Texas Catholic Herald - Feb. 9, 2021

FEBRUary 9, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

IN MEMORIA

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New illustrated book depicts the saints and their humanity

Virtual event connects upcoming saints with youth ▪ See Page 10

February 9, 2021

texas catholic herald

illuminating saints

exploring africanamerican saints

▪ See Page 18

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

VOL. 57, NO. 16

embracing 90 in style

Remembered in the Co-Cathedral he helped build Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto laid to rest By james ramos Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Under the soaring Cocathedral ceilings that Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto helped bring to life, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza shared a Psalm in his homily to help soothe those who mourned the loss of Galveston-Houston’s beloved retired auxiliary bishop.

Archbishop Fiorenza told the people: “I shall know the fullness of joy when I see Your face, oh Lord, fulfillment and endless peace in Your presence when I see Your face, oh Lord.”

At Bishop Rizzotto’s Jan. 21 funeral Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Archbishop Fiorenza commended his longtime friend, Bishop Rizzotto, calling him a “noble soul.”

Bishop Rizzotto died Jan. 17 at 89 See Rizzotto, page 6

ready to run

DIY Steps for Students ‘color runs’ help Catholic education

By Jo Ann ZuÑiga Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Principal Emilie Robert of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Hitchcock is revving up to have a pie thrown in her face and a “color run” for her students to raise funds for the upcoming Steps for Students Virtual 5K. The annual Steps for Students fundraiser, which usually draws thousands of participants to downtown Houston, will be going virtual Feb. 20 to keep Catholic school students and staff safe.

But individual schools are also coordinating safe, socially distant runs on campus to create the camaraderie that

photos by james ramos/herald staff

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, at left, waves to greet a friendly face during a surprise drive-thru parade celebrating his 90th birthday at the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence in Houston Jan. 25. Dozens of cars joined the parade, which concluded a series of events to mark Archbishop Fiorenza’s brithday.

Archdiocese celebrates Archbishop Fiorenza’s 90th birthday Longtime social justice advocate still focused on working for change Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Surrounded by balloons, cakes of all sizes, streamers and signs, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza ushered in his 90th birthday on Jan. 25.

Longtime friends, family and staff of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston held several celebrations to mark Archbishop Fiorenza’s landmark birthday with a drive-thru parade, small gatherings and baked goods galore.

Two large cakes fashioned in the numerals 90, baked in Archbishop Fiorenza’s favorite flavor — Italian Cream, of course — marked the occasion. Staff distributed individually packaged cupcakes, also in Italian Cream, to parade attendees.

Earlier in the day at the Downtown Chancery, Archbishop See FIORENZA, page 4

See STEPS FOR STUDENTs page 7

A Shepherd’s Message † 2

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EDUCATION † 11

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Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza speaks to janitors, union representatives and faithful in 2012 outside of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The Mass invited all to pray for justice, support and change for Houston-area janitors struggling for a wage increase.

COLUMNISTS † 12

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español † 16 - 17

2 Texas Catholic Herald

FEBRUary 9, 2021

Ash Wednesday: Different look, same message WASHINGTON (CNS) — Ash lenten resources Wednesday, as with many other resources to help you prepare things right now, will have a www.archgh.org/lent different look at many Catholic parishes across the United States this year.

It said priests should bless For starters, Catholic churches the ashes with holy water at the that are often standing-room only altar and then address the entire on this day — drawing crowds just congregation with the words short of the Easter and Christmas in the Roman Missal that are congregations — will be at their used when marking individual’s pandemic-restricted size limits foreheads with ashes: Either with members of the congregation “Repent and believe in the Gospel” spread out in socially distanced or “Remember that you are dust seating. and to dust you shall return.”

Other Catholics will be The sprinkling of ashes on watching the livestream Mass, as individual heads would take they have been for much of the place without any words said to pandemic, and will, of course, not each person. receive ashes.

Dioceses will respond to this Last year’s Ash Wednesday adaptation based on the effects of Masses were celebrated just the pandemic in their respective weeks before the coronavirus regions, said Father Andrew pandemic hit the U.S., so Church Menke, executive director of the services and social media posts of Secretariat of Divine Worship at CNS Photo people’s ashes followed the usual the U.S. Conference of Catholic A man receives ashes on his forehead during Ash Wednestradition.

Bishops in Washington.

It wasn’t until the third week day Mass at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston. The Some dioceses have of Lent that dioceses began iconic signal of the start of the Lenten season will look a announced their plans to follow lifting Sunday Mass obligations little different this year because of the pandemic. this step. and temporarily stopping public The website of the Diocese of Masses.

Fort Worth, Texas, posted videos Most churches are open now but are limiting congregation in English and Spanish reviewing the practice of sprinkling sizes and requiring parishioners to sign up for Masses. But of ashes on people’s heads explained by Father Thu Nguyen, parish life is not the same. diocesan director of liturgy and worship.

And during this year’s celebration of Ash Wednesday, Ashes’symbolism comes from OldTestament descriptions Feb. 17, many dioceses will be following the Vatican’s of wearing sackcloth and ashes as signs of penance. recommendation of a modified method for distributing The Catholic Church incorporated this practice in the ashes: sprinkling them on the top of people’s heads rather eighth century when those who committed grave sins than using them to make a cross on people’s foreheads. known to the public had to do public penitence and were The note on the “distribution of ashes in time of sprinkled with ashes. By the 12th century, the practice of pandemic” was published online in January by the Vatican penance and either sprinkling or marking of ashes became Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. something for the whole Church at the start of Lent. †

Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480) NEWSDESK 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444 tch@archgh.org • archgh.org/tch Circulation 713-652-4408 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 & Advertising Manager Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributor The Texas Catholic Herald, an awardwinning member of The Catholic Media Association, is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, except for one issue in June, July and August by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002.

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The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions — for the month of February for WOMEN AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE: We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.

“If we want a better world, that will be a peaceful home and not a battlefield, we all need to do a lot more for the dignity of each woman.” — Pope Francis

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CORRECTION: In the Jan. 26 issue, a photo was misidentified. The Knights of Columbus check was given to Daniel Cardinal DiNardo by Knights of Columbus - Texas State Council and presented by David Herrera, Grand Knight of Council 6878 Humble from St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church.

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Make checks payable to St. Maryʼs Seminary Trust Fund.

Mail to Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston, P. O. Box 4817, Houston, Texas 77210-4817

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FEBRUary 9, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

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THE FIRST WORD Pastoral Appointment

friday dinner ideas

Effective Feb. 1 Father Trung Nguyen Pastor — Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manvel

IN BRIEF Diaconate ordination Masses reset to late February

HOUSTON — The ordination Masses for the diaconate class of 2021 have been rescheduled for late February.

The two separate ordinations for the 23 men are now set for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy.

Because of COVID-19 capacity guidelines, the two Masses are reserved for families and those attending by invitation only. The Mass will be livestreamed online at www.archgh.org/live. †

Next Café Catholica Lite set for Feb. 25

Meatless meals from around the world

HOUSTON — The next Café Catholica Lite will be held online Feb. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host Deacon Ajani Gibson from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. His topic will be “In the Desert: Overcoming the Wilderness.” The night will include the talk, some Gospel music and communal prayer. Open to all young adults ages 18 to 39.

For more information, contact the Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at www.archgh.org/ cafecatholica or yacm@archgh.org or 713-741-8778. To register, visit https://bit.ly/CafeFebruary. †

Photo by Catholic Relief Services

Cheese pupusas with cabbage relish and red salsa, a traditional dish from El Salvador, is one of the several meatless recipes highlighted by Catholic Relief Service’s Rice Bowl campaign. The Texas Catholic Herald continues an annual series that highlights different meatless recipes from around the world during Lent.

With Lent around the corner, we continue a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season. For this edition, Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program highlights pupusas, a popular dish from El Salvador.

This dish, especially convenient for meat-free Fridays in Lent, is an opportunity for families to experience new cultures though 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. †

S

Cheese pupusas with curtido and red salsa • • • • • • • • •

Curtido Ingredients ¼ cup vegetable oil ½ head of cabbage, shredded 1 large carrot, grated ½ medium yellow onion, thinly sliced ½ cup vinegar ¼ cup water ½ tsp salt 1 tsp dried oregano ½ to 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Salsa Roja ingredients • 3 medium tomatoes, chopped, or 1 15-oz can of tomatoes • ¼ cup onion, chopped • 1 clove garlic, chopped • 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped • 1 tsp dried oregano • ½ cup water PUPUSAS ingredients 2 cup maseca 1 pinch of salt 1½ c water 1 cup queso fresco or farmer’s cheese, grated • 1 Tablespoon fair trade olive oil • • • •

Method • Curtido: Combine the cabbage, carrot and onion in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix in remaining ingredients. Pour over the cabbage mixture and stir. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 1 day before serving.

• Salsa Roja: Combine all ingredients except water in a blender. Add half a cup of water and blend until smooth. Add more water as needed to make salsa smooth.

• Pupusas: Combine the masa harina, salt and water in a mixing bowl. Knead to form a smooth, moist dough with a playdough-like consistency. If the mixture is too dry, gradually add more water. If it is too sticky, gradually add more masa harina.

Using wet hands, form the dough into 8 balls about 2 inches in diameter. Using your thumb, make an indentation into one of the balls, forming a small cup, and fill with 1 tablespoon of cheese. Wrap the dough to seal the cheese. Pat the dough to form a round disk about a quarter inch thick. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Heat a lightly oiled skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the pupusas on each side until golden brown. Serve warm with curtido and salsa roja.

Food distributions continue to offer help during pandemic

HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues to offer food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food pantries are open for drive-through food distribution at three locations: Guadalupe Center in Houston, appointments required; Mamie George Community Center in Richmond; and Beacon of Hope Center in Galveston, a Galveston County super distribution site, where distribution is on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and no appointment is required. Call 409-762-2064 for more information.

