News - March 2018 RSS Feed

Black mantillas, long capes, French looking berets all moving slowly down the church aisle. You see them at every diocesan celebration. You may have often wondered “Who are these people?” “Why are they wearing those strange garbs?” And, “What are they up to?” They are the Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and their presence is special reminder that God became man, lived taught, died and rose from the dead and that the sacred places where all that happened should be preserved.

The Diocese of Beaumont will welcome 178 people, including 57 catechumens and 121 candidates, into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil liturgies March 31. They will be among thousands of people that will be welcomed into dioceses across the country to celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Port Arthur gathered together for one last time March 28 to pray on their parish grounds in the El Vista area of the city. St. John Parish will be merging with Sacred Heart- St. Mary Parish on Easter Sunday.

March 28, 2018 WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Administrative Committee has issued the following statement today marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev.

“Today we celebrate the institution of the priesthood, the Eucharist and the sacraments to help us to minister to God’s people and his presence,” said Bishop Guillory, SVD, at the annual Chrism Mass celebrated March 27 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) —  Southeast Texas Catholics are being asked to support Christians in the Middle East, particularly those who are victims of violence and persecution. “Let us show them concretely our closeness, through our constant prayer and through our monetary aid,” said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.

He found freedom in Illinois after fleeing slavery in Missouri. He became an ordained priest in Rome after being rejected by seminaries in the United States. Father Augustus Tolton’s life is a story about perseverance against hardships and persecution that’s being presented in a professional Catholic theater production Tolton: From Slave to Priest at Lamar University March 26 at 7 p.m.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families and friends of all those affected by the package explosions which have taken place this month in Austin and San Antonio, the latest of which occurred early this morning.

“Nuestros pensamientos y oraciones están con las víctimas, así como con las familias y amigos de todos los afectados por las explosiones de varios paquetes que han tenido lugar este mes en Austin y San Antonio, el último de los cuales ocurrió temprano esta mañana.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, blessed the food of the St. Joseph’s Altar at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica’s St. Joseph’s Day Spaghetti Lunch March 16 at the Cathedral Center. The meals featured pasta Milanese, Courville’s fried fish, Italian vegetables, bread and dessert.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, celebrated White Mass with doctors, nurses and healthcare providers at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica March 11. The Mass, which also included Anointing of the Sick, honored and recognized the medical community.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero. At a meeting March 6 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Pope Francis signed decrees for the causes of 13 men and women — among them a pope, an archbishop, two young laywomen and a number of priests and nuns.

WASHINGTON–Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, chair of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty urge the faithful to flood Congress with emails and calls asking for enactment of the Conscience Protection Act as part of the 2018 funding bill and to pray for this outcome.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, celebrated Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Beaumont March 1 recognizing the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel and her commitment to helping Native Americans and African Americans.