The 2017 Bishop’s Annual Appeal is under way. Please see the website.
Bishop Joseph E. Strickland will preside at the Chrism Mass Tuesday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The bishop will bless the oil of the ick, the oil of catechumens and the holy chrism to be used in the administration of the sacraments in parishes throughout the diocese in the upcoming liturgical year. The oils will be distributed to representatives from the parishes in attendance.
The Pines Catholic Camp near Big Sandy will host a Pines Picnic Sunday, April 2, noon-4 p.m. The day will include Mass with Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, lunch, tours of the camp, and more. The day is free and is open to camp alumni and new families who want to see for themselves what The Pines has to offer. The camp is at 300 White Pine Road Big Sandy, TX 75755. For more information and to register, see The Pines website.
A formation day for catechists involved in quinceañeras will be Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Chancery in Tyler.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize that we each can play a part in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in our communities. The Catholic Church is a leader in abuse prevention programs and procedures, so that we may protect our most valuable gift from God – our children. For information on how you can become more informed and involved in keeping our children safe, see the Safe Environment website or call: Maria Flores 903-534.-077 ext 188. Suggestions for Safe Environment educational materials, bulletin inserts, prayers in English and Spanish, and links to other resources are available there.
The Texas Catholic Conference Advocacy Day at the State Capital is April 4. Advocacy Day is a daylong event with a rally on the steps of the State Capitol with the bishops of Texas to promote the Church’s values of life, justice, charity, and religious freedom to members of the Texas Legislature. After the rally, small teams of Catholics will meet with their state lawmakers and educate them on the Texas bishops’ legislative priorities. The group from Tyler will be led by Father Lowry, pastor of St. Edward Parish in Athens and co-director of the sanctity of life program for the diocese. The deadline to register is Monday, March 27. More information and registration flyer are here.
Father Dan Dower, pastor of Christ the King Church in Kilgore and diocesan Episcopal Vicar for Education, will celebrate the annual Mass for families with special needs Saturday, April 29, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul on the Bishop Gorman Schools campus. A reception will follow in the Chancery. All families with children or adults with special needs are welcome. A modified bilingual liturgy will be celebrated to accommodate these needs. All parishes are asked to send a representative so they can see how to model this liturgy in their parish. Special dispensation from your Sunday obligation for this weekend will be granted to those who attend. Please RSVP to Linda Porter by April 27 so we can provide for the reception. Email lportertyler@gmail.com for information or to register.
Father Gavin Vaverek will offer a presentation on Dealing Successfully with Failed Marriages Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m.-noon, at Sacred Heart Church in Nacogdoches in the Margil Center. The session will offer a brief explanation of the how and why of the Church’s respect for every marriage and the processes for establishing that a failed marriage was in reality never what Christ intended marriage to be. The session will also offer the specific steps for moving forward with addressing a failed marriage with the help of the Church. Father Vaverek, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Lufkin and a canon lawyer, will talk about divorce and remarriage, the Tribunal, and steps toward returning to the sacraments. The day is free with no pre-registration required. Sacred Heart Church is at 2508 Appleby Sand Road in Nacogdoches.
The cloistered Dominican nuns of the Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin are having a Holy Hour for vocations April 7 at 7 p.m. The monastery is at 1501 Lotus Lane, Lufkin, TX, 75904.
The Abortion Dialogue Academy will offer a workshop on responding to common pro-choice arguments Thursday, April 6, 6-8 p.m., at St. Matthew Church in Longview. The Abortion Dialogue Academy is a national non-profit organization dedicated to teaching anti-abortion advocates to speak persuasively on the issue. For more information about the ADA, see the group’s website.
The Office of Youth Evangelization is sponsoring a Catholic Family Camp weekend June 23-25 at Casa Betania near Tyler, featuring nationally-known Catholic speaker Cooper Ray. There will be family activities, Mass and adoration, formation opportunities, camp fires, games and skits, and much more! This will be an opportunity to help your family grow closer to one another and to Christ. For more information, see the youth office website here.
The Tyler Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has launched a Rosary Crusade for 2017, calling upon Our Lady of Lourdes to intercede on behalf of the sick, the unborn, families, religious liberty, and more. To see the suggested dates of prayer, see the flyer here. For more information, email smcoter@gmail.com.
Bishop Joseph E. Strickland and Catholic Charities East Texas invite parishioners in Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, Dangerfield, and Mount Vernon to join him on Sunday, April 2, 6-8 p.m. for a Garden of Charity event in the rectory of St. Michael Church in Mount Pleasant. The evening will benefit social services at Catholic Charities and the four parishes. For ticket information contact Catholic Charities at 903-258-9492, ext. 103, or email info@cctyler.org.
