SEE PAGE 5 CRS LENTEN RECIPES RETURN Take a culinary trip around the world
SEE PAGE 3
ST. JOSEPH ALTAR TRADITION
Altar devotion highlights Sicilian faith, St. Joseph
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BY POPE FRANCIS Special to the Herald
We begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. The Church, our mother and teacher, invites us to open our hearts to God’s grace, so that we can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ the Lord over sin and death, which led St. Paul to exclaim: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:54-55).
Indeed, Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the heart of our faith and the pledge of our hope in the Father’s great promise, already fulfilled in His beloved Son: life eternal (cf. Jn 10:28; 17:3).
Embracing the Jubilee
This Lent, as we share in the grace of the Jubilee Year, I would like to propose a few reflections on what it means to journey together in hope, and on the summons to conversion that God in His mercy addresses to all of us, as individuals and as a community.
First of all, to journey. The Jubilee motto, “Pilgrims of Hope,” evokes the lengthy journey of the people of Israel to the Promised Land, as recounted in the Book of Exodus. This arduous path from slavery to freedom was willed and guided by the Lord, who loves His people and remains ever faithful to them.
It is hard to think of the biblical exodus without also thinking of those of our brothers and sisters who in our own day are fleeing situations of misery and violence in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. A first call to conversion thus comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life; each of us is invited to stop and ask how our lives reflect this fact. Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to
See LENT, on page 2
BY ROBERT FASTIGGI Special to the Herald
HOUSTON (OSV News) — The season of Lent directs us to recall our own Baptism and prepare for the celebration of the paschal mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and it helps us grow closer to Jesus.
In celebrating Lent and in every season of the liturgical year, it is good to recall the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the “Church honors with special love the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, who is joined by an inseparable
bond to the saving work of her Son.”
“In her,” the council fathers wrote,“the Church holds up and admires the most excellent fruit of the redemption, and joyfully contemplates, as in a faultless image that which she herself desires and hopes wholly to be” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” No. 103).
Mary is the perfect companion for Lent, and Lent is a perfect time to deepen our love, knowledge and veneration of the Mother of God. Lent is also a season of conversion, and here, too, we receive great help from Mary, who, as the Mother of Mercy, points us to her divine Son, Jesus Christ, who came into
the world to reconcile sinners to Himself (cf. Lk 5:31-32).
In his general audience on Ash Wednesday in 2014, Pope Francis highlighted the special protection and help of the Blessed Virgin for the journey of Lent: “On this journey, we want to invoke with special trust the protection and help of the Virgin Mary: May she, who was the first to believe in Christ, accompany us in our days of intense prayer and penance, so that we might come to celebrate, purified and renewed in spirit, the great paschal
See MARY, on page 6
LENT, from page 1
move out of my comfort zone? Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity?
Sympathizing with the marginalized
It would be a good Lenten exercise for us to compare our daily life with that of some migrant or foreigner, to learn how to sympathize with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father. This would be a good “examination of conscience” for all of us wayfarers.
Second, to journey together. The Church is called to walk together, to be synodal. Christians are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travelers. The Holy Spirit impels us not to remain self-absorbed, but to leave ourselves behind and keep walking towards God and our brothers and sisters. Journeying together means consolidating the unity grounded in our common dignity as children of God (cf. Gal 3:26-28).
It means walking side-by-side, without shoving or stepping on others, without envy or hypocrisy, without letting anyone be left behind or excluded. Let us all walk in the same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience.
Walking with and listening to others
This Lent, God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs. Let us ask ourselves in the presence of the Lord whether, as bishops, priests, consecrated persons and laity in the service of the Kingdom of God, we cooperate with others. Whether we show ourselves welcoming, with concrete gestures, to those both near and far. Whether we make others feel a part of the community or keep them at a distance. This, then, is a second
St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024
call to conversion: a summons to synodality.
‘Hope that does not disappoint’ Third, let us journey together in hope, for we have been given a promise. May the hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5), the central message of the Jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter. As Pope Benedict XVI taught us in the Encyclical Spe Salvi, “the human being needs unconditional love.
He needs the certainty which makes him say: ‘neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom 8:38-39).” Christ, my hope, has risen! He lives and reigns in glory. Death has been transformed into triumph, and the faith and great hope of Christians rests in this: the resurrection of Christ!
A call to hope
This, then, is the third call to conversion: a call to hope, to trust in God and His great promise of
eternal life. Let us ask ourselves: Am I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God’s help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?
Sisters and brothers, thanks to God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are sustained in the hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5). Hope is the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” It moves the Church to pray for “everyone to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4) and to look forward to her being united with Christ, her bridegroom, in the glory of heaven. This was the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila: “Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one.”
May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, intercede for us and accompany us on our Lenten journey. †
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With the start of Lent, we’re excited to bring you again a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season. This week, the Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program highlights a popular dish from Bangladesh, a country in Southern Asia bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India, that’s home to 168 million people. Dahl is made from lentils, cooked until soft and seasoned with spices. It is often served as a staple alongside rice, and its rich, savory
flavor makes it a comforting and nutritious meal.
As we abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat — about $3 per person per meal — to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world. For more information and other free recipes, visit www. crsricebowl.org/recipe. †
• 2 cups dried red lentils, rinsed
• 4 cups water
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 3-4 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• Vegetable oil
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
• Chopped cilantro
In a large pot, add the lentils with four cups water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the turmeric power, ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and bay leaves to the lentils and cook for 15 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Remove the pot from the stove and add the salt. In a separate pan, heat vegetable oil and add chopped onions and garlic, sauteing until they turn light brown. Add the sauteed onions and garlic to the lentils. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve with rice.
Effective February 20
Father Ricardo Arriola
Administrator to Pastor – Shrine of the True Cross
Father Thuc Nguyen
Administrator to Pastor – St. Joseph, Baytown
Effective May 1
Father David DuBois
Granted retirement – Sacred Heart, Pattison
Effective June 1
Monsignor William (Bill) Young
Granted retirement – St. Vincent de Paul, Houston
Father Mark Hebert
Relieved from Priest Secretary to the Office of the Cardinal
Effective July 1
Father Sean Horrigan
Pastor – St. Vincent de Paul, Houston
Father Mark Hebert
Pastor – Christ the Redeemer, Houston
Café Catholica Lite set for March 13
HOUSTON — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at Holy Family Parish Life Center, located at 1525 25th St., Galveston, on Thursday, March 13, from 7 to 8:45 p.m.
The talk titled “Recognizing God’s Voice in Prayer” will be given by Father Jorge Alvarado, CC, pastor of the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston. He will explore how the Scriptures are a guide in recognizing the voice of God and the profound impact this can have on our relationship with Him. The night will include snacks, a presentation, Q&A and prayer. The Café Catholica program helps young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778 or visit www. archgh.org/cafecatholica. †
Tickets now on sale for annual priests vs. seminarians basketball game
HOUSTON — The eighth annual Priests vs. Seminarians Basketball Game is set for 7 p.m. on April 4 at Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse, located at 6100 Main St. in Houston near the Texas Medical Center.
The seminarians’ Saints will face off against the priests’ Martyrs. Tickets range from $4 to $95, with all proceeds benefiting the seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary. Tickets are limited, and the event is expected to sell out. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit the website at www. houstonvocations.com/events. †
Magnify to be held March 22
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HOUSTON — Magnify, a day-long conference for young adults, will be held Saturday, March 22, from noon to 8:15 p.m. at St. Mary’s Seminary, located at 9845 Memorial Dr. in Houston. Open to young adults, the bilingual event, held in English and Spanish, includes a keynote speaker, small group discussions, workshops, Mass, and time for social activities.
The cost is $55 if registered by March 17, or $65 at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/magnify. †
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — A retired deacon with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is thanking God for the diaconate brotherhood and Church family who helped save his life with prayers along with miraculous medical work.
Deacon Luis Hernandez, 71, remembers his ordination warmly.
As part of the Class of 2011, he was among the first deacons ordained in the thennewly built Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. He and his wife, Lina, now credit the diaconate community prayers and miraculous medical intervention for keeping him alive despite eventually having his arms and legs amputated this past November.
The best advice that he shares is, “Never, ever give up. God is always with us. Never lose your faith even in the worst of times.”
Such were the hardships he and his family survived and are still dealing with. Fighting prostate cancer since 2010, his
battle escalated when a large kidney stone clogged the workings of his organs, shutting down the kidneys and leading to possibly fatal sepsis.
He was life-flighted from an Angleton hospital, the area where he served as a deacon, taught Baptism and Bible classes and assisted the priest celebrating Mass at Most Holy Trinity Church. He landed in the Texas Medical Center, where his frantic family met him at St. Luke’s Hospital ICU with a poor medical prognosis of whether Deacon Hernandez would make it through the night.
