunday is April 17

Keynote Speaker: Kathryn Whitaker is an author, blogger and sixthgeneration Texan. www.archgh.org

March 8, 2022 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

13

YOUTH St. Joseph: A model of service This past December ended the year of St. Joseph, which marked the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared the Patron of the Universal Church. I was part of a small group of men who completed our consecration to St. Joseph on Dec. 8, 2020, the day Pope Francis officially announced the year of St. Joseph.

Needless to say, we were awestruck by the divine providence of the situation.

There are many aspects of devotion to St. Joseph that a person can focus on.

Here I want to briefly share how Joseph’s model of service has impacted me and the way I live out my call to missionary discipleship.

Joseph was not a king, though he descended from the line of David.

Though Joseph was not a prominent or important figure in the community, he carried out the loftiest work of all men.

Joseph did not live a life of luxury, but he did live a life of abundance through the work of his hands and the devotion of his faith. Joseph never speaks in Sacred Scripture, but the sound of his influence resonates through the ages.

When Jesus is instructing His Apostles and says to them: “Whoever wishes to be the greatest among you must become a servant,” I imagine that our Lord recalls

the countless moments in His life when Joseph served his family. Joseph is the prime model of generous and selfless service.

He had kingly blood running through his veins, yet he did not hesitate to work through the toil of his hands and the sweat of his brow. I would find it difficult to believe that the deadly sin of avarice ever stained the soul of St. Joseph. He did not work or serve for wealth or recognition; he was rich beyond the dreams of avarice. Joseph knew, possibly more than anyone, the simple and complete joy of welcoming Jesus into his heart and into his home.

It is not a stretch to say that some of the most authentic and meaningful acts of service are the ones that remain hidden and unrecognized by the world. When you quietly wash the dishes because you see that your spouse has had a particularly rough day, there is no fanfare to announce your action. When your spouse is grocery shopping and buys you your favorite snack food, there is no trumpet blaring to announce their affection.

These acts remain a hidden secret of your intimate love. Small acts of service that sanctity both the giver and the one who receives.

“Serving those around us in imitation of St. Joseph encapsulates that definition of love and fulfils the calling of every disciple to imitate our Lord games and inflatables Jesus Christ, who HimselfExciting surely Awesome music imitate His foster fatherEngaging Joseph.” talks, workshops 





and Service Projects  Powerful prayer and worship We will never know the countless ways Lots ofMary, fun withand hundreds of your peers! that Joseph has served Jesus,

the Universal Church. What we can do is Featuring seek to imitate his humility and his heart National Presenter, motivator and community builder of service. To love is to will the good of Ricky Hernandez another. Serving those around us in imitation of St. Joseph encapsulates that definition of love and fulfills the callingSaturday, April 30, 2022 of every disciple to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself surely Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church imitates His foster father, Joseph. † 10:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

For all youth in grades 6-8

Brian Henritze is an associate director with the Archdiocesan Office of Adolesof Adolescent Catechesis centOffice Catechesis and&Evangelization.

$40.00 per person Registration ends April 22, 2022 See your Youth minister/Parish Deloche / GODONG Catechetical Leader or school leaderPascal for details.

Evangelization

Teen & Parent Lenten Silent Retreat March 25 - March 27

Imagine giving your teen (age 13-19) the gift of learning how to have a personal relationship with God through Meditative Prayer.

This retreat is designed for parents to introduce their teen to meditative prayer through a silent retreat that both teen and parent embark on together.

Retreat Master, Kim Brown, M.Th., M.Ed Early Registration Ends February 25

Lenten Silent Retreat



April 1 - April 3

Featuring National Presenter, motivator and community builder Ricky Hernandez

Enter into a weekend Silent Retreat with God! Spiritual Director, Kim Brown will guide attendees using two methods of meditative prayer focusing on the passion and death of our Lord.

Early Registration Ends March 1

Saturday, April 30, 2022 Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church 10:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

For all youth in grades 6-8

Safety protocols are in place

Information and registration at https://retreatcentercrc.org

Exciting games and inflatables  Awesome music  Engaging talks, workshops and Service Projects  Powerful prayer and worship Lots of fun with hundreds of your peers! 

Office of Adolescent Catechesis & Evangelization

$40.00 per person Registration ends April 22, 2022 See your Youth minister/Parish Catechetical Leader or school leader for details.

14 Texas Catholic Herald

archgh.org/tch • March 8, 2022

columnistS

Opportunities abound to be intentional about Lent

Lent has begun, and with it, there has been a notable increase in the opportunities we have to participate in our parishes’ liturgical, devotional and social lives. Stations of the Cross and Lenten penance services, soup suppers and fish frys, Operation Rice Bowl and St. Vincent de Paul collections all provide parish-based opportunities to engage in the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

One aspect of Catholic life, however, that often does not come to mind as being connected to the season of Lent is catechesis. Sure, the Elect and others preparing to celebrate Sacraments during the Easter season certainly have catechetical sessions. Ongoing systematic catechesis, particularly for children and youth, continue. But, I suspect most Catholic adults do not consider catechesis as a part of their specifically Lenten journey. That is a loss and a shame.

