Texas Catholic Herald - April 9, 2024

Easter marks the ‘rebirth of hope amid the ruins of failure,’ pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Easter is a promise that no matter how dark the world may seem and no matter how heavy the burdens one carries, victory belongs to the Risen Christ and all who believe in Him, Pope Francis said.

“Let us lift our eyes to Him and ask that the power of His resurrection may roll away the heavy stones that weigh down our souls,” the pope said in his homily at the Easter Vigil on March 30.

“Let us lift our eyes to Him, the Risen Lord, and press forward in the certainty that, against the obscure backdrop of our failed hopes and our deaths, the eternal life that He came to bring is even now present in our midst,” he said.

After staying home the night before rather than preside over the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum, the pope arrived at the basilica in a wheelchair. Although he had to clear his throat several times, he read the entire prepared text of his homily.

During the Mass, two deacons brought a baptismal font to Pope Francis, and he baptized eight adults: four Italians, two South Koreans, a man from Japan and a woman from Albania. He also confirmed them and gave them their First Communion.

The Liturgy began in the back of St. Peter’s Basilica, under a tapestry of the Risen Christ, with the blessing of the fire and the lighting of the Easter candle.

Norbertine Brother Gerard P. Juhasz, a deacon from St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California, carried the paschal candle into a darkened St. Peter’s Basilica, chanting three times, “Lumen Christi” (Latin for “the Light of Christ”). After being blessed by Pope Francis, he sang the Exsultet, the solemn Easter proclamation.

able to move the stone away so they can anoint Jesus’ body.

“That stone marked the end of Jesus’ story, now buried in the night of death,” the pope said. “He, the life that came into the world, had been killed. He, who proclaimed the merciful love of the Father, had met with no mercy. He, who relieved sinners of the burden of their condemnation, had been condemned to the cross.”

VATICAN NEWS

In his homily, Pope Francis asked the congregation of about 6,000 people to think about what the women who had gone to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body must have been thinking and feeling.

“The tears of Good Friday are not yet dried; they are grief-stricken, overwhelmed by the sense that all has been said and done,” the pope said.

And, according to the Gospel of Mark, they are worried about being

But, Pope Francis said, the stone also represents the weight on the heart of Jesus’ female disciples and the burdens carried by everyone who is grief-stricken and without hope.

“There are times when we may feel that a great stone blocks the door of our hearts, stifling life, extinguishing hope, imprisoning us in the tomb of our fears and regrets, and standing in the way of joy and hope,” he said.

Those “tombstones,” he said, can come with the death of a loved one, a failure to do good, a missed chance to build a more just society and “in all our aspirations for peace that are shattered

by cruel hatred and the brutality of war.”

But the Gospel says that when the women “looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back.”

“This is the Pasch of Christ, the revelation of God’s power: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope amid the ruins of failure,” Pope Francis said. “It is the Lord, the God of the impossible, who rolled away the stone forever.”

“Even now,” the pope said, “He opens our tombs so that hope may be born ever anew. We too, then, should ‘look up’ to Him.”

“If we allow Jesus to take us by the hand, no experience of failure or sorrow, however painful, will have the last word on the meaning and destiny of our lives,” he said. “Henceforth, if we allow ourselves to be raised up by the Risen Lord, no setback, no suffering, no death will be able to halt our progress toward the fullness of life.”

“Let us welcome Jesus, the God of life, into our lives, and today once again say ‘yes’ to Him,” Pope Francis said. “Then no stone will block the way to our hearts, no tomb will suppress the joy of life, no failure will doom us to despair.” †

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CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis gives his blessing at the conclusion of his Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 30.

THE FIRST WORD

REGINA COELI

The Church’s Easter Prayer

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia, has risen as he said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia!

For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray:

O God, who through the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did vouchsafe to give joy to the world; grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

BRIEFS

Ticket sales continue for annual priests vs. seminarians basketball game

HOUSTON — The seventh annual Priests vs. Seminarians Basketball Game is set for 7 p.m. on April 19 at Rice University-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 going to the seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary. Tickets are limited, and the event is expected to sell out. To purchase, visit www.houstonvocations.com/ events. †

Magnify is set for April 13

HOUSTON — Magnify, formerly known as the Archdiocesan Young Adult Day, is set for Saturday, April 13, from noon to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Seminary, located at 9845 Memorial Dr. in Houston. The event features a keynote speaker, workshops, Mass and time for social activities.

The bilingual event’s theme is “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15-16). Early Bird registration is $40 until March 18, then $50 until April 12. At the door, registration is $60.

Save some trees and get the Texas Catholic Herald sent straight to your inbox with The Digest, our free email newsletter. For free features, exclusive content and more, sign up at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCHDIGEST.

For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/magnify. †

Archdiocese has employment opportunities

HOUSTON — The Archdiocese has job openings in the chancery offices, parishes and schools across the diocese. See the job postings online at www.archgh.org/ employment.

DSF annual appeal to support

Archdiocesan ministries continues

To have an Archdiocesan position posted on the website, contact Monica Nolasco at MNolasco@archgh. org. †

HOUSTON — This year, the theme of the annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) appeal is “We are the Lord’s.”

The annual campaign to support 64 Archdiocese-wide ministries is underway, 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 the Catholic faith; providing support and preparation for clergy; teaching, evangelizing, worshiping and outreach to the incarcerated, aging, poor and sick; and programming to strengthen Christian families, among many others.

To pledge online or see a full list of the ministries supported, visit www.archgh.org/dsf.

Give online at give.archgh.org or scan here to give

LOCAL

BY PAUL SENZ Special to the Herald

HOUSTON (OSV News) — The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the heart of the Christian faith. This is the point at which God defeated death and reconciled the world to Himself, forging a new and eternal covenant with His people. The resurrection is so important that the early Christians quickly began to commemorate it every week, on Sunday. Of course, it is celebrated in a special way each year at Easter.

When Jesus prophesied His own suffering and death, His apostles refused to accept it; it was unthinkable for them. Imagine their horror when the man they thought was the Messiah was hung upon a cross to die, slowly and painfully, in utter humiliation. Then, imagine their joy when, three days later, an empty tomb! The Lord walking among them once again!

Easter is a time of pure and boundless joy. The Easter season lasts 50 days, from

Easter Sunday until Pentecost. The joy that comes from the resurrection cannot be contained in a single day.

The long tradition of the Church has passed down to us numerous ways to cultivate Easter joy in the weeks and months following Easter Sunday.

One way of cultivating Easter joy that the Church provides is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by receiving Him — body, blood, soul and divinity — in the Eucharist. Every Sunday is set aside as a special celebration of the resurrection, a commemoration of Christ’s victory over death, but we must bear in mind that every celebration of the Mass presents the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and celebrates His glorious resurrection. In that sense, there is no better time than Easter to attend daily Mass whenever possible, making it a priority. More and more parishes offer evening Mass during the week to allow working professionals to attend. Seeking out opportunities like this is one way to cultivate Easter joy and live in the resurrection.

The word “Eucharist” is derived from a Greek term meaning “thanksgiving.” The Easter season is perfectly suited to help form habits of gratitude. One way we can help ourselves recognize and truly internalize just what happened at the resurrection would be to diligently work to grow in gratitude in our own lives. All of us are given countless blessings by God, and far more often than not, they are blessings we do not even recognize or acknowledge. It takes effort, but it is important to try to recognize these blessings and be grateful.

We can start by reflecting on the resurrection itself. What a tremendous blessing, a gift that can never be adequately reciprocated: God became incarnate, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, and defeated death once and for all. We should give thanks to God every day for this blessing and grow in a general sense of gratitude for the blessings God bestows upon us.

Another way Catholics can cultivate Easter joy during this season is by putting ourselves in the shoes of the apostles and walking with Jesus during the period after the resurrection. The Stations of the Cross are one of the most widely known and practiced devotions among Catholics; this method of walking with Jesus, prayerfully joining Him in His own steps, helps Catholics to understand Christ’s passion and death. Following Easter, we should consider walking with Jesus in the same way in regards to His earthly life between the resurrection and the ascension.

The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles recount these days of Jesus’ life, at some points in great detail. Prayerfully reflecting on these passages can lead to great insights and foster a deeper connection with this relatively littlethought-of period.

There are stories of the profound and boundless joy experienced by the disciples of Jesus when they encountered Him risen. Even Thomas, the eponymous doubter, upon realizing that Jesus had truly risen and was standing before Him, showing His wounds, was so overcome

that he could but say, “My Lord and my God!” This is the joy we all should cultivate in ourselves and help foster in our community.