But he made it through that night and the next seven nights in a medically sedated state. On Oct. 29, 2024, the parishioners of Most Holy Trinity prayed a Rosary, and the family called in via FaceTime and prayed around his bedside. That is when he opened his eyes.
“I was told after the prayers finished that I opened my eyes for the first time since being unconscious. Before that, I was not being responsive.”
With multiple life-saving measures, Deacon Hernandez made it all the way through Thanksgiving, with family
celebrating dinner together in his hospital room. Then they opened Christmas gifts and rang in the new year at Memorial TIRR, where Hernandez was moved to for rehabilitation before finally returning home on Jan. 18.
Hernandez’s first stop was to visit his church, where he gave thanks to God. Gabriel Hernandez, son of Deacon Hernandez, said, “Time stopped for us. He was on 24-hour dialysis because his kidneys shut down.”
But there was a major trade-off to the life support for his heart. Boosting his blood pressure into vital organs to revive their workings lessened blood circulating into his father’s limbs, Gabriel Hernandez said.
“We saw his fingernails and toenails turn blue, then purple and black. My mom and sisters were always massaging his hands and feet with lotion to try and help with circulation, but then the tissue began decaying, becoming gangrenous.”
The family discussed and decided to go forward with the amputations to remove the dead tissue. “That was very
hard for all of us,” his son said.
“I have no regrets,” said wife Lina Hernandez. “I am most happy because I still have my husband. God gave us another chance together.”
During the interview with Deacon Luis Hernandez, he blurted excitedly, “We love each other so much! That’s why I told Deacon Phillip (Jackson, director of the Office of the Diaconate) my prayer when he was visiting. I was asking God please don’t let me leave Lina alone for our 50th wedding anniversary.”
The couple recently spent their Valentine’s Day together, going from doctor appointment to doctor appointment.
Lina said, “I have no complaints. I just thank God, thank God, thank God! We walk beside each other, him in an electric wheelchair and me reaching out to him like we’re holding hands even though we can’t.”
Son Gabriel Hernandez described his father’s survival and their family’s road to healing as “a multitude of little miracles occurring along this whole process.” †
HOUSTON — From Spring to Dickinson, parishioners throughout the Archdiocese are celebrating the feast of St. Joseph in March by creating elaborate St. Joseph altars that honor the patron of Sicily and the poor.
The tradition is carried on from Sicily. The story holds that, during the Middle Ages, a famine struck the people of Sicily, who, in turn, sought help from St. Joseph to end their starvation and death, promising a feast in his honor if he did save them. The famine soon ended, and altars were prepared throughout the island. To honor St. Joseph, the food was given to the poor.
The faithful keep this tradition alive, with its recipes, intricate bread plaiting and more, all handed down from generation to generation. The altar is still prepared today in gratitude.
While each parish and ministry celebrates the St. Joseph Altar a little differently, most altars have three tiers. The three tiers represent the Holy Trinity, with a statue of St. Joseph sitting on the top tier. While no meat is ever used in the altar or the meal, since the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) is during Lent, dozens of baked breads, cakes and many treats — many in symbolic Christian shapes like monstrances, chalices, crosses, fish and wreaths — fill the different levels.
At St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, located at 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, the St. Joseph Altar Guild will host their St. Joseph Altar on Saturday, March 15. Held at the parish’s Christus Hall after the 5:15 p.m. Mass, Father Norbert Maduzia, pastor, will lead the “Tupa Tupa,” a children’s depiction of the Holy Family, alongside some saints, going door-todoor looking for food and shelter, before finding the St. Joseph Table. A Sicilian dinner includes pasta, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, salad and bread. Homemade Italian cookies and cannoli will be available for sale. Admission is free; donations are accepted, which, with proceeds, will benefit the St. Ignatius Outreach Ministry. For more information or donations, call 713-825-4576 or 713553-1214 or email stjosephaltarguild@ silcc.org.
Also, on March 15, St. Maximilian Kolbe, located at 10135 West Rd., Houston, will host a $10 spaghetti dinner and altar celebration after the 5 p.m. Mass. Kids five and under are free. In the Heights, All Saints Parish, located at 215 E 10th St., Houston, is hosting a St. Joseph Altar
BUILD YOUR OWN ST. JOSEPH ALTAR AT HOME
SCAN FOR INFO
The St. Joseph Altar Ministry at Christ the Redeemer Parish created a guide on how to create an altar at home. Find the guide at www.ctrcc.com/st-joseph-altar or scan the QR code above.
with a 5:30 p.m. Mass and blessing in the church on March 15. A ticketed dinner and program follow in the parish hall. For ticket availability, call the parish office at 713-864-2653. In Galveston County, the Dickinson Italian Festival highlights the devotion to St. Joseph with their own altar from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 15, too. Learn more online at dickinsonitalianfestival.org.
On Sunday, March 16, the Italian Cultural Club of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, located at 6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd., Houston, will host a St. Joseph Altar starting at 10:30 a.m. with a blessing and saints celebration, followed by a pasta dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations are accepted, and desserts are available for purchase with to-go orders available as well. Proceeds from the gathering benefit the parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul ministry.
A week later, on Sunday, March 23, Christ the Redeemer Parish, located at 11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston, is set to host their St. Joseph Altar, with viewing beginning at 8 a.m. The altar will be blessed at 10 a.m. with a Sicilian spaghetti lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the meals, which can be purchased online at ctrcc.com/st-josephaltar, benefiting Cypress Assistance Ministry. Plates range between $10 and $5; kids three and under are free.
On Sunday, March 29, St. Rose of
Theresians International (TI), a vibrant, global ministry in the Catholic tradition, open to all Christian women, is seeking a new Executive Director. The director is responsible for leading TI in fulfilling its mission and overseeing all operations.
Headquarters’ location is flexible within the continental United States.
To view a full job description, go to www.Theresians.org or scan the QR code below.
Email cover letter and curriculum vitae to theresian.ed.search@gmail.com by March 28
Theresians International P.O. Box 487, Elburn, IL 60119
Lima Parish, located at 3600 Brinkman St., Houston, will host its St. Joseph Altar from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the parish hall, featuring a Sicilian pasta dinner with sales benefiting the parish St. Teresa Ministry that serves seniors.
Other parishes in the Archdiocese also host St. Joseph Altars in March, with proceeds from altar sales and donations also benefiting the parish assistance ministries. †
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my great protector, St. Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding therefore in your goodness, I come before you. Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.
The Galveston-Houston Knights of Columbus congratulate the 2025 Clergy of Year award recipients, who were nominated by Knights across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
mystery of her Son.”
These words of Pope Francis help us to appreciate one reason why Mary is the perfect companion for Lent: She is the model of the perfect disciple because she entrusted herself completely to God.
At the Annunciation, Mary tells the angel: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). In 1974, Pope Paul VI taught that Mary is “worthy of imitation because she was the first and the most perfect of Christ’s disciples” (“Marialis Cultus,” No. 35).
In his Angelus address for the second Sunday of Lent in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted Mary as the model of believers who listen attentively to God: “The Virgin Mary herself, among all human creatures the closest to God, still had to walk day after day in a pilgrimage of faith, constantly guarding and meditating on in her heart the Word that God addressed to her through holy Scripture and through the events of the life of her Son, in whom she recognized and welcomed the Lord’s mysterious voice. And so, this is the gift and duty for each one of us during the season of Lent: to listen to Christ, like Mary. To listen to Him in His Word, contained in Sacred Scripture. To listen to Him in the events of our lives, seeking to decipher in them the messages of Providence.”
At the wedding feast of Cana, Mary told the servers: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). In a similar way, Mary directs us all to be faithful to Christ, her divine Son. If we wish to draw closer to Christ during Lent, there is no better way than by entrusting ourselves to Mary, our spiritual mother.
Lent continues through Good Friday, April 18, which is a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.
According to the U.S. bishops, fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Through works of fasting, prayer and abstinence, we heed the Prophet Joel’s exhortation to “return to God with our whole heart” (2:12). Lent is a penitential season and practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of charity and justice and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged. For more resources, including prayer guides, videos and links to stories and online retreats, visit www.archgh.org/lent.
As our spiritual Mother, Mary not only leads us to Christ, but she also protects and guides us from sin. Lent is a perfect time to renew our devotion to Mary as our spiritual mother who cares for us in the midst of challenges and difficulties.
One of the oldest known prayers to Mary is known as the “Sub Tuum Praesidium” (“Under Thy Protection”), which goes back to the third or fourth century. One translation of it reads: “We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.”
