Texas Catholic Herald - Dec. 23, 2025

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

2025 IN REVIEW

A look at the stories and headlines that changed Texas and the world ▪ SEE PAGES 9 - 11

DECEMBER 23, 2025

texas catholic herald 1

A MASS OF REMEMBRANCE

Annual Mass honors MLK Jr.’s legacy of service ▪ SEE PAGE 20

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

VOL. 62, NO. 13

A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE

RENEWING THE GIFT OF PEACE

Celebrating Christmas every day

BY ARCHBISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ Archbishop of Galveston-Houston As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we are reminded that God chose to come among us in the most humble way. In a world that often seeks fanfare, grandeur and spectacle, the Nativity teaches us that true greatness is found in simplicity.

God became small so that we might draw near without fear, encountering His love in the vulnerability of a child.

This Christmas season invites us to embrace peace, as Pope Leo XIV has called for since the beginning of his

A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE

See SHEPHERD, page 2 CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Leo XIV prays in front of the Nativity scene in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Dec. 15. The Nativity scene and the Christmas tree are signs of faith and hope, Pope Leo said. “As we contemplate them in our homes, parishes and town squares, let us ask the Lord to renew in us the gift of peace and fraternity,” he said, calling for prayers for all those who suffer because of war and violence. “We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”

The pope was speaking at a meeting with government representatives, artisans and donors who provide the Christmas decorations in the Paul VI Audience Hall and St. Peter’s Square.

SPIRITUALITY

Popular poinsettia has faithful roots, meaning

St. Paul traveled thousands of miles to spread the faith

BY ELIZABETH MORALES Texas Catholic Herald

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Herald Correspondent

EMBRACING CHRISTMAS

HOUSTON — It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many reasons, including the beautiful decorations that liven and brighten up churches, homes, stores, streetlamps and more.

With lights, ribbon and vibrant greenery, seasonal arrangements indicate that Christmas time is here. Certain flowers and plants are included in such displays and considered Christmas staples, with a history and care routine that explain why they’re a holiday classic.

On many steps leading up to the altar inside a church, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) add a colorful red and green appearance. The subtropical plant native to Mexico has a See PLANTS, page 5

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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CNS FILE PHOTO/REUTERS

Poinsettias fill the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican as Pope John Paul II begins a Christmas Midnight Mass in 2001. Poinsettias are among many popular Christmas-time flowers.

COLUMNISTS † 14 - 15

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ESPAÑOL † 18

St. Paul traveled thousands of miles from Jerusalem to Turkey, Greece and beyond to spread the word of the risen Jesus Christ, so every year, pilgrims worldwide follow his footsteps.

A local group of 30 pilgrims from St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park joined the journey for 11 days this fall to St. Paul’s mission in Greece. Formerly known as Saul before he was converted by Jesus post-resurrection, Paul evangelized in Greece as zealously as he had previously persecuted Christians, the pilgrims learned.

Arriving by boat about 49 AD from

| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 20

See PAUL, page 8

2 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

A Shepherd’s Message

By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez

Arzobispo Vásquez comparte su mensaje en línea en español.

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

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

PUBLISHING SINCE 1964

SHEPHERD, from page 1 papacy. Our world is marked by war, conflict and division, yet Christ calls us to be instruments of reconciliation. Peace begins in our hearts and in our homes. It grows when we choose dialogue over discord and when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us toward understanding and mercy. Let us bring peace wherever we can, starting with our families, workplace, school and communities. In doing so, we become witnesses of hope in a world that longs for healing.

“Jesus Christ waits to meet us in the poor, the suffering and the weak. If we open our lives and our hearts to Him in those we encounter, just as Mary and Joseph did, we will celebrate Christmas again and again.”

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Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Content Editor Catherine Viola Advertising Manager Elizabeth Morales, Nancy Wiechec and Jo Ann Zuñiga Contributors On Page 4: “The Star Above the Crib”

by Tony Todd

Christmas is also a time to renew the bonds of family and community. In an age of isolation, we need real presence, which is why the Sacraments are always experienced in person. Social ARCHBISHOP media cannot replace the grace of JOE S. VÁSQUEZ being together. God Himself shows us this truth by taking flesh and dwelling among us. I think of all the good work that is done by Catholic Charities, San José Clinic, Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other organizations and spiritual movements in our Church, like the Legion of Mary. They meet with people in a simple and powerful way. Let us cherish these days with loved ones and extend that presence to those who are lonely or in need.

The Texas Catholic Herald is published semi-monthly on Tuesdays, with one issue in June, July and August, by The Texas Catholic Herald Publishing Co., Inc., 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX and other distribution points.

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Finally, my hope and prayer for us this Christmas is that we truly experience the love of God who comes to us not only when He was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, but He comes to us daily in every moment of our lives. Jesus Christ waits to meet us in the poor, the suffering and the weak. If we open our lives and our hearts to Him in those we encounter, just as Mary and Joseph did, we will celebrate Christmas again and again.

TCH PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue date: January 13, 2026 Deadline: Noon on December 23 Issue date: January 27, 2026 Deadline: Noon on January 6, 2026

“The Madonna and Child” by Giovanni Battista Salvi (17th Century)

You make the ministry of our future Priests possible.

Nearly 60 men are currently in formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston to become the next generations of priests. These men spend anywhere from 5 to 7 years preparing for their Ordination to the Priesthood.

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EDITORIAL tch@archgh.org • archgh.org/tch 713-652-8215 • Fax: 713-659-3444

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez President & Publisher

Mary’s yes to God is a model for us all. Her trust and openness set in motion the mystery of the Incarnation.

She said yes not only to a moment but to a lifetime of faithfulness. Like Mary, we are called to say yes to living out our baptismal call each day, even when the path includes sacrifice and challenge. Her intercession strengthens us as we strive to follow Christ with courage and hope. Let her example remind us that God’s plan, though mysterious, is always rooted in love and leads us to life.

Merry Christmas! †

(USPS 936-480)

To read more about our seminarians and how you can support them, visit www.smseminary.com.

Editorial deadlines are no later than Tuesday at noon, 21 days prior to the issue date.

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DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

THE FIRST WORD MILK AND HONEY: PROSPERITY IN THE PROMISED LAND

IN BRIEF

BY NANCY WIECHEC Special to the Herald Milk and honey make grand appearances in the Old Testament to represent prosperity in the Promised Land. It is God who promises to lead the enslaved Israelites “into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex 3:8).

The description is so significant in the covenant between God and His people that “land flowing with milk and honey” is repeated at least 20 times from Exodus to Ezekiel. It’s an expression of agricultural prosperity in Canaan (the Promised Land), according to the New American Bible, Revised Edition.

Aside from those references, milk and honey appear in separate mentions throughout the Bible. One favorite passage is Matthew’s introduction to John the Baptist, whose “food was locusts and wild honey” (Mt 3:4).

Bible writers chose their words well because milk and honey were sacred foods for quite a while before their time. The respected culinary encyclopedia “Larousse Gastronomique” says milk has long been a symbol of fertility and wealth, and milking animals was a venerated ritual in early human societies. Honey had equal respect in ancient times. The sweet golden liquid was “regarded as the food of the gods, a symbol of wealth and happiness.”

These symbols persisted in early Christian communities.

The newly baptized would sip from a cup of milk and honey, honoring their entry into the Lord’s new promised land.

Before and during Christ’s time on earth, sheep, goats and

FAITHFUL FLAVORS: A SERIES

PHOTOS BY NANCY WIECHEC

cows were milked for butter, cream, cheese and yogurt.

However, most of these products looked and tasted a bit different from modern dairy equivalents.

The Book of Job acknowledges the making of curds when the author pleads, “Did you not pour me out like milk, and thicken me like cheese?” (Job 10:10). Domesticated beekeeping was also common in ancient Greece, Egypt and Palestine, and honey became the definitive sweet of the Bible, where it often appears as a metaphor. “Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and invigorating to the bones” (Prv 16:24).

Sugarcane arrived in the Middle East four centuries before Christ’s birth, but it was rare and expensive. Common sweeteners of the time included syrups, also referred to as honey, made from dates, pomegranates or other fruit.

Protein-packed and loaded with good-for-you foods from Scripture, this parfait makes a quick dessert or breakfast for any New Year celebration. If dates or pomegranates are not available, any fresh fruit would make a satisfying substitute. †

PROMISED LAND PARFAIT Prep Time: 20 minutes • Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup walnuts or walnut pieces • 4 large Medjool dates, pitted and coarsely chopped • 1 orange, peeled and segmented • 1/2 cup pomegranate arils • 16 ounces Greek-style plain whole milk yogurt • 4 tablespoons honey • A few lavender buds or mint leaves (optional)

Archbishop Vásquez set to celebrate Simbang Gabi, Christmas Eve Masses PEARLAND — Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will preside over two separate Masses, marking a pair of major Advent and Christmas devotions for the Filipino and Vietnamese Catholic communities.

