Texas Catholic Herald - Archbishop Fiorenza Memorial Section - October 11, 2022

Most Reverend Joseph Anthony Fiorenza

Most Reverend Joseph Anthony Fiorenza, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, died in Houston on Sept. 19. He was 91 years old.

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza was born in Beaumont, Texas on Jan. 25, 1931. He was the second of four sons born to Sicilian immigrants, Anthony “Tony” and Grace Galiano Fiorenza. His brothers were Augustine James (AJ), James Edward and Victor Charles (Charlie). He attended St. Anthony High School in Beaumont, where he was elected student body president and football team captain.

After graduating from high school in 1947 at the age of 16, he then entered St. Mary’s Seminary in La Porte, Texas. His cousin Sister Benignus Galiano, O.P., said that “He was meant to be a priest. His mother told us when he was a little boy; he pretended to be a priest. From an early age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.”

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1954, with the last class to graduate from the Seminary’s La Porte campus. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at Queen of Peace Church in Houston. In 1957, he became professor of medical ethics of Sacred Heart Dominican College and chaplain of St. Joseph Hospital, both in Houston. He served as administrator of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Houston from 1959 to 1967.

He was later assigned to pastor two Houston parishes, St. Augustine Church (1967-1969) and St. Benedict the Abbot Church (1969-1972). From 1972 to 1973, he was both pastor of Assumption Church in Houston and Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese. He then served as diocesan Chancellor from 1973 to 1979.

Father Fiorenza was given the title of “monsignor” when he was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by thenpope St. Paul VI in December 1973. Thenpope St. John Paul II appointed him the Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo in west Texas in 1979, where he was ordained to the episcopacy on Oct. 25.

At the retirement of Bishop John Morkovsky in 1984, he was named the seventh bishop of Galveston-Houston. The first native son to serve as bishop of the Diocese, he was installed on Feb. 18, 1985, in Houston. When the Diocese of Galveston-Houston was raised to an Archdiocese in December 2004, he became the first Archbishop of GalvestonHouston. Upon reaching the canonical age of retirement at 75, in February 2006,

he submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. After it was accepted, he then became the Archbishop Emeritus. He kept a busy schedule even in retirement, coming in regularly to his office in the Chancery until his health began to fail in early 2022.

Archbishop Fiorenza’s connection to his home diocese, his years of service here as a priest and then as a bishop, formed a deep bond with the priests who minister in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston. He was devoted to them and deeply appreciated their work and pastoral care for the faithful. In one letter to his priests, he wrote, “God’s grace also comes through the fraternal support we give to one another. If, as the poet says, ‘No man is an island,’ it is a greater truth to say that priests need priests.”

A TIMELINE OF LIFE AND HISTORY

▪ January 25, 1931

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza is born as the second of four children to Anthony and Grace Fiorenza in Beaumont

▪ May 29, 1947

Joseph Fiorenza graduates from St. Anthony High School

▪ Fall of 1947

He enters St. Mary’s Seminary in La Porte starting his priestly studies

▪ May 29, 1954

Father Joseph Fiorenza is ordained by Bishop Wendelin J. Nold as a priest for the then-Diocese of Galveston

▪ Fall of 1954

Father Fiorenza begins his pastoral ministries, later becoming a medical ethics professor and chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital

▪ July 25, 1959

Diocese of Galveston becomes the Diocese of Galveston-Houston

▪ 1959

Father Fiorenza is named administrator of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Houston

Archbishop Fiorenza lived a commitment to social justice and care for the most vulnerable in our communities throughout his life. As he once said, “to separate faith from action essentially is not biblical, nor is it Catholic.” In the 1960s, he attended civil rights marches and gatherings in Houston. With two fellow priests of the Diocese, he drove to Alabama in 1965 to join the March on Selma with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At Houston events, he met and became friends with Rev. William Lawson (now Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church). With the late Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff of Congregation Beth Israel, they formed the “Three Amigos,” working together on interfaith and social justice initiatives. Archbishop Fiorenza and Rev. Lawson established

▪ March of 1965

Father Fiorenza with Father Vincent Rizzotto and Father John McCarthy drive to Selma, Alabama, joining other Catholic religious leaders in several civil rights marches with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Montgomery, Alabama

▪ 1967 to 1969

Father Fiorenza is made pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Houston

▪ July 20, 1969

Father Fiorenza witnesses the first lunar landing from Houston

▪ 1969 to 1972

Father Fiorenza is made pastor of St. Benedict the Abbot Parish in Houston

the Coalition for the Homeless in 1987. With Rev. Lawson and Judge John Lindsey, he co-chaired the Homeless Initiative in 1988, which raised almost a million dollars. He and Rev. Lawson were active in the Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation, the Renaissance Corporation, and the Allen Parkway Village Task Force, groups that work to renovate existing houses for low-income and homeless families. In 1993, Bishop Fiorenza and Rev. Lawson received the first NAACP Unity Awards, recognizing their work on behalf of the homeless and poor. The child of immigrants, he would be a voice for the rights of immigrants and migrants all his life. In 1988, he established a ministry to those affected by AIDS, regardless of their faith background, which included

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza greets a family in this undated photo at a parish. Archbishop Fiorenza served at five parishes before serving as diocesan chancellor for the then-Diocese of Galveston-Houston.

FATHER FIORENZA’S ORDINATION PHOTO

educational programs about HIV/ AIDS for parishes and schools. He supported the work of The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) from its founding in 1984 and was a member of the Board of Directors of United Way. As a priest, he directed the diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the domestic anti-poverty and social justice program of the American bishops, and as a bishop he chaired the national campaign.