Because Lent is a time to turn away from sin, it is also an ideal time to recognize the gift that Our Lord Himself gave us, giving us His own mother as our
mother while he was dying on the cross (Jn 19:25-27). St. John Paul II recognized that Jesus gave Mary as mother not only to the beloved disciple but to all of the faithful.
Mary’s spiritual motherhood is the basis for the “Marian dimension” of the life of each of the disciples of Christ. St. John Paul II wrote in 1987: “The Marian dimension of the life of a disciple of Christ is expressed in a special way precisely through this filial entrusting to the Mother of Christ, which began with the testament of the Redeemer on Golgotha.
Entrusting himself to Mary in a filial manner, the Christian, like the Apostle John, ‘welcomes’ the Mother of Christ ‘into his own home’ and brings her into everything that makes up his inner life” (“Redemptoris Mater,” No. 45).
Lent is a time to deepen our prayer life, and Mary provides the best example of prayer in her canticle, known as the Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55). This canticle expresses the attitudes of praise, gratitude and humility that are at the heart of all authentic prayer to God. St. Paul VI speaks of Mary as “the virgin in prayer”who“praises the Lord unceasingly and intercedes for the salvation of the world” (“Marialis Cultus,” No. 18). As our spiritual mother, Mary not only teaches us how to pray, but she prays for us “now and at the hour of our death.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Simeon told
Mary that her heart would be pierced so that “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Lk 2:35). This prophecy was fulfilled during Christ’s passion when Mary stood beneath the cross witnessing her Son’s crucifixion (Jn 19:25-27). Vatican II tells us that Mary “faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth” (“Lumen Gentium,” No. 58).
Lent, along with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Sept. 15, is also a special time for venerating Mary as our sorrowful mother. This is done in the Stations of the Cross, which often includes the singing of parts of the medieval hymn the “Stabat Mater,” whose most memorable verses are: “At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, All his bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had pass’d. Oh, how sad and sore distress’d. Was that mother highly blest, Of the sole-begotten One!”
Because Lent points to Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows assumes particular importance. But even under the cross, Mary remains a teacher and a model. She shows how all of the faithful, like her, can unite their sufferings to the passion of Christ for the redemption of the world. Mary’s “unique contribution to the Gospel of suffering” (described by St. John Paul II in “Salvific Doloris”) shows us that suffering is not meaningless. Lent is a special time to remember the sorrows of Mary and to join ourselves to her in offering her divine Son “in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world” (Chaplet of Divine Mercy).
There is no better companion for the journey of Lent than Mary. As she leads us closer to Jesus, she will serve — as we pray in the “Salve Regina” — “our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” †
– Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D., who writes for OSV News, is a professor of systematic theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He is a former president of the Mariological Society of America.
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
HOUSTON — Across the Archdiocese, faith communities are demonstrating the power of unity, proving that when people of different religious traditions come together in faith and service, they can transform lives.
The Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (OEIA) exists as a response to the Catholic Church’s commitment to full, visible unity among Christians and to fostering relationships with Jews, Muslims and people of other world religions in greater Houston. Its mission includes strengthening Christian unity, deepening interreligious relationships, and promoting mutual understanding through prayer, dialogue, education and civic collaboration.
Father Orrin Halepeska, pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and School in Rosenberg and officer of the OEIA, has worked to strengthen Christian unity and interfaith relationships through formation, outreach and shared acts of
service for the past six years. Reflecting on his own experience, he said many people have not had the chance to engage with those of different religious backgrounds, making interfaith collaboration a meaningful and eye-opening encounter.
“I believe many people, like me, grew up without talking to people of other faiths because that opportunity was not available,” Father Halepeska said. “Being able to talk with them, learn from them, share with them, and work alongside them has been a blessing to me and so many others. When you share your faith, people realize how much we have in common.”
Interfaith dialogue reveals that faith communities share many of the same struggles. Father Halepeska has witnessed groups come together in service and understanding, forming bonds that transcend religious traditions. Through these connections, he has also seen how shared challenges can create a deeper sense of unity.
“I’ve learned that the struggles we face as a Church are not just ours; they are shared by everyone,” Father Halepeska
CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE YEAR AT THE FIRST REGULARLY SCHEDULED FAITH AND SCIENCE CONFERENCE ENHANCED BY ART, MUSIC, AND INTERFAITH MYSTICISM
JUNE 17 TO 20, 2025 ROME, ITALY
Register on www.faith-science.org
The Conference Agenda is from the book, Faith and Science: A Journey into God’s Mystical Love, by local Deacon Robert J. Hesse, Ph.D.
The Founding Partners are Contemplative Network, Houston Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Rome
Clergy from the three Abrahamic faith traditions will share their version of interfaith Contemplative Prayer
Clergy from the three Abrahamic faith traditions will share their version of interfaith Contemplative Prayer. Non-theologians and non-scientists will hear renowned Scientists who studied under or are currently collaborating with Nobel Laureates. They will discuss Physics to Creation, Chemistry to Life, Biology to Consciousness and Psychology to Mysticism, culminating in research on quality-of-life benefits from Centering Prayer.
“We are all striving toward holiness, even if our approaches differ. Regardless of our religious traditions, we all seek experiences with the divine.”
CARA BRYAN
Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission Co-Chair
said. “Being in that struggle together, as a human race and as God’s people, creates a brotherhood and sisterhood we can all rely on. One of the biggest challenges is helping people overcome their fear of getting involved with the ecumenical and interreligious office.”
Father Halepeska has memorable moments when individuals, moved by curiosity, reach out to learn more about Catholicism, often over a meal that fosters open dialogue and deeper interfaith understanding.
“Those moments are so special because we become like our Lord has asked us to be — one human race, together in love and support for one another,” said Father Halepeska. “This has challenged me, and I can say that it’s made me a better Catholic — a better priest and child of God because I’ve learned so much from them.”
Kim Mabry, program manager of Interfaith Engagement at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, sees the OEIA as a vital bridge to the Catholic Church, helping interfaith groups connect for discussions, panels and collaborations. She notes that navigating the Church can be overwhelming, but the OEIA fosters accessibility.
“At the end of the day, those of us engaged in interfaith work want to see greater interaction, understanding, peace and camaraderie,” Mabry said. “In my own spiritual journey, being involved with the team at OEIA, I’ve never known Catholics in this role before, where it’s part of their job to talk about religion and sometimes even politics. It elevates me spiritually because I grow through their experiences, beliefs and understanding of their theology of the Church.”
While dialogue fosters understanding, interfaith collaboration also requires action. For Shariq Ghani, executive director of the Minaret Foundation, this means partnering with the OEIA to address poverty, literacy, hunger and refugee support. One example is Story Stars, a literacy program launching at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, which will provide free books to children, educate parents on the importance of reading, and foster interfaith commitment to education and family support.
Non-theologians and non-scientists will hear renowned Scientists who studied under or are currently collaborating with Nobel Laureates They will discuss Physics to Creation, Chemistry to Life, Biology to Consciousness and Psychology to Mysticism, culminating in research on qualityof-life benefits from Centering Prayer.
Registration includes visits to sacred venues representing the daily topics: Vatican Observatory, Sistine Chapel, Borghese Gallery, Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria.
Ghani sees the OEIA as key to helping Catholic parishes build relationships with other faith communities, breaking down barriers to interfaith collaboration.
Registration includes visits to sacred venues representing the daily topics: Vatican Observatory, Sistine Chapel, Borghese Gallery, Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria
We Look Forward to Meeting You in Rome!
We Look Forward to Meeting You in Rome!
“Sometimes there’s a fear of the unknown, a fear of approaching someone you’ve never met before, a fear of asking someone from a different faith tradition about their perspective on God, poverty
The Diocesan Services Fund operates in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.
This video series brings to life the ministry featured in these stories. Hear from people personally impacted by God’s grace through these DSF ministries.
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or current issues,” Ghani said.“The beauty of this office is that it has provided that pathway to make the process of greeting, meeting and celebrating with neighbors far easier.”
For Cara Bryan, co-chair for the Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission, interfaith collaboration is both a learning experience and a call to serve, deepening her understanding of different religious traditions while strengthening her own faith.
This understanding extends beyond dialogue into action as she works to connect Catholic parishes with volunteer opportunities through initiatives like Meals on Wheels, serving vulnerable residents in Bolivar and Galveston County. For her, these acts of service reflect a common truth — despite differences in doctrine, faith communities share the same mission: to love and care for others.
“One of the greatest takeaways from this work has been gaining a deeper knowledge of other faiths,” Bryan said. “We are all striving toward holiness, even if our approaches differ. Regardless of our religious traditions, we all seek experiences with the divine, we all aim to help others through hard times, and we all want to minister to those in need.”
This shared mission is what makes interfaith collaboration so powerful. When faith communities stand together, learn from one another, and serve side by side, they strengthen their own faith and create lasting change, proving that unity in action can transform lives.