In Fort Bend, The Mamie George Community Center is a Houston Food Bank super distribution site, and appointments are necessary. Distributions will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For assistance, call 281-202-7035.

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

The University of St. Thomas is also hosting food distributions. Open to the Houston community and not limited to UST students, the distributions will be on campus in the Link Lee parking lot, located at 3800 Montrose Blvd. from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 26, March 26, April 30 and May 28.

For questions, contact the University Events Department at events@stthom.edu.†

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Former Houston Astro Becomes a celt

FEBRUary 9, 2021

Lance Berkman joins the University of St. Thomas’ baseball team as an assistant coach.

▪ SEE PagE 11

Archbishop Fiorenza still stands tall as a ‘prayerful, courageous’ advocate for the marginalized, leaders say FIORENZA, from page 1

herald file photo

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza greets newly ordained Father Truong Son Nguyen during a Mass of Ordination to the priesthood in 2017.

100 years from now, you could still be giving to Catholic Charities.

Fiorenza viewed a special video compilation of birthday greetings from close friends and family, community members, women religious and clergy, as well as other bishops from around the country. Wilton Cardinal Gregory of Washington D.C. and Archbishop Tommaso Caputo of the Archdiocese of Pompeii, Italy, were among the friends who surprised Archbishop Fiorenza with a birthday message.

During the parade, cars of all sizes were decked out with balloons, streamers and a variety of decorations celebrating Archbishop Fiorenza. Passengers honked horns, cheered, waved signs, balloons and shouted friendly greetings as they passed Archbishop Fiorenza and Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.

Local TV stations also shared birthday announcements on the news.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, a larger celebration to honor Archbishop Fiorenza’s birthday will be planned at a later date, according to Archdiocesan officials.

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Anthony Fiorenza was born Jan. 25, 1931, in Beaumont, Texas. The son of Italian immigrant parents, he was the second of four children born to Anthony and Grace Fiorenza. Archbishop Fiorenza’s cousin,

“(Archbishop Fiorenza) was meant to be a priest.

His mother told us when he was a little boy, he pretended to be a priest.

From an earlier age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.”

Sister Benignus Galiano, OP

Cousin of archbishop Fiorenza

Sister Benignus Galiano, O.P., 98, said when he was young, he would pretend to be a priest.

“He was meant to be a priest. His mother told us when he was a little boy, he pretended to be a priest. From an earlier age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do,”she said.“It just seems like his vocation was with him from an early age.”

Sister Galiano, whose father was the brother of Archbishop Fiorenza’s mother, said he was always family-oriented.

“When there were big days or holidays, he would have us over for dinner wherever he lived at the time,” she said. “And he still is very family-oriented.”

She recalled Archbishop Fiorenza played football while attending St. Anthony High School in Beaumont.

“Because of his size, and I guess because his feet were so big, they called him ‘Foots,’” she said.

Sister Galiano, who lives nearby at the St. Dominic Villa, said Archbishop Herald file photo

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At left, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza celebrates Mass at the Warren Chapel of St. Dominic Center in Houston in 2013.

KEEPing HOLY THE SABBATH even at home

The Archdiocese continues to offer an online hub of spiritual resources with links to how to keep the faith while at home including:

• Online Mass worship aids and stream links • Spiritual Reflections videos presented by priests in English, Spanish and Vietnamese • Daily Readings, online prayer guides and links to Pope Francis’s prayers and Liturgies • Special prayers for the pandemic

www.archgh.org/spiritualresources

FEBRUary 9, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

Fiorenza, who lives at the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Retirement Residence, said they stay in touch a lot more now, although visits aren’t allowed because of the pandemic.

“He calls me,” she said. “When we had our lunches here, the sisters here always enjoy seeing him. A couple of them remarked they miss that.”

Archbishop Fiorenza graduated from St. Anthony High School on May 29, 1947.

He began studies for the priesthood the same year and was ordained a priest for the then-Diocese of Galveston-Houston on May 29, 1954.

Ever committed to serving the people of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop Fiorenza has remained an advocate for social justice issues and a supporter of interfaith collaboration for positive social change across all social and economic borders.

“Archbishop Fiorenza is a pastoral bishop who, through his example, mentored many to work towards justice,” said Karen Clifton, founding executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network and currently the executive coordinator of Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC). “He leads with a prayerful, courageous stance for the least among us without fear of opposition.”

Even in retirement, Clifton noted that Archbishop Fiorenza never fatigues in his passion for justice, “which continuously gives us courage to follow in his shadow and join him in pushing forward one of the many issues he champions,” she said.

“I can still hear his voice in my ears, as he on numerous occasions, firmly grasped my arm and said, “Someone is going to have to do something about this (the death penalty)!”

Clifton said Archbishop Fiorenza not only calls others to action but also pastorally empowers and supports the work being done — Catholic Mobilizing Network is one of the many examples, she said.

“Archbishop Fiorenza continues to be a great leader by his example of never compromising his beliefs to gain status or power, and through humble leadership, knowing his own weaknesses and tolerating the weaknesses of others,” Clifton said.

During the tumultuous summer of 2020, one marked with nationwide civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, Archbishop Fiorenza said his longtime efforts for justice were just a “stepping stone” to achieving Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream” at a Juneteenth discussion about justice, equality and respect.

Archbishop Fiorenza joined fellow Houston faith and civil rights leaders Reverend William Lawson, Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, and the late Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff of Congregation Beth Israel.

“We haven’t completed the walk yet.

The journey is still going on, but we’ve made significant progress in the last 20, 30 years or more, but there’s still a lot of social injustice,” he said. “We can’t stop now. We have to keep going.”

He also encouraged the Church to be

LOCAL

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Herald file photos

At left, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza speaks during a 2009 groundbreaking event at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston.

Archbishop Fiorenza remains an advocate for the school, which would open to its inaugural class in August of that year.

Below, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza presides over the Annual Archdiocesan Firefighter Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston in 2016.

an active voice against racism.

“For the religious community to remain silent at this pivotal moment is a violation of their belief,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. “If religious people are true to their own beliefs, then this pivotal moment will truly be a moment of great, great progress.”

At 92, Rev. Lawson shared some words of wisdom and encouragement to the new nonagenarian.

“You’ve had a great life, but evidently, God is not through with you yet,” Lawson said in a video message to Archbishop Fiorenza. “Keep living, keep helping, keep laughing [and] keep loving.” †

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FEBRUary 9, 2021

Cardinal DiNardo: Church must carry Bishop Rizzotto’s ‘pastoral memory’ into the future RIZZOTTO, from page 1

most. rev. bishop vincent m. rizzotto

years old.

“We are filled with every confidence that now Bishop Rizzotto sees the face of the Lord,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. one in christ The two future bishops met at St. Mary’s Seminary in 1949.

In the years after Bishop Rizzotto’s priestly ordination in 1956, Archbishop Fiorenza said then-Father Rizzotto was an “outstanding pastor” at St. Francis De Sales and St. Cecilia parishes.

Then, when Father Rizzotto was appointed an auxiliary bishop in 2001, less than two months before the world would be shaken and divided by the Sept.

11 World Trade Center attacks, the new bishop chose and embraced his episcopal motto: “Make us one in Christ.”

“And that’s how he spent his priestly and episcopal ministry, helping those he served to become one in Christ,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. ‘good and dedicated pastor’ Bishop Rizzotto was a “good and dedicated pastor,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. The bishop was “concerned, not only with the religious and spiritual needs of parishioners” and “with their human condition as well.” Bishop Rizzotto’s commitment to promote the social teachings of the Church was “very integral” to his priestly ministry, Archbishop Fiorenza said.

“His love and concern were not limited to parishioners, but he had a special love

Sept. 9, 1931 – Jan. 17, 2021

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Titular Bishop of Lamasba photos by office of archives/herald staff

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo blesses the casket of Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto during Bishop Rizzotto’s funeral Mass Jan. 21 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

for the poor, the neglected people of the community.” a life of liturgy Bishop Rizzoto was known for his love for the Liturgy, Archbishop said.

This would play a major role in the auxiliary bishop’s life when he was tapped to lead the construction of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on St. Joseph Parkway in the mid-2000s as liturgical and dedication chair.

Archbishop Fiorenza said Bishop Rizzotto was committed to helping the local Church to “understand the deep

In this 2006 photo, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Rizzotto, center, meets with construction workers during the early building phase of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Bishop Rizzotto’s leadership as the liturgical and dedication chair was key to the completion of the new co-cathedral dedicated in 2008.

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Born: September 9, 1931 Episcopal Motto: “Make Us One in Christ” Education: St. Thomas High School in Houston, Class of 1949; St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Catholic University of America Graduate School, degree in Canon Law, 1963 Ordained Priest: May 26, 1956 Appointed Monsignor: Sept. 14, 1978 Protonotary Apostolic: Feb. 16, 2000 Ordained Bishop: July 31, 2001 Granted Retirement: Nov. 6, 2006

beautiful spirituality in the Liturgy of the Church when it was properly celebrated with due attention to the ritual and the inherent beauty of the ceremony itself” because for Bishop Rizzotto, “the Liturgy was a way of life.”

By guiding the construction of the new downtown Co-Cathedral, one of two cathedrals in the Archdiocese, Bishop Rizzotto continued his efforts to unite the people of God. Dedicated in 2008, thousands make a pilgrimage to visit the new Co-Cathedral for Mass or simply to find a refuge for prayer in a busy metropolis.

“The Liturgy was a source of holiness, and a means of uniting very diverse people with different backgrounds, different ethnicities and educations,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. Bishop Rizzotto was “deeply dedicated to showing how the Liturgy was able to bring all of these people together in Christ.”

other concelebrating bishops, including Archbishop Fiorenza, Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, retired Bishop Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont and Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

fullness of joy Bishop Rizzotto’s journey to be a better servant of God, which grew in formation at St. Mary’s Seminary, was defined by his understanding that the Liturgy helps the faithful to see the face of God, “where there is fullness of joy.”

