SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
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A WORK OF ART, FAITH
‘NEVER FORGET’
Pope Leo XIV dedicates new tower of iconic Barcelona basilica ▪ SEE PAGE 17
Faith carries Catholics who lost family in 9/11 25 years ago ▪ SEE PAGE 15
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
VOL. 63, NO. 6
SPIRITUALITY
INSPIRED BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
September feast days Commemorating the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows
BY STEPHANIE A. MANN Special to the Herald HOUSTON (OSV News) — Each September the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Sept. 14 and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15. The pairing of these celebrations, even at different levels on the liturgical calendar, properly guides our devotion and love of the Savior and His mother. Christ is our Divine Redeemer, worshipped and adored; Mary is His first disciple and our example. Both observances have a long history. The feast of the Triumph of the Cross was observed in Rome by the late seventh century to commemorate the recovery of PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A statue of St. Francis of Assisi, seen through roses, welcomes parishioners and pilgrim visitors to the Kashmere Gardens parish, named after the Italian saint, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Houston. The parish is the designated pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.
See FEASTS, page 3
MINISTRY
Parishioners, pilgrims find peace and ‘A sign of simplicity in Jubilee Year of St. Francis your growth’ BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
Jubilee’s call to conversion. “Jubilee is a time of refreshing, for forgiveness and for repentance,” Father Eke said.“It’s a time of prayer, forgiveness for one another and asking forgiveness from God, a time to turn from our sins and wrongdoings.”
JUBILEE YEAR OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
KASHMERE GARDENS — At St. Francis of Assisi Parish, located at 5102 Dabney St. in Houston’s Kashmere Gardens neighborhood, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, honoring the beloved saint, is not defined by special programs alone. It is an invitation to prayer, renewal and a deeper encounter with Christ. Inside the parish’s Marian chapel, visitors stop before statues, relics and a San Damiano cross.There, Father Martin Eke, MSP, often shares with pilgrims the history behind the devotional items and explains how they connect to the
A PARISH DEDICATED TO PEACE The worldwide Jubilee of St. Francis commemorates the 800th anniversary of the saint’s life and witness to the Church and the world. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, located at 5102 Dabney St., has been designated an official pilgrimage site for the special Jubilee year. For Father Eke, the designation reflects the mission the parish has long
SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE † 2
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COLUMNISTS † 13
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sought to live out. He pointed to the well-known Prayer of St. Francis and the saint’s enduring example of peace and reconciliation. At a time marked by division and conflict, he said, Catholics are called to become witnesses to Christ’s peace. “That summarizes the whole year,” Father Eke said. For pilgrims, the experience extends beyond visiting a designated site. Father Eke hoped visitors encounter a parish community whose faith was strengthened through hardship and sustained by prayer. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted parish life, St. Francis of Assisi launched a nightly prayer gathering via See JUBILEE, page 4
ESPAÑOL † 16
Ascension Chinese Mission breaks ground on new center BY WAYNE WANG Special to the Herald ALIEF — Ascension Chinese Mission celebrated the groundbreaking of a new activity center Aug. 14, with Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez blessing the project and praising the growth of the Catholic community in Houston’s Asiatown. The ceremony, held on the vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marked the start of a project designed to expand the mission’s capacity for faith formation, youth ministry and community gatherings. See ASCENSION, page 7
| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 18 - 19
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A Shepherd’s Message
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez PUBLISHING SINCE 1964 (USPS 936-480)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Having a devotion to Mary was an important part of my upbringing. In our home, there were pictures and statues of Our Lady. I remember my father telling me the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe appearing to St. Juan Diego and also accompanying him to celebrate Mass on Dec. 12. Those early memories stay very close to my heart because they helped form my faith from a young age. Years later, after my ordination to the priesthood, I had the privilege of traveling with my mother and father to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Being together in that sacred place and praying before the image of Our Lady and celebrating Mass with my parents was a rare and blessed occasion that still moves me to this day. That experience reminded me once again of the important role that family plays in passing on the Catholic faith from one generation to the next.
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
This reality comes into focus each year on Sept. 8, when the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Annually, the Church celebrates the birth of three persons: Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas, St. John the Baptist on June 24 and the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8. The Church gives special prominence to John the Baptist and Our Lady because they are directly connected to the mystery of salvation. Nine months after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, when Mary was conceived without original sin, the Church celebrates her birth. Mary’s nativity reminds us that before the Incarnation, God was already preparing the way for the coming of His Son through the context of a human family.
Mary’s childhood, that hidden period of her life offers an important lesson. Long before the angel Gabriel appeared to her at the Annunciation, Mary was being formed within the daily rhythms of a faithful Jewish household. She learned prayers from her parents, Sts. Anne and Joachim. She came to know the Psalms and the history of God’s saving action among His people. She learned to trust in God’s promises and to await the coming of the Messiah. God continues to work today within the context of our families, which should be a source of hope and encouragement for each of us. Whether someone is called to marriage, priesthood or religious life, these vocations begin in the home, within the context of a family. Parents have the responsibility not only to provide for their children’s physical needs but also for their spiritual needs. Parents teach their children to pray. They teach them to make the Sign of the Cross, pray before meals, pray the Rosary, and especially bring them to celebrate Mass and grow in love with the Eucharist. These simple practices help children develop a lifelong relationship with God. Growing up in a family of five children, I remember the joy and excitement we felt when my parents brought home a new baby. Our new brother or sister reminded us of the goodness of God and the blessing of life. The birth of a child is one of the clearest signs of hope that God gives to the world. Husbands and wives should remain open to the gift of new life, recognizing that every child is a blessing and a sign of God’s blessing.
ARCHBISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ
Mary’s birth brings great hope to families because it reminds us that God works through the ordinary moments of human life and through the family. God does not set aside our humanity to save us; rather, He works through it. Mary was born into a family. She had a mother and a father. She grew up as a child; she learned to pray; she cherished her Jewish traditions; and, most of all, she grew as a person of faith, placing her trust in God. Although Sacred Scripture tells us very little about
Mary’s life illustrates this beautifully. She grew up within a family, entered into marriage with Joseph and fulfilled her unique vocation as the Mother of God. Yet she was also the perfect disciple. Throughout her life, she trusted God completely, accompanied her Son and remained faithful to Him even while Jesus was dying on the cross. She teaches us what it means to follow Christ with humility, faith and love.
Parents have a wonderful opportunity to pass on to their children the love for Our Lady and what the Church teaches about her. Mary helps us come to a deeper understanding of her Son, Jesus Christ. Every feast of Mary points us toward the mystery of salvation found in her Son. As we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we thank God for the gift of families, for the gift of faith and for the example of Our Lady, who always leads us closer to Jesus. †
You make the ministry of our future Priests possible. Nearly 60 men are currently in formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston to become the next generations of priests. These men spend anywhere from 5 to 7 years preparing for their Ordination to the Priesthood. St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77024
To read more about our seminarians and how you can support them, visit www.smseminary.com.
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
THE FIRST WORD PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS Effective Aug. 1 Father Ernesto Esqueda Sanchez, cs Parochial Vicar - St. Leo the Great Parish, Houston Father Thuan Ngoc Nguyen, cs Parochial Vicar - St. John Neumann Parish, Houston Father Clair Antonio Orso, cs Pastor - St. Leo the Great Parish, Houston Effective Aug. 25 Father Leonardo Rocha, cs Pastor - St. John Neumann Parish, Houston
IN BRIEF Registration continues for gold, silver anniversary Masses HOLY CROSS CHAPEL
OUR LADY OF SORROWS
FEASTS, from page 1 the Holy Cross by Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 629. St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, had discovered the true cross in Jerusalem in the fourth century, but it was later seized by the Persians and recovered only after Heraclius defeated King Khosrau II. Tradition recounts that as Heraclius approached Jerusalem clothed in imperial splendor, he found himself unable to proceed until Patriarch Zacharias instructed him to remove his regalia and continue barefoot as a pilgrim. CHRIST’S VICTORY THROUGH THE CROSS More profoundly, the feast celebrates Christ’s triumph over sin and death and recalls His words: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12:32). The Mass readings unite both sorrow and victory. The first reading (Nm 21:4b-9) recounts Moses raising the bronze serpent, through which the Israelites received healing after repenting of their complaints against God. The responsorial psalm recalls God’s mercy toward a sinful people. St. Paul’s hymn in Philippians (2:6-11) traces Christ’s selfemptying and obedience unto death on a cross before His exaltation by the Father: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend.” In the Gospel (Jn 3:1317), Jesus explicitly connects the bronze serpent to His own crucifixion, culminating in the promise of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Like Good Friday, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reminds believers of Christianity’s central paradox: humanity is redeemed through Christ’s suffering and sacrifice.
HOUSTON — The 2026 Wedding Anniversary Jubilee Masses honoring couples celebrating their Silver (25th) and Gold (50th) anniversaries of marriage in the Catholic Church are open for registration. The Gold Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston, at 3 p.m. Couples are eligible to receive special recognition whether they attend the ceremony or not. The Silver Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Oct. 11, also at the Co-Cathedral at 3 p.m. Registration is $40. For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/weddingjubilee. †
Blue Mass set for Sept. 27 MARY’S SORROWS AND GLORY The following day recalls Mary’s sorrow at the foot of the cross, fulfilling Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce her heart (Lk 2:35). The Gospel may recount either Mary’s presence at Calvary (Jn 19:25-27) or the Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2:33-35). The sequence Stabat Mater, often associated with the Stations of the Cross, may be sung after the psalm. As Lumen Gentium teaches, Mary faithfully persevered in union with her Son, sharing deeply in His suffering and sacrifice. The readings emphasize both Mary’s sorrow and her glory, reflected in the Alleluia verse: “Blessed are you, O Blessed Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beside the cross of the Lord.” A LASTING DEVOTION Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows flourished among the Cistercians and Servites during the 13th century. The Servites first celebrated the memorial and popularized the Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows, which meditates on seven events in Mary’s life, from Simeon’s prophecy to the burial of Jesus. Christian art has long depicted Mary as the Stabat Mater standing beneath the cross, in the Pietà holding the body of Christ, and as the Mater Dolorosa with seven swords piercing her Immaculate Heart. The Stabat Mater itself has inspired settings by composers including Haydn, Scarlatti, Dvorák and Arvo Pärt. As the entrance antiphon for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross proclaims, “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection,” even as we mourn with Our Lady, who stood faithfully beside her Son to the end. Today, in the Archdiocese, several communities are named in honor of these devotions. Holy Cross Chapel in downtown Houston and the Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson are named after devotions to the Holy Cross, while Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Houston’s Northside community carries the Marian devotion’s namesake. †
LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER
Stephanie A. Mann writes for OSV News from Kansas.
