DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald
CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
1
CHRISTMAS DAY MASS WITH DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Televised live from the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Dec. 25 at 10 a.m. on KPRC-TV Channel 2 • SEE PAGE 20
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
VOL. 57, NO. 13
EMBRACING ADVENT
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
Filipino faith shines in ‘Simbang Gabi’ tradition HOUSTON — Less than five seconds into a recent Disney UK Christmas animated short, Filipinos — no matter where they are in the world — will immediately recognize iconic sounds and sights of the Philippines. Calls for “taho,” a Filipino silken tofu dessert, are heard as lanterns, or EMBRACING parols in Tagalog, softly glow above ADVENT a 1940s Filipino streetscape near the steeple of a large church. A young girl greets her elder by asking for mano, a gesture of respect where she places her forehead against the back of his hand to receive his blessing, another major Filipino tradition. These paper lanterns are hallmarks of the Christmas season in the Philippines. Dozens are strung high and low throughout every “barangay,” or neighborhood or village, handmade See SIMBANG GABI, page 3 CNS PHOTO
The Christmas tree decorates St. Peter’s Square after a lighting ceremony at the Vatican Dec. 11. The tree, nearly 100 feet tall, is a 7-ton Norway spuce from southern Slovenia and has taken up temporary residence in St. Peter’s Square until Jan. 10, 2021.
Giving the gift of mental health, wellness BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
lives? Especially during the holiday season, and with 2021 around the corner, mental HOUSTON — No matter how you health advocates are encouraging the look at it, this Christmas season will feel public to be mindful of their mental different. health when the holiday blues might And even though Advent bubble up as Christmas is a liturgical season set draws near. BEATING aside especially for prayer “If we’re not mindful, and reflection in anticipation we might develop a mental THE of the coming of the birth illness that may be more of Christ and the Christmas difficult to handle in the HOLIDAY season, a pandemic swiftly future,” said Ivan Navarro, a BLUES threw any sense of tradition counselor at the Counseling by the wayside, which was and Behavioral Health also witnessed during Lent Center at Catholic Charities and the Easter season. But of the Archdiocese of what if this Christmas, the best gift Galveston-Houston. could be mental health and wellness to “We do need to pay a lot of attention to ourselves and other loved ones in our our feelings, our emotions, our thoughts,
THE FIRST WORD † 3
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and just in general, our mental condition so that those negative situations don’t get worse,” he said. The Christmas holidays are supposed to be times of prayer, joy, and celebration, and having a mental health condition will disrupt the purpose of the holidays, he said. And as families choose to be more mindful of pandemic guidelines, more traditions change. Gatherings might look smaller, with pandemic restrictions changing general access to Mass at every parish. But still, the holidays can be a time for new traditions and different ways to celebrate the coming of the Lord, said Navarro. Just like we care for our soul
EDUCATION † 10
IN SERVICE
Celebrating family life on hallowed ground BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent PINEHURST — On a secluded 45acre tract of piney woods northwest of Houston is a hidden retreat center where families and friends have come together to laugh, play, pray and experience life together in a safe, quiet environment for close to 20 years. Circle Lake Retreat Center (CLR), a hidden gem available to friends and family of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, has been a place of hallowed ground where the spirit of family continues to thrive. “The greatest blessing of Circle Lake is the experience of those that have gathered together two miles into our piney woods without the distractions of city life,” said
See HOLIDAY BLUES, page 6
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COLUMNISTS † 14
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ESPAÑOL † 17
See CIRCLE LAKE, page 8
2 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480) NEWSDESK 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444 tch@archgh.org • archgh.org/tch CIRCULATION 713-652-4408 ADVERTISING ads@archgh.org • 713-652-4407 Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop, President & Publisher Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Designer & Reporter Catherine Viola Graphic Designer & Advertising Manager Kerry McGuire and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors
ishop Sheltz and I joined our ps from Texas and other Region X to Rome for the quinquennial Ad he Holy Father. Our conversations and Vatican officials were both ffirming, yet also served as calls he great challenges that remain ioceses. final parish block of the IGNITE: Mission” Capital Campaign is al parishes of our Archdiocese. ake this opportunity to thank s contributed to this campaign o many aspects of the growing on-Houston, including St. Mary’s owments benefiting our Catholic d faith formation programs. e of Galveston-Houston annually ous ministries and agencies he challenges and needs of our ese ministries, supported by nations, reach across our entire hing thousands upon thousands open to you and anyone who e of the generosity of those who even if it cannot be great sums
ry is the Catholic Chaplain Corps ), which provides sacramental o the patients, families and staff nstitutions of the Texas Medical hospitals in the Houston area. onsors the pastoral assistants – ay personnel who assist the staff aling presence of Christ to those erves. nd availability of ministry is the f the Church, a demonstration of o fostering a genuine spirituality eing Christ in others and serving e resources this dynamic local
The Texas Catholic Herald, an awardwinning member of The Catholic Media Association, is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, except for one issue in June, July and August by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX and other distribution points. Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Church offers. As we continue to plan for a future of tremendous growth in this Archdiocese, this spirituality will serve as the foundation for which our forthcoming initiatives will be built. With deep gratitude, and in the spirit of transparency, I share with you the Archdiocesan financial statements for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019. The audited financials of the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese can be found in their entirety at www.archgh.org/offices-ministries/ business-offices/accounting. On behalf of the many growing ministries in this Archdiocese that depend on your support, thank
you for your kind contributions. As your shepherd, I am constantly encouraged by your great generosity, your sacred ongoing trust and your fervor for the faith. With prayers for God’s continued blessings on each of you and your family and friends, I remain
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Suffix:___________ Name: ______________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: _______ Zip: _________________________________ Phone #: _______________________________Email: _________________________________________ Parish: _______________________________________________________________________________ Make checks payable to St. Maryʼs Seminary Trust Fund. Mail to Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston, P. O. Box 4817, Houston, Texas 77210-4817
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THE FIRST WORD PASTORAL APPOINTMENT Effective Jan. 1 Father Martins Emeh Administrator — St. Monica Church
IN BRIEF Next Café Catholica Lite set for Jan. 14, 2021 with popular podcast host
HOUSTON — The next Café Catholica Lite will be held online Jan. 14, 2021 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host Heather Khym from Life Restoration Ministries and the Abiding Together podcast. Her topic will be “Christ, Our Firm Foundation.” The night will include the talk, Q&A and communal prayer. Open to all young adults. For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at www.archgh.org/ cafecatholica or yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778. To register, visit https://bit.ly/CatholicaLite. †
Archdiocesan Mass celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
PHOTO AND STORY BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A Filipino parol, or a paper lantern, sits among others on the altar at a past Simbang Gabi Mass. St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, located at 9009 Sienna Ranch Rd. in Missouri City, will host the final Simbang Gabi Mass on Dec. 23 and 7 p.m. Pre-registration is required. For a tutorial on how to make your own parol at home, visit www.archgh.org/DIYparol.
SIMBANG GABI, from page 1 and sharing a warm, comforting light in a darkened neighborhood. The short explores the relationship between generations of Filipinos who have since moved abroad but still keep connections to Filipino traditions from the Philippines. Come Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., when Filipino Catholics will gather at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, located at 9009 Sienna Ranch Rd. in Missouri City, for the final culmination Mass of the Simbang Gabi tradition, the guiding light of dozens of parols around the region will point to Jesus ahead of the Christmas feast day. Since Dec. 15, some 17 parishes throughout the Archdiocese have been celebrating the Simbang Gabi
IN BRIEF
tradition, a beloved Filipino custom that includes a novena of Masses held in anticipation of Christmas that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Pre-registration is required by contacting Maria Panaligan at 281-702-7814, Fe Blalack at 713-624-0951, and non-parishioners can contact Luis Abenir at 832236-7992 for registration. Though the Mass is traditionally celebrated at dawn before farmers would head out to the fields, the Masses are now celebrated in the evening in the U.S. so that more may attend later in the day. The Mass will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend. For more information and for the livestream link, visit www.simbanggabi-houston. blogspot.com †
Pope proclaims year dedicated to St. Joseph
HOUSTON (CNS) — Catholics in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston received a new chance to get to know St. Joseph when, in marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. In a Dec. 8 apostolic letter, “Patris Corde” (“With a father’s heart”), the pope said Christians can discover in St. Joseph, who often goes unnoticed, “an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.” “St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all,” he said. As Mary’s husband and guardian of the son of God, St. Joseph turned “his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home.” St. Joseph’s unconditional acceptance of Mary and his decision to protect her “good name, her dignity and her life” also serves as an example for men today, the pope added. A Vatican tribunal issued a decree Dec. 8 stating that plenary indulgences will be granted to Catholics through prayer and penance, and acts of justice, charity and piety dedicated to
the foster father of Jesus. Among the conditions for receiving an indulgence are a spirit detached from sin, receiving sacramental confession as soon as possible, receiving Communion as soon as possible and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions. The decree also highlighted several ways to obtain the indulgence throughout the year, including to those who “meditate on the prayer of the ‘Our Father’ for at least 30 minutes or take part in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph.” “Therefore, those who ... perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, will also be able to obtain the gift of the plenary indulgence,” it said. Indulgences will also be granted to families and engaged couples who recite the rosary together and thus imitate the “same climate of communion, love and prayer lived in the Holy Family. ” Other acts of devotion include entrusting one’s daily activities and prayers for dignified employment to St. Joseph, reciting the litany or any “legitimately approved” prayer to St. Joseph. During this time of pandemic, special indulgences will be granted to the elderly, the sick and all those who remain homebound by “reciting an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph and committed to fulfilling the conditions as soon as possible.” †
HOUSTON — The Archdiocese will honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remember his call to achieve peace through service to one another at its 36th annual Mass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., in Houston. Catholics from all 10 counties of the Archdiocese will celebrate King’s legacy at the 34th annual Archdiocesan Mass honoring his birthday, which will be celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo as principal celebrant and Deacon Darryl K. Drenon of St. Francis Xavier Parish as homilist. †
DSF annual appeal to support Archdiocesan ministries continues
HOUSTON — This year the theme of the annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) appeal is “Bring Your Greatest Gifts to The Lord.” The annual campaign to support more than 60 Archdiocese-wide ministries is under way and the local Church is asking parishioners to continue their generous giving to DSF. The fund supports a variety of ministries, such as those forming youth in Catholic faith; providing support and preparation for clergy; teaching, evangelizing, worshipping, and outreach to the incarcerated, aging, poor and sick; and programming to strengthen Christian families, among many others. A full list of all ministries supported can be found at www.archgh.org/dsf. The Archdiocese counts on DSF funds to help meet the needs of people struggling throughout our region. To make a pledge online, visit www.archgh.org/dsf. For more, call 713-652-4417. †
Food distributions continue to offer help during pandemic, update schedules
HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offer food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food pantries are open for drive-through food distribution at three locations: Guadalupe Center in Houston, appointments required; Mamie George Community Center in Richmond; and Beacon of Hope Center in Galveston, a Galveston County super distribution site, where distribution is on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and no appointment is required. Call 409-762-2064 for more information. In Fort Bend, The Mamie George Community Center is a Houston Food Bank super distribution site and appointments will be necessary starting Jan. 5, 2021. In 2021, distributions will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For assistance, call 281-202-7035. For hours and addresses, visit www.catholiccharities. org/covidfooddistribution or call the Catholic Charities COVID Assistance Line at 713-874-6521. †
4 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
LOCAL
DECEMBER 22, 2020
CREATIVITY IS A SOURCE OF LIGHT ▪ SEE PAGE 18
Pope to artists: “Artistic creation can bring the light of Christmas to a world that has been enveloped in the darkness of pain and sorrow.”