“The Liturgy is where there is fulfillment and endless peace and the fullness of joy on this side of heaven,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. “Bishop Rizzotto understood that very well.”

Archbishop Fiorenza recognized Bishop Rizzotto’s “pastoral memory,” a hallmark that defined the auxiliary bishop’s lifetime of ministry. The priest knew every face and every name of each person he came to know during his life.

Echoing the condolences and appreciation for the auxiliary bishop that came in from around the Archdiocese, Archbishop Fiorenza said “we are forever grateful for the gift of his life, for the gift of his priestly and episcopal service to the Church of Galveston-Houston.”

“With a special zeal and appealing kindness and tenderness,” Bishop Rizzotto “served so well as a priest and bishop of this local Church,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. “And we’re ever grateful for the gift that God gave us through his life as a priest and a bishop.”

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who presided over the Mass, was joined by

grace of pastoral memory Near the conclusion of the funeral Mass, Cardinal DiNardo recognized that same “pastoral memory” that Archbishop Fiorenza lauded was due to Bishop Rizzotto’s own life, family and life in the local Church.

But this pastoral memory also “reached back into what Christ has done and continues to do. That’s why he was so dedicated to the Liturgy and why he spent his whole life for that.”

Cardinal DiNardo said Bishop Rizzotto “guided and welcomed” Liturgical changes that followed after Vatican II. “He did this because it was a love of his heart, the entire Liturgy of the Church,” Cardinal DiNardo said.

“He worked with clarity, gentleness, and competence. I think of him as a convinced pastor, who accompanied all people in their journey.”

Reflecting on that Mass’s second reading from St. Paul to the Romans, which says, “Despite what happens, we are more than victorious. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, our Lord,” Cardinal DiNardo said it was a “fitting epitaph” for Bishop Rizzotto.

The Rite of Committal followed after the Mass in the Garden of Gethsemani at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, with Father Dominic J. Pistone presiding. †

LOCAL

FEBRUary 9, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

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Parishes, schools embrace DIY spirit of virtual Steps for Students to benefit Catholic education STEPS FOR Students, from page 1 the big event fosters.

“We have incentives planned for the classes that raise the most money, and the student who collects the most gets to throw a pie in the principal’s face again this year,” Robert said. “I am choosing chocolate pie this time, not cherry, because I looked like I was bludgeoned. The student apologized to me before he threw it, but I said it was all for a good cause.”

The individual school raised $7,700 last year, much more than the year before without incentives, she said. Overall, Steps raised more than $980,000 during the 15th annual event last February, said Julie Eberle, Archdiocese associate director of development-special events.

Funds raised from Steps for Students help Catholic schools purchase new technology, pay for faculty training and tuition assistance.

Robert said Our Lady of Lourdes is also “doing our campus Color Run set for Feb. 19. We are having the kids watch videos of what a color run is for those new to the school and to get returning students pumped up.”

The runs will be divided to have Early Childhood students run first, then elementary and lastly middle school students. To add to the excitement as well as to be “in the spirit,” there will be students not running at the time at four stations around the track with packets of corn starch colored yellow, blue, pink and green. They will gently toss the bags at students running by to splash colors on their white T-shirts, Robert said.

“Even though COVID put a big kibosh on the major event, the kids are really enjoying competing to see who raises the most funds to be the class with a pizza

Steps for students virtual 5k

When Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 Where your own front door Register www.steps4students.org

file photo by james ramos/herald

Officials said joining Steps for Students has never been easier or more convenient as the 2021 5K run and walk goes virtual this year.

and ice cream party,” she said.

But even more altruistic is a school service project with the Funds2orgs nonprofit that collects new or gently worn shoes to distribute in third-world countries.

“I’m calling it the ‘Walk with Me’ shoe drive in conjunction with Steps for Students. We are collecting pairs of shoes, and if we gather 2,500 pounds of shoes, the organization donates 40 cents per pound to the school and sends an 18-wheeler to pick them up,” Robert said.

“This helps in so many different ways – we are recycling, so we are helping the environment. People in need who mostly walk everywhere will have access to shoes, and it teaches our students about those factors,” she said.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Catholic

Guidelines remain as parishes continue at 50% capacity

HOUSTON - After reopening parishes following the state-mandated closure, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo continued the second step in the phased reopening of parishes in the Archdiocese. Parishes were permitted to expand to 50% capacity provided they, and parishioners, observe health guidelines set by the State of Texas when attending Mass.

These include at least the following:

Wash hands often and for 20 seconds

Cover mouth and nose with a mask or cover when around others

Keep a safe social distance and avoid gathering after Masses

Avoid close contact; Share a ‘Sign of Peace’ from a distance

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve

Stay at home if feeling sick

For more information, visit www.archgh.org/healthupdates

Schools Office superintendent Debra Haney are recording videos to cheer on all the schools’ students and their activities as well as encourage other supporters.

For runners who are doing the 5K solo,

registrants will be asked to download an app called RaceJoy, an interactive race experience, said Steps race timer Richard Littrell.

“Runners and spectators can download the app, fill out a profile for registration, and hit start whenever they’re ready to run,” Littrell said.

The app automatically times and stops when the 5K mark is reached, he said.

For more information, to register and donate to Steps for Students, visit www. steps4students.org. †

8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Thank you for continuing to

SUPPORT YOUR PARISH St. Joseph, pray for us! www.archgh.org/stjoseph

As Catholics, we believe that all we have is a gift from God. Our response in faith is to offer these gifts back to God in gratitude. With gifts of prayer, we pray for our nation, Church and our parishes. With gifts of treasure, we support our parishes even when we cannot be there in person.

Make a gift to your parish online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/PARISHOFFERTORY

www.archgh.org/parishoffertory

LOCAL

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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Respect Life Mass and pro-life events mark 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and others across the nation held a National Day of Prayer on Jan. 22 for pro-life with allday Eucharistic Adoration, a Respect Life Mass celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, and candlelight prayer vigils for the unborn at parishes.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Jan. 28 publicly decried U.S. President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order allowing U.S. taxpayer funds to be sent to organizations that both promote and provide abortions in developing countries. The policy which Biden overturned, known as both the Mexico City and the Promoting Life in Global Health policy, had separated abortion from family planning activities and ensured U.S. taxpayer dollars only went to organizations that agreed to provide health services in a way that respected the dignity of all persons.

The Biden administration has further promised to codify the principles articulated in Roe v. Wade into federal statutory law.

Julie Fritsch, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Pro-Life Activities, said, “This is a concerning time for many Catholics as we face new policies at the federal level that expose the lives of our most vulnerable to increased threats.”

She added, “Despite these dangers — or perhaps because of them — it was deeply inspiring to join in prayer with so many Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. There is real joy in coming together as a Catholic family to pray in solidarity with our unborn brothers and sisters.”

“As people of faith, we know we are not ultimately in control; we turn to Our Lord, in hope and in faith, during this time of difficulty for so many,” she said.

Fritsch estimated about 250 personally attended the Eucharistic Adoration

PHOTO BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA/HERALD

In line to receive Holy Eucharist at the Respect Life Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Jan. 23, a pregnant parishioner passes the statue of Mary. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who celebrated the Mass in conjunction with the 48th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, said in his homily, “We need to be the voice for those who have no voice or don’t even have a name yet.”

throughout the day, with several hundred more joining in prayer via livestream.

A similar number attended the Respect Life Mass on Jan. 23 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. Cardinal DiNardo, referring to the Gospel of Luke 1:42-55, which contains the Magnificat, said in his homily, “Mary, a young pregnant mother of the Lord, says, ‘Yes!’” He continued, “The life within her was more than anyone could imagine. Every child conceived in the womb is of great significance.”

Cardinal DiNardo encouraged those working and believing in pro-life to “offer help and support to families expecting children.”

“The new administration in the next few years may be a little bumpy,” he said.

Important Dates in 2021: Ash Wednesday is February 17 Palm Sunday is March 28 Holy Thursday is April 1 Good Friday is April 2 Easter Sunday is April 4

www.archgh.org

“We believe in the dignity of life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. But during this 48th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, threats continue to come from abortion. We need to be the voice for those who have no voice or don’t even have a name yet.”

Cardinal DiNardo said, “We’re going to have a real rough time with abortion.

But Mary is our model. She persevered even with a sword through her heart…

She wasn’t Jesus’ incubator; she was His mother.”

He finished the Mass by giving a special blessing for “those striving to protect the gift of life.”

At the all-day Eucharistic Adoration at the Co-Cathedral, Catholic college students from the University of St. Thomas, Rice University and the University of Houston, as well as students from Incarnate Word Academy, led prayers.

Multiple parishes also held candlelight prayer vigils, including Sacred Heart of Manvel, St. Paul the Apostle, St. Mary in League City, and St. Thomas More.

Fritsch also facilitated virtual panel discussions on Jan. 23 that included Greg Schleppenbach, associate director of the Pro-Life Secretariat at the USCCB, and Jennifer Allmon, executive director of the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops, about pro-life legislative priorities at the state and federal levels in light of the new administration and the opening of the Texas legislative session.

Pope Francis, in a 2019 interview, said it is not fair or just to eliminate human life to solve a problem. “Abortion is not a religious problem in the sense that just because I am Catholic, I must not seek an abortion,” he said. “It is a human problem.

It is a problem of eliminating a human life.” †

SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Theresians

International (TI), a dynamic, contemporary, and global spiritual ministry for women,is seeking a new Executive Director effective August, 2021. The ED is responsible for leading TI in fulfilling its mission and for the oversight of all operations. Headquarters’ location is flexible within the continental US. To view entire job description, go to Theresians.org.