At a Juneteenth event with the “Three Amigos” at Interfaith Ministries of Houston in 2020, Archbishop Fiorenza offered the following prayer: “Oh gracious and Holy God, we come together as your children and know that you love each one of us in a very special way, no matter who we are, whatever our race, our ethnic origins, our nationality, or our religion, we are all your precious children, help us Gracious God to know that we are doing your will when we show your love for all people. Help us in our everyday life to bring love and respect to all your children wherever they are, and in doing so, we know that we are truly doing your will, and we are bringing your love into this world and helping us to live out what you believe most dearly that we are your children, and we deserve love and respect for each other. Amen.”

▪ 1972 to 1973

With an eye to the future and the growth of the Church during his time as head of the Archdiocese, when its Catholic population first reached one million, Archbishop Fiorenza became acutely aware of the need for the burgeoning local Church to expand its spiritual home. He dedicated himself to building the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, a sacred space in the heart of downtown Houston where all are welcome to worship. Through his commitment and support of the campaign, the Co-Cathedral opened its doors to the people of God on Apr. 2, 2008.

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS JOSEPH A. FIORENZA

Educated at Catholic schools, Archbishop Fiorenza championed Catholic education as both a priest and a bishop. In his columns for the Texas Catholic Herald, he wrote regularly to promote Catholic schools. He called them “a critically important part of the educational ministry of the Church,” and wrote that “In choosing a Catholic school, parents choose the best for their children.” In the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, a statue of St. Elizabeth Seton and her relic among those enshrined in the altar are reminders of the Archbishop’s commitment to Catholic education.

While shepherding the Diocese of

Galveston-Houston, he also led on a national level through the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. As President from 1998 to 2001, he was the chief spokesman for 300 bishops in the United States. He served on several Conference committees, including the Committees for Black Catholics, Science and Human Values, and Social Development and World Peace. Wellknown for his support for missionaries at home and abroad, he chaired the Committee on Missions. He was on the boards of national organizations, including the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Catholic Relief Services. He also served on the boards of the Catholic University of America and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, both in Washington, D.C., as

▪ May 29, 1984

well as the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

Archbishop Fiorenza’s motto as Bishop was “Thy Kingdom Come.” By using these words from the Lord’s Prayer, he prayed that all may share in the reign of God that comes through Jesus Christ, and in all that he teaches. Speaking to this he once said “We haven’t completed the walk yet. The journey is still going on, but we’ve made progress in the last 20, 30 years or more, but there is still a lot of social injustice…We can’t stop now; we have to keep going. We have more to do, so that we have true justice for all people in this country, and we live up to the ideals of our constitution.”

Joseph A. Fiorenza was a man of many

Father Fiorenza is made pastor of Assumption Parish in Houston and named vice-chancellor of the Diocese of GalvestonHouston

▪ December 5, 1973

Father Fiorenza is named an honorary prelate of his holiness by Pope Paul VI, becoming Monsignor Fiorenza at age 42

▪ 1973

Monsignor Fiorenza is named chancellor of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, a position he would hold for six years

▪ September 4, 1979

Pope John Paul II appoints Monsignor Fiorenza as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo in west Texas

MONSIGNOR FIORENZA HOSTS A MEETING AT THE DOWNTOWN CHANCERY

▪ October 25, 1979

Bishop-elect Fiorenza receives his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Patrick Flores of San Antonio and coconsecrators Bishop John Morkovsky and Bishop John McCarthy of Houston at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo

Bishop Fiorenza marks his 40th anniversary as a priest

▪ December 6, 1984

Pope John Paul II returns Bishop Fiorenza back to Galveston-Houston when the pontiff appoints Bishop Fiorenza as the seventh Bishop of Galveston-Houston

▪ February 18, 1985

Bishop Fiorenza is installed as bishop of Galveston-Houston

▪ September 13, 1987

Bishop Fiorenza concelebrates Mass with Pope John Paul II with a crowd of 350,000 during the pope’s papal visit to the U.S., which visited San Antonio

BISHOP FIORENZA LAYS PROSTRATE ON THE GROUND DURING HIS EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AS BISHOP OF SAN ANGELO

HERALD FILE PHOTOS

[At top left]

Fiorenza stands at the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican during the Mass when Pope Benedict XVI conferred a pallium on Archbishop Fiorenza on June 29, 2005. [At top center]

Fiorenza greets Pope John Paul II during an ad limina visit to the Vatican.

[At top right]

Emeritus Fiorenza speaks to janitorial workers at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston in 2012.

right] Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza and Mrs. Raye G. White stand next to one of the great bells of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart during a blessing ceremony on Dec. 13, 2007. Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza spearheaded the development and building of the new Co-Cathedral in Houston.

A bishop’s goodbye

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — Upon the news of the death of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, tributes and condolences poured in from both near and far.

Several came from local bishops and religious leaders, like Rev. William A. “Bill” Lawson, who is pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and a long-time friend of Archbishop Fiorenza.

“My friendship with Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza was a genuine one,” Rev. Lawson said. “I respect his title, but to me, he was always ‘Joe.’ He shared my values to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves’ (Luke 10:27).”

Archbishop Fiorenza, with Rev. Lawson and the late Rabbi Samuel Karff, comprised Houston’s legendary “Three Amigos,” whom each spoke out on civil rights and ecumenical issues.

“In service to our faiths and shared values, Joe and I, along with the late Rabbi Samuel Karff, did our best to humbly answer the call in Isaiah (1:17) to do good, seek justice and defend the oppressed,”Rev. Lawson said.“We worked to de-segregate Houston’s schools and businesses, created alliances to provide solutions for Houston’s homeless, committed to increase Harris County’s responsiveness to the legal needs of the indigent and even labored to create a vision for age-friendly care which supports seniors who need geriatric services.”

