LIFE IN CHRIST
National Eucharistic Revival shifts to parish year as movement grows
▪ SEE PAGES 9 - 12
MARRIAGE SUMMIT
Houston hosts national gathering of marriage formation leaders
▪ SEE PAGE 6
LEADERSHIP
Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Dell’Oro attend USCCB summer meeting
▪ SEE PAGE 17
“Lift up your hearts!”
“We lift them up to the Lord.”
“Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.”
“It is right and just.”
This very ancient dialogue between priest and people begins the part of the Mass we call the “Eucharistic Prayer.” It is the centerpiece of the Mass and the substantial heart of Eucharistic praying and ritual action.
SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
Everyone is a participant and thus should be conscious of what is happening; everyone is active in a very
See SHEPHERD, page 2
HOUSTON — Father William “Bill”
Bueche, C.Ss.R., vested for Mass, started dancing to Spanish music playing as he prepared to process in with other priests and bishops during the 2018 National Encuentro conference of 3,000 Hispanic leaders and delegates.
The spiritual joy emanating from their pastor is what parishioners at Holy Ghost Catholic Church will miss as the
HOUSTON — “We haven’t completed the walk yet. The journey is still going on, but we’ve made progress... we can’t stop now; we have to keep going.”
These words from the late-Archbishop
Joseph A. Fiorenza serve as the basis for the new capital campaign for the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.
The “Completing the Walk” campaign will commemorate Archbishop Fiorenza’s memory with the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza on the site of the former, now demolished, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and will fulfill his vision by making improvements to and establishing an endowment for the
See FIORENZA, page 4
SHEPHERD, from page 1
distinctive way and should be joyful that the Lord is “working” in the midst of the assembly. The principal agents are Christ and the Holy Spirit, and the prayer is offered to the Father. Still, all members of the Church, “the Bride of the Lamb,” are no less active and contemplative for this sacrificial banquet of thanksgiving about to be celebrated.
The angels add their own invisible but genuine and tuneful chorus of praise, while the Mother of God with all the saints is invoked since she is always standing near her Son as He continually makes intercession for us.
“Eucharistic Prayer” always comes in the plural. There are many such prayers because the Mystery of Faith being enacted and celebrated is inexhaustible in its riches and has invited multiple expressions in both the Eastern and Western Christian Churches. In the West, for many centuries, there was only one Eucharistic Prayer or “Canon” or rule for praying this part of Mass, the beautiful Roman Canon, but it has been enriched in recent decades by other Eucharistic Prayers.
The priest is the leader, presider and main celebrant of the Eucharistic Prayer as he acts in the name of the Church and, in a most distinctive way, he acts in the Person of Jesus Christ as he lends his voice and hands — in the words of Saint John Chrysostom — to Christ so that the body and blood of Christ may become present on the altar. Besides the voiced acclamations, the assembly of the Church gathered for the Liturgy is attentive in silence to the prayer of the priest who addresses this great thanksgiving to the Father.
There are several parts visible in a Eucharistic Prayer. The first is the preface which thanks God for the many acts in creation and history of salvation that have been revealed to us, including the Feast or the Mystery of Faith, like the Lord’s Day that is being celebrated. This part always concludes with the great Hymn of the angels in Isaiah 6, “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts...” sung by the assembly and priest. This part is followed by a narrative section that frequently includes an invocation of the Holy Spirit over the gifts of bread and wine that they become the body and blood of Christ.
This prayerful invocation is called an “epiclesis,” and such petitions are common not only in Eucharistic prayers but also in other Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is always active in the
liturgical life of Christians.
The next part of the Eucharistic Prayer is most crucial, a recitative of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening, where Jesus anticipated His sacrificial death on Good Friday. There is a quotation of Jesus’ words, “This is my body which will be given up for you” and “This is the chalice of my blood which will be poured out for you and for many…”
These solemn words spell out the meaning of what is happening as they are words of institution and consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of the Lord, though the whole Eucharistic Prayer consecrates the gifts. We are at the very heart of our faith and the deepest realities of creation, Passover, the past, presence and present time, and the certain future “until He comes again.”The Savior’s words: “Do this in memory of me,” are a command to the Apostles and a loving gift of continuation of this sacrifice and presence through the ordained priesthood, a reality contained in those words.
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The Eucharistic Prayer enters a further part or stage now, the living memorial section where the priest remembers the saving actions of Christ and offers the gifts to the Father, as all are offered to the Father as a living sacrifice of praise. Made alive and
present are the Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming of Christ. Within this “anamnesis” or living memorial, we recognize that the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ is “re-presented’ at every Mass — we are brought to it or it is brought to us — so that we can say that this sacramental representation of the cross is identical with the action of Christ before His Father and for the redemption of all.
At the same time, the action of the quotation of Christ’s words at the Last Supper also brings about a change in the bread and wine whose inner reality is vacated and replaced with the body and blood of the Lord, a reality so significant that it is given a technical expression: “transubstantiation.”
The prayer then shifts to a mention of the saints, of the living and of the dead, all of whom are remembered in Eucharistic Prayer.
of the Eucharist is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Anthony’s Church in North Beach, Maryland. SEE
Especially noteworthy is the mention of the pope and the local bishop. We are not only in communion with the Lord’s body and blood but also in living communion of faith and doctrine with our Holy Father and with the bishop. This part of the Eucharistic Prayer is also frequently the occasion of prayers for solidarity, for justice and for peace.
Adoration, praise, awe, blessing, thanksgiving, petition and contrition, all these forms of prayer find their home in the Eucharistic Prayer. The finale is a joyful Doxology, an acclamation of praise to the Father, through the Son in the unity of the Holy Spirit. The assembly’s response is a declarative “AMEN!”
The Eucharistic Prayer reminds us of our identity as persons redeemed in Christ. It lifts us up with Jesus, who is “gentle and humble of heart,” who is the Father’s Servant-Son who “does not quench a smoldering wick” and who lives forever as High Priest interceding for us at the Father’s right hand.
It is indeed right and just to praise Him. †
THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY
PRAYER INTENTION: FOR A EUCHARISTIC LIFE
“If you are the same at the end of Mass as you were at the beginning, something is wrong.
The Eucharist is the presence of Jesus, it is deeply transforming.
Jesus comes and must transform you. In the Eucharist, it is Christ who offers Himself, who gives himself for us. He invites us, so that our lives may be nourished by Him and may nourish the lives of our brothers and sisters.
The Eucharistic Celebration is an encounter with the Risen Jesus. At the same time, it is a way of opening ourselves to the world as He taught us. Let us pray that Catholics place the Eucharistic Celebration at the center of their lives, which transforms human relationships and opens up an encounter with God and their brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis †
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This summer we continue exploring the stories of some of the Church’s most interesting saints.
This month we learn about Sts. Joachim and Anne, whose July 26 feast day celebrates the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 2021, Pope Francis instituted “World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly” to coincide closely with their feast day. At World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Pope Francis preached about the story of these two incredible saints.
“[On July 26] the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, the grandparents of Jesus, Sts. Joachim and Anne. In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception.
Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will.
Sts. Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!
Speaking about family life, as the Church around the world celebrates the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne,
Effective July 1
Father Paul Duc Thanh Hoang, CSsR
Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish in Richmond
Father Tom Rafferty
Director, Ministry to Priests
Father Clark Sample
Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Formation & Chaplaincy Services
Father Oscar H. Dubon
Pastor, St. Thomas More Parish in Houston
Father Martial F. Oya
Pastor, Resurrection Parish in Houston
HOUSTON — The 2023 Wedding Anniversary Jubilee Mass honoring couples celebrating their Silver (25th) and Gold (50th) Anniversary of marriage in the Catholic Church are open for registration.
Grandparents Day is also being celebrated. How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family.
The Aparecida Document says, “Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because
they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives” (No. 447). This relationship and this dialogue between generations is a treasure to be preserved and strengthened!
In this World Youth Day, young people wish to acknowledge and honor their grandparents. Young people salute their grandparents with great affection and they thank them for the ongoing witness of their wisdom.” †
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The Gold Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. at downtown Houston, at 3 p.m. Couples are eligible to receive a special recognition whether they attend the ceremony or not. The Silver Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Oct. 29, also at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 3 p.m.
Early registration, which ends July 31 for the 50th and Aug. 28 for the 25th, is $25 per couple and includes an Archdiocesan certificate of each anniversary, a special issue worship aid and a commemorative pin. Registration increases to $40 per couple after those dates. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/flmevents. †
HOUSTON — Café Catholica, the annual young adult summer gathering presented by the Archdiocesan Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, continues for two more Mondays in July at St. Anne Church, located at 2140 Westheimer Rd. in Houston. The theme for the summer series is “Rise Up!” Open to young adults aged 18 to 39, Café Catholica offers opportunities to gather with fellow young Catholics for Mass, dinner and talks. The event will be held on Mondays, July 17 and July 24. It begins at 5:15 p.m. with Confession, followed by Mass at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 7:15 p.m. and the keynote speaker at 8:15 p.m. Keynote speakers include Brian Butler and Paul George. No registration is needed to attend. Donations are accepted. For more information, visit www.archgh.org/ cafecatholica or call 713-741-8778. †
HOUSTON — The 2023 Archdiocesan Youth Conference, set for July 28 to 31 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, gathers more than 1,000 participants and is one of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization’s largest evangelizing events for youth of high school age.
Through this event, under the theme “Gift Received, Gift Shared,” young people will gather on a journey to rejuvenate their faith life, to help them get serious about life in Christ and His Church. For more information on how to register, visit archgh.swoogo.com/AYC-2023 or speak to your parish youth minister. †
Many of our saints have better stories than some of the summer blockbuster movies...
newer Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
On June 16, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, hundreds of parishioners and friends gathered in the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart to celebrate the co-cathedral’s patronal feast and to learn more about the “Completing the Walk” capital campaign.
The campaign, with a goal of $9.8 million, has four key goals: the demolition of the old Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the creation of a parking lot and the Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza; upgrades, maintenance and increased efficiencies to the co-cathedral itself; investments and improvements to the Cathedral Centre, and the creation of an endowment to preserve and care for the co-cathedral for decades to come.