To learn more about the OEIA, a ministry supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), visit archgh.org/ ecumenism. To support DSF ministries, including OEIA, visit archgh.org/DSF. Every DSF gift directly funds ministries like OEIA, ensuring they continue their vital work in service and education. †
Play ball! Catholic Family Night at the Astros set for
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros will take on the New York Mets for Catholic Family Night at Daikin Park in downtown Houston on Saturday, March 29.
The game starts at 6:10 p.m. A portion of every ticket purchased will support Steps for Students tuition assistance fund benefiting Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
To purchase tickets, visit www.archgh.org/astros25. Tickets are currently on sale. †
Catholic Charities’ food distributions continue in Galveston, Houston and Fort Bend County
HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offering food assistance at three locations.
In Houston, walk-up food distributions at the Guadalupe Center (326 S. Jensen St.) are Tuesdays beginning at 10 a.m. No appointment is necessary. Call 713-251-6919 for more information.
The Beacon of Hope Isle Market in Galveston (4700 Broadway, Suite B-101) is open for appointments Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To make an appointment, which is required, call 409-762-2064. Emergency pre-packaged food bags are available on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The next monthly mobile food drive is set for Feb. 26 and March 26. Call 409-762-2064 for more information.
In Fort Bend County, the Mamie George Community Center (1111 Collins Rd., Richmond) hosts drive-thru food distributions and in-person shopping. Drive-thru distributions with the Houston Food Bank are on Tuesdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and no appointment is necessary. Clients should visit the pantry by appointment only on Mondays, 12 to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For help, call 281-202-6200.
For more information, visit www.catholiccharities.org/food or call 713-526-4611. †
or
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — In an ecumenical effort to celebrate the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo co-signed a “letter of mutual respect and pledge of cooperation” affirming the intentions and goals of the historic Vatican document colloquially called “Nostra Aetate” (“In our time”).
At a Feb. 5 event at the Cathedral Centre in downtown Houston, a diverse group of religious leaders from the Greater Houston area came together to address the impact and importance of the Second Vatican Council’s landmark document on the Catholic Church’s relationship to other faiths, which denounced “hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”
This year will see the document’s 60th anniversary, as it was declared by St. Paul VI on Oct. 28, 1965.
“It has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and doctrines which, although differing in many ways from its own teaching, nevertheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men and women,” the document reads.
That bold declaration was made in Nostra Aetate, which sought to put an end to centuries of enmity and discord
between Christians and non-Christians — notably Muslims and Jews — “for the benefit of all, let them together preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values.”
Rabbinical Association and the Minaret Foundation, featured a panel of speakers who addressed interfaith efforts from their unique perspectives.
In his comments, Cardinal DiNardo recognized St. John Paul II’s pivotal role in making the document meaningful, particularly through his personal engagement with the Jewish community and his understanding of anti-Semitism.
Reflecting on Houston’s diversity, Cardinal DiNardo said the region is able to live out the document’s vision and bring it to reality.
“I see Nostra Aetate taking place palpably in the world here. We must become friends,” he said. “We’re not going to always agree ... but what we have is solid ... and St. John Paul II taught us palpably how to live it.”
Nostra Aetate was a commentary on the times — and on the Church’s reformed position in regard to other religions. In 50 years, followers of the faith have made some significant strides — but still have far to go to bring about peace and goodwill between religious groups.
The event, co-hosted by the Archdiocese, the American Leadership Forum of Houston, the Houston
Other speakers included Rabbi David Lyon of Congregation Beth Israel; Rev. Jennifer Hope-Tringali, senior pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston; Shariq Ghani, director of the Minaret Foundation; Rabbi Shaul Osadchey with the American Leadership Forum; and Geetha Ravula, founder and
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Texas history goes to church as trail rides visit schools, parishes
HOUSTON — Students, staff and faculty at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Houston cheered as the Sam Houston Trail Ride clopped down Mangum Road and made their annual stop at the northwest Houston parochial school and parish.
Students, pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, greeted the wagons, horses and riders, with many clad in their finest — and sometimes outsized — Western wear to mark Feb. 28 as Go Texan Day.
A hat-tip to Texas history, the annual city-wide designation rallies communities across the region to celebrate Texas heritage and signals the beginning of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. St. Ambrose is just one of several parishes and Catholic schools in the Archdiocese that have encounters with trail ride groups across the region.
Dozens of horses, several wagons and support vehicles take part in the annual trail ride.
Reminiscent of the pioneer spirit that forged the Old West, more than 3,000 continue to join the rodeo’s signature tradition and honor the trails that linked Texas settlements.
Today, trail ride groups are permanent social organizations with officers and leaders, and they honor different aspects of Texas’ heritage. Some take historical trails, like the Sam Houston riders who take the trail forged by Texas hero Sam Houston.
According to the Sam Houston Trail Riders, they ride to honor generations of Western heritage and support the future through high school scholarships. Several wagons used on the ride are decades old, passed from rider to rider over the years. Others honor the roles of Black trailblazers and riders of the Rio Grande Valley on the Texas southern border, which takes the longest trail ride of 353 miles.
In the end, all 11 groups converged in downtown Houston for a major parade on March 1 to open the rodeo season. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues through March 23. †
If someone were to take inventory of my works over the past 40 years, I think anyone would probably easily and quickly label me as a “good” Catholic. I’ve served the Church in so many capacities over the years, yet for many years, my relationship with God was complicated because deep down, I was only serving because I was terrified of God’s wrath and punishment.
Growing up, the wrath of God and the pains of hell were used as a parenting tool to keep me in line, to keep me out of trouble and to keep me from making mistakes. As I entered my teen and adult years, I decided to see a Catholic therapist to work on repairing what I knew was an incredibly broken relationship with God and the faith. And what has been the most surprising thing is that the healing that I’ve encountered so far isn’t due to the relationship with God I thought I wanted or needed, but rather it’s been in developing a relationship with Jesus — with His forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice and love. All words that Jesus not only preached but lived and have now become the cornerstone of my faith.
The work that the Holy Spirit has
by CHRISSY FIGUEROA WITNEY
since led me to with youth has given me the opportunity to create opportunities to teach what I’ve learned and help them understand that Jesus loves them in their brokenness and came here for the wounded, for us. He came here to walk with us, to journey with us and to love us. The Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners. This is where they belong, no matter what they’ve done or what they struggle with. As a parent of two teens myself, I am so grateful that the language and environment the youth are surrounded by in today’s youth ministry experience, especially at the Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), is one that is focused on encountering and developing a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus. It gives them the opportunity to learn about the hope, love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, which are emphasized through the lives of saints and experienced through the Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament. I am so grateful that their faith journey is already so incredibly different from mine, and I hope that when they serve the Church as they age, they do so out of love, not fear and obligation.
Give your teen the greatest gift of encountering Jesus’ love as they are and where they are in their faith journey.
chief teacher of the Hindu Ashirwad A Blessing Temple.
Rabbi Lyon spoke about his encounter with Pope Francis when he met the pontiff during a visit in September 2024. Also an ecumenical encounter, the meeting with the pope reminded Rabbi Lyon of the common ground found between all faiths.
“Abraham’s stock stands together in the representation of all faiths that grew from him, and all faiths that honor the creation of humanity in the divine image,” he said. “We are brothers and sisters in families of faiths, and the friendships that we have nurtured and celebrated are not superficial. The friendships that we have
Registration for AYC 2025, hosted by the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization, on July 25 to 27 at Hilton AmericasHouston, is now open! †
Chrissy Figueroa Witney is a youth ministry volunteer at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
enjoyed are the rewards for adhering to our respective faiths and honoring the faiths of others.”
Rev. Hope-Tringali also echoed that message of being interwoven and said, “We are interconnected as we rely on God and on each other for love, support and life.”
Father Orrin Halepeska, who leads the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs joined Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, in attending the event.
Father Halepeska said the effort to reaffirm Nostra Aetate’s message was important because “even as we try to work better together, we must continue to work together because we are one people.” †
During the 30th National Eucharistic Congress this past summer, one of my favorite moments was attending Adoration with 50,000 other people in Lucas Oil Stadium. All of us attendees were sent out with a clear mission: Spread and deepen devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. It was a much-needed reminder of the importance of spending time with Jesus outside Mass. As Pope Francis stated to the organizing committee of the Congress, “It is my hope, then, that the Eucharistic Congress will inspire Catholics throughout the country to discover anew the sense of wonder and awe at the Lord’s great gift of Himself and to spend time with Him in the celebration of the Holy Mass and personal prayer and Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I believe that we have lost the sense of Adoration in our day. We must rediscover the sense of Adoration in silence. It is a form of prayer that we have lost.”
