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MAY 10, 2022
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Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
175 AND COUNTING
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VOL. 59, NO. 1
NATION
Leaked draft of SCOTUS opinion indicates overturn of Roe decision WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Supreme Court appears set to overturn its Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion for nearly 50 years, according to a leaked initial draft of a court opinion obtained by Politico and published online the evening of May 2. Just minutes after the leak was published, reactions were fast and furious on social media, and barricades were erected around the Supreme Court. Many people gathered at the court in protest and some, including students from The Catholic University of America, were there to pray the rosary. The draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, said Roe “was egregiously wrong from the start” and that “Roe and Casey must be overruled.” Casey v. Planned Parenthood is the 1992 decision that affirmed Roe. See ROE, page 4
EDUCATION PHOTO FROM ARCHIVES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
Bishop Christopher Byrne presided at a Mass to mark the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Galveston and of St. Mary's Cathedral on March 14, 1922. Bishops from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama joined priests of the Diocese, religious women, and members of the laity to honor the "mother diocese" of Texas in the state's first cathedral. 100 years later, the Archdiocese began celebrating its 175th anniversary on May 4.
Archdiocese’s 175th anniversary celebrates with city of Houston, Galveston proclamations BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald
GALVESTON-HOUSTON — May 4 rang in the beginning of a year-long celebration for the 175th anniversary of creating the new Diocese of Galveston that eventually expanded into the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Apostolic See in Rome established the new diocese on May 4, 1847,“when the number of souls” grew in the Texas frontier. To honor the anniversary, both the City of Houston and the City of Galveston are presenting proclamations to the Archdiocese as well as the State
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of Texas. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner presented the proclamation before City Council on May 3 to Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS. The mayor, who read the proclamation to the audience, stated, “Whereas, in 1985, Beaumont-born Bishop Joseph Fiorenza became the seventh bishop, and the first native to shepherd the diocese, which by then had grown to 1.2 million Catholics.” See 175, page 2
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A CROWN FOR OUR LADY
Parishes and Catholic schools embraced the Blessed Mother during the Marian month of May with the traditional May crowning ▪ SEE PAGE 10
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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • MAY 10, 2022
A Shepherd's Message THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
HOUSTON — In response to the leak of a draft opinion in the Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Director of Office of Pro-Life Services Julie Fritsch Dumalet, issued the following statement on May 4: "The final decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, currently under review by the Supreme Court, may significantly alter the legal framework established by Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion throughout the nation in 1973. The Court’s draft majority opinion, leaked to the media on May 2, indicates the Court may be prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade and to return abortion determinations to the individual States, certainly a most promising development. We are disturbed at the unprecedented way the draft decision in Dobbs was released to the public. Violating Court procedure and numerous ethics rules, the leak has had the unfortunate but predictable effect of rendering an already contentious issue even more fraught in the public discourse. Regardless of the release and the speculation it engenders, the outcome of Dobbs will remain uncertain until a final decision is rendered by the Court, most likely in June of this year. We must keep in mind that for us as Catholics, the legal decision, whenever and however it comes, will in no way alter our essential pro-life mission to support and protect the life and dignity of mothers and their children. The end of Roe would constitute a call for each of us to redouble our efforts to accompany women and children, to provide life-affirming assistance and to promote public policies that support families, especially where most vulnerable." †
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175, from page 1 Bishop Dell’Oro thanked the mayor and City Council, saying, “The City of Houston and the Archdiocese are very similar – we are dedicated to the common good. To helping others. To making our city better.” Turner also read in the proclamation that Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, selected by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, remains the only American Cardinal in the southern United States, now leading 1.7 million individuals in 10 counties with 146 parishes and multiple ministries serving the communities. Cardinal DiNardo is scheduled to receive a City of Galveston proclamation on May 26. “God filled Bishop Jean Marie Odin — the first bishop in Texas — with strength to face the challenges of preaching the Gospel and bringing the sacraments to those living in
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR’S OFFICE
Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro accepts a City of Houston proclamation from Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Council honoring May 4 as the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, first created as the Diocese of Galveston in 1847.
the frontier land of Texas,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “With him were the Ursuline Sisters who made it their mission to educate Catholic children and to form them in the faith.” Together, they built upon the foundation laid by Franciscan missionaries and others who had been ministering in Texas since the 17th century. As Pope Francis would remind
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us, they brought the Lord Jesus to the people on the peripheries,” he said. “While we celebrate and honor our past, the work of this local Church continues.” These proclamations and a video are part of the official kick-off to the anniversary with events throughout the year into 2023, including special Masses and a gala next spring. †
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THE FIRST WORD 500 YEARS IS A FOUNT OF FAITH FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/ HERALD
Women dance during a ‘Sinulog’ performance before the Quincentennial Mass celebration on April 26 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the special Mass, which was a local celebration of the special jubilee commemorating five centuries of Christianity in the Philippines, that drew to a close a months-long series of events that began in September 2021. For more photos and a video, visit www.archgh.org/filipino500.
IN BRIEF Café Catholica Lite heads to Galveston Island for a May 12 gathering
GALVESTON — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at St. Patrick Church, located at 1010 35th St. in Galveston, on May 12 from 7 to 8:45 p.m. The speaker for the in-person event is Mary Caprio, director of Family Life at St. Michael the Archangel Church. Her topic will be “The Case Against Contraception: A Path toward Lifelong Love.” 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 Café Catholica Lite throughout the year. For more, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778. †
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Seminarians win! Priests fall in fifth-annual game
HOUSTON — In the fifth-annual Priest vs. Seminarians Basketball Game, held at Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse on April 29, the seminarians won over the priests with a score of 37 to 22, breaking the 2-2 tie. The annual game, which this year honored the late Father Ryan Stawaisz, unites Catholics from across the Archdiocese to support vocations. †
Priests, transitional diaconate ordinations set for May and June HOUSTON — Catholics across the Archdiocese are invited to attend the ordinations of the transitional deacons on Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m., and the priestly ordination on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. Seminarians to be ordained as transitional deacons are Matthew Krusleski, Zachary Muldrow and J. Serrato. Deacons to be ordained as priests are Deacon Luis Garcia, Deacon Christopher Meyer and Deacon Jacob Ramirez. Both events will take place at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Parkway in Houston. †
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HOUSTON — The 2022 Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), set for July 29 to 31 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, gathers participants — both youth and adults — from all over the local Church. It is the largest evangelizing event for high school-aged youth that the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization hosts annually. Participants will experience the diversity of the Archdiocese and have the opportunity to share and deepen their faith through daily Liturgy and prayer experiences. This year’s theme is “Everlasting Mercy,” based on the Scripture reference Lk 49-50. Major presenters include Danny Ray, M.Div.; Father David Michael Moses and Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN. To register and for more information, visit www.archgh.org/ oace. †
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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • MAY 10, 2022
‘Shroud of Turin’ tours Archdiocese in June The presentations tell the story of the Shroud and share the pastoral implications of its message. ▪ SEE PAGE 19
Leaders: Roe’s possible end does not change Church’s mission to support, protect life of mothers and children ROE, from page 1 POLICIES AT A STATE LEVEL Alito’s opinion said the court’s 1973 Roe decision had exceptionally weak reasoning, “and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division,” he wrote. He also said abortion policies should be determined at the state level. Politico’s report says Alito’s opinion is supported by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, and that Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were working on dissents. It was not clear how Chief Justice John Roberts planned to vote. The 98-page draft, which includes a 31-page appendix of historical state abortion laws, is an opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — a case about Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with the potential to also overturn Roe. A May 3 statement by the Supreme Court verified that the draft opinion reported on “is authentic” but that it “does not represent a decision by the court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.” In his own statement, Roberts emphasized the significance of the leaked document, which he said was a “singular and egregious breach of that trust that is an affront to the Court and the community of public servants who work here.” He also said that if this action was “intended to undermine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed. The work of the court will not be affected in any way.” He said he has directed the Marshal of the Court to launch an investigation into the source of the leak. Politico acknowledged that “deliberations on controversial cases
FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A protestor carries a sign that says “love them both” during a prolife march in Austin in 2020. On May 2, a draft of the Supreme Court of the United States’ opinion was leaked signaling that the court was leaning toward overturning Roe v. Wade.
have in the past been fluid. Justices can and sometimes do change their votes as draft opinions circulate and major decisions can be subject to multiple drafts and vote-trading, sometimes until just days before a decision is unveiled.” “The court’s holding will not be final until it is published, likely in the next two months,” it added. GROUPS RESPOND Pro-life groups praised the court’s potential decision but some also questioned the motivation behind the leak and wondered if the court was being manipulated by this action. Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said the organization believed that “the court should issue a ruling as soon as possible. This leak was meant to
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corrupt the process. It is heartbreaking that some abortion advocates will stoop to any level to intimidate the court no matter what the consequences.” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, also expressed some skepticism but also praise for the potential decision. “If the draft opinion made public tonight is the final opinion of the court, we wholeheartedly applaud the decision,” she said in a statement adding: “If Roe is indeed overturned, our job will be to build consensus for the strongest protections possible for unborn children and women in every legislature.” Those on the other side of the issue were similarly taken aback by the leak but also by the potential impact of the decision if it ultimately echoes the draft opinion. American Civil Liberties Union tweeted: “If the Supreme Court does indeed issue a majority opinion along the lines of the leaked draft authored by Justice Alito, the shift in the tectonic plates of abortion rights will be as significant as any opinion the court has ever issued.”