The Archdiocesan Simbang Gabi Culmination Mass will be at St. Helen Parish (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland) on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. Traditional Filipino carols begin at 6:30 p.m. The annual Mass concludes the Filipino Simbang Gabi novena tradition, a series of novena Masses held in anticipation of Christmas held at some 30 parishes across the Archdiocese.

Then, Archbishop Vásquez is set to be the main celebrant for a Christmas Eve Mass at Christ the Incarnate Word Parish (8503 S. Kirkwood Rd., Houston) on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. with the Vietnamese Catholic community. †

Dec. 28 Masses to close Jubilee Year

GALVESTON — A pair of Masses celebrated on Dec. 28 at the two pilgrim sites in the Archdiocese will bring the Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope to a close in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will celebrate the Jubilee Closing Mass at 11 a.m. on Dec. 28 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in Houston. Later that day, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, will celebrate another Jubilee Closing Mass at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, located at 2011 Church St. in Galveston.

For more information about the Jubilee Year, including special indulgence and pilgrim site guides, visit www.archgh. org/jubilee2025. †

Café Catholica Lite returns Jan. 29, 2026

HOUSTON — The Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite at Holy Family’s Parish Life Center in Galveston, located at 1525 25th St. in Galveston, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, from 7 to 8:45 p.m.

Judge Stacy Allen Barrow of Harris County’s 487th Criminal District Court will speak on “Speak Truth, Judge Well, Make Peace: The Call to True Solidarity in Times of Division,” reflecting on unity, solidarity and Catholic social teaching. The evening includes snacks, a presentation, Q&A and prayer.

Café Catholica helps young adults ages 18 to 39 encounter Christ and His Church. For more information, call 713-741-8778 or visit www.archgh.org/cafecatholica. †

METHOD

1. Place the walnuts on a metal tray and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring the nuts once at the halfway point. Remove from oven when golden in color and let cool.

2. Divide about three-quarters of the yogurt between four dessert cups. Then layer on the fruit and nuts.

Save a bit of fruit to garnish the top. Drizzle about 1/2 tablespoon honey over the fruit in each cup.

Divide the remaining yogurt between the dishes and drizzle more honey over each.

3. Garnish with the remaining fruit and lavender buds or mint leaves and serve immediately.

Registration for Feb. 14 race continues

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HOUSTON — Registration is open for the 21st Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk, held Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. The event raises funds and awareness for the network of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.

The event will start with Mass at 7 a.m., followed by the presentation of the David Guite Spirit Award. The timed 5K race will begin at 8:30 a.m. and a post-race party will follow at the Catholic School Village in the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza. To register, visit www.steps4students.org. †

4 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

LOCAL

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

Minn. leaders and parishioners say that grace and healing endure

Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis reopened its doors three months after a shooting killed two students and injured 21. ▪ SEE PAGE 17

LOCAL

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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Poinsettias and other popular Christmas flora PLANTS, from page 1 legend that is attributed to its popularity during the yuletide.

According to Mexican lore, a child named Pepita was on her way to Christmas Eve Mass with her cousin Pedro. It was customary to bring a gift for the Christ child, but being poor, Pepita was unable to buy a gift.

Sweetly picking wildflowers on her way to Mass, she presented them at the nativity scene near the altar of the church. Having pity on Pepita, the angels transformed the weeds into fiery red flowers that looked ablaze like bright stars as everyone present gasped in wonder at the miraculous sight.

The starry structure of the plant is said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem.

Its leaves, which create the starry outline, are bracts, and the flower is actually the small, yellowish cluster of buttons at the center of the bracts.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is referred to as Flor de la Noche Buena (Flower of the Holy Night, Christmas Eve). It is well-known for its festive red and green exterior, but the plant has over 200 colors and varieties, such as white, green, yellow and more combinations.

Brought to the U.S. in 1828 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico and a botanist, he began to grow cuttings of the plant at his greenhouses in South Carolina after noticing its winter bloom in Mexico.

AT A GLANCE Flowers to remember for Christmas arrangements

HERALD FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS

A nativity at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart incorporates evergreen fir trees (at back), white and red poinsettias (left and right, respectively), and red amaryllis throughout.

Long before it was brought to the U.S., the Aztecs used the plant for medicines, dyes and in religious ceremonies. It was called Cuetlaxochitl in the Nahuatl language, and Montezuma, the last Aztec emperor, would order droves of the Cuetlaxochitl as furnishings in his palaces at Tenochtitlan.

To care for the perennial shrub, keep it out of cold temperatures, as it is a tropical plant. Indirect sunlight for 6 hours is a healthy amount, while direct sunlight can cause the leaves to fade.

Only water the plant when the potting mix is dry, and don’t let it sit in water because overwatering is a cause of death. Fertilizer is unnecessary while in bloom.

When arranging Christmas blends, red and white flowers go well together; pines and cedars mixed with white flowers make for quintessential greenery; add a candle with pinecones and amaryllis to create a wintery table centerpiece; and combine hellebores with greenery for a merry minimalist look. †

For any array of traditional flowers, plants and trees to freshen up the Christmas and winter season, consider the following: • Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) • Azaleas • Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) • Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) • Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) • Christmas Rose (Hellebore niger) • Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) • Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) • Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) • Holly (Ilex opaca) • Ivy (Hedera helix) • Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) • Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) • Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)

• Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) • Pear Tree (Pyrus communis) • Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) • Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.)

• Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) • Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) • Yew (Taxus spp.)

• Yuletide Camellia (Camellia Sasanqua ‘Yuletide’)

Anna needs your help Give to Catholic Charities this Christmas season. You can help Anna with food, shelter and more!

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6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025 PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Celebrations around Archdiocese honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in prayer, dance and song

PHOTO BY NICOLAS REQUENES

► SEE MORE PHOTOS ONLINE AT WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/GUADALUPE2025

HOUSTON — On Dec. 6, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrated a special Mass at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart and joined a mile-long procession with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The procession stretched down at least 10 downtown city blocks as drums bounced off buildings. More than a thousand, including many danzantes and matachines dancers wearing traditional indigenous attire, attended the Mass, procession and Archdiocesan gathering at the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza.

This tradition honors the first apparition on Dec. 9, 1531, of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego at a place called the Hill of Tepeyac, now a northern borough of modern-day Mexico City, as he was walking to Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. She appeared to him several times through Dec. 12 and instructed him to ask the bishop to build a church on that hill in honor of her Son. The apparitions include an image of the Virgin Mary that was miraculously imprinted on Juan Diego’s cloak, which convinced the bishop of her request. That tilma remains on display at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, one of the most visited religious sites in the world. Now, millions of Catholics celebrate her feast day on Dec. 12 worldwide, and dozens of communities in the Archdiocese had their own individual celebrations for their parishioners, but were also flooded with visitors. †

Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, and forever!

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LOCAL

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald 7

4th Biennial Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz

Altar Server

Appreciation Mass & Presentations SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025

Photo by Frederick Warren

Co-Chairs

Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez, Archbishop of Galveston-

Houston was the Principal Celebrant at a Mass of Appreciation for altar servers with 5+ years of service. Archbishop Vásquez invited the 500+ servers to “open your heart and listen to the Holy Spirit if HE is calling you to become a Priest or a Nun.” This very special Mass was sponsored by Serra and Scanlan Foundation, strong supporters of vocations in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Candice Tyrrell, Serra US Council Board

Larry W. Massey, Jr. President, Scanlan Foundation

Committee Joe Atkins, Pearl Campbell, Carol Cason, Linda & Tom Cassano, Adela Castro, Bill Clary, Norma Gonzales, RoseAnn Jackson, Renette Jasmer, Ben Mazzara, David Piwonka, Dcn. Doug & Melia Reed, Ed Tyrrell, and Ernestina Viernes.

Participating Parishes All Saints

Our Lady of Sorrows

St. Edward

St. Martha, Kingwood

Assumption

Prince of Peace

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Mary of the Expectation, League City

Blessed Sacrament

Resurrection

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Mary Magdalene

Chapel of Divine Providence

Sacred Heart, Crosby

St. Frances Cabrini

St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal, Texas City

Christ the King

Sacred Heart, Manvel

St. Francis Xavier

St. Matthias the Apostle, Magnolia

Epiphany of the Lord

Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral

St. Gregory the Great

St. Maximillian Kolbe

Holy Family, Galveston

St. Angela Merici, Missouri City

St. Helen, Pearland

St. Monica

Holy Family, Missouri City

St. Anne, Houston

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Paul the Apostle, Nassau Bay

Immaculate Heart of Mary

St. Anne, Tomball

St. Jerome

Sts. Peter & Paul, Bellville

Mary Queen, Friendswood

St. Anthony of Padua

St. John Neumann

St. Rose of Lima

Notre Dame

St. Bartholomew

St. John the Baptist, Alvin

Sts. Simon & Jude

Our Lady of Czestochowa

St. Basil Chapel, UST

St. John of the Cross, New Caney

St. Thomas Aquinas, Sugar Land

Our Lady of Fatima, Galena Park

St. Cecilia

St. John Vianney

St. Thomas More

Our Lady of Lourdes, Hitchcock

St. Charles Borromeo

St. Joseph-St. Stephen

Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson

Our Lady of Lourdes, Houston

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Leo the Great

Vietnamese Martyrs

Our Lady of St. John

St. Dominic

St. Mark the Evangelist

8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

Thousands follow the footsteps of St. Paul every year PAUL, from page 1 Turkey to Greece, Paul baptized the first European Christian convert, a Greek noble woman named Lydia, a successful merchant of expensive purple dyes purchased by royalty and the wealthy.

