Texas Catholic Herald - June 9, 2026

GALVESTON CHURCH TOURS

Five sacred sites spotlight faith, history ▪ SEE PAGE 7

From pitch to the pew

Meet the saints of World Cup nations visiting Houston

BY JAMES RAMOS

Texas Catholic Herald

HOUSTON (CNS) — With Houston set to host FIFA World Cup matches from June 14 through July 4, Catholics can find spiritual connections through saints tied to competing nations, including St. Boniface of Germany, St. Anthony of Padua of Portugal, St. Willibrord of the Netherlands and St. Bridget of Sweden.

From missionaries who spread the Gospel across Europe to martyrs who gave their lives for the faith, these holy men and women reflect the global reach of the Church, offering a reminder that behind the world’s biggest

See SAINTS, page 4

MINISTRY

Priests gather in fraternity, formation and fatherhood at biennial convocation

GALVESTON — The biennial priest convocation of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston gathered nearly 200 priests from across the Archdiocese for several days of prayer, discussion and fraternity in late May.

Each day unfolded through a rhythm of Liturgies and guided sessions, complemented by group table discussions and informal conversations. Within this structure, priests found space not only for ongoing formation but also for genuine encounter, stepping away from the demands of ministry to focus on their shared identity and mission.

Hosted by the Ongoing Formation of Priests Committee, much of the discussion centered on spiritual fatherhood and the

See CONVOCATION, page 9

TURNING THE PAGE

A senior salute to the Class of 2026 as they begin a new chapter

▪ SEE PAGES 16 - 17

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

Joe S.

anoints a

Sacrament of Confirmation. At 14 Masses on six days at 13 parishes,

J. Michael Miller, CSB, confirmed nearly 2,000 Catholics from

As

World Cup

nears, Pope’s June prayer intention sees sport as a field of peace and encounter

HOUSTON (OSV News) — With the FIFA World Cup opening this month, Pope Leo XIV has dedicated his June prayer intention to the power of sport to build bridges between cultures and nations, releasing a video prayer calling on athletes, coaches and fans alike to embrace the field as a space of encounter rather than division.

The Vatican released the monthly “Pray with the Pope” video on June 2, in which the pope prayed that “sport may always be a school of fraternity, not of empty rivalry, a space of encounter, not exclusion, a path of peace, not violence.”

The pope’s official prayer intention for the month reads, “For the values of sport: Let us pray that sport may be an instrument of peace, encounter and dialogue between cultures

INTENTION, page 5

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Archbishop

Vásquez

confirmation candidate at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land on May 28 during a celebration of the

Archbishop Vásquez, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, and Archbishop Emeritus

across the Archdiocese during Pentecost.

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A 160-foot-long mural by José “Meenr” Arredondo is seen just five blocks from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and School on Navigation Boulevard in Houston’s East End neighborhood ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which takes place partly in Houston this summer.

A Shepherd’s Message

By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez

On May 25, Pope Leo XIV promulgated his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence”). This encyclical responds to the rapid growth and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in our world. The Holy Father says that we face “a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” I would like to share some excerpts of the letter, which reveal Pope Leo’s solution to the pivotal choice we face.

• “Like the natural environment, the ‘digital ecosystem’ can be preserved or exploited, shared or monopolized. Solidarity demands that decisions regarding data, algorithms, platforms and artificial intelligence take into account not only the immediate benefit for a few, but also the impact on all peoples and on future generations.” (#76)

• “In one sense, technological innovation can represent human participation in the divine act of creation. Developers, therefore, bear a particular ethical and spiritual responsibility, for every design choice reflects a vision of humanity.” (#111)

• “For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected; for a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change.” (#128)

• “Those who control digital platforms and means of communication have a considerable ability to affect the collective imagination and to present a particular vision of reality as desirable. Such power should be constantly guided by the pursuit of truth and respect for human dignity, so that the culture fostered on the internet does not become an instrument of excessive distraction, homogenization or dominance, but rather a setting in which inner freedom and critical thought can mature.” (#136)

“I am grateful for the

Father reminding us that technological innovation must always serve the dignity of every person and the common good of society.”

the social fabric is progressively eroded, as if by a silent virus.” (#166)

• “No algorithm can make war morally acceptable. AI does not remove the intrinsic inhumanity of conflict; indeed, it can only bring about conflict more quickly and render it more impersonal, lowering the threshold for resorting to violence, transforming defense into threat prediction and thus reducing victims to data.” (#198)

• “Our first task is neither to demonize nor idolize technological tools, but to utilize them on the basis of a fundamental principle, namely that truth is a common good and not the property of those with power or influence. We must therefore promote an ecology of communication.” (#137)

• “We must learn, then, how to exercise restraint in the use of AI and to protect our young people from the promise of the perfect machine, from that subtle temptation which renders human thought seemingly superfluous precisely when it is most needed.” (#140)

• “In the short term, it may seem advantageous to reduce labor costs or maximize financial efficiency, but in the long term, this undermines the very foundations of social coexistence. While technological successes are celebrated,

• “Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, shows us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good.” (#211)

• “We all need to learn how to engage with the digital world in a human way, as an integral part of our education in the faith and in a life lived according to the Gospel. Indeed, we must consider the digital world as a new continent to be evangelized, one that requires generous missionaries who are mature in the faith.” (#238)

I encourage everyone to read this encyclical in its entirety. I am grateful for the Holy Father reminding us that technological innovation must always serve the dignity of every person and the common good of society. He invites us to examine how we use these tools so that they uplift humanity and never serve only limited and selfish interests.

Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, may we help build a society that shows the compassion and love of Jesus Christ to all of our brothers and sisters, and places God, our Heavenly Father, at the center. †

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THE FIRST WORD

OSV NEWS PHOTO/PAOLO COCCO, REUTERS

A tapestry of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former Sudanese slave who became a nun, hangs from the front of St. Peter’s Basilica. A new prayer service, honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, celebrates the efforts of the nation’s immigrants and refugees, as well as those trafficked under historic and modern forms of slavery in the U.S., such as St. Bakhita.

U.S. bishops release prayer service commemorating immigrants, enslaved with call to action

HOUSTON (OSV News) — As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, the nation’s Catholic bishops have released a prayer service text commemorating its immigrants and refugees, as well as those trafficked under historic and modern forms of slavery in the U.S.

The document also features prayers for government officials, asking God to “help them understand the great dignity of human persons.”

“A Path Toward Justice: A National Prayer Service Honoring the Many Journeys that Shaped America” was recently posted to the resource page of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) website.

The text was prepared by both the USCCB’s Committee on Migration and its Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation.

The 15-page document, which is also available in Spanish, is designed “to acknowledge and honor the many diverse communities that have journeyed to the U.S. in search of hope, safety and opportunity,” as the bishops stated in its introduction.

The pope also decried modern forms of slavery, which take the form of both forced labor and sex trafficking, and which affected some 27.6 million globally in 2022, according to the International Labor Organization. In the U.S., the National Human Trafficking Hotline counted close to 22,000 victims in 2024.

The U.S. bishops said the prayer service template is “inspired by the Gospel call to welcome the stranger and uphold the dignity of every human person,” and “seeks to provide a sacred space for reflection, remembrance, lament and hope.”

At the same time, the prayer service also recognizes “the voices, sufferings and enduring contributions of those who were forcibly brought to this land,” they said.

Scholars have estimated that as many as 100 million persons have immigrated to the U.S. since the end of the American Revolution in 1783. Today, the U.S. has 50.2 million immigrants, or 14.8% of its 340.1 million residents, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Of the approximately 12 to 20 million Africans who were forcibly transported to the Americas during the four centuries of the transatlantic slave trade, about half a million were taken to what is now the U.S.

In his recently released encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo XIV, himself a descendant of Africans enslaved and taken to the Americas, issued a formal apology for the Church’s 18th-century delay in recognizing the evils of slavery, calling it “a wound in Christian memory, one from which we cannot consider ourselves detached.”

The service invites participants “to encounter one another as members of the one human family and the one Body of Christ,” they added.

Prayer gatherings based on the template “may be celebrated at a variety of sites or points of entry throughout the country,” said the bishops.

The service is structured as a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, with hymns, prayers, Scripture readings, a responsorial psalm and the proclamation of the Gospel.

The words of welcome preceding the opening prayer ask the “God of hope, freedom, justice and peace” for “the grace to walk in deeper solidarity with immigrant communities, each of which enriches the life of this nation through the diversity of its gifts and traditions.” As an aid to the service’s homily or guided reflection, the bishops provided a copy of their special message on immigration as well as excerpts from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech.

The prayer service invokes St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and highlights Scripture urging love for immigrants and care for the vulnerable. Readings emphasize justice, hospitality and mercy, while the Gospel calls for service to those in need. Testimonies, reflections and prayers encourage concrete support for migrants, advocacy for humane immigration reform and faithful compassion toward all.

The prayer service comes as the U.S. bishops consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11. To learn more, visit www.archgh.org/sacredheart. †

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IN BRIEF

Registration opens for gold, silver anniversary Masses

HOUSTON — The 2026 Wedding Anniversary Jubilee Masses honoring couples celebrating their Silver (25th) and Gold (50th) anniversaries of marriage in the Catholic Church are open for registration.

The Gold Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston at 3 p.m. Couples are eligible to receive a special recognition whether they attend the ceremony or not. The Silver Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Oct. 11, also at the Co-Cathedral at 3 p.m.

Early registration, which ends July 31 for the 50th and Aug. 31 for the 25th, is $25 per couple and includes an anniversary certificate, a special issue worship aid and a commemorative pin. Registration increases to $40 per couple after those dates. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh.org/weddingjubilee. †

Popular summer young adult speaker series returns on Thursdays in July

HOUSTON — With the theme, “Rest in Him,” Café Catholica, the annual young adult summer gathering hosted by the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, is set for four Thursdays in July at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, located at 6800 Buffalo Speedway in Houston

Open to young adults aged 18 to 39, Café Catholica draws thousands of young Catholics for Mass, dinner and talks. The event will be held July 9, 16, 23 and 30. 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 speaker at 8:15 p.m.

This year’s speakers are Archbishop Joe Vásquez; Author Katie Hartfiel; Father Patrick Gonyeau, formator for Encounter School of Healing; and Cecilia Flores, director of Catholic Volunteer Network. Donations are accepted. To learn more, visit www.archgh.org/cafecatholica or call 713-741-8778. †

AYC registration continues

HOUSTON — Themed “Peace Be With You All,” the 2026 Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), set for July 31 to Aug. 2 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, gathers participants both youth and adults from all over the local Church. Major presenters include Father David Michael Moses, Alex Gotay Jr. and Katie Villarreal, and emcees Dunn Estacio and Leilani Borbon Costa.

To register, contact parish youth leaders, and for more information, visit archgh.swoogo.com/ayc2026. †

Catholic Charities’ food distributions continue in Galveston, Harris and Fort Bend counties

HOUSTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston continues offering food assistance at three locations.

In Houston, the Guadalupe Center Market (326 S Jensen St.) hosts its next monthly community food fair on Saturday, June 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. Pre-qualified clients may visit by appointment only on Tuesdays, by drive-through only, from 9 a.m. to noon; Wednesdays, by walk-up only from 9 a.m. to noon; Fridays, from 11 a.m. to noon for people without homes. The next distribution for pre-registered seniors, held on the third Tuesday of every month, is on June 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 713-251-6919 for more information.

The Beacon of Hope Isle Market in Galveston (4700 Broadway, Ste. B-101) is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment, which is preferred, call 409-762-2064. Drive-through distributions, held in partnership with the Galveston County Food Bank, are on the fourth Wednesday of every month, starting at 9 a.m. Call 409-762-2064 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 noon to 2:30 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment or for more information, call 281-202-6200. Drive-through distributions are held on Tuesdays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Thursdays, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The next monthly Saturday community food fair is set for May 30, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. For general information, visit www.catholiccharities.org/ food or call 713-526-4611. †

LOCAL

Juneteenth and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

sins yet burning with compassion for the dignity of every

Diverse stories of seven saints reflect one goal: Heaven

sporting stage lies a shared spiritual heritage.