THE CASE IN QUESTION During oral arguments in this case last December, a majority of the justices indicate that they would uphold Mississippi’s abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, which was struck down by a federal District Court in Mississippi in 2018 and upheld a year later by the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. A 15-week ban is not a “dramatic departure from viability,” Roberts said. The point of viability — when a fetus is said to be able to survive on its own — was key to the discussion because the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that states cannot restrict abortion before 24 weeks or when a fetus is said to be able to survive on its own. In the draft opinion, Alito said Roe’s viability distinction “makes no sense.” If the court adopts this draft, it means a ruling in favor of the Mississippi abortion ban. If it goes further to overturn Roe, there would be stricter limits to abortion in parts of the U.S., particularly the South and Midwest, with several states set to immediately impose broad abortion bans. BISHOP CALLS FOR PRAYER Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities called for prayer. “The leak related to the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reminds us of the urgent need for prayer and action at this pivotal moment in our country, he said in a May 4 statement. “As Catholics, we care about every unborn child and every mother. Our Church has consistently witnessed in word and deed that life begins at the moment of conception,” the statement continued, emphasizing the numerous activities and outreach efforts the U.S. church leads to support families and women. Archbishop Lori also encouraged the faithful “to intensify their prayer and fasting that the final decision of the Court will bring about the reversal of Roe and Casey.” “We hope and pray for a change in our laws and stand ready to help all pregnant women in need in each of our communities,” he said. †
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The air they breathe: Priestly stewardship in action Through Baptism, each of us is called to be a disciple of Jesus. How that is lived out is an individual and unique response based on our own set of gifts, talents, interests, knowledge and experience. That response is stewardship. As stewards, we make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, express our commitment not in a single action but as a way of life, and give generously and gratefully to God as the source of all we have, are and will be. Many of us will “live and move and have our being” as stewards of God’s various graces within the context of the secular world. But a distinct few will respond to this call as parish priests. While I am not one of those few, my position on the staff of a large parish has afforded me the privilege of knowing and working alongside a number of great Catholic priests. In fact, it wasn’t until I was on staff that I learned just how much a parish priest does for the faithful. Until we need them for something (marry, bury, baptize, anoint the sick, etc.), many of us don’t consider what our priests do outside of Sunday Mass. Briefly, I’d like to focus on the topic of parish priests as stewards.
for an entire parish: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture” (Jer 23:1). They are responsible to God for our very souls! It’s a much higher calling than we can imagine. by How many times have we walked away from SHARON EHRENKRANZ Mass, analyzing and criticizing the homily? Too long, too short, too provocative, not provocative enough… or worse, grumbling that the priest’s accent is different from ours? If we consider the awesome responsibility a priest has for the souls of everyone in the pews (and everyone not in the pews, for that matter), perhaps we will appreciate the true gift of his vocation. Our parish priests didn’t make a conscious decision to follow Jesus to serve up a world-class homily on exactly the issue we want to hear about on a particular Sunday. Rather, they serve “Jesus-in-us.” It’s a higher calling than trying to please us. They’re trying to help save us.
Conscious decision to follow Jesus We are all invited to follow Jesus. When I made the choice to follow Jesus, it impacted my life and the lives of those in my family. But a priest is responsible
Stewardship is a way of life It is said that stewardship is expressed not in a single action or even in a series of actions over a period of time but as an entire way of life. When a
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priest is ordained, he is a “priest forever” (Heb 7:17). This is why the priesthood is called a vocation, not a career or a job. It is his very life. For many of us, we can look for another job if we desire more money, recognition or better work conditions. A parish priest stays and serves. At our jobs, we may be expected to work certain hours of the day, then go home. Parish priests literally live at their workplace so that they can be available to meet the spiritual needs of their parish family. A parish is a family. Just as we experience the highs and lows in our families, parish priests experience the same highs and lows within the big parish family. As Father Gregory Boyle, SJ, founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gangintervention and rehabilitation program, and former pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles, said, “The disciples didn’t leave Jesus’s side with a fully memorized set of beliefs. Rather, theirs was a loving way of life that had become the air they breathed… fully dedicated to kinship as its goal.” Kinship with us and leading us to heaven is much more than a job — it’s a parish priest’s way of life. Give generously and gratefully Stewards recognize all is a gift. “All good giving and every perfect gift is from
above” (Jas 1:17), so with gratitude, we generously give back our time, talent and material gifts as a way of thanking God. Parish priests are grateful for the faithful and generous members of their parish family. Together, priests and laypeople share pastoral coresponsibility for the parish, joyfully, gratefully working together to be a “light for the nations” (Is 42:6). Even the humblest offering — shared joyfully and with gratitude — is a delight to God and a great blessing to your parish family. With God, the more you give, the more you will have “packed together, shaken down, and overflowing” (Luke 6:38). What a marvelous mystery! My pastor at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Father Drew Wood, often says, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived as gracefully, graciously and gratefully as you can.” May we all choose to live this mystery and follow Jesus. And may the example of our parish priests serve as inspiration for us to live as gracefully, graciously and gratefully as possible. † Sharon Ehrenkranz serves on the Stewardship Advisory Council for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and is the Director of Parish Life at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, winner of the 2019 Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Parish Stewardship Award.
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.
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visit www.christusfoundation.org/learn-more or call 713.652.3100.
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‘A chance to live’: Texas bishops thankful Melissa Lucio’s execution is stayed HUNTSVILLE — Catholic leaders were thankful that death-row inmate Melissa Lucio was granted a last-minute stay of execution on April 25, but they also said her sentence shows a failure in the use of capital punishment in this country and stressed that they would continue to pray for Lucio and her family and advocate on her behalf. Lucio, 53, a Catholic mother of 14 and a grandmother, was scheduled for execution on April 27 for the 2007 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, that Lucio has maintained was due to her daughter’s accidental fall down a stairwell. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which issued a stay of execution, ordered the 138th Judicial District Court of Cameron County to consider the new evidence presented by Lucio’s legal team. Lucio will remain on death row while her case goes back to trial court to examine new evidence her attorneys say shows that the toddler’s death was an accident caused by an undiagnosed injury sustained after falling down the stairs two days before she died. “I am grateful the court has given me the chance to live and prove my
innocence. Mariah is in my heart today and always,” Lucio said in a statement through her attorneys. “I am grateful to have more days to be a mother to my children and a grandmother to my grandchildren.” Lucio heard the news of the stopped execution in a phone call with state Rep. Jeff Leach, a Republican, and began sobbing when she heard it, attorneys told reporters in an April 25 Zoom call. Lucio’s sister, Sonya Valencia, told reporters that the family members were thankful for the support they had been given and added: “Our faith has gotten us through this.” The Texas Catholic bishops had joined a broad coalition of faith leaders, Latino organizations, anti-domestic violence groups and the Innocence Project in urging state leaders to commute Lucio’s sentence and conduct a meaningful review of her case. An application for clemency submitted on March 22 by her attorneys included new evidence not only about Lucio’s daughter but information the jury never heard that shows Lucio was a victim of sexual abuse and domestic violence. The evidence also said Lucio’s
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TEXAS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops were thankful that death-row inmate Melissa Lucio was granted a last-minute stay of execution on April 25, but they also said her sentence shows a failure in the use of capital punishment in the United States.
confession was just repeating what officers said during her five-hour interrogation and that she asserted her innocence more than 100 times during that interrogation. It included statements from four jurors who said they have grave concerns about evidence withheld from them at the trial. “We give thanks to God that Melissa will not be executed this week and that she will soon have the opportunity for a new trial to prove her innocence,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. In an April 25 statement, she added that with Lucio’s case,“we see clearly how deeply flawed our capital punishment system is, and how it places innocent lives at risk. Her story also reveals how this system targets the most vulnerable among us, including people of color and those with histories of serious trauma.” Vaillancourt Murphy said Lucio is “a Mexican-American mother, a devout Catholic and a lifelong victim of sexual and physical abuse. It has been disturbing to learn how, after suffering the unimaginable loss of her young daughter, Melissa was then further victimized and retraumatized by our legal system.” She also thanked the Catholic bishops of Texas for their “committed advocacy on Melissa’s behalf.” Sister Helen Prejean, a sister of St. Joseph of Medaille and longtime opponent of the death penalty, echoed this view, tweeting on April 25 that she was “so thankful that a court finally stepped in today and stopped Melissa Lucio’s execution.”
