News - April 2017 RSS Feed

For more than a decade, several ministries have benefitted from Catholic Home Missions. Across the country the annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal is the second collections at Masses on April 29-30.

La ley impactará negativamente a los migrantes en Texas AUSTIN — La Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Texas está decepcionada por el voto de la Cámara de Representantes de Texas para aprobar la iniciativa SB 4, que castiga a los oficiales de policía locales si no cooperan plenamente con las solicitudes de detención emitidas por el Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE).

Law will have negative impact on migrants in Texas AUSTIN — The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) is disappointed by the Texas House’s vote to pass SB 4, which will punish local police officers if they do not fully cooperate with detainer requests issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Dozens gathered April 26 for the ribbon cutting and blessing of the new Christus Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid County. The new 36,500-square-foot Christus Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid-County opens April 27 for patient care.

Police were called in the early morning hours April 26 and apprehended a man outside the office building/rectory of St. James, Port Arthur. Father David Edwards, pastor, said he was awakened by noise about 3 a.m. and a man yelling.

Parishioners at Our Mother of Mercy, Beaumont, had more to celebrate than Divine Mercy Sunday this past weekend. Their new pastor, Father Noel Effiong, MSP, was installed by Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD.

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will declare the sainthood of Blessed Jacinta Marto and Blessed Francisco Marto, two of the shepherd children who saw Mary in Fatima, Portugal, during his visit to the site of the apparitions May 13.

“By becoming part of our faith community not only are you enriched spiritually but you enrich each and every one of us, you enrich the local church,” said Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, DD, at the annual Chrism Mass that was celebrated April 11 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica.

“A bruised reed you did not break, and a smoldering wick you never quenched,” (Is. 42:1-7) ended the homily given by Father Michael Jamail at the Mass of Christian Burial April 10 for Msgr. Bennie Patillo.

In his homily for Palm Sunday, Father Ross Waggoner, parochial vicar at St. Anne, Beaumont, said, “We praise our risen savior, who has conquered not a city of stone, but death itself, which no longer has the last word.” Palm Sunday begins Holy Week – and the anticipation of the celebration of Easter.

Msgr. Bennie Patillo, beloved pastor and friend, died on April 5, 2017, at his home in Port Neches. He was 80. “The Diocese was truly blessed that God called Bennie to bring the Living Christ to people in word, in sacramentals and with his own God-given gifts of compassion, kindness, gentleness and humor,” said Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD.

Father Bennie Patillo, a native of Port Arthur, Texas, died on April 5, 2017, in Port Neches. He was 80. Services are pending. Father Bennie was one of the first priests ordained for the newly established Diocese of Beaumont.