Texas Catholic Herald - June 10, 2025

JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE Archbishop Vásquez reflects on Pentecost and Eucharistic spirituality ▪ SEE PAGE 2

JUNE 10, 2025

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A SALUTE TO 2025 Celebrating the Class of 2025’s top high school students ▪ SEE PAGES 16 - 17

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

VOL. 62, NO. 3

PRAYER

A JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE

How the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began CONROE — Above the narthex of Sacred Heart Parish in Conroe, visitors can look up and see a massive painting of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in prayer, receiving visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an inspiring depiction of one of the most famous devotions of the Church.

In fact, seven Catholic communities in the Archdiocese, from Pattison to Galveston, carry the name of the Sacred Heart, including the Co-Cathedral in downtown Houston. The image Sacred Heart is also found in many Catholic households shrines, seen on car visors and in the traditional Mexican milagros religious art icons.

Every liturgical year, on the third Friday following the great feast of Pentecost, this See SACRED HEART, page 4

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A statue of Our Lady of San Juan is seen at the Basilica of the National Shrine of San Juan del Valle in San Juan, which is a Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope pilgrimage site in the Diocese of Brownsville. Texas is home to some 87 Jubilee pilgrimage sites, including three in the Galveston-Houston region.

Finding ourselves in the Jubilee story A Jubilee Road Trip: The Lone Star State is home to 87 Jubilee pilgrimage sites

Religious sisters find flourishing communities PAGE 9

GALVESTON — June 10 roughly May 21 general audience. “The parable marks the midway point of the Jubilee raises questions in us; it invites us not Year of Hope in the Archdiocese. The to stop at appearances. Before the Ordinary Jubilee will conclude on Jan. story that is told or the image that is 6, 2026, when the Holy Doors in Rome presented to me, I can ask myself: will close, also ending the Jubilee year where am I in this story?” in Galveston-Houston.

To make a pilgrimage to one of the In Pope Leo XIV’s first catechesis Holy Doors in Italy is a beautiful way to for the Jubilee Year, a celebrate one’s Catholic

BY JAMES RAMOS continuation of what faith and find ourselves Texas Catholic Herald Pope Francis had begun, in the Jubilee Year’s story.

Pope Leo described the Unfortunately, not all Parables of Jesus as a way to help the people have the time or money to make faithful “regain hope, because they a pilgrimage to these great places of show us how God works in history.” faith. There are, however, many pilgrim “Every parable tells a story that is sites of special importance found taken from everyday life, yet wants to throughout Texas — 87 to be exact — tell us something more, to refer us to See JUBILEE, page 5 a deeper meaning,” Pope Leo said at a

THE FIRST WORD † 3

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COLUMNISTS † 18 - 19

FAITH

FAMILY LIFE

Eight things that make for a great Catholic dad ST. MARY CATHEDRAL BASILICA, GALVESTON |

ESPAÑOL † 24

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| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 27

2 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

A Shepherd’s Message

By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez In this message, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez reflects on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Eucharist with the upcoming Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Reflecting on the June 8 celebration of Pentecost, what makes the Sacrament of Confirmation a uniquely powerful gift and encounter in the life of the Church?

The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the Church’s seven Sacraments and a Sacrament of initiation, along with Baptism and the Eucharist. Upon receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, the person is a full member of the Catholic Church with all the rights and privileges but also the responsibilities to be actively involved in the life of the Church.

Confirmation comes from the Latin word confirmatio, which means to give strength or to reinforce, and so this Sacrament strengthens what has already been given in the Sacrament of Baptism. In Baptism, we die with Christ to sin, and we’re born to new life with Christ. Confirmation then strengthens the bond between Christ and ourselves, giving us the grace to be witnesses of Christ in the world.

The Pentecost event is ARCHBISHOP recounted in the Acts of the JOE S. VÁSQUEZ Apostles. The disciples were praying in the Upper Room and the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and the Holy Spirit revealed himself in two ways, namely, a strong driving wind and tongues of fire descending from Heaven.

Wind and fire are two powerful manifestations of God. Wind is something that comes and goes, and we have no control over it. The Holy Spirit cannot be controlled, and it’s the Holy Spirit that gives direction and guides the Church. Fire purifies, burns away and consumes, and it’s a sign of divine love. Like the disciples, who at one time were frightened and scared after they had seen Jesus crucified and die, we are strengthened through the Spirit in a new way. God pours His love into our hearts so that we are filled with courage, no longer afraid, and ready to preach and proclaim Jesus to others.

What inspires you when adults choose to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation later in life?

For different reasons, some men and women don’t receive the Sacrament of Confirmation earlier in life.

What matters to me is that they have sought the Church, are asking for the Sacrament, and want to be full members of the Catholic Church.

The Church never considers it too late to receive a Sacrament, and also, Christ always wants us to experience His grace and divine life. The Sacraments

Arzobispo Vásquez comparte su mensaje en línea en español.

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

are always encounters with the Living Christ, the Risen Christ, and He always offers us eternal life.

Who is your Confirmation saint, and how has their witness influenced your spiritual journey?

My Confirmation saint is St. Stephen, one of the original seven deacons and protomartyr of the Church.

We find his story in the Acts of Apostles, and we read that he witnesses to Christ through his preaching and ultimately dies for the faith. He even prays for forgiveness for those who are going to stone him; he says: “Do not hold this against them.” I pray that, like St. Stephen, I will be strong in professing my faith in Christ.

As we approach the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on June 22, how have you personally experienced the Eucharist as a source of strength and renewal in your vocation as a priest and Archbishop?

I remember my First Communion as a child. It was beautiful, and I’ll never forget that day. We’d been prepared by the nuns; we had gone to confession; we dressed up and I wore my little suit. We were all excited to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time.

This was a special moment for me in my faith journey.

When my mother married my father, she became a Catholic, and that was significant for our family. She made sure that my brothers and sisters were properly instructed in religious education, that we were going to Mass on Sundays, and that we were participating in the Church. She had a great love and devotion for the Eucharist and taught us to understand that the Eucharist was a great gift since we were receiving Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How is the Eucharist central to the life of the Church and in your ministry as Archbishop?

The Eucharist is the very heart of the Church because, without it, there would be no Church. St. John Paul II said it very clearly in his encyclical, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia,” that “The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.” The Church depends on the Eucharist for who she is. Why? Because it’s not just a Sacrament that strengthens the Church; it’s Christ Himself. Christ gives His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity to us.

The Church teaches that “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ ‘The other Sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself, our Pasch.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324).

The Eucharist becomes our source of life, as we celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus: His Paschal Mystery. We’re participating in this Paschal Mystery, and from it, we receive life. The Living Christ, the Risen Christ, gives us His life. †

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.

St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024

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

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

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Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez President & Publisher Jonah Dycus Communications Director and Executive Editor Rebecca Torrellas Managing Editor James Ramos Content Editor Catherine Viola Advertising Manager Rhonda Bean, Cory Busse and D.D. Emmons Contributors 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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JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

THE FIRST WORD BRIEFS Popular summer young adult speaker series starts June 30

NOT SO ORDINARY TIME

Five ways to prepare for Mass

M

ost events in life require preparation. When you go on a trip, you get to the airport early so you can get through security. When you go to a concert or theater show, you arrive early to find your seat. When you host a party, you make sure you have all the right food and supplies.

Preparation is important for a successful day at work, at school or even at the gym. Getting in the right mindset, anticipating what might happen and setting goals for what you want to achieve is a recipe for success. It helps you feel a sense of security, readiness and satisfaction.

The same holds true for Mass. For some people in the parish, taking time to prepare for Mass is absolutely essential. Your parish priest prepares a homily. Lectors spend time reviewing the readings. Music directors select hymns

1. Know why you are there

that tie into the readings. The choir practices. The sacristan prepares the ambo, the hosts and the wine. Volunteers and other staff make sure altar linens are pressed and flowers are arranged. Ushers make sure bulletins are ready for distribution. Someone cleans the church.

Most Catholics would agree that these kinds of preparations are important for a prayerful Liturgy. But what most Catholics don’t realize is that it is also important for the people in the pews to prepare for Mass.

Here are five simple things you can do to prepare for Mass, especially as we enter Ordinary Time. They aren’t difficult or time-consuming, but they will help you enter more deeply into the celebration of the Mass and grow closer to Christ and the other members of the worshiping community.

proclaimed and listen as the priest gives The Mass is a Liturgy. The word Liturgy the homily, the insights you receive can be more profound, and you can have a comes from a Greek word meaning “the heightened spiritual awareness. work of the people.” You come to Mass not as a spectator but as a participant.

You join with other members of the parish 3. Think about your offering When you come to Mass, you bring community in prayer, worship, everything that you are to the altar as an thanksgiving and communion. You are no offering to the Lord. It’s a longer just an individual. You good idea to spend a little are an important part of the time throughout the week Body of Christ.

LIVING thinking about what you will Take a few minutes each A LIFE offer to the Lord. week to think about your What joys will you share? place in the Body of Christ. It OF PRAYER What sorrows would you like will give you a deeper to unburden? How have you appreciation of who you are. used the gifts that you have It will help you recognize the been given? What anxieties unique gifts and talents that or tensions are troubling you were given and inspire you? Do you want to offer up any pain or in you a deeper appreciation of the other suffering you have experienced? Do you people in your community. have questions or doubts that you want to give to God? 2. Reflect on the readings Think also about the state of your Set aside a few minutes on a specific soul. Do you need to seek the Lord’s day each week to read the first reading, forgiveness in the Sacrament of the psalm, the second reading and the Reconciliation? Are you ready to give Gospel for the following weekend. Let the yourself to God entirely? Are you holding words penetrate your mind and your soul. anything back, carrying any anger or How do these readings apply to your life? resentment? Do you need to forgive What is the Lord saying to you in these readings? Is there something that you are someone or seek the forgiveness of someone you hurt? It’s also a good idea being asked to do? Is the Lord leading to think about what you want to ask God. you in a new direction?

Is there something or someone that you Finding the weekly readings is easy. want to pray for? Do you need guidance You can purchase a Sunday Missal at a in some area of your life? For what are nearby Catholic bookstore or the parish you grateful? gift shop or subscribe to a magazine with the readings, many available online in 4. See yourself as part of large-print editions and mobile devices.

You can also find the readings online, like the community at www.usccb.org/readings.

Your experience of the Mass begins As you become comfortable in the moment you arrive at church. Plan to reviewing the readings ahead of time, you get there a little early. Outside of the might begin looking forward to going to church, you could greet others who are Mass. During the Mass, you will have a arriving, keeping in mind that everyone in deeper awareness of how the the parish community is part of the Body introductory prayers tie into the theme of of Christ. Maybe take a moment in the the readings. When you hear the readings parking lot or narthex to introduce

yourself to someone you don’t know but see often at Mass. A friendly hello makes everyone feel wanted and welcome.

As you enter the church, bless yourself with holy water. Making the Sign of the Cross with holy water is a reminder of your Baptism, which made you a part of the Body of Christ. It is through your Baptism that you can participate in the fullness of the Eucharistic celebration.

You might try sitting in a different pew every once in a while. It will give you a new view of the altar and a chance to interact with different people. Be sure to genuflect or bow before entering your pew. We do this as an act of reverence and an acknowledgment of God’s presence.

5. Enter into God’s presence

Spend some time in silence before Mass begins. Quiet your mind, letting go of any tensions or anxieties that you brought with you. Think about how you purposely avoided food for an hour before Mass. One reason for this fast was to create in you a feeling of hunger for the Eucharist. Allow your soul to yearn for the Lord. Ask God to fill all of the empty places inside you.

Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you in the readings, the music, the homily, the prayers of the Mass and your Communion meditation. Everything that you think and do in these final moments before Mass instills in you a joyful anticipation for your encounter with the Lord.

When you take the time to prepare for Mass, your attitude begins to change. The Mass becomes much more than something that you do every weekend.

Your mind discovers a deeper appreciation of the mystery that you experience during the Liturgy, your heart becomes more open to God’s love, and your soul becomes more receptive to the graces that God is bestowing upon you. † – OSV News contributed to this story.

HOUSTON — Café Catholica, the annual young adult summer gathering presented by the Archdiocesan Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, is set for Mondays from June 30 to July 21 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, located at 6800 Buffalo Speedway near the Texas Medical Center in Houston. The theme for the summer series is “Hope in the Lord,” drawn from Isaiah 40:31.

Open to young adults aged 18 to 39, Café Catholica offers opportunities to gather with nearly a thousand fellow young Catholics for Mass, dinner and talks. The event will be held June 30 and July 7, 14 and 21. It begins at 5:15 p.m. with Confession, followed by Mass at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 7:15 p.m. and the keynote speaker at 8:15 p.m.

Keynote speakers include Catholic speakers Jackie Francois-Angel and Paul J. Kim, Katie Villareal, a school counselor at Holy Family Catholic School in Austin, and Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, who began leading the Archdiocese in March.

No registration is needed to attend. Donations are accepted. For more information and to see the schedule and speaker information, visit archgh.org/cafecatholica or call 713-741-8778. †

AYC registration continues HOUSTON — The 2025 Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), set for July 25 to 27 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, gathers participants — both youth and adults — from all over the local Church.

This year’s theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Major presenters include Gian Gamboa, Katie Prejean McGrady and Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, Abraham Salas and Father J Serrato.

To register, contact your parish’s youth ministry leaders, and for more information, visit www.archgh.swoogo.com/ ayc2025. †

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continue in Galveston, Houston and Fort Bend counties HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offering food assistance at three locations.

In Houston, staff at the Guadalupe Center Market (326 S. Jensen St.) are hosting the following distribution schedule: On Wednesday and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., walk-ins are open to the public; On Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., walk-ins for individual food bags are available for homeless clients. Drive-through distributions are available on the last Saturday of each month, June 28 and July 26, from 7:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call 713-251-6919 for more information.

The Beacon of Hope Isle Market in Galveston (4700 Broadway, Suite B-101) is open for appointments only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment, which is required, call 409-762-2064. Emergency pre-packaged food bags are available on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 409762-2064 for more information.

In Fort Bend County, the Mamie George Community Center (1111 Collins Rd., Richmond) hosts client-choice food distributions by appointment only on Mondays, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment, which is required, or for more information, call 281-202-6200.