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“The death penalty is always horrific, but executing a mother for a crime that never even happened? Melissa was coerced into making a false confession 15 years ago. May the truth come out now,” she said. She also said that those in the criminal legal system “should prioritize accuracy and getting to the truth.” “Isn’t that the least we should expect? What does it say about priorities in the system when police and prosecutors fight tooth and nail against reforms to prevent false confessions?” she tweeted. In a recent court appeal filed by Vanessa Potkin, an attorney for Lucio and director of special litigation at the Innocence Project, said: “There is just too much doubt. We cannot move forward in this case and risk executing an innocent woman.” Attorneys for Lucio have sought relief multiple times to no avail. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said Lucio had been denied her right to fully defend herself but that procedural rules barred the court from overturning her conviction. The Supreme Court has declined to take up Lucio’s case. The Innocence Project, in a brief filed with the Supreme Court, questioned the manner of interrogation used on Lucio about her daughter’s death.“Interrogation may sometimes psychologically pressure even innocent people to confess to crimes they did not commit,” it said, adding that the risk of a false confession is “heightened when the interrogated suspect is a battered woman.” †
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Couple among more than 1,600 new Catholics over Easter Season BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Corey and MaryMargaret Howell have much to celebrate. They are a young married couple becoming new Catholics among more than 1,650 now in communion with the Church this Easter season in the Archdiocese. The husband and wife, both in their early 30s, received the Eucharist for the first time as the Body and Blood of Christ and were Confirmed in their faith at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Houston on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24. Plus, in another blessing, they recently gave birth to their first child, newborn Caroline, in March. “We’ve been looking for a church home since we got married and especially when Mary-Margaret became pregnant,” Howell said. “Since taking RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes and attending St. Michael’s, we’ve fallen in love with the Church and with the parish community,” he said. The couple were among the 23 new Catholics to join the Church that day, surrounded by Easter lilies that trumpeted the arrival of the Easter season. “The Church is never more full and alive than when all her members are here today,” said Father Wayne Wilkerson, pastor of St. Michael. While Howell came from a long line of Irish Catholics, his childhood church was a nearby Presbyterian church in the Museum District, where he was baptized in the seventh grade. Mary-Margaret said she was raised Southern Baptist and was allowed to be baptized when she was in second grade. The couple even married at Second Baptist Church on Woodway in 2018. She said, “When I was younger, I had only been to Mass with friends one or two times. Truthfully, I found it to be foreign, especially not being able to receive Communion. I was confused about the tradition.” But once she and Corey began taking classes at St. Michael last year to learn about the history, prayers and rites of the Mass, they realized the depth of the Catholic faith. “In RCIA classes, we learned the wealth of tradition. In fact, there was so much information we wondered how we would ever learn all of this. We were a bit overwhelmed. I’m not going to lie — RCIA was a big commitment of several months.
PHOTO BY BRITTANY AVENUE PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Above, Mary-Margaret Howell, receives her First Communion at St. Michael Catholic Church in Houston on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24. At bottom, Father Wayne Wilkerson anoints Corey Howell’s forehead during the Sacrament of Confirmation. The couple were among the more than 1,650 to join the Catholic Church during this Easter season.
But as our RCIA director Mary Caprio told us, ‘It’s not the end, but only the beginning of our faith journey,’” Howell said. But the day they were able to consume the Body and Blood of Christ made all the efforts worthwhile. “Mary-Margaret and I both love the celebration of the Mass, and it makes all the difference that we can now fully participate in the Mass by being able to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist. We were both filled with joy and excitement after receiving our first Holy Communion,” Howell said. Now they are looking forward to baptizing their baby girl and have already taken Baptism preparation classes and scheduled her Baptism in June with family. “We’re already praying with her and for her at night before going to bed. And we’ll start taking her to church when she gets a little bit older,” Mary-Margaret said. Corey adds,“We’re even already talking about what Catholic school to put her in.” Mrs. Howell is a digital marketing representative, now on maternity leave with their newborn, while he is an investment banker in business with his father. But their saint names that they selected for their Confirmation may
show their personalities more — he chose Ireland’s patron St. Patrick while she chose St. Anne, the mother of Mary.
Corey and Mary-Margaret Howell, celebrating being new parents and new Catholics, pose for their first family portrait with newborn daughter Caroline.
During Easter Vigil Masses on April 16, at least 1,652 people from parishes across the Archdiocese became Catholics. An estimated 245 were youth candidates or catechumens. †
Congratulations Maria Jesko,
Archdiocesan Poet Laureate 2022 Willing Forgiveness With hammering on nails, the hills have rung. A guiltless shepherd punished for his flock. The inspiration “Stabat Mater” sung. The perfect man, beneath his cross, will walk. The king of all, they batter, tire and scorn. A pauper’s crown is fashioned for his brow. A sword for Mary’s heart, for Christ’s a thorn, Through sinless death, our life he did endow. Thus, Satan tries to quench the hopeful light. How, after death, could Christ forgive us all? But Mary turns to us, her sweet eyes bright. “Come, follow my dear Son!” her loving call. And still she loves us, kindness like no other. Sweet whip, sweet nail, sweet wood, sweet cross, sweet Mother. Maria Jesko, 8th Grade St. Theresa Catholic School-Sugar Land
www.catholicliteraryarts.org
8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • MAY 10, 2022
From academic to survival: A UST student leads humanitarian efforts in Ukraine SPECIAL TO THE HERALD HOUSTON — When Mario Enzler, dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas – Houston (UST), came in contact with Father Volodymyr Malchyn in August of 2021, little did he know that in a matter of months their conversation topics would go from academics to survival. Father Malchyn, his family and parishioners live in Vyshneve, a suburb in Kyiv in war-torn Ukraine. “We felt the war knocking at our doors in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, when we were woken up by terrible sounds of bombardments of the Ukrainian capital,” said Father Malchyn. Father Malchyn is a Ukrainian GreekCatholic priest and pastor of St. Anne parish in Vyshneve. He is also enrolled in a unique program offered to clergy by UST, the Master of Science in Ecclesial Administration and Management (MEAM). The program teaches financial skills such as crisis management, budgeting, fundraising, administrative management and strategy to enhance their leadership roles within their parishes. Additionally, Father Malchyn leads the Development and Communications office
for the Archeparchy of Kyiv. When the sound of the bombs got louder, Father Malchyn decided to evacuate his wife and young children. “We had a backpack with documents and medicine ready, and in 10 minutes, we left our home in the suburbs of Kyiv for western Ukraine to my relatives. We left everything behind — our apartment, clothes, favorite books and toys,” he said. Father Malchyn returned to Ukraine as required by the current martial law. There, he continues to lead the few members of his parish who remained behind. Meanwhile, he stays connected to the rest of his flock virtually. “We stay in touch through the online celebration of the Divine Liturgy and daily Rosary prayer in the evening,” Father Malchyn said. “It’s a true moment of unity and solidarity for our dispersed community. Together, we pray for our brave soldiers and for all those who support Ukraine. We thank God with every new dawn.” His work has been essential in supporting the Ukrainian Catholic Church. His day-to-day activities include organizing financial aid initiatives, updating communications with partners and donors, and sending email
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS – HOUSTON
Father Volodymyr Malchyn, a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priest and pastor of St. Anne parish in Vyshneve who is enrolled in the Master of Science in Ecclesial Administration and Management at the University of St. Thomas, evacuated his wife and young children from the suburbs of Kyiv to western Ukraine after hearing bombs in the capital.
