Contemplating the ‘seven sorrows’ of the Blessed Mother
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Around the world, Catholics recall the suffering of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Sept. 15 Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.
In 2020, just as the Church and the world entered the global pandemic, on the Friday before Holy Week, Pope Francis asked people to keep a long tradition of Catholic piety by focusing on “the suffering and sorrows of Our Lady.”
“Honor Our Lady and say, ‘This is my mother,’ because she is mother. This is the title that she received from Jesus precisely there, at the cross,” the pope said at an April 2020 Mass. Jesus “did not make her prime minister or give her ‘functional’ titles [but] ‘mother.’”
“Just disciple and mother — and in that way, as mother, we must think about her, seek her out, pray to her,” Pope Francis said. “She is
See SORROWS, page 3
COLUMNISTS A letter to Young Latino Catholics of Houston
SEE PAGE 12
WITHIN THE ARTS
New statue in Assisi celebrates Millennial saint SEE PAGE 17
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
YOUNG PILGRIMS OF HOPE
FAITH SHINES AT JUBILEE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Young
BY ELIZABETH MORALES
Texas Catholic Herald
HOUSTON — Over 300 people from parishes and ministries throughout the Archdiocese traveled to Rome to attend the Jubilee of Young People, held July 28 to Aug. 3.
One of many Jubilee events organized by the Vatican during the Holy Year as a way for pilgrims to encounter Christ, the Jubilee of Young People attracted more than half a million throughout its week-long series of events.
More than one million from 146 countries attended the Aug. 3 closing Mass with Pope Leo XIV. Among the people attending were from music, ethnic, youth and various ministries of all ages from the Archdiocese.
Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, accompanied 70 young adults on
a pilgrimage hosted by Angie Pometto, director of the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries.
“My presence with them is part of my ministry here as an auxiliary bishop,” Bishop Dell’Oro said. “Being with them, walking with them, laughing with them, looking for a gelato with them.”
He said one of his highlights was meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Aug. 6 general audience and being the main celebrant for a July 31 daily Mass for the pilgrimage group at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. There, Father Tucker Redding, S.J., a pilgrimage chaplain and director of St. Mary at the Rice University Catholic Student Center, and Father Zachary Muldrow of the Archdiocese, along with 20 to 30
SEE PAGE 8 See JUBILEE, page 10
BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV presided over his first canonization Mass Sept. 7, declaring the sainthood of two young Italians whose devotion to the Eucharist nourished a deep involvement in the cultures of their day.
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born April 6, 1901, in Turin and died there July 4, 1925, of polio at the age of 24. Carlo Acutis was born to Italian parents May 3, 1991, in London and died in Monza, Italy, Oct. 12, 2006, of
See SAINTS, page 4
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Pope Leo XIV carries the Jubilee Cross as he walks to the altar before the start of a prayer vigil with young people gathered in Tor Vergata in Rome Aug. 2 during the Jubilee of Youth. Some 300 pilgrims from the Archdiocese journeyed to Rome for the special gathering.
A Shepherd’s Message
By Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez
In his weekly general audience on Aug. 27, Pope Leo XIV said that Christian hope is not about avoiding pain and suffering but about knowing that God gives people the strength to persevere and to love even when things go wrong. I share this excerpt of Pope Leo’s message as a timely reflection considering recent violence, unrest and disasters around the world.
“We focus on a scene that marks the beginning of the Passion of Jesus: the moment of His arrest in the Garden of Olives. The evangelist John, with his usual depth, does not present a frightened Jesus who flees or hides. On the contrary, he shows us a free man Who comes forward and speaks, openly facing the hour in which the light of the greatest love can be revealed.
“Jesus, knowing all that was to befall Him, came forward and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’” (John 18:4). Jesus knows. However, He decides not to retreat. He gives Himself up. Not out of weakness, but out of love. A love so full, so mature, that it does not fear rejection. Jesus is not seized: He lets Himself be taken. He is not the victim of an arrest, but the giver of a gift. In this gesture, He embodies a hope of salvation for our humanity: to know that, even in the darkest hour, one can remain free to love to the end.
When Jesus replies, “I am He,” the soldiers fall to the ground. It is a mysterious passage, from the moment that this expression, in biblical revelation, recalls the very name of God: “I am.” Jesus reveals that God’s presence is revealed precisely when humanity experiences injustice, fear, loneliness. Right there, the true light is ready to shine without fear of being overcome by the advancing darkness.
In the middle of the night, when everything seems to be falling apart, Jesus shows that Christian hope is not evasion, but decision. This attitude is the result of profound prayer in which God is not asked to spare us from suffering, but rather to give us the strength to persevere in love, aware that life offered freely for love cannot be taken away by anyone.
JOE S. VÁSQUEZ
Arzobispo Vásquez comparte su mensaje en línea en español. Visite www.archgh.org para leer su artículo en línea.
“If you seek me, let these men go” (Jn 18:8). At the moment of His arrest, Jesus does not worry about saving Himself: He wishes only for His friends to go free. This shows that His sacrifice is a true act of love. Jesus lets Himself be taken and imprisoned by the guards only so that His disciples may be set free.
Jesus lived every day of His life as preparation for this dramatic and sublime hour. For this reason, when it arrives, He has the strength not to seek a way of escape. His heart knows well that to lose life for love is not a failure, but rather possesses a mysterious fruitfulness, like a grain of wheat that, falling to the ground, does not remain alone, but dies and becomes fruitful.
Jesus, too, is troubled when faced with a path that seems to lead only to death and to the end. But He is equally persuaded that only a life lost for love, at the end, is ultimately found. This is what true hope consists of: not in trying to avoid pain, but in believing that even in the heart of the most unjust suffering, the seed of new life is hidden.
And us? How often do we defend our lives, our plans, our securities, without realizing that, by doing so, we remain alone? The logic of the Gospel is different: only what is given flourishes; only the love that becomes free can restore trust even where everything seems lost.
The Gospel of Mark also tells us about a young man who, when Jesus is arrested, runs away naked (14:51). It is an enigmatic image, but profoundly evocative. We, too, in the attempt to follow Jesus, experience moments when we are caught off guard and are tempted to abandon the way of the Gospel because love seems to us to be an impossible journey. And yet, it will indeed be a young man, at the end of the Gospel, who announces the resurrection to the women; no longer naked, but clothed in a white robe.
This is the hope of our faith: our sins and our hesitations do not prevent God from forgiving us and from restoring to us the desire to resume our following, to make us capable of giving our life for others.”
Dear brothers and sisters, let us, too, learn to deliver ourselves to the goodwill of the Father, letting our life be a response to the good we have received. In life, it is not necessary to have everything under control. It is enough to choose to love freely every day. This is true hope: knowing that, even in the darkness of trial, God’s love sustains us and ripens the fruit of eternal life in us.
Archbishop Vásquez: Our Holy Father’s reflection on the Agony in the Garden reminds us that we, too, will face our own sufferings. We can seek to protect ourselves from these pains, or like Christ, we can face these moments with ultimate trust in a God who loves us and accompanies us through our moments of trial. No pain or suffering is beyond the gentle and compassionate touch of Jesus, Our Savior.
We pray that we can prepare ourselves for the greatest sufferings of our lives by following the example of the Lord. “Jesus lived every day of His life as preparation for this dramatic and sublime hour [of His death]. For this reason, when it arrives, He has the strength not to seek a way of escape. His heart knows well that to lose life for love is not a failure, but rather possesses a mysterious fruitfulness, like a grain of wheat that, falling to the ground, does not remain alone, but dies and becomes fruitful.” †
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POPE LEO XIV
THE FIRST WORD
SORROWS, from page 1
the mother in the Church that is mother. In the maternity of Our Lady, we see the maternity of the Church, which receives everyone, good and bad, everyone.”
Pope Francis asked Catholics to spend time considering the “seven sorrows” of Mary: Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce her heart; the flight into Egypt; the worry when the child Jesus could not be found because he was in the temple; meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary; seeing Jesus on the cross; witnessing Jesus, lifeless, being taken down from the cross; and seeing Jesus being buried in the tomb.
Mary bore those sufferings “with strength, with tears — it wasn’t a fake cry, hers was truly a heart destroyed by pain,” the pope said. Pope Francis said that late in the evening, when he prays the Angelus prayer, he contemplates the seven sorrows and recalls “how the mother of the Church, with so much pain, gave birth to all of us.”
In 2008, during a trip visiting Lourdes, France, to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Benedict XVI said, “We contemplate Mary sharing her Son’s compassion for sinners.”
“At the foot of the Cross, the prophecy of Simeon is fulfilled: her mother’s heart is pierced through by the torment inflicted on the Innocent One born of her flesh,” he said on the esplanade in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes. “Just as Jesus cried, so too Mary certainly cried over the tortured body of her Son.”
Mary was also led to perfection through this suffering, Pope Benedict said, making her capable of receiving a new spiritual
Parishioners carry a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows during a procession at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Houston. The parish will host its annual festival on Sept. 14 with a Mass, procession and festival.
mission that he entrusts to her: that of becoming the mother of Christ in His members.
“The tears shed at the foot of the cross have been transformed into a smile which nothing can wipe away, even as her maternal compassion towards us remains unchanged,” he said. “The intervention of the Virgin Mary in offering succor throughout history testifies to this, and does not cease to call forth, in the people of God, an unshakable confidence in her: the Memorare prayer expresses this sentiment very well.”
In Houston, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, located at 3006 Kashmere St., celebrates its feast day with a major day-long festival. Led by Father David Garnier, pastor, the event this year is set for Sunday, Sept. 14, with Mass at 10 a.m. followed by a popular procession honoring Our Lady of Sorrows, and the festival from noon to 7 p.m. †
Effective Aug. 2
Father Jose Alonso
Administrator to Pastor - St. Frances Cabrini
Father R. David Hust
Administrator to Pastor - St. Philip the Apostle, Huffman
Father Kingsley Nwoko
Administrator to Pastor - St. Albert of Trapani
BRIEFS
Registration open for gold, silver anniversary Masses
HOUSTON — The 2025 Wedding Anniversary Jubilee Masses, honoring couples celebrating their Silver (25th) and Gold (50th) Anniversaries of marriage in the Catholic Church, are now open for registration.
The Gold Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston, at 2 p.m. Couples are eligible to receive a special recognition whether they attend the ceremony or not. The Silver Anniversary Mass is set for Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m., also at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Registration is $40 per couple for the Gold Mass and $25 for the Silver Mass until Aug. 30, when the registration increases to $40. The fee includes an Archdiocesan certificate of each anniversary, a special issue worship aid and a commemorative pin.
