Priests of the Archdiocese

On July 20, the Vatican released a twenty-two-page instruction entitled "The Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community in the Service of the Evangelizing Mission of the Church.” While it does not introduce new legislation on pastoral care, the Vatican press office said it was developed by the Congregation for Clergy as a guide "to the various projects of reform of parish communities and diocesan restructuring, already underway or in the planning process." It also clarifies the role of deacons, consecrated men and women, as well as the laity, in dioceses where there is a shortage of priests.
 
“Since its inception, the Parish is envisioned as a response to a precise pastoral need, namely that of bringing the Gospel to the People through the proclamation of the Gospel and the celebration of the sacraments. The etymology of the word makes clear the meaning of the institution: the Parish is a house among houses and is a response to the logic of the incarnation of Christ” (7).  
 
The Holy Father approved the document on June 27 and it was officially promulgated on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
For the full text, please click HERE.

Universal Prayers on racism  (posted 6-10-20)

• For the sustained conversion of all members of the Church to hearts and souls that fully reject all racism, let us pray to the Lord.
• For the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the Church's public witness and commitment to ending racism, let us pray to the Lord.
• For an end to the evil and deep-seated sin of racism throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.
• For all who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the violence to human dignity inherent in racism, let us pray to the Lord.

The Vatican has issued a new Votive Mass in Time of Pandemic. This Mass can be celebrated, according to the rubrics given for Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, on any day except Solemnities, the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, days within the Octave of Easter, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week.

To access the document which contains the orations for the Mass, click HERE. The orations in English begin at page 8. The Spanish begins on page 6.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has suggested two options for the readings. Click HERE for English and click HERE for Spanish.

Canonical Consultation
During the "stay-at-home" order, Fr. Luke Millette, Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese, is available to the priests for canonical consultation. Please click here.
 

PRAYER RESOURCES FOR THE PANDEMIC

Certainly, in this time of crisis and uncertainty, we turn to the Lord and to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help and consolation. 

ARCHDIOCESAN PRAYER IN TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has a prayer particularly our own during this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. Click HERE for English and click HERE for Spanish.

Homily of Pope Francis on Friday, March 27, 2020, "Urbi et Orbi"
The Holy Father begins, “When evening had come” ( Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing” (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.
To continue reading and reflecting upon the words of the Holy Father, click HERE.

FROM POPE FRANCIS
Here is a CNS translation of the prayer Pope Francis recited by video March 11 asking Mary to protect Italy and the world during of the coronavirus pandemic.

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
 
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.
Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial,
but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin

 Betty-Ann Hickey of the Archdiocese of New Orleans has prepared a prayer service for her Archdiocese and generously offered to share it with all of you. Click HERE.

For a Prayer Card with the Prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, please click HERE.

Reprintable handout - A Faith Response to Coronavirus, click HERE.

A Prayer Amid an Epidemic, published by America Magazine, click HERE.

For more prayers, click HERE.

For more liturgical resources for Holy Week and the Triduum, click HERE.

The events of the past few weeks have left many people in the Church – clergy and faithful alike -- confused, angry, shocked, and bewildered. We grieve for the victims of abuse and for their families. They have endured years, even decades, of physical and psychological scars. All of us, as the Body of Christ, must do all we can to assist them.

Unfortunately, it seems that news accounts have painted the Church and its hierarchy with too broad a brushstroke –condemning all for the failings of a few. Thousands of good and faithful priests are tainted by the actions of those who abused the most vulnerable in their care. Diocesan bishops were all made to look suspect, even though most were diligent in following the charter for the protection of children. The wonderful programs and policies of the Church have become overshadowed by more salacious headlines.

What can we do? First, we can turn to our God in prayer. He never ceases to guide his Church, to sanctify its members, and to protect it from harm. Once again and still, we turn to Jesus, our High Priest, and find consolation and strength in his Word and Sacraments. (FDLC Resources Introduction)

Here are listed a variety of resources to assist you in gathering people for prayer. The FDLC resources are extensive. May God assist us all as we turn to Him, the Source of all healing, comfort and peace.

A Prayer For Our Church (English)    (Spanish)

A Litany of Forgiveness (English)      (Spanish)

FDLC Resources for Liturgy and Prayer  (English)    (Spanish)

To download the Year of Grace 2018 document, click HERE.

To download the Year of Grace 2019 document, click HERE.

To download the YEAR OF GRACE 2020 document, click HERE.

The Office of Worship has published a Quick Guide to Wedding Masses on Fridays and Saturdays.  The hope is that whoever is responsible for helping the couples select the time and date for their wedding can be aware that the selection of an evening Mass time/ particular day is impacted by the rubrics.   Here is a quick reference guide as to whether the nuptial prayers and readings can be used.

Welcome to this website for the priests of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The intent of this website is to become a place where our brother priests can find information to assist them in their priestly life and ministry. It can also be a place for the sharing of ideas and information to become more effective ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please feel free to share your ideas and suggestions with the Ongoing Formation of Priests Committee. We can be reached by clicking HERE.

This document is the basic plan of ongoing formation for priests who count themselves among other believers but who also stand and serve in a unique way in the Church of Christ, conformed to Christ as his sacramental representatives in the presbyteral order. God invites them to transformation across their lifetime, and their formation is marked by constant elements at every stage of life. At the same time, there are specific formational challenges that emerge in particular seasons of their priestly ministry. Both the constant and the changing elements of formation are included in the basic plan.

For a complete copy of the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests, click HERE.