newsletters. Father Malchyn said, “As a parish community, we organize humanitarian aid for people in need who decided to stay in our city. Recently we also helped our city administration to get substantial aid from the Church’s network of CaritasUkraine. There is a shortage of food and medicine because the Russian troops block and shoot at rescue corridors, not allowing humanitarian convoys to pass through.” Enzler and his priest classmates from the MEAM program have kept in communication with him as often as the conflict allows. “The only possible way to communicate is through WhatsApp,” Enzler said. “I try not to disturb him, so I usually send a message once a week, and sometimes he answers quickly, sometimes he responds after a few days.” Each message comes with the same
words of encouragement Enzler once received directly from none other than St. John Paul II. “I tell Father Malchyn what St. John Paul II told me: ‘Do not be afraid because God is always one day ahead of us!’” For now, as the world watches the advances of the Russian army and millions of faithful individuals pray for an end of hostilities, Father Malchyn applies crucial skills from the MEAM program. “The lessons learned in the fundraising and especially in the crisis management classes at the Ecclesial Administration and Management program are of great help at this critical moment,” Father Malchyn said. To the world, Father Malchyn has one request: Do not forget Ukraine. “Let your Christian love and human solidarity be long-lasting and abounding, for only in this way can just and lasting peace be built,” he said. †
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Following Jesus’s blueprint gives Church a beautiful vision in serving persons with disabilities BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — Jesus gave clear directions to His followers when He commanded them to“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mk 16:15). This includes welcoming people with disabilities and their families into the full life of the Church. According to Melissa Alvarez, assistant associate director of the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities of the Archdiocese, Jesus’s ministry gave a beautiful visual of how to help those in need in the community with learning differences. “The goal is focused on the reign of God at work and present while assisting in revealing Jesus to everyone,” said Alvarez. “Our Church is one, and families and persons with disabilities are part of the body of Christ. It is beautiful to see the unique roles in which we are all called by Jesus to build up the kingdom of God through holy sacraments.” Alvarez said the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities ensures all persons with any learning difference and their families are served for holy Sacraments in the Archdiocese. This includes consultation and formation opportunities that promote lifelong faith formation, sacramental preparation and total parish access for every baptized Catholic in the Archdiocese. Strategies, best practices and additional resources exist that support the inclusion of diverse learners. “Over the next years, we are planning to offer new learning opportunities for parish catechetical leaders and everyone in our community in several ways, including conferences, online trainings through our Capernaum platform, and on-site trainings,” said Alvarez. As one of more than 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), if more funding was available this year, Alvarez said additional resources could be purchased that would greatly benefit the ministry’s efforts. She said there is nothing better than being
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINISTRY WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe use sign language to say, “I am Church.”
prepared with tools and resources needed to accommodate the faithful wishing to receive holy Sacraments. “Catechists are always seeking the right tools and materials when catechizing to help support those that need assistance,” said Alvarez. “Being prepared with the right material and tools available is the best approach, and unfortunately, there are many parishes in the diocese that cannot afford these costly tools. For example, there are a number of hands-on materials that may be used for a variety of learning differences, where many persons with disabilities can benefit from.” Toni Flagg, wife of Deacon Bruce Flagg, who is deaf and assists with deaf ministry at St. Dominic Chancery in the Archdiocese, said they are preparing for a CCE Sign-Up Day for parents and children. “The purpose is to find those children who are deaf, Catholic and cannot find religious education at their home parishes taught in Sign,” she said. At the same time the students are in CCE, the parents will be offered Sign Language Class in both Spanish and English at St. Dominic. Mark Ciesielski, director of the Office of Aging who has been involved with the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities for
the past 6 years, agrees the DSF support is much needed to continue improving upon the programs and services offered. “There can be a tendency to not ‘see’ those people on the fringes who don’t have a voice for themselves,” said Ciesielski. “DSF provides the opportunity for ministry by creating advocacy, resources and services that make families with persons with disabilities feel welcomed in the community. The ministry also works to create viable public forums to recognize and enhance their gifts and talents for the good of the Body of Christ.” Daniela Gonzalez, sacrament preparation specialist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, said she is grateful for the DSF assistance given to the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities. Gonzalez said that by supporting this ministry, the families, the Church, and the entire faith community mutually benefit. “I have a son with ADHD, which has made us as parents aware of the difficulty people with disabilities face in the community,” said Gonzalez. “With DSF support, these children will change the world by proclaiming the Gospel with their testimony, as some of them cannot talk. If we take a moment and just let them share their message, this world will
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. be different.” Gina Pasket, director of English faith formation for the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, has been with the ministry for over 15 years. She agrees it is important for the faithful to give to the DSF to directly support those in the Archdiocese with learning difficulties. “People with disabilities are the same as us, a part of our family, and deserve being served, too,” said Pasket.“They have rights that sometimes get overlooked. We are all very busy. However, they should be included, not excluded, as we all prepare for the Kingdom of God on Earth, as well as in heaven. Giving support to the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities through the DSF will allow more opportunity for all.” For more information about how to assist the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities by giving to the 2022 Annual DSF Appeal, go to archgh.org/dsf. The fund 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. †
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Diocesan Services Fund MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
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Jesus was concerned with young people, with all of you, with your expectations and your hopes, and it shows how much he wants to meet you personally. – Pope Benedict XVI
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Easter across the Archdiocese
“We are an Easter People, and Alleluia is our song!” HOUSTON — As the Easter season continues, we reflect on St. John Paul II’s message he delivered in an Angelus reflection at Adelaide, Australia, in 1986. In the middle of the Cold War, and just five years after the assasination attempt on his life, he shared this message: “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through His own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery — the mystery of His death and resurrection. “We are an Easter People, and Alleluia is our song!” We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the “fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of joy.” We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “Be it done unto me according to thy word.” †
St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Full job descriptions for each position are available online: www.archgh.org/employment
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Internal Audit Department: Senior Internal Auditor Internal Auditor I Parish Accounting Services: Staff Accountant I Staff Accountant II Accounting: Accounts Payable Coordinator St. Dominic Chancery | 2403 Holcombe Blvd. | Houston, TX 77021
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Campus Minister: University of Houston Part-Time Campus Minster: Rice University Director of Campus Ministry: Sam Houston State University Interested candidates may send a cover letter, with salary requirement, and resume to resume@archgh.org with the job title on the subject line. St. Vincent de Paul
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12 Texas Catholic Herald LOCAL
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archgh.org/tch • may 10, 2022
Blessing of the hands at St. Joseph
New St. John Paul II statue to be unveiled at Mt. Olivet Cemetery May 16 DICKINSON — A bronze-like statue of St. John Paul II will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Monday, May 16, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Dickinson. The emeritus chairman of Texas First Bank, Charles Doyle, donated the seven-foot statue to the cemetery, located at 7801 I-45 South. The donation of the statue came about because of a strong, friendly relationship that formed between the Director of Operations Stacy Batey, former director of Catholic Cemeteries, Ray Albrecht and Doyle. All three expressed a deep abiding appreciation for the good works performed by then-Pope John Paul II as he ably and effectively steered the faithful Catholics. The public is invited to attend the rain-or-shine event, which will be celebrated by Father Jude Ezuma of Holy Family Parish in Galveston. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell ‘Oro, C.R.S., will also be in attendance to celebrate this momentous event. †
Employees and physicians at St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston celebrated St. Joseph’s Day by attending a Blessing of the Hands ceremony at the hospital’s chapel. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, led the service. Father Anthony Tran, chaplin at the hospital, visited the units to bless the hands of nursing staff throughout the facility.
Photo by Catholic Cemeteries
youth pay tribute to former youth ministry director
A statue of St. John Paul II will be unveiled on May 16, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, located at 7801 I-45 South in Dickinson.
Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Medical Center
Photo courtesy of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church hosted the annual Celebration of Youth of African Descent on April 2. Tribute was paid to Brian K. Johnson, founder of the event and director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization from 2000 until his death on June 19, 2017.
St. Peter Catholic: A Career and Technical High School St. Peter will offer career programs in information technology; business, marketing, and finance; education and training; architecture and construction. Planning and fundraising are underway for construction to begin in the coming months, with a scheduled school opening in August 2023.
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EDUCATION St. Martha takes students around the world
in community
Photo courtesy of St. Martha Catholic School in Kingwood
The Passport to the World event was held at St. Martha Catholic School in Kingwood. Seventh-grade students prepared an exhibition of 42 countries from around the world for more than 300 students and staff to see and experience. From native costumes, language, food, music and a myriad of information about their country, they informed and taught other students about the different cultures of the world. The seventh graders were allowed to select the country of their choice based on heritage, interest, or after traveling to that country. They wrote letters to embassies, researched their country, prepared maps and brochures, and collected items of interest for their presentation. Every grade in the school was offered a tour of the country, to have their passport stamped, and received a small gift from the country.