Rev. Lawson continued, “Joe spoke in a quiet voice, but he was a strong presence wherever he went. My prayers are with the Fiorenza family and the many persons who, like me, loved him. I will always miss him.”

Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop

of the Archdiocese of Washington, served as vice-president for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) while Archbishop Fiorenza served as president. Cardinal Gregory, who also preached the homily at Archbishop Fiorenza’s funeral Mass, said he “lost a cherished friend” and mentor.

“I was lucky to work with him as his vice president of the USCCB,” he said. “His love for everyone in the Church was legendary. His Texas-sized heart, his home state, brimmed over with love.”

Bishop Michael J. Sis of San Angelo, where Archbishop Fiorenza had once served as bishop for five years, said Archbishop Fiorenza“made a tremendous positive impact in the lives of the people of our diocese.”

Bishop Sis said Archbishop Fiorenza looked back on his service in San Angelo and said “that the most important thing he sought to do here was to help the people

FROM 3B

▪ April 1988

Other Texas bishops join Bishop Fiorenza for an “ad limina” trip to visit Pope John Paul II at the Vatican

▪ February 23, 1993

Bishop Fiorenza and Rev. William Lawson receive the NAACP’s first Unity Awards for their work on behalf of the homeless and poor people of Houston

▪ October 8, 1993

Other Texas bishops join Bishop Fiorenza for another “ad limina” trip to visit Pope John Paul II at the Vatican

▪ November 14, 1995

Bishop Fiorenza elected vice president of

in West Texas feel that they were a part of the larger Church, a diocesan family. We are most grateful for his legacy here in our local Church.”

love and devotion for the priesthood. I will always remember the generosity of Archbishop Fiorenza and his capacity to build friendships with all.”

For Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont, Archbishop Fiorenza was a mentor and friend.

In 1986, Archbishop Fiorenza invited then-Father Michael Mulvey to serve on the faculty at St. Mary’s Seminary. Bishop Mulvey now leads the Corpus Christi Diocese.

BISHOP MICHAEL J. SIS

“While serving at the seminary, I witnessed a committed servant of the Church,” said Bishop Mulvey.“Archbishop Fiorenza manifested a keen interest in the formation of future priests. But it was his ‘personable touch’ — spending individual time with both seminarians and faculty — that differentiated his

the National Conference of Catholic Bishops

▪ November 17, 1998

Bishop Fiorenza elected as president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, with Bishop Wilton Gregory of Belleville, Illinois as vice president, the first AfricanAmerican priest to hold the position

▪ February 17, 1999

With a delegation of bishops, Bishop Fiorenza meets with Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana

“I was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston in 1988,” he said. “For 12 years … he mentored me and the other auxiliaries, priests and laity on what it means to continue the mission of Jesus. He mentored us not by imposing but exposing the teachings of Jesus and the Church.”

Bishop Guillory hoped Archbishop Fiorenza’s example would “continue to inform and inspire us to make the Gospel values of social justice and unity a reality in a world so divided.”

Two men, who were ordained as priests by Archbishop Fiorenza and would later lead dioceses in Texas, both

BISHOP FIORENZA MEETS WITH POPE JOHN PAUL II DURING AN AD LIMINA VISIT TO THE VATICAN CITY

AT RIGHT, BISHOP FIORENZA TALKS WITH BISHOP WILTON GREGORY AFTER THEIR ELECTION TO LEADERSHIP OF THE US BISHOPS CONFERENCE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. DOMINIC VILLAGE

Bishops are photographed with Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza (seated) at the 12th annual St. Dominic Village Evening with the Bishops at the Junior League of Houston, May 5. Photographed with Archbishop (standing, left to right): Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria; Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi; retired Bishop Curtis Guillory of Beaumont; Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo; Daniel Cardinal DiNardo; Bishop David Toups of Beaumont.

REV. WILLIAM A. “BILL” LAWSON

WILTON CARDINAL GREGORY

shared similar accounts of Archbishop Fiorenza’s life.

Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria recalled how Archbishop Fiorenza was also deeply devoted to his family, even making a trip to the Sicilian’s hometown of Palermo.

Archbishop Fiorenza “never forgot the people of Sicily.”

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin said he mourned “the passing of a friend and remain grateful for the time we shared and the lessons learned.”

“I was pleased to serve as auxiliary with Archbishop Fiorenza for four years and learned much from him, particularly his compassionate pastoral care and service to the people,” he said. “He had the heart of a good shepherd, and following the example of Christ, expended himself for the Church.”

Like Bishop Vasquez, Bishop James A. Tamayo of Laredo also once served as one of Archbishop Fiorenza’s auxiliary bishops.

During that time, Bishop Tamayo said he “observed his shepherd’s care for the people and his fraternal commitment to the priests.”

“When I was named the first bishop of the Diocese of Laredo, I felt well prepared for I had learned from one of the best,” he said.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, current president of the USCCB, a position once held Archbishop Fiorenza himself, said “those who worked with him have expressed that his leadership embodied his love, dedication and tireless service to the Church.”

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati served as general secretary of the U.S. bishops’ conference and worked closely with Archbishop Fiorenza during his tenure.

“The passing of Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza fills me with great sadness but also great joy for having had the opportunity to know and collaborate with such a good and holy man,” he said. “Archbishop Fiorenza took his responsibilities to the conference very seriously and worked diligently to fulfill them, but he always did so with such a warm and engaging sense of humor. He was consistently considerate, a reflection of his deep care for every person made in

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ARCHGH.ORG/FIORENZAMEMORIAL

To read the complete tributes from the many Catholic, religious and civic leaders who mourned the passing of Archbishop Fiorenza, or view several photo galleries of more pictures from the Archbishop’s life, and to watch highlights from the funeral events, visit the exclusive online memorial website www.archgh.org/ fiorenzamemorial

the image and likeness of God.”

