Texas Catholic Herald - Feb. 23, 2021

FEBRUARY 23, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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READ POPE FRANCIS’S LENTEN MESSAGE

1

2020 Annual Report shares ministries in motion, financials

Pope: Lent is a time to grow, share faith hope and love ▪ SEE PAGE 12

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

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ENDURANCE AND HOPE

▪ SEE CENTER SECTION

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

VOL. 57, NO. 17

A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE

A FROZEN START TO LENT

A Lenten Quarantine

BY DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

C

PHOTO BY FATHER VICTOR PEREZ/ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

Snow blankets the grounds at St. Joseph Catholic Church near downtown Houston on Feb. 15. Winter Storm Uri caused havoc across Texas, forcing parishes across the Archdiocese to cancel or postpone Ash Wednesday Masses and services. St. Joseph cancelled its 7:15 a.m. Ash Wednesday Mass due to expected ice on roadways that morning.

After giving up so much last year, what’s left to ‘give up’ for Lent?

Perspectives on embracing Lent even after 2020

BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald

ENTERING LENT

HOUSTON (CNS) — Since childhood, the typical U.S. Catholic’s response to Lent is giving up, as in “What are you giving up for Lent?”

If you haven’t been keeping track, Catholics in the U.S. and worldwide — just about everyone, really — have been giving up a lot since the coronavirus pandemic struck 11 months ago, with no clearly defined end in sight.

You would need the fingers on both hands to name some of the things that have been lost, not to mention nearly a half-million See LENT, page 4

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis sprinkles ashes on the head of a cardinal during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 17.

COLUMNISTS † 9

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ESPAÑOL † 14

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OVID-19 has become part of our lives, our discussions, even our spiritual existence and vision these past 12 months.

Originally the word, “quarantine,” always involved some reference to Lent because it is a Latin form of the word for “40.”

A quarantine, a 40-day period, was a time marking Lenten fast and abstinence, preparation of catechumens for Baptism, and serious penance and renewal for the faithful who had fallen into serious sin, who needed reconciliation with the Lord and His Church.

Nowadays, quarantine refers to socially isolating oneself or a group because there has been a possible exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic virus. Some people are still put on See SHEPHERD, page 2

PRAYER

Finding peace in praying the Liturgy of the Hours

BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — During Lent, Catholics are called to enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery central to our Catholic faith. Part of the Lenten pilgrimage journey includes a deepening of an interior prayer life.

One well-known form of prayer is the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. The daily prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, consists of prayers that mark the hours of each day.

Though prayed consistently at various hours of the day by consecrated men and women in religious congregations and parish communities around the world, the Liturgy of the Hours is seldom embraced

MILESTONES † 15

See HOURS, page 5

2 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Publishing since 1964 (USPS 936-480)

SHEPHERD, from page 1

the margins of society, but this happens because such separation will lead to greater health or avoidance of the disease.

Quarantine is a helpful term for getting us to think about our spiritual health. How can we not only survive but thrive as the disciples of Christ, following Jesus through His many trials and sufferings and pursuing with Him the Father’s glory, which leads to our glory?

Three tried and true Lenten activities are always excellent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Our increased attention to prayer now includes more fervent intercession on behalf of all those who are suffering during this pandemic and their families and all caregivers.

Our fasting should go beyond the requirements of Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent. As we abstain from meat and other foods, let us also abstain from nasty, cutting comments about others, frivolous concerns for inessential goods rather than expending ourselves on goods that others actually need, especially the poor.

As to the third pillar of Lent, almsgiving, let us join with Pope Francis who has asked every member of the Church to do some concrete positive action in alleviating the sufferings of COVID-19 sufferers.

In Lent, we listen in Church to more of the Word of God in the Scriptures, a practice that should be followed at home by a more intense reading of the Bible, especially the four Gospels.

We should mark our own repentance by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, by which we receive the Lord’s forgiveness and are challenged to forgive others. There are many devotional practices of Lent like the Stations of the Cross that can reinvigorate our knowledge of all the suffering the Lord did for us and that can re-instill our vision of how much we need to witness to Jesus’ love and mercy.

The 2021 quarantine of Lent helps us to merge without confusion two necessary realities we face this spring. We need to pray for each other and remind each other of how much we need the Lord and each other, even when physical separations may make us more vulnerable. We acclaim: “Lord by Your Cross and Resurrection, You have set us free!

You are the Savior of the world.” †

“How can we not only survive but thrive as the disciples of Christ, following Jesus through His many trials and sufferings and pursuing with Him the Father’s glory, which leads to our glory?”

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THE FIRST WORD PASTORAL APPOINTMENT

A meatless meal from Madagascar For Lent, we continue a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world. This time, Catholic Relief Service’s (CRS) Rice Bowl program features ‘vary amin’anana,’ a traditional rice and greens dish from Madagascar.

This dish, a comfort food staple in Malagasy culture, is a chance for families to experience new cultures though food 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. Catholic Relief Services encourages that you 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 about CRS Rice Bowl and other free recipes, including videos, visit www.crsricebowl.org/recipe. †

Effective Feb. 22 Father Jhon J. Florez Administrator — Our Lady of St. John Catholic Church

IN BRIEF Next Café Catholica Lite set for Feb. 25

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 of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. His topic will be “In the Desert: Overcoming the Wilderness.” The night includes the talk, Gospel music and communal prayer. Open to all young adults ages 18 to 39.

For more information, visit www.archgh.org/ cafecatholica or email yacm@archgh.org or call 713-7418778. To register, visit https://bit.ly/CafeFebruary. †

DSF annual appeal to support Archdiocesan ministries continues HOUSTON — This year, the theme of the annual Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) appeal is “Walk in the Light of Christ.” The annual campaign to support more than 60 Archdiocese-wide ministries is under way and the local Church is asking parishioners to continue their generous giving to DSF. The fund supports a variety of ministries, such as those forming youth in Catholic faith; providing support and preparation for clergy; teaching, evangelizing, worshipping, and outreach to the incarcerated, aging, poor and sick; and programming to strengthen Christian families, among many others. A full list of the ministries supported can be found at www.archgh.org/dsf. The Archdiocese counts on DSF funds to help meet the needs of people struggling throughout our region.

To pledge online, visit www.archgh.org/dsf. For more information about DSF and the ministries it supports, call 713-652-4417. †

Food assistance distributions continue PHOTO BY CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Vary Amin’anana INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons fair trade olive oil • 1 small onion, diced • 1 medium tomato, diced • 1 clove garlic • 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced • 3 cup packed collard greens or kale • 1 cup rice • 2 cup water • Salt and pepper to taste

S

METHOD

Heat oil in medium-sized pot. Add onion, tomato, garlic and ginger, and sauté until just tender. Add collard greens or kale, and stir 1 minute. Add rice, water, salt and pepper.

Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on medium heat for 25 minutes or until water is absorbed.

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

Food pantries are open with drive-through distribution at three locations: Guadalupe Center in Houston, appointments required; Mamie George Community Center (MGCC) in Richmond, appointments required; and Beacon of Hope in Galveston, a Galveston County super distribution site. Distribution is on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The next distributions are March 10 and March 24, starting at 9 a.m. No appointments required. Call 409-762-2064 for more information.

In Fort Bend, The MGCC is a Houston Food Bank super distribution site, and appointments are required.

Distributions are on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For assistance, call 281-202-6289. Monthly food fairs have also resumed, with the next fair scheduled for Feb. 27 and March 27.

For distribution locations and hours, visit www. catholiccharities.org/food or call 713-874-6521.

The University of St. Thomas also hosts food distributions. Open to the 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 events@stthom.edu. †

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

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FEBRUARY 23, 2021

KING CAKE SHOWS US FASTING’S PURPOSE

Julie Blevins explores a tasty cake’s history and its meaning for Lenten practice and devotion. ▪ SEE PAGE 10

Pope Francis: Lent is a journey to return to God LENT, from page 1 lives lost in the U.S. alone.

So, given all that, how should a Catholic approach Lent this year?

Father Orrin Halepeska, pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and School in Rosenberg, said it’s important to add opportunities to encounter God in spiritual paths, especially this Lent.

“Our spiritual journeys should not just be seen as the place where we take ‘stuff’ from ourselves but instead a place of growth and added graces that God has planned for us,” he said. “Adding new habits and prayer can be a gift we give ourselves this Lent.”

Father Halepeska said in the chaos of family and daily life, “we can give ourselves moments of silence to encounter our God who loves us. I hope that all take time to receive from the abundance that God has in store for us all.”

Father Pat Garrett, pastor of Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in The

Woodlands, said he’s been focused on making a “sacrifice of time” and take time to do something more, primarily daily prayer.