For more information and to register, visit www.archgh. org/familylife. †
Blue Mass set for Sept. 28
HOUSTON — Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will celebrate Blue Mass at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston. The color guard lineup will be at 10:45 a.m.
The annual Mass is held 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 public viewing and to be blessed after the Mass.
For more information, email Scott Underwood at sunderwood@archgh.org or call 713-741-8744. †
Oct. 16 White Mass honors healthcare professionals
HOUSTON — The annual White Mass, honoring those who work in healthcare, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, located at 3617 Milam St. in Houston. Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez will be the celebrant.
A reception with speaker Dr. Martin McCaffrey, neonatologist and pediatrics professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. To attend the reception, register for free at archgh.swoogo.com/whitemass. †
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. 19, 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. †
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER
FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF CREATION
“Let us pray that, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.”
– Pope Leo XIV
PHOTOS BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Michelangelo’s Pietà is seen in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The sculpture was coronated in 1568, but Mary’s crown and Jesus’ halo were removed in 1924. The memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows is Sept. 15.
LOCAL
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
Pair of young Italians are Pope Leo’s first canonizations
leukemia at the age of 15.
Pope Francis had been scheduled to canonize Blessed Acutis in April during the Jubilee of Adolescents and to canonize Blessed Frassati in early August during the Jubilee of Young Adults.
Despite the delays of their canonizations, Kyle Smith found inspiration in Frassati’s story.
“Pier Giorgio is my true friend,” he said. “He’s a constant source of encouragement on the path of holiness. That’s what’s beautiful about our faith and the Communion of Saints: we are all one body in heaven and on earth. Each of us should find saints to befriend and pray for their intercession.”
Smith, a 35-year-old parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Houston, also connected deeply with Frassati’s story.
“Some saints lived with such heroic virtue that they can feel distant or hard to connect with,” he said.“But Pier Giorgio is different. He’s easy to relate to, especially for young people. There are pictures of him skiing, climbing, socializing, and serving. His life shows that holiness can unfold in the midst of the world as lay
men and women, and not necessarily just through religious life. He was a heroic Christian in his own way. His life is proof of that.”
Frassati and Acutis both had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and went to Mass every day.
bear every difficult circumstance, often in silence and in secret. His faith was unshakable because he loved the Eucharist (receiving Holy Communion daily since he was young) and Our Lady’s Rosary.”
What makes a saint?
All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not) who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their lives for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.
In 1905, just four years after Frassati was born, St. Pius X published the decree “Sacra Tridentina Synodus,” encouraging frequent, even daily reception of the Sacrament at a time when many Catholics received only a few times a year.
One of his Jesuit high school teachers encouraged him to go to Mass each day, receive the Eucharist and spend time in Adoration.
For Frassati, Smith said, what he loved most about Pier Giorgio was his humility and his love for Our Blessed Mother.
“He confronted problems and endured sufferings like all of us,” he said. “But he was happy to make sacrifices and
The same could be said for Acutis, who is well known for the database on global Eucharistic miracles he compiled as a young tech-savvy student.
Agostino Cardinal Vallini, Pope Francis’ delegate at Acutis’ beatification in 2000, said the young man’s strength came from “having a personal, intimate and deep relationship with Jesus,” one in which the Eucharist was “the loftiest moment.”
Acutis “never withdrew into himself but was able to understand the needs of people, in whom he saw the face of Christ,” the cardinal said at his beatification. His was “a luminous life offered completely to others as Eucharistic bread.”
Prayer and service to others went hand in hand for both Frassati and Acutis. Both also endured teasing and misunderstanding because of their devotion, but gently challenged their peers to embrace faith.
Living a little bit longer and in the tumultuous period between World War I and the rise of fascism in Italy, Frassati had more time to prepare for his vocation he wanted to be a mining engineer and work with miners, who were among the poorest workers in the region.
He was born when Pope Leo XIII was pope, and he studied“Rerum Novarum,”the encyclical published in 1891 that launched Catholic social teaching and focused particularly on the rights of poor workers. And Frassati joined the Italian Popular Party, founded by Father Luigi Sturzo and based on Catholic social principles.
For Smith, his first job in Houston back in 2014 introduced him to the future saint, as he worked at Frassati Catholic High School in Spring.
“I didn’t know about Pier Giorgio beforehand. But when introduced, I felt an immediate connection,” he said. “And I’ve been walking in Pier Giorgio’s footsteps ever since, mostly recently on a hiking pilgrimage to the Alps in Italy. Pier Giorgio loved the mountains and the thrill of the ascent. And I felt a closeness with him in the midst of God’s creation. Hiking is hard work! The way can be steep and difficult, but just as in our spiritual lives, it’s so important to persevere without being discouraged.”
Two stories from Frassati’s life always encourage Smith.
After his bike, one he had saved hardearned money for, was stolen, Frassati looked at the unfortunate situation with “complete” detachment, Smith said.
In official Church procedures, there are three steps to sainthood: a candidate becomes “Venerable,” then “Blessed” and then “Saint.” Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized formally by the pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life. To be beatified and recognized as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life. Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification.
The pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but one is required before canonization. † — USCCB
Scan to watch a video
One month after the 2025 Jubilee of Youth, watch how the Church’s mission to inspire the next generation is set to gain new momentum with the Sept. 7 canonization of
“His response was that perhaps it was someone who needed it more than he did. He was completely detached from his earthly possessions.”
Frassati was also known to loudly sing songs at church and in public, even though he did not have a strong voice and was often criticized for singing out of tune. That didn’t matter to him, and he still insisted on singing “joyfully with full heart and voice,” Smith said.
Frassati’s life also emphasizes to Smith that the path to sainthood is for everyone. “You (yes, you!) can become a saint by the grace of God,” Smith said. “Pier Giorgio wasn’t so different from you and me. Persevere along the path of holiness, follow his example, and ask for his prayers. He will help lead you to God’s Love and Heaven!”
When Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass with a million people attending the Jubilee of Young Adults Aug. 3, he urged them to follow Jesus and do something great with their lives, improving themselves and the world.
“Let us remain united to Him, let us remain in His friendship, always, cultivating it through prayer, Adoration, Eucharistic Communion, frequent confession and generous charity following the examples of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis,” the pope said. †
Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.
CARLO ACUTIS PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI
Catholic hospital system grants help local agencies offer healthcare, housing for homeless
BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Herald Correspondent
HOUSTON — Far-reaching Magnificat Houses Inc., a Catholic nonprofit, recently received a grant from CommonSpirit, Community Health Improvement Grant through Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. The organization operates five homes in midtown Houston and 10 other homes in areas near downtown, which house up to 105 people in need each night. On any given day, Magnificat serves more than 400 people through a combination of housing, St. Joseph’s Clubhouse and RoseMary’s Place.
Magnificat Houses Executive Director Maureen Sanders said the $95,000 grant provides a partnership with the University of Houston College of Nursing and College of Optometry for medical staff to administer required tuberculosis (TB) tests, as well as primary care and eye care.
“A homeless person who needs to enter a shelter is required to have a TB test that we offer at no cost to them,” Sanders said. “The clients that come to us for shelter and services can go to the clinic that the University of Houston College of Nursing runs in a building near Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church on Fannin Street. This is simple to navigate for the clients as it is on the Metro rail, and the grant also provides transportation funding for bus and rail passes.”
Fawn Preuss, regional director of Community Health and Benefits for CommonSpirit Health, said Magnificat is one of 32 organizations in the region that were awarded a total of $1.5 million in Texas in 2025.
Individual hospitals focus on community organizations helping those in need to lessen disparities and create collaboration with partnerships, she said.
“Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, located in the Texas Medical Center, is home to some of the world’s most advanced health care,” Preuss said. “Yet right outside our doors, many of our most vulnerable neighbors face significant health disparities.
“Through the Community Health Improvement Grants program, we have an opportunity to give back — supporting community partners who are working
every day to close those gaps and improve the well-being of all,” Preuss said.
About 70% of Magnificat’s clients are men and 30% women, Sanders said, including Jarvis Jones, released from incarceration this summer and hoping for a fresh start, and Sade Latrice Dawkins, who said she sought a transition from homelessness to employment. Days later, with help from Magnificat, Jones secured a job with Labor Construction, and Dawkins began working at Chick-fil-A with community support.
Magnificat Houses Inc. housing and admission’s office recently expanded with its Guest Advancement Center at 1410 Elgin St., replacing where its Mustard Seed Thrift Store had previously been, Preuss said. This expansion allows the organization to begin serving the more than 200 homeless individuals who are on a consistent wait list for housing.
Another major Magnificat partnership includes a new four-story apartment building, opened this year, called RoseMary’s Place in honor of the late Rose Mary Badami, founder of Magnificat Houses Inc., that included funding from both the City of Houston and Harris County Housing & Community Development.
Among the other local community
organizations that received CommonSpirit Health Improvement grants from St. Luke’s this year was Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which helps hundreds of people in need seeking mental health services.
The agency received a total of $150,000
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteer with Magnificat Houses Inc. to support homeless services, mental health programs and community rebuilding in Houston. Donations welcomed include food, meals, hygiene and cleaning products. To schedule a donation, visit mhihouston.org/in-kind-donation or call 281-206-4531 to learn more.
DAILY PRAYER WITH THE SISTERS
Start the day in peace, reflection and unity. In September, join the Sisters of Magnificat Houses Inc. for a short daily prayer online. Visit mhihouston. org/daily-prayer each morning to listen and reflect in prayer.
in grant funding from St. Luke’s HealthThe Woodlands Hospital and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
For more information on Magnificat Houses Inc., go to www.mhihouston.org, and for Catholic Charities, go to www. catholiccharities.org. †
benefitting
St. Monica Catholic Church Food Pantry
Monday, September 29, 8 a.m., Tour 18 Golf Course, Humble, TX,
PHOTO BY MAGNIFICAT HOUSES INC.
Clients of the Magnificat Houses Inc. receive free health screenings and testing thanks to a new grant from CommonSpirit, through Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Inspired Christian Stewardship: Making choices in life that glorify God through word, deed
This year’s cycle of readings at weekend Masses primarily focuses on the writings of St. Luke the Evangelist, and stewardship is a major theme of his. In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His followers about stewardship through several parables, including the foolish farmer, the unjust steward, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus shares stories of ordinary people who make critical decisions about their lives, thus revealing their relationship with God and their neighbors.