A Nativity fresco at the Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field, southeast of Bethlehem in the West Bank in Palestine. PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them,“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” — Luke 2:8-14
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DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald
This Christmas, give your family
Peace of mind.
With the Rangel Agency
Henry Rangel, FICF, LUTCF
Tony Rangel,
CLU, FICF, CSA, LUTCF
Assistant General Agent 281-731-8635 henry.rangel@kofc.org www.kofcrangelagency.com
General Agent 281-931-9100 thomas.rangel@kofc.org
Field Agents:
Kevin Anglin, FIC Darren Barr, FIC Mark Deaton, FICF Cesar Lozano Field Agent 281-660-4181
Aaron Moreno Field Agent 281-857-7157
Field Agent 832-273-5453
Jose Oviedo, FIC Field Agent 832-910-5061
Field Agent 281-381-1366
Field Agent 713-992-9610
Riley Ludlow Scott Marcum, FIC Field Agent 281-753-3770
Field Agent 281-253-9654
Zach Scardino Richard Thompson, FIC Alexander Vu, FIC FICF, LUTCF
Field Agent 281-541-8667
Field Agent 713-447-1261
Field Agent 832-588-3414
Administrative Staff:
Cindy Rangel, FICF
Office Administrator rangelagencymail@kofc.org
Danielle Vincent Office
Administrative Assistant rangelagencymail@kofc.org
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6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Look to the Holy Family for pandemic inspiration HOLIDAY BLUES, from page 1
AT-A-GLANCE
spiritually by receiving the Sacraments, caring for our mental health is just as important as exercise is for our bodies, Navarro said. When one is neglected, it can become unhealthy and unbalanced. The holidays are a natural time for people to feel upset or unwell, as family relationships or obligations might cause stress and discomfort, prompting what experts call the holiday blues. The added worldwide pandemic and its related stressors, Navarro said something temporary like the holiday blues could develop into something more serious like a mental health illness or disorder. As the pandemic wore on, Navarro saw more families seek professional counseling because they had been spending so much time together at home, causing many issues to arise. CONNECTING WITH OTHERS “Anybody can develop any mental health disorder. The only requirement for developing a mental health disorder is being human,” he said. Naturally, people will long for better times, but dwelling too much on the past and the future will prompt pandemic fatigue symptoms, like being tired of following guidelines and restrictions. “All human beings are vulnerable to a mental health disorder or a mental illness.” With the holidays, people might struggle with nostalgia, thinking about how things use to be or of times spent with people who may have died. He suggested focusing on the present and working to recognize these feelings, then work to overcome them. During the holidays, it’s easy to distract from these emotions and binge on social media or entertainment on TVs, tablets and phones, but embracing these feelings for a time will help in the future. “Connecting with others who are trustworthy is always a great way to overcome any sadness, especially when ... connected by our faith,” Navarro said. “Find creative ways to be generous. Charity and gratefulness are great sources of mental health and stability.” He suggested picking up meals for friends
5 Easy Ways to Beat the Blues
The holidays can easily bring around the good and the bad. Here are a few simple ways to help beat the holiday blues this winter. 1. WRITE A LETTER When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter to a friend? It’s never too late to send a Christmas card, the Christmas season continues well after Dec. 25!
PHOTO BY KATERINA HOLMES
Monitoring mobile phone usage for both children and adults will help discourage bingeing social media, entertainment and other distractions during the Christmas holidays and the pandemic.
and family who might need help, or video calling loved ones who may be alone during the holidays. “We should not lose the sense of community that our Catholic faith and churches provide us,” he said. FOCUSING ON GOD’S PROMISES Spirituality is also key to staying healthy, receiving the Sacraments or watching Mass if unable to attend in person and praying for Spiritual Communion, he said. “It is not a coincidence that this month of December, we have the holiday of Christmas when we remember the birth of Christ,” Navarro said. “For millions of people, that is a significant part of their spirituality, and living that spirituality of Christmas brings answers to our problems. There is hope that more is coming. And we can always look forward to more of God’s love, to God’s promises.” He stressed focusing on the Holy Family to be a guide on how to live during the pandemic. “We should especially focus on keeping our eyes fixed on the figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph,
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who went through so many tribulations, so many problems during the birth of Christ,” he said. “They always hoped, they always kept looking, and they managed to do God’s will — you never go wrong when you do God’s will. And that is a good example for all of us to follow. In our spirituality, we find meaning; we find answers that can potentially become the solution to our mental health issues. It is all connected.” GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP Feeling anxious or stressed? Call the Counseling and Behavioral Health Center at Catholic Charities to speak to a counselor at 713-874-6590. Visit www. catholiccharities.org/counseling to learn more and to watch a series of videos on mental health tips during the pandemic. †
Eugene N. Smart, CLU, MBA (713) 721-8262
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3. BREAK OUT A PUZZLE Take out the puzzles from under the coffee table or the back of that closet and gather the family to see how fast you can build the picture, or take up a board game. 4. LIMITING ALCOHOL Alcohol can alter any mood, good or bad, so after enjoying an adult beverage, switch to a nice cup of tea or sparkling water and know you’ll feel better the next day! 5. EXERCISE OFTEN Put on some headphones (or don’t!) and go for a brisk walk with family. See Christmas lights, watch for birds and wake up early for a crisp sunrise or a glowing sunset.
Guidelines remain as parishes continue at 50% capacity
HOUSTON - After reopening parishes following the state-mandated closure, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo continued the second step in the phased reopening of parishes in the Archdiocese. Parishes were permitted to expand to 50% capacity provided they, and parishioners, observe health guidelines set by the State of Texas when attending Mass. These include at least the following:
Wash hands often and for 20 seconds
Cover mouth and nose with a mask or cover when around others
Keep a safe social distance and avoid gathering after Masses
Avoid close contact; Share a ‘Sign of Peace’ from a distance
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve
Stay at home if feeling sick
*Includes Current Yield + 1.65% First Year Additional Interest
For more information call:
2. BAKE A FAVORITE RECIPE Few things are as comforting as tucking into a delicious cookie with a warm cup of coffee or tea. Bake a favorite family recipe, or find a new one online and safely share with your friends, family and neighbors.
For more information, visit www.archgh.org/healthupdates
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald
Thank you for continuing to
SUPPORT YOUR PARISH
As Catholics, we believe that all we have is a gift from God. Our response in faith is to offer these gifts back to God in gratitude. With gifts of prayer, we pray for our nation, Church and our parishes. With gifts of treasure, we support our parishes even when we cannot be there in person.
