Texas Catholic Herald - Feb. 22, 2022

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

texas catholic herald

GIFT OF LOVE, MERCY

Teachers, students and staff united to celebrate Catholic education with special events

This Lent, how can we embrace God’s free gifts of love and mercy?

▪ SEE PAGE 10 & 12

▪ SEE PAGE 9

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

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

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VOL. 58, NO. 18

A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE

BY DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston Dear Sisters and Brothers, The Season of Lent and the Season of Easter are approaching. From March 2 to June 4, we will celebrate in mystery and in truth the passion and death of the Lord Jesus and His Resurrection from the Dead, A Ascension and SHEPHERD’S the Coming of the Holy Spirit at MESSAGE Pentecost.

These 90 days are a quarter of the year and a stewardship of our prayer, attention, reading of Scripture, celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, fasting and feasting, of our whole lives turned towards the Lord.

See SHEPHERD, page 2

‘Seeking the face of Christ’ in Lent ▪ SEE PAGE 4

MINISTRY

Outreach to Catholics of African Descent sees digital growth

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis touches the case holding the Shroud of Turin after praying before the cloth in 2015 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. An upcoming series of presentations about the Shroud will unpack its significance and spirituality right in time for the penitential season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday on March 2 and ends on Holy Thursday, April 14. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4.

BACK IN STRIDE

BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — To compassionately and responsively listen to the voices of African and African American Catholics living in the Houston area, one of the over 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) focuses on providing new and creative ways to support their needs and interests postpandemic.

According to Father Reginald Samuels, vicar of the Ministry to Catholics of African Descent of the Archdiocese, the ministry is working tirelessly to develop new and innovative ways to incorporate digital learning into outreach and uplifting this community of 8,500 families of African, African American and Caribbean Catholic descent. This includes 16 parishes that predominantly serve those of African

Steps for Students makes a spirited return

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

See MINISTRY, page 5

PHOTO BY MEGAN DOHERTY

Father Christian Bui, pastor at St. Edwards Catholic Church, jumps out of the starting line along with students and Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province in Steps for Students 5K.

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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COLUMNISTS † 10 - 12

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HOUSTON — More than 5,000 runners, walkers and volunteers showed up in downtown Houston excited to support Catholic schools in person rather than virtually at the Steps for Students 5K on Feb. 12.

Despite cloudy skies, spirits remained high as Daniel Cardinal DiNardo blessed the runners while a brief shower rained down, coinciding with the 8 a.m. blasts of air horn, church bells chiming and bursts of confetti loudly popping at the starting line.

“Let’s go, get out of the house, run and have a good time!”

ESPAÑOL † 15 |

said Ricky Martinez, father of two students at St. Christopher Catholic School in southeast Houston. He was shepherding his family, including wife Ginny, 9-year-old son Dominic and 13-year-old Cassandra into the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart to attend the event’s 6:30 a.m. Mass.

Ginny, a parent member of the Home & School Association, said the kids were thrilled to learn their school won the 5K’s David Guite Spirit Award, the highest honor given by the Steps for Students race committee.

Named in memory of Guite, a strong advocate for Catholic education and a founding

MILESTONES † 16

See STEPS, page 6

2 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

El Cardenal Daniel DiNardo comparte su columna en línea en español.

Visite www.archgh.org para leer su artículo en línea.

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480)

A Shepherd’s Message

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By Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

“In all our Lenten activities, mindfulness towards the poor, towards those in need, towards those suffering is a major priority greater than anything else. ” SHEPHERD, from page 1 We have become habituated to hearing the term “quarantine,” a word originally from a Christian vocabulary.

“Quaranta” in Latin means “40,” and the original quarantine was the 40day period of Lent, a time to set aside the normal and the everyday and be isolated in prayer, fasting and doing good works of mercy and sharing, especially for the poor. It was also a time set aside for the final preparation for Baptism by the catechumens of the Church.

This quarantine is a genuine time of penance and renewal. After two years of semi-enforced quarantine in our civil lives, our Lenten and Easter experiences this year in a more relaxed environment will be a genuine invitation to meet and encounter the Lord, to return to our Church buildings and encounter one another!

The practices associated with Lent should continue with us now, more frequent celebrations of Mass, celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, following the Stations of the Cross, praying the Rosary more urgently, especially for world peace, and reading/studying

Sacred Scripture, particularly the Gospels.

The Church also asks that all of us refrain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.

Likewise, those required to keep the fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday should do so!

In all our Lenten activities, mindfulness towards the poor, towards those in need, towards those suffering is a major priority greater than anything else. The Lord Jesus wants renewed hearts and minds during the 40 days of Lent so that all can rejoice during the 50 days of Easter.

I would also ask all of us to find a way and take part in the Synodal Consultations in this Archdiocese during these months.

As Pope Francis has requested, these first six months of 2022 are the local preparations in every diocese of the world. Our experiences and observations here will be sent to Washington, D.C. for the Bishops’ consultation with Canada. Then all will be sent to Rome for the great Synod in 2023.

Please take a friend along to one of the sessions scheduled in your area in the next few months. The Holy Father

ADVERTISING ads@archgh.org • 713-652-4407 Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop, President & Publisher Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Designer & Reporter Catherine Viola Graphic Designer & Ad Manager Kerry McGuire and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors The Texas Catholic Herald, an awardwinning member of The Catholic Media Association, 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.

SYNOD RESOURCES For more information and resources about the local Synod process in the Archdiocese, visit the website at WWW. ARCHGH.ORG/SYNOD. is interested in hearing observations and experiences about your Catholic faith. This is not so much about suggesting changes as it is a sharing of genuine experiences with others that the entire Church may benefit from your comments.

May the Mother of God assist us with her prayers in the coming Lent and Easter Seasons. †

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On the cover CSW 2022 • Photo by Catie Watso/Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School Sacred Heart • Photo by James Ramos/Herald

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FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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THE FIRST WORD A Lenten Culinary Tour: Meatless meals from around the globe With Lent around the corner, we’re excited to once again bring you a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season.

This week, Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program highlights dahl, a popular dish from Bangladesh, a South Asian country home to 163 million people.

Located on the Bay of Bengal and crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers, Bangladesh bears the brunt of severe weather during its rainy season. When

you!

lped families me the challenges INGREDIENTS cups dried red lentils, rinsed ion. Turn •in2your 4 cups water 2 tsp ground turmeric 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced 2 cinnamon sticks 2 tsp ground cardamom 3-4 bay leaves 1 1/2 tsp salt Vegetable oil 1 small red onion, chopped 1 tsp garlic, chopped Chopped cilantro

new cultures through new ingredients and flavors.

As we abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat — about $3 per person per meal — to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world.

For more information and other free recipes, including videos, visit www. crsricebowl.org/recipe. †

Bangladeshi Dahl

• • • • • • • • • • •

cyclones hit, villagers in coastal areas must struggle against powerful winds and neck-high, surging water to reach safety. Through its local partner, Caritas Bangladesh, CRS responds to these emergencies with life-saving aid. CRS helps survivors start over after storms, rebuild homes and replace lost livelihoods such as rickshaws or cows so that people can earn a living.

A rich, fragrant and protein-packed meal, dahl is especially convenient for meat-free Fridays in Lent. It is an opportunity for families to experience

30 MINUTES

4 - 6 SERVINGS

METHOD

In a large pot, add the lentils with 4 cups water and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the turmeric power, ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and bay leaves to the lentils and cook for 15 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Remove the pot from the stove and add the salt. In a separate pan, heat vegetable oil and add chopped onions and garlic, sauteing until they turn light brown.

Add the sauteed onions and garlic to the lentils. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with fresh rice.

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS Effective February 7 Father Joe Doran Pastor — Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bellville and Immaculate Conception Church in Industry Father Joe Limanni Temporary Administrator — St. Pius V Church in Pasadena

IN BRIEF Bishop Rizzotto Golf Classic set for March 7 at Wildcat Golf Club

HOUSTON — The 18th Annual Bishop Rizzotto Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports the retired priests, religious and elders of St. Dominic Village, is set for Thursday, March 3. Registration is at 11 a.m. with shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.

The tournament is at the Wildcat Golf Club, 12000 Almeda Rd., in Houston. All proceeds directly benefit the residents of St. Dominic Village. Price per player is $250.

To register to play or sponsor-a-priest visit www. stdominicvillage.org. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kimberly Elliott at 713-741-8722 or email kelliott@ stdominicvillage.org. †

Next Café Catholica Lite set for March

SPRING — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at St. Edward Catholic Church, located at 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd. in Spring, on March 10 from 7 to 8:45 p.m.

The speaker for the in-person event is Sean O’Driscoll from the Office of Communications for the Archdiocese. His topic will be “Digital Evangelization: Sharing the Faith in New Contexts.” The night will include light snacks, the talk, a Q&A and communal prayer. The talk will be available to view online as well at www.archgh.org/cafecatholica.

The Café Catholica program seeks to help young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. All young adults are invited to join us for Café Catholica Lite throughout the year.

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

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continues in three locations

www.crsricebowl.org

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HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offers food assistance at three food pantries that are open for drive-thru food distribution: Guadalupe Center in Houston; the Mamie George Community Center in Richmond; and the Beacon of Hope Center in Galveston.

In Houston, drive-thru distributions at the Guadalupe Center, at 326 S. Jensen St. in Houston, are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. No appointment needed.

The Beacon of Hope Center, located at 4700 Broadway, Suite F-103 in Galveston, is a Galveston County super distribution site. Distributions are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, starting at 9 a.m. No appointment is required. The next distributions are Feb. 23 and March 9. Call 409-762-2064 for more information.

