OCTOBER 25, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
READY TO RUN
texas catholic herald
A ‘RUFF’ LIFE
Registration open for annual Steps for Students 5K race
Catholic schools, parishes host pet blessings for St. Francis of Assisi’s feast ▪ SEE PAGE 10
▪ SEE PAGE 5
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
OCTOBER 25, 2022
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VOL. 59, NO. 9
‘RELICS DIRECT US TOWARDS GOD’
PRAYER
Simple steps with the Rosary bring serious spirituality HOUSTON — With October being a month dedicated to the Mother of God and the Rosary, these last few weeks before Advent offer a special opportunity to spend some time with the Blessed Mother. The idea of praying the LIVING Rosary might A LIFE OF be daunting for some, but Father PRAYER Lawrence Lew, OP, the general promoter of the Rosary for the Dominican Order, said it doesn’t have to be. In Houston for Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Midtown’s celebration of the Oct. 7 feast of the Holy Rosary, Father Lew shared a handful of tips to keep the Rosary close at hand. “Begin praying the Rosary slowly,” See ROSARY, page 7
MINISTRIES
Now is the time to act to protect the planet, advocates say BY ANNETTE BAIRD Herald Correspondent HOUSTON — Scientists and local leaders at recent Archdiocesan conference on environmental issues said the Church must do more to heed the call of Pope Francis’s environmental encyclical “Laudato Si’” to mitigate and prevent the dire consequences to human life stemming from climate change caused by human activity. Quoting the encyclical, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo opened the event by emphasizing that the call to action and solidarity by all to be responsible for the care of “God’s handiwork is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” More than 100 people attended the “Faith in Action for Our Common Home” conference held at St. Dominic Center See LAUDATO SI’, page 6
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
A first-class relic of St. Philip the Apostle is seen at St. Philip Catholic Church in Huffman. St. Philip will be one of the 150 saints featured in an upcoming tour exhibiting relics.
From Agnes to Zélie, relics of 150-plus saints to tour Archdiocese Make ‘Ordinary Time’ a little less ordinary by visiting this upcoming relic exhibit BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Josephine was a former slave who endured being trafficked and still found freedom in God’s love. Carlo was a teenager who played video games and developed websites to evangelize the Internet, even in the face of leukemia. Catherine survived a plague and rejected her family’s calls for marriage and devoted herself to God and called others to do the same. Paul was a Japanese Jesuit who preached the Gospel in his homeland and was martyred. Zélie was a loving mother, and her faith helped inspire her daughter Thérèse to, quite literally, become a saint.
THE FIRST WORD † 3
ALL SAINTS DAY
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These are the extremely brief stories of saints St. Josephine Bhakita, Blessed Carlo Acutis, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Paul Miki and St. Zélie Martin, who will be among the more than 150 saints whose relics are set to visit the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston Oct. 30 through Nov. 12 as part of the “Treasures of the Church” exhibit right in time for All Saints Day. The exhibition, which has traveled the nation, features a multimedia presentation on the Church’s history of relics and the chance to visit and venerate the many relics. How does one venerate a relic? Some might kiss or touch the reliquary containing the relic, while others might stand or kneel prayerfully near or in front of the relic, perhaps making the
COLUMNISTS † 13 - 14
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ESPAÑOL † 17 |
CNS PHOTO
A reliquary containing a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis and his photo are seen in a chapel. The Italian teen will be among the 150-plus saints featured in the upcoming “Treasures of the Church” exhibit set to visit 13 parishes.
Sign of the Cross in silent prayer. While the idea of relics can be a bit unnerving for some — fleeting images of dark catacombs and tunnels might
MILESTONES † 20
See SAINTS, page 4