Archbishop Schnurr said, “Archbishop Fiorenza was highly respected not only by his brother bishops here in the U.S. but by the heads of the various Vatican offices in Rome.”

When Archbishop Schnurr was made Bishop of Duluth, Minnesota, in 2001, before his time in Ohio, he asked Archbishop Fiorenza to be the homilist for episcopal ordination Mass.

“He made a positive and lasting impression on me, as he did on so many others,” he said. “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.”

Father Michael Carmody, a retired priest living at the Archbishop Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence, said Archbishop Fiorenza always acted in a respectful manner and “demonstrated solidarity, concern and fraternal love. After his retirement, I came to know my former pastor simply as Joe, one of the retired priests.”

John Descant, ministry administrator of Clergy Pastoral Outreach, whom Cardinal DiNardo pointed out as a caregiver who spent many hours with Archbishop at the end, said Archbishop Fiorenza was a “truly exceptional individual.”

“He demonstrated this in his faithful leadership of the Church,” he said. “He spent many hours in our chapel, devoted to the Liturgy of the Hours and the Holy Rosary. He was a model of prayer. I also saw the depth of his care for all of God’s children, especially the marginalized.”

He continued, “I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know him and to have counted him as my friend. I think that the world is a better place because of the choices he made.” †

▪ June 11, 1999

His Holiness Pope Francis has communicated, through Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, the following sympathies to Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of GalvestonHouston, and the Faithful of the Archdiocese on the death of Most Rev. Joseph A. Fiorenza, Emeritus Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo first publicly shared this message during the Funeral Mass of Archbishop Fiorenza on Sept. 29 at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart.

His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Anthony Fiorenza, and he sends heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the archdiocese.

Joining you in giving thanks to almighty God for his years of priestly and episcopal ministry and his service to the wider Church in the United States, His Holiness commends Archbishop Fiorenza’s soul to the loving mercy of Christ the Good Shepherd.

To his family and all those gathered for the Mass of Christian Burial in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father willingly imparts his blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord.

Pietro Cardinal Parolin Secretary of State

Bishop Fiorenza Park dedicated and opened near Westpark Tollway and Eldridge Parkway in west Houston

▪ January 25, 2001

Bishop Fiorenza meets with U.S. President George W. Bush with a delegation of other Catholic leaders in Maryland

▪ March 22, 2001

Bishop Fiorenza visits the White House in D.C. with other U.S. bishops

▪ November 29, 2004

Bishop Fiorenza marks the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination and the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination with a Jubilee Mass and a gala benefitting the inner-city Catholic schools

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS FIORENZA SPEAKS TO HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES DURING A SUNDAY SERVICE AT A RED CROSS SHELTER IN THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME IN 2005

BISHOP JOSEPH FIORENZA, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, SPEAKS AT AN ANNUAL CATHOLIC SOCIAL MINISTRY GATHERING IN WASHINGTON FEB. 27, 2000. HE CELEBRATED THE OPENING MASS FOR THE MEETING.CONTINUES ON 6B

BISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ

ARCHBISHOP JOSÉ H. GOMEZ

ARCHBISHOP DENNIS M. SCHNURR

‘May he enter into

▪ December 29, 2004

The Diocese of Galveston-Houston is elevated to the status of Archdiocese, with Pope John Paul II appointing Bishop Fiorenza as the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

▪ June 29, 2005

Archbishop Fiorenza travels to Rome to receive his pallium from Pope Benedict XVI during a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica

▪ September 3, 2005

Archbishop Fiorenza meets with Hurricane Katrina evacuees during a Sunday service at the Houston Astrodome

▪ February 28, 2006

Archbishop Fiorenza’s retirement request is sent to Pope Benedict XVI at age 75 and is accepted

ARCHBISHOP FIORENZA SPEAKS DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING POPE JOHN PAUL II’S DEATH IN APRIL OF 2005 WHILE CO-ADJUTOR BISHOP DANIEL DINARDO, AT LEFT, LOOKS ON AND LISTENS.

ABOVE, POPE BENEDICT XVI PRESENTS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH A. FIORENZA WITH A PALLIUM DURING MASS IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN IN 2005.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo visits with the body of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza during a visitation service at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston on Sept. 27.

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, preaches the homily during a vigil service for Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza on Sept. 28. Dozens of religious and civic leaders attended the funeral events, including cardinals and bishops from around the country.

Father Jeff Bame, rector and pastor of the Co-Cathedral a Rosary for Archbishop Fiorenza after a solemn visitation with the Fiorenza family.

The hearse carrying the wooden casket of Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza passes the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which was built under the Archbishop’s leadership and direction.

Archbishop Fiorenza’s miter and the Book of the Gospels are seen atop his casket during his funeral Mass on Sept. Park Lawndale.

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS EMBRACES NEWLY TRUONG SON NGUYEN ORDINATION MASS

into the eternal gladness of his Lord’

Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza laid to rest

HOUSTON — Over the course of three days, thousands honored the memory and legacy of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, who died Sept. 19 at 91.

On Sept. 27, family and friends met with the Fiorenza family during a solemn reception of Archbishop Fiorenza’s body at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which hosted all of the funeral events, followed by a Rosary led by Father Jeffrey Bame, rector and pastor of the Co-Cathedral.