&NOW NOW! S.T.R.E.A.M. PR OG RA M S ENROLLING! CO LL EG E PR EP CU RR IC UL UM
photo by james ramos/herald
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School Principal Irazema S. Ortiz, third from left, with husband Mike Ortiz, far right, welcomed a variety of guests, including Texas State Rep. Christina Morales of District 145 and Adrian Castillo, far left.
Houston’s Our Lady of Guadalupe School gala raises funds to benefit Catholic educatoin, new school building,
HOUSTON — Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) Catholic School of Houston hosted its annual Gala on April 2 at the Hilton at the University of Houston with the theme of “An Evening Under the Stars.” After expenses, the East End school community raised $115,000 to bridge the gap between tuition and operation costs. The live auction drew much attention, when the “Principal and Pastor Dinner” sold three times at a record-setting $15,000 each. Prior to the Paddles Up plea, benefactor and former OLG student Arturo Chavez spoke briefly about the school’s vision to expand. Featured speakers also included Dr. Debra Haney, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese is supportive of the school’s desire to construct a new school building, and all money raised during Paddles Up would be reserved for the project. Nearly 200 benefactors, alumni, teachers, and attendees raised their paddles high and tallied $33,025 for the future building. †
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archgh.org/tch • may 10, 2022
YOUTH ‘Do whatever He tells you’
Our Lady Queen of Peace, the Patroness of the 2021 Archdiocesan Youth Conference, pray for us!
The month of May is dedicated to Mother Mary. She is the wife of St. Joseph and the mother of Jesus Christ. She is also the mother of Jesus’s Apostles and other disciples. She is a mother to you. Mother Mary has always steered humanity to the path of her Son. During the Wedding Feast at Cana, she told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” That was her main message then, and it is still relevant today. She invites all people to Christianity with open arms. She invites you too. Youth ministry leaders across the Archdiocese continue to share this vital message with the young Church. God allowed us to cross paths in middle school and led us to Holy Matrimony and to ministry in His Church. Renee learned early from her grandmothers that Mother Mary will stay close to all who allow her to, and she will lead them to Jesus Christ. Manny learned from his parents that Mother Mary must be important because they asked her to pray for us during our nightly family prayers.
We have included Mother Mary in our family, and we have never parted from her. The Rosary is a special prayer for young people to recite. It can help them tackle the triumphs and trials of their difficult and challenging lives. When we were youth ministers, we taught young people that the Rosary can be a beautiful form of meditation. It has been consistently recommended and encouraged by the Church and its saints of all ages. The Rosary transforms us by reflecting on the holy mysteries or the major events in the life of Jesus Christ. Reverently repeating and praying the Hail Marys serves as the quiet rhythm to keep us centered on each of the mysteries on which we are meditating. Many teens find this method practical and easy because this is remarkably familiar to them. It’s like most teens who listen to background music while doing their homework or studying for a test. They do not pay much attention to the music. We have learned at a very early age to
TEENTALK
“The Rosary transforms us by reflecting on the holy mysteries or the major events in the life of Jesus Christ.” include her throughout our lives of family, faith, and of course, our Catholic Youth Ministry journey. Include Mother Mary in your life’s journey. For the rest of the Easter Season, make Mother Mary a part of your family life. Try to recite the Rosary daily or weekly. There is nothing to lose but all to gain. Remember, she will always lead us to Jesus Christ, for she tells us, “Do whatever he tells you.” † Renee and Manny Bourque have been involved in Edge & Life Teen Ministry for the Archdiocese for more than 20 years.
Teens in the Archdiocesan Youth Council share their own faith life experiences.
“How has Mother Mary been an integral part of your life?” “When I was younger, Mother Mary was very prominent in my life. I had a dream with Mary saying she came to check on me. From there, she has always been a role model for me. I studied her story at the age of nine. Then two years later, I had another dream with her again at the age of 11. I have always loved our Mother Mary, and she will forever be my role model.”
– Brenda M.
“Every Saint who has ever lived had a devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Rosary is a crucial part of the Catholic faith. For me, the verse in Luke Chapter 1 that reads: ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord. Do with me as you will’ changed my life. These simple words allowed me to hand my life to Christ out of trust.”
– Henry S.
“Mother Mary is a constant reminder to strive for purity and intimacy with Jesus. In my faith journey, she has helped me achieve being more virtuous and dedicated in my prayer life. I can recall the moment during adoration that I decided to live more like Mother Mary. Since then, I have been able to find peace and hope in my calling.”
– Callie P.
sunday mass readings May 15 First Reading: Acts 14:21-27 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:8-13 Second Reading: Rev 21:1-5 Gospel: Jn 13:31-33, 34-35
May 22 First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 Second Reading: Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 Gospel: Jn 14:23-29
MAY 10, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/DIGITALEDITIONS
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WORLD
Volunteers, including displaced people, pitch in to help in Ukraine IVANO-FRANKIVSK, Ukraine (CNS) — Just because Russia’s war on Ukraine is hard to believe or understand does not mean the Catholic Church had time to ponder what was happening before it acted. And with tens of thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge in IvanoFrankivsk, Archbishop Volodymyr Viytyshyn, head of the Archeparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk, knew he and his faithful had to react. “People need clothes, they need some everyday items, medicines, of course, and food,” the archbishop told Catholic News Service. Father Volodymyr Lukashevsky, the press secretary of the archeparchy, said,“I personally know a family that came from Irpin, and the father was in his slippers, which he was wearing in the house, got in the car and escaped the bombing.” He, like many others, have found shoes and clothing and food and a
welcome at the archeparchy’s “anti-crisis coordination center.” Many of the displaced people now living in Ivano-Frankivsky come back often — to help. Half of the volunteers are displaced people, but Father Lukashevsky said the other half “are directly related to the church: priests, seminarians, wives of priests, children of priests.” In addition to providing clothing, medicine and diapers, the church also works with the city in finding shelter for the displaced people and runs a field kitchen in front of the cathedral, the archbishop said. Archbishop Viytyshyn said the people also need mercy and a listening ear, especially those who have seen and lived through the Russian bombing in other parts of Ukraine. “We need to help them return to a good, normal life” as much as possible, the archbishop said. †
CNS PHOTO
Local residents walk past a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol, Ukraine, April 28.
IN BRIEF Like Mary, take risks to build better world, pope tells young people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis encouraged young men and women to look to Mary as a model of courage in listening and fulfilling God’s will. “She was courageous and determined to say ‘yes’ to the Lord. You young people, who want to build something new, a better world, follow her example, take risks,” the pope said. In a video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network May 3, the pope offered his prayer intention for the month of May, which he dedicated to young people. At the start of each month, the network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention. In his video message, the pope said Mary was the model “with whom young people can identify with” because of her “courage, the way she knew how to listen, and her dedication to service.” He also reminded young people that in order to follow Mary, they must discern what “Jesus wants from you, not what you might think you can do.” For this reason, when discerning God’s will in their lives, young men and women can find help in listening “to the words of their grandparents,” the pope said. “In those words of grandparents, you will find a wisdom that will take you beyond the issues of the moment. They will provide an overview of your concerns,” he said. Concluding his prayer intention, Pope Francis called on Christians to pray “so that all young people, called to live life to the fullest, may discover in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage of faith, and dedication to service.” †
Religious superiors see realism as important part of synod process
ROME (CNS) — With prayer and laughter, songs and furrowed brows, more than 500 superiors of women’s religious orders from around the world gathered in Rome to talk about the challenges they face and the gift those challenges represent for their congregations, the Catholic Church and the world. Wearing a sari or bright batik skirt or a long black habit or slacks, members of the International Union of Superiors General met from May 2 to 6 and explored the theme, “Embracing Vulnerability on the Synodal Journey.” More than 700 superiors were registered for the plenary assembly; 516 of the sisters attended the meeting in person, and the others followed online. The meeting began with theological and practical explorations of vulnerability and ways the experience of humility, weakness, brokenness and discrimination mirrors the self-emptying of Christ and puts one in solidarity with the poor and excluded. “Pope Francis’s call to the synodal process is ultimately a renewed call to mission, but not from the hitherto held position of power and authority,” Sister Anne Falola, a Nigerian member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of the Apostles, said May 2. The communion, participation and mission that are the hallmarks of a synodal Church, she said, “cannot be achieved without accepting and embracing our vulnerability.” †
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STATE & NATION
Catholic immigration advocates push for reform on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON (CNS) — Leaders in Hispanic Catholic ministry who gathered in Washington on April 26 to 30 for a national meeting used the occasion to head to the halls of Congress in between meetings to push lawmakers on some form of relief on immigration. “Citizens and noncitizens alike, we are brothers and sisters in the eyes of Jesus Christ, and our current immigration system is burdensome, expensive, inefficient and far too often creates human suffering,” said Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington on April 27 on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Along with other bishops and leaders in ministry gathered for the sixth Raices y Alas (Roots and Wings) national congress in Washington, Bishop Dorsonville asked lawmakers to use their political power and responsibility to “address these issues” that force millions to live in hiding except when it comes to contributing with their work to the welfare of the nation. Bishops and other people of goodwill in the United States have been advocating for a just and comprehensive immigration reform, but to no avail, he said. “We come in prayer to ask members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to work together to create solutions,” he said. “Immigration reform cannot wait any longer.” Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., joined the Latino Catholic leaders at the event at the Capitol. Both politicians have worked on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which seeks legal status for farmworkers, seeks reforms to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and “creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based
CNS PHOTO
Kimberly Garcia, Guadalupe Saez, Janet Chávez España, Karla Miranda, Alejandro González and Marvin Molina from the Diocese of Arlington, Va., pose for a photo near the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 27 during the Raices and Alas advocacy day.
