Texas Catholic Herald - Jan. 14, 2020

JANUARY 14, 2020

GIFTS FROM GOD

HONOR ROLL SCHOOL

Galveston parish focuses on God’s gifts for Christmas

St. Theresa in Sugar Land earns Cardinal Newman Society recognition

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JANUARY 14, 2020

Houston Catholic healthcare leaders fight to end human trafficking

texas catholic herald

Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964

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VOL. 56, NO. 14

SANTO NIÑO DE CEBU

CHI St. Luke’s and San José Clinic train staff how to report human trafficking HOUSTON — While many may be aware of Houston as a hub for sex trafficking, the crime may occur right in front of them in Galleria-area hotels or suburban school campuses rather than just shady motels plagued by drugs.

To train people, especially medical staff, to become aware of the crime and how to report it, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), one of the largest nonprofit, faith-based health systems in the nation, leads a campaign to prevent and intervene in human trafficking, said Kimberly Williams with Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Mission/Spiritual Care Department.

Project coordinator of the Human Trafficking Initiative, Williams said, “Many times the one common ground for these survivors is in the emergency See TRAFFICKING, page 5

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Four men carry a statue of Santo Niño de Cebu, who is depicted as the Infant Child Jesus, during a special Mass honoring the popular Filipino devotion to Child Jesus at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood on Jan. 4. The devotion originates from Cebu City, Philippines, and was brought over by Filipino immigrants. A special reception followed the Mass that featured traditional Filipino dances and the Sinulog dance. SEE STORY ON PAGE 3.

A renovated home for the holidays: St. Francis of Assisi parishioners mark second Christmas since Harvey Cardinal DiNardo visits revived Kashmere Gardens parish as parishioners finally move back into repaired houses

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA & JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo speaks while presiding over Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston on Dec. 23. He met with parishioners, clergy and faculty and staff of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School on the last Sunday of Advent.

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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EDUCATION † 9

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HOUSTON — More than two years after Hurricane Harvey flooded St. Francis of Assisi parishioner Kathy Gabriel’s home, she finally celebrated the holidays this past November and December in her home that had to be demolished and rebuilt.

But it was too late for her 55-year-old disabled husband who died New Year’s

ESPAÑOL † 20

Day 2019 before their home was LIFE completed.

AFTER The 57-yearold, an employee HARVEY of Houston M e t h o d i s t Hospital, said, “It broke my heart when I visited my husband in the hospital or hospice and he would ask me, ‘Have they started the house yet?’”

Several other elderly and disabled parishioners from that flooded area also perished before repairs could be done to their homes, said Sherry Dunlap, a fellow parishioner who took it upon her faith in See ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, page 4

| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 23

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JANUARY 14, 2020

Pope: Worldly spirit blurs lines between good, evil VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians must be on guard against the spirit of worldliness that confuses and blurs the lines between what is good and what is evil, Pope Francis said.

While the Holy Spirit gives men and women “the strength to remain in the Lord,” there are still Christians who “even today identify the Holy Spirit only with the dove,” the pope said Jan. 7 in his homily during morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

“The Holy Spirit brings you to God and if you sin, the Holy Spirit protects you and helps you to get up,” he said.

“But the spirit of the world brings you to corruption, to the point that you can’t distinguish between what is good and what is bad; it is all the same, everything is the same.”

In his homily, the pope reflected on the reading from 1 John 3:22-4:6, in which the apostle encourages the early Christian community to “not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God” or the world.

“What is this putting the spirit to the test?” the pope asked. “It is simply this: When you feel something, when you want to do something or you have an idea, a judgment of something, ask yourself, ‘Does this feeling come from the spirit of God or the spirit of the world?’”

Too many Christians today, he said, “live without knowing what is happening in their own hearts” and “do not know how to examine” what is happening within them.

Pope Francis encouraged the faithful

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON–HOUSTON Publishing since 1964 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444 tch@archgh.org • www.archgh.org/tch (USPS 936-480) Daniel Cardinal DiNardo President & Publisher Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Designer & Reporter Catherine Viola Graphic Designer & Advertising Manager For advertising contact: ads@archgh.org

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Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 1.

to examine their consciences and to take a moment during the day or before going to bed to reflect on “what has passed in my heart today.”

“What is the spirit that has moved within my heart?” he asked. “The Spirit of God, the gift of God, the Holy Spirit that always leads me forward to the encounter with the Lord or the spirit of the world

that distances me softly, slowly from the Lord and is a very, very slow slippery slope?”

“Let us ask for this grace of remaining in the Lord, and let us pray to the Holy Spirit so that we may remain in the Lord and that he may give us the grace of distinguishing the spirits, that is, what is moving within us,” the pope said. †

Annette Baird, Holly Beretto, Kerry McGuire, Sean O’Driscoll, Bridget Richardson, Catherine Rogan and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors The Texas Catholic Herald, an awardwinning member of The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada, is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, except for one issue in June, July and August by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, Texas 77002.

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THE FIRST WORD SANTO NIÑO DE CEBU

APPOINTMENTS Effective Dec. 19, 2019 Rev. Cheo Gregory Ngwa – Parochial Vicar, St. Christopher, Houston

BRIEFS Archdiocesan Mass celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

HOUSTON — The Archdiocese will honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remember his call to achieve peace through service to one another at its annual Mass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., in Houston.

Catholics from all 10 counties of the Archdiocese will celebrate King’s legacy at the 34th annual Archdiocesan Mass honoring his birthday, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza as principal celebrant and Father Reginald Samuels, vicar for Catholics of African Descent and pastor at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park, as homilist. A reception will follow in the Cathedral Centre. †

Café Catholica Lite continues in 2020 PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A man lifts up a small statue of Santo Niño de Cebu during a ‘Sinulog’ festival celebration at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood on Jan. 4. Several Houston parishes will celebrate the Filipino devotion and honor the Santo Niño with special Masses and traditional dance receptions.

January marks Santo Niño festival season HOUSTON — While festivals after Epiphany are often known for Mardi Gras, a popular Filipino festival comes to several parishes in the Archdiocese in January.

Ahead of the upcoming Festival of the Santo Niño de Cebu, an annual Catholic festival celebrated primarily in the Cebu province of The Philippines, hundreds of Filipino Catholics celebrated the Infant Child Jesus on Jan. 4 at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood.

Before the Mass, faithful placed dozens of images and statues of the Santo Niño de Cebu on the steps of the altar. The Child Jesus is depicted as a small king with royal regalia like a crown, red cloak, scepter and orb and cross. After the Mass, men carried a Santo Niño de Cebu statue on a carro, a platform, alongside another carrying a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu, another devotion originating from Cebu.

The two statues moved in procession to a reception, which featured traditional Filipino food, as well as music and Filipino dances. Part of the reception included the dancing feast of “Sinulog,” a traditional three-step dance performed while holding the statues in reverence to the “Señor Santo Niño.” The variety of depictions reflected the wide diversity of the Philippines. Festival-goers said nearly every Filipino Catholic’s home has a statue of Santo Niño.

While the devotion is celebrated across the

Philippines, Cebu is the heart of the celebration.

Beginning Jan. 8, millions trek to Cebu City, located in the central Visayan region of the Philippines, to attend the Santo Niño-Sinulog events which begin with a novena of Masses at the Minor Basilica of Santo Niño.

Dancing performances tell the story of the arrival of Catholicism to the Philippines and their decision to accept Christianity. The dances feature bright, colorful costumes, hundreds of floats, long processions, complex dancing, music and storytelling, all while bearing images of the Santo Niño. The celebration continues until Jan. 24.

The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance,” which originates from the simple three-step dance that represented a “sulog,” or current, of a river in Cebu.

At least four other parishes were set to also celebrate a Santo Niño-Sinulog festival.

Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in The Woodlands hosted a nine-hour novena and Mass on Jan. 11, the Feast of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague. Notre Dame Catholic Church will host its events on Jan. 18 at 7720 Boone Rd. in Houston with a 9:30 a.m. Mass and procession following. Also on Jan. 18, St. Dominic Catholic Church, located at 8215 Reservoir St. in Houston, will host a celebration at 6 p.m. Then on Jan. 25, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manvel will host its Sinulog celebration at 10 a.m. in the parish hall. †

HOUSTON — The next Café Lite will be on Thursday, Jan. 16, at St. Clare of Assisi, located at 3131 El Dorado Blvd. in Houston. It is set from 7 to 9 p.m. with an optional prayer hour from 6 to 7 p.m. The speaker will be Father Luke Millette, judicial vicar for the Archdiocese. His topic will be “Spiritual AND Religious: Staying Connected to Christ and His Church.”

The Café Catholica program seeks to help young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. Café Catholica Lite is open to all young adults throughout the year. The event is held at different locations around the Archdiocese for a talk, followed by time in prayer and fellowship.

Upcoming dates include March 12 at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and May 28 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, both in Houston.

For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at www.archgh.org/cafecatholica or yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778. †

FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Registration for Steps for Students underway

S

HOUSTON — More than 12,000 participants are expected to gather downtown on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for the 15th Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk. The event raises funds and awareness for the network of 59 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

The day starts with Mass at 6:30 a.m. followed by the presentation of the David Guite Spirit Award. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will bless everyone present just before the 5K race begins at 8 a.m.; a post-race party will follow the event. To register, or for more information, visit www.steps4students.org. †

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LOCAL

JANUARY 14, 2020

GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A CHILD

Local Catholic Charities CEO copes with the loss of her son, David. ▪ PAGE 11

Parishioners find new life after Harvey ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, from page 1 action to help those families.

“Thanks to training through TMO (The Metropolitan Organization), I became the de facto Harvey Disaster Case Administrator for the church and our parishioners and others around the city,” Dunlap said.

Even St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church itself was inundated with water and the subsequent problems of mold and other issues that the Archdiocese helped to resolve.

TMO and Gulf Coast Leadership Council (GCLC) representative Gina Reynoso said the nonprofit organizations acted as a conduit to connect people in need after the hurricane with the multitude of agencies attempting to help.

With contribution from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, GCLC organized meetings with churches and their congregations impacted by the hurricane as being places of trust among the flurry of contractors and others trying to get a piece of the work.

Reynoso said, “In the last two years, GCLC has held outreach sessions reaching more than 2,000 people. We also invited the agencies to attend, including the city of Houston, Harris County, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, ICNA, and others. A special recognition to Catholic Charities for the funding provided to individual parishes to help their communities.”

