Repeal of death penalty in Nebraska encouraging

In the state of Texas there are currently seven women and 258 men on death row, men and women who the state has found guilty and whose offense was deemed grave enough by the state to warrant lethal injection.

A decision in Nebraska this week is an encouraging sign to Deacon Tommy Ewing, director, Office of Criminal Justice Ministry, as it reflects his own pro-life stance and signals a change in the attitude toward the death penalty.

“If God is love, how can we in good conscience ask Him to forgive our sins and love us if we fail to forgive others and love them,” Deacon Ewing said.

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Prayers offered for those affected by flooding

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, asks the faithful of the Diocese of Beaumont to join him in praying for all those affected by the storms, flooding and tornadoes, especially those hard hit in Wimberley and Houston and those experiencing issues in our own area.

Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas is gearing up to assist in Jasper, Newton and Tyler counties if needed. Flood gates are being opened at Town Bluff Dam, more commonly known as Dam B, which will release about 25,000 cubic feet of water.

Tara Byars, disaster response coordinator, said once the need had been assessed Catholic Charities would begin outreach visits to provide assistance.

A voluntary evacuation was called for Wednesday morning for residents in low-lying areas near the Neches River and B.A. Steinhagen Lake in Tyler County.

After record rainfall in Central Texas, the Blanco River rose from 5 and a half feet to over 40 feet, which is more than three times its flood stage. In less than two hours, water was raging in communities like Wimberley which is in the boundaries of the Diocese of Austin.

Three deaths have been confirmed and nine are missing in Central Texas including a mother and her two young children who were vacationing near Wimberley. The family was in a cabin that was swept away by the flood waters.

In Houston, floodwaters left thousands of drivers stranded on highways as the Buffalo Bayou spilled out of its banks. So far six deaths have been confirmed and two are missing.

A statement by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, offered prayers and help for those suffering.

“While we continue to offer our prayers for those who have suffered in the recent rains and flooding, we also want to offer our help,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “Agencies affiliated with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, particularly Catholic Charities, are available to provide assistance to those in need.”

Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin offered his prayers to those in Central Texas who have suffered losses, particularly those who lost their lives.

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Grace before meals

Close to 200 people gathered in Kirwin Hall at St. James Church, Port Arthur, for a cooking demonstration by Father Leo Patalinghug, host and founder of “Grace Before Meals.”

While cooking, Father Patalinghug teaches about the importance of faith, food and family.

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Super Martyrio: U.S. man’s blog champions cause for Archbishop Romero

By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service

Carlos Colorado, who lives in California, stands with Gaspar Romero, brother of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, in El Salvador in January 2010. Over the years, Colorado has used his blog to extol the life of his hero, Archbishop Romero. (CNS photo/courtesy Carlos Colorado) See ROMERO-COLORADO May 18, 2015.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CNS) — Over the years, Carlos Colorado has become a modern prophet of sorts. His message is to extol the life of his hero: slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero. But his soapbox isn’t a street corner in California, where he lives.

For years, he has taken his message and shouted it from the digital soapbox of his “Super Martyrio” blog at www.polycarpi.blogspot.com.

That’s where he has explored the life, death and even the afterlife of Archbishop Romero, who was fatally shot March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass. The Catholic Church has deemed that his violent death was carried out “in hatred of the faith,” so he will be beatified May 23.

But his path toward sainthood has not been an easy one. And Colorado’s blog, which started in 2006, has chronicled some of the bumps.

“I initially started the blog to have my own space to write about the Romero that interested me,” Colorado said in an email interview with Catholic News Service.

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Scathing report calls for dismantling immigrant detention system

By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A scathing new report on the conditions under which immigrants are detained concludes with the U.S. bishops’ recommendation that the current system be dismantled and replaced with less drastic approaches for keeping track of people whose immigration cases are pending.

Drawing on international law, analyses of who is detained, how the mostly for-profit prison industry manages detention and bishops’ personal experiences with people in detention, the report called instead for more supervised release, better case management and community support programs to ensure that people show up for court appearances or deportation orders.

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Conference focuses on health and wellness

The Christus LiveWell Conference welcomed women from all across the region for workshops and health screenings at Ford Park May 9.

Healthcare providers from the various Christus groups led sessions focused on health and wellness, and keynote speakers were Bill and Guiliana Rancic, authors of the book “I Do, Now What?”

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He is only going to Spain

Friends and family came together May 9 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Port Arthur, for a retirement Mass for Augustinian Father Telesforo R. Blanco, who will retire at the end of June.

“This is a sad celebration because someone we love will not be with us physically,” Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said. “Even though he will not be physically with us, while Father Blanco thinks he’s going to Heaven, he’s only going to Spain.”

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Vatican approves statutes for papal commission for protecting minors

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors received temporary approval of its first set of statutes.

U.S. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston — one of the pope’s top cardinal advisers and president of the pontifical commission — had submitted a draft of the statutes, which were approved “by mandate of the supreme pontiff” April 21 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

The Vatican released a copy of the approved statutes May 8. Their approval is good for three years.

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Loving, faithful service

Close to 35 priests joined Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, as he celebrated the Priests’ Anniversary Mass at the Holy Family Retreat Center, Beaumont, May 7.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, thanked the 11 priests celebrating a jubilee for their loving, faithful commitment to their parishes and to the Church.

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Texas governor: Response to prayer after accident made him stronger

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks during the 11th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast May 7 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) See BREAKFAST May 7, 2015.

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not always lived life in a wheelchair. He was on his morning jog 31 years ago when a falling tree broke his spinal cord, leaving him partially paralyzed.

Abbott, a Catholic, noted at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, held May 7 in Washington, there are times when “our prayers are answered differently than the way we expect.”

He said he can recall, “I spent months praying and hoping for the best possible outcome” after the accident. God, instead, “responded by giving me challenges that made me even stronger.”

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