January 5, 2007
The historical and spiritual roots of Southeast Texas will be celebrated this Sunday, January 7, 2007, during a special Mass at the historic St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont. All those who have been baptized or confirmed at the Cathedral are being asked to participate in the Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, at 10:00am on the Feast of the Epiphany.
"Weeks of research have been spent identifying frontier families who were baptized or confirmed and whose records are housed at the basilica," said Father Jerry McGrath, rector of the Cathedral. "This event celebrates the roots of our faith. Our baptismal records go back before there was even a church building here -- back to 1851."
Father McGrath said that when Catholics first came to Southeast Texas, priests had to come from Annunciation Parish in Houston to baptize the people of the community. The roots of St. Anthony's reach back before the Civil War, and the incorporation of the city of Beaumont in 1881. St. Anthony's has played an important role in the spiritual development and the history of the area, becoming a Cathedral in 1966 when the Diocese of Beaumont was established, and a minor basilica this past year.
The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the day the Three Kings or Magi found the Christ Child. St. Anthony's is marking this special feast by celebrating the first time that many of the faithful experienced Christ presence, through baptism.
"Baptism is the sacramental entrance into the very life of Jesus Christ and the saving grace of the faith we share as Church," Father McGrath said.
All are invited to attend Sunday's Pontifical Mass, which is part of the diocese's celebration of a Jubilee Year, which began in September of 2006 and ends in October of this year. The Jubilee Year marks several major events for Southeast Texas Catholics.
"St. Anthony's is God's sacred house of prayer for all peoples. We want to emphasize that during this Jubilee Year by making sure that all know they are welcome at this event," Father McGrath said.