The modern pilgrims traveled by bus to ancient Philippi, where the Baptism occurred, according to Luke the Evangelist (Acts 16:14-15), who was a member of Paul’s entourage. The modern pilgrims were amazed that the stream still flowed there near the ancient city ruins.

On those grounds, an octagonalshaped St. Lydia Baptistery chapel, built in 1974, is adorned with visually stunning icons painted in gold and deep colors.

Each panel tells the event of Paul’s arrival by boat and Lydia’s Baptism, while Christ is highlighted at the very top and center.

“St. Paul was very strategic in where he traveled and the people he connected with to build house churches and communities,” said Deacon Gerald DuPont, who has traveled multiple pilgrimages and taught Church history in seminaries.

Father Reginald Samuels, pastor of St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land and spiritual director for this pilgrimage, said,“By walking the historical path of St. Paul, I was able to connect deeper to the Scripture and gain perspective into St. Paul’s missionary journey.

“I have a better understanding of his endurance, conviction and passion that he used to spread the message of Jesus Christ,” Father Samuels added. “I am now

OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY OF ELY SEGURA

The monasteries of Meteora in Greece are seen on a mountainside. Although the monasteries were built much later in the 14th century, they are the fruits of St. Paul’s evangelization and are included in the “footsteps of St. Paul” in the early Church.

more aware of my own personal journey in which God gives me the strength and endurance to continue the mission of St. Paul in the Church and world.”

But while St. Paul traveled via wooden boat, by foot or riding animals of burden, modern pilgrims take a cruise on the Greek government-owned ships traveling to the islands of Mykonos, Santorini and even a stop on the coast of Turkey to visit Mother Mary’s home in the hills of Ephesus, where she was accompanied by St. John after Jesus’ resurrection. While there is no documented meeting of Mary with St. Paul, he was evangelizing in Ephesus around the same time she lived there.

Even with modern crowds visiting Mary’s home, there is such a sense of

Cairo, Egypt

peace surrounding hushed pilgrims as they walk through the dimness of her stone home up in the hills to emerge into the sunlight shining through pine trees housing chirping birds. By her home, there is a modern chapel where Father Samuels and Deacon David Johnson celebrated Mass for the Houston-area pilgrims as tears quietly streamed down their faces.

Among the more well-known pilgrims visiting the Holy Mother’s home, Pope Paul VI was the first pontiff to visit in 1967. St. John Paul II visited in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at the site in 2006.

Heading back to Greece, the pilgrims took a tour bus to Meteora, a jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage site of huge rock pillars climbing to the clouds, where monks constructed multiple monasteries on the very tops, trying to reach heaven as close as possible. Although the monasteries were built much later in

the 14th century, they are fruits of Paul’s evangelization and are included in the “footsteps of St. Paul” in the early Church.

No public elevators are available to reach the monasteries, including the Holy Monastery of Roussanou, run by nuns with its main cathedral dedicated to St. Barbara. So, the 200-plus steep stone stairs are no easy feat for most modern pilgrims, but well worth it to view the centuries-old icons and breathtaking views. Seeing the small metal basket cage used by the monks over the centuries to pull up supplies and visitors made one now appreciate taking the stairs cut from stone.

Another Greek city honoring St. Paul’s mission is the ancient town of Berea, now known as Veria, which has an impressively large number of 48 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches preserved in the city’s center.

The city also has a plaza known as Apostle Paul’s Podium, famous for housing the original marble steps, the exact spot where Paul preached to the citizens about the Christian gospels as described in Acts of the Apostles 17:10-14.

Colorful mosaics around the steps show Paul addressing the enthusiastic crowd.

A nearby statue of St. Paul stands with a book in hand and arm outstretched.

He was also run out of towns several times, including Thessaloniki, beaten and imprisoned. But one of his most well-known addresses came in Athens, where he debated with philosophers, both Jewish and Greek, in the ancient Agora and Areopagus at the foot of the Acropolis, with some in the crowd mocking and others converting (Acts 17:22-34).

But St. Paul was never silenced until the Roman government beheaded him.

By then, his mission had taken a life of its own with the Holy Spirit, and modern pilgrims carry it on. †

PHOTO BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA

14 Day Egypt, Jordan, and Holy Land Tour

Pyramids Old Cairo Petra Sea of Galilee Mount of Olives Jericho Nazareth Jerusalem Bethlehem Garden Tomb And Much More May 3 – 16, 2026 $4,790.00 Per Person From Houston

Includes: Roundtrip Air Transportation From Houston, First Class Hotels, Double Occupancy, 2 Meals A Day – Buffet Breakfast & Dinner, Daily Sightseeing With English Speaking Tour Guides, Daily Mass, Entrance Fees, Airport Taxes, And Fuel Surcharges - Which Might Subject To Change.

Tips To Guides, Headwaiters, Porters, And Drivers Are Included.

Spiritual Host: Rev. Lukose (Luke) Manuel St. Helen Catholic Church - Pearland, TX Tour Coordinator: Fides Cusi Tel: 281-258-9217 Email: fidescusi@hotmail.com

A tile mosaic depicts St. Paul preaching from marble steps, still in existence, to the residents of Berea in Greece who were enthusiastic about his teachings in Acts 17:10-14. This site, known as St. Paul’s Steps, is located in a plaza with his statue standing nearby with a book of Scripture in his hand and his other arm outstretched.

FINAL WEEKS OF THE JUBILEE YEAR

pilgrims of hope

• Visit the two Archdiocesan Pilgrim Sites - Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Downtown Houston - St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston Island • Find Jubilee pilgrim site guides, news, indulgence information, news updates, resources and more online

Learn more about the Jubilee at ARCHGH.ORG/JUBILEE2025

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald 9

YEAR IN REVIEW

2025: A YEAR in REVIEW A look back at some of the biggest stories of 2025

HOUSTON — As 2025 comes to a close, we look back at the stories that made 2025 an intense, gripping and exciting year full of endings and new beginnings for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Catholic faithful around the world.

Here are the stories that made 2025 historic and unforgettable.

Locals embrace Jubilee Year with pilgrimages, events The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston marked the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, themed Pilgrims of Hope, with a yearlong series of Liturgies, pilgrimages and celebrations that drew thousands of faithful to prayer and renewal.

The Jubilee opened locally Dec. 29, 2024, with Masses celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at the two Archdiocesan pilgrim sites — the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston and St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, where the faithful could obtain plenary indulgences through prayer, confession and works of charity. Pope Francis inaugurated the Holy Year days earlier by opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, calling Catholics worldwide to “fan the flame of hope” and embrace reconciliation and mercy.

Throughout the year, local parishes and ministries celebrated the Jubilee with special devotions, Eucharistic Adoration, parish missions and pilgrimages.

At St. Justin Martyr Parish in Houston, Jubilee-themed homilies, prayers and hymns accompanied a special processional crucifix used at major Liturgies. The parish also hosted monthly Eucharistic Holy Hours focused on hope, organized pilgrimages to local sacred sites and the Czech Center Museum Houston, and joined a Vietnamese pilgrimage to Rome.

Parish groups prayed for vocations during these visits, reinforcing the Jubilee’s call to renewal and mission.

On March 15, St. Bernadette Parish volunteers from southeast Houston visited the

co-cathedral for Pope Francis’ Jubilee of the World of Volunteering. The pilgrimage included a guided tour, Mass, and a Q&A with Father Jeffrey Bame, rector of the co-cathedral. “The Jubilee Year reminds us that volunteering is not just about tasks — it’s about faith in action,” said Suzanne Staron, director of Time and Talent at St. Bernadette. The event honored volunteers’ dedication and inspired renewed commitment to service. Among the Catholic schools, a group of St. Ambrose students visited the cathedral basilica on Nov. 20 for a pilgrimage, combining prayer and learning in a spiritually enriching field trip.

Globally, the Jubilee’s theme of hope took on new meaning after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, just after delivering his final Easter blessing. In his papal bull Spes Non Confundit — “Hope Does Not Disappoint” — Pope Francis wrote that hope lives in every human heart, unaware that his own declining health would soon mark the year. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who oversaw Jubilee events, said the pope’s death transformed the Jubilee’s message: “Hope became not sentiment, but promise.” Through the interregnum and the election of Pope Leo XIV, celebrations continued and even grew, drawing massive crowds — including a million young people for the Jubilee of Youth in August. Among them were more than 300 young adults from Galveston-Houston.

Other individual pilgrims and delegations from the Archdiocese also traveled to Rome for special Jubilee events such as the February Jubilee for Deacons, the Jubilee for Consecrated Life and the Jubilee of Synodal Teams, both in October, reflecting the Archdiocese’s commitment to global

DEC. 24, 2024

DEC. 26, 2024

AUG. 2 Pope Francis opens a Jubilee door to begin the Jubilee Year of Hope.