Three of those sessions were at the Kashmere Gardens-area church since about 50 families out of the 300 parishioners at St. Francis were all flooded.

At first turned down for assistance because she worked, Gabriel finally received help from a disaster case manager at Baker Ripley community agency who connected her with PREPS

PHOTO BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church parishioner Kathy Gabriel stands on front porch of her renovated home more than two years after Hurricane Harvey.

(Partial Repair & Essential Power for Sheltering), which is state-supported and federally funded. But that contractor left gaps in the replaced floorboards big

enough for recluse spiders and centipedes to crawl through. It wasn’t a sterile enough environment for her diabetic husband, who was also on dialysis and battled multiple infections, she said.

“We stayed at a hotel for two months, but the funds for that ran out before the home was finished,” Gabriel said of the hotel funds allotted to them from FEMA through Baker Ripley.

They couldn’t stay with relatives because the homes of her father, sister and brother were all impacted by the flood.

Finally, with FEMA funds distributed by the city of Houston, her home was demolished and rebuilt.

“It’s a brand new house now, a bit bigger and four feet off the ground,” Gabriel said. “I wish my husband would have seen it. He would be glad we’re back at home.”

CARDINAL DINARDO VISITS PARISH AT CHRISTMASTIME At a recent December 2019 visit to St. Francis of Assisi, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo met with parishioners and clergy, including parish pastor Father Martin Eke and retired Monsignor Patrick Wells, while celebrating the final Sunday Mass of Advent.

In his first public visit to the parish since visiting the Kashmere Gardens community members in the days after Hurricane Harvey pushed at least four

feet of floodwater into the parish’s church sanctuary, school and parish hall, Cardinal DiNardo was the main celebrant for the 10 a.m. Mass on Dec. 22, just three days before Christmas.

In March 2019, Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz celebrated the Mass of Blessing of the Restored Church at St. Francis because Cardinal DiNardo was still recovering from the stroke he suffered a few days before that Mass.

Since the storm, the parish and school community has continued to grow in faith. Since its completion in the spring, the church sanctuary has returned to its status as the spiritual home for the community.

In the months after the storm, the parish had previously met for Mass under a tree, a tent, a nearby Catholic church, a large garage structure, then eventually the restored parish gym.

The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, whose students were displaced to another nearby Catholic school after the storm, re-opened in August 2018.

The school suffered looting and the major flooding destroyed much of the school’s technology classrooms and instructional resources. Since the storm, church buildings saw major renovations to help the parish community be more prepared for another storm that could come in the future.

While much of the renovations saw brand new installations, like the new church walls, new waterproofed flooring, a new large crucifix, ambry and baptismal font, elevated HVAC and electrical systems, raised cabinetry, as well as stackable church pew seats, a new addition wasn’t new at all. In fact, it was quite old.

Hanging several feet in the air, a newly installed sanctuary light glowed brightly. The candle lamp, which indicates and honors the presence of Christ in the tabernacle, was an original sanctuary light that survived the Great Storm of 1900 that ravaged Galveston.

The ornate golden candle came as a donation from The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, a community that has also weathered many storms.

“We are privileged to have this lamp to show... the light of Christ,” said Father Eke. The congregation is well known for its community of 10 sisters who perished in the Great Storm, among the 6,000 who would die during the hurricane, while trying to protect the children under their care.

Also after Harvey, the church’s bell tower was restored in September 2019.

The bell had been silent for about 30 years, Father Eke said.

“It’s ringing again, thank God!” At the end of the Mass, Cardinal DiNardo wished the parishioners a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year and prayed they have “great grace and strength” to “celebrate the beauty of the Nativity.”

“It’s always onward and upward, right?” Cardinal DiNardo said. “God is always faithful.” †

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JANUARY 14, 2020

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Houston a busy hub of trafficking, advocates say TRAFFICKING, from page 1

IN BRIEF

room for being assaulted or injured in some way. We are training 7,000 health care providers on how to identify and intervene.”

Now with a federal grant of $649,560 to be used over the next three years, the effort builds on the Greater Houston Area Pathways for Advocacy-Based Trauma-Informed Healthcare (PATH) Collaborative founded by St. Luke’s Health, which includes Baylor College of Medicine, Ben Taub Hospital, Doctors for Change and San José Clinic.

May Cahill, executive director of St. Luke’s Foundation, said, “Thanks to the support of our national organization’s mission and ministry fund, we were able to launch the pilot program at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2016. The PHOTO BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA/HERALD initiative is a priority for our leadership, and now with our newest grant we are Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff leading a campaign to provide patient care for human trafficking moving to expand and grow the program survivors are part of the Greater Houston Area Pathways for Advocacy-Based Trauma-Informed Healthcare (PATH) Collaborative. Founded by CHI St. Luke’s Health, the collaborative includes Baylor College across our Texas division.”

“I am proud of the role our organization of Medicine, Ben Taub Hospital, Doctors for Change and San Jose Clinic that are training staff how to plays in this work,” Cahill said. “As we identify and intervene to help survivors. came to understand the magnitude of the trafficking problem here in Houston, with the hotline number to consider in human trafficking. Most of the San José it became clear that as the only Catholic the future. They can be told there are Clinic patients are women 18 years and health system in the region, we had a shelters like the Santa Maria Hostel that over with the average being a 47-yearresponsibility to address the issue.” provide detox for any addictions as well old Spanish-speaking Hispanic female, With January being Human as mental health counseling available. they said.

Trafficking Awareness Month, Williams, “It’s a long recovery process in many Cahill and other members of the PATH different ways. One girl was found Collaborative recently toured those with multiple hotel key cards in her medical facilities to meet the doctors possession. Many times multiple credit and nurses on the frontlines trying to cards have been taken out in her name, close the gap for patient care of human so credit has to be restored,” Fischer said. trafficking survivors.

From 2007 through 2016, Houston had Among those on the tour, Jennifer 3,634 substantive calls to the National Peuplie, advocate for the Texas Forensic Human Trafficking Hotline, the highest Nurse Examiners, said an average of call volume in the U.S. Last year, law four survivors a week and at times up to enforcement arrested more than 650 10 a week are treated at Houston-area human traffickers in the Houston area, hospitals. according to the collaborative.

She accompanies many of the patients Once they break free of trafficking, to provide comfort and support as they survivors need education and job answer questions such as “Do you feel training that collaborative partners hope safe in your environment?” To rescue to provide or refer, Williams said. minors, police are called, but adult “There is also a similar initiative to survivors need to make that decision on replicate such a collaborative at the their own, she said. border in the Rio Grande Valley since Another tour member, Rachel Fischer, that area is a big part of the supply and an ER and forensic nurse who specializes demand for trafficking,” she said. in training against human trafficking, San José Clinic, a health ministry gave a typical scenario. She said most of of the Archdiocese of Galvestonthe time, a pimp or trafficker will be with Houston, will also begin training its the patient to maintain control and guard staff on human trafficking awareness, what is being said. said Maureen Sanders, San José Clinic “Don’t make it seem like an president and CEO. interrogation.You can just ask like you’re Taking the group to tour the clinic making conversation — ‘Oh, that’s a cool at 2615 Fannin, Sanders and San José tattoo. Where did you get that one?’ She Clinic Medical Director Diana Grair, may say, ‘Miami.’ ‘How about that one?’ MD, said they were unsure whether any ‘New Orleans’ and you can see that she’s of their patients had been victims of being moved around,” Fischer said.

To get her away from the guard who may say he’s the boyfriend or husband, Fischer said staff can explain that the patient needs to be taken for an X-ray or other diagnostic tests and no one else is allowed.

Once alone with the patient, staff can provide the hotline number to Rescue Houston at 713-322-8000 or the national toll-free number of 1-888-373-7888 to

let them know they can escape what is basically modern-day slavery, she said.

“But many of them don’t think they deserve any better. They’ve been groomed

by their pimp who says he loves them and will take care of them.They buy them what Archdiocesan Office they say is a Gucci purse or even a puppy so they will get emotionally attached and 713-741-8732 not want to leave,” Fischer said. archgh.org/correctionalministries But patients can at least be armed

Ending the scourge of human trafficking

HOUSTON — The University of St. Thomas and CHI St. Luke’s Health will host an educational seminar called: “Houston, We Have a Problem: The Scourge of Human Trafficking.” The event will be held at University of St. Thomas – Jones Hall, located at 3910 Yoakum Blvd. in Houston, on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m.

Speakers will include two former human trafficking victims. † In 2018, the clinic served 3,762 uninsured patients in 30,548 visits to provide quality health care to the uninsured while relying on 914 volunteer medical and dental providers, Sanders said.

As part of grant funds, the clinic will be hiring a bilingual licensed professional counselor or perhaps work with Catholic Charities to provide counseling to human trafficking survivors, she said.

Other events for Human Trafficking Awareness month include members of the collaborative speaking at college campuses, including the University of Houston main campus on Jan. 17 and the University of St. Thomas on Jan. 23. † – By Jo Ann Zuñiga

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6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD A LAST LOOK AT THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS

JANUARY 14, 2020

Galveston parish focuses on unique gifts from God SPECIAL TO THE HERALD GALVESTON — For most people who celebrate the Christmas season, giving and receiving gifts is a major tradition.

Young children write their wish list to Santa, hoping they behaved well enough throughout the year to get their desired gifts under the tree while some adults put their wish list up on online retail sites hoping their friends and family will buy one of them. For many, this is the time of year where they spend the most money.

At Holy Family Parish in Galveston, the focus shifts to different types of gifts.

Instead of focusing on commercial gifts, such as bikes, games, clothing and tools, they focus on gifts from God. Under the Christmas tree at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica are white boxes with bright gold ribbons and sparkling gold bows. Each box is labeled in large, shiny gold letters telling one of many “Gifts From God” lasting gifts, including Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Faith, Hope, Love, Forgiveness, Joy, Patience, Kindness.

The concept of their Advent Mission is that one receives many “Gifts From God” for whenever they are needed or wanted.

In return, one should use these these PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLY FAMILY PARISH IN GALVESTON

Under the Christmas tree at St. Mary’s Basilica in Galveston are white boxes with bright gold ribbons and sparkling gold bows labeled in large gold letters showing one of many “Gifts From God” lasting gifts.

gifts with intelligence, gratitude, upright actions and kind words to oneself and others.