The first and most visible component of the campaign is the demolition of the old Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (at the corner of Fannin St. and Pierce St.) and the creation of the Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza. The now-completed demolition of the old co-cathedral, rectory, and former Sacred Heart School has opened the 60,000-square-foot city block for redevelopment.
While most of the site will be developed into much-needed, well-lit and landscaped parking for the co-cathedral — with an increase of 100 additional parking spaces — approximately 6,000 square feet will be redeveloped into the Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza — featuring green space, a covered pavilion and a tribute wall that will include information about the life of Archbishop Fiorenza, the history of Sacred Heart parish, and list supporters of the campaign.
Archbishop Fiorenza had always intended for a “Cathedral Green” on the site of the former co-cathedral, and this is now coming to fruition and being named in his honor.
“It is most fitting to honor Archbishop Fiorenza’s memory and create a beautiful gathering space for the parishioners of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.
Father Jeffrey L. Bame, rector and pastor of the co-cathedral, said, “The plaza and the other case elements of our campaign seek to bring Archbishop Fiorenza’s vision to completion and to enshrine his legacy as a spiritual father.”
The second and third components involve upgrades and maintenance to the co-cathedral and the Cathedral Centre themselves. As a result of the campaign, the co-cathedral will receive improvements to its sound and lighting systems; the doors to the co-cathedral will be replaced for security and energy efficiency reasons; roof work, exterior cleaning and general maintenance that has been deferred will be conducted; repairs and ongoing support for the world-class Pasi Organ will be available, and additional handicap parking and access will be provided.
The Cathedral Centre will see significant improvements in A/V, sound and event hosting capabilities as it frequently welcomes large groups
from across the Archdiocese and is the central coordinating point for many significant Archdiocesan events. Other improvements to the former Federal Reserve building include upgrades to HVAC and lighting systems and expansion and resurfacing of the parking lot immediately available behind the Cathedral Centre.
In addition to housing the parish offices of the co-cathedral, the Cathedral Centre is a ministry center that serves the poor, the lonely, and those in need with direct volunteer service.
The fourth and final element of the campaign is the most important and critical part of Archbishop Fiorenza’s plans for the co-cathedral.
“While the co-cathedral, consecrated 15 years ago by Cardinal DiNardo, was built with support from across the Archdiocesan community, its upkeep and maintenance have been left to a small group of faithful parishioners — a model that is no longer sustainable without
For more information about the ‘Completing the Walk’ Capital Campaign and the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza, visit COMPLETINGTHEWALK.ORG or scan the QR code above.
an endowment as Archbishop Fiorenza envisioned,” Father Bame said.
The initial goal for the endowment is $5 million, and every dollar raised over the campaign goal of $9.8 million will be committed to growing the endowment. Archbishop Fiorenza had intended for an endowment to be created when the co-cathedral was consecrated in 2008, but due to Hurricane Ike and other natural disasters, funding priorities were redirected, and the endowment was never raised.
“The ‘Completing the Walk’ campaign will help fulfill Archbishop Fiorenza’s vision and our need for a vibrant cathedral community in the heart of a great American city here in Houston,” Cardinal DiNardo said.
Each donor who contributes $250 or more will receive a brick from the original Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, while supplies last.
For more information on the “Completing the Walk” campaign, visit www.completingthewalk.org. †
Redemptorists, Father Bueche’s order, will leave Houston this summer.
July 1 was the official starting date for changes in leadership at various parishes. On that day, the Spiritan Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Spirit) assumed responsibility at Holy Ghost in southwest Houston as the Redemptorist Fathers turned pastoral care over to them.
The new Spiritan priests are Father Binh Quachm, CSSp, who is now pastor; parochial vicars Father Dan Abba, CSSp; and Father Neil McQuillan, CSSp, who had served in Puerto Rico. All are Spanish speaking to serve the largely Hispanic community.
Father Bueche said, “I want to express the tremendous gratitude of all the Redemptorist priests and brothers for all the love and support we have received from this incredible parish!”
“I have been granted the permission and privilege to remain at Holy Ghost during July and August to help with the transition as the parish members and the new priests come to know each other and start moving together into the future,” Father Bueche said. Then he will move to a parish in the Bronx in New York.
Another well-known Redemptorist priest, Father Len Broniak, C.Ss.R., who has been the director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministry for 20 years, will be leaving Houston. But he is not scheduled to move on until February 2024 after the National Catholic Office of the Deaf conference meets here, and his position that requires unique skills is filled.
“During these months, we will be preparing for the conference as well as looking for a new director to take over the ministry after I have left,” Father Broniak said.
“I am trilingual,” Father Broniak said, “I have offered many Baptisms and weddings in English, Spanish and American Sign Language so the whole family could participate in the celebrations.”
The Redemptorist missionaries of the Denver Province announced last summer that the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston will assume leadership of Holy Ghost parish this month.
“Allowing an entire year for the change in leadership is expected to ensure an orderly transition and minimal impact on the parish community and its thriving outreach programs,” including food bank
operations assisting hundreds of families every week, according to a media release from the Redemptorists.
Father Stephen Rehrauer, C.Ss.R., provincial superior of the Denver Province, said, “An aging membership and shortage of new vocations require us to continually assess how we can best respond to meet the needs of the poor and abandoned.”
He added, “We will work diligently with (Daniel) Cardinal DiNardo to assure a smooth transition and are confident that the spirit of Holy Ghost parish that we have nourished and sustained these many years will continue to flourish under new leadership.”
Founded by the Redemptorists in 1946, Holy Ghost parish has worked for many years to bring two culturally different groups together between the Anglo community and a multicultural Hispanic community of people from Mexico and many Central and South American countries.
The Redemptorists are a religious congregation of Catholic priests and Brothers founded in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori in Naples, Italy. About 4,000 Redemptorists are currently working for the poor and abandoned in every part of the world, with more than 130 Redemptorist priests, Brothers and students representing the Denver Province in the United States.
Of the remaining Redemptorists priests leaving Houston, three will move to St. Clements Health Care facility,
assisted living for the elderly in Missouri.
Father Binh Ta is moving to a new assignment in San Antonio.
Father Broniak concluded, “It is sad that we must leave Holy Ghost, but we are very proud of the ministry we have performed for the past 75 years or so. It is our hope and prayer that the vitalization of the parish continues under new leadership.”
The deaf community and their families are trying to prepare themselves for the change. Toni Flagg, who is hearing and
whose husband Bruce Flagg is deaf and the community’s ordained deacon, are girding themselves for even more work.
“Father Len has been the life breath of our group. With his guidance, people who had not attended Mass because they had communication incompatibilities; babies, children and young adults who had been shut out of receiving the Sacraments; young couples who would have been married by a Justice of the Peace or not even married… even the Ordination to the Diaconate of my husband who is deaf, came to fruition within the church,” Flagg said.
She will be the director of religious education at the St. Dominic Deaf Center as well as running the daily operations of fielding phone calls, keeping the books and meeting with people who are deaf in need of information or interpreting services.
“As for my husband, Deacon Bruce will assume all the other responsibilities that Father Len had, except, of course, not saying Mass or hearing Confession. In the past, Father Len has guided Deacon Bruce in these responsibilities of shepherding the souls of our parish,” she said.
“Finding a replacement will be a monumental task,” she said, “but one that must be undertaken for St. Dominic’s Deaf Center to continue to thrive and provide the kind of services that Father Len has provided to the deaf community and their families over the past 20 years.” †
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
PINEHURST — A hand-painted icon of Sts. Anne and Joachim accompanied nearly 100 marriage formation leaders during a conference June 26 to 28, where they explored new ways, namely a catechumenal model, to form men and women discerning their vocation to marriage.
The Orthodox-style icon depicted the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding crosses while standing in a verdant pasture between mountains seen in the background. Much like how Mary’s parents presented her to the Lord, marriage formations earnestly focus their ministries on presenting faithful and formed men and women to God and His Church through the Sacrament of Marriage.
Through focused small-group discussions and conversational plenary sessions, catechetical and marriage formation leaders from some 40 dioceses and ministries from the U.S. and Canada considered ways to pursue a catechumenal model for marriage preparation, one that would reflect the catechumenal roadmap that nonCatholics and Christians who enter or join the Catholic Church experience before they become Catholic.
The new process would reflect the new model proposed in the “Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life” document issued by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life at the Vatican.
Christy Wright, director of family life at Christ the Redeemer Parish in Houston, said the conference reflected much of what she’s experienced as a longtime catechetical and marriage formation leader in the Archdiocese.
She saw a parallel in Pope Francis’ call to accompany those in the margins and to walk with men and women on the road to marriage.
Wright recognized that for many
couples, a Catholic wedding is sometimes just a box to check on a couple’s endless list or a demand of a grandparent or inlaws-to-be, but the experience can be a way to draw couples, and their families, into the life of the Church, especially before and after the wedding.
“What do we do to follow up? That’s the challenging part, to bring them back to the church after the wedding Mass,” Wright said. “Couples often don’t realize
that the bride and the groom are truly the ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage, that the priest or deacon is simply the witnesses of the couples’ new wedding covenant.” Wright attended the summit with her husband Deacon Jim Wright, who serves at St. Angela Merici Parish in Missouri City.
In his homily at the gathering’s June 26 opening Mass, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo recognized the attendees as people “dedicated to marriage and to family life.”
“There is something more at stake,” he said, noting how an anti-Christian culture has grown. He also noted how a Catholic marriage can be an encounter for an unbaptized person to come to know Jesus.
Cardinal DiNardo also echoed Pope Francis’ message in his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia that “what we need is people not only to be passive receptacles of marriage preparation, but active agents of marriage preparation.”
“It’s always one of our beautiful duties is to allow young couples and others who are coming to the Sacrament of marriage to appreciate that they are the agents of their own formation,” he said.