GERMANY

St. Boniface, the apostle of Germany, started out as an English monk, a popular teacher, preacher and writer who was ordained at 30. He compiled a Latin grammar and wrote many biblical instructions. But he felt called to missionary work, and in 716, landed in Friesland, now in the Netherlands. After a brief stay, he traveled to Rome, where he received a broad commission to evangelize central Germany. By 722, he had become bishop of Germany, where he organized the Church and secured its ties to Rome. Later, as archbishop of Mainz and papal legate, he was asked to reform the Frankish Church. The patron saint of Germany was martyred in Friesland, the missionary territory he revisited in retirement. His feast day is June 5.

PORTUGAL

Portugal is represented by St. Anthony of Padua. This doctor of the Church was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and joined the Augustinians at age 15. In 1220, he entered the Franciscans to become an African missionary and was sent to Morocco.

However, poor health forced his return to Europe, and a storm at sea deposited him in Sicily. He traveled to Assisi, where his gift for preaching was recognized and put to use in Italy and France.

St. Francis appointed him the order’s first

“lector in theology”; he was also the superior of several communities. Many believers seek his intercession when something is lost. His feast day is June 13.

THE NETHERLANDS

For the Netherlands, St. Willibrord, whose feast day is Nov. 7, was born in Britian’s Northumbria. Willibrord was educated by St. Wilfrid. He went to Ireland, where he was ordained.

In 690, he and others began evangelizing in Friesland, in the Netherlands, and in 695, he was made archbishop of Utrecht. This became an influential English missionary center on the continent for the next century. He also set up a center at Echternach, in Luxembourg.

He and St. Boniface of Crediton, another Englishman, instituted “country bishops” for Western Europe. Deeply spiritual, the apostle of the Frisians died at Echternach.

SWEDEN

Sweden’s patron, St. Bridget, or Birgitta, is commemorated July 23. She married a Swedish nobleman, and they had eight children, including St. Katherine of Vadstena. In about 1335, Bridget was appointed chief lady-in-waiting at the Swedish court.

After she was widowed in 1344, she founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior, known as the Brigittines. Bridget spent much time in Rome, living austerely and caring for the poor and sick. She died there after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Bridget claimed to have visions and inspirations throughout her life. She was canonized in 1391.

CURAÇAO

Though not native to Curaçao, St. Anne, whose feast day is July 26, is the island’s

patroness. Not mentioned in the Bible, Anne and Joachim are first named as the parents of Mary in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, which may date from the second century. In this story, they are old and childless, like the Old Testament Hannah, mother of Samuel, when angels deliver the news that Anne will conceive a child.

She is also the patron of childless women, expectant mothers and miners. Revered as the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her strong devotion there reflects Curaçao’s deep Catholic heritage and enduring Marian spirituality rooted in centuries of faith.

IN BRIEF

Co-Cathedral to host Portuguese Mass on June 21 during World Cup HOUSTON — As Houston prepares to welcome fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is set to host a Mass in Portuguese at 3:30 p.m. on June 21 at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Blessed Anuarite Nengapeta is remembered Dec. 1. Marie Clementine Nengapeta was born in the Belgian Congo and martyred in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Even before she became a Holy Family sister, she had made a vow of chastity. Guerrillas calling themselves Simbas, Swahili for lion, roamed the Congo following its 1960 independence from Belgium. In 1964, they took Sister Anuarite and 45 other sisters from their compound and drove for two days to their camp.

The armed Simbas on the truck got drunk and threatened the sisters’ chastity. At the camp, when Anuarite and another sister resisted the commandant’s order, she was stabbed at least five times. Her last words forgave her attackers.

UZBEKISTAN

St. Simeon Barsabae, observed April 21, represents early Christianity connected to Central Asia, including modern Uzbekistan. A fourth-century bishop in the Persian Empire, he was martyred during persecution. His legacy reflects the ancient spread of Christianity along the Silk Road.

CABO VERDE

Cabo Verde, without a canonized native saint, has a strong devotion to St. Joseph, whose feast day is March 19. The husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the legal father

Houston is scheduled to host seven World Cup matches from June 14 to July 4, including five group-stage games and two knockout matches. City officials expect more than 500,000 visitors as teams from Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Curaçao, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Uzbekistan compete.

Organizers said the Mass is part of broader efforts to welcome international visitors during the tournament. More information is available at archgh.org/ worldcup. †

of Jesus according to Jewish law, Joseph is a model of humility and obedience to God’s will. He followed God’s instructions, given by angels in dreams, and took the pregnant Mary into his home as his wife, protected her and Jesus from the child’s birth in Bethlehem through the family’s sojourn in Egypt, and provided for them as a carpenter in Nazareth. This feast, which was celebrated locally as early as the ninth century, became a universal feast in the 16th century. Pope Pius IX named Joseph patron of the universal Church in 1870; he is also the patron saint of carpenters, the dying and workers.

SAUDI ARABIA

St. Arethas of Najran, commemorated Oct. 24, is associated with present-day Saudi Arabia. A sixth-century Christian leader, he was martyred along with companions for refusing to renounce their faith, representing one of the earliest known Christian martyrdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. †

Pope: May sport be ‘an

INTENTION, from page 1

and peoples, and may promote values such as respect, solidarity and personal growth.”

The American pope’s prayer intention comes as his home country will begin co-hosting the World Cup on June 11 alongside Mexico and Canada. A record 48 national teams will compete across 104 matches in the three host nations through July 19, with Houston hosting seven games.

“Lord of life, we thank you for the gift of sport, for those who glorify God through the exercise of their bodies, for the friendships born on the field and the joy of playing as a team,” Pope Leo said in the video, recorded inside the Church of San Pellegrino in Vatican City.

“May those who play, train or cheer discover in sport a universal language that brings cultures together, unites peoples, and sows respect, solidarity and personal growth,” he added.

From the first days of his pontificate, Pope Leo has been known for his love of sport. He is an avid tennis player and a fan of Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox.

In his first interview as pope, he was asked who he would cheer for if the U.S. and Peru (where he served as a missionary for years and is also a citizen) were to face each other in the World Cup. He said he would cheer for Peru. As it happens, neither Peru nor Italy qualified for the 2026 tournament, sparing him any potential conflict of allegiances.

instrument of peace, encounter and dialogue’

“May every sport become a parable of life lived with You, working with joy and effort, living with humility in defeat and with gratitude in the victory You offer in Your Resurrection.”

In April, the pope welcomed Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes who competed in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games to the Vatican. In May, the pope received the players and management of Inter Milan, winners of this season’s Italian Serie A title, for a Vatican audience.

In the prayer video, Pope Leo drew a connection between athletic life and the Christian journey.

“Lord Jesus, may every sport become a parable of life lived with You, working with joy and effort, living with humility in defeat and with gratitude in the victory You offer in Your Resurrection,” he prayed. “May your Spirit never be lacking in us, making us one team, united with you to build communion and fraternity in history.” †

HELP WANTED

POPE LEO XIV in his June Prayer Intention

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Mexico national soccer player Edson Álvarez and French national soccer player Kylian Mbappé are seen on a 160-foot-long mural by José “Meenr” Arredondo in Houston’s East End neighborhood just five blocks from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and School on Navigation Boulevard ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which takes place partly in Houston.

Galveston churches open June 20 for sacred heritage tours

GALVESTON — Architecture lovers, history buffs and Christian faithful have a unique opportunity to visit several historic places of Catholic worship the day after Juneteenth this month.

On Saturday, June 20, five historic Galveston sites will open for guided tours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including four churches that make up part of Holy Family Parish of Galveston and Bolivar, and the Ursuline Chapel. Thirty-minute tours will highlight the unique architecture, history and art at each location.

Tours will be led at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, the mother church of Texas built in 1848; Holy Rosary, which has served Galveston’s Black Catholic community since the late 1800s; St. Patrick, a towering 1877 Gothic-style church designed by Nicholas Clayton; Sacred Heart, built in 1904 and known for its striking white exterior and interior constructions; and the Ursuline Chapel, located at Holy Family Parish Life Center on 25th Street, featuring the original 1891 ornate chapel doors.

Visitors may start at any location. All sites are within a 3.7-mile radius and less than a five-minute drive apart. Tours are self-paced and self-driven.

For addresses and details, visit www. holyfamilygb.com or call 409-762-9646.

NEW COATS OF ARMS

At the Cathedral Basilica, art appreciators will be able to see the newly installed hand-painted coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, each framed in gold.

The basilica bears the coat of arms of the popes since its elevation to a minor basilica by St. John Paul II in 1979, which recognized its importance to the community, the State of Texas and the Catholic community in the southwest.

AN ARCHBISHOP’S VISION

Suspended above the Archbishop’s cathedra, to the left of the altar, is Archbishop Vásquez’s coat of arms. Deeply symbolic, his coat of arms features the shield of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which includes a blue field with silver roses, symbolizing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mystical Rose, patroness of the cathedral basilica. A red cross bears a central silver star representing Texas.

Archbishop Vásquez’s personal arms reflect his priesthood and heritage, using gold and red. A red cross on a gold field represents Christ’s sacrifice and his vocation.

In the lower left is a red rosebud honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and the miracle of St. Juan Diego.

In the upper right, a fleur-delis symbolizes St. Joseph and the archbishop’s service in several St. Joseph parishes. The Florentine style also recalls Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who ordained him.

The design also includes a doublebarred archiepiscopal cross and a green galero with 10 tassels on each side. His motto, “Sígueme,” means “Follow me,” reflecting Christ’s call to discipleship.

Installed in May, St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston now prominently features handpainted depictions of Pope Leo XIV’s and Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez’s coats of arms.

PAPAL INSPIRATION

Across the altar, near the ambo, hangs Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms. His devotion to St. Augustine, his life and ministry as a member of the Augustinian order, and his focus on the unity of the Church are reflected in his episcopal motto and coat of arms.

When he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after his election May 8, 2025, he introduced himself as “an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine.” And he explained that the cardinals who elected him “have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a Church, united, ever pursuing peace and justice, ever seeking to act as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, in order to proclaim the Gospel without fear, to be missionaries.”

His episcopal motto is, “In Illo uno unum,” or literally, “In the One, we are one.” Vatican News reported that the phrase is taken from St. Augustine’s “Exposition on Psalm 127,” where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”

His shield, now topped by a miter instead of the red galero hat on the shield of cardinals, is divided diagonally into two. The upper half features a blue background with a white lily or fleur-delis, symbolizing the Virgin Mary and his French heritage.

The lower half of the shield has a light background and 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.

Vatican News said, “This is 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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University of Connecticut

University of Edinburgh

University of Florida

University of Houston

University of Kentucky

University of Manchester

University of Mary Washington

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Miami

University of Missouri

University of Nevada–Las Vegas

University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma

University of San Diego

University of Washington

Washington University in St. Louis

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier University of Louisiana

lived reality of parish life.

“At a small parish, it is a constant reminder that I am a father,” said Father David Hust, pastor of St Philip Catholic Church in Huffman. “At the parish, everything, in some sense, has to go through me. The church is my Bride, and the parishioners are my children, so I am always asking, ‘Who are my older children, what gifts and charisms do they have, and how can I use those gifts in the life of the family?’”

His reflection echoed throughout the sessions, as priests considered how best to guide their communities with both accountability and pastoral care. Through presentations and frank discussions, priests were invited to approach their growth with openness and commitment.

Fraternity emerged as a central theme throughout the gathering. In moments between sessions and during meals, priests engaged in conversations that moved beyond surface-level exchanges.

“Convocation becomes one of the prime opportunities to see each other, care for each other and ask what is really going on, what you are excited about, what projects you have, what is difficult. We do not just stay at small talk. We pretty quickly move beyond superficial conversations, and that is a real gift,” Father Hust said. He also pointed to the fruits of that work in parish life, noting 12 new members who entered the Church at Easter.