Catholic Charities East Texas is seeking volunteers for the Parish Nurse Ministry. Part-time RNs wanted to practice within Catholic churches in East Texas. 8 hrs. per week $20/hr. Flexible hours. Please submit resumes via email to info@cctyler.org. For information, call Catholic Charities at 903 258-9492 or see the website.
Catholic Charities East Texas will offer free GED classes (High School Equivalency) starting soon. Classes will be held twice a week at Catholic Charities 202 W. Front St. Tyler, TX Call today, 903-258-9492.
Support Catholic Charities East Texas through Amazon. When ordering from Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com and choose Catholic Charities, Diocese of Tyler, as the recipient of the donation from the purchase.
The Maria Goretti Network is a peer ministry group for survivors of abuse and their families. The East Texas Chapter of the Maria Goretti Network meets the third Saturday of every month in the Cathedral Office meeting room (not the Cathedral Center) at 7 p.m. For information, contact Peggy Hammett, 903-592-1617, ext. 19, or email phammett@thecathedral.info.
Catholic East Texas, the diocesan magazine, is online! Share the link to our full-color publication with family and friends. The magazine is an evangelical publication designed to implement Bishop Strickland’s vision for sharing the beauty of Catholic teaching, history, culture, spirituality, and liturgy in a way that makes our ancient faith attractive to both Catholics and non-Catholics in Northeast Texas. Every article, column, and review in the magazine is written by the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Tyler. Access the magazine online here.
Athens
St. Edward Church. Bilingual Stations of the Cross are prayed the Fridays of Lent at 6 p.m. Join us afterwards in the parish hall for food and fellowship.
Join us for Bible Study after the noon Mass on Wednesdays. We are studying “Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.” For information, contact Ron Williams at 903-288-0013.
St. Vincent de Paul needs you. If you can volunteer 1-5 hours a week, you can give comfort to our friends and neighbors in crisis. Attend a meeting (1st Wednesday of the month after the noon Mass) or call 903-675-0076.
Come and join us at a YOUTH 2000 Retreat for a fun, faith-filled Eucharistic centered retreat for youth (ages 13-18), led by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, April 21-23, here at St. Edward’s. The YOUTH 2000 Retreat includes lively music, inspiring talks led by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a time for fellowship and fun, sharing the faith, personal testimonies, panel discussions, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation. YOUTH 2000, a Eucharistic centered Retreat, leads young people to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through talks, music, adoration, prayer, workshops, fellowship, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the celebration of the Mass, the young people deepen their love and understanding of the Catholic faith, and encounter the power and richness of God’s love and mercy. This Retreat brings young people to know the joy of a life lived in the worship of God and in service to God’s people. This weekend Retreat empowers them to go forth with renewed faith, to be witnesses to the Faith, to share the Good News and to be the evangelizers of the New Evangelization. Cost is $25 per person. For more info, please email Jessica Bentley, mqstedsyouth@gmail.com.
We are offering confirmation classes for anyone 5th grade and older who has not received the sacrament of confirmation. Classes are Saturday, April 1 and April 8. Both sessions are required. Registration is Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. For information, call Zoila Hunt at 903-677-1922.
Atlanta
St. Catherine of Siena Church. Soup and bread suppers are served the Fridays of Lent at 5:20 p.m., with Stations of the Cross prayed at 6:10 p.m.
Please help us restock our food pantry so we can continue to serve the hungry in our midst. Please bring canned meats and fish, bags of potatoes, cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter and preserves, crackers, soups, lentils, and juices.
Stroke Scan will be here Saturday, March 25, in the parish hall.
Buffalo
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church. We will have nocturnal adoration March 25-26.
Quinceañera platicas are scheduled for April 1 and May 6, 9 a.m.-noon.
The youth retreat is April 8.
Our Catholic Summer University will be June 5-9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.
Crockett
St. Francis of the Tejas Church. Our Friday Lenten Fish Fries are serving lunch and dinner, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m., through April 7. Buffet is $12 for adults, $6 for children (ages 5 and under eat free). Delivery to downtown merchants is available for $15. For to go orders, call 936-545-8549.
Ethics and Integrity recertification will be April 22 in both English and Spanish.
Little Rock Scripture Study meets Sundays in the hall, 2-3:30 p.m. We are studying the Gospel of Luke.
Holy Mass from the sanctuary of St. Francis of the Tejas is broadcast Sundays at 5 p.m. on KIVY Channel 16.