Reflecting on the Gospel of John, where two disciples see Jesus after having been baptized by John, Cardinal DiNardo also recalled Jesus’ message to “come and see.”
If marriage formation leaders, as well as Catholics, become agents of love, we can discover where Jesus lives
See MARRIAGE, next page
SPRING — Leaders and volunteers at Loving Choice Pregnancy Help Center, an organization that helps both men and women needing assistance and support during an unplanned pregnancy, say the Holy Spirit and the teachings of the Catholic Church help guide their efforts in supporting parents and families through the often-challenging process.
Volunteers at Loving Choice, located at 17835 Kuykendahl Rd., Suite 103, in Spring, share God’s love through emotional, educational, material and spiritual support to parents and families when encountering an unplanned pregnancy. The center is one of three pregnancy centers that collaborate with the Office of Pro-life Activities of the Archdiocese.
Anne Hazzan, a client advocate and a management advisor for Loving Choice, said the organization offers a special “man-cave” as a place for fathers-to-be to meet with a male advocate and ask the same or similar questions asked of the mom in a separate room.
“I always ask the mom if she would like the father-to-be to come back to her advocate room as we review community resources, medical insurance, etc. Most agree to that, but some moms prefer to remain alone for that information,” Hazzan said. “We also invite the mom to bring the father (and family members) to the ultrasound appointment and any prenatal/parenting classes that she
registers for.”
Hazzan said most of the fathers-to-be have similar concerns as the mothers, including financial constraints, living arrangements, job constraints, child care and family issues.
All services at Loving Choice are free, including pregnancy testing, ultrasound, prenatal and parenting classes, referrals for healthcare, counseling and community resources. David Skouby, a lead advocate at the center, said fathers come in “maybe 25% to 35% of the time.”
He said when fathers come into the center, they’ve already taken the first step in involvement.
MARRIAGE, from previous page
with His Father and how “He wants that community to be ours,” Cardinal DiNardo said. And because of this, the Spirit will always be working throughout the process, he said.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal DiNardo also blessed the icon, specially commissioned for the gathering and painted by Houstonbased artist Al Sauls.
The gathering also welcomed a special video message from Gabriella Gambino, under secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
She emphasized three points: vocation, with a catechumenal model reframing marriage as a vocation with grace, perhaps not as just an event;
“The vast majority of the ones we see are already being supportive, whether they are a husband, long-term boyfriend, or a relatively recent boyfriend,” Skouby said.
While there is no direct training for the fathers, they are encouraged to attend pregnancy and infant care classes with the mothers, he said.
Hazzan said they saw a major increase in mothers in need before the Dobbs decision on June 24, 2022.
“We had a major increase when Texas enacted the heartbeat bill prior to the Dobbs decision,” she said. “Lots of women were coming in very early, even before
interconnectedness, with the family as the center of all pastoral work much like a synodal effort; and discernment, understanding and growing skills to “read the signs of God.”
She also encouraged attendees to become “more effective” in “proclaiming the vocation marriage” so that young people can learn their vocation as a family and as part of the Church.
Panel sessions discussed the impacts of the message, as well as the Dicastery’s new document.
Julia Dezelski, director for marriage and family life ministries at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), helped lead the summit, which she said was “a unique means of inspiring and affecting action at all levels of the Church to respond to the
they missed their period, because they were worried about timelines related to their pregnancy. The client flow has been steady since that time.”
Loving Choice is funded by donations, both monetary and actual items for baby and mom, including diapers, wipes, clothing, strollers, car seats, gift cards, etc.). An annual fall gala, set for Oct. 7, also assists in raising funds.
Hazzan said people interested in volunteering with the organization should contact the center by email or by phone and a volunteer coordinator will respond. For more information or to donate, visit www.loving-choice.org. †
desire expressed from St. John Paul II to Pope Francis of establishing a catechumenal process of marriage preparation.”
“Catechumenal Pathways is the culmination of the Church’s longanticipated call for the renewal of marriage prep modeled on a catechumenate which precedes the Sacrament of Initiation or a pathway similar to what takes places in Order of Christian Initiation,” she said.
The summit, held at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Magnolia, was sponsored by the Scanlan Foundation, the USCCB’s Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, Witness to Love, University of St. Thomas-Houston, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. †
HOUSTON — The empowerment of youth ministry leaders plays a crucial role in fostering adolescents’ faith and spiritual growth, ultimately guiding the young Church into a full, active and conscious participation in Christ’s mission.
Tim Colbert, director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization (OACE) in the Archdiocese, emphasizes the significance of evangelizing and discipling each generation of youth for the present and future of the Church.
“OACE’s mission is to provide formation, leadership and resources in Comprehensive Youth Ministry so our parish leaders have the tools necessary to form our Catholic adolescents into lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Colbert.
Beatriz Green acknowledges the invaluable support provided to parish leaders by OACE that has fostered a professional and Christ-centered atmosphere for youth ministry. Green is currently the director of religious education and Quinceañera coordinator at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church and has been actively involved in youth ministry for over 20 years.
“OACE’s frequently offered
professional growth programs make it a lot easier to do a good job and serve as a reminder that I am not alone,” said Green. “There are opportunities for me to share with others the struggles I go through, knowing that perhaps other youth ministers are going through the
same issues.”
Green said OACE’s youth events have enabled young Catholics to experience a sense of belonging, not only within their own parish communities but also as integral members of the larger Archdiocesan family.
According to Colbert, in 2022, nearly 25,000 youth participated in OACEsponsored events, and the numbers are expected to surpass pre-pandemic figures. To equip youth ministry leaders to accommodate this increase in demand, OACE is developing an extensive prerecorded online comprehensive youth ministry leadership formation program that will be conveniently accessible 24/7.
Additionally, OACE is expanding its Spanish language programs to provide leadership, formation and resources to the Spanishspeaking community.
“New programs include a one-day Quinceañera retreat, an adult training retreat on effective retreat methodologies, professional Growth Days, a youth retreat, and a bilingual OACE website,” said Colbert.
As one of the 60-plus ministries supported by the annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), Colbert said the generosity of the faithful who contribute to the fund allows OACE to continue its outreach and formation opportunities for youth.
Green also emphasized the importance of DSF support in fostering a stronger faith and preparing young people to face the world as disciples of Christ.
“OACE is a large part of the backbone of those working toward fostering youth who are strong in their faith, ready to face the world,” Green said. “I feel very strongly about supporting OACE through the DSF. The staff cares deeply about the youth of the Archdiocese and sees them not only as the future of the Church but as a valuable part of the Body of Christ in today’s Church.”
Colbert said the Archdiocesan Youth Council, comprised of approximately 100 high school youth from across the Archdiocese who serve for one year, is another example of a DSF-supported
archgh.org/dsf
initiative. He said the council plays a vital role in guiding OACE to meet the needs of each new generation.
“The Archdiocesan Youth Council provides insights into the adolescent experience today and how the young Church may be evangelized,”said Colbert. “They provide leadership for various Archdiocesan-wide programs, develop themes and prayer experiences, and offer insights into the adolescent experience during regular meetings with OACE leadership and an annual meeting with His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.”
Colbert said the council also plans the annual Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC) held in the summer, which is OACE’s largest evangelizing event for older adolescents. He said production costs for AYC have significantly increased, which have become more financially burdensome each year.
“Production costs have risen from $37,000 in 2018 to over $100,000 today, which translates to $15 per participant in 2018 to $71 per participant today,”said Colbert. “Because this important event for our youth is becoming more cost prohibitive each year, additional DSF funding would be very instrumental.”
He said additional DSF funding also would assist OACE in developing a more robust outreach program for Catholic Youth of African Descent in the Archdiocese.
“Funds are needed for regional and national speakers for the Catholic Youth of African Descent’s youth day, subsidization for a youth retreat, and again, participation in AYC,” said Colbert. “Online formation opportunities also would be helpful since content development has stalled due to a lack of funding for outside authors and presenters.”
To learn more about OACE, go to www.archgh.org/oace. To donate to the DSF, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports each of these ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries. †
HOUSTON (OSV News) — With the feast of Corpus Christi last month in early June, the National Eucharistic Revival enters its second year and shifts its focus to parish renewal — a year organizers expect will inspire more parishes to increase the Eucharist’s visibility in their communities through Eucharistic processions.
“Processions have been a very public witness and display of faith,” said Joel Stepanek, the National Eucharistic Revival’s chief mission officer. Because of that public nature, they can be “jarring,” he said, prompting both Catholics and non-Catholics to reflect on the Real Presence.
“Just the stories and the images of the various processions that have been undertaken ... have been some of the most striking examples of how, on a diocesan level, there has been a response to this call for revival,” he said.
Launched as an initiative of the U.S. Catholic bishops in June 2022, the National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year movement that aims to deepen Catholics’ love for Jesus through encountering Him in the Eucharist. The revival’s second year leads up to a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
The revival’s first year was titled “The Year of Diocesan Revival,” and efforts focused on formation for diocesan leadership and diocesan-wide events. The revival’s second year, “The Year of Parish Revival,” aims to reach Catholics in their parishes through renewed attention to the “art” of the Mass, Eucharistic devotions, and small-group faith sharing and formation.
In the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, a local committee is working with parish and clergy leaders on implementing this next phase.
Eucharistic processions — which consist of the Eucharist, typically displayed in a monstrance, followed by the faithful for any length of distance inside or outside of a church — became common forms of public devotion for Catholics at points in the Church’s history when the teaching on the Real Presence was questioned. Catholics believe the Eucharist truly is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, who instituted this Sacrament at the Last Supper.
As part of the Counter-Reformation, Pope Julius III issued a decree in 1551 during the Council of Trent that said the Eucharist “is to be honored with extraordinary festive celebrations (and) solemnly carried from place to place in processions according to the praiseworthy universal rite and custom of the holy Church.”
Processions have been visible signs of the National Eucharistic Revival, organizers say, with dioceses introducing new events or expanding long-standing ones.