For general information, visit www.catholiccharities.org/ food or call 713-526-4611. †

THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE THAT THE WORLD MIGHT GROW IN COMPASSION June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV’s intention this month: “That each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Sacred Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.” We reflect on how to look at humanity with the sentiments of Christ and to take action to alleviate the suffering of the weakest.

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ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

Pope Leo-inspired garden takes shape at the Vatican

Vatican gardeners plant botanical reproduction of pope’s coat of arms. ▪ SEE PAGE 26

How Jesus’ visits to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque spread love of His Sacred Heart SACRED HEART, from page 1 year, June 27, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart has always represented the whole person, and the Heart of Jesus is the symbol of His eternal love for us. The solemnity is our opportunity to acknowledge His love and offer repentance for the times when we have ignored His affection.

It was a young nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Visitation order at Paray-le-Monial, France, who would become Jesus’ conduit to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the Church.

This is an ancient devotion that began when the Roman soldier stuck his spear into the side of our crucified Savior, and God’s grace, in the form of water and blood, flowed from His side, from His heart. Saints, theologians, writers and individuals have long recognized the Sacred Heart as the source of endless blessings, mercy and love.

But for centuries, it was mostly a personal devotion. In the 17th century, Catholicism was under attack from the spread of Protestantism and the heretical beliefs of Jansenism. The Jansenists, who

OSV NEWS PHOTO

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is depicted witnessing visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a painting at the Church of St. Martin de Montchamp in Valdallière, France.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise to the Sacred Heart

were Catholics, claimed that only a chosen few people would reach heaven and that God was to be feared. They degraded the humanity of Jesus, including His Heart, and wanted the Church to return to the

Lord, You deserve all honor and praise because Your love is perfect and Your heart sublime.

My heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the many blessings and graces You have bestowed upon me and those whom I love.

Forever undeserving, may I always be attentive and never take for granted the gifts of mercy and love that flow so freely and generously from Your Sacred Heart.

Heart of Jesus, I adore You. Heart of Jesus, I praise You. Heart of Jesus, I thank You. Heart of Jesus, I love You forever and always. Amen.

rigorous penances of the past. Both Protestantism and Jansenism impacted the fervor the faithful had for many Church teachings.

Beginning in 1673 and over a period of more than 18 months, Sister Alacoque claimed to have received visions during which our Lord Jesus displayed His Sacred Heart as the symbol of His love for mankind and told her that she was to be his instrument to spread a universal devotion to His Divine Heart. little influence beyond her order, so it was In one vision, Jesus appeared with His St. Colombiere and St. John Eudes who “Divine Heart, enthroned, as it were, in promoted the feast day to the faithful and flames, was surrounded by a crown of the Holy See. thorns, and the wound it had received Universal approval eventually came was still open, while a cross more brilliant from the Vatican in August 1856 during than the sun, surmounted all,” according the reign of Pope Pius IX (r. 1846-78). to “The Beauties of the Catholic Church” In 1899, Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903),

by F.J. Shadler. encouraged by Catholics around the Sister Alacoque said Jesus told her world, consecrated humanity to the that despite loving mankind so much that Sacred Heart of Jesus.

He gave His life for them, He was being Today, the devotion is celebrated treated with irreverence, coldness and at every first Friday Mass, which is ingratitude. He wanted the found at many parishes,

BY D.D. EMMONS world to recognize the love and the solemnity is part Special to the Herald He continually poured out of the Church calendar. for them symbolized by His It is honored through Sacred Heart, and for mankind to make prayers and countless images, including amends for their ingratitude. depictions of our Lord holding His He urged her to begin a personal flaming, compassionate heart. Many devotion to His Divine Heart by receiving homes are consecrated to the Sacred Communion every first Friday and Heart with home enthronements. spending an hour in prayer the night During Eucharistic Adoration, the before; both focused on seeking His faithful revere the Sacred Heart in pardon and making reparation for Benediction prayers: “May the heart of mankind’s desertion of His love.

Jesus, in the most Blessed Sacrament, be In another vision, Jesus asked her to praised, adored and loved with grateful establish a Church feast day to honor His affection, at every moment in all the Sacred Heart. On that day, the faithful tabernacles of the world, even until the would attend Mass, receive Communion, end of time.” profess their love and offer reparation for Sister Alacoque died in 1690 and was the insults He had suffered. These visions canonized alongside St. Joan of Arc in are the basis for the First Friday devotions 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Some argue and the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of that, like in the 17th century, our fervor Jesus. The love and compassion of Jesus’ for the Sacred Heart is again waning Heart dispel the heresies of Jansenism. today. Turning to the visions and words of When Sister Alacoque first shared her Margaret Mary, once again we can rally visions, many were skeptical. St. Claude to this symbol, this source of Christ’s de la Colombiere, her Jesuit spiritual love. † adviser, recognized her holiness and – D.D. Emmons writes for OSV News sincerity. As a cloistered nun, she had from Pennsylvania.

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a.m. to 5 p.m.; Phone: 210-357-5601; Web: caminosanantonio.org).

JUBILEE, from page 1 that can help us grow in faith. Here are a few sites worth considering.

Catholics in the Archdiocese have two pilgrimage sites designated as special places of prayer in Galveston-Houston: St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (2011 Church St., Galveston), also known as the Mother Church of Texas, and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston). Additionally, Catholics can also visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (7809 Shadyvilla Ln., Houston), which is part of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

A HILL COUNTRY JOURNEY For many at Archdiocesan parishes more distant from the cathedral basilica in Galveston and the downtown cocathedral, it might be a shorter (and less stressful!) drive to pilgrim sites designated by neighboring dioceses.

For example, Catholics in Grimes and Montgomery counties could visit St. Joseph Parish (507 E 26th St., Bryan) and St. Mary’s Catholic Center (603 Church Ave., College Station), the latter which features a new sanctuary with a soaring dome and intricate paintings.

Those on the Archdiocese’s far west side could pack up a suitcase and a cooler and make the trek to the Archdiocese of San Antonio, where pilgrims have a choice of 23 sites to visit, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower (1715 N Zarzamora St., San Antonio; Phone: 210-735-9126; Web: littleflowerbasilica.

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CAMINO DE SAN ANTONIO

LITTLE FLOWER BASILICA

SAN JUAN DEL VALLE SHRINE

org), which will host the Centenary Reliquary of St. Thérèse from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, one of only two of French saint’s major reliquaries in the world.

Alternatively, the Concepción, San Francisco de la Espada, San José and San Juan Capistrano missions, part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and collectively Texas’ only UNESCO World Heritage Site, are also welcoming Texas pilgrims. These famous missions, some more than 300 years old, also comprise the Camino de San Antonio, a 12-mile pilgrimage trail to all five mission sites, including San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio, plus the optional Mission San Antonio de Valero, known as the Alamo.

The trail, which can be taken north to south (and south to north), can be done

all at once in one day (if you can!) and across a series of visits or days, both of which can be done by foot, bike or car.

With adequate preparation for the Texas Hill Country’s heat, an early sunrise trek on the Camino de San Antonio can be a physically invigorating and spiritually renewing encounter, perhaps ending with Mass at the Cathedral or the Espada mission. And maybe bring a change of clothes.

Of note, pilgrims who walk the entire route in San Antonio can receive 30 km credit toward the Camino Ingles (English route) along the famous El Camino de Santiago, making the Camino de San Antonio part of an official route of the Spanish Camino and the only place to begin the journey outside of Europe.

Pilgrims can begin their journey and find support facilities at the Padre Margil Pilgrimage Center (263 Felisa St., San Antonio. Open Monday to Saturday, 9

A TRIP TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY For Catholics looking to head down to the U.S.-Mexico border, consider a visit to the Brownsville Diocese’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral (1218 E Jefferson St., Brownsville) and the Basilica of the National Shrine of San Juan del Valle (400 Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan; 956-787-0083; Web: olsjbasilica.org) and its sprawling Stations of the Cross, popular Sunday Masses with Mariachi music, mosaics, iconic candle-lit shrine and even an on-site hotel and café.

PRAYER BY THE BAY On the way down to the Valley, Catholics can also visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt (134 Front St., Rockport; Phone: 361-729-2019; Web: schoenstatt-lamar.us) in Lamar, near Rockport. Facing the rustic Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi in the distance, built in 1959, this small chapel is a scaled replica of a German chapel that’s home to the Schoenstatt movement. On Nov. 11 and Dec. 4, the shrine will host a special day of prayer for the Jubilee Year.

At each pilgrim site, Catholics can receive a special jubilee indulgence, and the standard indulgence conditions apply: be in a state of grace, have gone to confession or plan to go soon, receive Communion and pray for the pope’s intentions. As with any journey, call pilgrim sites before leaving home and visit their websites to confirm open hours, Mass times and other details.

To learn more about the Jubilee Year and find other pilgrimage sites, visit www.archgh.org/jubilee2025. †

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2025

st. thomas high school May Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge guide you in all your future endeavors!

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Conference aims to inspire parishioners into fully engaged church participation

BY RHONDA BEAN Special to the Herald

When: Saturday, July 19 Where: Prince of Peace 19222 Tomball Pkwy.

Houston, TX 77070 Cost: $10 per person, includes lunch. No charge for clergy.

Info: www.archgh.org/engage

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Scott Whitaker, secretariat director for Stewardship and Development of the Diocese of Austin, speaks at the second-annual Archdiocesan Parish Engagement Conference. The conference returns to Prince of Peace on July 19.

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O’Driscoll said motivating parishioners to give of their time, talent and treasure requires creating effective messages that connect with people, inspire, inform

AX

SP ON A L PI CE Y 1 LG S RI LE 2 M F S M T

“It offers opportunities to hear ideas, insights and best practices from both national ministry leaders and local parish leadership,” he said. “We will also have several workshops in Spanish and Vietnamese to address the needs of those specific communities.”

and call them to action. Whether it is moving from being a one-time volunteer to committing to a ministry, giving $10 a week instead of $5, attending Mass every Sunday instead of once or twice a month, or simply deciding to pray more and possibly attend an adult faith formation class.

“We must recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God,” he said. “We are called to be grateful and generous with those gifts.”

The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch. There is no charge for clergy. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh.org/engage. †

PER PERSON FLIGHTS INCLUDED

45

HOUSTON — While priests and deacons are required to offer Mass and celebrate the Sacraments at the parishes, they cannot do the ministry and outreach required to fully serve the people of God without help. It takes the entire parish community offering their gifts, talents, donations and prayers to make it all possible. By drawing the faithful into a deeper participation in parish life, parishes can be more impactful and prolific in their ministries.

To promote best practices and new ideas in using stewardship and effective communications to reach the people in the pews, the Archdiocesan Office of Communication and the Office of Development are collaborating to bring the fourth-annual Parish Engagement Conference to the Archdiocese on July 19.

The conference, set from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., will be hosted at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 19222 Tomball Pkwy. in Houston. This one-day conference includes more than 20 inperson presentations and workshops, with offerings in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, as well as networking opportunities and access to over a dozen vendors and sponsors.

The conference aims to offer stewardship and effective communication strategies that can be applied to all parishes around the Archdiocese, according to Sean O’Driscoll, senior communications manager for the Office of Communications.

“The conference is for clergy, parish staff, stewardship committees, pastoral councils, finance councils and anyone who wants to learn how to more effectively invite parishioners to participate more fully in the life and ministry of the Church,” he said.

O’Driscoll said parish engagement requires an ongoing commitment to education and awareness. Workshops and presentations will cover topics such as volunteer recruitment, increasing parish offertory, welcoming new parishioners, effective messaging strategies, and more.

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8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 GRADUATING CLASS OF FRASSATI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

The Board of Directors, administration, faculty and staff of Frassati Catholic High School are proud to recognize the Class of 2025.

The 69 members of the Class of 2025 have been accepted to 73 colleges and universities, earning over $8.1 million in scholarship offers. Two students will join Holy Trinity Seminary through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to discern the priesthood. Acceptances include Ave Maria University, Benedictine College, Catholic University of America, Christendom College, Creighton University, Duquesne University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Gonzaga University, Marquette University, Seton Hall University, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, Universidad de Navarra, University of Dallas, University of Notre Dame, University of St. Thomas, Villanova University, and Xavier University. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

PRESENTING THE CLASS OF 2025 Sophie Grace Albert* Mary Lynn Anderson Noah Astorga-Araya*‡ Joshua Sutton Blakesley* Brynn Broussard Felipe Jose Campos-Amaya Bailey Claire Carney* Celina Marie Rose Cecil Regina Chapa Espinosa*‡◊ Christopher Thomas Cline Jacob Elliot Cordova Jasiah David Cordova Gustin Charles Cornwell Joseph David Davenport Hannah Michelle de Koster*◊ Jimena de la Maza*‡ Manuel Thomas Del Valle*◊ Melina Addison Doucet*‡ Julie Ann Erickson Leonardo Tarcisio Esparza*◊ Luca Alejandro Fournier Zane Alexander Gilliam Nicholas Dylan Gonzalez Alexander Groning Chloe Katherine Heim*

Emily Clair Hellen* Lucia Hernandez Lorelei Marie Hoff Caitlin Ariel Jacobs Thomas Raymond Laher◊ Braxton Landry Ignacio José Lasta*‡ Elizabeth Anne LeCompte* Abigail Lee Christopher Albert Lenz Rebecca Christine Liepman* Fabiola Sophia Linscott-Benavente Jacqueline Arabella Lorenzetti Tripp Reiley Martin Savannah Taylor McClintock* Madeline Ann McCollor Anthony John McCracken* Elizabeth Ann Messa‡ Adelaide Fall Miggins*◊ Breelyn Ann Miller* Agustin Mora◊ Zoe Jude Nobile Nathalie Domina Nolin Amelia Grace Payan*‡ Anne Elizabeth Pesce*

Frassati Catholic High School 22151 Frassati Way Spring, TX 77389 832.616.3217

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*National Honor Society ◊National French Honor Society ‡National Spanish Honor Society

FRASSATICATHOLIC.ORG 5/27/2025 11:29:13 AM

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texas catholic herald 9

Program helps Gulf coast women religious flourish The Flourishing Sisterhood project, an initiative of the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM) at Loyola University New Orleans, was made possible by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Rooted in practical theology, the project was designed to enhance the ongoing spiritual formation, well-being and understanding of aging among Catholic sisters in the Gulf South region.

