Texas Catholic Herald - Jan. 23, 2024

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

JOYFUL CELEBRATION Upcoming Feb. 4 Mass honors World Day for Consecrated Life

Record number of adults confirmed in January ▪ SEE PAGE 9

▪ SEE PAGE 3

JANUARY 23, 2024

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‘AN OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’

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

VOL. 60, NO. 15

WE ARE THE LORD’S

EDUCATION

Snooze you... win?

A different way to support Catholic education at Steps

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — With 2024 being a Leap Year, schools are jumping at the chance to support this year’s 19th Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The largest Archdiocese fundraiser for Catholic education, Steps doesn’t require supporters to crawl out of their warm beds by 6 a.m. or earlier to make the 7 a.m. Sunrise Mass at the Co-Cathedral downtown and the 8:30 a.m. start of the race.

A popular option called “Hit the Snooze for Students” allows supporters to sleep in but still get the race T-shirt.

Despite the old saying, “You snooze, you lose,” snoozers for Steps win in catching more Zzzzs while still supporting Catholic education.

Many of those who choose to snooze See STUDENTS, page 5

PHOTO BY OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN

Deacon Jeff Willard, port chaplain and director of the Galveston Seafarers Center, greets visitors outside the center’s front door located just off The Strand by the Port of Galveston. The Seafarers Center is one of the 60-plus ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund.

Canopy over main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica to undergo restoration

New DSF appeal calls us to serve others

H

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The nearly 400-year-old sculpted canopy towering over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica will be surrounded by scaffolding for most of 2024 as it is washed, repaired and restored.

Standing over 30 feet tall, the baldachin, designed by Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has stood over the tomb of St. Peter since 1634. And for all that time, it has gathered dust, cracks and rust despite regular cleanings.

As a result, “we can’t not intervene” to restore the structure, said Alberto Capitanucci, the head engineer of the Fabbrica di San Pietro — the office responsible for the upkeep of the basilica.

Speaking at a news conference announcing the Vatican’s restoration plans Jan. 11, Capitanucci said the

“All we do as Catholic Christians is oriented toward the love of neighbor and toward the glorification of God’s holy name. We are formed into God’s own people.”

DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO ARCHBISHOP OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

See RESTORATION, page 2

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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COLUMNISTS † 13 - 14

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OUSTON — In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul cuts through the differences: there is no slave or free; no Greek or Jew; no poor or rich, because all of us become one in the Lord to whom we are constantly called back.

In very much the same way, the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) provides an opportunity to cut through the differences of life, to participate in the works of this local Church as a whole, and to help brothers and sisters no matter where they are.

Over the last 58 years, DSF has provided the necessary resources for the ministries of the Archdiocese to flourish. Since the day Bishop John Morkovsky established DSF in 1966, it has served as an annual invitation to Catholics throughout Galveston-Houston to act out the Gospel message through collective works.

The DSF continues to grow each year — garnering more and more support and participation because of the vital nature of the ministries that it supports. These ministries, which help all live out the corporal See DSF, page 4

ESPAÑOL † 17

| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 19

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The baldachin, or canopy, stands over the tomb of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2023. The baldachin will undergo a restoration in February, with the last known restoration effort done more than 250 years ago.

Restoration effort expected to last 10 months RESTORATION, from page 1 procedure will follow that of the baldachin’s last recorded restoration in 1758, only using an independent scaffolding structure that was not previously possible to build.

The restoration process will begin after Feb. 12, and the scaffolding, which will allow for direct restoration work, will be installed around the baldachin before Holy Week, Capitanucci said.

The entire restoration process is expected to last about 10 months, and papal liturgical ceremonies will continue to take place at the altar.

Mauro Cardinal Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, said the restoration will take place “in view of the jubilee,” or Holy Year 2025, “since the work is expected to end in December of the current year before the holy door is opened.”

The first step will be to photograph the entire baldachin, followed by a deep cleaning to remove accumulated

dust and dirt particles. Restorers will then treat the metal components of the structure to remove rust, and apply surface protection, clean its marble base and use an acrylic resin to fill cracks in the baldachin’s wooden pieces.

Pietro Zander, head of the Fabbrica’s artistic heritage section, said that the degradation of the baldachin is partially because the “microclimate inside of the basilica changes from the continuous flux of visitors,” which some days can reach up to 50,000 people.

The flow of visitors during the day, along with the significant changes in temperature and humidity between night and day, lead to the corrosion and rusting of its metallic components and the swelling of its wood.

According to a document published by the Vatican Jan. 11, over 20% of the baldachin is made of wood, which has been painted or gilded and is sensitive to temperature variations and changes in humidity.

The project is expected to cost 700,000 euro (about $766,000) and will be entirely funded by the U.S.based Knights of Columbus, which has funded 17 other projects in collaboration with the Fabbrica of San Pietro.

Patrick Kelly, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, told Catholic News Service that the decision to fund the baldachin’s restoration is an “outgrowth” of the knights’ core principles of charity and unity.

“We’re in union with the Holy See, with the successor of St. Peter, and so these kinds of projects are very much in keeping with who we are and our mission,” he said.

Kelly said the baldachin project is an “iconic restoration” over the tomb of St. Peter that “is a great sign of unity in the Church.”

“It’s something we can look to,” he said. “All of us can be proud of this and gratified that there is unity; it’s not all disunity.” †

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St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024

To read more about our seminarians and how you can support them, visit www.smseminary.com.

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An award-winning member of The Catholic Media Association The Texas Catholic Herald is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, with one issue in June, July and August, by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX and other distribution points.

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JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

THE FIRST WORD PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS

HONORING THOSE WHO SAID YES TO GOD

Archdiocesan Mass celebrates Consecrated Life on Feb. 4

BY SEAN O’DRISCOLL Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — On Feb. 4, women and men in consecrated life will gather in celebration with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo at the 11 a.m. Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston.

This event, which is open to the public, is a WORLD special time for parishes to celebrate the gift of DAY FOR consecrated life and CONSECRATED pray for men and women discerning a consecrated LIFE vocation with the global Catholic Church.

This celebration joins churches around the world during its annual celebration of World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life on Feb. 2. Parishes will commemorate the event over the weekend of Feb. 3 to 4.

In Galveston-Houston, there are approximately 400 women and 185 men in consecrated and religious life — prophetic signs of God’s closeness and eagerness to share their lives, hopes and joys at this time of celebration.

Local religious serve in a broad variety of ministries: as priests, educators, ministers in health care, retreat work and spiritual direction, catechetical ministry, pastoral care, and services among the homebound, the poor and the marginalized.

In his message for the 2023 World Day for Consecrated Life, Pope Francis said, “You consecrated persons have a specific role that derives from the particular gift you have received: a gift that gives your witness a special character and value, for the very fact that you are fully dedicated to God and to His kingdom, in poverty, virginity and obedience. If each person is a mission in the Church, then each and every one of you is a mission with a grace of your own, as a consecrated See CONSECRATED, page 8

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Father Yong Lee Hospital Chaplain of the Catholic Chaplain Corps

BRIEFS

Café Catholica Lite returns Feb. 15 with the Sisters of Life

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo greets a group of Dominican women religious following a Mass for World Day for Consecrated Life. Cardinal DiNardo will celebrate the 2024 Mass for Consecrated Life at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE CONSECRATED LIFE There are several ways to celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life. Consider these ideas: • Help the youngsters in your life draw and write greeting cards, sending them to the nearest convent or individual sister you may know.

• Send a bouquet of flowers to a convent or monastery • Invite a consecrated person you know to a meal.

• Write a thank you note to a consecrated person who made a difference in your life.

• Ask to visit a mother house or convent to meet and pray with sisters and brothers.

• Make a donation to a religious community or invite someone to discern their vocation to consecrated life.

• Pray for consecrated persons at Mass.

For Texas residents send $15 yearly, for residents outside of Texas, send $20 yearly; and for residents outside of the U.S., send $35 yearly.

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HOUSTON — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at St. Theresa in Memorial Park, located at 6622 Haskell St. in Houston, on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

The talk titled “Let Love Show You Who You Are” will be given by the Sisters of Life from New York. The Sisters of Life are a religious community of women who take a fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life. The night begins with Mass at 6:30 p.m., light dinner at 7 p.m., and the talk from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.

The Café Catholica program helps young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at yacm@archgh.org or 713-7418778 or visit www.archgh.org/cafecatholica. †

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continue at three locations

HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offering food assistance at three locations.

In Houston, food distributions at the Guadalupe Center (326 S. Jensen St.) are Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. (drive-thru) and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. New clients should bring a photo ID and bill with a confirming address. Call 713-8746781 for more information.

The Beacon of Hope Isle Market in Galveston (4700 Broadway, Suite F-103) is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To make an appointment, which is required, call 409-762-2064.

In Fort Bend County, the Mamie George Community Center (1111 Collins Rd., Richmond) hosts drive-thru food distributions and in-person shopping. Drive-thru distributions with the Houston Food Bank are on Tuesdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Clients should visit the pantry by appointment only on Mondays, 12 to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For help, call 281-202-6200. † For more information, visit www.catholiccharities. org/food or call 713-526-4611. †

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ail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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LOCAL

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

Blessed Carlo Acutis featured in new stained-glass window A Minnesota chapel will feature the future saint, who is a patron of the Eucharistic Revival. ▪ SEE PAGE 16

64 ministries carry out the ‘mission of the Church’ DSF, from page 1 and spiritual works of mercy, are the types of ministries that no one parish could accomplish on its own. These works are done collectively in the name of every Catholic because it is the living out the unique mission given to the faithful through Jesus Christ.

The 64 ministries supported by DSF annually help clothe, feed, and accompany hundreds of thousands of those in need every year.

These ministries prepare 17,000 children for future success filled with faith through the Archdiocese’s 55 Catholic schools and form an additional 75,000 men, women and children in catechetical programs. These ministries help prepare future priests and permanent deacons; serve incarcerated youth and adults; offer support to the 300,000-plus seafarers who come through area ports each year; minister to the elderly, the sick, the deaf and incapacitated; build good and holy families; and defend life from natural beginning to natural death.

“All we do as Catholic Christians is oriented toward the love of neighbor and toward the glorification of God’s holy name,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.

“We are formed into God’s own people.”

He continued, “The 64 ministries supported by DSF educate, serve, gather and sanctify us. They allow us to work together in carrying out the mission of the Church.”