I want to be clear that I do not mean that I think parishes need to schedule a whole lot of additional “classes” for the

season of Lent. If special intentional gatherings around specifically catechetical activity are planned by your parish, people should take advantage of such opportunities. What I am thinking about, however, is mining the catechetical opportunities that already exist in the special Lenten activities that are already planned and in which so many of us participate. What I mean is finding ways to be intentional about letting the way the experiences shape us become more explicit. Catechesis need not always be systematic to be effective.

Many parishes assist the faithful in their Lenten practices of fasting by providing opportunities around meals that meet Lenten regulations. Soup suppers, frugal meals and fish frys are some common examples. In some instances, these meal opportunities are simultaneously fundraising opportunities. Occasionally, these funds support parish or organization general funds, but in many instances, at least during Lent, they are dedicated to supporting specific social service

ministries. In addition to partaking in the meal one could be intentional about learning what ministries are being supported, why those specific ministries have been selected, and how these ministries fit by into a wider vision of Catholic Social Teaching.

BRIAN If one’s participation and GARCIApresence are already LUENSE supporting them, then knowing how and why they need to be supported is a logical next step.

Operation Rice Bowl, an effort sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), is another excellent example of how Lenten almsgiving can easily be connected to catechesis. On one level, it is easy for an individual or a family to simply use the cardboard receptacles to collect money throughout Lent and turn it in at the end. If this is all one does, then one is still doing a very good thing to support the official charitable branch of

†

the United States Bishops that focuses on international work. CRS has, however, produced high-quality materials (available for free at www.crsricebowl. org) to help people reflect on the meaning of what they are doing and how this almsgiving is connected to a deeper understanding and appreciation of one’s Catholic faith. Making full use of these resources and videos can truly be eye-opening and catechetical.

In short, I believe that intentional catechesis includes anything that one does to discern the meaning of one’s actions and to arrive at a clearer understanding and ability to articulate what we believe and why we do the things that we do. This does not always require a class. It just requires a commitment to process, sometimes “out loud,” our actions and motivations. Given that, maybe each of us could make this Lent a little more catechetical. † Brian Garcia-Luense is an associate director with the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization.

Entering the desert to discover love “Come to Know Love” is the theme for our upcoming Archdiocesan Young Adult Day of Service that will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on March 26. This invitation to “Come to Know Love” is not just for the young, but it is a call to all of us as we begin a new Lenten journey.

It is no surprise that love is a central theme of our faith. It is who God is (1 John 4:8); it is how we are to act as Christians (1 Corinthians 13); it is the reason why Jesus came into the world (John 3:16) (See also Deus Caritas Est by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI). However, it may be a surprise to think of love as connected to Lent.

Lent is meant to be a time of sacrifice — a time in the desert. When I think of the desert, I don’t often think of love.

Instead, the image of a desert conjures other words like hunger, thirst, dryness, heat, solitude and difficulty. However, throughout the history of our Church, many deserts have led people to discover love in new ways.

Take the Desert Fathers, for example.

Just their name — Desert Fathers — makes them sound so austere and rigid.

For those who may have forgotten, the Desert Fathers were among the first group of Christians in the early 300s AD to take themselves away from the world (into the desert) so that they could fully follow Christ. They are known for making a total renunciation of the world and for practicing extreme forms of asceticism such as strapping themselves

to rocks and fasting for weeks at a time, according to Simon Tugwell, O.P., in “Ways of Imperfection.”

They did this to discover the fullness of what it means to be by human in light of Christ.

ANGIE They thought that by POMETTO denying themselves, as Christ did in His act of sacrifice on the cross, they would find the core of what God made us to be. What they discovered may surprise us.

The Desert Fathers learned through their rigorous, communal life that the heart of what it means to be human is in the virtue of humility and of fraternal charity for those around us. They discovered that those acts of asceticism and self-denial were useless without humility. One of the Desert Fathers said: “It is better to fail with humility than to succeed with pride.”

They also discovered that the heart of the Gospel message is found in the virtue of charity — love.

“The most important way to show fraternal charity was to refrain from interfering with other people, and especially to refrain from criticizing them,” according to Tugwell. The Desert Fathers also taught to be gentle with others — even in their weaknesses. “If I see that my brother has gone to sleep

†

while in prayer, I will go and cradle his head in my lap.”

The Desert Fathers removed themselves from the world to discover what it means to be fully human in Christ. They discovered that the act of putting others first (humility) and caring for our fellow brothers and sisters (love) is at the heart of what it means to be fully human.

As we embark on another Lent, let us take a lesson from the Desert Fathers.

Let us perform our acts of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving with a sense of humility.

And let us be aware of ways we can avoid criticizing and instead offer love and support, even in what we perceive to

be weakness in others. In this way, our Lent will help us each discover who God made us to be. We will enter the desert and discover love in a new way. And for all the young adults out there (ages 18-39), please join us on March 26 for the Day of Service (available in English/ Spanish). We will start the day with Mass, serve together with an organization called Rise Against Hunger, and then conclude the day with a talk and time in community. All the details are available online at: www.archgh.org/ yaday. † Angie Pometto is the director of the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry.