Participating sisters also earned a Loyola Certificate in Spirituality.

For me, this project was a movement of the Holy Spirit, offering me tremendous renewal in my relationship with Jesus, my religious community, my family and my ministry. Over the course of four 10-week terms, more than 60 sisters from about 20 congregations participated in small, intentional learning communities. Each group was led by a trained facilitator and met either in person or on Zoom for two hours a week. While some of the content was new knowledge, other parts served as a renewal of past knowledge that had been set aside due to the many distractions within my ministry. The courses on spirituality, aging and storytelling were practical theology par excellence. They offered practical applications and great relevance to my own personal relationship with Jesus, religious life, ministry and life within the Church and world. It changed my perspective of aging as a religious sister and helped me to look to the future with hope.

The weekly gatherings offered opportunities for sharing the wealth of wisdom, knowledge and experience amongst sisters, contributing still now to my physical, mental, psychological and spiritual growth and that of the other sisters in my group — I refer to them as “my flourishing sisters.” I felt energized at the end of each Zoom meeting — the two-hour gatherings every week were “holy moments.”

I always felt the excitement from the sisters, and I looked forward to

CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Leo XIV greets a group of religious sisters during a recent May 24 meeting at the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. A new Loyola Institute of Ministries program is supporting women religious in the Gulf Coast region, offering spiritual formation, renewal and ministry instruction.

everyone’s enthusiasm to gain new knowledge to share our lives, our stories and ministries together. The trust we built in one another in the midst of vulnerable sharing, serious moments and even good laughs uplifted my spirit every time we met. We cultivated a safe environment where nobody felt judged.

As the facilitator for my learning community, I feel fulfilled and can now say to myself, “This is indeed what it means to flourish in religious life!” There were 11 of us sisters in my learning community, and I’m grateful that we were able to complete the program together, using all that we gained from the program as our motivation and enrichment. One sister in our group even transferred to Rome for studies in the middle of the program but remained committed to joining us weekly for the final two courses despite the seven-hour time difference.

Ours was a diverse group, not only in terms of race and culture but also in being inter-congregational. We shared the unique spiritualities and charisms of our congregations, along with a wealth of ministry experiences from across many continents. We were able to

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connect deeply through intercongregational friendship, helping us to share one another’s occasions of joys and sorrows. This is the hope of the Church and of consecrated religious life.

It can be rather difficult to find that sense of hope when we are aging, but the Flourishing Sisterhood program helps me to look to the future with an open spirit, knowing that we, as religious sisters, can and will continue to flourish

at all stages of our lives, even after death. There was no better time to complete the Flourishing Sisterhood Program than during this Jubilee Year of Hope. As Pilgrims of Hope, this program has enhanced our lives with the opportunity to receive the renewing graces of transformation, reconciliation and nourishment. It has helped us to grow in holiness through learning and through sharing of life, knowledge and experiences in communion with one another.

This is not only about what we can do when we are physically strong but also about the legacy of life we leave behind in sharing our stories, told in our own voices and heard by those who listen now and even those who will listen after we have gone to eternal rest. We remain excited to go forth and continue to flourish as we nourish and enrich the lives of others through our consecration and commitment to serve humanity. † Sister Morenikeji “Francisca” Faseemo, SSMA, is a U.S. mission superior of the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel, a congregation celebrating its 25th year of serving in schools, hospitals and pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese.

10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

Class of 2025 Please join the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, the IWA Board of Advisors, and faculty and staff in extending congratulations and prayers for the IWA Class of 2025.

Maria Paz Aguirre Lamus Clarissa Nicole Banda Ava Baughman **Erin Anne Baumeister Angela Ann Benny Julia Michelle Bounds Sarah Suzanne Bourgeois Amy Burdzinski Rose Jacquelyn Collora Mariana Conley Kaitlyn Brooks Conover Olivia Anne Coronado Daniela Adriana Cross Fia Melissandre Dehais Emma Nabil Elkareh Grace Amelia Farnum

62

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Claire Elizabeth Fischbach Eden Haylee Fuller Katherine Olivia Gallagher Ishanna Tanisha Gama Natalie Garcia Bella Guggemos Garza Kelsie Anne Glover Sophia Elizabeth Hamilton Natalia Isabella Hernandez Sophia Loida Hernandez Eleanor Ruby Boyer Kane Lyndzie Kitzmann Juliette Isabella LaWare Alexandra Leon Sophia Marie Marcon Callie Marten

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2025 College Acceptances Include: American University Arizona State University Auburn University Baylor University Brandeis University Cal Poly Catholic University of America Clemson University College of Charleston Colorado College Colorado State University DePaul University DePawl University Florida Atlantic University Florida Southern College Fordham University George Mason University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology

High Point University Hult International Business School Indiana University-Bloomington Jacksonville University Louisiana State University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Manhattan University Marquette University Michigan State University Mississippi State University New York Institute of Technology North Carolina A&T University Northwestern University Oklahoma State University Pennsylvania State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Rice University

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Saint Leo University Saint Louis University Saint Mary's College Savannah College of Art and Design Seattle University Southern Methodist University St. John's University Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Texas Tech University The American University of Paris The Catholic University of America The George Washington University The University of Alabama The University of Tennessee The University of Texas at Austin The University of the South

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349

ACCEPTANCES TO COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Trinity College Dublin Tulane University University of Arkansas University of Calgary University of Connecticut University of Dallas University of Florida University of Houston University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University of Mississippi University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of the Incarnate Word University of Tulsa University of Vermont Utah State University Yale University

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IN BRIEF

OBITUARIES Father Vincent Chacko

KERALA, India — Father Vincent Chacko, former parochial vicar of Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy, died May 27 in Kerala, India. He was 73 years old.

He served at Epiphany of the Lord from 2020 to 2025.

A funeral Mass was celebrated in Kerala, India, on June 2 at St. Xavier’s Knanaya Catholic Church. A memorial Mass was celebrated May 31 at Epiphany of the Lord in Katy. †

Patty Espenhover

KERRVILLE — Patty Alspaugh Espenhover, mother of Deacon Mitchell Schumann, who is a transitional deacon studying in Rome, died May 20 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 60 years old.

Her funeral Mass was held May 31 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville. Interment is in Kerrville Garden of Memories. †

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

July 1, 1993 July 2, 1891 July 2, 1991 July 4, 1888 July 4, 1989 July 4, 1992 July 5, 1895 July 5, 1984 July 6, 1927 July 6, 2022 July 7, 1939 July 8, 1920 July 8, 2002 July 9, 1930 July 9, 2005 July 10, 1989 July 10, 2003 July 11, 2002 July 12, 1968 July 12, 1980 July 13, 1999 July 14, 1962 July 14, 2014 July 15, 1970 July 15, 1985 July 15, 2008

texas catholic herald 11

Rev. Anthony T. Orlando Rev. John Lafarge, SJ Rev. Edbert Staresinic, OCarm Rev. Pierre Dumont Rev. Justin O’Connell, OCarm Rev. Rene M. Vermillion, CSB Rev Patrick Kellett Msgr. Thomas M. Cemon Rev. Morgan J. Crowe Msgr. Seth Hermoso Rev. Patrick J. O’Reilly, CSC Rev. Michael Martin Crowe Rev. Guy Fregeau Rev. James Chaland Rev. Walter N. Sheffield Rev. John D. Oster, SJ Msgr. C.J. Alleman Rev. Warren J. Freret Rev. A.M. Maechler Rev. John C. McDonald, MS Rev. Angelo Moscato, cs Rev. Eugene Burbott, CSB Rev. Charles Lynch,CSB Rev. Chester C. Ball, SSJ Rev. Peter S. Harnett Rev. John LaBauve, SVD

July 16, 1960 July 16, 1962 July 17, 1932 July 17, 1994 July 18, 1943 July 18, 1996 July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002 July 19, 1947 July 19, 2001 July 19, 2011 July 19, 2013 July 20, 1918 July 20, 2023 July 22, 2002 July 23, 2009 July 24, 2000 July 25, 1968 July 26, 1988 July 28, 1849 July 29, 2011 July 30, 2001 July 31, 1997 July 31, 2001 July 31, 2022

Msgr. Matthew J. Daly Rev. Joseph G. Robinson Rev. John Joseph Harte Bishop Enrique San Pedro, SJ Rev. Robert C. Frei Rev. John Nijenhuis, OCarm Rev. Eugene Gillece Rev. Clifton J. Natho Rev. Louis A. LeBlanc Rev. Ralph G. Schmidt Jr. Rev. Richard DiLeo, SCJ Rev. Bernard C. Snock Rev. William J. Lee Rev. Roy Oggero, CSB Rev. J.B. Huynh Ngoc Tran Msgr. Leroy H. Braden Rev. Thomas D. Sheehan, OP Rev. William B. O’Toole, CSB Rev. Rodney Poythress Rev. James Fitzgerald Rev. Frank W. Jones Rev. Alvin F. Dixon, SVD Msgr. Gilbert F. Pekar Rev. John O’Rourke, SSJ Rev. Peter Thang Nguyen

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“Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical calls us to renew the dialogue on how we are building our planet’s future, as we unite in the pursuit of sustainable and integral development, taking care to protect the common home entrusted to us by God.” – Pope Leo XIV

Upcoming collections support seminarians, pope’s humanitarian initiatives HOUSTON — Catholics in the Archdiocese have two opportunities this month to support seminarians in formation for the priesthood and the pope’s humanitarian and social initiatives.

The Archdiocese continues to prepare the men who will shepherd the city’s rapidly growing 1.7 million Catholics at St. Mary’s Seminary.

On the weekend of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22 — also known as Corpus Christi, the total offertory in every parish of the Archdiocese supports the formation of seminarians of the Archdiocese studying at St. Mary’s or at other seminaries, the operation of St. Mary’s Seminary and the formation of seminarians of the religious communities who serve in our Archdiocese.

Catholics are called to unity with one another — not merely as individuals in their own communities but as the Body of Christ united in prayer and fraternity with their bishops in communion with Pope Leo XIV. On the weekend of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul — Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29 — parishes will host the Peter’s Pence collection, sharing the opportunity to express this unity with the pope in a practical way.

Since the earliest days of the Church, Christian disciples have given some of their resources to support the preaching mission of

Corpus Christi

June 21 - 22, 2025

Peter’s Pence

June 29 - 30, 2025

the apostles and to give aid to the poor and needy, both in their local communities and abroad. Based on this foundation, Catholics throughout the centuries have given an annual collection to the Holy Father as a sign of unity with his mission of mercy to preach the Gospel and aid those most in need.

This tradition continues to this day, when Catholics around the world answer the Holy Father’s call with “concrete signs of hope” by supporting the twofold mission of the Peter’s Pence Collection as set by the Holy See: “to support the Holy Father’s mission, which extends throughout the entire world, from the proclamation of the Gospel to the promotion of integral human development, education, peace and brotherhood among people: thanks also to the many activities of service carried out by the dicasteries, organizations of the Holy See that assist him every day; and to support the numerous charitable works in aid of people and families in difficulty, populations afflicted by natural disasters and wars, or who are in need of humanitarian assistance or support for development.”

To learn more about Peter’s Pence, visit www.obolodisanpietro.va/en.html. †

12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

CONGRATULATIONS TO CONGRATULATIONS TO T THE CLASS CLASS OF OF 2025!

2025!

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Bethany Englishbee Walker Focke Nairod Fonseca Brennan Garcia Averi Garrity Roser Ginebra Saavedra Ethan Givens Andrew Gomez Kylee Gomez Gabriel Gonzalez Lillian Gorham Melissa Guthrie Michael Hanania Annelise Hancock Catherine Hebert Caroline Higgins Samuel Hildebrand Sophia Hugenberg

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Samantha Monarch Megan Morello Sofia Morris Emma Morrison Isabella Munoz Elise Myers Mark Naddaf Paul Naddaf Rosemary Neslony Gia-Khanh Nguyen Le Nhat Anh Nguyen Michelle Nguyen Preston Nguyen Riley Nieting Molly Oelkers Matthew Ojo Panayiotis Palumbis

Matthew Parmenter Gabriela Parra Josh Pfeifer Hoang Khanh Nguyen Karla Pham Matthew Pham Christopher Pietrak Nathan Purvis Priya Ramharack Robert Ramirez Jose Antonio Ricaud Calleigh Richardson Peter Rider Breyten Rijken Julia Rodger Elise Rogers Emma Sáenz

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Eight things that make for a great Catholic dad

BY CORY BUSSE Special to the Herald Being a Catholic dad is both a great privilege and a big responsibility.

Along with their mothers, we fathers, grandfathers and godfathers have been entrusted to raise our kids to know and love God and to prepare them for lives as Catholic men and women. Odds are, we’re good at it, we enjoy it, and we all deserve a pat on the back for the work we do raising our children in the faith.

In this list, you will undoubtedly see some things suggested that you’re already doing. But you may also see some that serve as reminders of how to be a better and more effective Catholic dad.

As we celebrate Father’s Day, pick one or two of the following practices that will make a big difference for your family and start doing them.

1. Keep holy the Lord’s Day — and all those other days, too

their forgiveness when we mess up, and show them that we and their mothers forgive and ask forgiveness of each other all the time. This reminds them — as God reminds us — that mistakes are allowed.

They are fully human and fully expected as part of our faith journey.

A Prayer to St. Joseph for Fathers Dear St. Joseph, Patron of Fathers, just as you watched over Jesus, guide and protect all fathers so that they, in turn, can guide and protect their families.

Give them the graces of wisdom, courage, understanding and forgiveness.

Through your intercession, help them show us the path to holiness. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

4. Give and let give

An old expression advises, “When there’s a piano to be moved, don’t reach for the stool.” Generosity certainly isn’t a value unique to Catholicism. But making it a non-negotiable part of our families’ lives — no matter what our circumstances — is a part of our faith.

Again, this is the behavior we, as dads, can and must model if we expect our children to learn compassion. Let your kids put the envelope in the church collection basket on Sunday. When family, friends, or charitable organizations ask for your help, identify what you enjoy or what you’re best at and pitch in. Let your children see you giving, and talk with them about why you give and why giving is important.

