Weekly Letter: Sept. 15, 2024 Bulletin

Dear friends in Christ,

     We’ve got a lot happening at the parish next week, so let’s get right to it. This weekend is our annual Missionary Cooperative Appeal of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. As you may recall, each year all parishes are asked to host a visiting sister, priest, or brother to share the good work their religious orders are doing in making the Gospel known throughout the world. It is our chance to unite our hearts with those at work in the missionary fields and to offer our support for their service. Missionary appeals are the primary way these religious orders sustain their work, so I’d ask you to please be generous in the second collection that will be taken this weekend.

     Joining us will be Sister Faviola from the Apostolic Community of Mary Ever Virgin (Comunidad Apostólica de Maria Siempre Virgin), a group of religious sisters working in missions throughout the world and even right here in Houston at Blessed Sacrament parish in east downtown. Her community was established in Mexico in 1989 and focuses on collaborating with diocesan priests to serve as a link between families and the parish, guiding them towards a closer relationship with Christ. The pastor at Blessed Sacrament is a friend of mine and he tells me they are doing great work in the inner city. They have a special charism to the poor and underprivileged and have established missionary centers in Colombia, Argentina, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, and in Texas to offer an outreach that promotes the pastoral care of the human person to all of God’s children. Please join me in welcoming Sr. Faviola to CtR and may we be open to her message and support the good work of her missionary sisters.

    Today is also Catechetical Sunday in the Church in the United States, a day to mark the beginning of the new Religious Education year for children, youth, and adults. It’s also our first day of the new RE year at CtR as classes begin this week for all our children and for junior high (on Wednesday evening) and high school (on Sunday evening) students in youth ministry. 

    I am most thankful to our fine RE staff who have been hard at work preparing this year. We are blessed by a dedicated group who take seriously the commandment of Jesus to “go and teach.” To Linda Watso, our Director of Religious Education, along with her staff of Adilene Huff, Marisel Menendez, Heath Vogel, Carolyn Wells, and Paul-Mark Eroma, we offer our sincere gratitude for coordinating the many aspects that go into a comprehensive RE program. Likewise, we appreciate the great work done by Clint Carton, our Director of Youth Evangelization and Catechesis, along with Kendall Kaufaus, who heads up our junior high youth ministry (and who just got married a few weeks ago in Ireland!), and Stacie McKay, our Youth pastoral associate. I’m also happy to announce that just this past week, Adam Carr has joined our Youth Ministry department as coordinator of High School youth. Adam previously served at St. Michael Church in Lake Jackson, and we’re thrilled to have him join us just in time to start this new catechetical year.

    Their work would not be possible without our hundreds of teachers, catechists, aides, and parent volunteers. You are truly the backbone of our program and without your selfless gift of your time and talent, we would not be able to accommodate nearly 2,500 children in all grades. Thank you one and all. We’ll have a special commissioning and blessing today at all masses for our catechists as they begin this new RE year. To the parents of RE students I ask that you join me in showing gratitude to your fellow parents who are catechists. Be kind to them and assist them as much as possible so that they may instruct your sons and daughters in the ways of the faith. They welcome your help! And to those who are home-based catechists, thank you for your work, too.

    The role of parents is vital in the faith development of a child. A young person is in class only 75 minutes once a week. The rest of the time they are at home so it stands to reason that parents will shape the development of the faith. That is done by example more often than words. One of the most important ways to develop the faith is to see that your children attend Mass on a regular (i.e., weekly) basis. Every year catechists tell me they are amazed when they ask their students how many of them attended Mass that week. Sadly, it is often less than half of the class. I ask all parents to please make a commitment to worshipping with your children at Mass. To register them for RE class is a good thing, and I thank you, but do not fail to bring them to Church to worship God!

    The theme for this year’s Catechetical Year, as chosen by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is “Lord, when did we see you hungry?” from Matthew 25:37. It reflects our call to missionary discipleship. As St John Paul II reminded us: The universal call to holiness is closely linked to the universal call to mission. Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission. We are called to be eucharist by word and action to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our times cry out for this kind of holiness, one inflamed by the ardent determination to bring as many of our brothers and sisters as possible to Christ. And through catechesis and evangelization, we can, and will, do just that.

     Lastly, remember that Knights of Columbus Casino Night is next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 6:30-10 p.m. in the Parish Hall. See any Knights after Mass this weekend and they’ll have a code for you to reserve your seat for a night of great fun, food, and fellowship. It’s always a grand time, so come join us. 

     And let me remind the women of the parish that our annual CtR Women’s Morning of Prayer is quickly approaching on Saturday, Sept. 28. It’s free to attend, but we ask you to register at www.ctrcc.com/womensmorningofprayer. It’s open to all, and promising to be a spiritually uplifting time of prayer and communion with your sisters in Christ.

Peace, Fr. Sean