In Fort Bend, The Mamie George Community Center, at 1111 Collins Rd. in Richmond, is a Houston Food Bank super distribution site. Register by texting HFBPS to 855-788-3663, then select Catholic Charities — Richmond. In 2022, drive-thru distributions will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The next food fairs are Feb. 26 and March 26. For help, call 281-202-6200.

For hours and addresses, visit www.catholiccharities.org/ food or call the Catholic Charities COVID Assistance Line at 713-874-6521. †

4 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

LOCAL

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

CELEBRATING LOVE AS A FAMILY For their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple and their dozen children renew their vows simultaneously. ▪ SEE PAGE 14

‘Seeking the face of Christ’ in the shroud of Turin presentations during Lent

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — A much-debated image of a bearded man reveals he suffered scourging and crucifixion befitting a criminal, yet his valuable burial cloth is a wrapping of ritually pure linen now known as the Shroud of Turin.

As Lent approaches, opportunities to learn more about the sacrificial love of Jesus are available at Archdiocese parishes and universities through scheduled presentations on the shroud.

The 14-foot long by 3.3-foot wide linen cloth bears the image of a crucified man, which many believe is the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ, and is one of the most scientifically studied artifacts in the world, said presenter Nora Creech.

“Prepare your heart for the season of Lent by meditating on our Lord’s Passion vividly depicted by the wounds on the Shroud of Turin,” said Creech, who earned a Master of Arts degree in Faith and Culture from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

Currently pursuing a certificate in Shroud Studies from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, she will be sharing a free presentation titled “Seeking the Face of Christ: How the Shroud of Turin Reveals God’s Love” at several locations.

The original shroud has been kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Turin in northern Italy since 1578. Scientific research confirms it was not painted but contains human blood.

They have not been able to explain how the mysterious image was formed.

Scientists from Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development

©1978 BARRIE M. SCHWORTZ COLLECTION, STERA INC.

Above, called the Shroud of Turin, a 14-foot long by 3.3-foot wide linen cloth bears the image of a crucified man which many believe is the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ. At right, the face of a bearded man emerged from a photo taken of the Shroud of Turin in 1898. Italian photographer Secondo Pia, the first allowed to take a photograph, was astonished to see the image materialize on his negatives.

have spent years trying to replicate the shroud’s markings. The scientists claim the image could not be the work of medieval forgers but instead could have been caused by a strong flash of light.

The shroud also shows a reverse image, like a photographic negative, somehow created long before the invention of photography. In 1898, an Italian photographer named Secondo Pia became the first person allowed to take a photograph of the Shroud of Turin. When he developed the film in his darkroom, he was astonished to see the faint markings reverse their colors and the clear image of a face materialize on his negatives.

But in 1988, radiocarbon tests on the Shroud of Turin dated the cloth between 1260 and 1390, implying the shroud was a medieval forgery. After a 2017 Freedom of Information (FOI) request, a new team of researchers gained access to the original data used for the 1988 test.

This new team found that the 1988

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WANT TO GO?

SHROUD OF TURIN PRESENTATIONS

MARCH 1 Our Lady of Lourdes - Hitchcock 10114 Highway 6, Hitchcock MARCH 2 Holy Rosary - Rosenberg 1416 George St., Rosenberg March 3 Cullen Hall, Univ. of St. Thomas 3910 Yoakum St., Houston March 5 Queen of Peace - La Marque 1224 Cedar Dr., La Marque Info www.nfmh.org/u/calendar test results were unreliable. So new non-destructive tests were run on some of the linen threads from the 1988 sample using infra-red light and spectroscopy. The examinations date the shroud between 300 BC and 400 AD, within the era of Christ. It determined the earlier results may have been skewed by contamination from fibers used to repair the cloth when it was damaged by fire and restored in the Middle Ages.

Creech, in her presentation, said the cloth affirms that the lifeless body image reveals a bearded adult man about fivefoot, 10-inches tall, who suffered marks of scourging and crucifixion but was given an honorable burial wrapped with linen woven in a herringbone twill. According to ancient Jewish liturgical customs, the curtains of the Temple in Jerusalem were made from this same type of linen.

His arms were crossed on his torso while the cloth marks what appears to have been rivulets of blood from wounds in the wrists, feet and side. His nasal septum was fractured, and the right part of the face swollen. The blood on the cloth examined by a medical surgeon is human, Type AB, one of the rarest in the overall population but more common among Jews.

The Catholic Church has not taken an official position on the shroud. But similar to previous papacies, Pope Francis visited the shroud when it was last publicly displayed in 2015 and drew more than two million people to view. It was also livestreamed in 2020 during Holy Week

to pray for the healing of those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The icon of this love is the shroud that even now has attracted so many people here to Turin,” Pope Francis said. “The shroud draws [people] to the tormented face and body of Jesus and, at the same time, directs [people] toward the face of every suffering and unjustly persecuted person.”

Creech said she plans to give her free presentations starting Feb. 28 at St. Mary’s Chapel of the Rice Catholic Center, where registration is required due to limited space.

The presentations are free with no registration March 1 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (10114 Highway 6, Hitchcock); March 2 on Ash Wednesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (1416 George St., Rosenberg); March 3 at University of St. Thomas Cullen Hall (3910 Yoakum St., Houston); and March 5 at Queen of Peace (1224 Cedar Dr., La Marque.)

For more information, including times and locations, visit the National Museum of Funeral History (NFMH) calendar online at www.nmfh.org/u/ calendar. The NFMH is co-sponsoring the presentations.

Creech said these presentations are just a prelude to an exciting project that the Museum of Funeral History in Houston plans to bring a permanent exhibit of the Shroud of Turin to the museum at 415 Barren Springs Dr. The coronavirus pandemic delayed 2020 plans to kick off the exhibit, Creech said. But since that time, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. has developed a state-of-the-art temporary exhibit on the shroud, set to open Feb. 26.

Genevieve Keeney, president of The National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, said it will be partnering with the Museum of the Bible to bring some traveling artifacts to Houston in September.

Keeney said, “We will use this as an opportunity to kick off our capital campaign and to raise awareness of the planned permanent exhibit.”

The current timeline for the permanent exhibit in Houston is spring of 2023. †

LOCAL

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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Pandemic’s limitations created new ways of ministry MINISTRY, from page 1 descent in the Archdiocese.

“Pope Francis himself encourages Catholics ‘to embrace digital media platforms to start a dialogue of faith and promote a culture of respect,’” said Father Samuels. “The pandemic has changed everything around ministry, yet it also has opened up a lot of doors for our ministry, including an expanded use of technology in a positive way that can really impact people in their faith.”

The increased use of electronic media, such as Zoom, online seminars and a new podcast, “In His Light Podcast with Father Reginald Samuels,” created in 2021 during the heart of the pandemic, now provide broader access to those living in the Archdiocese. This includes those who live in the Archdiocese but work in other areas of the country and want to stay connected to their local Church.

Father Samuels believes these efforts, among other important ministry initiatives made possible through funding from the DSF, help to meet the specific needs and issues facing Catholics of African descent in the Archdiocese that were underserved pre-pandemic.

Father Samuels said to continue the good work for this community, he has a list of new programs that he would like to implement. This includes training for pastoral ministers, parish staff, priests, deacons and lay ministers, as well as new outreach and educational initiatives for youth, young adults and adults.

“Considering the issues that Catholics of African Descent in the United States have faced, I also would like to offer racial, ethnic, cultural sensitivity and awareness seminars, and workshops to deepen our understanding of the cultures that are part of the Church, especially addressing the cultural diversity in our Archdiocese,” Father Samuels said.

With increased DSF support, Father Samuels said the seminars and workshops would cover a variety of topics to advance the awareness of African and African American culture, community needs, promotion of vocations and service awareness in the parish and church organizations.

“These seminars and educational workshops would deliver research and resource materials on or about Catholics of African Descent to help spread the awareness on how we build thriving

The 2021 Diocesan Services Fund theme draws from 1 Corinthians: “All For the Glory of God.” 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 60-plus ministries.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINISTRY TO CATHOLICS OF AFRICAN DESCENT

“The Venerable Father Augustus Tolton’s Path to Sainthood,” presentation held at the University of St. Thomas on Nov. 20, 2021, was presented by (at right) Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, Diocesan Postulator for the Cause of Father Augustus Tolton. At left, Father Reginald Samuels, the vicar for Catholics of African Descent, also attended the event.

Christian communities,” said Father Samuels. “This would afford us the opportunity to build leadership teams and members who would work in parish and Archdiocesan programs to evangelize and encourage full participation by African and African American Catholics in parish life.”

Father Samuels encourages the faithful in the Archdiocese to support the 2022 DSF campaign, which gives 100% of every dollar donated directly to the 60-plus ministries receiving aid.

“Current DSF support allows our ministries to reach the Catholic faithful in new and exciting ways through [digital] media, especially to the African and African American Catholic youth who are more programmed into this media,” said Father Samuels. “I ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to DSF because your gift directly assists the Catholic faithful in reaching out to vast and diverse communities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and beyond.”

Doris M. Barrow III, campus minister at the Newman Center at Texas State University and a volunteer with the Ministry to Catholics of African Descent, one of the nation’s largest historically black universities, agrees that supporting the DSF is mission critical for the faithful in the Archdiocese, especially its youth and young adults.

Quoting Matthew 28:19, Barrows said, “When we contribute to the DSF, we are responding to the call of Jesus in the

Great Commission to make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them all He has commanded,” said Barrow. “I truly believe with all my heart that we are all called to contribute in some way to the DSF, and I ask my brothers and sisters to contribute as much as the heart can bear.”

Volunteer and former employee of the Ministry to Catholics of African Descent, Paul H. Ledet Jr., said DSF truly makes a

difference by making a tremendous impact on those it serves.