What emerges from St. Luke’s writings is a sophisticated theology of stewardship that is fundamental to his Gospel and not addressed so profoundly by other New Testament writers. St. Luke defines the duty and role of a steward as a unique sort of servant who is entrusted with possessions by a master, takes charge of them and is required to use them prudently. The steward is called upon to take care of his master’s property and wealth until the master summons him to turn in an account of his stewardship. Jesus helps
His followers understand that every disciple is a steward and that good stewardship is their responsibility.
by
MICHAEL MURPHY
One unique feature in St. Luke’s writings is the concept of almsgiving, based on his theology of stewardship. Almsgiving was a radical teaching in the first-century Greco-Roman world. It was considered an obligation of Christian disciples; imperative inside and outside the Christian community. St. Luke enjoined his readers to look upon the poor and downtrodden with genuine sympathy and urged those with material resources to remember their identity as stewards, to be generous and to distribute a portion of their wealth to the poor as alms.
The Catholic bishops of the U.S. stressed the importance of the Biblical teachings on stewardship in their 1993 pastoral letter “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response” and assigned the task of promoting their pastoral letter on
stewardship to the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC). ICSC continues to provide formation, training and resources to Catholic dioceses and parishes in the U.S. and beyond under the auspices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It uses the bishops’ pastoral letter as its primary resource for promoting stewardship in the Catholic tradition.
Through ICSC’s programs, Catholic leaders come to understand that stewardship is not simply an appeal for funds but a Gospel-inspired expression of how we live our lives in response to the call of Jesus Christ. The late pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, commended ICSC for its global missionary vision and for spreading the good news through the lens of stewardship, a new way, he maintained, to think about evangelizing in a world much in need of God’s healing presence.
This year, ICSC hosts its 63rd annual stewardship conference in Chicago, Illinois, from Sept. 21 to 24 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The event’s theme, “Stewardship: A Journey of Hope,” resonates with this Jubilee Year of Hope, which urges Catholics to rekindle their
hope in Christ and experience anew the delight of encountering the Lord. The ICSC conference offers parish leaders and diocesan officers an opportunity to gather and reflect on stewardship in the Catholic Church and to continue to prepare for its transformational future.
Having preserved a number of Jesus’ teachings on stewardship in his writings, St. Luke suggests that stewardship ultimately comes down to the personal decisions an individual makes each and every day. Are those decisions meant to glorify God? Or are the decisions made for some other purpose? As the bishops’ pastoral letter points out, by making choices that glorify God, the faithful draw closer to Him and discover the best in themselves. That is the essence of Christian stewardship.
For more information about the Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship, or about ICSC and its upcoming conference, go to www. catholicstewardship.org. †
Michael Murphy is the executive director of the International Catholic Stewardship Council.
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Welcoming all persons into the heart of the Church
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
HOUSTON — When families with children or adults with disabilities encounter barriers to experiencing a true sense of belonging in the Church, ministries grounded in Christ’s love and compassion respond with open hearts and faithful support. The Ministry for Persons with Disabilities is one such witness to that love, working to ensure every person is seen, valued and fully embraced as a member of the body of Christ.
BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A pamphlet with guidelines for celebrating the Sacraments with persons with disabilities is seen during a recent ministry conference in Houston.
Melissa Alvarez, associate director of the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, said the ministry’s mission aligns closely with that of the Archdiocese. By helping individuals with disabilities and their families fully participate in the Church, the ministry reflects a shared commitment to dignity, justice and unity in Christ.
“Many times, families are not aware of the opportunity for inclusion, so having that advocate or person of support in each of our parishes is eye-opening for them,” Alvarez said. “They are happy to know they are included and discover all the different areas where they can share their gifts and talents and be part of the body of the Church.”
Alvarez said the ministry equips parish staff and volunteers to become these advocates through training, resources and consultations, efforts that support lifelong faith formation and help ensure full participation in parish life, including the Sacraments.
“A lot of times there’s a need for advocacy in each of our different parishes,” Alvarez said. “That’s where our ministry comes in and helps support those parish teams and staff to be able to advocate and find ways to support all individuals in the parishes.”
Volunteers serve as the lifeline of the ministry, forming intentional parish teams, known as advocates, who accompany families through catechesis, sacramental preparation and daily parish life.
“Without volunteers, without support for this ministry, we wouldn’t be able to have representation or be able to be the face of Jesus,” Alvarez said. “Just as Jesus
went out of His way to include and help the deaf and the mute, we are also called to do the same.”
One of those volunteers is Diana Sanchez, who came to the ministry five years ago as a mother looking for help for her son, Alberto, who has a developmental disability.
“At the beginning, I felt my son wasn’t welcomed by the Church,” Sanchez said. “That was very sad for me. I thought, ‘Why is there no place for my son?’”
When Sanchez’s parish wasn’t prepared to help Alberto receive the Sacraments, she drew on her experience as a catechist and stepped forward to lead. The Ministry for Persons with Disabilities supported her by providing adaptive resources and connecting Alberto to a preparation class, which opened the door to her deeper involvement in the ministry.
Today, Sanchez serves on the ministry’s advisory committee, walking with other families as a volunteer advocate and guide on their journey toward full participation in the Church. She approaches each family with care, understanding that true accompaniment must extend beyond the individual to embrace the needs of the whole family.
“I want to help all those families feel confident coming forward and knowing they are part of our community,” Sanchez said. “They are part of the body of Christ.”
brings the needed financial resources to carry out 64 ministries.
DSF IN ACTION
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through difficulties, take responsibility for his actions and grow in confidence.
Alberto also shared that the ministry helped him live in a way that reflects his faith and love for God. He said the experience strengthened his confidence and deepened his awareness of God’s presence in his life.
“People have helped me learn how to pray and to think about God,” Alberto said. “At my Confirmation, I learned how to know that God is a friend, a guide, a teacher. He is the Holy Spirit.”
In this role, she provides spiritual, emotional and practical help, from referrals to resources and schools to simply being a listening ear. Over the years, she has walked with many families through powerful moments of faith and healing.
During his time with the ministry, Alberto has formed friendships and helped others with disabilities learn how to live their faith more fully. He now hopes to give back as others have helped him.
“Thank you for all the support and everything that you have done to help me do great things,” Alberto said.
“Some of the parents cry when we receive the kids, and I tell them, ‘Yes, your child can receive the Sacraments. You are welcome in this Church,’” Sanchez said. “Some cry when they see their child receiving the Sacraments and becoming part of the community. It’s very moving.”
Sanchez encourages other interested volunteers to serve in the ministry, even if they feel hesitant or unsure. She believes that responding to the call is less about being ready and more about being willing to let God lead.
“You just need to follow the call of the Holy Spirit,” Sanchez said. “Allow yourself to see through the eyes of these kids. It’s going to change the way you think, and it’s going to change your faith in God.”
One of the families Sanchez has accompanied the most closely is her son, Alberto. When he found his place in the Church, his journey of faith became a testimony to the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities’ impact from both sides, parent and child. Through the ministry’s support, Alberto has learned how to work
For Alvarez, moments of transformation and belonging, like those experienced by the Sanchez family, reflect the heart of the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities’ mission. She said it is made possible through Christ’s love, the support of the faithful, and the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), which together equip parishes to welcome every family.
One example of this outreach is the ministry’s upcoming “In God’s Image Disability Conference,” set for Nov. 8 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. The event will feature sessions on mental health, early childhood, youth and serving persons with disabilities across all ages. Alvarez said it will be a day of learning, fellowship and encouragement for all who share a commitment to inclusion in the life of the Church.
To learn more about the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, visit archgh. org/disabilityministry. To give to the DSF, which supports over 60 ministries in the Archdiocese, visit archgh.org/dsf. †
The 2025 Diocesan Services Fund theme is “Cry Out with Joy to the Lord.” DSF operates in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston each year to help the Church carry out the ministries of teaching and sanctifying. DSF
PHOTO
EDUCATION
HOUSTON — The Shea Family Charities used over $1 million to renovate two Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
St. Christopher Catholic School, located at 8134 Park Place Blvd. in Houston, had complete renovations in all of the restrooms in the school. The school’s faculty lounge also now features all new cabinets, sink and faucets, fresh paint, lighting, ceiling tiles and window shades.
In addition, all of St. Christopher’s classrooms received a new coat of paint with new ceiling tiles, lights and whiteboards throughout.
Holy Ghost Catholic School, located at 6920 Chimney Rock Rd. in Houston, has all new windows this year, plus new window shades, new doors and restrooms.
All classrooms have newly painted walls, new white boards and ceiling tiles. The school sign was freshly painted. †
CARPENTRY PAINTING SIDING
Above left, Deacon Don Q. Hoang, St. Christopher Church;
Shea Homes; and Ken Mione, Shea Homes contractor, tour a newly renovated
Ghost School, replacing one that was faded and unreadable.
BRAUNS ROOFING, INC.
EMBRACING THE JUBILEE YEAR
• Visit the two Archdiocesan Pilgrim Sites
- Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston
- St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston
• Find Jubilee indulgence information, updates, resources and more
Learn more about the Jubilee Year online at ARCHGH.ORG/JUBILEE2025
EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
Starting in the 2026–27 school year, Texas will launch a brand-new Education Savings Account (ESA) program with up to $1 billion in funding to help families cover educational expenses for students in PreK through 12th grade. To learn more, visit www.choosecatholicschools.org/esa or scan the QR code.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
Sister Mary-Thecla Akubue, St. Christopher principal; Alessandra Farfan and Keith Luechtefeld,
faculty lounge. Above right, a renovated sign now welcomes students to Holy
priests from English-speaking countries around the world, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Dell’Oro for the different pilgrim groups. They also concelebrated the July 29 opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square, which formally kicked off the week of activities.
“I try to challenge them all,” Bishop Dell’Oro said. He also asked each young adult about their next step in life and encouraged them to make their personal religious and interior life an experience with God that touches their hearts to share their faith with others.
Renzo Forti, a Peruvian parishioner at Holy Rosary Parish in Houston, said he identified with the new pope, who served in Peru for many years, including a decade as bishop of Chiclayo, before working at the Vatican and being elected pope.
He said one of the “biggest, most beautiful” moments for him was a surprise encounter with Pope Leo at the end of the July 29 opening Mass, when the pope stepped out to greet the crowded square.
He and his brother ran up to get as close as they could to snap photos and greet Pope Leo. “You can feel the holiness, the peace, the joy of over 100,000 people being so joyful and so hopeful to encounter Christ and to see His vicar here with us,” Forti said.
Daphne Cervantes, a young adult parishioner at Epiphany of the Lord Parish in Katy, carried concerns regarding her career and vocation into the pilgrimage.
Throughout the week’s events, multiple opportunities allowed Cervantes to get to know different religious sisters and encouraged her to consider discerning religious life.