Fatherhood is the ultimate exercise in getting priorities straight. In too many households, mom is the “keeper of the faith.” She’s often the one who herds the 5. Play and have fun family into the car on Sunday morning My wife, a Catholic theologian, has a for Mass. But this cannot be good enough favorite quote from Rabbi David Wolpe’s for us. Our kids are watching, and they book “The Healer of Shattered Hearts”: “It will do what we do. doesn’t have to be somber to be sacred.”

They’re watching if we’re ambivalent Many of us mistakenly expect children about getting to Mass. They’re to apply adult maturity to our watching if we’re checking faith, but one way to reveal the time during the homily, Catholicism’s beauty is by LIVING calculating whether or not letting kids experience it on we’ll make it home before their own terms.

A LIFE kickoff. But the good news is, Using play, story and they’re also watching when song to unfold Scripture and OF PRAYER we do things right! tradition for the youngest of My dad can’t carry a tune our flock is the foundation in a bucket, but he sings in of children’s Liturgy of the full voice every Sunday; our Word, vacation Bible school kids notice when we have our and religious education. priorities straight — when we sing, pray When my wife and I read Bible stories and actively participate with our faith to our kids, we do character voices. communities.

Driving home from Mass, we re-sing the closing song (the upbeat ones, anyway).

2. Teach your children faith If we truly believe we are created in If we want our children to have faith in God’s image, then surely laughter and God, we’ll teach them to believe in things lightheartedness can enrich our faith as they cannot experience with their five well. natural senses. Talking about molecules, germs or black holes is a good start. We 6. Get caught praying all accept that there are everyday realities Don’t let the only time the kids hear we’ll never see firsthand, but they are their dad talk about God be when His real. This is, of course, the foundation for name is (accidentally, hopefully) taken teaching them our faith. in vain or when that three-word phrase We need to nurture our own faith in becomes a blurred-word exclamation order to be able to teach it — whether when someone cuts you off on the that means regular prayer and Scripture freeway. Get “caught” praying and pray study, spiritual reading or active with your children — over meals, at involvement at the parishes. Faith is bedtime, anytime. Praying with someone learned best by example, and it requires is a pretty intimate act. In our house, we genuine belief. It requires surrender. And have a little outline we like to follow. We the single best way to raise children who always start with prayers of gratitude, have unshakable faith in God is to teach thanking God for our many blessings. them that there are things they can trust Then, we move to asking for blessings and believe in unconditionally — like for people we know and love or for people their dads. who might need God’s help. Finally, we can get into the nitty-gritty “gimmes”: 3. Don’t forget forgiveness praying for good weather for field trips or The Sacrament of Reconciliation is for the strength and wisdom to do well in a uniquely Catholic ritual. Few other our work or at school. Doing so teaches traditions require that sinners confess our kids that we’re all in an ongoing sins aloud. In this way, Catholicism relationship and conversation with God. teaches accountability as well as And that the conversation requires them reminding us of God’s bottomless well of to talk as well as to listen. forgiveness — great lessons to teach our kids. But it’s easy to leave those values at 7. Be “Mr. Doesn’t-Know-It-All” the confessional.

The sky is blue. “Why?” Because of As Catholic fathers, we have an added the sun. “Why?” Because when shortresponsibility. The accountability our spectrum light waves from the sun enter faith has taught us requires us to admit our atmosphere, they strike air molecules to our children when we are wrong, ask and our eyes perceive the effect as blue.

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

“Why?” Sigh. We’ve all played the “Why?” game. Dads often put a lot of pressure on themselves not to get stumped.

But questions of faith are common (and often come out of the blue):“Why do we die?” ...“What’s a soul?” ...“How does that Trinity thing work?” Unfortunately, satisfying answers aren’t always at the ready. “Go ask your mother” is only acceptable once — twice if it’s Father’s Day. “I don’t know” is a legitimate answer, but the real grace comes in what we say next:“Let’s look it up together.”There is something special about finding answers with our children. Those are the lessons that stick.

8. Traditionnnnn! Tradition!

My mother collected more than 100 statues of the Madonna, and her devotion had a huge impact on me, my four siblings and scores of others she met throughout her life. After she died, most

of those statues went back to the people who gave them to her as reminders of my mother’s belief in the strength of Mary’s holy intercession.

When I tell that story to non-Catholics, however, it never has the impact I look for. Let’s face it, like Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” we as Catholics hold on to much “tradition” that other religions just don’t “get.” Ashes on our foreheads. The Hail Mary. The communion of saints.

Rosaries. Novenas. Holy water.

These “sacramentals” are what make us uniquely Catholic. They give comfort, grow faith and are very much worth preserving. Passing on these rituals to our children — not just by rote, but by practice — teaches them that being Catholic means that they are part of deep and long-held traditions. And it teaches them that, as Catholics, they will never be alone. † – Cory Busse writes for OSV News from Minnesota.

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STRAKE JESUIT

College Preparatory

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STRAKE JESUIT

CLASS OF 2025

As graduates of a Catholic, Jesuit institution, these young men of the Class of 2025 are uniquely prepared for both college and the world that awaits them. They are Men for Others, formed to live out the call of Christ to actively contribute to building a more just and loving society.

The five traits that they carry with them are described as the Strake Jesuit Graduate at Graduation. These young men have been challenged to become Open to Growth, Intellectually Competent, Religious, Loving, and Committed to Doing Justice.

Johnathan M. Abate Robert George Adamo Kenechukwu Johnson Agu III William Felipe Aguilar Elias Al-Ramahi Nickolas Alvarez Elliot David Anderson Marcus Jacob Anderson Samuel William Araiza Jacob Joseph Ardoin Maxfield Xuan Armstrong Nikhil Arora John Peter Ascher Andrew John Aschmann Connor Christopher Ayers Jackson Numa Baldwin Hudson Michael Ballew Emil Jose Banchs Declan John Jose Medina Barbosa Robert Clay Barrett Thomas Joseph Hosty Barry Jr. Daniel Cordova Bar-Tal Gregory Michael Walter Barth Aidan Patrick Baughman Alexein Baxley Brody Bazirgan Benjamin Maxwell Beauvais Ashton Carter Bell William Grant Berger Ryan Lawrence Berry Ryan Charles Bevington Christopher Cloy Bezemek

Nolan Christian Chancoco Black Joseph Brando Blasi Sean P Blatner II Sawyer Lloyd Bloesch Parker David Broach Thomas Gabriel Broussard Joshua Alexander Brunson Matthew Peter Buettgen Santiago Cristian Bustos Jack Henry Butler Michael Ethan Buttram Jason Michael Butz Luke Fisher Byman Robert Kynes Cabrera David Mateo Calderon Owen Matthew Cannella Mateo Cardenas John Michael Cashin Oscar Victor Castro Nicholas Alexander Cevallos Alexander William Chaouch Terrence Denechaud Charbonnet Emanuel Isaac Chavez Campos Maxwell Wang Chen Patrick Ryan Chilman Kai Matthew Chong Christian Joseph Clark Lewis Liu Clark Nathaniel Scott Clinton John Joseph Cola Matthew Baker Cox Harris Gray Cozart

Cole Everett Cunningham Peter Theodore Cyr Christopher Anthony Dangel John Heger Davis Richard Matthew Davis Ramiro Maximilliano de Leon Jace Richard De Los Santos Andrew James deMahy Anthony Joseph DeToto Jr. Matthew Sterling Devlin Conrad Bui Dichoso John Eliott Dodson Mack Anthony Dolar Blaise Andrei Dorenbaum David Enrique Duarte Christian Michael Durham Hudson Lee Dykoski Bryson Kenneth Easley Christian Brian Ellestad Christian Ivor Ellul Gabriel Espinosa Joseph Patrick Faraca Grant Edward Farah Connor Hale Fernandez Giancarlo Manuele Ferrara Chrysanthos Dimitrios Fetokakis Nixon Concepcion Fiallos Jr. Carter Patrick Field Michael Jerome Finger III Robert Angel Fiore Oscar Rafael Flores Thomas Henry Fote

Ryan James Frew Evan Garland Fry Cooper Wrigley Fulbright Andrew Michael Gagliardi Andrew Michael Galla Eisa John Ganim Christian Gasca Andrew Hudson Gill Ayden Harrison Kirillos Girgis Brody Dajin Glover Miguel Angel Gómez IV Rafael Gómez Charles Anthony Graf Cohen Anthony Graustein Bennett Daniel Groover Felipe Guio Daniel H. Guo Jai Gupta Alex Nathan Guzman Norman Hagemeister Campbell Bridges Haire Finn Guthrie Haire Baxter Robert Hamilton Rollins Conrad Hancock Alfred Yarborough Harper IV Maxwell Harris Jaden Coleman Harrison Jack Andrew Harte Dennis Paul Haskin Jr. Jackson Luke Hebert Finnian Seungmahn Helman David Haywood Henry

Gilbert Joseph Henry III Felipe Daniel Hernandez III Eduardo Rafael Herrera John Radford Hill Samuel Carver Hix III Wesley Kin Yen Ho Lucas James Hobin Michael Joseph Hoelscher Mikale Robert Holfeld Luke Alexander Holmes Henry Michael Holy Ethan Paul Hoopingarner Christopher Trent Hubbard Bennett Donald Hughes Christopher George Hunt Juan Pablo Ibarra Tello Mateja Alexander Ilic Jonathan Jacoby Carter Christopher Jessett Ethan Devore Johnson Christian Jackson Jones Marc Jerin Arroyo Juguilon Jacob Kyle Jung Sean Michael Kao Johnathan Jay Kelley Noah Chan Kim Carter James Kipp Iain Michael Koerner George Joseph Kurka IV Paolo Federico La Matta Ethan David Lagos Angel Gabriel Lara

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Bryce Patrick LaRue Henry T. Larzelere IV Dylan Michael Lau Patrick Le Jacob Leach Jaise Conner Lee-Alridge Christopher Otto Leone Ryan Matthew Liaw Andrew Lindle Brandon Kyle Liu Logan James Lorenz Jacob Werner Lowrey Aidan Thomas Lynch Kendrick Raul Machado Maxwell Aaron Mallay Ignacio Francisco Martinez Charles Jacob Matthews Herrera Owen Patrick Maytum Adam McCulloch Walker Reade McDowell Martin Richard Mejia Matthew Dajoyag Mejia Sebastian Andrew Mendoza Luke James Menerey Aiden Merchant Rehan Merchant Kole Roysen Metz Aaron Min Andrew Joseph Mitchell John David Mittelholzer Charles Thomas Mohr Asim Ahmed Momin

Bowen Gregory Moore Thomas Richard Pawulski Julian Tomas Moore Regis Stewart Penn Anand Tasos Morales Vavilala Alexander Joseph Pereira Eric Kyle Mosher Julian Perozo Jacob Ryan Muller William Alan Perrilliat Daniel N Munoz Dominic Joseph Phan Samuel Muñoz Ryan Joseph Presswood Thaddaeus Hall Narvacan Nicolas David Puerto Davis Howard Neighbors Shahzeb Qurashi Alexander Tae Nguyen Carlos Ramos Tanus Andrew Quang Huy Nguyen Luke Thomas Rasch Nathan Hoa Nguyen John William Ratchford Sawyer Elliott Norton Benjamin Alan Ratterree Jordan Scott Nowak Matthew Robert Read Coen Fletcher Ogier Pious Remigius Chuddy Uray Okenyi Christian Trey Reynolds Ifechukwu Ohanna Okpala Pablo Riascos Luke Harrison Oliver Nicholas Andre Richmond-Méndez Diego Antonio Olivero Roby Ripley Henry Thomas Omanga Andrew David Robertson Luke Joseph Omanga Christian Allen Robertson Mateu Orendain Michael Eduardo Rodriguez Alex Diego Orosco Alexander Martin Roemisch Rafael Ortega II Marcus Andrew Rohrig Nehal Singh Othee David Benoit Roman-Pavajeau Nathaniel Brian Otis Cristian Francisco Rubio Diego Enrique PanDavila Capriles Weston Anderson Ruden Ryan Karim Panjwani Arsalan Dion Sahami Matthew Benjamin Parker Elliott Ward Sandlin Darshan Mayur Patel Georges Gilbert Sayegh Shaan Dimple Patel Jaden Pius Schmalz Shaan Jay Pathak Lev Sharapov

Jonathan David Shebay Charles Nelson Shields IV Nicholas Christian Shields Joaquin Caterson Shields-Sanchez Jogi Singh Sidhu Martin Spencer Sierra Nathan Robert Simoneaux Octavio Jalal Singh Jadon Alexander Smith Liam Jensen Smith Paul Son Cameron Stuart Spence Kolbe Elias Stewart Nicholas Steven Swanston Harrison Paul Swarts Alan Quang Ta Lukas Bengt Torning Patrick Thomas Torning Joshua Alexander Torres Kole James Townsend Rajan Trivedi Andrew Tyler Brandon Jonathan Ozioma Ukonu Austin Ekenedilichukwu Ukor Henry Paul Urbani Thomas Joseph Uschold Mateo Valcarcel Leonardo Maria Valente Jun-Wai Logan Valentin Jonari Valerio Brian Joel Vasquez Frank Vincent Vega

Cristiano Jose Demetrio Vigil Justin Haoning Wang Long Wang Andrew Thomas Watkins Matthew Ryan Watts Luke Patrick Webber Graham Robert Welton Justin Shupei Wen Jacob Ryan Williams Samuel William Winzerling Andrew Chun-Soon Wong William Hogan Wood Thomas Leighton Worley Jr. Jackson William Wright Christopher Van Wright Allen Wu Thomas Xavier Wu Oliver Antonio Yabraian Noah Pomilla Yanta John Allen Yates Thomas Ian Young Diego Andres Zatarain Anderson Charles Zeidenstein Oliver You Zhang Jason Zhao Nicholas Peter Zografos Cristian Ramon Zuniga

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raduation marks the end of the first frontier of life. From prekindergarten to high school, family and friends have helped the senior Class of 2025 embrace their victories, disappointments, goals and life lessons, steering from one to the next frontier.

For the Class of 2025, the new frontier is packed with opportunities, with several students already discerning religious vocations and pursuing science and technology careers. With their challenges and discoveries, these frontiers have no boundaries and change their lives, mold their futures and increase their faith, all preparing them for life on their terms in the light of the Gospel.