visa program specifically designed for the nation’s agricultural sector.” But each approached it from a different point of view. “We need a system that stops rewarding illegal behavior,” Newhouse said, who also seemed to support some type of immigration help for “children, who through no fault of their own,” were brought into the U.S. illegally as minors. But any bill would also have to support measures to strengthen national security and secure the southern border, he said. “I’m so tired of empty promises, and I’m sure you are tired of that, too,” he said. “We have to have a system that works for the business (sector), farmers
IN BRIEF Sister Norma Pimentel accepts peace award for families at border
DAVENPORT, IOWA (CNS) — Sister Norma Pimentel visualized the tear-streaked, weary faces of people she serves at the border during her acceptance speech for the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award April 21 in Davenport, Iowa. Davenport’s Bishop Thomas R. Zinkula presented the award at St. Ambrose University on behalf of the interfaith Pacem in Terris Coalition to Sister Norma, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and a member of the Missionaries of Jesus. Sister Norma is the 50th recipient of the award, created by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council and inspired by Pope John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical, “Pacem in Terris” (Peace on Earth) which called all people to secure peace among the nations. “The coalition recognizes your vision and commitment to providing direct
humanitarian aid to immigrants at our southern border,” Bishop Zinkula said. “Your leadership to promote respect for the dignity of immigrants instructs and influences neighbors near and far, including in the halls of power. Sister Norma, you truly embody the words of Pope John XXIII as ‘a spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying leaven’ to your brothers and sisters around the world,’” he added. †
Oklahoma bishops praise state lawmaker’s abortion ban bill
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Oklahoma’s Catholic bishops praised state lawmakers for approving legislation on April 28 to ban abortions at six weeks of pregnancy, modeling similar legislation in Texas. Known as the “Oklahoma Heartbeat Act,” the House bill bans abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected. It includes exceptions for when the mother’s life is at risk, but not for rape or incest. It also allows
and ranchers ... and for our immigrants.” Carbajal said that while the two had differences in certain areas of policy, they agree on the importance of finding solutions. “We might have a few differences coming from different parties, but I think we have more in common than differences on immigration reform,” he said. “I think we have found common ground and believe that certainly it’s appropriate to secure our borders, but we should also fix our broken immigration system.” Channels that previous immigrants, “our forefathers and mothers who came to this country,” had used are broken,
creating a bottleneck, Carbajal said. He thanked the Catholic ministers for organizing a day of advocacy between meetings, urging them to reach out to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. “This shouldn’t have to be a partisan issue,” Carbajal said. “We should be able to work together.” Andrea Anaya-Sandoval spoke about the urgency she feels when it comes to immigration reform. Though she’s temporarily protected as a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy, she said there’s no permanent solution in sight for what will happen when she graduates from college in a couple of years. “It’s been disheartening for young people like me to see how little has been done” when it comes to immigration reform, she said. “I stand before you today because I’m tired of the promises ... I’m exhausted from waiting around for legislators to decide whether I am good enough.” Also present at the event, Emilce Cuda, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, said “immigrants are not tourists,” but rather they contribute to countries as workers and shouldn’t be discarded by society. She asked that they be provided better social conditions to survive and thrive in their adoptive countries. Elisabeth Román, president of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, which organized the Raices y Alas gathering, said the organization picked Washington as the site of the event so the more than 400 members from more than 38 states could advocate for matters of social justice, which includes immigration, and to speak for essential workers who kept the country moving during the pandemic. “We came here with our pastors, our bishops and not for partisan politics,” she said. “That’s why we stood here with a Republican and a Democrat because there are Catholics on both sides of the aisle.” She urged Latinos in the country who are U.S. citizens to use their voting power. “What is happening ... is unacceptable,” she said. “And it’s time to do something.” †
citizens to sue anyone who performs, or intends to perform, an abortion or helps a woman to obtain an abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Successful plaintiffs could be awarded at least $10,000. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who is expected to sign it. Because it has an emergency clause, it will go into effect once it is signed. Also on April 28, the state Senate passed a similar but more encompassing bill that would ban abortions at all stages of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape and incest in addition to medical emergencies. That bill is returning to the House before going to the governor’s desk. “We are thankful for the leadership in Oklahoma for their continued support of pro-life policies and legislation that recognize the gift of every human life from conception until natural death,” said Archdiocesan Office Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City and Bishop David A. Konderla of Tulsa in an 713-741-8732 April 29 statement. †
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17
MUNDO CATÓLICO ¿Acaso no estoy yo aquí, que soy tu Madre?
¿Cuándo pensamos en nuestra madre biológica, que atributos vienen a nuestra mente? Tal vez, será que es paciente, amorosa o quizás que una forma de expresión de amor es que una mamá nos alimenta. Muchas de nuestras mamás nos apoyan en nuestras necesidades y están al tanto de cualquier oportunidad para ayudar a todos sus hijos. La mayoría de las veces nuestras madres sienten lo que sus hijos o hijas están sintiendo, aunque no sepan detalles, ellas tienen esa intuición. Muchas personas quizás estén lejos de sus madres porque viven en otros países o porque piensan que las mamás vivirán para siempre. La realidad es que, aunque hablemos por teléfono o videollamada, no es lo mismo abrazar a una madre o pasar a visitarla en cualquier momento o saber que está en el cielo. Recientemente estuve hablando con una prima y ella sufre por el no poder estar cerca de su madre y en especial en los días festivos es cuando más desea poder abrazar a su mama. ¿Cuántas
veces nos aprovechamos de todo lo que hacen nuestras mamás por nosotros? ¿Acaso no, nos hacen nuestra comida favorita? O no te mandan algo que necesitas o que te gusta. Nos apoyan con por nuestros hijos y están dispuestas en cualquier MELISSA momento para ayudarte. ALVAREZ Acaso no, te hacen compañía y escuchan todo lo que tengas en mente, nos perdonan al instante y siempre, quieren lo mejor para uno, aunque tal vez no lo veamos así y rechazamos sus consejos. También hay que agradecerles nos enseñan de Dios o nos llevan a clase de catecismo. Nos aman incondicionalmente. A veces es bueno extrañar y amar a pesar de las circunstancias. Lo podemos ver como una oportunidad de darle nuestro sufrimiento y circunstancia a Dios que nos ama para que nos de la fuerza de
†
llevar nuestra cruz. Hay alguien que también sufrió por mucho tiempo cuando estaba en este mundo, y ella se llama Maria. Maria madre de Dios y madre nuestra, sabe lo que se siente pasar por duelo. Ella tuvo un rol muy importante como madre y cuido de Jesús en esta tierra y si sabemos por medio de la sagrada biblia que tiene aún más docilidad. ¿Será esa la razón porque muchos en el mundo son indiferentes hacia ella? Te invito que, pongámonos a ver los atributos de nuestra Madre Maria. Ella era dócil a todo lo que Dios le llamaba hacer. Otro atributo es su humildad y sencillez. Yo me imagino que la sencillez de Maria era tan hermosa que con su mirada dulce y tierna te entregaba su paz y amor. Muchas veces por medio de Maria, Dios también escucha nuestras súplicas y necesidades. ¿Acaso no, supo Maria que su hijo necesitaba ayudar en la boda de Cana? Así igual que nuestra Madre Maria, nuestras mamás terrenales, o en el cielo, merecen el
apoyo y oración recíproca. Ya sea rezar una oración o una década. O ayudar a tus hermanos o hermanas en una necesidad, porque es bonito ver a mamá sonreír cuando toda la familia se lleva con amor y empatía. Este día de las madres no dejemos de apreciar y agradecer a nuestras mamás más que solo una vez al año. Y recordar que no solo tenemos una mamá sino también la que reina en el cielo. Una manera de honrar a nuestras madres podría ser, rezar con ellas, o por ellas, porque también sufren por todos sus hijos o hijas y llevan a todos sus hijos o hijas en su corazón. Recemos en especial para que nosotros también como nuestra Madre Maria seamos: dóciles, humildes, pacientes, silenciosos y serviciales a Dios omnipotente. † Melissa Alvarez es la subdirectora asociada de el Ministerio con Personas con Discapacidad en la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.