During their Advent Mission at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, four members of the parish, Heidi Alcala, Irenaeus Jordan, Emily Drastata and John Valastro, served as speakers. Jordan and Drastata spoke about several of these gifts and how they have affected their lives, particularly in times of great need. Alcala and Valastro addressed several of the “Gifts From God” with reflections about the importance and benefit of having them. There were a number of reflection questions after each speaker, along with soft beautiful music with which to meditate and reflect to reconsider former words and actions and become more aware of how to graciously return words and actions back as “Gifts To God.” During the Advent Mission, Father Jude Ezuma, pastor of Holy Family Parish, began each evening with a special prayer and an introduction to this new concept.

On the third night, an Advent Confession service was held where six priests were present to hear confessions, which continued for more than two hours. †

ST. ANNE - TOMBALL

HELP RESTORE

ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL BASILICA

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA LOWELL/ST. ANNE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TOMBALL

Members of the RCIA Class at St. Anne Catholic Church in Tomball, who will enter into full communion with the Church at Easter, created Advent wreaths to help deepen their faith during the season.

ST. CECILIA PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Eighth grade St. Cecilia Catholic School student Cate Laudadio helps host a Christmas party with students from Resurrection, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Ghost and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic schools.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA - THE WOODLANDS Your gift to the ST. MARY CATHEDRAL BASILICA RESTORATION FUND helps complete repairs and restoration of the historic mother church of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

St. Mary has endured many storms since 1847. The interior of the church was renovated after Hurricane Ike in 2008 and reopened in 2014. The current project addresses needed exterior and structural repairs and restoration of the St. Mary, Star of the Sea statue. Additional repairs involving the Cathedral Basilica have been identified and will be completed pending funding. To donate, visit www. archgh.org/restorestmary or call 713-652-4418.

PHOTO COURTESY ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE WOODLANDS

Students at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School create paper flowers for the parish community’s Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration in December.

A LAST LOOK AT THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS

JANUARY 14, 2020

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SACRED HEART - CONROE

ASSUMPTION

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH

Assumption Catholic Church celebrated the Epiphany with a living Nativity scene outside the church, including a real camel.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PHOTO COURTESY OF SACRED HEART SCHOOL IN CONROE

Students at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Conroe hosted a “Box of Joy Christmas Drive” and collected items to fill shoeboxes that went to those in need. The Student Council also hosted a winter coat and blanket drive, collecting new or gently used coats, jackets and blankets.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Scouts, students and youth of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and School hosted a Thanksgiving food drive, collecting canned goods

ST. AGNES ACADEMY & STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY PHOTO COURTESY OF STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory’s Black Student Union hosted a Thanksgiving service project at Spring Branch Food Pantry with students from St. Agnes Academy, working to provide a full set of groceries to families for the holidays.

ST. CHRISTOPHER PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. CHRISTOPHER CATHOLIC SCHOOL

St. Christopher Catholic School eighth-grade students Jasmine Cavazos and Justin Nguyen altar served at the annual Christmas Mass celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo at the Port of Houston Seafarers Center on Dec. 3.

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JANUARY 14, 2020

Texas catholic herald

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EDUCATION

Two area Catholic schools awarded Cardinal Newman Society honor

SUGAR LAND, SPRING — The Cardinal Newman Society recently named St. Theresa Catholic School in Sugar Land to its Catholic Education Honor Roll. Frassati Catholic High School in Spring earned this distinction in 2018.

Both schools now appear on the national Cardinal Newman Society Honor Roll list, which only features six Texas schools so far. St. Theresa is the first to be awarded this honor among Pre-K to 8th Grade schools affiliated with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

The honor is given to schools that, according to the Cardinal Newman Society, distinguish themselves in strong Catholic identity as well as academic excellence. Those schools applying for the honor must demonstrate how they excel in promoting Church teachings and service to the broader community.

St. Theresa headmaster Mark Newcomb said, “Christ stands at the very center of our educational model. The

ancient philosophers, from Socrates to Aristotle among the Greeks and Cicero and Seneca among the Romans, wrote about human virtue, and Jesus is virtue incarnate. In this way, our classical foundation is the seat of a vibrant life of the Catholic faith.”

In its application for the recognition, St. Theresa listed three key ideals a Catholic school student should embrace before graduating from the school: love of God and fidelity to Church teaching; cultivation of a life of faith in action, including Mass participation and prayer; and regular engagement in servant leadership within the community.

Community services for the Sugar Land school include students participating in clean-up events for Keep Sugar Land Beautiful, performing for area veterans in the annual Salute to Our Heroes concert, collecting socks and gloves for those in need and helping with the Thanksgiving Food Drive.

St. Theresa advancement coordinator Betty Pruski said, “Our students become leaders in promoting the faith.”

Pruski said two seventh-grade students started a Rosary and Adoration Club with student, faculty and staff participation.

“That is a real fruit of the Holy Spirit, to see students creating devotional opportunities for the whole community,” she said.

In 2018, Frassati Catholic High School

was selected for similar high academic standards and a strong Catholic identity.

Frassati’s principal Sister John Paul, O.P., said, “The Frassati Catholic community works hard to assure that a strong Catholic identity permeates all that we do in preparing our students to be future leaders both in our society and in the Church, and we are grateful that our efforts are recognized by our place on the Honor Roll.” †

Non-Discrimination Policy for Catholic Schools

Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Government requirements fulfilling Non-Discriminatory Compliance are published annually in January in the TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD. This notice suffices for schools whose student population is at least 75% Catholic during the preceding three years.

Schools that do not meet the three year, 75% test have to advertise in media (print or broadcast) of general circulation.

The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the student body. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs. (POLICY: 652.1)

THIS POLICY APPLIES TO ALL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

— ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS — HARRIS COUNTY – Houston

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN SUGAR LAND

The Cardinal Newman Society recently named St. Theresa Catholic School in Sugar Land to its Catholic Education Honor Roll.

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Our Lady of Fatima School, Galena Park St. Mary Magdalene School, Humble St. Martha School, Kingwood St. Pius V School, Pasadena St. Edward School, Spring St. Anne School, Tomball

Assumption Catholic School Christ the Redeemer School Corpus Christi School Duchesne Academy Epiphany of the Lord School Holy Ghost School St. John Paul II Catholic School Our Lady of Guadalupe School Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School Queen of Peace School The Regis School Resurrection School St. Ambrose School St. Anne School St. Augustine School St. Catherine’s Montessori School St. Cecilia School St. Christopher School St. Clare of Assisi School St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School St. Francis de Sales School St. Francis of Assisi School St. Jerome School St. Mary of the Purification School St. Michael School St. Rose of Lima School St. Theresa School St. Thomas More School St. Vincent de Paul School

BRAZORIA COUNTY

St. Helen School, Pearland Our Lady Queen of Peace School, Richwood

FORT BEND COUNTY

Epiphany of the Lord School, Katy Holy Rosary School, Rosenberg St. Laurence School, Sugar Land St. Theresa School, Sugar Land

GALVESTON COUNTY

True Cross School, Dickinson Holy Family School, Galveston Our Lady of Lourdes School, Hitchcock St. Mary School, League City Our Lady of Fatima School, Texas City

GRIMES COUNTY

School of Environmental Education, Plantersville

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Sacred Heart School, Conroe St. Anthony of Padua School,

The Woodlands

HARRIS COUNTY – Outside of Houston St. Joseph School, Baytown Sacred Heart School, Crosby

— SECONDARY SCHOOLS — HARRIS COUNTY

Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston Duchesne Academy Frassati Catholic High School Incarnate Word Academy St. John XXIII College Preparatory St. Agnes Academy

St. Catherine’s Montessori School St. Pius X High School St. Thomas High School Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

GALVESTON COUNTY

O’Connell College Preparatory School, Galveston

10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 14, 2020

YOUTH Infusing the message of Sacramentum Caritatis to youth In his 2007 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that “the Christian faithful need a fuller understanding of the relationship between the Eucharist and their daily lives. Eucharistic spirituality is not just participation in Mass and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. It embraces the whole of life.”

As we begin a new decade of ministering to young people and their families, I believe that this insight from the Bishops Synod on the Eucharist continues to ring true. Scott Appleby, a church historian at the University of Notre Dame, puts it another way, “older Catholics must be restored to, and younger Catholics introduced to, a sense of Catholicism as a comprehensive way of life.”

Over the past year and a half, the staff of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, in concert with our dedicated parish youth ministry leaders, has explored how we might meet these challenges in this new decade. This process has led us to re-envision much

of our work. Allow me to share some of those highlights with you.

We are incredibly proud of a new initiative, made possible by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo’s support through the Shepherd’s Cup, a new by Certificate Program in TIM designed to COLBERT Spanish support and resource the large Spanish speaking community in our Archdiocese. Under the capable leadership of Norma Torok, this initiative has not only provided a valuable resource for our parishes but has also been a catalyst for engaging with the numerous Hispanic movements in the Archdiocese. Norma and her team have been able to infuse the message of Sacramentum Caritatis throughout their work. Our formation in English is currently being examined and updated to reflect the new generation of young people, the message of Sacramentum Caritatis and the many insights of Pope

†

Francis in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit. Key to this revision is Pope Francis’s strong emphasis on accompaniment. In other words, walking alongside young people, as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Although formal catechesis is critical, journeying with young people is equally as essential. It is in this accompaniment that they can experience through their adult leaders what it means to live a Eucharistic spirituality truly.

A key initiative that we are undertaking to respond to Sacramentum Caritatis, in collaboration with the staff of the Office of Worship, under the leadership of Sandy Higgins, is the development of training, resources and guidelines that will provide youth ministry leaders with the knowledge and tools they will need to assist young people in developing a well-grounded Eucharistic spirituality.

Finally, we know that all the research on young people who become lifelong disciples makes clear that the number one impact on young peoples’ faith is their parents. With that in mind, we will be collaborating with other offices

in the chancery to address the faith development of families.

In the midst of this work, we keep in mind that Christ is already alive in the young Church. When we minister to and with young people, we do so acknowledging that “Each young person’s heart should thus be considered ‘holy ground,’ a bearer of seeds of divine life, before which we must ‘take off our shoes’ in order to draw near and enter more deeply into the Mystery.” Pope Francis, Christus Vivit 67 We are entering 2020 with a clear vision of how we will continue our mission of “Providing leadership, formation and resources in Comprehensive Youth Ministry for parishes to effectively form adolescents into lifelong disciples in the Catholic tradition.”