The Texas Catholic Herald salutes the accomplishments of the top students of the Archdiocesan graduating Class of 2025.

HONORING THE CLASS OF 2025

DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART Addison Welo is the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2025 Valedictorian. This fall, she will attend the University of Texas at Austin and study accounting at the McCombs School of Business. Her goal is to complete the integrated five-year Master in Professional Accounting program, and then sit for the

The Frassati Catholic High School Class of 2025 Salutatorian Amelia Payan is an AP Scholar with Honors, a National Merit Commended Student and also earned recognition on the Principal’s List and Honor Roll.

She has been an integral part of the school’s theater productions as a stage manager and was a leader on the cheer team as well as a four-year band member.

Additionally, she was a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society and a student ambassador. Payan will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY

CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL An Outstanding student from Cristo Rey Jesuit (CRJ) College Preparatory School’s 2025 graduating class is Khiem Nguyen. He will attend the University of St. Thomas in Houston in the fall, where he plans to pursue a degree in nursing.

At Cristo Rey, Nguyen participated in the Corporate Work-Study Program, which introduced him to healthcare while working at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

He also participated in football, student orientation and the Boys and Girls Club.

He was also an altar server, in Boys Scouts and the Vietnamese KHIEM Scouts.

NGUYEN Another Outstanding student from Cristo Rey’s 2025 graduating class is Michell Lopez. She received a full scholarship to Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, where she will double major in computer science and biology, focusing on advanced medical research and the progression of patient care.

At Cristo Rey, Lopez participated in the Corporate WorkStudy Program, which introduced her to the rapid immersion of technology in medicine.

She served as treasurer/ MICHELL secretary of the LOPEZ Wood Club project, student ambassador, and member of the Keystone Club and National Honor Society. She also played basketball and softball.

In the community, she volunteered at organizations such as Bread of Life, Hermann Park Conservancy and the Houston Food Bank. A particularly impactful experience was a junior year spring break mission trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, where she helped rebuild housing for migrants and assisted at the migrant center.

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

ON TO NEW FRONTIERS CPA exam and apply for licensure immediately after graduation.

Over the past nine years at Duchesne Academy, Welo has developed both leadership and serviceoriented skills. She served as a school ambassador, was a ADDISON member and captain WELO of the Duchesne Charger Girls varsity dance team, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Welo also volunteered as a teacher’s assistant at the Tuttle School and on-campus through Duchesne’s Global and Social Awareness program.

Cecilia Pritchett is the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2025 Salutatorian. She will attend Texas A&M University in College Station, where she plans to study engineering in the honors program.

After earning her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue graduate studies in aerospace engineering and ultimately work for NASA in the space program.

Throughout high school, Pritchett volunteered at a CECILIA local elementary PRITCHETT school as part of Duchesne’s Global and Social Awareness program. This past year, she ran the volunteer tutoring program at Duchesne, helping students with their coursework. In addition to service, Pritchett was engaged in several

organizations, including the debate team, where she competed in public forum events and ran the team as co-president this past year, the varsity swim team, and the National Honor Society, in which she served as vice president.

FRASSATI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL The Frassati Catholic High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Breelyn Miller will be attending Texas A&M University at College Station in the fall.

She was a CLT10 Regional Scholar, an AP Scholar with Honors and a National Merit C o m m e n d e d Student, earning also recognition on the Principal’s List and Honor Roll.

At Frassati, she was the president of BREELYN the National Honor MILLER Society and has participated in and served in leadership roles in three different sports: cross country, soccer and track, for which she has earned many awards, including the Falcon Award and all-district honors.

Miller also serves as a student ambassador, a peer tutor and has AMELIA volunteered many PAYAN hours for local charities and at her parish.

The Incarnate Word Academy Class of 2025 Valedictorian Ruby Ramirez will be attending Trinity University in San Antonio and majoring in engineering and possibly minoring in astronomy with hopes of having a career in aerospace engineering.

Throughout her high school career, Ramirez has been active in her community through the RUBY hours she spent in RAMIREZ service. She volunteered at Vacation Bible School for two summers, and she has served with the Stitching Angels group, crocheting baby blankets for young, single mothers in need of support.

At the beginning of her senior year, one of her friends and she co-founded the school’s chess club. Other organizations she’s participated in include clubs and sports like golf, book club, origami club and crochet club.

The Incarnate Word Academy Class of 2025 Salutatorian Erin Baumeister will attend Rice University and major in biochemistry with hopes of pursuing a career in medical research.

Baumeister served her community at DECATS and also volunteered as a grad assistant every summer in high school to help run the camp, support mentors in the courses and help young students explore new interests. She plans on working as a junior mentor this year and have an even more involved role in teaching courses. Baumeister also participated in the National Charity League throughout high school, volunteering with a variety ERIN of philanthropy orgaBAUMEISTER nizations, planning and running charity events, and participating in grade-level and chapter-wide meetings.

Baumeister was co-president of the Stitching Sisters crochet club for 2 years, co-president of the STEM+ club for 1 year, a member of the Environmental Club, a Falcon Ambassador for 3 years, captain of the tennis team for 2 years (and went to the state tournament three times), and a member of National Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica and Mu Alpha Theta. She also earned the National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction awards.

O’CONNELL COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL The O’Connell College Preparatory School Class of 2025 Valedictorian

JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

Juan Manuel Lance Callis will attend Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and study mechanical engineering, then aerospace engineering.

Callis has served his local community by serving at parish JUAN food banks and fish frys while also CALLIS participating in beach clean-ups. At school, Callis has volunteered more than 100 hours for the music program, also raising more than $1,000 to benefit that program. He has also been involved in the National Honor Society, Student Council, student ambassador, and the NASA High School of Aerospace Scholars.

The O’Connell College Preparatory School Class of 2025 Salutatorian Pamela Cabada will attend the University of Houston this fall, pursuing a public health major with a minor in biology.

She hopes to attend medical school and PAMELA become a physician.

CABADA Cabada has worked at several food drives for the past several years. He volunteered more than 100 hours, raising $1,400 for the M.I. Lewis Social Service Center in Dickinson, where she interned for most of her senior year.

In school, Cabada was part of the varsity volleyball team for four years and served as captain for the last two, ran on the cross-country team, and was a manager for the school’s basketball team. As a member of the National Honor Society, she served as secretary and then vice-president. She was a member of the Student Council, also serving as class president during her junior and senior years. She was also a student ambassador since her freshman year.

ST. AGNES ACADEMY Anika Harpavat is the St. Agnes Academy Class of 2025 Valedictorian.

She will attend Stanford University in California in the fall to study biology and economics.

In school, Harpavat was involved in ANIKA AP Mandarin, reHARPAVAT searched biosensors as a Welch Summer Scholar at the University of Texas at Austin and contributed to carbon-negative biotechnology during an internship at Solugen in Houston. She also served as student body president.

Alyssa Wang is the St. Agnes Academy Class of 2025 Salutatorian. She will attend Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, next fall to major in biochemistry.

At St. Agnes, she earned recognition as a National Merit Finalist and established the Biology Olympiad Club. Wang also pursued research ALYSSA as Welch Summer Scholars at the WANG

C L ASS OF 2 02 5 University of Texas in Arlington, the University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine, presenting her research findings at international conferences.

In the community, Wang volunteered with Out Loud Dance, an organization that provides an inclusive environment for students with and without disabilities to create, collaborate and share through dance.

ST. JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PREPARATORY Roser Ginebra Saavedra is the St. John XXIII College Preparatory Class of 2025 Valedictorian.

She will attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she plans to pursue neuroscience.

During her time at the school, Saavedra played volleyball for two years and was an active member of several clubs, ROSER including Key Club SAAVEDRA and the Spanish Club.

Outside of school, she played club volleyball for four years and tutored math during the school year.

Saavedra’s academic achievements include being recognized as an AP Scholar, a recipient of the National Hispanic Recognition Program award in her junior year, and a member of both the Science National Honor Society and the National Honor Society during her senior year. She was also a member of the Spanish Honor Society in her sophomore and junior years.

Outside of school, she volunteered at the Brookwood Community, the Westview School, Vacation Bible School and the Houston Food Bank.

Anastasia Dementyev is the St. John XXIII College Preparatory Class of 2025 Salutatorian. She will attend Hillsdale College in Michigan on a full-tuition scholarship, majoring in chemistry with possible plans for a music minor, then pursue graduate studies in neuroscience.

During her time at the school, Dementyev served as Key Club secretary and senior representative for Loreto House, a position she also held during her freshman and junior years.

Dementyev was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Science Bowl and Quiz Bowl teams. She also showcased her talents in the school play during the spring ANASTASIA semester. She was DEMENTYEV also a member of the varsity swim team for all four years, qualifying for the TAPPS State Meet each year. She earned recognition as a Commended National Merit Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and was a CLT10 National Award recipient. She was also honored as a U.S. Presidential Scholar candidate.

In the community, Dementyev sings with the choir at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Memorial Park. She has served for two years as a core team leader for St. Theresa’s youth group, where she leads weekly faith formation sessions.

ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL The St. Pius X High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Vincent Avery Burns will attend Rice University in the

fall to major in biosciences, studying biophysics, cell biology, and chemical and biomolecular engineering. He is also interested in studying epigenetics and the aging process. He hopes to continue his education at Johns Hopkins University and complete an MD/ PhD program there to research the effect of quantum mechanics on chromosomal dynamics and gene VINCENT mutations.

BURNS In the community, he and his family are involved in the Alport Syndrome Foundation (ASF), a nonprofit supporting those with a rare kidney disease. Last year, Burns helped scan some 300 mice kidneys for research and attended the organization’s national conference in Denver in support of his brother, who received a kidney transplant. His brother’s experience inspired him to create a website, Kidney Kid, to share their family’s journey.

In school, he was a member of the Book Club, Panther Peer Tutoring and National Honor Society.

The St. Pius X High School Class of 2025 Salutatorian Kathryn Kirby Gray will attend Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to study nutrition on a predental track with hopes of becoming an orthodontist.

Gray was involved in her church’s youth KATHRYN group and served as GRAY a small group leader on many retreats. She went on mission trips and was a part of a national charity league.

In school, she was involved in Student Council for all four years and was student body president her senior year. She was in the National Honor Society and a student ambassador. She also played volleyball as a freshman and sophomore and softball as a freshman and junior.

ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL Evan Wisnoski is the Valedictorian of the St. Thomas High School Class of 2025. This fall, Wisnoski will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study biomedical engineering, hoping to attend medical school and pursue a career in orthopedic medicine.

In the community, Wisnoski volunteered with the Star of Hope Men’s Development Center, Bread of Life, Challenger Baseball, and his home parish, St. Ambrose, where he was a lead altar server, earning recognition at the annual Bishop Sheltz Altar Server Mass.

EVAN At St. Thomas, he WISNOSKI served as National Honor Society president, a four-year Student Council member, a Mu Alpha Theta tutor, a yearbook editor and a Senior Leader. He was also a three-year varsity letterman in baseball and earned First Team All-State honors.

Wisnoski’s commitment to service also included roles in Round Up, campus maintenance and school events.

Mathew John Michael is the

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Salutatorian of the St. Thomas High School Class of 2025. This fall, Michael will attend Texas A&M University in College Station to study nutrition, hoping to pursue a career in healthcare.

An Eagle Scout, Michael organized and led over 150 hours of environmental restoration with the Galveston Bay Foundation, removing invasive species MATHEW to support native ecoMICHAEL systems. He also volunteered extensively with HCA Houston hospitals, assisting in emergency and trauma departments.

At St. Thomas, Michael served as student body president, senior leader, an Eagle ambassador and altar server with campus ministry. He was Eagles for Life president, founded the Hispanic Culture Club, played on the rugby team, and served as Environmental Club secretary and Green Terra Project member.

STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY Henry Omanga is the Valedictorian for the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Class of 2025. He will be attending the University of Notre Dame in Indiana to study philosophy.

At Strake Jesuit, Omanga was a twoyear starter and team captain for the football team, a three-year letterman track athlete, the first-ever student leader for the school’s freshman retreat, and vice president of the Veterans Appreciation Club.

In the community, Omanga volunteered at a summer camp, fostering faith and leadership for middle school boys; served as an after-school HENRY mentor for middle OMANGA school boys; and was a teachers’ assistant at Strake Jesuit’s summer enrichment program for middle schoolers from underserved communities.

Matthew Mejia is the Salutatorian for the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Class of 2025. He will attend the University of Notre Dame, majoring in applied and computational mathematics and statistics with a planned supplementary major in medieval studies.

At Strake Jesuit, he helped found an elementary school math tutoring club. He was a four-year member of the orchestra — a first violin his last two years, a Crusader Crew member, Ciszek MATTHEW leader, Bellarmine House captain and MEJIA Key Club president.

Mejia also served the school community through his faith by leading freshman and Kairos retreats and by altar serving Strake Jesuit’s school-wide Masses.

Outside of school, he served St. Dominic Village, playing music to the nursing home’s residents. He was also a competitive foil fencer, having won three national championship medals.

After college, Mejia aspires to enter the seminary and follow his vocation to the priesthood in the hopes of serving God and His people through the Sacraments. †

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YOUTH Living the Gospel after high school graduation As a mom trying to raise tiny humans who love God, I can only imagine what it’s like for parents of high school seniors or college students — trying to pass on the faith while also preparing them by to survive “adult” life, STEPHANIE midterms and figuring RUIZ out how to do laundry HALLECK without shrinking everything they own.

We’ve all seen the statistics — how many young people drift away from their faith during their college years… Jesus calls us to something more, to a deeper connection with Him, no matter where life leads us.

I’ve been a youth minister in our Archdiocese for nine years. I’m also a mom to two little ones. I always tell my 6- and 3-year-olds that I have two main jobs: to keep them safe and to help them

“In ministry, we often see two paths unfold: some teens slowly drift from their faith, while others grow more deeply rooted. What makes the difference? It’s connections.” fall in love with Jesus and our Catholic faith. (Though let’s be honest — right now, their greatest devotion is to snacks and Bluey.)

