Priests of the Archdiocese

With great affection, I address this Apostolic Exhortation to all Christian young people.  It is meant to remind you of certain convictions born of our faith, and at the same time to encourage you to grow in holiness and in commitment to your personal vocation.  But since it is also part of a synodal process, I am also addressing this message to the entire People of God, pastors and faithful alike, since all of us are challenged and urged to reflect both on the young and for the young.  Consequently, I will speak to young people directly in some places, while in others I will propose some more general considerations for the Church’s discernment. 4. I have let myself be inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations that emerged from last year’s Synod.  I cannot include all those contributions here, but you can read them in the Final Document.  In writing this letter, though, I have attempted to summarize those proposals I considered most significant.  In this way, my words will echo the myriad voices of believers the world over who made their opinions known to the Synod.  Those young people who are not believers, yet wished to share their thoughts, also raised issues that led me to ask new questions.

For the full document, 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)

LITURGICAL PREPARATION AID FOR
LENT/TRIDUUM/EASTER SEASON

Once again, the FDLC offers a liturgical preparation aid for Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Easter Season.  This forty-eight-page resource is attached.  It will also be posted on the FDLC website.  A Spanish translation will soon follow.

 The document contains:
 

• A full presider’s text for the “Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Absolution and Confession”
• Sample Music Suggestions
• Sample Penances
• A Liturgical Year Calendar Advisory
• Frequently-asked Questions and Their Answers
• A summary of the Lectionary readings for Sundays and Solemnities
• Preparation sheets for the Rites belonging to the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
• Preparation sheet for Palm Sunday
• Preparation sheets for the Sacred Paschal Triduum
• An Order of Service for Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday evening.

 
Many thanks to the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (USCCB-CCD) and to the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) for their kind permission to share copyrighted material.

Please click HERE for the English Version.
Please click HERE for the Spanish Version.

For more information, go to their website by clicking here.

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

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

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.