OCTOBER 14, 2025 • ARCHGH.ORG/TCH
HALLOWEEN: SAINTS AND COSTUMES
Four practical ways to live the Gospel this October ▪ SEE PAGE 10
OCTOBER 14, 2025
texas catholic herald 1
THÉRÈSE IN TEXAS
St. Thérèse relics to visit basilica in San Antonio for All Saints’ Day ▪ SEE PAGE 15
Proclaiming the Good News to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 1964
A SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE
VOL. 62, NO. 8
ALL YOU PETS, BLESS THE LORD!
World Mission Sunday brings light of Christ to the all the earth BY ARCHBISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ Archbishop of Galveston-Houston This year, we celebrate World Mission Sunday on Oct. 19, a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. It is a day when Catholics around the world unite in prayer and solidarity to support the missionary work of the Church. This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples,” is particularly moving because, even though it was chosen by Pope Francis, it reflects both the heart of our faith and the vision of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo spent most of his priestly ministry as a missionary in the remote See SHEPHERD, page 2
MINISTRY
Archbishop Vásquez installs new Austin bishop
PHOTO BY JAMES RAMOS/HERALD
Father Victor Perez, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parishes in Houston, blesses a German Shepherd dog during an annual pet blessing Liturgy at St. Joseph to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and God’s creation, with Bill Waters, a seminarian, assisting. Other parishes around the Archdiocese joined St. Joseph in welcoming pets of all shapes, species, breeds and sizes to celebrate the role that animal and pets play in God’s creation. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 5.
Growing together in faith, joy at Camp Kappe
Bishop Garcia served at Humble parish in the 90s
BY KERRY MCGUIRE Herald Correspondent
ROUND ROCK (OSV News) — Beaming with a massive smile, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez processed through St. William Parish in Round Rock, greeting many familiar faces as he presided over the Sept. 18 Mass when he installed Bishop Daniel E. Garcia as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Austin. It was in the same parish, where, more than 10 years ago, Bishop Garcia was ordained the first auxiliary bishop for the diocese he now leads. Six months after Archbishop Vásquez received his own crosier and sat upon the cathedra, the bishop’s chair, in Houston at his own installation as GalvestonHouston’s ordinary, he walked with Christopher Cardinal Pierre, the papal
DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND
PLANTERSVILLE — Away from the rush of school, work and busy schedules, Camp Kappe is a youth retreat facility and a sacred place where young people encounter Christ through nature, worship, prayer and the simple gift of being together. “Camp Kappe is a joyful place,” said Randy Adams, executive director. “We cry out for joy because our young people get to experience the warmth of Christ by seeing him in others and in creation.” Camp Kappe operates under the Archdiocese’s Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, which provides formation, resources and opportunities for youth and young adults to grow as disciples. Adams, who first came to Camp Kappe as a camper See KAPPE, page 6
See AUSTIN, page 3
THE FIRST WORD † 3
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COLUMNISTS † 10 - 12
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ESPAÑOL † 16
HERALD FILE PHOTO
A group of fifth-graders canoe at Camp Kappe’s School of Environmental Education during a four-day visit at the camp near St. Mary Parish in Plantersville in Grimes County.
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