The next day, funeral services continued Sept. 28 as clergy, men and women religious, teachers, students, families and other community members paid their respects to the late Archbishop at the Co-Cathedral while he lay in state since 9 a.m. that morning. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, presided over that evening’s Vigil for the Deceased, which was livestreamed online.

Calling Archbishop Fiorenza “an icon of the Good Shepherd,” Bishop Dell’Oro, a native of Italy, recounted in his homily how thenBishop Fiorenza invited him to dinner for his first Christmas in Houston after arriving in 1992. “He not only cooked the dinner, but he served us as well.”

Bishop Dell’Oro also shared about his visit with Archbishop Fiorenza before he died.

“First, as I was leaving, he asked me for a blessing,” Bishop Dell’Oro said. “Then, as I thought that there was the possibility to not see him again, since I was going to go to

Rome for the new bishops’ school, I asked him to bless me, which he did. (I’m) probably the last one to receive his blessing.”

The service concluded the 10-hour public lying-in-state that included an honor guard from different orders and groups, such as the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver, Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

On Sept. 29, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the funeral Mass for Archbishop Fiorenza, with Wilton Cardinal Gregory of Washington delivering the homily. Cardinal Gregory served as leadership of the U.S.

bishops’ conference alongside Archbishop Fiorenza in the early 2000s.

“He loved every race, every culture, every background and stood proudly with those for civil rights,” Cardinal Gregory said in his homily. “Even in his 90s, Joe was fully in charge of his life. His infirmities did not diminish his spirit.”

At the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal DiNardo recalled several moments with Archbishop Fiorenza.

“His memories will continue to echo on. Archbishop was a great man, an excellent example of priesthood, he had a wonderful sense of humor and great Italian appetite. You can’t go wrong with that combination,” Cardinal DiNardo said and chuckled since he shares many of those characteristics.

Archbishop Fiorenza’s executive administrative assistant of 15 years, Blanca M. Arriaga Flores, attended the funeral Mass in Houston after traveling from Mexico City where she recently retired.

“He was a man who inspired me with his humbleness and patience, with his sense of justice for the most disadvantaged,” she said. “I know that he suffered very much when he knew that he had to be gone from his office for good. That place was where he felt at home. One could only see him at his desk reading his newspaper to realize how comfortable he felt there.”

James Ramos and Jo Ann Zuñiga

▪ April 2, 2008

The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, a longtime project of Archbishop Fiorenza, is dedicated and opened

▪ September 12, 2015

The Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence at St. Dominic Village is dedicated and opened.

▪ February 25, 2018

The Catholic Extension honors Archbishop Fiorenza with the Spirit of Francis Award

▪ October 10, 2019

Archbishop Fiorenza is honored by the Catholic Mobilizing Network for his efforts to end the death penalty in the U.S.

▪ June 19, 2020

Archbishop Fiorenza co-hosts a Juneteenth civil rights

▪ January 25, 2021

Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza celebrates his 90th birthday with a drive-thru celebration at his residence

▪ September 19, 2022

Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza dies at age 91

discussion with Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff and Reverend William Lawson

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS FIORENZA SPEAKS AFTER BLESSING THE CO-CATHEDRAL’S BELLS ON DEC. 12, 2007, AHEAD OF THE CO-CATHEDRAL’S OPENING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, leads solemn reception of the Archbishop’s body and a Blanca M. Arriaga Flores, longtime executive administrative assistant to Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza, is seen during a visitation service on Sept. 27.

Reverend William Lawson, one of the “Three Amigos,” who alongside Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza and the late Rabbi Samuel Karff championed social and racial justice efforts in Houston and beyond, is seen in the foreground during Archbishop Fiorenza’s funeral service Sept. 29. Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza’s miter is also seen on his casket.

29. Archbishop Fiorenza is buried at Forest

Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, preaches the homily during Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza’s funeral Mass on Sept. 29.

EMERITUS FIORENZA

To family who traveled with Archbishop to Rome and enjoyed his cooking, he was just ‘Uncle Joe’

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — Known by his formal title of His Excellency, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza was simply “Uncle Joe” to a slew of nieces, nephews, and relatives enjoying his Italian cooking and traveling with him to Rome.

Niece Cassie Fiorenza Simpson, who lives in the Beaumont area where Archbishop grew up, said, “I still remember those Sunday dinners after Mass at St. Joseph Church when all the family would get together for spaghetti and meatballs.”

“I was about seven or eight years old, and Grandma (Grace) and Grandpa (Anthony) Fiorenza would head up the table,” she said. “Or Uncle Joe and Uncle Charlie would be cooking outside and watching sports with a gazillion conversations going around,” she said.

“All of the nieces and nephews just loved him. He did not want us to acknowledge him as Father or Bishop; he wanted to be Uncle Joe to all of us. Even when he became so busy, he made time to come visit us,” said Simpson, who owns and publishes Viva Southeast Texas magazine.

Niece Cathy Fiorenza Russell, daughter of Archbishop’s younger brother Victor Charles (Charlie), accompanied both her father and then-Bishop Fiorenza in 1982 to Italy when she was 19 years old.

“He led by example... I always admired him and appreciated him. When I was being confirmed, I asked him if I needed to take a saint’s name. He told me, ‘You’ve got two of the best saint names already — Mary and her mother Anne.’”

MARIANNE FIORENZA

Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza’s Sister-in-Law

“My father was very proud of his brother, but they would argue back and forth like siblings do, even over what ingredients went into their mother’s spaghetti sauce recipe,” said Russell, who works at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic school in The Woodlands.

Archbishop introduced them both to then-pope St. John Paul II after attending Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica as the Holy Father walked among the crowd.

“It was an eye-opening trip for me to

go to Rome, Milan and Florence. We even went to Sicily, where my grandfather, I called him ‘Pop-Pop Tony,” was born,” she said of Archbishop’s father.