Pope Leo XIV carries the Jubilee cross during the Jubilee for Young People in August.

communion and mission. Many encountered Pope Leo XIV at Masses and addresses.

The year will conclude on Dec. 28 with Jubilee Closing Masses at both pilgrimage sites.

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will preside at the Co-Cathedral, and Bishop Dell’Oro will celebrate in Galveston, urging Catholics to carry forward the Jubilee’s spirit of hope and renewal.

“This Holy Year reminds us that hope does not disappoint,” Cardinal DiNardo said in earlier remarks, echoing Pope Francis’ call for a future rooted in faith and solidarity.

The unfinished gesture of Pope Francis’ Holy Door opening at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and its closing by his successor, Pope Leo XIV, on Jan. 6, 2026, when the Jubilee formally ends on the Feast of the Epiphany, now challenges believers to carry hope, peace and communion into the world.

The Jubilee year will then leave behind a legacy of prayer, pilgrimage and service across the Archdiocese and around the world.

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Cardinal DiNardo retires, Archbishop Vásquez takes the lead of Galveston-Houston At the end of January, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and named as his successor then-Bishop Vásquez of Austin, becoming the next chief spiritual shepherd to the more than two million Catholics in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Vásquez was installed on March 25 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Austin on Jan. 26, 2010. Before his appointment to Austin, the newly named archbishop was an auxiliary of the Archdiocese he now heads. He was named auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston on Nov. 30, 2001, by St. John Paul II and ordained early the following year. At the time of his episcopal ordination, he was the youngest bishop in the U.S. Archbishop Vásquez received his pallium from Pope Leo XIV on the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

MARCH 26 Archbishop Vásquez greets seminarians at his Installation Mass in March.

The loss of Pope Francis Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on Feb. 14 after his bronchitis worsened into a serious respiratory infection. By Feb. 18, he had developed pneumonia and suffered a bronchial spasm that caused a dangerous breathing crisis. He spent 38 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. After showing signs of improvement, he returned to the Vatican on March 23. While Pope Francis did not A YEAR celebrate the Easter IN REVIEW Mass in the piazza as in years past because he was still recovering, he delegated it to Angelo Cardinal Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Pope Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica at the square for more than 20 minutes to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of attendees, in what would be his final public appearance. After the blessing, the Pope was driven around the square. As he passed through the crowds, his procession paused a number of times as babies were brought over for him to bless.

On the morning of April 21, he died from a cerebral stroke, coma and irreversible heart failure, according to the Vatican.

2025

Archdiocese welcomes largest group of candidates, catechumens in local history Both urban and rural parishes continued to nurture faith as the Archdiocese welcomed its largest group of candidates and catechumens in history, with 2,669 individuals from 114 parishes this Easter.

St. Martin de Porres in Barrett Station received its first group of elect since 2004 after restarting its OCIA program, welcoming 16 new members. Among them was recent college graduate Daria Hall, inspired by her mother’s return to the Catholic Church and seeking spiritual growth as she entered the professional world.

Another new Catholic, Sean Williams Jr., had attended Mass with his Catholic wife for years before discerning he was ready to join; he now looks forward to receiving the Eucharist and serving his parish.

St. Jerome Parish in Houston welcomed the largest single group, which saw 97 catechumens and three candidates join the Church at Easter, many of them young children

MAY 8 Newly elected Pope Leo XIV waves to a packed St. Peter’s Square in May. and teenagers.

Other new Catholics said they found peace at their first Masses, feeling guided by parishes’ warm welcomes and that marriage helped draw them to the unity of the faith and tradition.

Cardinal DiNardo returns to the Conclave, first pope born in the U.S. is elected After the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal DiNardo returned to Rome in April as one of only 10 U.S. cardinal-electors eligible to vote in the papal conclave. After four rounds of ballots in two days, the conclave on May 8 elected Robert Cardinal Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian priest

JUNE 29

Pope Leo XIV places the pallium on Archbishop Vásquez at the Vatican in

who was elevated to cardinal in 2023 and was serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. The first pope from the U.S. took the name Pope Leo XIV. At a May 9 press conference, Cardinal DiNardo and other U.S. cardinals emphasized that his nationality was secondary. What mattered, Cardinal DiNardo said, was his missionary background, humility and global experience — making him “a citizen of the world.”

Three new priests, 40 permanent deacons ordained On Feb. 14 and 15, 40 men from 30 churches were ordained permanent deacons in the Archdiocese, committing to lifelong service in Word, Liturgy and charity, strengthening parish

JUNE 7

ministries and outreach.

On June 7, Archbishop Vásquez ordained Father John Clark, Father Hubert Hai Dao and Father Carlos Velero Mendoza to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

In his homily, Archbishop Vásquez encouraged the newly ordained priests and said, “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve and save what was lost.” He also asked them to stay close to the Blessed Mary, the Mother of God. “She still has the best words for a priest: ‘Do whatever He tells you,’” he said. Concelebrated by Bishop Dell’Oro, the Mass also saw Cardinal DiNardo attend in choir.

In July, they began their priestly ministry:

APRIL 19

Archbishop Vásquez baptizes a woman at Easter Vigi Archbishop Vásquez ordains three priests at an Ordination Mass in June.

2025 BY THE NUMBER

3

MEN ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD

40 JULY 8 Crosses are marked by a floodwater line at Camp Mystic.

JULY 27 Archdiocesan Youth Conference 2025

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DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

texas catholic herald 11

YEAR IN REVIEW

APRIL 26

FEB. 15

Cardinal DiNardo greets a group of new permanent deacons he ordained in February.

n June.

Pallbearers carry Pope Francis in his casket into St. Mary Major in Rome.

Father Clark serves as parochial vicar at St. Faustina Parish in Fulshear; Father Dao was assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Parish as parochial vicar; and Father Mendoza is parochial vicar at St. Martha Parish in Kingwood.

July 4 floods devastate Central Texas, local communities After catastrophic flash floods swept through Kerrville, Hunt and Ingram on July 4, Texans and people across the nation mourned the 135 lives lost. Sudden heavy rainfall created 26-foot walls of water within 45 minutes, destroying homes, camps and vehicles along the Guadalupe River.

Many victims were vacationers, including more than 25 children and two teenaged counselors at

il.

Cardinal DiNardo, standing at right, with other U.S. cardinal-electors ahead of the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May.

a Christian summer camp.

Catholic parishes and schools across Galveston-Houston and beyond grieved several young students from Houston, many of whom had recently received their First Communion. News of the growing death toll spread from Texas to the Vatican, touching families everywhere Funeral Masses in Houston emphasized hope in Christ amid profound sorrow. Communities honored the children with bright colors, processions and heartfelt remembrance, even as classmates struggled to understand the loss.

Counselors and clergy reminded mourners that faith offers comfort and honest sorrow, prayer and the Church’s Sacraments can help transform pain and give meaning to suffering, uniting the living with those who have died. †

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

OBITUARIES

IN MEMORIA

Father Wilfred Canning, CSB

We pray for the following clergy whose anniversaries of death are during the month of January.

HOUSTON — Father Wilfred Canning, CSB, who served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Rosenberg, died on Nov. 19. He was 98 years old.

Part of the Congregation of St. Basil for 79 years, and a priest for 70 years, he served at St. Thomas High School for 21 years.

A funeral Mass was held Nov. 25 at St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston. †

Mark James Michalec

HOUSTON — Mark James Michalec, husband of Rose Michalec, chief financial officer of the Archdiocese, died Dec. 10. He was 58 years old.

A funeral Mass was held Dec. 22 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Interment is in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery. †

IN BRIEF January women’s symposium at UST marks 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s ‘Letter to Women’

HOUSTON — A two-day symposium will explore the “Beauty of Truth: Navigating Society Today as a Catholic Woman,” as the Catholic Church celebrates the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s “Letter to Women.”

Hosted by the University of St. Thomas (UST) Nesti Center for Faith and Culture (Nesti CFC) Catholic Women’s and Gender studies program on Jan. 9 to 10, 2026 in the Jerabeck Center, the event “aims to address society’s ongoing debates over gender, sexuality, and the role of women in the Church with faith, clarity and courage,” according to Leah Jacobson, program coordinator for Catholic Women’s and Gender Studies at the Nesti Center.

Featured speakers, who will address family life, education, healthcare and professional issues, include Pia de Solenni, Ph.D., legal scholar Erika Bachiochi and author Mary Eberstadt. Also among other presenters are theologian Angela Franks, Ph.D., author Leah Libresco Sargeant, and UST’s Eileen Reuter, Ph.D. Topics include identity in modern culture, Church teaching on natural family planning, and high school curriculum on gender and sexuality. Panels and a forum will also offer scholars the opportunity to present research.

Sinda Vanderpool, Ph.D., who is UST’s first female president, said, “We are excited to share, with fidelity, the Church’s teachings on women in the life of the Church and the importance of human identity as given to us by God the Creator.”