“In a little parish, that is beautiful, because people actually know the candidates and catechumens. We are small enough to really walk with them,” he said.

For Father Jonathan Moré, pastor of St. Jerome Catholic Church and School in Houston, this sense of fraternity extended beyond individual experiences.

“For me, gathering the presbyterate at convocation is very important for fellowship and for keeping a proper perspective on the Archdiocese. The mission field is very large here, and it is good to meet up with those working other [areas]. The conversations help bring more perspective to one’s own ministry.”

He also highlighted the value of generational diversity.

“It was good to have a mix of generations at the convocation because,

for all the talk of differences and conflicts between older and younger priests, there is far, far more that unites us than divides us. We may have different approaches, but we all want to bring the people closer to God, and it is good to feel that more keenly from time to time.”

Two evening events also recognized clergy marking jubilee milestone years and retirement.

Father Moré said he particularly appreciated the honesty and transparency of Archbishop Joe S.Vásquez, who shared how he has handled matters with “great tact and pastoral sensitivity.”

“It was also good to hear him talk

about some angles of his own spiritual journey. It is too easy to see bishops as little more than administrators,” he said. “Hearing him speak like that was a good reminder that he is also a fellow disciple with a relationship with Jesus.”

From Galveston, where the diocese first began more than 175 years ago, the biennial convocation remained a time for priests to renew their fraternity, reflect on their efforts, and return to their parishes and ministries strengthened in their shared mission in Christ.

† – James Ramos

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Father Dat Hoang, pastor of St. Faustina Parish in Fulshear, speaks at the conclusion of Mass on May 20 during the biennial priest convocation in Galveston. Father Hoang served as emcee for the three-day gathering for priests serving in the Archdiocese.

Silver Jubilee 25 years

Riko Adachi

Emília Maria Aguirre Inara Akhter

Leah Grace Alexander

Luna Al-Ramahi

Caitlyn Gabriella Andreas

Isabella Charlotte Arlt

Emerson Rose Aronoff

Lauren Kristine Atkins

Victoria Rafaela Bacigalupo Cruz Ivana Baros

Landry Elyse Barrett

Carolina Almeida Barros

Payton Elisabeth Beers

Genevieve Bye Bellows

Samaira Lily Bhutani Ava Jet Blencke

Dahlia Elise Bonilla

Isabella Bradbury

Samantha Leann Brumfield

Frida Elizabeth Buck

Isabela Casahuga Lemgruber

Sara Leoni Cata-Escamilla

Sofia Chavez-Okhuysen Analisse Cheema

Lara Nour Chemaly

Langdon Quynh-Giao Chu

Kelsey Michelle Clark

Samantha Beth Clinton

Talley Claire Cohan

Keelan Marie Collins

Margaret Bailey Cromwell

Rachel Rachata Curry

Sophie Tanya Da Silva

Gabriela Bitdinger Darcourt Alana Kaur Davidson

Aubrey Michelle Davidson

Gabriela Kathryn Davis Saila Davis

Emma Alexandra De Anda

Sammie Michelle DeCuir

Lily Sophia Desai

Amelia Mae Devlin

Amani Madyson Dickey

Tessa Madelyn Dillard

Reagan Samantha Dizon

Emma Teresa Dowd

Adrienne Isabelle Dubuc

Rylee Elizabeth Dunn

Raquel Siobhan Echevarria

Kaitlyn Marie Elackatt

Kayla Breanna Evans

Victoria Ezike

Rayanne Marcel Fadi

Lorena Isabel Falcon

Kyla Ann Felix

Angela Feng Elisa Lijia Feng

Morgan Yuan Feng

Giselle Dominique Fernandez

Keara Bella Ferro

Madelyn Ann Fletcher

Marin Elizabeth Fowler

Noelle Alexandria Franshaw

Vivienne Eira Fuller

Angelina John Ganim

Philippa Garza

Addison Elizabeth Gaudette

Sophia Grace Gnaim

Gisella Gonzalez

Emily Louise Grace Michaela De Grimes

Julieta Carolina Guerra

Katherine Houghton Guscott

Paula Gutierrez

Alexandra Lawless Haas

Franchesca Renee Hackenberg

Maris Isabelle Haecker

McKinsey Marie Hanegan

Elizabeth Joy Hanks

Kathryn Lynn Hardin

Renelle Alexandria Harris

Jennifer Ann Hartmann

Hannah Lillian Hennessey

Diana Cassandra Hernandez

Sofia Nataly Hernandez-Esquivel

Frances Ferguson Herndon

Lily Ana Hilpert

Introducing Class of 2026

Krysten Jane Hlavaty

Madelyn Serra Holy Ayanna Hooda

Casey Elizabeth Hyde

Parivash Marjan Irani

May Stevenson Jones

Fernanda María Juarez Martinez

Katherine Jean Kapkov Deyah Kaur

Lillian Katherine Keeler

Chloe Grace Kennedy Aliza Khimani

Zeina Inez Khoury

Lydia Juliet Kim

Aleida Josephine Klimko

Claire Marie Kollar

Lily Sloan Konstanzer

Kessia Anne Kurian

Perry Nicole Lambert

Mia Tang Lawrence

Addison Bach Lien Le

Avery Hsia Lee

Grace Christiana Lee

Piper Simone Lee

Audrey Anabelle Levine

Molly Dean Lewis

Lilian Chen Lin

Cindy Lu

Sarah Susan Luka

Taylor Thanh-Thao Luong

Natalie Nhu Luu

Glynis Lee Seinsheimer Lykes

Nina Rose Lykidis

Ciara Denisse Lyon

Isabella Mahmud

Madison M Mai

Eliana Maria Maldonado

Giselle Isabella Martinez

Sara Mariel Martinez

Elizabeth Jane McDonald

Camila Ingrid Menchaca

Sylvanna Madison Menn

Leah Jacquelyn Michael

Lucy Marie Mixon

Mallory Kathleen Moeller

Chloe Marie Mouhayar

Dalia Moukarim

Reagan Elise Mull Anaiya Nasir

Kyra Tran Nguyen

Mina Nguyen Vi Nhat Nguyen

Etietop Unwana Nkeme

Josephine Leona Norkus

Victoria Grace Espinoza Cruz North

Ellen Irene Norvell

Juliet Soleil Novelli

Anna Kate Nowak

Isabela Marie Nuñez

Faith Itinuolouwa Ogunro

Jessica Kamsiyochukwu Okeke

Addison Brooke Okerlund

Katherine Rose Olivero

Maria Elena Ortiz

Tess Vega Pacetti

Danica Patricia Par Paige Elizabeth Parcus Serena Parikh Katherine Reese Phillips Evelyn Marie Pilibosian

Maria Piper Audrey Maxence Plop Alyssa Nicole Psifidis

Elise Co Que Simone Marie Ramos Georgie Kearse Rawson

Lauren Marissa Lucia Rebello Lola Anne Ridgway

July 1, 1993 Rev. Anthony Orlando

July 2, 1891 Rev. John Lafarge, SJ

July 2, 1991 Rev. Edbert Staresinic, OCarm

July 4, 1888 Rev. Pierre Dumont

July 4, 1989 Rev. Justin O’Connell, OCarm

July 4, 1992 Rev. Rene Vermillion, CSB

July 5, 1895 Rev Patrick Kellett

July 5, 1984 Msgr. Thomas Cemon

July 6, 1927 Rev. Morgan J. Crowe

July 6, 2022 Msgr. Seth Hermoso

July 7, 1939 Rev. Patrick O’Reilly, CSC

July 8, 1920 Rev. Michael Martin Crowe

July 8, 2002 Rev. Guy Fregeau

July 9, 1930 Rev. James Chaland

July 9, 2005 Rev. Walter Sheffield

July 10, 1989 Rev. John Oster, SJ

July 10, 2003 Msgr. C.J. Alleman

July 11, 2002 Rev. Warren Freret

July 12, 1968 Rev. Albert Maechler

July 12, 1980 Rev. John McDonald, MS

July 13, 1999 Rev. Angelo Moscato, cs

July 14, 1962 Rev. Eugene Burbott, CSB

July 14, 2014 Rev. Charles Lynch,CSB

July 15, 1970 Rev. Chester Ball, SSJ

July 15, 1985 Rev. Peter Harnett

July 15, 2008 Rev. John LaBauve, SVD

July 16, 1960 Msgr. Matthew Daly

July 16, 1962 Rev. Joseph Robinson

July 17, 1932 Rev. John Joseph Harte

July 17, 1994 Bishop Enrique San Pedro, SJ

July 18, 1943 Rev. Robert Frei

July 18, 1996 Rev. John Nijenhuis, OCarm

July 18, 2002 Rev. Eugene Gillece

July 18, 2002 Rev. Clifton Natho

July 19, 1947 Rev. Louis LeBlanc

July 19, 2001 Rev. Ralph Schmidt

July 19, 2011 Rev. Richard DiLeo, SCJ

July 19, 2013 Rev. Bernard Snock

July 20, 1918 Rev. William Lee

July 20, 2023 Rev. Roy Oggero, CSB

July 22, 2002 Rev. J.B. Huynh Ngoc Tran

July 23, 2009 Msgr. Leroy Braden

July 24, 2000 Rev. Thomas Sheehan, OP

July 25, 1968 Rev. William O’Toole, CSB

July 26, 1988 Rev. Rodney Poythress

July 28, 1849 Rev. James Fitzgerald

July 28, 2025 Rev. Brian Fox, SSJ

July 29, 2011 Rev. Frank Jones

July 30, 2001 Rev. Alvin Dixon, SVD

July 31, 1997 Msgr. Gilbert Pekar

July 31, 2001 Rev. John O’Rourke, SSJ

July 31, 2022 Rev. Peter Thang Nguyen

PARISHES, SCHOOOLS HOST GRADUATION MASSES, CEREMONIES

Granddaughter of Blessed Karl of Austria shares insight at Marian Daughters luncheon

BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Herald Correspondent

HOUSTON — Princess Maria-Anna Galitzine spoke to a Marian Daughters of Annunciation Church luncheon on May 30 about her grandfather, Blessed Karl Habsburg (1887-1922), the last emperor of Austria, who opposed World War I from the beginning.

St. John Paul II proclaimed Habsburg blessed in 2004, unique as the only leader of a nation in modern times to be named blessed or possibly be canonized by the Catholic Church, she said.

Church if you would like to make a pilgrimage there. One more miracle is needed before his canonization.”

Father Paul Felix, pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in downtown Houston, said this event was a fitting tribute at the end of May, honoring Mary after her crowning at the beginning of the month. “Blessed Karl was known for his devotion to Mary, praying a daily Rosary as a living reminder that God loves and saves.”

Father Felix added, “We have a first-class relic of Blessed Karl at our Annunciation

Blessed Karl Habsburg was not supposed to inherit the throne since the crown was destined for his uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was assassinated in 1914 — the impetus for World War I — causing the crown to fall to Karl at 29 years old.

He dedicated his country to God and Mary for their counsel and protection, pledging to try to end the war and becoming known as the Peace Emperor, following the warnings from Our Lady of Fatima at that time. But the Republic of German-Austria was formed, which led to formally dethroning Karl and exiling him for the rest of his life, dying at 34 after suffering heart attacks and pneumonia.

Despite losing his crown, power and health, Blessed Karl Habsburg never lost his profound trust in God, said Princess Galitzine. To learn more about Blessed Habsburg, the League of Prayer USA or visit emperorcharles.org. †

ST. JOHN VIANNEY - HOUSTON

ST. THERESA - MEMORIAL PARK

ST. MARTHA - KINGWOOD

ST. JUSTIN MARTYR - HOUSTON

YOUTH

Shifting our perspective on daily prayer

As a youth minister, I spend a great deal of time with middle school and high school youth talking about prayer, helping them develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and the importance of “putting the work in” to cultivate not only a strong bond with Him, but also a reliable source of strength, peace and guidance that we can depend on throughout our lives.

