Parishes, schools celebrate Year of the Horse traditions ▪ SEE PAGE 9
MARCH 10, 2026
GIDDY UP! RODEO SEASON IS HERE
Trail rides bring Texas history, heritage to life ▪ SEE PAGE 12 SPIRITUALITY
‘Jesus is on our side’: Thousands answer Christ’s call at Rite of Election
Liturgies
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — The sound began softly, a shuffle of feet and pews as the first names were called.
Then waves of people across six packed parishes rose, row after row, until eventually nearly 3,000 would stand. It was the unmistakable sight of the Rite of Election, when the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston welcomed the largest number of people ever preparing to enter the Catholic Church. This year, 1,983 catechumens and 972 candidates were formally presented, a record total of 2,955 according to the Office of Worship.
At the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez watched as hundreds
See RITE OF ELECTION, page 5
MINISTRY
St. Joseph Altars carry Sicilian tradition in faith
BY RON KUZLIK Herald Correspondent
SPRING — March 19 is the feast day of St. Joseph, a solemnity honoring the earthly father of Jesus, husband of Mary and protector of the Holy Family.
He is also the patron saint of Italians, particularly those from the Mediterranean island of Sicily.
Several parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston commemorate this feast day with a variety of customs and foods made especially for the occasion. It all started in the Middle Ages in Sicily during a terrible famine. Sicilians prayed to their patron saint, St. Joseph, to bring rain and alleviate their suffering.
Rain soon arrived, and the crops
See ST. JOSEPH, page 6
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
‘WORTHY OF PASCHAL GRACES’
Lenten CRS
Rice Bowl offers a simple way
to help fight hunger in Houston, abroad
Leaders
say collection, support is more
critical than
ever after foreign aid cuts
BY ELIZABETH MORALES Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — Throughout the season of Lent, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl can be seen on display in the narthex and offices of many Catholic churches, schools and even homes.
Parishioners, students and families often keep these Rice Bowls in visible places, desk tops, entrance tables and countertops where they can place cash or coin donations, collecting them throughout Lent as a daily reminder and tangible way to live out the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
“We invite you to join the over 100 parishes and schools right here in our Archdiocese that are teaming up to live out
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez presides over a Rite of Election Liturgy at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.
PHOTO BY CONY CARDONA/CRS
Maribel, mother of Juana, feeds her daughter in Janlay, Guatemala. The family benefits from Catholic Relief Services’ nutrition classes in Guatemala that educate families about the types of nutrients found in different foods and how they affect the body through support and recipes.
A Shepherd’s Message
By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez
Arzobispo Vásquez comparte su mensaje en línea en español. Visite www.archgh.org para leer su artículo en línea.
The holy season of Lent prepares our hearts and minds to celebrate Easter. This season of grace provides us with an opportunity to invite the Lord into our weakness and vulnerability. We allow Jesus to heal and strengthen the areas of life that are in need of His mercy and compassion.
The Church gives us the pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to guide us on our journey. Prayer places God at the center. Fasting reminds us that our appetites do not rule us. Almsgiving shifts our attention to our brothers and sisters in need. These practices create space for the Lord to work within our hearts.
ARCHBISHOP
On Sunday, March 15, the Church celebrates “Rejoice Sunday,” which marks the halfway point of Lent and encourages us to persevere. At this point, some of us may need to begin again, and there is no shame in this because we serve a God who readily forgives. For the remainder of this season, I encourage you to take on one or two practices that foster communion rather than isolation.
For prayer, choose a daily moment of silence to listen to the Word of God. Read the Gospel of the day and ask the Lord for one concrete step to take. Pray by name for a person who has been difficult to love. Pray for the Catechumens and Candidates who will come into full communion with the Church at Easter. Replace one online scroll with 10 minutes of intercession.
For fasting, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, in his Lenten message, invited us to refrain from words that offend and hurt others and choose speech that honors the dignity of every person. In place of harsh words, we can cultivate kindness and respect. If we do this, “words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace,” said Pope Leo.
For almsgiving, choose a work of mercy. Volunteer with a parish ministry. Visit a neighbor who is homebound. Write a note to someone who is grieving. When we serve the poor, we meet Christ. Our almsgiving should lead us to encounter the face of Christ.
Our Holy Father reminds us that Lent is a “shared journey.”Together, in our parishes, families and communities, we more intentionally pray, fast and give alms to become more united as a Church and more conformed to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Holiness is not an isolated and private endeavor; rather, it takes place within our community of faith.
JOE S. VÁSQUEZ You make the ministry of our future Priests possible.
“In
this holy season of Lent, we grow together as the body of Christ so that the world can experience His tender love and compassion. ”
Pope Leo reminds us, “conversion refers not only to one’s conscience, but also to the quality of our relationships and dialogue. It means allowing ourselves to be challenged by reality and recognizing what truly guides our desires — both within our ecclesial communities and as regards humanity’s thirst for justice and reconciliation.” In this holy season, we grow together as the body of Christ so that the world can experience His tender love and compassion.
Finally, remember that Christ walks with us. If we keep our eyes on Him, this season will not be one more burden, but it will be a path of renewal that prepares us to enter the Paschal Mystery with hearts made new. †
Nearly 60 men are currently in formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston to become the next generations of priests. These men spend anywhere from 5 to 7 years preparing for their Ordination to the Priesthood.
To read more about our seminarians and how you can support them, visit www.smseminary.com. St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024
Jonah Dycus Communications Director & Executive Editor
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THE FIRST WORD
A Lenten Culinary Tour: Meatless meals from around the globe
With the start of Lent, we’re excited to bring you again a series that features different easy-to-make meatless recipes from around the world during the Lenten season.
“Red Red” is a beloved Ghanaian dish of black-eyed peas cooked in a red sauce and often served with fried plantains. The west African country offers this hearty and protein-rich meal, which popular not just for its taste but also for its affordability and nutritional benefits.
This dish requires soaking dried black-eyed peas overnight. You can substitute canned black-eyed peas or another
canned variety, like garbanzo beans, to decrease the preparation and cook time. As we abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, journey with us around the world and incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays. Give the money you saved each week by not eating meat — about $3 per person per meal — to your CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need around the world. See Page 7 to learn more about the Rice Bowl project. For more information and other free recipes, visit www.crsricebowl.org/recipe. †
HOUSTON — The Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry, in collaboration with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, is hosting a young adults mission trip experience to New York City (NYC) in August 2026.
If using dried black-eyed peas, after soaking, rinse them and cook in water until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot over medium heat, heat the palm oil. Add the chopped onions, garlic and ginger. Sauté until fragrant and translucent. Stir in the tomato paste and smoked paprika. Add cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and simmer until the tomatoes break down into a sauce. Add the black-eyed peas to the stew and mix well. Let it simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
In a frying pan over medium heat, heat the oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the plantain slices and fry them until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Plate the bean stew alongside the fried plantains. You can enjoy it with steamed rice or on its own.
Embracing Faith: Lenten guidelines
Lent continues through Good Friday, April 3, which is a day of fast and abstinence. Abstinence from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.
According to the U.S. bishops, fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Through works of fasting, prayer and abstinence, we heed the Prophet Joel’s exhortation to “return to God with our whole heart” (2:12). Lent is a penitential season and practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of charity and justice and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged. For more resources, including prayer guides, videos and links to stories, visit www.archgh.org/lent.
Save some trees and get the Texas Catholic Herald sent straight to your inbox with The Digest, our free email newsletter. For free features, exclusive content and more, sign up at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/TCHDIGEST.
The mission trip, set for Aug. 8 to 15, costs $1,150, with a $250 deposit to register, not including airfare. The trip includes an on-site introduction to cultural, economic and spiritual realities from local NYC faith leaders; learning from and assisting at the NYC Catholic Worker Houses; exploring cross-cultural and immigrant concerns; meeting with faith-based immigration and community redevelopment initiatives; and a free day in NYC.
The registration deadline is April 15. To learn more and to register, visit www.archgh.org/yamission. †
Annual priests vs. seminarians basketball game set for April 17
HOUSTON — The ninth annual Priests vs. Seminarians Basketball Game is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, April 17, at Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse, located at 6100 Main St. in Houston near the Texas Medical Center.
The seminarians’ Saints will face off against the priests’ Martyrs. All proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Seminary. Tickets went on sale Saturday, Feb. 21. For more information, visit www.houstonvocations.com/events or email vocations@ archgh.org. †
Catholic Family Night at the Astros
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros will take on the St. Louis Cardinals for Catholic Family Night at Daikin Park in downtown Houston on Saturday, April 18.
A portion of tickets sold supports the Steps For Students Tuition Assistance Fund, benefiting Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. Seats are in special reserved sections, and ticket prices range from $37.75 to $79.49. Tickets must be purchased by April 14 at 11:59 p.m. For group sales of 20 tickets or more call 713-259-8316 or email broussard@astros.com.
For more information, visit www.gofevo.com/event/ CatholicFamily2. †
LOCAL
Fish Frys around the Archdiocese
Need some help with lunch or dinner plans on Fridays? Let a nearby parish help! ▪ SEE PAGE 19
From Burton in ‘Becket’ to ‘Big George Foreman’:
Six Lent-worthy movies with conversion tales
(OSV News) — Lent is intended to be a period of ongoing or renewed conversion both for the faithful and for those about to enter the church as together they prepare for the annual celebration of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. Spiritual transformation can be a difficult experience to depict on screen, but some films have succeeded in portraying it well.
Following, in alphabetical order, are five classic movies and one contemporary production that showcase people’s ability to change their lives for the better. They feature some major players, from Richard Burton, John Wayne to James Cagney and Mickey Rooney, in addition to the likes of Houston legend turned world heavyweight champion George Foreman.
Most have the OSV News classification of A-II, which means viewing is suitable for adults and adolescents. Motion Picture Association ratings are listed where applicable. All six titles are available on disc and/or for streaming.