“I have seen this ministry play a major role in the life of this Archdiocese over the years,”Ledet said.“Our leadership has been very supportive in our endeavors, both in our parishes and the larger community.”

To learn more about the ministry to Catholics of African Descent and the other 60-plus DSF-supported ministries, go to www.archgh.org/dsf. †

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

PHOTOS BY MERIS BRIDGER, MEGAN DOHERTY, JEAN MARAFFA, JAMES RAMOS/HERALD. MICHAEL SCHILLACI AND FATHER MATTHEW SÚÑIGA

STEPS, from page 1 member 17 years ago of the Steps for Students event, the award goes to the school raising the most funds and school spirit in innovative ways in percentage to their student enrollment.

Fellow St. Christopher parent Victoria Smith let her eighth-grade son Jake and sixth-grade daughter Phini do the talking.

“We had a $100 Club where every student who raised at least $100 gets to go on a field trip, and the top fundraiser gets to be principal for the day,” Phini rapidly fired off. Then Jake quickly added, “And we had a Valentine’s Dance at the school this past Friday.”

While St. Christopher raised $20,399, the overall fundraising of the event brought in $486,023 as of press time.

Donations will be taken until Feb. 25.

Larger schools like St. Laurence of Sugar Land brought in funds by recruiting more than 600 runners and raising $19,168, while Christ the Redeemer in the Cypress area brought in about 575 runners and raised $18,735, said CTR pastor Father Sean Horrigan. Each school keeps the funds that their students raised and decides how the money will best be used.

The highest individual and team fundraisers were Father Albert Zanatta, raising $33,271, and his Assumption Catholic School raising $52,021.The event has raised funds for computers, tuition assistance and multimedia equipment in 56 Catholic schools in 10 counties in the region.

But Father Jeff Bame, rector at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, in his homily reminded those attending the earlymorning Mass dressed in T-shirts, shorts and other running gear about the true purpose of the event.

“It’s important to remember the mission that our Catholic schools have.

Yes, they provide a wonderful education, with STEM and writing skills and other academics for future success,” Father Bame said. “But the schools also help the students know our Lord and God who created all things and invites us in union with Him for our eternal salvation.”

“This event is not just about money, but to focus on our mission and community,” he said.

After Mass, School Superintendent Debra Haney, cheering from the

ST. CHRISTOPHER CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2022 David K. Guite Spirit Award Winner grandstand stage, told the crowd gathering to run, “We are so excited to be back with you all in person!”

She said, “Having our students share delightful stories about their schools with others as they promote Catholic education through this event is something that we look forward to each year. Their role as ambassadors for Catholic schools is invaluable!”

Cardinal DiNardo told the crowd, “Yes, it’s so good to be back together in person. As you walk, cheer and run, you leave a footprint, an imprint for Catholic education.”

Among some of the most enthusiastic runners besides the students were the ever-effervescent Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province, recently nicknamed the “Rally Nuns.”Years before

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any national fame from cheering on But St. Thomas can claim the overall the Astros in the 2021 World Series and win with its cross-country student athlete throwing out opening pitches, the sisters Benjamin Lauzon being the top male have participated for over a decade in finisher of the race with a time of 18:06 or the Archdiocese’s Steps for Students 5K a pace of 5:50 per mile. Steps for Students in support of Catholic education. Many is a USA Track and Field-certified times they are accompanied in the run and sanctioned event, chip-timed, and

by Father Christian Bui, pastor at St. features a single-loop.

Edwards Catholic Church in Spring.

The top female finisher was Casey But the event is also exciting for first- Timme, a St. Martha Catholic School timers. Amy Shields, chief executive track coach, with a time of 21:37. She officer of St. Dominic Village residential participated with her daughter Carly, a nursing care, brought her family, second-grader at St. Martha. More than including young triplets who attend 5,000 attended the event in person, but a St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. St. total of 8,224 registered online at www.

Dominic Village, St. Vincent de Paul, steps4students.org to support the event.

Catholic Charities and San José Clinic Some of those decided to get the T-shirt collaborated for their inaugural but hit the Snooze for Students appearance together in the button without having to run.

Catholic School Village, Father Richard “Luke” where schools set up Millette, vicar for the their tailgating-style Archdiocese’s Tribunal tents for the race. and member of the “This was our first Steps committee, won year to participate in the Masters category Steps for Students, for those 40-plus and it was great to see years old with a time so many from across of 20:04. the Archdiocese St. Mary’s supporting Catholic Seminary student Schools!”

Shields Philip Gaynor held said. “I loved that up his trophy for the the race allowed winning time for male people to contribute runners between to the cause whether New for 2022 were 2.5-inch custom enamel 20 to 29 years old you were actively with 22:51 in the finisher medals given at the finish line. racing or supporting sanctioned 5K. someone who was.”

“Running is a “I was truly amazed to see the number good stress-reliever, especially with all of participants with competition and the studying and writing that we have to camaraderie among the schools, while do in seminary,” Gaynor said. “Being part at the same time all having the common of this event helps to challenge me and goal of raising money for Catholic gives me the motivation to keep pushing.” schools. There were also so many Claudia de Guia, Archdiocese spectators cheering everyone on, which development coordinator who organized showed great community,” she said. the event, said, “Steps for Students was Among that competition, Incarnate one of the largest and last in-person Word Academy won the President’s Cup events for the Archdiocese before the back from St. Thomas High School by pandemic started in Houston, so it was having 44% of their student enrollment beautiful to have the event return inregistered for the race. The large trophy person and see all the families come was created three years ago to spur together again.” more participation in Steps for Students Save the date for next year with Steps among high schools. for Students scheduled for Feb. 11, 2023. †

LOCAL

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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PHOTOS BY MEGAN DOHERTY, MICHAEL SCHILLACI AND CATIE WATSO

CASEY TIMME St. Martha School Track Coach Top Female Finisher - 21:37

BENJAMIN LAUZON St. Thomas High School Top Male Finisher - 18:06

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY 2022 President’s Cup Winner

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARCHBISHOP FIORENZA!

IN MEMORIA Pray for the following priests whose anniversaries of death are during the month of March: March 1, 1874 March 1, 2013 March 2, 2003 March 3, 1947 March 5, 1918 March 6, 1992 OCARM March 7, 1933 March 8, 1976 March 8, 1983 lan, SSJ March 10, 1987 March 11, 2010 March 12, 1886 March 12, 1979 March 13, 1996 March 14, 1861 March 14, 1994 SCJ March 14, 2008 March 15, 1898 March 15, 1921 March 15, 1924 March 16, 1929 March 16, 1991

Rev. William McSweeney Msgr. Albert J. Beck Rev. Joseph R. Murphy, SSJ Rev. John Casserly Rev. J.L. Bussant Rev. Marius Zadinski, Rev. John E. Kalas Msgr. Francis Klinkacek Rev. Lawrence J. MacLelRev. Joel Gromowski, CP Rev. Hubert J. Kealy Rev. Augustine d’Asti, OFM Rev. Alois J. Pavelka Msgr. John L. Fos Rev. Jacques S. Valois Rev. Thomas J. Sheehy, Rev. Jerome Burnet, OMI Bishop Peter Dufal, CSC Rev. T.A. Billy Rev. Claude C. Clair Rev. William J. Skocek Rev. Marion L. Polker

March 17, 1916 March 18, 1992 March 18, 2003 March 18, 2013 March 20, 2001 March 21, 1922 March 21, 1932 March 21, 1955 CSB March 21, 2009 March 23, 1934 March 24, 1990 March 24, 1996 March 25, 1941 ski March 25, 1978 March 26, 1880 March 27, 1930 March 27, 1942 March 27, 2000 CSB March 28, 2008 March 31, 1988 March 31, 1994 CSB

Rev. William Marr, CSC Rev. John R. Feidler Rev. Gabriel Akemu, MSP Rev. Robert D. Carlson Rev. D. Richard Toye, SJ Rev. Wenceslaus Demel Rev. P.M. Lennartz Rev. Thomas P. O’Rourke,

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA DEAJON

On Jan. 25, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza turned 91. He celebrated his birthday with friends, including Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro.

Rev. Gerald Donovan, OP Rev. Bernard Lee Bishop John L. Morkovsky Rev. Sofronio A. Aranda Msgr. Ignatius J. SzymanRev. Richard J. Jeffery, CSB Rev. Lawrence Glynn Rev. J.H. Kelly Rev. Kasper Kacer Rev. John E. McManus, Msgr. William L. Broussard Bishop Vincent M. Harris Reverend Richard J. Allard,

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:

March 8: Michael Gonzales

IN BRIEF Four parishes host pilgrimage sites for Filipino jubilee celebration

HOUSTON — Catholics around the Archdiocese have a unique opportunity to join the local Filipino Catholic community in celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. Since Jan. 26, four parishes in the greater Houston area have been local pilgrimage sites for a special jubilee celebration.

These parishes, the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston, Prince of Peace Catholic Church in northwest Houston, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Katy and Notre Dame Catholic Church in Alief, continue to welcome pilgrims with a series of special Masses and events to commemorate five centuries of Christianity in the Philippines.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, located at 6502 County Road 48 in Manvel, will also host a special Mass on Saturday, Feb. 26, with a procession at 9:50 a.m. and Mass following. A clothing drive will also benefit those affected by Typhoon Odette in the Philippines.

“This local Church continues to be enlivened by the deep faith and religious customs of the Filipino Catholic community throughout Galveston-Houston,” Cardinal DiNardo said in a Sept. 25, 2021 letter. “By establishing this jubilee, it is my hope that all the faithful will grow in their awareness of the importance of missionary zeal for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that they will intensify their prayers and support for the work of our Catholic missions.”

After a request from Cardinal DiNardo, the Holy See issued a decree that the four parishes can be designated as pilgrim churches. Starting Jan. 26, the faithful can visit any of these four parishes and obtain a plenary indulgence.