Make a Christmas gift to your parish online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/PARISHOFFERTORY
www.archgh.org/parishoffertory
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8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Finding Christ’s peace in the Piney Woods of Texas CIRCLE LAKE, from page 1 Gloria Bustillo, director of CLR since 2014. “The peace and quiet slow the pace for individuals when they take the time to just be together in the outdoors, while still having the amenities of household comforts.� CLR is a hosting facility providing landscaped gardens, eight stocked lakes and wildlife. Available for rent are 14 fully furnished homes, each with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The facility is used for large family reunions and retreats hosted by parishes and Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, including retreats for men, women, couples, families, sacramental preparation and youth activities. The grounds are developed for nature walks, canoeing and fishing, various outdoor activities, including lawn sports and cycling, a fire pit for singing or storytelling, and a large outdoor film screen for nightly movies. Bustillo said the underlying goal of each retreat is to build the desire of each member to be a part of a strong family unit. “In order to achieve that, individuals must first find that love and spirituality within themselves as husbands, wives, youth, grandparents, support groups, etc.,� said Bustillo. “Through that experience, a family grows closer together to fully
PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRCLE LAKE RETREAT CENTER
Pilgrim geese grace the Circle Lake Retreat Center grounds.
experience the need for one another.� Monica Torrez’s family has utilized the facilities at CLR for over a decade. He said the most beautiful and the most tragic times in his life have been shared with family on these retreat grounds, which have provided opportunities to heal. “As family, we have gathered to give thanks at Thanksgiving, to heal after
YOU CAN BRING BACK HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Will you help families in crisis this Christmas?
losing parents, and to share tears after losing a child,� said Torrez. “Circle Lake is a place you go to when you need the Holy Spirit to feed your soul during the good times and bad. Family is where we thrive and survive, and flourish in God’s love for us.� Torrez said when one makes the turn off SH 249 onto Circle Lake Drive, something special happens. “You get a warm feeling in your heart and feel the distractions and pressure of life melting away,� said Torrez. “Everything and everyone in the car are getting quieter and quieter, and when I look at the faces of my precious family, we’re all smiling. That’s what happens to family at Circle Lake... we love.� The original concept for this retreat center that focuses on family spirituality like the Torrez’s was formed in 1997. Bustillo said she and a group of lay Catholics living in Houston were assigned by then-Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza with the task of creating the vision and development of this large tract of land donated by the Marek Brothers. “When Archbishop Fiorenza approached me about the retreat center idea and said I would be working with Ralph Marek, I was stunned,�said Bustillo. “Anyone that knew Archbishop Fiorenza and Ralph Marek truly experienced the power of the Holy Spirit working through human hands. I was humbled by this opportunity and felt that God had given me so many incredible opportunities through my family, life and career.� Bustillo said the day she set foot on this hallowed ground, greeted by Marek, will always be at the top of her list as one of the best days of her life. “Working closely side-by-side with my two mentors had me thinking that I must
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Correctional Ministries
   � � � � � �� � �
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Archdiocesan Office
2900 Louisiana Street • Houston, Texas 77006
713-741-8732 archgh.org/correctionalministries
Circle Lake Retreat Center is supported by the Diocesan Services Fund. The 2020 DSF theme draws from an important meaning of the Catholic faith: “Bring Your Greatest Gift to the Lord.â€? DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. Of the 60plus programs under its umbrella, DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out these ministries. have done something good in my life to have this honor,â€? said Bustillo. “With every weed we pulled, nail we hammered, rock we placed and prayer we recited, the staff, volunteers and family of Circle Lake understood the significance of what would become this special place in the heart of the Archdiocese.â€?​ As one of more than 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), Bustillo said without the monetary contributions of generous donors, it would be difficult to help individuals of more modest means. She said it is very costly to operate a facility the size of Circle Lake, and for some parishes and families, the fees can seem costprohibitive. “CLR is the jewel of the Archdiocese, and it belongs to those who seek it,â€? said Bustillo. “Everyone has a need to feel the sense of security, peace and spirituality that is so readily found at CLR. This facility has an incredible healing power for individuals seeking a ‘place to get away from it all,’ and by supporting this ministry financially through the DSF, you make it possible for the Archdiocese to continue to cover the heavy financial burden of operating the facility and making it more affordable to all.â€? Torrez agrees that all families should have the opportunity to serve or be served through ministries like Circle Lake, and supporting the DSF is a critical component. “DSF is God’s way of using our hearts and hands as vessels of His love and compassion,â€? said Torrez. Bustillo said because of DSF support, CLR has been able to make a tremendous difference in the lives of families in the Archdiocese. Bustillo said she is grateful to have been a part of its original formation over two decades ago. “While out wearing a CLR staff shirt, I’ve been stopped by individuals who ask about the retreat center and the Marek family,â€? said Bustillo. “It warms my heart to see the significance of the impact that CLR has had on the Houston community. Many of the people I speak with say CLR has had an enormous impact on their childhood, and they remember many a happy time with their families celebrating life on this hallowed ground.â€? Though COVID-19 mandates have restricted programs and services offered at CLR, Bustillo said interested families and parishes may continue to inquire about opportunities by calling 281-3566764 or emailing gbustillo@archgh.org. â€
LOCAL
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald
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SHARING CHRISTMAS CHEER
OBITUARIES Judith Ann Mendez
RICHMOND — Judith Ann Mendez, mother of Catholic Schools Office Superintendent Debra Haney, died Dec. 2 after a brief illness. She was 77 years old. A funeral Mass was held at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land on Dec. 11. Interment is in Morton Cemetery. †
Deck the halls and Ninfa’s too
Frank Joseph Descant Jr.
MONTERREY, Mexico — Frank Joseph Descant Jr., the father of John Descant, coordinator of Clergy Pastoral Outreach Ministry, died Nov. 26. He was 78 years old. A memorial Mass will be held for immediate family only due to COVID-19 concerns, and a public celebration will be held at a later date. † PHOTO BY CATIE WATSO
IN MEMORIAM Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of January. Jan. 1, 1945 Jan. 1, 1959 Jan. 1, 1973 Jan. 1, 1976 Jan. 1, 2019 Jan. 2, 2013 Jan. 3, 2006 Jan. 3, 2012 Jan. 4, 1999 Jan. 5, 1955 Jan. 5, 1955 Jan. 5, 1994 Jan. 7, 1975 Jan. 7, 1997 Jan. 12, 1878 Jan. 12, 1969 Jan. 16, 1976 Jan. 16, 1981 Jan. 16, 2003 Jan. 16, 2015 Jan. 16, 2005
Msgr. J.S. Murphy Rev. Joseph L. Willett, CSB Rev. C. Laumer Schoppe Rev. Wilfred C. Sharpe, CSB Rev. Serafin Cejudo Rev. Joseph Shannon, CSB Rev. Charles E. Burns Rev. John Broussard, CSB Rev. Marvin A. Hebert Msgr. E.A. Kelly Rev. Bertrand Abell, CP Rev. Charles V. Patronella Rev. Hugh J. Haffey, CSB Rev. Sylvester Posluszny Rev. Rudolph Krc Rev. Carl M. Allnoch, CSB Rev. T.W. Kappe Msgr. Francis H. Connor Rev. Donald McNally, OMI Rev. Msgr. P. Le-Xuan-Thuong Rev. William P. Somerville
Jan. 17, 2004 Rev. Gerard Joubert, OP Jan. 17, 2011 Msgr. Eugene Cargill Jan. 18, 1975 Rev. David Max Jan. 19, 1955 Rev. Cornelius P. Sullivan Jan. 19, 1996 Msgr. Edward S. Missenda Jan. 19, 1997 Rev. Mark That Tran Jan. 19, 1997 Rev. James F. Wilson, CSB Jan. 21, 1918 Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher Jan. 22, 2006 Rev. Charles A. Christopher CSB Jan. 24, 1926 Msgr. James M. Kirwin Jan. 25, 1967 Rev. John D. Sheehy, CSB Jan. 25, 1976 Msgr. Timothy T. Cronin Jan. 25, 1978 Rev. Harold C. Perry, CSB Jan. 25, 2002 Rev. Gary F. Wanzong Jan. 26, 1882 Rev. James Miller Jan. 28, 1917 Rev. Clement Lowrey Jan. 29, 2000 Rev. Robert E. Lamb, CSB Jan. 30, 1929 Rev. M. Heintzelmann Jan. 30, 1993 Rev. J. Jesus Medrano, OSA Jan. 31, 1969 Rev. Finan Glynn, OCARM
Expand and deepen our hearts . . . Please pray for all victims of violence everywhere and their families. Pray for those being executed in Texas and their families:
January 21: Blaine Milam
Need Help? If you or a loved one is in need of help this season, contact our Archdiocesan social services listed below:
Catholic Charities
Food, clothing, emergency financial assistance, counseling, immigration assistance, veterans assistance, disaster recovery, refugees services, senior services and more.
catholiccharities.org/need-help or 713-526-4611
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Home visits, food network, disaster relief, clothing and furniture.
svdphouston.org/get-help or 713-741-8234
San José Clinic
Primary and specialty health care services, counseling and mental health services, dental and vision.
sanjoseclinic.org or 713-228-941
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School fourth graders Ava Boyas, Evelyn Gonzalez, Gonzalo Molina and Shepard Vazquez stand in front of the newly decorated Christmas tree inside the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation in Houston.