Cardinal DiNardo said that whether the gift is small or large, “it’s your participation that counts.”

“The faithful of the Archdiocese are what makes DSF and the works it funds possible,” he said. “I invite everyone, whether it be through financial or spiritual support, to join me in supporting our local Church in this year’s DSF appeal.

Through the DSF, we become icons of Christ in the world by demonstrating the charity of Christ through concrete actions.”

Of each gift given to DSF, 100% goes directly to supporting the 64 ministries that are funded by DSF. Additionally,

The many ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund include: 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

MINISTERING TO THE POOR, THE SICK AND THE INCARCERATED

Angela House Catholic Chaplain Corps Catholic Charities Correctional Ministries Foreign Missions Office of Justice & Peace/Catholic Campaign for Human Development Our Daily Bread San José Clinic St. Dominic Center for the Deaf

PHOTO BY OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT

Deacon Jeff Willard, port chaplain and director of the Galveston Seafarers Center, greets a seafarer borrowing a bicycle. The Galveston Seafarers Center is part of Stella Maris, formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea, that serves seafarers that dock at the Ports of Galveston, Texas City, Barbour’s Cut and Houston, as well as local fishers and their families working in San Leon, Dickinson, Texas City, Galveston and Bolivar.

Cardinal DiNardo has approved a number of parish incentives. For every dollar that a parish goes over the goal, 75% is returned to the parish.

The remaining 25% goes to support the Aid to Poor Parishes program, which helps provide emergency relief to parishes facing immediate and difficult challenges. Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars are made available through this fund to help parishes repair necessary A/C systems, repair roofs and foundations, upgrade emergency equipment, and maintain the parish campus so that it is a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Additionally, 50% of a gift made by a first-time donor will be returned to the parish community.

Registered parishioners throughout

the Archdiocese should expect to hear more about the impact the DSF has on the local community. Through letters, emails, videos and social media, Catholics have ample opportunity to learn about the great things accomplished collectively in their name.

To support the DSF, visit www.dsf. archgh.org, select the gift amount, and attribute it to the parish. Making a gift online is by far the fastest, easiest and most secure way to support the DSF. Other options are to fill out a pew envelope in the parish church and drop it in the collection basket.

Above all else, the faithful of the Archdiocese are invited to pray for the success of the DSF appeal and for those engaged in the ministry of the Archdiocese. †

PROMOTING, PREPARING AND SUPPORTING THE CLERGY

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

LOCAL

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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Annual race makes Catholic education more accessible STUDENTS, from page 1 are supporters who live in areas farther away from downtown Houston, like Sacred Heart Catholic School in Conroe, St. Laurence in Sugar Land, St. Martha in Kingwood, St. Anne in Tomball, and Holy Family Catholic School in Galveston.

Their registrations will benefit the network of 45 Catholic primary schools, including their own schools and thousands of students.

Beth Istre, advancement director at Sacred Heart in Conroe, said, “The Snooze registration is the easiest way to support Catholic education without even getting out of bed in the morning.”

She added, “Because we are so far away, sometimes it is hard to get folks to go into downtown Houston early in the morning.”

Istre said that the school has reached its Steps goal of raising $85,000 each year for the past three years. She estimated the school and its supporters have raised about half a million dollars over the past several years. “Besides tuition assistance, the funds have also been used to purchase equipment for the school, including a rock wall and other playground and school equipment,” she said.

Holy Family Catholic School in Galveston traditionally has 100% of their elementary and middle school students participate in Steps via Snooze registration, said principal Jeanna Porter.

“Steps usually falls during Mardi Gras, and that is a huge celebration on the island with lots of traffic,”Porter said.“Our students and families also participate in the Mardi Gras parades, including riding on a float that is sponsored by our parish.”

Many Catholic schools officially kick off their drive for Steps during Catholic Schools Week celebrations from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 this year. They organize bake sales and other school events to raise funds for Steps while creating fun for students with games and prizes.

Each school designates its registration fees and pledges to benefit its school

WANT TO GO? FEBRUARY 10, 2024 Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston Register: www.steps4students.org Prices increase Feb. 1, 2024 Cost: $17 - $20 7 a.m.

Sunrise Mass 8:30 a.m. Race start 9:30 a.m. Post Race Party in Catholic School Village

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Young students interact with a lion in the Catholic Schools Village at the 2023 Steps for Students 5K Race and Walk. The 2024 race is set for Feb. 10, the start of the Lunar New Year season, in downtown Houston at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and registration is under way.

directly and count toward the families’ fundraising goals. To still support Catholic schools and receive the official race T-shirt, snoozers can now register for $20, which will increase to $30 starting Feb. 1.

But snoozers do miss the full excitement, camaraderie, music and colorful crowds of race day, as well as the blessing from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, reminds Dr. Mazie McCoy, assistant superintendent of governance and leadership.

Registrants who are serious about running can compete in the chip-timed 5K, a USA Track and Field-certified and sanctioned event featuring a single-loop, for only $20. For untimed, the registration is $18, while the Family 1K Fun Run is $17 per person. Those increase also on Feb. 1. Registration is available onsite on race day, but only via credit card.

Debra Haney, Ed.D., secretariat director and superintendent of Catholic Schools, said “We are so thrilled to once again celebrate the community, connectivity, collegiality, charity and the little bit of healthy competition that this event brings for our schools!”

She added, “Our students, teachers,

parents and principals are the real stars that we celebrate as we grow together in advancing the mission of our schools through this awesome community event!”

The event brings together school communities, parishioners, community partners/sponsors and runners from across the Archdiocese’s 10 counties. To register or for more information, www. steps4students.org. †

Don’t let her go to bed with an empty tummy.

Steps for Students: Volunteers Needed

Organizers of the annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk, set for Saturday, Feb. 10, in downtown Houston, are seeking volunteers.

There are various days, times and tasks available for volunteers, including sorting T-shirts and race bibs, manning a water station on the course, hanging banners and signs, distributing medals, and cleaning up after the race. Visit www.steps4students.org and click on “Volunteer” for more information or to sign up. †

Your gift to Catholic Charities provides food, shelter and more to a struggling family.

Feed a hungry family for just $10 a month.

DESIGN COURTESY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

SUPPORTING CATHOLIC EDUCATION FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Steps for Students registrants, whether runners or snoozers, will receive a T-shirt with a new design for the 2024 race that features the downtown Houston skyline and the iconic ‘BE SOMEONE’ painting seen on I-45 near downtown.

The designs are chosen through a Catholic school art contest and this year’s winner came from Assumption School.

People of Faith.

Helping People in Need.

Serving people of all beliefs Scan to give

2900 Louisiana Street • Houston, Texas 77006

6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

Faith-centered training offers healing and renewal for marriages under stress

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — In response to the increasing number of married couples in distressed relationships reaching out for help in parishes across the Archdiocese, the Family Life Ministry is launching a faith-centered program to train ministers who can provide them with essential support, prayer and guidance.

Ricardo Medina, director of the Family Life Ministry, said unexpected challenges, such as sickness, unemployment, issues with children, midlife crises, and other unforeseen circumstances, impact onethird of marriages, often leading to marital distress.

In response to this pressing need, clergy and lay individuals in parishes are invited to undergo training as ministers of reencounter through SmartLoving’s BreakThrough program. This initiative equips these ministers to provide accompaniment to distressed spouses facing challenging times with a prayerful companion who offers essential support and prayer.

Laura Cain, who handles community engagement at SmartLoving, emphasized the pivotal role of the BreakThrough program for both the Church and society.

According to Cain, when a husband and wife are united, actively demonstrating

LEARN MORE SmartLoving BreakThrough

OSV NEWS PHOTO

A couple are seen walking along Gillson Beach holding hands as the sun sets in Wilmette, Ill. As studies show Catholic marriage vocations are way down amid a wider crisis in dating culture, deacons in the Archdiocese are collaborating with SmartLoving in a new course to help married couples navigate challenges in their relationship.

God’s love to one another to the best of their abilities, they become a powerful sign and witness of God’s love to others.

This unity transforms them into a living example of the domestic Church, showcasing the divine love that can be mirrored in broader society.

“When a Catholic husband and wife

are in good standing with one another, they become spiritually fruitful, even becoming missionary disciples,” Cain said. “What happens next is incredible: the couple’s home becomes the nearest ‘field hospital,’ for example, caring for elderly relatives, offering hospitality to the lonely neighbor, hosting events for young adults, and raising their children in a calm, caring and loving environment.

This not only benefits the Church but also has a positive impact on the wider community.”

Deacon Phillip Jackson, director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, said the training is ideal for permanent deacons who are serving spouses encountering difficulties in their marriage.

“As the men go through formation towards ordination to be deacons, we try to provide them with opportunities, training, and formation in many areas,” Deacon Jackson said. “One area of importance is in pastoral counseling and guidance, in which we give basic instruction. I believe that the ministers of reencounter BreakThrough training will build on the fundamentals that they received to better support marriages and families.”

According to Francine Pirola, director of SmartLoving, BreakThrough is not marriage counseling or therapy. She said the main distinction lies in the source of wisdom sought for resolving the participant’s difficulties. While a counselor or therapist relies on training and models, a minister of reencounter offers prayerful peer support in the role of a brother or sister in the faith who guides and encourages distressed spouses during the BreakThrough experience.

“As a short-term intervention distinct from traditional marriage counseling, BreakThrough offers a structured approach,” Pirola said. “It establishes goals for attentive and empathetic support provided by ministers of reencounter, who accompany individual spouses, leading them to encounter the Lord within their specific situations.

These spiritual guides aim to deepen the participant’s connection with God, rejuvenate faith and renew the commitment to make loving decisions — an outcome deemed more significant

Many couples at various stages of their marriage face times where they feel stuck and are at a standstill in their relationship.

SmartLoving BreakThrough Online is suitable for individual spouses (or couples) who are experiencing stress or unresolved conflict in their relationship, or whose relationship is “gridlocked.” It can also be very helpful to those who are separated or divorced. Accompanied participants have a companion (minister or counselor) to meet with after each part. These meetings provide prayerful support and additional guidance.

This course will help to identify conflict triggers, learn strategies to de-escalate an argument and find constructive ways to re-establish connection.