We are called to encourage teens to shift their perspective on daily prayer and to transition their mindset from the “Disneyland God” mentality to a deeper devotion to our Lord and Savior.

So often, especially when we are young, we can begin to view prayer primarily as a place to ask God for things we want or need. While God absolutely invites us to bring our petitions to Him, He also desires something deeper — a genuine relationship with us.

It is important that we remind the teens that God meets us exactly where we are. He is patient, loving and understanding, and He walks with each of us differently. For some, this deeper understanding of prayer develops quickly; for others, it unfolds slowly over time through life experiences, struggles, joys, disappointments and moments of grace. Faith is not a race, and a strong relationship with Jesus is not built overnight.

The beauty of daily prayer is that even when we are imperfect, distracted or uncertain, God still welcomes us with open arms. He patiently continues calling us closer to Him, slowly transforming our hearts and teaching us to seek not only His blessings, but His presence.

In the Gospel of Matthew 14:22–33, Jesus calls to Simon Peter and invites him to come to Him and walk on the water. He does not force Peter out of the boat. He does not demand that he come immediately. He simply calls him and waits for Peter to respond in faith. How beautiful is the patience of our Lord as we learn our way toward Him, no matter how long the journey takes.

I once heard a homily in which the priest spoke about daily prayer and the human tendency to immediately ask God for our needs. He said something that deeply struck me, and I have reflected on it often since hearing it. He said that when we pray, we should first reflect on the sacrifice God made by giving us His Son, and on the ultimate sacrifice Jesus

by JENNIFER GRECO

made by willingly taking up the cross and dying for our sins. He explained that our daily prayer should consist of four parts: Praise (acknowledging who God is), Thanksgiving (naming specific graces from their day), Adoration (focusing on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and presence), and then petition (bringing forward requests and needs). Leaning into this mindset helps us focus on the relationship itself and not solely on the petition. I encourage you to integrate it into your own prayer life and introduce it to your teens.

celebrating a milestone year for its rogram, honoring its f irst two g to support young Catholics across the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston

Norman Barud of St. John Vianney Parish and Amanda Nguyen of St Vincent de Paul Parish graduated on May 10, 2026 from the University of St Thomas, becoming the inaugural recipients of the Foundation’s scholarship to complete their undergraduate studies.

Established to recognize and support students who have demonstrated long-term service at the altar, the scholarship provides tuition assistance while encouraging continued formation in the Catholic faith

His homily changed my life. I share it as often as I can in the hope that I might pass along some of his wisdom to the teens I work with, and to anyone else who may need to hear it.

How beautiful it is that we can walk alongside one another on this journey of faith, encouraging each other, praying for one another, and gently leading one another closer to Christ. In a world that often feels hurried and disconnected, daily prayer reminds us that we were never meant to walk alone.

I invite you to normalize praying by anchoring prayer to your existing daily routine with your teens. The drive to school or practice can incorporate a specific prayer petition for the day. At the end of the week, do a spiritual check-in, such as: “Where did you see a moment of grace this week?” or “What’s something heavy you want me to pray for you about?”

End the time together with prayer, a 30-second prayer in the car or on the walk, specifically for what the teen shared. Create the space for prayer to be spoken out loud by having a designated prayer time every night.

This also invites a shifting of the focus from “Wishlist” to “Relationship” by teaching them to reframe their prayer, reminding them that faith is not a race. Connection always precedes connection. When they see that you love, just as God does, they will be much more open to the wisdom you want to pass along. †

Jennifer Greco is the youth Confirma tion and activities coordinator at St. Bar tholomew the Apostle Catholic Church.

“The altar is often where a young person f irst encounters the beauty and mystery of the Church in a profound way, ” said Larry W. Massey, Jr., president of the Scanlan Foundation. “Norman and Amanda have embodied what it means to serve faithfully, and we are honored to have supported them in their academic and spiritual journeys at the University of St Thomas ”

Since its launch, the program has steadily grown, recognizing altar servers from parishes across the archdiocese. Home parishes have included Mary Queen - Friendswood, Holy Family - Missouri City, Assumption, and St Vincent de Paul

Foundation leaders say the scholarship is intended not only to provide f inancial assistance, but also to aff irm the role of altar servers in the life of the Church and to encourage future vocations and faithful leadership.

Pastors play a key role in the process, submitting recommendations for students who have served at least f ive years and who demonstrate strong character, academic readiness, and commitment to their faith

With its f irst graduates and an expanding group of recipients, the Scanlan Foundation’s Altar Server Scholarship continues to strengthen the connection between parish life and Catholic higher education

The Foundation will continue this momentum with the announcement of its 2026 Altar Server Scholarship recipients: Luis Loya of St Bartholomew, Christian Berrios of Blessed na of St Vincent de Paul, and h has demonstrated a strong d ll

JESUIT

STRAKE JESUIT

College Preparatory

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STRAKE JESUIT

CLASS OF 2026

As graduates of a Catholic, Jesuit institution, these young men of the Class of 2026 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.

As graduates turn the page to a new chapter in their lives, they carry with them the lessons, friendships and faith that have shaped their story so far. The book of their life journey has included moments of challenge, growth, joy and discovery, each one preparing them for this next chapter. Though the pages ahead remain unwritten, they step forward with hope, trusting that God will continue to guide their path as they begin this new chapter with courage, purpose and grace.

The Texas Catholic Herald proudly highlights the inspiring stories of the top students of the Archdiocesan graduating Class of 2026 as they begin writing their next chapter.

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2026

TURNING THE PAGE TO A NEW CHAPTER

Charles Hough is the 2026 Valedictorian of the inaugural graduating class at Cathedral High School, which operates under the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. Hough is a founding member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, a member of the National Latin Honor Society and captain of DeSales House. Hough also earned the Sacred Wisdom Pillar and Sacred Music Pillar awards in school, at the Houston-Area Model United Nations and the state Junior Classical League tournament. This fall, he will continue his studies at Texas A&M University in College Station, studying chemical engineering.

Dominic Block is the 2026 Salutatorian of the inaugural graduating class at Cathedral High School. He is a founding member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, as well as a member of the National Latin Honor Society and Barberi House captain for the past three years. Block is also a violinist, performing with Virtuosi Strings and Opus One. This fall, he will continue his studies in the liberal arts at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California.

CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

to support the mental health and well-being of others. In school, Valdecanas served both his school and the greater Houston community by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank since middle school. He also served as an acolyte through campus ministry and participated in National Honor Society. Valdecanas also participated in the Kairos Retreat and completed his corporate work-study at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART

robotics team. For three years, she was president of the Asian Culture Club, often collaborating with brother schools Strake and St. Thomas. For four years, Nguyen was on the tennis team and participated in many theatre productions, including Mary Poppins. Additionally, she was a part of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and its foreign exchange program. In the future, she hopes to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree and become a physician.

FRASSATI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

An Outstanding student from Cristo Rey Jesuit (CRJ) College Preparatory School’s 2026 graduating class is Andrea Cortes. In school, she is a Kairos Leader, vice president of the choir and manager of the boys’ soccer team. In the community, she participated in Hearts for Homeless and the Rosary Club. She will attend St. Mary’s University in San Antonio to study communications.

Another Outstanding student from CRJ’s 2026 graduating class is Ian Valdecanas. This fall, he will attend the University of Houston to study psychology

Elise Vo is the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2026 Valedictorian. She plans to attend Rice University to study electrical and computer engineering in the fall. Throughout high school at Duchesne, Vo dedicated much of her time to tutoring and leadership. She founded and served as president of RISE Tutoring, a studentled program that paired high school tutors with younger students to provide academic support and encouragement. Vo also was president of the National Honor Society, where she helped organize service opportunities for students. In addition, she was involved in varsity volleyball and varsity debate, CAVE (Duchesne’s IT department), and worked as an independent tutor. In the future, she hopes to use engineering to create innovative, sustainable technologies that improve people’s lives.

Emma Nguyen is the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2026 Salutatorian. She’ll be attending Rice University in the fall to study bioengineering on a pre-med track. During her time at Duchesne, Nguyen served as junior and senior class president, honor council member, and captain of the VEX V5

The Frassati Catholic High School Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Maegan Sexton, will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to study mechanical engineering. In school, Sexton was involved in theater stage management, National Honor Society, government and debate, announcements, also serving as a sacristan, altar server and a Eucharistic minister. In the community, she volunteered as a faith formation catechist, sacristan, altar server and student ambassador.

The Frassati Catholic High School Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Connor Moe, will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to study engineering. In school, he was a member of the swim team, tennis, theatre, chess club and National Honor Society. In the community, Moe served through retreats, as an emcee at school events, and by showcasing creative writing through plays and skits, most memorably a skit about St. Pier Giorgio Frassati during the canonization lock-in.

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY

The Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) Class of 2026 Valedictorian Clare Marie Hayes plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, in the fall to double major in history and bi-

ology on the pre-med track. While at IWA, she founded and was the president of the Cancer Awareness Club. Additionally, she was a class representative on the student council for three years. Hayes ran cross country (captain), track and played soccer (captain), She was also a student ambassador for the school and the co-vice president of IWA’s Made 4 Medicine Club. She was also a Bible study leader on the campus ministry team. Hayes hopes to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

The IWA Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Mia Borin, will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station, majoring in biomedical science to pursue medicine. While at IWA, she had the opportunity to serve her community by teaching at summer camps. Borin was a graduate assistant at DECATS for three years and is now returning as a teaching assistant at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for her second year. Additionally, at IWA, she was involved in the student council, the ambassadors, the Cancer Awareness Club, the Botanical Buddies Club, the environmental club, the campus ministry team and the cross country team.

O’CONNELL COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

The O’Connell College Preparatory School Class of 2026 Valedictorian Anneli Kucera will attend Baylor University’s Honors College in the fall as part of their Bachelor of Philosophy program. Through this program, she plans to double major in Great Texts and physics/ mathematics. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in intelligence services. In high school, she was a member of the

CHARLES HOUGH

DOMINIC BLOCK

MAEGAN SEXTON

CLARE HAYES

MIA BORIN

CONNOR MOE

ANDREA CORTES

EMMA NGUYEN

ELISE VO

IAN VALDECANAS

ANNELI KUCERA

National Honor Society and a dual credit student at both Galveston College, where she was part of the Pi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and Baylor University. She also earned her associate’s degree at Galveston College, graduating summa cum laude. Outside of school, Kucera has studied classical violin since age three and is part of the Galveston County Junior League.

The O’Connell College Preparatory School Class of 2026 Salutatorian Dominick Templeton plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, majoring in either materials engineering or aerospace engineering. He built an ADAaccessible ramp, enabling people with accessibility needs to enter the building. Finishing it before the school year began allowed a faculty member to keep teaching and leading and a student to enroll. In the school, Templeton was involved with the garden club, golf, tennis, choir, Ambassadors Corps, National Honor Society and jazz band. In the future, he hopes to secure a position in the space industry surrounding off-world production of infrastructure and technologies.

ST. AGNES ACADEMY

Alexandra Wong was named the St. Agnes Academy Class of 2026 Valedictorian. In school, she was captain of the National Champion Tiger Girls dance team. Beyond campus, Wong volunteers with children with special needs and tutors younger students. She will attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Elisa Feng was named the St. Agnes Academy Class of 2026 Salutatorian. Throughout her time at St. Agnes, she was involved in numerous organizations, including speech and debate, Girls Who Code, the Spectrum Engineering Team, National Honor Society, STEM Club, Asian Culture Club, the Organization of Asian Students in SAA, Sustainable Fashion Club and Literary Magazine Club. Feng will attend Stanford University in Stanford, California, where she plans to study chemical engineering.