“ANGEL AND THE BADMAN” (1947)
Enjoyable low-key Western in which a wounded outlaw (John Wayne) is nursed back to health by a Quaker family whose daughter (Gail Russell) tries to get him to hang up his guns rather than square accounts with a bushwacker (Bruce Cabot). Directed by James Edward Grant, the unpretentious yet thoughtful story features a very likable cast, including Harry Carey as the sage sheriff. Solid social values with some meaningful stylized violence. The OSV News classification is A-I, viewable by most audiences. Free on many streaming services.
“ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES” (1938)
Depression melodrama in which a gang of New York toughs (Billy Hallop, Leo Gorcey and other Dead End Kids) regard a local gangster (James Cagney) as a hero until a priest (Pat O’Brien) who was his boyhood pal intervenes. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the simplistic plot is buttressed by convincing performances, especially the counterpoint between Cagney’s cocky crook and O’Brien’s sincere cleric. Stylized violence and justice questions. Streaming on Apple TV.
“THE BEACHCOMBER” AKA “VESSEL OF WRATH” (1938)
Droll romantic comedy from the W. Somerset Maugham tale of an English reprobate (Charles Laughton) carousing in the Dutch East Indies until reformed by the shrewish sister (Elsa Lanchester) of a missionary (Tyrone Guthrie), who herself is changed in the process.
Producer-director Erich Pommer mixes narrative, character and locale in wry fashion, abetted by the whimsical observations of the colonial governor (Robert Newton). But the real fun is the battle royal between the two principals. Comic treatment of human weaknesses
and puritanical compunctions. Free to stream online at Tubi.
“BECKET” (1964)
Superb adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s classic play about the deep friendship and later conflict between England’s King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) and his friend, Sir Thomas Becket (Richard Burton), later a saint, and how their days of drinking and womanizing came to an end when the monarch appointed Becket archbishop of Canterbury, leading to Becket’s spiritual transformation and ultimate martyrdom.
Director Peter Glenville’s film is rather stagy and leisurely paced, but the Oscar-winning dialogue is uncommonly literate, and the performances are brilliant. Some crass expressions and (by today’s standards) tame sexuality. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Free on Tubi, Amazon Prime and other services.
“BIG GEORGE FOREMAN” (2023)
Sports and faith come together in this generally family-friendly and appealing fact-based biography of the titular heavyweight boxing champion (Khris Davis). Resistant to the unwavering Christian devotion of his strong-willed mother (Sonja Sohn), the troubled and emotionally vulnerable youth eventually transforms his destructive rage into fighting prowess under the guidance of a caring mentor and coach (Forest Whitaker).
But a near-death experience brings about a radical conversion and, despite his status as a top contender, he abandons the ring for the pulpit and a quiet domestic life with his equally pious new spouse (Jasmine Mathews) until financial woes lead to fresh challenges. Sharper editing could have lent a faster pace to director and co-writer George Tillman Jr.’s tooleisurely profile.
But his narrative (scripted with Frank Baldwin) will naturally please believers and includes few problematic elements. Graphic boxing violence, an adultery theme, a scatological incident and fleeting scatological humor, a couple of instances each of mild swearing and crass language. (PG-13) Streaming on Hulu/Disney+.
“BOYS TOWN” (1938)
Sentimental but emotionally honest story of how Father Edward Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) built his school for homeless and delinquent youths during the Depression.
Directed by Norman Taurog, the Hollywood version centers on the conflict between the priest’s charismatic powers of persuasion and a street-tough (Mickey Rooney) who only thinks he’s hard-boiled. Tracy’s Oscar-winning performance as a role model for those in need of one was a credible blend of the idealistic and the pragmatic. (A-I). Free on Tubi. †
(OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY BOYS TOWN)
Father Edward Flanagan, the Irish-born priest who founded Boys Town in Nebraska, talks with a group of boys in this undated photo. The 1938 film “Boys Town” profiles the priest and his now-famous ministry.
Nearly 3,000 set to join local Church at Easter
stood before him. “Each one of you has your own particular story. I do not know how you got here, but it must be a unique story,” he said. “Know that I rejoice. Know that you now join us. You belong to Christ Jesus.”
Celebrated at parishes across the Archdiocese’s geographic span on Feb. 22, the First Sunday of Lent, the six bilingual Liturgies were hosted at Christ the Incarnate Word in Houston, St. Ignatius of Loyola in Spring, the CoCathedral, St. Michael the Archangel in Houston, Christ the Redeemer in Houston, and Mary Queen in Friendswood.
Several parish programs emerged as the largest contributors to this year’s record numbers. Sacred Heart Parish in Conroe led all communities with 86 catechumens, followed closely by St. Juan Diego Parish in Pasadena with 84. Among candidates, St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish in Katy brought 63, with St. John Vianney Parish in Houston next at 41.
Collectively, these parishes helped mark one of the broadest regional showings in recent memory, drawing catechumens and candidates from parishes spanning nine of the Archdiocese’s 10 counties. Archbishop Vásquez presided at Christ the Incarnate Word, the Co-Cathedral, and Mary Queen. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, celebrated at St. Ignatius and Christ the Redeemer, and Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, presided at St. Michael the Archangel.
At each Liturgy, sponsors stood beside the elect, often placing reassuring hands on shoulders as pastors proclaimed each name. “Let those who are to be chosen as the elect, as your name is called, stand together with your sponsors,”Archbishop Vásquez said, as pews rustled and groups rose in unison.
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
The Rite of Election marks the Church’s formal recognition that catechumens, or those never baptized, are ready for the final period of preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and
Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, this year on Saturday, April 4. Candidates, or people who are already baptized Christians, take part in the Call to Continuing Conversion within the same Liturgy. At the presider’s invitation, they stand with their sponsors as the bishop recognizes their readiness to complete initiation and be received into full communion at Easter, normally through Confirmation and Eucharist. Unlike catechumens, candidates are not enrolled in the Book of the Elect because they are already baptized.
Archbishop Vásquez emphasized the unity of the Church and the diverse stories represented among the elect.
“When you go to Catholic parishes, you will see people of different backgrounds and cultures. They are formed into one people,” he said. He urged them to continue forward in trust through Lent.
“Jesus is on our side. The devil has no power over us. Only God can help us. He defeats the devil every time.”
As each Liturgy concluded, the newly elected were sent forth to continue prayer and preparation for the scrutinies in the coming weeks, carrying with them the
moment they stood and were called by name. For more than 2,900 catechumens and candidates, the path to the Easter season now draws closer. †
PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Above, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, view names of the elect at a Rite of Election Liturgy at Christ the Redeemer Parish in Houston on Feb. 22. Below,
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez presides over another Rite of Election Liturgy at Christ the Incarnate Word Parish in Houston, also on Feb. 22. Nearly 3,000 were welcomed at six Rite of Election Liturgies around the Archdiocese that same day.
Sicilian tradition honors patron saint of the poor
survived. Thus, they created this feast to honor St. Joseph by preparing tables laden with food they had harvested. Furthermore, they shared food with the poor and less fortunate.
Father Norbert Maduzia, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, said, “The St. Joseph Altar tradition at St. Ignatius started in 2009 with a few Sicilian ladies in our parish who were brought up with the altar in their homes and love the tradition. They brought the idea of having the altar in our church.”
Father Maduzia said he grew up in a Sicilian–Polish family with a dominant factor leaning on the Sicilian side.
“When I was young, my great-aunt held three St. Joseph Altars in her home as a promise to St. Joseph if he would intercede on behalf of her son, who had leukemia,” he said.
The feast is a meatless celebration. First, because the celebration falls during the Lenten season, and second, because many Sicilian peasants did not have access to meat.
Nowadays, the altar at St. Ignatius is adorned with specialty breads in the shapes of crosses, hammers and saws in honor of St. Joseph being a carpenter. There are also a variety of fruits and vegetables, stuffed artichokes, whole baked fish, orange baskets, pignolatti (or haystacks), and beautiful cakes in the shape of a lamb and egg.
The altar is constructed in three tiers representing the Holy Trinity, and at the center of the bottom tier is a beautiful Bible cake.
“We also make fig cakes in the shape of a cross, fish, sacred heart, a monstrance or sandals,” Father Maduzia said. “And, of course, there is a home-cooked spaghetti supper consisting of pasta, sauce with a
Handmade
hard-boiled egg (no meat during Lent, so the egg is the protein substitute for the meat), green beans, salad and Italian bread. Dessert consists of cakes and cookies made by the ladies of the St. Joseph Altar Guild.”
The altar celebration begins with the “Tupa Tupa” (“Knock Knock” in Italian), a traditional Italian custom for St. Joseph’s Day, where children act out the Holy Family’s search for food and shelter by knocking on three doors.
At St. Ignatius, the children who have made First Holy Communion are selected for the roles of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, St. Ignatius, St. Lucy and St. Frances Cabrini.
“There are several hundred guests gathered in our Christus Center, and the saints knock on three doors until they are welcomed into a beautifully set table. The saints are also invited to help the pastor with the blessing of the altar,” Father Maduzia said. “The saints are then served their delicious meatless pasta meal, and the guests soon follow after the pastor bellows, ‘Mangia! Mangia!’”
According to Father Maduzia, there are about 75 volunteers to make the St. Joseph Altar event possible. They are tasked with hospitality, greeting guests with fava (or luck) beans, serving drinks, serving on the food line, selling cookies
“The tradition of the St. Joseph Altar was to feed the poor from the first fruits of the crops that came after the rains came at the end of the famine. Thus, ‘feeding the poor’ has always been a part of the tradition.”
FATHER NORBERT MADUZIA Pastor, St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish - Spring
and cannoli, and all the other functions necessary to support the event.
There is no charge for the event, but donations cover the cost of dinner.
“The tradition of the St. Joseph Altar was to feed the poor from the first fruits of the crops that came after the rains came at the end of the famine. Thus, ‘feeding the poor’ has always been a part of the tradition,” Father Maduzia said. Other parishes in the Archdiocese are also celebrating St. Joseph.
On March 14, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Houston and St. Helen Parish in Pearland will be hosting their celebration. St. Rose of Lima Parish in Houston will hold theirs on March 21, and Christ the Redeemer Parish hosts theirs on March 22. Parishioners can call their parish office to see if a celebration is being held locally.
