News - April 2019 RSS Feed

Throughout the diocese, parish communities gathered to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ

Parishioners celebrated Mass with Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, to dedicate the new Holy Trinity Church building April 28 in Mont Belvieu. The new church is the result of an expansion project to accommodate the growth of the faith community in the Mont Belvieu area.

St. Mary Catholic School, Orange, celebrated its annual Spring Festival April 27-28. Proceeds from the weekend of games, food and entertainment will benefit the school’s scholarship fund and other commitments.

St. Catherine of Siena, Port Arthur, held its Feast Day Mass April 28 in honor of its patron saint. Parishioners and a statue of St. Catherine were part of the procession that led from St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School to the church to begin Mass.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The scales of justice cannot solve everything, especially when it comes to stopping a cycle of evil vengeance, Pope Francis said. “Evil knows revenge and if it is not halted, it risks spreading, suffocating the whole world,” he said April 24 during his weekly general audience.

The Jasper community rallied for a community prayer vigil, coinciding with the execution of John William King for the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. The vigil was led by local religious leaders, including Father Ron Foshage, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Jasper and Pastor Gary Marshall, president of the local ministerial alliance.

On April 24, 2019 Bishop Curtis Guillory, S.V.D  shared with the faithful of the diocese the names of two  additional members of the clergy  against whom credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minors have been made.

The Passion Play was performed by third- and fourth-grade students at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School April 18. “It’s a wonderful experience for our students because you’re walking in the footsteps of Christ,” said Felicia Runnels, Principal of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, consecrated the Sacred Chrism and blessed the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens at the Chrism Mass April 16 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica. These oils will be sent to all parishes, missions, and hospital and prisonchaplains to be used throughout the year.

Our Mother of Mercy, Beaumont, held its first Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, April 14 at the parish hall and park. Children had the opportunity to not only participate in the hunt, but to take their picture with a special guest, the Easter Bunny, and play other games.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Everyone is “in debt” to God, who offers his infinite love and graces for free, Pope Francis said. “We have received so much: our existence, a father and a mother, friendships, the wonders of creation,” the pope said April 10 during his weekly general audience in a rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square.

On April 11, Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, honored educators and volunteers for their hard work within the schools of the diocese. “I am very impressed with the quality, dedication and care of our teachers and volunteers,” Bishop Guillory said during the Teacher’s Appreciation Dinner at the Elegante Hotel.

Victims of crime and people who’ve lost loved ones to crime met and supported each other at the Annual Crime Victims’ Candlelight Vigil April 11 at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Diocese of Beaumont is a member of the Jefferson County Coalition for Victims of Crime, which hosted the vigil.

Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas held its annual Breakfast with the Bishop April 6 at St. Anne, Beaumont. The event raised funds to help support programs of Catholic Charities. Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, and Father Martin Nelson received the Humanitarian Award in this year’s event.

AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the 23rd Annual Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest winners. This year, over 3,900 students entered their artwork.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While digital communications and social media can be used as a tool of evangelization and a place of dialogue with others, they also can be lonely environments where young people fall prey to humanity’s worst vices, Pope Francis wrote.

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The life of a young person and the vocation to which God calls each one is “holy ground” that pastors and parents must respect, nurture and encourage, Pope Francis wrote in a new apostolic exhortation.

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has named the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory as the new Archbishop of Washington. The appointment was publicized in Washington, DC, on April 4, 2019 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

“Catholic Social Teaching provides a great foundation,” said Sister Patricia Chappell, executive director of Pax Christi, USA. “It integrates the issue of being charitable toward to one another, a deeper understanding of what is justice and the root causes of injustices in the Catholic community.” Sister Chappell and Sister Anne-Louise Nadeau came to Southeast Texas and discussed the importance of Catholic social teachings at the Two Feet of Love workshop March 29 and 30.