To learn more, visit www.smartloving. org/breakthrough or www.archgh.org/ marriagehelp or call 713-741-8710. † than salvaging every marriage.”

Cain said those who attend the training and are married will find their own spousal relationships strengthened in the process, along with additional opportunities for evangelizing and establishing new missions and apostolates as disciples of Christ.

“The key factor for participants of the ministers of reencounter BreakThrough training is their disposition,” said Pirola. “We’re looking for adults who are welcoming, understanding and supportive. They will value participants as unique sons or daughters of God and, therefore, of the most significant worth to him.”

Pirola said these ministers may be married, single, religious or clergy, working in pairs or individually. With both female and male ministers available, they provide a diverse perspective and may offer a sacramental witness to their ministry. Ideal attributes include empathy, unbiased care, listening skills, and a mature Catholic faith, with a particular emphasis on a desire to deepen one’s spiritual journey.

“Being Christ-centered and faithfilled is foundational,” Cain said. “A good listener with a sincere desire to enrich married couples, a minister of reencounter should follow the BreakThrough program and be ready to seek support if necessary. This involves meeting at least three times, praying together, and guiding the participant through discussion questions.”

The first ministers of reencounter BreakThrough training for both clergy and lay people in the Archdiocese will be held on Saturday, March 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Dominic Chancery, located at 2403 Holcombe Blvd., in room 140. The cost is $120 per participant and includes materials, food and a certificate of completion. An information session will also be held on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m.

To register for the information session or the training, go to archgh.swoogo.com/ BreakthroughCompanion. For questions about the program, contact Andrea Aranda from the Family Life Office at 713-741-8710 or aaranda@archgh.org. †

LOCAL

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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Married couple finds shared faith, equal footing at St. Dominic Center for the Deaf Father Len Broniak, C.Ss.R. set to retire as deaf ministry chaplain and program director after more than two decades of service

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — Over 15 years ago, Toni Flagg, who is hearing, and her husband, Deacon Bruce Flagg, who is deaf, discovered their Church home at St. Dominic Center for the Deaf located in the Medical Center area — a significant turning point in their marriage.

After years of church hopping, the Flaggs found a welcoming and closeknit community among fellow deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics and their families during Sunday Mass conducted in American Sign Language (ASL). They found a sacred space where they could actively engage and fully participate on an equal footing.

“No longer did we go from church to church seeking a religion that provided services for people who are deaf, some of which practiced a faith my Cradle Catholic husband could not abide by,” Toni Flagg said. “No longer would I have to either go to Mass by myself or bear the responsibility alone to interpret for my husband at a hearing Mass.”

For hearing family members, St. Dominic Center offers FATHER LEN a voice interpreter.

BRONIAK, CSsR Deaf members are encouraged to participate as lectors, ushers and Eucharistic ministers. Other services offered include hospital and home visits for the sick and shut-ins, classes for deaf couples on marriage and baptismal preparation, and interpreters for baptisms, weddings, funerals and events at other parishes.

For the Flaggs, St. Dominic Center also became a catalyst for their spiritual growth as a couple, guiding them through the annulment process and blessing their marriage in the Church. Deacon Flagg’s faith also flourished in unexpected ways.

“A seed was planted in my husband to serve God in ways he never thought possible,” Toni Flagg said. “After a great deal of praying, he entered the seminary, and six years later, he became an ordained permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. He is dedicated to serving the needs of the families of St. Dominic.”

Toni Flagg found her own calling within the St. Dominic Center community,

archgh.org/dsf

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Toni Flagg, at left, interprets a keynote address by Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria during the 2022 National Catholic Partnership on Disability conference at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring. Flagg, who attends St. Dominic Deaf Parish with her husband Deacon Bruce Flagg, and Father Len Broniak, C.Ss.R, the chaplain and deaf ministry program director, were sign language interpreters during the conference. Father Broniak is expected to retire on Feb. 1.

serving as an interpreter for Sunday Mass and, on occasion, for weddings and funerals. Additionally, she held the position of director of religious education and prepared teens for their Sacraments.

“Helping to prepare 15 to 16-year-olds for their First Communion has been such an overwhelming occasion that my heart was filled with joy for weeks afterward,”Toni Flagg said. “I am looking DEACON forward to serving the BRUCE FLAGG people of St. Dominic Center in any way that I am asked.”

Father Len Broniak, C.Ss.R., the chaplain and program director of St. Dominic Center, has devoted more than two decades to driving the ministry’s initiatives. Planning to retire on Feb. 1, Father Broniak leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to advancing the ministry’s goals, with a special focus on training and empowering lay leadership within the Catholic deaf and hard-ofhearing community.

His efforts, demonstrated by the empowerment of individuals like the Flaggs, will continue to be a blessing until his position is filled.

Father Broniak said St. Dominic Center is one of 64 ministries supported by the DSF, which helps sustain the center’s mission to ensure that the deaf or hard of hearing community and their families remain an integral part of the larger Catholic community.

The Flaggs agree that the annual DSF support is important to keeping

DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND

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open communication channels with this community, which prevents them from feeling marginalized in their own religion.

“The deaf will not participate in any activity where they are made to feel like an outsider, pushed to the side and not have access to total communication,” Toni Flagg said. “For this reason, you can understand how important the continuing support of St. Dominic Center is to the deaf community. Without the DSF, we would no longer feel a part of the Catholic community at large and would become merely an appendage, not a welcomed member.”

The Flaggs extend an invitation to all the faithful in the Archdiocese and guests attending a national conference at the facility to join the St. Dominic Ministry for a Mass in the Warren Chapel celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. The chapel is located at 2401 Holcombe Blvd. in

The 2024 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “We are the Lord’s.”

DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.

Houston.

For parents and guardians interested in learning more about Continuing Christian Education (CCE) offered in the fall of 2024 for children who are deaf and in need of sacramental preparation, contact the St. Dominic Center office at 713-741-8721 or send an e-mail to tmsica@yahoo.com. CCE classes take place on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., followed

by Mass at 11 a.m.

For general information about St. Dominic Center, go to www.archgh.org/ deafministry or Facebook, HoustonGalveston Archdiocese Deaf Community or YouTube, St. Dominic Deaf Church.

To donate to the DSF, go to www. archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports each of these ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation.

Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries. †

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

Pope: Every religious vocation is a ‘mission of grace’ CONSECRATED, from page 3 person.”

In 1997, then-pope St. John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2.

This feast is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed, symbolizing Christ, who is the light of the world. So, too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been different forms of consecrated life and various ways of expressing a desire to follow Christ more intimately. Through vows of lifelong celibacy and often through vows of poverty and obedience, men and women have sought to follow Christ’s own example as closely as possible. Consecrated life may be lived as a member of an institute, such as in a religious congregation, or individually, where vows are made to the diocesan bishop.

RELIGIOUS LIFE Religious life is the form of consecrated life that Catholics are most familiar with.

There are hundreds of different religious orders or congregations, each of which contributes a particular gift to the life of the Church. We are familiar with some within our own Archdiocese, including Dominicans, Carmelites and Franciscans.

Within religious life, the main distinction is between monks and nuns, who live in

Your Best Lent Ever!

A Prayer for Consecrated Persons God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s kingdom as sisters, brothers, religious priests, consecrated virgins, and hermits, as well as members of Secular Institutes. Renew their knowledge and love of you, and send your Holy Spirit to help them respond generously and courageously to your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis greets Sister Genevieve Jeanningros of the Little Sisters of Jesus at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Dec. 20, 2023. Catholics in the Archdiocese will mark the World Day for Consecrated Life with a Mass on Feb. 4.

an enclosed convent or monastery, and religious who work outside the cloister, for example, in education, health care or evangelization.

Religious make vows of lifelong celibacy, poverty and obedience (though these are named differently in some congregations). They usually live in a community where they support each other, in prayer, in ministry and in providing for the daily needs of each one.

Each religious congregation is a public witness to one particular way of following Christ. Some religious wear distinctive clothing or habits, others express their solidarity with those among whom they live and work by wearing ordinary clothes, often with a cross or distinctive symbol of their religious congregation.

Many male religious are priests,

but there is also a strong tradition of religious brothers in the Church. Male religious congregations can be made up of only brothers (such as the De La Salle Brothers), only priests (such as the Marist Fathers), or both (such as the Capuchin Franciscans), where members who are priests and those who are brothers express together the essential charism of the congregation.

CONSECRATED VIRGINS, CONSECRATED WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Long before the emergence of religious life, consecrated virgins and widows had a distinctive identity in the Church. St. Paul describes women who remained unmarried and devoted themselves to prayer (1 Cor 7) and records the personal

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WANT TO GO? MASS FOR CONSECRATED LIFE 11 A.M. - FEBRUARY 4 Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston Celebrant: Daniel Cardinal DiNardo qualities required to be eligible to be ‘enrolled’ as a widow (1 Tim 5). However, as communal forms of consecrated life gradually became the central form of ecclesial consecration, these ancient Orders disappeared.

However, in the 1960s, the Church reinstated the Order of Virgins, where women who have not lost virginity through voluntary intercourse and who have never married are consecrated to perpetual virginity, to a life of prayer and penance, and to the service of the Church under the guidance of their local bishop.

CONSECRATED HERMITS Throughout the history of the Church, there have been a small number of people who are called to the life of a hermit — a call to leave “the world” to seek God in solitude, austerity and prayer. Today, most hermits are attached to a religious community, in which they have lived and grown to a mature understanding of their particular calling. For example, Thomas Merton lived in community as a Trappist monk for 25 years before becoming a hermit attached to his community.

SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose. While members of apostolic societies have some community life, the mission of the community is given emphasis. Examples of these include the Companions of the Cross, the Paulist Fathers, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

CONSECRATION IN A SECULAR INSTITUTE Secular institutes are a relatively new form of consecration in the Church. They developed in the 20th century, enabling lay people to live entirely in the secular world of work and society while also promising to live in poverty, chastity and obedience, according to the institute. Through this distinctive form of consecration in the world, members of Secular Institutes contribute in a particular way to the Church’s evangelizing mission by helping to ensure that the Church has an effective presence in society. †

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

LOCAL

texas catholic herald 9

‘Be sealed’: January sees 758 confirmed in faith

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Augustine... Joan of Arc... Judas Tadeo... Mateo...