Diboll
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Parroquia. A faith formation catechist meeting will be Sunday, March 26, 3-5 p.m. in the parish hall.
Reunión de catequistas de formación de fe en el salon parroquial Domingo 26 de Marzo 3-5 p.m.
Invito a todas las personas que están interesadas en aprendar más sobre la fe y la Sagrada Biblia los Miércoles después de a misa a 6 p.m. en el Templo Parroquial.
Jueves a las 6:30 p.m. inicia con la Santa Misa. Grupo de Oración Huellas en la Arena and Come Lord Jesus.
Emory
St. John the Evangelist Church. Envelopes for donations to the Easter flower fund are available in the church entry hall. Drop your envelope in the collection basket by April 9. Give $10 or more to have a loved one’s name printed in the bulletin.
Stations of the Cross are prayed Fridays after the 6 p.m. Benediction and Mass. The Knights of Columbus serve Lenten suppers after Stations.
Join our faith community, and nearly 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States, in a life-changing Lenten journey of encounter with CRS Rice Bowl. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl from the entry hall today, and don’t forget to download the CRS Rice Bowl app! May these 40 days better prepare us to encounter ourselves, our neighbors, and our God. For more suggestions, see the CRS website.
A reconciliation service will be April 4.
First Friday each month the sanctuary is open for adoration with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
Volunteers and sponsors are needed for the golf tournament Saturday, April 1. The tournament will be at Land’s End Golf and Country Club. Registration is $100 per person. Forms are available in the church entry hall. For information, contact Sherry Badalich, 903-473-2275.
El primer viernes de cada mes, el santuario está abierto para la adoración con la exposición del Santísimo Sacramento de 8:15 am a 6:00 pm.
Bishop Joseph E. Strickland will celebrate confirmation June 10.
Frankston
St. Charles Borromeo Church. Adoration is held on the Wednesdays of Lent, from 6-7:30 pm. Please come and spend time with Jesus, whether you can stay for just a few minutes or for the entire 90 minutes.
Stations of the Cross are prayed at 6 p.m. each Friday during Lent, followed by a meatless soup supper in the parish hall. We need volunteers to sign up to bring soup and to help serve and clean up afterward. Please volunteer to help out for one or more of these soup suppers.
Join our faith community, and nearly 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States, in a life-changing Lenten journey of encounter with CRS Rice Bowl. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl from the vestibule today, and don’t forget to download the CRS Rice Bowl app! May these 40 days better prepare us to encounter ourselves, our neighbors, and our God.
We will have a potluck meal Sunday, April 2, after the 9 a.m. Mass. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a meat, salad, veggie, side dish, or bread.
The parish reconciliation service is Wednesday, April 5, at 6 p.m. The priests from the Cathedral, including Father Nelson, who is fluent in English and Spanish, will be here for confessions.
Gun Barrel City
St. Jude Church. The Knights of Columbus are offering two $1,000 scholarships to qualified seniors for the 2017 fall semester. Applications are at the back of the church, and must be turned in to a Knight or the parish office before April 1.
The 2017 St. Jude softball team is taking signups now for the upcoming season. A signup sheet is available in the vestibule of the church.
The Knights of Columbus are having a membership drive throughout the month of March for all men interested in becoming a Knight. Men must be over the age of 18 and practicing Catholics. For more information, contact Grand Knight Joe Castillo, 469-254-1947, Jim Bowles, 903-340-7174, or any other Knight.
Knights of Columbus fish fries are the Fridays of Lent, 5-7 p.m. in the parish hall.
Adoration is after 8:30 a.m. Mass every Friday.
The Cenacle Prayer Group meets every Tuesday after 8 a.m. Mass in the chapel to pray. All are invited to join us.
Holly Lake
Holy Spirit Church. Knights of Columbus Council #15174 will offer Lenten Friday fish fries March 24 and April 7. Dinner includes fried fish, coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, desserts, and beverages. Serving begins at 5:30 p.m. The dinners are open to the entire community, and funds raised will purchase wheelchairs for those in need, fund donations to Hawkins Helping Hands and East Texas Food Bank, purchase food for holiday gift baskets, and fund donations to the Gabriel House Project.
We will pray vespers Friday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m., followed by Stations of the Cross at approximately 5:45 p.m. and a Cajun soup supper and art auction after.
The Rosary Makers’ fashion luncheon will be Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets are $15 each. Call 903-857-9868 for information or to purchase tickets.
Join us for a Scripture study the Wednesdays of Lent, 6-7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. BYOB (Bible).