A plenary indulgence grants the remission of all temporal punishment due to sin and must be coupled with a sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, praying for the Holy Father’s intentions and complete detachment from all sin including venial. For more information, visit the Filipino Ministry Council website at www.fmc-hou.blogspot.com. †

Youth events bookend April OACE schedule

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HOUSTON — The Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization (OACE) recently announced that the annual Archdiocesan Junior High Youth Rally was rescheduled to April 30.

The event, which will now offer more youth to attend in what officials hope is a better community health situation, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in The Woodlands.

Open to youth in grades six to eight, the day-long event will feature live music, speakers, workshops and service projects, as well as prayer, praise and worship and Liturgies. A fun midway game and inflatables section will also be included. Registration is $40 per person and ends April 22. Contact your parish’s youth minister, parish catechetical leader or school leader for information.

The annual Celebration of Catholic Youth of African Descent (CYAD) is set for Saturday, April 2, 2022 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. This event began in 1995 under the title of African-American Youth Day. This day is developed to serve the specific needs of middle and high school youth of African descent. †

LENT AND EASTER 2022 Ash Wednesday is March 2 Palm Sunday is April 10 Holy Thursday is April 14 Good Friday is April 15 Easter Sunday is April 17

www.archgh.org

T

his past January, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, I lifted the dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day Mass obligation. The sacred liturgy gathers us together as we celebrate the Eucharist with joy. We continue to persevere through the challenges presented by the global pandemic, as the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit provide guidance for us during this difficult time.

Of course, our faith remains paramount in both prayer and action, no matter the circumstances we face. Last fall, Pope Francis invited us to participate in the Synod on Synodality to unpack our journey with the Church and listen to us about our faith life experiences. Listening sessions at parishes and other locations in the Archdiocese are currently underway, and I’m inviting everyone to participate. You can learn more about local activities involving the Synod at www.archgh.org/synod.

This May marks the 175th anniversary of our diocese. We look forward to celebrating this milestone in the coming months by highlighting our history while also setting a course for being a light to others, particularly those in the margins.

The annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) kicked off this month at our parishes. The DSF supports so many of those in need through ministries like the Catholic Chaplain Corps, Special Youth Services and San Jose Clinic, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the generous contributions to our parishes and to DSF, as well as those contributing to the IGNITE campaign, which completed its appeal to the final block of participating parishes this past fall.

Our parishes, Catholic schools and Archdiocesan organizations have done a commendable job in adapting to the constant changes offered by COVID-19. The chancery offices and ministries have also responded in these times with remarkable outreach and resources to those they serve, including our clergy.

Located at St. Dominic Village, our Clergy Pastoral

JAMES RAMOS/HERALD Outreach ministry addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all retired clergy. It also maintains and provides communications with retired clergy regarding special events, Archdiocesan news and community resources. This ministry cultivates relationships with retired clergy to ensure a quality of life that is healthy, secure and dignified.

Likewise, the Ministry to Priests supports the priests of the Archdiocese, diocesan and religious, in their ongoing spiritual, fraternal and pastoral development. The ministry also coordinates days of prayer, annual retreats and offers consultations for priests.

For parishes, the Office of Adolescent Catechesis

and Evangelization provides leadership, formation and resources to effectively form adolescents into lifelong disciples in the Catholic tradition. The office accomplishes this through training and mentoring adult leadership in best practices for forming lifelong disciples, providing programming to evangelize young people, and creating a youth council to be a voice of the youth and assist in the design and implementation of youth programs on an Archdiocesan level.

The Office of Aging Ministry provides support for our senior groups via parish activities that enhance the spiritual, social and physical well-being of older adults and by providing opportunities for training and education. The ministry assists parishes, older adults and caregivers in finding community resources that enhance the individuals.

These are just a few examples of how we are journeying with those in faith, all in the glory of God. With deep gratitude and in the spirit of transparency, I share with you the Archdiocesan financial statements for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021. The audited financials of the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese can be found in their entirety at www.archgh.org/about/Accounting.

On behalf of the ministries in this Archdiocese that depend on your support, thank you for your kind contributions. As your shepherd, I am constantly encouraged by your great generosity, your sacred ongoing trust and your fervor for the faith. With prayers for God’s continued blessings on each of you and your family and friends, I remain Sincerely yours in Christ,

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

2021: A year of resilient faith, ministry HOUSTON — In the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, ministries extended their care and dedication to the faithful by offering programs, conferences and presentations online to reach people safely as the pandemic continued impacting the world with new variants.

Family Life Ministry rehauls office, provides new programs As the Catholic Church celebrated the “Year of St. Joseph” proclaimed by Pope Francis during 2021, the focus of the Family Life Ministry of the Archdiocese was to provide creative and effective responses, strategies and goals to assist the faithful in creating a better society and world by strengthening marriages and family units.

According to the Family Life Ministry’s director, Ricardo Medina, the ministry’s focus can be“unpacked” into four strategic mandates: form, reveal, enjoy and protect.

Resources include the discernment of marriage, marriage preparation, couple enrichment, parenting education, ongoing support and assistance with transitions, and many other additional initiatives under evaluation or development.

“For better or worse, in sickness and in health, we are called to serve every person in our community as a member of the family of God,” said Medina. “Each day, our ministers search for best options, empower the network of collaborators, develop initiatives for addressing underserved needs, and roll out ministries in collaboration with our parishes, striving to maintain a homogeneous and high-level implementation. This level of specialization is beyond the capabilities of any parish, and it is only possible through the ongoing work of a focused team Archdiocesan-wide.”

The ministry has more than 40 different active ministries and dozen more in development for families across the family life cycle.

Programs include an online series on St. Joseph by Deacon Ly Nguyen to provide “spiritual food” during the pandemic; research into alternatives and programs that can help the Church’s Hispanic community to grow spiritually and provide spiritual companionship, especially to those who are suffering and grieving after losing a loved one or going through tough times such as divorce or losing their job; and implementing the Marquette Natural Family Planning (NFP) model for the Archdiocese.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEACON LY NGUYEN

Deacon Ly Nguyen hosts a series on St. Joseph. Presented by the Office of Family Life Ministry, Deacon Nguyen hoped viewers learned to love St. Joseph as he does and to recognize his contributions to our faith. Watch the series online at www.archgh.org/familylife.

COVID-19 brought challenges to Catholic schools The Catholic Schools Office began the 2020-2021 school year with administrators and faculty working with families to ensure that students and staff had a safe and evolving instructional environment conducive to the continuity of education.

“With all the change happening in our world right now, I think it is important that families know that our network of Catholic schools is here to support their students and create a safe and engaging learning environment,” said Debra Haney, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. “Whether in person or remotely, our schools are committed to

transforming learning and providing students with a foundation of Faith and as much of a sense of stability and normalcy as possible.”

The Archdiocesan network of Catholic schools is geographically spread out more than any public school district. The communities span 23 public school districts educating at least 18,000 students across the 10 counties in the Archdiocese. To begin the school year as COVID-19 was still ravaging the world, and vaccines were still in the infancy stage, was an enormous challenge.

While each campus prepared its re-opening plans, 90% of schools offered some form of distance learning, school officials said. Re-opening plans also include a variety of instructional approaches, including virtual, in-person, or hybrid learning options.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Archdiocesan grants helped fund Holy Ghost Catholic School renovate and improve their courtyard from layers of concrete and asphalt (left) to a more enjoyable greenspace with safer turf (right).

St. Helen Catholic School in Pearland began implementing its campus COVID-19 safety and protocol earlier in the summer of 2020 to allow for their summer instruction program to take place on campus.

According to Dr. Phyliss Coleman, principal of St. Helen, this provided invaluable insight with her colleagues in a virtual principals summer workshop, and would assist them throughout the year.

Archdiocese embraces new technological program

Toward the beginning of 2021, the Archdiocese began using a new, more efficient and affordable way to manage training — Capernaum.

Built on learning management software, Capernaum provides on-demand access to register and manage training options.

Laura Rolo, director of instruction and professional development with the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese, said the office worked with other chancery departments in researching the needs of chancery employees, as well as Catholic School principals, faculty and staff members.

Rolo said Capernaum is the first of its kind in history of the Archdiocese,“we have not had a learning management system in the past. That means all our professional development was done in face-to-face,

real-time sessions, and that limited our opportunities to provide professional development and limited the opportunities for participants as well.”

Named after the place where Jesus spent most of his time in public ministry, Rolo said the program is a game-changer, giving the Archdiocese the ability to offer a variety of ways to participate.

“We know we will reach many more people this way,” she said. “We can create sessions that serve a large group or smaller sessions that meet the needs of specialized groups. Another benefit is having just one database with everyone in it.”

Rolo added that users will have the ability to access and print their own transcripts, which was not possible in the past.

“It will greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of our Catholic School employee Catechist Certification initiative,” she said.

Grants aid parishes, schools

The Archdiocese continues to help parishes and their schools in need of rebuilding, repairs and maintenance.

Holy Ghost Catholic School was able to repair their old concrete courtyard.

School principal, Deborah Crowe, said the overhaul began with the school’s budget meeting last Spring.

“It was a collaboration between the Archdiocese and

the parish. Deanna Ennis (the Archdiocesan director of Construction and Preventative Maintenance) talked to us about turf instead of grass, and we went with turf.”

“Now it is beautiful,” Crowe said about the school’s courtyard. “We are going to have a ribbon cutting in the spring.”

She said enrollment has increased from 85 students three years ago to 153 this school year.

“We already have almost 160 for next year,” she said. “The courtyard is a huge selling point for our prospective parents.”