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HOUSTON — Blue Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. The color guard lineup will be at 10:30 a.m. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will be the celebrant. The annual Mass is celebrated on behalf of civilian and classified law enforcement employees, police officers, their families and public supporters. Officers are encouraged to wear dress uniforms without the hat. Agencies are encouraged to bring equipment for the public to see and to be blessed after the Mass. For more information, email Scott Underwood at sunderwood@archgh. org or call 713-741-8744. †
Annual Firefighter Mass honors firefighters lost in the line of duty
HOUSTON — The annual Firefighter Mass honoring and blessing firefighters will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. In addition, during the Mass, a special tribute will be given to firefighters who have died during the previous year. It is open to active and retired firefighters, their families and the general public. †
Oct. 20 White Mass honors healthcare professionals
HOUSTON — The annual White Mass, honoring those who work in healthcare, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will be the celebrant. A reception with speaker Dr. Caitlyn Trader, S.T.D., seminary professor and bioethicist, will follow at the Cathedral Centre. She will speak on “The Ethics of AI in Medicine.” Pre-registration for the dinner reception is recommended and is available at arch.swoogo.com/ whitemass2026. †
Oct. 21 Red Mass unites law communities GO PAPERLESS!
HOUSTON — The annual Red Mass for members of the legal profession will be celebrated at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will be the celebrant, and Father Luke Millette, J.C.L., will be the homilist. The Mass will be followed by a ticketed dinner at the Cathedral Centre with speaker Professor O. Carter Snead from the University of Notre Dame. Registration opens soon. For more information, visit www.archgh.org/redmass. †
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LOCAL
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Around the Archdiocese calendar
Looking for some weekend plans? Check out the Around the Archdiocese calendar which lists festivals, concerts, retreats and other events held around the Archdiocese. ▪ SEE PAGES 18 & 19
‘If you have faith, come to St. Francis of Assisi’ JUBILEE, from page 1 Zoom and conference call. Held at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, the gathering remains active years later. At its peak, more than 100 households participated each night. Today, about 80 to 90 households continue to join. For about 45 minutes, participants pray the Rosary, read Scripture, sing hymns, and pray psalms and litanies together. “How people are able to stay 45 minutes every night is beyond my understanding,” Father Eke said with a laugh. “But they do. They still come.” During the pandemic, the parish also distributed worship materials before weekend Masses so parishioners could participate from home. Family names were displayed in the church during livestreamed Liturgies as a sign of their continued presence in the community. “That really connected them to the parish throughout the pandemic until they started coming back to church,” Father Eke said. SYMBOLS OF FAITH, COMMUNITY The habits of prayer formed during the pandemic continue to shape the parish’s Jubilee observance.
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ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH
Archdiocesan pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi • • •
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A carving of St. Francis of Assisi embracing the Crucified Christ is seen in the Shrine of St. Francis at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Houston.
A statue of St. Francis and a relic travel from home to home each week. Families receive them at Mass, which features the parish’s popular Gospel choir, pray with them throughout the week and then return them for the next household. In the Marian chapel, Father Eke frequently explains the significance of the San Damiano cross, the image before which St. Francis famously heard Christ’s call to rebuild the church.
“It’s not just a cross hanging there,” Father Eke said. “I let them understand the prayer and connect them with the cross, so it makes a lot of sense to them. They pray with it.” Nearby hangs a newspaper article commemorating the church’s dedication, reminding visitors of the parish’s history and growth. LESSONS FROM A QUILT AND A WOLF Among the chapel’s most distinctive features is a quilt created by parish seniors who learned the craft from earlier generations. The quilt, once recognized in a competition, has become a favorite teaching tool for Father Eke. “Jesus said, ‘Let nothing be wasted,’” Father Eke said. “We can feel that everything is gone, but God can put us together, and we can be beautiful again.” He compared scraps of fabric stitched into a single quilt to lives transformed by God’s grace. Another lesson comes from the story of the Wolf of Gubbio, a popular account from the life of St. Francis, depicted by a pair of wolf statues that sit in front of the church looking down Minden Street. According to tradition, the saint brokered peace between a feared wolf and the townspeople. “St. Francis made peace between the wolf and the villagers,” Father Eke said. “He called the wolf ‘Brother Wolf,’ and the wolf knelt down. The villagers agreed to feed the wolf, and the wolf would not attack them. There was peace.” The story remained relevant, Father Eke said, in a world marked by conflict. “That’s really what we want now: peace,” Father Eke said. “If people can love one another and cooperate with one another, I think things will be a little better than they are now.” FAITH AT THE CENTER OF PILGRIMAGE Father Eke recognized that Catholics approach pilgrimages, indulgences and other devotional practices with varying levels of understanding. Rather than focusing on convincing people, he emphasizes the role of faith. Quoting a saying often attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas, Father Eke said: “For the one who has faith, no explanation is
5102 Dabney St., Houston www.stfrancisofhouston.org 713-672-7773
necessary; for the one without faith, no explanation is possible.” He often pointed to the Gospel account of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. “Jesus didn’t say, ‘Who pressed on me?’ He said, ‘Who touched me?’” Father Eke said. “It’s just a touch of faith. It’s not conviction by explanation.” LIVING THE JUBILEE TOGETHER Long before the parish received its designation, leaders were discussing how to observe the 800th anniversary of St. Francis in a meaningful way. The Jubilee schedule includes parish pilgrimages, a novena honoring St. Francis and special liturgical celebrations throughout the year. Among the highlights will be a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, C.R.S., at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 5102 Dabney St. The bishop’s visit is part of a broader effort to involve the entire parish in the Jubilee observance through prayer, catechesis and community celebrations. “Spiritually, yes, we have really embraced it,” Father Eke said. Pilgrims are encouraged to coordinate visits through the parish office. Some arrive with their own clergy and prayer programs, while others ask Father Eke to guide them through the parish’s devotional spaces. Located in Houston’s historic Kashmere Gardens community, the parish welcomes visitors seeking to participate in the JubileeYear observance. INSPIRED BY A SAINT’S SIMPLICITY For Father Eke, the Jubilee is ultimately about more than events and pilgrimages. It is an opportunity to reflect on the life of St. Francis and his example of Christian discipleship. “The simplicity of the man means a lot to me,”Father Eke said.“Not just ‘make me an instrument of peace,’ but his simplicity, embracing the cross, renouncing the world and embracing Christ.” He recalled that St. Francis never became a priest and considered himself often unworthy of such a calling. “Sometimes I tell people, well, I don’t even know how worthy I am to be a priest,” Father Eke said. “His simplicity is something that always attracts my attention.” For those considering a pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, his message is simple: “If you have faith, then come to St. Francis of Assisi and spend some time in prayer,” Father Eke said. “God does not promise and fail, and the Church does not make an empty call.” For Mass times and to learn more about St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the Archdiocesan Pilgrim Site for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, visit www. stfrancisofhouston.org. †
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September features special Masses, events for Jubilee CNS PHOTO/GREGORY SHEMITZ
Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Italy, processes with a reliquary containing a relic of St. Carlo Acutis during Mass at a New York Catholic high school in 2022. Archbishop Sorrentino will visit Houston on Sept. 18 with several relics, including St. Acutis, an Italian teen who died in 2006 and was canonized in 2025, who is entombed in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi.
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Light streams through the steeple of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Houston onto the altar. The parish is the designated pilgrimage site for the Archdiocese for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.
Archdiocesan pilgrim site rich in history, faith opportunities BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald KASHMERE GARDENS — Pilgrims visiting St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church will encounter a rich array of devotional and historical sites in addition to several sacred relics. The parish, founded in 1950, offers opportunities for prayer and reflection through its Marian Chapel, prayer stations, a replica of the San Damiano Cross and shrines highlighting the heritage of the Catholic faith. The parish also has a special connection to jubilee pilgrimages. In 2016, St. Francis of Assisi served as an official pilgrimage site for the Archdiocese, hosting a Holy Door of Mercy during the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. Pilgrims who passed through the Holy Door were encouraged to receive the Sacraments, profess the faith and pray for the pope’s intentions. Among the church’s most distinctive architectural features is its unconventional steeple. Dedicated Oct. 17, 1965, the church roofline was designed to resemble a cowl, or capuche, the pointed hood traditionally worn by Franciscan monks, reflecting the parish’s connection to its patron saint. Visitors arriving on campus are greeted by an outdoor statue of St. Francis of Assisi installed Oct. 5, 1952, which has stood as a landmark of the parish for more than seven decades. Inside the church, pilgrims can visit the Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in the south vestibule. The shrine’s walls are lined with images of
Black saints and founders of religious orders, reflecting the parish’s longstanding African American heritage and its commitment to celebrating the universality of the church. Here, pilgrims can also find a pilgrim registry book to mark their visit. The Marian Chapel, dedicated to Mother and Child, contains 25 pieces of artwork representing a variety of ethnic and racial traditions. Collected over the years by Monsignor Patrick Wells, the chapel serves as the parish’s daily Mass chapel and a quiet space for personal prayer. Pilgrims can also view the sanctuary lamp above the altar, a unique artifact with ties to Texas Catholic history. The lamp was salvaged from St. Mary’s Orphanage in Galveston after the institution was destroyed in the Great Hurricane of 1900. Donated by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the lamp is associated with a tradition that sisters and orphans were found huddled beneath it during the storm. Near the altar, pilgrims can visit a prayer intention station where they can write special prayer intentions that are prayed by the parish during Masses. Other devotional highlights include several relics housed throughout the parish, including a relic of St. Josephine Bakhita, prayer stations across the campus and a replica of the San Damiano Cross, the image before which St. Francis of Assisi received his call to “rebuild” the church. Together, the sites offer pilgrims multiple opportunities for prayer, reflection and a deeper connection to the spiritual legacy of St. Francis. The parish will host a special gathering on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the church, which features a dramatization of the Transitus of St. Francis, his passage from earthly life to death. †
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Archbishop Emeritus of Assisi brings relics of Franciscan saints to UST on Sept. 18
HOUSTON — The University of St. Thomas will welcome Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, archbishop emeritus of the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, on Friday, Sept. 18, for a day of prayer, veneration and reflection centered on relics of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi and St. Carlo Acutis. As part of a limited U.S. tour, Sorrentino will bring first-class relics of St. Francis and Acutis, along with a second-class relic of St. Clare, to UST’s Chapel of St. Basil. The relics will be unveiled at 10 a.m., followed by public veneration and 12:20 p.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Sorrentino. The visit will conclude with a public lecture at 6:30 p.m. in Jones Hall and a reception in Doherty Library. Archbishop Sorrentino served as bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino from 2005 until becoming archbishop emeritus in 2026. He played a key role in promoting the legacy of St. Acutis, whose body was transferred in 2019 to the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi. The free event serves as the kickoff to UST’s broader celebration, St. Francis of Assisi: 800 Years of Adventure. To learn more and see a detailed schedule, visit www.stthom.edu/ events. †
6 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
San José Clinic’s ‘Forever Healing’ gala honors Cristo Rey Jesuit’s shared mission BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — For 104 years, San José Clinic has been drawing a circle of care around individuals and families across Houston. Each year, a group of Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston students with an interest in healthcare steps inside it to serve those who might otherwise go without. San José Clinic expands access to healthcare for people who are uninsured or face significant barriers to care. Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston similarly expands access to private education for students who might otherwise be unable to afford it. That shared commitment is why San José Clinic will honor Cristo Rey Jesuit at its 2026 Forever Healing Celebration. “As I begin my leadership journey with San José Clinic, I am inspired every day by the commitment of our staff, volunteers, and supporters to ensure that uninsured and underserved individuals and families in Greater Houston have access to the healthcare they deserve,” said Paul Kulas, San José Clinic president and CEO. “The Forever Healing Celebration is an opportunity to honor that legacy while building the support we need to expand access, strengthen our services, and ensure that San José Clinic can continue providing healing, dignity, and hope to
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SAN JOSÉ CLINIC’S ANNUAL ‘FOREVER HEALING’ CELEBRATION
When: Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. Where: River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd., Houston Featuring Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez and Father David Michael Moses Register: www.sanjoseclinic.org/ foreverhealinggala
FILE PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A young student receives new school supplies during a school supply drive at San José Clinic. In October, San José Clinic will host its annual gala, this year honoring Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School, a longtime partner in their mission to serve Houston.