“With all the frustration and anxiety [right now], we can easily develop bad habits of anger and impatience in our interactions with those we are closest to,” he said. “It is important to do a daily examination of conscience and call on the Holy Spirit who brings love, joy and peace in our life.”

Some examples of the sacrifice of time, Father Garrett said, include attending daily Mass in-person or virtually, praying the Rosary daily, doing a Bible study, and participating the Stations of the Cross (either in person or virtually).

Timothy Colbert, director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, said Lent calls the Church to three things: almsgiving, prayer and fasting.

“The common practice of giving something up is connected with fasting;

CNS PHOTO

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 17.

doing without as a way of sacrifice that helps us remember Christ’s sacrifice,” he said.

“Rather than focusing on additional fasting, I would challenge young people to be more attentive to their prayer life this Lent.”

Pope: God invites us to return to Him In his Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday Mass homily, Pope Francis said Lent is a time to reconsider the path one is taking in life and to finally answer God’s invitation to return to Him with one’s whole heart.

Because of ongoing pandemic measures, the Mass and distribution of ashes took place with a congregation of around 100 people at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

In St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope received ashes on his head from Angelo Cardinal Comastri, archpriest of the basilica, and he distributed ashes to about three dozen cardinals, as well as the priests and deacons assisting him at the Mass.

In his homily, the pope said one must bow to receive ashes sprinkled on the head, which reflects the “humble descent” one makes in reflecting on one’s life, sins and relationship with God. “Lent is a journey of return to God,” especially when most people live each

day ignoring or delaying their response to God’s invitation to pray and do something for others.

“It is a time to reconsider the path we are taking, to find the route that leads us home and to rediscover our profound relationship with God, on whom everything depends,” he said.

“The journey of Lent is an exodus from slavery to freedom,” he said, noting the easy temptations along that journey, including yearning for the past, or hindered by “unhealthy attachments, held back by the seductive snares of our sins, by the false security of money and appearances, by the paralysis of our discontents.

He said it is in life’s most painful wounds, that God awaits with His infinite mercy because that’s “where we are most vulnerable, where we feel the most shame” and where He comes to meet His children again.

“And now,” the pope said, “He invites us to return to Him, to rediscover the joy of being loved.” †

Guidelines for Lenten Observance Lent continues through Good Friday, April 2, which a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence. According to the U.S. bishops, fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year.

Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Through works of fasting, prayer and abstinence, we heed the Prophet Joel’s exhortation to “return to God with our whole heart” (2:12). Lent is a penitential season and practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of charity and justice and acts of selfdenial are highly encouraged. For more resources, visit archgh.org/lent.

Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston

WEEKDAY MASSES

Monday through Friday: 7 a.m., 12:10 p.m.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 6:50 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

Saturday: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday: 8:15 to 8:45 p.m., 10:15 to 10:45 p.m., 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., 4:30 to 5 p.m.

Vietnamese and Spanish: 30 minutes prior to weekend Masses.

Holy Family Parish of Galveston-Bolivar www.holyfamilygb.org

WEEKDAY MASS

Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Church (3424 Avenue K, Galveston) Spanish: Wednesday, 6 p.m. at St. Patrick

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Church (3424 Avenue K, Galveston) or by appointment via Parish Office (409-762-9646).

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FEBRUARY 23, 2021 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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The Divine Office offers hourly encounters with God HOURS, from page 1 by the laypeople.

Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP, said praying the Liturgy of the Hours is a blessing for her community at the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province.

“It is an outward sign of unity,” Sister Nguyen said. “It’s the greatest honor that we are able to lift up our voice together... as one voice, one body in Christ to offer to God the Father our humble praise and thanks.”

Together, the congregation prays Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Night Prayer (Compline), which are three of the five Hours of the Divine Office. The other two are the Office of Readings, which are a special selection of Scripture and spiritual writings for meditation, and Daytime Prayer, which can be prayed at midmorning, midday or midafternoon.

All of these prayers are often condensed into different editions of books known as Breviaries.

Sister Nguyen, an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, said praying the Liturgy of the Hours helps her to lift up her mind and spirit to God. For Sister Nguyen, the Divine Office is “very important” as it helps her put her mind into the “same spirit with the Psalms” as she prays each day.

The Divine Office is “public prayer of the Church,” says the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1174.

The Catechism (#1178) also describes the Liturgy of the Hours as an “extension of the Eucharistic celebration” that “in a complementary way calls forth the various devotions of the People of God, especially Adoration and the worship of the Blessed Sacrament.”

The myriad of readings, hymns and litanies found in the Divine Office “integrate the prayer of the Psalms into the age of the Church, expressing the symbolism of the time of day, the liturgical season, or the feast being celebrated,” states the Catechism (#1177).

Each of the Hours also includes parts of the Psalms, according to the U.S. bishops. The two most important, or “hinge Hours,” are Morning and Evening prayer.

Both include a Gospel canticle; Morning Prayer includes the Canticle of Zechariah from the Gospel of Luke, and Evening Prayer includes the Canticle of Mary, known as the Magnificat also from Luke.

These canticles, according to the U.S. bishops, are a “meditative extension of the scriptural proclamation in light of the Christ event. Morning and Evening Prayer also include intercessions that flow from the scriptural proclamation just as the Psalms prepare for it.”

Sister Nguyen said Evening Prayer’s Magnificat is her favorite part of the Daily Office, specifically the phrase: “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.”

“Somehow, I identify myself as a lowly servant whom God has looked upon with His favor,” she said. “I feel very special and loved that God has called me to the religious life. Everyday, when I pray [with] this quote, I thank God for that grace, and I silently pray that ‘God, please sanctify me to be worthy of Your grace.’”

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A breviary contains the Liturgy of the Hours according to the Roman Rite. Called the “public prayer of the Church,” the Divine Office is an opportunity to join the Universal Church in praise and thanksgiving, according to Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP.

The Divine Office is important to her and the entire Church because it’s not only a duty for the Church, she said, it also shares in “the greatest honor:” standing before God’s throne to offer praises to God, quoting Sacrosanctum Concilium, one of Vatican II constitutions.

Praying with and for others Reflecting on her formation and teaching, Sister Nguyen said that when she prays the Liturgy of the Hours, she prays on behalf of all her brothers and sisters in the Church who – for any reason, perhaps too busy with family and life – do not have the opportunity to stop and pray.

“This helps me to be more attentive when I pray the Liturgy of the Hours,” she said. “I know that I’m not just praying by myself or for myself, but I’m praying with the whole Church and on behalf of the whole Church.”

Sister Nguyen joins other religious, clergy and laity around the world when praying the Liturgy of the Hours, including Pope Francis.

In an August 2013 interview with Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, the pope said the Daily Office was part of his preferred way to pray.

“I pray the breviary every morning. I like to pray with the psalms,”Pope Francis said. At one point in the interview, the pope references his breviary, well-worn from daily use. He also mentions his breviary also contains his grandmother’s last will.

“I read it often,” he said. “For me, it is like a prayer. She is a saint who has suffered so much, also spiritually, and yet always went forward with courage.”†

LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER

Editor’s Note: Living a Life of Prayer is the first part of a series that explores the deeper meaning, context and history of some of the Church’s greatest treasures: its prayers, such as the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

UST’s MAX Studios create original Catholic videos, podcasts Special to the Herald HOUSTON — In his lifetime, St. Maximilian Kolbe founded and ran a radio station and several publications to spread the Gospel message. In this tradition, the University of St. Thomas (UST) began digital content creation with MAX Studios, a new video and podcast studio for the university.

Inspired by St. Maximilian’s passion and by St. John Paul II’s encyclical “Redemptoris Missio,” MAX Studios’ goal is to provide fresh monthly content and conversations, all through a Catholic lens.

Using a missionary perspective, MAX Studios aims to encounter the surrounding culture while highlighting the diversity of the Catholic faith tradition and introducing others to the person of Jesus Christ through truth, goodness and beauty.

At the helm are two UST alumni, producers Darnell Miller and Bridget

Richardson.

Miller said they are driven by the desire to share the Catholic faith.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the founding of MAX Studios,” he said.

“My time at UST has been filled with people who BRIDGET have inspired and RICHARDSON encouraged me to dig deeper into my faith. My hope is that through MAX Studios, we can provide that same encouragement and inspiration to others as they grow in their faith.”

Miller and Richardson are joined by a team of collaborators from the university community, who bring their experiences and expertise into the conversation.