832-927-8787

sunday mass readings March 13

First Reading: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14

Second Reading: Phil 3:17—4:1

Gospel: Lk 9:28b-36

March 20

First Reading: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12

Gospel: Lk 13:1-9

March 8, 2022 • archgh.org/digitaleditions

texas catholic herald

15

state & nation

Czech Catholics celebrate dedication of central Texas shrine to Sts. Cyril and Methodius

By JANET JONES The Catholic Lighthouse DUBINA — As Bishop Brendan Cahill formally dedicated Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church as a shrine in the Diocese of Victoria, he said his prayer is for the faithful, “under the tutelage and guidance of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, to be a bridge among people.”

The church was declared a pilgrimage site during a Mass on Feb. 14, the saints’ feast day in the U.S., with Czech representatives from many Texas cities and fraternal organizations.

The Czech Catholic Foundation of Texas, inaugurated on Feb. 14, 2020, at the Dubina church, coordinated the liturgy and celebration. It was that group, created to preserve and continue the Czech Catholic traditions, that made the request for the designation because the church was the first in Texas to be named for the saints.

Brian Vanicek of the Czech Republic’s honorary consulate in Temple, Texas, attended the Mass and brought a written greeting from Ambassador Hynek Kmonícek of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington.

“What a tremendous and enduring influence these two Thessalonian brothers had on the Czech lands!” the letter stated, explaining that the contributions of the saints wasn’t only Christianity, but also written language that enhanced all aspects of life for the Slavic peoples.

“The Czech Republic and the Great

photo by Janet Jones/The Catholic Lighthouse

Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, speaks before the final blessing at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Dubina, Texas, Feb. 14, 2022. Also pictured are Father Stephen Nesrsta of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, left, and Father Elias Rafaj, a priest from St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Irving, Texas, and one of the directors of the Czech Catholic Foundation of Texas.

State of Texas share a long and special kinship. Over the years and through my visits to Texas, I have come to know and develop a fondness and admiration for Texas and its people,” Kmonícek wrote.

“Texans of Czech ancestry have a deep and abiding affinity for the Czech lands and continue to display a robust appreciation for their cultural and spiritual heritage of those who preceded them,” he said. “The communal support which springs from these enduring ties is truly a joy to behold!”

The original Dubina church was built

IN BRIEF Texas bishops call for mercy for mother facing execution

AUSTIN — Texas Catholic leaders and other opponents of the death penalty are urging Texas officials to grant clemency to a 53-year-old Latina woman set to be executed in late April.

Melissa Lucio, a Catholic mother of 14, was given the death sentence for the 2007 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, which Lucio has maintained was due to her daughter’s accidental fall down a stairway.

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute Lucio’s April 27 death sentence and “reexamine the case to consider her history as a victim of sexual abuse,” along with the “troubling interrogation by law enforcement and the lingering questions regarding the manner” of her daughter’s death.

On Feb. 28, the state’s bishops said Lucio’s sentence was based on a flawed process that lacked evidence and witnesses. They also said she was convicted based on a coerced, passive admission of guilt after a rigorous interrogation the night her daughter died.

The bishops said Lucio has “undertaken a spiritual journey while in prison” with her spiritual adviser, Deacon Ronnie Lastovica of the Diocese of Austin.

They also expressed agreement with the statement of Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, where the Lucio family lives.

“One tragedy is not somehow made better by killing someone else. Justice is not suddenly restored because another person dies,” Bishop Flores said. He added that “executing Melissa will not bring peace to her surviving children, it will only bring more pain and suffering.”

The bishop said Lucio’s case “illustrates yet again why the Texas death penalty process cannot be trusted to provide justice to all. It is a deeply flawed process rife with human error and inconsistency.”

“We continue to pray for everyone who has been touched by the tragic loss of Mariah’s life, especially for the suffering Melissa and her family have endured,” he added. He said a meaningful review of this case could enable the family “to continue the hard work of restorative justice and healing.” †

in 1876 on land donated by Joseph Peter Jr., son of early settlers from Moravia. In 1909 that building was demolished in a storm and the present building -- one of the well-known “painted churches” -- was built to replace it.

The church is administered by Father Wayne Flagg, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Weimar, Texas.

Father Flagg spoke before the final blessing at the Feb. 14 Mass. He offered some thoughts from his interactions with visitors touring the painted churches.

He read a simple card expressing the appreciation of a young couple who had the opportunity to see the church.

The other encounter, he called a “step on your toes” moment, was the visit with four senior adults who came with a girl around age 12, a granddaughter. As they walked out, the child pointed to one of

two crucifixes mounted on beams near the back pews and asked, “Who is this man?”

That moment, Father Flagg said, was a realization that there is still a lot of evangelizing to be done.

Bishop Cahill said Catholics need a “continued evangelizing spirit” no matter what the world’s circumstances are. “One of my personal theories is no time is worse than others. Every age is called to renewal and evangelization by Jesus Christ.”

The bishop also said he wanted to impart two special thoughts during the celebration. First, he said, respect for all cultures is an important step to being the bridge between peoples as Sts. Cyril and Methodius were bridge between Eastern and Western traditions.