A liturgical ministry training for altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Communion, lectors, and ushers (in that order) will be Sunday, March 26, after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. This is a mandatory training. If you cannot attend, please see Father Mike or Deacon Sam.
We need a large group of volunteers to do some spring cleaning on and in our church grounds, windows, cleaning meditation garden, including weeding, raking pine needles, painting of benches, planting, etc. We will meet Saturday, April 22, at 8:30 a.m. Please bring rakes, cleaning clothes, ladders, etc. Please sign the sheet in the narthex. The more volunteers we have, the less time it will take to complete the different jobs.
The Holy Week schedule is: Holy Thursday, April 13, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m.; Good Friday, April 14, the church will be open from noon-3 p.m., with veneration of the cross at 3 p.m.; Holy Saturday, April 15, Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.; Easter Sunday, Mass of the Resurrection at 9:30 a.m.
Exposition is every Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. We pray for peace in our nation.
Jefferson
Immaculate Conception Church. Men’s Club meeting is Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m.
We will have a parish reconciliation service Wednesday, April 5, at 6 p.m. Fathers Eugene Tillekeratne and Bernard Boteju will be here for confessions.
The cardboard “rice bowls” are available at the entrance of the church building. God willing, you will be able to return the “bowls” to the church later during Holy Week or Easter. You might think of giving up something for Lent (not eating meat every day, fasting, abstaining, no candy, cake, soft drinks, coffee, no sugar, whatever) and putting the daily money not used in the rice bowl.
We are trying to bring food to church every week for those in need who come to our Immaculate Conception Catholic Community for help and assistance. (If we did a can/package every day from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday we actually would have 47 cans/packages. What the heck, why not make it a full case of 48?) Our canned foods offerings help keep our St. Vincent de Paul food pantry open and active. We are blessed to be able to look for and to find and to feed Christ in our brothers and sisters who are in need. We are called to recognize the truth that we are completely and totally dependent on God for all the needs of our lives. And we hopefully do recognize our own need and hunger for Christ/God.
On the Fridays during Lent, we pray Stations of the Cross at 4:45 p.m., celebrate Mass at 5:15 p.m., and have a Lenten supper at 6 p.m.
Our Holy Week schedule is: Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 13, 6 p.m.; Good Friday, April 14, Stations of the Cross at 2:15 p.m., Veneration of the Cross, 3 p.m.; Holy Saturday, April 15, Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.
Longview
Our Lady’s Guild of Longview. We are offering two $1000 scholarships. Anyone who is going to college or technical school in the fall and is a member of St. Mary’s, St. Matthews, St. Anthony’s, or Our Lady of Grace is eligible. Applications are available in all church offices. Deadline for submission of application is Friday, April 7. Please call Katherine Zuniga with any questions or for more information, 903-315-7510.
St. Mary Catholic School. St. Mary Catholic School is enrolling for the 2017-2018 academic year. St. Mary is a college preparatory PreK3-12 program focusing on academic excellence and with a program that includes fine arts and competitive athletics. To schedule a tour, call 903-753-1657. For information about the program or tuition, call principal Amy Blalock, 903-918-7182, or Melinda Dunn, 903-806-0175, or see the website.
A Knight to Remember Gala will be Saturday, May 13. Raffle tickets are $25 and can be purchased from any school family or from the church office. Don’t miss your chance to win a Dodge Challenger. All proceeds benefit the students and programs at St. Mary Catholic School.
St. Mary Church. St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a food collection initiative called “40 cans for 40 days” in which we are asking each family to donate one can of food for each day of lent. The food will be given to the local food pantry. The bin is located by the church office.
Please join us at the Parish Center every Friday during Lent following the 5:30 p.m. Mass for the Parish Fish Fry. The meal includes fried catfish, French fries, hush puppies, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, tea or lemonade. Adults eat for $8/plate, children ages 5-10 $4, children under 5 eat free. Families of 4 or more eat for $25.
Ethics & Integrity Recertification will be Saturday, April 1, noon-1:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. The class is free but there is a $10 fee for the background check. The Diocese of Tyler requires that all church employees and volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults have a certification on file at the Chancery.
Discover the richness of the Mass. Our adult Sunday school class will begin a new series Sunday, April 2, called “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass.” We will come to know and understand the Mass as never before and learn the rich meanings behind what we say and do during the liturgy. Please join us in the Parish Center, Room 302. All are welcome! For more information contact Karen Scibona at 903-353-3261 or scibona@cablelynx.com.
High school students are invited to be part of Ski Retreat 2018, Jan. 12-15, 2018, in Durango, Colo., at Purgatory Mountain and Silverpick Lodge. Cost is $700, with a deposit of $50 due by April 1 and monthly payments of $65. For information, email svogel@stmaryslgv.org.