An elaborately stitched rug that featured a grouping of orange chrysanthemums proclaiming a special message in Polish: “Boze Ciało,” or “Corpus Christi” in English, reflected the day’s celebration, one that included dozens of prayers and events around the Archdiocese for the feast of Corpus Christi.
Over the centuries, the tradition of
Launched as an initiative of the U.S. Catholic bishops in June 2022, the National Eucharistic Revival is a threeyear movement that aims to deepen Catholics’ love for Jesus through encountering him in the Eucharist. The revival’s second year leads up to a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis and includes a national pilgrimage that will pass through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston next summer. Learn more about the Eucharistic Revival at EUCHARISTICREVIVAL.ORG.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to pass through Houston, connect Catholics across U.S. to 2024 Congress • PAGE 10 - 11 How to grow in devotion to the Eucharist (during the Eucharistic Revival and Beyond) • PAGE 12
processions create awareness “that this is the year for parishes to engage” with “that flowing of the love of the Lord out into the streets.”
processing with the Eucharist through the streets on the feast of Corpus Christi has spread throughout the Catholic Church and become a revered tradition for Catholics all over the world.
“Corpus Christi” (“Body of Christ”) is the Latin name of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In most U.S. dioceses, the feast day was celebrated June 11, and Eucharistic processions to mark the feast took place across the country in cities and towns, large and small.
This year, from Conroe to Katy, the Bay Area, Freeport, Missouri City and Houston, these public displays of devotion to the Real Presence in the Eucharist took on greater importance as the U.S. Church’s three-year National Eucharistic Revival entered its second year, shifting its focus to parish renewal.
The revival’s organizers expect this year will inspire more parishes to increase the Eucharist’s visibility in their communities.
At Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church in Spring Branch, parishioners donned traditional Polish clothing and led a Eucharistic procession with flowers, incense and rose petals around the church building, all while escorted by the Knights of Columbus. The orange flowers with the Corpus Christi message reflected the bright sunlight and fluttered
in the wind as the faithful prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.
In Conroe, parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church processed through the city’s downtown streets, following the Blessed Sacrament in prayer and devotion in a mile-long loop from the church sanctuary and back for benediction.
In Houston, Father Victor Perez, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Stephen parishes, carried a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in the shadow of downtown Houston’s towering skyscrapers.
Organizers say the processions and other National Eucharistic Revival gatherings are testimonies of the Catholic faith, that they are certain that walking with the Eucharist in the procession is to bless the people of God, that the Lord is in the Eucharist, that “this is about shouting out, ‘God is with us,’” and that in the middle of all that is happening today in society, Eucharistic processions are “signs of hope.”
David Spesia, executive director of the Committee for Evangelization and Catechesis at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishops’ committee spearheading the revival led by Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, said he hopes Corpus Christi
Eucharistic processions also will be a key part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, four routes pilgrims will travel with the Eucharist across the United States, culminating in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress, July 17 to 21, 2024. Organizers expect the Congress to draw 80,000 people.
In contrast to the magnitude of the national event, revival organizers are encouraging parishes to organize in small groups for formation and faith sharing and are preparing online study resources to aid them.
While organizers expect “getting people back into the pews” to be a “fruit” of the revival, “the goal is really this encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, and to understand that when He promised He was with us always, the most unique and precious way that happens is with the gift of the Eucharist and the celebration of the Mass,” Spesia said.
Devotions and acts of popular piety such as Eucharistic processions and Eucharistic adoration do not compete with the Mass but rather continue its celebration, he added.
“We all know that the celebration of the Sunday Mass is the key experience of the Church, worshipping the Father, with the Son, through the Holy Spirit,” he said. “Those devotions — that time of adoration — is the continuation of that celebration, that presence that comes from the sacrifice of the Mass. The Eucharistic processions flow from the Mass, and they’re designed to lead people back to the Sunday Liturgy.” †
HOUSTON (OSV News) —
Catholics in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will have a special opportunity to embrace and welcome the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage the weekend after Memorial Day in 2024.
Mobile, Alabama; Atlanta; Nashville, Tennessee; and Louisville, Kentucky, before concluding in Indianapolis in mid-July.
JUDGES 18:6
Jesus in the Eucharist. This could local pilgrimage sites. arrive. Plan your journey around by train, etc. Make pilgrimage experience. community such as your family, parish,
Thousands of Catholics from across the United States anticipate to participate in next year’s pilgrimage to the Congress, part of the U.S. bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival that began in 2021. The pilgrimage has four routes, with one beginning in the north, south, east and west of the country.
As you come to the threshold of your pilgrimage destination, do so with the knowledge that Jesus is waiting to encounter you in the Eucharist.
PRAYER: Spend some time in silent adoration, thanking God for this pilgrimage and praying for your petitions. Pray individually and as a group.
LITURGY: If possible, participate in Mass, offering the Mass for your petitions.
The southern route, dubbed the “Juan Diego Route” begins in
6. RETURNING
Brownsville, Texas, at the U.S.Mexico border. It will follow Texas’ eastern border through Corpus Christi, Victoria and Houston. After visiting Brownsville May 17 to 19, the “Juan Diego Route” will trek to Corpus Christi on May 24 to 26 and then to Houston on May 31 to June 2. It will then follow the Gulf Coast and continue to Beaumont, jumping the Louisiana border to Lake Charles, through Baton Rouge, and reach New Orleans on June 7. From there, the route will visit
PILGRIMAGE
You might also carry in community. Be very specific and peace!
under the eye of the LORD. heavenly companion for the journey.
DESTINATION
thanksgiving. Consider vocal prayers Mark 14:22-24, John 6:35, John
SHARING: Spend some quality time before you leave or on the way home sharing the graces of your experience with one another.
If you are traveling on your own, journal about these graces or share them with a friend.
7. POST-PILGRIMAGE
After your pilgrimage, pray about how the experience changed you. Ask Jesus to show you how he wants to be more present in your life through this pilgrimage.
If you carried the intentions of others, share something about what the pilgrimage meant for you with them.
Encounter with Jesus leads to mission. Make an act of service or kindness to share in the saving mission of Jesus.
A Eucharistic pilgrimage is a testimony to the world that Jesus is alive in the Eucharist, and he accompanies us—all of us—on our pilgrimage through life.
The northern “Marian Route” begins in northern Minnesota at Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The route follows the river to St. Paul and Minneapolis, its first weekend stop. The route also visits La Crosse and Green Bay, Wisconsin and continues to Milwaukee, Chicago and Notre Dame, Indiana, before arriving in Indianapolis.
The “Seton Route” — named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first U.S.-born saint — begins in New Haven, Connecticut, and continues through New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh and Steubenville, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The “Junipero Serra Route” begins in San Francisco — with hope of walking over the Golden Gate Bridge — and continues through Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City; Denver; North Platte and Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri; and St. Louis.
The routes include important Catholic sites in the United States, such the 18th-century ministry of St. Junipero Serra in what is now California, the Philadelphia tombs of St. John Neumann and St. Katharine Drexel, and in Wisconsin, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the only approved Marian apparition in the United States.
LORD
Mike Wavra thinks of the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as
The southern route is named for St. Juan Diego, whose vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe has had a massive impact on the spiritual character of North America.
St. Juan Diego had a great devotion to the Eucharist and made his own little pilgrimage every day, rising before dawn and walking 15 miles to daily Mass. Today we join him in asking Our Lady to lead America to a greater love for her Son in the Eucharist.
St. Juan Diego, pray for us!
“an opportunity to walk with the Lord.”
He and his wife, Cindi, both 65-year-old retirees, plan to join the pilgrimage at its northern launch point in Minnesota in May 2024, and then walk for about a week before rejoining the pilgrims seven weeks later in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
The Wavras are among the pilgrims traveling in the “Eucharistic caravans” on all four routes who will begin their journeys with Pentecost weekend celebrations May 17 to 18, 2024, leaving May 19. They will all converge on Indianapolis July 16, 2024, the day before the five-day Congress opens.
The pilgrimage is an opportunity for prayer and evangelization, as well as a way to engage Catholics unable to attend the Congress, said Tim Glemkowski, the National Eucharistic Congress’ executive director.
“What the pilgrimage builds us in prayerful for what God is going Congress,” he said. “It’s of us pilgrimaging, fasting, interceding, asking the His Church, His Bride, days. … They’re not things. It’s one pilgrimage: days of which happen in Indianapolis, and two which happen across our the way there.”
Weekend stops in major include special Liturgies, adoration, processions opportunities, Glemkowski
“People are going ‘Emmaus point’ at these the way, and we want local Church,” Peterson “That’s where it’s such to coordinate with like to say, ‘How can we really the great sacred sites diocese?’”
Each pilgrimage route to have 12 “perpetual pilgrims,” adults, including two committed to traveling route from their launch Indianapolis.
The faithful are invited pilgrimage for hours, days Each day of the pilgrimage begin with Mass and procession with the local before pilgrims continue their next stopping point.
A local committee of clergy and catechetical Houston currently in stages for when the arrives in Houston and share updates soon. †
OSV Pope
Minn., looks audience in the library Palace June 19. The blessing during the pope’s meeting of the organizing committees U.S. National Eucharistic Eucharistic Revival.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics need to recover a sense of awe and adoration before the Eucharist, knowing that and loving presence of the Lord,” Pope Francis told members of the committees organizing the National Eucharistic Revival National Eucharistic Congress in the United States.
Jesus spoke of Himself as “the living bread which came down from heaven, the true bread that gives life to the world,” told the group June 19, just three days after leaving the hospital following abdominal surgery.
“This morning, while I was celebrating the Eucharist, I thought about this a lot because it is what gives us life,” the “Indeed, the Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for authentic life because Eucharist Christ Himself is truly in our midst to nourish, console and sustain us on our journey.”
The pope blessed the four-foot-tall monstrance, paten and chalice that will be used during the eucharistic congress July 17 to 21, 2024.
The group was led by Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, chair of the U.S. bishops’ advisory group National Eucharistic Revival, a multi-year process aimed at renewing and strengthening faith in the real presence of Christ Eucharist, and chair of the board of directors planning the Eucharistic congress.