Cervantes also took to social media to gather family and friends’ prayer requests, taking them with her to the Holy Doors and holy sites in Rome and Assisi.
Father Muldrow, an Archdiocesan priest now studying canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., joined the young adult group as a chaplain. As a priest, he said he found hope for the future of the young adults who attended the Jubilee pilgrimage and for the future of the Church.
“I can’t help but reflect upon the opening words, taken from the Letter to the Romans, of the Papal Bull with which Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee Year: ‘Hope does not disappoint,’” Father Muldrow said.
“Our hope, the true and abiding fountain to which we return again and again for sustenance, is Christ Himself and His pledge of eternal life,” he said.
The
Below,
more photos and videos, visit WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/NEWS/JUBILEEYOUTH.
DIVE DEEPER
Learn about the two Archdiocesan Pilgrim sites (Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston and St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, Galveston) and find Jubilee news, prayers, indulgence resources, updates and more online at WWW.ARCHGH.ORG/JUBILEE25.
Kendall Young, a parishioner at St. Mary Parish in Frydek, was a young adult pilgrim who had never attended a pilgrimage or traveled outside of the country, and she took the Holy Father’s message of being a missionary pilgrim of hope to heart.
“As we continue to talk about our experience, people are able to see that message of hope,” Young said.“We are called to be pilgrims and to spread this message.”
Young also said that seeing Pope Leo XIV in person helped her to reflect on the succession of popes all the way back to Jesus.
“It shows me that there is hope in the Church,” she said.
Sister Elizabeth Marie, O.P., English department chair at Frassati Catholic High School, was part of a group that initially
planned to attend the canonization of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati during the Jubilee of Young People before his canonization was set to Sept. 7 with St. Carlo Acutis, due to the death of Pope Francis.
Sister Elizabeth Marie said that the change allowed their group a more intimate experience during public veneration of the incorrupt body of St. Frassati. “We were able to touch his casket and wave him off as the car departed. We also visited with his niece and other relatives, with whom we’ve been in contact through the years as the high school has grown,” she said.
“Many of us were able to attend Mass celebrated by Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney in front of his casket, after which Dominican friars solemnly processed with his casket out of the church to take him back to Turin.” The encounter was a highlight for the high school group named after nowcanonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, who was a Third Order Dominican.
Part of the Jubilee of Youth included a gathering of more than 4,000 youth and young adults from the U.S. and other English-speaking countries at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on July 30. There, Bishop Dell’Oro joined other bishops in greeting the young people, including addresses by Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester and Bishop Ed Burns of Dallas. Introduced in a solemn procession, the relics of a dozen saints and blesseds, including Blessed Stanley Rother and Sts. Carlo Acutis, Pier
joined the young people.
The week of events concluded with a two-day event, Aug. 2 to 3, at a large field at the University of Rome’s Tor Vergata campus. The Aug. 2 overnight outdoor vigil included 40 minutes of Eucharistic Adoration with Pope Leo following his arrival by helicopter, entertainment, prayer and worship, testimonies and more.
Part of the night included a question-andanswer session, during which young adults from around the world asked Pope Leo about friendship, life choices and the call to faith amidst uncertainty. Another special moment came when Pope Leo carried high the Jubilee Cross as he walked with a group of 200 young adult pilgrims.
A World Youth Day tradition, pilgrims often stay up late into the night meeting other young people from around the world, exchanging gifts, souvenirs and prayers.
The next morning, on Aug. 3, the pilgrims attended Mass presided by Pope Leo, with Bishop Dell’Oro and other priests from Galveston-Houston concelebrating, joining some 7,000 other priests, 400 bishops and 25 cardinals, according to the Vatican.
“Dear young people, aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,” Pope Leo said in his Aug. 3 homily. “Do not settle for less. Then you will see the light of the Gospel grow every day, within you and around you.”
Father Redding said this was his first
Giorgio Frassati, Paul, Kateri Tekakwitha and Elizabeth Ann Seton
CNS PHOTOS/VATICAN MEDIA AND OFFICE OF YOUNG ADULT AND CAMPUS MINISTRY
Pope Leo XIV presides over a prayer vigil in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood Aug. 2, with hundreds of thousands of young people gathered for the Jubilee of Youth.
Aug. 3 Mass the next morning welcomed more than one million pilgrims in attendance, with Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, concelebrating with other GalvestonHouston priests. Below, at left, Bishop Dell’Oro preaches the homily while presiding over a July 31 Mass at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica on
at right, Renzo Forti visits one of the four Raphael Rooms at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican Museums with a group of other Archdiocesan pilgrims. To see
time visiting Rome as a priest, which overwhelmed him in a good way. He concelebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica with Bishop Dell’Oro, the closing Jubilee Mass with Pope Leo XIV in a large field at Tor Vergata, and smaller chapels in Rome and Assisi. He also said that the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order that he is a member of, took place during the midst of the Jubilee on July 31.
“This was also the day that we were able to celebrate Mass at the Chair of St. Peter. That Mass was meaningful on its own, but to be there on the Feast of St. Ignatius was even more powerful for me,” Father Redding said.
The Jesuit priest gave tours for pilgrims of the popular Jesuit churches in Rome,
PHOTOS BY CNS, VATICAN MEDIA, YACM AND FRASSATI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Counter-clockwise, from left: The Archdiocesan pilgrimage group meets after Bishop Dell’Oro a Mass at the Basilica of Sts. Boniface and Alesso, a Somascan church, in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV greets young people at the conclusion of the vigil at Tor Vergata in Rome Aug. 2.
Kendall Young and a group University of Houston and University of Texas alumni are seen in St. Peter’s Square.
Below, Pope Leo XIV elevates the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament while presiding over a prayer vigil with in Tor Vergata Aug. 2. The vigil was part of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations.
including the Gesu and St. Ignatius. The Gesu is the mother church of the Society of Jesus and the final resting place of St. Ignatius of Loyola, he said. Buried at the Church of St. Ignatius are Jesuits St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. John Berchmans, and St. Robert Bellarmine.
“I was so moved to share this day and my spirituality with them,” Father Redding said.
Pometto chaperoned the group and noticed the opportunity of going up the Holy Stairs in Rome resonated for days among the young adults. She also said she witnessed the power of the young adults encountering the cross and its lifechanging impact throughout the week’s variety of events.
Pometto said she looked forward to reuniting with the 70 young adults later this fall to understand the graces they received during the pilgrimage and to continue accompanying the young adults throughout their journey. †
EYES TOWARDS 2027
Pope Leo invites world to Seoul, South Korea for WYD27
ROME — At the conclusion of his Aug. 3 Angelus at Tor Vergata, Pope Leo XIV invited the world to Seoul, South Korea for the 2027 World Youth Day, which is set for Aug. 3 to 8, 2027.
The location was previously announced by Pope Francis in 2023, when in Lisbon, he shared that World Youth Day was returning to Asia in 2027
“I renew the invitation that Pope Francis extended in Lisbon two years ago: young people from all over the world will gather together with the Successor of Peter to celebrate World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, from 3 to 8 August 2027,” said Pope Leo.
Young people are “welcomed by the Korean Church, come together to witness that the encounter with Christ changes lives and gives the courage to overcome the challenges to which they are called,” said Gleison De Paula Souza, secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, which oversees World Youth Day.
Pope Leo shared his eagerness to visit South Korea, having previously visited the Korean Peninsula during a visit to support his Augustinian brother priests.
“It is precisely the hope that dwells in our hearts that gives us the strength to proclaim the victory of the risen Christ over evil and death; and you, young pilgrims of hope, will be witnesses of this to the ends of the earth,” he said. “I look forward to seeing you in Seoul: let us continue to dream together and to hope together.” † – By James Ramos/Herald
Above, Thalia Romero, associate director with the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, and her sister Sam smile in a selfie with Pope Leo. At right, the casket of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati is seen during an event focused on Frassati’s faith and life.
YOUTH
Dear young Latino Catholics of Houston...
Dear young Latino Catholics of Houston...
This letter is for you — for all our brothers and sisters of Hispanic and Latino heritage in the Archdiocese. You are the beating heart of a community that has carried faith across generations, languages and borders. You are more than a demographic; you are a living, breathing expression of the Church’s diversity and resilience.
You embody the richness of traditions passed down by your padres y abuelos and the new possibilities of leadership in today’s world. This is your moment, and the Church is calling you to step forward.
Some of you pray in Spanish, the language of your parents and grandparents, where every canto and rosary bead feels familiar. Others of you live between two worlds, speaking English at school, Spanish at home, and often blending them into Spanglish with friends. And some of you do not speak Spanish at all, yet still carry the faith and traditions your ancestors cherished. These differences in language do not divide us — they remind us that
by JEANETTE GONZALEZ
Catholicism is universal, and that every tongue has a place at the altar.
Our traditions — La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dia de la Candelaria, Los Aguinaldos, Quinceañeras — are not just events, but powerful encounters with faith. They remind us of the strength of family, the beauty of community and the joy of celebrating God’s presence in everyday life. Even when the world outside pulls you in a thousand directions, these traditions root you in a faith that is bigger than yourself.
Many of you wrestle with questions of identity. “Am I Latino enough if I don’t speak Spanish?”“Do I belong in church if I don’t understand the Mass?”These struggles are real. But hear this clearly: your Catholic identity is not determined by language — it is sealed in Baptism and lived through love, service and prayer.
We also know that some of you balance school with work to support your households. Others feel limited by a
“The struggles are real. But hear this clearly: your Catholic identity is not determined by language — it is sealed in Baptism and lived through love, service and prayer. ”
lack of resources for retreats, college or parish activities. Yet even in these challenges, your faith can become a source of strength and hope.
We cannot ignore that many families in Houston are touched by the immigration crisis. Some of you may have relatives who live in fear of separation, or who struggle to find stability while seeking a better life. As a Church, caminamos contigo. The Gospel calls us to defend the dignity of every person, especially the vulnerable. Know this: you are not alone. Your faith, your parish and your wider Catholic family stand with you, offering hope, courage and belonging.
Empowering you for the 21st Century
The Archdiocese is working to meet you where you are. Programs are being shaped to include your voices, respect your culture and help you grow as leaders. We want you to know: the Church is not only a place where you receive, but also where you lead.
Youth leadership and mentorship programs are opening new doors. Bilingual and culturally responsive programs like Raices y Fe Youth Summit have been developed to celebrate and learn more about the blending of our
diverse Latino culture and our rich Catholic faith, as well as empowering you to be leaders in your faith and community. Additionally, a new bilingual youth retreat is in the works for all high school youth within our Archdiocese, scheduled to take place in March 2026. Your faith journey is not one where you walk alone — your parents, grandparents and community stand beside you. Together, we are building networks of support so that no young Catholic feels left behind.
