News - March 2016 RSS Feed

By Aida Bustos Catholic News Service SAN DIEGO (CNS) — The health of the nation’s Catholic schools is mixed, their leaders announced March 29, noting that they served nearly 24,000 fewer students than last year although 14 new schools opened across the country.

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The hope of Easter is not a static hope but “a living and breathing hope,” President Barack Obama told religious leaders gathered at the White House March 30.

By Katie Scott Catholic News Service ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — Susan Pawlukiewicz traveled to Poland three years ago bearing immense grief over the recent loss of her mother. About seven weeks later, she returned to the United States with a sense of peace and gratitude — and a duffel bag filled with 35 rolled-up prints.

For flood victims who need help, the Red Cross and a number of community partners including Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas are continuing to work with the flood victims with new Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) opening in Newton, Orange and Jasper County.

For flood victims who need help, the Red Cross and a number of community partners including Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas will be opening 3 fixed and 1 mobile Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) that began Tuesday, March 22.

Parishioners from across Southeast Texas packed St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, March 22 for the Chrism Mass. Priests from throughout the diocese joined Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, as he consecrated the Sacred Chrism and blessed the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens.

The Disaster Response Program at Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas is assessing needs in response to the recent flooding that took place throughout Southeast Texas. Catholic Charities will be visiting the affected areas until Monday, March 28 (except for Easter Sunday) to assess the needs of the families.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper with young refugees in Castelnuovo di Porto, about 15 miles north of Rome.

In the recent flooding that hit Southeast Texas, only one parish received any damages. St. Francis of Assisi in Buna had about two inches of water enter the church and hall, but no Masses had to be rescheduled.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis, condemning the “blind violence” of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, offered his prayers to the victims, the injured, their families and all those offering assistance in the aftermath of the bombings.

Hundreds of people gathered at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, March 18 for the annual celebration of the St. Joseph Altar. The day included the procession with the Holy Family and blessing of the altar.

The first day of spring brought sunshine and cool weather on Palm Sunday. Sacred Heart Church in Port Arthur began Mass with a blessing of the palms and a procession through the neighborhood. Missionary of St. Paul Father Sampson Etim, pastor of Sacred Heart-St. Mary Church, described in his homily that Palm Sunday initiates the Holy Week which leads to the celebration of the Risen Lord on Easter.

Las familias de todas partes de la Diócesis de Beaumont se reunieron en la Conferencia Anual de la Familia Hispana 19 de marzo, organizada por el Ministerio Hispano. Adultos asistieron a talleres en el Centro Cívico de Beaumont, mientras que los niños disfrutaron de las actividades en el Museo de Arte del sureste de Texas, el Museo de Texas Energía, el Teatro Jefferson, el Teatro Julie Rogers, la Biblioteca Pública de Beaumont, la Biblioteca Histórica Tyrrell y el Departamento de Policía de Beaumont.

Families from all across the Diocese of Beaumont gathered at the annual Hispanic Family Conference March 19, hosted by the Hispanic Ministry. Adults attended workshops at the Beaumont Civic Center while the kids enjoyed activities at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Texas Energy Museum, the Jefferson Theatre, the Julie Rogers Theater, the Beaumont Public Library, the Tyrrell Historical Library and the Beaumont Police Department.

While students are enjoying their spring break, Catholic school officials are taking advantage of the empty school to repair the water damage sustained Jan. 14 in the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School offices and foyer after a faucet was left running in the janitor’s closet upstairs.

The Disaster Response Program at Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas is assessing needs in response to the current flooding going on throughout Southeast Texas, especially in Newton and Orange Counties.

Though the rains ended days ago, the effects are continuing from last week’s torrential rains. The photos below show the St. Joseph Abbey campus in Covington, La. The seminary school experienced flooding last week and classes were cancelled until Monday, March 21.

JACKSON, Miss. (CNS) — Retired Bishop William R. Houck of Jackson, who led the diocese from 1984 to 2003 and in recent years had served as president of Catholic Extension, died March 9 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of Metuchen, New Jersey, and named as his successor Msgr. James Checchio, a priest of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey.

The 14 th annual St. Katharine Drexel Health Fair drew in hundreds of families from “The Avenues” neighborhood in Beaumont to King Middle School. Free health screenings were given and booths were set up from various outreach programs for information.