HOUSTON — For the last several years, students from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School (OLGCS) have spread Christmas cheer to the patrons of nearby The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation by decorating the restaurant with handmade artwork. Every grade level, Pre-K3 thru eighth graders, design art pieces and gather them together for the fourth-grade class to use. On Dec. 3, fourth graders from OLGCS walked to the restaurant and hung their decorations everywhere from the walls to the bar to the clear partitions in place for COVID-19 safety. Ninfa’s usually provides a meal to the students inside the restaurant, however due to safety precautions, this year the meal was packaged to-go and eaten inside the classroom where students have desk partitions and socially distant desks. †
10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
EDUCATION ‘A Pattern of Hope’ event pays gift of Catholic education forward BY LESLIE BARRERA Special to the Herald HOUSTON — One of the first things people envision when they think about Catholic schools is the iconic plaid pattern of the uniforms. There might be no other pattern more synonymous with a Catholic education. More than merely a pattern of fabric for generations of students, the plaid of a Catholic school uniform has served as a pattern of hope. This year, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese have committed to being a light of hope and a constant in the lives of their students as so much has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To fully provide for the needs of students, the network of Catholic schools will be hosting A Pattern of Hope: Benefiting Catholic Schools on Feb. 5 as its inaugural virtual fundraising event during National Catholic Schools Week. A Pattern of Hope will showcase academic and extracurricular school programs with special guests featured throughout the broadcast, which will be available for viewing at ChooseCatholicSchools.org/ Hope. Funds raised from the event will support the COVID-19 Support Fund for Catholic Schools that provides tuition assistance scholarships and benefits educational technology enhancements needed for remote learning. The economic realities brought by the pandemic have made it difficult for families dealing with job losses, and across the network of schools, the Catholic
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
A kindergarten teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic School in Houston meets with her student. An upcoming Feb. 5 event will benefit schools like Corpus Christi in supporting student enrollment and tuition.
Schools Office and campus principals are doing all they can to ensure their students can remain in the school community they have grown up in. The goal for A Pattern of Hope is to continue the legacy of Catholic education and to invite sponsors and friends of education to “pay it forward” by making a gift to help schools cover the increased need for tuition assistance and vital technology needed to keep
students on a continuum of learning whether in a virtual classroom or on campus. This celebration of the work of the schools during Catholic Schools Week and the event itself couldn’t come at a better time, according to Cathy Stephen, assistant superintendent of Operational Vitality for the Catholic Schools Office. “Now, more than ever, we need your support. We have families who have asked for additional support in tuition assistance so that their children can remain enrolled,” she said. “Your gift, as part of this newly imagined event, is critical to our schools and these children. It is appreciated immensely, so thank you for whatever level you are called to give.” The event, which features Father Clint Ressler, pastor of St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal in Texas City and president of the Archdiocesan School Council as emcee, hopes to take the viewer through a virtual tour of the network of schools in a way that hasn’t been done before. Stephen said it is all being done for a very important cause. “This event allows us to continue to keep our children first in mind as we serve their social, emotional and academic needs at our schools,” she said. “Learning continues in our masks, and this virtual event allows us to carry on in as normal a way as possible. Past the masks, you’ll see the smiling eyes of the students as they work at learning in their schools.” For more on how to become a sponsor of A Pattern of Hope, visit ChooseCatholicSchools.org/Hope. †
Hope
A Pattern of
Support Catholic Education — Join us for the ‘A Pattern of Hope’ Virtual Luncheon Event benefiting Catholic schools
Friday, February 5, 2021 Visit ChooseCatholicSchools.org/HOPE
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DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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YOUTH
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The role of family today What a whirlwind year 2020 has been and continues to be for the family. Families have been both separated and united due to the pandemic. The role of family members has changed, in most cases, by adding more responsibilities to each member. Yet, amidst the stress and change, the impact of COVID-19 has strengthened our role in family life and clarified one of our most profound family characteristics. We are all aware of how COVID-19 has impacted and changed family members, especially parents; professions, health (physical, emotional and mental), income, household issues, education and faith formation at home have all changed in some way. The hardest change has been for families who suffered the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19 and had to endure the loss amid the gathering restrictions implemented during the pandemic. With the onset of the virus, families were challenged to strengthen their trust in others. Our needs became dependent on trusting the advice of healthcare workers, volunteers, our own family members and, yes, news media. Essentially, we had to trust that people are good and want to do good for others. We trusted that God was leading the hands of others as they showed us how to teach, nurse, counsel and assist in unique and varied ways. Families increased their faith sharing at home, usually with the children as the locus, and indeed, families increased their prayers of supplication and thanksgiving. In the middle of quarantine and social distancing, one family characteristic that became noticeably clear is the family’s communal nature. Amidst rising issues,
the one limitation that people keep lamenting is the loss of gathering with family, friends and community. As we learned what we needed and what we did not know, our hearts by sought guidance and peace to do what we NORMA needed to say and do for TOROK others in a distanced world. I am reminded of St. Paul and his letter to the Ephesians. Paul writes of his love for them and his longing to be with them. He counseled the community on what a family should be for each other. He reminded them that no matter the trials, God was ever-present with and for them. In many ways, families’ lives during the pandemic have been much like Paul’s relationship with the Ephesians. Families have felt closed off from each other, counseled each other sometimes from afar, wished to be with each other and asked to take care of each other. Like St. Paul, the family’s mission is to share and keep the faith, knowing that God will prevail. Today, we are hopeful and looking forward with the dawning of a vaccine for COVID-19 peeking at us. We look forward to the privilege of celebrating community life and serving others with our renewed family virtues, skills, tools and mannerisms. What renewed family strengths will I share in community as we move forward? †
†
Norma Torok, who recently retired, was an associate director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.
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12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
2020: YEAR in REVIEW
M
AYBE IT’S A YEAR WE WANT TO FORGET. A worldwide pandemic. Wildfires. A charged election. The traumatic death of George Floyd. 30 named storms in a never-again hurricane season that got too close for comfort. Both students and grandparents joined the Zoom generation. Parents and their students’ teachers became computer techs overnight. Grocery stores, but different. Graduations, but different. Waiting, always waiting, but different. But what wasn’t different? The unforgettable threads of resilience in every family, home, school, parish and every community working to persevere through 2020. Each wove a tapestry and story unlike any other, one connected by faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. 2020 showed the strength of an Archdiocese, and what holding fast to the Catholic faith can overcome.
Global pandemic upends communities
HOUSTON — The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston witnessed tragedy and triumph throughout 2020. CHANGING OVERNIGHT Not long after ringing in the New Year, a new illness started to paralyze the world. When cases were confirmed in Houston, city officials were forced to shutdown the Houston Rodeo on March 9 just ahead of the Spring Break holiday. Then, to tide an uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), as it would be dubbed, shutdowns were in order and schools closed, doing their best to home-
school via the Internet. Seniors in high school took an especially hard hit as proms were canceled, and graduations were delayed or canceled. Weddings were postponed or moved into a new online format. Nursing homes, like St. Dominic Village in the Texas Medical Center, made the difficult decision to close their campuses to visitors to safeguard vulnerable populations like their elderly residents. By March 14, many parishes began streaming Masses live online. Then three days later, on March 18, public Masses in the Archdiocese were suspended due to a government mandate, though parishes could remain open for private prayer. In April, parishes looked at livestream
Raising Awareness & Support for Catholic Education
capabilities to broadcast weekend and daily Masses that priests were celebrating privately in chapels and the church sanctuary. Other church-related events were either canceled or offered online.
behind a veiled screen, Father Hust greeted penitents who remained in their cars, encouraging them to be loud with their confession. Social distancing ensured confession could remain private and anonymous if desired. On Palm Sunday, Father Victor Perez at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston stood curbside distributing palms to the faithful. Also in April, Father Clint Ressler, pastor at St. Mary’s of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Texas City, took his 10-speed bicycle and visited church members at their homes. He mapped routes based on their addresses and then ran or biked to each home, depending on the weather.
AGENCIES LEAD EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES As the shutdowns began, Archdiocesan agencies continued to provide needed assistance to thousands throughout Galveston-Houston, operating remotely. As of Nov. 22, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston had distributed more than three million pounds of food to people needing food 2020: assistance since the pandemic A YEAR IN began. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continued REOPENING IN FAITH REVIEW to respond to calls, placing In early June, churches the greatest emphasis on could reopen at 25% capacity, individuals who needed food and later 50%, with social or shelter or whose utilities distancing guidelines and were about to be disconnected. mask requirements in place. San José Clinic continued to provide Livestreaming continued for those who medical care with COVID-19 protocols were still unable to attend. Eventually to ensure all patients that needed care confirmations, baptisms, funerals and would receive it. weddings all returned. In August, Catholic schools opened. REACHING THE FAITHFUL Catholic school administrators and Ministries in the Archdiocese moved educators worked with families to ensure their conferences and workshops online that students and staff had a safe and to ensure the faithful, while at home, environment conducive to the continuity could still get the support they needed. of education, according to school officials. On March 19, Daniel Cardinal Then, the 2020 Archdiocesan White DiNardo opened a series of virtual Mass gained new meaning this year, as spiritual reflections on the Feast of St. hundreds of healthcare workers were Joseph. The obligation to attend Mass prayed for and blessed when Daniel was also suspended, which was expected Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the annual continued for the duration of the Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred pandemic. During Lent, priests around Heart on Oct. 17. the Archdiocese filmed “Messages of Hope” for the faithful to see on the TESTING RESOLVE Archdiocesan website. Several parishes throughout the When a long-time Houston-area Archdiocese stepped up to host pop-up deacon died in March, Father Christian COVID-19 testing in coordination with Bui, pastor at St. Edward Catholic Church the Harris County Public Health and City in Spring, worked to ensure the graveside of Houston Health departments. service was livestreamed for family who At Assumption Catholic Church near couldn’t attend due to travel restrictions. Houston’s Northside community, cars In mid-April, at St. Vincent de Paul lined up for COVID-19 testing when parish in Houston near the Texas Medical the parish parking lot became a local Center, Parochial Vicar Father David Hust testing center. St. Philip of Jesus Catholic set up a drive-through confessional in the Church, Holy Ghost Catholic Church, church parking lot. St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and Wearing a face mask and waiting Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE
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HOOLS!
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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.