Pope Francis told the group that, unfortunately, today, many Catholics “believe that the Eucharist is more a symbol of the Lord’s presence and love.”
But, he said, “It is more than a symbol; it is the real and loving presence of the Lord.”†
pilgrimage does is it prayerful anticipation going to do at the “It’s two months fasting, praying, Lord to renew Bride, in those five two different pilgrimage: five happen in a stadium two months of our country on major cities will Liturgies, Eucharistic processions and service Glemkowski said. to reach an these spots along to support the Peterson said May 9. such a great gift like 65 dioceses really highlight sites of your route is expected pilgrims,” young seminarians, traveling the entire launch points to invited to join the days or weeks. pilgrimage will a Eucharistic local community continue the trek to point. of Archdiocesan catechetical leaders in the planning the pilgrimage and is expected to
Go in peace! The journey you are making is under the eye of the LORD.
WHERE: Choose a holy site that will help you grow closer to Jesus in the Eucharist. This could be a church, shrine, or monastery. See if your diocese has a list of local pilgrimage sites.
WHEN: Make sure the site will be open when you intend to arrive. Plan your journey around the celebration of the Mass or Eucharistic adoration.
TRAVEL: Decide how you will be traveling—walking, driving, by train, etc. Make arrangements beforehand so that you can be fully present to your pilgrimage experience.
WITH WHOM: Will you be traveling alone or with a community such as your family, parish, or youth group?
Pray for the special intentions that you and your loved ones have. You might also carry in your heart intentions for the Church, the world, or your local community. Be very specific and write them down. Jesus wants to bring healing, wholeness, and peace!
3.
PRAYER: Invite family and friends to join you in prayer.
PATRON: Pick a patron saint for your pilgrimage as your heavenly companion for the journey.
4.
PRAYER: Make your pilgrimage a time of prayer and thanksgiving. Consider vocal prayers like the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, or reading from Scripture: Mark 14:22-24, John 6:35, John 6:51-57, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-28.
JUDGES 18:6
OSV NEWS PHOTO
a four-foot-tall and a paten Cozzens of looks on during an of the Apostolic blessing took place meeting with members committees of the Eucharistic Congress and it is “the real Revival and the world,” the pope pope said. because in the congress in Indianapolis group for the Christ in the symbol than the reality
5.
AND PRAYING FOR YOUR INTENTIONS
As you come to the threshold of your pilgrimage destination, do so with the knowledge that Jesus is waiting to encounter you in the Eucharist.
PRAYER: Spend some time in silent adoration, thanking God for this pilgrimage and praying for your petitions. Pray individually and as a group.
LITURGY: If possible, participate in Mass, offering the Mass for your petitions.
SHARING: Spend some quality time before you leave or on the way home sharing the graces of your experience with one another.
If you are traveling on your own, journal about these graces or share them with a friend.
7. POST-PILGRIMAGE
After your pilgrimage, pray about how the experience changed you. Ask Jesus to show you how he wants to be more present in your life through this pilgrimage.
If you carried the intentions of others, share something about what the pilgrimage meant for you with them.
Encounter with Jesus leads to mission. Make an act of service or kindness to share in the saving mission of Jesus.
A Eucharistic pilgrimage is a testimony to the world that Jesus is alive in the Eucharist, and he accompanies us—all of us—on our pilgrimage through life.
You don’t have to wait for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to pass through Houston to be a part of this historic journey. Make pilgrimage a part of your experience of revival by planning a self-led personal pilgrimage.
This Year of Parish Revival is about falling deeper in love with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and following Him more closely. Mirroring this internal journey with an external one is a beautiful way to connect body and soul in the pursuit of Christ. This can be anything from visiting a faraway shrine or parish to walking to Mass in the morning.
Here in the Archdiocese, you could visit the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston or the Mother Church of Texas, St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, or consider the historic “Painted Churches” in our western counties, or to the Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson.
Remember, the value of a pilgrimage is not in the distance traveled but in the disposition of our own hearts and the zeal with which we seek God. †
HOUSTON (OSV News) — The Eucharist is the summit of our faith, in which the entire story of our salvation is made real in a miraculous and powerful way. The Roman Missal calls Holy Eucharist the “Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received; the memory of His passion is renewed; the mind is filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given unto us.”
Yet how often do we have a moment to reflect on this priceless gift? Even in Mass, we can become distracted, and what is miraculous and precious becomes routine. The National Eucharistic Revival can be such an opportunity for reflection and for deepening our love for what God has given us — His Son, Jesus, who we receive into our hearts.
During this time, we can make a point to focus on the Eucharist — in the Mass, in our reading, in our faith formation classes, and in the quiet of our own hearts. We can use this time well to pay closer attention to this gift.
THE EUCHARIST AND THE MASS
At every Mass, we are witnesses to a miracle. The Eucharist is not a symbol of Our Lord; the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. At the altar, He truly comes to us, again and again, in His real presence.
Christ Himself instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper as a “memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity,
a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 47).
The Eucharist calls us to memorialize Christ’s passion and death on the cross, the sacrifice in which He won for us our salvation and eternity with the Father. It also is a tremendous sign of our unity as believers. We call it Holy Communion because when we approach the altar, we
Through the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Churches are celebrating Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition, Catholics spend time praying and worshipping the Lord in the Eucharist while the Host is exposed on the altar.
In Adult Faith Formation: Throughout the revival, parishes around the Archdiocese are offering programs and other types of study on the Eucharist. Catholics are encouraged to take advantage of these programs and join with others in deepening their faith and understanding of the Eucharist.
Explore other stories and learn more about the Eucharistic Revival online at WWW.EUCHARISTICREVIVAL.ORG.
are acknowledging our unity with Christ, His Church, and one another.
Yet these words can only partially express a mystery that is beyond words: “If you understood Him, it would not be God,” writes St. Augustine. So, too, with the Eucharist.
During the National Eucharistic Revival, we can plumb this mystery more and more deeply — not just when we come together for Mass, but in every situation of life.
The Church asks all of us to examine our consciences to make sure we are truly prepared to receive Jesus:
• Are we in a “state of grace,” that is, not aware of any unconfessed grave sin? If not, then we should celebrate the Sacrament of reconciliation first.
• Have we observed the one-hour fast from food and drink (except for water and medicine) before receiving Our Lord?
• Do we believe in the Real Presence; do we believe that Christ is present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity?
• Are we faithful to the moral teachings of the Church in our personal/public lives?
• At Mass: When we recognize that Jesus Himself is present in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to realize that participation every week at Sunday Mass (or Saturday vigil Mass) is more than an obligation. It is a privilege!
When you are in the presence of the Consecrated Host, pray with heartfelt sincerity, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” With St. Thomas, who touched the wounds of the Lord, simply say, “My
Lord and my God.”
• Make a spiritual communion: When we desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist but are unable to do so, we may make what is called a “spiritual communion.” Wherever we may be, we need only ask the Lord to come into our hearts and renew His life within us. We can then spend a few moments in prayer and praise, and then resolve to receive Communion as soon as possible.
• Before the tabernacle: Jesus is present in the Host reserved in the tabernacle. We can take time out regularly to visit a church and talk to Him there. Make it a “Holy Hour.”
• In an adoration chapel: Many churches provide a place where the Blessed Sacrament remains exposed for prayer and adoration every day — sometimes even around the clock (the latter is known as “perpetual adoration”). This arrangement provides an excellent and ongoing opportunity to draw close to Jesus in his Eucharistic presence outside Mass. If possible, sign up for a regular time to visit the church or chapel.
• Through learning and teaching. Abundant resources are available for study. Ask your pastor or directors of religious education for suggestions about literature, recordings, broadcasts and websites that teach about the Eucharist.
• Cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Finally, keep in mind that the word “Eucharist”literally means“thanksgiving.”
In Holy Communion, as Jesus gives Himself to us, we give ourselves to him as well in gratitude. His sacrifice on the Cross — presented on the altar — takes away the sins of the world and makes possible for us a life of intimate union with God. †
Josephine Ciulla Maduzia
TOMBALL — Josephine Ciulla Maduzia, mother of Father Norbert Maduzia E.V., pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Spring, died June 21. She was 89 years old.
A funeral Mass was held June 24 at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Spring. Interment is in Klein Memorial Park in Tomball. †
BRIDGE CITY — Shirley Ann Manuel-Scott, mother of Father James Burkart, pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, died June 10. She was 85 years old.
A funeral Mass was held June 14 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange, Texas. Interment is in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Bridge City, Texas. †
Father Louis Zee
HOUSTON — Father Louis Zee, former pastor of Ascension Chinese Mission, died June 18. He was 90 years old.
He was a priest from the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa and served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston from 2000 to 2016 as pastor of Ascension Chinese Mission until he retired.
A funeral Mass was held June 24 at Ascension Chinese Mission. †
Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of August.
August 1, 1993 Rev. John B. Mullins, CSB
Aug. 3, 1999 Rev. John A. Weihrer
Aug. 4, 1985 Rev. James P. Courneen, MM
Aug. 4, 1995 Rev. John A. Burke, CSB
Aug. 7, 2001 Rev. Msgr. George A. Beck
Aug. 8, 1943 Rev. Thomas F. Hogan
Aug. 8, 1969 Rev. John M. Cody
Aug. 8, 2006 Rev. William J. Young, CSB
Aug. 9. 1895 Rev. Joseph Querat
Aug. 9, 2014 Rev. Franklin Simmons
Aug. 10, 1856 Rev Jean-Maurice Verdet, OMI
Aug. 10, 1979 Rev. Joseph P. Walsh
Aug. 11, 1997 Rev. Ernest P. Magee, CSB
Aug. 12, 2013 Msgr. David W. Kennedy
Aug. 13, 1844 Rev. J.M. Paquin, CM
Aug. 15, 1931 Rev. Thomas J. Finn
Aug. 15, 1970 Rev. Francis J. Klass
Aug. 15, 1990 Rev. Timothy Curry, OP
Aug. 16, 2012 Rev. Anselm Walker
Aug. 17, 2013 Rev. Joseph A. Gietl
Aug. 17, 2013 Msgr. Charles C. Domec
Aug. 17, 2014 Rev. Jacques Weber, S.J.