A popular cry during most celebrations is “BUONA FESTA DI SAN GIUSEPPE!” which translates to “Happy Feast of St. Joseph!” †
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
the pillars of Lent together,” Hilda Ochoa, Mission Office director, said. “Every year, more parishes and schools in the Archdiocese join the Rice Bowl program, together with over 11,000 churches and schools nationwide. Every penny counts, and every penny goes directly to those in need.”
CRS continues its efforts locally, nationally and abroad as countries around the world, including the U.S., have cut funding for international humanitarian aid, and world hunger continues to increase. A recent 2026 $50 billion aid package approved by Congress was less than $18 billion less than 2024.
Ongoing conflicts, extreme weather and persistent inflation are driving up food prices, pushing more families into hunger, CRS said.
“According to the United Nations, nearly 700 million people worldwide face hunger today, just as cuts to humanitarian aid are leaving millions with fewer lifelines. This dangerous combination makes faith communities and programs like CRS Rice Bowl more critical than ever,” the organization said in a Feb. 18 statement.
Of Lenten alms raised by participating parishes and schools within the Archdiocese, 75% goes to support programs that address the root cause of poverty and directly work to alleviate and prevent hunger and poverty globally. Additionally, 25% of funds raised by local parishes and schools remain within the Archdiocese to support hunger and poverty relief efforts in the GalvestonHouston area.
and it’s so easy to do,” Adams said. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, the Rice Bowl program has raised $350 million in the U.S. to date.
“A great example of one of our most faithful parishes throughout the years is St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church,” Ochoa said.
Barbara Adams, manager for Social Ministry, has been involved with the CRS Rice Bowl for nearly 20 years and has also participated in the Rice Bowl grant program for several years, Ochoa said. The grant program is made possible
The CRS Rice Bowl contributes towards lifesaving work nationally and in more than 130 countries. In countries such as Ghana and Honduras, where spending cuts affect the individuals CRS serves, CRS is still providing muchneeded aid.
“The Rice Bowl program is much more than a collection box. It is an educational initiative designed to deepen our faith and strengthen our understanding of Catholic Social Teaching,” Ochoa said.
“Through these stories, we are reminded that global hunger and poverty are not abstract issues, but realities faced by real people.”
A Legacy of Compassion: Cynthia Colbert retires from Catholic Charities
Special to the Herald
HOUSTON — For more than a decade, Cynthia Nunes Colbert dedicated her life to serving as a voice for the poor and vulnerable as president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. After much prayerful discernment, she decided the time is right to retire.
“Leading Catholic Charities has been one of the greatest blessings of my career,” she said. “Every day, I’ve been inspired by our work as we care for our neighbors in need through services that offer relief and stability. Most of all, I am inspired when I see Christ reflected in the faces of the people we help. They are God’s children, representing all walks of life and faith backgrounds.”
As she looks back on her years at Catholic Charities, she says it has truly been a blessing to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities for growth at the agency.
Those challenges included steering a swift response to several natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Within just a few days following one of the most devastating storms in U.S. history, Colbert rallied the staff to set up distribution of food, cleaning supplies, financial assistance and other essentials to people who suffered storm loss. Other weather catastrophes followed, and Colbert ensured that her team moved
into action each time.
She also led the organization through one of the most extraordinary periods in our country’s history, the COVID-19 pandemic. With Colbert at the helm, Catholic Charities was recognized for its outstanding record in administering public funds. The agency was trusted with providing $250 million in federal funds to families who were in financial peril — including eviction — as a result
of the pandemic.
More recently, Colbert led the launch of a $25 million campaign to fund construction of the new Family Opportunity Center in the Eastex-Jensen community. The facility will open by 2028 — after Colbert leaves the agency, reflecting her vision as a state-of-the-art food pantry and a wide array of services to support families on their journey toward self-sufficiency.
During her tenure at Catholic Charities, Colbert earned numerous awards and accolades, testaments to her steadfast leadership and commitment to the organization. She received recognition from the Houston Business Journal, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and, most recently, the International Association of Top Professionals. She has given generously of her time and talents, serving on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Houston Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve, the United Way, the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation, the Network for Behavioral Health, and Catholic Charities USA. Additionally, she has dedicated her time to nurturing the next generation of nonprofit leaders as an adjunct professor at the University of
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Colbert is most proud to be the mother of two sons, David and Derek, and clearly evidences her love for her family. Tragically, in 2018, Colbert experienced heart-shattering loss when David died unexpectedly from
“The loss of a child is the unthinkable,
CYNTHIA
Retiring
the unimaginable. No one knows how to cope until it happens to you,” she said.
Despite her immense grief, Colbert continued to guide Catholic Charities with courage and clarity. Under her direction, the agency thrived and is wellpositioned to carry out its mission for many years to come, offering hope and restoring faith for so many.
Colbert said she thanks all donors for their generosity, and also for the confidence they placed in Catholic Charities.
“Your trust allows us to dream bigger, respond faster and serve more effectively,” she said. “It has been a privilege to steward your gifts and to witness the impact they create in the lives of the families and individuals we serve every day.”
As she prepares to enter her new chapter, she looks forward to spending more time with family, including her precious grandchildren.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve this agency. It has been an honor of a lifetime,” she said. “May God continue to bless you and Catholic Charities. Thank you for being people of faith who help people in need achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity.”
CYNTHIA NUNES COLBERT
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
Retiring CEO Cynthia Nunes Colbert, at left, said she will miss visiting with individuals who receive assistance from Catholic Charities three food pantries, including Trini’s Market at the Mamie George Community Center in Fort Bend.
NUNES COLBERT
CEO of Catholic Charities
Firecrackers, Lion Dances and the Angelus: Lunar New Year shines in the Archdiocese
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
WESTBURY — The lions came to life first. Their bright silk bodies flashed in the sun as they rippled around the courtyard of St. Catherine Convent. Drums thundered. Firecrackers snapped. Sisters of all ages laughed in surprise, clergy and seminarians edged closer, and the Year of the Horse began with color, noise and a rush of delight.
The annual celebration, hosted by the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province on Feb. 7, kicked off a series of events across the Archdiocese that ushered in the Year of the Horse, which opened its celebratory season on Feb. 18 and concluded with the full moon on March 3.
For Sister Maria Theresa Kim-Hong Nguyen, O.P., prioress provincial for the Dominican congregation, the gathering offered something rare and deeply needed: joyful rest.
“It is always a joy for us to have the priests, religious sisters and seminarians come together to share our lifestyle, to share the joy of the Lunar New Year,” she said. “When we are not always busy with our ministry work, we can also have some lighthearted fun together that really enhances our way of life so we can continue to be of service for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”
The lion performers, mostly young adults, snaked past a statue of the Holy Family, then broke into a burst of footwork
as a long pole lifted a red envelope just beyond reach. One lion suddenly grew twice as tall, and the courtyard tilted with held breath. The white lion rose, blinked and gently took the envelope with its oversized mouth. Cheers rippled like drumrolls as the lions eagerly swarmed the sisters.
As the clock struck noon, the convent bells rang. Instantly, the celebration’s music, games and buzzing activities froze, and the gathering shifted into quiet reverence. Sisters and guests prayed the Angelus together, a brief interlude that reminded everyone, even in festivity, of the heart of their shared faith.
Across the Archdiocese, parishes, schools and Catholics at home marked
Lunar New Year with the same blend of culture and prayer. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez attended celebrations at St. Mary’s Seminary and Christ the Incarnate Word Parish in Houston, where he also celebrated Mass and greeted families in handing out the li xi, the red envelopes.
At many parish Masses, including St. Andrew Kim, Ascension Chinese Mission, the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and many Vietnamese parishes, intentions focused on giving thanks to God for life and blessings, honoring ancestors and parents, and asking God for guidance, good work and favorable conditions in the year ahead. The rhythm often unfolded over the season’s days: thanksgiving, remembrance and petition,
each intention intertwined into the Liturgy and the meal that followed.
Joining St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic schools, students at St. Christopher School in Houston also honored Our Lady of Lavang on Feb. 13 by recreating the Marian apparition and performing traditional dances to mark the new year.
According to recent Census data, the Greater Houston region is home to about 655,000 Asian residents, roughly 9% of the metro population, making it one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing Asian communities. Houston has the largest Vietnamese American population
See LUNAR NEW YEAR, page 11
PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
At left, Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province raise a lucky red envelope towards a white lion during a Lunar New Year celebration at their Westburyarea convent on Feb. 4, celebrating the Year of the Horse. At right, young members of the Dominican congregation cheer after receiving their red envelopes.
EDUCATION
BY JAMES RAMOS
Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — Near the final stretch of the 5K route, Anna Salinas spotted something she never expected to see: a cheering section made up of her entire family, holding homemade signs and waving them high as she ran toward the finish line.
Salinas, a St. Ignatius of Loyola parishioner in Spring, has no children currently in Catholic school. She signed up for Steps for Students simply because she believes in Catholic education and wanted to show her support. But her family had other plans. They kept their appearance a secret until the moment she arrived, rounding the corner to discover a full crowd shouting her name.
“I didn’t expect any of them here because I did not tell them,” she said, laughing as she caught her breath. “They were supposed to be busy, but they made time.”
Her family said it was the perfect chance to return the favor after years of her faithfully attending every game, concert and school event they had as kids, and now even with her grandchildren.
“She is always there, so we just wanted to be here,” one family member said.
Salinas, who ran the entire 5K, crossed the line smiling and surrounded by posters celebrating her effort. It was a snapshot of what Steps for Students has become over its 21-year history: a place where school pride, family love and support and the spirit of Catholic education meet on the streets of downtown Houston that Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
A City of Houston proclamation also designated that day as Roslyn “Roz” Hill Day, honoring the woman who helped start and grow Steps for Students into the runaway success it is today.
This year’s Steps for Students drew 10,918 registrations and raised $1.1 million to help the 55 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese offer tuition assistance, enhance academic programs and meet campus needs.