The Easter season is also a wonderful opportunity to extend Lenten observances — or add more. If one’s Lenten observance was to pray 15 minutes a day, why stop at Easter? This should be a habit formed in Lent and continued with joy throughout Easter and beyond. This may even be a time to add things like regular Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; or praying the Rosary; or joining the ordained, religious and many lay men and women all over the world in the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours.

This is not a penitential season, however. Jesus said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Mt 9:15). The bridegroom is with us! He is risen! This is not a time for fasting but for celebration and joy. And we can foster that joy by uniting ourselves with Jesus.

If there is one thing that can be learned from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is that death is no longer the final answer. In willingly sacrificing Himself for the sake of all humanity — and every single individual person specifically — and dying on the cross, only to be gloriously resurrected on the third day, our Lord overcame death once and for all. The gates of heaven have been thrown open, and God extends a hand of welcoming to each and every one of us. We simply need to accept the forgiveness He offers and be welcomed into His loving embrace.

In the Easter season, it seems impossible not to be reminded of the Prodigal Son. There is perhaps no other story, apart from Christ’s passion and resurrection, that better communicates to us the love and boundless forgiveness of God. The father in the story tells us so much about how God feels about His own children, and this is even truer after the resurrection: My son, who was once

This is “Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene After the Resurrection” by the Russian painter Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov. Because Mary’s heart has been turned toward Christ through conversion and repentance, she becomes one of his most fervent, faithful disciples.

Heading to the National Eucharistic Congress in July?

Here’s what to expect

Special to the Herald

HOUSTON (OSV News) — The tens of thousands of Catholics planning to attend the five-day 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July will experience large-scale Liturgies, dynamic speakers and opportunities for quiet prayer and faith-sharing, with six different “impact session” tracks tailored to their peer groups or faith journey.

Leaders hope attendees become “a leaven for the Church in the United States as Eucharistic missionaries going back to their parishes, but also sort of a gathering of people who are standing in the breach, or in proxy, for the entire Church across the United States, inviting that new Pentecost, and that new sending (of) healing and life to the full,” said Tim Glemkowski, CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., in a January meeting with media.

The event is the pinnacle of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the U.S. bishops to inspire a deeper love for Jesus in the Eucharist that began in 2022. The revival focused its first year on dioceses, the second and current year on parishes, and the final year, beginning after the congress, on “going out in mission.”

Catholic leaders have described the National Eucharistic Congress as potentially transformational for the Catholic Church in the U.S.

“I believe this event and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage leading up to it will have a generational impact on our country,” wrote Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, and chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., in a commentary published by OSV News in January.

The congress will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, and the adjacent Indianapolis Convention Center. The congress distinguishes itself from other Catholic conferences because it “invites the entire Church to come to pray together for revival,” said Joel Stepanek, the National Eucharistic

WANT TO GO?

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

When: July 17 - 21

Where: Indianapolis, Indiana

Register: archgh.org/congress24

Cost: $1,049 - $1,759

Pilgrimage costs reflect occupancy options. There is limited availability and spots will sell out.

For full details for the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to the Eucharistic Congress and to register, visit the website at: WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/CONGRESS24

Congress’ vice president of programming and administration.

“We’re going to gather with those there to pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on us, to pray for revival in the Church in the United States, to pray for healing in our own lives so we might be Eucharistic missionaries, and we’ll do that through powerful experiences of prayer and with the encouragement of wonderful keynote speakers,” Stepanek said.

JOIN THE PILGRIMAGE

In addition to speaking at the congress, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, alongside Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, is leading a group of local parishioners, ministry leaders and clergy in a pilgrimage to Indianapolis. The deadline to register to join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage group that includes hotel accomodations, which are very limited, is April 15.

Limited registrations, which range

See CONGRESS, page 6

OSV NEWS PHOTO

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Espaillat speaks during a Eucharistic Congress gathering in New York in 2023. BIshop Espaillat will be among the dozens of speakers at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana in July.

National Eucharistic Congress is inspired by Luke 24

CONGRESS, from page 5

from $1,049 to $1,759, include a five-day congress pass, four nights of housing in Indianapolis, continental breakfast, and motorcoach transportation to and from the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as gratuities for drivers. Costs reflect hotel accommodation choices, including triple, quadruple, double and single occupancy registrations.

Family pricing is available for children and teenagers and includes a $200 discount on prices for children ages 3 to 12. Infants and two-year-old lap children are free with two paid adults in double occupancy. For more information or to register and join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage, visit www. archgh.org/congress24. Additionally, registration is open for single-day passes at eucharisticcongress.org/register.

SETTING THE THEME

The congress’ theme is centered on Luke 24, which describes Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus following His death and resurrection.

The disciples did not recognize Him at first but listened to Him explain Scripture, only to later realize their companion was Jesus during their evening meal “in the breaking of the bread.” They raced back to Jerusalem to tell others what they had seen.

Day one, Wednesday, July 17, is themed “From the Four Corners.” The congress is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. that day

with an opening ceremony in Lucas Oil Stadium. The evening’s speakers include Bishop Andrew Cozzens, bishop of Crookston; Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.; and Sister Bethany Madonna, a Sister of Life who is the local superior and mission coordinator of the sisters’ Phoenix foundation.

Day two, Thursday, July 18, is themed: “The Greatest Love Story.” The morning schedule begins with 8:30 a.m. Mass, with options to worship in English or Spanish, including an additional Mass for youth.

Mass is followed by impact sessions, where attendees can choose from six options with “dynamic preaching and music tailored to their state in life and mission,” according to the congress’ website. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is set to be a speaker as part of the “Renewal” Impact session track, a series of programming dedicated for people who serve in parish, diocesan and ministerial leadership roles in any capacity. Following lunch are breakout sessions and “special experiences” tailored for specific groups or interests.

The evening includes a three-hour “revival session” with Father Francis “Father Rocky” Hoffman, Relevant Radio’s CEO and executive director, leading a Family Rosary Across America live from Lucas Oil Stadium. Father Michael Schmitz, host of the popular podcast “The Bible in a Year,” also will speak.

Day three, Friday, July 19, is themed

“Into Gethsemane.” Friday’s schedule mirrors Thursday’s, with morning Mass and impact sessions, afternoon breakout sessions and an evening revival session with the Family Rosary Across America’s keynote speaker, Sister Josephine Garrett of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Day four, Saturday, July 20, is themed “This is My Body.” Saturday’s morning and early afternoon schedule follows the order of the previous days. In the midafternoon, attendees will form a large Eucharistic procession in downtown Indianapolis, which Stepanek described as “a profoundly impactful experience.”

“A lot of folks who will be out on a Saturday afternoon in downtown Indianapolis will encounter the Lord and will receive the witness that we have, as a Catholic community, of prayer and joy in that city,” he said. “It’s really one of the biggest outward-facing pieces of the congress itself.”

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Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

Encuentro sessions are in Spanish, with speakers including Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas; Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio; Andrés Arango; Mabel Suárez; Kathia Arango; and Dora Tobar.

The evening includes a revival session featuring the Family Rosary Across America and speakers Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota; Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary religious order and lay Apostles of the Pierced Hearts; and Gloria Purvis, host of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast.” Musician Matt Maher will lead worship.

Day five, Sunday, July 21, is themed “To the Ends of the Earth.” The morning schedule begins with a revival session with speaker and author Chris Stefanick, founder and president of Real Life Catholic, followed by the revival’s closing Liturgy celebrated by a papal delegate with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

“This is our big commissioning as a Catholic community, where we will go forward then and take what we have been entrusted with as being part of this experience back to our homes, our communities, our schools, our parishes and our families to really be that salt and leaven in the world that is in need of the joy that we’re going to bring,” Stepanek said.

The congress’ main events will be emceed by Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News; Sister Miriam James Heidland of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity; and Father Josh Johnson, a speaker, author and priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dave Moore, co-founder of Catholic Music Initiative, will provide music throughout the congress.

MORNING SESSIONS

The morning impact sessions planned for days 2-4 are organized into six tracks: Encounter, Encuentro, Empower, Renewal, Cultivate and Awaken.

Encounter is the group of general sessions held in Lucas Oil Stadium. With a focus on deepening a person’s relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, it will feature speakers including Katie Prejean McGrady, Sister Mary Grace Langrell, Mary Healy, Edward Sri and

Empower sessions are designed to be smaller and “more intimate,” with a focus on practical tools for becoming a “Eucharistic missionary” in one’s community. Speakers include Deacon Larry and Andi Oney, Father John Burns, Chika Anyanwu, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat of New York, Meg HunterKilmer and Paul Albert. Renewal sessions are for people who work or volunteer in a parish, diocesan or other ministry role “to explore new and creative possibilities of accompaniment, evangelization, and catechesis,” according to the congress’ website. Speakers include Damon Owens, Sarah Kaczmarek, Julianne Stanz and Curtis Martin.