Our Bereavement Committee is looking for some new volunteers to help with meals for families following a funeral. Please call Waynell Kuhlman at 903-757-5904 if you are interested in this ministry of compassion.
St. Mary’s Teen Connection meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Come join us, 7:30-9 p.m. in the parish hall, for fellowship, faith, food, and fun.
St. Mary’s Middle School Youth Group will meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month 5:30-7 p.m. in the Parish Center. All middle school students are invited. Let’s get together to love God, love others and make disciples!
Adult confirmation classes for those adults who have not yet received the sacrament will be offered on Wednesday evenings, April 12 and 26, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall.
Gluten Free hosts are available at all our Masses for people with celiac disease. Please see the instituted acolyte or deacon before Mass to request a gluten-free host. Those hosts will be consecrated separately from the other hosts. Please go to the instituted acolyte or deacon you informed to receive that host for Holy Communion.
Young Adults is starting a new series in room 304 in the Parish Center. Free childcare is provided! Catholic Atheist will look at five specific ways in which we profess God, but then act and think as if he doesn’t exist.
We meet every Sunday.
St. Matthew Church. A Women’s ACTS Retreat will be offered March 30-April 2 at Lakeview Baptist Assembly in Lone Star. The goals of the retreat are to allow participants an opportunity to focus on their faith and its application during their daily lives, to build purpose in their prayer life, to increase their presence at the liturgy, and to cultivate friendship among members of the church community. The retreat begins Thursday evening with check-in at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church at 6 P.M. and ends Sunday with a reception in the John Paul II Family Center following 10:30 a.m. Mass. Round trip transportation to and from the Retreat Center will be provided for all retreatants. Cost for each retreatant is $160. A deposit of $20 must be submitted. The balance is due at the Thursday check-in before the retreat begins. Financial difficulties should not prevent anyone from attending. If you are unable to pay part of the fee, or need further information regarding the Retreat, contact Rita Fyffe at 903-424-7334 or by email to Riri19@icloud.com or Rita.Fyffe@co.gregg.tx.us.
Monthly confessions for students in faith formation are available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. Parents also are invited to make use of the sacrament as an example to their children.
Lufkin
St. Patrick Catholic School. Registration for the 2017-2018 academic year is open. St. Patrick is a co-educational private Catholic school serving students of all faiths in grades PreK3-8. We offer exceptional educational opportunities to our students and are dedicated to their spiritual, academic and physical development. Our programs emphasize religious education, advanced curriculum, technology and physical fitness. Students learn the skills that empower them to excel in today’s society. St. Patrick is the only school in the Lufkin area to offer the Kumon math program and to be designated as a PreK Center of Excellence, a gold standard in high quality PreK by the State of Texas. For more information, call 936-634-6719 or see the website.
St. Patrick Church. Father Gavin is looking for an adult willing to help in training and scheduling altar servers. Training can be provided. Altar servers help our Mass go smoothly so everyone can join in prayer with fewer distractions. If you would be willing to help, please contact the church office or Father Gavin.
Confession times will be available Tuesday, April 4, 6-8 p.m. (English) and 7-8:30 p.m. (Spanish).
The Holy Week schedule is: Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 13, 7 p.m., followed by adoration until midnight; Good Friday, April 15, Stations of the Cross at noon (Spanish) and 2 p.m. (English), bilingual Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m., confessions, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m., Passion liturgy, 7 p.m. (bilingual); Holy Saturday, April 15, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m., bilingual Easter Vigil Mass, 8 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 16, Masses at 9 a.m., noon (Spanish), and 5 p.m. (bilingual), bilingual Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.
Father Vaverek will present sessions on The Sacraments: How These Signs Instituted by Christ Bring Us Grace on Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the faith formation building through April 3. For more information or to register, contact Oralia Aguilar, 936-634-6833, ext. 225, or myorojas5@gmail.com.
Volunteers are needed for our parish cleanup Saturday, March 25, 8 a.m.-noon.
Stations of the Cross are prayed Friday evenings during Lent, 6:30 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish.
We are planning a trip to Rome from April 23-30. If you are interested in going, please contact Jan Kupec for more details at jan.kupec@yahoo.com or 936-671-3863.
The Ladies of the Rosary group meets Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the parish office. Join us and make mission rosaries. For more information, contact Mrs. Wanda Brandon at 936-824-3253 or Mrs. Bea Treviño at 936-829-2209.
Madisonville
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Stations of the Cross are prayed the Fridays of Lent following the 5:30 p.m. Mass.