So, young Latino Catholics of Houston, the Church needs you! Tu voz, your creativity, your courage y tu fe are essential for shaping tomorrow’s Church. Hold fast to your traditions but also dare to innovate. Stay rooted in family but also rise as leaders. This is your Church. This is your time. And together, we can create a vibrant, inclusive future for all Hispanic Catholics in Houston — one where your culture and your faith shine brightly for generations to come. †
Jeanette Gonzalez is an associate director of Hispanic Youth Ministry in the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.
COLUMNISTS
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: A sign of victory and redemption
On Sept. 14, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a day dedicated to honoring the very instrument of our salvation. The cross, once a symbol of humiliation and death, became the means through which Christ triumphed over sin and opened the gates of eternal life. This feast reminds us that, as Christians, we are called to embrace the cross in our own lives, knowing that through suffering, there is redemption.
This year, as it falls on a Sunday, it takes precedence over the Ordinary Time Liturgy, reminding us that Christ’s Cross is central to our salvation. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross commemorates the historical events that followed the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, in the fourth century. However, it is more than a historical remembrance; this feast is a profound invitation to reflect on the power and mystery of the cross in our own lives.
The cross is central to our faith. It is in the sign of the cross that we begin and end our prayers. We trace it over
by ADAM BRILL
ourselves in times of blessing and trial. Every crucifix in our churches and homes is a testament to Christ’s love, a love so deep that He gave His life for us. As the entrance antiphon proclaims, “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our salvation, our life and our resurrection: through Him we are saved and made free.” On this feast, we are reminded that the cross is not just an image from the past — it is a sacramental that calls us to deeper faith, trust and surrender.
Throughout history, the Church has fostered deep devotion to the cross through various traditions. On Good Friday, we venerate the cross with a kiss, recalling Christ’s sacrifice. The Stations of the Cross, prayed especially during Lent, allow us to walk with Jesus in His passion. Many Catholic homes display a
crucifix as a daily reminder of Christ’s presence and sacrifice. The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross invites us to renew our faith by reflecting on this instrument of our salvation.
This feast is also a moment to reflect on Jesus’ call: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34). In our daily struggles — whether they be illness, loss or personal challenges — the cross is not a burden meant to defeat us but a means through which God draws us closer to Himself. By uniting our sufferings with Christ, we find hope and strength.
How can we celebrate this feast? One way is by taking time to venerate a crucifix in prayer, offering our own burdens to Christ. Attending Mass and reflecting on the readings of the day can deepen our appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice. Families can renew their devotion by displaying or blessing a crucifix in their home.
On this feast, we exalt the cross not as a sign of suffering, but as a sign of
“In our daily struggles — whether they be illness, loss or personal challenges — the cross is not a burden meant to defeat us but a means through which God draws us closer to Himself.”
victory. Let us participate fully to grow in understanding Christ’s love and our call to carry our crosses with joy. Let’s exalt the holy cross together, allowing it to draw us closer to God and one another. †
Adam Brill is the director of the Office of Worship.
Sacred Catechesis: Making time to grow in faith
Catechetical leaders across all our parishes are working hard to recruit and train catechists for the upcoming catechetical year. Tens of thousands of children, adolescents and adults across our Archdiocese will come to their church to dedicate about an hour and a half a week to learn why it is good news that God chose to become human to love us. To show us how to love and to learn why it is great news that they can meet and enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ through their parish community and their participation in the Sacraments.
While an hour and a half a week seems inadequate to accomplish such vital and life-altering goals, we must remember that taking time regularly to talk, to learn, to reflect, to pray and to intentionally sit at the feet of our teacher, Jesus Christ, frequently does not happen at all. For most families, every day starts very early and it immediately takes on an almost frantic pace that continues until very late and often ends with physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion.
Given this context, the hour and a half spent in catechesis takes on such an important role in the lives of the children, adolescents and adults who will attend our catechetical programs that the only word that accurately describes this hour and a half is the word “sacred.”This means that it is of such importance that its value cannot be defined or quantified. This also means
by MIGUEL VENCES
that those who are entrusted by Christ and the Church with the ministry of catechists are privileged and have a great responsibility for the way they use that sacred hour and a half.
The sacred time of catechesis is critical for the vitality of the Church for many reasons, but especially because it is the time when we have to guide children, adolescents and adults into the sacred mysteries at the core of Catholic belief and practice. Please notice that I avoided saying “learn about…” and instead I said “guide into…” to bring to the front the importance of the catechist as a spiritual companion, a dimension of catechetical ministry often unintentionally neglected by our efforts to get our learners to learn as much as possible about the Catholic faith in the limited time we have.
A spiritual companion meets you where you are at. Regardless of whether you already have a spiritual life or if you have never been introduced to any religious practices, a companion does not judge, does not force the pace or direction of the journey, and always makes you feel seen, heard and valued.
A spiritual companion shares his/her own journey of faith, with ups and downs, with moments of faithfulness and moments of doubt, but always with
an overall message that through it all, God has remained present and unconditionally on your side. Recognizing this and sharing this with our learners is the best way to discover what hope is all about. Hope is knowing that while a lot of things are in constant change and flux, that most things come and go, strengthen and weaken, there is always something, someone that remains firmly present and unconditionally on your side.
As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday this year, whenever we commission our catechists, let’s keep in mind the theme proposed by our American bishops, “always be ready to give an explanation …for a reason for your hope.” Let us remember that our objective as catechists is not only that our learners
know what we believe but also why we believe it. We believe it because God is good, because God is constant, because the Church treats us as a caring mother and a companion in our journey to discover why it is good news that Jesus Christ wants to be in our lives. †
Miguel A. Vences is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
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.
Pope to inaugurate Borgo Laudato Si’ during Season of Creation
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Two months after celebrating a new Mass “for the care of creation,” Pope Leo XIV will return to Castel Gandolfo to formally inaugurate Borgo Laudato Si’, a place of education, ecology and spirituality in the papal summer estate.
Famed tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo will sing during the late afternoon prayer service Sept. 5, the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education announced Aug. 25.
The prayer service and inauguration of the center take place during the ecumenical Season of Creation, a time of Christian prayer and commitment that runs from Sept. 1 through the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology.
Borgo Laudato Si’ is dedicated to living out the vision of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on care for our common home,” an effort that he said must combine care for the earth with care for the poor.
In his own message for the Sept. 1 World Day of Prayer for Creation, Pope
Leo wrote that for Christians, care of creation is “a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.”
“In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity,” Pope Leo wrote. “Now is the time to follow words with deeds.”
Pope Leo celebrated Mass in the gardens at the papal estate on July 9, using the new formulary or prayers for Mass “for the care of creation.”
“The mission of safeguarding creation, of bringing peace and reconciliation” is “the mission which the Lord has entrusted to us,” Pope Leo said in his homily. “We listen to the cry of the earth, we listen to the cry of the poor, because this cry has reached the heart of God. Our indignation is his indignation; our work is his work.”
The Borgo Laudato Si’ press statement
— especially for the most vulnerable — are not only taught but lived, rooted in the Gospel and open to all.”
The Borgo houses the Laudato Si’ Higher Education Center, which offers training in hospitality, livestock care, gardening and the processing of agricultural products. The courses are specifically designed for people living in vulnerable situations: migrants, refugees, unaccompanied minors, women victims of abuse, unemployed young and middleaged people, people with special skills and former detainees, the center’s website said.
described the project’s mission as creating a model “where the care of creation and the defense of human dignity
“Spread across 135 acres, the property includes historic gardens, villas, monuments and archeological sites, alongside farmland and new areas for education, organic farming and regenerative cultivation,” the center said. “It is a unique setting where spirituality, education and sustainability come together, offering an open and welcoming space for formation, prayer, reflection and deeper communion with God and creation.” †
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.
CNS PHOTO
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Care of Creation on the grounds of the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology center in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 9.
NATION & STATE
Annunciation pastor calls first parish Mass after church shooting a ‘humble beginning’
MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) —
Recalling the fear and the cries from students, parents and school staff to “get low, stay down, stay down, don’t get up” as bullets tore through Annunciation church at an all-school Mass in Minneapolis, Father Dennis Zehren, the pastor, said it marked a new beginning.
Four days after the now-desecrated church remained closed, the auditorium in the parish school next door was filled with more than 400 people on Aug. 30, hugging, talking, crying and even smiling.
They were holding the first weekend Mass since the attack on Aug. 27 that killed 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski and wounded 15 other students and three adults, as Father Zehren was presiding. The suspected shooter was found dead at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda concelebrated the Mass, with Deacon Kevin Conneely, who ministers at the parish and was also at the all-school Mass, assisted. But at this Mass, members of the congregation were
IN BRIEF
not in the pews to which they had grown accustomed, Father Zehren said. They were in folding chairs, with the sanctuary on the auditorium’s stage. And they were still wrestling with the tragedy that had unfolded.
“It’s clear to us all here at Annunciation that we will be sitting in a different pew for a long time to come because of what happened,” Father Zehren said in his homily, as the church remained closed and must be reconsecrated before it can be used again for worship.
The Scriptures for the day point to humility, Father Zehren said. Jesus encourages His listeners in the Gospel passage from Luke to avoid taking the seat of honor at a banquet feast. Rather, take the lowest place.
“My good people of Annunciation ... of Minneapolis and beyond, we are in a very low place,” the pastor said. “We are
Hurricane Katrina 20th anniversary a call to racial equity, justice, say bishops
NEW ORLEANS (OSV News) — The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina marks a call to “renew our commitment to racial equity and justice in every sector of public life,” said two U.S. Catholic bishops.
Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell, Jr., of Washington, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on African American Affairs, and retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry of Chicago, chair of the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, issued a statement Aug. 26 reflecting on the tragedy.
The hurricane, one of the five deadliest in U.S. history, struck the nation’s Gulf Coast Aug. 29, 2005, as a Category 3 storm. It made multiple landfalls, inflicting staggering damage and killing 1,833 people. In hard-hit New Orleans, “disparities, rooted in historical and structural racism, intensified the suffering of many Black residents,” said the two bishops. The hurricane and governmental response missteps “revealed the fragility of our cities to natural disasters and the reality of poverty among the most vulnerable in our country,” they said.