our community for generations to come.” “At the heart of our relationship with San José Clinic is a shared belief that every person is created in the likeness of God and deserves the opportunity to thrive,” said Loubel Galik, executive director of community engagement. “As a Jesuit Catholic school, Cristo Rey Jesuit forms young people to be ‘men and
women for others,’ committed to justice, compassion and service.” Through the partnership, the students work alongside clinic staff while gaining firsthand experience in healthcare and putting that belief into action through service. “We share a commitment with our community to ensure no one is left behind,” said Violeta Lemus, development services and event coordinator for San José Clinic. “Each year, a group of students who have expressed an interest in healthcare volunteers with us to learn what it means to work in healthcare. This partnership gives us the chance to teach the upcoming generations what it means to serve patients with care rooted in dignity and compassion.” San José’s broad circle of care includes primary and specialty care, dental and vision services, behavioral health support and assistance with challenges such as transportation and food insecurity. Cristo Rey students become part of that daily work through rotations in the clinic’s medical, patient access and pharmacy departments, assisting with operations
and shadowing members of the medical assistant team. “At its heart, San José Clinic is about making sure that people feel seen, heard, welcomed and cared for,” Lemus said. “We walk alongside our patients on their journey toward better health and a more stable future.” The Forever Healing Celebration will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. at River Oaks Country Club. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will lead the opening prayer, while Father David Michael Moses, pastor of Christ Our Light in Navasota and St. Stanislaus in Anderson, will serve as master of ceremonies and share his music. What began with a $59 donation in 1922 continues through the generosity of the community today. This year’s Forever Healing Celebration aims to raise $500,000 for operations at San José Clinic’s Midtown and Fort Bend locations. The clinic receives no federal or state funding for its operations. “We hope our guests understand the scope of the work we do to support the most vulnerable members in our community and the number of people who complete the circle of care to ensure our patients receive the highest standard of care with the respect they deserve,” Lemus said. “We hope our guests also see the impact of their gifts. It is thanks to their support that we are still here.” To learn more about San José Clinic, visit www.sanjoseclinic.org. †
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texas catholic herald 7
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
‘A day for you to give thanks to God’: Chinese mission embraces growth ASCENSION, from page 1 “It is a sign of your growth and a sign of the many good things that God is doing in your community,” Archbishop Vásquez said in his homily. “This is a day for you to rejoice, a day for you to be proud, and a day for you to give thanks to God.” The new activity center will preserve the framework of the existing Father Francis X. Chang Activity Center while adding space for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and youth ministry programs. Plans also include an updated kitchen, library, music room and meeting space. The project resumed in 2022 under the leadership of Father Roger Zhang, pastor of Ascension Chinese Mission, with assistance from parishioners and a building committee. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Archbishop Vásquez blessed the construction site with holy water and asked parishioners to continue supporting the project through prayer and financial contributions. The expansion comes as Greater Houston’s Chinese and Taiwanese population continues to grow. An estimated 80,000 to 90,000 residents of Chinese and Taiwanese descent live across the region, according to recent Census-based research.The community’s history in Houston dates to the 1870s, when Chinese immigrants arrived as railroad laborers, and later expanded through the city’s original Chinatown east of downtown and the development of the Bellaire Boulevard corridor, now a cultural and commercial hub for many Asian American communities. Ascension Chinese Mission, located at 4605 Jetty Ln., is the only Catholic parish in the region dedicated specifically to
PHOTO BY HELEN CHEN
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, sixth from right, presides over a groundbreaking ceremony at Ascension Chinese Mission in Alief on Aug. 14. The ceremony followed a Mass with the community.
serving Chinese Catholics. The mission traces its roots to the 1970s, when Jesuit Father Francis Xavier Chang began gathering Chinese Catholic families with the approval of then-Bishop John L. Morkovsky. What started as a monthly Mass in Chinese eventually became a weekly celebration. The community’s mission focuses on evangelization among people of Chinese descent, reaching inactive Catholics and fostering ties between Catholics in China and the universal Church. After worshipping at several locations, including St. Charles Borromeo Church, the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, St. Ambrose Church and Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, the community was formally established as Ascension Chinese Mission in 1988 by then-Bishop
Fundraising gala set for Sept. 30
ALIEF — Ascension Chinese Mission will host its first fundraising gala Sept. 30 at Ocean Palace in Houston to support the mission’s new activity center project. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, as a special guest. Organizers are offering four sponsorship levels for tables of 10 guests: Diamond ($10,000), Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500) and Silver ($1,500). Proceeds will support construction of the Ascension’s new activity center, which recently broke ground at the parish’s campus. Checks should be made payable to Ascension Chinese Mission and mailed to 4605 Jetty Lane, Houston, TX 77072. For more information, contact Deacon Benny Chang at 281-494-9751 or Deacon Paul Kiang at 832-865-4838. †
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Joseph A. Fiorenza, with Chang serving as pastor. The mission purchased its current property in 1990, and the original multipurpose building was dedicated the following year. As the community continued to grow, Chang died unexpectedly in 1998. Father Louis Zee, a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, became pastor in 2000. During his tenure, the mission built its current church and rectory. In January 2004, then-Auxiliary Bishop Vásquez presided over the
groundbreaking for the church. Recalling that occasion, Archbishop Vásquez said that “the pastor was older than the bishop. Today the bishop is older than the pastor.” In closing his homily, Archbishop Vásquez encouraged parishioners to place their hope in Christ and seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the community begins its next chapter of growth. For Mass times and more, visit www. ascensionchinesemission.org. †
8 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD LOCAL
St. Mary Star of the Sea celebrates 100 years of faith in Freeport
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Cardinal DiNardo presides over Amarillo Diocese’s centennial Mass of Thanksgiving
PHOTO BY ERIC ENGELS, DIOCESE OF AMARILLO
The Diocese of Amarillo celebrated 100 years of faith with a Centennial Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, Aug. 22, in the Cal Farley Coliseum at the Amarillo Civic Center. Centered on the theme “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,” the milestone commemorated the diocese, which spans 26 counties and approximately 25,800 square miles, with 38 parishes in the Texas Panhandle. The celebration was attended by over a dozen bishops, including their apostolic administrator, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who presided over the Mass; Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez of Galveston-Houston; Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., Pope Leo XIV’s personal representative.
SCAN TO WATCH
FATHER STEVEN TRAN, ADMINISTRATOR OF ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA, SPEAKS ABOUT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION PHOTOS BY MARCUS NORWOOD/HERALD
Parishioners gathered at St. Mary Star of the Sea, located at 1019 W 6th St. in Freeport, to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Aug. 15. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrated the centennial Mass.
Expand and deepen our hearts . . . Please pray for all victims of violence everywhere and their families. Pray for those being executed in Texas and their families:
September 16: LeJames Norman September 23: Ramey Ker’sean Olajuwa
Assumption parish marks 30th anniversary with Marian celebration
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH
On Aug. 15, Assumption Catholic Church in Houston celebrated the 30th anniversary of their parish building with a celebration for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, joined church pastor, Father Anthony Osas Onaiwu, CRS, as the faithful processed around the church with a statue of Mary while praying the Rosary. Bishop Dell’Oro also celebrated the bilingual Mass. Bishop Dell’Oro had served as pastor of Assumption Church from 1992 to 2001.