After returning from the National Eucharistic Congress last summer, I started the work to request permission to repose the Eucharist at the Sam Houston State University (SHSU) Catholic Student Center in Huntsville. For most of my students, Eucharistic Adoration was not something they did
by SIMON POWELL
often, if ever. One main reason was simple: they did not have access to the Eucharist. The Catholic Student Center is housed next to St. Thomas the Apostles Church in Huntsville. The church did offer times of Adoration, but those times were not conducive to the busy student schedule (late afternoon or early evening). To change this, the first step had to be providing more opportunities for SHSU students to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and for them to invite people to come to our Lord for regular Eucharistic Adoration. I asked several students in the community what it would mean for them. One student shared: “The ability to have regular Adoration would serve as a beacon of conversion for our peers to be introduced into the faith.”Their feedback reminded me of what was written in the Instruction on Eucharistic Worship: “Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, either in a ciborium or a monstrance, draws the faithful to an awareness of the sublime presence of Christ and
invites them to inner communion with Him. Therefore, it is a strong encouragement toward the worship owed to Christ in spirit and in truth.”The students’ active participation in this initiative is a testament to our shared responsibility to deepen our faith. I knew that adding the presence of the Eucharist to our chapel would immensely enrich students’ prayer experience. So, the students and I were thrilled to receive permission from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo to set up a permanent home for our Eucharistic Lord in our Catholic Student Center’s chapel. With some help from our extended community, we obtained a tabernacle, a stand (just the right size for the space and the tabernacle), and a plan for securing it in its place. These were not easy tasks, and they cost a significant
sum of money, but as St. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil 4:6). So, we prayed to get what we needed. Sure enough, we received donations from the Scanlan Grant and from parents of students to cover these expenses.
We are close to completing the new tabernacle and will hopefully have the Eucharist here in our center very soon. The students are deeply grateful for the community’s support, and their excitement for this is fantastic. I can’t wait to have our first Adoration, and I know that our community’s support will make it even more special.
Our students at SHSU are eager to spend time with Christ in the Eucharist. I hope and pray that all young adults, all faithful also share that eagerness to spend time in Adoration with Christ in the Eucharist. Even though the National Eucharistic Congress is over, I hope and pray that all of us continue in the spirit of the Eucharistic Revival in our own lives of faith. †
Simon Powell serves as director for the Sam Houston State University Catholic Student Center in Huntsville.
The Holy Father Pope Francis entrusts his Worldwide Prayer Network each month with prayer intentions that express his deep concerns for humanity and the mission of the Church. His monthly prayer intention invites us to go deeper into our hearts and answer the call to transform our prayers into concrete actions, serving as a compass for a mission of compassion for all. In this way, we can particularly consider them as we participate in light of the Jubilee Year: “Pilgrims of hope, on the path for peace” (Spes Non Confundit, 2024).
There is no doubt our families are in crisis. We can simply look within our family and relatives and experience the challenges and struggles faced by broken families. Not only families who themselves are divorced or separated but also those who may have remarried after a divorce or perhaps have been impacted by divorced parents. We all know someone who is or has suffered from the impact of a broken family. The ones who suffer the most are the children in the middle of the brokenness, and as educators and catechists, we are called to protect the most vulnerable. Well, how can we help? We can start
with intentional prayer so that families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness and rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in our differences. According to the Holy Father, “When a family realizes that someone has done something wrong and knows how to ask for ‘forgiveness,’ there is peace and joy in the family” (Angelus, 2013). Intentional attitudes for daily life choices include valuing the other, accepting differences, accompanying and not judging. Echoing Pope Francis’ personal invitation for us, let’s join each other in this month’s prayer:
Good Father, You wanted Your Son to be born into a family, a space of love and support where the Savior “grew and became strong.”
Today, we bring before You all families torn by division and crisis, asking that You open spaces for them to communicate heart to heart, learning the difficult art of reconciliation.
May the Heart of Your Son Jesus reveal to them the good news hidden in the crisis, helping them to fine-tune the ear of their hearts and moving them to embrace forgiveness.
Breathe Your Spirit upon them so that with the support of grace and the accompaniment of family and friends, they can give a new “yes” that makes it possible for love to be reborn in
them strengthened, transfigured, matured and illuminated. Amen. † (via www.popesprayer.va)
Melissa Alvarez is an associate director for the Ministry for Persons With Disabilities with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — One of the most serious emergencies today is that the world forgets about and does not attend to the common good and the needs of regular people, especially poor people, the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life said.
“It is an emergency that risks being tragic because the common good cannot be decided or managed by just a few people,” especially, as it is now perhaps, by “the richest and the most powerful,” Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia said at a news conference at the Vatican March 3.
Politics and many other institutions are at risk when they are “in the hands of a few and forgetting the common good of the entire planet,” he said.
Pope Francis, instead, from the very start of his pontificate, has been advocating that truth can be found in the “inner depth of the people,” the archbishop said. The entirety of a people and community, but especially the poor, “have a light that needs to be revealed in order to counter the power of the few.”
The archbishop’s comments came during his presentation of the academy’s 30th general assembly being held in Rome March 3 to 5. More than 130 academicians and another 200 guests attended the
conference, which was dedicated to addressing not only the “apocalyptic” outlook and attitude present in the world today but also trends putting people and the planet increasingly in danger.
Titled “The End of the World: Crises, Responsibilities, Hopes,” the assembly brought together Nobel Prize laureates, planetologists, physicists, biologists, paleoanthropologists, theologians and historians to look at how everyone can and must come together to “save the world.”
Pope Francis sent a written message to participants, dated Feb. 26, from Gemelli Hospital, noting the multiple crises facing humanity “in which wars, climate change, energy problems, epidemics, the migratory phenomenon and technological innovation converge.”
The multidisciplinary and global nature of these “critical issues, which currently touch on various dimensions of life, lead us to ask ourselves about the destiny of the world and our understanding of it,” he wrote.
People must not remain immobile, “anchored in our certainties, habits and fears,” he wrote but must listen carefully to the world of science and encounter people and their stories.
Everyone and everything in the world is related and interconnected, which “can provide us with signs of hope,” he said.
Hope is not just an individual conviction, he wrote; it also has a communal dimension where the whole human family can bond together to face today’s “complex and planetary crisis” with “a global reach.”
The pope lamented the “progressive irrelevance of international bodies, which are also undermined by short-sighted attitudes, concerned with protecting particular and national interests.”
“And yet we must continue to commit ourselves with determination for ‘more
effective world organizations, equipped with the power to provide for the global common good, the elimination of hunger and poverty, and the sure defense of fundamental human rights,’” he wrote, citing his 2020 encyclical letter, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship.” Multilateral, global approaches that do not “depend on changing political circumstances or the interests of the few” are needed, he wrote. These approaches are more stable and effective, but they
See UNITED, next page
(OSV News) — The introduction of physician-assisted suicide bills in both houses of the Illinois Legislature during this legislative session has opponents lending their voices and life examples to the cause against hastening death as a way to avoid suffering.
This is the second year in a row Illinois lawmakers are pushing the bill called the “End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act.”
The two identical bills submitted at the Illinois Senate and House call for two doctors to ascertain whether a patient has six months or less to live and to evaluate the patient’s mental faculties and ability to self-administer lethal doses of drugs. The legislation also states that on the death certificate, the cause of death would be the original diagnosis of the patient, not suicide, among other requirements.
The first version was introduced in February 2024 by state Sen. Linda Holmes, a Democrat from Chicago’s western suburbs. She told OSV News the issue was her passion because she and her family saw her father suffer the ravages of terminal lung cancer, which was “a horrendous way to watch somebody die.”
Several people have joined the Illinois Conference of Catholic Bishops and Illinois Right to Life Action in opposing assisted suicide legalization, pointing to the value of life and the beauty in accompaniment.
Among them is Cori Salchert, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin, mother of eight adult children and two adopted seriously ill young children. Salchert said she was well-acquainted with suffering through serious, incapacitating illness and wanting to give up on life.
A Christian author and former obstetric hospice nurse, Salchert, 59, told OSV News that she had been suffering the effects of undiagnosed Lyme disease for decades when she hit a very low point
in 2010.
“It was getting exhausting on every front; chronic pain is really mentally and emotionally debilitating,” said Salchert.
“And when you have enough people saying, ‘I can’t help you’ ... It is like, ‘OK, I’m done with this. If this is the way it’s going to be, I cannot live with it, and I’m through.’ I was definitely there. And I had tried, as far as medication, to take too much, but because our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made and are always striving for life, I vomited that all up.”
Salchert said after surviving the attempt, she decided that ending life to end suffering “was off the table” because it contradicted God. She added, “The worst was yet to come,” but she resolved to learn how to deal with the extreme difficulties, especially knowing she would not be as productive as she wanted to be.
