MARCH 23, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
A PITA PARTY
A dinner side or a movie night snack, this meatless recipe is easy to make. ▪ SEE PAGE 3
MARCH 23, 2021
texas catholic herald
CHRISM MASS PRIMER
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Rich in symbolism and tradition, annual Chrism Mass set for March 30 ▪ SEE PAGE 13
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
VOL. 57, NO. 19
YEAR OF THE FAMILY
WE ADORE YOU, O CHRIST, AND WE PRAISE YOU
Deepening family love in the ‘Year of the Family’ BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — On March 19, Pope Francis declared the start of the Year of the Family. It marks the fifth anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”). “I consider this document the modern manual of the parent and the family life minister,” said Ricardo Medina, director of the Family Life Ministry of the Archdiocese. “It brings us an opportunity to deepen our understanding and exercise our daily family love.” Medina said the pandemic made evident that family spirituality plays a crucial role in life and faith. Through parental leadership, families continued to attend Mass remotely and kept education afloat.
YEAR OF THE FAMILY
FILE PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
See FAMILY, page 7
A life-size statue depicts Jesus Carrying His Cross at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in northwest Houston. The parish, located at 6550 Fairbanks North Houston Rd. in Houston, features a sprawling life-size Stations of the Cross walking path that is open to visitors.
GIVING
Dwelling among the Stations of the Cross
IGNITE Campaign continues mission with digital outreach
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — At the height of nationwide stay-at-home orders in 2020, Pope Francis presided over an emotional and sobering Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) in an empty St. Peter’s Square on Good Friday. The meditation was a stark contrast to past events, usually held in Rome’s Colosseum. The emptiness of St. Peter’s Square seemed to highlight the impact of isolation and desolation felt throughout the world as the pandemic grew. The meditations were written by a diverse group of people who work, live and minister to those in prison. The meditations from a Paduan prison were written by a prisoner serving a life sentence, two parents whose
FAITH IN LENT
Parishioners at Immaculate Conception and Immaculate Heart Catholic Churches of Houston re-enact the fifth Station of the Cross, Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross, during a Living Stations of the Cross. The re-enactment travels through the streets between the two East End parishes.
See VIA CRUCIS, page 4
THE FIRST WORD † 3
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COLUMNISTS † 12 - 13
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ESPAÑOL † 17 - 18 |
HOUSTON — The IGNITE: “Our Faith, Our Mission” Capital Campaign launched a new website and Facebook page. The website, located at www.archgh. org/IGNITE, includes information about the capital campaign and how to donate. The Facebook page, located at www.facebook.com/Ignite.OurFaith. OurMission, offers constant updates of how the funds are helping in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Guidance in Giving is assisting the Archdiocese in facilitating the IGNITE campaign. “Launching the new IGNITE website
MILESTONES † 20
See IGNITE, page 6