We bear witness to all we encounter in our ministry that “Christ is Alive!” †

Tim Colbert is the director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.

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COLUMNISTS Catholics are called to make ‘I Have a Dream’ a reality This Jan. 19 at 3 p.m., the Archdiocese will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at a Mass in the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. As the Church celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr., we have a mandate to follow through with the legacy that this great man has left us. It is fitting for this day, and on the holiday on Jan. 20, to remember the famous speech “I Have a Dream,” however, we are called as a Church to make this “Dream” a reality and use these famous words as a call to action.

In addressing the United States Congress in September 2015, Pope Francis singled out King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

“That dream continues to inspire us all,” he said. “I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of ‘dreams.’ Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people.”

In his 2017 address to the Church of the United States, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, then president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), stated of King and the mandate of the American people: by “Since the time of the FATHER founding fathers, our REGINALD country has been blessed SAMUELS with citizens who have had the courage to rise above the challenges of their day and call their citizens forward in the unending task of building an ever more just nation.”

In light of the issues that were facing the nations, the USCCB created the “Task Force to Promote Peace in Our Communities,” which was called to

†

examine and report on how the bishops of the United States could improve their contribution to the ongoing effort to promote and build a just Church and nation. Archbishop Wilton Gregory was given the task of leading this task force and, in his concluding report, noted: “The efforts to root out racism and create healthy dynamics in our neighborhoods, dynamics based on encounter and deeper understanding, is a long-term project.”

One of the documents that was created out of the work of the task force was the creation of the bishops pastoral letter “Open Wide Our Hearts: The enduring call to love a pastoral letter against Racism,” which was released in 2018. In this pastoral letter, the Catholic bishops state: “The roots of racism have extended deeply into the soul of our society. Racism can only end if we contend with the policies and institutional barriers that perpetuate and

preserve the inequality — economic and social — that we still see all around us.”

On this significant holiday of our nation, we need to know that as we dream of a brighter future, the Catholic faithful are called to take action with the grace of God to make that future as bright as we possibly can for all the people of our Church, nation and world.

The Catholic bishops, in their pastoral letter Open Wide our Hearts, goes to state: “We with renewed vigor, we call on the members of the Body of Christ to join others in advocating and promoting policies at all levels that will combat racism and its effects in our civic and social institutions.”The ‘Dream’ now becomes action. † Father Reginald Samuels is the vicar of Catholics of African Descent and pastor of St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park.

Surviving the death of a child I am the mother of two sons. David is my oldest and Derek my youngest. As their mother, I have sweet memories of them… growing up, playing in sports, hugs, laughter, silliness and seeing them do something unique or kind. Good memories.

Some memories, however, are painful. One of the most painful is about the day I learned that David had suffered a heat stroke and was in critical condition in Singapore. I boarded a plane to fly to him that night and prayed all the way.

I didn’t know what I would find when I arrived many hours later. Would he be alive? Would he be conscious? Would he be ok and tell me that I had made the trip for nothing? I began reading about heat stroke and all the damage it can do to someone, even cause death. With fear in my heart and prayers on my lips, I made the long trip to Singapore.

The fight to save David’s life lasted almost six full months. He never left the hospital except to be transferred to a different hospital in Singapore and then here to Houston. He desperately wanted to come home to Texas. But even that was a struggle due to his fragile condition.

Eventually, with the help of many people and a great medical team, we got him here. I think now that perhaps that is what he was waiting for. Two weeks later, he passed away on Oct. 12, 2018. It was the most wrenching period of my life — to watch my child suffer, to see him fight for life, to overcome tremendous setbacks due to kidney and liver failure, then ultimately lose the battle.

The loss of a child is the unthinkable,

the unimaginable. No one knows how to cope with it until it happens to you.

People describe it as being part of a club you never asked to join.

Indeed, my husband and I have joined the thousands of parents by whose lives are never the CYNTHIA same after losing a child.

COLBERT To help me cope, I have reached out to other parents who have also lost children and now I am part of an online support group.

Over the past year since David died I have read and responded to many comments and testimonies from parents who are grieving.

Some of them lost their child due to cancer or another illness, others lost their child due to an accident, still others lost their child due to violence or murder, and on it goes.

Although our journeys are different, many of the feelings and challenges are the same, no matter the age or the reason a child has died. Shock is one of the ways that we can get through the funeral, and the aftermath of death.

Deep sadness is something you learn to live with. We cry more tears that we ever thought possible.

Some describe a crisis of faith: “Why didn’t God save my child?” A common feeling is that one’s meaning in life has somehow been lost. We can feel so bereft that it becomes hard to stay focused, difficult to return to work and normal activities of daily living, and it

†

See COLBERT, page 14

JANUARY 19

First Reading: Is 49:3, 5-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:1-3

Gospel: Jn 1:29-34

JANUARY 26

First Reading: Is 8:23—9:3

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

Gospel: Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 14, 2020

JANUARY 14, 2020

Texas catholic herald

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14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD COLUMNISTS

JANUARY 14, 2020

Your burning heart is holy ground “Christ is alive! He is our hope and, in a wonderful way, He brings youth to our world, and everything He touches becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive, and He wants you to be alive!”This is the first paragraph of Christus Vivit, the lastest apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis, written to young people and all the People of God. Christus Vivit (CV) is a document that brings hope to everyone: · To the Young People, it tells them to step up! “Take risks... Make a ruckus…

Cast out fears… Live!” (CV 143) · To older adults, it asks them to be young again: “At every moment of life we can renew our youthfulness.” (CV 160) · To leaders, it points them to invest in young adults: “We are called to invest in their fearlessness and train them.” (CV 233) · To everyone to accompany the young people in their journey: “If we journey together, young and old, we can... enable hope to blossom.” (CV 199) It is with this hope and remembering that Jesus Himself was a young adult that a group of Archdiocesan single, engaged and married young adults in their 20s and 30s have designed a day of

prayer, formation, music and fellowship to reflect on Christus Vivit this coming Lent on Saturday, March 21, titled “Your Burning Heart is Holy Ground” (CV 67).

In the morning by sessions, the keynote GABRIELA speakers will focus on KARASZEWSKI encountering Christ that is alive and wants us to be alive! In the early afternoon, we will discover God’s voice in our hearts. Especially, young adults are at a stage in their life in which they have several options, and many times it is difficult to make decisions while considering God’s will in their lives.

Hence, we will offer 15 workshops, including topics such as “Living your vocation at the workplace,”“Following the Good Shepherd with a Discerning Heart,”“Discernment of Relationships, Pathway to Destiny” and for those young adults already married we will offer a workshop titled, “How to make decisions as a couple.”

In the afternoon, we will finish our day by encouraging each other to pursue our mission with courage, boldness and

†

enthusiasm. Walking our paths alone is never easy; this day will give young adults the opportunity to build community with other peers within the Archdiocese.

This will be the sixth year in which we offer an Archdiocesan Young Adult Day, and this year we are inviting not only single and dating young adults but also married young couples who want to grow in their relationship with God and with others.

The day will provide opportunities for formation in English and Spanish with local and national speakers, music and

plenty of time to pray and fellowship along with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Jerome Catholic Church, located at 8825 Kempwood Dr., Houston.

Early Bird is $25 per person before Feb. 21. For a list of presenters, the schedule and registrations, visit www. archgh.org/yacm or contact 713-7418778 or email yacm@archgh.org. †

COLBERT, from page 11

have also learned that it is possible to have times of joy again, to find purpose in life and to smile and laugh when I remember my son.

Getting through loss is difficult. Be kind to yourself. Surround yourself with support from family, friends, loved ones.

Share stories about your child with trusted friends and family memories.

Do something in memory of your child. Create a new family tradition that pairs with specific holidays or landmark times of the year — like a family trip or hike, or volunteering at a charity in town.

Since my son’s death, I have observed that we at Catholic Charities can do a better job in supporting parents who have lost children. So through Catholic Charities’ counseling program, we are taking some steps to aid grieving parents. In 2020, we will hold a retreat (date and location to be confirmed) for grieving parents, and begin support groups.

My son David was an adventurer; he loved to travel, meet new people and experience new cultures. He was quiet, he was kind, he had a sense of humor that made me laugh every time he teased me about something, and he had great compassion.

I am proud of the man he became and I am so very grateful to be his mother. If you have experienced the loss of a child and would like to talk, I invite you to email me at ccolbert@catholiccharities. org or call me at 713-526-4611. If you would like to share ideas about how Catholic Charities can minister to grieving parents, I invite you to contact me with your thoughts. †

may be hard to make decisions.

Parents often feel guilt. Part of our job as parents is to protect our children, and when your child dies, you feel that somehow you didn’t do enough to protect them or save them. Some people experience physical illness as a result of the loss.

So, to you parents who have lost a child, I would share this. Hold on to your faith no matter what it takes. Stand firm in the knowledge that God is with you in the saddest of times and that God was with your child when he or she traveled home to heaven.

Pray often. God hears you.

During my son’s illness and still today, I pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I feel a closer connection to our Blessed Mother. She too watched her Son die, so I know she understands what I am going through.

You may want to speak with a counselor.

There are counselors who are trained in grief recovery and they can help tremendously.

With a counselor, your spouse, your priest — talk about your feelings. Talk about your child to people you trust. I encourage you to find ways to meet and talk with other parents who have lost children or join a support group. They know and understand what you are going through and it is imperative to obtain support because you are going to need it.

If you have lost a child, then you know that this grief is so profound, it brings you to your knees with weeping some days. Like a sleeper wave in the ocean, it can overwhelm you even on days when things are going well. Life is never the same. But in the past year, I

INFORMATION Office of Pro-Life Activities, 713-741-8728

Gabriela Karaszewski is the director of the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry.

Cynthia Colbert is president and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Prince of Peace Catholic Church

19222 SH 249

Houston, Texas 77070

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JANUARY 14, 2020

Texas catholic herald

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PROMOTING, PREPARING AND SUPPORTING THE CLERGY

Ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund include

PRAY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE!