To register and see a full list of speakers, visit www.stthom.edu/nesti. †

Jan. 1, 1945 Jan. 1, 1959 Jan. 1, 1973 Jan. 1, 1976 Jan. 1, 2019 Jan. 1, 2022 Jan. 2, 2013 Jan. 3, 2006 Jan. 3, 2012 Jan. 4, 1999 Jan. 5, 1955 Jan. 5, 1955 Jan. 5, 1994 Jan. 5, 2019 Jan. 6, 2020 Jan. 7, 1975 Jan. 7, 1997 Jan. 9, 2017 Jan. 10, 1992 Jan. 10, 2025 Jan. 12, 1878 Jan. 12, 1969 Jan. 13, 2021 Jan. 16, 1976 Jan. 16, 1981

Msgr. John S. Murpy Rev. Joseph L. Willett, CSB Rev. C. Laumer Schoppe Rev. Wilfred C. Sharpe, CSB Rev. Serafin Cejudo Rev. John McGinnis Rev. Joseph Shannon, CSB Rev. Charles E. Burns Rev. John Broussard, CSB Rev. Marvin A. Hebert Msgr. Edmund A. Kelly Rev. Bertrand Abell, CP Rev. Charles V. Patronella Rev. Frank Fabj Rev. Jose Mundadan Rev. Hugh J. Haffey, CSB Rev. Sylvester Posluszny Archbishop Patrick Flores Msgr. E. Kenyon Fulkerson Rev. Edward Wade, CC Rev. Rudolph Krc Rev. Carl M. Allnoch, CSB Rev. Edwin Coreas Rev. T.W. Kappe Msgr. Francis H. Connor

Jan. 16, 2003 Jan. 16, 2005 Jan. 16, 2015 Jan. 17, 2004 Jan. 17, 2011 Jan. 17, 2021 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 1975 Jan. 18, 2005 Jan. 19, 1955 Jan. 19, 1996 Jan. 19, 1997 Jan. 21, 1918 Jan. 22, 2006 Jan. 24, 1926 Jan. 25, 1967 Jan. 25, 1976 Jan. 25, 1978 Jan. 25, 2002 Jan. 26, 1882 Jan. 28, 1917 Jan. 29, 2000 Jan. 30, 1929 Jan. 30, 1993 Jan. 31, 1969

Rev. Donald McNally, OMI Rev. William P. Somerville Msgr. Philippe Le-Xuan-Thuong Rev. Gerard Joubert, OP Msgr. Eugene Cargill Bishop Vincent Rizzotto Msgr. Fred O’Connor Rev. David Max Rev. Walter Kaelin, cp Rev. Cornelius P. Sullivan Msgr. Edward S. Missenda Rev. Mark That Tran Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher Rev. Charles A. Christopher, CSB Msgr. James M. Kirwin Rev. John D. Sheehy, CSB Msgr. Timothy T. Cronin Rev. Harold C. Perry, CSB Rev. Gary F. Wanzong Rev. James Miller Rev. Clement Lowrey Rev. Robert E. Lamb, CSB Rev. Michael Heintzelmann Rev. J. Jesus Medrano, OSA Rev. Finan Glynn, OCARM

IN SERVICE

St. Luke the Evangelist Thanksgiving service drive benefits 7 schools, 33 families

HOUSTON — Partnering with nearby school counselors to reach those most in need, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Houston hosted a Thanksgiving food drive that provided everything needed for a holiday meal for 160 people and 33 families at seven schools in the parish’s community.

Local Knights of Columbus Council 9201 sponsored nine families. The effort helped the parish “live out the vision of being all things in Christ,” a parish leader said. †

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DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

EDUCATION IN SERVICE

IN CELEBRATION

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL

With their families, students (above) from St. Rose of Lima School in Houston sing Christmas carols to homebound St. Rose of Lima parishioners Dec. 4, sharing holiday cheer and the spirit of community. Two days earlier, the St. Rose of Lima Pre-K students (at left and below) reenact Las Posadas Dec. 2, portraying Mary, Joseph, angels and shepherds in a celebration of the traditional Advent journey.

PHOTO BY NIKKI POMER/STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory students collected more than 22,000 pounds of food during the Great Ignatian Challenge, a nationwide holiday food drive among Jesuit schools. Donations will aid families through Catholic Charities and local food pantries in the Archdiocese.

IN FELLOWSHIP

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PREPARATORY

The St. John XXIII College Preparatory Class of 2026 celebrated its annual Senior Christmas Luncheon on Dec. 12 with a full Grinchthemed celebration featuring festive food and games, including a classmate-wrapping competition and all the holiday cheer a Who-ville gathering could bring, according to school officials.

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

YOUTH The Best Christmas Present: The gift of life itself I will always remember Christmas gatherings with my grandparents. My Lola (Tagalog for grandma) stayed up late to make pancit noodles and was excited whenever someone took her picture during our family get-togethers.

“You will have these memories of me whenever I leave this world,” she would always say. In the same room, Lolo (Tagalog for grandpa) would often be found laughing and playing with his grandchildren. His excitement would only increase when we would start playing his favorite game, UNO Attack; something about the cards randomly shooting out brought out an immense amount of joy to his face.

For most of the evening, Lolo and Lola would simply sit in the corner of the house and take it all in. Having a yearly family get-together was the best gift they could ever want and one they always looked forward to.

As I look forward to my next Christmas gathering, I prepare myself for the reality that Lolo and Lola won’t be there. Lola passed in 2010, and shortly after, so did my Lolo. As they both reached the sunsets of their lives, I recall both being incredibly grateful for the beautiful gift of life that God had

by

CHRISTOPHER JAVIER

given them. As I prepare for the Christmas season, I continue to reflect on how we often overly focus on the temporary gifts of the season rather than the gift of life itself.

Although I miss Lolo and Lola dearly, I feel incredibly grateful for the 28 Christmases I was able to spend

with them.

In St. Augustine’s Confessions, he responds to God’s gift of life: “In all this you command me to praise you, to make my confession to you, and to sing to your name, O Most High, for you are God, almighty and good. Even if you had done nothing else, this gift alone, which none but you can bestow, is reason for me to praise you.”

Amidst all the chaos of planning gatherings and buying gifts, St. Augustine continues to remind us that existence itself is a gift.

Throughout the Confessions, he reflects on how God could have even chosen not to allow him to be born. The

reality of his living past infancy was a miraculous gift in itself.

During this Christmas season, let us remember that our time here in this world is temporary, and the opportunity to have another Christmas gathering is quite a gift. If we looked at Christmas through those lenses, what gifts would it bring us? It would allow us to let go of the idea of having the perfect Christmas dinner and simply be present with those around us.

The significance of Jesus coming to us in a humble manger to take on our pains and sufferings in this life. Let us also call to mind the continued gift of His presence to us in the Eucharist.

How will you make memories with your loved ones this Christmas? I want to share some ideas with you all: • During your child’s Christmas break, set up a day and time to interview a parent or grandparent. Jeffrey Mason has two books titled “Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story” and “Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story” that can help provide structure to the interview.

• As you cook your favorite dish this season, consider having your child join you. You could even have them record you cooking your special dish while

sharing memories of your Christmas in your childhood.

• Find an old photo album from your younger years and share the stories behind some of the photos.

• Create a new Christmas tradition together. You could travel somewhere new, create Christmas ornaments, or even do something as simple as watching a classic Christmas movie together.

• Play board games or mini-holiday competition games as a family.

• Make time for the most important reason of the season and frequent the Sacraments together.

This Christmas, let us look past temporary gifts and focus on the profound gift of life and the people we share it with. Embrace the present moment and create lasting memories with loved ones, just as Lolo and Lola cherished their family gatherings.

By choosing presence over perfection, we truly celebrate the season’s significance and the continuous gift of God’s grace. † Christopher Javier is a volunteer at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Houston.

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MASSOF OF REMEMBRANCE REMEMBRANCE AA MASS THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON 41st Observance of the annual celebration 41st Observance the annualofcelebration honoringofthe birthday honoring theLuther birthday Rev. Dr. Martin King,of Jr.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart 1111 St. Joseph Co-Cathedral of the Parkway Sacred Heart Houston, Texas 77002 1111 St. Joseph Parkway

Houston, Texas 77002 January 18, 2026 3 p.m. | Sunday

The Archdiocese has open positions in our Schools, Parishes and the Chancery.

January 18, 2026 Afternoon 3 p.m. | Sunday Reginald Samuels Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez Afternoon VicarFather for Catholics of African Descent Metropolitan Archbishop Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Principal Celebrant

Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez Metropolitan Archbishop Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Pastor, St. Laurence Catholic Church Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Homilist Father Reginald Samuels

Vicar for Catholics of African Descent Pastor, St. Laurence Catholic Church Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Reception to follow at the Cathedral Centre.

Principal Celebrant

Homilist

Reception to follow at the Cathedral Centre.

texas catholic herald 15

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

COLUMNISTS

The will of God

Recently, a friend told me something that was true and good, but difficult for me to hear.