As graduation season comes to an end, many teens are filled with both excitement and uncertainty. In ministry, we often see two paths unfold: some teens slowly drift from their faith, while others grow more deeply rooted. What makes the difference? More often than not, it’s connections, specifically connections to a community, that help them stay grounded in their faith.

A good place to start to help your teen look for this is Catholic Campus

AYC 2025 ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH CONFERENCE

ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON

Ministries and Newman Centers. These ministries provide a spiritual home away from home — a place to ask questions, meet faithful friends, grow in relationship with Christ and receive the Sacraments during one of the most transformative seasons of life.

As both a parent and a minister, I’ve seen just how important it is to prepare teens not just for college academics or dorm room logistics but for the spiritual challenges they’ll face as young adults.

We can’t choose their path, but we can equip them with encouragement, prayer and practical tools for staying rooted in Christ.

Here are a few simple ways to support your teens’ faith after graduation: START EARLY Don’t wait until move-in day — tour the local Newman Center or Catholic campus ministry during your first college visit or during move-in weekend.

ENCOURAGE CONNECTION Help them get plugged into a Catholic community before classes begin. This might mean taking the time to map out a route to the campus Catholic church or

ministries, ensuring they know where to go and what times is key.

STAY SPIRITUALLY PRESENT Attend Mass on campus with them when you go visit. Check in, ask questions, and, most importantly, pray together.

MODEL THE FAITH Show them what a joyful, consistent and authentic relationship with God looks like. (This is big!)

A joyful, authentic relationship with God is contagious. My own spiritual director, who has walked with me for years, found her way to Jesus simply by watching someone live out their faith with quiet conviction — day in and day out. No lectures, no pressure — just the witness of a life rooted in Christ. That kind of witness can speak louder than words.

SHARE RELEVANT RESOURCES Find podcasts, books and social media accounts that speak to their season of life and help faith feel personal.

In the end, our role is to walk with young people as they learn to live the Gospel beyond the comfort of their home and parish youth group. Because no matter where life takes them, Christ is already there, calling them deeper. † Stephanie Ruiz Halleck is the director of youth ministry at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

RECEIVING A JUBILEE INDULGENCE The conditions necessary for a Jubilee indulgence include: 1.

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Being in a state of grace and disposed to receive the indulgence Having confessed one’s sins sacramentally Receiving Holy Communion Offer prayers for the Holy Father and his intentions If able, make a pilgrimage to a designated Jubilee pilgrim site, such as Houston’s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart or St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston

Learn more about the Jubilee online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/JUBILEE2025

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JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

COLUMNIST For graduates, the journey of faith must continue May is the season of graduation — a time marked by celebration, reflection and transition. On Sunday, May 4, like many campuses across the country, the Catholic community at the University of Houston gathered to celebrate a special Graduation Mass, honoring more than 20 of our students and their guests. Our celebration was a bittersweet one. While we were filled with pride in their accomplishments and hope for the journeys ahead, we also felt the weight of farewell. These brothers and sisters — who have prayed, worshiped, served and grown with us — are now being sent forth with our love and prayers.

Though their regular participation in our campus community may be coming to a close, the bonds formed in faith remain strong. Our graduates leave with our blessing and the hope that they will continue to seek and find Christ in every

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step of their professional and personal journey.

We hope it is clear to our students — and to all of us — that the mission of evangelization does not end with graduation or by the closing of a familiar FATHER chapter; it simply takes QUANG NGUYEN, SCJ a new form. Isn’t this the rhythm of life for many of us? Change is constant.Yet, the call to live and share the good news of God endures through every shift in our circumstances.

The real question is this: Can we recognize the same Christ who once sent out the disciples now sending our graduates — and us — forth as missionary disciples? He is sending us to

First Reading: Prov 8:22-31 First Reading: Gen 14:18-20 First Reading: Acts 12:1-11 First Reading: Is 66:10-14

be salt of the earth, light of the world, and leaven in the midst of our daily lives.

Carrying a missionary spirit after graduation doesn’t necessarily mean going overseas or working in formal ministry — though some are called to that path. At its core, it means continuing to live the Gospel wherever we are: in our workplaces, relationships, neighborhoods and communities. It sounds simple, but it is not always easy. It requires intention, effort and perseverance. It may include frustration, disappointment or heartache.

And yet, the missionary spirit we are called to embody is one that chooses, again and again, to love, to serve, and to lead with faith, especially in an ordinary and often unseen way.

Even as they leave the familiar rhythm of campus life, we hope our graduates continue to participate in the Church’s living mission — now expressed in a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 8:4-9 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 110:1-4 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-9 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20

broader setting. To do so, we must remain rooted in prayer, active in faith, and courageous in witnessing to Christ in both word and deed. In doing this, we allow the seeds planted and nurtured in a faithful and caring community to bear lasting fruit in the world.

May our graduates — and all of us — always remember this simple truth: God goes before us, walks beside us and strengthens us for the journey ahead.

Their journey of faith continues. It is not just a path for them to walk — but a way through which Christ reaches others. In the world beyond the walls of campus, they now become His living presence.

They are, and always will be, our coworkers in the vineyard of Christ. † Father Quang Nguyen, SCJ, serves as chaplain-director at the University of Houston Catholic Newman Center.

Second Reading: Rom 5:1-5 Second Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-26 Second Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18 Second Reading: Gal 6:14-18

Gospel: Jn 16:12-15 Gospel: Lk 9:11-17 Gospel: Mt 16:13-19 Gospel: Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

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introducing CLASS OF 2025 Ace Curtis Mariella Suzanne Grover Lisette Mercedes Adrogue Mary-Ann Tran Dang Olivia Sloan Guyre Sabra Mae Ahlquist Rachel Elizabeth Davila Courtney Goodwin Haas Zahra Ajani Nadia Elise Dawlett Christina Haddad Anne Olivia Amling Mia Adrian de la Garza Eden Tai Haight Kaydee Leigh Amorosa Abby Lorraine DeGregori Natalie Elizabeth Halphen Liliana Rene Anchondo Sophia Cecile Deutschen Anika Kadambari Harpavat Irene Ada Aneke Sadie Rose Dvorachek Anne Elizabeth Hoag Gabriela Tisha Arenas Amber Nhi Hoang Gabriella Rosalio Arzu Zoë Christianna Rahuba Dypiangco Elyse Thuy Hoang Carissa Rose Beil Piper Reese Egan Laila Sarai Holloway Sophia Maria Bellard Annabelle Theresa Elacqua Donna Rebecca Hren Analiese Elizabeth Bellows Sophia Alessandra Ellestad Charlotte YueHong Hudson Abigail Elizabeth Bergman Summer Caroline Ellison Etta Rae Huffman Justine Ivonne Bering Katerina Louise Escobar Alexis Somachi Ibe Jenna Elise Beyer Madeline Cecilia Escobedo Scarlet Lynn Jacobson Sophie Michelle Bireley Ella Ann Etlinger Emily Rene James Lauren Elizabeth Blasingame Kyra Onyeomachim Ezikeuzor Sydney Mae Jamison Gabriella Michelle Bode Lily May Fellows Rebecca Elizabeth Jarosz Isabella Sadie Bosell Abigail Catherine Fendrick Winston McCormack Jenkins Olivia Taschler Botard Helena Weber Fernandes Jaina Devi Jhunjhunwala Carter Rae Bower Maria Paulina Ferrante Megan Lynn Johnson Mackenzie Grace Elaine Bowes Caroline Paige Ferretti Morgan Maria Johnson Leah Karen Boyle Kendall Paige Fisher Madeleine Rose Johnston Elle Collette Bradley Natalie Jianyue Fitzpatrick Lillian Katherine Jones Sofia Marie Brodie Arabelle Sofia Francisco Kendall Claire Jordan Isabella Bendana Castro Grace Isabel Fritsch Faith Mariella Junghans Elizabeth Danielle Cerda Alessia Maria Fuentes Thuy-Linh Reagan Junk Sofía Chavez-Lujambio Karina Anabel Fung Ayda Rush Singleterry Junker Chizaram Esther Chinwuba Eva Cristina Gamez Galka Olivia Kao Zoe Parker Chung Amaya Miriam Gangjee Isabela Karaszewski Kendall Claire Clay Julianna Ava Garcia Elinor Isabella Keeler Charlotte Carolyn Cohan Sara Cristina Garcia Nunez Avery Elizabeth Kelling Eislen Elizabeth Cohan Gabriela Marie Garcia-Prats Amelia Kate Kennedy Sofia Concha Pinto Peyton Elizabeth Gildea Charlotte Grace Kent Maya Cristina Condon Marin Evelyn Goebel Haley Elise Kimble Katherine Marie Coogan Brenda Yuridia Gomez Mirabela Kiran Kumar Gabriela Marie Cook Emily Ann Gomez Kendall Lynn Kyle Ella Leigon Cowan Lillian Grace Goodman Karina Ruth Lancaster Caroline Clare Croker Ashlyn Olivia Gorski Isabella Molossi Lawrence Olivia Elaine Cronin Ella Myong Graves Ryleigh Ann Leo Megan Thuymi Cung Alannah Kinsey Grimes

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WORLD

Reach out to families; let them know God loves them, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church, its ministers and its members must find new ways to reach out to and welcome families who are distant from the Church and have no understanding of how much God loves them, Pope Leo XIV said.

Writing to 40 theologians and pastoral ministers participating in a seminar on evangelizing with families, the pope said the first goal of outreach is to help people longing for love and meaning to find that in Jesus.

“How often, even in the not-too-distant past, have we forgotten this truth and presented Christian life mostly as a set of rules to be kept, replacing the marvelous experience of encountering Jesus — God who gives Himself to us — with a moralistic, burdensome and unappealing religion that, in some ways, is impossible to live in concrete daily life,” the pope wrote in a June 2 message.

The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life gathered the experts at its Vatican office June 2 to 3 to reflect on the theme, “Evangelizing with the Families of Today and Tomorrow: Ecclesiological and Pastoral Challenges.” The seminar followed the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Leo told them,“This theme clearly expresses the Church’s maternal concern for Christian families throughout the world as living members of the Mystical Body of Christ and the primary nucleus of the Church, to whom the Lord entrusts the transmission of faith and the Gospel, especially to the new generations.”

Every human being, as St. Augustine taught, has a longing for God, the pope said. And parents have the first responsibility to respond to that longing by making their children “aware of the fatherhood of God.” And while Church attendance and formal religious affiliation in many places are declining, he said, “ours is a

time marked by a growing search for spirituality, particularly evident in young people, who are longing for authentic relationships and guides in life.”

“Hence, it is important that the Christian community be farsighted in discerning the challenges of today’s world and in nurturing the desire for faith present in the heart of every man and woman,” he said.

But that, the pope said, requires paying special attention “to those families who, for various reasons, are spiritually most distant from us: those who do not feel involved, claim they are uninterested or feel excluded from the usual activities, yet would still like to be part of a community in which they can grow and journey together with others.”

“How many people today simply do not hear the invitation to encounter God?” Pope Leo asked.

Another problem, he said, is “an increasingly widespread ‘privatization’ of faith” so focused on the individual that newcomers have no experience of “the richness and gifts of the Church, a place of grace, fraternity and love.”

“What drives the Church in her pastoral and missionary outreach is precisely the desire to go out as a ‘fisher’ of humanity, in order to save it from the waters of evil and death through an encounter with Christ,” the pope said.

As an example, he pointed to young people who choose cohabitation instead of Christian marriage. What they need, he said, is “someone to show them in a concrete and clear way, especially by the example of their lives, what the gift of sacramental grace is and what strength derives from it. Someone to help them understand ‘the beauty and grandeur of the vocation to love and the service of life’ that God gives to married couples.”

When reaching out to families who are distant from the Church, he said, patience and even creativity are needed. †

IN BRIEF Polish nuns beatified for heroic witness amid wartime horror BRANIEWO, Poland (OSV News) — Their names may have faded from history books, but on May 31, the Church officially remembered them forever. In a solemn ceremony in Braniewo, northeastern Poland, 15 nuns from the Congregation of St. Catherine Virgin and Martyr were beatified — recognized as martyrs who gave their lives during the final, brutal months of World War II. The sisters were killed in 1945 as Soviet troops advanced into the region. Rather than flee, these women of peace chose to remain with the vulnerable people in their care, offering comfort and protection amid chaos and violence. Their witness, long overlooked, was honored by the Church in a Liturgy rich with gratitude and reverence. Pope Leo XIV, in his remarks after the Regina Caeli prayer June 1, said that “Despite a climate of hatred and of terror against the Catholic faith,” the sisters “persevered in their service to the sick and orphans.”

Marcello Cardinal Semeraro, presiding as the pope’s envoy, called their martyrdom a “supreme testimony of faith” and a challenge to today’s culture of hatred and division. He emphasized their legacy of forgiveness and courage — not revenge.

“Sister Krzysztofa Klomfass and her 14 companions offer us today a special lesson — resilience in the face of a culture of hatred and division so prevalent in our society today.

We seek to receive what is most precious from them: forgiveness, mercy and love for every human being,” Cardinal Semeraro said. Their beatification comes as the world reflects on the 80th anniversary of the war’s end. Church leaders say the sisters’ sacrifice carries a message of hope, resilience and mercy in the face of violence.

As one nun put it: “They trusted God to the end. They all forgave.” †

CNS PHOTO

Pope Leo XIV greets a child as he rides in the popemobile before celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 1 as part of the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly.

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NATION

Pope Leo to send video message to Chicago Archdiocese celebration at White Sox stadium CHICAGO (OSV News) — Outside the many less-than-official Chicago celebrations honoring Pope Leo (airbrushed “Da Pope” T-shirts, beefdipped sandwiches, baseball cards and bobbleheads), the Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a Mass and a special program on June 14 to celebrate the election and inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, and participants will get a video message from the native son of the Windy City.

“Pope Leo XIV will greet us in Chicago and offer a special video message to the young people of the world, which will be broadcast first from our event,” the Chicago Archdiocese said on its website.

The archdiocese said the June 14 events, including the Mass, preceded by music, a film, speakers and prayer, will all take place at Rate Field, the ballpark of the Chicago White Sox. The stadium has capacity for some 40,000 participants.

In that announcement, the archdiocese said, “Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace, unity and the key to a meaningful life have touched hearts across the globe.

This celebration is an extraordinary opportunity for people from the city and beyond to come together in shared pride for one of our own.”