Cultivate sessions are focused on families to attend together, with speakers including Father Leo Patalinghug and Ennie and Cana Hickman. Awaken sessions are designed for high school youth, with large-group sessions in the mornings and smaller breakout sessions in afternoons. Speakers include Oscar Rivera, Brian Greenfield and Jackie Francois Angel. Teenagers attending the sessions must be part of a youth group or accompanied by a parent or guardian. The congress will also include an exhibit hall and a display of a replica of the Shroud of Turin, art exhibits, opportunities for confession and Adoration, and music performances.

Glemkowski said the congress shares the goal of the revival: “The idea that we need a spiritual movement of God in our Church to bring about renewal in this time.”

“The bishops have prophetically inaugurated or invited the Church to this time of encounter with Jesus, a deepened encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, which has everything to do with belief and relationship and what ... (St.) John Henry Newman would call ‘real assent’ — a sacrificial gift of your heart to Jesus in the Eucharist which bears fruit for the life of the world.”

Large-scale Eucharistic congresses have been part of the fabric of devotion in the Catholic Church for nearly 150 years and continue to be regularly convened by U.S. dioceses and in other countries. The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is the first Eucharistic congress in the U.S. in 83 years, with the most recent national congress held in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1941.

The first National Eucharistic Congress was held in 1895 in Washington, and subsequent congresses have been hosted by St. Louis, New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Omaha, Cleveland and New Orleans.

To learn more about the Natoinal Eucharistic Congress and to join the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage, visit www. archgh.org/congress24. †

San José Clinic's 12th Annual Spring Speaker Series

Archbishop Fiorenza Plaza dedication ceremony marks cathedrals’ anniversaries, landmark monument

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON — Easter is the perfect time to jointly celebrate the Feast of the Cathedrals in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on April 13 and dedicate the newly constructed Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will celebrate Mass beginning at 10 a.m. that Saturday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. Immediately afterward, at 11:15 a.m. across the street, Cardinal DiNardo and Father Jeff Bame, rector and pastor of the co-cathedral, will lead the plaza dedication.

In each diocese, the day its cathedral was dedicated is considered a feast. When the new co-cathedral was consecrated in April of 2008, Cardinal DiNardo had both feasts consolidated into one day — April 13.

The Mass on that day will first give thanks for both cathedrals of GalvestonHouston. St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, the Mother Church of Texas, was first

dedicated in 1848, survived the horrific 1900 storm that ravaged Galveston and is celebrating 176 years. The new cocathedral was first dedicated on April 2, 2008, doubling the capacity to more than 1,800. The Fiorenza Plaza is on the site of the old co-cathedral on Pierce, the former Sacred Heart Church that was elevated to a co-cathedral in 1959 when thenPope John XXIII changed the Diocese of Galveston to the Diocese of GalvestonHouston. The old co-cathedral served the diocese for almost a century after being

built in 1911 and closing in 2009. It was demolished last year when construction began on the plaza.

The landscaped plaza and parking lot is named after Archbishop Fiorenza, the seventh bishop and inaugural archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, who died in 2022, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s history. This plaza was part of Archbishop Fiorenza’s original plan for the site of the old co-cathedral, and it is fitting that he be recognized on the site.

Fiorenza, one of the esteemed “three amigos” alongside Rev. William Lawson and Rabbi Samuel Karff, played a pivotal role in advocating for the underprivileged in Houston. The trio worked tirelessly to foster unity among Houstonians of diverse faiths for social justice.

The memorial plaza and parking lot, spanning 60,000 square feet, is located

at the intersection of San Jacinto Street and St. Joseph Parkway, opposite the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart.

A centerpiece of the plaza will be the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, formerly positioned at the entrance of the old co-cathedral. Additionally, the memorial will feature 6,000 square feet of public gathering and tribute space, a pavilion, and 144 parking spaces, as outlined by Sacred Heart officials.

Cardinal DiNardo, who succeeded Fiorenza as the archbishop of the diocese, shared thoughts during the groundbreaking ceremony last December, emphasizing Fiorenza’s vision for both the new co-cathedral and the plaza.

“It was meant to be a place that beautified our downtown community, that welcomed our Archdiocese family and provided a gathering space for prayer, events and service,” DiNardo stated. “It is, therefore, only fitting that this plaza be established in his honor and in his memory.”

Then-Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner underscored the enduring impact of Fiorenza’s legacy on the city, describing the late archbishop as “a consummate Houstonian, deeply devoted to this city and its people.” Turner acknowledged Fiorenza’s contributions in areas such as policing reform, addressing housing issues, advocating for immigrants and the homeless, desegregating schools and businesses, and championing resources for the underserved.

The construction of the memorial plaza is being financed through an ongoing capital campaign, which also aims to fund improvements to the co-cathedral and Cathedral Centre. For more information, www.completingthewalk.org. †

PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

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.

RENDERINGS COURTESY OF STUDIO RED ARCHITECTS/CO-CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART

A rendering depicts a version of the new Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Plaza project at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH A. FIORENZA

More than just a job: Guiding youth to spiritual growth with compassionate leadership

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent

HOUSTON — For Suzette Morin, a catechetical leader with her parish youth group at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, her main priority is to create spiritual-growth opportunities for the youth to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus up close and on a deeply personal level. This often leads to profound emotional encounters with Christ.

Affectionately known as “Miss Susie” in the parish’s Spanish-speaking community, Morin has served as an adult leader in various capacities over the last 10 years. She actively seeks opportunities like Eucharistic Adoration or area-wide events like the Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC) for teens, aiming to provide them with sacred places where they can find solace from the pressures of daily life, peer influence and other adversities at home or school.

“I’ve seen all of these kids in my parish grow up before my eyes,” Morin said.“The parents know that I’m going to take care of their children, and I have their best interests in mind. Whatever they need, they know that I will try to get them the help.”

Alongside her own children, who grew up in the parish’s youth programs, Morin has guided young parishioners as altar servers and in preparation for the Sacrament of First Eucharist, as well as shepherded teens through Confirmation and in various youth-group programs.

Morin has witnessed the profound transformation that occurs when her teens participate in AYC, especially during their initial experience at the event. She observes a remarkable change in their hearts and treasures the opportunity to be with these young Catholics as they come together to encounter the Holy Spirit and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “We are the Lord’s.” DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.

DSF IN ACTION

the Church’s mission for generations to come.

Recently, Morin and the youth ministry leaders encountered a significant gap in their program: There were no activities tailored for middle schoolers. Determined to address this issue, Morin and her team sought assistance from OACE, realizing the potential impact on these young adolescents without proper support.

DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND

“Seeing that transition is impactful,” Morin said. “Witnessing how the Holy Spirit and God have touched them, it’s remarkable. It reinforces my dedication to bring teens to AYC because that’s what you want to see.”

Morin’s dedication to youth ministry deepens her own spiritual formation and growth, strengthening her relationship with Christ. This personal journey profoundly influences her capacity to impact the teens she serves.

“Attending the Lenten mission at my parish, spending time in Adoration, and attending AYC myself with the teens have all contributed to my spiritual growth,” Morin said.“This has allowed me to better serve them and find experiences that truly impact their lives.”

AYC is among the events tailored for older teens in the Archdiocese, organized by the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization (OACE). The ministry emphasizes the significance of faith formation programs, retreats and events like AYC in facilitating profound encounters with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ for adolescents. Through such initiatives, OACE empowers parish leaders like Morin to cultivate lifelong discipleship among Catholic youth, thereby ensuring the vitality of

OACE is supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), a vital resource that sustains over 60 ministries within the Archdiocese. Through DSF, scholarships are provided for youths to attend events like AYC and other essential programs, offering opportunities they might not have otherwise due to financial constraints. Morin deeply appreciates the faithful who support the annual DSF appeal, recognizing the profound impact it has on the youth she serves.

“Especially coming out of COVID-19, some kids couldn’t afford to attend these events, seeing the impact on their parents’ financial status,” Morin said. “But with fundraisers and scholarships provided through DSF, they’re able to participate. I thank all the donors who dig deep into their hearts to provide the means for attending AYC and other impactful events offered by OACE that touch so many lives.”