St. Jerome School in Houston earned the David Guite Spirit Award for exceptional school spirit and
NEW YEAR, from page 9
in Texas and one of the largest Chinese American populations in the country, reflecting decades of immigration and community growth across the 10 counties that make up the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Back at the convent, Sister Nguyen said her favorite part of the celebration has always been hearing her fellow sisters laugh. “You can hear the excitement as they enjoy themselves. I think that is what Our Lord wants. He said He comes to bring us joy, abundant joy,” she said. “Even in the midst of challenges, we are always hopeful because our life has meaning.
involvement. St. Peter Catholic High School received the President’s Cup for outstanding participation by a high school.
St. Francis de Sales School was named the “Steps Superstars” winner, the top overall school in the Catholic School Village competition. Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Houston won “Best Bites” for the best-tasting food. Our Lady of Fatima in Galena Park took home the “Cleverly Creative” honors for its booth design, and Our Lady of Fatima in Texas City won “Best Steps Spirit.” St. John XXIII High School earned the School Spirit award for its cheerleaders, mascot and chants.
Race results included several standout runners. Isaac Knape was the overall male winner, and Madison Laborde was the overall female winner. In the masters division, Aaron Knape won the male category, and Tania Rangel won the female category.
That joy enhances our unity with Christ.”
She also expressed gratitude for the priests who support the sisters throughout the year.
“It is through them that we are nourished with the bread of life and the word of life,” she said. “We want to open our home to the priests, future priests and our fellow religious so we can support one another and continue to be a beacon of faith in this troublesome world.”
In his Feb. 15 Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV extended his own wishes to the millions around the world for the season, praying that Lunar New Year celebrations would strengthen families and bring peace. †
Join us for an evening of faith, family, and fun at Daikin Park,
PM
4-18-26 4-18-26
LUNAR
GUITE AWARD WINNER - ST. JEROME SCHOOL
Schools, parishes throughout Galveston-Houston two-step through Texas heritage, Rodeo history
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
SPRING BRANCH — On Feb. 27, Go Texan Day, the steady clop of hooves, the rumble of wagon wheels and the easy sway of riders on horseback signaled the arrival of rodeo season as trail riders made their annual trek into the Bayou City for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Their long rides stitched 12 unforgettable paths through the Archdiocese, carrying Texas tradition straight across parish grounds, school communities and the Lenten rhythms of Catholic life.
Because the day fell on a Friday in Lent, Catholic trail riders faced a uniquely Houston challenge. Barbecue smoke drifted over the road, but brisket and sausage were off limits. Some riders laughed about the test of willpower, turning it into a moment of fasting or hunting for a parish fish fry once they reached the city.
With a loud howdy, students at St. Jerome Catholic School cheered, waved and even played Rock, Paper, Scissors with the Salt Grass Trail Riders, which counts at least 1,000 riders and 19 wagons among its crew from Cat Spring, Texas, as they clopped past the school on Kempwood Drive in a display of Texas heritage and history.
The trail riders mirror the Archdiocese’s earliest days, when clergy like its first bishop, Jean Marie Odin, rode on horseback across Texas to reach and minister to scattered Catholic communities in the 1800s.
The trail ride groups themselves, more than 2,000 strong, brought a deep history to this moment. The Salt Grass Trail Ride, the oldest of Houston’s official rides, celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. It first rode in 1952 and now travels about 105 miles from Cat Spring (near Bellville), earning its place as the “granddaddy of
them all.”
Mission Vaqueros travels the farthest, beginning in Goliad and covering about 206 miles before reaching Memorial Park, a multi-day journey that highlights the endurance behind the tradition. Other longtime groups carry distinct identities of their own, including the Prairie View Trail Ride, founded in 1957 and known as a historic Black trail riding group, and Valley Lodge, remembered for its long legacy and flair.
St. Ambrose Catholic School and Parish became a lively midday pit stop, with horses tied along the sidewalks and wagons filling the parking lot.
Catholic riders had Lenten-friendly lunches, stretched their legs, and talked with parish staff and lines of St. Ambrose School students who stepped outside to greet them.
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Farther south, the caravan passed Corpus Christi Catholic Church off Stella Link, where parishioners paused their day to enjoy the surprise cowboy procession. In Hitchcock, early risers at Our Lady of Lourdes were treated to a sunrise view of riders trotting past against a glowing marshland sky.
Regina Caeli Parish offered one of the most memorable acts of hospitality by hosting an overnight stay for one of the trail ride crews. Volunteers welcomed riders with Lenten-appropriate meals, warm smiles and a quiet place to camp under the stars. The Catholic Charismatic Center provided another welcome pause along the way, giving riders shade, restrooms and water for both horses and riders. Covered wagons parked outside the large cross-topped building drew neighbors who wandered over to wave and snap photos.
Catholic schools across the Archdiocese also embraced rodeo season with their own traditions. Students took field trips to NRG Park to explore the carnival, the birthing center, the livestock barns and the agricultural exhibits that connect classroom lessons to Texas
heritage. Students also took part in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Program, which, for more than 50 years, has invited young artists from pre-K through grade 12 to compete in district shows.
Their winning artwork appears in the Hayloft Gallery during the Rodeo, and top students earn scholarships and summer workshop opportunities. The program now supports about 130 districts, including private and parochial schools, and receives thousands of entries each year.
Together, these trail rides and school celebrations revealed Houston’s rare blend of cowboy culture and Catholic community life. Go Texan Day marks the start of Rodeo season, and this year it carried the layered meaning of Lenten discipline meeting Texas tradition.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo may be known for bright lights, concerts and championship livestock, but on the roads leading into the city, its heart remains simple: hospitality, heritage, faith and the people who keep those traditions alive. And this year, that spirit rolled straight through the Archdiocese. †
PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Above and below, St. Jerome Catholic School students cheer as Salt Grass Trail Riders pass by the Spring Branch area school on Go Texan Day, Feb. 27, as part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The arrival of the trail riders signals the start of Rodeo season in the Archdiocese.
COLUMNISTS
Silence speaks volumes
Silence is golden! Which biblical figure does this ancient proverb best describe? Who does not speak a single recorded word in all of Scripture and whose devotion remained relatively understated in the early Church until the 19th century? Who did Pope Pius IX in 1870 declare the Patron of the Universal Church? Obviously, it is St. Joseph, the just man, the greatest saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he was deeply troubled, yet he chose silence instead of seeking to justify himself or expose her to shame. Consequently, Joseph’s patient silence helped bring about our salvation — the Savior was born.
However, the path was not easy for Joseph; he must have endured many sleepless nights, tossing and turning over Mary’s unexpected pregnancy, to the point that he resolved to dismiss her quietly. Imagine if it were you — feeling betrayed. How would you feel? How would you handle the situation?
I would suggest, “Go to St. Joseph in
A few weeks before the Vigilia Pastoral, I received a phone call that I did not expect.
“Hi, I saw the flyer for your event on Facebook and noticed St. Carlo was on it. I don’t speak Spanish, but I translated the information and was wondering if you would like me to bring the relic of St. Carlo Acutis to your event. It belongs to the president of our movement, who is friends with Carlos’ mom.”
On the other end of the line was a member of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement who, by God’s grace, was able to bring the relic of St. Carlo Acutis to our Vigilia Pastoral. That simple phone call was just the first step toward a moment of grace.
When I shared the news with my director, she was excited and said, “Well, now that we have a relic of St. Carlo, it would be great if we had one of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati,” since both were the patron saints of this Vigilia. My immediate reaction was excitement and fear. Where was I going to find a relic of St. Pier?
She immediately said, “Call Father Luke.” I reached out to Father Luke Millette, judicial vicar for the Archdiocese. He answered, and to my surprise, he did indeed have a relic of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Once again,
by SR. MARIA GORETTI THUY NGUYEN, OP
prayer.” St. Joseph never fails those who turn to him. I can testify to this.
In Jesus’ time, marriage took place in three stages, according to Jewish custom: engagement, betrothal and finally marriage. The time between each stage often lasted a year. Mary and Joseph were in the second stage — the betrothal (Mt 1:18) — during which they were already legally husband and wife, awaiting the day they would live together as a family.
During this period, the husband would prepare a home to receive his wife. Imagine how painful and devastating it must have been for Joseph to discover that Mary was with child, and that child was not his.
Yet Joseph showed no resentment. Rather, as Pope Francis writes, “In him,
we never see frustration, but only trust. His patient silence was the prelude to concrete expressions of trust.”
God does not make mistakes; He knows what He is doing. In fact, Jesus’ conception during their betrothal was providential. It clearly affirms that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father. Once the angel appeared to him, Joseph obeyed without hesitation. He took Mary into his home and became the foster father of Jesus. In the eyes of others, Jesus was the son of Mary and Joseph, protecting Mary from public disgrace. In God’s eyes, Joseph is most chaste and just (Litany of St. Joseph).
LIVING LENT
of Mary and Jesus.
Dear St. Joseph, you endured so much in silence. Yet, it was in great silence that you were able to hear God through the angel’s messages. Although the messages came in your dreams, you discerned them as God’s Will quickly and, with obedience, acted upon them with total trust.
Joseph was entrusted with the greatest treasure: Mary and Jesus and the Mystery of Salvation. He humbly kept silent throughout his life. He faithfully and perfectly safeguarded them, so that God’s plan of salvation was fulfilled. God did not err in choosing St. Joseph to be the protector and guardian
Answering an unexpected call
God was building something together that we could not have planned ourselves.
What struck me most was this: the Vigilia Pastoral is our annual Hispanic Young Adult event, led by young adults for the entire community. It is an event in Spanish, and yet, the first movement of grace came from someone outside of that immediate circle, someone who stepped out of her comfort zone, crossed a language barrier, and simply said yes.
The Vigilia Pastoral took place on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Catholic Charismatic Center, drawing more than 3,000 people throughout the 12-hour event. From the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the celebration of Holy Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, and into the overnight Eucharistic Adoration, the vigil became a powerful witness of faith.
This year’s theme, “Hágase tu voluntad” (Mt 6:10), invited our young adults to reflect on both their “little v” vocations, the universal call to holiness, and their “big V” vocation, a specific call to priesthood, religious life or marriage. It was a call to trust, surrender and take action without fear.
In many ways, the story of the relics embodied that very message.
