News - December 2022

The Vatican shares this prayer prayer for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: Father, eternal shepherd, hear the prayers of your people for your servant Benedict, who governed your Church with love.

In accordance with Pope Benedict XVI's wishes, his funeral and moments of prayer surrounding it will be simple, according to the Vatican press office. The 95-year-old pope's body will stay at his private residence, where he passed away Dec. 31, until early Jan. 2, during which time "no official visits or public prayers are planned," the press office said in a statement Dec. 31.

It is with deep sadness and hope in the Resurrection that we mourn the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

We are called to take care of the most fragile and to also see the presence of Jesus in them, especially in the mission of welcoming and including persons with disabilities.

In Northern Italy, the rural Village of Lu had a population of about 1,200 people. The Sacraments were scarce as there was little accessibility to priests. A group of mothers decided to take action. Under the direction of their parish priests, mothers gathered together once a week to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament with their intentions, imploring the Lord for more priestly and religious vocations from their own families.

As we approach the calendar new year, I am reminded of how New Year’s Eve 2021 was filled with so much hope that our community, state, nation and world would rebound from the pandemic and become healthy and prosperous again. With 2023 approaching, one may be asking oneself: What will the new year bring? What do I want for the new year? What new year’s resolution will bring a positive change for myself and for my family?

One of the unique liturgical aspects of the Feast of the Nativity that we just celebrated is the fact that the Church has four distinct Masses for Christmas: The Vigil Mass, the Mass during the Night, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass during the Day. Each of these four has its own set of readings and prayers.

Scholars of Jewish-Christian relations are urging churches in the U.S. to “a national reckoning of the soul” amid what they are describing as “the greatest crisis of public antisemitism in a century” in the U.S.

Bringing Jesus’s message of love, forgiveness and hope to at-risk youth who are hurting, in despair and living in juvenile detention centers has been the mission of Special Youth Services (SYS) for over five decades. Approximately 3,000 youth and their families are currently served annually by SYS staff and volunteers -reminding them of God’s unconditional love and mercy and that it is ok to “just be kids.”

As 2022 began, many in the Archdiocese returned to their pre-pandemic lives — going back to church, their workplaces and their regular routines. The Archdiocese was anticipating the start of the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese, the 100th anniversary of the founding of San José Clinic, and the 50th anniversary of the diocesan Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration and the first permanent diaconate class ordained in Galveston-Houston.

A charism is a creative gift given by God to bring a human situation closer to His loving plan for humanity. Thus He inspired Henriette Delille to witness to God’s love in the service and promotion of the dignity of African Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1836 in New Orleans.

Both Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria thanked supporters for their donations and Christmas box gifts to seafarers away from home for months, including holidays.

As the holidays wind down with the coming of the new year, take some time to look back and recall cherished Christmas memories. If you haven’t had your fill of Christmas movies — maybe there really is a limit to how many times we can watch “A Christmas Story” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — consider sharing some of your favorite Christmas memories with loved ones at your next meal or over a favorite warm drink.

The cover of the winter issue of Catholic Extension’s magazine is a colorful patchwork of Christmas drawings by children from Ukraine and Uvalde, Texas. A poignant message printed by one of the children also has a place on the cover: “Dear Pope Francis, I need advice on how to make the world more safe for others.”

The Gospels speak even today. They show us a faith that grows from natural human wonder to the joy of discovering Christian faith, the face of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis said he wrote a resignation letter in 2013, his first year in office, to be used in case he became physically or mentally impaired and unable to fulfill the duties of the papacy.

With Christmas just weeks away, most church sanctuaries feature the evergreen tree, some towering above the altar and others humbly sprucing up space nearby.