“The second thing I think about often,” Bishop Cahill said, “is an appreciation for the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the world. The Holy Spirit enlightens our mind, enflames our heart and brings us all to God.” Auxiliary Bishop Gary W. Janak of San Antonio, one of two Czech bishops in Texas, also sent a written greeting, which Bishop Cahill read during his homily.

The bishop was the Victoria Diocese’s vicar general and chancellor when Pope Francis appointed him as an auxiliary for San Antonio in February 2021.

“I offer my prayers in wholehearted support,” Bishop Janak wrote. “I believe that it’s most fitting that this special distinction should be attached to this beautiful church. I’ve had the privilege of celebrating Mass in this historic church on several occasions.

“It has always been an honor to do so. ... I pray many of God’s faithful will embark on a pilgrimage to this church and depart spiritually enriched and personally inspired.” †

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archgh.org/tch • March 8, 2022

world

Statement calls on asset managers to divest from fossil-fuel firms

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Laudato Si’ Movement was one of a number of faith-based organizations demanding that investment firms and asset managers divest from corporations that don’t take specific steps to stop fossil-fuel production and prevent deforestation.

The organization also pressed these firms and asset managers to sign on to a pledge to do their share to limit the rise in world temperatures.

The demands, issued Feb. 24 under the name “Climate Finance Moral Standards for Asset Managers,” also seek a “rapid and just”transition to a sustainable future, access to affordable and accessible renewable energy for all, and respect for the rights of Indigenous people.

The coalition is led by the World Council of Churches and GreenFaith.

Other endorsers included the Faith for the Climate Network, Green Anglicans, Hindus for Human Rights, the Islamic Society of North America, Operation Noah and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.

Organizers expect more religious groups to sign on. They estimate the cumulative value of investment assets held by faith-based organizations at $40 trillion.

The statement said it expects asset

CNS Photo

Protesters attend a demonstration against the fossil fuel industry Nov. 7, 2021, during the U.N. Climate Change Conference. known as COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland.

managers to “adopt, implement and ensure compliance” with the standards it lays out, including that they “exclude across all investments any assets that include production of fossil fuels,

IN BRIEF Positive change comes from fixing one’s own failings first, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Positive change must begin with oneself and with acknowledging one’s own mistakes, Pope Francis said. Such change also includes being attentive to how one communicates because words carry weight, and they can be used to “feed prejudices, raise barriers, harm and even destroy,” the pope told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 27 for his Sunday Angelus address. “Especially in the digital world, words travel fast; but too many of them convey anger and aggression, feed false news and take advantage of collective fears to propagate distorted ideas,” he said. “Every fruitful, positive change must begin from ourselves. Otherwise, there will be no change,” he said. The pope reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. Luke, in which Christ asks his disciples, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? What Jesus says is true: we always find reasons for blaming others and justifying ourselves,” Pope Francis said. †

Paulist Fathers celebrate 100 years of serving U.S. Catholics in Rome

ROME (CNS) — U.S. Cardinal James Harvey, archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, presided over a thanksgiving Mass to celebrate 100 years of Paulist ministry to the English-speaking community of Rome. After leading the opening prayer, the 72-year-old native of Milwaukee described his long association with the Paulists’ mission in Rome by recalling he “had the privilege of being a deacon” at Santa Susanna, the Paulists’ first parish Church in Rome, more than 45 years ago. “I’ve been here in Rome, as you can see, for a long time, right after Sts. Peter and Paul” were martyred, he said to laughter. “What a great joy it is for the Church in Rome today,” for the Paulists and the U.S. and Englishspeaking communities to be able to commemorate the anniversary, he told those present in person and online. The Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated Feb. 27 at St. Patrick’s Church, the current official parish church for U.S. and English-speaking Catholics living in and visiting Rome. The Paulists have led a parish in Rome to minister to Catholics from the United States and other English-speaking countries since 1922. All of their ministries are in English, including all Sunday and weekday Masses, providing the Sacraments, religious education programs for children and the RCIA process for adults. †

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deforestation-causing commodity production, and companies with systemic violations of Indigenous and human rights.”

Asset managers also must exclude investment in “all companies responsible for production and expansion of fossil fuels, as named on the Global Coal Exit List and the Global Oil & Gas Exit List,” both of which were developed by the German environmental organization Urgewald, as well as firms “that refuse to implement comprehensive policies for zero deforestation.”

The asset managers, the statement said, must also “exclude companies with systematic violations of human rights or that refuse to implement comprehensive policies for upholding Indigenous rights, as defined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

They also should “demand real decarbonization, without use of offsets,” and “not just disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions,” the statement said.

It added asset managers should “make no new investments in heavily emitting companies that do not have credible short- and medium-term decarbonization or anti-deforestation plans consistent with the internationally agreed-upon

goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade.”

Asset managers, the statement continued, should “divest from such companies within three years if they have not developed such plans.”

Before the 2022 round of shareholder meetings, asset managers should publish five- and 10-year climate decarbonization plans that align with that target, “so that by 2030 100% of all assets under management are on track to reach absolute zero emissions, without the use of offsets, by 2050 or sooner,” the statement said.

“Climate-competent” corporate board members, it added, should replace any incumbents not on board with these goals.