TEACHING, EVANGELIZING AND WORSHIP

Apostleship of the Sea Catholic Schools Office Chapels (Holy Cross and Warren) Communications Office Ecumenism Commission Office of Evangelization and Catechesis Office of Worship Pastoral and Educational Ministry

JANUARY 21-29, 2020 9 Days for Life is a novena for the proteccon of human life. Each day’s intennon is accompanied by a short refleccon and suggested accons to help build a culture of life. Join today at www.9daysforlife.com!

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Campaign for Human Development Our Daily Bread San José Clinic St. Dominic Center for the Deaf

Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services Clergy Pastoral Outreach Department of Seminarians Good Leaders, Good Shepherds Ministry to Priests Office of Permanent Diaconate Ministry Office of Vocations for Priesthood & Religious Life

NURTURING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

Aging Ministry Camp Kappe Ethnic Ministries Family Life Ministry Family Retreat Center at Circle Lake Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization Office of Hispanic Ministry Pro-Life Activities Special Youth Services St. Dominic Village Vicar for Judicial Affairs

(Metropolitan Tribunal) Young Adult and Campus Ministry

To donate and more, visit www.archgh.org/dsf

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Image: A mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe decorates a side altar in the Church of Santa Maria della Famiglia at the Vaacan. Dec. 15. (CNS photo/Paul Haring.)

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16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 28, 2020

WORLD

Pope to health workers: Uphold ‘the truest human right, the right to life’

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis blesses a sick child in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 15, 2016, during a meeting with patients and workers of Rome’s Bambino Gesu children’s hospital. World Day of the Sick is marked Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Health care professionals always must “promote the dignity and life of each person and reject any compromise in the direction of euthanasia, assisted suicide or suppression of life, even in the case of terminal illness,” Pope Francis said.

“Life is sacred and belongs to God,” the pope said, “hence it is inviolable, and no one can claim the right to dispose of it freely.”

Pope Francis addressed health care professionals in his annual message for the celebration of World Day of the Sick, which is marked Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The text of the message was released Jan. 3 by the Vatican.

To people suffering from illness in body or mind, the pope offered words of hope and encouragement, assuring them of Jesus’ closeness and His promise to alleviate their burdens.

“Jesus does not make demands of those who endure situations of frailty, suffering and weakness, but offers His mercy and His comforting presence,” the pope said.

Jesus “looks upon a wounded humanity with eyes that gaze into the heart of each person,” he said. “That gaze is not one of indifference; rather, it embraces people in their entirety, each person in his or her health condition, discarding no one, but rather inviting everyone to share in His life and to experience His tender love.”

In Jesus, the pope said, those who are sick “will find strength to face all the worries and questions that assail you during this ‘dark night’ of body and soul.”

And, he said, within the Church they should find welcome, concern and gentle care, “a home where you can encounter

His grace, which finds expression in closeness, acceptance and relief.”

In a section of the message addressed to physicians, nurses and other health professionals, Pope Francis urged them to “remember that diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic treatments, research, care and rehabilitation are always in the service of the sick person; indeed the noun ‘person’ takes priority over the adjective ‘sick.’”

Catholic health care professionals “can make patients feel the presence of Christ, who consoles and cares for the sick and heals every hurt.”

“Life must be welcomed, protected, respected and served from its beginning to its end: both human reason and faith in God, the author of life, require this,” Pope Francis said.

Sometimes, he told Catholic health workers, “conscientious objection becomes a necessary decision if you are to be consistent with your ‘yes’ to life and to the human person.”

Like all Christians, he said, they must safeguard “the truest human right, the right to life.”

And, the pope told them, “when you can no longer provide a cure, you will still be able to provide care and healing, through gestures and procedures that give comfort and relief to the sick.”

Pope Francis also urged governments to do more to ensure that all their citizens, especially the poor, have access to quality medical care, and he thanked “volunteers who serve the sick, often compensating for structural shortcomings, while reflecting the image of Christ, the good Samaritan, by their acts of tender love and closeness.” †

IN BRIEF London cardinal condemns hate speech after anti-Semitic graffiti appears

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — An English cardinal has condemned “all expressions of hatred” after anti-Semitic graffiti was daubed across shops, cafes and a synagogue in London.

Vincent Cardinal Nichols of Westminster denounced the Dec. 29 attacks, which coincided with the Jewish religious festival of Hanukkah. In a New Year message posted Jan. 1 on the website of the Archdiocese of Westminster, the cardinal asked Catholics to include building up the kingdom of God among their New Year resolutions.

“We look for justice and compassion, for generosity and truth, for faithfulness and love, for a sense of unity and shared well-being,” said Cardinal Nichols before suggesting ways in which Catholics can improve their society. He proposed that “each of us, every person in our society, will shun all form and expressions of hatred against others.

The recent anti-Semitic graffiti in north London brings shame to us all,” said the cardinal, whose archdiocese covers the city north of the River Thames. “Such hatred can have no place in our way of life. Only when we see the good in each other will every person feel welcomed and unafraid.” †

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Australian Catholics seek prayers as fires continue in four states AUSTRALIA — As some of the worst wildfires in Australian history rage across four states, thousands of people in affected areas in New South Wales and Victoria continue to be evacuated to safety.

Soaring temperatures, often higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and a protracted drought have contributed to an unprecedented national emergency which, by Christmas, had already seen more than 14.5 million acres of forest and rural land burned.

Amid conditions regularly described as catastrophic, fires have continued to rage in hundreds of locations in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria states for months.

Marie Burton, a parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, in the New South Wales Diocese of Wagga, lives on a farm in Jingellic, near the border with Victoria border. In late December and early January, Jingellic was surrounded by fire twice.

“We know so many Catholic people who are being affected. There’s a lot of suffering going on, and we’re continuing to pray,” Burton said in tears.

“Twice our home was saved. On Monday evening — and again on Tuesday.

“The fire came up over the hill but there was no stopping it. My husband was getting things out of the house, but he was told to just get out of there.

“We didn’t know for 24 hours (what happened) but luckily, it was saved.”

Burton has taken shelter with her sister’s family, the Darlows, including nephew Matthew Darlow, a member of the local brigade of the Rural Fire Service. The Darlows live at Lankeys Creek, approximately 12 miles north of Jingellic. While staying with her relatives, Burton has been cooking at a shelter to feed firefighters.

“We just need to band together, get the fires out and support those who have lost their homes and livelihoods,” said Darlow.

“We’re waiting on a change in wind that could affect things, and an increase in temperature, tonight or tomorrow,” said Darlow, who asked Catholics around the world to pray.

“Offer up prayers for the people who’ve lost their lives and those who’ve lost their livelihoods so that they can rebuild as quickly as possible,” he said.

“And pray particularly for widespread rain across the whole country.”

Bishop Shane Mackinlay of Diocese of

CNS PHOTO

Sheep are seen as Rural Fire Service crews engage in property protection during wildfires along the Old Hume Highway near the town of Tahmoor, Australia, outside Sydney, Dec. 19, 2019. Wildfires have been burning since August and have destroyed an area comparable to the combined region of the Netherlands and Belgium.

Sandhurst expressed concern about “the impact that fires have already had on communities and by the anxiety that the threat of fire is causing.”

In a statement Jan. 3, he urged“political and community leaders to continue efforts to identify and respond to the underlying causes that have contributed to the heightened risks we are facing this summer, (and) we pray for those who lost their lives, and for the safe recovery of people who are missing.”

The fires have been burning since August and have destroyed an area comparable to the combined region of the Netherlands and Belgium.

By Jan. 3, thousands of people were given less than 48 hours to evacuate fireravaged coastal communities in New South Wales.

More than 2,500 buildings have been razed and at least 20 people — 16 from New South Wales, two from Victoria and two from South Australia — have died.

Officials fear the toll could rise steeply, with Victorian emergency services saying 28 people are missing in the state.

Smoke clouds, which can be seen from space, have reached New Zealand, nearly 2,500 miles away across the Tasman Sea. The Gippsland region in Victoria’s east has seen convoys of people escorted by

IN BRIEF ‘A victory for women is a victory for humanity,’ pope says on Marian feast

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world will not know peace unless there is an end to violence against women, the exploitation of their bodies and the denial of their dignity, Pope Francis said on the feast of Mary, Mother of God. Celebrating Mass Jan. 1 for the feast day and the World Day of Peace, the pope said: “If we want a better world that is a house of peace and not a courtyard of war, we must take to heart the dignity of every woman.”

Jesus, the prince of peace, was born of a woman, he said.

“The woman is a giver and mediator of peace and must be fully involved in decisionmaking processes because when women can share their gifts, the world will find itself more united and more at peace. A victory for women is a victory for all of humanity,” the pope said.

The Christmas season and the feast of Mary, Mother of God, he said, are celebrations of the great gift of God sending His Son into the world as a human baby, born of a woman so that He would have the same human flesh of all those He came to save. †

police and emergency services personnel evacuating from towns such as Corryong and Walwa in Victoria’s Alpine country.

Catholics such as the Burtons and

Darlows say their faith is strong.

“We have a very deep faith,” said Burton. “I put a scapular on the door and sprinkled the house with holy water, and we have statues in our home, including the Infant of Prague, and so I prayed — we prayed very hard, and asked other people to pray.

“All of these people are amazing people, with an amazing Catholic faith, and we know God will protect them,” she said. “Every time we hear good news, we’re overjoyed that these people haven’t lost their homes. There is just miracle after miracle happening.”

In his statement, Bishop Mackinlay applauded the heroism of firefighters — mainly volunteers — risking their lives for their country and community.

In Jingellic, a young volunteer firefighter, Sam McPaul, died Dec. 30 after a freak tornado caused by the fires flipped his 11-ton truck. His wife Megan, whom he married in May, is expecting their first child.

Similar stories can be heard across the country. In Sydney, the Mass for Sydney firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer was held in the Horsley Park Parish Jan. 7.

O’Dwyer, 36, and fellow firefighter Geoffrey Keaton, 32, were killed Dec. 19 when a fallen tree caused their tanker to roll as they fought fires south of Sydney. †

18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 28, 2020

STATE & NATION

‘Two Rivers’ report unites Catholic social teaching, Native American communities

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — At an October 2019 gathering, American Indian tribal leaders met with Church leaders to realize strategies to address poverty that plagues many of the roughly 6.9 million American Indian and Alaska Natives, a recent estimate by the U.S. Census that included those of more than one race.

The Catholic Extension estimates that as many as one in four Native Americans in the U.S. are Catholic.