Wayne Smith came to the same realization after trying to end his own life 32 years ago by jumping into Lake Michigan on a gray, cold winter day in Chicago. He spoke at the first of a series of public hearings on the bills in Chicago on Feb. 21 and expressed gratitude for the life God gave him. Smith told OSV News he was grateful for converting to Catholicism, where he met his “beautiful wife” and learned the value and “beauty of life.”
Smith, 80, was a legally blind photographer whose degenerative eye condition would worsen to inevitable blindness and effectively end a successful career. Used to a fast lifestyle, Smith spiraled into deep depression.
He explained that he tried hard to empty his lungs and submerge himself several times, but each time he opened his mouth, he did not take in any of Lake Michigan’s icy waters. Frustrated, Smith, who was Jewish but called himself an atheist at the time, left.
Months later, after having therapy, Smith still contemplated another suicide
attempt while sitting on the front steps of his home.
“A man was passing by, and he said, ‘When I’m in trouble, I ask God for help,’” said Smith. “And he kept going. Well, I had never believed that. My real belief was either there is no God or that he certainly doesn’t have any interest in helping me. But at this point, everything else was pointless, so I got on the bus... to Temple Shalom.”
Smith said after convincing the guard to let him in to pray, he sat down, not knowing what to do, and simply asked God to help him. Then he waited, thinking a bright light would pierce the ceiling and he would hear the voice of God.
But “nothing,” he said. “So I decided that either God doesn’t exist or he isn’t going to help me. So I grabbed my cane and walked out of the temple, got out onto the street, and within seconds, I went from total despair to absolute joy. I mean, I just started shouting out loud,
‘Yes, there is a God, and I am Jewish!’ And I went skipping down the street.”
Smith said he could not explain what happened, nor his new found sense of inner-knowing. But what followed was a four-year conversion to the Catholic faith at a parish where he said he became a staunch pro-life advocate. Using his white cane while praying outside abortion clinics helped project a non-threatening presence, and he was able to talk women and couples out of aborting their unborn children.
In 2020, Smith had another brush with death. Doctors told him there was nothing more they could do after 50 days in the hospital for a severe case of COVID-19. He received last rites, then on the day his wife went to the hospital to say her final goodbye, he got well, which the couple attributed to a miracle. Smith now runs a nonprofit website that seeks to accompany people through life’s difficulties. †
are “an urgent task which regards the whole of humanity.”
Archbishop Paglia said at the news conference that the weakening of international agencies and institutions is just one sign of the current trend to forget about or ignore the people. This leads to “solutions” that hardly take into account the common good of everyone, particularly the poorest countries.
The diminishing trust in and promotion of international bodies, he said, is part of a broader “shattering” and fragmentation of peoples, communities, nations and the world.
There are people suffering from a kind of “myopia” in which they believe they are “the eternal fathers and no longer fragile,” he said.
It is “the absolute primacy of the ego, the dictatorship of the self and the ego, which weakens everything else,” he said.
The situation worsens when these superegos become wedded to money, which “becomes the new idol” that has many “foolish servants.”
This is why the Pontifical Academy for Life is made up of experts from and dedicated to multiple disciplines, he said.
“Because we are convinced that the ‘we’ all together will save us. And not the ‘I’ of someone else.” † UNITED, from previous page
TYLER, Texas — Pope Francis appointed Most Reverend Gregory Kelly, Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Tyler. The appointment was announced in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024, by Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.
His installation Mass took place on Monday, Feb. 24. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the Mass, and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, was in attendance.
“I am grateful to the Holy Father for this surprising pre-Christmas gift, and I am eager to begin this ministry in the New Year,” Bishop Kelly said.
“I am grateful to Pope Francis for his manner of shepherding the Universal Church, and for his pastoral concern for
this local Church of Tyler. I am honored that he has entrusted this responsibility to me, and I hope to learn how to best fulfill this ministry. I look forward to getting to know you, to know the richness of this local Church, and to learn how best to lead this flock along the path the Risen Lord marks out for us to follow together in the time ahead.”
Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, archbishopdesignate of Galveston-Houston and Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, led the Diocese of Tyler as the apostolic administrator until Bishop Kelly’s installation.
“I have known Bishop Kelly for many years as a bishop. He is a humble man who loves the Church and is faithful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Bishop Vásquez said. “Bishop Kelly has a heart filled with love for his brother priests, and he is a man of deep prayer. I believe
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he will be an excellent shepherd of this local Church and that he will lead the clergy and people of God to know and love Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Gregory J. Kelly was born to John and Marilean Kelly on Feb. 15, 1956 in LeMars, Iowa. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Church in Alton, Iowa. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, attending Sacred Heart Elementary School, St. Mary’s High School and Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Bishop Kelly entered Holy Trinity Seminary in 1976 and received his BA and Masters of Divinity degrees from the University of Dallas. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dallas on May 15, 1982, at his home parish of Sacred Heart. He served 4 years as associate pastor at All Saints Church in Dallas and, in 1986, was assigned as chaplain of the University of Dallas. In 1995, he was named vocations director for the Diocese of Dallas and, in 1996, was appointed pastor of the newly established parish of St. Gabriel the Archangel in McKinney, Texas. He served in that position until January 2008, when
he was named vicar for clergy by nowKevin Cardinal Farrell.
Bishop Kelly has served on the Presbyteral Council and as a member of the College of Consultors for the last 17 years. He has also chaired the Priests’ Personnel Board and has served on the boards of the University of Dallas, St. John Paul II High School in Plano, and Catholic Charities of Dallas. He served briefly as interim rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving in the spring of 2014. On Feb. 1, 2013, he was given the title of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI.
On Dec. 16, 2015 Monsignor Kelly was appointed auxiliary bishop of Dallas by Pope Francis and was ordained at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Feb. 11, 2016. On April 18, 2016, he was appointed vicar general and appointed to serve as the Moderator of the Curia.
Bishop Kelly attributes his vocation to the deep faith and example of his parents, John and Marilean, both deceased. Also, to his childhood pastor, Father George Julian, OMI, whose example of priesthood inspired his own. †
El Santo Padre Francisco confía cada mes a su Red Mundial de Oración intenciones de oración que expresan su profunda preocupación por la humanidad y la misión de la Iglesia. Su intención de oración mensual nos invita a profundizar en nuestros corazones y responder al llamado a transformar nuestras oraciones en acciones concretas, sirviendo de brújula para una misión de compasión para todos. De este modo, podemos considerarlos de modo particular en nuestra participación a la luz del Año Jubilar: “Peregrinos de Esperanza, en camino de paz” (Spes Non Confundit, 2024).
No hay duda de que nuestras familias están en crisis. Simplemente podemos mirar dentro de nuestra familia y parientes y notar los desafíos y las luchas que enfrentan las familias. No solo nuestras familias que están divorciadas o separadas, sino también aquellos que pueden haberse vuelto a
casar después de un divorcio o tal vez han sido afectados por padres divorciados. Todos conocemos a alguien que ha sufrido o sufre el impacto de una familia en crisis. Los que más sufren son los niños en medio de la ruptura y como educadores y catequistas estamos llamados a proteger a los más vulnerables.
Bueno, ¿cómo podemos ayudar? Podemos comenzar con la oración intencional para que las familias descubran la cura de sus heridas a través del perdón, redescubriendo los dones de los demás, incluso en nuestras diferencias. De acuerdo el Santo Padre, “Cuando en una familia uno se da cuenta que hizo algo malo y sabe pedir ‘perdón’, en esa familia hay paz y hay alegría” (Ángelus, 2013). Las actitudes intencionales para la vida cotidiana incluyen valorar al otro, aceptar las diferencias, acompañar y no juzgar. Creando eco de la invitación personal de
por MELISSA
ALVAREZ
Papa Francisco para nosotros, unámonos unos a otros en la oración de este mes:
Padre Bueno, Tú quisiste que tu Hijo naciera en una familia, en un espacio de amor y ayuda en el que el Salvador “crecía y se fortalecía”. Hoy traemos ante tu mirada a todas las familias atravesadas por la división y la crisis, rogándote que abras en ellas espacios para comunicarse de corazón a corazón, aprendiendo el difícil arte de la reconciliación.
Que el Corazón de tu Hijo Jesús
les descubra la buena noticia que esconde la crisis, ayudándoles a afinar el oído del corazón e impulsándoles a dar paso al perdón.
Sopla tu Espíritu sobre todas ellas para que con el sostén de la gracia y el acompañamiento de familiares y amigos puedan dar un nuevo “sí” que haga posible en ellas, que el amor renazca fortalecido, transfigurado, madurado, iluminado. Amén. †
(https://www.popesprayer.va/es)
Melissa Álvarez es directora asociada del Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidad en la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.
