Catholic East Texas
The Magazine of the Diocese of Tyler
St. Ignatius and Sticky Notes: Incorporating the Examen
One of the things I seem to have collected over time is post-it notes. At least one pack can be found in each of my bags. My desk storage has a box dedicated to unused packs. And all over the inside of the desk wall are notes of various colors, written in different...
Do Whatever He Tells You: The Mission of the Blessed Mother
If you’re a Catholic, you’re probably familiar with the statement, “Catholics worship Mary.” If you’re not Catholic, you may have thought this at some point. The emphasis Catholics place on the Blessed Virgin can be confusing, even for Catholics sometimes. Isn’t Jesus...
An Unlikely Background: The Story of A Marriage, A Priesthood and a Parish
“Wedding bells are ringing...” It was Sept. 19, 1970 and devout Catholic Patricia Thames was about to marry a Protestant. The Catholic priest who married them did not insist the future father raise his children in the Catholic faith, and so they would be raised...
How do I make my marriage a priority during the holidays?
As the parents of four young kids, my husband and I understand why Christmas can be both “the most wonderful time of the year” and also one of the busiest and most stressful seasons. There is a pressure from secular media to make the season “magical” for your...
Thanksgiving, Todah and the Eucharist
November is a great time of the year, especially in this part of the country. In East Texas, November means temperatures are finally getting to some respectable levels. It might not actually be cold, but at least the sweltering heat of summer has finally left us....
“I’m Spiritual But Not Religious”
Have you heard a friend or peer explain, “I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious”? Or have you used the same phrase to explain your spiritual life? You’re not alone. A growing number of millennials and Gen Z’ers claim this as their approach to faith. But the question...
“Home at Last”
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ - Matthew 25:40 Servant of God CH (CAPT) Fr. Emil Joseph Kapaun was laid to rest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in...
St. John Paul II Foundation Hosts Marriage Enrichment Conference in Diocese
As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. The future starts today, not tomorrow.St. John Paul II On Saturday, Oct. 23, the St. John...
What Does “Respect Life” Look Like?
Hostile faces glared at me from across the steel barricades and riot police. I was at the Women’s March for Reproductive Rights in Washington, D.C., attempting to puncture the violent shouts with the truth of human life. The atmosphere was enraged, but barely masked...
Mario Torres Ordained to Diaconate in Rome
Mario Torres, a seminarian of the Diocese of Tyler, was ordained to the transitional diaconate on September 30, 2021. Torres is a student at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Torres and 19 of his classmates were ordained to the diaconate by Cardinal...
Why Be Catholic And Not Just Christian? Part 3: Assurance In What The Church Gives
In the previous article, we discussed what the Church is, what the Church is meant to be and how it all started. We also discussed how Protestants can not be assured of unity with the one Church that Our Lord established. Now let us turn toward a few gifts from God...
Why Be Catholic And Not Just Christian? Part 2: Assurance In What The Church Is
All people hope for something. To get a promotion at work or to have a healthy family. To graduate with a good GPA or to travel to a dream destination. All people on some level hope that their way of life is meaningful and that, in the end, they will end up in some...