Both patron saints of our vigil were
by THALIA ROMERO
young men who lived their faith boldly and publicly. With his profound love for the Eucharist and his creative use of technology to evangelize, St. Carlo Acutis reminds young people that holiness is possible in our modern world. St. Pier Giorgio Frassati was also an example of surrender, pouring himself out in service to the poor and those in need. His life challenges us to step beyond what is comfortable and to live a faith that moves, gives and loves without reserve. Their relics at the vigil were more than prayerful symbols. They were sacred signs of real lives given completely to Christ, and reminders that we are part of something greater than ourselves. The communion of saints is not just an idea. It is a living reality, and that night, it felt present among us.
Throughout the 12 hours, young adults led every part of the vigil. They wrote the prayers, led the music, brought food to share and welcomed everyone who came through the doors.
Help us, O St. Joseph, as we are halfway through our Lenten journey, to be attentive and to listen to God’s voice. Help us to cherish silence during this Lenten season and to read the Word of God, as encouraged in the Lenten message of Pope Leo XIV, so that we may remain calm, prudent and merciful in all that we do.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Holy Family, pray for us! †
Sister Maria Goretti Thuy Nguyen, OP, is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
Priests heard confessions. Each person offered something, and together we gathered as one Body of Christ. The Vigilia is not only for young adults. It is for everyone. The Eucharist has no single language. We belong to one universal Church.
I know it is not always easy to step outside what feels familiar, our own circles, language groups, ministries and comfort zones. But that unexpected phone call reminded me that when we reach beyond those boundaries, the Body of Christ becomes clearer. What started as a Hispanic young adult vigil became a reflection of the universal Church.
As morning came and it was time for reposition led by Father Juan Pablo Orozco, CC, the whole sanctuary sang with one voice, Junto a Ángeles y Santos by Pablo Martínez. Some were tired. Some were still kneeling. But all of us shared a deep awareness that when we pray, “Hágase tu voluntad,” God answers, often in ways we do not expect. And sometimes, it begins with a simple phone call. †
Thalia Romero is an associate director with the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry.
WORLD
St. Francis’ relics open to public for first extended veneration in 800 years
ASSISI, Italy (OSV News) — For the first time in eight centuries, the mortal remains of St. Francis of Assisi are being exposed for an extended period of public veneration, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world to pray before “the Little Poor Man of Assisi.”
The bones of the beloved saint were unveiled for public display on Feb. 22 in the Lower Church of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Pilgrims waited in line outside the Assisi basilica, taking in the panoramic views of the Umbrian countryside from the medieval hilltop town, for their chance to pray before the relics.
The veneration runs through March 22 as part of the Catholic Church’s yearlong celebration of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death in 1226.
Heather Martin, an American mother who has lived in Assisi with her family for 5 years, was among the first pilgrims to venerate the relics.
“St. Francis is by far the most important saint in my life. He’s shown up for me in so many ways and so many dark moments,” she told OSV News.
“This experience to be able to go and
physically see his physical form has been utterly life-changing.”
Martin recalled a conversation she had with one of the Franciscan friars about
the experience. “He felt like he was finally meeting a long-lost relative for the first time,” she said.“And I can’t agree with that more.”
Fabrizio Ballanti traveled from Ancona, Italy, as part of a care home run by the Focolare movement.
“We are a community for people with HIV and AIDS, and we all came together to live this experience,” Ballanti said.
Standing before the relics of St. Francis, he said, “I felt the presence of the Lord very strongly,” calling it “a truly powerful experience.”
For 21-year-old seminarian Gregory Maloney from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the moment was an opportunity to ask St. Francis for the gift of a deeper conversion “to grow in the virtue of poverty.”
He said that the long wait in line to view the relics gave him an opportunity to reflect on the life of St. Francis in prayer.
“Here is the man who wanted to live in poverty as Christ really said it in the Gospel,” Maloney said. “He wanted to give up his whole life, to give up all the things of the world to focus on the pearl of great price … the treasure of heaven.”
“And so that was a great encouragement for me then to say, ‘OK, what are the areas in my life I need to give to the Lord? I need to focus more on the things of heaven,” the seminarian added.
Franciscan friars opened the sarcophagus to exhume St. Francis’ remains on Feb. 21, placing his bones on a specially prepared table in the crypt before carrying them in procession through the Lower Church while praying the Litany of the Saints.
Franciscans from across the world participated in a solemn vespers with the exposed relics beneath the basilica’s frescoed ceiling on the evening before the relics opened to the public.
Friar Ignacio Ceja Jimenez, a Franciscan friar from Mexico, called it a historic moment of fraternity for all branches of the Franciscan family “because we all
recognize ourselves as children of St. Francis, heirs to his charism.”
“Seeing and praying before the body of St. Francis also means that we must commit ourselves to living what he lived,” he said.
“St. Francis reminds us that the Gospel can not only transform human beings’ hearts, but that the Gospel can also transform the structures of our world and help us build a fraternal, peaceful world.”
Ángel Cardinal Artime, the pontifical delegate for the Papal Basilicas of Assisi, presided over both the vespers and the inaugural Mass Feb. 22.
The cardinal recalled St. Francis’ final hours on Oct. 3, 1226, in his homily for the Feb. 21 vespers.
“When St. Francis felt his death approaching, he asked a friar to read the Gospel to him. Not just any passage, but chapter 13 of John: ‘Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come ... having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end,’” Cardinal Artime said.
“His life had been this: a constant listening to the Word, a burning desire to conform himself to the poor and crucified Christ. Service and self-sacrificing love are the heart of Francis’s spirituality.”
Brother Jimmy Zammit of Toronto, now based in Rome as general definitor for the Franciscan order, shared his advice for Catholics unable to make the trip to Assisi who want to live out the special Jubilee Year of St. Francis in a particular way.
“If our heart becomes more Franciscan, we become makers of peace,” Brother Zammit said. “We seek out to help those who are less fortunate than we are to help the poor, but also to help those who are suffering because they’re feeling isolated and maybe even shunned in some way.”
Approximately 370,000 people from five continents have registered to venerate the relics, with Italians making up 80% of registrants. International registrations include 5,000 from the U.S., 3,100 from Croatia, 2,000 from Slovakia, and 1,500 each from Brazil and France. Some 400 volunteers from dozens of countries are giving of their time to make the monthlong historic event possible.
Entry to view St. Francis’ relics is free, but it requires advance registration at saintfrancisliveson.org. The exposition will close with Mass on March 22 in the Upper Church, to be presided over by Matteo Cardinal Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
“We are experiencing an event of extraordinary grace: For an entire month, in this holy land where St. Francis of Assisi lived and was buried, the exposition of his body is offered for the veneration of the faithful, on the eighth centenary of his death,” Cardinal Artime said.
“This body, fragile and poor, reminds us that the Gospel is also lived with the body, with real choices, with daily gestures. Francis did not love an idea of Christ: He loved Christ, poor and crucified, to the point of bearing His marks in His flesh.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY SALA STAMPA SACRO CONVENTO ASSISI
Monks prepare the relics of St. Francis of Assisi in the crypt of the basilica in Assisi, Italy, Feb. 21, for public veneration, which began Feb. 22 and runs through March 22.
NATION
Empty school desks on Minnesota Capitol grounds signify children lost to gun violence
ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — As they were preparing for three days of presence and legislative testimony to seek gun safety laws, empty desks were seen on the Minnesota Capitol grounds. The desks represented more than 200 Minnesota children lost to gun violence since 2021, the group said.
Jackie Flavin, the mother of Harper Moyski, a 10-year-old student who died in an Aug. 27 shooting during an allschool Mass at Annunciation Church in south Minneapolis, helped spearhead the lobbying effort through an organization of parents called Annunciation Light Alliance.
The shooting also took the life of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and wounded more than a dozen other students and three adults. In their honor, Flavin set up two desks inside the Capitol building: one for her daughter and one for Fletcher, with their backpacks and school-related things. She included her daughter’s photo, a soccer ball, slip-on shoes, papers and a pencil cup.
Flavin’s husband, Mike Moyski, also helped set up the desks in 20-degree weather on the snow-filled Capitol grounds. The desks were in place through Feb. 26.
“My hope is that all this brings some meaning into the big decisions that are being made as the (legislative) session takes shape Feb. 17 through May,” Moyski told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “We hope that as legislators — Democrat, Republican, whatever it might be — as they walk in and enter the session every morning, they see … the impact” gun violence “has on communities and families and think about what they’re doing.”
“And just one other thing,” Moyski said. “It’s not just for the legislators to see this and find some meaning. I think it’s also for all of our kids who have been through something at a young age they should never have (had) to. To see that somebody’s out here doing something about it and that there can be some light amongst all the darkness.”
Kristen Neville and her husband, Michael Burt, were among those helping set up the desks.
Parents of five children at Annunciation, they have been involved with Annunciation Light Alliance since the effort began taking shape in the weeks after the shooting, as parents concerned about gun violence contacted one another. Ideas began to solidify in September, Neville said.
“We established what our overall
The Catholic conference also suggests increasing state aid and school boardapproved levy authority to ensure school districts have sustainable resources to meet safety needs, and stopping the harms of addictive social media by requiring parental consent for children under 16 to join social media platforms. If consent is given, the legislation would prohibit targeted advertising and addictive features and require privacy settings for children that help parents monitor and limit use.
During a Feb. 24 news conference to announce Walz’s gun violence prevention package, Annunciation Catholic School eighth-grader Lydia Kaiser spoke to those assembled, describing being in church for “the first school Mass of the year when a gunman fired 116 rounds of bullets through the stained-glass windows.”
structure was, established a leadership team, task forces. And then we ended up determining our mission, our vision, and our values, and ultimately landed on a name — Annunciation Light Alliance,” Neville said.
The alliance has about 160 members, and its leadership team of about 20 people meets once a week, including co-chairs Neville and Brittany Haeg, Neville said. Quarterly meetings draw about 80 people in person and online, she said. People can learn more at the group’s website at annunciationlight.org.
Lisa Shepherd, communications director for the alliance, said its members hope to “get all the right people at the right table. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe in, just come up with the right solution to keep our kids safe at the end of the day.”
On Feb. 24, Gov. Tim Walz, who urged a special session to address gun violence shortly after the shooting at Annunciation, announced what he called a comprehensive gun violence prevention package.