To learn more about OACE and its mission to provide leadership, formation and resources in Comprehensive Youth Ministry for parishes to effectively form adolescents into lifelong disciples in the Catholic tradition, go to www.archgh. org/OACE.

To donate to the Archdiocese DSF’s annual appeal, go to www.archgh.org/ DSF. The DSF supports OACE and 60plus additional ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of

every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries. †

This new video series brings to life the ministry featured in this story. Hear from people personally impacted by God’s grace through these DSF ministries and from leaders themselves who remind others that, no matter what happens, “We are the Lord’s.”

SCAN TO WATCH ARCHGH.ORG/ DSFINACTION

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo presides over Mass at the 2023 Archdiocesan Youth Conference in Houston. Thousands of young people attend the annual conference every year, in a unique three-day encounter between the Catholic Church, its Sacraments and the youth.

AN EASTER CHURCH REJOICES

RESURRECTION, from page 4

lost, is now found! How can we contain our joy at this forgiveness and reconciliation? We should not contain it! Death no longer holds sway over us; we have each been given a glorious opportunity to accept God’s unending love and forgiveness. There is no greater gift.

We see this tale again and again throughout salvation history: God forms a covenant with His people, only to have His people betray that covenant and do their best to sever the bond. And yet, time and again, God remains steadfast — unfailingly steadfast. There is always reconciliation on the horizon, always an opportunity for God’s people to accept His offer of forgiveness and be reconciled to Him. Recognizing this is one incredibly profound way to celebrate the Easter season.

The theme of God’s forgiveness is particularly close to the heart of our Holy Father. In his first Sunday Angelus address, only a few days after his election to the papacy, Pope Francis famously said, “God’s face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God’s patience, the patience that He has with each

of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, patience with us, He understands us, He waits for us, He does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to Him with a contrite heart. ...The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking forgiveness.”

God has provided ultimate and endless forgiveness to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. It may seem impossible that the second person of the Trinity became incarnate and dwelt among us; it may seem unthinkable that this incarnate second person of the Trinity suffered and died the most ignominious and humiliating death imaginable; and it may seem utterly absurd that, after all that, He rose again, glorified.

But it is true, all of it. For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Because of this, we are filled with joy — Christ is risen! Let us cultivate that joy in ourselves and everywhere. †

Paul Senz writes for OSV News from Oregon.

HOLY THURSDAY - ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/EASTER24

PALM SUNDAY - ST. JUSTIN MARTYR

CHRISM MASS

CHRISM MASS

EDUCATION

A group of St. Theresa Catholic School - Sugar Land sixth grade students made a pilgrimage to a group of four iconic Texas Catholic churches, known as the Painted Churches, including St. John the Baptist Church in Ammannsville, on March 26 during Holy Week. Led by teacher Ben George, and joined by three parent chaperones, the students toured and prayed at four of the churches, offering prayers and song. According to the Texas Historical Commission records, at least 15 churches comprise the wellknown Painted Churches of Texas.

IN BRIEF

The Cardinal’s Circle supports Catholic education in under-served communities

HOUSTON — The Cardinal’s Circle, founded in 2010, is a giving society whose members believe in Catholic education and in building the future of the Church by investing in the lives of students in the eight CROSS Academy Catholic Schools.

These campuses are located in historically under-served communities across the Archdiocese and offer students a quality, faith-based education that will serve them throughout their lives.

The CROSS Academies are Assumption Catholic School, Resurrection Catholic School, Holy Ghost Catholic School, St. Augustine Catholic School, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Galena Park, St. Christopher Catholic School, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School and St. Mary of the Purification Catholic School.

Now in its 14th year, the members of The Cardinal’s Circle make an annual gift of $5,000 or more to support the CROSS campuses, providing tuition assistance and resources that allow more students to receive a Catholic education each year.

For more information, contact Leslie Barrera, associate director of Development, at 713-652-8257 or visit ChooseCatholicSchools.org/CC. †

The Archdiocese has open positions in our Schools, Parishes and the Chancery.

PHOTO BY CYNTHIA ALIPIO/FOR ST. THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL - SUGAR LAND

YOUTH

The Eucharist and the young Church

I’ll never forget my first encounter with the Eucharist.

In college, a friend invited me to Mass at the Newman Center. When we entered the chapel, I was confused by the silence and curious why everyone was focused on something on the altar. I later learned that it was a monstrance on the altar. I learned that Jesus was truly present there. As a revert to Catholicism, the things of the faith that are now so simple for me to know and understand took years of learning, prayer and community.

Aside from my personal curiosity, being surrounded by a community that authentically welcomed me, was patient with me, journeyed with me and served those whom they encountered daily created many moments of encounter with Christ and a pilgrimage to understand who the Eucharist was.

We are in a time when the U.S. bishops are doing the same for us. We’ve been sent on a mission in the National Eucharistic Revival to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist,” as stated on its website. This revival is only the beginning.

by AMY ANN DAVILA

We were invited and called to return home to the truth. How do we teach our young Church to come home?

An often unspoken and forgotten gift of teens is their gift to recognize and know authenticity. They witness our lives and how we react to culture, current events, and daily encounters. Do they see us living our faith authentically?

We are called to challenge without fear and to be able to help others grow. Here are some ways to invite teens to be closer to the Eucharist:

• Be consistent. When the adults in their lives express that they don’t feel like attending Mass, teens will reflect that attitude as well. Adults need to model a consistent commitment to Mass and set the same expectation for their teens.

• Pray for them and ask others to as well.

• Ask them about the highs and lows

retreat for young adults

of their day, week, or even month. Help teens to see the fruit and blessing in the highs and lows.

• Encourage teens to be part of Mass and the community. The more we allow our teens to engage in a variety of programming at Church, the more likely they are to begin to own their faith.

• Cultivate prayer in the home. It may be awkward at first, but you begin to create traditions that they will remember as they get older. Create a space and altar for prayer.

• Plant seeds. Bless them before bed, as they leave the home, and before school events.

• Start a conversation. It is okay not to know the answer to all their questions. We are also called to continue learning and to be open to the dialogues our teens bring forth.

• Introduce them to the saints. We often speak of the holiness of the saints and don’t dive deep into their past. Don’t be afraid to share how human and vulnerable the saints also were. How in

their imperfections, they also were capable and worthy to love and serve, just like us. This helps our young people to see that holiness is possible in their own lives.

Remember, encounters and conversions are not planned nor something we can control. Somehow someone, in our lifetime, has prayed for us to know Christ, especially in the Eucharist. Our teens’ journey to Christ in the Eucharist cannot be done alone, just like us, and in my personal journey, it would not have happened without community.

As we enter into the mission phase of the Eucharistic Revival, continue to accompany your young people in their love and devotion to the Eucharist by encouraging them to participate in the various programs in your parish community. †

Amy Ann Davila is an associate director with the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.

I remember one of my graduate-level theology professors sharing a story about the first time he encountered the word “mystagogy.” This particular professor was so confused that he initially thought his instructor was talking about a figurative gentleman named Mr. Gogi, the Polish neighbor who lived down the street. Many parish employees or volunteers, especially those connected to initiation ministries, might find this amusing. However, the concept of mystagogy and the gift it is to the life of the Church is often severely underutilized.

At its simplest definition, mystagogy is a leading into the mystery. “What mystery?” you may ask. The mystery of God and His revelation to us. It is an ongoing reflection into the ways God is present, working and communicating Himself in our lives. This practice is so crucial that it is one of the programmatic elements for the Rite of Christian Initiation. After our elect have received their Sacraments at Easter, their process continues with mystagogy. They gather

The underutilized gift of mystagogy

by MATT KIERNAN

to reflect on their experience of the Sacraments, explore the way they experienced God, ponder how their lives are changed due to the efficacy of the Sacraments, and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, discern how to respond to God’s continued invitation for their lives. The practice of mystagogy is imperative in the creation of a disciple because it is a prayerful awareness of how one connects with God.

The best part is that mystagogy is not reserved only for those who participate in RCIA. Instead, the Church invites all its members into a perpetual life of mystagogy — reflecting on the mystery. In this light, every time you enter a Church and mark yourself with holy water you are remembering your Baptism and how your life is different

because you are a member of God’s family. When you are struggling with a tough decision, mystagogy reminds you of the Holy Spirit’s gift of right judgment and allows you to discern the correct path.

When we really think about it, God is so present in our lives that we sometimes take His presence for granted. There is a temptation to diminish the Sunday Liturgy to a mere routine. Living life from a mystagogical perspective reminds us to pause for a moment, to remember the incredible gift of our Lord we receive in the Eucharist, and to recognize the way God is making Himself known in our lives.

