News - December 2016 RSS Feed

VATICAN CITY (CNS) –While exchanging gifts for Christmas is a beautiful tradition, Pope Francis said, do not forget the one and only real gift people will ever receive is God’s gift to humanity — his son, Jesus Christ.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The birth of Christ is a reminder for Christians to take a moment and reflect on the hope of salvation given by God to the world, Pope Francis said. Those who are humble and poor like the shepherds come to realize the promise of hope that comes from trusting God and not from “their own securities, especially material goods,” the pope said Dec. 21 during his weekly general audience.

“The main goal of our Stewardship is to create a beautiful family of English-speaking and Spanish- speaking people,” said Father Urbano Sáenz Ramirez, O.S.A., pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Port Arthur.

“The scriptures are the human being’s operations manual,” said Joe V. Tortorice Jr., founder of Jason’s Deli, while describing how his faith and servant leadership has resulted in the company now celebrating its 40th anniversary.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — In his message for Christmas, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, encouraged Catholics to visit the manger this Christmas and reflect on how to give of themselves in the New Year.

“Two years ago we had 45 first communicants. We actually had to do two separate Masses,” David Workman said while describing the need for more space at Holy Trinity Church in Mont Belvieu. And he should know, he teaches religious education to students who are making their first Eucharist.

“Houston traffic was causing my anxiety and panic attacks” said Penny Shaw (pseudonym.) “I was a small town girl who went from a town of 75,000 people to one with 4 million people.” Shaw was working in a stressful position as a journalist with deadlines always looming.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Make time to get ready for what Christmas really is about — the child born in Bethlehem signaling that “God is with us,” Pope Francis said. “This week let’s make sure we try to find some time to stop, be quiet and imagine Our Lady and St. Joseph who are going to Bethlehem,” he said after greeting people gathered in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 18 for the Sunday Angelus.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis gave a group of children some homework to do over the holidays — to listen to their grandparents, ask them questions and tell them about their own dreams. “They remember history, have life experience and, for you, this will be a great gift that will help you in your journey,” he told hundreds of Italian children Dec. 19.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Roger P. Morin of Biloxi, Mississippi, and has named as his successor Msgr. Louis F. Kihneman III, who is vicar general of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has named Bishop Edward J. Burns of Juneau, Alaska, to be bishop of Dallas, succeeding now-Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, who headed the Dallas Diocese until he was named in August to be the first prefect of the new Vatican office for laity, family and life.

Las Mañanitas and Mariachi at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Port Arthur on Dec. 12. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Parishioners brought the Baby Jesus from their nativity scenes to be blessed at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica on Dec. 11. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Cabalgata Guadalupana on Dec. 11, from St. Anne in Eastgate to St. Joseph the Worker in Dayton. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

A  Faithful Citizenship prayer service was held Dec. 7 at Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, stressed the need to listen to those with other viewpoints. “Compromise has been lost.

“This tradition started in Austin, Texas, in 1991,” said Wanda Grimes, volunteer advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, as she began the Crime Victims Tree of Angels trimming and lighting. The trimming and lighting at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Dec. 6 honored those who have lost loved ones to crime and those who have been changed by a crime.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has launched a beta version of its website in English and has included its template for local guidelines on preventing sexual abuse, resources for a day of prayer for the victims and survivors as well as a mailing address to contact commission members.

MCALLEN, Texas (CNS) — Blessing the ground for a new respite center in McAllen is a sign of the Catholic Church’s commitment to be available and helpful to immigrant families, who “are enduring many, many tragic situations in their lives,” said Brownsville Bishop Daniel E. Flores.