While I wanted to hear it — wanted to conform myself to the will of God for that particular situation — I was having a hard time. So while trying to compose myself (basically trying not to cry), a memory came to mind from when I was a little girl. I got up and went for a walk while reflecting on what God wanted to tell me through that memory.

I was 8 years old and preparing for my First Communion. Besides preparing my heart to receive Holy Communion for the first time, I was also excited about what I would wear for that special occasion. I wanted to have a beautiful white dress like a princess, a pretty veil and pretty sandals. My sister was also having her First Communion with me, and her Godmother offered to make our

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JOELMA REGIS

dresses since she was a very skilled seamstress.

My mom gladly accepted it.

My mom also bought a new pair of white sandals for both of us.

These were high-quality sandals, the kind that would last for years, since she hoped we could continue to use them afterward, not only for that special

occasion.

The day arrived when we got those gifts: a white dress, a small hair bow, and a new pair of sandals — all very well prepared and delivered to the two of us. I was very disappointed. I didn’t like the dress because it looked too simple to me. The hair bow was pretty,

but I wanted a veil. The sandals were expensive, the kind that would last forever, but I wanted something more girly with small high heels. So I was sad and upset.

Thank God, the day of my First Communion was very beautiful and joyful with all my family and friends, so I quickly forgot about the disappointment and sadness.

This was such a good memory and a good lesson for me regarding the will of God. Many times in life, we don’t really want what God is offering to us. We forget that He sees the big picture and knows what is best for us and for those around us. He knows what we will need for eternity, and not just for the present moment.

My mom knew that my family could not afford to get me the dress and shoes of a princess. She knew that those things

should not have been my focus for First Communion Day. And she knew that those things would not last long at all.

She knew me better than I knew myself.

God also knows me better than I know myself. Even though I am an adult now, God still knows more than I, and He knows what is best for my community and for me! However, I often find myself still thinking that my ideas are the best and suggesting to God what is best for me.

It’s at those times that this memory helps me to surrender to God’s will and trust that He will lead everything according to His plan. As we prepare for Christmas, let us remember to let God’s Word have the last say, as Mary did. † Joelma Regis is the associate director of the Office of Vocations.

From a trembling ‘Yes’ to Christmas joy Christmas has always been my favorite season of the year. There is something undeniably beautiful about this time — the sky somewhat clearer and calmer, the gentle, caressing touch of a crisp breeze on one’s face, and the excitement of families reconnecting. It fills the heart with warmth.

While the world anticipates Christmas joy through countless carols, it often does so without fully recognizing the deeper cause that gives rise to profound and authentic joy: the total surrender of one’s will to God’s.

St. Luke the Evangelist recounts the breathtaking moment of the Annunciation — the moment for which heaven and earth paused and awaited Mary’s response: an unenforced yes, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38), after the angel had announced to Mary that she had found favor with God and had been chosen to bear the Son of God (Lk 1:28-32). This great honor did not unfold on a tide of ease; rather, it came through the trembling yes of Mary — a yes that also led to Joseph’s dismay.

The Church fathers teach that Mary conceived the Word through her ears, through her sense of hearing, at the Annunciation. The moment she heard God’s message and responded with her trembling yes, yet with trust, the Child Jesus entered her womb, and soon

afterwards the angel departed. Mary then continued along a path marked by many dark and lonely moments: being misunderstood by Joseph during her pregnancy, completing the challenging flight by into Egypt, and SISTER ultimately standing at MARIA the foot of the Cross.

GORETTI When Joseph first NGUYEN, OP learned of Mary’s unexpected pregnancy in a dream, he was deeply troubled. As a righteous man, however, he ultimately chose mercy and unwavering obedience to God’s message. Like Mary, Joseph also surrendered to God’s will amid confusion and uncertainty. Through his quiet trust, he made room for the holy family to flourish.

At some point during her pregnancy, Mary must have experienced many sleepless nights as she came to realize that the weight she carried was not only the Child Jesus but also the growing burden of skepticism from others.

The world often overlooks this phase of Mary’s pregnancy. We, too, during Advent, rush straight into the celebration of Christ’s birth with its many hallmarks.

During this Christmas season, let us

DECEMBER 28 First Reading: Sir 35:1-6, 10 Second Reading: Col 3:12-21

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-5 Gospel: Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

JANUARY 4 First Reading: Is 60:1-6 Second Reading: Eph 3:2-3, 5-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Gospel: Mt 2:1-12

JANUARY 11 First Reading: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 Gospel: Mt 3:13-17

pause and contemplate Mary and Joseph for all they endured to bring joy into the world. Christmas joy is more than sentiment or celebration; it springs from hearts aligned with God’s will — like Mary and Joseph, who always placed themselves last after Jesus and humankind. Let us follow their examples

with the acronym JOY as a simple and perfect reminder: Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. † Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP, is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

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16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

WORLD

Blind sister venerates Our Lady of Guadalupe through sculpture (OSV News) — Most places don’t want visitors to touch the art. But Mexico City’s Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe encourages it for one specific religious sculpture. In the back of the cathedral, near the entrance doors, the white sculpture with a protruding face and hands clasped in prayer goes almost unnoticed. It’s there for anyone, but in particular for those who can’t see, like Sister María Celina Mota Campos.

It’s a treat to touch it, she says.

She lights up when she runs her hands over Our Lady of Guadalupe’s face, sliding them down the sides as her fingers outline her mantle. Sister María Celina, who lost her sight 11 years ago to macular degeneration, said it allows her to experience what others feel when they see depictions of Our Lady of Guadalupe inside the basilica that carries her name.

“I’m so happy that someone had this idea of making this (sculpture) of Our Mother, the Lady of Guadalupe, so that those of us who can’t see with our eyes can still experience the joy of seeing her,” said Sister María Celina, of the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in Mexico City.

A sign next to the sculpture says that the Italian Cultural Institute of Mexico donated the work of art, made in Italy in 2008 by artist Franco Faranda. In 2009, it was sent to Mexico after being blessed by Pope Benedict XVI and installed inside the basilica days before Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Dec. 12 feast day that year.

A sign in Braille to the left explains some of the symbols on the sculpture.

OSV NEWS PHOTO

Sister María Celina Mota Campos touches a sculpture for the blind at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City Nov. 6. Sister María Celina, of the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, lost her sight to macular degeneration about 11 years ago, but said she’s learned to see Our Lady of Guadalupe with her heart instead of her eyes.

“I see her with my heart, and I see her through touch,” Sister María Celina said.

“The Lord gives those of us who can’t see with our eyes the ability to see in other ways. I can see her clearly in my heart, and to have a sculpture of her that sticks out, that I can touch, it highlights, for

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me, her face, her beloved image, which I carry in my heart. It helps to touch her because it’s a way of seeing that God still provides.”

Though Sister María Celina is legally blind, she once could see. Long ago, she had lost the ability to see out of her right eye after a complication following surgery. She didn’t allow the lack of sight in one eye to affect her ministry or carrying out the missionary work in southern Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. She proceeded to work “with one eye as if it were two,” and did that for about 40 years, she said. But in 2014, the light around her healthy eye started dimming.

“It happened quickly,” said Sister María Celina, describing how macular degeneration took what was left of her sight. By then, however, she had been to the basilica too many times to count and had absorbed a lot of what there is to know about the building and its surroundings.

“Tell me what you see,” she asks of those guiding her, and then can quickly sketch out a mental map of places visitors should take note of inside and around the basilica. A little bit to the left, near the entrance, there’s a bent crucifix, she

narrates, damaged in 1921 after a bomb went off near the cloak that bears the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Outside the basilica, she points out how part of the belltower, via animation, retells the story each hour on the hour of how, in 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe is said to have appeared to St. Juan Diego on a nearby hill, later producing her image on his cloak.

Just as Sister María Celina said she learned to see Our Lady of Guadalupe through touch, she said losing her eyesight has helped her to see people and other things “with my heart.” It’s difficult to learn to rely on others, to physically bump into things now and then, and to have one’s mobility and independence reduced, she said. But she has chosen to embrace that as part of the poverty she opted for in choosing consecrated life.

Her visual poverty, she said, has been a blessing because it has drawn her even closer to prayer, to more time with God. “Throughout my life, the Lord has given me joy in my heart, which is a gift of the Spirit. And so, I believe that it is His Spirit, with its strength, its fire, its energy, that has kept me like this, with great peace in my heart,” Sister María Celina said. “My sadness at losing my sight didn’t last very long. It didn’t last long because the Lord made me see things differently.”

She continued: “You can live happily without sight. Sometimes I say to Him: ‘Lord, it’s good that I cannot see. You are giving me the gift of, so to speak, of turning to my inner vision to discover you.’ All this is pure grace.”

She hasn’t, though, been able to let go of her missionary zeal. She still takes part in Holy Week mission trips to Oaxaca, in southern Mexico, where she once served, visiting Indigenous families and farmers and accompanying catechists in the countryside. She also crochets small tissue paper holders to which she pins a medal of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Any donations she receives for them go to her order’s missions.