Email a cover letter and resume to Theresians.ed.search@gmail.com by 3/31/2021

10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Upcoming Catholic Youth of African Descent event to highlight African-American saints, efforts

BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald

VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF CATHOLIC YOUTH OF AFRICAN DESCENT

HOUSTON — On Feb. 27, at 9:30 a.m. Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church will host a virtual Celebration With Catholic Youth of African Descent.

Sponsored by the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, the free event is for all youth of any culture, middle and high school within the local Church to witness and experience the faith, gifts and cultural beauty of their fellow disciples of Jesus Christ. This year’s theme, “Do you know the way?

Using Jesus as our GPS System,” was inspired by John 14:1-6,“I am the way, the truth and the life.”

Normally an in-person celebration, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event to its virtual format.

Marie Ledet, the host of the event and the RCIA/RCIC instructor, Safe Environment coordinator and CCE teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, said the event was created in 2015 to celebrate the faith, gifts and beauty of youth of African Descent in the Archdiocese.

“Within the apostolate for Catholics of African Descent they will not find a monolith, but rather a diversity of cultures within a culture all of which are authentically and faithfully Catholic,” she said. “Growth in their faith lives, an understanding of how the lives of a number of African-Americans who are in the process of becoming saints can be models for them as they seek to understand Christ as the way, the truth, and the life in their own personal lives. Of course they will also have fun and build new relationships in Christ!”

In addition to Ledet, the Core Team for the youth day is Stacy Allen and Doris Barrow from St. Monica Catholic Church, Unella Baber and Demetra Lewis of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church,

WHEN SATURDAY, FEB. 27 TIME 9:30 A.M. TO 2 P.M. REGISTER HTTP://BIT.LY/CYAD2021 SPEAKERS Brian Greenfield, Sister Odessa

GUESTS

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO ARCHIVES AND RECORDS CENTER

Father Augustine Tolton, also known as Augustus, is pictured in an undated photo. The special assistant to the postulator of the cause of Ven. Tolton, Father Canon A. Gerard Jordan, O. Praem, will be a speaker at the 2021 Celebration of Catholic Youth of African Descent event on Feb. 27. Event leaders say the virtual gathering will highlight the stories of African-American Catholics who are in the process of becoming saints. Born into slavery in Missouri, Ven. Tolton was ordained a priest April 24, 1886, in Rome, and said his first Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Father Tolton, a candidate for sainthood, was declared “venerable”

by Pope Francis for his “virtuous and heroic life.”

Valerie Harrison and Daphine Sands of St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church, Paul Ledet of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, Evelyn Wagner Wright of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and Timothy E. Colbert, director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization. The group has been

Need Help?

If you or a loved one is in need of help, contact these Archdiocesan social services:

Catholic Charities

Food, clothing, emergency financial assistance, counseling, immigration assistance, veterans assistance, disaster recovery, refugees services, senior services and more.

catholiccharities.org/need-help or 713-526-4611

Stanford, SFCC, Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, Father R. Tony Ricard, Father Canon, A. Gerard Jordan, O. Praem, Father Stephen Sohe, and Father Reginald Samuels.

Mime Dancers of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church

“The youth of African descent have to understand that God has created them with humanity and dignity and that it cannot be determined by the circumstances that surrounds them.”

together since 2015 coordinating the FATHER REGINALD SAMUELS event.

Speakers at the event include Brian VICAR, CATHOLICS OF AFRICAN DESCENT Greenfield; Sister Odessa Stanford, SFCC, of the Sisters For Christian Community; Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, When asked what are the needs of vocations director for the Daughters of the youth of African descent, especially Mary Immaculate; Father R. Tony Ricard, after the events of 2020, Father Samuels pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel said, “The youth of African descent have Parish and campus minister to understand that God has at St. Augustine High School created them with humanity in New Orleans, Louisiana; and dignity and that it BLACK and Father Canon A. Gerard cannot be determined by the HISTORY Jordan, O. Praem, who serves circumstances that surrounds as the special assistant to them. We are in a world MONTH the postulator for the Father that wants to take away the Augustus Tolton cause for humanity and dignity that we sainthood. possess. However, if God is for Father Stephen Sohe, SSJ, us, then who can stand against pastor of Our Lady Star of us.” the Sea Parish and vocations director for Special guests, the Mime Dancers the Josephites, will do the opening prayer. for Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Father Reginald Samuels, pastor of St. Church, will be performing at 9:45 a.m.

Hyacinth Parish and vicar for Catholics of To register for the event, visit http://bit.

African Descent, will welcome attendees. ly/CYAD2021. †

IN BRIEF UST’s Nesti Center for Faith & Culture offers new family life certificate program HOUSTON — The Nesti Center for Faith & Culture at University of St. Thomas (UST) offers a certificate program in family life designed to help people apply elements of a family perspective in their lives and ministries. This certificate program is for people who are currently employed or considering careers in ministry or in secular professions serving families: teaching, medicine, social services, human resources, family law and other fields.

“Experts agree that many families are in crisis today due to multiple factors,” Elizabeth McLaughlin, coordinator and adjunct instructor for the family life certificate program, said.

“The need for trained family ministers and persons who accompany, serve and assist families in navigating relationships, systems, societal influences, technology and globalization has never been greater. This program and the information and insights offered are a tangible step, taken by our Archdiocese and the UST community to address the current crisis by offering healing and hope for families, the foundational cell of society.”

An approved offering in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the program admits leaders of all faiths.

Classes, which start in fall of 2021, will be offered in a hybrid (in-person and online) format and can be completed entirely online. Visit www.stthom.edu/cfc for more. †

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FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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EDUCATION Lance Berkman tapped to lead UST baseball as assistant coach HOUSTON — Former Houston Astros legend Lance Berkman has joined the University of St. Thomas as an assistant coach of its baseball team. Berkman will join baseball head coach, Clayton VanderLaan, and fellow assistant coach, Tyler Bremer.

“The obvious thing that will stick out to most people is that the name Lance Berkman is synonymous with Houston baseball, and this is another remarkable impact he’s made in the long history

of the sport in our city,” VanderLaan said. “While we’re excited to be a small part of that legacy, there’s no question that he’s been brought on staff because he’s a tremendous coach and a true baseball guy.”

VanderLaan said BERKMAN Berkman is a “first-class person through and through.”

“He is exactly the type of example we

want our players to mimic and model as they grow and develop as men,” he said.

Berkman had a legendary MLB career where he played 15 seasons for the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.

He was drafted in the first round by the Houston Astros where he spent the majority of his career. He was with the St. Louis Cardinals when they won the World Series in 2011.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to

help coach at UST,” Berkman said.“Coach VanderLaan and his staff have a great energy and passion for baseball that is contagious. Coaching college baseball has always been a dream of mine, and it will be exciting to help build the foundation for a championship program.”

The Celts will return to the diamond Feb.12, when they will travel to Brownwood, Texas, to take on Howard Payne University. †

WISHES GRANTED

IN SPORTS

St. Thomas students shine at private high school awards

Texas City school receives grants for projects

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL

The St. Thomas High School Eagles Maddox Kopp (left) and Pablo Tager (right), and their coach Rich McGuire (center) were honored by the Touchdown Club of Houston Jan. 27.

HOUSTON — St. Thomas High School football players and their coach were honored Jan. 27 at Touchdown Club of Houston Ninth Annual Private High School Awards sponsored by Hildebrand Foundation. The event was held at the Omni Hotel.

Rich McGuire was named Coach of the Year after his third consecutive undefeated district title, quarterback

Maddox Kopp was named Offensive Player of the Year and first-year kicker Pablo Tager was named Special Teams Player of the Year.

Vincent Ori and Cameron McCurry were Defensive Player of the Year finalists, Drake Martinez and Cameron Bonner were Offensive Player of the Year finalists and Mark Pownall was a Lineman of the Year finalist. †

Enjoy the Good News? Pass it on!

Finished reading your Texas Catholic Herald?

Recycle it or pass it on to someone else!

“Lord, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of creation and reawaken our gratitude and sense of responsibility.”

– Pope Francis

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN TEXAS CITY

On Dec. 9, 2020, the Fatima Education Foundation awarded grants worth more than $8,800 to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Texas City. The grants funded eight projects for nine teachers, including a library take over, elementary engineering and Emerging Readers of the Future.

From Left to Right: Carla Oliver, sixth grade teacher; Darlene Schlitzberger, middle school and library manager; Jennifer Lopez, principal; Ellen Chuoke of the foundation board; Judith Torres, first grade and Spanish teacher; Barbie Castro, kindergarten teacher; Stephanie Doyle of the foundation board; Kathy Adams, foundation president; José Boix of the foundation board; and Luis Herrera, second grade teacher.

Virtual Retreat for Young Adults

12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

YOUTH Cling onto the Holy Family More times than I would like, my nightly family prayer looks more chaotic than peaceful. On any given night, it may include arguments, fighting, and some sort of yelling.

Families are not perfect; many young people today come from homes without a traditional family structure. We do not have to look far to see the breakdown of the family unit within the last few decades. The rising divorce rate, which has been close to 50% for a very long time, alone reveals to us there is a major problem.

As Catholics, we have hope in the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He became like one of us in all things except sin, to conquer and be victorious over sin and death so that we can become more like Him. The darkness of the world — even in the continued pandemonium of 2020 — is nothing compared to the Light of the World.

Thus, we can look at the darkness of the family and home and not be afraid because God has given us the Holy Family as a model and guide to holiness.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us within a family. The second person of the Most Holy Trinity became like one of us, and like us, spent a vast majority of His life at home with His family.

This was no mere accident, but it was

undeniably part of God’s plan of salvation.

Many homes today, mine included, have not been spared from the breakdown of the family.

Comparing our experience with the Holy Family can, at first glance, by seem incompatible with DUNN our own lives. Mary was ESTACIO born without sin, while Joseph is the greatest saint to ever live after his wife. Last but not least, Jesus Christ was fully man and fully divine. How can we compare with them?