In a related development, Interfaith Power & Light — not one of the signatories to the “Climate Finance Moral Standards” document — presented a petition with 5,600 signatures Feb. 25 to the White House calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to make $550 billion in investments to cut the United States’ energy footprint.

“We need bold action that supports families in our communities and addresses core moral concerns. This includes the most significant climate and clean energy investments ever — that will create jobs and protect clean air and clean water for all,” the petition said.

“Time is running out. We demand climate action.”

“Climate change is not an abstract threat to Sisters of Mercy. Over the past few years, sisters and ministries have stepped in to assist battered communities in the aftermath of superstorms pummeling the Philippines and Haiti and of damaging floods in Peru and in Iowa here in the U.S.,” said a Feb. 25 statement

by Marianne Comfort, justice coordinator for anti-racism and women for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

“That’s why we continue to advocate for investments in clean technology, climate resilience, and justice for peoples most harmed by the climate crisis and the fossil-fuel economy that is contributing to it,” Comfort said. “We urge President Biden and Congress to find a pathway to passing bold climate legislation to meet this administration’s stated commitment to address this crisis.” †

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



March 8, 2022 • archgh.org/digitaleditions

texas catholic herald

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mundo catÓlico

Papa: Para el cambio positivo hay que corregir primero nuestros defectos CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — El cambio positivo debe comenzar con uno mismo y con el reconocimiento de nuestros errores, dijo el papa Francisco.

Ese cambio también incluye estar atento a cómo uno se comunica, porque las palabras tienen peso y pueden usarse para “alimentar los prejuicios, alzar barreras, agredir e incluso destruir”, dijo el papa a las personas reunidas en la Plaza de San Pedro el 27 de febrero tras su oración dominical del Ángelus.

“Especialmente en el mundo digital, las palabras corren veloces; pero demasiadas vehiculan rabia y agresividad, alimentan noticias falsas y aprovechan los miedos colectivos para propagar ideas distorsionadas”, dijo.

“Todo cambio fructífero y positivo debe comenzar por nosotros mismos. De lo contrario, no habrá cambio”, dijo.

El papa reflexionó sobre la lectura del Evangelio dominical de San Lucas, en la que Cristo pregunta a sus discípulos: “¿Por qué notas la astilla en el ojo de tu hermano, pero no percibes la viga de madera en el tuyo” “Lo que dice Jesús es cierto: siempre encontramos razones para culpar a los demás y justificarnos a nosotros mismos”, dijo el papa Francisco. “Y muy a menudo nos quejamos de cosas que están mal en la sociedad, en la iglesia, en el mundo, sin cuestionarnos primero a nosotros mismos y sin hacer un esfuerzo por cambiarnos primero a nosotros mismos”.

Jesús pide a las personas“que miremos nuestro interior para reconocer nuestras miserias. Porque si no somos capaces de ver nuestros defectos, tenderemos siempre a exagerar los de los demás”, dijo.

Foto de CNS

Una multitud en la Plaza de San Pedro se reúne mientras el papa Francisco reza el Ángelus desde la ventana de su estudio con vista a la plaza en el Vaticano el 27 de febrero.

Cuando las personas reconocen primero sus propios errores y defectos, dijo, “la puerta de la misericordia se abre para nosotros”, brindando la oportunidad de experimentar el amor y el perdón de Dios.

Jesús nos invita a “mirar a los demás como lo hace Él — que no ve antes que nada el mal sino el bien. Dios nos mira así: no ve en nosotros errores irremediables, sino que ve hijos que se equivocan”, dijo.

“Sabemos que Dios siempre perdona.

Y nos invita a hacer lo mismo: a no buscar en los demás el mal, sino el bien”, dijo.

Es importante que las personas estén atentas a la forma en que hablan porque “se puede saber de inmediato lo que

hay en su corazón” por las palabras que eligen, dijo.

El papa Francisco pidió a las personas que reflexionen qué tipo de palabras utilizan “¿Palabras que expresan atención, respeto, comprensión, cercanía, compasión? ¿o más bien palabras cuya finalidad principal es hacernos quedar bien ante los demás?

Y, además, ¿hablamos con mansedumbre o contaminamos el mundo esparciendo venenos: criticando, lamentándonos, alimentando la agresividad difusa?”

“Jesús nos invita a reflexionar sobre la forma en que miramos (a los demás) y la forma en que hablamos” y a purificar “nuestra mirada y nuestro modo de hablar”, dijo. †

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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.

18 Texas Catholic Herald

archgh.org/tch • March 8, 2022

WITHIN THE ARTS

Priest finds inspiration for preaching in Corita Kent’s vibrant serigraphs WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sulpician Father Dominic Ciriaco finds inspiration for preaching in the vibrant serigraphs of artist Corita Kent, who created art as a religious sister and later as a former religious.

And he hopes the seminarians he leads as rector of Theological College in Washington will be inspired too.

An exhibit of Kent’s work currently on display at the seminary explores “how the preacher can turn to the art world for inspiration when preparing and preaching a homily.”

“Her serigraphs became her pulpit as her artwork preached the Gospel and challenged people to put their faith into practice,” Father Ciriaco said.