One by one, bearing the name of a confirmation saint, more than 750 adults stepped forward in faith and presented themselves to God as they reverently bowed slightly before Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, and received the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the holy chrism in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Just a step behind them in presence and prayer, their sponsor witnessed the moment as they placed their hand on the shoulder of the candidate they had walked with on their faith journey. Then, as they walked past the filled pews, the head-turning scent of chrism slowly filled the air.

In total, 758 Catholics from at least 72 parishes across the Archdiocese received the Sacrament of Confirmation at six separate Masses celebrated by Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro. They celebrated a bilingual Mass on Jan. 7 at four parishes, including St. Ignatius of Loyola in Spring, Christ the Redeemer in Houston, St. Angela Merici in Missouri City and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.

They also celebrated two more Masses at the Catholic Charismatic Center on Jan. 21, which brought the final total of adults confirmed to 758, a count that was 201 more than last year in 2023, which saw 557 confirmed.

Standing at the front of the altar, Cardinal DiNardo implored the newly confirmed to remain strong in their faith and encouraged the sponsors to remain close in faith to their confirmation candidate. That day signaled the culmination of months of catechesis and effort at their parishes and lives.

SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT A solemn moment in the Liturgy fills the entire sanctuary with silence before Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro recited a prayer that invokes God the Father for an “outpouring of the Holy Spirit,” according to the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The bishop extends his two hands over all those to be confirmed, a sign of continuity of the New Testament custom of laying hands on those who would receive the gift of the spirit.

PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

At left, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo anoints the head of a confirmation candidate during a celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at a Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on the Jan. 7 Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Cardinal DiNardo, with Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, seen at right, confirmed 758 Catholics across six Masses around the Archdiocese in January. TO SEE MORE PHOTOS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/EPIPHANYCONFIRMATION.

“All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit, you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life,” both Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Dell’Oro said in prayer. “Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence.

Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.”

The seven gifts traditionally associated with the spirit are inspired

by Isaiah 11:1-3 and include wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety or reverence and fear of the Lord, also known as wonder and awe.

The Mass also included a renewal of baptismal promises, showing the connection between Confirmation and Baptism. Confirmation, like Baptism, is only given once since it also “imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark.”

After anointing the forehead of each candidate with chrism, a fragrant oil mixture consecrated every year during Holy Week at the annual Chrism Mass, Cardinal DiNardo greeted each sponsor, thanking them for their guidance and presence.

Likewise, Bishop Dell’Oro beamed as he welcomed the hundreds of candidates, also anointing them with chrism, each representing a unique story of the Catholic faith and a testament of their

community.

Following the customary greeting of “Peace be with you” and a momentary pause, they each responded with “And with your spirit.”

During a general audience in 2014, Pope Francis meditated on the Sacrament of Confirmation and said: “When we welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts and allow Him to act, Christ makes

Himself present in us and takes shape in our lives; through us, it will be He — Christ Himself — Who prays, forgives, gives hope and consolation, serves the brethren, draws close to the needy and to the least, creates community and sows peace. Think how important this is: By means of the Holy Spirit, Christ Himself comes to do all this among us and for us.” †

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

IN BRIEF

OBITUARIES

Conference on aging set for Jan. 26, 27

Odell Bliss Wilhite Sr.

HOUSTON — Odell Bliss Wilhite Sr., father of Father Paul Wilhite, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, died Jan. 1. He was 101 years old.

A funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe.

Interment is in Forest Park Lawndale in Houston. †

Ann Marie Descant

FRIENDSWOOD — Ann Marie Descant, mother of John Descant, director of the Clergy Pastoral Outreach Ministry, died Jan. 10. She was 83 years old.

A funeral Mass was held Monday, Jan. 22, at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood. †

Expand and deepen our hearts . . .

Please pray for all victims of violence everywhere and their families.

Pray for those being executed in Texas and their families:

February 28: Ivan Cantu

We asked college students on at Rice University:

What is your spiritual resolution for the New Year?

“This New Year, I would like to be more engaged when I pray. By being more jubilant and genuine in my prayers, I hope to be more present during my time with God and ultimately deepen my faith.”

– Kenny N., Rice University

“My spiritual new year’s resolution is to make time to go to Adoration more frequently and to prayerfully read through the Gospel of John.”

– Joseph P., Rice University

“I want to learn more about the lives and spirituality of the saints.”

– Katie I., Rice University

ARCHGH.ORG/YACM

HOUSTON — The Office of Aging Ministry will host the Catholic conference on aging, “Nurturing the Roots of Our Communal Tree,” at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in the St. Andrew Discipleship Center, located at 19222 Tomball Pkwy. in Houston, in English and Spanish. The free conference features presentations and vendors that support pastoral and practical care for families with older adults.

On Friday, Jan. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the presentations are for parish leaders and include topics such as: making intergenerational connections; memory care support for families; pastoral care for the end-of-life; community providers to support aging; nurturing the faith of older adults; and engaging the gifts of older adults. Friday’s speakers include Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who will share opening remarks at 9:15 a.m., as well as Randy Adams of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, Julie Fritsch Dumalet of the Office Pro-Life Activities and other experts.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the presentations are geared

WANT TO GO? CONFERENCE ON AGING Jan. 26 - 27 • 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Prince of Peace Parish St. Andrew Discipleship Center 19222 Tomball Pkwy. in Houston Register: www.archgh.org/aging toward older adults and family members and topics include: support for in-home care; essential legal planning; pre-planning funerals; aging with a healthier lifestyle; spiritual care for aging; senior care housing options; and community providers to support aging.

Saturday’s speakers feature Dr. Ken Buckles of Gratia Plena Counseling, attorney Gus Tamborello and Sandy Higgins, former director of the Office of Worship, and others.

Registration is free and is required to attend. For more information, to register and view the conference agenda, including topics and speakers, visit www.archgh.org/aging or call 713-741-8712. †

IN MEMORIA Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of February.

Feb. 1, 1904 Rev. Vac Chlapik Feb. 1, 1915 Rev. F.M. Huhn Feb. 2, 1930 Rev. F. Nona Feb. 2, 1995 Rev. Abraham Sy Thuyen Ho, OP Feb. 2, 2004 Msgr. Jack B. Jones Feb. 3, 1968 Rev. Joseph C. Morrell Feb. 3, 1968 Rev. Thomas A. Ryan Feb. 5, 1978 Rev. Joseph Coll Feb. 6, 1955 Rev. N.T. Domanski Feb. 7, 1935 Msgr. John Nicholson Feb. 7, 1935 Rev. Christopher Preker Feb. 8, 1995 Rev. A. Wayne Elkins Feb. 9, 1996 Msgr. Cornelius P. Flynn Feb. 10, 1936 Rev. John Baptist O’Leary Feb. 10, 1991 Msgr. Frank D. Urbanosky Feb. 10, 1997 Rev. John Prill Feb. 11, 1957 Rev. Fabian Stindle Feb. 11, 1957 Rev. Joseph Kloboulk Feb. 11, 1978 Rev. John Zimmer, CSsR Feb. 12, 1906 Rev. J.J. Costello, CSB Feb. 12, 1923 Rev. Pete J. Clancy Feb. 13, 1988 Rev. Richard Johnson, CSsR Feb. 13, 2001 Rev. Charles Ferguson Feb. 13, 2011 Msgr. Joseph H. Crosthwait

Feb. 14, 1916 Rev. D.F. Berberich Feb. 14, 1951 Rev. Emil Landry Feb. 14, 1978 Msgr. Jerome J. Tydlacka Feb. 14, 1979 Rev. E.C. Fowler Feb. 15, 2018 Rev. Aureliano Santa-Olaya Feb. 16, 1951 Rev. Walter Fraher, MS Feb. 17, 1879 Rev. Theodore Greyenbuhl Feb. 17, 2017 Rev. Bruce H. Noble Feb. 18, 1933 Rev. Otto Niekamp Feb. 19, 1883 Rev. Joseph Mosiewiez Feb. 19, 1960 Msgr. George A. Wilhelm Feb. 19, 1965 Rev. Henry V. Parmentier Feb. 20, 1968 Rev. Florimond B. Vanholme,SSC Feb. 20, 1984 Msgr. William D. Steele Feb. 21, 1983 Rev. Leonard C. Quinlan, CSB Feb. 21, 2005 Rev. Robert A. Bordenkircher, OP Feb. 22, 1879 Rev. Martin Weinzaepflen Feb. 22, 2001 Rev. Ed Baur, SVD Feb. 24, 1974 Rev. Henry J. Saxon Feb. 24, 2011 Rev. David H. Noble Feb. 25, 1973 Rev. Vincent J. Guinan, CSB Feb. 27, 1980 Rev. Alfred P. Caird, CSB Feb. 28, 1913 Rev. Pierre C. Saint-Onge

texas catholic herald 11

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

EDUCATION

Catholic schools mark golden anniversary of National Catholic Schools Week The annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. enters its 50th year.

PHOTO BY CATIE WATSO/OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOUSTON

Houston Police Department Officer Jesús Robles meets with students at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School students in Houston during a past Catholic Schools Week event.

This year, the annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. enters its 50th year.

BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — National Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated nationwide and in the Archdiocese from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 with the new theme “United in Faith and Community.”

Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Secretariat of Catholic Education, Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. traditionally held the last week in January.

Debra Haney, Ed.D., secretariat director and superintendent of Catholic Schools, said, “I am excited about this year’s celebration of National Catholic Schools Week because we are focusing on what sets us apart from other school systems and what our schools do best, which is to form students on their spiritual journey toward sainthood.”

Haney said NCEA’s new theme celebrates the hallmarks of a Catholic education.

“These hallmarks focus on the tradition of excellence in our Catholic school system, learning that has faith integrated throughout all aspects of the curriculum and school life, strong solidarity within the community, service to others through Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, a holistic education that develops inspiring leaders, and celebrations that are engaging and full of energy and enthusiasm,” she said.

The Archdiocese observes the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members.

Bernadette Drabek at St. Rose of Lima said the school’s tradition of the mechanical pig races will happen every day except on Mass day. Other events include competitions between their student houses: Bravery, Creativity, Stewardship and Truth & Wisdom. House competitions include reading logs, dress like a star, house color competition and a lip sync competition at a pep rally Friday.