(OSV News) — La Iglesia Católica “insiste en que todo el proceso” de regulación de la inmigración debe realizarse “con respeto”, dijo arzobispo Gustavo García-Siller de San Antonio durante una reunión pública sobre inmigración que tuvo lugar en febrero.
“La búsqueda del bien común está muy fuertemente” marcada en la enseñanza social católica sobre la migración, explicó el prelado, ya que “tenemos que vernos unos a otros con la misma dignidad” humana que Dios nos da.
El Townhall de Inmigración que tuvo lugar el pasado lunes, 17 de febrero, fue organizado por la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio y contó con la participación de autoridades, líderes locales de San Antonio, Texas, y su máxima autoridad eclesiástica, el arzobispo Gustavo García-Siller.
Entre los panelistas de este encuentro estuvieron Antonio Fernández, presidente/director ejecutivo de Catholic Charities de la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio; Ron Nirenberg, alcalde de San Antonio; Javier Salazar, alguacil del condado de Bexar; y Gloria Urrabazo, vicepresidenta de Misión y Ministerio de la Universidad de Our Lady of the Lake University. El moderador fue el padre Juan Molina, presidente del MexicanAmerican Catholic College (MACC).
Abriendo el debate el arzobispo García-Siller recordó la enseñanza de la iglesia frente al cuidado y la defensa del pueblo migrante. “Las personas tienen derecho a migrar y a mejorar sus vidas para sí mismas y para aquellos de quienes están cuidando, como familiares, vecinos, amigos”, explicó.
“La Iglesia Católica indica que los países tienen derecho a proteger sus
fronteras e insiste en que todo el proceso debe ser con respeto, comprensión y por el bien de las personas que migran y por el bien del país que las recibe”, agregó el prelado.
El arzobispo hizo un llamado para que el trato al migrante sea enmarcado en la justicia y la misericordia, buscando el bien común y la defensa de la dignidad propia de todo ser humano. “De lo contrario, no es humano y destruye a las personas, las familias y la sociedad. Siempre, a los seres humanos, se les creó a imagen y semejanza de Dios, así que, básicamente, este es el centro”.
Cómo en otras diócesis de EE.UU., hay una urgencia de abordar los temas que afectan a los migrantes en este país debido a la nueva coyuntura nacional. Y es que en el mes desde que empezó su mandato, el presidente Donald Trump ha prometido deportaciones masivas de migrantes no autorizados, ha cancelado las citas de procesamiento de inmigración existentes para otros, ha rescindido las salvaguardias de deportación revocando el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS por sus siglas en inglés) para personas de varias naciones en crisis; ha detenido el asilo, la libertad condicional humanitaria y los programas de patrocinio; y ha ampliado las capacidades de la aplicación de la ley de inmigración para realizar arrestos en casas de culto, escuelas y otros lugares previamente considerados “sensibles” (también llamadas “áreas protegidas”). Hablando en la reunión sobre la immigración de febrero, Fernández — el presidente de Caridades Católicas de San Antonio — habló del MRC Centro de Bienvenida, un lugar dirigido por Caridades Católicas de esta arquidiócesis y que, según su sitio web,
“da la bienvenida y ayuda a los inmigrantes que pasan por San Antonio en su camino hacia sus patrocinadores ubicados en todo el país”.
Según Fernández, en los últimos dos años y medio han recibido a cientos de miles de migrantes, gracias a “un gran trabajo entre la ciudad y la Iglesia Católica junto con las organizaciones sin fines de lucro, asegurando que las personas que han cruzado la frontera y que estaban con ICE, Seguridad Nacional o Patrulla Fronteriza, realmente fueran enviadas a organizaciones sin fines de lucro, y ellos vendrían a San Antonio a la iglesia católica”.
Fernández explicó que dichas personas llegaban directamente del gobierno para recibir atención y todas contaban con sus números A — Alien Registration Number — por lo cual estaban legalmente en los Estados Unidos y debían presentarse ante un juez o reunirse con el ICE.
El arzobispo García-Siller habló de su experiencia compartiendo con los migrantes de este centro y dijo que ha sido una gran bendición en su vida haber estado acompañada por ellos. “Hubo momentos en que fue todos los días, dos, tres, cuatro horas escuchando historias y viendo a otros miembros de la vida religiosa, la vida consagrada, sacerdotes celebrando misas, rezando con ellos, esperanza”, expresó.
“Le doy las gracias a Antonio (Fernández) porque esa experiencia también demuestra que podemos dar lo mejor a los más vulnerables, que lo necesitan urgentemente. No solo darles lo poco que queda en la ciudad, sino todo lo que podamos”, concluyó el arzobispo, quien más adelante en otra intervención abogó por la necesidad de una reforma migratoria que proteja, por ejemplo al personal religioso que sirve a comunidades bajo visas que los obliga a abandonar el país en un punto durante su servicio. †
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.
A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL
• Paddington in Peru (PG)
A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN
• Dog Man (PG)
A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS
• A Complete Unknown (R)
• Back in Action (PG-13)
• Captain America: Brave New World (PG-13)
• Flight Risk (R)
• I’m Still Here (PG-13)
• Last Breath (PG-13)
• Love Hurts (R)
• You’re Cordially Invited (R)
L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Better Man (R)
• Wolf Man (R)
Little Tex says howdy!
O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE
• Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (R)
• Heart Eyes (R)
• Nosferatu (R)
• One of Them Days (R)
• The Monkey (R)
▶ For full movie reviews, visit www.osvnews.com/ category/reviews
‘WALK WITH ONE’
Learn more about the next step of the Eucharistic Congress online at archgh.org/revival
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New book a cry from the heart about roads not taken
OXFORD, Mississippi — Catholic author William Boyle is a novelist who, while covering familiar ground thematically, manages to bring compelling new insights into each new release.
Boyle’s most recent novel, “Saint of the Narrows Street,” is just the latest example. On the surface, this is just another take on the author’s Brooklyn-based ordinary John and Jane Does looking for meaning in their lives. However a more careful reading of this new offering reveals more complexity in Boyle’s consideration of the vagaries of fate, circumstance and life choices.
Now residing in Oxford, Mississippi, Boyle has been described by colleagues as the “poet laureate of Brooklyn.” He grew up in the Gravesend area of southwest Brooklyn, and his work comes across as a nostalgic memoir of his time there.
“Saint of the Narrows Street” is his eighth full-length novel. Told over an 18year period — 1986 to 2004 — “Saint of the Narrows Street” presents the story of a young, church-going Brooklyn housewife whose one impulsive action to protect her baby son and younger sister from her abusive husband, Saverino, unleashes almost two decades of dissolution, replete with feelings of guilt, regret, sadness and fear.
Hoping to raise her baby son Fabiano (Fab) in a stable, secure environment, the protagonist Risa, her younger sister Giulia and selfless friend Christopher (Chooch) are forced to hide the truth about what really led to Risa’s no-account husband’s disappearance.
The trio’s protracted effort to hide their guilty secret from Fab as he grows to young adulthood not only ends up driving mother and son apart but also sets in motion a series of events resulting in disillusionment, suffering, and, ultimately, death.
The book’s ominous tone is revealed mid-way in the story as Risa ponders the paradox of having a single, impulsive action result in the unravelling of a seemingly virtuous life. “Her whole life, she’s tried to do the right thing in every situation. And look where it’s gotten her. Maybe she needs to do the wrong thing more often.”
As with Boyle’s other seven novels, there is a strong sense of place in the“Saint of the Narrows Street.” His are stories replete with streetwise, Italian-American characters who, despite flaws and rough exteriors, struggle with a Catholic faith that does not always reward those who stumble on the path to redemption.
In a 2022 discussion of faith’s influence on his work, Boyle described himself as a “Catholic-haunted” writer whose fiction often reflects the ongoing struggle
between faith and doubt.
The “Brooklyn-ness” of Boyle’s writing is readily apparent in his new release. He once described his stories as “a Brooklyn of the soul” with a landscape of spiritual anguish.
“I’m interested in telling stories of people who feel trapped, who are searching for an identity,” Boyle said. “The Church is there for many of these characters (and) there is hope to be found in their faith. It’s a faith that’s pure and good, and on some level at least, it’s something I yearn for.”
Some of his minor characters are depicted in ugly, repellant terms, evoking in the reader’s imagination the coarseness and earthy crudities that crop up in the lives of people on the margins of society. And although some of Boyle’s plot-sustaining devices are implausible, he manages to hold readers’ attention and sense of impending doom to the very end. In the case of “Saint of the Narrows Street,” the narrative action drives the sense of tension, uncertainty, wistfulness and thwarted ambition that so effectively color his stories.