Papa a misioneros de misericordia: sean la voz de Dios para todos CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — A los que están llamados a ser misioneros de la misericordia se les confía la importante tarea de ser el rostro y la voz del amor de Dios a los necesitados, dijo el papa Francisco. “No olvidemos nunca que Dios no actúa en la vida cotidiana de las personas a través de actos impactantes, sino de una manera silenciosa, discreta, sencilla, para manifestarse a través de personas que se convierten en sacramento de su presencia. Y ustedes son un sacramento de la presencia de Dios”, dijo el papa a los sacerdotes durante una reunión en el Vaticano el 25 de abril. Los “misioneros de la misericordia” fueron sacerdotes elegidos por el Vaticano para el Año de la Misericordia 2015-2016 para predicar sobre la misericordia de Dios y, especialmente, para alentar a los católicos a redescubrir la gracia del sacramento de la reconciliación. En un permiso que más tarde se extendió a todos los sacerdotes, el papa Francisco les otorgó el poder de absolver a los penitentes que lamentaban haber tenido un aborto o haber desempeñado un papel en la decisión de alguien de abortar. También les autorizó a levantar algunas penas impuestas por el derecho canónico.
Al notar su creciente número, el papa dijo que los misioneros de la misericordia “son un instrumento privilegiado en la iglesia” y, por esta razón, se incluyeron en su constitución apostólica que reforma la Curia Romana, “Praedicate Evangelium” (“Predica el Evangelio”). “Quería colocaros allí, en la Constitución Apostólica, porque sois un instrumento privilegiado en la Iglesia de hoy, y no sois un movimiento que existe hoy y no existe mañana. No, estás en la estructura de la iglesia. Es por eso que quería ponerlos allí”, dijo, apartándose de sus comentarios preparados. En su charla, el papa reflexionó sobre la figura bíblica de Ruth, una joven viuda moabita que “vive en un país extranjero que la considera una intrusa y ni siquiera digna de solidaridad”. Sin embargo, su generosidad hacia su suegra, Noemí, y su completa confianza en Dios son un ejemplo de cómo “podemos superar las muchas formas de exclusión y marginación que acechan en nuestro comportamiento”. Si bien Dios no habla directamente en el libro, cada uno de los “gestos de bondad de Ruth hacia Noemí, que se considera ‘amargada por Dios’, se convierte en un signo tangible de la cercanía y bondad del Señor”, dijo el papa.
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El papa Francisco saluda a los sacerdotes durante una audiencia con sacerdotes de Misioneros de la Misericordia en el Vaticano el 25 de abril. Entre los presentes había un grupo de sacerdotes de Ucrania. El papa encargó a los sacerdotes durante el Año de la Misericordia para la misión especial de predicar la misericordia de Dios y mostrarla, especialmente a través del sacramento de la reconciliación.
El papa Francisco instó a los misioneros de la misericordia a “mantener todas las formas de juicio lejos de ustedes y siempre poner la voluntad de entender a la persona frente a ustedes primero”. “Te enfrentas a una mujer u hombre que pide perdón, y tienes el perdón en tu bolsillo. ¿Se quedará en tu bolsillo? ¿O su generosidad se lo dará?”, preguntó. El papa también dijo que si los
sacerdotes tienen requisitos específicos para perdonar, entonces tal vez “no son aptos para ser misioneros de misericordia”. “Siempre. Perdona siempre. No lo pospongan”, dijo el papa. Si hay “una persona que te pide perdón, ¿quién eres tú para preguntar si puede o no ser sincero? Toma su palabra y perdona. Perdona siempre. Por favor, perdona siempre. Con el perdón de Cristo no se juega, no se bromea”. †
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 • MAY 10, 2022
WITHIN THE ARTS More than 1,000 poems submitted to Archdiocesan Middle School Poetry Contest BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — By writing inspiring poems on deep topics like visiting a patient suffering terminal illness or describing Christ on the cross, 16 Catholic school students won a recent poetry contest focusing on spiritual works of mercy. More than 1,000 poems were submitted from 25 schools to compete in the Archdiocesan Middle School Poetry Contest for sixth, seventh and eighth grades, said Sarah Cortez, a published author and member of the Texas Institute of Letters. She is also the founder and president of Catholic Literary Arts, which organized the contest. Cortez said, “This is the only poetry contest of its kind open to students from Catholic schools to develop skills in writing for the glory of God. Our similar contest for Catholic homeschooled students hopes to accomplish the same goal.” This year’s topic of spiritual works of mercy includes feeding the hungry; counseling the doubtful; bearing wrongs patiently; forgiving offenses willingly and comforting the afflicted. A flurry of poetry submitted by 723 students, who could send in up to four poems each, was gathered between Feb. 1 and April 1. From that, 16 young poets were selected by their works reviewed by a panel of judges who were not given the students’ names or schools, Cortez said. The winners were announced on April 26 in an awards ceremony at the University of St. Thomas Jones Hall. First, second and third places of each grade, as well as honorable mentions, won certificates and ribbons. The winning poet laureate — selected from among first places of each grade — is Maria Jesko from St. Theresa Catholic School in Sugar Land, the first-place winner of eighth grade. The 14-year-old wrote the poem “Willing Forgiveness” that states in part: “Thus, Satan tries to quench the hopeful light. How after death, could Christ forgive us all? But Mary turns to us, her sweet eyes bright.
POET LAUREATE To read the winning poem, “Willing Forgiveness,” see the advertisement on page 7.
PHOTO BY THOMAS HOPKINS
The Archdiocesan Middle School Poetry Contest reviewed more than 1,000 poems submitted and the winner is Maria Jesko, in center holding her award, of St. Theresa Catholic School in Sugar Land who wrote “Willing Forgiveness.” Congratulating her are, from left to right, Sarah Cortez, president of Catholic Literary Arts; Archdiocesan School Superintendent Debra Haney; St. Theresa Principal Francesca Rice; Jesko and her literature teacher Samuel Klumpenhouwer; and Scanlan Foundation President Larry Massey.
‘Come, follow my dear Son!’ her loving call. And still she loves us, kindness like no other. Sweet whip, sweet nail, sweet wood, sweet cross, sweet Mother.” Jesko said she was inspired by the Lenten and Easter seasons and the chant “Crux Fideles.” Her literature teacher, Samuel Klumpenhouwer, said 12 of his students submitted poems to the contest in the style of sonnets. As overall poet laureate, Jesko won a $500 cash prize for tuition assistance for her school. But all 16 students won tuition to attend the week-long Fearless Catholic Writing Camp held each June at the University of St. Thomas. Debra Haney, Catholic Schools Superintendent, attending the awards ceremony, said, “This is an amazing collaboration for our schools and the University of St. Thomas, along with
MOVIE RATINGS By Catholic News Service A-I – GENERAL PATRONAGE • Ron’s Gone Wrong (PG)
• The Lost City (PG-13) • Turning Red (PG)
A-II – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
L – LIMITED ADULT AUDIENCE
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (PG) • The Bad Guys (PG)
A-III – ADULTS • Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (PG-13) • Father Stu (R) • Morbius (PG-13) • Spider-Man: No Way Home (PG-13)
• All the Old Knives (R) • Ambulance (R) • Deep Water (R)
O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE • The Northman (R) • X (R) For additional Catholic movie reviews and more, visit www.catholicnews.com.
