JULY 14, 2026 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
CALLED AND CHOSEN
Priests receive new appointments ▪ SEE PAGE 3
JULY 14, 2026
texas catholic herald 1
AN ASTROS-POPE LEO CONNECTION
‘EZINNA NDI IGBO’
Archbishop Vásquez receives warm welcome from Igbo Catholics ▪ SEE PAGE 8
Pope gifted last-out ball from 2005 World Series ▪ SEE PAGE 19
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
A CHURCH UNITED IN SPIRIT
VOL. 63, NO. 4
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
Celebrating America at 250 BY ARCHBISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ Archbishop of Galveston-Houston Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On July 4, 2026, our country celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone calls us to give thanks to God for this gift of our nation. This great nation was founded on a cry for freedom and liberty for all peoples. In honor of this occasion, I share the words of recent popes to reflect on the beauty of the United States as well as point to the areas that still need attention.
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
See SHEPHERD, page 2 OSV NEWS PHOTO BY SIMONE RISOLUTI/VATICAN MEDIA
The College of Cardinals gathers to concelebrate a Mass with Pope Leo XIV at the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on June 26, which opened an extraordinary consistory June 26 to 27. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, attended this extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal DiNardo: Texans can be confident in Pope Leo’s leadership of the Catholic Church VATICAN CITY — Texans can cardinals,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “The be confident that Pope Leo XIV is College of Cardinals now is drawn from leading the Catholic Church with both all over the world; it really is, so that you compassion and resolve, Daniel Cardinal get quite a point of view.” DiNardo said after participating in a Cardinals met in language-based June consistory at the Vatican. groups to discuss issues facing the “I think Texans can be Church, including completely assured that synodality and Pope Pope Leo is governing the Leo’s recent encyclical, BY JAMES RAMOS Church very, very well “Magnifica Humanitas.” Texas Catholic Herald with kindness, but with Participants then reported decisiveness when it’s their discussions back to necessary,” Cardinal DiNardo said. the larger assembly and the pope. The June gathering marked the second “There were some questions and extraordinary consistory called by Pope comments raised. We made some Leo in 2026 and brought together 178 comments, and then you report to the cardinals from every continent around whole group,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “It the world for two days of discussion and was good dialogue.” consultation. He said his English-language discussion group included Church GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES leaders from Canada, Nigeria, India “The point of the consistory, I think, See CONSISTORY, page 4 is the pope wants to hear from all the
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A NEW LEADER IN LAREDO
Archbishop Vásquez co-consecrates Bishop Gomez as new ordinary, bishop of Diocese of Laredo ▪ SEE PAGE 15
HONORING FAITH, HERITAGE
Texans join National Eucharistic Pilgrimage celebrating Catholic heritage, America’s 250th birthday ▪ SEE PAGE 18
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