ST. JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PREPARATORY

Roman Nguyen is the St. John XXIII College Preparatory Class of 2026 Valedictorian. During his four years at St. John XXIII, he was a member of the varsity swim team and served as team captain for two years. Nguyen also participated in the school’s handbell choir for three years and served as a house representative throughout all four years of high school. Outside of school, Nguyen served as a retreat leader for St. Faustina Catholic Church in Fulshear. This fall, he will attend the University

“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.”

- POPE LEO XIV -

of Texas at Austin, where he plans to major in psychology and biology, with the hope of continuing on to medical school and completing a residency program to become a dermatologist.

ROMAN NGUYEN

Miguel Vera is the St. John XXIII College Preparatory Class of 2026 Salutatorian. Throughout his time at St. John XXIII, he was a fouryear starter and twoyear captain for the Lions soccer team and also competed on the school’s tennis team for three years.

As Loreto House captain, Vera played an important role in fostering community and encouraging school spirit among his fellow students.

This fall, Miguel will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study electrical and computer engineering.

ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

The St. Pius X High School Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Claire Olivia Jacobs, will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to study biomedical sciences. In the community, for the past two summers, she has been a volunteer counselor at a camp in Navasota called Camp Allen. This summer, Jacobs is continuing, serving as a resident cabin counselor. She has also been a volunteer at the Houston Food Bank through the National Honor Society. At school, she was involved in student council all four years of high school. In her freshman and sophomore years, she was a delegate. Junior year, Jacobs served as student

Texas. He hopes to become a physician, with the ultimate goal of becoming a neurosurgeon and engaging in clinical research on brain pathologies.

Matthew KiSung Chung is the Salutatorian of the St. Thomas High School Class of 2026. He will be attending Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in the fall to study biology with an emphasis in genetics. In school, he was part of the varsity cross country team, track and field, vice president of the National Honor Society, co-president of the Asian club and co-captain of the ultimate frisbee team. In the community, Chung served as treasurer of the National League of Young Men and volunteered to tutor and mentor refugee middle school students through Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees since his sophomore year. He hopes to attend medical school and go into research or become an orthopedic surgeon.

body treasurer. In her senior year, Jacobs served as the senior class president. She was also a member of the National Honor Society for two years, serving as treasurer her senior year. In addition, she was a member of student ambassadors for four years, and joined the leadership team her sophomore year. Jacobs played volleyball for four years and was a member of the X Crew, which is a student spirit crew.

STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY

The St. Pius X High School Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Dillan Mackenzie Cooper-Sandifer, will attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall to study business at the McCombs School of Business. In the community, she volunteered at the food bank and also served as a Camp Allen counselor, participating in student council service projects and tutoring other students through Panther Peer Tutoring and served as vice president and secretary of the Student Council Executive Board. Cooper-Sandifer also helped with events and outreach as vice president through the National Honor Society and student council throughout high school. She was also captain of varsity soccer and competed in cross country and track.

ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL

Zacariah Hart is the Valedictorian of the St. Thomas High School Class of 2026. He will be attending Rice University this fall to study molecular and cellular neuroscience and English. While at St. Thomas, he was president of the Quiz Bowl Team, president of the Computer Science Honor Society, varsity swim team captain, a member of the TAPPS academic team, a senior leader and an Eagle Ambassador. Hart volunteered at the Woman’s Hospital of

Jacob Baker is the Valedictorian for the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Class of 2026. Baker plans on attending Texas A&M University in College Station to study aerospace engineering as a Craig and Galen Brown Foundation Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa Scholar. During his time at Strake Jesuit, Baker served as a Eucharistic minister and as a freshman and Kairos retreat leader. He was a member of the varsity swimming and diving team since his sophomore year, serving as a team captain his senior year. Outside of school, Baker volunteered at Catholic Charities’ Mamie George Community Center in their cafe and food distribution programs and was an altar server at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Baker also swims competitively as a member of the Dad’s Club Aquatics national team and was a member of the Gulf Swimming Athlete Board. Diego Adams is the Salutatorian for the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Class of 2026. Adams plans on majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He has served the community by being a prominent member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, totaling over 90 service hours this year and having leadership positions including: Engineering Club VP, SJ Food Rescue Initiative and Weightlifting Club president and SJ Band saxophone section leader. He was also a member of the martial arts team and varsity wrestling team, winning several awards/placements for both sports. In the future, Adams plans to pursue a master’s degree in chemical engineering and later work in the energy and fuel industry. †

DOMINICK TEMPLETON

ALEXANDRA WONG

MIGUEL VERA

CLAIRE JACOBS

DILLAN COOPER-SANDIFER

ZACARIAH HART

MATTHEW CHUNG

JACOB BAKER

DIEGO ADAMS

ELISA FENG

COLUMNISTS

A Consecrated Freedom: Juneteenth and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to read General Order No. 3. It was a blunt declaration: “The people are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”The order established an “absolute equality of personal rights,” marking a tectonic shift in American history.

In the closing months of the Civil War, Texas had become the final stronghold of slavery, as enslavers from across the Confederacy sent their “property” there to evade the advancing Union Army. Over two months after the war’s end, the last of those held in bondage finally learned they were free.

Almost immediately, African American communities in Texas began annual commemorations. This tradition, which became known as Juneteenth, spread across the country during the Great Migration when African Americans fled the South to seek opportunities in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles. In 2021, thanks largely to the advocacy of Galveston native Ms. Opal Lee, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

Some wonder why a national holiday commemorates an event that initially impacted only 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. African Americans in Texas are certainly free to celebrate whatever they want — but what does Juneteenth have to do with American history?

Consider the tradition at cancer centers like MD

by AMY AUZENNE

Anderson, where patients ring a bell upon finishing chemotherapy. The bell signifies the end of a grueling regimen, but it also heralds a new chapter of hope. The cancer of slavery required a bloody Civil War to excise, and that war could not be truly over until the last person learned the truth of their freedom. As long as slavery existed in any form, no American was truly free. All were bound— legalistically, economically, morally — to an objective evil that allowed the heresy of white supremacy to deaden their consciences and harden their hearts.

Providentially, June is also the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which reflects on Christ’s burning, sacrificial love for humanity. In a historic moment aligning with the nation’s 250th anniversary, the United States Catholic Bishops will formally consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11. This act of consecration invites a profound national healing, reminding us that true liberty is rooted in divine mercy.

The Sacred Heart represents a heart broken for our sins but on fire with a love that recognizes the inherent dignity of every person. In the Sacred Heart, we are liberated from the slavery of hatred, indifference and

“The

celebrations of the Sacred Heart and Juneteenth remind us that while human law can break physical chains, only a transformation of the heart can lead us to the true freedom for which we were created.”

systemic sin. This divine freedom empowers us to love others with radical empathy, stand up for the dignity of every human person and commit to the ongoing work of justice. The dual celebrations of the Sacred Heart and Juneteenth remind us that while human law can break physical chains, only a transformation of the heart can lead us to the true freedom for which we were created.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like to thine. †

Amy Auzenne is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Prioritizing prayer, even during Ordinary Time

After 50 days of enjoying the Easter festivities, we have now once again entered the season of Ordinary Time. Students are home for summer break, and the normal routine of a busy semester has transitioned into a period of rest. It is very easy to slip into the mentality that Ordinary Time is just that — ordinary.

Many begin to relax and their faith life can begin to settle. This is especially true for students. During the academic semesters, our students have access to community and fellowship in a more profound way within the Newman

by DYLAN CAVINESS

Centers at their universities. The spiritual life becomes easier when there are daily events such as Rosary, Adoration and Mass in the same place that they spend most of their free time.

When the students return home for the summer, they lose this, and it becomes very easy to slip into a mentality of lukewarmness in their

prayer and faith life.

I know that during my time in college, my faith life was strong during the academic year. I attended daily Mass, regularly received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and these practices bolstered my own personal prayer life. However, as soon as the summer hit, these things quickly fell by the wayside. I slowly learned to take advantage of the blessings I had while at school, but I struggled when that closeness was removed.

So how do we combat this?

One of the most important lessons I learned while working in campus ministry during my senior year was the importance of intentionality. Even during a “break,” we must still prioritize the things that matter most — especially prayer and the Sacraments. If we do not intentionally set aside time for them, it becomes easy for them to disappear amid vacations, outdoor activities and the many distractions of summer.

I am reminded of what one of the formation advisors at Holy Trinity Seminary constantly said to all the men: “There is no vacation from your

vocation.” While each of us has a unique calling in life, we all share the universal call to holiness. Summer vacation is not meant to be spiritually ordinary. It is an opportunity to remain close to the Lord who continually sustains us.

I challenge all faithful, especially our students and young adults, to continue to dive ever deeper into the faith during this Ordinary Time. When on vacation, stop by the local parish and spend just a few minutes with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and schedule Sunday Mass into any travel plans.

In his book Life Lessons from the Monastery, Abbot Jerome Kodell points out that the Latin word used in Psalm 46:10 for “Be still” is vacate, which means to “empty out.” It is from this root that we get the English word vacation.

So then, let us make sure to spend time this summer to “be still” and have a vacation with God. †

Dylan Caviness is the director of campus ministry at Sam Houston State University Catholic Student Center in Huntsville.

His Excellency, Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes, the Cathedral High School Board of Directors, Administration, Faculty, and Staff offer their prayers and congratulations to the Inaugural Graduating Class!

Dominic Elijah Block ^

Josef Athanasius Castillo

K evin Ronaldo Claudio

John Paul England

Vida Lael Mila g r os Granados

Christina Marie Hill

Char les Alber t Hough *

Matilda Mae Jones

*Valedictorian ^Salutatorian

!

Ma gdalene Grace Kramer

Francis R af ael Mar tens

Dominic David Meade

Genevieve Marie Simmons

Cathedral High School is rebuilding Catholic culture through a classical education in Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. The vision of Cathedral High School is to form students to be conformed to Christ, pursue truth, and create beauty in a virtuous life.

This vision unfolds within the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, according to the time-tested discipline of the classical curriculum and method, and benefiting from the holistic philosophy and spirituality of Saint John Henry Newman, whose motto guides this educational endeavor: Cor ad cor loquitur

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV praised Venerable Fulton J. Sheen on June 1 as “a light of faith, hope and love” whose radio and television broadcasts brought the Gospel to millions of Americans, including the pope himself as a child.

Speaking at a Vatican audience with members of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the pope called it providential that the beloved archbishop will be beatified during the centennial year of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which he once led as the national director of the U.S. Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

“Archbishop Sheen was a light of faith, hope, and love that shone through the radio and television media for decades,” Pope Leo said.

“I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up,” the pope added. “His broadcasts touched millions with the hope of the Gospel, and his initiatives and efforts resulted in enormous spiritual and material aid to the Churches in areas of first evangelization.”

The beatification of Archbishop Sheen is scheduled for Sept. 24 in St. Louis. His beatification had previously

been postponed by the Vatican in 2019. Archbishop Sheen was declared venerable in 2012. Beatification is the final step before canonization; Archbishop Sheen will require one more

miracle attributed to his intercession to be declared a saint.

“May our new Blessed be an example for all of the National and Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies throughout the world,” the pope said.

Pope Leo, 70, has said that he watched Archbishop Sheen’s television program as a child. The American pope was elected last year on Archbishop Sheen’s birthday.

Born in El Paso, Illinois, on May 8, 1895, Venerable Sheen was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria on Sept. 20, 1919. He went on to become one of the most recognized Catholic voices in American history, rising to national prominence during the 1930s and 1940s as host of “The Catholic Hour” on NBC radio.

Beginning in 1952, then-Bishop Sheen reached tens of millions of viewers each Tuesday evening through his television program “Life Is Worth Living.” Armed with little more than his intellect, charisma, a cape and a chalkboard, he won an Emmy Award for best television personality after his first season, famously thanking his writers: “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”

Throughout his 60-year priesthood, Bishop Sheen sought to conform himself more closely to Christ by observing a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour, what he called “the hour that makes my day.”