Cathy’s mother, Marianne Fiorenza,

married to Charlie, recalled Archbishop Fiorenza celebrating his younger brother’s funeral Mass in Beaumont at St. Anthony’s Basilica in 2010.

“I still remember him describing my

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERFAITH MINISTRIES

The family of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza visit the Brigette and Bashar Kalai Plaza of Respect at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston on the morning of Archbishop Fiorenza’s funeral Mass Sept. 29. Archbishop Fiorenza, Rev. William Lawson and the late Rabbi Samuel Karff, all known as The Three Amigos, are honored for their social justice and equality work embodied in the Pillars of Light sculptures. From left to right are Kelly and wife Mary Donaldson (Archbishop Fiorenza’s niece), Lisa and Mark Fiorenza (Archbishop Fiorenza’s nephew); Cassie Fiorenza Simpson (Archbishop Fiorenza’s niece) and her husband Mike Simpson.

PHOTOS BY LAURA BURLTON/FIORENZA FAMILY

Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza witnessing the marriage of his grandniece Brieann Fiorenza Edwards and groom Randy Edwards in 2015 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches.

husband as never saying anything bad about anybody, which was so true,” she said.

Archbishop impressed her with his devoutness, and his homilies convinced Marianne that she wanted to become Catholic, she said.

“He led by example. He answered my questions because Catholicism can be complicated. I always admired him and appreciated him. When I was being confirmed, I asked him if I needed to take a saint’s name. He told me, ‘You’ve got two of the best saint names already — Mary and her mother Anne,’” she said.

She summed up many people’s sentiments by saying,“I really feel blessed knowing him.”

Nephew Mark Fiorenza said,“I had the honor and privilege of living with him for 40 days as I underwent medical treatment in Houston.”

“He would wake up every morning at the break of dawn and pray his morning prayers and then pray again in the evening inside his chapel room within the house,” Fiorenza said.

This was in 2015 when Archbishop lived in a southeast Houston home near the Villa de Matel convent on Lawndale before moving into the Priests Retirement Residences named in his honor on the St. Dominic campus off Holcombe.

“He would get after me for moving the thermostat from 76 — he liked it hot — to a more comfortable 72. I told him, ‘Uncle Joe, it’s hot as Hades in here!’ But

he didn’t want it budged,” Fiorenza said and chuckled.

“He also prayed over me when I was sick. He was a very special, loving man. He knew so many people and was so well loved. I visited him several times when he was last in the hospital, but he mostly did not wake up. He opened his eyes briefly and smiled,” Fiorenza said.

The nephew spoke at Archbishop’s funeral Mass on behalf of the family, reviewing how his Uncle Joe graduated from high school at age 16 and was ordained as a priest in 1954.

“To put it in perspective, he was hearing confessions at the age of 23,” Mark Fiorenza told the congregation.

Archbishop’s cousin, religious Sister Benignus Galiano, O.P., also visited him at his retired priests residence before he went into the hospital for the last time.

“I’m 99 years old, so I depend on others to drive me, and Sister Jane Meyer (recently retired head of school for St. Agnes Academy) said she would like to visit with him,” Sister Galiano said.

“I called, and he said he was up for a visit, so we went over and had the nicest talk for about 30 minutes. He was sitting up and looked so well. I thought he was going to make it,” she said.

Sister Meyer said, “He talked with us about how precious family is, and he considered many as family.”

Sister Galiano added, “I even told him, ‘Don’t you die before me.’ We’re all going to miss him, but we’ll see him again.” †

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza and Cardinal DiNardo at the groundbreaking blessing for the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence at St. Dominic Village on Sept. 21, 2014.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza celebrated the first Mass of the Holy Spirit at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School with Father Antonio “TJ” Martinez, S.J., (second from right) on Sept. 3, 2009. The high school was close to Archbishop Fiorenza’s heart, especially when Father Martinez died in 2014 at age 44.

Eugene N. Smart, CLU, MBA - Houston General Agency

The Fiorenza family celebrating together with Archbishop’s nephew Mark Fiorenza (second from left), his mother Wanda Fiorenza, his wife Lisa, and Archbishop Fiorenza with several of his grandnieces.

In July 1982, Archbishop Fiorenza visited the Vatican with his brother Victor “Charlie” Charles Fiorenza and Catherine Fiorenza Russell, his niece, and met with Pope John Paul II in St. Peter ’s Square.

Women religious fondly remember Archbishop Fiorenza’s collaborative spirit, heart for social justice

BY JONAH DYCUS Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — In his service to the Church, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza chose and lived by his motto, “Thy Kingdom Come.” His dedication to this mission enabled Archbishop to invite many religious women to minister in partnership with him regardless of charism or ministry, said Sister Francesca Kearns, CCVI.

“He inspired us to see the vision that God has for the world and encouraged us to work in harmony that the needy might experience God’s love and assume the dignity that God has bestowed on all of us,” said Sister Kearns, the vicar for religious in the Archdiocese. “He conveyed a sense that all our charisms blend together in promoting the Kingdom of God.”

There was never any doubt about Archbishop Fiorenza’s commitment to the vulnerable among us, said Sister Maureen O’Connell, O.P., secretariat director for Justice and Social Concerns.

Sister O’Connell founded Angela House in Houston in 2002, a ministry to formerly incarcerated women.

“(Archbishop’s) support for the establishment of Angela House as a ministry never wavered,” she said. “Even after his retirement, much to the delight and amazement of the women, he frequently attended events at the house. He always took the time to engage with each woman and staff person. Women who often feel judged or diminished by society experienced the love and compassion of this man of God.”