LOCAL
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
Music and Mission Formation Day launches new initiative for pastoral musicians, worship leaders HOUSTON — Musicians from throughout the Archdiocese are invited to participate in the Archdiocesan Music and Mission Formation Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, at St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston, located at 2140 Westheimer Rd. The day of prayer, music, fellowship and formation will also launch Música y Misión, a new year-long initiative for Hispanic and Spanish-speaking pastoral musicians and feature Oregon Catholic Press’s (OCP) nationally recognized presenters, Ana Betancourt, Oscar Castellanos and Koren Ruiz. Sponsored by the Office of Worship, in collaboration with OCP Instituto and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) GalvestonHouston Chapter, the event is open to choir members and directors, cantors, accompanists, instrumentalists, ensemble leaders and other pastoral musicians. Música y Misión seeks to strengthen and support Hispanic music ministers by emphasizing that music ministry is more than leading songs at Mass. The initiative will help participants grow as disciples, evangelizers and servant leaders while deepening their understanding of Catholic Liturgy and sacred music. Formation will include in-person events, workshops, leadership development, virtual learning, repertoire sessions and practical parish resources. The program will also foster collaboration among Hispanic musicians across the Archdiocese and celebrate the musical and cultural gifts they bring to the Church. “Pastoral musicians are called first to be disciples of Jesus Christ,” Dan Girardot, D.Min., associate director for Liturgical Music at the Office of Worship in the Archdiocese. “From that discipleship flows a vocation to become evangelizers and servant leaders who use
Scan to register, in Spanish and English, for the Archdiocesan Music and Mission Formation Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, at St. Anne Parish, 2140 Westheimer Rd., Houston.
their gifts to help the people of God pray, participate in the sacred Liturgy, and encounter Christ.” The gathering will also provide specialized formation for Englishspeaking pastoral musicians. Nationally recognized liturgical music expert Adam Bartlett will lead sessions on chant, antiphons, and music for the Mass, exploring how the Church’s treasury of sacred music can enrich parish Liturgies and encourage fuller participation. Cantors will have expert cantor clinicians offering formation for both beginning and advanced singers. Sessions will address psalmody, vocal technique, liturgical principles, ritual presence, leading the assembly and teaching music, while helping participants prepare for NPM cantor certification. The Música y Misión initiative will continue through the summer of 2027 with additional formation opportunities and online resources, culminating in an Archdiocesan celebration recognizing participants’ growth and encouraging continued collaboration among music ministers and parishes. Visit www. archgh.org/musica-y-mision for more information on the initiative. For registration in Spanish and English, schedule and information, visit www.archgh.org/mmfd. †
texas catholic herald 9
YOUNG ADULTS
Café Catholica Lite returns to Galveston with talk on virtuous relationships GALVESTON — The Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry will host the next Café Catholica Lite on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Holy Family Parish Center, located at 1525 25th St. in Galveston. The event will be held from 7 to 8:45 p.m. The speakers will be Bao and Jessica Loi, and their talk will be titled “Understanding the Temperaments: Growing in Virtuous Relationship.” The night will include light snacks, the talk, Q&A and communal prayer. For more information, visit www.archgh.org/ cafecatholica. †
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“We live on the same planet, and must care for it together.” - Pope Leo XIV
PASTORAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE In a continuing effort to provide pastoral care to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel, Archbishop Joe Vásquez would like to remind the faithful of the Archdiocese of the availability of the Victims Assistance Coordinator. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or Church personnel is encouraged to call Diane Vines at 713-654-5799. Please keep in daily prayers the healing of victims of abuse and all who suffer in any way.
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10 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
EDUCATION
St. Peter Catholic celebrates fourth school year with opening Mass HOUSTON — On Aug. 21, St. Peter Catholic Career & Technical High School celebrated its first Mass of the school year with a special theme, “From Vision to Graduation.” The Mass was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, who served as the presider. The Mass marked a historic milestone for St. Peter Catholic, as the school is in its fourth year and will celebrate its first graduating class in May 2027. The members of the Class of 2027 have been part of the school’s journey since its founding and will be the “Founding Graduates” from St. Peter Catholic. St. Peter Catholic Career & Technical High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school dedicated to combining Catholic spiritual formation with career and technical education. The theme, “From Vision to Graduation,” reflects the journey of the school since its founding.
“This fourth year is a moment of tremendous gratitude and joy for our school community,” said Principal Dr. Marc Martinez. “We began with a vision and a leap of faith, and now we are preparing to celebrate our very first graduates at the end of this school year. This special start-of-the-year Mass gives us an opportunity to thank God for how far we have come and to place this important year in His hands.” The opening Mass brought together students, school families, faculty, staff, Board members, donors and supporters of St. Peter to pray for a successful school year and to celebrate the beginning of this historic year for St. Peter Catholic. Following the Mass, the school hosted a reception in the gymnasium for guests to thank them for their support. † PHOTO BY MARCUS NORWOOD/HERALD
Catholic Charities
St. Peter Catholic Career & Technical High School celebrated its first Mass, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, on Aug. 21.
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EDUCATION
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
BACK TO CLASS IN FAITH
IN BRIEF
PEARLAND — Students at St. Helen Catholic School in Pearland embraced the first weeks of school with a special celebration for the fast of St. Helen, the parochial community’s patronal namesake, on Aug. 19, which featured a Eucharistic procession and Adoration throughout the school. More than 50 Catholic schools around the Archdiocese also began the new fall semester, with Liturgies, student and family gatherings, and classroom blessings. †
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL - HOUSTON
CHRIST THE REDEEMER - HOUSTON
texas catholic herald 11
Poetry contest inspired by St. Francis of Assisi now open to students
ST. HELEN - PEARLAND
ST. MARTHA - KINGWOOD
HOUSTON — Young writers in grades seventh to 12th are invited to participate in the 2026 Alleluia Poetry Contest, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” sponsored by Catholic Literary Arts (CLA). The contest invites students to write an original poem inspired by the Canticle of All Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi. The contest celebrates the 800-year anniversary of the death of St. Francis and encourages students to explore themes of joy, fellowship, God’s generosity in creation, and Christian love and unity. Students compete in three gradelevel categories: seventh to eighth grades, ninth to tenth grades and 11th to 12th grades. Students from Archdiocesan schools, independent Catholic schools and homeschool families in the greater Houston area, as well as Catholic students attending other schools, are eligible to enter. First-, second- and third-place winners in each category receive $100, $75 and $50, respectively. Winners and finalists will be published in the 2026 Alleluia Contest Anthology. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 20 and must be submitted through Submittable. For more information, visit www. catholicliteraryarts.org. †
12 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
YOUTH
ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL 2026-2027 The Archdiocesan Youth Council is composed of over 85-plus high school youth from across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. These young people are nominated by their parish or Catholic school and enter a discernment process before being commissioned. Youth Council members serve for a one-year term during which they assist with the planning and implementation of programs sponsored by the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization. The members of this year’s council are listed below. For more information, visit www.archgh.org/oace. CHRIST OUR LIGHT, NAVASOTA Yosbel Casas Angelique Lemus CHRIST THE INCARNATE WORD, HOUSTON Trina Tang Tony Tran CHRIST THE REDEEMER, CYPRESS Lilly Fowler Julia Rasmussen MARY QUEEN, FRIENDSWOOD Heidi Lozano Evan Patterson OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, BAYTOWN Victoria Garcia Ivan Poy OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, HOUSTON Christopher Gonzalez Olivia Quintanilla OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, RICHMOND Sophia Aguilar PRINCE OF PEACE, HOUSTON Axel Almendarez Anahi Vidal SACRED HEART, CONROE Sofia Garcia SACRED HEART, MANVEL Monserraht Calderon Zavala Christian Landaverde
SACRED HEART, RICHMOND Joseph Sicking SHRINE OF THE TRUE CROSS, DICKINSON Alfonso Maldonado Elena Zuazo ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, THE WOODLANDS Sarah de Koster ST. BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE, KATY Adam Gosch Victoria LeBlanc ST. BENEDICT THE ABBOT, HOUSTON Brianna Cruz ST. BERNADETTE, HOUSTON Noah Hicks ST. CECILIA, HOUSTON Marie Graham Sofia Navas Vanni ST. CHRISTOPHER, HOUSTON Carly Cavazos ST. CLARE OF ASSISI, HOUSTON Diego Barrera ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, HOUSTON Jackie Gaytan ST. DOMINIC, HOUSTON Stephanie Ortuno Jaslene Solano
ST. EDITH STEIN, KATY Ava Gonzalez Chloe Rivera ST. EDWARD, SPRING Bernadette Rein ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, HOUSTON Korina Andrade Isabella Zertuche ST. FAUSTINA, FULSHEAR Jesus N. Guerra Ruth Hanzik ST. HELEN, PEARLAND Dominic Landry Adelynn Pascarella ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, SPRING Darek Aguirre Maria Bolivar Prince Eva Cuellar Abby Cunningham ST. JEROME, CLUTE Axel Aguilar Sydney McIntire ST. JEROME, HOUSTON John Torres ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, ALVIN Anabelle Loggins ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, NEW CANEY Joselyn Fuentes
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, BAYTOWN Matthieu Salom Edward Rios ST. JOHN VIANNEY, HOUSTON Elijah Kruppa ST. LAURENCE, SUGAR LAND Khloe Casal J. Miller Leslie ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST, HOUSTON Thomas Canil Annalise Chavez Benjamín Guajardo Viviana Mendoza ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST, HOUSTON Walter Aguilar Mario Morales Diana Romero ST. MARY, FRYDEK Annabelle Weber ST. MARY OF THE PURIFICATION, HOUSTON Zora Gabriel Jayla Gabriel ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST, HOUSTON Valeria Garcia Natalia Martinez ST. MATTHIAS THE APOSTLE, MAGNOLIA Cristina Hernandez Abigail Padron Danna Palafox Daira Rios
ST. MICHAEL, LAKE JACKSON Caroline Keefe Ashley Traynor ST. MONICA, HOUSTON Julissa Lewis Jaycee Smith ST. NICHOLAS, HOUSTON Alexis Awa Ivana Sendze Janelle Tanifum STS. PETER AND PAUL, BELLVILLE Dean Banks STS. SIMON AND JUDE, THE WOODLANDS Mia Bryant Victoria Caldwell ST. AGNES ACADEMY, HOUSTON Fatima Flores Moreno CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY, HOUSTON Justin Martinez Laylah Martinez ST. PETER CATHOLIC CAREER AND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSTON Logan Whitley ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSTON Sebastian Aguilar Michael Garza
texas catholic herald 13
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
COLUMNISTS
Everyday Evangelists: Living our call to share the faith
The Church in the U.S. observes the third Sunday of September as Catechetical Sunday. It is generally around this time that parish catechetical programs begin, and it is typically on this Sunday that parish catechists are recognized. Catechesis is among the central ministries carried out by the Church. It takes many and varied forms. There is initiatory catechesis in which those who are coming into the Church are prepared to celebrate the Sacraments. There is systematic catechesis in which the truths of the faith are unfolded in an ordered and complete manner. Catechesis can be formal or informal. Pope Francis reminded us that all catechesis should be evangelizing; that is, it should be rooted in the good news that through Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God is at hand and our salvation has already been won. All Catholics, by reason of their Baptism, share in the prophetic ministry
of Jesus. All Catholics are included in the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Some, whom we recognize on Catechetical Sunday, are those who have been called to serve in formal by roles in organized BRIAN catechetical ministry. GARCIABut all of us have both LUENSE the right and obligation to give witness to our faith by the way we live our lives. Everyone is a catechist to the extent that people see in us a commitment to a way of life that is grounded in our identity as disciples of Jesus Christ. Though he may never have used precisely these words, there is a saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, whose special jubilee we celebrate this year in honor of the 800th anniversary of his passing from this life to the next:
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and, if necessary, use words.” Each year the bishops of the U.S. choose a theme for the Catechetical Year. This year the theme is taken from Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … to bring good news to the poor.”This recalls how, at the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth and proclaims that this passage is being fulfilled. This is not solely a statement about Jesus’ identity and ministry. Rather, because we are joined to Christ in Baptism, it is also a statement about us. We have been anointed by the Spirit of God such that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and gifts us with His graces. When we allow these to grow in us, they bear much fruit. These gifts are given to be used for the benefit of the ongoing project of building the kingdom of God. Who are the poor in our society today, and what good news do they need to
hear from us? What can we say to those who lack access to safe and stable housing, those who are food insecure, and those who suffer from a lack of basic necessities? What hope can we offer to those who are vulnerable, marginalized or cast off? And how are we empowered by the Spirit of God to bring it to them? People of goodwill can and do disagree about the best methods to lift people up, restore human dignity and bring human flourishing to all. But as Christians, we cannot deny that this mission is uniquely entrusted to us. In the choices we make and in the lives we lead, we have the obligation to show to the world that, in cooperation with God’s grace, we are working here and now to bring God’s vision to fulfillment. † Brian Garcia-Luense is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
Celebrating Grandparents and Cherished Elders Day All around us and among us are older adults living lives of service, some in need of care and many giving care. Aging is a blessing — not everyone gets many years of life. As long as we are here, breathing, God has a mission and purpose for us. We are called to love one another all our lives long. This year, as we celebrate grandparents and cherish our elders, in the U.S. on Sunday, Sept. 13, let us truly echo this year’s theme and the message of Pope Leo XIV, “You are not forgotten.” We see you, we hear you, we value you and we love you! Not just on Grandparents and Cherished Elders Day, but all year long! Whether you are a lector, usher or catechist in the parish, a part of senior ministry, a homebound senior praying for your family and the affairs of the world, a busy grandparent attending the events of grandchildren or someone lonely at home, we are thinking of you and praying for you. Since the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly was established by Pope Francis in 2021, we have sought to highlight how important you are to our church family. According
to the pope, “The celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all and that at any age it is always by possible to recognize KRISTINE ourselves as sons and KERLIN daughters of God. May this day, therefore, be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family and even those who have no one to visit them.”This is the time to show our seniors that they are not forgotten, to tell them, to give them our time and our attention. According to the Dicastery for the Laity at the Vatican, “This celebration helps us appreciate older generations as vital keepers of our history, witnesses to our faith and teachers for our lives.”You are living examples of a faith-filled life. So, all of you who are 50 years old
and above, this prayer is for you, and all of you who love someone in older age, let’s join together to pray this year’s Blessing for Long Life for our grandparents and elders: Blessing of Long Life God of mercy, who has granted these your children the gift of a long life, pour out your blessing upon them. Let them feel the sweetness and
strength of your presence. As they look back on the past, may they rejoice in your mercy; and, as they look to the future, may they persevere in the hope that never dies. To you be praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen. † Kristine Kerlin is the director of the Office of Aging.