Despite recent small gains in Native American median household incomes, one in three Native American children remained in poverty in 2016, unchanged from 2015. In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau said that Native Americans had nearly 34% of children in poverty in 2016.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, Native American, African American, and Hispanic children face the highest poverty rates, all hovering around 30%. Nearly 20% of families were living under the poverty rate in 2019.

Health disparities continue to rise in these populations. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) said Native people die at higher rates than other Americans from tuberculosis (600% higher), alcoholism (510% higher) and diabetes (189% higher).

One common theme expressed by several of the Native Americans was that Indian tribes have a deep spirituality, a codified legal system, and strong devotion to family and community —

CNS PHOTO

Father Ed Kohler, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Browning, Mont., meets with Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person July 9, 2016, during Indian Days. Native Americans, representing 50 tribes throughout the United States and Canada, gather each July for the four-day event.

values that are often not acknowledged by the wider population, Catholic News Service reported.

Native youth have the highest rate of suicide among all ethnic groups in the U.S., with suicide as the second-leading cause of death for Natives aged 15 to 24, according to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

To combat poverty both on the parishlevel and within Native American populations, groups are focusing their

efforts on charity and service, primarily on advocating “for peace and justice” in Indigenous communities.

Kateri Prayer Circles are affiliated with the Tekakwitha Conference, a Catholic JANUARY IS organization POVERTY dedicated to the “ongoing AWARENESS advocacy and MONTH evangelization on behalf of the many communities of Indigenous Catholics across North America.”

Named after St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the young Mohawk/Algonquin woman from the mid-17th century who was canonized a saint in 2012, the groups also focus on spiritual, intellectual and communal areas to promote enrichment and growth.

The NCAI said the Native American population remains very young, with about 32 percent of Natives under the age of 18, compared to 24% of the total overall population who are under the age of 18.

The median age for American Indians and Alaska Natives on reservations is 26, compared to 37 for the entire nation.

A recent report by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, titled “Two Rivers,” is “an accounting of the vibrancy and sacredness that constitutes Catholic faith and Native American cultures.”

“Ministry to Catholic Native Americans, therefore, can be understood as two rivers that merge to make one,” the report said.

The report was an effort by the U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and the Center for Applied

Research in the Apostolate (CARA).

“Catholic Native American communities have their unique stories of struggle and anguish, but also a history of resilience and holding on to the cultural elements of spirituality and faith. Preserving these cultural elements is one of the most important roles of our Catholic ministerial work,” the report said.

The report focused on four priority efforts to minister to the needs of the Native American community and Church, including strengthening Native American Catholic education, pushing for “systemic change,” developing ways to reach out to the Greater Catholic community to inform the public of the plights on Indian reservations and communities, and to develop programs that nurture “native leadership” to “be a light to Native American communities.”

Rich May, a parishioner at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston, said Pine Ridge, the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre, is the home of the Lakota Sioux in South Dakota and “is a microcosm of the worst of problems existing on some reservations, and one of the two poorest counties in the nation.”

A hillside on the reservation is filled with white crosses of babies who did not survive the harsh, cold winters of the Dakota plains.

The poverty issues, found at such reservations like Pine Ridge, touch “the core of Catholic social teachings,” he said.

“Responding to this social disparity is part of our Catholic identity and requires effective social justice advocacy. Public awareness is crucial.”

The Bureau of Indian Affairs said in 2019 that there were at least 573 federally recognized Indian tribes in 2018, including the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians who live on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota near the U.S.-Canada border.

Within the reservation, the Servants of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) run St. Ann’s Catholic Indian Mission and School, which serves the youth of the reservation in pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. The school is the only alternative PreK-6 education center in Belcourt, the reservation’s largest city.

SOLT serves three parishes, operated by a team of priests, sisters and lay volunteers. The school, and a summer camp for 150 youth, are free to attend.

St. Ann is also one of the largest and poorest parishes in the Diocese of Fargo, N.D. Former parochial leaders said they have regularly seen issues similarly seen at Pine Ridge, including poverty.

The report concludes its introduction by quoting Pope Francis: “Let us say yes to the encounter between peoples and cultures. Blessed are the peacemakers.” †

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE Email event details to TCH@ARCHGH.ORG for possible inclusion in the Around the Archdiocese section. There is no charge for listings but space is limited.

Visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA for more listings and information.

JANUARY 28, 2020

texas catholic herald

Encore: March for Life theme borrows page from suffragist centennial WASHINGTON (CNS) — The March for Life, the annual march in Washington to protest legalized abortion in the United States, is tying itself in 2020 to the women’s suffrage movement for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

The theme of the march is “Life Empowers: Pro-Life Is Pro-Woman.”

Jeanne Mancini, head of the March for Life, remarked how two noted suffragists of their day, Alice Paul and Susan B. Anthony, were themselves staunchly against abortion. A video made to support the upcoming march, to be held Jan. 24, said the women called abortion “the ultimate exploitation of women.”

An unnamed woman speaking in the video said 30 million female babies had been aborted since the twin 1973 Supreme Court rulings in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton that legalized abortion virtually on demand.

Mancini said speakers lined up for the pre-march gathering include Louisiana State Sen. Katrina Jackson, a pro-life Democrat who authored a bill in 2014 to require abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

It was ruled unconstitutional in 2017, but that ruling in June Medical Services v.

Gee was reversed by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court said in October it would take up the case, its first abortion-related case since the death of Antonin Scalia and the retirement of Anthony Kennedy.

Also on the speakers’ list is U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-New Jersey, long a pro-life advocate, who has sponsored the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which would bar the killing of any baby who survives an abortion. Two such survivors will speak as well, according to Mancini.

The 2020 march will be the 47th such march. “We march regardless,” Mancini said during a Dec. 3 news briefing in Washington about the march. In 2016, “we had ‘Blizzard-geddon,’” she added.

An even stronger blizzard in 1982 that crippled the Washington region and its transportation network did not deter those hardy but few marchers who had already made it to the nation’s capital.

The 2019 march was “the first one we marched during a government shutdown,” Mancini added. She said she is working

IN BRIEF Houstonians head to Austin to ‘rally for life’ Jan. 25

FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Young pro-life advocates and leaders pose for a photo during the annual March for Life rally Jan. 19, 2018 in Washington. The theme for the upcoming Jan. 24 March for Life is “Life Empowered: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman.”

with the U.S. Park Service to assure that there would be no complications to conducting the march should the government be shut down again.

The March for Life now bills itself as “the world’s largest human rights demonstration” and “the world’s largest pro-life event.” Mancini, during the news briefing, called it “the single unifying prolife event” bringing together people from all points on the pro-life spectrum.

Mancini said more legislation on the abortion front is being advanced at the state level, and that the March for Life would be replicated elsewhere, including Virginia, Connecticut and Chicago.

While the march promotes legislation reflecting pro-life interests, it also aims to “change hearts and minds,” Mancini said.

Tom McClusky, president of March for Life Action, which is the sister organization of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund headed by Mancini, also spoke at the briefing. “If Roe v. Wade is overturned or weakened,” he said, “there will be even more action in the states.” †

IN BRIEF Newborns find ‘Safe Haven’ from abandonment through Florida volunteers

MIAMI (CNS) — Formerly an information technology business owner, Nick Silverio doesn’t sit still for long before thinking of ways to make it easier for women with crisis pregnancies to make good choices. One of his initiatives is A Safe Haven For Newborns, a network of volunteers, hospitals and fire departments in Florida organized toward saving infants from the dangers of abandonment and an almost certain death.

Created in 2001 following the tragic death of Silverio’s wife of 32 years in an automobile accident, A Safe Haven for Newborns has grown into a multifaceted ministry boasting 314 newborns saved from abandonment or unsafe situations in Florida — and 68 mothers steered toward placing a child in adoption over the years.

“If a baby is left on a doorstep, most of the time they wouldn’t survive,” said Silverio, whose volunteers help women think through their options and the ramifications of abandoning a child.

Following his wife’s death in 2000, Silverio saw a magazine article about child abandonment worldwide. He felt it was God suggesting a new purpose for the remainder of his life.

“We are finding now that if a mom abandons a baby in an unsafe place, quite often she is on drugs or there are mental health issues and that is very difficult to deal with,” he said.

Florida’s Safe Haven law allows mothers (or fathers) to take an unharmed newborn up to seven days old to a designated Safe Haven location instead of leaving them somewhere else or doing something they will later regret. †

HOUSTON — Faithful from around the Archdiocese will trek to Austin on Jan. 25 to advocate for life at all stages at the State Capitol steps during the Texas Rally for Life. Before heading to the Capitol, an Archdiocesan Mass for Life will be held at 8:30 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, located at 5356 11th St. in Katy.

The Archdiocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities is hosting bus transportation, with bus loading at 7 a.m. and departing for St. Bartholomew from the St. Dominic Chancery (2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston) at 7:30 a.m. The cost is $25 and includes two stops along the way to and from Austin. Online registration is required for bus transportation, and closes at 12 p.m. on Jan. 24. For more, call 713-741-8728 or visit www.archgh.org/prolife. †

19

20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 28, 2020

MUNDO CATÓLICO TEMBLORES EN PUERTO RICO

Tu corazón ardiente es tierra sagrada

FOTO DE CNS

Una de muchas casas destruidas despues de un terremoto en Guanica, Puerto Rico, el 6 de enero. La proxima mañana, el 7 de enero, hubo otro temblor de 6.4 de magnitude que mató a una persona en Ponce, Puerto Rico, y destruyó la Parroquia Inmaculada Concepcion en Guayanilla que fué fundada el 17 de mayo de 1841, sobreviviendo un fuerte terremoto en la isla en 1918. Una serie de terremotos y réplicas bajo la parte sur de la isla han estado ocurriendo desde la noche del 28 al 29 de diciembre del 2019.

“Vive Cristo, esperanza nuestra, y Él es la más hermosa juventud de este mundo. Todo lo que Él toca se vuelve joven, se hace nuevo, se llena de vida.

Entonces, las primeras palabras que quiero dirigir a cada uno de los jóvenes cristianos son: ¡Él vive y te quiere vivo!”

Este es el primer párrafo de Christus Vivit, la última exhortación apostólica, escrita para los jóvenes y a todo el pueblo de Dios.