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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Deacon Bob Angelich, who was ordained in the Gary, Indiana, Diocese in 2003, said the group stood along Westheimer and Rogerdale Ave. for an hour with Prayer Not Violence T-shirts and signs that said, “Stop the Sin of Racism.” Deacon Angelich began Prayer Not Violence while in Indiana. The horrific death compelled him to restart the ministry in Houston. “The harsh reality of racism needed to be addressed. Racism in any form, whether it is physically violent or not, is wrong,” he said. “To God, all of racism is a sin. It is an evilness that takes the entire human family and willfully tries to fracture it apart.”
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A large mural, sponsored by the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, depicts a hand holding a heart on the wall of the Catholic Newman Center at Texas Southern University in Houston. Some 120 youth helped paint the mural, as well as the art wall, nearby. The mural has drawn attention to the fight against racism as demonstrations rocked the nation during the summer of 2020.
served as pop-up testing locations. In May, the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association of Houston coordinated testing at Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church in Houston to serve vulnerable Vietnamese-speaking populations. Parishes have also offered needed community services by providing relief through rent assistance and groceries while also distributing masks.
Prayer, not violence: Parishes, clergy work to ‘stop the sin of racism’ HOUSTON — A nation that was already enduring the hardship of COVID-19 witnessed a horrifying incident played out on social media and televisions worldwide — the killing of Houstonian George Floyd. The May 25 police-involved death of Floyd, an African American in Minneapolis who grew up in Houston, led to protests, violence and soul-searching locally and across the country. A SPIRITUAL RESPONSE This year, in response to traumatic events affecting Houstonians, Cardinal DiNardo commissioned the Archdiocesan Disaster Spiritual Care ministry, comprised of 18 priests and 34 deacons who have agreed to be assigned as needed to shelters working in coordination with
Red Cross and social services during hurricanes and other disasters, Shortly after Floyd’s death, the group, including Father Reginald Samuels, vicar for Catholics of African Descent, joined priests, deacons and laity, also came together to attend a candlelight vigil at Yates High School in Houston on behalf of former student Floyd on June 8. During the Nov. 16 to 17 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ fall general meeting, which was conducted entirely online, the bishops added racial inequality to their four-year strategic plan, which is not scheduled to go into effect until January 2021. The committee report said, “This tragic event and the public response in its aftermath left an indelible impression on the hearts and minds of citizens of the U.S. and the world. The callously cruel treatment of this man, which resulted in his death, shocked the consciences of the Church, its shepherds, Catholic faithful and all humanity.” Under the priority of “Life and dignity of the human person: Serve the common good as the leaven in a free society,” a revised emphasis area is now proposed to read, “Work to heal the scourge of racism and religious intolerance.” IN PRAYER In Houston, on June 27 and July 9, a group from St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church stood near the corner of Westheimer and the Sam Houston Tollway to “be a visual reminder to the world that racism is a horrific sin.”
Neighbors help neighbors amid record hurricane season HOUSTON — The year 2020 broke a new record for named storms, with 30 tropical storms or hurricanes forming in the Atlantic. For the most part, Houston was spared, with Tropical Storm Beta being the closest to hit, which affected mostly the Beaumont and Sabine Pass. Louisiana, on the other hand, had six hurricanes head in their direction, one, Laura, with devastating damage, and the other, Delta, to make it worse. Just as the Cajun Navy fearlessly came to help Texas during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Houstonian’s didn’t wait to head to Lake Charles and bring supplies in the wake of Hurricane Laura. HELPING HANDS AND SUPPLIES Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continued to coordinate with their sister agencies in southeast Texas and Louisiana, asking
for Houstonians to donate water to take to the affected region. No stranger to hurricane relief, the Knights of Columbus of GalvestonHouston brought took six pallets of water to Lake Charles in coordination with Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, Archdiocesan director for the Secretariat of Social Concerns, and Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana (CCSL) the day after the storm hit Aug. 26. Over the next week, thousands of supplies, including water, food, gas, construction and cleaning goods, were brought to the southeast Texas and Lake Charles-area to help with recovery and relief work. A group from Council 8494 traveled to Sulfur, Louisiana, helping to provide more than 500 meals for several days to aid workers and people affected by Laura. A group from Council 3217 traveled to Lake Charles to help elderly and widowed Knights with cleaning debris from their homes. Groups in Nederland received more than 300 cases of water, dry goods and hygiene supplies from Council 6878. Members of the Knights of Peter Claver and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary from across the Gulf Coast trekked to Lake Charles, Louisiana on Sept. 12 to deliver supplies to relief efforts. Schools also helped with relief efforts, like St. John XXIII College Preparatory in Katy, which hosted a gift card drive to benefit Laura recovery. In coordination with the Montgomery County Food Bank, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands also coordinated a delivery of 13 pallets of water to be sent to Louisiana. St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, which was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, also coordinated an ecumenical supply drive to benefit storm relief. †
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KEEPING HOLY THE SABBATH EVEN AT HOME The Archdiocese continues to offer an online hub of SPIRITUAL RESOURCES with links to how to keep the faith while at home including: • • • •
Online Mass worship aids and stream links Spiritual Reflections videos presented by priests in English, Spanish and Vietnamese Daily Readings, online prayer guides and links to Pope Francis’s prayers and Liturgies Special prayers for the pandemic
WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/SPIRITUALRESOURCES
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14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
COLUMNISTS
Jesus in a manger: Our true nourishment
Each year as I select a place of prominence for our family manger scene, I think of Christmases past. My fondest recollection is one with my first grandchild. He was around the age of four, standing before the crèche, when he announced that we had a problem. When I asked him what the problem was, he informed me that Jesus was missing. You see, it is our family tradition that the baby Jesus is placed in the manger on Christmas morning. As I tried to explain to my grandson that Jesus wasn’t born yet and that we would place him in the manger on Christmas day, he cocked his head and replied, “Nana, Jesus was born 2000 years ago!” Well, as they say, out of the mouth of babes. My grandson was correct. As we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas, we know full well and believe that He has come, He is present and He will come
again. Gazing at the manger scene, I try to imagine placing my own newborn baby in a feeding trough, for that is what the manger was… a way to feed the animals, a place by to find nourishment. Then DEBORAH I realize the appropriateness of such a JONES cradle since our Lord at His birth was to become our spiritual food. The Eucharist nourishes our souls and feeds the spiritual needs of the Church. In our lives today, from what metaphoric manger do we seek nourishment? On Christmas day, Christians place Jesus in a manger, exchange gifts and hurry off to Mass to get a good seat. Then what? Most of us gather with our
†
loved ones to celebrate with lots of food, drink and festivity. Some of us crash on the couch in a food coma. Others suffer from pre-Christmas fatigue. Once the wrapping paper is placed in the trash, relatives have returned to their respective homes and the mess is cleaned up, where is Jesus? Did we make time for Him on this special day? Or did we get caught up in the hustle and bustle preparing for the “activities” of Christmas? Did we exhaust ourselves needlessly hurrying about purchasing gifts, baking family favorites, attending parties, decorating, etc.? Perhaps we became so distracted in the preparation of this holiday that we forgot the real purpose of the celebration. I just cannot help but think that we should spend the same amount of time, joy and hope in intense preparation for the Parousia when Christ comes again that we do for our Savior’s birth. So, I
humbly ask all — as my grandson declared years ago — ”Do we have a problem?” Is Jesus missing in our lives? Do we know where to find Him? Do we turn to the manger, the feeding vessel, the chalice which holds our true nourishment, the precious Body of Christ? This Christmas… especially this Christmas in the year of COVID-19, I challenge you to make time to return to the Lord’s “manger” where he awaits and literally becomes food for all, our everlasting sustenance. Return to the manger and gaze upon the miracle that is our Lord made flesh, the same miracle that we celebrate at each Mass through His Word and Precious Body. † Deborah Jones is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
An Advent walking with Mary While cooking dinner with a friend one day, she asked me why I used the green onions in a certain way, and my prompt response was, “Because that’s how my mom used to do it.” I reflected on how automatic some of my actions are because I learned them from my mother. Somehow my thoughts went to Mary, our heavenly mother, and I thought of how wonderful it would be if all my actions were likewise, automatically inspired by Mary. In this special Advent of 2020, with all the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic, we can take an extra step. We can pray to Mary like we usually do, and we can also learn from her and imitate her. How can we be like Mary, with all our imperfections and sins? Let’s think about Lourdes; there, Mary did not appear in a beautiful place like a garden full of flowers or in a beautiful cathedral, but she appeared in a place used as a garbage dump. If she, being the Theotokos, humbled herself and appeared in such a simple place, who knows if she could use us, with our miseries and imperfections, to be
spiritually present in us for those who need her? One suggestion this Advent is to pray the Litany of Loreto and try to be a reflection of them. For instance — “Comfort of the afflicted” — to live in such a way that people around us find comfort in their distress. Each time people see us, they see a by spiritual presence of Mary, the presence JOELMA of a heart that understands their REGIS suffering. Another example is “Queen of peace.” We can create a peaceful environment around us, at work, at home in our everyday life. Or take, “Mother of mercy,” we can be patient and merciful with those whom we meet every day, especially with those who upset and annoy us. If you are like me, who makes a resolution in the morning and often forgets about it during the day, don’t worry. What is important is to begin again each
†
day and recommit ourselves. One early morning as I was biking, I saw a beautiful white bird by the bayou. The bird’s reflection in the water reminded me about being a reflection of Mary, so I asked myself what part of the litany I could put into practice that day. Morning Star, I thought! Perhaps I could try to imitate Mary by being that morning star that stands out in the dark sky as a soft and silvery light. I thought of illuminating all those dark moments of the day — those times that because of a difference in opinions, or sensitivities, or harsh words by others or mine, relationships are clouded and soured. How would I be that light? By putting on an attitude of the Gospel’s love, a pure love that will reflect through my eyes and my whole being. Was I successful in living that way? Definitely not all the time, but what a better way to prepare myself for this special Christmas season than by being that star like Mary? † Joelma Regis is an associate director with the Office of Vocations.
