AUGUST 16, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
DISCUSSING DOBBS Cardinal DiNardo and Julie Fritsch Dumalet explore the Dobbs effect
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Hundreds of young Catholics converged for the annual youth conference ▪ SEE PAGE 11
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AUGUST 16, 2022
texas catholic herald
AYC 2022
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
VOL. 59, NO. 5
STATE
THE WEEK THE RAINS CAME
Texas bishops call for immigration reform after shocking migrant deaths HOUSTON (CNS) — The Texas Catholic bishops urged immigration reform, saying it is necessary to prevent what happened to 53 migrants discovered dead and dying inside a trailer June 27 from happening again. Reminding others to reflect on the incident, they focused on defending the sacredness of every life. In a July 15 video, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio joined Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops, and reminded Catholics “to never forget the sacredness of all human life in light of all this.” Cardinal DiNardo recalled Pope Francis’ lament, the “throwaway culture” the pope warns against, which leads humanity to discard God’s creation, including people. “This senseless loss of life should shock See TEXAS, page 8
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
The processional crucifix is seen inside the sanctuary at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring on a recent summer afternoon. Five years ago, two priests entered the church to find chest-deep water flowing past the parish pews and surrounding the altar. The rushing water, brought on by Hurricane Harvey’s record-setting rainfall, knocked down the tall crucifix from its base, breaking it apart. SEE STORY ON PAGE 7.
Catholic schools return with new staff, focus on safety, student growth BY REBECCA TORRELLAS Texas Catholic Herald
the work that we do.” Haney said each school will decide its COVID-19 protocols, and HOUSTON — School is back in masks are optional. session for the 2022-2023 school year Reneé B. Nuñez, assistant for the 12 Catholic high superintendent of schools and 45 Catholic Academic Excellence, BACK TO primary schools in the said academic excellence Archdiocese. For the has not waivered over the SCHOOL first time in two years, years despite challenges COVID-19 protocols are that have arisen. not the focus of the new “Our graduates school year. continue to excel in Dr. Debra Haney, their chosen paths and superintendent of in service to the Church Catholic Schools, said, “I and mankind,” she said. am hopeful that we will all be able “As a former teacher, principal, and to serve our schools with greater now assistant superintendent, I am intensity now that the pandemic is always humbled by the dedication, not keeping us from being on our See SCHOOL, page 4 school campuses and intruding on
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PHOTO BY LESLIE BARRERA/OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT
Students at St. Christopher Catholic School make use of their digital board. Their first day of school was Monday, Aug. 15.
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ESPAÑOL † 17 - 18 |
MINISTRIES
Evangelization along the shores of Galveston-Houston reaches 183 years BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — Before the Catholic Church’s official ministry to the “People of the Sea” was established worldwide in 1920 by the Vatican, the earliest priests assigned to the crews on ships docked at the Port of Galveston began in 1839. Almost two centuries later, evangelization efforts remain along these shores as hundreds of thousands of seafarers from around the world visit the ports in the Archdiocese each year. “It is important for us to remember that 90% of the ‘things’ we have, came to us by sea,” said Deacon Jeff Willard, the newly hired chaplain of the Galveston Seafarers Center. “On any given day, there are somewhere around 1.4 million
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See SEAFARERS, page 9