MORE INFO For more information about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, visit WWW.CHOOSECATHOLICSCHOOLS.ORG. Drabek said another of the house competitions is to make donations for The Gathering, which is a ministry of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church that assists people with special needs (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Dementia, shutins, etc.). The Gathering was a safe and stimulating day of fun held on the fourth Wednesday of the month where parish volunteers were on hand to assist guests with various activities, including a singalong or entertainment, followed by a theme-related craft, exercise like beach ball, volleyball, table basketball or the Hokey Pokey in chairs, and Bingo.

“Middle school students will lead a project collecting items for a ministry of the church that has been closed since COVID-19,” she said. “They will be collecting items in January to assist with bringing back The Gathering.”

On Tuesday, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in The Woodlands is taking the CSW theme and making a paper monstrance with all of its students’ names, as well as the names of all staff members. A monstrance is the exposition

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case and stand, typically large and ornate to display the Eucharist for certain processions and devotions.

“Students will sign their name on a piece of gold paper, and then all of the pieces will come together later that day,” said Kristina Martin, religion coordinator at St. Anthony of Padua. “At the bottom of the monstrance will have an image of Mary, since she is all our mother. My favorite monstrance that I’ve prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament was one at Life Teen Camp Hidden Lake, and it was the inspiration for the base. The monstrance will be assembled outside of our library, a high-traffic area, so all the students will remember we are united to Christ and each other.”

Also focusing on the theme is St. Jerome Catholic School. Principal DeeDee Rzasnicki said the school is excited to work with the Missionary Child Association based out of Fort Worth. The organization will provide each child with materials to make two rosaries — one for themselves and one they will send to their missions across the globe to give to children. The five colors for each decade represent the areas where the organization has its missions.

“I chose this particular event because

I was touched by the idea the we are asking children to participate and join as one to pray for world peace,” Rzasnicki said. “Sometimes our students get caught up with what they think is important and what really is important is much greater.

We are very active in Works of Mercy for our parish and local community but our faith demands that we serve each other around the globe.”

On Wednesday, St. Theresa Catholic School in Sugar Land will have International Day, where the students, faculty, staff and parent volunteers dress up in cultural attire for the day.

“The parent volunteers decorate classrooms to represent the country where a miracle occurred — Eucharist, Marian, or saint miracle. The children travel from country to country to learn about various miracles, and they get their passport stamped,” said Fran Rice, principal at St. Theresa. “At lunchtime, more parent volunteers will have samples of food that are common to the culture of the countries represented.”

During the week, Catholic schools plan to share their Catholic Schools Week celebrations on social media using #CSW2024.

To learn more about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, visit www.choosecatholicschools.org. †

12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD EDUCATION

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

Poetry contest focuses middle school students on Eucharistic Adoration

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — To highlight the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, Catholic middle school students are being encouraged to write poems about Eucharistic Adoration as the theme for the 2024 Catholic Literary Arts’ Archdiocesan Poetry Contest.

The contest for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students in the Archdiocese is now open for poetry submissions on the Catholic Literary Arts (CLA) website, www.CatholicLiteraryArts.com, until submissions close at 11:59 p.m. on March 1. Professional writers will review the students’ poems, of which hundreds have been submitted annually over the years.

Sarah Cortez, president and founder of CLA and member of the Texas Institute of Letters, said, “These sacred poetry contests for middle schools are one of a variety of ways that Catholic Literary Arts is helping to birth the next generation of faithful, inspiring and inspired Catholic writers.”

This year, nine winners from Archdiocesan Catholic middle schools will be chosen — three from each of the three grades to win first, second and third place prizes. Another nine will be chosen from the Catholic homeschool network.

All 18 will have their winning poetry pieces published by CLA in an anthology.

Last year’s overall Poet Laureate winner, Samantha Court, received $500 in prize money and free tuition to attend the Fearless Catholic Writers Summer Workshop on the campus of the University of St. Thomas (UST). She highly recommends that students enter the contest.

“It was through competitions that I realized how much I love writing and how passionate I am about it. My hope is that students who compete will be able to find a deep love for their faith and for literature, too,” she said.

Now a ninth grader at a Catholic high school, Samantha Court added, “I can use my writing as a channel for my faith, to communicate to others not only as a writer but as a Catholic. This is the most

important thing I have taken away from my experience.”

Her mother, Caroline Court, said she was impressed by the many experiences and opportunities that the contest invited Samantha to engage in when she won the 2023 Archdiocesan Poet Laureate title for her poem “Amor in Amnis (Latin for “Love in the Stream”), about the Baptism of Jesus.

“Witnessing Samantha read her poem before the famous poet Dana Gioia and seeing her poem published in the St. Austin Review were a few of her accomplishments that brought joy to our family,” Caroline Court said. “I believe our greatest blessing is that the CLA has given Samantha a new home where she can continue her pursuit as a Catholic writer.”

Samantha Court was also included in an article in the National Catholic Register about the Catholic literary renaissance developing across the country.

After contest submissions close

by March 1 and poems are reviewed, winners will be posted on March 20. Two separate awards ceremonies will take place at the UST campus. Homeschooled students will be celebrated on April 3 at 9 a.m., and Catholic school students will be awarded on April 10 at 9 a.m. at UST. Debra Haney, Ed.D., secretariat director and superintendent of Catholic Schools, said, “Giving students an opportunity to spend time with professional writers and develop their love of composition, complemented with the infusion of faith-focused topics centered on Christ is a very unique and special experience.”

“We are grateful to CLA for their support of our Catholic schools and for their work with the very talented writers within our schools,” Haney said.

For additional information, visit www.

CatholicLiteraryArts.com. †

A PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons and consecrated persons.

Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen – USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life And Vocations

texas catholic herald 13

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

YOUTH Answering the universal call to prayer A coworker recently mentioned that Pope Francis had called for 2024 to be a year of prayer in preparation for the Jubilee year of 2025. I was taken aback because I had not heard of this. The irony is not lost on me that a call from the Holy Father for the universal Church to focus on a year of prayer was lost amidst the cacophony of other messages flooding my inbox and vying for my attention. How easy it is to push prayer aside when there are “more important” things to be done.

As a father of five, there is always more than enough to fill my days. Often, I feel stretched and pulled until my nerves are frayed, and my patience is thin. Although I seek to maintain a routine of prayer in my life, there is one error I constantly fall into. I treat prayer as an initiative that begins with me rather than a response to a call that originates in the eternity of God. The Catechism, in its section on the “Revelation of prayer,” chooses to remind us that we as human beings are constantly searching for God because we were created out of His unfathomable

love and goodness. Even though we sin and fall short of that love and goodness, we have written into our essence a desire to search for God. Through that very essence of what it means to be human, by God tirelessly calls each of us to the encounter of BRIAN prayer. The first step of HENRITZE prayer always begins with God; our own first step is merely a response to His divine revelation.

I remember several years ago sharing with my spiritual director that I did not feel the same passion and zeal I had in my youth when I first began to actively live out my faith. I am still unpacking his Spirit-filled response to my restlessness, which was this simple question: “Are you wanting God to reveal Himself to you in the same way He did back then, or are you open to God revealing Himself to you in new ways here and now?”

Saturday, Feb. 10

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.



Over the years, God has continued to reveal Himself to me. However, I have not always been as willing to respond to His ever-deepening revelation as I was when I first came to know Christ Jesus.

You see, the more God reveals Himself to man, the more He reveals man to himself. As God shares more of His heart with us, He calls us to respond by surrendering more of our hearts to Him. This is the core of answering the universal call to prayer. During this year of prayer, I encourage you to be open to the gradual ways in which God is revealing Himself to you, and I want to provide three practical ways that can help you and others in your life encounter God in prayer.

First, encounter God through His Word. Pick a book from the Bible that you’ve never read or haven’t read in a long time, and prayerfully read through it, asking God to reveal Himself to you.

Second, encounter God through the Liturgy. Be open to experiencing the Liturgy of the Church in a new way, pick a new Mass time, or attend Mass at a different parish, and be open to how God

“As God shares more of His heart with us, He calls us to respond by surrendering more of our hearts to Him.” wants to encounter you there.

Third and finally, encounter God through prayerful service. This can be as grand as an immersive mission trip or as simple as doing small acts of service with great love. The important aspects are to approach service as a form of prayer and be open to encountering Christ in those you serve. † Brian Henritze is an associate director with the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.

14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

COLUMNISTS Sacramentals: A symphony of faith and everyday life In a world where the sacred and secular seem at odds, sacramentals emerge as a harmonious symphony, blending faith with the rhythm of everyday life.

The Church’s rich tradition, epitomized in the use of sacramentals, transcends mere rituals, inviting believers into a sacred dance with the divine. From liturgical vestments to blessed items like holy water, each sacramental weaves a narrative of grace, reminding us that the ordinary is, indeed, extraordinary when touched by the sacred. As we embrace sacramentals, the mundane becomes a canvas for divine encounters, and the sacred permeates the fabric of our daily lives.

Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church to sanctify different circumstances of life. They are tangible expressions of our faith, serving as reminders of God’s presence and grace in our lives. Drawing from the graces of the seven Sacraments, the Church intercedes for God’s direct intervention throughout our lives.

But why do we bless objects? Why do we invest them with a sacred character?

The catechism teaches us that sacramentals are instituted for the by sanctification of certain ministries, states of life, and a great variety ADAM of circumstances in BRILL Christian life. They are meant to be responsive to the needs, culture and special history of the Christian people in a particular region or time. In essence, the blessing of objects is a way for us to seek His grace in our daily lives.

When we bless an object, we are not merely performing a ritual; we are inviting God’s presence and power to be manifest with the support of that object. We aren’t seeking to create talismans that have magical powers but rather visible signs of our faith, acting as reminders of God’s love and

protection. Just as the sign of the cross is a powerful symbol of our redemption, so too does the blessing of objects infuse them with a sacred purpose and meaning.

The act of blessing objects is deeply rooted in Scripture and tradition, where we are taught the importance of recognizing the sacredness of the material world and consecrating it for divine purposes. Since the early Church, the practice of blessing objects has been widespread.

The faithful sought the intercession of the Church to bless their homes, their fields and even their tools. This tradition continues to this day, as we bring objects such as rosaries, crucifixes and holy water into our homes. In the recently concluded seasons of Advent and Christmas, you may have witnessed the blessing of Advent wreaths, nativity scenes and Epiphany chalk. These blessed objects serve as reminders of our faith and as conduits of God’s grace.