The other good news is that mystagogy isn’t complicated. When I was volunteering for my parish’s vacation Bible school program, one of the activities each day was for the children to share a “God sighting” or something that reminded them of God that day. This could be a warm hug, a delicious meal, a beautiful sunset, the parish tabernacle, a kind action and so

much more. The answers of these five-year-old children were inspiring.

The practice of mystagogy works in a very similar way. All we simply need to ask ourselves is “How have I experienced Christ today, this week, etc.” This simple practice allows us to reflect upon our human experience, but more importantly, to move this experience deeper into the mystery of God, our source of truth, meaning and joy.

During this time, when we celebrate the newest members of our Catholic family that entered the Church this Easter, let us also remember that we too were once new members. May their joy inspire us to shake off our complacency and view our faith as an eternal celebration, guided by the gift of mystagogy which moves us more and more into the very mystery of God. †

Matt Kiernan is an associate director for Sacrament Preparation in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Showing the mercy of God to incarcerated youth

As Easter people, we hope that new life awaits us on the other side of pain, suffering and death, as Jesus Christ experienced so that we may have eternal life. We have an understanding of what comes after suffering and we are called to share that message. Special Youth Services (SYS), a DSF funded ministry, takes this message of hope into juvenile detention centers around the Archdiocese through weekly Bible study and pastoral visits.

Some people are afraid to go into a juvenile facility because they expect hardened criminals but are surprised

when they see that the children, ages 10 to 17, are actually children. We have witnessed both male and female gang members laughing, skipping and enjoying themselves at special events because they feel free to act their actual age. There is a sense of liberation in their detention. We encounter intelligent, well-mannered, talented kids who deserve a second, third, fourth chance at living a better life. Most of the youth receive visits from volunteers with an open mind and spirit. There was a young man who was inspired to conduct his own Bible study with other youth in

between the volunteers’ weekly visits.

Many of our youth ended up in a facility because their home life led them to make decisions that got them in trouble. They suffer at home and search for love and acceptance elsewhere. They may be part of a cycle they feel they cannot escape because their parents also get in trouble with the law. But even those kids can become determined to make better decisions, even to start going to church. Some do when they go home, and we never see them again. We plant spiritual seeds and hope that one day, they will bloom. We have had former youth that we ministered to who have contacted our office with good news of becoming a youth pastor, getting a job, being premed or becoming a parent. We cherish those blooms, and we pray for their

success.

We have had kids who think they do not deserve God’s forgiveness because of what they have done or kids who did not know they could be forgiven, and that is why visits from our volunteers are needed and valued. The visits help the youth open their eyes and hearts to God’s omnipresence, love and forgiveness. They guide them to understand God’s message to them through His Word. They help the youth identify blessings in their confined lives and trust in the arrival of the light after their darkness.

We hope, together with our youth, that we all fully love and trust the Lord and that when youth are released, they receive the help and support they need to make better decisions that lead to their success.

If you feel a call to serve with SYS in any capacity, please feel free to contact us at sys@archgh.org or 713-741-8739. †

Alejandra M. Garza is an associate director of Special Youth Services.

“¡Resucitó, resucitó, resucitó, aleluya!” That was the song a Portuguese Neocatechumenal Way group sang as we were walking out of the Monastery of La Encarnación in Ávila, Spain, on the first days of our World Youth Day pilgrimage last year. Listening to this song not only gave me the chills and brought tears to my eyes, but it reminded me of how beautiful and universal our Catholic Church is and transported me back to my childhood when I sang this traditional song with my church choir during Easter. This song specifically sings about a central point of our faith: The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For as St. Paul reminds us, “And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith” (1 Cor. 15, 14). As we begin this Easter season, I continually reflect on the joy we experience knowing that He rose from the grave and conquered death.

As a musician, I have the joy of being able to live the Triduum fully since I have to select the songs that will be sung on

¡Resucitó! He is Risen!

those special days. The lyrics of each of these songs give me the opportunity to appreciate the message of salvation from a liturgical perspective. Using my voice and playing an instrument allows me to be a protagonist in the celebration; in short, all my senses are alert to my own encounter with the risen Christ. For this reason, it was inevitable that I reacted emotionally when the young adults sang and praised: ¡resucitó! As leader of the Spanish choir at my home parish, Holy Family Church in Missouri City, song preparation leads me to truly live and experience the Paschal Mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord. The feeling and rhythm of the music changes day by day as the Easter Triduum passes. We live various states of emotion, such as the sadness that invaded the Lord when He knew that He was going to be betrayed and then the joy of the resurrection. Music enhances the moment and unites the congregation.

On Holy Thursday, the songs bring us together to remember the Last Supper and the washing of feet, where the

by THALIA ROMERO

disciples did not understand the meaning of that action of purification, which the Lord sent them to continue loving and serving others. Good Friday is a day of much silence and meditation. The songs I chose reminded us of the sacrifice of the cross and the agony that the Lord experienced on the way to Calvary and until His death. The Easter Vigil at my parish is lived in such a beautiful way by celebrating a multilingual mass with songs in English and Spanish. The Exultet, the epistle and prayers of the faithful are also proclaimed in different languages that represent our community, such as Italian, Igbo, and Tagalog. The most emotional moment for me during the Triduum is the Easter Vigil, during which the lights are turned on and the Gloria is sung. It is so breathtaking to

hear the bells ring and see how we go from darkness to light. The Easter Vigil is so extraordinary because it is where we welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ who have prepared to receive their Sacraments of Christian initiation into the Church. We celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the Sacraments, awaiting His return in glory. On Easter Sunday, the songs are joyful. Since our choir is mostly a band, we go all out on Easter Sunday and choose the most epic selections to glorify that He is alive!

My hope is that not only the musicians/liturgical ministers can live Easter so fully but also those sitting in the pews. I pray that everyone can feel that real presence of the Risen Lord whether sitting in the pews or anywhere in the world. Let all of us this Easter exclaim with joy along with the singers I heard in Spain: “¡Resucitó, resucitó, resucitó, aleluya!” †

Thalia Romero serves as an associate director for the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry.

WORLD

Irish doctors oppose euthanasia, urge more support for compassionate care

DUBLIN (OSV News) — The professional body that regulates and ensures professional standards for doctors in Ireland has rejected a report from a parliamentary committee that called for the legalization of assisted suicide.

The decision comes as the euthanasia debate rolls throughout Europe, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling it a possible “law of fraternity,” and British Members of Parliament being pressured to legalize assisted dying.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland said on March 20 that it opposed “the introduction of any legislation supportive of assisted suicide because it is contrary to best medical practice.”

The organization’s opposition follows a report by a special committee of the national parliament — known as the Oireachtas — recommending the introduction of assisted suicide for individuals diagnosed with an illness or medical condition that is classified as

“incurable, irreversible, progressive and advanced” and likely to cause death within six months.

Extending the six months to 12 months is recommended for those with neurodegenerative conditions, as is a provision that the illness must be causing suffering that cannot be relieved in a way that the ill person finds tolerable.

The recommendations are supported by nine of the committee’s 14 members. However, three others — including committee chair Michael Healy-Rae — issued a dissenting minority report calling for the existing ban on assisted suicide to be retained. One committee member abstained from the final vote and another was absent.

Diarmuid O’Shea, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) said, “Dying and death are part of a continuum of care for any person with a chronic or life-limiting illness.

“Dying with dignity in our society

is made possible by the delivery of compassionate, supportive and expert care by physicians, nurses, health and social care professionals, and others working in hospitals, hospices, GP practices and other community settings across our country.”

“Such care and the people providing it should be appropriately supported and funded,” he said in a statement rejecting the committee’s report.

Feargal Twomey, chair of the RCPI expert group and a consultant in palliative medicine, added, “These efforts are supported by specialist palliative care teams, by the efforts of families and friends, and by extension, the support of society.”

The RCPI represents almost threequarters of all clinically active doctors in Ireland. Both the RCPI and the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland gave evidence to the committee rejecting plans to legalize assisted suicide.

Siobhán MacHale, professor and member of the human rights and ethics committee of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, which has about 1,300 psychiatrist members, said the Oireachtas committee’s recommendation of the introduction of assisted suicide and euthanasia in Ireland undermines Irish society’s “strong focus on suicide prevention policy.”

“Any terminal diagnosis is by its nature deeply upsetting and can often lead to a patient experiencing a wish to die in the course of the associated shock and grief,” MacHale said in a statement. “The college believes that we can do better in providing compassionate care to those who are dying than to introduce assisted suicide and euthanasia in Ireland.”