He was also intensely devoted to the

For 16 years, Archbishop Sheen served as the national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, during which he sought to form American Catholics in missionary spirituality and identity and help raise funds to spread the faith and

According to Monsignor Roger J. Landry, the current national director of

the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., Archbishop Sheen donated more than $10 million of his media earnings to the missions during his lifetime, raised $200 million for missionary work (the equivalent of nearly $2.1 billion today) and left 40% of his estate, along with book royalties, to the ongoing work of evangelization.

“It would be almost impossible to enumerate the churches, schools, seminaries, convents and monasteries that exist today because of his work, not to mention the amount of dioceses sustained and programs underwritten because of his efforts,” Monsignor Landry said.

Archbishop Sheen died Dec. 9, 1979, in New York City, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, after nearly two years of declining health following openheart surgery.

During the audience with the Pontifical Mission Societies, Pope Leo called 2026 “a year truly rich in missionary milestones,” noting that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI at the request of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

This year’s World Mission Sunday falls on Oct. 18, under the theme “One in Christ, united in mission.”

“In a world increasingly marked by division, war and conflict among nations and peoples, the four Pontifical Mission Societies … render an invaluable service to the Church’s mission of proclaiming Christ, the Prince of Peace and the incarnate revelation of Divine Love for humanity,” Pope Leo said.

“Let us therefore continue our missionary journey with joy and renewed zeal,” he said. “In all that we do for the work of evangelization, may we always place Jesus Christ at the center, embracing the beautiful Gospel principle expressed by John the Baptist: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’” †

Congratulations Class of 2026

KristinIsabella Agundiz

Marisabel Valentina Alamo

Alexandra Grace Allen

Aleena Balderas

Ereeni Nicole Bernitsas

Susanna Marie Bradicich

Sarah Katherine Cantu

Evelyn Mireya Coles

Keira Nicole De Jong

Sofia Helena Diaz

Christine Marie Cruz Directo

Megan Eleanor Doyle

Alexandria Feit

Molly Renee Fote

Sakura Iliana Garcia

Kiera Lauren Gilmour

Giuliana Gonzalez

Audrey Adele Hinton

Audrey Hoang

Annabelle Grace Holifield

Kate Huth

Campbell Elizabeth Huthmacher

Cecilia Mae Johnson

Savannah Liz Joy

Kate Elaine Kaler

Keeley Klenke

Alexia Rae LeMond

Grace Elizabeth Livermore

Gracen Marie Luke

Lara Lynden MacFarlane

Ana Sofia Maguchi

Jezza Sophia Malik

Mira Grace Martingano

Madeleine Marie Massey

Anna Masucci

Isabella Christianna Montalbano

Bridget Anne Murphy

Renee Nealon

Emma Sophia Nguyen

Elena Padilla

Margaret Padilla

Amelie Bording Biguenet Pedersen

Isabella Daniellelyn Perez

Alyssa Bell Peters

Addyson Samantha Petruszka

Ava Carolina Rivera

Jayda Denise Robinson

Paulina Faustina Rodriguez

Sarah Ilana Rodriguez

Eve Anna Rowe

Natalia Saenz

Emily Grace Salvatierra

Anna Schafer

Brooklynn Grace Schreiber

Chloe Marie Schroeder

Claire Elizabeth Sena

Domenica Emma Sepe

Sydney Shield

Reese Addison Sicinski

Sophia Sierra

Elizabeth Mary Solymosy

Christine Isabelle Steele

Melanie Lauren Steele

Asha Renae Stevens

Nina Marie Strathman

Lauren Tice

Melissa Torres

Mikaella Danielle Torres

Isabella Annette Varisco

Noa Itzel Vasquez

AnaSofia Camila Villagomez

Elise Vo

Adelaide Sundihya Yanez

Selene Keira Yao

Kelly Grace Yates

Claire Young

Houston’s Catholic, identity-forming, college-prep school for girls age three through grade 12

Class of 2026 College Acceptances

The Class of 2026 graduates earned more than $10 million in merit-based scholarships and were admitted to 144 colleges and universities:

American University

Anderson University (South Carolina)

Angelo State University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Austin College

Ave Maria University

Bard College

Baylor University

Belmont University

Benedictine College

Blinn College

Boston University

Cal Poly

Case Western Reserve University

Clemson University

Colorado School of Mines

Colorado State University

Drake University

Drexel University

Emerson College

Emmanuel College Fisher College

Florida Southern College

Fordham University

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Furman University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Hampton University

Harvey Mudd College

Hawai’i Pacific University

High Point University

Hofstra University

Houston Community College

Hult International Business School

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Indiana University Indianapolis

Iowa State University

Kansas State University

Keene State College

La Salle University

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University New Orleans

Lynn University

Marist University

McGill University

Mercer University

Mississippi State University

New York University

North Carolina State University

Northern Arizona University

Oklahoma State University

Penn State University

Pepperdine University

Pratt Institute

Purdue University

Rhodes College

Rice University

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rollins College

Saint Edward’s University

Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Louis University

Saint Mary’s College

Salve Regina University

Sam Houston State University

Samford University

Seton Hall University

South Dakota School of Mines

and Technology

Southern Methodist University

Southwestern University

St. John’s University (New York)

St. Lawrence University

St. Mary’s University

Stephen F. Austin State University

Suffolk University

SUNY Korea

Syracuse University

Temple University

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University at Galveston

Texas Christian University

Texas State University

Texas Tech University

Texas Woman’s University

The American University of Paris

The Ohio State University

Thomas Jefferson University

Toronto Metropolitan University

Trinity University

Tulane University

Union College

United States Air Force Academy

University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of California (Davis)

University of California ( Los Angeles)

University of California (San Diego)

University of California (Santa Barbara)

University of California (Santa Cruz)

University of Colorado (Boulder)

University of Connecticut

University of Dallas

University of Denver

University of Houston

University of Houston (Downtown)

University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Louisiana (Lafayette)

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Miami

University of Mississippi

University of New Hampshire

University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma

University of Oregon

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rhode Island

University of San Francisco

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of St. Thomas (Texas)

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Texas

University of Texas (Arlington)

University of Texas (Dallas)

University of Texas (San Antonio)

University of Texas (Tyler)

University of the Incarnate Word

University of Toronto

University of Tulsa

University of Vermont

University of Washington

Villanova University

Western Washington

University

Woodbury University

Xavier University of Louisiana

duchesne.org

NATION & STATE

HOUSTON (OSV News) — The Knights of Peter Claver, one of the Catholic Church’s largest historically Black Catholic lay fraternal organizations, said it “offers its full support” for Pope Leo XIV’s acknowledgment of the Church’s role in slavery.

The apology was included in “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” the pope’s first encyclical.

The highly anticipated document, signed by the pope on May 15 and released May 25, invoked the wisdom of the Church’s social teaching — which articulates the means of building a just society and living out holiness in modern life — as a framework for shaping AI amid rapid technological advances, a fractured global order and accelerating threats to human dignity.

Warning against AI’s potential to cause “new forms of slavery” — especially by facilitating human trafficking and exploiting laborers, including children, in mining resource minerals for the technology — Pope Leo lamented “the delay with which both society and the Church came to denounce the scourge of slavery.”

That delay spanned some 18 centuries, he noted, describing it as “a wound in Christian memory, one from which we

cannot consider ourselves detached.”

The transatlantic slave trade saw some 12 million to 20 million Africans enslaved in various Western nations, including the U.S., over a period of four centuries.

In section 176 of the encyclical, Pope Leo noted that “in antiquity and the Middle Ages many individuals and even ecclesiastical institutions had slaves,” adding that the Vatican had, in the early modern period, “intervened several times in order to regulate and legitimize forms of subjugation, and, in certain cases, the enslavement of ‘infidels.’”

But, said the pope, “it was only in the

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

A portion of the “Absolute Equality” mural in Galveston, depicts elements related to Juneteenth and the June 19, 1865, announcement of the end of slavery in Texas near the site of General Order No. 3. Pope Leo XIV’s newest encyclical included an apology about the Church’s role in slavery.

nineteenth century that a formal, absolute and universal condemnation of slavery was clearly articulated, notably under Pope Leo XIII,” whose papacy saw the foundations laid for Catholic social teaching.

In his 1888 encyclical “In Plurimis,” Pope Leo XIII, quoting St. Augustine, declared that God, having created man in his image,“wished that he should rule only over the brute creation; that he should be the master, not of men, but of beasts.”

Writing in his 1890 encyclical “Catholicae Ecclesiae,” Pope Leo XIII stated, “We have taken every occasion to openly condemn this gloomy plague of slavery,” noting that “slavery opposes religion and human dignity.”

His predecessor’s 19th-century recognition of slavery’s evil “offers a clear example of the Church’s growth in understanding the perennial truths of Revelation that she safeguards,” said Pope Leo XIV.

“It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord,” Pope Leo said in his new encyclical. “For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”

“The Holy Father’s words reflect a spirit of humility, truth, and pastoral leadership that is not only essential for healing and reconciliation, but also embodies the ministry of our patron, St. Peter Claver,” said Supreme Knight Christopher Pichon Sr., CEO of the Knights of Peter Claver, in a May 26 statement.

The organization’s patron, a 17thcentury Jesuit missionary, spent some four decades ministering to slaves

in Cartagena (now in modern-day Colombia), which at the time was South America’s main slave market. The saint — who dubbed himself “the slave of the slaves forever” — provided pastoral care to hundreds of thousands of enslaved persons, while advocating for their dignity and humane treatment. Canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, St. Peter Claver is a patron of the enslaved.

“As an organization rooted in faith, justice, and the lived experience of Black Catholics, we recognize the significance of this historic acknowledgment,” Pichon said. “We affirm that acknowledging past wrongs is an important step toward strengthening the Church’s witness to the dignity of every human person.”

Pichon added that Pope Leo’s“statement reminds us all of our shared responsibility to confront both past and present injustice with honesty, compassion, and faith.” He said the Knights of Peter Claver remain “committed to walking in unity with the Holy Father and the Church as we continue to promote justice, healing and the Gospel message of human dignity for all.”

In a March 2023 statement, the Vatican formally distanced itself from three papal bulls — “Dum Diversas,” 1452; “Romanus Pontifex,” 1455; and “Inter Caetera,” 1493 — argued to have supported the development of the slave trade and the now-repudiated “Doctrine of Discovery.”

That statement, jointly issued by the dicasteries for Culture and Education and for Promoting Integral Human Development, stressed that “historical research clearly demonstrates” the bulls, “written in a specific historical period and linked to political questions, have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith.”

In his encyclical, Pope Leo said the “memory of past complicity and blindness in the face of the injustice of slavery becomes a call to vigilance.”

“What we have learned must be translated into discernment and responsibility in the present,” said Pope Leo. He added, “If we want to avoid the need to ask for pardon again in the future for having failed to respect the treasure of human dignity that is required by our faith, it falls to us today to denounce, clearly and firmly, trafficking in its many forms and, together with all who are committed to this cause, to support concrete efforts of prevention, protection, liberation and rehabilitation.” †

MUNDO CATÓLICO

‘Magnifica Humanitas’: un recordatorio de la ‘responsabilidad moral’ en la supervisión de la IA, afirma un experto

(OSV News) — En el corazón de la primera encíclica del Papa León XIV, “Magnifica Humanitas” (‘Magnífica Humanidad’), reside la convicción de que, en la era de una inteligencia artificial (IA) en constante avance, la innovación tecnológica debe estar subordinada a la dignidad humana.

Para David Kirchhoffer, director del Centro de Bioética de Queensland en la Universidad Católica Australiana, el llamado de la encíclica a mantener a la humanidad en el centro de la revolución digital debe traducirse en regulaciones concretas que faciliten la rendición de cuentas moral.

“Existe un peligro real de que las personas cedan su responsabilidad moral a la IA, o de que esta les sea arrebatada”, declaró Kirchhoffer a OSV News el 25 de mayo.