Christus Vivit (CV) o Vive Cristo es un documento que nos da mucha esperanza: • A los jóvenes, les pide que se muevan: “¡Hagan lío! Echen fuera los miedos que los paralizan... ¡Vivan! ¡Entréguense a lo mejor de la vida! ¡Abran la puerta de la jaula y salgan a volar!” CV 143 • A los adultos y ancianos, les pide que sean jóvenes de nuevo: “En cada momento de la vida podremos renovar y acrecentar la juventud.” CV 160 • A los líderes, les señala a invertir en los jóvenes adultos: “estamos llamados a invertir en su audacia y a educarlos.” CV 233 • Y a todos, a acompañar a los jóvenes en su camino: “Si caminamos juntos, jóvenes y ancianos… podemos hacer florecer esperanzas.” CV 199

Es con esta esperanza y recordando que Jesús mismo era un joven adulto que un grupo compuesto de jóvenes solteros y casados (edades entre 18 y 39 años) representando a by varias parroquias de la Arquidiocesis, diseñaron GABRIELA KARASZEWSKI un día de oración, formación, música y convivencia para reflexionar en Christus Vivit. El día se llevara a cabo en esta cuaresma el sábado 21 de marzo y será titulado “Tu Corazón Ardiente es Tierra Sagrada” (CV 67).

En las sesiones de la mañana los presentadores principales se enfocaran en el tema de encontrar a Cristo que vive y nos quiere vivos. A mediodía, descubriremos la voz de Dios en nuestros corazones. Especialmente, los jóvenes adultos se encuentran en una etapa en su vida en la que tienen varias opciones y muchas veces les es difícil tomar decisiones discerniendo cuál es la voluntad de Dios en sus vidas.

Entonces, ofreceremos 15 talleres

†

Vea KARASZEWSKI, proxima pagina

JANUARY 28, 2020

texas catholic herald

‘Violencia en nombre de Dios es blasfemia’, dice presidente de USCCB LOS ÁNGELES (CNS) — Lamentando los actos de violencia religiosa que tuvieron lugar durante la temporada navideña, el presidente de los obispos estadounidenses declaró: “La violencia en nombre de Dios es blasfemia”.

El arzobispo José H. Gómez de Los Ángeles, elegido en noviembre como presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB), dijo: “El aumento de la violencia antisemita en este país y alrededor del mundo debe ser rechazado, así como la constante persecución de los cristianos. Proteger la libertad religiosa y la libertad de conciencia deben estar entre las principales prioridades de todo gobierno”.

Las declaraciones del arzobispo Gómez, en un comunicado fechado el 31 de diciembre, se prepararon con ocasión de la conmemoración del Día Mundial de la Paz el 1 de enero.

Mencionó tres incidentes en particular: el ataque del 29 de diciembre a los fieles en una iglesia de Texas por parte de un hombre armado, que dejó como resultado la muerte de dos feligreses y el atacante; la masacre a puñaladas el 27 de diciembre durante una celebración de Hanukkah en la casa de un rabino en Nueva York; y la difusión de un video el 26 de diciembre por parte de una agencia afiliada al Estado Islámico (ISIS) en Nigeria que exhibió la decapitación de 11 cristianos.

“En nuestros vecindarios y comunidades, la violencia y la crueldad son una triste y común realidad de la vida cotidiana”, dijo el arzobispo Gómez. “Los niños en nuestro país son asesinados cada

día en el vientre y muchos de nuestros vecinos no tienen lo que necesitan para llevar una vida digna. Nuestro discurso político y cultural a menudo está marcado por la ira, y un cruel y despiadado desprecio por los demás”.

A pesar de la celebración navideña del nacimiento de Jesús como el príncipe de paz, “nuestro mundo y nuestras vidas están lejos de ser pacíficos”, agregó.

“Muchos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas viven en países destrozados por la guerra y la injusticia, el terrorismo y la persecución. Muchos sufren violencia debido a su raza, religión, ideología o nacionalidad. Muchos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas, incluso niños, están siendo comprados y vendidos y están viviendo en la esclavitud. Millones en nuestro mundo no tienen un lugar al que llamar hogar debido a la pobreza y la inestabilidad”.

El arzobispo agregó: “Jesucristo vino como un niño en Navidad para mostrarnos que cada persona es hijo de Dios, hecho a su imagen. Vino para mostrarnos que toda la humanidad es una familia, que todos somos hermanos y hermanas sin importar dónde nacemos, el color de nuestra piel o el idioma que hablamos”.

También señaló que en el Día Mundial de la Paz, la Iglesia Católica en Estados Unidos se une al papa Francisco y a la iglesia del mundo entero para orar por la paz. “Oramos por la paz en nuestros corazones y la paz en nuestro mundo.

Oramos por la conversión de cada corazón que odia y oramos por el coraje de vencer el mal con el bien y responder al odio con amor”, dijo. †

KARASZEWSKI, de pagina 20

invitamos a los jóvenes solteros pero también aquellos que están en un noviazgo o matrimonios jóvenes que quieren crecer en su relación con Dios y los demás.

Durante el día tendremos oportunidades de formación en inglés y español con presentadores locales y nacionales, música, y bastante tiempo de oración, convivencia y se celebrará la Santa Misa con el Obispo George A. Sheltz. Será de las 9 a.m. a 6 p.m. en la Iglesia de San Jerónimo, localizada en 8825 Kempwood Dr. en Houston. Las inscripciones tempranas son $25 por persona antes del 21 de febrero. Para la lista de presentadores, el horario e inscripciones visite www.archgh.org/ yacm, llame al 713-741-8778 o escriba a yacm@archgh.org. †

incluyendo temas como “Viviendo tu vocación en tu trabajo,”“Escuchar al Espíritu Santo, El Maestro del Discernimiento,”“Discerniendo nuestras relaciones,” y para aquellos jóvenes adultos que ya están casados, ofreceremos un taller titulado “Como tomar decisiones en pareja para agradar a Dios.”

En la tarde, terminaremos nuestro día alentándonos unos a otros a ejercer nuestra misión con valentía, frescura y entusiasmo. Caminar nuestros senderos solos nunca es fácil, este día les dará la oportunidad a los jóvenes adultos para conocer y construir comunidad con otros jóvenes adultos en la Arquidiocesis.

Este será el sexto año en el que ofreceremos el Día Arquidiocesano de Jóvenes Adultos al que suelen asistir cientos de jóvenes. Este año no solo

Gabriela Karaszewski es directora de la Oficina de Ministro Jovenes Adultos y Campos.

APOYO PASTORAL A VÍCTIMAS DE ABUSO SEXUAL DEL CLERO En un continuo esfuerzo por facilitar atención pastoral a las victimas de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, el Cardenal DiNardo gustaría recordar a los fieles de la Arquidiócesis la disponibilidad del Coordinador de Ayuda a Víctimas. Si alguien ha sido victim de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, se les anima llamar a la Diane Vines al 713-654-5799. Por favor rece por la sanación de las víctimas del abuso y por todos los que sufren de alguna manera.



21

Después de navidad y año nuevo La navidad es todo dadiva. Todo se da y nada se reserva. Bien podemos recordar la dinámica de Hechos 20, 35 cuyo mensaje nos recuerda que hay bienaventuranza en el dar, una manera de vivir que se puede encontrar en nuestras propias pascuas navideñas. ¿Recuerdas la navidad en nuestros pueblos? ¿Qué pretendíamos con aquellas novenas entrañables? ¿Hacia dónde apuntaba la luz de aquella estrella navideña? ¿Fungíamos como pastorcillos brincoteando de camino hacia el nuevo Belén? ¿Acaso queríamos usurpar generosamente el lugar de los magos de oriente para presentar nuestros dones al Emanuel? ¿Quedaríamos haber sido dueños del mejor mesón para haber hospedado a la familia de Nazaret? No sé, en verdad que no sé, pero hay que echar una mirada a las raíces de nuestro pasado para poder determinar el auténtico sentido de nuestra navidad presente.

La primera navidad es nuestro punto de referencia. Cada momento clave esta subrayado por el verbo y la acción «dar».

Para comenzar, hay que recordar las emblemáticas palabras del evangelista Juan 3, 16: “Por tanto, amó Dios al mundo que dio a su Hijo único…” Efectivamente, lo dio, y hasta las últimas consecuencias.

Por supuesto, hay un motivo de fondo en este dar, y eso es, el amor, el ágape, su misericordia inagotable. Cada uno de los personajes del elenco navideño bíblico nos recuerda también que el contexto ideal de la navidad es dar. María de Nazaret, entregó voluntariamente un «fiat», hágase en mi (Lc 1, 38) para ser receptáculo del plan salvífico de Dios, contra todo pronóstico legal, jurídico, social y familiar que esa donación implicaba. La virgen Maria, lo dio todo.

Vemos un Señor San José vulnerable a la duda, el silencio y la claudicación (Mt 1, 19-20) más sin embargo, cabal y voluntariamente, también lo dio todo.Y qué decir de los pastorcillos, todos

dóciles a la Buena Noticia del Ángel (Lc 2, 8-12) para reconocer las señales predichas y encontrar en medio de pañales al Hijo de Dios.

Ellos de igual manera se dieron por completo. No podemos dejar de by GERARDO mencionar la ofrenda de los reyes de oriente que “LALO” SALAZAR guiados por la estrella y la antigua profecía, sabían que Belén vería nacer al Mesías (Mt 2, 1-6). Ellos no solo dieron su oro, incienso y mirra, dieron un momento de adoración.

Si el baño de luces navideñas de esta temporada, el suave aroma del arbolito de navidad, los himnos villancicos, las ornamentas florales, la tan necesaria posada, la mesa con bolos, cacahuates, colaciones, buñuelos, tamales, en fin, si todo esto es revestido por la experiencia de donación de Jesús como en la primera navidad, iremos por el buen camino. El entorno de la navidad católica demanda ese gozo y alegría al dar un perdón, un desprendimiento, un sacrificio, una limosna, un “si” a la voluntad de Dios aunque a veces no sea de nuestro agrado (Jn 18, 5). Jesús dio su vida, no se la quitaron. Que mejor regalo podemos recibir tú y yo en esta navidad, recibir el don de la dadiva, para que de esa manera nada nos sea arrebatado. Antes de que me sea quitado, yo igual que Jesús, lo doy, y lo doy todo por amor a Él. Seamos pacientes, entusiastas, perdonemos, nunca juzguemos, toleremos, respetemos, trabajemos y por encima de todo, amemos como el regalo más preciado que recibamos de parte de nuestro Creador. ¡Felices pascuas navideñas! †

†

Gerardo “lalo” Salazar es director asociado con la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.