Those collaborators include Nicole

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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

Labadie, director of campus ministry; Max Linnville, campus minister; alum Larry Payne, and students Alex Yemeck and Isabel Garcia.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the MAX Studios team,” Richardson DARNELL said. “This studio MILLER has a wonderful opportunity to evangelize in a way that both speaks to the culture and covers topics through a Catholic lens. I look forward to the many conversations with guests, but even more than that, I look forward to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our content and helping UST be a driver of reflective and meaningful conversations.”

Richardson said each show has its own essence, all relating to its main mission statement or goal.

“We choose our content according to what’s going on in the world — culturally and in the news — and what is happening

liturgically,” she said.“We have production meetings to discuss what is relevant.”

MAX Studios content, which launched Dec. 14, 2020, is available on their main YouTube channel and related social media pages.

“We also have a website that includes the latest, ustmaxstudios.com,” Richardson said. “Subscribing to YouTube would be the best.”

Some of their flagship content includes “Protagonists of Change” with Sister Norma Pimentel; “For Such a Time as This,” a show which asks and seeks answers to the big questions in life and the current issues of today through the lens of Catholic social teaching and social justice through conversations with thought leaders from the community; and “The Rundown,” which features reflective conversations with experts on current events seeking to dialogue about the common good while combining faith, culture and the latest news.

For more content from MAX Studios, subscribe to their YouTube Channel, and visit the website at ustmaxstudios. com or follow them, @maxstudiosust, on Instagram and Facebook. †

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

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IN BRIEF Southwest Liturgical Conference recordings available online through March 19 HOUSTON — Following the 59th annual Southwest Liturgical Conference held in early February, the keynote addresses and workshop recordings are available online for purchase and viewing through March 19.

The 2021 theme for SWLC was “As We Await the Blessed Hope: Liturgy in Challenging Times.”

This year’s keynote speakers included Massimo Faggioli, a theology and religion studies professor at Villanova University; C. Vanessa White, an associate professor of spirituality and ministry at the Catholic Theological Union and an associate director at Xavier University of Louisiana’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies; Diana Macalintal, co-founder and co-director of TeamRCIA; and El Paso’s Bishop Mark J. Seitz.

Workshop leaders also included several Houston-based speakers: Father Burkart, who is also a past president of the SWLC; Julie Blevins and Juan Carlos Moreno, both of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese; Father Philip Lloyd, pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Memorial Park; and Father Leon Strieder, associate professor of Liturgy and Sacraments at St. Mary Seminary School of Theology in Houston.

Officials with the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston had the largest delegation in attendance. Full conference registration is $150, while a day pass costs $50. For more information and to register, visit www.swlc.org/virtual-2021. †

Catholic Literary Arts hosting contest of poem responses to art

HOUSTON — Catholic Literary Arts is hosting its second annual Sacred Poetry Contest.

Writers are asked create poems that explicitly reference elements of Catholic spirituality, Sacred Tradition, the Bible or Catholic devotion. These poems seek to reveal the incarnational mystery of God’s love and grace in creation.

All poems must be original, unpublished and written in response to the designated images of sacred art on www.catholicliteraryarts.org. No simultaneous submissions will be accepted. Entry fee is $20 for up to three poems, and is open to poets age 18 or older on the date of submission.

Prizes are $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third. The first prizewinning poem will be published in Catholic Arts Today, an international publication of the Benedict XVI Institute in San Francisco. The three prize-winning poems will be published on the Catholic Literary Arts website, and the three winning poets will be awarded a year’s membership to Catholic Literary Arts.

The contest opened Feb. 1 and closes at midnight, April 30.

For more information and details on how to enter, visit www.catholicliteraryarts.org/poetrycontest-2021. †

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

OBITUARIES

Luisa Iralda Caza Acosta

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Luisa Iralda Caza Acosta, mother of Father Ramon Arechua, pastor of St. Raphael Catholic Church, passed away Jan. 27 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after a three week battle with COVID-19. She was 71 years old.

Father Arechua celebrated her funeral Mass in Gayaquil on Jan. 28. †

Sister Zachary Bertrand

HOUSTON — Sister Zachary Bertrand, C.V.I., a former principal of St. Christopher Catholic School, died on Jan. 27. She was four days shy of her 87th birthday.

The Incarnate Word Academy alum entered the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on Sept. 8, 1952 and made her final Profession of Vows on Sept. 15, 1958. In her ministry, Sister Bertrand taught in many parish schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. In her last eight years of teaching at St. Christopher School, she changed to teach 3- and 4-year-olds in the Montessori program. Once she retired from teaching, she moved on to be the church office receptionist at St. Christopher Catholic Church. She assisted and taught RCIA at St. Christopher for many years until she retired to the motherhouse.

Due to the pandemic, all services were held in private at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. †

Vallery Cowden

HOUSTON — Vallery Cowden, wife of Lee Cowden, an analyst for the real estate office of the Archdiocese, died Feb. 3 after a battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

A memorial service was held Feb. 23 in the sanctuary at Second Baptist Church. †

Deacon James ‘Jim’ Hubert Osterhaus

HOUSTON — Deacon James “Jim” Hubert Osterhaus, the first president of the First Graduating Diaconate Class for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, died Jan. 6. He was 91 years old.

Ordained a permanent deacon in June 1972, Deacon Osterhaus was elected and served as the president of his class. Deacon Osterhaus served at St. Rose of Lima, and in the late 1970s through the 1980s he served at St. John Neumann to help establish the parish. In the 1990s, he moved to Christ the Redeemer parish until his retirement as a deacon.

Deacon Osterhaus founded the Grief Share Program at Christ the Redeemer.

A funeral Mass was held on Jan. 22 at Christ the Redeemer. Interment is in Veterans Cemetery. †

Virginia Ugobueze

NIGERIA — Virginia Ugobueze, mother of Father John Ugobueze, who serves as chaplain for the VA Hospital, died in Nigeria. She was 95 years old.

Funeral arrangements will take place in Nigeria. †

Al Varisco

HOUSTON — Dr. Al Varisco, principal of St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School for 17 years, died Feb. 13. He was 58 years old. Dr. Varisco was also a professor at University of St. Thomas and the University of Houston - Clear Lake.

A visitation, Vigil and Rosary were held on Feb. 21. Funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 22 at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church. †

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

March 1, 1874 Rev. William McSweeney March 1, 2013 Msgr. Albert J. Beck March 2, 2003 Rev. Joseph R. Murphy, SSJ March 3, 1947 Rev. John Casserly March 5, 1918 Rev. J.L. Bussant March 6, 1992 Rev. Marius Zadinski, OCARM March 7, 1933 Rev. John E. Kalas March 8, 1976 Msgr. Francis Klinkacek March 8, 1983 Rev. Lawrence J. MacLellan, SSJ March 10, 1987 Rev. Joel Gromowski, CP March 11, 2010 Rev. Hubert J. Kealy March 12, 1886 Rev. Augustine d’Asti, OFM March 12, 1979 Rev. Alois J. Pavelka March 13, 1996 Msgr. John L. Fos March 14, 1861 Rev. Jacques S. Valois March 14, 1994 Rev. Thomas J. Sheehy, SCJ March 14, 2008 Rev. Jerome Burnet, OMI March 15, 1898 Bishop Peter Dufal, CSC March 15, 1921 Rev. T.A. Billy March 15, 1924 Rev. Claude C. Clair March 16, 1929 Rev. William J. Skocek

March 16, 1991 Rev. Marion L. Polker March 17, 1916 Rev. William Marr, CSC March 18, 1992 Rev. John R. Feidler March 18, 2003 Rev. Gabriel Akemu, MSP March 18, 2013 Rev. Robert D. Carlson March 20, 2001 Rev. D. Richard Toye, SJ March 21, 1922 Rev. Wenceslaus Demel March 21, 1932 Rev. P.M. Lennartz March 21, 1955 Rev. Thomas P. O’Rourke, CSB March 21, 2009 Rev. Gerald Donovan, OP March 23, 1934 Rev. Bernard Lee March 24, 1990 Bishop John L. Morkovsky March 24, 1996 Rev. Sofronio A. Aranda March 25, 1941 Msgr. Ignatius J. Szymanski March 25, 1978 Rev. Richard J. Jeffery, CSB March 26, 1880 Rev. Lawrence Glynn March 27, 1930 Rev. J.H. Kelly March 27, 1942 Rev. Kasper Kacer March 27, 2000 Rev. John E. McManus, CSB March 28, 2008 Msgr. William L. Broussard March 31, 1988 Bishop Vincent M. Harris March 31, 1994 Rev. Richard J. Allard, CSB

Expand and deepen our hearts . . .

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

Pray for those being executed in Texas and their families:

March 4: Ramiro Ibarra

T

he world has witnessed a multitude of challenges since we published our previous Annual Report in February of last year. Since then, a global pandemic has impacted countless lives while the once ordinary routines of daily life are no longer routine.