Confessions are available on Saturday mornings 11 a.m.-noon or by appointment. Just call or text.
The Altar Society’s annual International Dinner is March 26. Cuisine from six different countries will be featured, so possibilities are endless: American, German, Mexican, Vietnamese, Cajun and Italian. And desserts, lots and lots of desserts! What will you prepare? Sign up sheets are in the narthex. Our Altar Society will be glad to answer any questions. Additional help is needed to transport things to the Kimbro Center, set up, clean up, and then return things to Seton Center. Monetary donations are always welcome. For more information or to lend a helping hand, please call Susie Miller at 936-399-4784.
The next baptism classes will be Tuesday and Thursday, April 4 and 6, at 7 p.m.
Join our faith community, and nearly 14,000 Catholic communities across the United States, in a life-changing Lenten journey of encounter with CRS Rice Bowl. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl from the rear of the church today, and don’t forget to download the CRS Rice Bowl app! May these 40 days better prepare us to encounter ourselves, our neighbors, and our God. See the CRS website.
The Easter raffle is under way. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5, on the honor system (drop your ticket and money into barrel). First prize is a Sony 32” LED Bravia TV. Feel free to donate more prizes.
Malakoff
Mary Queen of Heaven Church. Stations of the Cross are prayed the Fridays of Lent at 6 p.m., followed by a simple meal.
The Rosary Group meets on Fridays. During Lent, the rosary will be cited starting at 5:20 p.m. at the church with Stations to follow.
Knights of Columbus Council 12253 will hold a seafood gumbo dinner Friday, March 31, 5-7:30 p.m. in the church. All are welcome and the meal is free, though the council is accepting donations to help fund local charities.
Refreshments are served after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sundays in the parish hall. Come join us, and get to know your parish family.
Easter lilies can be purchased for $10 each. Help us decorate the altar at Easter and remember loved ones. To purchase lilies, see Carol Leonard, Pat Rummel, or Judy Harrell.
Marshall
St. Joseph Church. The Knights of Columbus Lenten fish fry will be Friday, March 24, 5-8 p.m. in the parish hall. Cost is $8 per plate.
A sacramental preparation class for those preparing to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation is Sunday, March 26, at 4 p.m. in the school.
Travel with Deacon John Sargent to Ireland June 23-July 2. Cost is $3,700 per person. To register, call 855-842-8001 or 508-340-9370, or register online at www.proximotravel.com.
Each family is asked to collect one canned good per day for the 40 days of Lent. Cans may be dropped off at the church or church office at any time. The collection benefits the Marshall Food Bank.
Our Holy Week schedule is: Holy Thursday, April 13, bilingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m., followed by Altar of Repose in the parish hall; Good Friday, April 14, confessions, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., English Stations of the Cross, 12:05 p.m., Spanish Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 3 p.m. at the school; English Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 7 p.m.; Holy Saturday, bilingual Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.; Easter Sunday, Mass of the Resurrection, 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Spanish).
All graduating high school seniors of Marshall and surrounding areas are invited to give your name, address, and school name to the office. We will be mailing invitations to our upcoming Senior Mass and lunch soon.
The food bank is requesting cans of soup. Please help us feed the hungry in our midst.
Hot meals are served to those in need Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the parish hall.
Mineola
St. Peter the Apostle Church. Knights of Columbus fish fries are at 6 p.m. on the Fridays of Lent.
Mount Pleasant
St. Michael Church. We have fish fries in the parish hall the Fridays of Lent, 5-8:30 p.m. If you wish to volunteer to help, please contact the church office.
We will have Lenten retreats Wednesday, March 29, at 9 a.m. (English) and 6 p.m. (Spanish) in the church, and at 7 p.m. (English) in St. Michael Hall. Confession times will be available before and after the talks.
We need participants for the Way of the Cross play. We practice Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in St. Michael Hall. All are welcome to participate.
Come and Join our Apologetics/Bible Study Wednesdays in St. Michael Hall from 9-10:15 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and participate in learning the word of the Lord.
We are trying to update our parish records. If there are still families who need to register as members of this parish, update personal information, or wish to have offering envelopes for the year 2017, please come by or call the parish office as soon as possible at 903-572-5227.
Nacogdoches
Sacred Heart Church. Sacred Heart Outstanding Catholic Kids (SHOCK) youth group meets Wednesday nights, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
All young people in grades 6-12 are invited to join us in the “Upper Room” for faith, fun, and fellowship. For information, please contact Rebecca at rebeccahiggins@sbcglobal.net.
