DECEMBER 8, 2020 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald
CARDINAL GREGORY
SISTER NORMA GOES BEYOND
Black Catholics rejoice with elevation of first African American cardinal ▪ SEE PAGE 13
Named to ‘Time’ Top 100 People, McAllen sister speaks at Houston Proclaim conference ▪ SEE PAGES 5 & 14
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
DECEMBER 8, 2020
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
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VOL. 57, NO. 12
UPON THIS ROCK
‘Heralds of hope and grace’ BY DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston For almost all of us in the United States and, in fact, throughout the world, the Year 2020 has been very difficult. It has been by turns anxious, sorrowful and frustrating. We are waiting for it to end, or at least, to go away! COVID-19 has tended to define this year and has made the year very dark except for one piercing light advancing, the vaccines to modify or end it. On the other hand, the year 2020 has also brought us remarkable stories of heroism, cooperation and great care for the sick as well as assistance to those unemployed, worried or destitute. Individuals and communities have moved to action and commitment. Such witness has certainly been true in our own Catholic faith with our Catholic Charities, San José Clinic, schools and parishes rising up to be heralds of hope and grace. There has been remarkable and imaginative use of the media for building up communities in engagement and accompaniment with one another. Light as well as darkness has shown See SHEPHERD, page 2
CNS PHOTO
Pope Francis watches new cardinals greet retired Pope Benedict XVI at the retired pope’s residence after a consistory at the Vatican Nov. 28. A group of 13 new cardinals from eight different nations were created at the consistory. For more see stories on pages 12 and 13.
EMBRACING ADVENT
Advent is a time for intentional prayer, grace especially in 2020 BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — When holiday music hit the radio early this year, many people were ready to hear about the good times again. The First Sunday of Advent saw the first Advent candle lit, a familiar tradition that signals the beginning of a period of waiting and anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ that comes before the Christmas season. While these traditions might be the touch of normalcy some might crave, this Advent during a rocky period offers a unique and new chance to dive deeper into the faith, said Matt Zelinsky, coordinator of high school ministry at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in
Honoring the ‘Mother of the Americas’ Parishes to dance on and celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe despite cancelation of downtown procession
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — In what would have been its 48th anniversary, the huge procession of drummers and dancers swirling through downtown Houston in honor of the Dec. 12 feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been canceled because of the pandemic, organizers said. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, in a message to pastors on Advent and liturgical celebrations for Christmas, said, “On behalf of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the board of directors of the Archdiocesan Asociación Guadalupana, we wish to inform you that the popular devotions and Liturgy that take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been canceled for this See GUADALUPE, page 7
See ADVENT, page 4
THE FIRST WORD † 3
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EDUCATION † 10
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PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Flowers surround a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Houston in 2019.
COLUMNIST † 11
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ESPAÑOL † 14