As Sister Mary Corita Kent, a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of

IN BRIEF

Vatican announces contest to design Holy Year 2025 logo

Mary in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, and as a former religious later in her life, the artist used Scripture passages, psalms and messages about war and peace, love, poverty and social justice in her prints.

She also drew on the imagery of everyday products and companies, from Wonder Bread to Sunkist to General Mills.

Her artwork was particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s. One of her creations that might be most familiar to the general public is the “Love” stamp she created for the U.S. Post Office in 1985.

Father Ciriaco put the exhibit together, titling it “Beauty and the Priest: Preaching with the Artwork of Corita Kent.”

Creating the exhibit also fulfills one of the last requirements he needs to complete his doctorate in ministry in preaching from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. He had to do a thesis project on preaching geared toward his ministry, which is seminary formation.

In a Feb. 17 interview with Catholic News Service, Father Ciriaco said he first encountered Kent’s work through his religious order, the Society of St. Sulpice.

Many of her works are at the order’s provincial house in Baltimore. Others are in the archives at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, run by the Sulpicians in Baltimore. The order also operates Theological College, which is affiliated with The Catholic University of America.

“I immediately fell in love with her work,” said Father Ciriaco, who had help in pulling the exhibit together from Catholic University art students.

The artist, who died of cancer in 1986, bequeathed the pieces to the Sulpician priest who was her spiritual director — Father Robert Giguere. He left the artwork to the order when he died.

Kent’s artistry took flight as a woman religious. She joined the Immaculate Heart of Mary community when she was 18. Born Frances Elizabeth Kent in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1918, she took Mary Corita as her religious name; “Corita” means “little heart.”

A self-taught artist, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Immaculate Heart College, which was run by her community, and received a master’s degree at the

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican is looking for designs for the official logo for the Holy Year 2025 that will highlight its theme,“Pilgrims of Hope.”

The design should be “simple and intuitive,”it said, and work in a variety of sizes when printed on “paper, plastic, fabrics, hangings/posters, decals, stickers, film and large and small gadgets.”

The Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, the Vatican office Pope Francis has tapped to coordinate the jubilee planning, announced Feb. 22 that it was opening an international competition for the logo design; entries can be submitted by an amateur or professional artist working individually or as part of a group.

Participants with a unique piece of art to offer can begin uploading their designs April 1 at www. iubilaeum2025.va/en/logo.html; the deadline for entries is May 20.

A committee formed by the council will choose the winner whose work will become the “distinctive symbol for all the activities of the jubilee.”

Satisfaction at being chosen is the

only reward the Vatican is offering.

The logo, the council said, should be “an expression both of the

universality of the Church’s message

and of the particular spiritual needs

of our contemporaries, who find comfort in this message, inspired by

the theme of hope.”

Held every 25 years since 1470, a holy year or jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance and Archdiocesan Office acts of mercy, based on the Old 713-741-8732 Testament tradition of a jubilee year of rest, forgiveness and renewal. † archgh.org/correctionalministries

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CNS Photo

Sister Corita Kent’s 1955 work “The Sacrifice” is seen at the Theological College in Washington Feb. 17. An art exhibit of her serigraphs, titled “Beauty and the Priest: Preaching with the Artwork of Corita Kent,” is on display at the college through March 3. Kent created art as a religious sister and later as a former religious.

Her work, with its scriptural and social justice themes, was particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

University of Southern California.

She taught art classes at the college, eventually becoming the chair of its art department in 1964.

Amid the Second Vatican Council and the changes it brought to the church, her religious community adopted reforms that put the sisters into conflict with Cardinal James F. McIntyre, then archbishop of Los Angeles. The dispute led to many sisters leaving; those who stayed created an ecumenical community that welcomed laypeople.

Sister Kent took a sabbatical in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1968 and decided to leave religious life. She moved to Boston and continued to create art.

By the time she went on sabbatical, Father Ciriaco said, she was exhausted, in part because of the labor-intensive process of making serigraphs.

In general, only one or two color applications can be made per day with long drying times in between. She chose serigraphs, though, because every

image she produced was an original but affordable for those who wanted to own her work.

Father Ciriaco said Sister Kent also was stressed by Cardinal McIntyre’s criticism of her order and her work in particular.

“Vatican II was going too fast for him,” the priest noted.

One image the cardinal particularly disliked and “was a scandal to him” — and one Father Ciriaco included in the exhibit — was a Kent print comparing Mary to a “tomato,” which at the time was slang for an attractive woman.

“What a tomato! She used a slang term to give homage to Mary, that Mary is the one — the juiciest tomato of all,” the priest explained.

With the exhibit Father Ciriaco said he hopes seminarians, priests “and all people” will discover “the beauty of God in art and in the common everyday things in life” and “connect them to the Gospel we preach and live.” †

MOVIE RATINGS By Catholic News Service A-I – General Patronage • Ron’s Gone Wrong (PG)

A-II – Adults And Adolescents • Home Team (PG)

A-III – Adults • • • • •

Dog (PG-13) Death on the Nile (PG-13) Marry Me (PG-13) Moonfall (PG-13) Munich: The Edge of War (PG-13)

• Spider-Man: No Way Home (PG-13) • The Batman (PG-13) • Uncharted (PG-13) •

L – Limited Adult Audience • Nightmare Alley (R)

O – Morally Offensive • Jackass Forever (R) • Studio 666 (R)

March 8, 2022 • archgh.org/digitaleditions

around Editor’s Note: Contact event organizers for the latest updates and information. For deadline/submission details and other listings, visit www.archgh.org/ata.