Our food pantry is open on the second Tuesday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon. All monetary support is appreciated, and special envelopes are now available in the vestibule for your support. Help us feed the hungry in our midst.
St. Mary’s Chapel, Stephen F. Austin State University. Stations of the Cross are prayed the Fridays during Lent after Mass.
Knights of Columbus are offering fish fries on the Fridays of Lent.
The Men’s Retreat will be March 31-April 2. The Women’s Retreat will be April 1-2.
Palestine
Sacred Heart Church. Eucharistic adoration is every Thursday at noon.
LifeTeen, for young people in grades 9-12, is held on Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Texarkana
Sacred Heart Church. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will serve a baked potato supper Friday, March 24, 6-7 p.m.
Father Mike Adams will lead an Advent pilgrimage to the Holy Land Nov. 27-Dec.8. The 12-day “Where Christ Was Born Tour” will include visits to Tel Avib and Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana dnd Mount Tabor, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Dead Sea. Cost is $2,920 per person without air fare and $4,420 all-inclusive. A deposit of $1,000 per person is required at the time of booking. For information, call John or Natalie at 800-675-9088, email info@oc-travel.com, or see the website. Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday during Lent at 7 p.m. (English) and 7:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Mass is celebrated at 12:05 p.m. every Thursday of Lent.
Catholic Charities is seeking to expand the Parish Nursing Program in neighboring areas (Atlanta, New Boston, etc). Part-time nurses are wanted to work in a parish setting eight hours a week at $20/hour. The hours are flexible. Please submit resumes via email to Jennie Pierce MSN, APRN-CNS, Parish Nurse Coordinator, NurseCoordinator@cctyler.org. For information, see the Catholic Charities website or call 903-372-3229.
Learn the Spanish language. Lessons in basic, intermediate, and advanced are available. Lessons are $10 each. For information, call Betty Rodriguez, 903-691-7931.
Tyler
Bishop Gorman Catholic Schools. Registration for the 2017-2018 academic year is open. Bishop Gorman is a college preparatory 6-12 program that focuses on academic excellence with an emphasis on Catholic Christian formation. Bishop Gorman is a Top 50 Catholic High School, 2005-2015; a Blue Ribbon “Excellence in Education” Award Winner 1998 by the U.S. Department of Education; TAPPS 3A Overall State Champions 2001 and 2002; TAPPS 3A Academic State Champions, 1999, 2000, and 2002; and Middle School PSIA State Academic Champions 2014. For more information, call the school at 903-561-2424 or see the website.
The Milam Joseph Golf Tournament is Friday, March 31, at the Cascades Golf Club in Tyler. Registration opens at 11 a.m., lunch is at 11:30 a.m., and tee off is at 12:15 p.m. Come join us for fun, prizes, and more. Proceeds support tuition assistance at St. Gregory Cathedral School and Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School in the form of merit scholarships. For more information, please contact Kara Camp at 903-520-2117 or tylercamps@msn.com.
Giving to Gorman has never been easier. Let your Amazon purchases help Bishop Gorman. Bishop Gorman is part of the Amazon Smile program. Amazon Smile pays .5% of your purchase to Bishop Gorman. To participate, go to smile.amazon.com and login using your normal Amazon username and password. Set up an Amazon account first if you do not already have one. Once on Amazon Smile, search for Bishop Gorman Catholic School as your charity of choice and continue shopping. Each subsequent time you shop on Amazon, start at smile.amazon.com instead of the usual Amazon website.
The school will present its student production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida” April 7-9 in Haddad Gym. Starring students Rachel Mikita, Sean-Riley Cunningham, Molly Breedlove, and Matthew Navarro, the bittersweet musical tells the story of people who must choose between love, honor, and duty to their people. For ticket information, contact the school at 903-561-2424.
St. Gregory Cathedral School. Registration for the 2017-2018 academic year is open. St. Gregory is Tyler’s oldest private, Christian elementary school, serving grades PreK-5 and the city’s only U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, a distinction earned by scoring in the top 15 percent of the nation on national standardized tests. St. Gregory has the distinction of being a three-time Blue Ribbon school, one of the very few in the nation to achieve this honor. For more information, call the school at 903-595-4109, or see the website.
Wellspring Center for Spirituality. We are offering a retreat in preparation for Holy Week, Saturday, March 26, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The journey through Holy Week is a call to walk with Jesus. The journey we began in ashes will take us to the cross. Take this opportunity to reflect on the merciful and spiritual significance of Holy Week. All are welcome. No registration is necessary. For more information about Wellspring programs, contact us at retreatsatwellspring@gmail.com or 903-839-1280.