We can look at sacred Scripture and see that the life of the Holy Family was not too different than ours. They had their fair share of hardships, which included the Christ Child being born in a place for animals or fleeing to Egypt to avoid the Christ Child from being murdered, just to name a few.

Mother Church is very clear on the importance and beauty of the family in God’s plan of salvation: “Christ chose to be born and grow up in the bosom of the Holy Family of Joseph and Mary… In our time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant

IDEAS Ways to cling onto the Holy Family during the month of February: • PRAY as family. The family that prays together stays together.

• Find a time and a place that works best for your family to pray for 15 to 20 minutes every day.

Option 1: Recite the Rosary Option 2: Read the Gospel for Sunday Mass, have some quiet time, and discuss it as a family. Make sure this is a time where all cell phones are nowhere to be found or heard.

†

THE HOLY FAMILY CNS PHOTO

faith… Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous – even repeated – forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life.”

(CCC 1655-1657) The Holy Family is so important we celebrate their feast day annually on Dec. 27 during the Octave of Christmas.

Traditionally, the Catholic Church dedicated the month of February for the Holy Family. In 2021, we need the intercession of the Holy Family more than ever. For a variety of many reasons, the pandemic has brought much tension to many families. We are called to cling to Jesus Christ during times of suffering, hardships and difficulties. During this month, cling not only to Him but to St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• EAT as a family. The family that eats together stays together. Make, sit down, and clean dinner up together. Use this time to really look at and listen to each other.

- Starter question for dinner: “What brought you joy today?”

• PLAY as a family. The family that plays together stays together.

- Make a puzzle. Play a board or video game together. Go outside, laugh and be with each other. The most important thing is to spend time together.

As we continue to wait for this pandemic to end, the time together can be a great opportunity to come together as a family to ensure Jesus Christ is the center, foundation and priority of our homes.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us! † Dunn Estacio is an associate director with the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.

Catholic Family Service Spring Break Disciple Retreats March 8 – 12 or March 15 – 19 Daily Faith Talks, Sacraments, Service Projects, Praise & Worship, Activities, etc.

Enjoy Spring Break by having a Christ-centered vacation, making a difference at the CRC, an affordable family vacation, and growing closer to your family.

Each session limited to 10 families; register online.

Family age range 2nd – 12th grade for various projects.

Socially-Distant & Spiritually-Connected.

Safety Precautions are in-place. Enjoy the 52-acres of the CRC. CRC has safely been running retreats since May without a single COVID-19 issue.

Information and registration online at https://retreatcentercrc.org/events

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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COLUMNIST

Valentine’s Day 2021: A heart for a heart

It’s Valentine’s Day, and I cannot help but think about the one who has stolen my heart many years ago.

Since a very young age, I always had a crush on some guy or another, and I would daydream for hours about that cute, handsome, intelligent and “perfect” guy. Growing a little older, I seriously dated a few young men and almost got married to one of them, but my heart was not fully satisfied.

And then it happened: when I was 19, I really did meet the perfect guy, and I knew that he was ‘the one,’ but I hesitated at first to make the commitment of spending the rest of my life with him. But soon enough, he conquered my heart to its very depths, and I could not resist him: Jesus!

He fulfilled my heart in a way no one else could have done.

Once I heard Chiara Lubich, who founded the Focolare movement, talking about the heart of Jesus as a divine and also human heart that warms by up our hearts with the fire JOELMA of love.

REGIS She marveled with us at the thought that that heart is still beating in heaven! She invited us to detach our hearts from everything else that is not Him in order to feel the warmth of His heart in our lives. I often tell Him: Jesus, I give you

†

my heart; please give me Yours so that on this earth, I will be able to love others as You have loved.

Some years ago, while in college, someone asked me out on Valentine’s Day, and I explained to him that I am in a serious relationship — with the perfect guy. He laughed and took some time to understand it.

Sometimes I am asked if I miss being with someone or if I feel sad not to have children. Someone asked me if I miss being kissed or exchanging affections.

My answer is that I am a woman with a heart that still beats. It is natural to have those feelings.

But God has called me to a life that goes beyond the “natural.”

The more I try to detach myself from those feelings and live in the present moment, loving God and my neighbors, the more I feel union with Him. That union with Him is priceless, and it fills every fiber of my being. I am filled with joy and am not lacking anything. † Joelma Regis, a consecrated woman in the Focolare Movement, is an associate director with the Office of Vocations.

SUNDAY MASS READINGS FEB. 14

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

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

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

Gospel: Mk 1:40-45

FEB. 21

First Reading: Gen 9:8-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-9

Second Reading: 1 Pet 3:18-22

Gospel: Mk 1:12-15

ST. MARY BASILICA RENOVATION CONTINUES

Claims/Risk Manager Houston, Texas

St. Mary has endured many storms since 1847. The interior of the church was renovated after Hurricane Ike in 2008 and reopened in 2014. The current project addresses needed exterior and structural repairs and restoration of the St. Mary, Star of the Sea statue (featured on the cover). Additional repairs involving the Cathedral Basilica have been identified and will be completed pending funding.

To donate, visit www.archgh.org/restorestmary or call 713-652-4418.

Catholic Mutual Group (CMG) was established in 1889 and is recognized as the leading provider of property and casualty protection and related services for the Catholic Church in the United States and Canada.

Catholic Mutual Group has an excellent opportunity for a Claims/Risk Manager (CRM) for our service office in Houston, Texas. The successful candidate will receive and adjust property/casualty claims by performing investigations/site inspections, evaluating liability, verifying coverages, and negotiating fair and equitable settlements. This person will also provide risk management services such as conducting annual safety inspections, and establishing and monitoring risk management policies. Responsibilities will also include promoting safety awareness through educational seminars and online training, and composing newsletters and other safety literature for distribution. Additional duties include general office administration and customer service. Frequent regional travel by automobile and an occasional overnight stay is required.

The individual in this position must have a good understanding of insurance with at least five years of experience in property and casualty claims adjusting. Prior risk management or safety experience is helpful. A four year college degree and good understanding of Catholic Church procedures and hierarchy is preferred. The candidate must also possess strong written and oral communication skills and be able to make independent, sound judgments and have the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously. Good customer service skills are necessary. Must have an understanding of basic accounting procedures and the ability to run an independent office without direct supervision. Must be willing to work irregular hours and be on call for emergencies and have a valid driver’s license. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Outlook required.

Benefits include competitive salary, paid holidays with generous vacation and sick accruals, a 403(b) plan with company match, paid life and AD&D insurance at five times the annual salary, long-term disability leave, paid job-related continuing education, and an excellent medical/vision/dental group insurance plan.

Catholic Mutual Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Please submit an application and resume by visiting www.catholicmutual.org and click on About Us > Careers Questions may be directed to Kelley Andersen at kandersen@catholicmutual.org

14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

WORLD

Church is impartial, focusing on well-being of all, Italian cardinal says ROME (CNS) — The Catholic Church does not take sides, but it does take to heart the life and well-being of every person and the nation as a whole, said Gualtiero Cardinal Bassetti of PerugiaCitta della Pieve, president of the Italian bishops’ conference.

“Let us hope that politicians collaborate at the service of citizens,” he said, and “they reach a solution that takes into account the many critical issues” the country is facing.

The meeting came as the Italian government was in turmoil, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella was trying to find a resolution after the forced resignation of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The collapse of the government came as the country struggled to respond to its ongoing health and economic crises, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardinal Bassetti, opening an online meeting of the Italian bishops’ permanent council on Jan. 26, said he hoped that Church leaders would be leaders of reconciliation since “this is the path that the Lord opens up to us now.”

The task of Church leaders, he said, is to “be interpreters and the voices of the many vulnerabilities” people are facing so that no one is left out and on their own.

“It would be good to remember that the Church is not of this or that side.

What we take to heart is the well-being of each person and all together; what is important to us is the life of each person; what we support is our country,” he said.

The cardinal repeated what Pope Francis told the Roman Curia in his Christmas greetings last year, that “it would be good for us to stop living in conflict and feel once more that we are

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis talks with Gualtiero Cardinal Bassetti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, at the opening of the conference’s annual spring meeting at the Vatican in this May 20, 2019, file photo. In a Jan. 26 speech, Cardinal Bassetti said the Church doesn’t take sides but works for the life and wellbeing of each person and the nation.

journeying together, open to crisis.”

“A crisis is itself movement, a part of our journey. Conflict, on the other hand, is a false trail leading us astray, aimless, directionless and trapped in a labyrinth; it is a waste of energy and an occasion for evil,” the cardinal said, quoting the pope.

This is the path the pope is indicating for the Church in Italy, too — to be reconciled with one another and walk together as a church, the cardinal said.

The Italian bishops’ pastoral guidelines provide an appropriate compass in

saying, “The true culture of communion proposes certain human values, such as being inclined toward thinking together, sharing the effort, communally developing pastoral projects, correctly formulating common judgments on the reality of the environment, adopting forms of assistance that express the Christian soul of the whole community that’s involved.”

He asked everyone to remember what

Pope Francis told them during a pastoral visit to Florence in 2015, that he prefers “a restless Italian Church, ever closer to the abandoned, the forgotten, the imperfect. I would like a glad Church with a mother’s face that understands, accompanies, caresses. You too dream of this Church, believe in her, innovate with freedom.”

The cardinal said the pope’s vision can free them from “anxiety or fear of making a mistake. We must set out on the road with a gaze that focuses beyond the emergencies of this moment. Only this way can the dream become a reality for our communities.”

Their ministry as shepherds of the Church should be performing works of reconciliation, carried out in a spirit of fraternity, collaboration and solidarity, Cardinal Bassetti said.

The political sphere is for repairing “the social fabric torn by economic and social struggles,” and the scientific field is for a responsible understanding of what has been discovered for helping the wellbeing of everyone, he added.

