News - September 2015 RSS Feed

Deacon Eddie Blankenstien died Sept. 27 after a long illness. He was 77. Deacon Blankenstein was born Oct. 18, 1937. A resident of Beaumont at the time of his passing, Blankenstein graduated from St. Mary Catholic High School in 1956.

We need to hope. We remember but we also hope and work for peace.

“I was very happy that Pope Francis was able to stand before the world community at the U.N. and speak about the importance of coming together as a global family to protect the weakest among us, to work for justice and work for equality as well as underscoring the necessity of taking care of our Mother Earth,” Jerome Cabeen, director of Family Life Ministry, said.

Family Life Director Jerome Cabeen talks with Shirley and Melvin Swoboda as they arrived at the convention center for the final day of the World Meeting of Families..

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis introduced himself to President Barack Obama and all people of the United States as a “son of an immigrant family” arriving in the United States for the first time to learn from others and to share from his own experience.

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis had much to say to the U.S. bishops during his remarks at a midday prayer service at St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington Sept. 23, the first full day of his U.S. apostolic journey.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The past, the promise and the potential of the United States must not be smothered by bickering and even hatred at a time when the U.S. people and indeed the world need a helping hand, Pope Francis told the U.S. Congress.

Jim and Jeanne Fennell of Beaumont arrived at the lawn of the Capitol early this morning. Jim Fennell also attended the canonization Mass Wednesday of now St. Junipero Serra. Jim Fennell said the Pope’s charism could be felt in the crowd.

Jim Fennell sent this photo … It’s the line to get thru security for the Mass at the Basilica.

We’ve gotten here and all set to get this wonderful week underway. We are so excited!

Eva and James Carter from Port Arthur and Jim Fennell from Beaumont are on their way to the canonization Mass for Father Serra.

Beaumonter Jim Fennell was watching CNN live broadcast of Pope Francis’s visit. He was planning to be leaving the hotel about 1:00 PM to travel to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The mood in Washington DC is absolutely electric!

By Catholic News Service JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (CNS) — Pope Francis arrived in the United States the late afternoon of Sept. 22 to begin his first apostolic journey as pontiff. His plane, an Alitalia jetliner, touched down at Joint Base Andrews near Washington at 3:51 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, nine minutes ahead of schedule.

We are in Philly and our Holy Father is heading to Washington. Looking forward to all that will be happening this week. What an exciting time! Waving at the people in Cuba.

Early morning travels got the local folks who are making a pilgrimage to Philly up and moving. Excited for the week they met at the airport and easily found each other in their Encounter Catholic shirts!

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service HOLGUIN, Cuba (CNS) — Celebrating the feast of St. Matthew, a day he considers a turning point in his own journey of faith, Pope Francis told thousands of Cubans that Jesus knows who they really are and calls them to walk with him.

By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service HOLGUIN, Cuba (CNS) — The scene would have been unimaginable a few years ago: A Catholic Mass in Holguin’s Revolution Plaza, where May Day parades and other patriotic events exalting the Cuban Revolution take place.

By Catholic News Service SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) — Two members of the Ohlone tribe in Northern California will play prominent roles in the Sept. 23 canonization Mass for Blessed Junipero Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan who founded nine California missions.

By Joseph McAleer Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — “All Francis, All the Time” could be the motto for media coverage of Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United States Sept. 22-27. Across network and cable television, satellite radio, the Web and social media, Catholics and the public at large will enjoy a feast of viewing and listening opportunities.

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Sept. 23 meeting between President Barack Obama and Pope Francis will likely continue the dialogue these two leaders began in a 2014 meeting at the Vatican and will likely lead to further action on ideas the two leaders share, said White House officials in a telephone briefing with reporters Sept. 17.