While care and attention to family and loved ones remains paramount, COVID-19 has forced organizations and communities to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances. In the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, church and Catholic school operations were temporarily closed last March before protocols and guidelines were established to begin permitting limited in-person participation. As with other dioceses around the nation, our parishes and ministries started depending on technology to help us reach the faithful both far and near, while also allowing us to interact with one another remotely.

It has been a most unusual and difficult time but we as a collective Archdiocese are persevering. I’m very grateful to see such energy and spirit of the people in Galveston-Houston during this past year.

I have been particularly encouraged and heartened to see the faithful remaining active in their parish communities through in-person or online Liturgy participation.

I would also like to express gratitude for the continued generosity to parish offertory and the Diocesan Services Fund. In the coming months, we will introduce the IGNITE capital campaign to the final block of participating Archdiocesan parishes.

I would like to thank those individuals currently contributing to the IGNITE campaign, which is vital to the ongoing presence and mission of our Archdiocese. As you will see in upcoming coverage in the Herald, a new dormitory is currently being constructed at St. Mary’s Seminary – a key element of the IGNITE campaign and a most welcome addition for our seminarians living there.

Working together, we are hopeful that we can begin plans to welcome more people to our parish

JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

pews. With the current vaccine rollout, we look to continue making strides in that area. But there is much work to be done.

Yet during these uncertain times, the offices and ministries of our Archdiocese continue to serve the faithful in-person with social distancing and with remote initiatives.

The Office of Pro-Life Activities is more important now than ever to promote a culture of life at all stages and circumstances, including at the local level. The office provides educational programming and diocesan and statewide prayer and advocacy opportunities to fulfill its mission of protecting

human dignity in every season of life.

Pro-Life Activities work involves several healing ministries for those suffering trauma. Despite restrictions from COVID-19 mandates in effect since March 2020, the office’s healing ministries have been successful in reaching the individuals and families they serve.

When this pandemic was just underway, the Office of Worship advised pastors and Liturgy directors on how to adapt by livestreaming Masses and special liturgies. The office also hosts workshops to provide formation and continuing educational opportunities to parish ministers in both English and Spanish.

These are just a couple of examples that demonstrate our commitment to fostering a genuine spirituality of communion – seeing Christ in others and serving them with all the resources this local Church offers.

With deep gratitude, and in the spirit of transparency, I share with you the Archdiocesan financial statements for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020. The audited financials of the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese can be found in their entirety at www.archgh.org/about/Accounting.

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

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Signs of endurance, hope in 2020 HOUSTON — In the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, ministries showed care and dedication to the faithful by quickly adjusting their programs to reach people safely during the pandemic.

As pandemic continues, praying for those discerning a vocational call is more important than ever When COVID-19 began in the U.S. in March of 2020, praying for the young people in the seminary and those discerning the call to the priesthood or consecrated life became more important than ever.

According to the director of the Office of Vocations of the Archdiocese, Father Richard McNeillie, the ministry has been successful in staying connected to young people who need our prayers and support during uncertain times.

“Continuing to pray for young people as they discern their vocational call has become more important than ever,” said Father McNeillie. “As we learn that our plans can fail and expectations are changed due to unforeseen circumstances, we pray that these young people turn to God to reset their expectations and remake their plans. That would really be something if everyone allowed God to determine their future — indeed, that would be a future full of hope!”

Father McNeillie said the Vocations Office, which has remained open with staff working from home, has found great success in moving most events online since the restrictions were established in March 2020.

He said the greatest impact on the seminarians has been moving to an online classroom format and finding temporary housing for those impacted by the closing of the North American College in Rome, St. Joseph’s Seminary in Covington, Louisiana, Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas and St. Mary’s in Houston.

“Some were moved to parishes, and others stayed in the seminary, but only using it as a residence here in Houston, all the while taking classes online,” said Father McNeillie. “The seminary with just our Galveston-Houston seminarians became like a little monastery. We still prayed together and spent some time, albeit, six-feet apart, together.”

Father McNeillie said the Office of Vocations has seen much fruit from moving formation and discernment retreats online.

“We’ve redone our website, houstonvocations.com, during the pandemic, and we’ve been posting more

photo by st. mary’s seminary

seminarians pray in st. mary’s seminary Chapel during eucharistic adoration on Jan. 22, a Day of prayer for the Legal protection of Unborn Children in the U.s. the seminiarians hosted a 40 hour devotion of continuous prayer before the blessed sacrament.

on social media,” he said. “We have done some online retreats, and because those went so well — God works in our hearts wherever we are located — and because they’re easier to attend while also attending school/ work, we are keeping online retreats as part of our normal activities.”

Catholic schools tread unfamiliar road as academic year continues For almost a year, the education landscape in the U.S. has changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Catholic school administrators and educators worked with families over the summer to ensure that students and staff had a safe and evolving instructional environment conducive to the continuity of education

when the 2020-2021 school year began.

Catholic educational philosophy espouses that families serve as the first educators in the life of a child. The partnership between parents and Catholic schools is vital to a student’s education.

With the support of the Archdiocese and the Catholic Schools Office (CSO), the Office of the Superintendent, and in accordance with Canon Law, the Archdiocesan network of schools is a site-based system. Each Catholic school campus is empowered to consult with their pastor and community in their decision-making as they prepared their re-opening plan.

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

Daniel Cardinal Dinardo preaches the homily during the 2020 White mass at Co-Cathedral of the sacred heart in october 2020. the mass prayed with and for members of Galveston-houston’s medical and healthcare communities.

Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. “Whether in person or remotely, our schools are committed to transforming learning and providing students with a foundation of Faith and as much of a sense of stability and normalcy as possible.”

Ministries jump into action The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unprecedented moment in history when public Masses were suspended. The lack of access to Mass heightened a new awareness about the love of and need for the Sacraments of the Church.

Sandra Higgins, director of the Office of Worship of the Archdiocese, said parishes turned to livestream to reach out to parishioners when we were restricted to no more than 10 persons present at Mass.

“They are to be commended for their quick response to meet a serious pastoral need,” she said.

“Parishes were comfortable with that technology before the doors were opened to allow 25% capacity seating so they have been able to accommodate the

needs of both the at home and in person presence of their community.”

Higgins said the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday will be reinstated when it is deemed safe to do so. At that time, the faithful will be encouraged to come back to church especially to attend Sunday Mass when they can finally join together physically as a community to worship, pray and sing together and to receive Holy Communion.

“What a great day that will be! We have had Mass televised for the sick and shut-ins even before the days of the pandemic,” she said. “Live streaming Mass at funerals and weddings after the pandemic will become a possibility for those unable to be present and this will be a welcome outreach from the pandemic.”

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) of the Archdiocese also had to adjust, discovering innovative ways to virtually connect with the faithful who are in quarantine due to COVID-19 mandates.

“Many of our catechetical leaders at the parishlevel that we train have been furloughed, lost their positions, or are working part-time or full-time from home, so it has been imperative for us to keep in

contact with them and let them know we are here for them,” said Julie Blevins, director of the OEC. “We all are learning a new way to share and grow in the faith, and this pandemic has resulted in a paradigm shift in not only faith formation for families and students, but also in how we continue to form our catechists and leaders. The OEC and parishes both have ventured into the virtual world with much success and great results,” Blevins said.

Because of strict mandates on large-group gatherings, once officials realized that the quarantine would continue, Blevins said the OEC had to cancel, reschedule or go to a virtual platform for all of its parish leadership formation and catechist formation courses.

While this took time to research and test what worked best, she said the OEC staff managed to move most of its meetings and trainings online using various platforms.

Blevins said the OEC has been able to bring the faith directly into the faithful’s homes.

At first, the interest was in how to continue catechesis with young people and families, so the OEC joined with Catholic publishers in making e-books available to the families of the children enrolled in parish religious formation classes.

The OEC also collaborated with the Office of Family Life Ministry to produce special videos directed for families to offer them encouragement during this pandemic. Offered in both English and Spanish, these videos and other resources can be found on the “COVID-19 Catechetical Support Resources for Faith Formation at Home” webpage on archgh.org.

The Family Life Ministry currently has more than 40 different ministries and programs in English and Spanish, encompassing preparation, enrichment, parenting, support and family transitions, said Director Ricardo Medina.

“We are actively working on many more to address our families’ changing and underserved needs in the area, including increasing our language diversity,” he said.

Medina said that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected physical interaction, but that love doesn’t stop.