The many “fractures” they as pastors must seek to repair, he added, include the current health care emergency and the need to support scientific facts, not opinions on social media, concerning the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The 78-year-old cardinal, who spent a month in the hospital with COVID-19, including 10 days in intensive care, thanked everyone for their prayers and support and reminded those participating in the meeting that Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe of Naples was unable to attend because he was still recovering from COVID-19. †

IN BRIEF

HOW ABOUT A TRIP TO ROME?

But it’s an virtual trip. While we can’t go right now, The Texas Catholic Herald presents ‘Diversions,’ a website with links to FREE digital offerings, including digital pilgrimages, online video tours, puzzles and links to religious exhibits. Sites include St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel in Houston, the Vatican, the Holy Land and other religious places. Puzzles feature beautiful images of St. Peter's Basilica, the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, and religious art from around the Archdiocese. The content can be played on computer and mobile devices.

Take a trip with us at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/DIVERSIONS

Pope says money at root of opposition to annulment reform

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The potential loss of money and authority are often at the heart of the opposition against reforming the Catholic Church’s annulment process, Pope Francis said.

Departing from his prepared remarks during a Jan. 29 meeting with members of the Roman Rota, a tribunal handling mostly marriage cases, the pope said that after implementing reforms that streamlined annulments in 2015, he “received many letters” and encountered “so much resistance. Almost all of them were lawyers who were losing clients. And therein lies the problem of money,” he said. “In Spain, there is a saying, ‘Por la plata baila el mono’ — ‘Monkeys will dance for money.’ It is a saying that is clear.”

The pope also said he was saddened to see “resistance in some dioceses by some judicial vicars who with this reform would lose, I don’t know, a certain form of power because it became clear that he is not the judge, but the bishop is.” †

The homeless need both a handout and a hand up, archbishop says

TURIN, Italy (CNS) — Giving some money or a blanket or a sandwich to a homeless person is a good and laudable thing, but a Christian who considers the beggar a brother or sister will do more, said Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin.

“Solidarity is not a coin tossed” toward an outstretched hand, he said. “While no one questions the value and meaning of almsgiving, it is also true that this gesture alone is not enough; it does not ‘put right’ any individual conscience or civic responsibility.”

As winter settled on the northern Italian city, the archbishop issued a statement Jan. 28 urging the people of Turin to see each homeless person as a brother or sister and to think about the larger implications of having so many people living on the freezing streets amid a pandemic. And while local newspapers were publishing a variety of articles about whether people should give money to folks living on the street, the archbishop called for a broader look at the question and real efforts to create “a more humane community.” †

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

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NATION & STATE

Panelists say abortion debate needs wider focus RYE, N.Y. (CNS) — Overturning Roe v. Wade will not be the silver bullet many in the pro-life movement have hoped for. Even if the Supreme Court delivers a symbolic repudiation of its 1973 ruling, abortion will continue with state oversight, and passions will run high on the extremes of the debate, according to speakers on a Jan. 27 webinar.

Nonetheless, a resolution to the highly polarized discussion about abortion in the United States might include calm conversations seeking common ground, positioning pro-life efforts as part of increased advocacy for human dignity, and looking closely at policy changes that support pregnancy and motherhood.

Recent Pew Center research shows that 61% of Americans think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and 38% say it should be illegal in most or all cases. These numbers are relatively unchanged over two decades.

Statistics oversimplify attitudes toward abortion, and labels such as “prochoice� and “pro-life� are not helpful, said Tricia Bruce, a sociologist of religion and an affiliate of the University of Notre Dame’s Center for the Study of Religion and Society. “So much of the abortion conversation goes beyond abortion,� Bruce said and includes social issues and consideration of individual circumstances and personal experience with abortion, miscarriage, infertility and adoption. “The moral discomfort with abortion is far wider than the desire to restrict abortion legally. Many Americans don’t want abortion rates to increase, but there is a reticence to use the law to decrease abortion,� she said. “The pro-life movement needs a political detox,� said Katelyn Beaty, author, journalist and former managing editor of Christianity Today, an evangelical magazine.

The alignment of former President Donald Trump with the pro-life movement invites charges of hypocrisy in the cause, she said, because despite his support for abortion restrictions, Trump enacted a political vision that disregarded human dignity at most turns — at a tremendous cost to Christian witness, she added. “The political lens has eclipsed every other lens for addressing abortion rates,�

Do you have a Loved One in Jail or Prison?

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Correctional Ministries Archdiocesan Office 713-741-8732

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PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A pro-life sign is displayed during the 2020 annual Texas Rally for Life in Austin.

including economic, feminist, spiritual and relational lenses, she said. “As a Catholic, it’s disappointing to see the pro-life cause emptied of the Gospel and made political,� said Gloria Purvis, Catholic radio host and media commentator. “It’s alienating to hear you’re close to heaven in one party, and you’re going to hell if you’re in the other.� “We need to wrest abortion from being a political issue and make it what it truly is: a Gospel issue rooted in the dignity of the human person from womb to tomb,� she said.

Beaty said, “The stalemate of the current culture wars leaves little room to imagine a ‘Third Way’ solution to the

entrenched political binary.� However, a third way of listening and finding common ground could result in unlikely friendships, creativity and hope, she said. “Now is the time to take the pro-life movement beyond the culture wars and reinvest in the lives of women and children. Pro-life is not about beating our political enemies but about loving our flesh and blood neighbors,� Beaty said.

Purvis said the national dialogue on abortion often overlooks what steps could be taken to make a welcoming place in society for women who are pregnant or who have children.

Businesses should not stigmatize

pregnant employees or mothers but should shift to accommodate all people in an economy where they can be full participants.

Mary Ziegler, professor of law at Florida State University, said Americans are “profoundly ambivalent, conflicted and nuanced� about abortion. At a time where people divide themselves into political silos, conversation with different people can reveal common ground. “Abortion is not a cookie-cutter issue,� she said. “Conversation exposes a lot of people who are not on the extremes,� she said. “Conversations are important and create space for people to talk in ways that are risky and unconventional but ultimately productive,� she said.

Bruce said religion is a powerful carrier of messaging around abortion, but the influence of the Catholic Church on young Catholics has waned, as it has in some other religious groups.

Purvis said Catholics can look for common ground with people who have different approaches to abortion by seeking the things they both value. “We can’t demonize those who have a different view,� she said.

For example, she said maternal child health should be a “no-brainer� for Catholics and is an area where diverse groups can advocate together.

She said some women at maternity homes and pregnancy centers “don’t have a crisis pregnancy; they have a crisis life. We have to be there with them as family. We don’t give up on making abortion unthinkable, but we have to make choosing pregnancy desirable in all ways,� she said.

The webinar, “Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Post-Roe? New Prospects for the Abortion Debate in America,â€? was presented by the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture. â€

16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

MUNDO CATÓLICO

Papa: Catequistas deben defender enseñanzas de la iglesia CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — La educación religiosa debe enfocarse en llevar a las personas a una relación personal con Cristo y construir una comunidad de creyentes donde se valoren los talentos de cada persona y donde todos salgan a compartir el Evangelio y servir a los pobres, dijo el papa Francisco.

“Los primeros protagonistas de la catequesis son ellos, mensajeros del Evangelio, a menudo laicos, que entran en juego con generosidad para compartir la belleza de haber encontrado a Jesús”, dijo el papa el 30 de enero a los participantes en un encuentro organizado por la Oficina Nacional de Catequesis de la Conferencia Episcopal Italiana.

La catequesis debe ser algo que “exprese el amor salvífico de Dios previo a la obligación moral y religiosa: Tu eres amado, tu eres amada, esto es lo primero; que no imponga la verdad y que apele a la libertad, como hacía Jesús”, dijo.

Debe poseer “unas notas de alegría, estímulo, vitalidad, y una integralidad armoniosa que no reduzca la predicación

FOTO DE CNS

El papa Francisco se reune durante una audiencia con participantes en un grupo organizado por la Oficina Nacional de Catequesis de los obispos italianos, en el Vaticano el 30 de enero de 2021.

a unas pocas doctrinas a veces más filosóficas que evangélicas”.

Sin embargo, dijo, un catequista siempre debe enseñar lo que enseña la iglesia y eso incluye la visión y las enseñanzas del Concilio Vaticano II. “Esto es magisterio: el Concilio es magisterio de la Iglesia”, dijo.“O estás con la Iglesia y por tanto sigues el Concilio, y si no sigues el Concilio o lo interpretas a

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston | 1700 San Jacinto | Houston, TX 77002

Associate Director of Development Summary: The Associate Director will work closely with the Development Director and other staff to support the overall fundraising efforts and events of the Archdiocese. The primary responsibility of this position is the creation and management of a dynamic Annual Appeal (Diocesan Services Fund), and cultivation of long-lasting relationships with major donors, supporters, lay leaders, priests and prospects to ensure the financial stability of the local church. Responsible for timely and accurate reporting, constituent stewardship, and prospect analysis necessary to plan and implement donor engagement in the Archdiocese. Responsible for creation of donor impact articles and overall campaign marketing. Also participates in visioning and goal setting for the Development Department.

Essential duties and responsibilities: • Produces compelling appeal collateral materials and reports • Establishes print and electronic marketing plan for the campaign which include monthly newsletter, social media outreach and year-end giving blasts • Develops cultivation opportunities and tailored solicitation strategies for different segments of the donor base • Establishes strategies to engage major gifts ($5,000 and up), to renew current donors and re-engage donors lapsed for three or more years • Is a resource for parishes/ministries for campaigns, offertory and grant writing • Assists in prospect research/updates prospects in established and new campaigns • Special projects as needed and other duties as assigned by the director Required qualifications: • Undergraduate degree and 3-5 years of development/stewardship experience • Thorough knowledge of stewardship and fundraising principles and techniques, especially in relation to annual appeals and major gifts • Working knowledge of software including Microsoft Office and Adobe products such as InDesign • Strong interpersonal and exceptional communication and organizational skills, ability to prioritize as well as be able to multi-task and arrange ongoing projects • Occasional early morning/ evening/ weekend work required • Ability to lift/carry 25 pounds Additional preferred qualifications: • Familiarity and comfort with the mission of the Catholic Faith • Bilingual English/Spanish

Suitable candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to Human Resources at resume@archgh.org with Associate Director - Development in the subject line.

tu manera, como quieres, no estás con la Iglesia”.