POPE LEO XIV’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2026 + For the care of water + Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.
SEPTEMBER 13 SEPTEMBER 20
First Reading: Sir 27:30-28:9 First Reading: Is 55:6-9
Resp. Psalm: Ps 103:1-4, 9-12 Resp. Psalm: Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Second Reading: Rom 14:7-9 Second Reading: Phil 1:20-24, 27
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35 Gospel: Mt 20:1-16
14 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
WORLD
Never let injustice, evil in the world corrupt your heart, pope tells faithful CASTEL GANDOLFO (CNS) — Whatever the injustice or injury, do not revert to hatred or violence, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful, because only love, hope, forgiveness and respect will protect and promote human dignity. “We are in such need of life, hope, serenity and peace — within ourselves, in our cities and among people and nations. For this reason, whatever the wound, whatever the offense, let us not allow evil to disfigure our humanity or corrupt our hearts!” he said in his homily at a Mass Aug. 29, marking the feast of Our Lady of the Lake in the town of Castel Gandolfo. “Let us not conform to the mindset of this world” and not get discouraged, he said. “Let us continue to love, to give and to forgive, offering ourselves ‘as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,’ so that we may preserve and nurture — in ourselves and in others — the infinite dignity of the divine image we bear in our souls.” Pope Leo was the third pope after Sts. Paul VI and John Paul II to mark the Aug. 29 feast day in Castel Gandolfo, which overlooks Lake Albano, and take part in the Mariano procession from the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago, where the Mass was celebrated, to the volcanic lake.
CNS PHOTO
Pope Leo XIV looks toward a statue of Our Lady of the Lake as a boat begins to move across Lake Albano during a Marian procession in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug. 29, the feast of Our Lady of the Lake.
Surrounded by yellow and white flowers on a small platform, a statue of Our Lady of the Lake was carried through the streets to the lake where more than a dozen boats — including kayaks and jet
skis — awaited. Pope Leo, however, was the first pope to board the main boat for a ride on the lake, symbolizing the Barque of Peter and highlighting the Gospel call to go out into the deep and hold fast to Christ under Mary’s maternal gaze, especially when navigating troubled or uncertain waters. The boat, adorned with flowers, the Marian statue and the Vatican flag, slowly made its way in the setting sun and flickering lights to another beach where Pope Leo blessed the small crowd and those whose livelihoods depend on the lake. When the early disciples were frightened by the terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus assured them to “have faith and pray, so that they might
find peace again and, together with Him, continue sailing toward their desired destination,” the pope had said earlier in his homily at Mass. Jesus reveals “that only love saves. The love that God showed us by becoming man, dying and rising again for us,” Pope Leo had said. Those who wish to follow Christ must also respond with love, he said, and “humbly offer ourselves to Him and to our brothers and sisters: in the faithful constancy of daily charity as well as in the most extraordinary acts, even to the point of martyrdom at times — as, unfortunately, still happens today to many Christians in various parts of the world.” “With God’s help, we want to sow the seeds of His infinite charity everywhere in the world, tirelessly and without limit, so that today and always someone may rejoice in reaping their fruits,” the pope said. Unfortunately, he said, not everyone understands the beauty, goodness and practicality of this dream of the Creator; in fact, many think it is a utopia.” The naysayers insist that “turning the other cheek is for losers; giving in the face of rejection is for the naive; forgiving without limits is for the weak,” he said. “Let us not delude ourselves. Hatred and violence bring nothing good, but only destruction and death, always, even when they are a response to injustices suffered,” Pope Leo said. “Only the way of love is the way of life.” “Let us, then, draw close this evening to Jesus and Mary, to the Son and the Mother, so that, united, not only on the lake but on every night throughout the world, we may be a soothing reflection of God’s presence and an irresistible echo of His love that invites us to love,” he said in his homily. †
Save the Date:
Red Mass & DINNER Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Red Mass
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart – 6:15 p.m. Archbishop Joe Vásquez, Main Celebrant and Very Rev. Luke Millette, J.C.L. Homilist
Optional Dinner Following Mass Cathedral Centre – 7:30 p.m.
Dinner Speaker: O. Carter Snead, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame
Dinner tickets on sale soon at
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texas catholic herald 15
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
NATION
Faith carries Catholics who lost family to 9/11 terror attacks 25 years ago (OSV News) — Joseph Connor had his back turned to the large window of his 36th-floor office when he “suddenly more felt than heard” the massive impact of a commercial jet slamming into the north tower of the World Trade Center a third of a mile away on Sept. 11, 2001. As Connor watched pages and pages of office paper slowly rain down from the burning skyscraper against the clear sunny sky, the realization hit that his cousin Steven Schlag, a bond trader at the brokerage firm Cantor Fitzgerald, worked high up in one of the towers. The banker suspected the number of lives lost was quickly rising as he frantically tried to call his cousin, a very close relative. Then, the middle of the second tower burst into a fiery ball, struck by a second jet. For Connor, this confirmed a terrorist attack. “How could this happen again?” he remembers asking himself. “(Steven) had a wife — a foreign-born wife, like my mom was — and three kids. My mom had two. But why, God? What? How did you let this happen?” He knew well the anguish of a young widow left with young children. It was the story of his mother on the day she lost her husband to a terrorist bombing 26 years earlier, at a historic tavern near his Wall Street office. Connor, 60, recently described to OSV News the devastation that unfolded before his eyes in NewYork on Sept. 11, 2001, as the U.S. prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The al-Qaida-led attacks in New York and Washington, with a thwarted attempt in Pennsylvania, left close to 3,000 people dead. Connor said he questioned God after seeing “specks jumping” from the blazing towers to their deaths on 9/11. “How are people left to make a choice: whether to burn or drop 1,000 feet?” Connor asked. “So, that’s something I had struggled with. But I think over time, my faith has gotten much stronger, and certainly in the last decade or so, I think it has even gotten more so.” Connor, a regular Massgoer, credits his stronger faith after the losses in part to his son, an Augustinian friar studying for the priesthood. He said his son’s faith has helped him to “become more introspective … and understand what it means to be Catholic … to really embrace God and embrace Jesus.” Now a New Jersey-based antiterrorism advocate, Connor lost his father days after his ninth birthday. On Jan. 24, 1975, 33-year-old Frank Connor was at lunch at Fraunces Tavern in the heart of Manhattan’s financial district when he and three other men were killed, and nearly 60 were injured in a bombing. The Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), a Puerto Rican separatist group, claimed responsibility. Connor said he has had no inclination to walk away from God, unlike some others he knew who lost loved ones on 9/11. The experience, he said, of losing his father and being raised by a mother and grandmother who were devout, Irish women kept him grounded and better
OSV NEWS PHOTO/JEENAH MOON, REUTERS
Elizabeth Adams reacts at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum reflecting pool in the Manhattan borough of New York City, Sept. 10, 2025, ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, Catholic family members who lost loved ones that day have credited their faith with getting through the losses.
