SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
TOP STUDENTS, TOP MARKS
texas catholic herald
A LAITY-VOCATIONS FOCUS
A record 30 seniors at area Catholic high schools were named National Merit semifinalists
How are lay people essential to growing in vocations to the priesthood and religious life? ▪ SEE PAGE 14
▪ SEE PAGE 12
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
VOCATIONS
25 priests, religious sisters celebrate Jubilees with Cardinal DiNardo BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — A hometown priest and religious sister who served as a medical missionary in conflict-torn Yemen are among clergy and consecrated women celebrating their silver, golden, diamond and platinum jubilees on Oct. 9 with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. They will celebrate Mass together at 4 p.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, located at 9900 Stella Link Rd. in Houston. Hometown priest Father Paul Chovanec was ordained in 1972 by Bishop John L. Morkovsky, S.T.D., in his home parish of St. Peter the Apostle Church off Old Spanish Trail. Now pastor for the past 15 years at St. Justin Martyr parish, Father Chovanec credits his parents, Albert and Martha Chovanec, for creating a devout home and sending him to Catholic school. “I grew up in St. Peter the Apostle parish, staffed by the LaSalette Fathers, and I attended the parish school staffed by the Dominican Sisters,” Father Chovanec said. “I was an altar boy, and the idea of becoming a priest came to me quite naturally. I never wanted to be anything else.” Being of Czech heritage, the pastor has helped organize an annual project ongoing since 1999 of sponsoring transitional deacons from the Czech Republic studying to become priests to visit Texas. “All my ancestry is Czech. My ancestors came to Texas a hundred years ago and brought their Catholic faith with them. Traditional Czech Catholicism is part of who I am,” Father Chovanec explained. “I am glad to share the project of bringing Czech deacons to Texas so they can practice their English and share their youthful Czech faith with me and my parish. I’m on the board of the Czech Catholic Foundation of Texas, and bringing these deacons to Texas is one of our stated objectives,” he said. Father Chovanec said the Czech deacons “always rekindle” his joy in being a priest. “There’s something wonderful and inspiring about mature young men or See JUBILEE, page 6
1
VOL. 59, NO. 7
ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS JOSEPH A. FIORENZA
Archbishop Fiorenza’s legacy of faith, service was like no other
CNS PHOTO
Pope Benedict XVI greets Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza after bestowing the pallium on Archbishop Fiorenza during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on June 29, 2005.
HOUSTON — Archbishop a tireless worker in overcoming the Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, the presence of racism in our community. long-time bishop of Galveston- He was also known as a great promoter Houston and a tireless social justice of genuine renewal in the Church and advocate throughout his in making the teachings priesthood, episcopacy of the Second Vatican and in retirement, died ARCHBISHOP Council known,” said Sept. 19. He was 91. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, EMERITUS The Beaumont native Archbishop of Galvestonserved as bishop of the Houston. Cardinal DiNardo JOSEPH A. Diocese of Galvestonsucceeded Archbishop FIORENZA Houston from 1985 to 2006 Fiorenza as Archbishop and was made Archbishop of Galveston-Houston in in 2004 when the diocese 2006. was elevated to the status Ever committed to of Archdiocese by then-pope, St. John serving the people of GalvestonPaul II. Houston, Archbishop Fiorenza “Archbishop Fiorenza was known was a steadfast advocate for social to be a champion of civil rights and justice issues and a supporter of
THE FIRST WORD † 3
|
COLUMNISTS † 13 - 14
|
ESPAÑOL † 17 |
interfaith collaboration for positive social change across all social and economic borders. As a young priest, he had marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma; in 2020, he spoke at a panel discussion regarding race relations hosted by Interfaith Ministries. He was joined by fellow Houston faith and civil rights leaders Rev. William Lawson, Pastor Emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, and the late Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Karff of Congregation Beth Israel — the “Three Amigos.” “Archbishop was always attentive to the marginalized, to those in the periphery ... from the African
MILESTONES † 20
See FIORENZA, page 2