“Por esta razón, desde un punto de vista práctico, todo desarrollo y aplicación de la IA debería incorporar una supervisión humana --especialmente en los puntos clave de toma de decisiones--, y la responsabilidad moral debería recaer en estos agentes”.

Además, “el desarrollo de la IA no puede ni debe significar que dejemos de buscar nuevos conocimientos y de hallar nuevas respuestas de esa manera singularmente humana”, afirmó Kirchhoffer, añadiendo que el conocimiento debería ser “descubierto mediante la indagación humana” y no simplemente producido por un modelo de lenguaje grande (LLM), un tipo de IA entrenada con datos para generar texto.

DAVID KIRCHOFFER

En “Magnifica Humanitas”, el Papa León abogó por la adopción de medidas para garantizar una economía que reconozca y favorezca la dignidad humana, ante todo mediante la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas.

“Cuando los datos y los algoritmos influyen en la concesión de créditos, la selección de personal o el acceso a servicios u oportunidades, es necesario que las decisiones sean comprensibles, cuestionables y sometidas a control, para que la persona no quede reducida a un perfil”, escribió el Papa.

Haciéndose eco de las inquietudes del Papa, Kirchhoffer, un teólogo especializado en moral, ética y el concepto de dignidad humana, declaró a OSV News que “el peligro radica en que la IA puede ofrecerme respuestas plausibles a asuntos aparentemente complejos en los ámbitos del derecho, la ética, la medicina, etcétera”.

“A menos que cuente con la pericia necesaria para detectar las inexactitudes y verificar dichas respuestas, existe un riesgo real de seguir malos consejos o, simplemente, de desperdiciar mi tiempo en empeños inútiles”, afirmó.

“La inteligencia artificial --y especialmente los LLM-- solo será tan buena como la información con la que haya sido entrenada”, señaló Kirchhoffer. “Existen tantas lagunas en nuestro saber, así como sesgos éticos en los conocimientos de los que ya disponemos --por todo tipo de razones--, que necesitamos buscar constantemente un conocimiento mejor, empleando los criterios adecuados para cada campo de investigación, a fin de generar un saber de alta calidad que sea éticamente superior, además de intelectualmente superior”.

El Papa León también advirtió contra el “síndrome de Babel”, el cual, señaló, se caracteriza por la idolatría del lucro, una uniformidad que neutraliza las diferencias y la reducción del misterio humano a meros datos.

“Este es el riesgo de la deshumanización --construir el futuro excluyendo a Dios y reduciendo al otro a un medio--, una tentación antigua y siempre nueva, que hoy también toma un rostro técnico”, escribió el pontífice.

Al preguntársele qué políticas deberían formular los reguladores para evitar que el “síndrome de Babel” dicte el desarrollo de la IA, Kirchhoffer afirmó que la “solución no reside tanto en regular la IA en sí misma, cuanto en orientar aquello que valoramos como sociedad”.

“El ‘síndrome de Babel’ se nutre, precisamente, de una visión reduccionista de la persona humana, de la sociedad humana y del valor humano”, explicó. “Mientras sigamos midiendo las economías únicamente en función de la productividad o del PIB; mientras concibamos el éxito meramente en términos económicos; mientras consideremos que la vida solo es valiosa

APOYO PASTORAL A VÍCTIMAS DE

ABUSO SEXUAL DEL CLERO

En un continuo esfuerzo por facilitar atención pastoral a las victimas de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, el Arzobispo Joe Vásquez gustaría recordar a los fieles de la Arquidiócesis la disponibilidad del Coordinador de Ayuda a Víctimas. Si alguien ha sido victim de abuso sexual del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, se les anima llamar a la Diane Vines al 713-654-5799. Por favor rece por la sanación de las víctimas del abuso y por todos los que sufren de alguna manera.

si resulta útil, generaremos sociedades que ‘entrenarán’ a la IA a nuestra propia imagen reduccionista”.

También advirtió que lo peor “no es meramente la pérdida de diversidad, sino la pérdida de excelencia”.

“Nos conformamos con lo ‘suficientemente bueno’ en nombre de la eficiencia. La IA --tal como se está desarrollando actualmente--, a pesar de su evidente promesa, tiende a terminar cayendo víctima de esta mediocridad”, declaró a OSV News.

Las medidas concretas que deben adoptar los reguladores, continuó Kirchhoffer, han de“centrarse en políticas educativas que valoren la inteligencia y la creatividad humanas” y “que promuevan la comprensión humana a través de las humanidades y el pensamiento crítico”.

“El antídoto contra el ‘síndrome de Babel’ es el mismo que el antídoto contra la alienación de la industrialización: una participación significativa en la creación y el disfrute de bienes humanos genuinos”, afirmó.

“Magnifica Humanitas” también planteó serias inquietudes respecto al impacto medioambiental de la industria de la IA, señalando los ingentes recursos necesarios para sostenerla.

“Los actuales sistemas de IA requieren grandes cantidades de energía y agua,

inciden de manera significativa en las emisiones de anhídrido carbónico y consumen recursos de manera intensiva”, escribió el Papa, haciendo un llamamiento al desarrollo de “soluciones tecnológicas más sostenibles para reducir el impacto sobre el medioambiente y cuidar nuestra Casa común”.

El impacto medioambiental de la IA, señaló Kirchhoffer, constituye un “problema significativo” que resulta “en gran medida invisible para la mayoría de los usuarios de la IA”.

“Es tan fácil de utilizar que, al igual que al encender una luz, apenas reparamos en el impacto medioambiental de la IA”, afirmó.

Abogando por un enfoque del “palo y la zanahoria” --que castigue las malas prácticas e incentive las buenas--, Kirchhoffer declaró a OSV News que desarrollar soluciones de IA más “sostenibles” no solo es factible, sino necesario.

“La humanidad no puede permitirse destruirse a sí misma. Es tan sencillo como eso”, afirmó. “Por consiguiente, todo desarrollador y usuario de IA debería esforzarse emplear su ingenio humano para hallar soluciones que permitan aprovechar los beneficios de la inteligencia artificial sin incurrir en

SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS OR ISSUES?

Have questions about subscriptions, delivery or circulation? Call 713-652-4444 or email TDIELI@ARCHGH.ORG for help. Visit ARCHGH.ORG/SUBSCRIBE for more.

WITHIN THE ARTS

A father’s farewell: Journalist recalls personal bond with Pope Francis in new book

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — The world had its eyes fixed on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in 2025, waiting, hoping and praying that Pope Francis would recover.

The pope was admitted to the hospital Feb. 14, 2025, after suffering for a week with what was later diagnosed as a respiratory tract infection.

Like all journalists at the time, Vatican News correspondent Salvatore Cernuzio was monitoring daily bulletins for updates on the pope’s condition. However, his interest in the pope’s health wasn’t just professional; it was personal.

It was the third day of his hospitalization, and the latest news was that the pope was without fever and had “devoted himself to some work activities and reading texts.” Yet it was in the afternoon of Feb. 17 when Cernuzio’s phone buzzed; it was the pope’s nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, with a message: “The Holy Father asks if you can come here because he needs to talk to you.”

Arriving at the hospital as soon as he could, the Italian journalist met with the pope, who was weakened and uncertain about what lay ahead. While most people

addressed the pope as “Your Holiness” or “Holy Father,” Cernuzio addressed him in the way that defined their relationship: “Padre” (“Father”).

“Here, we don’t know how it will end,” the pope told him. Occasionally interrupted by coughing, Pope Francis explained why he asked Cernuzio to

PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD

Pope Francis waves as he enters the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia while then-Archbishop Charles Chaput looks on during the pope’s papal trip to the U.S. in 2015.

Vatican News correspondent Salvatore Cernuzio has released the book new book “Padre,” offering a deeply personal portrait of the late pontiff.

come see him.

“Since you are like a son, a grandson, a brother to me, I wanted to say goodbye,”he said. Overcome with emotion, Cernuzio left in tears after saying goodbye.

“I cried desperately,” Cernuzio said April 9. “I walked out thinking, ‘What do I do now?’ It really felt like you’re about to lose someone close.”

“At the same time, I understood that maybe I really had a special place in his heart. Even though he always showed it, he was someone who welcomed everyone, followed everyone and called many people. I always thought I was just one of many — a journalist friend, someone he had a particular affection for,” he said. “But in that moment, amid all that chaos, the fact that he thought to say goodbye to me — it broke my heart.”

That encounter, recounted in his new book “Padre,” is among the many intimate moments he shared, offering a deeply personal portrait of the late pontiff. Cernuzio drew on years of conversations and encounters to reveal a side of Pope Francis that was known but rarely seen.

While the book is currently only available in Italian, Cernuzio said he hoped that it would be published in

MOVIE RATINGS By OSV News

A-I – SUITABLE FOR ALL

• David (PG)

A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN

• Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End (NR)

• The Breadwinner (PG)

• The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13)

A-III – ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS

• Michael (PG-13)

• Pressure (PG-13)

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13)

L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE

• In the Grey (R)

• Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (R)

• The Drama (R)

• Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (R)

O – MORALLY OFFENSIVE

• Mortal Kombat II (R)

• Obsession (R)

• The Sheep Detectives (PG)

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

English in the future.

Cernuzio said that now, upon the first anniversary of the pope’s death April 21, “I saw and felt that his memory is still very much alive” and that what remained was “this great image of the pope.”

“I thought that since I had the gift of being close to him, it was right to share it, to tell others, to show that what people saw publicly, the face that was so loved and appreciated, was not that different from the private one,” he explained.

Yet, above all, Cernuzio said the book served as a tribute and “an act of gratitude.”

“A colleague really encouraged me, saying that I had experienced so many unique and even absurd situations with him that it would be a shame not to write them down, first of all for myself and for my children. And so once it took shape, I thought it was right to go ahead.”

Cernuzio said that while he “didn’t censor many things,” he also wanted to respect “that space of trust that we had.”

“Sometimes he would joke, saying, ‘This is a pontifical secret.’ I know that no longer applies, but there’s still a form of respect I owe him,” he said.

Not long after the pope’s death, tributes on social media poured in, highlighting not only the pontiff’s compassion and downto-earth nature, but especially his humor.

Whether it was a head of state or a group of nuns, Cernuzio said the pope always liked to break the ice with a joke.

In his book, the journalist recalled the pope telling him about a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “I saw her on stage dressed in white and I said to her: ‘Did you come to make your first Communion?’”

“He would joke about me, about Meloni, about others — it was just part of who he was,” Cernuzio said. “It was his way of being approachable, even likable. He always preached good humor. Of course, he could get heated or rigid — he had a very strong character — but he had this way of breaking the ice with a joke, welcoming people, putting them at ease.”

Cernuzio would often visit the pope at his residence in Domus Sanctae Marthae, often bringing the pontiff’s favorite treat: dulce de leche granizado, a caramelized milk ice cream with crunchy chocolate chips.

“There was a kind of trust,” he said.“He would say, ‘Take that from the drawer, put the ice cream in the fridge, wait — no, go into the bedroom.’ And I’d think, ‘My God, I’m in the pope’s house!’”

While Cernuzio said his meetings with the pope felt like “visiting a family friend who is a priest,” it did not diminish his leadership as pontiff nor the awareness of “his role and the important decisions he had to make.” Nevertheless, Pope Francis “maintained this strong humanity, this priestly sense.”

“I never felt like he was just going through the motions. Many people confirmed this: When you were with him, it was just you. Even if moments before he had called someone or had another meeting lined up, during that half-hour, you were the only one. And that made you feel valued.” †

CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE 2026 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 2026.

The 82 members of the Class of 2026 have been accepted to 80 colleges and universities including Baylor University, Benedictine College, Catholic University of America, Creighton University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Pepperdine University, Rice University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Texas A&M University, The United States Naval Academy, Universidad de Navarra, University of San Diego, and University of St. Thomas. Combined, they have been awarded more than $6.1 million in scholarships.