Family love beyond borders In our world, there are all kinds of families. The families I deal with the most in my ministry to seafarers are far from each other. Fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, sisters, mothers, wives and daughters sign contracts to sail away from their families so that their families may have better lives. For nearly 36 years, I have conversed with tens of thousands of seafarers who have left their families behind to sail the world. You can imagine all the different family dynamics that have been discussed over the years, from an overbearing mother pressuring a young seafaring son to get married to husbands who are notified their beautiful wife has died giving birth while he was in the middle of the ocean. I have been involved in many hours of listening to marriage problems, frustration over teenage children not listening to advice, heartache over being far away from sick children or aging parents. Family is
family no matter if you live on the same street or half a world away. One thing I have learned over the years of visiting seafarers and talking with them about family is that we are all connected. My actions by affect them; their actions KAREN affect me. I have had PARSONS, OFS countless cups of tea with seafarers whose hearts are broken because they are not home during a crisis. My heart broke with theirs. During this pandemic, many seafarers have been stuck at sea with no way to go home due to companies being afraid the relievers may bring COVID-19 on board, airports being closed to international flights, or port states not allowing seafarers to come ashore to get to
†
airports to fly home. And for every seafarer stuck on a ship is a seafarer stuck at home unable to join a ship to make money for his/her family. This pandemic has been hard on all of us. We were asked to do some simple things to keep each other safe: stay home if possible, wear a mask in public, keep distant from others and wash our hands often. Many people chose not to do these simple things, and the United States soared to number one in COVID-19 cases and deaths. I have been visiting my brothers and sisters at sea for nearly 36 years. I learned from them that we are all responsible for each other. I am a Secular Franciscan. Following in the steps of St. Francis, who ultimately followed in the steps of Christ, has me deeply caring for others, for the earth, for all of God’s creation. If I chose to be selfish and claim rights and freedoms that infringe on others’ safety and
health, then I cannot claim to be a Franciscan nor a Christian. Our love for humanity must prevail over our love of ourselves. We all want to be with our families this holiday season. Seafarers seldom get that joy their entire careers. Let us think of them as we sacrifice our family time for the good of humanity this holiday season. On Dec. 31, I will retire as the port chaplain for the ports of Galveston and Texas City. Although I will miss the day-to-day visits with seafarers on the ships and fishers along the coast, I will continue my correspondence ministry with seafarers and their families that I have maintained for 36 years. We are all connected. We are all family. May our Lord Jesus bless you and keep you safe and well and good. † Karen M. Parsons, OFS, is a port chaplain with the Apostleship of the Sea.
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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WORLD
Spanish bishops decry ‘moral rupture’ as euthanasia law gains traction ROME (CNS) — Progress in passing a bill that would legalize euthanasia in Spain signals a failure of morality and of the government’s mandate to protect the life of its citizens, the country’s bishops said. The Spanish bishops’ conference released a statement on Dec. 11 denouncing the legislation after Spain’s Justice Commission approved the bill, paving the way for it to be passed to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved. According to a report by the European news agency Euronews, the legislation could “come into effect in early 2021.” The processing of the bill, the bishops said, was “carried out in a suspiciously accelerated manner, in a time of pandemic and a state of alarm, without listening to or engaging in public dialogue.” “This event is especially serious since it establishes a moral rupture, a change in the purposes of the state from defending life to being responsible for inflicting
death,” the statement said. Passage of the bill also would damage the reputation of the medical profession, which “is called as much as possible to cure or at least alleviate — in any case to console — and to never intentionally provoke death,” it said. The controversial law would make Spain the fifth European country to legalize physician-assisted suicide after Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Other European countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Norway, allow for what is known as “passive euthanasia,” in which patients, under strict circumstances, can elect to not receive treatments, such as nutrition or hydration, that would prolong their lives. Currently, assisted suicide is punishable in Spain with up to five years in prison. A person found to have been directly involved in someone’s death can face homicide charges and up to 10 years
Preach the promise of eternal life, cardinal tells pope, Curia officials VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Anyone who thinks eternal life will be boring should ask a couple in love whether they want that love to endure forever, said the preacher of the papal household. Human beings are “finite beings capable of the infinite, mortal beings with an innate yearning for immortality,” said Raniero Cardinal Cantalamessa, offering an Advent meditation to Pope Francis, leaders of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees. In his reflection on Dec. 11, the cardinal said Jesus’ birth was the moment “eternity burst into time,” and His death and resurrection opened eternity to all who believe. Preaching about eternity is an essential aspect of evangelization, he said, because it responds to that human desire for meaning and for unending love. But also, he said, it is a reminder to Christians that the focus of their lives should be striving for holiness on earth so that they can enjoy eternal life with God in heaven. “Imagine this situation: A person receives an eviction notice and must move soon. Fortunately, he immediately is given the possibility of a new home,” the cardinal said.“But what does he do? He spends all his money to modernize and decorate the house he must leave rather than furnishing the one he’s going to. Wouldn’t that be foolish?” “All of us will be ‘evicted’ from this world,” he said, “and we resemble that foolish man if we think only about
CNS PHOTO
Raniero Cardinal Cantalamessa, the official preacher of the papal household, delivers the homily to U.S. bishops during Mass in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mundelein Seminary Jan. 3, 2019, at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Illinois, near Chicago.
embellishing our earthly home without being concerned for the good works that will follow us to our new home after our deaths.” Unfortunately, the cardinal told the pope and Curia officials, too many Christians seem to be losing sight of the promise of eternal life, which diminishes their “capacity to face suffering and life’s challenges with courage.” Like St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Ignatius of Loyola taught, he said, “in every situation and before every obstacle,” Christians should ask themselves,“Quid hoc ad aeternitatem?” essentially,“What does this mean in the light of eternity?” †
CNS PHOTO
A photo illustration shows tools used in euthanasia. As a controversial euthanasia bill is expected to pass in Spain, the country’s bishops said Dec. 11 that the new law establishes a “moral rupture” and ultimately changes the purpose of the state from protecting life to promoting death.
in prison. El Pais, the Spanish newspaper, said the bill would allow adults with a terminal illness and those with serious and chronic disabilities to request help for assisted death from the public health care system. Spanish media have also reported that one survey revealed that up to 87% of the public is sympathetic to the introduction
of a euthanasia law, with about 70% of doctors in favor of a change in the law. Echoing a similar request made in September, the Spanish bishops’ conference urged legislators to instead promote palliative care to help patients deal with the physical and emotional pain of illness, but also “consoles and offers the hope that comes from faith and gives meaning to all human life, even in suffering and vulnerability.” The COVID-19 pandemic, the bishops said, has not only highlighted the “frailty of life” but has, at times, raised “indignation at the neglect in the care of the elderly.” “There has been a growing awareness that ending life cannot be the solution to a human problem,” the statement said. “We have been grateful for the work of the health care providers and the value of our public health care, and even call for its improvement and greater budgetary attention.” Physician-assisted suicide cannot be viewed as a humane or economic “shortcut,” the bishops said. Instead, the government should “invest in the care and closeness that we all need in the final stage of this life. This is true compassion.” †
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston 36th Observance of the Annual Celebration
"A Mass of Remembrance" Honoring the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Parkway Houston, Texas 77002
SUNDAY AFTERNOON January 17, 2021 Most Rev. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop
MAIN CELEBRANT
3:00PM
Deacon Darryl K. Drenon Saint Francis Xavier Parish
HOMILIST
16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
NATION & STATE
Bishops: Getting COVID-19 vaccine is ‘act of charity,’ supports the common good WASHINGTON (CNS) — The “gravity” of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and “the lack of availability of alternative vaccines” are “sufficiently serious” reasons to accept the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees said Dec. 14. “Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community,” they said. “In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.” The bishops addressed the moral concerns raised by the fact the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have some connection to cell lines that originated with tissue taken from abortions. However, this connection to morally compromised cell lines is so remote, and the public health situation is too grave to reject the vaccines, said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Late Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency-use approval to the Pfizer vaccine, with approval expected for Moderna the week of Dec. 14. UPS and FedEx began shipping the doses across the country Dec. 12, with the first shipments arriving Dec. 14. Each state has a distribution plan for administering them. National guidelines call for health care workers and those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities to be first in line to get immunized. On Dec. 8, The Lancet medical journal reported that four clinical trials of a third vaccine, being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca “appears to have moderate efficacy in preventing symptomatic illness, and may significantly reduce hospitalization from the disease.” Astra Zeneca is expected to apply to the FDA for emergency use of its vaccine in the coming weeks. Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann said they found the AstraZeneca vaccine it to be “more morally compromised” and concluded this vaccine “should be avoided” if there are alternatives available. “It may turn out, however, that one does not really have a choice of vaccine, at least, not without a lengthy delay in immunization that may have serious
FROM CARDINAL DINARDO On the moral permissibility of recently announced vaccines for COVID-19
FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Medical personnel from the Houston Health Department administer a coronavirus (COVID-19) test to an individual during drive-through testing in the parking lot of Assumption Catholic Church in Houston on Oct. 7. COVID-19 vaccines began distribution in mid-December.
consequences for one’s health and the health of others,” the two prelates stated. “In such a case ... it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.” Shortly after Pfizer and Moderna announced Nov. 11 and Nov. 16, respectively, that their vaccines were 95% effective against COVID-19, critics claimed the vaccines have been produced using cells from aborted fetuses, leading to confusion over “the moral permissibility” of using these vaccines. Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann addressed this issue in a Nov. 23 memo to their fellow bishops and addressed it again in their 2,400word statement Dec. 12. In the memo, they noted some were “asserting that if a vaccine is connected in any way with tainted cell lines, then it is immoral to be vaccinated with them. This is an inaccurate portrayal of Catholic moral teaching.” In their new lengthy statement, the two committee chairmen emphasized that any such cell lines were derived from tissue samples taken from fetuses aborted in the 1960s and 1970s and have been grown in laboratories all over the world since then. “It is important to note that the making of the rubella vaccine — or that of the new COVID-19 vaccines — does not involve cells taken directly from the body of an aborted child,” Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann said. “Cells taken from two abortions in the 1960s were replicated in a laboratory to produce two cell lines that can be reproduced again and again, indefinitely.”
