News - April 2020 RSS Feed

The diocesan Criminal Justice Ministry is helping to provide the inmates with essential items that they’ll need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry will have a toiletry drive Friday, May 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 710 Archie St. in Beaumont , for indigent inmates in the local prisons that the ministry serves.

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced that the US bishops will join together on May 1 in renewing the consecration of the two nations to the care of the Blessed Mother Mary.

The parish family of St. Joseph in Livingston has found new ways to help its neighbors after several communities were devastated by a tornado that hit Polk County April 22. Since April 25, parishioners have been coming together to feed affected residents, first responders and other individuals.

The Diocese of Beaumont’s Campus Ministry has developed innovative ways to stay connected with Lamar University students during the pandemic.

Beloved Deacon Leonard Lockett passed away April 25 after a long illness will be greatly missed by many. A Port Arthur native, Deacon Lockett attended Sacred Heart High School, Port Arthur. After receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Pastoral Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, he went on to become a faculty member and worked with Campus Ministry at St. Thomas High School, Houston.

As federal and state officials consider plans to reopen, Bishop Curtis Guillory is meeting with Episcopal Vicars and members of the Presbyteral (priests) Council to discuss safe ways to resume worship in our churches.

Faithful stewards of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, aren’t letting COVID-19 slow down their work to feed the hungry. For over 20 years, parishioners and volunteers have been making sack lunches every Sunday morning at the St. Anthony Cathedral Center and delivering the lunches to those in need.

The Diocese of Beaumont’s Hispanic Ministry has relied on technology to stay connected with the Spanish-speaking community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Facebook, Jesus Abrego, Director of Hispanic Ministry, created a private page for Nueva Evangelization where members study in the Lectio Divina, a form of spiritual meditation, once a week.

Southeast Texas Catholics are working to help those affected by the tornado on the night of April 22.

Sister Lou Anne (Madeline) Hill, O.P., died on Saturday, April 18, at age 90. She was born in Greensboro, N.C., on April 25, 1929, to the late Arthur and Frances Leonard Hill. Sister Hill graduated from Beaumont High School in Beaumont in 1946 and entered the Dominican Sisters of Houston in 1947.

Need to make your day brighter? Read this! Youth Ministry has been sharing messages it has received with other ministries in the hope of gladdening their hearts. We’d like to pass these along to you.

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has appointed Father Robert W. Marshall, vicar general of the Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee, as the bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana. Bishop-designate Marshall, 60, also is pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis.

The Diocese of Beaumont’s Multi-Parish/School Accounting Department isn’t letting the COVID-19 pandemic interfere with its work. In fact, they haven’t missed a beat. “While we are trying to stay safe and engage in social distancing, we are able to complete all the services for the parishes and schools that we serve.” said Cathy Favre, Director of Multi-Parish/School Accounting.

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has agreed with a recommendation by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life to postpone by one year the next gatherings of the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day.

“Deacon Anthony Goudeau was a very dedicated servant of God’s people,” said Father Gus Wall, former pastor of St. Pius X, Beaumont.

By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Retired Pope Benedict XVI “is well,” although the coronavirus pandemic restrictions mean he will receive no visitors April 16, his 93rd birthday. “Thank God, all of us in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery are well,” Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the retired pope’s personal secretary, told Avvenire, the Italian Catholic newspaper.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, watching Mass online has become the new norm for many individuals, including the Easter Bunny. “Even the Easter bunny took time out to participate in Easter Sunday Mass at the Monastery,” said Brother Michael Gallagher, OSB.

COVID-19 is not slowing down the work of the Office of Worship.

The principal of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, Port Arthur, is now sporting a doctorate degree. Dr. Kimberly Renee Tolin completed her requirements to obtain her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership this April.

By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Fidelity and unity can be difficult to maintain in times of trial, Pope Francis said, but he prayed God would give Christians the grace to remain united and faithful.