able to handle the loss of his close cousin, whom he described as tough and funny. “We went to church and all those things, but Grandma Connor always instilled in us never to be raised with hate,” said Connor. His cousin Jean Schlag Nebbia of Naples, Florida, also clung to her faith shortly after her older brother Steven, who was 41, died in the attack. “I never blamed God for 9/11. I felt that you’re given the gift of life, and then you’re given the gift of choice. And sometimes, there’s bad people, and they make bad choices, and other people are hurt through bad choices,” Nebbia, a former special needs teacher’s aide, said. Three months after the attacks, she came to a realization. Nebbia, 63, described watching news footage of the burning towers obsessively, trying to find her brother among those jumping out of the buildings. In the third month of non-stop viewing, her husband gave her some advice a Christian coworker had given him: “to say ‘I’m going to put this in God’s hands.’” “The moment he said that to me is the moment I started to live … giving up my worries and giving up the unknown,” Nebbia said. “You know, ‘God, I need a good night’s sleep. I’m going to put this in your hands.’ That, to me, was a turning point. And I don’t know if I could have done that if I didn’t have my Catholic base.” Nebbia said her 12 years of Catholic education and growing up as a regular Massgoer gave her a solid grounding in faith in God’s providence. She said she goes to God in prayer for almost every aspect of her life because“he has my back,” just like her older brother, whom she was very close to, “always did.” Vera Murphy Trayner also leaned heavily on her faith after losing her husband, Patrick Murphy. On the morning of the attack, Trayner prayed the Rosary fervently as she rushed home from her son’s nursery school while pushing him in his stroller. Murphy, 36 and the vice president for technology at
the resource and management consulting firm Marsh McLennan, was on the 97th floor of the first tower that was hit three floors below. His department had moved there just months prior. Trayner’s go-to devotion “always” came through for her with prayers answered. “I prayed and prayed and prayed that Patrick would find a way out. He was so smart … and athletic and young … and it was the first prayer that I made that was not answered,”Trayner said. She said she“was disappointed”but also held firm to the belief that her husband’s death “happened for a reason” and she “had to accept it.” “Well, it’s free will. The terrorists,
obviously, they’re guided by evil, and they were able to do such an evil act,” Trayner said. “I don’t want to feel sorry for myself because all through history, there have been traumas, wars. There’s death. There’s fires.” Now 60, Trayner said her studies at Jesuit-run Boston College further opened her to the faith during difficult times. “I was able to ask questions and, being a woman in the Catholic faith, being a widow in the Catholic faith, being a mother, I read quite a bit of different books … answering my own questions and talking with people,” she said. Trayner, a Tampa-based college counselor who remarried in 2006, has relied on the Holy Spirit “to give me the right words,” the Blessed Mother to intercede in raising her children, and the saints, especially Joan of Arc, to guide her through every major challenge. Still, she said, as she described breaking into a sweat while speaking to OSV News, she remains haunted by the thought of how her first husband must have suffered as the north tower became engulfed in an inferno and collapsed. Nebbia admitted that as a Catholic, in recent weeks she has begun to struggle with forgiving the terrorists. “I just feel like I don’t need to forgive them. That’s not my job. So now I’m questioning myself, like, ‘Alright, how do I go about forgiving these people, how?’That was their goal. They achieved their goal. Now, I question that part of me,” she said. Connor said he has come to accept his family’s tragic losses. “Maybe I didn’t understand the reason, and maybe I don’t understand the reason why Steve was killed and the other 3,000 people, but I do feel that God does have a reason for it,” he said. †
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16 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
MUNDO CATÓLICO
Fe, duelo y un llamado a la justicia en Magnolia Park POR JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
MAGNOLIA PARK — Justo antes de que el atardecer se asentara sobre Canal Street y cientos de velas comenzaran a brillar contra la luz que se desvanecía en East End, Ronaldo Salgado Araujo se apartó de la multitud. No dijo nada. Simplemente caminó hasta un tramo de la acera en la cuadra 6800 de Canal Street, se agachó y tocó el suelo donde su padre había muerto 18 días antes. El momento duró apenas unos segundos y reflejó el tono solemne de un día marcado por la oración y los llamados a obtener respuestas. Más de 300 católicos, miembros del clero, familiares y simpatizantes de la comunidad se reunieron el 25 de julio en el vecindario Magnolia Park de Houston para una Misa de vigilia, mientras cientos más participaron en la procesión de oración de 1.5 millas y en la vigilia con velas en honor a Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, cuya muerte tras un encuentro con agentes federales de inmigración ha conmocionado a una de las comunidades inmigrantes con raíces más profundas de Houston. La tarde comenzó en la Iglesia del Inmaculado Corazón de María, un punto central de Magnolia Park, donde los fieles llenaron las bancas mientras el arzobispo Joe S. Vásquez celebraba la Misa y hacía un llamado tanto a la compasión como a la reforma. “La dignidad humana y la seguridad nacional no están en conflicto”, dijo el arzobispo Vásquez a la congregación en español. “Ambas son posibles cuando las personas de buena voluntad trabajan juntas”. Salgado Araujo murió el 7 de julio. Desde entonces, familiares, defensores de la comunidad y líderes de la Iglesia han cuestionado las circunstancias que rodearon su muerte y han pedido rendición de cuentas y una investigación completa. El lugar donde ocurrió se encuentra en el corazón de Magnolia Park, un vecindario construido por generaciones de familias mexicoamericanas e inmigrantes. A lo largo de Canal Street, taquerías, refresquerías y carnicerías comparten las cuadras con viviendas modestas, locales antiguos y negocios familiares que han sido pilares del East End durante décadas. A solo una cuadra, Canal Street se cruza con South Sgt. Macario García Drive, nombrada en honor al inmigrante
FOTOS POR JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A la izquierda, Ronaldo Salgado Araujo, de 29 años, hijo de Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, quien falleció tras un encuentro con agentes federales de inmigración en el barrio Magnolia Park de Houston el 7 de julio, entrega las ofrendas al arzobispo Joe S. Vásquez durante una misa celebrada el 25 de julio en la iglesia del Inmaculado Corazón de María en Magnolia Park. A la derecha, el obispo auxiliar Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, conversa con Ronaldo Salgado Araujo tras la misa, antes de una procesión de milla y media hacia el lugar de la vigilia donde falleció Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
mexicano y héroe de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que se convirtió en el primer ciudadano nacido en México en recibir la Medalla de Honor. La historia no se siente distante en Magnolia Park. Está entretejida en los nombres de las calles.
todos”, dijo. Entre los familiares de Salgado Araujo que asistieron a la Misa estaba su hijo de 29 años, Ronaldo Salgado Araujo. Durante la procesión del ofertorio, él y su novia llevaron las ofrendas.
las nubes ocultaban intermitentemente el sol poniente. En ocasiones la apretaba con fuerza contra su rostro. Otras veces se apoyaba en ella mientras las oraciones y los cantos continuaban a su alrededor.
ARZOBISPO VÁSQUEZ CONTINÚA PIDIENDO CAMBIOS Durante la Misa, el arzobispo Vásquez reconoció el dolor que rodea la muerte de Salgado Araujo, al tiempo que la situó dentro de un marco moral más amplio. “Como católicos que creemos que todas las personas fueron creadas a imagen y semejanza de Dios, lamentamos cada situación en la que la vida humana llega a un final no natural”, dijo. Pero el arzobispo Vásquez también aprovechó la ocasión para retomar un tema más amplio. El arzobispo Vásquez reiteró lo que había dicho el 15 de julio, después de la muerte de Salgado Araujo, al pedir una reforma migratoria significativa y el fin de las deportaciones indiscriminadas. “Los obispos católicos de Estados Unidos han pedido repetidamente que los esfuerzos de aplicación de la ley sean específicos, proporcionales y humanos”, dijo el arzobispo Vásquez, y agregó que una reforma duradera requiere “diálogo pacífico, respeto mutuo y un compromiso con la caridad”. “Solo con la ayuda de Cristo y trabajando juntos tendremos una nación bajo Dios, con libertad y justicia para
UNA CAMINATA DE ORACIÓN POR MAGNOLIA PARK Cuando terminó la liturgia, la congregación salió al intenso calor de Houston y se reunió frente a la iglesia. El obispo auxiliar Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, quien concelebró la Misa junto con varios otros sacerdotes locales, ofreció una bendición antes de que comenzara la caminata. Más temprano, el arzobispo Vásquez y el obispo Dell’Oro saludaron a miembros de la familia Salgado Araujo, mientras las personas que los apoyaban se reunían cerca de la entrada de la iglesia. Pronto, la procesión se extendió por varias cuadras de las calles del East End. La ruta siguió por Navigation Boulevard, giró hacia el sur por Wayside Drive y continuó hacia el este por Canal Street hasta el lugar donde murió Salgado Araujo. El clero caminó junto a los feligreses. Religiosas avanzaron entre la multitud llevando velas, carteles y rosarios. Líderes religiosos de varias tradiciones se unieron a la procesión, organizada por una coalición interreligiosa con el apoyo de la Congregación de las Hermanas de la Caridad del Verbo Encarnado. Mientras caminaban, los participantes rezaron el Rosario y la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia en inglés y español. Los himnos flotaban entre las oraciones. Las respuestas resonaban contra los almacenes, los locales comerciales y el tráfico que pasaba. Los conductores tocaban sus bocinas en señal de apoyo. Algunos saludaban desde las ventanas abiertas. Otros levantaban los puños mientras la procesión avanzaba hacia Canal Street. Durante la mayor parte del recorrido, Ronaldo Salgado Araujo cargó una gran cruz de madera adornada con rosas que se elevaba por encima de la procesión, proyectando a menudo una larga sombra sobre Navigation Boulevard mientras
UNA IGLESIA QUE ACOMPAÑA Lázaro Contreras, director del Ministerio Hispano de la Arquidiócesis, dijo que la presencia de la Iglesia tenía como propósito mostrar acompañamiento tanto a la familia como a la comunidad en general. “La Iglesia siempre está con nosotros en cada dimensión de nuestras vidas, y esta es una de ellas”, dijo Contreras. “La presencia de nuestros obispos, nuestros pastores, acompañando a su rebaño es muy importante para la familia y para la comunidad”. Recordó que se enteró del caso mientras estaba orando con el obispo Dell’Oro, antes de ver posteriormente entrevistas con la familia de Salgado Araujo. “Cuando comencé a ver las noticias y las entrevistas, fue muy difícil contener las lágrimas”, dijo Contreras. “Cuando escuchas a sus hijos, cómo hablan de su padre, te das cuenta de que el señor Lorenzo es como el papá de todos”. Contreras dijo que la historia de Salgado Araujo conmueve porque resulta familiar. Lo describió como un padre trabajador que pasó años construyendo una vida y ayudando a sus hijos a salir adelante. “De diferentes maneras, muchos de nosotros sentimos que él representa a nuestros padres y a nuestras familias”, dijo Contreras. Según él, las preocupaciones relacionadas con la situación migratoria continúan surgiendo en toda la Arquidiócesis. “Algunas personas me llamaron y dijeron: ‘Esto ha sucedido en nuestra comunidad. Algunos de nuestros miembros han sido detenidos y llevados’”, dijo Contreras. “Es algo que está activo y sucediendo”. Dijo que muchos católicos están
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.
