Adoration, concerts to call faithful to worship

June 14, 2016

HOUSTON — Cielo Abierto is a Catholic mission of evangelization through music and preaching, which brings together singers and adorers from Latin America and the U.S. in one place; this time, and for the third consecutive year, in Houston.

“Cielo Abierto is a wonderful event and opportunity for families and young adults of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston to gather for praise and worship and pray for vocations for priesthood and consecrated life before the Blessed Sacrament,” Lazaro Contreras, a Cielo Abierto organizer and Office of Vocations programs coordinator, said. “Our hope is for families and young people to grow closer to God, to experience His love in the Blessed Sacrament and to be open to God’s will in their lives.”

The Cielo Abierto mission is made up of five Noches de Adoración or Nights of Adoration (NDA), before the grand Adoration, which takes place within the Catholic concert. The NDA will be held in five different parishes of the Archdiocese. According to Contreras, a brief testimony will be given by a seminarian or a man and woman in religious formation during the parish nights of adoration.

This year, the culmination of the event is set for Saturday, July 23, at 4 p.m. at the Catholic Charismatic Center, located at 1949 Cullen Blvd. in Houston. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will attend the event. 

The NDA will be at St. Joseph – St. Stephen Parish in Houston, July 18; St. Katharine Drexel Church in Hempstead, July 19; Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Holy Door), July 20; Holy Family Church in Missouri City, July 21; and St. Jerome Church in Houston, July 22.

All masses will be at 7 p.m., and the Holy Hours will start between 7 and 7:30 p.m.

The musical ministers will be: Kairy Marquez from Dominican Republic; Mayra Alejandra from Los Angeles, Calif.; Father Juan Andres from Colombia and Grupo Emmanuel from Mexico City.

In this Year of Mercy, the event will also focus on God’s mercy and incorporating the message of the Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis: “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” from Luke 6:36.

Another highlight is a testimony by Manuel and Leticia Ramirez, parents of recently ordained Father Nicolas Ramirez and seminarian Jacob Ramirez. They will be sharing their family story and encourage other families to plant the seed of vocations at home. 

“They are a beautiful witness of support to their sons in their discernment towards priesthood,” Contreras said. Leticia Ramirez is the sister of Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

For more than six years, Cielo Abierto has visited almost all the Republic of Mexico, 12 countries in North, Central and South America, and has touched the lives of more than one million souls. It is an opportunity, in the midst of a stressful life, to adore the Lord and to have a fullness of life after the encounter with the Son of God.

Entrance to all of the events is free. For more information, call 713-741-8727