March 10

Fertility Care Classes, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cathedral Centre (1701 San Jacinto St., Houston). Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart hosts fertility care/Creighton Model classes.

Info: sacredhearthouston.org/fertilitycare.

March 11

TOLTON performance, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Lee College Performing Arts Center, 200 Lee Dr., Baytown. Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Joseph Regional School host “Tolton: From Slave to Priest,” an acclaimed multi-media show that depicts the life of Ven. Augustus Tolton, the nation’s first African American priest, in word and song. Free admission. Suitable for ages 10 and up. More info: 713-825-1946, anw_123@ sbcglobal.net.

Fish Fry, 4 to 7 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). St. Luke KofC Council 9201 hosts a fish fry in church’s rear parking lot. $12 plates includes breaded USA catfish fried fillet, hush puppies, corn on the cob, french fries, tartar sauce and drink. Baked fish fillets available in limited quantities. Drive thru only.

Continues Fridays in Lent through April 8.

Fish Fry, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Our Lady Star of the Sea (1401 Fidelity St., Houston). Our Lady Star of the Sea hosts its Lenten fish fry. olsoshoustontx@gmail.com; 713-674-9206.

Continues Fridays in Lent through April 8.

March 12

St. Joseph Altar, 6:30 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Following 5:15 p.m. Mass, Father Norbert Maduzia will lead the “Tupa Tupa,” a play where children dressed as Mary, Joseph and saints seek food and shelter before finding the St. Joseph Table. A Sicilian meal will be served with pasta, hard boiled eggs, green beans, salad and bread. Italian cookies and cannoli will be for sale, as well as a raffle. Free admission, donations welcome.

More info: stjosephaltarguild@silcc.org or Marianne Dunne, 713-825-4576.

texas catholic herald

the archdiocese

e se ce io d h rc A Italian Bilingual Mass, 10:30 a.m., Italian und th Aro13 March

Cultural Center (1101 Milford St., Houston). The Italian Cultural and Community Center hosts its monthly Italian bilingual Mass, with celebrant Fr. Leon Strider. 713-524-4222.

March 16

Listening Session for persons and families with disabilities, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Ministry for Persons with Disabilities is hosting a virtual listening session for the Synod. An in-person session will be hosted in Spanish on March 18 at the St. Dominic Chancery (2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston). To register, visit www.archgh. org/mpwd. Info: malvarez@archgh.org; 713741-8798

March 17

Monthly Meeting, 7 p.m., Co-Cathedral Centre Rm #314 (1701 San Jacinto St., Houston). Maria Goretti Network Monthly Meeting — peer-led support group for all those affected by abuse.

In-person and Zoom available. More info and Zoom link: miguel@mgoretti.org, 713-851-3708.

cookies, desserts, and a St. Joseph’s spaghetti lunch at parish hall. Altar admission is free, $8 adult plates, $4 for children 10 and under. All proceeds benefit Cypress Assistance Ministries.

More info: carolynlsmith2@gmail.com.

March 25

FISH FRY, 5 to 7 p.m., Fort Bend Knights of Columbus (2007 Kay Cee Dr., Rosenberg). Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the church plaza (weather permitting) or school cafeteria. Dine-in and drive-thru plates for $12 per plate which includes fried fish, hushpuppies, French fries, brown beans and coleslaw.

Lenten Day of prayer, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church (100 Oak Dr. South, Lake Jackson, Texas). Free event hosted by Women of St. Michael. Monday starts at 6 p.m. with Eucharistic Benediction at the church. Coffee and desserts are available. Tuesday starts at 8:30 a.m. with Mass at the church. Coffee, light refreshments and lunch included. RSVP by March 21. More info: rosariogunite@gmail.com or 979-299-2035

March 31

March 18 - 19

St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Friday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Holy Family Catholic School (2601 Avenue N, Galveston).

St. Patrick festivities return to Galveston Island as Holy Family hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival, with rummage sale, fish fry and bingo, games, live music, kids activities, raffle, auction and more. More info: holyfamilygb.com/stpatricks-day-festival

March 19-23

Open House, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Catholic Charities’ Mamie George Community Center (1111 Collins Rd., Richmond). Visit the annual CCMGCC open house to learn more about Catholic Charities

programs and services in Fort Bend County with a center tour, light bites and fellowship.

Free. Info and RSVP: MJohns@CatholicCharities. org; 713-874-6659.

april 8-9

Plants/Arts & Crafts Sale, Corpus Christi (9900 Stella Link Rd., Houston). Features variety of small to large potted plants, terrarium, handcrafted items such as baby blanket, retro clothes, jewelry, college wreaths and bears, kitchen items, fruit and vegetable preserves, and more. $12 dinner plate with fried/baked fish, choice of side, and dessert by the Knights of Columbus Council 12385 (Friday only), snacks and drinks available on Saturday. More info: Susan Miller, smiller@corpuschristihouston. org, 713 664-3351 x-222. ccparishhouston.org.

april 11

Golf Tournament, 11 a.m., Golf Club of Houston (5860 Wilson Rd., Humble). Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School is hosting a golf classic. 11:30 a.m. registration and lunch, 1 p.m. tournament, 6 p.m. dinner. Underwriting and sponsorship opportunities available. More info: Hannah, hjohnston@cristoreyjesuit.org.