“A este respecto tenemos que ser exigentes, severos”, dijo el papa.

La “selectividad del Concilio, se ha repetido a lo largo de la historia con otros Concilios”, dijo. “A mí me da tanto que pensar un grupo de obispos que después del Vaticano I se fueron, un grupo de laicos, otros grupos, para continuar la ‘verdadera doctrina’ que no era la del Vaticano I”.

“Hoy ordenan a mujeres”, dijo el papa, aparentemente refiriéndose a las Antiguas Iglesias Católicas que forman

parte de la Unión de Utrecht.

“Por favor”, dijo el papa al grupo, “ninguna concesión a los que intentan presentar una catequesis que no sea concorde con el Magisterio de la Iglesia”.

El papa Francisco también le dijo al grupo que después de cinco años de discusiones intermitentes, la conferencia de obispos italianos debe “iniciar un proceso de Sínodo nacional, comunidad por comunidad, diócesis por diócesis”.

Los obispos, religiosos y laicos que se reunieron en Florencia en 2015 para la convención nacional de la iglesia italiana, que se celebra cada 10 años, hablaron sobre la idea de tener un sínodo, pero no se tomaron medidas formales para organizarlo. “Retomarlo, ahora. Es el momento. Y empezar a caminar”, dijo el papa.

Citando su discurso a los delegados de la convención en Florencia, el papa Francisco dijo a los miembros de la oficina de catequesis que la educación religiosa debe colocar la dimensión comunitaria de la iglesia en su centro.

“No es el momento de estrategias elitistas”, dijo. “En cambio, buscar pertenencias elitistas te aleja del pueblo de Dios quizás con fórmulas sofisticadas; pero pierdes esa pertenencia a la Iglesia que es el santo pueblo fiel de Dios. Es el tiempo de ser artesanos de comunidades abiertas que sepan valorar los talentos de cada uno”. †

Director, Office of Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil, & Campus Ministry The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, led by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, is a multicultural Church with active members from every continent of the world. We pray and celebrate in over 14 languages in 146 parishes and we participate in activities of social justice, support the good works of persons in other countries, prepare our children and young people to be responsible members of the community — and we do all this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Summary: The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is seeking eligible candidates for the position of Director, Office of Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil and Campus Ministry. This position reports directly to the Secretariat Director for Pastoral and Educational Ministry and provides leadership in the on-going formation of Catholic young adults in their twenties and thirties, both single and married, in a diverse multilingual intercultural setting by providing training, support, and resources for those responsible for this ministry in parishes and in college/university campus ministry centers. Supervises, assists, and supports campus ministry directors. This position is responsible for developing and implementing a vision and long-range plan for young adult ministry on the Archdiocesan level, in the parishes and on college/university campuses. Along with facilitating Archdiocesan gatherings of young adults for continuing growth in faith, adult relationships, vocational discernment and other areas of need and interest through the activities of the appropriate leadership structures.

Education/Experience Requirements: Master’s Degree. Pastoral Theology or related field. Minimum of 4 years pastoral ministry to/with young adults. Supervisory experience as well as knowledge of parish and church structures. Campus ministry experience is desirable. Bilingual - English/Spanish is a plus. This person must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.

Interested qualified candidates should submit a cover letter with resume and salary requirements via email to resume@archgh.org Please indicate job title on subject line.

Young Adult and Campus Ministry | Chancery at St. Dominic Center 2403 Holcombe Blvd. | Houston, Texas 77021

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

MUNDO CATÓLICO

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Fe se ha fortalecido en EE.UU. en medio del COVID-19, según encuesta WASHINGTON (CNS) — Según una nueva encuesta del Centro de Investigación Pew, más estadounidenses dicen que la pandemia del coronavirus ha fortalecido su fe religiosa comparado con otras 13 naciones que tienen lo que Pew llama “economías avanzadas”.

Sin embargo, en la otra cara de la moneda, la mayoría en cada país incluyendo Estados Unidos, ha afirmado que la pandemia no ha alterado su nivel de fe.

A excepción de Australia, Canadá, Japón y Corea del Sur, los demás países encuestados eran europeos: Bélgica, Dinamarca, Francia, Alemania, Italia, Holanda, España, Suecia y Reino Unido.

La encuesta, difundida el 27 de enero, indica que el 28% de los estadounidenses dijo que la pandemia había fortalecido su propia fe religiosa y el 28% dijo que había fortalecido la fe de la gente en su país.

Los países más cercanos a Estados Unidos fueron España, donde el 16% de los encuestados dijo que la pandemia había fortalecido su fe y el 17% dijo que había fortalecido la fe de otros españoles; e Italia, donde el 15% dijo que había fortalecido su propia fe y el 19% dijo que había fortalecido la fe de otros italianos.

En los 14 países encuestados, un promedio de un 10% dijo que la pandemia había fortalecido su propia fe, mientras que el 15% dijo que había fortalecido la fe de la gente en su país.

El único país de los encuestados que registró aumentos de un solo dígito en cada pregunta fue Japón, donde el 5% dijo que había fortalecido su propia fe y el 5% dijo que había fortalecido la fe de la gente en su país.

El 9% de los surcoreanos dijo que la pandemia había actualmente debilitado la fe de la gente. En comparación con el 10% que dijo que había fortalecido

FOTO DE CNS

Un dispensador de desinfectante de manos se ve en la Iglesia de San James en Setauket, Nueva York, 3 de septiembre de 2020. Muchas parroquias han encontrado maneras creativas de recordar a los adoradores que sigan las pautas de salud de COVID-19 durante la pandemia en curso.

su fe, fue un positivo neto de sólo el 1%.

El único país con un número neto tan pequeño fue Suecia, donde el 3% dijo que había fortalecido su fe y el 2% dijo que la había debilitado.

En Estados Unidos, el 68% de los encuestados dijo que su propia fe no había cambiado mucho y el 47% dijo que la fe de otros estadounidenses se había mantenido más o menos igual.

La encuesta se realizó entre el 10 de

junio y el 3 de agosto del año pasado, cuando los habitantes de los países afectados estaban aplicando las normas de distanciamiento social, órdenes de confinamiento nacional o ambas. Pew realizó encuestas telefónicas a 14.276 adultos en total en los 14 países.

Las respuestas más favorables se dieron cuando se preguntó si la pandemia había fortalecido los vínculos familiares. España alcanzó el 42%, mientras que Estados Unidos, el Reino Unido e Italia registraron un 41% cada uno. Sin embargo, incluso en esos países, un mayor porcentaje de encuestados dijo que tampoco había cambiado mucho.

En cuanto a los que dicen que su fe es muy importante para ellos, España está a la cabeza, ya que el 49% dice que la pandemia ha fortalecido su fe, en comparación con el 6% de los españoles que dicen que su fe no es algo demasiado importante o nada importante, una diferencia neta de 43, que también fue superior entre los 14 países encuestados.

Entre los estadounidenses, el 45% de los que dicen que su fe es muy importante para ellos dijeron que la crisis del COVID había fortalecido su fe, en comparación con el 11% que consideraba la fe menos importante o sin importancia, una diferencia de 34 puntos. En general, el 49% de los estadounidenses dijo que la religión es muy importante en sus vidas, así como el 24% de los españoles.

Aunque en Estados Unidos se suele prestar atención a los evangélicos blancos por su religiosidad, hubo un aspecto en el que los católicos estadounidenses superaron a los evangélicos.

Según Pew, el 48% de los católicos

encuestados dijo que la pandemia “fortaleció los lazos con sus familiares más cercanos, lo cual es mayor que la proporción de protestantes evangélicos blancos (34%) que dicen que sus relaciones familiares son más fuertes como resultado de la pandemia”.

Sin embargo, el 49% de los evangélicos blancos dijo que la pandemia había fortalecido su fe, en comparación con el 35% de los católicos y el 43% de los evangélicos dijo que la crisis había fortalecido la fe de sus compatriotas, en comparación con el 30% de los católicos.

Independientemente del país, las personas con menores ingresos dijeron tener una fe más fuerte que aquellos con mayores ingresos. En Estados Unidos, el 34% de los encuestados con ingresos más bajos dijo que su fe se había fortalecido debido al COVID. El 22% reportado por los estadounidenses con mayores ingresos, sin embargo, es más alto que el mayor porcentaje de personas con menores ingresos de cualquier otro país con suficientes encuestados para que la respuesta sea estadísticamente significativa.

Cuando se le preguntó si las respuestas de los estadounidenses representaban una pausa en el continuo decaimiento de la nación hacia la secularización, Neha Sahgal, directora asociada de investigación de Pew, respondió: “Yo no iría tan lejos. Una cosa está bastante clara, que en los últimos años en Estados Unidos hay una tendencia a la secularización: más personas que dicen no tener religión y una disminución en la fe de las personas que dicen que son observadores”. †

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston | 1700 San Jacinto | Houston, TX 77002

EN BREVE Papa: Las Sagradas Escrituras son para ser acogidas

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — Orar con las Sagradas Escrituras no debe ser una repetición sin sentido de citas bíblicas, sino que un regalo que debe ser aceptado en el corazón de las personas, dijo el papa Francisco.