22 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

JANUARY 28, 2020

WITHIN THE ARTS Missouri priest finds beauty in the ‘king of instruments’ JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNS) — Mozart proclaims the organ to be the “king of instruments,” but it actually works more like a parliament.

It reigns when its panoply of voices speaks in harmony and balance, with whispers and crescendos drawing upon the full spectrum of sound and human emotion.

“There’s the capacity to surround and fill the space with a volume and complexity of tone that no other instrument can match,” said Father Jeremy Secrist, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City, Missouri.

This year, Jefferson City Bishop W. Shawn McKnight appointed Father Secrist to serve as the bishop’s delegate for care and promotion of pipe organs.

The new role includes taking an inventory of existing pipe organs in parishes, advocating for their preservation, restoration and maintenance, and cultivating an appreciation for the contribution they can make to Catholic Liturgies.

“What makes them particularly well matched to congregational singing is that, like members of a choir, each of the windblown pipes produces an individually generated sound,” Father Secrist told The Catholic Missourian, newspaper of the Diocese of Jefferson City.

He called the pipe organ “the oldest stereo instrument — one that is able to fill a space, that is able to support the voices of men, women and children.”

A single properly engineered set of tuned pipes, built with skill and technology acquired over 1,500 years of organ-building, “can support and encourage singing in a way that other instruments simply cannot,” Father Secrist said.

Organs with three, five, 10, 20, 30 or even 50 sets of pipes offer arrays of

FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

An organist plays on the organ at the Villa de Matel Chapel in Houston during a recent service.

variety and volume. Pipes can be made of wood or metal and range in length from a few inches to 8, 16 or even 32 feet.

“It’s not just multiplication of voices or volume, but of color,” he said.

Notes can be held. Harmonies can be accentuated. Voices of varying pitches, timbres and volumes can be mixed, depending on the occasion, the type of music and the people who are singing with it.

“I would liken a pipe organ to the Psalms,” Father Secrist said. “When you go through all 150 of them — as King David sings and prays and repents and even curses — we find representation of all human emotions. And in all of those, God is able to work.”

The pipe organ is “able to plug into, to enter into the soul, the heart of who we

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MOVIE RATINGS By Catholic News Service A-I – GENERAL PATRONAGE • Abominable (PG)

A-II – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS

• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (PG) • Cats (PG) • Frozen II (PG) • Little Women (PG) • Love and Mercy: Faustina (NR) • Playmobil: The Movie (PG) • Spies In Disguise (PG) • The Divine Plan (NR)

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.

are,” Father Secrist added.

Organ pipes are arranged into “ranks,” each containing approximately 61 notes of the same voice and placed atop wooden windchests filled with pressurized air.

When the stop knob that controls one of the ranks is activated, the pressing of a key or pedal allows the pressurized air to enter the pipe of the corresponding note. The column of air vibrates inside the pipe, creating a pitch that mixes and harmonizes with the vibrations from neighboring pipes as they are activated.

“The longer the pipe, the lower the pitch,” Father Secrist explained.

Pipes of different sizes, shapes, materials and wind pressures produce a colorful palate of sounds that can be adjusted by blending the various stops.

Organs started out simple in ancient

A-III – ADULTS

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times and became more complex over the centuries as organ builders discovered innovative ways to construct the pipes and the intricate mechanisms that force air through them.

Mathematicians calculated the effect of thickness, radius, height and degree of tapering on the sound of each pipe.

In doing so, they found new expressions of God’s beauty and wisdom reflected in creation and the laws that govern it.

Beginning about 60 years ago, some pipe organs were removed or heavily modified. But in some diocesan parishes, the pipe organ remained an integral part of parish life.

“They don’t think of it as something secondary,” Father Secrist said. “And now we hope to provide some good direction for maintaining these instruments for future generations.”

Father Secrist led the Gregorian chant schola at the Pontifical North American College when he was a seminarian in Rome. He maintains memberships in the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society and other organizations, which allows him to remain in contact with world-renowned composers, musicians, organ builders and teachers.

The priest noted that, through the centuries, music and art have contributed significantly to the well-being of civilization and society.

Just as the Church in its mission of preaching the Gospel has drawn together people of different nationalities, cultures and political situations,“so, too, can music be that kind of a link between people of diverse backgrounds,” he said.

He maintained that music also has the power to reveal love at its deepest level.

“And whom should we love more than anybody else but the Lord? So the music that we use is an expression of that love, of the deepest longings of our heart.” †

• • • • • • •

Black and Blue (R) Black Christmas (PG-13) Charlie’s Angels (PG-13) Countdown (PG-13) Dark Waters (PG-13) Ford v Ferrari (PG-13) Harriet (PG-13)

• • • • •

Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13) Just Mercy (PG-13) Knives Out (PG-13) Lucy in the Sky (R) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (PG-13) • The Current War (PG-13) • The Good Liar (R) • The Two Popes (PG-13)

L – LIMITED ADULT AUDIENCE • • • •

21 Bridges (R) Bombshell (R) By the Grace of God (NR) The Irishman (R)

O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE • Queen & Slim (R) • The Grudge (R) • Uncut Gems (R)

JANUARY 28, 2020

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► VIEW MORE LISTINGS ONLINE AT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE JAN. 15

DOMINICAN FAMILY INFORMATIONAL GATHERING, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dominican Sisters of Houston (6501 Almeda Rd., Houston). Dominican Sisters host informational gathering about the Dominican Charism and Dominican Family, the lay association of the Dominican Sisters of Houston, with short presentation about St. Dominic by Sister Carol Mayes, OP, on the formation of the Dominican Family. RSVP by Jan. 10 to bperez@domhou.org, 713-440-3710. domhou.org.

with families who have lost infant children or miscarried. Bring a new teddy bear donation to honor a child’s life and support a parish ministry.

Reception follows Mass. Sponsored by Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court of the Holy Family #2597. maryjalbert@sbcglobal.net; 281381-0309.

Online giving is

FAST, EASY, and SECURE!

BAY AREA WOMEN’S COUNCIL MEETING, 9:45 a.m. at Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood).

The Bay Area Deanery of Catholic women host a meeting with 9:45 a.m. check-in, 10 a.m. meeting, 11 a.m. keynote on domestic violence, followed by 11:30 a.m. potluck lunch and raffle. A baby drive for formula, diapers (size 5 - 6), and baby clothes benefits a local crisis pregnancy center.

Open to all women. kbrown@retreatcenter.org.

JAN. 16

KNOW POVERTY SUMMIT, at the University of St. Thomas (3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston).

Catholic Charities hosts conference exploring ways that faith communities can assist individuals and families in moving from poverty to greater economic stability. Local experts and speakers include Donna Beegle of Communication Across Barriers. knowpoverty@ catholiccharities.org; 713-874-6631.

JAN. 25

WINE TASTING DINNER FUNDRAISER, at 6 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Loyola Christus Center (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). KC Council 10861 hosts a wine tasting dinner featuring wines from the Pacific Northwest. $50 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advanced via email at winetastingtickets@silcc.org. Benefits parish needs and charitable efforts. No tickets will be sold at the door. Attendees must be 12 and older.

832-373-7617; tammysgolden@hotmail.com.

JAN. 30

FEB. 14

JAN. 17

JAN. 19

MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT, at 5 p.m., Feb. 14 to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Three-day weekend unpacks the graces of forgiveness, recommitment and prayer that can strengthen marriages. Registration and information: 713464-0211; holynameretreatcenter.org.

34TH ANNUAL ARCHDIOCESAN MLK JR. MASS, 3 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza will preside over the 34th annual Archdiocesan Mass honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Father Reginald Samuels, vicar for Catholics of African Descent will concelebrate. A reception in the Cathedral Centre follows.

FEB. 14 - 16

FEB. 17 - 20

Your help is needed TODAY!

PARISH MISSION, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Holy Ghost (6921 Chetwood Dr., Houston). Father Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R., presents “Awaken Your Spirit: Renew Your Relationship With Jesus” pre-Lenten Mission from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20. The evening’s themes are: Bible, Crucifix, Ashes and Altar. Childcare is available at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. 713-668-0463; holyghostchurch.net. ______

Visit www.archgh.org/ignite and click Now’ to make your gift online.

JAN.‘Donate 22

MEMORIAL MASS FOR INFANT LOSS, at 7 p.m. Prince of Peace Mary Chapel (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). All are welcome to join in prayer

FAST, EASY, and SECURE!

FAITH MATTERS SPEAKER SERIES, at 7 p.m. at St. Cecilia - Community Center (11720 Joan of Arc Dr., Houston). Dr. Gary Anderson of the University of Notre Dame will speak on “Incarnation in the Old Testament.” Free with online RSVP. saintcecilia. org/faith-matters-speaker-series. 713-465-3414.

VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION, at 6:30 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall (3213 E. Mulberry St., Angleton). Most Holy Trinity ACTS team hosts a Valentine’s Day Celebration with Italian dinner, dessert and dancing. $25 per person, proceeds benefit ACTS ministry. Tickets: 979-215-1682.

FISH FRY, 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Activity Building (800 W. Baker Rd., Baytown).

The Ladies of St. John host a $10 fish fry. Plates include fish, fries and hushpuppies catered by Catfish on Wheels. Service times: Lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Dinner, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Delivers of 10 plates or more are available for businesses.

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Around the Archdiocese E-mail the event details (see below) to tch@archgh.org for possible inclusion in Around the Archdiocese. There is no charge for listings but space is limited.

Around the Archdiocese

Thank you • Include the name of your event along with date, time, location full address) and a for (with your brief description of your event support!

• If the event is for charity, include the benefiting group or organization; Include the cost for tickets or note that it’s free • Name, phone and/or e-mail address of the contact person that you want readers to call/e-mail with questions • Website address for your organization (if you have one) • Name, phone and e-mail address of the media contact person for verification • Please write “Around the Archdiocese” in the subject line of the email to tch@archgh.org Please note that due to space and other factors, we cannot guarantee placement or frequency in Around the Archdiocese, but we will do our best to get your event into the section.

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JANUARY 28, 2020