The archdiocese posted a short YouTube video of Blase Cardinal Cupich of Chicago inviting the public to the celebration, recorded during a short visit home after the conclave in Rome and before returning there for the pontiff’s May 18 inauguration Mass.

POPE SAW SOX SWEEP THE ASTROS AT 2005 WORLD SERIES The White Sox said the pontiff has a seat ready for him any time he wants to watch a game. The team unveiled a stadium mural on May 19 depicting Pope Leo (near Section 140, where he watched the Sox sweep the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series) and sent the pontiff his own team hat and jersey upon his election on May 8.

“He has an open invite to throw out a first pitch,” Brooks Boyer, the White Sox executive vice president, chief revenue and marketing officer, told MLB.com.

“Heck, maybe we’ll let him get an at-bat.”

Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago and grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a south suburb just outside the city limits,

officials said he’d sit, eat and meet with visitors and hear their stories.

According to reports, parish volunteers also said Pope Leo often visited the kitchen with an avid interest in Peruvian recipes, specifically seco de cabrito, a traditional Peruvian stew of goat meat slow-cooked with cilantro and spices.

OSV NEWS PHOTO

A mural dedicated to Pope Leo XIV, alongside a special Pope Leo No. 14 Chicago White Sox jersey, is unveiled in Section 140 of Rate Field, the White Sox’s ballpark, in Chicago, May 19.

has followed the Southside team since childhood, according to his brother Louis Prevost.

“He was big into baseball,” Prevost said. “He was a big Sox fan.”

The 69-year-old pope also did root for the Chicago Cubs, the Sox’s crosstown rivals, but that was while he was away on mission in the deeply impoverished mountains of Peru, according to his superior at that time, retired Bishop Daniel Turley of the Chulucanas Diocese in northern Peru. A fellow Augustinian and Southsider, Bishop Turley said being far removed from home, living in South America, the missionaries supported all Chicago teams, including the Cubs.

Then-Father Robert J. Prevost worked in the missions for about a dozen years shortly after completing his doctorate in canon law in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also called the Angelicum. In between mission stints, he spent a year as vocations director of the former major seminary run by the Midwest Augustinians province in a Chicago south suburb. Bishop Turley said that with extensive travel back and forth, Father Prevost became a dual citizen holding both American and Peruvian citizenship.

He then became prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, visiting his

religious order’s communities worldwide, including those in far-flung areas where Christians are a minority.

Father Prevost held the post for 12 years, then served as formator at the seminarians’ theologate in Chicago for a couple of years. Then the late Pope Francis made him apostolic administrator (in 2014) and later bishop (in 2015) of the Diocese of Chiclayo, a few hundred miles north of Trujillo, Peru’s third largest city, where a decade earlier, he taught at the seminary of San Carlos and San Marcelo.

A now-famous photograph shared widely online shows then-Bishop Prevost in a Chiclayo parish center scooping a hearty plate of rice, chicken and a bean stew, an iconic Peruvian recipe, during the parish’s soup kitchen ministry service to the poor. During the mealtimes, parish

HOT DOGS, PIZZA, JUST A FEW OF LEO’S WINDY CITY FAVES As more details emerged about Pope Leo XIV’s early life, many were struck by how deeply his Chicago roots shaped him. The future pope grew up in a devout Catholic home in a south suburb of the city, where the Rosary was prayed nightly before dinner.

His older brother recalled how “Rob” left for seminary at 13, just as Louis entered the military.

He remembers his youngest brother as someone who’d eat anything — but had a soft spot for local staples like Giordano’s deep dish and Chicago-style hot dogs (no ketchup, of course).

“He liked cooking; he liked Italian food,” confirmed Augustinian Father John Lydon, a college classmate and longtime friend from Pope Leo’s missionary days in Peru. “After [his graduate studies in Chicago], he had gone to Italy for his doctoral degree in canon law, and he would prepare pizza for us.”

Father Lydon, the formator of the seminarians, said the pizzas then-Father Prevost made were not deep dish.

“We were in a poor place, living more simply than you can imagine here in the United States. So you had to make the pizza go for a lot of people; the crust had to be thin. He liked it, and we talked about Chicago-style pizza. But in Peru in the ’90s … that would have been luxurious,” said the formator, himself a Canadian. †

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MUNDO CATÓLICO Evangelizar y no al proselitismo

Hace un mes, la Iglesia recibió la noticia de que el Colegio de Cardenales había elegido al nuevo Sucesor de San Pedro, el Papa León XIV. Sus primeras palabras al salir a la logia central de la Basílica de San Pedro fueron “!La paz este con ustedes!” y continuó “sin miedo, unidos, tomados de la mano con Dios y entre nosotros sigamos adelante. Somos discípulos de Cristo. Cristo nos precede.”

Me detengo en las siguientes palabras del Papa León XIV “Sigamos adelante”, y para esto se necesita la pasión por la evangelización, o el celo apostólico, un tema que el Papa Francisco tocó en el 2023 a través de una serie de audiencias generales que quisiera expandir, profundizar y que considero algo relevante para nuestros tiempos y para esta Iglesia local.

La Iglesia nace apostólica y misionera, su esencia es evangelizar, pero evangelizar no es lo mismo que hacer proselitismo, y esto es clave para

que todo discípulo de Cristo conozca y comprenda. Pero, “¿qué es proselitismo?” su término etimológico es (proselytos) del griego, que significa “convertido”, y esto se entiende como el por esfuerzo de ganar ADRIAN adeptos o seguidores a ALBERTO una causa, ya sea HERRERA ideológica o religiosa.

Entendiendo esto, podemos comprender que es muy lamentable cuando grupos o apostolados dentro de la Iglesia tienen actitudes o comportamientos proselitistas solamente para hacer crecer seguidores y encausarlos solo para su iniciativa y no para la edificación del Reino de Dios.

Entonces, ¡si la evangelización no es proselitismo! ¿entonces que es la evangelización? Es más que una simple

transmisión doctrinal y moral, es ante todo como lo explicaba San Papa Pablo VI “dar testimonio del encuentro personal con Jesucristo”. Evangelizar no es transmitir una doctrina o una ideología sobre Dios, es mas bien “transmitir a Dios que se hace vida en mi”, es “anunciar a Jesús de Nazaret y lo que ha hecho en mi vida”, y acompañarla con una fe profesada. En pocas palabras, el testimonio de vida no puede prescindir de la coherencia entre lo que se cree y lo que se anuncia y vive, ha esto le llamamos lo que se conoce como hipocresía. Cuantas veces escuchamos que tal persona va a Misa o se la pasa en retiros, pero vive así o así, o de tal manera, y no demuestra coherencia con lo que hace y cree. Para ilustrar este punto sobre la incoherencia, recuerdo que, a mediados del año 1988, se escuchaba un nuevo cantautor llamado Ricardo Arjona, su canción, “Jesús es Verbo no sustantivo” y un

fragmento que decía: “De mi barrio la más religiosa era doña Carlota. Hablaba de amor al prójimo y me ponchó cien pelotas.”

Seguir adelante como el Papa Leon XIV pide, requiere armonía de vida, es hacer un examen interior y preguntarse, ¿creo lo que en verdad anuncio?, y esto que anuncio ¿lo vivo realmente? Y esto que vivo realmente ¿lo comparto con otros para que crean? Evangelizar es vivir el camino de santidad de la cual Dios me invita hacer en mi vida, y compartirlo dando testimonio con mis acciones hacia los demás.

Es permitir que el Espíritu Santo impulse mi vida a una autentica y nueva evangelización. † Adrian Alberto Herrera es director asociado para la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis en la Arquidiócesis de Galveston-Houston.

Corte Suprema de Texas permite investigación de Paxton sobre Annunciation House AUSTIN (OSV News) — El fiscal general de Texas, Ken Paxton, puede seguir adelante con su investigación de Annunciation House (la Casa de la Anunciación) de El Paso, una organización católica sin fines de lucro que sirve a los migrantes, dijo la Corte Suprema de Texas el 30 de mayo.

En presentaciones judiciales y declaraciones a la prensa desde febrero de 2024, la oficina de Paxton ha tratado de cerrar Annunciation House, alegando que la organización facilita el cruce

ilegal de fronteras, oculta “extranjeros presentes ilegalmente de la aplicación de la ley”, y no entregó los documentos que la oficina buscaba en su investigación.

Sin embargo, Annunciation House y sus abogados han negado haber cometido infracciones o conductas ilegales y han afirmado que la fiscalía no siguió los procedimientos legales adecuados para solicitar documentos a la organización.

En julio, un juez estatal denegó el intento de Paxton de cerrar la organización sin ánimo de lucro, al

considerar que su oficina “no había establecido motivos probables” para ello, argumentando que había violado la Ley de Restauración de la Libertad Religiosa de Texas, entre otras irregularidades.

Poco después, Paxton apeló directamente al más alto tribunal del estado para reactivar su iniciativa.

Una decisión escrita por el juez de la Corte Suprema de Texas Evan A. Young dijo que la naturaleza de la apelación directa significa que “debe abordar esta controversia mucho antes de lo que

normalmente lo haría”, argumentando que inicialmente considera que el tribunal inferior fue “prematuro” en el bloqueo de la iniciativa de Paxton.

“Es demasiado pronto para nosotros, o para cualquier tribunal, para expresar una opinión sobre el fondo de las cuestiones subyacentes”, escribió Young.

“Tal vez el caso termine rápidamente por motivos probatorios o jurídicos; tal vez vaya a juicio. Tal vez la Ley de Restauración de la Libertad Religiosa de Texas afecte a los procedimientos de un modo determinante para el resultado; tal vez esa ley no desempeñe ese papel”.

Young, sin embargo, dijo que, si bien hay “una serie de cuestiones serias” presentadas por el caso, Annunciation House “está ciertamente en lo correcto en un punto” que “simplemente proporcionar refugio a las personas que resultan ser migrantes, independientemente de su estatus legal, no viola el estatuto de detención de extranjeros”.

La oficina de Paxton no respondió inmediatamente a una solicitud de comentarios de OSV News.

Una declaración del obispo Mark J. Seitz de El Paso compartida en la cuenta de medios sociales de Annunciation House dijo: “Tengo fe en que la justicia prevalecerá y me solidarizo con Annunciation House que trabaja para mantener fielmente la misión de la Iglesia de ayudar a los más pequeños entre nosotros”.

Paxton — quien está llevando a cabo una campaña de primarias contra el también senador republicano de Texas John Cornyn — es visto como un aliado cercano del presidente Donald Trump.

Annunciation House opera varios refugios en el área de El Paso, ayudando a los migrantes y refugiados con alimentos, vivienda y otro tipo de asistencia, así como proporcionando información sobre cómo completar los documentos legales requeridos para solicitar asilo en los Estados Unidos. †

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JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

Congratulations Congratulations Class of 2024 2025 Class of Katherine Abbott Madeleine Elise Agee Rana Karolin Anjom Elyse An Madelyn Isabel Arango Nayeli Arriaga Carolina Beatriz Balboa Mariana Benitez-Monroy Eva Sophia Barton Paige Bortner Hannah Claire Barton Camille Broughton Calah Bell Mila Cocco Blake Lauren Blanton Anne Coulter Lauren Edith Campbell Avery Donovan AnaPaula Campos Callista Danielle Adelaide Dutt Caramonta Cecilia Carrasco Emma Maria Edmonds Victoria Isabel Izza Effendi Carroll Sophia Lauren Castro Alessandra Esparza Isabella Sofia Chavarria Isabel Fernandez-Cueto Sophie Grace Clark Paloma Sophia Figueroa Valenzuela Carmen Colón Ciara Finan Victoria Ann Cramp Anjelina Dadoushian GiavanaLiana Fugate Katherine Lillian Davidson Isabelle Ganchan Molly Day Mary Grace Garrett Alexis Elizabeth Descant Andrea Garza Estebanez Annette Marie Dillihunt Elise Gore Charlotte Rose Donaldson Simone Gore Dutton Lewis Tatum Frances Colette Garcia Gorgue Rebeca Alemán Margo Graham Jismi George Grace Elizabeth Giveon Charlotte Hergesell Sadie Marie Gomez Sophia Hernandez Sophia Hanan Haddad Taryn Hopkins Pia Hagemeister McKenzie Leggett Berkley Caroline Hamilton Sophia LyBrand Julia Long Harfenist GiselleLing Madrid Tessa Harfenist Sophia McClung Olivia María Elia Hess Isabella Mollai Jordan Sarah Marquel Anna Erin Kayser Ava Moore Grace Manning King Elizabeth Morrison Mikah Dominiqe Addison MoutonKreuzer Madeline Melody Leal Noor Naseem Andrea Lessmann Hannah Nehme Mary Angela Longo Camila Olivera Karla Lopez Ana Olivero-Kamrath Julia Wallis Marsh Bayan Othman Beatriz Elena Maruri Julianna Natalie Masso Ariana Pangilinan Isabel Maria Maus Bracamonte Marta Sanchez-Dehesa Pereda Isabella Menicucci Lillian Petree MaryAnn Gladys Montano Cecilia Pritchett Nayeli Montoya Eva Kathryn Raborn Moore Ada Anjelina Ramirez Paula Alejandra Olivera SiennaElizabeth Reid Painter Reese Julia Waverly Pinell Juliana Reyes Emmelene Gray Prendki Citlali Rivera Natalia Reyes-Rangel Gabriella Romano de Alba Peighton Grace Rose Royston Riha Sophia Helena Rivera Macarena Santacruz-Valencia Anne Renee Sellers CarinaMorgan Savarino Sarah Sims Janan Shamshy Dahlia Isabel Soto ArchanaEdayal Shrestha Aashna Sreedharan Annabelle Elizabeth Strange Katarina Solari-Neumann Kaely Marie Suarez Mia Strathman Hannah Adele Thompson Keely Thompson Kathryn Thorne Mia Thompson Ruby Makayla Villalon Shelby Vice Lauren Brinley Wilson Emily Voelkel Rábago Wissinger Mara-Catherine Addison Welo Kennedy Leigh Wolf Brinkley West Samantha Abena Yeboah Caroline Rose Young Natalia Zaldivar