The practice of blessing objects is a

“Blessed objects serve as reminders of our faith and as conduits of God’s grace.” beautiful and meaningful tradition within the Catholic Church. Through the intercession of the Church, we seek God’s blessings upon ourselves our whole life. These blessed objects serve as tangible reminders of God’s presence and grace in our lives.

Let us embrace the sacredness of sacramentals and continue to seek God’s blessings in all aspects of our journey of faith. † Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.

Conversion rather than controversy St. Paul the Apostle is a great model of conversion and a great reflection of how we are to be working on our own hearts. Although he was once the protestor and auditor of his time, his conversion is one filled with hope that can only come from Jesus.

Before his conversion, he was a great activist against the holy followers of Jesus, whom he accused as enemies of the law. He would deliberately find ways to accuse the faithful and saw with the eyes of ‘catching them doing bad.’

However, it wasn’t until the Lord Jesus Christ showed Paul mercy and grace that his conversion was sparked. “And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I

am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.” (Acts 9:5-6). I find it truly amazing to imagine being stopped right in our tracks, on our way to pointing fingers at sinners, and then having Jesus Himself look at our own hearts; I’m always in awe of this miracle.

At times, we may have jumped to conclusions a time or two and seen only the ill will of others, but our own hearts also need continuous conversion. So, what are we doing to not fall into the trap of seeing ill will? Are we giving

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Jesus the time with our own hearts by participating in the holy Sacrament of Reconciliation? Acknowledging that it takes humility to stand in the confessional line and courage to see our own faults, we, too, like St. Paul, are invited to reflect on times we have been the persecutor of others.

St. Paul goes on to evangelize and catechize many souls and reminds us that no one is exempt from conversion, and by doing so, we become true witnesses. Without pride or boastfulness, instead, the invitation stands to conversion on our way to following Jesus. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:4-7).

Therefore, let us reflect and ask ourselves, are our confessional lines as full as our holy Liturgies? Or is our formation attendance equivalent to our spiritual direction encounters? Perhaps our university graduating class numbers are proportionate to the numbers of the nearest chapel occupancy? Since we understand that the numbers do not

necessarily compensate each other, comparing holy Mass attendance and our confessional lines, I cordially invite you to Reconciliation and/or Adoration, a simple retreat to get by away and visit Our Lord.

There is something so pure and true of the MELISSA teachings Jesus told us ALVAREZ to observe while on earth, and I cannot wait to see you there, my friend. The feast day of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle is celebrated on Jan. 25, and he invites us to “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor 16:13). Choosing conversion rather than controversy, starting with our own hearts.

May Jesus’s mercy and grace multiply! † Melissa Alvarez is an associate director for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

JANUARY 28

First Reading: Deut 18:15-20

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-9

Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:32-35

Gospel: Mk 1:21-28

FEBRUARY 4

First Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:1-6

Second Reading: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Gospel: Mk 1:29-39

FEBRUARY 11

First Reading: Lev 13:1-2, 44-46

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 10:31--11:1

Gospel: Mk 1:40-45

texas catholic herald 15

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

WORLD We Transform the World!

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis meets with a group of young professionals attending a meeting promoted by the Toniolo Young Professional Association during an audience at the Vatican Jan. 12.

Renew the world with creativity, bold dreams, pope tells young people VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Young people are meant to be “levers” that renew established systems, not “gears” to keep the old ways grinding, Pope Francis told a group of young professionals.

“We all need the creativity and impetus that only you young people can give us; creativity and impetus lie in your hands.

Your thirst for truth, your cry for peace, your insight into the future, your hopeful smiles — we need these things!” he said.

Dream big, pursue a passion, be creative and get your hands dirty without fear, he told the group during an audience at the Vatican Jan. 12. The group included young people taking part in a meeting promoted by the Toniolo Young Professional Association.

The pope said he worries when he hears about young people “barricaded behind a screen, their eyes reflecting artificial light instead of letting their creativity shine.”

“Being young is not thinking about holding the world in your hands but getting your hands dirty for the world; it is having a life in front of you to spend, not to stow away or archive,” he said.

“It is sad to see young people being sluggish and anesthetized, lying on the couch instead of engaged in their schools and streets, bent over their screens instead of a book or a brother or sister in need,” he said.

It is also sad, he said, to see young professionals who “are professional on the outside and lifeless on the inside, who, ‘squeezed dry’ from their duties, take refuge in the pursuit of pleasure.”

The pope told those gathered for the audience that their passion and commitment are “antidotes” to today’s prevalent ways of thinking that are reactive, shallow and shortsighted.

He encouraged them to avoid the temptation to adapt to temporal, fleeting

things but rather to cultivate “a lofty gaze that seeks the stars, not the dust.”

So many young people seem “squeezed dry,” he said, by having to perform at an increasingly demanding level, draining them of their “restless dreams” and passions.

The world needs the creativity, hopes, insights and drive of young people, he said. They should take these things everywhere they go and “put yourselves out there without fear because young people are the levers that renew systems, not the cogs that must keep them going,” he said.

Being creative also means creating something with “the same style with which God made the world, the style of gratuitousness, which surpasses the logic of ‘I do in order to have’ and ‘I work in order to earn,’” he said.

He said being creative opens the way for innovation or change “in a world that is content with profits. This is how you will be revolutionary. Life asks to be given, not managed.”

Daring initiatives and bold vision, as well as renewal and creativity, are needed everywhere: in diplomacy, the economy, the fight against hunger, climate change, communication, the world of work, and elsewhere, the pope said.

“I entrust you with these dreams as an elderly man who is thrilled to see your young faces, and I think of how much more thrilled Jesus is to look at you, he who always has a young heart and has called young people to follow him,” he said.

The association, founded in 2016, is part of the Giuseppe Toniolo Institute of Higher Studies and connects its university fellowship program with offices of the Roman Curia and Vatican diplomats participating in various international and intergovernmental organizations. †

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

NATION & STATE

Rare Blessed Carlo Acutis stained-glass window installed in Minnesota adoration chapel FORESTON, Minn. (OSV News) — During the parish year of the National Eucharistic Revival, one of the oldest adoration chapels in the Diocese of St. Cloud is getting a very special facelift.

Several stained-glass windows are being installed in St. Anne’s Chapel at St. Louis Parish in Foreston, including a depiction of Blessed Carlo Acutis, one of the patrons of the revival.

Terhaar Stained Glass Studio in Cold Spring created the windows, including the Blessed Carlo window — the first known window of the future saint in the diocese and possibly the first in the country.

“I instantly had to look him up on the computer because I had never heard of him before,” stained-glass artist Christi Becker told The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

The window is one of seven created for the 24-hour adoration chapel. The other windows are of traditional saints, so it was a challenge to create a realistic

depiction of Blessed Carlo that also would fit in with the rest of the design of the chapel.

“This window is going to have a little bit of a different feel from the rest of them because my reference was a photograph, not a painting,” Becker said.

In the reference photographs, Blessed Carlo wears modern clothes, not like other saints. He also carries a backpack and uses a computer.

“I think the challenge for this window was, how do you make it work within the context of all the other saints? And that was probably the biggest challenge,” said David Orton, operations manager of the studio. “I think that Christi came to that conclusion really well.”

Some of the funds to pay for the windows came from a parishioner who passed away and left money to the parish specifically for a beautification project. Rita Olson, who coordinates the adoration schedule for the chapel, was among those who suggested the money be used for stained-glass windows in the

For full descriptions of each position, visit www.archgh.org/ employment Human Resources: Pension Specialist Payroll Coordinator Internal Audit: Senior Internal Auditor Staff Internal Auditor I Parish Accounting Services: Staff Accountant I Staff Accountant II Finance: Staff Accountant Development Department: Development Coordinator Tribunal: Secretary/Notary Office of Aging: Director Family Life Ministry: Associate Director of Innovation Interested candidates may send a cover letter, with salary requirement, and resume to resume@archgh.org with the job title on the subject line. *Submissions that do not include the salary requirement will not be moved forward for consideration.

OSV PHOTO

This stained-glass window of Blessed Carlo Acutis was installed Dec. 13, 2023, in St. Anne’s Chapel, a 24-hour adoration chapel at St. Louis Parish in Foreston, Minn. It was designed by artist Christi Becker and made by Terhaar Stained Glass Studio in Cold Spring, Minn.

chapel.

The chapel is near and dear to Olson’s heart. Her husband, Randy, built it in 2001, and she has coordinated the adoration schedule ever since.

“I think it will inspire people when they are in the chapel surrounded by the saints,” she said. “We’re hoping it will even draw more people.”

The approximate cost of each window is $9,000, and once they put the word out about the project, more donors came forward.

“I would say that within three months, the money was raised,” said Father Derek Wiechmann, former pastor of St. Louis Parish, which is part of the Four Pillars in Faith Area Catholic Community.

Father Wiechmann was transferred to the parishes of Holy Spirit, St. Anthony and Christ Church Newman Center in St. Cloud in June.

The parish council chose the subjects of the additional windows — St. Anne, St. Isidore the Farmer, St. Joseph, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Divine Mercy. There are also two small windows behind the altar of the Holy Spirit. Father Wiechmann, who serves as co-chair of the Eucharistic Revival for the diocese, specifically requested that one window be of Blessed Carlo.

He said that during his time as pastor of the Four Pillars in Faith ACC, much of his focus was on reaching out to youth.

Blessed Carlo is the namesake and patron of the youth group there.

“To have a young saint featured was important,” he said. “And he wasn’t really featured anywhere else in that context, in a stained-glass window.”

Often, we think that we have to go to a far-off place or do something really big to

have an impact, Father Wiechmann said.

Blessed Carlo used what he had available — technology.

“As I have been helping out with the Eucharistic Revival, and just in my own time of prayer and learning about Blessed Carlo Acutis, I think we need his example now more than ever,” he said.

“He took what he had and really ran with it. And I think that’s such a model for us, technology was right there for him and even in the midst of his own suffering with the illness that he had, he never let that fire go out. I think that’s what is so exciting about him.” †

IN BRIEF Servant of God’s ‘Diaries’ open a window into the soul of a disciple, says Boston cardinal

BRAINTREE, Mass. (OSV News) — When Boston Seán Cardinal O’Malley first met the co-initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello and the late Carmen Hernandez, he was struck by the intense nature of their interactions, which — no matter how blunt or irrepressible — he came to realize were a manifestation of the genuine affection they had for one another.

