2025: A Year in Review

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez bangs a gavel against the front doors of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at the beginning of his Installation Mass in March. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

HOUSTON — As 2025 comes to a close, we look back at the stories that made 2025 an intense, gripping and exciting year full of endings and new beginnings for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Catholic faithful around the world.

Here are the stories that made 2025 historic and unforgettable.

Pope Leo XIV presents the pallium to Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez of Galveston-Houston during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29, 2025, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The pallium symbolizes the archbishop’s authority and unity with the pope. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Cardinal DiNardo retires, Archbishop Vásquez takes the lead of Galveston-Houston

At the end of January, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and named as his successor then-Bishop Vásquez of Austin, becoming the next chief spiritual shepherd to the more than two million Catholics in the Archdiocese.
Archbishop Vásquez was installed on March 25 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. 

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Austin on Jan. 26, 2010. Before his appointment to Austin, the newly named archbishop was an auxiliary of the Archdiocese he now heads. 

He was named auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston on Nov. 30, 2001, by St. John Paul II and ordained early the following year. At the time of his episcopal ordination, he was the youngest bishop in the U.S. Archbishop Vásquez received his pallium from Pope Leo XIV on the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, blesses the coffin as he leads the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 26, 2025. (OSV News photo/Vatican Media)

The loss of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on Feb. 14 after his bronchitis worsened into a serious respiratory infection. By Feb. 18, he had developed pneumonia and suffered a bronchial spasm that caused a dangerous breathing crisis. He spent 38 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. After showing signs of improvement, he returned to the Vatican on March 23. While Pope Francis did not celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza as in years past because he was still recovering, he delegated it to Angelo Cardinal Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

But after the Mass ended, Pope Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica at the square for more than 20 minutes to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of attendees, in what would be his final public appearance. After the blessing, the Pope was driven around the square. As he passed through the crowds, his procession paused a number of times as babies were brought over for him to bless. 

On the morning of April 21, he died from a cerebral stroke, coma and irreversible heart failure, according to the Vatican.

Father Jonathan Moré, pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Houston, confirms a young adult during Easter Vigil Mass April 19. St. Jerome saw the largest group of candidates and catechumens join the Church in 2025, among the largest group total in Archdiocesan history.

Archdiocese welcomes largest group of candidates, catechumens in Archdiocesan history

Both urban and rural parishes continued to nurture faith as the Archdiocese welcomed its largest group of candidates and catechumens in history, with 2,669 individuals from 114 parishes this Easter. 

St. Martin de Porres in Barrett Station received its first group of elect since 2004 after restarting its OCIA program, welcoming 16 new members. Among them was recent college graduate Daria Hall, inspired by her mother’s return to the Catholic Church and seeking spiritual growth as she entered the professional world. 

Another new Catholic, Sean Williams Jr., had attended Mass with his Catholic wife for years before discerning he was ready to join; he now looks forward to receiving the Eucharist and serving his parish.

St. Jerome Parish in Houston welcomed the largest single group, which saw 97 catechumens and three candidates join the Church at Easter, many of them young children and teenagers.

Other new Catholics said they found peace at their first Masses, feeling guided by parishes’ warm welcomes and that marriage helped draw them to the unity of the faith and tradition. 

Cardinal DiNardo was among the 133 cardinal-electors to process into the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to begin the conclave to elect a new pope May 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Cardinal DiNardo returns to the Conclave, first pope born in the U.S. is elected

After the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal DiNardo returned to Rome in April as one of only 10 U.S. cardinal-electors eligible to vote in the papal conclave. After four rounds of ballots in two days, the conclave on May 8 elected Robert Cardinal Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian priest who was elevated to cardinal in 2023 and was serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

The first pope from the U.S. took the name Pope Leo XIV. At a May 9 press conference, Cardinal DiNardo and other U.S. cardinals emphasized that his nationality was secondary. What mattered, Cardinal DiNardo said, was his missionary background, humility and global experience — making him “a citizen of the world.” 

Archbishop Vásquez ordained three priests in June.

Three new priests, 40 permanent deacons ordained

On Feb. 14 and 15, 40 men from 30 churches were ordained permanent deacons in the Archdiocese by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, committing to lifelong service in Word, Liturgy and charity, strengthening parish ministries and outreach.

On June 7, Archbishop Vásquez ordained Father John Clark, Father Hubert Hai Dao and Father Carlos Velero Mendoza to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

In his homily, Archbishop Vásquez encouraged the newly ordained priests and said, “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve and save what was lost.” He also asked them to stay close to the Blessed Mary, the Mother of God. “She still has the best words for a priest: ‘Do whatever He tells you,’” he said. 

Concelebrated by Bishop Dell’Oro, the Mass also saw Cardinal DiNardo attend in choir. 
In July, they began their priestly ministry: Father Clark serves as parochial vicar at St. Faustina Parish in Fulshear; Father Dao was assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Parish as parochial vicar; and Father Mendoza is parochial vicar at St. Martha Parish in Kingwood. 

Crosses hang on a wall marked by the flood water at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, July 7, 2025, in the aftermath of deadly flooding. Flash floods in Texas killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, including girls attending a summer camp, and left others still missing. (OSV News photo/Sergio Flores, Reuters)

July 4 floods devastate Central Texas, local communities

After catastrophic flash floods swept through Kerrville, Hunt and Ingram on July 4, Texans and people across the nation mourned the 135 lives lost. Sudden heavy rainfall created 26-foot walls of water within 45 minutes, destroying homes, camps and vehicles along the Guadalupe River. Many victims were vacationers, including more than 25 children and two teenaged counselors at a Christian summer camp. 

Catholic parishes and schools across Galveston-Houston and beyond grieved several young students from Houston, many of whom had recently received their First Communion. News of the growing death toll spread from Texas to the Vatican, touching families everywhere

Funeral Masses in Houston emphasized hope in Christ amid profound sorrow. Communities honored the children with bright colors, processions and heartfelt remembrance, even as classmates struggled to understand the loss. Counselors and clergy reminded mourners that faith offers comfort and honest sorrow, prayer and the Church’s Sacraments can help transform pain and give meaning to suffering, uniting the living with those who have died.