The Texas Catholic Herald

January 13, 2015

Simbang Gabi tradition a hallmark of deep Filipino faith, communities

On the evening of Dec. 23, Betty Gounah probably passed at least 25 Catholic churches on her 62-mile journey from Galveston to Alief to attend Mass.

January 13, 2015

Catholic schools gear up to celebrate Catholic education

With a continuous theme of "Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," the 61 schools of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston are preparing to celebrate Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 25 – 31.

January 13, 2015

Helping incarcerated youth to choose to live in the light of God’s Word

Imagine not having a chance as a child or youth to hear God's word and his message of love, mercy and forgiveness, let alone ever experiencing them. For some, this may be the result of an unstable home life without proper physical and mental health care, food and nutrition, educational opportunities or religious or spiritual guidance. This can make living productive and faithful citizenship a challenge. Approximately 3,000 youth, ages 10 to 17, are currently serving time for various crimes at juvenile detention centers in Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties.

December 23, 2014

Revered educator, leader remembered

Bridget Reagins was in her second semester of her freshman year at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School in Houston when she was ready to call it quits. It was Father T.J. Martinez, SJ, the founding president of the school, who talked her out of leaving.

December 23, 2014

Honoring the past to ‘live the present with passion’

In a recent global message from Pope Francis when he declared this as the Year of Consecrated Life, the Holy Father said it's important to reflect on the origins and history of the Church, and to look to the past with gratitude for the gifts God has provided to the Church. He said grateful remembrance of the past leads us to implement ever more fully the essential aspects of our consecrated life and to "live the present with passion."

December 23, 2014

More than just a race, Steps For Students hits 10th milestone

Preparations continue for the upcoming Steps for Students 5K Run and the David K. Guite Memorial 1k Family Fun Run, now in its 10th year.

December 23, 2014

Bishops to again tackle end-of-life issues in legislature

In life, sometimes the most difficult decisions people face involve impending death. Pain and grief can’t always be avoided. Some of it can be mitigated in the end-of-life decisions one makes for themselves and loved ones. But in doing so, one must neither prolong pointless suffering nor hasten death — in accordance with the Catholic faith.

December 23, 2014

Downtown Houston celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe at annual procession, Mass

Drums, costumes, music and dancing filled the streets of downtown Houston on Dec. 7 — all in an expression of devotion and thanksgiving to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas.

December 9, 2014

Centering on making the family a school of deeper humanity through retreats

In the words of St. John Paul II, all members of the family are responsible for making the family a “school of deeper humanity” (Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, Second Vatican Council, GS, 52). He defines this as the day-to-day commitment to the caring and loving of children, the sick and aging, and sharing “goods, of joys and of sorrow.”

December 9, 2014

Archdiocese launches annual appeal to support, increase tuition assistance

Matt Garcia-Prats, the principal of our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in east Houston, couldn’t have put it more bluntly. “In reality if we didn’t have The Cardinal’s Circle we wouldn’t exist,” Garcia-Prats said.