“When I could see, I would crochet all the time. Today, the Lord gives me the gift of being able to continue. I can no longer see the thread, or the color, or anything, but I do what little I can, which is to make little holders for tissues. I tell Jesus that, ‘Since love is the only thing that matters, accept all these little things with all my love,’” she said. “The only thing that’s absolute is the Lord, and it’s He who fills us with life. Whether you see or don’t, it doesn’t matter.” †

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PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Archbishop Joe Vásquez would like to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713-654-5799. Please keep in daily prayers the healing of victims of abuse and all who suffer in any way.



texas catholic herald 17

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

NATION & STATE

Three months after fatal shooting, Minneapolis church is restored for worship MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) — On a cold, wintry day, with the congregation gathered around Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Auxiliary Bishops Kevin T. Kenney and Michael Izen outside the main doors of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the rite of reparation began Dec. 6 that restored the space for worship.

The special Mass was held more than three months after an Aug. 27 shooting during an all-school Mass killed two students — 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski — and injured 18 students and three adults. The suspected shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, police said.

“My brothers and sisters, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead proclaims that evil and death do not have the final word; God does,” the archbishop prayed outside the church, with temperatures in the low 20s.

“An Easter preface of the Eucharistic prayer proclaims, ‘By dying, he destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life,’” the archbishop prayed. “As our archdiocesan patron St. Paul asserted, ‘Where, O death, is your victory: Where, O death, is your sting?’

“Our Blessed Mother lived this faith and cooperated with God’s plan for her life, despite the difficulties it would occasion.

We profess that our souls now will rejoin hers in proclaiming the greatness of the Lord in this church, dedicated in her honor, and now reclaimed for the glory of God.” Accompanied by chanting of the Litany of the Saints, servers entered the church carrying incense, the cross and candles, followed by the bishops, vested in purple, deacons and priests of the archdiocese in white vestments, other liturgical ministers and all the assembly.

Materials prepared for the rite suggested that part of the litany would include prayers related to the rite of reparation, including the faithful praying “bring healing to those who were injured,” “bring healing and comfort to those suffering the harm done to their children,” and “restore the sanctity of this church, dedicated to your glory and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

OSV NEWS PHOTO

The faithful gather with Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Auxiliary Bishops Kevin T. Kenney and Michael Izen, Father Dennis Zehren, pastor of Annunciation, and other clergy gather in front of the main doors to Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Dec. 6, for the “Rite of Reparation After the Desecration of a Church.”

Inside the church, the altar was bare, unadorned with candles, altar cloths, flowers or other displays of joy, the materials stated. Archbishop Hebda, Bishop Kenney and Bishop Izen processed to their chairs.

A deacon filled two vessels with water, and the congregation joined the archbishop in prayer as he blessed the water, “which will be sprinkled on us as a memorial of our Baptism; it was used when this sacred space was first consecrated, and will now be used in reparation for the evils which have occurred.”

Escorted by deacons, Archbishop Hebda and Father Dennis Zehren, pastor of Annunciation, sprinkled the altar and sanctuary, the church walls and the congregation with the holy water.

“We know all too well what happened here on the morning of Aug. 27. This safe haven, this place of refuge, this foretaste of the order of the heavenly kingdom, was disturbed by a chaos that no one could have imagined,” the archbishop wrote.“It’s for that chaos that we’ve come together to engage in this act of penance and reparation this day.

“This community will never forget

what happened that day and will forever remember with great love Harper and Fletcher, whose beautiful and inspiring lives were cut short as they and fellow

students gathered for the Eucharist,” he added.

The archbishop expressed gratitude for Father Zehren and Matt DeBoer, principal of Annunciation Catholic School, and for the children and parishioners of Annunciation, for reminding the faithful that Aug. 27 wasn’t the end of the story.

“I’ve never seen such an outpouring of love and mutual support as I have witnessed here these last three months,” the archbishop wrote. “The sorrow understandably lingers, but there’s a Christ-centered resilience here that is remarkable — and praise God — it’s been contagious.

“Today we gather penitentially for this rite of reparation in the hope of restoring the order that Christ desires for his Church, his family. We cannot undo the tragic loss of Fletcher and Harper, but we can communicate to the world that we recognize that the power of God is far in excess of any evil; that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more,” he wrote.

“We cannot let Satan win, and we, by God’s grace, reclaim this space today for Christ and His Church.” †

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18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

MUNDO CATÓLICO

Una escultura permite a hermana ciega ‘ver’ con sus manos a la Virgen de Guadalupe (OSV News) — Muchos lugares no permiten tocar las obras de arte. Pero en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de la Ciudad de México, una escultura religiosa anima a hacerlo.

Cerca de las puertas de entrada al templo, la escultura blanca con su rostro protuberante y manos en oración pasa casi desapercibida.

Está ahí para cualquiera, pero en particular para aquellos que no pueden ver, como la hermana María Celina Mota Campos. “Y es un placer tocarla”, dice.

La religiosa se anima cuando pasa las manos por el rostro de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, tocando los lados mientras sus dedos recorren el contorno de su manto.

La hermana María Celina, quien perdió la vista hace unos 11 años a causa de degeneración macular, dice que tocar la escultura le permite experimentar lo que otros sienten cuando ven representaciones visuales de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe dentro de la basílica que lleva su nombre.

“Me alegra mucho que hayan tenido esta idea de hacer esta (escultura) de nuestra madre de Guadalupe así, resaltada, para que los que ya no vemos físicamente podamos tener la alegría de ‘verla’”, comparte la hermana María

Celina, de la Orden del Verbo Encarnado y del Santísimo Sacramento en la Ciudad de México.

Un cartel junto a la escultura reza que el Instituto Italiano de Cultura en México donó la obra de arte, realizada en Italia en 2008 por el artista Franco Faranda.

En 2009, fue enviada a México tras ser bendecida por el papa Benedicto XVI e instalada en el interior de la basílica días antes de la festividad de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, el 12 de diciembre de ese año. Un letrero en braille a la izquierda explica algunos de los símbolos de la escultura.

“La veo con el corazón y la veo con el tacto. El Señor nos regala a los que no vemos con los ojos, el poder ver de otra manera. La tengo muy clara en mi corazón y es una alegría poder tener una imagen resaltada, que yo la puedo tocar, y entonces hacer más fuerte en mí su rostro, su imagen tan querida, que llevo en el corazón”, dijo la hermana María Celina y agregó: “Me ayuda el tocarla porque es una manera de ver que el Señor todavía me regala”.

Aunque la religiosa no puede ver, no siempre fue así. Hace mucho tiempo, perdió la vista del ojo derecho tras una complicación después de una operación.

Pero no permitió que la falta de visión

FOTO DE OSV NEWS

La hermana María Celina Mota Campos se acerca a una escultura para personas invidentes en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México, el 6 de noviembre. La religiosa de la Orden del Verbo Encarnado y del Santísimo Sacramento perdió la vista a causa de la degeneración macular hace unos 11 años, pero afirma que ahora ve a la Virgen de Guadalupe con su corazón en lugar de sus ojos.

en un ojo afectara ni su ministerio ni la realización de su labor misionera en el sur de México, Guatemala y El Salvador: siguió trabajando “con un ojo como si fueran dos” durante unos 40 años, según cuenta. Sin embargo, en 2014 la luz alrededor de su ojo sano comenzó a desaparecer.

“Fue muy rápido”, contó la hermana María Celina, quien describió cómo la degeneración macular le quitó lo que le quedaba de la visión. Para entonces, sin embargo, había visitado la basílica tantas veces que ya había perdido la cuenta y había absorbido gran parte de lo que hay que saber sobre el edificio y sus alrededores.

“Cuéntame qué ves”, pide a quienes la guían, y rápidamente arma un mapa mental de los lugares interesantes en la basílica y sus alrededores. Un poco a la izquierda, cerca de la entrada, hay un “crucifijo del atentado”, cuenta, dañado en 1921 después de que una bomba explotara cerca de la tilma (en México, manta de algodón anudada sobre el hombro, propia de los campesinos) que lleva la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

La religiosa explica que una parte del campanario, visible desde el exterior de la basílica, narra cada hora --mediante una animación-- la tradición de cómo Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe se le apareció en 1531 a san Juan Diego en una

colina cercana y luego dejó su imagen en el manto.

Así como aprendió a ‘ver’ a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe a través del tacto, Mota afirma que perder la vista le ha ayudado a mirar a las personas y a otras cosas “con el corazón”. Y aunque depender de los demás, chocar con objetos de vez en cuando y experimentar una movilidad e independencia reducidas puede ser difícil, ha decidido aceptarlo como parte de la pobreza asumida al optar por la vida consagrada Para la religiosa, su pobreza visual ha sido una bendición, porque la ha acercado aún más a la oración y le ha permitido pasar más tiempo con Dios.

“A lo largo de mi vida, toda la vida, el Señor me ha regalado alegría, alegría en mi corazón, que es un don de su Espíritu.

Y pues creo que es su Espíritu, con su fuerza, su fuego, con su energía, el que me ha mantenido así, con mucha paz en el corazón”, dijo la hermana María Celina. “Yo siento que poco me duró esta tristeza de perder la vista. Me duró poco porque el Señor me hizo ver las cosas de otra manera”.