“Let us join together, as one community, responding to the call to be leaven for the world,” Bishop Campbell and Bishop Perry said. “As Church, let us be a lifeboat in the flood waters of injustice.” †
Pope appoints Detroit
Auxiliary Bishop Cepeda as auxiliary bishop of San Antonio
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop José Arturo Cepeda, who has served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit for 14 years, as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
The Aug. 26 announcement transferred Bishop Cepeda, 56, back to his home diocese, where he was ordained a priest in 1996. The Archdiocese of San Antonio includes 19 counties in south-central Texas and has a total population of nearly 2.8 million, of which over 1.15 million are Catholic.
Galveston-Houston Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez welcomed Bishop Cepeda back to Texas and San Antonio and said, “He has proven to be a dedicated, pastoral Auxiliary Bishop in Detroit, and I am certain he will be of great benefit to the people in San Antonio.”
Bishop Cepeda was born on May 15, 1969, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 19. He later studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum, where he received a licentiate and doctorate of sacred theology. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Antonio at his home parish of St. Mary Magdalen by Archbishop Patricio Flores.
Pope Benedict XVI named Father Cepeda as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in April 2011. He was ordained a bishop in May, becoming the youngest bishop in the U.S. at age 41. Bishop Cepeda will be welcomed as a San Antonio auxiliary bishop during two Masses on Oct. 12, in Spanish and English, at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, where he previously served as parochial vicar. †
in a lower place than we could have ever imagined.” At the same time, they were seated in the high school auditorium where Masses had been held for decades before the new church was built in 1961, Father Zehren said.
“Jesus speaks about humility, so we come back to our humble beginnings,”
Father Zehren said. “That’s what this day represents. It’s a humble beginning. It’s a call to begin again. The tricky part about the virtue of humility is that we don’t always get to choose the seating.”
“Sometimes we have to sit in the dust,” he said. “It’s a very humbling seat. I know the best thing we can do is just sit there for a while. … Jesus says, ‘Can you just sit with me here, in the dust? Because that’s where he is. It’s the same dust that Jesus fell in when He was carrying the cross. It’s the same dust that He bled in. Jesus said, ‘Can you just come sit with Me and
sit in this humble place?”
“That was the very first message we heard on Wednesday morning, when the first bullet came through the window, and the voices crying out, ‘Down, down. Get low, stay down, stay down, don’t get up,’” Father Zehren said, his voice breaking with emotion.
“But when we were down there, in that low place, Jesus showed us something,” he said. “He showed us, ‘I am the Lord even here. I am the One who descended into hell. I am the One who had taken on all the darkness and evil in this world, all the forces of darkness and death and evil.’ Jesus pointed and he said, ‘Can’t you see how weak it is? Can’t you see how desperate it is? Can’t you see that this can never last?’”
“Then He showed us. He began to show us a light. It’s a new light. The light of a new day is breaking,” Father Zehren said. “We watch for that light of a new day… That light of the world is Jesus Christ.”
“It reminds us, when death and darkness have done their worst, that’s when God says, ‘Now see what I will do,’” Father Zehren said. †
HARPER MOYSKI
FLETCHER MERKEL
MUNDO CATÓLICO
Dando la bienvenida a toda persona al corazón de la Iglesia
POR KERRY MCGUIRE
Corresponsal del Herald
HOUSTON — Cuando las familias con niños o adultos con discapacidades encuentran barreras para experimentar un verdadero sentido de pertenencia en la Iglesia, los ministerios basados en el amor y la compasión de Cristo responden con corazones abiertos y apoyo fiel. El Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidades es uno de esos testigos de ese amor, trabajando para garantizar que cada persona sea vista, valorada y plenamente aceptada como miembro del cuerpo de Cristo.
Melissa Álvarez, directora asociada del Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidades, dijo que la misión del ministerio se alinea estrechamente con la de la Arquidiócesis. Al ayudar a las personas con discapacidades y sus familias a participar plenamente en la Iglesia, el ministerio refleja un compromiso compartido con la dignidad, la justicia y la unidad en Cristo.
“Muchas veces, las familias no son conscientes de la oportunidad de ser incluidas, por eso, es que tener un defensor o persona de apoyo en cada una de nuestras parroquias es revelador para ellos”, dijo Álvarez. “Están felices de saber que están incluidos y descubren todas las diferentes áreas donde pueden compartir sus dones y talentos y ser parte
del cuerpo de la Iglesia”.
Álvarez dijo que el ministerio equipa al personal y a los voluntarios de las parroquias para que se conviertan en estos defensores a través de capacitación, recursos y consultas, esfuerzos que apoyan la formación de la fe de por vida y ayudan a garantizar la plena participación en la vida parroquial, incluidos los sacramentos.
“Muchas veces hay una necesidad de apoyo en cada una de nuestras diferentes parroquias”, dijo Álvarez. “Ahí es donde entra nuestro ministerio y ayuda a apoyar a los equipos y al personal de la parroquia para que puedan afirmar y encontrar formas de apoyar a todas las personas en las parroquias”.
Los voluntarios sirven como el salvavidas del ministerio, formando equipos parroquiales intencionales, conocidos como defensores, que acompañan a las familias a través de la catequesis, la preparación sacramental y la vida parroquial diaria.
“Sin voluntarios, sin apoyo para este ministerio, no podríamos tener representación o ser el rostro de Jesús”, dijo Álvarez. “Así como Jesús hizo todo lo posible para incluir y ayudar a los sordos y mudos, nosotros también estamos llamados a hacer lo mismo”.
Una de esas voluntarias es Diana Sánchez, quien llegó al ministerio hace cinco años como madre en busca de
ayuda para su hijo, Alberto, que tiene una discapacidad del desarrollo.
“Al principio, sentí que mi hijo no era bienvenido por la Iglesia”, dijo Sánchez. “Eso fue muy triste para mí. Pensé: ‘¿Por qué no hay lugar para mi hijo?’”.
Cuando la parroquia de Sánchez no estaba preparada para ayudar a Alberto a recibir los sacramentos, ella se basó en su experiencia como catequista y dio un paso adelante para liderar. El Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidades la apoyó brindándole recursos de adaptación y conectando a Alberto con una clase de preparación, lo que abrió la puerta a su participación más profunda en el ministerio.
Hoy, Sánchez sirve en el comité asesor del ministerio, caminando con otras familias como defensora voluntaria y guía en su viaje hacia la plena participación en la Iglesia. Se acerca a cada familia con cuidado, entendiendo que el verdadero acompañamiento debe extenderse más allá del individuo para abarcar las necesidades de toda la familia.
“Quiero ayudar a todas esas familias a sentirse seguras al presentarse y saber que son parte de nuestra comunidad”, dijo Sánchez. “Son parte del cuerpo de Cristo”.
Va a cambiar tu forma de pensar y va a cambiar tu fe en Dios”.
Una de las familias a las que Sánchez ha acompañado más de cerca es a su hijo, Alberto. Cuando encontró su lugar en la Iglesia, su camino de fe se convirtió en un testimonio del impacto del Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidades de ambos lados, padres e hijos. A través del apoyo del ministerio, Alberto ha aprendido a superar las dificultades, asumir la responsabilidad de sus acciones y crecer en confianza.
Alberto también compartió que el ministerio lo ayudó a vivir de una manera que refleja su fe y amor por Dios. Dijo que la experiencia fortaleció su confianza y profundizó su conciencia de la presencia de Dios en su vida.
“La gente me ha ayudado a aprender a orar y a pensar en Dios”, dijo Alberto. “En mi Confirmación, aprendí a saber que Dios es un amigo, un guía, un maestro. Él es el Espíritu Santo”.
Durante su tiempo en el ministerio, Alberto ha formado amistades y ha ayudado a otras personas con discapacidades a aprender a vivir su fe más plenamente. Ahora espera retribuir como otros lo han ayudado.
En este llamado, brinda ayuda espiritual, emocional y práctica, desde referencias a recursos y escuelas hasta simplemente ser un oído atento. A lo largo de los años, ha caminado con muchas familias a través de poderosos momentos de fe y sanación.
“Algunos de los padres lloran cuando recibimos a los niños, y les digo: ‘Sí, su hijo puede recibir los sacramentos. Eres bienvenido en esta Iglesia’”, dijo Sánchez. “Algunos lloran cuando ven a su hijo recibir los sacramentos y convertirse en parte de la comunidad. Es muy conmovedor”.
Sánchez anima a otros voluntarios interesados a servir en el ministerio, incluso si se sienten indecisos o inseguros. Ella cree que responder al llamado se trata menos de estar listo y más de estar dispuesto a dejar que Dios lo guíe.
“Solo necesitas seguir el llamado del Espíritu Santo”, dijo Sánchez. “Permítete ver a través de los ojos de estos niños.
EN BREVE
RECURSOS
ARQUIDIÓCESANOS
“Gracias por todo el apoyo y todo lo que han hecho para ayudarme a hacer grandes cosas”, dijo Alberto. Para Álvarez, los momentos de transformación y pertenencia, como los vividos por la familia Sánchez, reflejan el corazón de la misión del Ministerio para las Personas con Discapacidad. Un ejemplo de este alcance es la próxima “Conferencia de Discapacidad a Imagen de Dios”, programada para el 8 de noviembre en la Iglesia Católica Cristo Redentor. El evento contará con sesiones sobre salud mental, adaptaciones primera infancia, juventud y como servir a personas con discapacidades de todas las edades. Álvarez dijo que será un día de aprendizaje, compañerismo y apoyo para toda persona que comparten el compromiso de incluir personas con discapacidad en la vida de la Iglesia. Para obtener más información sobre el Ministerio para Personas con Discapacidad, visite www.archgh.org/ disabilityministry. †
Dia de formación de liderazgo en español está programado para el 20 de septiembre
HOUSTON — El Día de Formación, “La Caja de Herramientas” para mesas directivas y miembros de grupos laicos, movimientos y ministerios y grupos parroquiales, se llevará a cabo el sábado, 20 de sept. de las 9 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. Misa es a las 5 p.m. Va a ser en St. Dominic Center, auditorio, localizado en 2403 Holcombe en Houston. El costo es $40 inscripción regular, o $50 inscripción tardía a partir del 15 de sept. El orador es el P. Juan Molina, presidente del Colegio Católico Mexicano Americano de la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio. Él es co-editor del libro La Caja de Herramientas para Líderes Pastorales. El libro recibió un premio de tercer lugar en la Association of Catholic Publishers.