“We have developed fully online options, hybrid models and strict health protocols to keep servicing the people of God,” he said. “In terms of reach, we love technology and doing our part in Catholicizing the Internet. Also, I consider many of us realized that the spirituality of communion in the family is essential for mental health and happiness in difficult times. We will continue to consider every ministerial occasion to build community, not just to push content. †

CHAnCERy OffiCE finAnCiAL StAtEMEntS of the ARCHDiOCESE Of GALvEStOn-HOuStOn For the Years Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 StAtEMEnt of finAnCiAL POSitiOn

StAtEMEnt of ACtivitiES

ASSEtS Cash Short-term investments - money market mutual funds Accounts receivable from related entities, net Prepaid expenses and other receivables Contributions receivable, net Notes receivable from related entities Cemetery inventory Investment purchase pending Investments Contributions receivable restricted for Ignite Camp., net Contributions receivable restricted for endowment Chancery Office property, net Other property tOtAL ASSEtS

2020

2019

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

$4,216,072 18,963,824 3,643,896 939,880 3,572,442 99,133,494 2,012,065 1,000,000 133,285,293 18,367,612 – 44,008,621 4,524,043

$360,254,819 $333,667,242

LiABiLitiES and nEt ASSEtS LIAbILItIES: Accounts payable and accrued expenses Grants payable Deferred revenue Accrued insurance and other claims Funds held for others DS&L deposits held for related entities Paycheck Protection Prog. refundable advances Notes and bonds payable Accrued pension and postretirement health benefits liability total liabilities

nEt ASSEtS

Without donor restrictions With donor restrictions total net assets tOtAL LiABiLitiES AnD nEt ASSEtS

2020

2019

$6,832,706 3,279,227 1,028,928 4,264,825 2,533,049 173,719,429 4,237,080 1,268,624 218,396,806

$4,847,064 3,257,726 1,431,999 5,209,144 2,142,466 171,198,241 – 7,848,052 170,056,674

415,560,674

365,991,366

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

(73,416,427) 41,092,303 (32,324,124)

$ 360,254,819 $ 333,667,242

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

OPERAtinG REvEnuE

Health insurance premiums Archdiocesan assessments Contributions without donor restrictions business insurance premiums Program and service fees Interest on notes receivable from related entities Cemetery sales and services tOtAL OPERAtinG REvEnuE Net assets released for operating purposes tOtAL

2020

2019

$33,146,302 18,279,498 15,596,522 12,202,606 2,619,435 3,279,432 1,542,908 86,666,703 9,938,302 $96,605,005

$30,275,021 18,169,420 14,041,934 12,474,405 3,210,116 3,238,205 999,391 82,408,492 11,411,178 $93,819,670

PrOGrAm SErvICES: Health insurance program Chancery services business insurance program Pastoral and education Catholic School Office Seminary Clergy Diocesan Savings & Loan Cemetery operations total program services

28,218,198 15,073,883 10,707,923 7,254,183 6,702,336 5,157,038 4,106,071 2,086,532 1,704,924 81,011,088

31,867,183 14,911,187 10,852,673 7,788,028 6,682,696 5,700,448 4,590,311 2,574,848 1,118,389 86,085,763

management and general Fundraising total operating expenses

10,270,747 4,220,605 95,502,440

9,619,530 4,040,400 99,745,693

1,102,565

(5,926,023)

31,178,042 5,900,486 – (960,867) (43,487,921) (4,852,211) (1,923,523) (9,938,302) –

23,583,191 6,784,267 2,641,398 (7,511,404) (20,420,214) (4,402,764) – (11,411,178) –

CHAnGES in nEt ASSEtS

(22,981,731)

(16,662,727)

net assets, beginning of year

(32,324,124)

(15,661,397)

$(55,305,855)

$(32,324,124)

OPERAtinG EXPEnSES

Changes in net assets from operations

OtHER CHAnGES in nEt ASSEtS

Contributions Investment return, net Gain on sales of property Net claims expenses – Hurricane Harvey Other benefit-related changes Other periodic benefit costs Non-operating grants and transfers Net assets released for expenditures Net assets released for capital expenditures

net assets, end of year

February 23, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

9

YOUTH ‘Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault’ On numerous occasions, I have been asked to speak and write about the sin of racism. I can assure you that this writing will probably not be my last.

As an African-American, I and those who share my common ancestry are often sought out to speak or write about this sin when in fact, it should be the entire body of Christ speaking about it, speaking up against it and repenting if one finds they are contributing to its manifestation.

Honestly, it is my fault. It is my fault because I have accepted the default/ typecast of being some sort of authority and go-to person on the sin of racism, but it is far from true.

What is true is that I have personally experienced racism in various forms, from the outright blatant to the subtle. I have read about, studied and listened to countless stories, some from my elders recounting times when the Church we love denied them dignity in worship because of the color of their skin.

These lessons do not make me an expert, but in some way, they have compelled me to speak or write when others choose to remain silent. Whether it happens in the Body of Christ, in the workplace, in a park, or while driving, racism is an affront to God and neighbor.

Now that my preamble is out of the way, I will take this opportunity to refer to beautiful words we know verbatim. These words, appropriately located before the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist, are indeed a by sobering prelude to our DORIS M. BARROW III participation in the Mass.

I propose that these words and other gifts within the Church may be used to combat the sin of racism. Brothers and sisters, I use the word combat because it is truly a battle that no disciple may ignore.

The beautiful words are found in the Confiteor spoken in unison during the Penitential Rite: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (Striking breast) through my fault, through my fault,through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,

†

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

and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Although it is part of the Mass, this prayer should be used outside of Mass if we witness or give voice to the sin of racism or any sin.

A wonderful resource by the U.S. bishops named, “The Eucharistic Liturgy: Formed, Transformed, and Sent,” provides a great explanation to our current understanding of this sacred experience: During the Penitential Act, we acknowledge the sin that affects our relationship with God, ourselves, others and the world around us.

We seek Christ’s healing love and forgiveness in order that we might be transformed — both as individuals and as a community, into a people of love.

During the Confiteor, we ask the members of our heavenly community, “blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,” and our brothers and sisters around us to pray for us, and we for them.

If we do our part as the Confiteor’s words suggest by praying to God for each other, soliciting the intercession of the Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints, the sin of racism loses its powerful grip on humanity.

Sisters and brothers, this example is

“If we do our part as the Confiteor’s words suggest by praying to God for each other, soliciting the intercession of the Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints, the sin of racism loses its powerful grip on humanity.” one of the many resources we have at our disposal.

It is my hope and prayer that we collectively and individually contemplate and live the words of the Confiteor in combating the sin of racism at this very moment.

Doris M. Barrow III is the coordinator of Religious Education at St. Monica Parish and campus minister at Texas Southern University.

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10 Texas Catholic Herald

February 23, 2021

columnists The meaning of the festivity before the fast When the doorbell rang the other day, I figured it might be the arrival of some of those online orders all of us placed.

Instead, it was a delicious king cake directly from a bakery in New Orleans — the kind with cream cheese and the festive purple, green and gold sprinkles.

My husband ordered this delicacy as a memory of the time he lived in New Orleans.

When I opened it, there was a plastic bag full of beads and the plastic baby to be inserted inconspicuously in the cake.

This made me wonder about the king cake and its origins and purpose, so I did what anyone would do and used my computer search friend, Google.

I thought I’d share some of my information as we’ve experienced the end of the winter Ordinary Time and the beginning of Lent because this king cake has everything to do with that.

Most Americans are likely familiar with Louisiana-style king cakes that consist of a cake-y bread dough twisted into a ring and decorated with colored icing and sprinkles, usually just like the one delivered to me.

by

JULIE BLEVINS

†

The oval shape is meant to exude the appearance of a king’s crown. We are also familiar that this cake is a part of the Mardi Gras celebration, which is French for Fat Tuesday.

Mardi Gras is not just one day but begins on Jan. 6, the Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas), and ends the Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday, which was Feb. 16 this

year.

Mardi Gras is an entire season.

Epiphany is also known in some cultures as Twelfth Night or King’s Day. It is now traditional to bake a king cake in honor of the kings who visited the baby Jesus bearing gifts.

The colors of the sprinkles on the cake represent certain values. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power.

A small plastic baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is hidden inside each cake.

The person who discovers the baby in their slice (hopefully before biting down hard necessitating a trip to the dentist!) is either made “king” for the day or has to buy next year’s cake.

The symbolism of this delicacy to the Christian faith is a beautiful tribute to our King, Jesus Christ, who did not resemble earthly kings and rather than a crown of gold and jewels, wore a crown of thorns; His cloak was a borrowed purple cloak placed haphazardly on His body after being scourged, and in mockery, they taunted “King of the Jews!”We walk through His passion and death in this upcoming Lenten season but, in particular, during the sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

Our hope lies in knowing that Easter Sunday is the day of victory of our King over sin and death.