“Se puede vivir feliz sin ver. Yo a veces le digo: ‘Señor, qué bueno que no veo. Me estás regalando el don, por así decirlo, de que oriente toda mi visión para descubrirte a ti’. Todo esto es pura gracia”, afirma la hermana María Celina. †

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 Arzobispo Joe Vásquez 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.



texas catholic herald 19

DECEMBER 23, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

WITHIN THE ARTS

Meet the Catholic priest who helped make the new ‘Knives Out’ Netflix movie (OSV News) — When Rian Johnson was still writing the script for his new “Knives Out” movie, he turned to his aunt and uncle for help. They are Catholic, and his latest murder mystery would take place in a Catholic church.

His relatives responded by inviting him to dinner — along with Father Scott Bailey, their pastor at Risen Christ Catholic Parish in Denver, and other local Catholic priests.

The dinner became an “Ask-MeAnything” session with the priest, Johnson, who is not a Catholic, said about the priests’ impact on the script.

Afterward, Father Bailey served as a consultant on the film “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” which premiered on Netflix Dec. 12.

Both Johnson and Father Bailey spoke with OSV News about the next installment of the “Knives Out” series. The new whodunnit follows a young, earnest Catholic priest, Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), as he serves at a smalltown parish led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a vulgar, fire-andbrimstone-preaching pastor.

When news of a murder breaks out, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns to investigate what he calls a “perfectly impossible crime.”

He teams up with Father Jud and questions the suspects: a church lady, the groundskeeper, a lawyer, an aspiring politician, the local doctor, a writer, a cellist and even Father Jud himself.

Besides writing the script, Johnson, who is known for directing iconic “Breaking Bad” episodes and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” also directed this new “Knives Out” film, which boasts an allstar cast that includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack and Thomas Haden Church.

The nearly two-and-a-half-hour film is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, strong language, some

sometimes people who are just outright challenging,” he said. “How do you meet with people where they are?”

O’Connor’s character, a boxer-turnedpriest, comes across as a flawed but dedicated priest who offers a striking contrast to Monsignor Wicks. From the beginning, Father Jud says all he wants is to be a good priest and show broken people like himself “the love and forgiveness of Christ.” The world, he says, “needs that so bad.” When watching the movie, Father Bailey said he saw the impact of his conversations with O’Connor in Father Jud’s gentleness and tenderness toward parishioners.

Johnson explained why he chose Catholicism for the film, beginning with the beauty and aesthetics of Catholicism.

Catholics, he added, have mastered visual storytelling.

“One of the first conversations that Blanc and Jud have when they first start talking about faith is the notion OSV NEWS PHOTO/JOHN WILSON, COURTESY NETFLIX Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) and Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) star in a scene of storytelling,” he said. “The idea of from the movie “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” rated PG-13, parents strongly cautioned, by storytelling not as kind of making up a story or a lie, but storytelling in terms of the Motion Picture Association. The OSV News classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose the way that we, as humans, kind of sort problematic content many adults would find troubling. and understand the un-understandable.” crude sexual material, and smoking, priest character’s personality and role, When Catholics watch the film, Father and contains content that may offend he said, it made more sense to call him Bailey hopes they respond positively. some viewers. At the same time, it draws “Monsignor” than “Father.”

“I know that there’s some stuff in the from Johnson’s Christian background While consulting, Father Bailey also very beginning, kind of the exposition and Father Bailey’s Catholic expertise to spoke with O’Connor, who plays Father piece, that can be uncomfortable,” he present a larger message of mercy and Jud, about priestly ministry — said. But, he added, “Things get forgiveness. and God in general. “I feel like redeemed along the way.”

As a Catholic consultant, Father Bailey we just got to know each other Describing certain scenes, said he worked to ensure accuracy. He more than anything,” Father he added, “You don’t often find advised on everything from costumes Bailey said of the actor, who was a message of mercy embedded (what priests wear and when) to set raised Catholic. “At one point, in a murder mystery, and there design and props. He spoke about items he even joked, he says, ‘I feel is that … there’s so much in someone might find on a priest’s desk. He like I’m supposed to be asking terms of mercy.” reviewed images of the church sanctuary you more questions about what The movie also explores layout. it’s like being a priest, but I’m Christians’ relationship with “It’s funny watching the movie, I can spending all this time talking the world.

FATHER identify like, ‘Oh, I think I weighed in on about God.’” “Are we willing to meet the SCOTT BAILEY that one,’” he said. He revealed particular Their conversations also world where the world is and things he is responsible for, including focused on navigating the invite the world in and present Monsignor Wicks’ name. Because of the complicated realities of parish life, Father Christ?” Father Bailey said. “Or are we Bailey said. always going to treat the world as … if “You got people with different you’re not on board, then you’re against personalities, people who are in different us. There are some beautiful messages in places in their relationship with God, and there, of mercy and open arms.” †

MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News archgh.org December 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord December 28: Feast of the Holy Family January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God January 4: The Epiphany of the Lord January 11: The Baptism of Lord January 12: Ordinary Time begins

A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (PG)

• Nuremberg (PG-13) • Rental Family (PG-13) • Wicked: For Good (PG)

A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN • Predator: Badlands (PG-13) • Zootopia 2 (PG)

L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE • Bugonia (R) • Regretting You (PG-13) • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PG-13)

A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS • After the Hunt (R) • Blue Moon (R) • Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (R) • Eternity (PG-13) • Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (PG-13) • Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (PG-13)

O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE • The Carpenter’s Son (R) • The Running Man (R)

▶ For full movie reviews, visit www.osvnews.com/category/reviews

20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • DECEMBER 23, 2025

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE For the latest updates about listings in the Around the Archdiocese, contact event organizers and visit www.archgh.org/ata.

MLK MASS OF REMEMBRANCE SET FOR JAN. 18

DEC. 23

SIMBANG GABI CULMINATION MASS, 6:30 p.m., St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland).

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrates Archdiocesan celebration of the Filipino Simbang Gabi novena of Advent Masses. archgh.org/simbanggabi.

DEC. 27

GALVESTON CHURCH TOURS, 9 a.m. to noon, Holy Family Parish (2011 Church St., Galveston). Four historic churches and a chapel will host guided tours. Starting at any location, all sites are within a 3.7-mile radius and less than a five-minute drive apart. Tours are self-paced and self-driven.

409-762-9646; visitholyfamilygb.com.

JAN. 7, 2026

ADORATION HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S Fourth St., Richmond). Adoration Hour on the first Wednesday of the month to pray for vocations with Confession and Anointing of the Sick available. sacredhrt.com/adoration.

JAN. 11-12, 2026

YARD SALE AND GUMBO, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Philip Neri (10960 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston). Sale features clothes ($2), furniture, gumbo, chicken and sausage ($12), red beans and rice ($10) for sale. Free entry. 713-882-1134; khchjh4@yahoo.com.

JAN. 13, 2026

HUMAN TRAFFICKING NIGHT OF AWARENESS, 6:30 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister

OSV NEWS PHOTO BY UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Father Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, then president of the University of Notre Dame, second from left, joins hands with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Monsignor Robert J. Hagarty of Chicago, far right, in this 1964 file photo.

Rd., Houston). Faith-based national non-profit, Street Grace, present how to recognize warning signs of child sexual abuse and exploitation, report suspicious activity and get involved. Free entry. 281-469-5533; kerry.chu@ctrcc.com.

JAN. 17, 2026

PRAYER BRUNCH, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall (5102 Dabney St., Houston).

St. Francis of Assisi Parish hosts prayer brunch featuring songs of thanksgiving, inspirational “Thank You Jesus” talk, gratitude walk, testimonies and more. Free admission. RSVP by Jan. 5, 2026 by text only to Renita Mathis at 832-

HOUSTON — The Archdiocese will honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remember his call to achieve peace through service to one another at the 41st annual Archdiocesan Mass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., in Houston.

The Mass, which honors his birthday and legacy and is open to the public, will be celebrated by Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, with Father Reginald Samuels, vicar for the Ministry for Catholics of African Descent and pastor of St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, serving as the homilist. †

869-0186. stfrancisofhouston.org.

JAN. 21, 2026

PRESENTATION AND BABY SUPPLY DRIVE, 9:30 to noon, Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). The Bay Area Deanery Council of Catholic Women host a baby supply drive (diapers, wipes, toiletries, gift cards) and a presentation by Deacon Scott and Terri Ryan on “The Dignity of Procreation,” which includes discussions on infertility and the Church’s teaching on In vitro Fertilization. Event includes refreshments and raffle. 713-412-8559.

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JAN. 28-31, 2026

GARAGE SALE, St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Jan. 28: presale 1 to 7 p.m. ($25 admission); Jan. 29 to 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (free entry); and Jan 31: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (free entry). Sales of household items and décor, clothing, jewelry, baby items, toys, books, tools and more benefit the St. Ignatius Outreach Ministry. Rain or shine. garagesale@silcc.org.

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