support from the Scanlan Foundation and Catholic Literary Arts. It serves as a witness to see our students produce such beautiful work.” The Scanlan Foundation helped underwrite the program and provided the cash prize of tuition assistance to the poet
laureate. Larry W. Massey Jr., president of the Scanlan Foundation, said, “Our mission is to help Catholic Literary Arts lift up our youth to experience the beauty of poetry, especially spiritually.” Sixth-grader Abby Eldridge of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School received an honorable mention for her poem “The Last Moment of Fun,” which contained a depth beyond her years in visiting a terminal patient. “I hand him a warm muffin and take out a card. I hope he really likes it, I wrote it from my heart. I say a few jokes, To bring a little joy. He thinks they are funny, And laughs like a little boy. At the end, I give him a hug, And wave him goodbye. He tells me it might be his last moment of fun, And when I leave, I even see him cry.” An additional poetry award ceremony organized by Catholic Literary Arts for homeschooled students is scheduled for later in May. For more information about the contests and writing camp, www. catholicliteraryarts.org or email cathla. org@gmail.com. †
Need Help? If you or a loved one is in need of help, 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
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Home visits, food network, disaster relief, clothing and furniture.
svdphouston.org/get-help or 713-741-8234
San José Clinic
Primary and specialty health care services, counseling and mental health services, dental and vision.
sanjoseclinic.org or 713-228-941
MAY 10, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/DIGITALEDITIONS
texas catholic herald
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.
MAY 14
PANEL DISCUSSION, 9 a.m. to noon, Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). “Faith and Science” discussion with Deacon Robert J. Hesse, Ph.D. $60 tickets include a copy of Deacon Hesse’s new book “Faith and Science: A Journey Into God’s Mystical Love.” Tickets: www.emmausspiritualitycenter. com/programs. SEMINAR, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sts. Simon and Jude (26777 Glen Loch Dr., The Woodlands). “Life in the Spirit” seminar, registration required. Pre-order boxed lunches during registration. More info: info@MarianServantsHouston.org.
MAY 20
RESPECT LIFE VIOLIN CONCERT, 7 p.m., Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (7809 Shadyvilla Ln., Houston). Violinist Matthew Madonia and pianist Jennifer Gutierrez present a lifeaffirming concert to benefit Loving Choice Pregnancy Help Center. Tickets are $50. More info: https://loving-choice.org to purchase and reserve tickets.
MAY 21
TENT EVENT, 5 to 8 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). Opportunity to visit the Emmaus Spirituality Center and see what it is all about. Food and drinks will be provided, and there will be face painting, balloons, snow cones and more for kids.
MAY 22
BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., St. John the Baptist (110 E South St, Alvin). Barbecue brisket plate are $15, Mexican food booths, beer garden, loteria, Bingo, kiddie game area, plants sell, raffle, live/silent auction, live Tejano bands and DJ. More info: Linda Krauskopf, 281-507-9185.
MAY 26
PANEL DISCUSSION, noon to 1 p.m., The Institute for Spirituality and Health is sponsoring an international Zoom presentation by Deacon
THE ARCHDIOCESE nd the
u Ph.D., author of new book “Faith Aro Robert Hesse, cese Archdio and Science: A Journey into God’s Mystical Love.” Registration includes a copy of his book. Register: https://www.spiritualityandhealth. org/events/faithandscience.
IN BRIEF
JUNE 15
LUNCHEON, 12 p.m., Holy Family Catholic School (2601 Ursuline, Galveston). The Ursuline Alumnae Association will celebrate 175 years of Catholic education in Galveston and in Texas itself. Brown bag/bring your own lunch. Drinks, gifts and prizes. Public is welcome. More info: 409-939-4700 or deecans2@gmail.com.
JUNE 17-19
YOUNG ADULT RETREAT, Friday at 5 p.m. to Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). This three-day retreat, “Set Apart,” provides opportunity to spend a weekend with Christ while meeting other young adults. Individuals ages 18 to 29 and parish groups are welcomed. $250, Financial Aid available. More info: 713-464-0211 ext. 10; https://www. holynameretreatcenter.com/young-adults.
JUNE 27
GOLF TOURNAMENT, 7 a.m., Willow Fork Country Club (21055 Westheimer Pkwy., Katy). St. Bartholomew will host their fourth Annual Golf Tournament. 7 a.m. registration, 7:30 breakfast/ warm-up, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, 1 p.m. awards. Team of four $550 or individual player $150. Best Ball Scramble, prizes, competitive buy-ins, raffle and silent auction. More info: kbw6803@gmail.com.
JULY 16
CONCERT, 5 to 7 p.m., Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church (26777 Glen Loch Dr., The Woodlands). Wine and cheese event with The Woodlands Show Chorus with silent auction, bake sale, door prize and more. Doors open at 4. Tickets are $25 for adult, $30 for reserved and $20 for seniors (50+) and children (12-). Tickets: tickets@thewoodlandsshowchorus.org. More info: 713-688-6509. ••• To find additional listings online, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
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tch@archgh.org for possible inclusion in Around the Archdiocese. There is no charge for listings but space is limited.
Around the Archdiocese
Visitofwww.archgh.org/ata to location (with full address) and a • Include the name your event along with date, time, learn about what details to submit. brief description of your event • If the event is for charity, include the benefiting group or organization; Include the cost for tickets or note that it’s free • Name, phone and/or e-mail address of the contact person that you want readers to call/e-mail with questions PASTORAL SUPPORT • Website address for your organization (if you haveFOR one) VICTIMS • Name, phone and e-mail address of the media contact person for verification OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE • Please write “Around the Archdiocese” in the subject line of the email to tch@archgh.org In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual Please note that due to space and other factors, we cannot guarantee placement or abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo would frequency in Around the Archdiocese, but we will do our best to get your event into the section. 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.
CNS PHOTO
The Shroud of Turin is displayed at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy in 2015. A series of presentations will explore the shroud, which is believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, at several parishes in June.
‘Shroud of Turin’ presentations return in June HOUSTON — Nora Creech, who is pursuing a certificate in Shroud Studies from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, will be hosting a series of free presentations titled “Seeking the Face of Christ: How the Shroud of Turin Reveals God’s Love” at several locations in the Archdiocese in June. The purpose of these presentations is to tell the story of the Shroud and to share the pastoral implications of its message while also informing them of a planned permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. Presentations will be held on these dates: June 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (11720 Joan of Arc, Houston); June 8, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring); June 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart - Cathedral Centre (1701 San Jacinto, Houston); June 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Faustina Catholic Church (28102 FM 1093, Fulshear); and June 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church (4918 Cochran St., Houston). †
19
20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
MILESTONES
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • MAY 10, 2022
Do you have a photo you’d like to share? To submit a photo of a place, group or event that you would like to see in the Herald, email it to tch@archgh.org
Charity Guild of Catholic Women awards $547,599 during Grant Presentation to 47 Houston organizations
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HOUSTON — Charity Guild of Catholic Women, which is currently celebrating its centennial anniversary, awarded $547,599 to 47 Houstonarea non-profit organizations to fund programs that assist children in need. The presentation took place at the Charity Guild Shop located at 1203 Lovett Blvd. This year’s president, Ginger Neimann, presented the awards. Since 1996, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women has donated over $6,576,793 to 170 local charities via profits from its Charity Guild Shop. Some of the recipients include Harrison’s Heroes, Clothed by Faith, Houston Furniture Bank, Second Servings, Be an Angel, Cherish our Children, Child Advocates of Fort Bend and Nora’s Home. With nearly 610 members from 64 parishes in the Archdiocese, Charity Guild of Catholic Women provided 75,209 hours of volunteer service just this past year. The organization prides itself on dedicated volunteerism to benefit children in the greater Houston area who might otherwise lack access to enough food, safe and acceptable housing, affordable healthcare, adequate clothing, satisfactory education, supportive recreation and enrichment services, and restorative and psychological assistance, regardless of race or creed. †
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHARITY GUILD OF CATHOLIC WOMEN
The Charity Guild of Catholic Women has awarded $547,599 to 47 Houston-area non-profit organizations to fund programs that assist children in need.
So whether you eat or
drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God.
EAST MEETS WEST
1 Corinthians Congregation honors 10:31 ‘Mattress Mack’
CMY
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Family Life The Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province held their East Meets West Gala Ministry at the St. Catherine Convent on April 7. The event, themed “God Loves a Cheerful Wedding Giver,” honored long-time Houston businessman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale (pictured above with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo) and benefited the educational advancement Jubilee of the Dominican sisters. Mass PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY IMMACULATE PROVINCE
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