Sen. Rónán Mullen, one of the committee members who dissented, described the report as “a travesty of the evidence heard by the committee over the past year. The case for assisted suicide and euthanasia was not established and the report’s own words do not warrant the recommendations that it makes.”

“If society was merely a collection of individuals, then laws founded solely on personal autonomy might make sense. But we are not islands. We are a tangled web of interconnected and vulnerable lives, all of which are worth living. Legislation for assisted dying would endanger the lives and happiness of many people,” Mullen

IN BRIEF

told OSV News

A spokesperson for Hope Ireland warned that“the permissive findings of the report produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will quickly bring Ireland into the same chaotic horror as Canada.” Hope Ireland describes itself as a coalition of medical professionals and disability rights advocates who aim to bring informed perspectives to the debate around euthanasia and assisted suicide in Ireland.

Canada’s so-called Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID law, has been controversial with a United Nations watchdog group warning that people may feel pressured to seek medically assisted death.

Meanwhile, with increased pressure on members of Parliament in the United Kingdom to change the legislation on assisted suicide, Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark issued a pastoral message on March 22 highlighting the “threat this poses to human life and our claim to uphold equality.”

The archbishop said these threats are not only physical but moral and spiritual, too. Human life is a gift from God and one that must be cherished and is not a commodity we “manipulate and dominate,” he said.

Jersey, the Isle of Man and Scotland are all considering the legalization of assisted dying, although in each case, only permanent residents would be eligible.

“It looks increasingly likely that at least one jurisdiction among the UK and crown dependencies will allow (assisted dying) in the near future and ministers should be actively involved in discussions about how to approach the divergence in legislation,” said a report from the health and social care committee, as reported by The Guardian

“The Catholic Church believes and teaches that every life is valuable, regardless of one’s physical or mental state or ability. We are called to care for those who are suffering, not to bring about their death,” he said.

“We cannot approve of any form of euthanasia and assisted suicide,” the archbishop said in a pastoral message. Rather, what is needed is support for individuals, families and those who work in health care, he said, “so that the fundamental value of life is not eroded.” †

War is ‘folly,’ pope says as he leads prayers for Ukraine, Gaza

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis held up a well-thumbed, camouflage-covered pocket edition of the New Testament and Psalms and a small fabric pouch containing a rosary. He told people at his general audience on April 3 that the Bible and rosary had belonged to 23-year-old Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier killed at Avdiivka.

“He had his life ahead of him.”

Pope Francis asked the thousands of visitors and pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square to observe a moment of silent prayer for “this young man and many others like him killed in this folly that is war. War always destroys. Let’s think about them and pray.”

The pope also spoke of his “profound sorrow” at the news that seven members of the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli strikes on their vehicles in Gaza on April 1 “while they were working to distribute food aid.”

World Central Kitchen said the seven killed included an Australian, a Pole, three British men working security, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, and a Palestinian. †

NATION & STATE

‘We have hope,’ say advocates at El Paso march and vigil for migrants’ dignity

EL PASO (OSV News) — On the evening of March 21, hundreds of people joined the peaceful demonstration “Be Not Afraid: March and Vigil for Human Dignity,” organized by the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, along with migrantsupporting organizations such as Hope Border Institute and religious and community leaders from areas along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Organizers called the event “a watershed moment of community resistance and prayer” in response to the Texas Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 4, controversial legislation passed in November that makes it a state crime for migrants to cross the border into the state of Texas without authorization.

Because the federal government is responsible for border protection, lawsuits have questioned the state law’s constitutionality, and a series of federal judges temporarily blocked its implementation as those challenges play out in court. SB 4 was briefly in effect after a divided U.S. Supreme Court on March 19 lifted the temporary pause on the law and sent the matter back to the lower court due to a procedural error there. However, in response, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled late March 19 to continue to temporarily block the implementation of SB 4 as it prepares for a related hearing.

The bill’s controversy coincides with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit seeking to shut down Annunciation House, a Catholic non-profit organization that serves immigrants, as well as the first anniversary of the fire that killed 40 people and injured about two dozen more in a migration detention center across the border from El Paso in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The community responded massively. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered March 21 at El Paso’s San Jacinto Plaza, where they heard speeches from Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso; Auxiliary Bishop Anthony C. Celino, as well as Bishop Michael Hunn of the Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande.

“Divine Master, let us not forget that we are a pilgrim people exposed to persecution, but a people who walk in peace because we carry the strength of love,” said Bishop Seitz, leading those gathered in prayer.

“We are here tonight calling for policies that respect the dignity of every human being,” Bishop Hunn said. “We will stand together and we will not tolerate having our religious freedoms restricted by asking us to find out if they have papers before we treat people as a neighbor. We will love our neighbor.”

The voices of religious leaders were joined by community leaders and representatives of immigrant advocacy groups, such as Annunciation House and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, which serve the immigrant community in the border area between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso.

“Let us remember that we are gathered tonight because a year ago, for

lack of hospitality, people were rounded up off the streets of Juarez, crowded into an immigration detention facility that was set on fire, and 40 lives were lost,” said Ruben Garcia, Annunciation House director. “At the heart of that is the call to hospitality; let us all be hospitable every day, day after day.”

Throughout the event, there were many expressions of support for Garcia and his organization, which has provided humanitarian assistance on the southern border for more than four decades. On March 11, a state judge temporarily blocked the Texas attorney general’s demands for Annunciation House records, stating that Paxton’s effort appeared to be politically motivated with a “predetermined” outcome in mind and must go through the appropriate due process in the state court system.

Paxton’s lawsuit against Annunciation House, as well as the passage in Texas of SB 4, came in a context in which some Republican leaders in Texas have become increasingly hostile to non-governmental organizations, including Catholic ones, that provide resources such as food and shelter to migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.

At the March 21 event, Bishop Celino told the marchers that the time has come to act. “Faith and hope demand action that bears fruit in justice. Tonight, we recommit ourselves to remain faithful to the struggle for justice,” he said. “We are not afraid, and we will not keep our voices quiet when so many brothers and sisters, parents, children, grandparents are fleeing danger from hunger, poverty and oppression.”

The auxiliary bishop stressed that human dignity is a God-given right, which was why “we lift up our voices tonight and say, ‘We have hope,’” said the bishop, repeating the phrase in Spanish. He added that the community stands in solidarity with “the tremendous work of Annunciation House, its workers, its residents, the humanitarian workers in the migrant shelters and, especially, its

devoted director, Ruben Garcia.”

After the speeches, the demonstrators left San Jacinto Plaza and processed down Oregon Street while chanting in unison, “We have hope.”

They marched to Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, where the vigil began with the faithful of different parishes processing in with banners of their ministries and apostolates, traditional folkloric dancers and a group of priests, as well as representatives of other religious traditions.

In addition to demanding respect for the human dignity of migrants throughout the march and vigil, the demonstrators remembered 40 migrants from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Venezuela who died in the fire March 27, 2023. The

names and nationalities were spoken while a candle was lit in their memory.

During the vigil, representatives of organizations defending the rights of migrants and civic leaders were also present.

“Do not be afraid, we can face it, we are not alone, we are together,”said Bishop Seitz, while asking the attendees to walk together as they advocate for the human dignity of migrants with the faith and hospitality that makes them brothers in Christ.

A moving moment in the evening was when Garcia introduced Wilson Alexander Juarez Hernandez, a survivor of the fire from Guatemala, who was 21 years old at the time. Garcia explained how his health has been improving after coming close to death. Currently, Hernandez is receiving medical treatment in the United under a humanitarian visa.

Toward the end of the vigil, prayers were offered for religious leaders, immigration reform, and the hearts of legislators; for the workers and volunteers who provide humanitarian assistance; and for immigrants who have died and continue to die in the search for a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

At the closing of this meeting, Bishop Seitz thanked the religious representatives who came to the vigil, including Bishop Jose Guadalupe Torres Campos of Ciudad Juarez, Auxiliary Bishop of Greg Kelly of Dallas, and Anthony Granado, secretary general for social policy at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Seitz also prayed in Spanish, saying, “Merciful God and Father of All, awaken us from the sleep of indifference, open our eyes to their suffering, and deliver us from the insensitivity born of comfort and self-centeredness.” †

OSV PHOTO

Hundreds of people joined “Do Not Be Afraid: March and Vigil for Human Dignity,” a March 21 event organized by the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, along with organizations such as Hope Border Institute as well as religious and community leaders from the borderlands.