“To make the rubella vaccine, cells from these cell lines are stimulated to produce the chemicals necessary for the vaccine,” they explained. “It is not as if the making of the vaccine required ever more cells from ever more abortions.” The two committee chairmen said the Vatican, through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Academy for Life, “has offered guidance on the question of whether it is morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that has been created with the use of morally compromised cell lines.” Both the congregation and the academy “emphasize the positive moral obligation to do good,” they said, “and in so doing to distance oneself as much as possible from the immoral act of another party such as abortion in order to avoid cooperation with someone else’s evil actions and to avoid giving scandal, which could happen if one’s own actions were perceived by other people to ignore or to minimize the evil of the action.” “Our love of neighbor should lead us to avoid giving scandal, but we cannot omit fulfilling serious obligations such as the prevention of deadly infection and the spread of contagion among those who are vulnerable just to avoid the appearance of scandal,” the two prelates said. At the same time, the bishops also cautioned Catholics against complacency about the moral issue of abortion and ethical issues surrounding the development of some vaccines. “While having ourselves and our families immunized against COVID-19
On Dec. 2, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the federal government will be distributing an initial allotment of approximately 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Texas during the month of December. These vaccines will be administered by qualifying providers throughout the state. Some individuals and groups are publicly asserting that if a vaccine is connected in any way with tainted cell lines then it is immoral to be vaccinated with it. This is an inaccurate presentation of Catholic moral doctrine and I would like to offer some clarifications regarding the moral permissibility of using the COVID-19 vaccines developed by the companies Pfizer and Moderna. Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development or production. However, these vaccines are not completely free from any connection to abortion, as both Pfizer and Moderna made use of a tainted cell line for one of the confirmatory lab tests of their products. There is thus a connection, but it is relatively remote and should not be the basis for refusing to receive the vaccine. A third possible vaccine, this one produced by AstraZeneca, is morally concerning because of its origins. However, according to Catholic moral teaching it is also acceptable to receive it for the sake of our own health and the health of others if it is the only vaccine available in a given place. It is morally permissible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines which will be available for distribution in Texas beginning this month. On this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary we unite ourselves more closely to the intercession of the Mother of God as we pray for an end to the Coronavirus pandemic. Please be assured of my continued prayers for the clergy and lay faithful of the Church in GalvestonHouston. † with the new vaccines is morally permissible and can be an act of self-love and of charity toward others, we must not allow the gravely immoral nature of abortion to be obscured,” Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann said. †
SUNDAY MASS READINGS DEC. 27
First Reading: Sir 3:2-7, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-5
Second Reading: Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17
Gospel: Lk 2:22-40 or Lk 2:22, 39-40
JAN. 3
First Reading: Is 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Second Reading: Eph 3:2-3, 5-6
Gospel: Mt 2:1-12
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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MUNDO CATÓLICO Papa proclama el año dedicado a san José CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — Con motivo del 150 aniversario de la declaración de san José como patrón de la iglesia universal, el papa Francisco proclamó una celebración de un año dedicado al padre adoptivo de Jesús. En una carta apostólica del 8 de diciembre, “Patris Corde” (“Con corazón de padre”), el papa dijo que los cristianos pueden descubrir en san José, que a menudo pasa desapercibido, “un intercesor, un apoyo y un guía en tiempos de problemas”. “San José nos recuerda que los que aparecen ocultos o en las sombras pueden jugar un papel incomparable en la historia de la salvación”, dijo. Como esposo de María y guardián del hijo de Dios, san José convirtió “su vocación humana al amor doméstico en una oblación sobrehumana de sí mismo, de su corazón y de todas sus capacidades, un amor puesto al servicio del Mesías que iba madurando en su casa”. A pesar de estar preocupado al principio por el embarazo de María, agregó, san José fue obediente a la voluntad de Dios “sin importar las dificultades involucradas”. “En cada situación, José declaró su propio ‘fiat’, como los de María en la Anunciación y Jesús en el Huerto de Getsemaní”, dijo el papa. “Todo esto deja claro que san José fue llamado por Dios a servir directamente a la persona y misión de Jesús a través del ejercicio de su paternidad y que, de esta manera, cooperó en la plenitud de los tiempos en el gran misterio de la salvación y es verdaderamente un ministro de
FOTO DE CNS
Una estatua de san José aparece en la parroquia de Santa María Josefa en Roma. En una carta apostólica del 8 de diciembre, el papa Francisco proclamó un año dedicado a san José, padre adoptivo de Jesús.
salvación”. La aceptación incondicional de María por parte de san José y su decisión de proteger su “buen nombre, su dignidad y su vida” también sirve como un ejemplo para los hombres de hoy, agregó el papa. “Hoy, en nuestro mundo donde la violencia psicológica, verbal y física hacia las mujeres es tan evidente, José aparece como la figura de un hombre
EN BREVE
El papa planea visitar Irak en marzo CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — Salvo los obstáculos causados por la pandemia global, el papa Francisco está programado para comenzar nuevamente los viajes internacionales en 2021 al visitar Irak en marzo, lo que lo convertiría en el primer papa en visitar esta nación. “El papa Francisco, aceptando la invitación de la República de Irak y de la Iglesia Católica local”, visitará Irak del 5 al 8 de marzo, declaró Matteo Bruni, jefe de la oficina de prensa del Vaticano. “Visitará Bagdad, la llanura de Ur, vinculada a la memoria de Abraham, la ciudad de Erbil, así como Mosul y Qaraqosh en la llanura de Nínive”, comunicó Bruni el 7 de diciembre. Los detalles del viaje “se darán a conocer a su debido tiempo y se tendrá en cuenta la evolución de la emergencia sanitaria mundial”, añadió. Este sería el primer viaje internacional del papa desde su viaje a Tailandia y Japón en noviembre de 2019. Desde Bagdad, el cardenal iraquí Louis Raphael Sako, patriarca de los católicos caldeos, dijo a Catholic News Service que la noticia de la visita papal generaba una “gran esperanza”. “Tenemos tanta sed de esperanza”, dijo
sobre el pueblo iraquí. “La gente está sufriendo, muriendo, por los conflictos y también por la pandemia. Así que esta visita es una gran fuente de alegría para toda la población de esta región”, acotó el cardenal Sako. En una reunión de junio de 2019 con una coalición de agencias de financiación del Vaticano, conocida por su acrónimo en italiano ROACO, el papa Francisco dijo que esperaba ir a Irak en 2020. El cardenal Sako dijo a CNS que espera que el papa Francisco aborde los temas de “la tolerancia, la solidaridad humana, el respeto mutuo, el respeto a la vida” y que “las guerras y los conflictos no son la respuesta”. “Si hay problemas, deberíamos resolverlos con diálogo. No con armas”. El cardenal dijo que espera que la visita papal brinde a los cristianos “un gran apoyo” para permanecer en su tierra natal y “perseverar, esperar y no irse”. “Tenemos una vocación y también una misión” en Irak, expresó. “Tenemos muchos problemas, pero nuestros padres (ancestros) tenían los mismos problemas. Aún así, resistieron y continuaron siendo testigos de los valores del Evangelio”. †
respetuoso y sensible”, escribió. El papa Francisco también destacó la “valentía creativa” de san José, no solo para encontrar un establo y convertirlo en un “hogar acogedor para el hijo de Dios (que vino) al mundo”, sino también para proteger a Cristo de la amenaza que representaba el Rey Herodes. “La Sagrada Familia tuvo que afrontar problemas concretos como cualquier otra familia, como tantos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes que, también hoy, arriesgan su vida para escapar de la desgracia y el hambre. En este sentido, considero a san José el patrón especial de todos los que se vieron obligados a abandonar sus tierras natales a causa de la guerra, el odio, la persecución y la pobreza”, dijo el papa. Como carpintero que se ganó “la vida honradamente para mantener a su familia”, el guardián terrenal de Cristo es también un ejemplo tanto para los trabajadores como para quienes buscan empleo y el derecho a una vida digna para ellos y sus familias. “En nuestros días, cuando el empleo se ha convertido una vez más en un problema social candente y el desempleo alcanza en ocasiones niveles récord incluso en países que durante décadas han disfrutado de cierto grado de prosperidad, existe una necesidad renovada de apreciar la importancia del trabajo digno, de la que san José es un patrón ejemplar”, dijo. La Penitenciaría Apostólica, un tribunal del vaticano que se ocupa de asuntos de conciencia, también emitió un decreto el 8 de diciembre estableciendo que las indulgencias plenarias se otorgarán a los católicos no solo a través de la oración y la penitencia, sino también a través de actos de justicia, caridad y piedad dedicados al padre adoptivo de
Jesús. Entre las condiciones para recibir una indulgencia se encuentran un espíritu desprendido del pecado, recibir la confesión sacramental lo antes posible, recibir la Comunión lo antes posible y orar por las intenciones del Santo Padre. Sin embargo, el decreto también destacó varias formas de obtener la indulgencia a lo largo del año, incluso para aquellos que “meditan en la oración del ‘Padre Nuestro’ durante al menos 30 minutos o participan en un retiro espiritual de al menos un día que incluye una meditación sobre san José”. Como “hombre justo”, prosigue el documento, que guardaba “el secreto íntimo que se encuentra en el fondo del corazón y del alma”, san José practicó la virtud de la justicia en“plena adhesión a la ley divina, que es la ley de misericordia”. “Por tanto, quienes, siguiendo el ejemplo de san José, realizarán una obra de misericordia corporal o espiritual, también podrán obtener el don de la indulgencia plenaria”, dijo. También se otorgarán indulgencias a las familias y novios que recen juntos el rosario y así imiten el “mismo clima de comunión, amor y oración vivido en la Sagrada Familia”. Otros actos de devoción incluyen confiar las actividades diarias y las oraciones por un empleo digno a san José, recitar la letanía o cualquier oración “legítimamente aprobada” a san José. Durante este tiempo de pandemia, la Penitenciaría Apostólica también decretó que se otorgarán indulgencias especiales a los ancianos, a los enfermos y a todos aquellos que “por motivos legítimos no puedan salir de su hogar” por “recitar un acto de piedad en honor a José y se comprometió a cumplir las condiciones lo antes posible”. †
www.archgh.org/messagesofhope
APOYO PASTORAL A VÍCTIMAS DE ABUSO SEXUAL DEL CLERO En un continuo esfuerzo por facilitar atención pastoral a las victimas de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, el Cardenal DiNardo gustaría recordar a los fieles de la Arquidiócesis la disponibilidad del Coordinador de Ayuda a Víctimas. Si alguien ha sido victim de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, se les anima llamar a la Diane Vines al 713-654-5799. Por favor rece por la sanación de las víctimas del abuso y por todos los que sufren de alguna manera.