PRESENTING THE CLASS OF 2026

Caleb Ewan Albright

Gian Cristian Alpuche

Sofia Berezowsky◊

Eduardo Enrique Betancourt

Reese Elizabeth Blanton

Sebastian Xavier Bowles*

Sarah Grace Boyd

Isabel Mercedes Brumfield

Nathaniel Douglas Ray Burris

Joshelle Anne Cabriana‡

Calan Scott Cogburn

Madeline Anela Conner*

Sean William Corcoran

Aengus Eoin Cox

Johanna Rose Curtin*

Milagros Maria Curutchet‡

Isabel Juliana D’Souza

Jude Karol Davis

Caden Dixon

Anderson Paul Dufrene

Petra Elk

Rylan Ashley Ellis

Evan Charles Filley

Stella Elise Fournier*‡

Maripaz Gaitan*‡

Aurora Giuseppina Gonzalez-Vizzani*◊

Don Vuong Ha*

Alexander Zoltan Hazos*

Clare Frances Henrich*◊

Charles Joseph Hinkle

Christian Brian Hougen

Victoria Isabella Huerta*◊

Lukene Ibarreche

Elisa Marie Ikhbeis

Olivia Margaret Jacobs

Michael Connor Johnston*

Cecilia Elizabeth Kloesel

Angelica Maria Labanca*

Andrew Connor Lazenby

Gianna Natalia Lorenzetti*◊

Stefano Maria Marchisio

Riley Elizabeth Martin*

Rex James Mckeig*

Grace Eliza Miller

Connor Patrick Moe*

Sharon Abigail Mondragon

Sabrina Nicole Munguia‡

Archer Naeger

Patrick Haidang Ngo

Thomas Huv Tam Nguyen‡

John Gavin Nielsen

Aylaryn Alice Noel*◊

Micah Clarence Nolin

Jack Richard Okruhlik

Elena Patricia Oseguera

Charles Joseph Pearson

Jessica Rachel Perera‡

William Matthew Pickett

Lindsey Nicole Pinchback

Emma Natalia Proske*‡

Philip Daniel Rathe

Annmarie Lucero Revote‡

Nadia Rios*‡

Camille Roblesgil

Benjamin Louis Ross

Christopher James Ross

Mia Jaye Ruston

Hanna Claire Sellers

Maegan Elizabeth Sexton*

Sara Annmarie Smith

Will Sorensen

Murphy Ruth Spinos

Brendan Sweeney

Luke Joseph Szostak

Clare Alicia Tavares*

Andrea Nicole Tognotti‡

Catherine Anne Tognotti*‡

Miranda Lynn Tomczak

Luke Brian Twellman*

Lillian Grace Wilkerson*

Anthony Michael Williams*

Lukas Ignacio Yabut

*National Honor Society

◊

National French Honor Society ‡National Spanish Honor Society

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

To see more listings in the Around the Archdiocese or to find the latest updates, visit www.archgh.org/ata.

JUNE 12-13

AGAPE CONGRESS, Friday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Prince of Peace (19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston). Prince of Peace Pro-Life Ministry hosts conference on love, identity, relationships and Catholic teaching through Theology of the Body. June 13 event includes English/Spanish sessions, childcare and youth and children programs, with topics on parenting, culture, truth and compassion. Agape Youth Congress is on Friday, and a special Kids Congress for second to fifth graders will take place during Saturday’s conference. Cost: $10/ high schoolers; $15/adults and kids. 281-6270340; agape@pophouston.org.

JUNE 12-14

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Three-day 12-step study weekend for those working 12-step programs, providing an opportunity to grow spiritually and participate with others. Cost: $265/$250 for 65 and older. registrar.holyname@passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/12-step-retreats.

JUNE 13

EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION, 8 a.m., Sacred Heart (109 N Frazier St., Conroe). Eucharistic Procession through downtown Conroe as part of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Procession will start outside of the church at approximately 9:15 a.m.

after the 8 a.m. Bi-Lingual Mass. Benediction will be held inside the church after the procession. the99SH@gmail.com.

AWARDS LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW, 1:30 p.m., Union Station at Daikin Park (501 Crawford St., Houston). Astros Foundation sponsors St. Mary of the Purification Catholic School benefit with live music, food, silent auction, wine pull and more than 40 models on a runway.

JUNE 20

LADIES DAY RETREAT, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Angela Merici (9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City).

Spiritual Director Spiritual Director Heather Reichert hosts a retreat on how to move from anxiety to trust, from control to surrender, and from overwhelm to a steady, grounded peace through reflection, prayer and practical takeaways. Cost: $30. businessmgr@stamericigh. com; rebrand.ly/merici-ladies-retreat-26.

FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION, 6 p.m., St. Albert of Trapani (11027 S Gessner Rd., Houston). Knights of Columbus Council 5678 hosts an annual celebration of fathers. Cost: $30/singles and $60/ couples. 713-569-8810; animighty@yahoo.com.

JUNE 25-27

SUMMER CHANT WORKSHOP, Thursday at 7 p.m., St. Mary’s Seminary (9845 Memorial Dr., Houston). St. Basil’s School of Gregorian Chant summer workshop includes lecture, sacred music chant social and sung compline on Thursday evening. On Friday and Saturday, participants will sing the Divine Office, and participate in workshops and conferences. Cost: $235. Register: chantschool.org.

Café Catholica 2026: Rest in Him

The Café Catholica summer series is open to all young adults (ages 18–39) and features dynamic speakers, prayer, and fellowship. Schedule: Confession at 5:15 p.m., Mass at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 7:15 p.m., and a talk at 8:15 p.m.

July 9

The Lord’s Invitation to Burdened Hearts: Lessons from Pope Leo XIV Archbishop Joe Vásquez, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

July 16

Divine Design for Relationship: Living God’s Vision for Love and Sexuality

Katie Hartfiel, Author of She Shall Be Called Woman

July 23

Life of Adventure in the Holy Spirit: Resting with God while Living Boldly Fr. Patrick Gonyeau C. PPS., Formator for Encounter School of Healing

July 30

Animated by Love: Serving Christ in the Poor

Cecilia Flores, Director of Catholic Volunteer Network

Location for all evenings ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PARISH 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston

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

JUNE 26-28

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S RETREAT, Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Three-day retreat includes the Mass, confession, conferences and private prayer. Open to parish groups, mothers/daughters (16+) and individuals. Cost: $265. Register: holynameretreatcenter.com/catholic-retreats.

JUNE 30

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, 7 to 9 p.m., Jerome Parish Activity Center Room D (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Event revisits familiar Scripture with new depth, insight and meaning for today. Father Jonathan Moré, pastor of St. Jerome, will present “Noah and the Ark.” Cost: $20. info@ emmausspiritualitycenter.com; 281-241-9678; emmausspiritualitycenter.com.

JULY 1

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

JULY 18-26

NOVENA, 6 a.m., St. Anne de Beaupre (2810 Link Rd., Houston). Nine-day novena to St. Anne begins with Adoration at 6 a.m., Mass at 7 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday, July 24, following 7 a.m. Mass until 3 p.m. Prayer breakfast on Sunday, July 26, following 9 a.m. Mass sponsored by Knights of Peter Claver #101. st.bernadette101@gmail.com.

Having an Event?

Share it with thousands of print and digital readers. Scan the QR code to fill out the form and send your event to Around the Archdiocese. Learn more at ARCHGH.ORG/ATA .

JULY 25

DINNER & DANCE, 6 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish Hall (110 E South St., Alvin). Catholic Daughters of the Americas St. John the Baptist Court #2073 host “Denim & Diamonds” catered steak dinner with live music and DJ, dancing, games, raffle, silent and live auctions. Cost: $40 thru July 19; $50 after; 832-755-5863; lelahoffmann5@gmail.com; alvincdacourt2073.org. ••• For additional listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA

MILESTONES

BY MEGAN DOHERTY/HERALD

Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate mark silver milestone

Archbishop Vásquez dedicates new altar at St. Nicholas

PHOTO

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez pours Sacred Chrism as he dedicates the new altar at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Houston during a Mass on May 23.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGNIFICAT HOUSES INC.

The Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate celebrated their Silver Jubilee on May 30, marking 25 years of dedicated service in the U.S. The celebration took place at St. Joseph Syro Malabar Forane Catholic Church in Missouri City and was presided over by Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt, the bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago. The Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate first established their presence in Houston in 2001, sponsored by Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza.

SENIORS 2026

st. thomas high school

Matthew Alvarado

David Alvarez

Jesus Barboza

Austin Barrett

Diego Barrios

Charles Bartley

Tucker Bayer

Noah Beard

Charles Beck

Angel Benavides

Noah Benesh

Thomas Blackburn

Matthew Boruta

Matthew Brolan

Richard Brush

William Bryant

Gavin Burford

Philip Burguieres

Ryan Burke

Armando Campos

Andres Cano

David Carbajal

Angel Cepeda

Italo Chavarria Mendez

Luca Chavez

Matthew Chung

Emmett Clanton

Braden Comstock

William Cook

Dylan Courtney

Patrick Daily

J Dominic Davila

Jeffrey Day

Abner De Anda

Noah De Meritt

Charlie Diamond

Gavin DiBella

James Dixon

Garrett Doyle

William Doyle

Kaiden Drabek

Avi Draksharam

Alex Dray

Joseph Edmundson

Luke Egan

Emery Ehring

Gabriel Eldin

Gavin Erdmann

Noah Finkelman

Peter Flodin

Moises Flores

Vito Folgado

Andres Garcia

Sebastian Garza

Grant Gauss

Emmanuel Gomez

Thomas Grafton

John Granger

Anthony Green

Patrick Hagemeister

Zacariah Hart

William Hatten

Dennis Hellwig

Hudson Hendee

Augustus Hendricks

Mariano Hess

Bailey Holub

Luke Hubbard

Dominic Hurd

Maksim Ilyin

Ari Jones

Oliver Jones

William King

Cal Kirkpatrick

Quinn Klenke

John Kobe

Santiago Lamas

Zachary Lambert

Alexander Lauzon

Joseph Lawless

Andres Levaro

Maximillian Leybovich

Evan Loera

Brandon Lofton

Charles Lofton

Hudson Loyd

Tripp Luther

James Marcantel

Christopher Martinez

Kai Martinez

Logan Martinez

Marc Martinez

Mario Martinez

Kale Mazurek

Liam McCarthy

Ford McCauley

Joshua McStay

Benjamin Metry

Jonah Moore

Max Moore

Christian Moreno

Ian Morton

Zack Moser

Chase Moyse

Benjamin Mundell

Nikolas Nakaidze

Joshua Neal

Nicolas Negron

Samuel Noser

Benjamin Nuar

Luis Oliver Lebron

Joseph Oppermann

Luke Orr

William Otto

Aidan Paek

Sebastian Palermo

William Patout

Blake Perkins

Hoa Phan

Gabriel Pina

William Plante

Jonah Poizat

Alexander Pompilus

William Prout

Jacob Quinlan

Shea Rager

David Ramirez

Jacob Ramos

Aidan Reese Salisbury

Parker Reeves

Alberto Rivera

Reid Roberson

Ryan Robertson

Andrew Rodriguez

Michael Rodriguez

Samuel Rodriguez

Gabriel Romero-Raas

Frederick Ruppert

Jackson Ryals

Simon Saburov

Matthew Scambray

William Sellers

Pedro Sequeira Houser

Benjamin Serrett

Milan Shelton

Brant Siegel

Juan David Sierra

James Skelton

Jake Smith

Caleb Soluren

Michael Taylor

Samuel Thoede

Dean Thomas

Nate Tidwell

Michael Trevino

Obinna Umeh

Benjamin Valdes

Ivan Valdes

Aaron Vargas

Sebastian Vargas

Jackson Vaughn

Tyler Veillon

Dylan Vettical

Augustus Walcik

Javaughn Waldron

Bryce Watson

Jack Wibbelsman

Evan Wilson

Joseph Womack

William Woodford

Edward Yannul

Xander Young