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, located near Little York Road in northeast Houston, continues to be repaired after the major damage it received during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. This included the priest rectory, which allowed the clergy and staff to be more readily available to serve, as well as repairs to the community center building.

This facility has been instrumental in the offering of religious education programs and other programs and activities that help maintain the social and cultural life of the parish. It also currently serves as the worship space for Mass and celebrating the Sacraments, because the old church had been condemned due to the extensive damage it received during the hurricane.

Other grants were used to support CROSS Academy schools for operational support, and to grant scholarships to students at those schools. †

CHANCERY OFFICE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS of the ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON For the Years Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 STATEMENT of FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS Cash Short-term investments - money market mutual funds Accounts receivable from related entities, net Prepaid expenses and other receivables Contributions receivable, net Notes receivable from related entities Cemetery inventory Investments Contributions receivable restricted for Ignite Camp., net Contributions receivable restricted for endowment Chancery Office property, net Other property TOTAL ASSETS

STATEMENT of ACTIVITIES

2021

2020

$38,642,925 24,178,916 1,289,543 1,532,658 829,542 76,856,640 1,975,787 156,924,191 21,731,442 – 47,784,536 4,524,043

$8,145,322 30,148,179 3,508,322 1,409,664 2,642,690 94,742,123 1,994,403 139,743,003 29,979,950 786,277 42,630,843 4,524,043

$376,270,223 $360,254,819

OPERATING REVENUE

2021

2020

Health insurance premiums $31,171,770 $33,146,302 Archdiocesan assessments 16,794,429 18,279,498 Contributions without donor restrictions 13,745,122 15,596,522 Business insurance premiums 10,385,275 12,202,606 Fees and program revenue: Cemetery sales and services 2,153,166 1,542,908 Other 1,078,744 2,619,435 Interest on notes receivable from related entities 2,784,769 3,279,432 TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE 78,113,275 86,666,703 Net assets released for operating purposes 14,735,842 9,938,302 TOTAL $92,849,117 $96,605,005

OPERATING EXPENSES

PROGRAM SERVICES: Health insurance program 28,675,179 28,218,198 LIABILITIES and NET ASSETS 2021 2020 Chancery services 12,150,639 15,073,883 LIABILITIES: Business insurance program 8,606,371 10,707,923 Accounts payable and accrued expenses $8,288,391 $6,832,706 Pastoral and education 5,181,394 7,254,183 Construction payable 3,252,119 – Seminary 5,114,733 5,157,038 Grants payable 520,028 3,279,227 Clergy 3,885,981 4,106,071 Deferred revenue Catholic School Office 3,694,708 6,702,336 Cemetery sales and services 880,141 906,295 Diocesan Savings & Loan 1,843,632 2,086,532 Other 65,295 122,633 Cemetery operations 1,457,321 1,704,924 Accrued insurance and other claims 4,054,360 4,264,825 Total program services 70,609,958 81,011,088 Funds held for others 2,083,661 2,533,049 DS&L deposits held for related entities 176,986,018 173,719,429 Management and general 9,011,316 10,270,747 Paycheck Protection Prog. refundable advances – 4,237,080 Fundraising 3,094,336 4,220,605 Notes and bonds payable – 1,268,624 Total operating expenses 82,715,610 95,502,440 Accrued pension and postretirement health 168,609,613 218,396,806

benefits liability Changes in net assets from operations 10,133,507 1,102,565 Total liabilities 364,739,626 415,560,674

NET ASSETS Without donor restrictions With donor restrictions Total net assets

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

(47,858,212) 59,388,809 11,530,597

(113,415,694) 58,109,839 (55,305,855)

$ 376,270,223 $ 360,254,819

CHANCERY OFFICE The Chancery Office of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston financial statements include the following entities: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Texas Catholic Herald St. Mary Seminary

OTHER CHANGES in NET ASSETS

Contributions 19,266,784 31,178,042 Net investment return 4,044,615 5,900,486 Net claims expenses – Hurricane Harvey (440,045) (960,867) Other benefit-related changes 60,343,702 (43,487,921) Other periodic benefit costs (10,556,509) (4,852,211) Non-operating grants and transfers (1,219,760) (1,923,523) Net assets released for expenditures (14,735,842) (9,938,302)

CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 66,836,452 (22,981,731)

Net assets, beginning of year (55,305,855) (32,324,124) Net assets, end of year

$11,530,597

$(55,305,855)

Annual Report fiscal year 2021

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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EDUCATION HOUSTON — The 56 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese marked Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, with a variety of events.

Schools celebrated with special Masses, open houses, competitions and games, student activities with families, parishioners and community members, free or unique dress days and other distinct activities to bring

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE - RICHWOOD

excitement to the week.

The schools also hosted speakers, such as priests and religious sisters, authors and community leaders to share their stories and to encourage the students. Other events hosted durign the week included school service projects, special productions and intergenerational activities. Since 1974, this weeklong celebration of

Catholic education in the U.S. highlights the major core values of the schools and the communities and parishes around them.

Across the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, more than 18,000 students are taught by teachers, faculty and staff. To find a Catholic school, visit choosecatholicschools.org. †

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

ST. JEROME

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Teen & Parent Lenten Silent Retreat March 25 - March 27

Imagine giving your teen (age 13-19) the gift of learning how to have a personal relationship with God through Meditative Prayer.

This retreat is designed for parents to introduce their teen to meditative prayer through a silent retreat that both teen and parent embark on together.

Retreat Master, Kim Brown, M.Th., M.Ed Early Registration Ends February 25

Lenten Silent Retreat April 1 - April 3 Enter into a weekend Silent Retreat with God! Spiritual Director, Kim Brown will guide attendees using two methods of meditative prayer focusing on the passion and death of our Lord.

Early Registration Ends March 1

Safety protocols are in place

ST. AMBROSE

Information and registration at https://retreatcentercrc.org

10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

YOUTH Accepting God’s abundant love Not too long ago, I was asked to suggest a theme for a guest speaker to explore with our youth, and without giving it much thought, my answer was immediate. I still have the email, and I said, “a possible topic could be ‘Accepting God’s Love’… it would be a great opportunity for them to reflect on their own relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The teens that usually attend these sessions are there voluntarily, it is not a part of our formation requirements, and they’re generally involved in our parish.

Clearly, they are budding disciples of Christ, but I had the innate drive to reiterate to them that they are given God’s love freely and consistently.

Knowing the Lord as we do, it is easy to proclaim God’s love, mercy and generosity. The Holy Spirit often gives us

the right words to evangelize in a way that leaves us to wonder when we learned/heard/absorbed so much of our faith that we can share it with others. Our minds and hearts connect in a way by that allows us to respond to a question we get from a SARAI curious youth, even when MYERS we didn’t realize we knew the answer.

It is much harder to accept God’s love, mercy and generosity for ourselves. I’ve heard it from teens, young adults and even faithful adults: there are things I’ve done, things that God wouldn’t like. My answer is always simple and true. God loves you. God

†

knows you wholly and loves you wholly.

There was a romantic comedy I watched when I was in college, and there was a recurring theme of “you are not the exception, you are the rule” with regards to relationships. In this story, some characters were the exception, and some characters were the rule. It was cute, and I rewatch it every now and again. What I didn’t expect to take away from the film was the truth of “you are not the exception” nor that I would use it as a defense of faith.

Lamentations 3:22 tells us, “The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent.”We believe fully in the Lord’s mercy, and so we must believe in it for ourselves too. God doesn’t exclude anyone from that love, mercy or compassion. It’s why we pray for people we disagree with or simply don’t understand. It’s why we pray for misguided people and those who have fallen away from the Church.

As disciples of Christ, we should also accept that love, which we receive in abundance. We experience God’s love when we receive the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. It is our constant reminder, perfectly quoted in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

We experience that love in reconciliation, where we are freely forgiven for our faults. Because the Lord is compassionate with us, we too must be

compassionate, especially with ourselves.

We experience God’s love in the people we encounter, in those that love us, and in those who challenge us.

In Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis says, “Faith’s understanding is born when we receive the immense love of God which transforms us inwardly and enables us to see reality with new eyes.”

Here’s a challenge to help transform the way we seek God’s love. Take time this month, as we approach Lent, to examine your relationship with Jesus Christ. Work on communication, pray with intention and not out of routine. Go to reconciliation out of a desire to experience God’s love and mercy. Go to Mass, and instead of going through the motions, focus on the Consecration, the source and summit of our faith.

Acknowledge, accept and reflect upon the gift of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, which was given out of love for you and me.

My prayer for you is from Ephesians 3:17-19, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” † Sarai Myers is the coordinator of Youth Evangelization and Catechesis at St. Edward Catholic Church in Spring.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

11

COLUMNISTS

Listening… a crucial skill for growth

Faith grows more vibrant when we as Catholics journey together as missionary disciples. A crucial lifelong skill is the art of listening… to others in our family, in our parish, in our community… and especially to the Holy Spirit.

Each day we are bombarded with information from people in our families and workplaces, from news broadcasts, and from online sources such as podcasts, videos, and voice-enhanced emails and text messages. But do we really listen or just hear words?

Pope Francis has asked us to gather in our communities to listen and discern the will of God and the Holy Spirit for His Church. Our Holy Father has launched a two-year Synodal path (2021-2023). This process will enable “the entire people of God to engage in the exercise of deep and respectful listening to one another, for this listening creates space for us to hear the Holy Spirit together, and to guide our aspirations for the Church of the third millennium” (Synod Theme Document).

Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Council Fathers of the Vatican II believed that when the People of God — bishops, priests, consecrated and lay

men and women — listen to one another together to discern under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the sacred teaching authority, and show the universal agreement in matters of by faith and morals, they SR. MARIA cannot err (Lumen Gentium, par. 12, Synod GORETTI Preparatory Document, THUY par. 13).