Aug. 18, 2020 Rev. Elias Dorion
Aug. 19, 2017 Rev. Donald Bahlinger, SJ
Aug. 20, 1970 Rev. George F. Laurenson
Aug. 21, 1998 Rev. Stanley Guzik, OMI
Aug. 21, 2001 Rev. John J. Connolly
Aug. 23, 1857 Rev. John Bottet
Aug. 23, 1947 Rev. George Berberich
Aug. 25, 2007 Rev. A. Peter Whitney
Aug. 25, 2015 Rev. William M. Pickard
Aug. 26, 1980 Rev. Michael Biondi, CSB
Aug. 26, 2003 Msgr. Elmer T. Quinters
Aug. 27, 2002 Rev. Norbert N. Clemens, CSB
Aug. 28, 1989 Msgr. Jack J. Davis
Aug. 30, 1986 Rev. Arthur Nichols
Aug. 30, 2003 Rev. Feliciano del Val
Aug. 31, 1867 Rev. A.M. Micouleau
Full descriptions for each open position are available online: www.archgh.org/ employment
Development Department: Development Coordinator
Legal Department: Legal Counsel
Internal Audit: Director Senior Internal Auditor
Clergy Formation and Claplaincy Services: Executive Administrative Assistant
Special Youth Services: Pastoral Minister
Catholic Cemeteries: Family Services Associate
St. Dominic Village Retirement Home: Support Specialist to Retired Priests
Interested candidates may send a cover letter, with salary requirement, and resume to resume@archgh.org with the job title on the subject line.
*Submissions that do not include the salary requirement will not be moved forward for consideration.
ROSHARON — On June 27, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo confirmed 10 men at the TDCJ Ramsey prison unit in Rosharon. Three others were baptized.
For several months before the actual Confirmation, volunteers with the Office of Correctional Ministries prepared the men for the journey of learning and discerning their new choices in life. Much hard work and some expected and unexpected delays pushed the actual Confirmation back several months.
“In prison, you become complacent with delays and sometimes the wrong answer, no,” Deacon Alvin Lovelady, director of the Office of Correctional Ministries, said.
The volunteers preparing these men were determined to see this through, and along with the delays from everywhere, including the Office of Correctional Ministries trying to get paperwork completed, they managed to get a date suitable for everyone.
“We went from 14 men to 10 due to transfers, a normal issue we have with the prisons, and the final number was
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A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN
• Elemental (PG)
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (PG-13)
• A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
• Asteroid City (PG-13)
• Fast X (PG-13)
• Padre Pio (R)
• Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (PG)
• Sound of Freedom (PG-13)
set,” Deacon Lovelady said. “Then, two weeks before Confirmation, some men were transferred out while others were transferred in, and the paperwork was a nightmare, but we were back on track with nine to confirm just a few days away from this glorious occasion.”
Deacon Lovelady said one of the men who transferred out only two weeks before the Confirmation was transferred back to the Ramsey unit three days before the Confirmation.
“In our last phone conversation Friday, June 26, I told Father Mark Hebert, Cardinal DiNardo’s priest secretary, that I would confirm with him Saturday morning at the prison if we still had 10 to confirm and three to baptize. It just gets cut that close sometimes,” Deacon Lovelady said.
Because of the Baptisms and the celebration of new life, Cardinal DiNardo went to white for the vestments instead of red as we had planned.
“The day was truly a blessing and a new beginning,” Deacon Lovelady said. †
• Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse (PG)
• The Blackening (R)
• The Boogeyman (PG-13)
• The Flash (PG-13)
• L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Beau Is Afraid (R)
• O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE
• Book Club: The Next Chapter (PG-13)
• No Hard Feelings (R)
For more reviews, visit osvnews.com/category/reviews
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.
I invite you to reflect on your adolescent years and recall your intermediate years or “middle school” era. Some of our experiences might not look as pretty as others, but I am more than positive we wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite our experiences, adolescence is a beautiful development stage filled with growth and zeal for belonging and learning.
Let’s start by acknowledging that the adolescent brain finishes developing and maturing in the mid-to-late 20s; therefore, until the university years, the brain isn’t fully developed. Knowing that about our brain function, what do we know about the pedagogy of God? Many times, we choose to ignore the theological or spiritual perspective and rely only on the medical or scientific approach. Little did we know, our doctors of the Church studied the same concepts we instill today.
In fact, one of the Fathers of our Church, St. Augustine, who is known as a Master of Teaching the Doctrine, provides numerous principles in his literature.
St. Augustine shares with us how we
are to pass on the faith. In De Catechizandis Rudibus, we start by acknowledging the need for faith in our community, and we use sacred Scripture to unpack the foundational void present. If we are living out our baptismal promises, we should be able to see that our youth are studying and applying God’s word, right? Even at a young age, children mimic what their parents do or what they are influenced by. St. Augustine goes on to tell us to have a mutual respect for the different developmental learning levels persons may have. If you were to look at any classroom, you would find that children are at the diverse basis of learning. In fact, for example, biological twins learn differently, and not one child learns the same way another does. Our Church Father doesn’t just tell us what we already know. He kindly gives us methodology and guidance to reach all
learners.
by MELISSA ALVAREZOne of the main principles that St. Augustine gives us when catechizing persons with learning differences is the use of similitudes for further explanation. In other words, visual aids may include pictographs, audiovisuals, graphic organizers, flashcards, story kits/books, etc. Any similitude available to aid in the learning process of a person would be considered a helpful and essential apparatus. Visual aids consist of only one tool. If you were to look at adapted curricula, you would find various learning manipulatives.
We all want practical or simple ways to apply instruction but take any educator, and you will find that educating is nothing simple.
Not only are we competing with the world of instant technological gratification, but it also challenges educators to more creatively reach all learners and, at the same time, work with executive functioning skills that may be in the process of developing. If you know a little bit about St. Augustine, you would know that his background was in law. Therefore, St. Augustine, who
studied law, spent his early years around intellectual minds but eventually found himself catechizing everyone, including persons who had no educational background or intellectual basis.
Now that we have reflected on our own adolescent years and have studied several principles from St. Augustine, I ask you to put yourself in the shoes of our youth in today’s world. Consider the different factors that surround them and are constantly influenced by.
Understanding that our youth are the future, we take responsibility to guide them in our Lord Jesus Christ’s truth.
As our Mother Mary pointed to Jesus and prompted the first miracle, we, too, should be pointing our youth toward Jesus. Ultimately, we are on this pilgrimage together, and we thank God for all the saints before us that had struggles and growth opportunities as well. †
Each summer, Catholic parishes in the United States participate in the Missionary Cooperative Plan. In this program, missionaries from around the world are invited by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo to speak during the Mass, sharing stories of their work and asking for support. There is a mutual benefit. The missionary receives prayer and financial assistance to continue, and the parish community gains a connection to the universal Church.
The Missionary Cooperative Plan of the United States began in the 1930s as a way to organize the many requests coming to the bishops and pastors for support for the Church in mission lands. It offers a second time during the year for a parish to contribute to the Church’s international missionary work, following the annual October World Mission Sunday.
As followers of Christ, we are called
to have His mindset. He fed the hungry, cured the sick and welcomed the outcast.
“Inspired by this, the Church has made an option for the poor, which is understood as ‘a special form of primacy in the exercise of Christian charity, to which the whole tradition of the Church bears witness.’” (Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel).
by HILDA OCHOAWe want to offer assistance, but with the daily news inundating us with stories of wars, accidents and natural and human disasters, we can feel helpless about how to respond.
Through the Missionary Cooperative Plan, our contributions can make a
difference. We can take outreach to the country of India as an example. Recently in Eastern India, several trains crashed, resulting in the loss of over 200 lives. The news reports brought attention to the concerns of this country. How can someone help people on the other side of the world? When the missionaries speak at the parishes, we can listen, learn and speak with them after the Mass. Through this opportunity for encounter, trusted relationships can be built. Parishioners now have a human connection through which to help.
The Missionary Cooperative Plan for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston includes over 40 groups from various continents, including religious congregations of men, religious congregations of women, and mission dioceses. The weekend for the mission appeal talks vary and are arranged by mutual agreement with the pastor and
missionary. Check your parish bulletin and be ready to participate.
As Pope Francis explains, “This is why I want a Church which is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us… in their difficulties, they know the suffering of Christ… We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them… We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, and to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them, and to embrace the mysterious wisdom God wishes to share with us through them.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel).
By listening and then sharing with the Missionary Cooperative Plan visitors, we have the opportunity to do just that. †
Hilda Ochoa is the director of the Office of Missions.
“Lord, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty
creation and reawaken our gratitude
sense
responsibility.” – Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will have nine events with young people, including hearing their confessions and eating lunch with them, during his Aug. 2 to 6 trip to Portugal.
He will arrive in Lisbon on Aug. 2, where he will be welcomed by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, president of Portugal, and meet with government officials, including Prime Minister António Costa. The pope will then pray vespers with local bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and pastoral workers.
Pope Francis will begin his activities with young people on Aug. 3, meeting with students from the Catholic University of Portugal as well as participants in the local branch of Scholas Occurrentes, an education initiative the pope has been involved with since he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
The following morning the pope will hear young people’s confessions. He will then meet with aid workers from local charities before having lunch with young people at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lisbon. In the evening, he will participate in the Stations of the Cross with young people.
On Aug. 5, Pope Francis will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima and pray the Rosary with young people who are ill.
The Marian shrine at Fátima is connected to Pope Francis’ public prayer appeals for an end the war in Ukraine. In March 2022, just over one month after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the pope consecrated both countries to Mary’s immaculate heart, praying before a statue of Our Lady of Fátima in St. Peter’s Basilica. Before her death, Sister Lúcia dos Santos, one of the
three Portuguese children who claimed to see apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917, had said Mary requested that Russia be consecrated to her immaculate heart by a reigning pope to bring peace to the world.