Just as the plastic baby is hidden in the cake for someone to discover, our King and Savior may be hidden away from us. We may have lost touch with His presence in our everyday lives.

We may have abandoned our prayer life. Lent is the time to discover this Jesus who came to us as a baby in the manger of Bethlehem and traveled His journey toward Golgatha. How can we do that?

To prepare for Lent, Christians prepared pancakes to deplete their stock of eggs, milk, butter and fat, giving rise to Pancake Day in England. So, every year on Shrove Tuesday, we need to not

“In practicing true fasting and journeying with Jesus this Lenten season, we will truly follow the King of Glory into eternity.” only empty the rich stores of our pantry but look at what we need to empty from our lives to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

As Lent continues, we need to “empty” concern for ourselves, overfocusing on our own needs, our own hungers and thirsts, and practice the Corporal Works of Mercy.

These actions will take much more of a faith investment than abstaining from wine or desserts and will truly provide us an opportunity to look beyond “self” to “the other.”This is the fasting that is asked. In practicing this true fasting and journeying with Jesus this Lenten season, we will truly follow the King of Glory into eternity.

Our king cake was eaten in a day, but the symbolism of that cake will last a lot longer. † Julie Blevins is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Looking for a retreat for your entire family?

Looking to have a meaningful experience over Spring Break?

The CRC is offering two Family Spring Break Catholic Service Camps for Families on

March 8–12 and March 15–19 The week will include sacraments, talks, activities, games and service projects!

Each family will work, pray, and play in their family unit.

Socially-Distant & Spiritually-Connected.

Safety Precautions are in-place. Enjoy the 52-acres of the CRC. CRC has been safely running retreats since May under COVID-19 protocols.

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

sunday mass readings Feb. 28

First Reading: Gen. 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:10, 15-19

Second Reading: Rom 8:31-34

Gospel: Mk 9:2-10

March 7

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17 or Ex 20: 1-3, 7-8, 12-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8-11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25

Gospel: Jn 2:13-25

COLUMNISTS

February 23, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

11

Dialogue: Seeking truth together “This relationship, this dialogue, which God the Father initiated and established with us through Christ in the Holy Spirit, is a very real one, even though it is difficult to express in words. The Church must examine it closely... to understand the relationship which we, the Church, should establish and foster with the human race.”

(Ecclesiam Suam) When it comes to fostering community life, we must first see that we are already in communion, that is, in relationship with the Holy Trinity, and thus, with each other. If we were to try to connect with others outside of this, it would not be an authentic community.

We could risk acting out of individualism. The Church is to be in relational dialogue with the human race.

We are to be in relationship with each other.

This past fall, I gathered weekly with

young adults towards the goal of learning more about what it means to live as a Catholic American, as a faithful citizen.

A good part of the 12 sessions dealt with dialogue, its importance, how it fits our call to evangelize, and how difficult it is in our culture. I discovered young adults’ desire to dialogue, but they do not know how and have considerable boundaries against even trying.

There were three main boundaries that surfaced: 1. The young adults did not want to water down their beliefs or concede to something that they knew was not true.

2. As a whole, they did not like confrontation or conflict. It felt more comfortable to let others do as they wanted than to bring up something contrary.

3. Lastly, they were concerned they did not know enough of the teachings of the

Church to dialogue.

Although these reasons are valid, and admittedly ones I have experienced myself, I would propose they are rooted in fear and come from misconceptions of what dialogue actually is.

So, what is dialogue? Dialogue is an exchange that takes place in a relationship through charity to seek to discover the truth.

The nature of the dialogue is relational and slow. Both people are there to reach the truth, yet there are truths reached throughout.

For example, in dialogue, Church teaching can be shared and opened up.

We can connect on the importance and difficulty of always living from the place of being a child of God. We can realize our failure of loving and welcoming others correctly. We also acknowledge our different experiences of this teaching.

These are truths.

Dialogue is not one person telling the other a truth and the other person automatically agreeing and accepting.

We must have the willingness to learn, listen and grow as a result of dialogue.

If we are to establish and continue a relationship with “the human race,” then we must interact with each other, especially as people of faith.

Finally, I would go further to state dialogue is part of our call to holiness and a work of love; a position I have come to after watching Jesus dialogue with others in the Gospels. †

Claire McMullin is a campus minister at the Catholic Newman Center at the University of Houston.

Thank you for continuing to

SUPPORT YOUR PARISH 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.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Make a gift to your parish online at

www.archgh.org/stjoseph

www.archgh.org/parishoffertory

www.archgh.org/parishoffertory

12 Texas Catholic Herald

February 23, 2021

WORLD

Lent is time to grow in faith, hope, love and to share them, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Christians pray, fast and give alms during Lent, they also should consider giving a smile and offering a kind word to people feeling alone or frightened because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said.

“Love rejoices in seeing others grow. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need,” the pope wrote in his message for Lent 2021.

The message, released by the Vatican on Feb. 12, focuses on Lent as “a time for renewing faith, hope and love” through the traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And by going to confession.

Throughout the message, Pope Francis emphasized how the Lenten practices not only promote individual conversion but also should have an impact on others.

“By receiving forgiveness in the Sacrament that lies at the heart of our process of conversion, we, in turn, can spread forgiveness to others,” he said.

“Having received forgiveness ourselves, we can offer it through our willingness to enter into attentive dialogue with others and to give comfort to those experiencing sorrow and pain.”

The pope’s message contained several references to his encyclical “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship.”

For example, he prayed that during Lent Catholics would be “increasingly concerned with ‘speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement, and not words that

CNS Photo

Pope Francis hears the confession of a priest at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome in this March 7, 2019, file photo. In his message for Lent, Pope Francis said the season is “a time for renewing faith, hope and love.”

demean, sadden, anger or show scorn,’” a quote from the encyclical.

“In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to be ‘willing to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference,’” he said, again quoting the document.

how about a trip to rome?

The Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer were preached

by Jesus and continue to help believers experience and express conversion, the pope wrote.

“The path of poverty and self-denial” through fasting, “concern and loving care for the poor” through almsgiving and “childlike dialogue with the Father”

through prayer, he said, “make it possible for us to live lives of sincere faith, living hope and effective charity.”

Pope Francis emphasized the importance of fasting “as a form of self-denial” to rediscover one’s total dependence on God and to open one’s heart to the poor.

“Fasting involves being freed from all that weighs us down — like consumerism or an excess of information, whether true or false — in order to open the doors of our hearts to the one who comes to us, poor in all things, yet full of grace and truth: the son of God our savior.”

Peter Cardinal Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, presenting the message at a news conference, also insisted on the importance of “fasting and all forms of abstinence,” for example, by giving up “time watching TV so we can go to church, pray or say a Rosary. It is only through self-denial that we discipline ourselves to be able to take the gaze off ourselves and to recognize the other, reckon with his needs and thus create access to benefits and goods for people,” ensuring respect for their dignity and rights.

Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffe, secretary of the dicastery, said that at a time of “anxiety, doubt and sometimes even despair” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lent is a time for Christians “to walk the way with Christ toward a new life and a new world, toward a new trust in God and in the future.” †

IN BRIEF Vatican Radio celebrates its 90th anniversary

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Vatican Radio received well-wishes from Pope Francis and an avid listener who is the second oldest person in the world.

Sister Andre, a French member of the Daughters of Charity who made headlines recently for testing positive for COVID-19 but weathered it with no symptoms, told the radio in a brief interview, “Happy birthday, Vatican Radio! 90 years old, that’s young!”

The second oldest after a Japanese woman who turned 118 in January, Sister Andre turned 117 Feb. 11 — the eve of the anniversary of Vatican Radio’s birth on Feb. 12, 1931.

The French nun, who has lived through the Spanish flu pandemic, two world wars and 10 pontificates, is blind and lives in a residential home where she is a “dedicated listener of the radio that offers her a window of the world” and supports her prayer life, Vatican News reported Feb. 11. †

Syriac Catholics thrilled for ‘miracle’ papal visit to Iraq in March 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

BEIRUT (CNS) — The largest Syriac Catholic congregation in the world is preparing physically and spiritually for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Qaraqosh, Iraq.

“Words can’t describe how happy we are,” Syriac Catholic Father Roni Momeka told Catholic News Service. “The people feel that it’s a miracle that the pope will come here,” Father Momeka said. “They are happy not only for the visit, but they are happy that Pope Francis is thinking about those people who are in pain, those people who lost everything, but who never lost their faith.”