NGUYEN In his December 2020 book, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, the Holy Father clearly states that Synodality does not involve changing “traditional truths of Christian doctrine;” rather, it is concerned with “how teaching can be lived and applied in the changing contexts of our times.”

Its purpose is to help address the reality of our present situation. To understand current reality, we must gather as a parish community and share our personal perceptions of today through prayer, dialogue, and attentive listening.

Careful listening in a faith community also requires moments of silence.

†

Listening to what others have to say is often a risk-taking venture, yet it is required for perception, thought and action. If we only “hear” what is safe and familiar, there is no motivation for improvement or change. Pope Francis reminds us: “The Church that teaches must first be the Church that listens.”

(Let Us Dream). “Without silence, words lose their meaning; without speaking, listening no longer heals” (Henri Nouwen).

Walking together on the path of Synodality, we are seeking to make pastoral decisions that reflect the will of God as closely as possible, grounding them in the living voice of the people of God. As our local Church begins to answer the Pope’s request for his two-year Synod, questions posed to parishes include: How have you been journeying together in your parish in the last couple of years (joys, difficulties, wounds, insights, etc.)? Where in these experiences does the voice of the Holy Spirit resound? Where do we register a consensus? How is God speaking to us through voices we sometimes ignore?

How are the laity listened to, especially women and young people? How well do we listen to those on the peripheries?

How is the contribution of consecrated men and women integrated? What are some limitations in our ability to listen, especially to those who have different views than our own? What space is there for the voice of minorities, especially people who experience poverty, marginalization, or social exclusion?

(Synod Facilitator’s Guide) As of now, we are in the first phase of the Synodal process (October 2021 - April 1, 2022) at the Archdiocesan level.

Heeding the call of Pope Francis, the Archdiocese invites the Parish Pastoral Council to send their parish leaders to the Synod facilitator training, so they can return and conduct “listening sessions” at their parishes, with the materials and format provided by the Archdiocese.

For more information and resources on the Synod: https://www.archgh.org/ synod. † Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP, is an associate director with the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Supporting aging … Did you know?

How well are you prepared to face the challenges of aging? Recently after visiting my 98-year-old mother in an out-of-state assisted living facility, I connected with some friends in nearby Chicago.

While exchanging stories of caring for our aging parents, I inquired whether this couple had talked to their parents about having a contingency plan in case their parents could no longer care for themselves. The husband remarked that he had asked his dad what his plan was for care if he could no longer care for himself or his wife.

His father’s reply was short and curt: “It’s you!”The abrupt response seemed to serve as a wake-up call for my friend to consider how to address some of his parents’ more urgent aging issues: diminished driving ability, home maintenance, health care needs, repeated falling, etc. In that light, I would like to offer a blueprint to guide a pastoral response to these challenges.

Let’s start by asking: What is your plan for your own or your loved ones’ care when facing diminished capacity with self-care? It might help if you’re not-so-easy answer includes the perspective that you are not so much trying to maintain your independence as it is trying to secure trusted people who can support you or your loved ones in need. This sense of interdependence

reflects our understanding of Christian community life, whereby members of the Body of Christ help those who are in need.

• Did you know that one of the hardest parts by of starting the plan is how to start conversations MARK CIESIELSKI with your loved ones about your concerns?

Some of the toughest conversations I have had as an adult have been to discuss with my parents how to support their aging with dignity and grace. You can start by exercising respectful mutual listening combined with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking for wisdom, knowledge and courage. This can help you manage anxious thoughts or feelings as you remain anchored in the power of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and strengthen your path forward.

• Did you know that the Office of Aging has resources to help you develop a plan through a step-by-step approach while you still have the capacity to have some control of your wishes?

The Office of Aging web page at www.archgh.org/aging offers written, audio, and video resources to help start conversations and create a respectful care plan. Content includes topics on

Caregiving, Aging in Place, and End-ofLife Care. In addition, there is a resource, Directory for Senior Living, that can help connect you with spiritual and trusted community resources.

• Did you know that the Office of Aging can provide your parish with educational presenters who can address a variety of aging issues such as Creating Wills and Advance Directives,

In-Home Care, Memory Care Support, and Fraud Abuse Protection?

For additional information or assistance, contact the Office of Aging at mciesielski@archgh.org or call 713-7418712. † Mark Ciesielski is the director of the Office of Aging.

†

Synod Facilitator Training Upcoming Sessions February 26: English, Spanish and Vietnamese St. Dominic Chancery, 8:30 a.m.-noon 2403 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77021 To register or for more information, visit

archgh.org/synod

SUNDAY MASS READINGS FEBRUARY 13

First Reading: Jer 17:5-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-4, 6

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20

Gospel: Lk 6:17, 20-26

FEBRUARY 20

First Reading: 1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:45-49

Gospel: Lk 6:27-38

12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD COLUMNISTS

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

The Gift of Mercy: Reflections for Lent Mercy is a gift, and it is my theme for the upcoming season of Lent.

Like the other liturgical seasons, Lent is a celebration of mercy, but it has a very unique movement. With Ash Wednesday, we are moving toward the ultimate example of God’s mercy through the act of divine love. The road to Calvary and everything leading up to the scourging, crucifixion, and death of Jesus should be seen as an act of mercy, culminating with the beauty of the Resurrection.

It could be said that sacred Scripture is the revelation of mercy. From Genesis (creation) to Revelation (salvation), we find divine mercy rooted in love and is God’s way of disclosing who He is to the world and who we are to Him. Not just Christians. His mercy is for everyone.

Yet, it is the responsibility of the Christian to participate in the Mercy of God as recipient and sharer.

An important question for me as I approach Lent is how do I exhibit the proper attitude toward mercy, and am I

open to receiving it from God and sharing it with others?

In His revelations to St. Faustina, our Lord Jesus Christ asked for special prayer and meditation on His Passion each afternoon at the three o’clock hour, the hour that recalls His death on the cross and rightly called the Hour of Mercy.

Our merciful God, the author of humanity, entered humanity as love to redeem it. All of it. The season of Lent is a time for you and me to enter more deeply into the gift of mercy by being open (ephphatha) to receiving it and sharing it with others. Every prayer, gesture (especially the sign of the cross), word and deed should be a reflection of God’s mercy on the world with our neighbor and should remind us that, without it, we fall short of living out our Baptism.

The world may suggest that mercy is simply responding to the needs of others. Rightly so. In fact, Holy Mother Church lists Corporal (bodily needs of our neighbor) and Spiritual Works of

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

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Mercy, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the most fruitful way to participate in these works is to first acknowledge their source.

Mercy is not simply a construct of human origin and good actions toward by others. It is first a DORIS M. BARROW III movement of God toward us, toward our brokenness, and the invitation to move toward Him with others.

This gift of mercy is not reserved for sharing within my circle of fellow believers; it is also meant for us to “Go forth to love and serve the Lord” by bringing it with us off parish grounds.

While driving, working, shopping; habitual mercy should be exhibited in our daily lives.

As I have meditated on the subject of mercy, I cannot find any part of our faith lacking its presence. The highest form of

†

prayer in the Church, the Mass, is a celebration of mercy, the Sacraments are proof of it, and our lives must reflect it.

I desire to be more merciful this Lent and ask that you join me. If the Divine Mercy Chaplet is not part of your daily prayers, join me during the season of Lent in this beautiful prayer. If your time and schedule do not permit you to pray the chaplet, how about setting a reminder on your phone or calendar for a brief pause in silence at 3 p.m. and thanking God for His mercy and how we may share mercy with others. Call it Mercy Moments.

Conclude the Mercy Moment by reciting: “Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.” May the Season of Lent lead all of us to the mercy seat of God, and remember that it is a gift. † Doris Barrow III serves as the director of Campus Ministry for Texas Southern University.

For Lent for Life We are quickly approaching the annual season of Lent. Following the thrilling Olympics and the exciting Super Bowl, we enter into a time of faith-filled reflection.

For a six-week period, we recall Jesus’s 40 days in the desert, withstanding the temptations of power, control and satisfaction. We remember His betrayal, His acceptance of the Father’s will, His forgiveness at His crucifixion, and the glorious resurrection that gives us all hope.

We have many parish traditions, like the weekly recitation of the Stations of the Cross and the penitential services that guide us during this season.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. bishops’ official arm for international humanitarian assistance, offers us additional programs to enrich our Lenten experience. With the theme “For Lent for Life,” CRS Rice Bowl reminds us that our prayers, fasting and almsgiving can be life-giving for our suffering brothers and sisters around the world.

At crsricebowl.org, free resources are available for order. Materials are organized for families, parishes, dioceses, universities and students in grades first to eighth and ninth to 12th.

This year, “Stories of Hope” of families in Bangladesh, Rwanda and Guatemala are featured, expanding our awareness of the joys and struggles of those who live beyond our borders. Vivid videos, accompanied by insightful interviews, take us to international locations where CRS programs are in place. Lenten recipes reflect simple meals that are typical for the residents of the featured countries. Three virtual events such as an Ash Wednesday event, a bilingual Stations of the Cross video, calendar guides and reflection questions on the meaning of Lent and almsgiving are additional tools to enliven Lent in our

homes and parishes.

A social media kit is included, enabling the resources to be further distributed.

Since CRS has been offering life-saving assistance worldwide by for 75 years, our almsgiving will support HILDA an established network OCHOA of dedicated people with proven solutions for real problems. Training for improved farming techniques, small business assistance, maternal/child healthcare, along with direct food distribution and disaster assistance are some of the ways CRS carries out the works of mercy across the continents.

In addition, 25% of the Rice Bowl collection remains in the participating dioceses for the alleviation of local hunger and other basic needs. Grants for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston are distributed through the Mission Office.