MAGNOLIA PARK, vea página 20
texas catholic herald 17
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
WITHIN THE ARTS
Pope Leo blesses Sagrada Familia’s Tower of Jesus, says beauty can lead people to God BARCELONA (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica June 10, inaugurating the crowning spire that makes the iconic church the tallest Catholic church in the world and urging people to lift their gaze to Christ “who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.” Pope Leo offered Mass inside the basilica and formally inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ, which stands at more than 564 feet, before a crowd of thousands gathered inside and around the Sagrada Familia. “By looking at Christ, we can see the world with renewed eyes: the tower of the cross then becomes a banner of charity, for God loves us in this way, transforming an instrument of death into a sign of hope,” the pope said. 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GAUDÍ’S DEATH Spain’s King Felipe VI welcomed the pope upon his arrival at the basilica. Before Mass, Pope Leo descended to the basilica’s crypt to pray at the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect who devoted 43 years of his life to the basilica before his death in 1926 at age 73. The papal Mass fell on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Known as “God’s architect,” Gaudí’s cause for canonization advanced when Pope Francis declared him venerable in April 2025. Pope Leo paid tribute to the visionary builder in his homily, reflecting on Gaudí’s intent to narrate the mysteries of Christ’s life through stone and light. POWER OF BEAUTY TO EVANGELIZE Light streamed through the basilica’s stained-glass windows as the pope spoke while choirs filled the church with music. Pope Leo pointed to the Sagrada Familia as a testament to the power of art and beauty to draw people closer to God. “In her wisdom, the Church thus renews the ‘Biblia pauperum’ of the ancient cathedrals, which are in themselves rich messages of evangelization,” he said. “In this age in which image is so prevalent, it becomes even more evident how art and beauty are privileged channels of evangelization.” The Sagrada Familia’s three façades, dedicated to the Nativity, Passion and Glory of Christ, embody that vision. Gaudí’s design also drew heavily from nature, with organic forms and columns that evoke a forest of trees. TOWER OF JESUS CHRIST The Tower of Jesus Christ is now the tallest structure in Barcelona and makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world. Gaudí designed the tower to stand just below the nearby Montjuïc hill, believing the work of human hands should not surpass the work of God. At its crown stands a four-armed cross of glass and white ceramic bearing the inscription,
OSV NEWS PHOTOS BY YARA NARDI/REUTERS AND SIMONE RISOLUTI/VATICAN NEWS
Above, Pope Leo XIV, members of the clergy, and the king and queen of Spain stand outside the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, on the day of the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ by Pope Leo during his apostolic journey, June 10. Left, clergy process in for the start of Mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona during Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain, June 10.
“You alone are Holy, You alone are Lord, You alone are Most High.” “In Jesus’ cross, our faith reaches its summit,” the pope said. “The light of Christ shines in the darkness.” Strong words on war, abortion, salvation An estimated 9,000 people attended the papal Mass inside the basilica, while an estimated 120,000 worshipped from outside. In his homily, Pope Leo issued a forceful appeal against abortion, war and the exclusion of migrants. “Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent even before birth. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, those who flee from misery,” the pope said. Reflecting on John 8:24, the pope described Christ’s words as an invitation to salvation and freedom. BASILICA A CENTURY IN THE MAKING Pope Leo also paid tribute to Gaudí and to the generations of supporters, artists and workers who helped build what he called an architectural masterpiece and “an eloquent catechesis made of stones, colors and light.” Construction began in 1882. Gaudí took over the project in 1883 and transformed it into one of the most ambitious building efforts in modern history. The portion built by Gaudí was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. UNFINISHED MASTERPIECE Despite the completion of its crowning tower, the basilica remains unfinished; work is still ongoing on the baptistery, the sacristy, the Chapel of the Assumption, the cloisters and the Glory Façade.
It is projected that the basilica will not be completed until 2036. Pope Leo embraced that incompleteness as a spiritual metaphor. “Much more than a monument, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia remains a work in progress today, reminding us that the Christian life is always a journey, because it is a project that God is carrying out,” he said. “The fact that it is incomplete is not a flaw, for it bears witness to a desire; it does not signify a shortcoming, but rather expresses a promise that we wish to honor with consistency,” he added.“Our gratitude thus becomes a commitment as we cooperate in God’s plan — that is, in the edification to which He Himself calls us.” “Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this work consists in our very lives, which God conceives as a masterpiece that we are to create together.” FIREWORKS CELEBRATE THE TALLEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD After Mass, the pope presided over the formal blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ. The inauguration ceremony concluded with a dazzling interactive light show and a live musical performance by the Escolanía de Montserrat, the oldest boys choir in the world, followed by fireworks from the basilica’s towering spires. A drone show in the sky illuminated the face of Gaudí, as well as the architect’s words, “First you need love, then technique.” “As we lift our gaze toward Him, the crucified and risen One, let us commit ourselves to lifting up those who lie in the dust,” the pope said. “And let us show in this way that the Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world, not so as to stand out in worldly rankings, but
rather to guide the steps of the people of God who make their pilgrimage in Spain, with the cross illuminating their path, like a lamp burning brightly as we await the return of the Bridegroom.” †
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18 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE To see more listings in the Around the Archdiocese or to find the latest updates, visit www.archgh.org/ata.
SEPT. 11-12
RETREAT, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Queen of Peace Fiorenza Center (2317 Craigmont St., Houston). This adult retreat is designed to guide participants toward a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus. Free entry. 713-9216127; faith.n.fire.retreat.2026@gmail.com; qophouston.com.
SEPT. 13
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Our Lady of Sorrows (3006 Kashmere St., Houston). Event begins with Mass at 10 a.m., followed by procession. Live music, food, games and raffle will follow from noon to 7 p.m. Free entry. 713-673-5601; ourladyhouston.org.
SEPT. 18-19
GARAGE SALE, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, St. Joseph (219 County Rd. 762, Brazoria). Shop diverse selection of items. Saturday features $5 fill-a-bag sale or half-off remaining items. Free entry. 979-418-1338.
SEPT. 18-20
BAZAAR, 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Peter the Apostle (6220 La Salette Dr., Houston). Friday, Latin night dance, including salsa contest. Cost: $10 (ages 10 and under free). Saturday, soccer tournament, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; game night, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., 10 games will be played. Cost: $20/ pre-sale (ends Sept. 13), $25/door. Sunday,
bazaar day, featuring Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws from 3 to 6 p.m. Day includes barbecue, sweet treats, vendors, Bingo, kids’ games and more. 713-747-7800.
SEPT. 20
FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Gregory the Great (10500 Nold Dr., Houston). Event includes raffle, live music, games, Mexican and ethnic foods, barbecue dinners, desserts, cake sale, drinks, garage sale, plant sale and more. Free entry. 713-631-3681; stgregorygcc.com. BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Sts. Cyril & Methodius (603 Parrott Ave., Damon). Food includes barbecue beef and sausage with trimmings; plates are $15. Activities include live and silent auctions, music, games, Bingo, pastries and Homemaker’s Market. Free entry. 832-4199060; 979-742-3383.
SEPT. 25-26
GARAGE SALE, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, St. Francis de Sales (8200 Roos Rd., Houston). The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #2647 hosts parish-wide garage sale with a variety of items available. Free entry. To donate items/more information: 832-360-7137.
SEPT. 26
LUNCHEON, 10 a.m., St. Mary’s Seminary (9845 Memorial Dr., Houston). Catholic Clerical Student Fund hosts luncheon benefiting St. Mary’s seminarians. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will recognize Burse Honorees. Cost: $40. Register: bit.ly/ccsfluncheon. catholicclericalstudentfund@gmail.com.
GARAGE SALE, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist Social Hall (11011 Hall Rd., Houston). On sale items include infant and children’s clothing and shoes, toys, boutique items, men’s and women’s clothing and shoes, purses, belts, jewelry, seasonal items, household goods, tools and more. stlukescatholic.com.
SEPT. 26-28
BAZAAR, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, St. Christopher (8150 Park Place Blvd., Houston). Live music, games, inflatables, raffles, ethnic foods and drinks. Free entry. ycastro@stchristopherhouston.org; stchristopherhouston.org/bazaar.
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SEPT. 27
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Immaculate Conception (1310 U.S. Hwy. 90 West, Sealy). Event features a raffle, Bingo, barbecue and dessert, dancing, polka and country music, an auction and more. 979-8853868; cdoucett@icc-sealy.org; icc-sealy.org. BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Philip Neri (10960 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston). Event includes live entertainment, food, fun, music and games. officespn@yahoo.com.
SEPT. 28
GOLF TOURNAMENT, 9 a.m., South Shore Harbour Country Club (4300 South Shore Blvd., League City). Event features golf, breakfast, lunch, raffles and auctions. Proceeds benefit St. Paul the Apostle’s annual Out of This World Festival. Cost: $150/golfer. 832-428-0163; djschmidt51@ gmail.com; out-of-this-world-golf-tournament. perfectgolfevent.com.
SEPT. 29
MASS & BENEFIT LUNCHEON, 10:30 a.m., St. Patrick (3424 Avenue K, Galveston). Luncheon follows at Moody Gardens Visitor Center Garden Restaurant after Mass. Event with Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster benefits the Galveston Seafarers Center. Cost: $35. Bus transportation is available from St. Bernadette Church. Register by Sept. 22. barbvisser53gmail.com.
OCT. 2
GAME NIGHT, 7 to 10 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi
(5102 Dabney St., Houston). Ten games will be played. Tickets: $20 in advance and $25 at the door. ewagnerw@gmail.com; stfrancisofhouston.org.
OCT. 2-4
RETREAT, 4 p.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Father Kingsley Nwoko, STL, Th.D., will lead “Becoming One Flesh” for engaged couples preparing for marriage. Cost: $280/person or $560/couple, including separate-room accommodations. 713-464-0211, ext. 10; dsmith@passionist.org; holynameretreatcenter.com/engaged-couples.
OCT. 3
FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Angela Merici (9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City). Event features pumpkin patch, kids’ games, rides, and variety of food and drink. Free entry. communications@stamericigh.com. RUMMAGE SALE, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Resurrection (915 Zoe St., Houston). Shop a variety of items and support the Catholic Daughters of America, Mother of Love Court 2092. Free entry. macrod9587@att.net.
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
OCT. 3-4
FESTIVAL, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, St. Laurence (3103 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). Event features food trucks, kids’ games, family-friendly activities, beer garden and raffles. Free entry. jgarcia@ stlaurence.org; stlaurence.org/bazaar. FESTIVAL, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, St. Ignatius of Loyola (7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring). Event features food, games, Bingo, shopping, live music, auctions, raffle and activities for the whole family. Free entry. festival@silcc.org; silcc.org/fall-festival.