Sister Donna Pollard, OP, said Archbishop Fiorenza’s life reflected his Dominican education — he fully embraced Veritas (“Truth,” the Dominican motto).

“We remember him as one who taught truth and preached justice. He was a champion of Catholic education and, in particular, inner-city Catholic education,” said Sister Pollard, interim head of school at St. Pius X High School and a local congregation leader. “No matter how busy he was, he always took time to listen

to and be attentive to others, particularly young people.”

To Sister Kevina Keating, CCVI, the three elements of Micah 6:8 (act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly) best described the essence of Archbishop Fiorenza.

“His return to God is a big moment in my life and indeed the life of the Church and Archdiocese, and I extend sympathy to all who knew and treasured his presence among us,” Sister Keating said. “It is difficult not to be sad, but we thank God for his life and service.”

Sister Keating, a former superintendent of Catholic schools in GalvestonHouston, commended Archbishop’s ability with the written word to “make us all sit up and think in new ways” and his lived spirituality in daily life — “the latter I feel bound him irrevocably to me as a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, being incarnational at its best,” she said. “Physically, he wore big shoes and leaves ‘big shoes’ to fill in a myriad of ordinary ways. We are all left with many fond memories and stories of him.”

Sister O’Connell said Archbishop Fiorenza never lost sight of his role as pastor and shepherd to all.

“Archbishop did not suffer fools lightly and was quick to remind us that we are all responsible for our brothers and sisters,” Sister O’Connell said. “He was a driving force, often behind the scenes but just as often on the front line when it came to worker’s rights, affordable housing, police reform and the myriad of issues that surrounded this community he loved. His passing certainly marks the end of an era. He will be missed but let us pray that we not forget his consistent call to justice for all.”

While many mourn the loss of Archbishop Fiorenza’s physical presence among us, “we know that his pastoral vision of laboring for the kingdom of God lives on in us,” Sister Kearns said. “The light of his vision will continue to inspire us to bear fruit needed in our dynamic intercultural community. Sirach teaches us that the good deeds of the just person will influence generations. How much more will the life of a godly bishop live

forever and bear fruit in those who have been inspired by his life so that his legacy continues to be a blessing for all.”

Sister Gina Iadanza, MSC, said there are no words that fully reflect the gift of Archbishop Fiorenza to the world.

“He saw everyone as a brother and sister and remembered people in their struggles and joys,” said Sister Iadanza, Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services associate director. “I think the best way to remember him is to never

UNDERSTANDING ARCHBISHOP FIORENZA’S COAT OF ARMS

SIGNIFICANCE: The Archepiscopal heraldic achievement, or Archbishop’s coat of arms, is composed of a shield with its charges (symbols), a motto scroll and the external ornamentation. The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th century terms, that are archaic to our modern language, and this description is presented as if given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, where it applies, the terms dexter and sinister are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

BLAZON: Gules, a fleur-de-lis forenceé Argent; on a chief Vert, per chevron a carpenter’s square between to chief, two stars and to base, a lily, all of the second.

For his personal arms, His Excellency, Archbishop Fiorenza, used the design that was adopted upon his selection to receive the fullness of Christ’s priesthood as a bishop, when he was appointed, ordained and installed as Bishop of San Angelo and which he used as Bishop of Galveston-

Houston until 2005, when he and the diocese were raised to Archiepiscopal status. The Archbishop’s design is represented in three colors; red, green and silver (white). These are the colors of the national flag of Italy — to honor the Archbishop’s Italian heritage. In the lower portion of the design is an ornate fleur-de-lis, called a “Florentine fleur-de-lis,” as it is the symbol of the City of Florence. This charge is used to honor the heritage that came to the Archbishop from his parents, Anthony and Grace (Galiano) Fiorenza and it is employed for the spelling of the Italian city is the same as the Archbishop’s surname.

The upper portion of the design, known as a “chief,” is green and is dominated by a carpenter’s square, for St. Joseph, and a lily, for St. Anthony, the Archbishop’s Baptismal patrons. Above the carpenter’s square are two

forget how he impacted your life and give to others what he gave to you. Was it spiritual courage, hope, a voice for injustice? Or did he open a closed door by believing in a person and a mission more than you believed in it yourself, and with one grasp of the arm, you said ‘yes’ and found life and mission took on new meaning? He was a spiritual giant for many and the Heart of Christ for each of us.” †

stars, one for the Virgin Mary, in her title of “Star of the Sea,” patroness of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and the other is the Texas, “Lone Star.”

For his motto, Archbishop Fiorenza used the phrase, “Thy Kingdom Come.”

By the use of these words from the Lord’s Prayer, Archbishop Fiorenza prayed that all may share in the reign of God that comes through Jesus, the Christ, and in all that He teaches. The achievement is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold Archiepiscopal processional cross, that has two cross-members, that is placed in back of and which extends above and below the shield, and the pontifical hat, called a “gallero,” with its 10 tassels, in four rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of archbishop by instruction of the Holy See of March 31, 1969.

HERALD FILE PHOTOS

At top, Archbishop Fiorenza greets Sister Maureen O’Connell, O.P., founder of Angela House and now secre tariat director for Justice and Social Concerns, in 2007.

[RIGHT] Archbishop Fiorenza and Sister Kevina Keating, CCVI

hats and had different names as well. Many family members referred to him simply as “Uncle Joe,” and during his high school and seminary years his nickname was “Foots.” He was proud of his Sicilian/Italian heritage, and he loved people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. He loved food and was a connoisseur of all things delicious!