The proposals included banning military-style assault rifles and highcapacity magazines; requiring safe storage and reporting of lost or stolen firearms; not allowing Minnesotans to possess guns without serial numbers; implementing a firearm insurance requirement; establishing a firearm and
ammunition tax; and expanding early intervention resources, including school resources, to prevent gun violence.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, has suggested a threetiered approach to gun violence in this legislative session.
Its proposals include banning highcapacity ammunition magazines and expanding safe schools funding to at least $100 per student in state aid while extending eligibility to nonpublic, charter and tribal schools.
“Two students were shot and killed. Two students survived gunshot injuries to the head. I’m one of them,” she said. “Many more students were injured by bullets and flying glass. We all hid under the pews. The older students covered the younger students to protect them.” Kaiser was taken to the hospital “and rushed into surgery.”“The doctor moved a large piece, almost half of my skull, to let my brain swell, and to remove bone and bullet fragments from my head,” she said. “I had a second surgery three weeks later to put the piece of my skull back in my head.”
“All children have the right to live free from gun violence in schools, churches and in our communities,” Kaiser said. “Elected officials have a duty to protect us from guns. No one should have to go through what we went through at Annunciation. Thank you.” †
OSV NEWS PHOTO/DAVE HRBACEK, THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
STATE Border state bishops urge immigration enforcement reform before State of the Union
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — A group of U.S. bishops, most from the U.S.-Mexico border region, issued a statement Feb. 24 urging several reforms to immigration enforcement.
Hardline immigration policies have been a key part of President Donald Trump’s agenda, but new polling indicates public support for these policies is waning.
The statement, signed by 20 U.S. bishops, including Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio; Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas; and Bishop Michael M. Pham of San Diego, identified several specific areas for reform to “help protect the human rights of immigrants and their families.”
“We speak out as pastors in border states and beyond, concerned about the impact of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent and ongoing immigration enforcement activities against individuals and families who are without legal status in our country,” the bishops’ statement said. “While we acknowledge the right and duty of a sovereign nation to enforce its laws, we also believe that those laws should be upheld in a manner that protects the Godgiven human dignity and rights of the human person.”
The bishops called for ensuring families of mixed immigration status are not separated, citing the unnecessary harm done to their children, and that sensitive locations such as houses of worship, schools and hospitals are protected from enforcement actions.
The Trump administration’s loosened restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making arrests at what are seen as sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals, as well as ensuring those in ICE
Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, N.M. (right), takes part in a demonstration in El Paso, Texas, against mass deportation alongside Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, N.M., Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio, and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso. Archbishop Wester, Archbishop García-Siller and Bishop Seitz, along with 17 other bishops, issued a statement Feb. 24, hours before President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address of his second term, urging several reforms to immigration enforcement.
custody have access to the Sacraments, were recently identified as areas of critical concern in the U.S. bishops’ annual report on religious liberty.
“We consider this an issue of religious freedom — a right enshrined in both the U.S. Constitution and international covenants. Moreover, children should be able to attend school without fear, and those in need of urgent medical care should be able to seek treatment with confidence,” they stated.
The statement also called for the restoration of asylum in the immigration system, particularly at the border.
“We also oppose the arrest and detention of law-abiding refugees who
have been lawfully admitted to the U.S., as has been proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, the bishops’ statement added.
They also called for an end to intimidation and fear tactics in enforcement efforts.
“The use of masks, random stops without probable cause, roving patrols, and physical abuse of immigrants and others has been well documented,” the statement said. “Such tactics can intimidate immigrants, even those with a legal basis to remain in the U.S., and prevent them from asserting their rights.”
Archbishop Wester said in a statement that the new statement “puts some meat
Bishop Fellhauer, longtime leader of Victoria Diocese dies, leaves a 25-year legacy of faith
BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald
VICTORIA — Bishop David Fellhauer, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas, died March 3. He was 86 years old.
Bishop Fellhauer will lie in state at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory in Victoria on Thursday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be on Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Born Aug. 13, 1939, Bishop Fellhauer attended Catholic schools before becoming a priest on May 29, 1965, by Egidio Cardinal Vagnozzi for the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth. He was appointed as judicial vicar in 1979, and in 1990, he was appointed the second bishop of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas, which had been established on April 13, 1982, only
eight years before his arrival. He succeeded Bishop Charles Grahmann.
He faithfully served the Diocese of Victoria for 25 years. At age 75, on April 23, 2015, Pope Francis accepted his resignation and named the current bishop, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, as his successor.
Bishop Cahill, who will preside over the funeral Mass, said Bishop Fellhauer’s episcopal motto, “To witness the charity of Christ,” proved to be a “true description of his ministry.”
“He was always available, offered true insights based on his own strengths and weakness that he would readily acknowledge, and always offered affirmation to me personally, as well as those he worked
with in the governance of the Diocese — priests, deacons, laity — and in particular those who comprised the ‘chancery family’ he relied upon with appreciation,” he said. Bishop Cahill said that as Bishop Fellhauer’s health declined in recent years, he felt the best thing he could do to be of assistance was to pray for the faithful of the Diocese of Victoria and to pray Rosaries for the priests. He added that many in the diocese grew up with him during his 25-year tenure.
“Arriving in Victoria at age 50 — the age of an elder brother — his duration here would transition from brother to father to grandfather for many in their life of faith, accompanied by the wisdom and patience that comes with years of experience,” Bishop Cahill said. †
on the bones” of the U.S. bishops’“special pastoral message on immigration” from November, which they overwhelmingly approved at their annual fall plenary assembly in Baltimore.
The bishops’ letter underscored the special message’s opposition to “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” adding “it is detrimental to the human rights of our fellow human beings and not in the best interest of the nation.”
The condemnation of “indiscriminate mass deportation” has a reference point in the Church’s magisterium, with the Second Vatican Council naming “deportation” among specific acts it denounced as “offensive to human dignity.” St. John Paul II included this list in his 1993 encyclical “Veritatis Splendor” (“Splendor of Truth”) and 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”).
The bishops’ statement also reiterated the long-held position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that “those immigrants and their families who have built equities in our country and are otherwise law-abiding — the vast majority of the undocumented — should be given an opportunity to come out of the shadows and earn their citizenship over time, becoming full legal members of and contributors to their communities and the nation.”
It also echoed the Feb. 20 statement by Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, opposing the Trump administration’s “deeply troubling” plans to acquire massive warehouses all over the country, each capable of interning thousands.
“We also urge our immigration enforcement officials not to detain vulnerable persons and groups, including families and children, pregnant women, and the disabled,” they added. “We also strongly assert that detainees have access to religious and pastoral care, including Mass and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.”
A majority of the people targeted by ICE for mass detention and eventual deportation are expected to be Catholics in six out of 10 cases, according to a 2025 joint Catholic-Evangelical report published by the USCCB and World Relief. The report also found nearly one in five Catholics (18%) in the U.S. are either vulnerable to deportation or live with someone who is.
The bishops also called on Congress and the administration to help mitigate the root causes of irregular migration, invest in reintegration programs for deportees and end the deportation of immigrants to third countries.
“As Congress and the administration deliberate changes to how immigration enforcement is conducted across the nation, we urge them to consider these recommendations,” the bishops’ statement said. “As always, we stand ready to work with them to create an immigration system which ensures public safety, protects human rights, encourages economic growth and justice, and upholds our heritage as a nation of immigrants.” †
OSV NEWS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER
BISHOP DAVID FELLHAUER
IN BRIEF
MUNDO CATÓLICO
Dios ofrece nuevas posibilidades, no prohibiciones, con su invitación al amor, dice el Papa León
ROMA (CNS) — Mientras Satanás tienta a la humanidad con la mentira de obtener un poder ilimitado, Dios ofrece el don de la verdadera libertad que conduce al amor auténtico, a las relaciones y a la plenitud, dijo el Papa León XIV.
Desde la historia de Adán y Eva en el Jardín del Edén, la humanidad ha tenido que enfrentarse al antiguo dilema: “¿Puedo realizar mi vida en plenitud diciendo ‘sí’ a Dios? ¿O, para ser libre y feliz, debo liberarme de Él?”, dijo el Papa en su homilía durante una Misa matutina celebrada en la Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Roma el 22 de febrero.
Jesús, el Hijo de Dios encarnado, muestra al mundo “al hombre nuevo, al hombre libre, epifanía de la libertad que se realiza diciendo ‘sí’ a Dios” y oponiéndose a las trampas del demonio, dijo.
El Papa también instó a los fieles a apagar todos los dispositivos durante ciertos momentos del día para crear espacio para el silencio, la oración, la escucha y los sacramentos.
“Dediquemos tiempo a los que están solos, especialmente a los ancianos, a los pobres y a los enfermos. Renunciemos a lo superfluo y compartamos lo que ahorramos con quienes carecen de lo necesario”, dijo antes de rezar el Ángelus al mediodía con los reunidos en la plaza de San Pedro.
“Demos espacio al silencio, apaguemos un poco los televisores, la radio y los smartphones”, añadió.
A primera hora de la mañana, el Papa León visitó una basílica del siglo XIX gestionada por los salesianos en el centro de la ciudad, cerca de la estación principal de tren, por donde pasan más de 450.000 personas cada día, según le contó al Papa el padre Javier Ortiz Rodríguez, párroco de la iglesia.
Este intenso flujo de personas durante el día es “como un río caudaloso en una tormenta”, dijo el sacerdote, que luego se convierte en devastadores “deslizamientos de tierra” en plena noche, con un aumento de la violencia, la explotación, el consumo de drogas y la prostitución.
“Su visita es como un bálsamo curativo” para la comunidad, que incluye a numerosos estudiantes, inmigrantes, personas sin vivienda y sin empleo, así como a personas mayores, dijo el
sacerdote al Papa.
Era la segunda de las cinco visitas pastorales del Papa León a la Diócesis de Roma en el periodo previo a la Pascua, el 5 de abril. Las visitas incluyen reuniones privadas con miembros del consejo pastoral de cada parroquia, sacerdotes locales, voluntarios y las personas a las que atienden.