OCT. 4
FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Queen of Peace (1224 Cedar at Laurel, La Marque). Event includes food, games, raffle, silent auction, music and entertainment. Free entry. 409-9387000; queenofpeacelamarque@gmail.com; queenofpeacelamarque.org. CZECH FEST, 11 a.m., Crosby Fairgrounds (14900 FM 2100, Crosby). Hosted by Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crosby, the event features Czech music, barbecue, Mexican food, Bingo, kids’ games and an auction. Free entry. parishoffice@shcrosby.org; shcrosby.org.
OCT. 7
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.
OCT. 9-10
RETREAT, St. Maximilian Kolbe (10135 West Rd., Houston). This remarriage retreat is designed for couples seeking to remarry in the Church following a previous union due to widowhood, divorce or annulment, as well as couples seeking convalidation. Cost: $250/including materials and food. 281-813-7859; remarriagehouston@ gmail.com.
OCT. 10
SIMBANG GABI DINNER & DANCE, 6 p.m., Christ the Redeemer Horrigan Hall (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). “Dancing Through the Decades” with live music, DJ, dancing and silent auction. Cost: $50. 832-421-2474; len.t.nolan@gmail. com.
OCT. 10-11
BAZAAR, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, St. Peter Claver (6005 N Wayside Dr., Houston). Cost: $5 at the gate only on Sunday. sherieclark899@gmail.com; stpeterclaverhouston.com. GARAGE SALE, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Joseph (101 Elmore St., New Waverly). St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Joseph hosts sale of furniture, washer and dryer, toys, clothing, jewelry, household goods and other miscellaneous items. Free entry. 936-227-0095. BAZAAR, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Martin de Porres (12606 Crosby Lynchburg Rd., Crosby). Event features barbecue dinners, gumbo, boudin, tacos, tamales, roasted corn, sweets and more with Tejano and Zydeco bands and an indoor family game center. Cost: $5/vehicle, with no limit on the number of passengers. Additional fees apply for food and family game center. Outdoor music is free. 281-328-4451; stmartinbarrett.org.
OCT. 12
SENIOR CARE PRESENTATION, 6 p.m., Christ the Redeemer (11507 Huffmeister Rd., Houston). “Roadmap to Senior Care” explores navigating senior care transitions, including assessing health needs, preparing legal and financial documents, exploring living options and choosing the appropriate level of care. The presentation is designed for those planning for their own future or helping a loved one. Free admission. 281-4695533; kerry.chu@ctrcc.com; ctrcc.com/events/ roadmaptoseniorcare.
OCT. 16-18
BAZAAR, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sacred Heart of Jesus (6502 County Rd. 48, Manvel). Event includes Bingo at the Knights of Columbus on Friday, a live auction and dinner in the Parish Hall on Saturday, and bazaar festivities on Sunday, including carnival games, inflatables, raffle, silent auction, food, market booths, snow cones, desserts and more. Free entry. egraham@sacredheartmanvel.org; sacredheartmanvel.org.
OCT. 17
FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Christ the Good Shepherd (18511 Klein Church Rd., Spring). Event includes food, drinks, games, inflatables, live music, bake sale, silent auction and raffle. Free entry. 281-376-6831; cgscc.church/ fallfestival. FESTIVAL, noon to 10 p.m., St. Joseph (1505 Kane St., Houston). Event includes carnival games, food, music and community fellowship.
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Free entry. admin@saintjoseph.org; fallfestival. webflow.io. GOLF TOURNAMENT, 1 p.m., Walden Country Club (18100 Walden Forest Dr., Humble). St. Philip the Apostle Knights of Columbus #9794 hosts golf tournament. Cost: $600/team; $150/single player. 713-560-7314; frank.campisi@cam-tech.com .
OCT. 17-18
FESTIVAL, 7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, St. Thomas the Apostle (1323 16th St., Huntsville). Bingo is set for Saturday night. Sunday includes barbecue, Mexican food and more. Activities include Bingo, silent auction, cakewalk, plant sale, sweet shop, country store, games and inflatables. Free entry. 409-6580626; gabel.lf.bd@gmail.com.
OCT. 18
BAZAAR, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Katharine Drexel (800 FM 1488, Hempstead). Event features barbecue and ethnic foods, desserts, raffle, live and silent auctions, games, drinks and more. Free entry. 979-826-2275; info@skdcc.com; skdcc.com. BAZAAR, 7:30 a.m., Guardian Angel (5610 Demel St., Wallis). Event begins with 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Masses, then food service at 10:30 a.m., including barbecue beef, chicken and sausage with homemade dressing and all the trimmings, Czech kolaches and desserts. Auction begins at 1 p.m. under the pavilion. Activities include dancing and music all day, a drawing, games, booths and kids’ games. 979-478-6532; gacwallis@gmail.com; guardianangelwallis.org. BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). Event includes turkey dinner, raffle, live music, food booths, live and silent auctions, games, homemade crafts and desserts, and a kids’ midway. Free entry. 281342-3609; kelly@sacredhrt.com; sacredhrt.com. FESTIVAL, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Anne (1111 S. Cherry St., Tomball). The church hosts annual parish fall festival. Free entry. stannebazaar@ stanne-tomball.org.
OCT. 23
FESTIVAL, 3:30 to 8 p.m., St. Ambrose Catholic School (4213 Mangum Rd., Houston). Event includes food, games, activities and fall festivities. 713-686-6990; info@sashornets.org; sashornets.org.
texas catholic herald 19
OCT. 25
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Heritage Hall (508 E. Bernard St., West Columbia). Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sweeny and St. John the Apostle in West Columbia parishes host event featuring turkey and all the trimmings, tea and dessert for $15/ plate, with dine-in and drive-through options. Activities include kids’ games, pastry booth, live and silent auctions, raffle, face painting, country store and Mexican food. 979-548-2020; olphsja@ gmail.com.
OCT. 30-NOV. 1
RETREAT, 7 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday, St. Dominic Chancery (2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston). Marriage Encounter Weekend teaches married couples new ways to communicate more effectively in a private, positive atmosphere. Cost:$150 by Sept. 15/$200 after. 281-773-4014; btlittle2@me.com; houstonme. org.
OCT. 31
ALL SAINTS DAY CELEBRATION, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua (7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands). Dress up as your favorite saint. Event includes live music, vendor markets, games, crafts, bounce houses, food trucks and more. Free entry. chapel@ap.church. RELIC VENERATION, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (8715 Kuykendahl Rd., Spring). St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church will offer an opportunity to venerate more than 180 saint relics, including relics of the 12 apostles, the Wood of the True Cross, the Veil of Mary and many others. Free entry. chapel@ ap.church; ap.church/saints. GOLF TOURNAMENT, 8 a.m., Hermann Park Golf Course (2155 N MacGregor Way, Houston). The Sir Knights of Father John H. Dorsey Assembly #2, Knights of Peter Claver, host golf tournament and scholarship fundraiser. Cost: $600/team; $150/single player. 832-213-8342.
NOV. 4
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.
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20 TEXAS CATHOLIC HERALD
ARCHGH.ORG/TCH • SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
MILESTONES Archbishop Vásquez blesses new altar at Blessed Sacrament
Archbishop Vásquez leads blessing of St. Michael statue
PHOTO BY MEGAN DOHERTY FOR THE HERALD
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez pours Chrism oil onto the new altar during the Blessing of the Altar and Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Aug. 8. In addition to the new altar and a renovated sanctuary, the church also has renovated entry doors, floors, pews, votive candles and more.
MAGNOLIA PARK, de página 16 buscando orientación en medio de la incertidumbre. “Están buscando orientación y refugio”, dijo Contreras. “En estos momentos, quieren saber que la Iglesia está a su lado y defendiendo su dignidad”. EL LLAMADO DE UN HIJO POR LA JUSTICIA Para cuando la procesión llegó a Canal Street, la oscuridad comenzó a caer sobre el vecindario. Ronaldo Salgado Araujo llevó la cruz hasta una casa cercana al lugar donde murió su padre y la dejó allí. Luego, momentos antes de que comenzara la vigilia, se apartó de la reunión y regresó al lugar donde murió su padre. Se agachó, tocó el pavimento y regresó en silencio a la multitud. Más tarde, al dirigirse a los presentes bajo las velas y las luces de las calles, Ronaldo Salgado Araujo agradeció a todos los que participaron con su apoyo y que habían acompañado a su familia durante las semanas posteriores a la muerte de su padre. “Quiero agradecer a las personas que nos están apoyando y pidiendo justicia por mi padre”, dijo Ronaldo Salgado Araujo. Pero instó a los asistentes a no concentrarse únicamente en la pérdida de su familia. Ronaldo Salgado Araujo hizo referencia a Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, un inmigrante colombiano de 25 años y padre de familia que murió tras recibir disparos durante una operación de ICE el 13 de julio en Biddeford, Maine. Posteriormente, funcionarios federales dijeron que Durán Guerrero no era el objetivo de la operación.
“Por favor, no olviden que todavía se necesita justicia para Johan”, dijo Ronaldo Salgado Araujo. “Se necesita justicia para todos, para todos los que han sido víctimas”. Luego citó las palabras del reverendo Martin Luther King Jr. de su “Carta desde la cárcel de Birmingham” de 1963 y dijo: “La injusticia en cualquier lugar es una amenaza a la justicia en todas partes”. Acompañado por un mosaico de otros líderes interreligiosos de la Coalición Migración con Dignidad que hablaron durante la vigilia en Canal Street, el padre Lucio Castillo, O.M.I., párroco de la Parroquia del Inmaculado Corazón de María, llamó a los asistentes a “dar testimonio” de los detenidos “que vinieron buscando seguridad, nuevos hogares y una vida mejor”. El padre Salvatore De George, O.M.I., de la cercana Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción; la hermana Marisa RivertFort, CCVI; y el padre Eliseus Ogbonna Ibeh, MSP, párroco de la Iglesia Católica de San Nicolás, también ofrecieron oraciones. Mucho después de que terminara el programa formal, muchos participantes permanecieron a lo largo de Canal Street. Algunos permanecieron en oración. Otros abrazaron a amigos y familiares. Unos pocos se quedaron en silencio junto a las velas parpadeantes cerca del lugar donde Salgado perdió la vida, ahora convertido en un sitio que crece con niveles de flores, carteles y notas escritos a mano, y velas de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. La reunión no respondió a las preguntas que rodean lo ocurrido el 7 de julio. Lo que reveló, en cambio, fue una ciudad y un vecindario decididos a recordar, una familia que continúa buscando justicia y una Iglesia comprometida a caminar junto a ambos. †
PHOTO BY MICHELLE EISTERHOLD FOR THE HERALD
On Aug. 16, Archbishop Joe S. Vasquez celebrated Mass at St. James Catholic Church in Spring; then he and attendees processed outside to the courtyard and blessed the church’s St. Michael the Archangel statue.
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