Este programa está diseñado para fortalecer las habilidades de liderazgo, fomentar el trabajo en equipo y brindar herramientas prácticas para servir mejor en la misión pastoral. El contenido del taller incluirá sobre: Liderazgo de Servicio; Porqué “Administrar” en la Iglesia; Desarrollando una visión, incluyendo el multiculturalismo; Reuniones Eficaces y Eficientes; Voluntarios y Recursos Humanos, Gestión de Riesgos; y Otros Asuntos en la Parroquia o tu grupo eclesial. Este recurso también está abierto para la participación de toda persona que se encuentra en cualquier rol de servicio dentro de la Iglesia.
Para preguntas o detalles, puede comunicarse al 713-741-8727 u ohm@archgh.org. †
WITHIN THE ARTS
Ahead of canonization, new bronze statue of St. Carlo Acutis unveiled in Assisi
(OSV News) — A new statue depicting St. Carlo Acutis is a message that conveys to the world that the Catholic Church is not an old institution but a young and vibrant Church with a relevant message for today’s culture, said the statue’s sculptor.
Unveiled Aug. 15 outside the Shrine of the Renunciation at the Church of St. Mary Major in Assisi, where the soonto-be-saint is buried, Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz said that “the Church is for the youth and it’s a growing Church.”
“I know that Carlo Acutis mentioned that he wanted to be buried in Assisi. I’m sure he would be delighted to know that not only is his tomb there, but now there is a sculpture that celebrates him, cast in bronze, that will be there for more than a thousand years,” Schmalz said.
The 11-foot-tall bronze statue, titled “St. Carlo at the Cross,” depicts the young teen, who was canonized Sept. 7 by Pope Leo XIV, kneeling beside Christ crucified. Contrary to more classic depictions of saints, Blessed Acutis holds a laptop in his hand that displays a chalice and paten.
Before his death at age 15 from leukemia in 2006, St. Acutis put his knowledge of computers to create an online database of Eucharistic miracles around the world.
“I wanted to do a very heroic, large sculpture to show the connection between the cross with Christ, Carlo Acutis, and modern-day technology. So there are three essential elements in there that kind of celebrate the story of this modern saint,” Schmalz explained.
“Oftentimes, when I do a sculpture of a saint, I’m using very historical elements that the saint holds. So I was like, ‘Whoa, here he is holding a laptop! I’m actually doing a sculpture of a saint holding a laptop!’ That was absolutely amazing,” he added.
Schmalz is known for several works that are displayed outside St. Peter’s Square, including “Angels Unawares,” a 20-foot bronze statue depicting a boat carrying migrants and refugees from different eras in history.
The late Pope Francis admired the artist’s work and, before his death in April, approved the installation of a
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A-II – SUITABLE FOR OLDER CHILDREN
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second statue — titled “Be Welcoming” — near the showers and medical clinic the Vatican runs for people in need.
Another unique feature of the sculpture is the inclusion of a sling hanging from the side of the teen’s backpack. The Canadian sculptor explained that its inclusion was a reference to David and Goliath, a connection he said “was revealed to me throughout the process of the piece.”
“As I was working on this, the David and Goliath story was always with me, about how here’s this young young man that’s in a sense using our modern-day sling — which is our technology — to fight this ‘Goliath’ of mainstream media that oftentimes trivializes spirituality, Christianity and especially Catholicism,” he said.
The new statue’s location in Assisi and its proximity to the most notable saint, St. Francis, also influenced its design. The depiction of St. Acutis kneeling at the foot of the cross was a “kind of nod to the traditional representation of St. Francis with Jesus.”
“His head is leaning on the cross, and his hand is wrapped around the cross. He almost merges as a part of the cross, and I wanted that emotion to be put there. Yes, he’s on his knees showing his being a very humble person, but I think it’s the reaching of it, the wrapping of the hand, and the gentle leaning of his head on the cross,” the artist explained.
St. Acutis “was so much in love with St. Francis,” Schmalz said, adding that he was certain the teen “would appreciate these elements that are put within the sculpture.”
“I wanted to show that intensity and that passion and that devotion, just like St. Francis of Assisi,” he said.
Schmalz said that the modern elements included in the sculpture, as opposed to the more traditional, saintly garbs in other statues of saints, were an important feature that showed that St. Carlo Acutis is “a contemporary.”
“No Roman skirts; just jeans, a sweatshirt and a backpack,” he said. “So, I do believe that this saint is here for a reason, and it’s to encourage and act as a role model for young people.” †
L – LIMITED MATURE AUDIENCE
• Caught Stealing (R)
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• Nobody 2 (R)
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► SEE STORY ON PAGE 4: “PAIR OF YOUNG ITALIANS ARE POPE LEO’S FIRST SAINT CANONIZATIONS”
OSV NEWS PHOTO
A sculpture of Blessed Carlo Acutis kneeling at the foot of the crucified Christ is seen in Assisi, Italy, Aug. 21, after a rainstorm. The bronze work titled “St. Carlo at the Cross” is by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, and it portrays the young blessed leaning his head against the cross while holding a laptop depicting the sacred vessels for Holy Communion.
AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE
For the latest updates about listings in the Around the Archdiocese, contact event organizers and visit www.archgh.org/ata.
SEPT. 12
CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., St. Laurence (3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land). 40th anniversary concert in the church features St. Laurence Music Ministry singers and musicians. Cost: Free with donation of non-perishable food items for the Social Concerns Ministry. 281-980-9812; bmaldonado@stlaurence.org.
GAME NIGHT, 6 to 10 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi (5102 Dabney St., Houston). Ten games of Bingo. Tickets: $25 at the door. ewagnerw@ gmail.com.
SEPT. 13
SPAGHETTI DINNER, 5 to 8 p.m., St. Theresa (705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land). Sugar Land Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Theresa of Lisieux #2211 hosts a spaghetti dinner with homemade meat sauce, salad, bread, dessert and drink. Tickets sold at the door. Cost: Adults - $12; Children under 10 - $6. kathy.moller@gmail.com.
PRESENTATION, 2 p.m., Holy Rosary Religious Education Building (3617 Milam St., Houston). Lay Dominican Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Chapter hosts an informational session about the Dominican Laity, people who choose specific path to holiness by freely following a rule inspired by St. Dominic. Free. cooperdoc72@comcast.net.
SEPT. 14
FESTIVAL, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Our Lady of Sorrows (3006 Kashmere St., Houston). Event includes live music, food, games and a raffle will follow from noon to 7 p.m. Free entry. 713-673-5600.
SEPT. 18
RETREAT, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). “Forming the Heart: The Role of Family in Spiritual Direction” retreat explores how family life shapes personal and spiritual concerns. Cost: $30. info@emmausspiritualitycenter.com; 281241-9678.
SEPT. 19-20
RELIC VENERATION, Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Matthew the Evangelist (9915 Hollister St., Houston). Veneration of the relics of St. Matthew followed by a Rosary hosted by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Angela of the Cross. Cost: Free. 713-466-4030.
SEPT. 19
FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Shrine of the True Cross (300 FM 517 Rd. E, Dickinson). “Faith in the Heart of Texas” fall festival includes games, food and music. Free entry. 281-337-4112; truecrosschurch.org.
SEPT. 20
STUDY GROUP, 9 a.m. to noon, St. TheresaMemorial Park Library (6622 Haskell St., Houston). The Secular branch of Discalced Carmelites for lay men and women 18+ years old, who are called to Carmelite spirituality, host a study group every third Saturday of the month. sttheresa.cc/carmelites; 832-758-0186; therese.lisieux111@gmail.com.
RETREAT, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sts. Simon and Jude (26777 Glen Loch Dr., The Woodlands). Retreat explores Our Lady of Fatima's apparitions and the First Saturday devotion with Katrina Leyden, PhD., co-founder of the Communal First Saturdays Apostolate. Cost: $25, includes light breakfast and lunch. communalfirstsaturdays.org/ssj-retreat.
CONFERENCE, 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Together in Holiness” one-day marriage enrichment conference, held at three parishes: St. Helen (2209 Old Alvin Rd., Pearland), Sacred Heart (109 N. Frazier St., Conroe) and St. Theresa (705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land), features speakers, Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration and closing Vigil Mass. Childcare available. Cost: Couple - $64, Individual - $40. Register: togetherinholiness.org. 281-906-1546; nancy@ forlifeandfamily.org.
LUNCHEON, 10 a.m., St. Mary’s Seminary (9845 Memorial Dr., Houston). Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez presents the Catholic Clerical Student Fund gift to St. Mary’s Seminary and Burse Honorees Father Lawrence Jozwiak, Father Edmund Eduarte, Father Tom Rafferty and Joseph Pistone. Cost: $35. bit.ly/ccsfluncheon.
SEPT. 20-21
BAZAAR, Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.,
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St. Peter the Apostle (6220 La Salette Dr., Houston). Saturday game night, doors open at 5:30 p.m., Tickets: $20 pre-sale (ends Sept. 13), $25 at the door. Food available for purchase. Bazaar Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Event includes barbecue, sweet treats, raffle, vendors, music, Bingo, kids’ games. 713-747-7800.
SEPT. 21
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Sts. Cyril and Methodius (603 Parrot Ave., Damon). Barbecue beef and sausage plates for $15 (beef, chicken and sausage sold by the pound). Event includes 12:30 p.m. live and silent auctions, homemaker’s mart, market, Bingo, concessions, games, bake sale and music by the M&M Playboys from 10 a.m. to noon. 979-742-3383.
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Gregory the Great (10500 Nold Dr., Houston). Annual event includes soul, Creole and Mexican food, homemade cakes and desserts, beverages, raffle, DJ and live music, rides, games and more. Free entry. stgregorygcc.com.
SEPT. 22
GOLF TOURNAMENT, 7:30 a.m., South Shore Harbour Country Club (4300 South Shore Blvd., League City). Third-annual tournament benefits St. Paul the Apostle Parish and includes breakfast, lunch and free hole-in-one contest with major prize. Cost: $150. Register: rebrand.ly/SPAPgolf25. djschmidt51@gmail. com; 832-428-0163.
SEPT. 23
BOOK STUDY, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Emmaus Spirituality Center (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). Held every second and fourth Tuesday, this book study explores “Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom” on friendship, the senses and connection to creation with speaker John O’Donohue. Cost: Free, registration required. info@ emmausspiritualitycenter.com; 281-241-9678.
SEPT. 24
SEPT.
28
SLAVIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL, noon to 6 p.m., Northside Columbus Club (607 E Whitney Dr., Houston). Annual Sts. Cyril and Methodius Slavic Heritage Festival features Czech, Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian culture with food, singing and dancing, vendors, and more.
BAZAAR, 10:30 a.m., Immaculate Conception (Sealy Columbus Club Hall, 1310 US Hwy 90 W, Sealy). Event includes live and silent auctions, country store, live music, dance (from 6 to 10 p.m.). Barbecue plates for $15 for dine-in, to-go and drive thru. icc-sealy.org.
FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., St. Jerome (2749 Hollister Rd., Houston). 60th annual fall festival includes live music, food, games and raffle. Free entry. stjeromehou.org/fall-festival.
SEPT. 29
GOLF TOURNAMENT, 8 a.m., Tour 18 Golf Course (3102 FM 1960 E, Humble). 17th annual golf tournament benefits St. Monica Food Pantry. Cost: Individual Player, $150; four-person team, $600; Single Hole Sponsor, $150; Renewing Hole Sponsor, $125. 713-412-7019; vshannon@ sbcglobal.net; petriceparker@gmail.com; Register: stmonicafoodpantry.com/golf.
OCT. 1
ADORATION HOUR, 7 to 8 p.m., Sacred Heart (507 S 4th St., Richmond). First Wednesday Adoration Hour prays for vocations. Confession and Anointing of the Sick available.
OCT. 2
DINNER, 6:30 p.m., University of St. Thomas (3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston). The Nesti Center for Faith and Culture Faithful Citizenship Dinner honors the Archdiocese, welcomes Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez, and supports program scholarships, studies abroad in Rome, public lectures and vital center research. Register: rebrand.ly/CFCdinner25.
Red Mass
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart – 6:15 p.m.
Archbishop Joe Vásquez, Main Celebrant and Homilist
Optional Dinner Following Mass
Cathedral Centre – 7:30 p.m.
Dinner Speakers: Archbishop Joe Vásquez and Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Dinner tickets on sale soon at archgh.org/redmass
MASS & LUNCHEON, 10:30 a.m., Ursuline Chapel (1525 25th St., Galveston). Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria celebrates annual Seafarer’s Mass followed by a luncheon and cake auction benefiting the Galveston Seafarers Center. Tour of Seafarers Center follows auction. Cost: $30. Bus transportation is available from St. Bernadette Parish. Register by Sept. 16: barbvisser53@gmail.com.
SEPT. 27-28
BAZAAR, Saturday, 2 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Philip Neri (10960 MLK Blvd., Houston). Saturday includes Bingo, line dancing with DJ DatDude and food. Sunday includes barbecue, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws from 5 to 8 p.m. Free entry. 713-734-0302; officespn@ yahoo.com.
BAZAAR, Saturday, 11 a.m., Sunday, 10 a.m., St. Christopher (8150 Park Place Blvd., Houston). Event includes American and International foods and drinks — African, Mexican, Salvadorian, Vietnamese — raffle, music and games. Free entry. stchristopherhouston.org.
OCT. 2-5
WOMEN'S RETREAT, St. Rose of Lima (3600 Brinkman St., Houston). Three-day, three-night St. Rose of Lima ACTS retreat offers women time to deepen and renew a relationship with Jesus Christ and give new meaning to a prayer life. Retreat includes Sunday Liturgy. Cost: $275, financial assistance available. parishinfo@ stroselima.org; stroselima.org/acts.
OCT. 3
GALA, 6 p.m., Prince of Peace (19222 TX-249, Houston). Themed “Hometown Chicago,” event includes silent auction and raffle. Cost: $150. pophouston.org/groups/galaandgolf.
OCT. 3-5
WOMEN’S RETREAT, Friday, 4 p.m., Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center (430 Bunker Hill Rd., Houston). Cost: Adults 18 and up - $265; Seniors 65 and up - $250. 713-464-0211 Ext: 10; registrar. holyname@passionist.org.
RETROUVAILLE, Friday, 7 p.m., to Sunday, 4 p.m. Retrouvaille is a peer ministry for couples
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Priests Ordained in 2025
Thank You, Galveston-Houston Knights of Columbus! We joyfully celebrate the extraordinary generosity of our Galveston-Houston area Knights of Columbus councils who participated in the 2024–2025 RSVP (Refund Support Vocations Program). Through RSVP, the Knights provide vital support to our local seminarians—the future priests of our Church.
This year was record-breaking once again, with contributions exceeding $153,000.
#13357 St. Cecilia #6456 Sacred Heart, Conroe
#10872 Christ the Good Shepherd, Spring #6403 Sacred Heart, Manvel and St. John the Baptist, Alvin #11866 St. Matthias, Magnolia #11472 St. Anne, Tomball #6878 St. Mary Magdelene, Humble #11343 St. Laurence, Sugar Land #10390 St. Vincent de Paul #8771 Christ the Redeemer #6527 St. John Vianney #8960 St. Helen, Pearland #12327 St. Anthony of Padua, The Woodlands #9310 St. Mary of the Expectation, League City #4204 St. Theresa, Sugar Land #4550 St. Jerome, Houston #5921 St. Joseph, New Waverly #3217 Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson #6557 St. James the Apostle, Spring #8482 Prince of Peace #2917 Bishop Odin Council #9759 Epiphany of the Lord, Katy #3793 Guardian Angel, Wallis #10224 Immaculate Conception, Industry #10393 Our Lady of Lourdes, Santa Fe #8024 St Cyril of Alexandria #7206 St. John the Evangelist, Baytown #4577 Regina Caeli #8096 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton #3910 St Thomas More #14617 St. Angela Merici, Missouri City #13166 St. John of the Cross, New Caney #12320 St. Martha, Kingwood #12748 All Saints #2801 Holy Rosary, Rosenberg #9817 St. Anthony de Padua, Danbury #10959 St. Bernadette #9708 St. Clare of Assisi #14512 St. Edward, Spring #10861 St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spring #14700 St. Michael the Archangel, Houston #17653 Sts. Simon & Jude, The Woodlands #7136 St. Matthew the Evangelist #12672 St. Katherine Drexel, Hempstead #8293 St. Justin Martyr #7067 St. Michael, Needville and Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Damon #803 Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart #12955 St. Edith Stein, Katy #11023 Holy Rosary, Houston #5232 St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, La Porte #6812 St. Michael the Archangel, Lake Jackson #9794 St. Philip the Apostle, Huffman #2187 Msgr Anton Frank Assembly #7382 St. Thomas Aquinas, Sugar Land
Fr. Carlos Velero Fr. Hubert Dao Fr. John Clark
MILESTONES
Parishes mark 35th, 40th anniversaries in faith
St. Clare looks to the next 35 years with groundbreaking CLEAR LAKE — Building on the vision established 35 years ago “to grow in community by reaching out to others, and to share our faith through prayer, communion, worship and fellowship,” St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clear Lake held a ceremonial groundbreaking Aug. 17 for expansion of its worship space and a new administration building.
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez presided over the Mass, groundbreaking and luncheon celebration of the parish’s 35th anniversary on Aug. 17. Pastor Father Vincent Vuong-Quoc Nguyen and former pastors Father Dominic Pistone and Father John H. Kappe concelebrated the Mass.
The parish was established on June 30, 1990, with parishioners worshiping in several interim spaces until the first phase of a master plan was completed in 1995 at 3131 El Dorado Blvd. in Houston.
Inspired by the 12th-century Basilica di Santa Chiara and San Damiano in Assisi, Italy, founding pastor Father Kappe took care to weave St. Clare’s heritage and charisms into the design of the building, as well as the parish’s ministries, Liturgies and Sacraments.
The St. Clare of Assisi School was founded
Archbishop Joe S.
is joined
the first pitch at an Aug. 29 Sugar Land Space Cowboys game as part of St. Laurence Parish’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
in the fall of 1995, and second phase of the parish’s master plan was completed in 2015 with a new Family Life Center and worship space updates.
Events commemorate St. Laurence’s 40th anniversary
SUGAR LAND — St. Laurence Catholic Church celebrated its 40th anniversary in August with a series of Liturgies, events and gatherings, honoring four decades of faith, family and service in the Archdiocese.
Ann Hellinghausen
Officials said the parish is now beginning the next phase of the master plan through a three-year “Legacy of Love: Serving the Mission” capital campaign, which will improve the sanctuary’s worship space to meet the pastoral and spiritual needs of the parish. A new administration and ministry building to serve the needs of staff and ministries will also be constructed. † – By Mary
Founded in 1985, St. Laurence now serves thousands of families in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County. The anniversary theme, “40 Days of 40 Years,” highlights the parish’s gratitude for its history and its ongoing commitment to evangelization and discipleship. The celebration
began Aug. 1 with a parish-wide Novena and continued throughout the month with activities, including a family fun day, distribution of rosaries, Masses, ministry showcases and even a night at Constellation Field on Aug. 29, where Father Reginald Samuels, pastor, threw out the first pitch. The parish choir sang the National Anthem before the game.
“For 40 years, St. Laurence has been a place where families grow in faith and discipleship,” Father Samuels said. “We celebrate the blessings of our past with deep gratitude, and we look to the future with renewed hope in God’s plan for our parish.” †
Sunday, September 28
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Northside Columbus Club 607 E. Whitney Dr., Houston, TX 77022
Northside Columbus Club, 607 E. Whitney Drive, Houston, Texas77022
Wear your Slavic costume and join in prayer at the traditional Slavic Catholic Liturgy (Mass) in the Roemer Hall (small hall)
10:30 a.m. – Wear your Slavic costume and join in prayer at the traditional Slavic Catholic Liturgy (Mass) in the Roemer Hall (small hall)
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Slavic Heritage Festival begins inside the Odin Hall (Large Hall) Come experience Croatian, Czech, Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian music and dancing!
Featuring the famous and talented Chris Rybak and band!
12 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Slavic Heritage Festival begins inside the Odin Hall (Large Hall)
Come experience Croatian, Czech, Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian music and dancing!
Kids Crafting Corner. Don’t miss out on the kolache eating contest! Plenty of free parking!
Admission: $5.00 / Kids 12 years and under are free
Featuring the famous and talented Chris Rybak and band!
Numerous craft vendors. Tasty Slavic food, delicious pastries, and lots of beer.
Kids Crafting Corner. Don’t miss out on the kolache eating contest!
Plenty of free parking. Admission: $5 / Kids 12 years and under are free.
This event is sponsored by the Slavic Alliance of Greater Houston
For more information visit us on the web: www.houstonslavicheritagefestival.com
This event is sponsored by the Slavic Alliance of Greater Houston Sunday,
PHOTO BY CARL LAWRENCE FOR ST. CLARE OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ST. LAURENCE PARISH
At left,
Vásquez
by Father Vincent Vuong-Quoc Nguyen, St. Clare of Assisi pastor, and former pastors, Father Dominic Pistone and Father John H. Kappe, and others in a groundbreaking on Aug. 27 to initiate the new expansion of the parish. At right, Father Reginald Samuels throws at
