DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
JOURNEYING TOGETHER
texas catholic herald
WELCOMING JESUS
Nearly 9,000 participated in Archdiocesan Synod efforts, according to report
How are we preparing for the coming of the Child Jesus together as a family? ▪ SEE PAGE 13
▪ SEE PAGE 9
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
DECEMBER 13, 2022
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
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VOL. 59, NO. 12
JESUS ‘COMES TO ILLUMINATE OUR DARKNESS’
Making a synodal Advent BY DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO Archbishop of Galveston-Houston Isaiah the Prophet looked from afar and saw the power of God coming. John the Baptist looked near and proclaimed that the “One Who is to Come” was about to appear. The Virgin Mary beheld within her the remarkable and beautiful power of God as she conceived by the Holy Spirit the A eternal Son of SHEPHERD’S God. Isaiah, John MESSAGE the Baptist, and the Virgin Mary: three heavenly partners that accompany us this Advent. They are special synodal persons who illumine a path for us to meet the Savior more deeply and to welcome Him without hesitations. The synodal way, according to Pope See SHEPHERD, page 2
CNS PHOTO
The Nativity scene and Christmas tree decorate St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 5. The nearly 100-foot tall white fir tree came from Rosello, a village in the mountains of Italy’s Abruzzo region. The nativity scene is made entirely of wood. Both will remain on display until January 8, 2023, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the end of the Christmas season.
MINISTRIES
1,000-plus dancers, supporters celebrate Houston’s 50th Virgen de Guadalupe festival BY JO ANN ZUÑIGA Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — Mercedes Juarez came to Houston 52 years ago, moving from Mexico to the newly built Galleria area while Post Oak was still mostly pastures. Only two Catholic churches in Houston offered Mass in Spanish then, so she had to take two city buses, transferring from downtown to another bus and traveling to the East End to attend Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Navigation and Jensen. “We as immigrants leave behind our mother, father, brothers and sisters, but we do not leave behind our faith,” Juarez said. She and her husband, Daniel Juarez, were among about 1,000 others celebrating the 50th anniversary See GUADALUPE, page 5
Christmas trees sprout memories, faith BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald BAYTOWN — Whether real or artificial, the Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of the Christmas season just like the Nativity scene. With Christmas just weeks away, most church sanctuaries feature the evergreen tree, some towering above the altar and others humbly sprucing up space nearby. Either way, in the busy rush of tree trimming, light decorating, trip planning, meal prepping and the general hectic pace of the holiday, it’s easy to forget that the Christmas tree has an important purpose of being a prominent fixture in every home. In Baytown, the Knights of Columbus Council 7206 has posted up at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and
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opened a Christmas tree lot for at least 20 years. This year the trees made a 35hour trek, shipped in from a tree farm in Bellevue, Washington in mid-November. The tree lot sits just off West Baker Road, on a corner of the parish grounds, where two bright white signs encourage passing drivers to “support charity - buy a tree.” On a recent Monday evening, what had started as a grove of 200 trees of different species — Noble, Douglas and spruce among them — all lined up in rows, had finally dwindled to a little more than a dozen. For at least 20 years, the council has sold Christmas trees at that spot, becoming a local tradition for parish families and community members, according to Eusebio Tijerina, grand knight of Council 7206. Each wintry-smelling tree sale helped the council raise funds for its charitable
EMBRACING ADVENT
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COLUMNISTS † 13 - 14
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ESPAÑOL † 17 |
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Eusebio Tijerina, at right, throws a football with his young relative, Hayes Derr, between trees in the Knights of Columbus Council 7206 Christmas Tree Lot at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Baytown.
efforts of supporting widows in the community, high school scholarships, seminarian support, the local pregnancy resource center, parish youth events and St. Joseph Catholic School in Baytown,
MILESTONES † 20
See TREES, page 4