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Class of 2024 graduates earned more than $10.8 million in merit-based scholarships and Class of 2025 graduates earned more than $10 million in merit-based scholarships were accepted to 127 colleges and universities: and were accepted to 106 colleges and universities:

Abilene Christian University New York University Trinity University Alabama A&M University MississippiUniversity State University Universidad de Navarra Arizona State University-Tempe Northeastern Universidad de Navarra American University Morgan State University University of Alabama, Birmingham Auburn University Oberlin College University of Arizona Babson College State University University of Arkansas Arizona State University, Phoenix Ohio New York University University of Arizona Baylor University Oklahoma City University University of California-Davis Arizona State University, Tempe Northeastern University University of Arkansas Belmont University Oklahoma State University University of Colorado Boulder Auburn University Oklahoma State University University of Cincinnati Binghamton University Pace University University of Connecticut Austin College Palm Beach Atlantic University University of Colorado, Boulder Blinn College Pennsylvania State University University of Florida Baylor University Pepperdine University University of Connecticut Boston University Purdue University University of Georgia Belmont University Prairie View A&M University University of Dallas Butler University Queens University of Charlotte University of Houston Blinn College Rhodes College University of Denver California Institute of the Arts Randolph-Macon College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Boston College Rice University University of Florida Case Western Reserve University Reed College University of Illinois Chicago ClemsonUniversity University Rhodes College University of Kansas Boston Rollins College University of Georgia Colorado University School of Mines Rice University University of Kentucky Catholic of America Saint Louis University University of Houston Colorado State University-Ft Collins Rider University University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Clark Atlanta University Saint Mary’s College University of Kansas Denison University Rochester Institute of Technology University of Massachusetts-Amherst Clemson University Sam Houston State University University of Kentucky DePaul University Saint Louis University University of Memphis Colorado State University Santa Clara University University of Louisville Drexel University Saint Mary’s College of California University of Miami Cornell University Southern Methodist University University of Miami Eckerd College Saint Michael’s College University of Mississippi DePaul University Southwestern University University of Mississippi Elon University Sam Houston State University University of North Carolina-Charlotte Drexel College University of North Carolina, FashionUniversity Institute of Technology SanSpelman Diego State University University of North Carolina School of the Flagler College Savannah CollegeUniversity of Art and Design Arts Wilmington Eckerd College St. Edward’s GonzagaAgricultural University and Mechanical Seattle University of North TexasTexas Florida Stephen F. Austin State University University University of North Hampshire College Seton Hall University University of Notre Dame University Stonehill College University of Oklahoma Hendrix College Southern Methodist University University of Oklahoma-Norman Georgetown University SUNY Buffalo State University University of Pittsburgh Houston Christian University Southwestern University University of Oregon Goucher College Syracuse University University of Rochester Howard University St. Edward’s University University of Pittsburgh Hampton University Tennessee State University University of San Diego IE University-Madrid St. Mary’s University University of Portland Hobart and William Smith Colleges Texas A&M University University of South Carolina Indiana University-Bloomington Stephen F Austin State University University of South Carolina-Columbia Holy College Texas University Christian University University Southern JamesCross Madison University Syracuse University of St.ofThomas (TX)California Kansas State University Tarleton University of the Word Howard University TexasState StateUniversity University University ofIncarnate St Thomas Kent State University at Kent Texas A&M University-College Station University of the Indiana University Texas Tech University University ofPacific Vermont Louisiana State State University Texas University University of Vermont Jackson University TheChristian Ohio State University University of Washington Loyola Marymount University Texas State University University of Virginia Lone Star College The University of Alabama University of Wisconsin Loyola University Chicago Texas Tech University University of Washington-Seattle Louisiana State University The University of Tampa Villanova University Loyola University New Orleans The American University of Paris Ursinus College Loyola Marymount University The University of Tennessee, Webster University Leiden Lynn University The University of Alabama Villanova University Loyola University Chicago Knoxville Wellesley Manhattan College The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Virginia Tech College Loyola University Maryland University of Texas, Austin Xavier University of Louisiana Marist College TheThe University of Texas at Arlington Wichita State University Marquette University TheThe University of Texas at Austin Willamette University Loyola University New Orleans University of Texas, Dallas Marymount Manhattan College of TheThe University of Texas at Dallas Ludwig Maximilian University University of Texas, San AntonioWilliam & Mary Mississippi State University The University of Texas at San Antonio Xavier University Munich Trinity University Nebraska Wesleyan University The University of the South Millikin University Tulane University duchesne.org duchesne.org

26 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

WITHIN THE ARTS Vatican gardeners plant botanical reproduction of pope’s coat of arms VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A new pope means a new papal coat of arms topped by the papal miter and a set of crossed keys.

Most churches in Italy will soon be replacing the metal shield of the coat of arms of Pope Francis that adorned their façades with Pope Leo XIV’s shield; however, Vatican gardeners have already made the switch.

Workers spent about two weeks planting and rearranging evergreens, flowers and plants to complete a gigantic botanical reproduction of Pope Leo’s shield on the sloped lawn in front of the Vatican’s governing office.

Visitors to the Vatican Gardens and those climbing to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica will be able to see the emblem created from hundreds of colored plants arranged like “tiles of a mosaic,” according to a May 28 press release by the governing office.

They kept the same “frame” around the emblem, which does not change: a green tiara made up of dwarf boxwood; a gold key composed of a Euonymus Aureus whose foliage stays golden if cut back regularly; a silver key recreated with the silver curry plant; and the red cord around the keys formed by the bloodleaf

Vatican releases first Pope Leo postage stamps

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF THE OFFICE GOVERNING VATICAN CITY STATE

A detail of a botanical reproduction of Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms can be seen in this photo taken in May at the Vatican. Visitors to the Vatican Gardens and those climbing to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica will be able to see the emblem created from hundreds of colored plants.

plant in the summer and the horned pansy in the winter.

Pope Leo’s unique coat of arms pays homage to St. Augustine, the founder of

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the religious order he joined in his 20s.

The shield is divided diagonally into two. The upper half features a blue background with a white lily or fleur-delis, symbolizing the Virgin Mary but also his French heritage. The lower half of the shield displays an image common to the religious orders named after and inspired

by St. Augustine: a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow.

To create the blue background, gardeners were able to reuse 400 blue dwarf Ageratums from Pope Francis’ shield, and the white lily was made with 50 silver curry plants.

The background of the lower half of the shield is made up of 400 Nightlife red begonias.

The book was made with the help of the Vatican metal shop, which created a metal frame shaped like a closed book.

The gardeners filled it with reddish vulcanic gravel to represent the cover and white gravel for the pages, and the pierced heart on top was created with red Blood Leaf plants.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican postal service began selling its first Pope Leo XIV stamps on May 27 and offered a special cancellation of the postage featuring a line drawing of the new pope waving to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square.

Two of the stamps, with values of 1.25 euros ($1.42) and 2.45 euros ($2.78), feature photos taken of Pope Leo on May 8 when he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica immediately after his election.

The other two, with values of 1.30 euros ($1.48) and 3.20 euros ($3.63), are close-up photos of the pope taken May 9 when he celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the College of Cardinals.

The Vatican post office said it was printing 390,000 of the stamps, which have his name in Latin across the top, “Leone PP. XIV,” and in smaller print along the side, “Anno I S.P. MMXXV,” a notation that 2025 is the first year of his pontificate. †

Vatican News said the book and the heart are “a direct reference to the conversion experience of St. Augustine himself, who described his personal encounter with God’s word using the phrase: ‘Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo’ — ‘You have pierced my heart with your Word.’” †

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texas catholic herald 27

JUNE 10, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH

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

required at bit.ly/EveningWithTheAuthor. parishinfo@stroselima.org.

JUNE 13-14

GALA, 1 p.m., Doubletree Hilton Hobby Airport (8181 Airport Blvd., Houston). The Knights of Peter Claver Council & Court 72 of Our Mother of Mercy Parish host the 24th scholarship luncheon fashion gala benefiting high school scholarships.

Cost: $60 donation. cynthlrk@aol.com.

JUNE 22

AGAPE CONGRESS, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Prince of Peace, St. Andrew Discipleship Center (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). On Friday, AGAPE Congress is a free event for high school students in the St. Pedro Calungsod Youth Center, which includes dinner, a talk by Evan Lemoine and Q&A. On Saturday, the $10 adult event features guest speakers on love, identity and sexuality in today’s culture.

Topics include Theology of the Body, intimacy in marriage, parenting and living with integrity.

English and Spanish sessions with childcare available. 281-627-0340; agapecongress.com; agape@pophouston.org.

JUNE 21

GAME NIGHT, 6 to 10:30 p.m., Prince of Peace (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). Hosted by the Knights of Columbus #8482 and Catholic Daughters of the Americas, event includes games, finger foods, prizes and fellowship. Cost: $40 per person in advance, $45 at the door. 713899-9275.

STUDY GROUP, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Theresa in Memorial Park Library (6622 Haskell St., Houston). The Secular branch of Discalced Carmelites for lay men and women 18+ years old, who are called to Carmelite spirituality, host a study group every third Saturday of the month. sttheresa.cc/carmelites; 832-758-0186; therese.lisieux111@gmail.com.

DANCE, 6:30 to 11 p.m., Holy Family (1510 5th St., Missouri City). Event includes food and raffles.

Cost: $15 presale; $20 at door. 713-894-4215.

BOOK LAUNCH, 6 to 8:30 p.m., St. Rose of Lima Parish Hall (3600 Brinkman St., Houston).

Parish hosts book signing and Q&A with Deacon David Dufilho, launching his new book, “Discernment, Not Decisions: Navigating Life’s Choices with Faith and Confidence.” Space is limited. Cost: Free, RSVP

JUNE 28

EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION, following 8 a.m.

Mass, Sacred Heart (109 N Frazier St., Conroe).

Downtown Conroe procession honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus beginning at the church at 9:15 a.m. with Benediction inside the church after the procession. the99sh@gmail.com.

EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE, 8:30 a.m., St. Paul the Apostle (18223 Point Lookout Dr., Nassau Bay). A day of reflection on the meaning of the Eucharist with bilingual Mass, speakers (English and Spanish) and Eucharistic Adoration. Cost: $25 per person, includes lunch. 281-333-3891.

ANNIVERSARY MASS, 10 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi (5102 Dabney St., Houston). Daniel Cardinal DiNardo celebrates a Mass honoring the 75th anniversary of the parish. 713-672-7773; stfrancisofassisihouston@gmail.com.

Having an Event?

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Scan the QR code to fill out the form and send your event to Around the Archdiocese. Learn more at ARCHGH.ORG/ATA.

18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., free entry; and July 19, 8 to 11 a.m., is 50% off; and noon to 3 p.m. is fill a bag/box. seascatholic.org.

JULY 19

CONFERENCE, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Prince of Peace (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston).

Archdiocese Communications and Stewardship group hosts the fourth-annual Archdiocesan Parish Engagement Conference, a one-day event to help parishes more effectively engage the faithful in the pews. Cost: $10, includes lunch. rbean@archgh.org; 713-652-8217.

STUDY GROUP, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Theresa in Memorial Park Library (6622 Haskell St.,

Houston). The Secular branch of Discalced Carmelites for lay men and women 18+ years old, who are called to the Carmelite spirituality, host a study group every third Saturday of the month. sttheresa.cc/carmelites; 832-758-0186; Therese.Lisieux111@gmail.com.

ROSARY PROCESSION, 8 a.m., The Church of the Annunciation (1618 Texas Ave., Houston). Join the Annunciation Rosary Center for Mass, Divine Mercy Chaplet, a light breakfast and a Rosary around Discovery Green. annunciationcc.org.

••• For additional listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA

JULY 2

ADORATION HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). Adoration Hour on the first Wednesday of the month to pray for vocations.

Confession and Anointing of the Sick available.

JULY 4

CELEBRATION, St. Justin Martyr (13350 Ashford Point Dr., Houston). Young adult event includes food, drinks, games, water balloon fights and more. No age limit. Cost: $10. 832602-6396; sjmyoungadults@gmail.com.

JULY 17-19

GARAGE SALE, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd., Houston). July 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $20 entry; 5 to 8 p.m., $10 entry; July

June 16 to July 30

UNITY EXPLOSION 2025 AWAKE AND EVANGELIZE through Faith, Hope and Love AN EVANGELIZATION AND LITURGY CONFERENCE

Liturgies • Workshops • Galveston Juneteenth Event Wednesday, June 18 - Friday, June 20

Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake

www.unityexplosion-regionx.com

Join Kim Brown for water aerobics and Rosary on Mondays and Wednesdays starting June 16 - July 30 at 11 a.m. This event is for women only. We will pray the Rosary, guided by spiritual and theological meditations while doing water aerobics on each Hail Mary. Cost only $75.

28 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD

ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • JUNE 10, 2025

MILESTONES A CENTURY OF FAITH

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish marks 100th anniversary in Damon DAMON — The parish of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Damon celebrated their 100th anniversary of the parish on May 4. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrated the centennial Mass with Father Marty Pham, parish pastor, as concelebrant. Following Mass in the church, Archbishop Vasquez processed to the chapel next door for a blessing.

The current chapel was built in 1925 and is the original church.The chapel is still in use as an Eucharistic Adoration Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday.

During the celebration in the parish hall and pavilion, which featured Czech pastries and a spaghetti dinner, the parish received a U.S. flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of their centennial anniversary. They were also presented with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from U.S. Rep. Randy Weber of Texas’ 14th congressional district. †

PHOTO COURTESY OF STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS IN DAMON

At left: Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, second from right, celebrated a May 4 Mass, seen below, at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Damon to honor the 100th anniversary of Damon parish. Pictured, from left to right, are Deacon Brady Williams Sr., Deacon Don Murrile, Father Marty Pham, Sts. Cyril and Methodius pastor, and Deacon Jason Sulak.

SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS OR ISSUES? Have questions about subscriptions, delivery or circulation? Call 713-652-4444 or email TDIELI@ARCHGH.ORG for help.

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We are here for Eddie and others whose hope and mental health are restored through counseling. We also serve children and parents at inner-city Catholic schools to help them cope with bullying, family trauma, and life challenges that create stress.

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Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston brings hope and help to our most vulnerable neighbors, regardless of their faith, thanks to generous donors, parishes and volunteers.