La Cuaresma es un tiempo para redescubrir la belleza del Bautismo como una gracia que no niega, sino que “encuentra nuestra libertad”, dijo el Papa en su homilía del primer domingo de Cuaresma.
“El relato del Génesis nos remite a nuestra condición de criaturas, puestas a prueba no tanto por una prohibición, como se cree a menudo, sino por una posibilidad: la posibilidad de una relación” con Dios Creador y con todas sus criaturas, dijo.
“El ser humano es libre de reconocer y acoger la alteridad del Creador”.
Pero Satanás, en forma de serpiente, tentó a Adán y Eva con la ilusión de convertirse en Dios, engañándolos con que Dios en realidad buscaba negarles algo “para mantenerlos siempre en un estado de inferioridad”, dijo el Papa.
Jesús, sin embargo, muestra cómo la libertad proviene de encontrar la plenitud en amar a Dios y al prójimo, dijo.
“Esta nueva humanidad nace de la fuente bautismal”, que es “la fuente de vida que habita en nosotros y que, de manera dinámica, nos acompaña en el más absoluto respeto a nuestra libertad”, dijo el Papa León.
El bautismo es “dinámico”, dijo, porque “les pone siempre de nuevo en camino, ya que la gracia es una voz interior que nos impulsa a conformarnos a Jesús”.
El bautismo consiste en construir una relación, dijo, ya que “llama a vivir la amistad con Jesús y, así, a entrar en su comunión con el Padre”.
“Esta relación llena de gracia les hace capaces de vivir también una auténtica cercanía con los demás, una libertad que --a diferencia de lo que el diablo propone a Jesús-- no es búsqueda del propio poder, sino amor que se dona y que nos hace a todos hermanos y hermanas”, afirmó.
El Papa León señaló los numerosos retos a los que se enfrenta el barrio
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.
y elogió la labor de los salesianos y otras organizaciones eclesiásticas que atienden a los jóvenes y a los necesitados.
Fue su homónimo, el Papa León XIII, quien pidió a San Juan Bosco que construyera la basílica dedicada al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús que el Papa Pío IX quería construir cerca de la entonces nueva estación de ferrocarril.
Animó a la parroquia a seguir siendo “levadura del Evangelio”, un signo de “cercanía y caridad” y “una pequeña llama de luz y esperanza”.
“Que María Auxiliadora sostenga siempre nuestro camino, nos fortalezca en los momentos de tentación y prueba, para vivir plenamente la libertad y la fraternidad de los hijos de Dios”, dijo.
Antes de rezar el Ángelus del mediodía, el Papa volvió a reflexionar sobre la lectura del Evangelio del día, en la que se narra la estancia de Jesús en el desierto, donde ayunó y resistió las tentaciones del demonio, mostrando cómo “nos muestra cómo vencer sus engaños y sus trampas”.
“Con la oración, el ayuno y la limosna, podemos renovar nuestra colaboración con el Señor para hacer de nuestra vida una obra maestra irrepetible”,
dijo. “Se trata de permitirle eliminar las manchas y curar las heridas que el pecado haya podido causar en ella, y de comprometernos a hacerla florecer con toda su belleza hasta alcanzar la plenitud del amor, que es la única fuente de felicidad verdadera”.
“Es verdad, se trata de un camino exigente”, dijo, especialmente cuando hay promesas de“caminos de satisfacción menos agotadores, como la riqueza, la fama y el poder”.
Sin embargo, estas tentaciones, a las que se enfrentó el propio Jesús, “no son más que pobres sucedáneos de la alegría para la que fuimos creados y que, al final, nos dejan inevitable y eternamente insatisfechos, inquietos y vacíos”, afirmó.
Por eso la penitencia, “lejos de empobrecer nuestra humanidad, la enriquece, purificándola y fortaleciéndola en su camino hacia un horizonte ‘que tiene como término el amor y el abandono en el Señor’”, dijo. “De hecho, la penitencia, al tiempo que nos hace conscientes de nuestras limitaciones, nos da la fuerza para superarlas y vivir, con la ayuda de Dios, una comunión cada vez más intensa con Él y entre nosotros”. †
Peregrinación De 13 Días A Los Santuarios Marianos A Portugal, Francia Y España
Fátima Santiago de Compostela Ávila Zaragoza Lourdes Barcelona
Junio 8 – 20, 2026
$4.990.00 Por Persona Partiendo Desde Houston
Incluye: Transporte Aéreo De Ida Y Vuelta Desde Houston, Hoteles De Primera Clase, Habitación Doble, 2 Comidas Al Día (Desayuno Y Cena, Todos Los Días), Impuestos Aeroportuarios, Entradas Y Gastos De Combustible, Que Están Sujetos A Cambios. Las Propinas Para Guías Y Conductores NO Están Incluidas.
Nuestra Señora de Fátima
WITHIN THE ARTS
At the Vatican, new Stations of the Cross unveiled at St. Peter’s Basilica for Lent
VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — St. Peter’s Basilica inaugurated a new Stations of the Cross Feb. 20, with paintings by a young Swiss artist who won the Vatican’s international art competition.
Artist Manuel Andreas Dürr said he was deeply moved by the experience of painting St. Veronica’s encounter with Christ.
The 14 stations, which were prayed in St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time on the first Friday of Lent, are on display temporarily until Easter as part of the many initiatives to mark the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration.
Dürr, a 36-year-old artist and father of three, was chosen after a commission of art historians, liturgists and Vatican representatives unanimously selected his proposal from among more than a thousand submissions from 80 countries in the art competition that the Vatican opened in December 2023.
“To paint Jesus is very, very difficult because He is not someone I am introducing; He is someone that billions of people already have an idea of and have a relationship with,” Dürr said ahead of the inauguration in St. Peter’s Basilica Feb. 20.
Dürr is not Catholic, but describes himself as theologically “quite close to Catholic faith.” He is a member of the
A woman prays before the fourth Station of the Cross, painted by a young Swiss artist who won the Vatican’s international art competition, in St. Peter’s Basilica. The new Stations of the Cross series by Manuel Andreas Dürr, a 36-year-old artist and father of three, was inaugurated Feb. 20.
Jahu community, a Christian group with roots in the Reformed Church that he said is “very ecumenical and influenced by different traditions.” He had
SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS
In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Archbishop Joe Vásquez would
to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713-654-5799. Please keep in
previously painted Stations of the Cross for his local church in Switzerland in past years. Now his Via Crucis hangs in one of the world’s most visited religious sites.
The experience of visiting the Vatican, he said, was the first time he understood the universal dimension of the Catholic Church.
“One thing that came as a bit of a shock, in a sense, was when I came to Rome, I suddenly realized that really this is a global Church,” he said. “My own church at home feels very provincial when I come here, and I see people of all ages, from all continents and from all income classes are gathering around shared expressions of faith.”
Dürr spent eight months completing the paintings after winning the contest, which carried a cash prize of 120,000 euros, or about $131,000.
He had not sought out the competition
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himself. “I actually wasn’t aware of the competition,” he said. “A friend of mine suggested that I partake in it. Of course, I never dreamed that it would actually happen, but somehow here we are, almost two years later. And I’m really, really humbled by having the honor to attempt such a thing.”
Among the 14 stations, Dürr said one particularly moved him. “To my surprise, maybe, a little bit, Veronica was the most special station for me,” he said.
“She holds up a cloth which then has an imprint of the image of Christ. And I found basically that’s what I’m attempting to do. I’m painting on cloth in a small way. … And for me, this kind of dignified, I think, what the painter is attempting to do which is … to provide a trace of something deeper to be experienced.”
The Crucifixion scene, he said, was both the first oil painting he began and the last he completed.
“This story has shaped Christian art and European culture … the world’s culture, like no other story has,” he said. “And how this cross, which was intended as a symbol of terror, instilling fear into the subjects of the Roman Empire, suddenly becomes something that we wear around our necks as a symbol of hope.”
Mauro Cardinal Gambetti, rector of St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over the inauguration at the Altar of the Chair in the basilica, where afterward the Way of the Cross was prayed with the new images for the first time.
Among those praying before the paintings that day was Hannah Kemper, a 27-year-old American who had no idea she was among the first to see the works on display. She had simply been visiting the basilica and felt drawn to pray the Stations of the Cross when she spotted them.
“How could you not feel close to our Lord like in this place?” she said, looking around the basilica. “My senses are so heightened to His glory and to contrast that to His suffering on the cross — it’s just so beautiful.” †
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AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE
For the latest updates about listings in the Around the Archdiocese, contact event organizers and visit www.archgh.org/ata.
MARCH 11
MEN’S LENTEN FORUM , 6:30 to 8:15 a.m. Holy Cross Chapel (905 Main St., Houston). Wednesday mornings until April 1. Event encourages men to be professional and faithful leaders in the workplace and at home with confessions, contemplative prayer, meditation, Mass, time for personal reflection, includes talk and breakfast at nearby restaurant. Free to attend. 713-933-7506; pabloyepesstork@gmail. com.
MARCH 13-14
TRAINING, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua (7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands). National Catholic Partnership on Disability and the Archdiocese host mental health and disability training on accompaniment, support and parish life; trauma-informed care and suicide awareness; and removing barriers for persons with disabilities. 713-741-8798; malvarez@archgh.org.
MARCH 13-14
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT , 6 p.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Threeday retreat includes Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and time for private prayer for parish groups, father/sons (16+) and individuals. Cost: $265/person. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
MARCH 14
ST. JOSEPH ALTAR & SPAGHETTI DINNER, 6 p.m., St. Maximilian Kolbe (10135 West Rd., Houston). Catholic Daughters of America Court 2493 host St. Joseph Altar with spaghetti dinner and children portraying the “Tupa Tupa,” a play where children dressed as Mary, Joseph and saints knock door-to-door for food and shelter before finding the St. Joseph table. Cost: $12/ plate. stmaximilian@stmaximilian.org.
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, 5 p.m., St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland). The event starts with a “Tupa Tupa” procession after Mass and then host a spaghetti meal at no charge. All baked goods on the altar will be raffled to attendees. 713-8751463; kaylin.olson@olsonresources.com.