“Carmen’s job was always keeping Kiko grounded, and she did that with great expertise,” Cardinal O’Malley said. “And Kiko was always very grateful for that. ... He realized the importance of her witness to him.” During the Jan. 7 presentation of the English edition of Hernandez’s “Diaries: 1979–1981” (Gondolin Press), the prelate compared the “spiritual alliance” between Argüello and Hernandez, a servant of God, to that of St. Francis and St. Clare or that of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica. Founded in Spain in the 1960s, amid the shanty towns of Palomeras Altas near Madrid, the Neocatechumenal Way was defined by St. John Paul II as “an itinerary of Catholic formation.”

Cardinal O’Malley called Hernandez the midwife for the birth of the Neocatechumenal Way, which has over 21,000 communities worldwide, according to the organization’s website. The cardinal said that it also has about a million members, 100 seminaries, “and (is) preparing for the evangelization of China.” †

texas catholic herald 17

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

MUNDO CATÓLICO Eligiendo la conversión en lugar de la controversia San Pablo continúa evangelizando y catequizando a muchas almas y nos recuerda que nadie está exento de la conversión y que al hacerlo nos convertimos en verdaderos testigos. Sin orgullo, ni jactancia y, en cambio, invitan a la conversión al camino del amor de Dios. “El amor es paciente y bondadoso; el amor no es celoso ni jactancioso; No es arrogante ni grosero.

El amor no insiste en su propio camino; no es irritable ni resentido; no se regocija en el mal, sino que se regocija en el bien. El amor todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta” (1 Cor 13:4-7).

Por lo tanto, reflexionemos: ¿Acaso nuestras filas de confesión están tan concurridas como nuestras sagradas liturgias, como son, la confesión, la adoración y las misas? ¿Otra comparación seria nuestra asistencia a la formación, acaso es equivalente a nuestros encuentros de dirección espiritual? ¿O quizás el número de la capacidad de la misa de graduación universitaria, es proporcional al número de los que caben dentro de un santuario?

Dado a que los números no reflejan una misma participación de los feligreses al confesarse o acudir a misa.

Yo te invito al lindo sacramento de la reconciliación o tal vez a visitar a Nuestro Señor en la capilla de adoración. Hay algo tan puro y verdadero en todas las directivas que Jesús nos dijo que observáramos mientras estuviéramos en la tierra, y no puedo esperar a verte allí, amigo mío. El 25 de enero se celebra la fiesta de la conversión del apóstol San Pablo y nos invita a “estar atentos, permanecer firmes en vuestra fe, ser valientes, ser fuertes. Hágase con amor todo lo que hagáis” (1 Cor 16:13). Elegir la conversión en lugar de la controversia, comenzando con nuestros propios corazones. ¡Que la misericordia y la gracia de Jesús se multipliquen! † Melissa Álvarez es directora asociada de Ministerio con Personas con Discapacidades de la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis.

La Oficina de Envejecimiento presenta:

NUTRIENDO LAS RAÍCES DE NUESTRO ÁRBOL COMUNITARIO UNA CONFERENCIA CATÓLICA PARA HONRAR Y APOYAR EL ENVEJECIMIENTO

The Office of Aging Presents:

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nuestros corazones.

Para mí, este milagro me ha causado un gran asombro….

Todos somos culpables de sacar conclusiones precipitadas a veces y por ver solo la mala voluntad de los demás que hasta nos olvidamos MELISSA de que nuestros propios ALVAREZ corazones, que también necesitan conversión.

Entonces, ¿Qué estamos haciendo para no caer en la trampa de ver mala voluntad? ¿Le estamos dando a Jesús el tiempo con nuestros propios corazones al participar en el santo sacramento de la reconciliación?

Reconociendo que se necesita humildad para hacer una confesión verdadera y valentía para ver nuestras propias faltas, también nosotros, como San Pablo, estamos invitados a reflexionar sobre las veces que hemos sido perseguidores y extremos defensores de la religión.

O N TT O IEE N MI M AA RR

El apóstol San Pablo es un gran modelo de conversión y un gran reflejo de cómo debemos trabajar en nuestros propios corazones. Aunque una vez, Pablo fue un gran defensor de la ley en su tiempo, su conversión la cual está llena de la esperanza, solo puede venir de Jesús.

Antes de su conversión, fue un gran activista contra los santos seguidores de Jesús, a quienes acusaba de enemigos de la ley. Deliberadamente encontraba formas de acusar a los fieles y encontrar culpables para: “atraparlos haciendo el mal”. Sin embargo, no fue hasta que Nuestro Señor Jesucristo le mostró a Pablo, la misericordia y la gracia, que inicio su conversión. “Y él dijo: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y él dijo: Yo soy Jesús, a quien vosotros perseguís; Pero levántate y entra en la ciudad, y se te dirá lo que tienes que hacer’.

Los hombres que viajaban con él se quedaron mudos, oyendo la voz, pero sin ver a nadie. (Hec 9:5-6). Es realmente asombroso que te detengan en seco en tu camino y te señalen con el dedo como pecador y después que Jesús mismo vea

(Centro Comunitario St. Andrew)

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18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024

WITHIN THE ARTS

Presentation explores Theology of the Body, Eucharist through sacred art on Feb. 6 at St. Joseph

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald

WANT TO GO? THEOLOGY OF THE BODY AND THE

HOUSTON — An upcoming EUCHARIST THROUGH SACRED ART presentation at St. Joseph Catholic WITH KATE CAPATO Church at 1505 Kane St. near downtown When: Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Houston will explore St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and teachings on Where: St. Joseph Parish the Eucharist.

1505 Kane St., Houston As the Eucharistic Revival continues Cost: Free in its second year, with the current one focused on parish revival, Father Victor Sacred art painter Kate Capato hosts Perez, pastor of St. Joseph, invited Kate an evening of immersive art showcasCapato, a Philadelphia-based sacred ing her original sacred art paintings artist and painter, to visit St. Joseph on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. and share her and ending with a time of Adoration original sacred art and presentations and Visio Divina prayer accompanied on the Theology of the Body and the by live music from Pawel Machura.

Eucharist.

“Just as we experience God through the tangible Sacraments, we can also find God through beauty,” said Father Perez.

“Everyone receives things differently.

“The presentation will appeal to the Different types of beauty, like painting hearts of people through beauty, not just and music, help us enter into and better teaching.” grasp the Gospel messages,” Capato said.

“By appreciating sacred art, it helps “We hope to re-ignite, for some people, us appreciate the sacramental way of the idea of the True Presence of the seeing the world and God through visible Eucharist. We’re in a day and age where beauty,” Father Perez said. “Our reason alone is not easy to have souls can be lifted up to God conversations with, where it’s through beauty.” your truth versus my truth.

Capato said she was looking Beauty has the power to pierce forward to her Houston stop on through all that noise. The hope a nationwide tour. is to use beauty to help pierce Inspired by the notion to hearts to receive that truth, or “lead with beauty,” Capato’s be reminded of that truth, of the presentation will focus on real presence of Christ in the the Theology of the Body, Eucharist.” the Eucharist and sacred art, Capato’s sacred art features KATE CAPATO including her own paintings, as realistic depictions of the Holy well as a variety of other works Family, saints and other faithful by well-known master artists, such as devotions.

Michelangelo, DaVinci and others.

She said she hopes the presentation With a message focused on the will remind those looking for truth of “all “ultimate call to communion with the the things that we truly ache for.”

Lord and what it means for us to be in full “Sometimes a homily at Mass isn’t communion, body and soul,” Capato said enough for even parishioners,” she said. the presentation will feature different “They maybe heard about the Eucharist artworks and types of beauty, such as at Mass or in passing, but did they really music and physical art. Capato’s husband, receive and understand it? We hope to Pawel Machura, will accompany her with plant more seeds in hearts and that it will live music during her presentation and have a ripple effect in their friends and Eucharistic Adoration. family.”

MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News

► For more full movie reviews online, visit www.osvnews.com/category/reviews

A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL • Migration (PG)

• The Boys in the Boat (PG-13) • The Holdovers (R) • Wonka (PG)

A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN • Trolls Band Together (PG) A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS • Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (PG-13) • Freud’s Last Session (PG-13) • Maestro (R) • Mean Girls (PG-13) • Night Swim (PG-13) • Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (NR)

L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE • May December (R) • The Color Purple (PG-13) • The Iron Claw (R) O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE • Anyone But You (R) • Saltburn (O) • Silent Night (R) • The Beekeeper (R)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATE CAPATO/VISUALGRACE.ORG

Above, Kate Capato, a sacred artist based in Philadelphia, speaks about one of her paintings during a presentation. Capato will be presenting on the exploring Theology of the Body and the Eucharist through Sacred Art at St. Joseph Parish in Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. The evening will conclude with a time of Eucharistic Adoration and Visio Divina prayer with live music. Below, one of Capato’s paintings depicts the Holy Family.

Though the presentation is geared towards young adults, Capato said the evening is open to anyone, especially those who can appreciate art and spirituality. Part of the evening will also feature “Visio Divina.”

Not a well-known way to pray, Capato said, “Visio Divina” is a meditation similar to “Lectio Divina,” that focuses on art rather than Scripture.

“Instead of the Bible, ‘Visio Divina’ refers to visual art,” she said. “The goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through a work of sacred art by gazing upon it and just asking the Lord, ‘OK, What do you want to say to me through this artwork?’ and just really listening.

Sometimes, you can picture yourself in the artwork, maybe one of the figures in the piece particularly draws you in, or maybe there’s a color that draws your eye. It’s just listening to the Lord through a sacred visual. It’s really powerful to see what the Lord might say.”

In “Visio Divina,” Capato said it can take an effort to become still enough to hear what the Lord has to say, just like in any other prayer.

Capato and her husband recently welcomed a new child, and she said she understands how hard it is to be still, especially as a new mother.

“It takes stillness,” she said. “Just being still enough where you’re patient to hear what He says in response to your questions. We’re so busy today, we often don’t take time to be still and receive the Lord in such a way.”

Capato said she hoped to articulate God’s beauty through her sacred art and offer a unique encounter with God’s love in a “safe space to hear it in a way that’s beautiful” and to “help [others] realize how the Lord is drawing us with love.”

