Pro-Life Activities in January in the Diocese of San Angelo

Catholics in Texas are joining with members of other faiths in an initiative to pray in a special way from January 11 to 17 for the end of Human Trafficking.

Bishop Michael Sis has appointed Rev. Tony Franco as parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Eldorado, along with the mission churches of Immaculate Conception in Knickerbocker and St. Peter in Mertzon, effective January 15, 2021.

Bishop Michael Sis will offer Masses in English and Spanish on Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The 10:00 a.m. English Mass and 12:00 p.m. Spanish Mass will be livestreamed from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo. The Masses will be available on the cathedral's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SanAngeloCathedral.

Rev. Joseph Vathalloor, CMI, passed away in San Angelo on December 17, 2020, at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

The vigil and funeral Mass for Father Joseph Vathalloor, CMI, will be streamed live on the Diocese of San Angelo YouTube channel

On December 14, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the new COVID-19 vaccines. In their statement, the bishops address the moral concerns raised by the fact that the three vaccines that appear to be ready for distribution in the United States all have some connection to cell lines that originated with tissue taken from abortions.

El coronavirus se había estado propagando en nuestra área ya por ocho meses. Le agradecí a Dios por el don de la salud, que me permitió seguir sirviendo a nuestro pueblo en un momento de grave pandemia y agitación social. Aquí en San Ángelo, llevábamos mucho tiempo planeando un foro de relaciones raciales, en el cuál incluía líderes comunitarios, funcionarios gubernamentales, portavoces universitarios, y pastores de varias iglesias. Yo tenía grandes esperanzas en su potencial para enfrentar el racismo. Sin embargo, dado que el número de casos aumentó, decidí posponer el evento.

The coronavirus had been spreading in our area for eight months. I was grateful to God for the gift of health, allowing me to continue serving our people in a time of serious pandemic and social turmoil. Here in San Angelo, we had long been planning a race relations forum, involving community leaders, government officials, university spokespersons, and pastors of various churches. I had great hopes for its potential in confronting racism. Nevertheless, as the number of cases spiked, I decided to postpone the event.

The National Catholic Bioethics Center has organized an online introduction to the moral issues involved with COVID-19 vaccines which will be available at 6:00 p.m. Central Time on December 7.

The Race Relations Forum originally scheduled for Nov. 12, 2020, at Holy Angels Church in San Angelo has been postponed due to the current spike in COVID-19 cases in San Angelo. The forum will be rescheduled at a later date.

This morning the Vatican released its report on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, detailing the Vatican’s knowledge, decision-making, and investigation related to McCarrick, who was dismissed from the clerical state on February 16, 2019. It will take some time to study the 461-page report, which is the result of two years of investigation. I welcome this report, and I believe it represents a significant step forward in accountability and transparency.

A short video from the Centers for Disease Control showcasing some of the reasons to wear a mask. [External Link]

En tan solo unas semanas, nosotros, los ciudadanos de nuestro país, seleccionaremos a los líderes gubernamentales, desde el presidente hasta los funcionarios locales. Cada uno de nosotros enfrenta el desafío de decidir cómo votaremos. Antes de las elecciones del 3 de noviembre, debemos informarnos sobre los candidatos y sus posiciones — no solo su partido o su personalidad, sino también lo que representan y a qué dirección llevarían a este país.

The Apostolic Penitentiary announces modifications to the Plenary Indulgence for the deceased during the month of November. [External Link, Vatican News]

Rev. Hubert (Hugh) Wade, Jr. passed away in San Angelo on October 16, 2020, at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

In just a few weeks, we, the citizens of our country, will select governmental leaders, from president to local officials. Each of us is faced with the challenge of deciding how we will vote. Before the elections on Nov. 3, we should inform ourselves on the candidates and their positions — not just their party or their personality, but also what they stand for and what direction they would take this country.

La pandemia del coronavirus está afectando nuestras vidas a todos los niveles, en el hogar y en la escuela, en el trabajo y en el juego. Afecta nuestras relaciones, nuestra espiritualidad y nuestras finanzas. Ha provocado sufrimiento físico, angustia emocional, y muerte.

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting our lives at all levels, at home and at school, at work and at play. It affects our relationships, our spirituality, and our finances. It has led to physical suffering, emotional distress, and death.

This article from the Charlotte Lozier Institute takes a look at the ethics of several COVID-19 vaccines currently under development.