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, 5:15 p.m., St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Vigil Mass, Father Norbert Maduzia will lead the “Tupa Tupa.” Event includes a Sicilian “meatless” meal, raffle and homemade traditional cookies and cannoli for sale. Free entry. stjosephalterguild@silcc.org.
MARCH 15
TURKEY DINNER, 10:30 a.m., Sts. Cyril & Methodius (603 Parrott Ave., Damon). Dinner includes turkey and dressing with all the trimmings. There will also be a bake sale, KJZT Juniors craft sales and a KJZT raffle. Cost: $15/plate. 979-7423383; patsypekar@gmail.com.
MARCH 18
PRESENTATION, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Program prepares pastoral care visitors to enter medical environments with sensitivity, awareness and the ability to offer compassionate, Spirit-led presence. Cost: $40/ includes lunch. info@emmausspiritualitycenter. com; 281-241-9678; emmausspiritualitycenter. com.
MARCH 20
PRESENTATION, 7 p.m., St. Michael (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). “The Impact of Contraception
on Dating and Marital Relationships” presented by Janet E. Smith, Ph.D., a renowned Catholic scholar known for her defense of Humanae Vitae and expertise in sexual ethics. cbriones@ stmichaelchurch.net; cbriones@stmichaelchurch. net.
MARCH 20-22
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT , 6 p.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Threeday retreat includes Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and time for private prayer for parish groups, father/sons (16+) and individuals. Cost: $265/person. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
MARCH 21
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, 6 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman, Houston). St. Mother Teresa Ministry fundraiser includes a Sicilian pasta dinner in honor of St. Joseph, patron saint of Italy. RSVP required. Cost: By Donation. parishinfo@ stroselima.org. stroselima.org/schedule-andevents.
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Michael (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). Houston Catholic Women’s Conference includes early Mass, speakers Janet E. Smith, Ph.D., and Father Bart Reynolds, confession, lunch, vendors and fellowship. Cost: $55 early/lunch; $65/door. houstoncwc.net.
MARCH 22
ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). 18th annual St. Joseph’s Altar and traditional luncheon. Free entry. Lunch cost: $10/adults, $5/ children 3 to 10 years old. stjosephaltar@ctrcc. com; ctrcc.com/st-joseph-altar.
MARCH 27
FISH FRY, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman, Houston). Plates include fried catfish, hush puppies, French fries, cole slaw and iced tea. Cost: $13/plate. Dine in or pick up. Pre-order online. stroselima.org
MARCH 29
DINNER AND BAKE SALE, 10:30 a.m., St. Wenceslaus (407 Third St., Beasley). Sunday dinner and bake sale. Cost: $15/plate.
APRIL 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.
APRIL 3
WAY OF THE CROSS, 10:15 a.m., University of St. Thomas (3802 Yoakum, Houston). 2.2-mile walking procession starts at the Chapel of St. Basil, continuing through Midtown towards Downtown with stops at Holy Rosary, Catholic Charities, ending at the Co-Cathedral of Sacred Heart. secretarycltx@gmail.com.
APRIL 3-12
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA AND CHAPLET, Mary Queen (606 Cedarwood Dr., Friendswood). Novena and Chaplet begin on Good Friday, April 3, in the St. Joseph Chapel after the parish’s 3 p.m. Stations of the Cross. Each remaining day of the Novena, April 4 to 11, continues at 3 p.m. in the St. Joseph Chapel, including Easter Sunday. On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, at 3 p.m. prayers will include Divine Mercy Chaplet, Adoration and Benediction in the St. Joseph Chapel.
APRIL 14
LUNCHEON, Junior League of Houston (1811
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Briar Oaks Ln., Houston). Santa Maria Hostel hosts its annual R.I.S.E. luncheon fundraiser benefiting its mission to empower women and their families to lead healthy, successful, productive and self-fulfilling lives. Cost: $300/ ticket. bwilson@santamariahostel.org. Register: santamariahostel.org
APRIL 10-12
AA MEN’S RETREAT, 6 p.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Three-day 12Step study weekend for those working 12-step programs. Cost: $265/person and $250/65 and older. registrar.holyname@passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/catholic-weekendretreats.
APRIL 17-19
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT , 6 p.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Threeday retreat includes Mass, Reconciliation, conferences and time for private prayer for parish groups, father/sons (16+) and individuals. Cost: $265/person. registrar.holyname@ passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/ catholic-weekend-retreats.
APRIL 25
CRAWFISH BOIL AND FISH FRY, 3 to 10 p.m., Fort Bend Columbus Hall & Park (2007 Kay Cee Dr., Rosenberg). Fort Bend Knights of Columbus 2801 host event with live music by Horizon. Presale tickets only. Cost: $40/adult; $10/child (ages 6-12); Children under age 6 are free. kc2801.com/crawfish-boil.
For additional listings, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/ATA
LENTEN FISH FRYS
Contact parishes for latest information. To submit a listing, visit www.archgh.org/ata.
FRIDAYS OF LENT
CHRIST THE KING, noon to 6 p.m. (4419 N Main St., Houston). Plates include fried fish, Spanish rice, French fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. Cost: $15/plate. Drinks and desserts sold separately at an additional cost. ctkcc.org.
CORPUS CHRISTI, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (9900 Stella Link Rd., Houston). Knights of Columbus Council 12385 host a fish fry that includes fried or baked fish, French fries, hush puppies, cole slaw, dessert, ice tea, lemonade and coffee. Cost: $13/adults and $7/kids. 713-858-3291; paulsobieski@att.net.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 5 to 7 p.m., Fort Bend Columbus Hall (2007 Kay Cee Dr., Rosenberg). Sponsored by Fort Bend Knights of Columbus Council 2801, dinners include fried fish, hush puppies, French fries, brown beans and cole slaw. Catholic Daughters of America 1476 is selling homemade desserts. Cost: $14/Inside AllYou-Can-Eat buffet; $13/Drive. 281-232-8691. kc2801.com.
OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1401 Fidelity St., Houston). Fish dinners, crawfish etouffee dinners or both together. 713-6749206.
SACRED HEART, 4:30 to 7 p.m (109 N Frazier St., Conroe). Knights of Columbus sponsors a fish fry. Cost: $12/adult, $7/kids, $10/fish taco plate. steveeggert@gmail.com.
SACRED HEART, 4 to 7 p.m. (507 S Fourth St., Richmond). Plates include fried or grilled fish, green beans, cole slaw, hush puppies and French fries. $1 desserts by the slice. Dine-in or drive-thru. Stations of the Cross at 3 and 7 p.m. in the church. 281-342-3609; sacredhrt.com.
ST. ANNE DE BEAUPRE, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (2810 Link Rd., Houston). Fish dinner includes fish, potato salad, green beans, bread and cake. Cost: $15/ plate. Call-in/Walk-in/Delivery with five or more dinners. 832-296-0770; 713-208-9230.
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, 5 to 7 p.m. (1801 Sage Rd., Houston). St. Michael Knights of Columbus, Council #14700 serves fried fish, fried shrimp, French fries, mac-n-cheese, cole slaw and hush puppies. Cost: $15/fish, $18/fish and shrimp and $20/shrimp. kofc14700.org.
ST. PHILIP NERI, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10960 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Houston). Fish dinners, fried or stewed fish, two sides (French fries, homemade potato salad, green beans, corn on the cob). Desserts and drinks sold separately. Dine in or to go. 713-882-1134, khchjh4@yahoo.com.
Catholic Extension’s Houston Spirit of Francis Award honors David E. Harvey Jr. and Joe A. Cleary Jr.
HOUSTON — Catholic Extension Society honored David E. Harvey Jr. and Joseph A. Cleary Jr. of Harvey Cleary with its ninth annual Houston Spirit of Francis Award, which recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant impact on the mission of the Catholic Church in America through service or philanthropy.
As prominent fixtures in the Houston construction community, Harvey and Cleary were honored not only for their excellence in building physical structures but also for their years of dedication to building up their community and the Catholic Church.
Harvey and Cleary received the award at a benefit dinner on Feb. 20 in Houston, where other notables were in attendance, including Archbishop Emeritus J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, Bishop Emeritus Curtis Guillory of Beaumont and 2019 Spirit of Francis Award recipient, Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces (now a resident of Houston), Bishop David Toups of Beaumont, Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, Sister Jane Meyer, OP, 2024 Spirit of Francis Award recipient, and Stan Marek, 2025 Spirit of Francis Award recipient.
“David and Joe ... exemplify the Spirit of Francis, commemorated in the three ‘Francis figures’ from whom this award derives its name,” Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension Society, said. “Both ... have served on the boards of nonprofits whose mission is to respond to the plight of the poor and to help alleviate their suffering. In doing so, [giving] powerful witness to the fact that it is God we serve when we care for the least of His people.”
Upon receiving the honor, Harvey said, “Thank you, Catholic Extension, for this award. This recognition belongs
not just to us, but to our family and colleagues who shaped who we are today and embody the values we cherish and hold high.”
Cleary said, “We are both humbled to be recognized by Catholic Extension Society... At its core, Catholic Extension’s mission is rooted in love and taking care of one another, which directly correlates to our values of family, faith and work ethic.”
Harvey and Cleary became friends when they met in Catholic grade school at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Houston near Rice University. Years later, Harvey and Cleary would reunite as business partners, integrating Catholic values of service and compassion into both their personal and professional lives.
Harvey currently serves on six nonprofit boards, including Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston, St. John’s School, University of St. Thomas, where he serves as an Emeritus Trustee, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, where he holds the title of Life Director.
Cleary previously served on the board of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, reinforcing his commitment to faith-based education. He also participated in community service leadership through board membership with The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, supporting charitable and humanitarian initiatives.
Proceeds from the dinner support Catholic Extension’s missions in the state of Texas. For more information on Catholic Extension Society and the Houston Spirit of Francis Award, visit www.catholicextension.org. †
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CATHOLIC EXTENSION SOCIETY
Pictured, from left to right, are David E. Harvey Jr., Father Jack Wall and Joe A. Cleary Jr. The two lay men received the 2026 Houston Spirit of Francis Award from the Catholic Extension Society on Feb. 20.