Father Momeka said Qaraqosh is bustling with activity, the streets already awash with papal flags and banners in preparation for the pope’s March 7 visit, part of his March 5 to 8 visit to Iraq.

Parishioners have been busy cleaning and painting the interior of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, transforming the blackened interior to its original radiance for the pope’s visit.

The church, built by parishioners in the 1930s, had seating for 2,200 people. It was vandalized, desecrated and burned by the Islamic State. Pope Francis is scheduled to pray the Angelus there. †

February 23, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

13

NATION & STATE

Retired Air Force chaplain recalls ‘powerful ministry’ to wounded and dying BALTIMORE (CNS) — Father Thomas Gills vividly remembers the blaring sirens that signaled the incoming air arrival of critically wounded U.S. service members to Balad Air Base in Iraq.

Likening it to a scene out of the television series “M*A*S*H,” the former chaplain in the U.S. Air Force said he and medical doctors would immediately suit up in flak vests and helmets before rushing to a sprawling military hospital to care for the wounded and receive the bodies of those killed in action.

“That was very powerful ministry,” said Father Gills, who was stationed at Balad Air Base in 2009 and now serves as pastor of western Maryland’s St. Peter the Apostle in Oakland and St. Peter at the Lake in McHenry.

The priest had previously served in another war zone at Jalalabad, Afghanistan, from 2005 to 2006.

“You’re face-to-face with 19- and 20-year-olds who had lost an arm or both arms, a leg or both legs, and writhing in pain,” Father Gills said, “and you would just touch them through prayer, and somehow God would work through those prayers to lift them up and give them renewed hope, and an optimistic view of the future and something they would not otherwise have gotten if it had just been medical treatment.”

Military chaplaincy gave Father Gills the chance to bring the Sacraments and spiritual counsel to men and women who were literally putting their lives on the line every day.

He said the constant threat of death in war zones made servicemen and women seek a relationship with God more intensely.

“We knew that we needed God’s strength and courage and assistance on a daily basis and sometimes from hour to hour,” Father Gills told the Catholic Review, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “And most people who probably didn’t pray much in their civilian lives or at a home base

CNS Photo

Father Tom Gills, a U.S. Air Force chaplain, waits to greet congregants attending daily Mass July, 12, 2017, in the Kittyhawk Chapel on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio.

prayed a lot more.”

Bible study and prayer groups formed in war zones, he said, and members would meet in the evenings to get “extra spiritual strength.”

Every Catholic he knew carried a Rosary, Father Gills said, with many of the prayer beads coming as gifts from Americans at home who crafted them through efforts such as the Ranger Rosary project that began at St. Mary in Annapolis.

Many servicemen and women also received Bibles and prayer books, he said.

“Those kinds of efforts really make military folks in war zones feel loved because no one knows who is serving there unless you have a family member there,” said Father Gills, who recalled sometimes celebrating Mass on the hood of a Humvee with two candles perched atop the vehicle.

Father Gills has loved God and country from a very young age.

Growing up in Rosedale, Maryland, he attended Mass daily with his

grandmother.

At age 3, he was telling everyone he was going to be a “pwiest” when he grew up.

From age 6, the future clergyman showed interest in learning about how the country was run, cultivating a deep respect for the flag and frequently participating in patriotic events.

After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years after high school, he entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

After serving as a parish priest, Father Gills was given permission to become a military chaplain by William Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore. He chose the Air Force, he said, because he has always loved to fly.

In 2001, when he was pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Pikesville,

Maryland, Father Gills was called to active duty following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

He was previously an Air Force Reserve chaplain for about a decade.

In addition to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Father Gills ministered in a variety of locations, including Germany, Italy, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

He was stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah from 2003 to 2007, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska from 2007 to 2011 and the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from 2016 to 2018.

One of the highlights of his military ministry was working with cadets as a chaplain at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado from 2011 to 2016.

Young people of all faiths showed an intense commitment to their religious beliefs, he said, with many of the Catholics skipping dinner to attend Mass.

“That inspired me,” he said. “I was so incredibly touched by those young people who are putting God first in their lives.”

Retired since 2018 from the Air Force Chaplain Corps, Father Gills is enjoying being a pastor in the westernmost corner of Maryland since 2019.

He is grateful for his many years of military service, especially for the opportunity to pray with people of all faiths and of no faith.

Sometimes those prayers touched the hearts of those who had never gone to church or had any formal religious education, he said.

“Oftentimes a day or two later, they’d make an appointment with me as a chaplain and discuss something I said or something they’d been thinking about,” Father Gills said, “and I was able to lead many to Christ that way and also just discuss the power of God and God’s place in our lives. It was very meaningful.” †

Yes, We Do

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IN BRIEF Bishop says missionary goal is to deliver the ‘Good News of a God of love’

DENVER (CNS) — Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez had two questions about sharing the Catholic faith for participants in this year’s Fellowship of Catholic University Students conference: “Are we presenting in our message the true image of God? Are we delivering the good news of a God of love?”

He posed the questions in his homily as the celebrant of one of the livestreamed Masses during the Feb. 4 to 7 SEEK21 conference, which offered virtual presentations and included thousands of small groups in various locations. Many groups met in person, and participants, following COVID-19 safety regulations, could attend Mass or eucharistic adoration together, go to confession or share a meal.

FOCUS, a Catholic outreach whose mission is to share “the hope and joy of the Gospel” with college and university students, counted over 27,000 participants from 20 countries and six continents by the time the conference wrapped up.

“My dear missionaries,” Bishop Rodriguez said in his homily, “when Jesus sent His disciples on a mission and asked them not to take anything — ‘no food, no sack, no money in their belts’ — and gave them power to teach, to drive out demons and to heal, He sends them with nothing else than the good news, Jesus. “These disciples never went to CCD, never took a catechism class, never attended an RCIA class, never studied theology. ...

They only knew the person of Jesus Christ and what He taught them.” †

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14 Texas Catholic Herald

February 23, 2021

mundo catÓlico

Líderes universitarios instan al Senado actuar rápidamente en favor del proyecto DREAM WASHINGTON (CNS) — Una alianza de presidentes de universidades y colegios y de EE. UU., incluso instituciones católicas, dicen que el proyecto de ley DREAM del 2021 “representa el primer paso para restaurar la certeza en las vidas de adultos jóvenes, estudiantes y otros” que quieren llegar a ser ciudadanos estadounidenses para formar una parte integral del país.

“Los últimos cuatro años han sido una época de tremenda adversidad para la comunidad de inmigrantes, particularmente a la luz de los múltiples intentos de terminar con DACA”, la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia, dijo José Magaña-Salgado, hablando en nombre de la Alianza de Presidentes sobre “Educación Superior e Inmigración”.

Magaña-Salgado es el director de política y comunicaciones del grupo.

“Instamos al Senado a avanzar lo más rápidamente posible”, dijo.

La alianza está formada por presidentes y otros líderes de docenas de colegios y universidades, incluidas más de 20 universidades católicas. Su misión es aumentar “la comprensión pública de cómo las políticas y prácticas de inmigración impactan a nuestros estudiantes, recintos y comunidades” y crear “un ambiente acogedor para estudiantes inmigrantes, indocumentados e internacionales en nuestros recintos”.

La declaración de Magaña -Salgado siguió a la introducción de la última versión del proyecto de ley DREAM (Desarrollo, Alivio y Educación para Menores Extranjeros) presentada en el Senado el 4 de febrero por los senadores Dick Durbin, demócrata de Illinois, y Lindsey Graham, republicano de Carolina del Sur. El nombre “Dreamers”, o soñadores, se toma del título del proyecto de ley y se refiere a los adultos jóvenes que fueron traídos ilegalmente por familia a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños y permanecen en el país bajo DACA (Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia). Actualmente el programa protege a unos 700,000 jóvenes de la deportación; también les permite trabajar, ir a la universidad, obtener un seguro de salud y obtener una licencia de conducir.

CNS Photo

Partidarios de la reforma migratoria integral se reunen cerca del Capitolio de los Estados Unidos en Washington en esta foto de archivo de 2017.

El programa DACA fue establecido por el presidente Barack Obama con una orden ejecutiva en 2012 para permitir que los jóvenes traídos al país ilegalmente como menores por sus padres permanezcan en los Estados Unidos.

El Congreso ha considerado antes la propuesta de la Ley DREAM. Entre otras disposiciones, otorgaría residencia temporal condicional a estos jóvenes.

El proyecto fue introducido por primera vez en 2001, pero aún no ha sido aprobado. Durbin y Graham presentaron previamente el proyecto de ley el 26 de marzo de 2019.