MUNDO CATÓLICO

‘Tenemos esperanza’, la multitudinaria voz que se levantó en El Paso por la dignidad de los migrantes

(OSV News) — El pasado 21 de marzo, cientos de personas se unieron a la manifestación pacífica “No Tengan Miedo: Marcha y Vigilia por la Dignidad Humana”, organizada por la Diócesis de El Paso, Texas, junto con organizaciones que apoyan a los migrantes como Hope Border Institute y líderes religiosos y comunitarios de las zonas fronterizas.

Los organizadores calificaron el evento de “un momento decisivo de resistencia comunitaria y oración” en respuesta a la aprobación de la legislación Proyecto de Ley 4 del Senado (SB4), una controvertida ley que tipifica como delito estatal que migrantes crucen la frontera hacia el estado de Texas sin autorización (cuya aplicación fue momentáneamente bloqueada a finales del 19 de marzo por el tribunal de apelaciones del quinto circuito); la demanda del fiscal general de Texas, Ken Paxton, que pretendía cerrar Annunciation House, una organización católica sin ánimo de lucro que atiende a inmigrantes; y el primer aniversario del incendio que causó la muerte de 40 personas detenidas por motivos de inmigración al otro lado de la frontera de El Paso, en Ciudad Juárez (México), y heridas a unas dos docenas más.

La comunidad respondió masivamente. Cientos de manifestantes se congregaron la noche del jueves en San Jacinto Plaza, donde escucharon discursos del obispo Mark J. Seitz de El Paso; el obispo auxiliar Anthony C. Celino, así como el obispo Michael Hunn de la Diócesis Episcopal de Río Grande. “Maestro divino, ayúdanos a no olvidar que somos un pueblo peregrino expuesto a la persecución, pero un pueblo que camina sereno porque llevamos la fuerza del amor. Te lo pedimos todo en Tu Santo Nombre”, dijo monseñor Seitz.

Por su parte, el obispo Hunn dijo “nos manifestamos hoy en favor de políticas que respeten la dignidad de todos los seres

humanos. Nos mantendremos unidos y no toleraremos que se restrinjan nuestras libertades religiosas pidiéndonos que averigüemos si tienen papeles antes de tratar a las personas como a un vecino. Amaremos a nuestro prójimo”.

A estas voces se sumaron las de líderes comunitarios y representantes de grupos de defensa de los inmigrantes como son Annunciation House y Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, entre otras que sirven a la comunidad inmigrante en el área fronteriza que separa a Ciudad Juárez, México, con El Paso, Texas. Rubén García, director de Casa Anunciación, dijo “recordemos que nos reunimos esta noche porque hace un año, por falta de hospitalidad, la gente fue sacada de las calles y puestos en lo que era un atiborrado centro de detención de inmigrantes — en Ciudad Juárez — que se incendió y en el que se perdieron cuarenta vidas. El corazón de todo esto es el llamado a la hospitalidad, seamos todos hospitalarios todos los días, día tras día”.

A lo largo de esta jornada muchas fueron las expresiones de respaldo y apoyo a García y a su organización que ha brindado asistencia humanitaria por

más de cuatro décadas en la frontera sur. El 11 de marzo, un juez estatal bloqueó temporalmente las demandas del fiscal general de Texas sobre los registros de Annunciation House, indicando tanto que el esfuerzo de Paxton parecía políticamente motivado con un resultado “predeterminado” en mente, y que debe pasar por el debido proceso en el sistema judicial estatal.

La demanda de Paxton contra la Annunciation House de El Paso, así como la aprobación en Texas de la ley SB 4, se produjeron en un contexto en el que algunos republicanos se han vuelto cada vez más hostiles hacia las organizaciones no gubernamentales, incluidas las católicas, que proporcionan recursos como alimentos y refugio a los migrantes en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.

A su turno, monseñor Celino afirmó frente a los participantes de la marcha que llegó el momento de actuar. “La fe y la esperanza exigen una acción que demuestre la injusticia. Esta noche, nos comprometemos de nuevo a permanecer fieles a la lucha por la justicia”, dijo. “No tenemos miedo y no callaremos nuestras voces cuando tantos hermanos y hermanas, padres, hijos, abuelos huyen en peligro del hambre, la pobreza y la opresión”.

“Uno de los derechos humanos que Dios nos ha dado es la dignidad humana y por eso esta noche alzaremos nuestras voces y diremos ‘tenemos esperanza’”, afirmó el prelado, quien agregó que se solidarizan con “la inmensa labor de la Casa Anunciación, sus trabajadores, residentes, trabajadores humanitarios de los centros de acogida de inmigrantes y especialmente, su abnegado director, Rubén García”.

Al caer la tarde los manifestantes partieron desde San Jacinto Plaza y caminaron por la Oregon Street mientras gritaban al unísono “tenemos esperanza”.

Así, llegaron a la parroquia católica Sagrado Corazón donde se llevó a cabo la vigilia que comenzó con el ingreso de fieles con estandartes de sus ministerios y apostolados de diferentes parroquias, grupos de danzas folclóricas tradicionales y, finalmente, el grupo de presbíteros de la Diócesis de El Paso, además de representantes de otras tradiciones religiosas que se sumaron a esta jornada.

Además de exigir respeto a la dignidad humana de los migrantes a lo largo de la marcha y la vigilia, se recordó a los 40 migrantes provenientes de Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Venezuela que perecieron en el trágico incendio ocurrido el 27 de marzo de 2023. Se mencionaron los nombres y nacionalidades de cada uno de ellos mientras se encendía una vela en su memoria.

Durante la vigilia, también estuvieron presentes representantes de organizaciones defensoras de los derechos de los migrantes y líderes cívicos.

“No sientan miedo, podemos enfrentarlo, no estamos solos, estamos juntos”, dijo el obispo Seitz, al tiempo que pidió a los asistentes caminar juntos y en la misma dirección en esta lucha por la dignidad humana de los migrantes con la fe y la hospitalidad que nos hace ser hermanos en Cristo.

Uno de los momentos más conmovedores fue cuando García presentó a Wilson Alexander Juárez Hernández, un sobreviviente del incendio oriundo de Guatemala y quien para entonces tenía 21 años. García explicó a los presentes cómo han sido los avances en su salud después de haber estado muy cerca de morir pues su condición era crítica. Actualmente este joven se encuentra en el país gracias a que le fue otorgada una visa humanitaria que le permite recibir tratamiento médico en los Estados Unidos.

Durante las peticiones finales en la vigilia se pidió por los líderes religiosos, la reforma migratoria, porque los corazones de los legisladores sean tocados, por los trabajadores y voluntarios que brindan asistencia humanitaria y por aquellos inmigrantes que han muerto y siguen falleciendo en la búsqueda de una mejor vida para ellos y los suyos.

Al cierre de este encuentro el obispo Seitz, agradeció la presencia del obispo de Ciudad Juárez, monseñor José Guadalupe Torres Campos; del obispo auxiliar de la Diócesis de Dallas, monseñor Greg Kelly; Anthony Granado, secretario general de Políticas Sociales de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB, siglas en inglés), entre otros que participaron de esta concurrida jornada.

Al cierre de la vigilia, el obispo Seitz oró frente a los presentes en el templo diciendo, “Dios misericordioso y Padre de todos. Despiértanos del sueño de la indiferencia, abre nuestros ojos a su sufrimiento y líbranos de la insensibilidad nacida del confort mundano y del egocentrismo”.

“Inspíranos para ver que quienes llegan a nuestras fronteras son nuestros hermanos y hermanas, que podamos compartir con ellos las bendiciones que hemos recibido de Tu mano y reconocer que juntos somos una sola familia humana. Todos somos migrantes que caminamos con esperanza hacia Ti, nuestro verdadero lugar donde estaremos en paz y a salvo en Tu abrazo”, concluyó el prelado. †

FOTO DE OSV NEWS

El obispo de El Paso, Texas, Mark J. Seitz, y el fiscal general de Texas, Ken Paxton, aparecen en una foto combinada.

Memory book:

WITHIN THE ARTS

Pope reviews his life and shares dreams for future

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Asked to reminisce about his life and where he was at key moments in history, the 87-yearold Pope Francis obliged but also used the opportunity to talk about the lessons the events hold today and his hope for the future.

The book, “Life: My Story Through History,” written with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, begins with Pope Francis explaining that while he was only 3 years old when World War II started, he remembers his parents talking about a “monster” — Hitler — and his family and neighbors sharing letters from relatives still in Europe.

“Even though it happened more than 80 years ago, we must never forget the moments that devastated the lives of so many innocent families,” the pope said in the book.