Durante su audiencia general semanal del 27 de enero, el papa dijo que las palabras en las Sagradas Escrituras “no han sido escritas para quedarse atrapadas en el papiro, en el pergamino o en el papel, sino para ser acogidas por una persona que reza, haciéndolas brotar en su corazón.

También dijo que “es necesario acercarse a la Biblia sin segundas intenciones, sin instrumentalizarla” ni para apoya “para la propia visión filosófica o moral”.

“A mí me molesta un poco cuando escucho cristianos que recitan versículos de la Biblia como los loros. ‘Oh, sí, el Señor dice…, quiere así’”, dijo el papa, apartándose de sus comentarios preparados. “¿Pero tú te has encontrado con el Señor, con ese versículo? No es un problema solo de memoria: es un problema de la memoria del corazón, la que te abre para el encuentro con el Señor. Y esa palabra, ese versículo, te lleva al encuentro con el Señor”, dijo. †

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.

Parish Accounting Services (PAS) Staff Accountant Summary: The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is seeking a full-time Staff Accountant for the Parish Accounting Services Department in the Downtown Chancery who is able to succeed in a faith-based, fast-paced, dynamic work environment. The Staff Accountant applies principles of accounting to analyze financial information received from the parishes and schools of the archdiocese and prepares financial reports and schedules. The staff accountant provides assistance with accounting, bookkeeping and payroll functions to the parishes; staff accountant assistance may be online and at parish locations.

Educational Experience: • BBA/Accounting degree. Minimum 30 hours of Accounting.

• CPA Certification preferred.

• Four to six years related experience in accounting and administration, especially in a not-for-profit environment.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills • Experience in reconciliation of general ledger and Bank accounts • Knowledge and experience with FASB and GAAP statements and standards.

• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Requirements: • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from bookkeepers, business managers, principals and pastors.

• Must have a valid TDL and a vehicle for onsite parish assignments.

• Bi-lingual Spanish and/or Vietnamese is a plus.



If interested, please send your resume to resume@archgh.org with PAS Staff Accountant in the subject line.

18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

WITHIN THE ARTS Illustrated children’s book chronicles saints’ lives, shows they were ‘relentlessly human’ BALTIMORE (CNS) — Serenely peering out from stained-glass or standing atop pedestals while piously presenting the instruments of their martyrdom, the saints can often appear otherworldly in church art.

Carey Wallace’s new children’s book, “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace and Courage,” shows that holy men and women — whose miraculous deeds, charitable works and battles with armies, beasts and demons she chronicles with gusto — also were what Wallace calls “relentlessly human.”

“The saints are often scared,” said Wallace, a novelist based in Brooklyn, New York. “The saints often don’t know what to do. The saints are often running away from responsibility. They don’t feel like they are qualified for what they’ve been asked to do. The saints are very, very much like us.”

Wallace pointed out that some popes, including St. Gregory the Great, fled when they were elected to the papacy. Other saints, such as St. Jean Vianney, failed in academic work. St. Teresa of Kolkata, the great 20th-century missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity, often felt alone and sometimes wondered if God loved her.

Yet, the saints refused to let their shortcomings stop them from doing God’s work in a great diversity of ways.

“You get some saints who refused to fight in battles because of their faith and some saints who lead people into battle because of their faith,” said Wallace, who grew up in Michigan. “You get some people who manage their wealth very wisely and some people who refuse to even carry money when it’s given to them.”

The author found that despite their different approaches, saints over two millennia tended to share two qualities: a profound love for the poor and a true love for God that is different from a love

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORKMAN PUBLISHING

Above: Striking illustrations, such as this depiction of St. Joan of Arc, are a hallmark of “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace and Courage” by Carey Wallace. Above, at right: This is the cover of “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace and Courage” by Carey Wallace.

for the Bible or for Church “rules.”

“That’s what animates all of these stories in my reading and telling of them,” Wallace told the Catholic Review, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Wallace’s book is arranged chronologically, providing lively narratives of 70 saints beginning with St. Polycarp and ending with St. Teresa of Kolkata.

It includes familiar figures such as St. George, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joan of Arc, but also lesser-known saints such as St. Angela Merici, St. Camillus de Lellis and St. Josephine Bakhita.

LOCAL CATHOLIC NEWS.

WHERE YOU WANT IT. WHEN YOU WANT IT.

Produced by Workman Publishing, www.workman.com, “Stories of the Saints” is geared to children between 8 and 12 but is also appropriate for teens and adults. Nick Thornborrow, a video game artist, dramatically illustrates the book with contemporary images of the saints that sometimes take up two full pages.

Unlike other children’s books about the saints that can be heavy-handed in imparting spiritual lessons, Wallace’s work relies on the stories themselves to leave their own impressions. They incorporate both legend and historical facts.

“We wanted to sort of let children and adults who come to this book find whatever is there for them at that moment without trying to tell them what that should be,” Wallace said, adding that she

“The saints often don’t know what to do. The saints are often running away from responsibility. They don’t feel like they are qualified for what they’ve been asked to do. The saints are very, very much like us.” also wanted the book to be accessible to those who were just looking for fantastic adventure tales.

In researching and writing the book, Wallace said the saints gave her hope she could be like them.

“I could no longer tell myself these people were so much better than me,” she said. “It lays some of the responsibility on your shoulders that you might otherwise want to squirm out of — that you, too, might be capable of doing some of these things that really change the world if you follow God and love Him.” †

MOVIE RATINGS By Catholic News Service A-I – GENERAL PATRONAGE

• Pinocchio (PG-13)

• • • • •

A-III – ADULTS

L – LIMITED ADULT AUDIENCE

• Gunda (G)

A-II – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS

WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/DIGITALEDITIONS

• • • • • • •

All My Life (PG-13) Dark Waters (PG-13) Greenland (PG-13) Herself (R) Monster Hunter (PG-13) News of the World (PG-13) Our Friend (R)

Soul (PG) The Dig (PG-13) The Little Things (R) The Marksman (PG-13) Wonder Woman 1984 (PG-13)

• Fatale (R) • The White Tiger (R) • Us (R)

O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE

• Promising Young Woman (R)

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald

19

MILESTONES

Houstonian enters the Dominican Sisters of Peace as a candidate COLUMBUS, Ohio — Maria Tram Bui, 41, of Houston was welcomed as a candidate for the Dominican Sisters of Peace on Dec. 7, 2020.

Attending both Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church during her youth, Tram was initially introduced to the Dominican Sisters of Peace through the congregation’s Kentucky sisters, where she also heard the call of God to become a healer through her career in physical therapy.

After she returned to Texas to continue her education, Sister Mary Vuong, OP, another Dominican Sister of Peace who ministers as a physical therapist in Texas, invited Tram to look again at her calling to religious life.

“Meeting the Dominican Sisters of Peace has made me feel very much at home — welcomed to the community,”

Tram said. “I am blessed to experience the joy and caring that they have shared with me.”

Tram was welcomed to the congregation in a virtual ceremony held at the House of Welcome.

During her candidacy, Tram will live at the Dominican Sisters of Peace House of Welcome in Columbus, Ohio. She will continue her career in physical therapy as she continues to discern her call to religious life.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace currently have seven women in various stages of formation and ministry. For more information about the congregation, visit www.oppeace.org.†

VOCATIONS HIGHLIGHT

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE Editor’s Note: Contact event organizers for the latest updates and information.

View additional listings or updates online at www.archgh.org/ata.

FEB. 11

MASS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, 9 a.m., St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church (13350 Ashford Point Dr., Houston), sponsored by KC Council 8293. Red-shirted Knights of Columbus will escort into the church those who will come in wheel chairs or who may need assistance in walking. Open to public, and all appropriate pandemic precautions will be observed.

FEB. 13

ITALIAN DINNER, “That’s Amore! A Celebration of God’s Love,” 6 to 9 p.m., at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Madonna Hall (10114 Hwy 6, Hitchcock). Annual giving dinner honors Sister Carmel O’Malley and includes Italian pasta dinner, dessert and silent auctions. Reservations required, tickets for purchase online or by phone. Proceeds support parish school. Open to the public, free parking. Social distancing protocols will be observed. 409-925-3224; ololcs.org.

DIVINE MERCY CONFERENCE, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Faustina Catholic Church (28102 FM 1093, Fulshear) hosts Divine Mercy Conference sponsored by the Spirit of Divine Mercy Ministry. Features Father Jacek P. Mazur,

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOMINICAN SISTERS OF PEACE

Candidate Maria Tram Bui is welcomed as a candidate to the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

pastor at Divine Mercy Parish in Niagara Falls and Radio Host, and Bryan Thatcher, founder of Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy and EWTN host, with presentations, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Adoration and Mass. Free. Limited seating due to capacity restrictions. Register: saintfaustinachurch.org/ divine-mercy-conference.

FEB. 25

BIBLE STUDY, Walking with Purpose, a women’s Catholic Bible, hosts The Art of Creating Community online Zoom event at 7 p.m. An at-home study and weekly small group discussions for women that link everyday challenges with solutions found in the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church. Register: www.wwp.today/ feb25. Free. Jeannie Gillespie, jean.gillespie@ walkingwithpurpose.com.

Raising Awareness & Support for Catholic Education

FEB. 28 - MARCH 2

LENTEN MISSION WITH MONSIGNOR BORSKI, 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). Monsignor Chester Borski speaks on “Recreated: He Makes All Things News,” with different topics about our meaning and purpose as human persons created by God. In-person, livestream available. Limited seating, registration required. Free. Register or view the livestream www.stmichaelchurch.net. 713-403-4145.

HAVE A STORY IDEA OR NEWS TIP? The Texas Catholic Herald is always looking for new stories!

However, since the TCH staff cannot attend every single event or cover all of the news in the Archdiocese, those in the community are a great resource for news stories and tips.

Email story ideas to TCH@ARCHGH.ORG for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue.

For information on what to submit and issue deadline dates, visit the website at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/SUBMISSIONS.

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