Catholic readers might have qualms with the author’s suggestion that humble, faith-filled lives can be so readily undone by a single mistake or a sin. As the main character, Risa, reveals during the story’s stirring final moments, “She wants a beginning again, not an ending. She knows that no matter how hard she’s tried to make life better for herself and for Fab, there’s just no controlling it. If she had it all to do over, she’d release the reins. There’s no key, no plan. Only the joy that’s there to be held before it dissipates or decays.”
The theme of losing control of our lives — or never actually having that control — echo those of other Catholic writers who recognize that there are no certainties in human life, and certainly no guarantees of happiness or simple contentment. †
Have questions about subscriptions, delivery or circulation? Call 713-652-4444 or email TDIELI@ARCHGH.ORG for help. Visit ARCHGH. ORG/SUBSCRIBE for more information.
Contact parishes for latest information.
FRIDAYS OF LENT
SACRED HEART FAMILY LIFE CENTER, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (602 S. Third St., Richmond). $12 plate includes fried or grilled fish, green beans, coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies. Desserts are also available. Dine in, carry out or drive thru. 281342-3609; kathy@sacredhrt.com.
CHRIST THE KING (4419 N. Main St., Houston). $15 plate includes fried fish, rice, French fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. Drinks and desserts sold separately. ctkcc.org.
ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, 5 to 7 p.m. (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). St. Ignatius of Loyola KofC #10861 hosts a fish fry with $14 plates with two pieces of fish and three sides, $12 plates for one piece of fish and sides, or a $10 child’s plate of one piece of fish and two sides. $5 gumbo is also available. silcc.org/lent-holyweek-schedule.
ST. PHILIP OF NERI, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10960 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston). $15 plates include four pieces fried fish, two sides, slice of bread; three pieces of stewed fish in tomato sauce over rice, two sides, slice of bread; or two pieces of stewed fish, one piece of fried fish, two sides, slice of bread. More will be available. Phone orders welcome 281-974-1722. Yard sale all items $2. 713-882-1134.
► FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS AND MORE LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.
MARCH 12
ADORATION HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). Adoration Hour on the first Wednesday of the month to pray for vocations. Confession and Anointing of the Sick available.
MARCH 13
NETWORKING GROUP, 10 a.m., Holy Family (1510 Fifth St., Missouri City). Talk by Father Orrin Halepeska called “Finding God in All Moments of Ministry” shares insights on how God is present in both moments of joy and struggle, emphasizing His constant presence in ministry work. Free and open to the public. RSVP: coniperez@sbcglobal. net; starons@stbchurch.org.
MARCH 14-16
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). This three-day retreat includes the celebration of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, conferences, and time for private prayer. Parish groups, father/sons (16+), and individuals are welcomed. $265. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
MARCH 15
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, 6:30 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Feast begins immediately following 5:15 p.m. Mass with traditional children’s procession of the saints. Event features complete Sicilian pasta dinner and multi-item raffle. Homemade Italian cookies and cannoli available for purchase. Free and open to the public. stjosephaltarguild@silcc.org; 713-825-4576.
ROSARY PROCESSION, 8 a.m., Annunciation (1618 Texas Ave., Houston). Mass followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a light breakfast and a Rosary procession around Discovery Green. annunciationcc.org.
MARCH 16
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, After 11 a.m. service, Queen of Peace (1224 Cedar Dr., La Marque). Goods will go to the poor in the area. A meatless spaghetti dinner will be served for $10 a plate. smarcidiacono@gmail.com.
MARCH 17
GOLF, 12 p.m., Wildcat Golf Course (12000 Almeda Rd., Houston). 21st annual Bishop Rizzotto Golf Classic benefits St. Dominic Village. Sponsorship opportunities and individual golfer option available. 713-7418722; rlillie@stdominicvillage.org.
MARCH 21
PRAYER SERVICE, 7 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). An evening of prayer and meditation on the Stations of the Cross through a Taizé-style prayer service. This service will take the place of the usual Friday Stations of the Cross. Fish fry will be served starting at 4:30 p.m. ctrcc.com/taizeprayer.
MARCH 21-22
WORKSHOP, Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). This retreat will deal with the dynamics and healing of anger, fear, guilt, shame and grief so they become drives for new life rather than emotions we wish would disappear. Cost: $75 for both days. emmausspiritualitycenter.com; info@ emmausspiritualitycenter.com.
MARCH 21-23
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). This three-day retreat includes the celebration of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, conferences, and time for private prayer. Parish groups, father/sons (16+), and individuals are welcomed. $265. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
GALA, 6 p.m., Ashton Gardens West Houston
(18002 Clay Rd., Houston). Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School hosts gala with cocktail hour, dinner, wine pull, silent and live auctions, and dancing. Cost: $125 a ticket. epiphanycatholic. school/support/gala.
LENTEN DAY OF REFLECTION, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Jerome (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). The St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order and Emmaus Spirituality Center host a Lenten Day of Reflection. Cost: $20 and due by March 15. Register at stmaxkolbeofsfraternity.org; 713-299-0224.
MARCH 23
ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister, Houston). Spaghetti dinner for $10 for adults and $5 for children. Various Italian desserts and baked goods on sale. Open to the public.
MARCH 29
GALA, 6 to 11 p.m., The Westin Houston, Memorial City (945 Gessner Rd., Houston). Event, “A Night in Tuscany,” includes dinner, silent and live auctions and more to benefit St. Pius X High School Foundation. Tickets and table prices vary. gala@stpiusx.org; stpiusx.org/gala.
VOCATIONS MEET & GREET, 9 to 11 a.m., Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). High School young men are invited to meet priests and seminarians for a night filled with prayer, group discussion and brunch. archgh. swoogo.com/Andrew.
MARCH 30
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, noon to 6 p.m., St. John the Evangelist (800 W. Baker Rd., Baytown). Jubilee of Hope “50 Years of Faith & Fellowship: Celebrating the past and embracing the future” features barbecue plates, street food, sweet shop, Bingo, raffle tickets, silent auction, children’s games, music, car show and more. Free entry, cost varies per item. 281-837-8180, office@stjohnbaytown.org.
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APRIL 2
ADORATION HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). Adoration Hour on the first Wednesday of the month to pray for vocations. Confession and Anointing of the Sick available.
APRIL 4-6
AA (ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS) MEN’S RETREAT, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). This is a three-day 12-step study weekend for those working 12-step programs, providing an opportunity to grow spiritually and participate with others. Registration fee $265 and $250 for 65 and older. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/12step-retreats.
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Pope Francis continued to receive treatment in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, he sent written thanks for people’s prayers, but he did not go to his hospital window as some people had hoped.
Young people and members of the House of Mary, both groups associated with the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception, led the recitation of the Angelus prayer March 2 around a statue of St. John Paul II below the pope’s hospital window.
A couple dozen other people and many photographers and TV correspondents joined them.
The Vatican press office released a message from Pope Francis with a brief reflection of the day’s Gospel reading, but also with a reflection on being hospitalized since Feb. 14 with breathing difficulty and a diagnosis of double pneumonia.
In his message, the pope thanked his doctors and all the medical professionals assisting him.
But he also told people, “I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within frailty because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God
for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people.”
Pope Francis expressed his gratitude “for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful
from many parts of the world: I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people.”
The pope assured people he was praying for them, too, and said, “I pray
above all for peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu” in eastern Congo.
Giuseppe Perazzo was one of the first to arrive outside the Gemelli hospital for the midday prayer. At the time, hospital security staff were re-arranging the flowers, votive candles and cards people have been leaving for the pope at the foot of the statue.
Perazzo held a big sign encouraging Pope Francis to listen to and obey his doctors.
“He’s not just the pope,” Perazzo said, “he is also a man like us. He is one of us, so when he is released, I will feel better, too.” A couple from India working in Rome, who identified themselves only as Alice and Tommy, said, “Today we have the day off, so we came to pray for the pope. He is a great person.”
As people were praying at the hospital, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, confirmed that Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute for general affairs in the secretariat, had paid their second visit to the pope in the hospital. †
Like many seniors, Betty lives on a fixed income and can’t always afford groceries. But she doesn’t go hungry because she gets food from Catholic Charities.
We are here for Betty and thousands of other individuals and families who visit our food pantries in Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris counties. They take home fresh produce, meat and dairy as well as nutritious nonperishables so they can live healthy lives.
In the past five years
Our three food pantries in Houston, Galveston and Richmond distributed: Families visited our pantries
Just last year
21,771,067 pounds of food
4,475,497 pounds of food
358,834 times
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston brings hope and help to our most vulnerable neighbors, regardless of their faith, thanks to generous donors, parishes and volunteers.