“War eats you up inside,” he said before adding, “You see it in the eyes of young children who no longer have any joy in their hearts, only terror and tears.” Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has spoken often of meeting Ukrainian children who still look frightened even though they are safe in Italy.

The book, published by HarperCollins, generated headlines March 14 when excerpts were published with the pope saying he had no plans to resign, he knows some people strongly disapprove of the way he has carried out his ministry and he defended the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note that priests can give informal blessings to gay couples.

Perhaps less newsy but still strikingly strong were his comments about antisemitism, abortion and migration.

He talks about growing up as a child of immigrants in a neighborhood full of immigrants and wonders if they were initially considered a threat when, “in fact, they were just trying to make a future for their children.”

Hostility to immigrants, he said, is the fruit of “prejudice that corrupts the soul; it is wickedness that kills.”

While he remembers the tension and worries of adults around him during World War II, it was only as he grew up

that he learned about the Shoah and Hitler’s murderous rampage against Jews, Roma, homosexuals and people with disabilities.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to cases of anti-semitism, racism or discrimination,” the pope said. “We must defend the sanctity of human life. The name of God is profaned and defiled in the madness of hate.”

Describing watching with other young Jesuits as Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon in 1969, Pope Francis moves quickly to a discourse on the marvels of scientific and technological advancement, but also the need to ensure that progress is used ethically.

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That ethical care is lacking in the development of increasingly sophisticated weapons of war, he said, and especially in the manipulation of unborn human life, such as with in vitro fertilization and surrogacy.

“We must always protect human life, from conception to death,” he said. “I shall never tire of saying that abortion is murder, a criminal act; there is no other word for it. It involves discarding and eliminating a human life that is without fault. It is a defeat for everyone who carries it out and anyone who is complicit in it: mercenaries, killers for hire!”

Pope Francis also talks about the state of the Church and the world today.

“I still cultivate a dream for the future: that our Church might be a meek, humble, servant Church, with all the attributes of God — therefore also tender, close and compassionate,” he said. “We must simplify things as we look to the future, overcome clericalism, that is, the view of clerics as an elite with an attitude of moral superiority over and distance from the faithful. It has become a disease, a plague!”

The pope said the Church must act as a

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mother “who embraces and welcomes everyone, even those who feel they are in the wrong and have been judged by us in the past.

I think, for example, of homosexuals and transsexuals who seek the Lord but are rejected or persecuted.”

The Gospel mission of proclaiming God’s love to all, he said, is the foundation of the approval he gave in December to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s publication of “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”), which allows Catholic priests to bless a same-sex or other unmarried couple. However, it cannot be a formal liturgical blessing, nor give the

impression that the Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage.

“They are all children of God and must be welcomed with open arms,” Pope Francis said.

However, he said, the blessings do not mean the Church is in favor of same-sex marriage because “we do not have the power to change the Sacraments created by the Lord.”

The pope did, though, reaffirm what he has said in the past about civil unions: “These people who experience the gift of love should have the same legal protections as everyone else.”

The key to the future, Pope Francis said, is for everyone to pray more and to love more.

“How many things would have gone differently in the past 80 years of history if love and prayer had motivated human beings rather than the thirst for power,” he said. †

edition of “Life: My Story Through History,” written by Pope Francis with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona. The book was re-

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APRIL 12

CHOCOLATE FEAST, 7 to 10 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). “Chocoholic Feast” features a light dinner, decadent desserts, games and silent auction. Tickets: $15. stroselima.org/events.

APRIL 13-14

BAZAAR, 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, St. Theresa (705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land). Food booths, games and rides, silent and live auctions and music throughout. The event also includes a garage sale including religious items, jewelry, vintage/ antique items, furniture, toys, household goods, sports equipment and holiday decorations. sugarlandcatholic.com.

APRIL 14

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL, noon to 8 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi (5100 Dabney, Houston). Annual festival featuring Step Rideau and Sounds by DJ Jammin J; Bingo from 2 to 6 p.m., food-raffles, kids’ games. $5 Admission; kids 3 and under are free.

ITALIAN MASS & LUNCH, 10:30 a.m., Italian Cultural & Community Center (1101 Milford St., Houston). Italian/English Mass celebrated by Father Chris Schmitt, followed by $10 Italian pasta lunch with meatballs, salad, dessert and iced tea or coffee. 713-524-4222; iccchouston. com.

APRIL 17

GAME DAY, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m., St. Mary (816 Park Dr., La Porte). Ladies Bunco sponsored by Bay Area Deanery of Catholic Women. Mass following event. $5 per person. Prizes, raffles and snacks. RSVP by April 15: terrykelley91@ hotmail.com; 281-827-4232.

APRIL 19

FAITH NIGHT, 6:30 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). Praise and worship, Adoration, and a talk by a clergy member. All are welcome. Free.

APRIL 20

GALA, 5:30 p.m., University of Houston’s Hilton Hotel (4450 University Dr., Houston). Benefiting Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, the Mardi Gras-style masquerade-themed event includes three-course meal, silent and live auction and dancing. Tickets: $150. Sponsorships and underwriting opportunities available. olgschoolhouston.org/annual-gala.

FOOD FESTIVAL, 5 to 10 p.m., All Saints (215 East 10th St., Houston). Event features food samples from Heights area restaurants, live entertainment, raffle and silent auction. $30 in advance; $40 at the door. Children under 8 free with a paying adult. 620-802-9854; duartecj29@ gmail.com.

APRIL 21

FUN DAY, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., St. Peter the Apostle (6220 LaSalette Dr., Houston). Features red beans, rice and fried chicken, Bingo, dominoes, Bid Whist, cards, door prizes, board games and more. Admission: $20. 832-419-2075.

BLOOD DRIVE, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Maximilian Kolbe (10135 West Rd., Houston). A community blood drive sponsored by the Knights of Columbus #10720, St. Maximilian Kolbe parish and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. ejlran@hotmail.com; 832-721-4562.

APRIL 27

BINGO NIGHT, 6 to 9 p.m., St. Hyacinth (2921 Center St., Deer Park). Bingo games benefiting the parish recovering from tornado damage. Bingo cards are $1 each. Concessions will be available. 281-479-4298.

APRIL 27-28

FESTIVAL, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). Event includes food, music, kids’ games, auctions and Bingo. ctrcc. com/festival.

APRIL 28

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Hyacinth (2921 Center St., Deer Park). “Almost... Gone With the Wind” includes food, music and games benefiting the parish recovering from tornado damage. Tickets are $1 each for food and 50 cents for games. 281-479-4298.

CELEBRATION, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., St. Mary (10471 Grotto Rd., Sealy). “Grotto Celebration” includes Mass at 10 a.m., homemade kolaches, barbecue dinner with beef, chicken and homemade sausage, auction at 1 p.m., raffle, kids’ games and continuous entertainment and dancing with music by Krenek Band, Chris Wallace DJ and Dujka. 979-885-3131; stmary@ twlt.net.

FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., St. Jerome Parish Activity Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Event features marketplace, food and drinks, games, entertainment and a raffle. stjeromefestival.com.

MAY 3-5

WEEKEND RETREAT, 7 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Time away from the distractions of everyday life for a married couple to reconnect and revitalize their marriage by focusing on each other and learning new ways to communicate more effectively in a private, positive atmosphere. $200 application fee. artgingerotto@comcast. net; 281-460-5739.

MAY 5

BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes (10114 Hwy. 6, Hitchcock). Annual bazaar with fried chicken dinners, Mexican enchilada dinners, with silent and live auctions. Kids’ games with cake, plant and grocery booths, live music and more. ololchurch.org/bazaar.

PICNIC BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Skrabanek Park (1800 Main St., Danbury). $15 plate of barbecue brisket and sausage with homemade trimmings, kolaches, tea rings. Event includes country store, kids’ games and more. Auction beginning at 12:30 p.m. st1523@sbcglobal.net.

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). Event features food, kids’ games, live and silent auctions, Bingo, a raffle, a plant booth and more. Free entry. andrew.mambretti@gmail.com; bit.ly/ MQParishFest.

FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). Event features food, kids’ games, silent auction, a raffle, dance to Telstars and more.

MAY 17-18

CONFERENCE, St. Joseph (1505 Kane St., Houston). “The Time For St. Joseph” conference includes presentations by Father Victor Perez, Devin Schadt, Dr. Leonora Butau and Mike Aquilina, Eucharistic Adoration, confession and prayer focused on St. Joseph’s devotion. Cost: $40. stjosephconferencehouston@gmail.com; 713-222-6193; saintjoseph.org.