As we pray, we draw ourselves more deeply into our connection to God, the creator and sustainer of life. We continue with the traditions that have been used by believers through the centuries. As we fast, we grow in compassion for those who experience hunger on a regular basis. When we contribute, we realize our great blessings and respond to God’s command to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty. Participating in the CRS Rice Bowl program will enhance our Lenten experience, adding a global perspective.

Lent 2022 will truly be a “Lent for Life.” †

†

Hilda Ochoa is the director of the Office of Missions.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/DIGITALEDITIONS

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WORLD

Holy Year 2025 should ‘fan flame of hope’ after pandemic, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Holy Year 2025 should focus on “restoring a climate of hope and trust” after the coronavirus pandemic and helping people repair their relationships with God, with each other, and the Earth, Pope Francis said.

“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision,” the pope wrote in a letter formally entrusting preparations for the Holy Year to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.

Held every 25 years since 1470, a holy year or jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance and acts of mercy, based on the Old Testament tradition of a jubilee year of rest, forgiveness and renewal. A formal “bull of indiction” proclaiming the Holy Year will be released closer to 2025.

Writing to Archbishop Fisichella, in a letter released Feb. 11, Pope Francis noted that “in the last two years, not a single country has been unaffected by the sudden outbreak of an epidemic that made us experience firsthand not only the tragedy of dying alone, but also the uncertainty and fleetingness of existence, and in doing so, has changed our very way of life.”

“Together with all our brothers and sisters, we Christians endured those hardships and limitations,” he said. “Our

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis closes the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the closing of the jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican in this Nov. 20, 2016, file photo. The pope wrote a letter explaining his hopes for the Holy Year in 2025.

churches remained closed, as did our schools, factories, offices, shops and venues for recreation. All of us saw certain freedoms curtailed, while the pandemic generated feelings not only of grief but also, at times, of doubt, fear and disorientation.”

Fortunately, he said, scientists quickly developed vaccines, “an initial remedy that is gradually permitting us to resume our daily lives.”

With vaccinations, he said, “we are fully confident that the epidemic will be overcome, and that the world will

IN BRIEF

Sick must be cared for in body and soul, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Caring for the sick means not only healing the wounds of the body but also those that afflict the soul, Pope Francis said.

“Care cannot be divided because the human being cannot be divided. We could — paradoxically — save the body and lose humanity,” the pope said in a video message on the eve of the 30th World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated Feb. 11 each year.

“The saints who cared for the sick always followed the Master’s teaching: heal the wounds of body and soul; pray and act for physical and spiritual healing together,” he said. The pope’s message, which was released by the Vatican Feb. 10, was sent to participants of a webinar hosted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

In his message, the pope said that the current pandemic “is teaching us to view illness as a global and not a merely individual phenomenon” and should motivate reflection on other types of “pathologies” that threaten humanity, including individualism and indifference.

These and other forms of selfishness, he said, generate inequalities, especially in the field of health care “where some enjoy

so-called ‘excellence’” while many others “struggle to access basic health care.” †

Uruguay’s church hopes synod preparation invigorates Catholics

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (CNS) — Uruguay’s Catholic Church has a lot riding on the two-year global preparations for the Synod of Bishops on synodality Pope Francis has convoked for 2023.

Uruguayan Church leaders began the first phase of a listening process for the synod Feb. 6 and are counting on parishes, base groups and religious congregations to contribute to a national document the country will present for the synod. Church leaders admit that the process will not be easy as they struggle against falling numbers in what is South America’s most secular country.

“We are working to get Catholics involved in the Church again. We have experienced a pronounced downward curve this century, but we believe that it has now plateaued,” Daniel Cardinal Sturla of Montevideo told Catholic News Service.

The number of Uruguayans identifying as Catholic has fallen to around 30%, and less than 40% of the country’s 3.5 million people have confidence in the Church, according to the most recent Latinobarómetro regional survey. †

return to its usual pattern of personal relationships and social life,” but that will happen more quickly if vaccines and COVID-19 treatments are shared with the world’s poorer countries.

Coming after the pandemic, he said, “the forthcoming jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the jubilee, ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’”

A “sense of universal fraternity” and a refusal to ignore “the tragedy of rampant poverty that prevents millions of men, women, young people and children from living in a manner worthy of our human dignity” will be necessary to enkindle real hope, the pope wrote.

The basis of Catholic Holy Year

celebrations is the biblical jubilee year, “which is meant to restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone,” the pope noted. For that reason, no Holy Year celebration can be authentic without involving and assisting the poor, including migrants and refugees.

“In the realization that all of us are pilgrims on this earth, which the Lord has charged us to till and keep,” Pope Francis also expressed his hope that Christians’ jubilee pilgrimage also would include time “to contemplate the beauty of creation and care for our common home.”

Within the church, he said, people should prepare for the Holy Year with prayer and by promoting synodality and “a renewed awareness of the demands of the universal call to responsible participation by enhancing the charisms and ministries that the Holy Spirit never ceases to bestow for the building up of the one church.”

Pope Francis also asked that 2024 be devoted “to a great ‘symphony’ of prayer.

Prayer, above all else, to renew our desire to be in the presence of the Lord, to listen to him and to adore him.”

Included in the yearlong prayer program, he said, should be prayers “to thank God for the many gifts of his love for us and to praise his work in creation, which summons everyone to respect it and to take concrete and responsible steps to protect it.”

Joined in prayer, Christians express that they are of one, “which then translates into solidarity and the sharing of our daily bread.”

“May it be an intense year of prayer in which hearts are opened to receive the outpouring of God’s grace and to make the ‘Our Father,’ the prayer Jesus taught us, the life program of each of his disciples,” the pope wrote. †

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14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

STATE & NATION

Renewing wedding vows as a family ‘only strengthens the bond,’ says son DUBUQUE, Iowa (CNS) — David and Gwen Bormann met in a creamery in 1971. Like aged cheese, the flavor of their love has gotten better over time.

To mark their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 12, the couple and all 12 of their children, who are also married, planned to renew their vows simultaneously at St. Columbkille Church in Dubuque during a Mass.

“None of this could have been possible without God in our lives,” reflected Gwen, now 69. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed to the Virgin Mary to intercede and ask Jesus to help us with our family, and honestly, it works. And it will for anybody.”

At age 19, Gwen was a self-described “hippy” from Texas who had lived in multiple states growing up due to her father’s job. She came rolling into the small town of Preston, Iowa, on a motorcycle with her friend.

The outspoken teenager was living in Dixon, Illinois, at the time and traveled the distance of over 60 miles because her associate was dating someone in Preston and wanted company. That’s where she

first encountered David, 23, a quiet young man who had grown up on a nearby farm.

“It was early in the morning,” recalled Gwen. “I had to use the restroom. The only place open was the creamery where my husband worked. I asked him if I could come in and use the bathroom. When I came out, he asked me out.”

David remembers being drawn immediately to his future bride, who he thought was a bit of a “rebel.”

“Girls didn’t ride motorcycles back then,” he reflected. “She said, ‘Would you stand guard outside the bathroom?’ She was the most honest, sincere person I ever met. As a matter of fact, on our first date, I told her,‘I’m going to marry you someday.’”

Gwen was attracted to David’s solid nature and his deep Catholic faith. Raised Baptist, she decided to join the Catholic Church to give “more stability” to their future family. Over time, however, she came to appreciate the teachings of the Church on her own terms and became an active member.

“I believed in God (when we got married), but I didn’t believe in everything that I heard,” she said. “After we started

CNS PHOTO

Gwen and David Bormann, seated, pose for a family photo with all 12 of their children in this undated photo. The Bormanns planned to renew their vows after 50 years of marriage Feb. 12 in Dubuque, Iowa, with all 12 of their children and their spouses renewing their vows simultaneously.

having children, that’s when you realize the love of God. That’s when you can touch it and hold it and just know it with the kids. They really are miracles.”

After marrying at the church in Dixon, the couple moved to Preston. Their 12 children — five girls and seven boys — were baptized at St. Joseph’s Church in Preston. Work at the creamery was a big part of the Bormanns’ life together.

“She worked the night shift,” said David, who became a plant manager. “I worked the day shift. I made cheese for 40 years.”

The family later moved to Fredericksburg, Iowa, more than 100 miles away, when the cheese-making company’s owners moved the production facility. The Bormanns worked hard but didn’t worry about the finances of having many children.

“I wanted 10 kids, and (David) wanted two kids, so we compromised and had 12,” joked Gwen. “We accepted that they were gifts from God, and they really are. On Sunday, we went to church, and on Wednesday, we went to religion class because that was the glue that held us together.”

She added, “It does take a community

to raise a family, and we had our church community, and we had our community in Preston and Fredericksburg.”

The Bormann children have a variety of careers. Some went into education, others into health care or business. They range in age from 32 to 49. Combined, the family was marking 216 years of marriage.

“Our parents always modeled for us what it means to pray, love and laugh your way through life,” said son Phillip Bormann, chief administrator of Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque.

“We have been blessed to witness what a relationship founded in Christ looks and feels like and never questioned the love shared between them, or that was shared with others,” he said.

Gwen and David moved to Dubuque in retirement to be closer to some of their children. They also enjoy spending time with their 28 grandchildren.

“Renewing our vows as a family only strengthens the bond between us, and most importantly, it demonstrates for our children what we hope for their future,” said Phillip Bormann. “It is our turn to show them what love is all about, just as our parents did for us.” †

APOYO PASTORAL A VÍCTIMAS DE ABUSO SEXUAL DEL CLERO

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

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/DIGITALEDITIONS

texas catholic herald

15

MUNDO CATÓLICO

Papa: Todos tienen derecho a la vida, atención médica CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — quien, con casi 95 años, reconoce su La gente tienen derecho a la vida, no a propia presencia ante “la puerta oscura la muerte, que debe ser bienvenida pero de la muerte”. nunca provocada, dijo el papa Francisco.

