Catholic East Texas
The Magazine of the Diocese of Tyler
The Case for (OnGoing) Marriage Formation
Formation for the sacrament begins long before an engaged couple shows up in the pastor’s office. In fact, if we think in terms of “remote, proximate, and immediate [formation]” (John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio [Apostolic Exhortation on the Family, 1981], 66), we enter a school of marriage the moment we leave the womb.
Mary and Heroic Patience
“The Cross and nails of the Son were also those of His Mother; with Christ crucified the Mother was also crucified.” — St. Augustine
The Sanctity and Beginning of Life in Divine Revelation
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. . .
Review of Fr. George Elliott’s Discernment Do’s and Don’ts: A Practical Guide to Vocational Discernment
Fr. Elliott gives several straightforward, simple, and practical steps to better understanding God’s call for you in your life. Too often the discernment process is clouded in mysticism or rooted too heavily on emotion. We may wait for a glaring sign from God, a literal booming voice from heaven, before deciding what vocational path to take. Fr. Elliott’s steps, rather, help young people to hear “the still, small voice” that God often uses to speak to us.
Interview With Tyler Native, Shawn Carney, Founder of 40 Days for Life
When asked what gets him out of bed each morning to continue the pro-life effort even after fifteen years, Shawn said that it is because of the value of human life. “I think it’s the sense of urgency that comes with every abortion. Every single abortion ends an innocent human being. And no matter how long I have done this, I have never felt burnt out from the root of what we are fighting for. If I didn’t do this work, this thought would consume me.”
The Eucharist: the Real Presence of Jesus and the Greatest Gift of My Catholic Faith
In the context of John 6, Jesus does not tell us how we are to do what he asks but he is very clear that he meant what he said – a person needs to eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life. Jesus knew there would be confusion but, ultimately, he wanted his disciples to trust him. Even if they did not fully understand, they should not walk away simply because they were disturbed or bewildered. God’s ways are not our ways. He would reveal more in time.
Jesus, Lord of the Universe, Lord of our Home
Imagine what the world could become if all Christian families made Jesus the Lord of their homes by participating in his three-fold mission as priest, prophet and king.
Stealing Past the Watchful Dragons: Jesus and the Movies
On the 7th of May, 1989, the great Pope Saint John Paul II gave a short address at the Vatican on the subject of the Church’s relationship with media. During that message he said these words: “The question confronting the Church today is not any longer whether the man...
Pater Noster
I moved to Redwater, Texas from Hahira, Georgia in 2014, but I grew up in Syracuse, NY in the 1950s. The first time I went to Mass at Sacred Heart in Texarkana, I was pleasantly surprised that on the first Sunday of the month parts of the Mass were in Latin. The...
Lent for Kids
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6, and lasts for forty days. We remember that because we are sinful, we need a Savior. Jesus gave us the greatest gift of Himself for our salvation. He wants us to love Him and be close to Him. Lent is a great time to give...
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Christ
Throughout Jesus’ life on earth, he was moved the Holy Spirit through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that he had. We who are baptized, and especially we who are confirmed, have the same gifts of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Teaching Children Moral Excellence
As parents, we want the absolute best for our children. We want our children to possess a certain set of values for their own personal character development and for the good of those around them. Here is a little exercise: look at the following twelve values and pick...