••• To find additional listings online, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

Thousands of families in the Greater Houston area struggle every day.

Lenten Parish Mission with Father Bruice Nieli, C.S.P., St. John the Baptist (110 E. South St., Alvin). “Responding to the Spirit in the Soul, in the Church and in the World” begins with all-weekend Masses March 19 (5 p.m., 7 p.m. in Spanish) and March 20 (8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon in Spanish) March 21 to 23: English sessions, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Spanish sessions, 8 to 9 p.m. Free.

More info: 281-331-3751.

March 20

St. Joseph Altar, Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). Features Italian

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And with your support, Catholic Charities provides help and hope to people in need, especially the poor and vulnerable. Our network of life-changing programs work together to alleviate poverty.

Guided by the Catholic Faith, we serve people of all beliefs.

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Raye G. White honored by Catholic Extension Houston philanthropist celebrated for immense impact on the Greater Houston community

photo by catholic extension

Raye G. White, third from left, received the 2022 Spirit of Francis award from the Catholic Extension on Feb. 17. (Left to right) Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, Catholic Extension President Father Jack Wall, Trini Mendenhall and Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont also attended the event.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Full job descriptions for each position are available online: www.archgh.org/employment

We’re hiring!

Downtown Chancery | 1700 San Jacinto | Houston, TX 77002

Parish Accounting Services: Staff Accountant Vocations Office: Vocations Volunteer Program Manager St. Dominic Chancery | 2403 Holcombe Blvd. | Houston, TX 77021

Chancery Facilities Lead Maintenance Technician Secretariat for Pastoral and Educational Ministries Executive Assistant Office of Evangelization and Catechesis: Director Correctional Ministries: Administrative Assistant Hospital Catholic Chaplain Corps: Administrative Assistant

HOUSTON — Catholic Extension honored Raye G. White with its fifthannual Spirit of Francis award for her passion and commitment to the faith community in the Houston area.

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

White received the award at a Feb. 17 dinner in Houston. From the boardroom to her countless philanthropic endeavors, at the root of it all is her passionate concern for others and her wish to give back to the community she loves.

Her philanthropic contributions to the Church include supporting the development of the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence at St. Dominic Village, various initiatives of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, including the annual Archdiocesan Prayer Breakfast, and annual support of the San José Clinic and Catholic Charities.

“It is a great honor to receive Catholic Extension’s Spirit of Francis Award this year,”she said.“Many of the past recipients of this award have impacted my life in such a wonderful way — Archbishop Fiorenza, Bishop Guillory and Father T.J. Martinez. I am truly grateful to be in such wonderful company.”

Archbishop Fiorenza received the award in 2018 for “his unwavering commitment to serving the poor and

vulnerable.”

Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension, awarded White, calling her a “woman whose life exemplifies the importance of faith, the centrality of family, as well as the values of hard work, service and generosity.”

“Mrs. White’s lifelong commitment to her family, her community and her Church will surely leave a lasting impact for generations to come,” said Father Wall.

White is the executive vice president and chief compliance officer of Fayez Sarofim & Co. She has been with the firm since its inception in 1958 and is a Chartered Investment Counselor.

Additionally, White is a board member for The Hermann Eye Fund, a life director at the University of St. Thomas, as well as the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare.

The Spirit of Francis Award is inspired by its three namesakes: St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis and Father Francis Clement Kelley, the founder of Catholic Extension — all of whom are known for embracing and helping the poor.

Proceeds from this event will enable Catholic Extension to continue to support rural mission churches in Texas, where resources are scarce but faith is strong.

Over the course of its 117-year history, Catholic Extension has supported all 15 Catholic dioceses across the State of Texas. Today, Catholic Extension continues to support poor churches with investments in their infrastructure, leaders and ministries in the dioceses of Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, El Paso, Tyler, Beaumont, Laredo and Brownsville, which are collectively home to 2.8 million Catholics. †

Need Help?

If you or a loved one is in need of help this season, contact our Archdiocesan social services listed below:

Catholic Charities

Food, clothing, emergency financial assistance, counseling, immigration assistance, veterans assistance, disaster recovery, refugees services, senior services and more.

catholiccharities.org/need-help or 713-526-4611 Plantersville

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Instructor/Summer Programming Team Member Camp Kappe School of Environmental Education (S.E.E.)

Home visits, food network, disaster relief, clothing and furniture.

Interested candidates may send a cover letter, with salary requirement, and resume to resume@archgh.org with the job title on the subject line.

Primary and specialty health care services, counseling and mental health services, dental and vision.

*Submissions that do not include the salary requirement will not be moved forward for consideration.

svdphouston.org/get-help or 713-741-8234

San José Clinic

sanjoseclinic.org or 713-228-941