He always wanted to treat others to the wonderful dining options available throughout the City of Houston and surrounding areas. He loved all sports, and enjoyed attending, watching, or listening in every chance he could. He loved the cities of Galveston and Houston. We will all remember his grandeur, his presence, his handshake, his larger-than-life appearance, and the tone of his voice. He captivated every room he entered. In truth he was a shepherd of his people and would gently take you by the elbow, hand or arm and guide you along, speaking to you as he leaned in. He had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and encouraged others to learn about her unique role in our salvation history. He was highly intelligent, an eloquent speaker and a gifted writer with the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza, was preceded in death by his parents Anthony “Tony” Fiorenza and Grace Galiano Fiorenza, and his brothers Augustine James “AJ” Fiorenza, James Edward Fiorenza, and Victor Charles “Charley” Fiorenza. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as all the Faithful in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, and all brothers and sisters in Christ. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come, share your Master’s joy.”

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS JOSEPH A. FIORENZA

All services took place at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Parkway in Houston, Texas.

For the benefit of those who unable to attend in-person, the livestream video of the following services at the Co-Cathedral can be found at www. archgh.org/live.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, there was a Solemn Reception of the Body from 7 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. Only this portion of the Tuesday evening services was livestreamed, followed by a visitation from 7:15 p.m. until 9 p.m., with the Fiorenza family present. A recitation of the Holy Rosary was at 8:30 p.m.

We love you, Most Rev. Joseph Anthony Fiorenza, Archbishop Emeritus, Uncle Joe. We thank you and are proud of your fearlessness, your unshakeable courage, your service, your words of advice, for loving all mankind, and for being a man of God. Above all else you were a disciple of Christ.

The things you taught and shared with us over the years, the sacrifices you made for our church community and family, are not forgotten. Your legacy will live on in all of us, and we hope to honor you in how we continue to live our lives.

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza Lay In-State from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a solemn Vigil for the Deceased Liturgy presided by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at 7 p.m.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo at 2 p.m., followed by a private Rite of Committal ceremony at Forest Park Lawndale cemetery in Houston’s East End.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Archbishop Fiorenza’s memory to the C.R.O.S.S. Academies, formerly the Inner-City Catholic Schools, and to Casa Juan Diego online at www.archgh.org/fiorenzagift. †

Archbishop Fiorenza’s pectoral cross that he wore with him wherever he went.

FIORENZA, from

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May the soul of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza receives an award from Larry Payne of Houston Habitat for Humanity with Rev. Bill Lawson.

CNS PHOTO

Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, left, leads the celebration of Mass Nov. 13, 2000, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza greets a group of women religious at the airport after returning from Rome after receiving his pallium and the elevation of the diocese to an Archdiocese.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza leads prayer during a blessing service at an annual firefighter Mass in front of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Oct. 30, 2016.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza meets with Cardinal Gregory of Washington.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Archbishop Fiorenza stands in front of a classroom of young students at a Catholic school in Galveston-Houston. He championed Catholic education throughout his time as Archbishop.

Pope: Prayers for the dead help the living, too

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is expected to celebrate an annual Memorial Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and offer prayers for the cardinals and bishops who died over the past year, including bishops from the United States and Canada. Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza will be remembered in the upcoming Mass in November.

When he celebrated the Mass in 2020, Pope Francis said praying for the dead and asking God to welcome them into his presence forever helps Christians remember what life and death are really about.

Such prayers “instill in us a true vision of life; they reveal to us the meaning of the trials we must endure to enter the kingdom of God; they open our hearts to true freedom and inspire us unceasingly to seek eternal riches,” the pope said Nov. 5, 2020 during the memorial Mass. One of the prayer intentions during the Liturgy asked God to “welcome into your loving embrace the cardinals and bishops who died this year and give them the reward reserved for your faithful servants.”

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on Jesus’ promise: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Jesus’ promise is a challenge to believers, the pope said. “We, too, are called to believe in the resurrection, not as a kind of distant mirage but as an event already present and even now mysteriously at work in our lives.”

“As we pray for the cardinals and bishops (who died),” the pope said, Christians should ask the Lord “to dispel that unholy grief which we occasionally feel, thinking that death is the end of everything — a feeling far from faith, yet part of that human fear of death felt by everyone.” †

Praying the Rosary

Make the Sign of the Cross

Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles’ Creed

On the first bead, say an Our Father

Say 3 Hail Marys on the 3 following beads

Say the Glory Be

For each of the 5 decades, announce the Mystery, then say the Our Father

While on each of the 10 beads of the decade, next say 10 Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be. After each decade, the Fatima Prayer and the Sub Tuum Praesidum may be said

After saying the 5 decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, then The Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel may be said, followed by this:

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Together: Let us pray, O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Conclude the Rosary with the Sign of the Cross.

The Prayers of the Rosary

The Apostles’ Creed

Hail Mary on each bead

First mystery

Glory Be

Hail Holy Queen Glory Be Fatima Prayer

Hail Mary Our Father

The Apostles Creed

Next mystery, then Our Father

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be (The Doxology)

HOLY ROSARY the

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

Traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays

Mary to Elizabeth

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Presentation of our Lord

Finding Jesus in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Traditionally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays

The Agony in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crowning with Thorns

The Carrying of the Cross

The Crucifixion and Death

The Glorious Mysteries

prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays

of Jesus Christ

of Jesus to Heaven

Descent of the Holy Ghost

Assumption of Mary into Heaven

Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth

The Luminous Mysteries

Traditionally prayed on Thursdays

The Baptism in the Jordan

The Wedding at Cana

The Proclamation of the Kingdom

The Transfiguration

The Institution of the Eucharist

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

The Fatima Prayer

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

The Sub Tuum Praesidium

We fly to your protection, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

The Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and you, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast down to hell Satan and the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.