Previous popes had consecrated Russia to Mary’s immaculate heart in various forms but had never mentioned the country by name as Pope Francis did in 2022.
In 2017, Pope Francis celebrated Mass
at the shrine to mark 100 years since the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima as part of a quick trip to Portugal that lasted just over 24 hours. He canonized Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, the cousins of Sister dos Santos, who also saw Mary at Fátima. Francisco in 1919 at the age of 10, while Jacinta succumbed to her illness in 1920 at the age of 9. Sister dos Santos died in 2005 at the age of 97.
Pope Francis will end his trip to Portugal by celebrating the closing Mass for World Youth Day along the Portuguese coast.
About 1.5 million young Catholics are expected to attend World Youth Day in Lisbon. The Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston will be taking 106 young adult pilgrims to participate in the event. It will be the Catholic Church’s first global event since the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Bryce Kathage will likely be the “youngest” in the crowd. The third-year nursing student at Australian Catholic University (ACU), who also has served in the Australian military’s infantry corps, became a Catholic at Easter, inside the chapel where he experienced his first Mass. The World Youth Day in Lisbon will be his first international Catholic encounter.
“At the start of the year, I didn’t even know what World Youth Day was,” Kathage said. “Admittedly, I still have a lot to learn about the Catholic faith, I’ve really only learned the basics, but hopefully, I can come back from World Youth Day with a lot more knowledge to share with the community here at ACU.”
As the U.S. Catholic bishops heard at their spring assembly’s June 16 plenary session in Orlando, World Youth Day 2023 can be not just a singular event but become a movement to uplift the Church for years and generations to come.
“Let’s consider more ways to leverage this moment for the mission of the
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be taking 106 young adult pilgrims to participate in World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 1 to 6. For more details about the trip, and to help support these young pilgrims on their journey, donations can be made at www.archgh.org/wyd2023.
Church,” Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said.
He told the U.S. bishops that World Youth Day, both in Lisbon, Portugal and in accompanying stateside celebrations, can be “the start of a movement in our Church that can renew our hope, rejuvenate our communities, and rekindle our missionary mandate.”
Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas, the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops’ episcopal liaison to World Youth Day, said that among the more than a million Catholics set to gather at the event will be 26,000 pilgrims — most of whom are young adults over the age of 18 — from more than 900 pilgrimage groups across the United States. That number is more than double the number of U.S. pilgrims from 2019 World Youth Day in Panama.
This World Youth Day, U.S. pilgrims, including the attending clergy and religious, were asked to lead and participate in synodal catechetical sessions called “Rise Up!” so “young people,” Bishop Burns said, “can engage in prayer and open dialogue with bishops.”
Bishop Barron, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, stressed the importance of local stateside celebrations in dioceses.
“We need to give all the young people in our dioceses the opportunity to feel this global solidarity,” he said.
World Youth Day is an event that was initiated by St. John Paul II in 1985 and is meant to gather Catholic young people from around the world for several days of prayer, catechesis and community. †
— Meeting in Orlando for their spring assembly, the U.S. bishops moved ahead on some efforts to advance the Church’s mission in the U.S., including new pastoral initiatives aimed at activating Catholics as missionary disciples.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, was joined by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, attended the gathering, whose June 15 to 16 plenary sessions proved relatively smooth but featured moments of vigorous discussion at a few points, particularly around the formation of priests.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services gave his first address as U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) president presiding over the bishops’ plenary assembly. He covered a variety of issues of concern to Catholics, such as the need for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform and for an end to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“We cannot fail to see the face of Christ in all of those who need our assistance, especially the poor and the vulnerable,” he said.
The papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Christophe Pierre, made his case to the U.S. bishops on June 15 that synodality, oriented to Jesus Christ as their “true north,” unleashes missionary activity.
“The purpose of walking this synodal path is to make our evangelization more effective in the context of the precise challenges that we face today,” Archbishop Pierre said in his address at the U.S. bishops. The archbishop also singled out Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell of Los Angeles, who was shot to death earlier this year, as “a model of synodal service, combined with Eucharistic charity.”
The U.S. Catholic bishops gathered voiced their approval for the advancement of a cause to canonize five missionary priests from Brittany, France, known as the “Shreveport Martyrs.”
In their message to Pope Francis, the bishops also strongly condemned an execution that the state of Florida carried out on June 15 in the evening following their meeting.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores of
Brownsville, Texas, updated the bishops on the progress of the 2023-2024 global Synod on Synodality. Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, presented on the National Eucharistic Revival and outlined how the “small group initiative” in the parish year could help deepen people’s relationship to Christ in the Eucharist.
“We all know how much our Church needs to move from maintenance to mission ... this is really the heart of what we’re attempting to do,” he said.
Most votes taking place had nearunanimous approval, such as the agenda items related to retranslating the Liturgy of the Hours into English, including having the future edition include some prayer texts in Latin.
The bishops approved the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Latino Ministry with 167 in favor, 2 against and 2 abstentions. The 62-page plan seeks to respond to the needs of about 30 million Hispanic/Latino Catholics in the U.S. and strengthen Hispanic/Latino ministries at the national, local and parish level.
Ahead of the vote, Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, California, chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs, told OSV News there was a great need to “get moving so that (the new pastoral plan) can be implemented in our dioceses and parishes.”
A day before the vote took place, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop J. Arturo Cepeda, who chairs the USCCB’s Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, called the plan a sign of the times that recognizes Hispanic/Latino Catholics — who account for more than 40% of U.S. Catholics — as “missionaries among us” that can reinvigorate the life of the Church.
The most contentious discussion took place regarding the proposed second edition of the “Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.” Some bishops took to the floor to object they had not had time to read the document or that it was so lengthy priests would likely not read it and dismiss its contents.
Bishop Steven R. Biegler of Cheyenne, Wyoming, said he appreciated the document’s beautiful description of the Christian relationship to God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “What I find lacking
is that communal relationship to the Body of Christ... that puts us in solidarity with one another as brother and sister,” he said.
However, other bishops pushed back against delaying the document, noting the hard work that went into developing it and that the document was meant to be a guide adapted to the realities of local churches.
Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, ordained as a priest for the Servants of the Eucharist and Mary, who is an auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, said the term “spiritual fatherhood” is “actually a term that is more familiar and clear for those who are younger in the priesthood.”
Ultimately, the bishops approved the formation document with 144 voting in favor, 24 against and 8 abstentions.
The discussion and vote on priorities for the 2025-28 USCCB strategic plan were put on hold so that the bishops could reflect upon and, presumably, include some of the discussion from the synod conversations.
In a voice vote, the bishops approved beginning the process of consultation and revision of ethical directives for Catholic healthcare facilities to guide
gender dysphoria and who identify as transgender.
Bishop Flores said potential changes would be “limited and very focused” in nature and involve extensive consultation. He praised the calls from bishops on the floor for a “pastorally sensitive” approach to the complex topic.
The U.S. bishops also voiced approval for the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth to move ahead on drafting a new pastoral statement for persons with disabilities.
“We do believe a new statement is needed to address disability concerns in the 21st century,” Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, the committee’s chair, told the bishops on June 16. The intended statement aims to emphasize the giftedness of persons with disabilities, eliminate outdated forms of referring to persons with disabilities, and would be inclusive of persons who have mental illnesses. †
During the discussion, Seán Cardinal O’Malley of Boston joined Bishop John T. Folda of Fargo, North Dakota, in noting the importance of Catholics being allied with the disability community against assisted suicide, and the cardinal asked for more attention to support parents of
Los invito a mirar hacia su pasado y en sus propios años de adolescencia y recordar sus años intermedios o la era de la secundaria. Algunas de nuestras experiencias pueden no parecer tan bonitas como otras, pero estoy más que seguro de que no lo tendríamos de otra manera. A pesar de nuestras experiencias, la adolescencia es una hermosa etapa de desarrollo llena de crecimiento y diligencia por el aprendizaje. Comencemos reconociendo que el cerebro adolescente termina de desarrollarse y madurar a mediados y finales de los años 20, por lo tanto, es hasta los años universitarios que el cerebro está completamente desarrollado. Sabiendo eso acerca de nuestra función cerebral, ¿Qué sabemos acerca de la pedagogía de Nuestro Señor? Muchas veces, elegimos ignorar la perspectiva teológica o espiritual y confiar solo en el enfoque médico o científico. Nuestros propios Doctores de la Iglesia estudiaron los mismos conceptos que inculcamos hoy en día. De hecho, uno de los padres/doctores de nuestra Iglesia, San Agustín, conocido como un maestro de la enseñanza de la doctrina, proporciona numerosos principios en su literatura. San Agustín comparte con nosotros cómo debemos
transmitir la fe en, De Catechizandis Rudibus, comenzamos reconociendo la necesidad de fe en nuestra comunidad, y usamos la Sagrada Escritura para desempacar el vacío fundamental que está presente. Si estamos viviendo nuestras promesas bautismales, deberíamos ser capaces de ver que nuestros jóvenes están estudiando y aplicando la palabra de Dios, ¿Verdad? Incluso a una edad temprana, los niños imitan lo que hacen sus padres o lo que les influye. San Agustín continúa diciéndonos que tengamos un respeto mutuo a los diferentes niveles de aprendizaje del desarrollo que las personas pueden tener. En cualquier salón de clases, encontrará que los niños están en diversas bases de aprendizaje. De hecho, por ejemplo, los gemelos biológicos aprenden de manera diferente y ningún niño aprende de la misma manera que otro. Nuestro Padre de la Iglesia no solo nos dice lo que ya sabemos sino también nos ayuda. Él amablemente nos da metodología y
orientación para llegar enseñar a todos los estudiantes.