John Paul the Great Catholic Campus Ministry (UTTyler). We have Mass, adoration, confessions, and the rosary throughout the week. See our schedule on our website.
Tyler Junior College Apache Catholics Campus Ministry. We meet Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in TJC’s Jenkins Hall, first-floor conference room. Come join us for weekly liturgies and a pizza supper. For information about the group, contact Deacon Bill Necessary, 903-780-3519 or dnecessary@bishopgorman.net.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Construction has started on the new covered entrance for the Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul. The main entrance to the Chapel will be fenced off for approx. eight weeks. There will be no change to the Mass schedule, but please use the side entrances for access to the Chapel. Because this will be an active construction site, please watch kids closely. We apologize for any inconvenience, but the end result will be beautiful.
Join us the evening of Sunday, March 26, at the Bishop Gorman Middle School Gym for a concert by the Mette family. Michael James Mette is a Catholic musician and speaker who travels the country with his wife Michelle and their six young children. His music is a modern reflection of his faith blending alternative rock with faith-based lyrics. The concert will be 90 minutes and will include lights, video, music and testimonies by Michael and Michelle.
Donations for flowers for Easter Sunday in honor or in memory of a loved one are$10. The money must be turned in to the Cathedral office on or before April 10. Please remember to provide the name of the person being honored. Envelopes are in the foyer of the church.
The Knights of Columbus Council 1502 Lenten fish fries are March 24, March 31, and April 7, 6-8 p.m. in the KC Hall on the Loop. Advance tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for children (ages 10 and under eat free); at the door, tickets are $10 and $6.
“Tenebrae: Service of Darkness,” a Lenten evening of solemn prayer, readings from Scripture, and sacred music, is March 31, at 7 p.m. The name Tenebrae is the Latin word for darkness or shadows and has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding evenings. This service is marked by readings from Sacred Scripture, the singing of psalms and hymns, and a gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights until a single candle, a symbol of the Lord, remains. Come join us for this time of reflection and prayer in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Mothers of Ministry will host their annual Father-Daughter Dance Saturday, April 8, 5-8 p.m. in the Cathedral Center. Cost is $20 per couple, and proceeds benefit the Magdalene Home.
Baptism Preparation classes in English will be held on Mondays, May 8 and 15, 6:30–8:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Center. Parents and Godparents are required to attend Baptism Preparation Classes. If you have questions please call 903-592-1617 ext. 130, or email edietel@thecathedral.info. Please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate to the class.
C.A.R.E. (Christ-centered Abortion Recovery and Education) offers once weekly, eight-week healing Bible studies and weekend retreat opportunities. The next healing opportunities are a March 24-26, Journey abortion recovery Bible study weekend for women and a March 24-25 Journey abortion recovery Bible study weekend for men. For information, contact Anthony and Angela Vrba, 903-360-5547 or avrba58@gmail.com, and Deacon Steve Curry at 903-920-3891, or see the website.
The Cathedral once again is able to offer faith formation for children with special needs. We have two certified teachers who have dedicated themselves to this educational ministry. These classes are for any student with a special need or who might benefit from some extra help. For more information, please contact Peggy Hammett at 903-592-1617, ext. 119, or email phammett@thecathedral.info.
Young people wanting to go deeper into their faith are invited to the second Underground meeting Monday, March 27, 6-7:30 p.m. in the church basement.
A Rosary Holy Hour Held is weekly on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in the Adoration Chapel at Saints Peter and Paul. All are invited to join us. For more information, contact Susan Mills 903-780-2935 or email mills_susan@sbcglobal.net.
St. Joseph the Worker Church. Stations of the Cross are prayed the Fridays of Lent at 6:20 p.m.
The Little Flowers Girls’ Club, a club for Catholic girls ages 5-10, meets the first Saturday of every month through the month of May, beginning with Mass at 9 a.m.
The Little Women Hospitality Club for Catholic girls ages 11-18 meets the first Saturday of every month through the month of May, beginning with Mass at 9 a.m.
St. Joseph the Worker’s Homeschool Group is a parish based support group for all mothers. We meet once a month to plan activities for our children, prayer, reading to encourage us in our vocation, sharing and fellowship. If you would like to join or receive email of planned events, contact gracebezner@yahoo.com or milissa@prolifeamerica.com.
Whitehouse
Prince of Peace Church. Springfest 2017 is May 13. We need your help and support to make it a joyful community event. Please contact any of the following if you can help: Jim and Annette Krause, 713-594-4484; Linda Rossler, 903-839-7138; Tony Zapata, 903-530-3639; or Julie Miller, 903-245-1223.