Es un “buen consejo” para todos, “Recuerdo que se debe privilegiar dijo el papa Francisco, porque la “La siempre el derecho al cuidado y al llamada cultura del ‘bienestar’ trata de cuidado para todos, para que los más eliminar la realidad de la muerte”. La débiles, en particular los ancianos y los gente busca ignorar “nuestra existencia enfermos, nunca sean descartados”, dijo finita, engañándonos a nosotros mismos el 9 de febrero durante su audiencia creyendo que podemos eliminar el poder general semanal. de la muerte y disipar el miedo”.

El papa también criticó un problema La pandemia de COVID-19 ha vuelto a que dijo es real para las personas mayores enfocar la realidad de la muerte, agregó, “en cierta clase social” de no recibir y muchas personas “han perdido a sus todos los medicamentos o cuidados que seres queridos sin poder estar cerca de necesitan porque no tienen dinero. ellos, y esto ha hecho que la muerte sea “Esto es deshumano: esto no es aún más difícil de aceptar y procesar”. ayudarles, esto es empujarles más La fe cristiana no se trata de quitar el rápido hacia la muerte”, dijo. Deben ser miedo a la muerte; “sino que nos ayuda a atendidos y no marginados. afrontarla”con confianza en las promesas Los comentarios del papa fueron parte de Cristo, dijo. Los cristianos saben con de su serie de charlas para la audiencia certeza, dijo, que Cristo ha resucitado y sobre San José y su papel como santo “es la luz que nos espera detrás de esa patrono de una muerte “feliz”, un término puerta oscura de la muerte”. usado para describir una última etapa “No podemos evitar la muerte, y de la vida que es pacífica y llena de fe y precisamente por esto, después de haber esperanza. hecho todo lo que humanamente es El papa2022 Francisco elogió comentario posible para cuidar a la persona DSF Young Adultun and Campus Ministry final .pdf 1 1/10/22 1:45 PM enferma, reciente del papa retirado Benedicto XVI, resulta inmoral el encarnizamiento

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Diocesan Services Fund MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

FOTO DE CNS

El papa Francisco dirige su audiencia general en la aula Pablo VI en el Vaticano el 9 de febrero.

terapéutico”, dijo el papa, refiriéndose a las enseñanzas del Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica sobre la legitimidad de rechazar un trato “demasiado celoso” no para causar la muerte sino para aceptarla (párrafo 2278).

Cuando se trata de la experiencia de la muerte misma, del dolor o del sufrimiento, dijo, “debemos estar agradecidos por

Jesus was concerned with young people, with all of you, with your expectations and your hopes, and it shows how much he wants to meet you personally.

– Pope Benedict XVI

The Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry creates communities on campus where faith flourishes and Disciples of Christ are formed.

To support the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, and over 60 ministries like it, make a gift to the DSF at www.archgh.org/dsf

toda la ayuda que la medicina se está esforzando por dar, para que a través de los llamados ‘cuidados paliativos’, toda persona que se prepara para vivir el último tramo del camino de su vida, pueda hacerlo de la forma más humana posible”.

Sin embargo, el papa advirtió contra la confusión de tales cuidados con intervenciones inaceptables que conducen a matar personas. “Debemos acompañar a la muerte, pero no provocar la muerte o ayudar cualquier forma de suicidio”, dijo.

Este principio ético, dijo, se aplica a todos, “no solo a los cristianos o creyentes”.

Al final de su discurso de la audiencia principal, el papa recordó a la multitud sobre la celebración de la Jornada Mundial del Enfermo el 11 de febrero.

Pidió que todas las personas que padecen enfermedades tengan garantizada atención médica y acompañamiento espiritual.

Instó a la gente a orar por los que están enfermos, sus familias, los trabajadores de la salud, y pastorales, todos los que ayudan a atender a sus necesidades. †

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16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

MILESTONES

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Do you have a photo you’d like to share? To submit a photo of a place, group or event that you would like to see in the Herald, email it to tch@archgh.org

TEXAS CITY SCHOOL RECEIVES $16,800 EDUCATION AWARD

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. LAURENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

On Jan. 29, St. Laurence Catholic School held a Mass to celebrate 30 years since its foundation. Participating in the Mass are, left to right, Deacon Tim Cullen; deacon at St. Laurence Catholic Church; Father Matthew Súñiga, priest secretary to Daniel Cardinal DiNardo; Cardinal DiNardo; and Deacon Dennis Henderson; deacon at St. Laurence Catholic Church.

St. Laurence Catholic School celebrates 30 SUGAR LAND — On Saturday, Jan. 29, St. Laurence Catholic School celebrated 30 years of excellence in education.

Former faculty members, alumni, current students and parishioners marked the milestone with a 30thanniversary celebration at the school on Saturday afternoon.

Afterward, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the 5 p.m. anniversary Mass in the church. The Mass was concelebrated

by St. Laurence Catholic Church pastor, Father Drew Wood, and parochial vicars, Father Jaison Thomas and Father Truong Son. The Knights of Columbus also participated, and the superintendent of Catholic Schools, Debra Haney, was also in attendance. Haney had served as principal of the school for 10 years before joining the Catholic Schools

Office in 2016.

“Throughout our 30 years of existence, the administration, faculty and staff of St. Laurence Catholic School have never stopped striving for excellence in educating our students to become healthy, well-rounded citizens who go on to make a difference in the lives of others,” said school Principal Suzanne Barto. “Even though the school building, methods of instruction and technology may have seen changes over the past 30 years, our core values have remained the same. The commitment to Catholic education in an atmosphere that challenges our students academically while nurturing them emotionally and spiritually will continue for many years to come.”

For more information on St. Laurence, visit www.stlaurenceschool.org. †

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FATIMA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Fatima Education Foundation was established in 2006 to support a quality education for Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF) in Texas City students by generating and distributing resources to enrich, maintain and expand programs to meet OLOF’s stated mission of excellence in education and preserve Christian values. Made up of a volunteer board of directors made up of business, community, parishioners and educational leaders, the organization awards grants to teachers and staff of the school for innovative and creative educational projects. On Dec. 16, 2021, the foundation awarded more than $16,800. Since its inception, the Fatima Education Foundation has awarded the school more than $325,000.

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE Editor’s Note: Contact event organizers for the latest updates and information. For deadline/submission details and other listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

MARCH 4

FISH FRY, 4 to 7 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). St. Luke KofC Council 9201 hosts a fish fry in church’s rear parking lot. $12 plates includes breaded USA catfish fried fillet, hush puppies, corn on the cob, french fries, tartar sauce and drink. Baked fish fillets available in limited quantities. Drive thru only.

MARCH 6

TURKEY & DRESSING DINNER, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sealy Columbus Club Hall (1310 Hwy. 90 W, Sealy 77474). Sealy Immaculate Conception CDA Court #1616 annual fundraiser features $12 plates of turkey and dressing with gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, hot roll and tea. Dine in or to go. Big drawing at 1 p.m. More info: 281-220-9064.

MARCH 11

Around the Archdiocese

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

TOLTON PERFORMANCE, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Lee College Performing Arts Center, 200 Lee Dr., Baytown. Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Joseph Regional School host “Tolton: From Slave to Priest,” an acclaimed multi-media show that depicts the life of Ven. Augustus Tolton, the nation’s first African American priest, in word and song. Free admission. Suitable for ages 10 and up. More info: 713-825-1946, anw_123@sbcglobal.net.

FISH FRY, 4 to 7 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). St. Luke KofC Council 9201 hosts a fish fry in church’s rear parking lot. $12 plates includes breaded USA catfish fried fillet, hush puppies, corn on the cob, french fries, tartar sauce and drink. Baked fish fillets available in limited quantities. Drive thru only.

MARCH 12

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, 6:30 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Following 5:15 p.m. Mass, Father Norbert Maduzia will lead the

“Tupa Tupa,” a play where children dressed as Mary, Joseph and saints seek food and shelter before finding the St. Joseph Table. A Sicilian meal will be served with pasta, hard boiled eggs, green beans, salad and bread. Italian cookies and cannoli will be for sale, as well as a raffle. Free admission, donations welcome.

More info: stjosephaltarguild@silcc.org or Marianne Dunne, 713-825-4576.

MARCH 17

MONTHLY MEETING, 7 p.m., Co-Cathedral Centre Rm #314 (1701 San Jacinto St., Houston). Maria Goretti Network Monthly Meeting — peer-led support group for all those affected by abuse.

In-person and Zoom available. More info and Zoom link: miguel@mgoretti.org, 713-8513708.

MARCH 18

FISH FRY, 4 to 7 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). St. Luke KofC Council 9201 hosts a fish fry in church’s rear parking lot. $12 plates includes breaded USA catfish fried fillet, hush puppies, corn on the cob, french fries, tartar sauce and drink. Baked fish fillets available in limited quantities. Drive thru only.

MARCH 19-23

LENTEN PARISH MISSION WITH FATHER BRUICE NIELI, C.S.P., St. John the Baptist (110 E. South St., Alvin). “Responding to the Spirit in the Soul, in the Church and in the World” begins with all-weekend Masses March 19 (5 p.m., 7 p.m. in Spanish) and March 20 (8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon in Spanish) March 21 to 23: English sessions, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Spanish sessions, 8 to 9 p.m. Free.

More info: 281-331-3751.

MARCH 20

ST. JOSEPH ALTAR, Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). Features Italian cookies, desserts, and a St. Joseph’s spaghetti lunch at parish hall. Altar admission is free, $8 adult plates, $4 for children 10 and under. All proceeds benefit Cypress Assistance Ministries.

More info: carolynlsmith2@gmail.com.