Uno de los principios fundamentales que San Agustín nos da al catequizar a las personas con diferencias de aprendizaje es el uso de similitudes para una explicación más detallada.
por MELISSA ALVAREZEn otras palabras, ayudas visuales que pueden incluir pictografías, audiovisuales, organizadores gráficos, tarjetas didácticas, kits de cuentos/libros, etc. Cualquier similitud disponible para ayudar en el proceso de aprendizaje de una persona, se consideraría útil y esencial. Las ayudas visuales constan de una sola herramienta. Si mirara los planes de estudio adaptados, encontraríamos varios manipulativos de aprendizaje.
Todos queremos formas prácticas o simples de aplicar la instrucción, pero tome cualquier educador y encontrará que educar no es nada simple. No solo estamos compitiendo con el mundo de la gratificación tecnológica instantánea, sino que también reta a los educadores a doctrinar de manera más creativa a todos los estudiantes y, al mismo tiempo, trabajar con las habilidades del funcionamiento ejecutivo que pueden estar en proceso de desarrollo. Si sabes un poco sobre San Agustín, sabemos que su formación era en leyes. Por lo tanto,
San Agustín, que estudió legislación, pasó sus primeros años alrededor de muchos intelectuales, pero finalmente se encontró catequizando a todos, incluidas las personas que no tenían antecedentes educativos o base intelectual.
Ahora que hemos reflexionado sobre nuestros propios años de adolescencia y hemos estudiado varios principios de San Agustín, les pido que se pongan en los zapatos o en otras palabras en el lugar de nuestra adolescencia en el mundo de hoy. Considere los diferentes factores que los rodean y que constantemente los pueda influenciar. Entendiendo que nuestros jóvenes son el futuro, aceptamos la responsabilidad de guiarlos en la verdad de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Así como nuestra Madre María señaló a Jesús en el primer milagro, nosotros también deberíamos de estar apuntando a nuestros jóvenes hacia Jesús.
Por último, estamos juntos en esta peregrinación y damos gracias a Dios por todos los santos que también tuvieron luchas y oportunidades de crecimiento. †
Melissa Alvarez es la subdirectora asociada de el Ministerio con Personas con Discapacidad en la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.
CIUDAD DELVATICANO (CNS) — Los cristianos están llamados a ser profetas modernos que guíen a otros a ver al Espíritu Santo actuar en la vida cotidiana y no a ser personas supersticiosas que tratan de predecir o controlar el futuro, dijo el Papa Francisco.
“Un cristiano no cree en las supersticiones como la magia, las cartas, los horóscopos o cosas similares”, dijo a unos 15.000 visitantes reunidos en la Plaza de San Pedro el 2 de julio para rezar el Ángelus. Amonestó a quienes lo hacen, diciendo que “muchos cristianos van a que les lean las manos”.
Los profetas no se limitan a las figuras bíblicas que anticiparon la venida de Jesús, ya que “Jesús mismo hoy habla de la necesidad de acoger a los profetas”, dijo el Papa, reflexionando sobre la lectura del Evangelio del día de San Mateo en la que Jesús dice: “El que recibe a un profeta porque es profeta, tendrá recompensa de profeta”.
“Profeta, hermanos y hermanas,
es cada uno de nosotros”, dijo el Papa Francisco. “Profeta es aquel que, en virtud del bautismo, ayuda a los demás a leer el presente bajo la acción del Espíritu Santo”, que ayuda a las personas a “comprender los proyectos de Dios y a corresponderlos”.
El Papa dijo que un profeta es alguien que “muestra a Jesús a los demás, que da testimonio de él, que nos ayuda a vivir el hoy y a construir el mañana según sus planes”.
El Papa Francisco animó a los cristianos a reflexionar sobre cómo viven su llamada bautismal a ser profetas en su vida cotidiana, y a preguntarse: “¿Cómo va mi testimonio? ¿Cómo va mi profecía?”.
Dijo que la lectura del Evangelio del día no sólo llama a los cristianos a ser profetas, sino también a recibirlos.
“Es importante que nos acojamos unos a otros como tales, como portadores de un mensaje de Dios, cada uno según su estado y su vocación y hacerlo allí donde vivimos”, dijo, “es decir, en la familia, en la
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.
parroquia, en las comunidades religiosas, en los demás ámbitos de la Iglesia y de la sociedad”.
Especialmente en la toma de decisiones, el Papa dijo que es importante reconocer los dones proféticos de cada persona y dedicarse a escuchar y dialogar antes de llegar a una conclusión.
“Pensemos en cuántos conflictos se podrían evitar y resolver así, poniéndose en escucha de los demás con el sincero deseo de comprenderse”, dijo. “Porque cada uno de nosotros necesita aprender de los demás”.
Tras rezar el Ángelus, el Papa Francisco le dijo a la multitud congregada en la Plaza de San Pedro que “no nos cansemos de rezar por la paz” durante los meses de verano, y en particular por el pueblo de Ucrania y por todos los conflictos olvidados del mundo.
“Interesémonos por lo que sucede, ayudemos a quien sufre y recemos, porque la oración es la fuerza mansa que protege y sostiene el mundo”, dijo. †
For ATA submission details and additional listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
JULY 14-16
RETREAT , Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Three-day silent retreat with Father Sebastine Okoye. includes Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and prayer. $265. 713-464-0211 ext. 10; www. holynameretreatcenter.com.
RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND , Retrouvaille is for marriages in crisis or couples struggling to rebuild relationships. The weekend is not a spiritual retreat, a marriage encounter or a marriage seminar. Confidential registration is required. Register: HelpOurMarriage.com; houstonretrouvaille@gmail.com; 713-5296242.
JULY 20-22
RETREAT , Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). Renew body and spirit with a three-day retreat of relaxation, fun and rejuvenation. Cost: $75 to $280, includes snacks and lunch. www. emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
GARAGE SALE , July 20: Early Bird 8 a.m. to noon $20 entry, and 5 to 8 p.m. is $5 entry; July 21 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and July 22 8 to 11 a.m. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd., Houston). Free entry Saturday and Sunday. SeasOffice@ SeasCatholic.org.
JULY 27-29
GARAGE SALE, July 27: Early Bird 4 to 7 p.m.; July 28: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; July 29: 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Sacred Heart of Jesus (6502 County Rd. 48, Manvel). CDA Court #2073 hosts a garage sale. Donations will be accepted at the Parish Hall only on July 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. idascsr@gmail.com.
GARAGE SALE, July 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., July 28 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 29 from 9 a.m.
to noon, St. Theresa Community Center (705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land). Sale include adult and children’s clothing, shoes, toys, household goods, linens, furniture, holiday and other items. Donations will be accepted at the Church Community Center on July 23 1p.m. to 6 p.m. and July 24 to 26 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 281507-1350.
JULY 28-30
GARAGE SALE, July 28: 5 to 8 p.m.; July 29: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; July 30: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Ambrose (4213 Mangum Rd., Houston). Sale includes adult and children’s clothing, housewares, electronics, furniture, collectibles, books, shoes, etc. Credit cards accepted. 713-686-3497; www. stambrosehouston.org.
RETREAT, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Retreat for married couples with Father Kingsley Nwoko. Cost: $430 per couple, includes lodging, meals and materials. 713-464-0211 ext. 10; Register: www. holynameretreatcenter.com/married-couplesretreat.
AUG. 3-6
RETREAT, Christian Renewal Center (1515 Hughes Rd., Dickinson). St. Hyacinth in Deer
Park is hosting a Women’s ACTS Retreat for women ages 18 and older to deepen their relationship with God. 713-385-0470; saenzpr@ gmail.com.
AUG. 9
RETREAT, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). Explore how to handle life’s unexpected changes and grief towards transformation. Cost: $40, www. emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
AUG. 12
MASS, 5 p.m., Assumption Parish (901 Roselane St., Houston). Event honors parish’s anniversary with procession followed by Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at 6 p.m. Dinner to follow.
RETREAT, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). Explore having a rule of faith. Cost: $40. www. emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
AUG. 19-20
GARAGE SALE, Saturday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church (6220 La Salette Dr., Houston).
Adult and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, unique finds, keepsakes, furniture, toys and more. Food also available for purchase. 713-738-4817; Span. 832-668-6802.
AUG. 24
CZECH CATHOLIC HERITAGE MASS, 4:30 p.m., St. Bartholomew (5356 11th St., Katy). 4:30 p.m. youth visit with Czech transitional deacons, 6 p.m. Czech Holy Mass at the church, 7 p.m. reception Czech Cover Dish.
AUG. 26-27
GARAGE SALE, Saturday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church (6220 La Salette Dr., Houston).
Adult and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, unique finds, keepsakes, furniture, toys and more. Food also available for purchase. 713-738-4817; Span. 832-668-6802.
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To find additional listings online, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
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
At its recent Children’s Charities Grant Presentation, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women awarded a record $657,500 to 56 nonprofit charities benefiting children in need in the Greater Houston area, including a $100,000 gift to San José Clinic. “We are immensely grateful to Charity Guild of Catholic Women for their remarkable contribution to our endowment for health equity as we embark on our second century of care,” said Katherine Parsley, interim CEO & President at the clinic. “This donation will expand our efforts in providing critical healthcare services to the underserved and uninsured populations in our community, making a profound difference in the lives of those in need.” Grant money is funded from proceeds from its Charity Guild Shop. The Charity Guild of Catholic Women has donated more than $7.9 million dollars to charities since 1996, including $1,205,099 over the past two years, during which it celebrated its centennial anniversary.
On June 27, Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, blessed the renovated chapel at Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson. The renovations included a new roof, a new HVAC system, 42 piers, increased seating capacity and is now wheelchair accessible. The renovations were announced March 25, 2022, and were completed in seven phases over 15 months for about $215,000.
To honor your marriage, His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, invites you to join him for these Eucharistic Celebrations commemorating your anniversary at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart:
50th Wedding Jubilee Mass – September 24, 2023
Registration Fee: $40.00
Early Bird Registration Fee: $25.00 good through July 31, 2023
25th Wedding Jubilee Mass – October 29, 2023
Registration Fee: $40.00
Early Bird Registration Fee: $25.00 good through August 28, 2023
Jubilarian couples will receive an Archdiocesan Anniversary Certificate and special mention in the Worship Aid. 10.375”
