APRIL 8, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
texas catholic herald 1
A JUBILEE OF FAITH
A POLISH EASTER
What is it like to walk through the Jubilee Holy Doors in Rome?
Polish Catholics around Houston prepare for Easter ▪ SEE PAGE 7
▪ SEE PAGE 13
Celebrating 60 years of Catholic news in Texas APRIL 8, 2025
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
‘A SIGN OF CHRIST’S LOVING PRESENCE AMONG YOU’
VOL. 61, NO. 20
MINISTRY
Rite of Election Liturgies see record numbers BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — An important part of Lent leading up to Easter is the election of catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates studying in formation to be welcomed into the Church in full initiation as new Catholics. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, celebrated the Rite of Election for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church See RITE, page 4
FAITH ALIVE
The Stations of the Cross help us make sense of suffering PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez smiles as he blesses the congregation during his installation Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston March 25, the feast of the Annunciation. Formerly the head of the Diocese of Austin, Archbishop Vásquez is the ninth bishop and third archbishop to lead the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
entrust myself to St. Joseph to help me shepherd you. Pray for me that, despite my unworthiness, I may be faithful to the great trust that has been handed on to me.” He added, “Pray that I may become like Jesus Christ, the good shepherd and great high priest, the teacher and servant of all, and so become more and more a sign of Christ’s loving presence among you.” Thousands of the faithful from Texas and beyond gathered for the Mass.
HOUSTON (OSV News) — Christians know the life of a disciple will not be easy. Christ did not mince words about this — telling His disciples they must take on life’s sufferings as in the form of capital punishment that would later be used to take His life: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23). How do Christians make sense of the crosses they bear? The question of why suffering exists finds its answer in Christ’s transformation of suffering through love. Christ’s cross makes sense of
See ARCHBISHOP, page 10
See STATIONS, page 5
‘WITH ALL MY HEART’ Installed as Houston’s third Archbishop, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez promises to serve all BY JAMES RAMOS Texas Catholic Herald HOUSTON — The new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston pledged March 25 to serve his new flock “with all my heart.” “Together, we will move forward, following our Savior, who leads, protects and watches over this local
Church,” Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez shared in his heartfelt homily, partly delivered in Spanish, at his installation Mass on the feast of the Annunciation at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. “Mary has accompanied me in my vocation, and I trust that she will be with me throughout these years as I continue to lead you,” he said. “I also
A SHEPEHRD’S MESSAGE † 2
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BY MICHAEL R. HEINLEIN Special to the Herald
COLUMNISTS † 12 - 14
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ESPAÑOL † 17
EMBRACING LENT
| AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE † 19