18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
WITHIN THE ARTS
Be guardians of beauty in the world, pope tells Christmas concert artists VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Artistic creation can bring the light of Christmas to a world that has been enveloped in the darkness of pain and sorrow, Pope Francis told a group of performers. Meeting Dec. 12 with singers, songwriters, musicians and conductors performing at the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert, the pope said that “amid the anxiety provoked by the pandemic, your creativity can be a source of light.” “In a special way, you are guardians of beauty in our world,” he said. “I thank you for your spirit of solidarity, which is all the more evident in these days.” The 2020 Christmas concert was recorded at a large music hall down the street from the Vatican and will be broadcasted in Italy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Among the performers present at the meeting with the pope were Italian singersongwriter Renato Zero and Scottish pop artist Amy Macdonald. Proceeds for the concert will aid Scholas Occurrentes and Don Bosco Relief Services in distributing food and masks, as well as provide teaching tools in disadvantaged countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his address, the pope thanked the performers and reflected on “art and its role at this critical moment in our history.” Artistic creation, he said, touches upon “three movements,” beginning with
“Perception and contemplation of beauty generates a sense of hope that can light up our world.” POPE FRANCIS
the senses, which leads to the second movement, that of the heart and soul, which evokes “within us memories, images and emotions.” “Yet artistic creation does not stop here,” the pope said. “There is a third movement in which the perception and contemplation of beauty generates a sense of hope that can light up our world.” Those three movements, he explained, also generate empathy and an “ability to understand others,” allowing people to form a bond that “is no longer vague but real and shared.” “This threefold movement of wonder, personal discovery and sharing produces a feeling of peace, which — as the example of St. Francis shows — frees us from the desire to dominate others, makes us sensitive to their difficulties, and prompts us to live in harmony with all. A harmony deeply associated with beauty and goodness,” he said. Recalling the words of St. John Paul
CNS PHOTO
Pope Francis leads an audience with performers of the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert Dec. 12, 2020. Unlike past years, when the concert was held in the Paul VI audience hall, the 2020 Christmas concert was recorded at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome and will be broadcast in Italy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
II, Pope Francis reminded the musicians that within their performances, there is “a kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation” and that they are called “not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their neighbor and of humanity as a whole.” “Yours is a lofty and demanding calling,
one that requires ‘pure and dispassionate hands’ capable of transmitting truth and beauty,” the pope said. “For these instill joy in human hearts and are, in fact, ‘a precious fruit that endures through time, unites generations and makes them share in a sense of wonder.’” †
Oregon’s own ‘elf’ spends joyful hours in wood shop making toy trucks for children PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — Phil Westover is a man of standard size, rounded ears and deep voice. But he’s a good part Christmas elf. Westover, a 70-year-old member of St. Peter Parish in Newberg, Oregon, spends
joyful hours in his wood shop, building toy trucks. With features like tilting beds and payload straps, the breadbox-size vehicles go to disadvantaged children free of charge. This pandemic-tinged year seemed to
fuel Westover’s elfin energy. He made 23 rigs. A typical year sees just a half-dozen come down the tiny production line. Catholic Community Services of the MidWillamette Valley, Oregon, distributes most of the play trucks to children in need. A carefully handcrafted toy that will last for a long time in the life of a youngster, even being passed to later generations, can enhance the wellness of a family, said Josh Graves, executive director of the agency, based in Salem, Oregon. Graves observed that children in low-
income homes tend to receive cheap plastic toys with little lasting appeal. By contrast, he can imagine Westover’s trucks being played with for years and proudly placed on the shelf of a teen’s room. That sign of enduring love and joy, Graves said, could even make a difference as Catholic Community Services works with youths to prevent the cycle of poverty. “I wish I could see the joy that I think my trucks give,” Westover told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese. †
MOVIE RATINGS By Catholic News Service A-II – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS • • • •
Come Away (PG) Come Play (PG-13) The Croods: A New Age (PG) The Witches (PG)
A-III – ADULTS
CNS PHOTO
Phil Westover sits with a fleet of toy trucks he built in In his shop near Sherwood, Ore., in fall 2020. Catholic Community Services in Salem will distribute the sturdy vehicles to children at Christmas.
• • • • • • •
All My Life (PG-13) Dark Waters (PG-13) Fishbowl (NR) Half Brothers (PG-13) Let Him Go (R) Mank (R) Martin Eden (NR)
• • • •
Mulan (PG-13) On the Rocks (R) The High Note (PG-13) The Last Vermeer (R)
L – LIMITED ADULT AUDIENCE • Us (R)
O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE • • • • •
Divine Love (NR) Freaky (R) The Broken Hearts Gallery (PG-13) The Life Ahead (PG-13) Unhinged (R)
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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MILESTONES
Grant strengthens Catholic Charities immigration legal services Texas Bar Foundation award supports outreach, fortification of Cabrini Center HOUSTON — The Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded $25,500 to support immigration legal services for outreach mobilization and fortification to the St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance, a program of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. “This generous grant will help us reach out to particularly vulnerable groups in the immigrant population in the greater Houston area,” said Terry Cody, director of legal services. “Finding new ways to reach immigrants in our communities to provide reliable and current legal information and assistance is more important now than ever.”
LEARN MORE
► CATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG/CABRINI VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE The Cabrini Center is the largest nonprofit immigration legal service provider in Houston, recognized by the United States Department of Justice to represent individuals in immigration legal matters before the agency and immigration courts. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation. “We are delighted to receive this grant in support of the Cabrini Center, which is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to immigrants and refugees who are unable to afford legal representation,” said Cynthia N. Colbert, MSW, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “It allows
us to provide help and create hope for our clients.” Cabrini Center provides the most diverse array of immigration legal services in greater Houston. Its experienced corps of attorneys and paralegals provide free
and low-cost legal services to children who arrived in the U.S. alone, to families seeking to be reunified with a loved one, to victims of domestic violence, to asylum seekers and to immigrants seeking to become citizens. †
Spiritually-Connected ~ Socially-Distant Retreats at the CRC Join us for a Spring 2021 Retreat! January 16: Confirmation Retreat for Teens and Parents February 19–21: Lenten Silent Retreat March 8–12: Family Spring Break I March 15–19: Family Spring Break II March 27: Confirmation Retreat for Teens and Parents April 9–11: Divine Mercy Silent Retreat April 16–18: Discipleship Retreat for Teens and Parents * Space is limited due to capacity restrictions * The CRC has safely been running retreats since May 30 with strict COVID protocols
Information and registration online at https://retreatcentercrc.org/events
AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE Email event details to TCH@ARCHGH.ORG for possible inclusion in the Around the Archdiocese section. There is no charge for listings but space is limited. Visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA for more information on how to submit events.
HAVE A STORY IDEA OR NEWS TIP? The Texas Catholic Herald is always looking for new stories! However, since the TCH staff cannot attend every single event or cover all of the news in the Archdiocese, those in the community are a great resource for news stories and tips. Email story ideas to TCH@ARCHGH.ORG for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue. For information on what to submit and issue deadline dates, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/SUBMISSIONS.
20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
Celebrating the
Birth of Christ
DECEMBER 22, 2020