“When we fully encounter the love of Christ, our whole world shifts,” she said.

“It doesn’t mean everything gets easy, but we receive a new strength and in that love.”

Father Perez said he looked forward to welcoming Capato at St. Joseph, especially in a church well-known for its own beauty.

For more information, call the St. Joseph Parish Office at 713-222-6193 or visit www.saintjoseph.org online. †

texas catholic herald 19

JANUARY 23, 2024 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

NURTURING THE ROOTS OF OUR COMMUNAL TREE AThe CA T H O of LIC C OPresents: NFERENCE TO HONOR AND SUPPORT AGING Office Aging DV AD VO OC Y -- A CA I TT Y

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PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH PA

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E-mail event details to tch@archgh.org for possible inclusion in the Around the Archdiocese calendar or scan the QR code and fill out the form online at www.archgh.org/ata.

There is no charge for listings but space is limited.

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FEB. 16 - 17

COUPLES CONFERENCE, Friday, 7 to 10 p.m., and

SUBMIT EVENTS FOR AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE Around the Archdiocese

The Office of Aging Presents:

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WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE, 11 a.m., CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

FEB. 15 - 18

••• To find additional listings online, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

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FEB. 4

ACTS RETREAT, Christian Renewal Center (1515 Hughes Rd., Dickinson). St. Hyacinth’s Men’s ACTS host a retreat focuses on entering into a new or deeper relationship with the Lord. juanm_dp@hotmail.com.

BAZAAR, Saturday, 3 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Holy Ghost (6921 Chetwood Dr., Houston). Event features raffles, live and silent auctions, Bingo, food, games, music and more.

713-668-0463.

FEB. 17 - 21

LENTEN MISSION, Prince of Peace (19222 Tomball Parkway, Houston). Father Cedric Pisegna, C.P., will preach at all English weekend Masses, and 9 a.m. Masses on Monday through Wednesday,

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FEB. 3-4

ITALIAN MASS AND LUNCH, 10:30 a.m., The Italian Cultural and Community Center (1101 Milford St., Houston). Father Leon Strieder will celebrate an Italian-English Mass followed by an Italian lunch, including pasta, meatballs, salad, dessert and ice, tea or coffee. Cost: $10. www.iccchouston.com; 713-774-2628; jcoles8433@sbcglobal.net.

CARITAS DAY, 8 a.m. to noon, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Lenten day of service begins with Mass followed by pre-selected service projects benefiting 10-plus local charities, ends with lunch. Free. outreach@sacredhearthouston. org; sacredhearthouston.org/caritasday.

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FEB. 1-3

GARAGE SALE, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Garage sale with furniture, household items, clothing, jewelry, baby items, toys, books and more. Early bird pre-sale ($25 per person) Wednesday, Jan. 31, 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday is free. Rain or shine. garagesale@silcc. org; ignatiusloyola.org/garage-sale.

FEB. 11

SPAGHETTI DINNER AND FUNDRAISER, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Guardian Angel (5610 Demel St., Wallis).

CDA Court #1538 host spaghetti dinner with meat sauce, salad, green beans, garlic bread and dessert. Event includes raffle, live and silent auction. Cost: $12 for meal; donation for desserts, raffle tickets $1. 281-224-0477; annamull66@att.net.

PARISH LENTEN MISSION, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston).

Embracing Lent’s call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving with the Sisters of Life. Saturday, in English, 2 p.m. Mission, 5 p.m. Mass; Sunday, in Spanish, 9 a.m. Mission, 1 p.m. Mass; Sunday, in Vietnamese, 9 a.m. Mass, 10:30 a.m. Mission. sacredhearthouston.org/lent.

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FEB. 1

MEMORIAL MASS, 7 p.m., Prince of Peace (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court of the Holy Family #2597 host the annual St. Gianna’s Hope Memorial Mass for Infant Loss to honor and pray with families who have lost infant children or miscarried. Bring diapers, pullups, diaper wipes or formula to benefit Mercy Ministry. 281-3810309; maryjalbert@sbcglobal.net.

DINNER & DANCE, 6 p.m., St. Anne (1122 South Cherry St., Tomball). Knights of Columbus host dinner and dance with catered meal, music and auction. Proceeds benefit religious vocations. Cost: $50 per person. 346-645-3100, kc-11472.org.

VINTAGE MARKET, Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., St. Anne (2140 Westheimer Rd., Houston). Household goods, collectibles, furniture, sports equipment, books, jewelry and more. Free. 713-526-3276; saintanne.org/news-events/596-vintage-values.

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TAILGATE FUNDRAISER, 3 p.m., St. Peter Claver (6005 N. Wayside Dr., Houston). KPC Council & Court No. 72 host annual Green Leaf Tea and Tailgate Fundraiser with drinks, silent auction and more during the AFC Championship Game. Cost: $15 admission. 832-971-3456; 713-824-1336.

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Michael the Archangel (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). Houston Catholic Women’s Conference features keynote speaker Kathleen Beckman, Mass, confession and fellowship with other Catholic women from Houston. Cost: $55; after Feb. 8, $60. $70 at the door, includes lunch. Register: houstoncwc.net. 281-948-6256; houstoncwc01@gmail.com.

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JAN. 28

HEART OF WORSHIP, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., St. Laurence (3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). Conference with talks on the Eucharist by speakers Patty Schneier and Father David Michael Moses, praise and worship, dinner, Mass and Adoration. Catered dinner from Carrabba’s. Registration open to age 12 and older. Cost: $30 early bird registration by Jan. 22, $50 after. sehrenkranz@stlaurence.org; stlaurence.org/how.

FEB. 24

FEB. 17 - 18

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YARD & GUMBO SALE, Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Philip Neri (10960 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston). Sunshine Ministry hosts yard sale, with most items at $2. Gumbo sale: $10 dine-in or $12 to-go. 713-882-1134.

FEB. 10

FEB. 17

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JAN. 27-28

FEB. 9-11

WEEKEND WORKSHOP, Emmaus Spirituality Center (12211 Memorial Dr., Houston). “The Way Towards Peace: Daring to Stretch Beyond our Comfort” is for everyone who desires to be or become an artist of the Good News, presented

by Father Philip Chircop, S.J. Cost: $300 per person. info@emmausspiritualitycenter.com; 281-241-9678; emmausspiritualitycenter.com.

FEB. 23-25

WEEKEND RETREAT, 5 p.m. Friday to 11 a.m.

Sunday, Mother of Perpetual Help Retreat Center (3417 W. Little York, Houston). Marian Servants of the Incarnate Wisdom present “Healing Through the Power of Jesus Christ” with Father Greg Bramlage, founder of the Missionaries of the New Evangelization. Cost: $250 per person. info@marianservantshouston.org.

CURSILLO, 9 a.m., Our Lady of Lavang (12320 Old Foltin Rd., Houston). Latino, Vietnamese and English Cursillo communities host Cursillo’s Grand Ultreya. Event begins with 9 a.m. Mass.

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JAN. 26-27

AGING CONFERENCE, Friday and Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Prince of Peace - St. Andrew Discipleship Center (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). Office of Aging hosts “Nurturing The Roots of Our Communal Tree: A Catholic Conference to Honor and Support Aging,” a two-day event with presentations and vendors that support pastoral and practical care for families with older adults. Friday’s sessions are geared for parish leaders; Saturday is for older adults and family members. View agenda and register at archgh.org/aging.

SPIRITAN CHINESE EDUCATION DINNER, 6 p.m., Ocean Palace (11215 Bellaire Blvd., Houston).

The Father Matteo Ricci, S.J., Chinese Education Dinner features keynote speaker Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, S.D.B. and raises funds to bring priests and sisters from China for advanced studies at the University of St. Thomas. Register: pkleung@ccim.net.

with a 7 p.m. evening service. frcedric.org.

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FEB. 8

FAITH NIGHT, 6 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). Inspired by the Eucharistic Revival, event includes praise and worship music, preaching, Eucharistic Adoration and refreshments.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Angela Merici (9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City). Mark Gungor, a love and marriage speaker, explores the underlying dynamics of male/female relationships. Cost: $35. 281-778-0400; adultff@ stamericigh.com.

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JAN. 26

celebrates Mass in gratitude for the gift of consecrated life and to pray for and with consecrated men and women religious.

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► FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS AND MORE LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

(St. Community Center) St.Andrew Andrew Discipleship Center PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH

19222 Tomball Parkway 19222 Pkwy., Houston, TX 77070 (St.Tomball Andrew Community Houston, TX 77070Center) MOST REVEREND REVEREND DANIEL DANIEL MOST CA AR RD D II N NA A LL D D II N NA AR RD DO O C

19222 Tomball Parkway Houston, TX 77070

FRI, JAN 26, 2024 8:30 12:30 PM FRI,AM JAN-26, 2024

MOST REVEREND DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO

MO ON NS S II G GN NO OR R M CHESTER L. L. BORSKI BORSKI CHESTER

MONSIGNOR CHESTER L. BORSKI

R EE V V EE R R EE N ND D M M II G GU U EE LL R SOLORZANO REVEREND MIGUEL SOLORZANO

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

FOR: PARISH LEADERS FOR: PARISH LEADERS

SOLORZANO

REGISTRATION REQUIRED REGISTRATION REQUIRED FREE EVENT FREE EVENT

SAT, JAN 27, 2024

8:30JAN AM27, - 12:30 SAT, 2024PM 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM FOR: OLDER ADULTS &

FOR: OLDER ADULTS & FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY MEMBERS

TO REGISTER TO REGISTER

FORFOR QUESTIONS/ASSISTANCE QUESTIONS/ASSISTANCEWITH WITH REGISTRATION, CALL 713-741-8712 REGISTRATION, CALL 713-741-8712

E D S SE EAATT I I NN G G L I LMI M I TI ET D

SCAN QRQR CODE SCAN CODE The Conference features presentations and vendors that support pastoral and practical care for families The Conference features presentations and vendors that support pastoral and practical care for families with older adults. For more information/registration:

INFO & REGISTER: WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/AGING

with older adults. For more information/registration:

Visit: ARCHgh.org/offices-ministries/social-justice-and-life/aging-ministry/events/

Visit: ARCHgh.org/offices-ministries/social-justice-and-life/aging-ministry/events/

20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ord’s Give online at give.archgh.org or scan here to give

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JANUARY 23, 2024