Si se aprueba, permitiría que los beneficiarios de DACA obtengan residencia permanente legal y eventualmente la ciudadanía estadounidense si: son residentes desde hace mucho tiempo que llegaron a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños; si se graduaron de una escuela secundaria u obtuvieron un GED (un diploma de equivalencia de la escuela secundaria);

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.



buscaron estudios superiores, trabajaron legalmente durante al menos tres años o participaron en el ejército; y pasaron

verificaciones de antecedentes de seguridad y se les aprobó la aplicación de la ley y pagan una tarifa de solicitud.

“Está claro que solo la legislación aprobada por el Congreso puede darles a los Dreamers la oportunidad que merecen de ganarse la ciudadanía estadounidense”, dijo Durbin en un comunicado el 4 de febrero.

“Creo que será un punto de partida para que encontremos avances bipartidistas que brinden alivio a los Dreamers y también reparen un sistema de inmigración roto”, dijo Graham, quien dijo que le gustaría que la Ley DREAM fuera parte de una reforma migratoria integral, en lugar de un proyecto independiente.

En 2017, el presidente Donald Trump firmó una orden ejecutiva para parar DACA, pero esta fue impugnada en los tribunales. En 2018, le dijo al Congreso que estaba abierto a algún camino hacia la ciudadanía para los jóvenes que participan en DACA, pero también pidió otras reformas de inmigración y quería $25 mil millones para un muro fronterizo y $5 mil millones para otras medidas de seguridad. El Congreso rechazó sus propuestas.

El 18 de junio de 2020, la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos en un fallo de 5-4 dijo que Trump no podía detener el programa con su orden ejecutiva de 2017. †

en breve

Papa: Un día que comienza con la oración es un buen día CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) — La oración hace que cada día sea mejor, incluso los días más difíciles, dijo el papa Francisco.

La oración transforma el día de una persona “en gracia, o mejor, que nos transforma: apacigua la ira, sostiene el amor, multiplica la alegría, infunde la fuerza para perdonar”, dijo el papa el 10 de febrero durante su audiencia general semanal.

La oración es un recordatorio constante de que Dios está cerca y para que “problemas a afrontar no sean estorbos a nuestra felicidad, sino llamadas de Dios, ocasiones para nuestro encuentro con Él.”, dijo el papa Francisco, continuando su serie de charlas en audiencia sobre la oración.

“Y cuando nos viene un pensamiento de rabia, de descontento, que nos lleva hacia la amargura. Detengámonos y digamos al Señor: ‘¿Dónde estás? ¿Y dónde estoy yendo yo?’ Y el Señor está ahí, el Señor nos dará la palabra justa, el consejo para ir adelante sin este zumo amargo del negativo”, dijo el papa. “Porque la oración siempre, usando una palabra profana, es positiva. Siempre. Te lleva adelante”.

“Cuando uno es acompañado por el Señor, se siente más valiente, más libre, y también más feliz”, dijo. “Por (lo) tanto, recemos siempre por todo y por todos, también por los enemigos. Jesús nos ha aconsejado esto: ‘Rezad por los enemigos’”.

Además de rezar por la familia y los amigos, el papa Francisco pidió a las

personas que “recemos sobre todo por las personas infelices, por aquellos que lloran en la soledad y desesperan porque todavía haya un amor que late por ellos”.

La oración, dijo, ayuda a la gente a amar a los demás, “no obstante sus errores y sus pecados. La persona siempre es más importante que sus acciones, y Jesús no ha juzgado al mundo, sino que lo ha salvado”.

“Es una vida fea la de las personas que siempre están juzgando a los otros, siempre están condenando, juzgando”, dijo. “Es una vida fea, infeliz. Jesús ha venido a salvarnos: abre tu corazón, perdona, justifica a los otros, entiende, también tú sé cercano a los otros, ten compasión, ten ternura como Jesús”.

Al final de la audiencia, el papa Francisco pidió oraciones por todos los que murieron o resultaron heridos el 7 de febrero en el norte de la India cuando se rompió parte de un glaciar, provocando una gran inundación que destruyó dos represas hidroeléctricas que estaban en construcción. Se teme que más de 200 personas hayan muerto.

También expresó sus mejores deseos a millones de personas en Asia y en todo el mundo que celebrarán el Año Nuevo Lunar el 12 de febrero.

El papa Francisco dijo que “en este momento particular, en el cual son fuertes las preocupaciones para afrontar los desafíos de la pandemia, que toca no solo el físico y el alma de las personas, sino que influye también en las relaciones sociales”. †

February 23, 2021 • archgh.org/tch

texas catholic herald

15

MILESTONES

St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands breaks ground on new chapel

Photos courtesy of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands

On Feb. 6, Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz joined parishioners and Father Tom Rafferty, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, for a Mass and groundbreaking of their new chapel. Called Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, the new space will seat 350 people.

The Charity Guild awards $200,000-plus grants to 27 youth-supporting nonprofits HOUSTON — Despite shuttering its consignment and resale shop for five months and other pandemic-related challenges, The Charity Guild of Catholic Women recently awarded more than $200,000 to 27 nonprofits benefiting Houston’s children.

Helping organizations for almost a century, The Charity Guild started its journey supporting what is now the San José Clinic. The organization’s grants support programs that provide food, safe and acceptable housing, affordable healthcare, clothing, educational support, supportive recreation or enrichment services, or mental health assistance to children.

Galveston’s O’Connell Preparatory School was one of the 27 organizations to benefit this year.

“The grant this year really saved us,” said Patty Abbott, principal of O’Connell Preparatory School. “The pandemic significantly impacted our families due to job loss and reduced incomes. It enabled us to assist those families with tuition assistance during this especially

difficult time.”

Other award recipients include: Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, Inc., Cherish Our Children No More Victims program, The Periwinkle Foundation, Second Servings, SEARCH Homeless Services’s House of Tiny Treasures and San José Clinic.

Barbara Bronstein is the president and founder of Second Servings, a group that connects soup kitchens with event caterers that have surplus food.

“When the pandemic struck and caused businesses and schools to close suddenly and events to be cancelled, it severely disrupted the food supply chain,” Bronstein said. “Charity Guild of Catholic Women has enabled us to continue to expand our services and reach over 70,000 hungry children with incredible food that otherwise would have gone to waste.”

At 99 years, the Charity Guild is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the greater Houston area.

For more information, visit www. charityguildshop.org. †

local catholic news.

where you want it. when you want it.

In brief Bishop Sheltz named to ‘Hall of Honor’ with St. Thomas High School alumni distinction award HOUSTON — On Jan. 23, St. Thomas High School saluted its most acclaimed former scholars with exceptional contributions to their professions and GEORGE communities with the A. SHELTZ school’s highest alumni Class of 1963 distinction.

The 16th Hall of Honor event recognized five leaders for their long-lasting and significant impacts beyond the St. Thomas campus. Among the honorees was Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz, who graduated from the high school in 1963.

The Houston native was honored for his commitment to sacramental life, a spirit of hospitality and self-emptying through service and a lifetime passion to exude goodness, discipline and knowledge.

Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz speaks during his induction at the 16th Hall of Honor at St. Thomas High School Jan. 23.

Other honorees were Raymond Bourgeois, Albert William Clay, Colonel Timothy DeWayne Gatlin and William Ferdinand Joplin. †

Photo courtesy of The Charity Guild of Catholic Women

The Charity Guild of Catholic Women award more than $200,000 to 27 nonprofit organizations benefiting Houston youth.

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.

Lenten Events

Fish Fry, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, starting Feb. 19 at Epiphany of the Lord (1530 Norwalk Dr. Katy). Pre-order and drive-thru pick up only. Enter church on Highland Knolls entrance, no cash or checks accepted.

Order online at: www.knights-of-columbusepiphany-council-9759.square.site

Feb. 25

www.archgh.org/digitaleditions

Photos courtesy of St. Thomas High School

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

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.

April 19

Golf Tournament, 10 a.m. at Willow Fork Country Club (21055 Westheimer Parkway, Katy). ACTS Ministry hosts Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church second annual golf tournament fundraiser with 10 a.m. shotgun start with prizes and meals. $135 per golfer, $525 per foursome. Register: epiphanycatholic.org/epiphany-golftournament, 832-544-9655.

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16 Texas Catholic Herald

Caminar en la Luz de Cristo

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our gift allows Christ's light to shine Y brightly through the 60 plus DSF ministries.

Please join us this year as we come together as Catholics to serve the community.

Your support is needed now more than ever. As always, each of you are in my prayers.

D aniel C ardinal D i N ardo Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

DArchdiocese iocesan Services Fund of Galveston-Houston archgh.org/dsf Please consider a gift to DSF.

February 23, 2021