East Texas Catholic

The year was 2000. It was a new millennium, and people were still becoming accustomed to writing a 2 at the beginning of the year when writing the date. Gas was an average of $1.60 and George W. Bush was elected president of the United States of America. It was also the year that the Catholics of Southeast Texas welcomed a new bishop.

Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont July 28, 2000. For the diocese, he was the first African American bishop and first bishop to belong to a religious order.

“My brothers and sisters, I am delighted to be your bishop. I am delighted because we share a lot in common,” Bishop Guillory began at his installation, “the culture, some of the stories, a rich tradition of faith and of God’s love. I will love you, I will serve you to the best of my abilities. My standard is how much God loves me and he loves me a lot.”

Bishop Guillory has been a wonderful addition to Southeast Texas. With it being in between his previous ministry as auxiliary bishop of the then Diocese of Galveston-Houston and his hometown of Mallet, La., he was already familiar with the area before his installation.

He was born Sept. 1, 1943, as the oldest of 16 children of Wilfred and Theresa Guillory. He attended Catholic school and entered the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word in Bay St. Louis, Miss., in 1960. He was ordained a priest of the Divine Word Dec. 16, 1972, and he was ordained as the 12th African American bishop in the United States Feb. 19, 1988.

In the last 10 years Bishop Guillory has helped the Catholics and non-Catholics of Southeast Texas through many obstacles and has made many achievements improving the diocese along the way.

The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the war on terrorism, the death of Pope John Paul II, two major hurricanes hitting the area, and the recession have all impacted the last decade for those in Southeast Texas.

Four months after Sept. 11 Bishop Guillory, Rabbi Barbara Metzinger, then of Temple Emmanuel, and Imam Fahmi Al Ukday of the Islamic Society of the Triplex came together to sign a joint statement of Jewish, Muslim and Catholic collaboration condemning terrorism and working toward peace. There were no other such documents in the United States at the time making it a historic document.

Southeast Texas was hit hard by Hurricanes Rita, Sept. 23, 2005, and Ike, Sept. 13, 2008. Both times Bishop Guillory along with the Catholic Church came to the aid of Southeast Texans. St. Mary, Port Arthur, was badly damaged from Hurricane Rita and was merged with Sacred Heart, Port Arthur, April 23, 2006, and St. Paul, Sabine Pass, was damaged by Hurricane Rita and had to be rebuilt. Unfortunately, St. Paul was destroyed during Hurricane Ike and was not rebuilt.

In a 2005 interview he said, “Tragedies like these bring out the true strength of a community, and I saw how people here turned to each other and to prayer. I had no doubt of the strong faith that exists here.”

But the last decade has also had it’s ups.

St. Anthony Cathedral went through repairs, renovation and restoration from 2001-2004 and was dedicated Oct. 17, 2004. Repairs included work on the foundation, roof, copper gutter system and stained glass windows. In 2002 Bishop Guillory initiated plans to renovate the interior worship space so the cathedral would conform with Catholic Church documents governing worship space and the cathedral’s interior would reflect its position as the mother church of the diocese.

On Aug. 8, 2006, it was announced that the Vatican recognized the artistic and historical significance of St. Anthony Cathedral as well as its importance in liturgical and pastoral ministry and named the Cathedral a Minor Basilica. Bishop Guillory opened a Centenary Jubilee Year Sept. 10, 2006, celebrating the naming of St. Anthony as a Minor Basilica.

Bishop Guillory said the renovation and naming of the Minor Basilica has been some of the highlights of the last decade. He said the naming of the Minor Basilica was “recognition by the Holy Father of the Diocese of Beaumont.”

In the spring of 2002, Bishop Guillory established the Office of Renew, offering guidance to pastors and parish leaders in the development of parish-based, small, faith-sharing groups. The groups met weekly over a three-year period.

The Diocese of Beaumont began providing child sexual abuse awareness training for adults before Bishop Guillory came to Southeast Texas, but under his direction it began a more focused and regular program in October, 2003.  At that time the diocese contracted with Virtus for its Protecting God’s Children Program for adults. The program educates and trains adults (clergy, religious, teachers, employees, volunteers, and parents) about the dangers of abuse, the warning signs of abuse, the ways to prevent abuse, the methods of properly reporting suspicions of abuse, and responding to allegations of abuse.

Bishop Guillory, a strong supporter of the Catholic school system, commissioned Diocesan School Board members to conduct an 18-month study to look at the sustainability of the Catholic schools in the Beaumont Diocese. In August 2004, he put their findings into effect. Four areas were identified as those needing the most attention – marketing, school board, pastoral relations and finances. Student retention system-wide went from losing 90 to 150 students each year for several years to gaining 20 students a year. Bishop Guillory encouraged pastors to become more attentive to the challenges of Catholic schools. The individual school boards have become more active and proactive in their leadership. Three of the six schools have moved toward true-cost tuition – with the result of the doubling of financial aid that is available for those students needing financial assistance.

Bishop Guillory accepted the highest award from the National Catholic Education Association, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, Oct. 2, 2006, on behalf of the people of Southeast Texas. The award honors organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to education in America and to Catholic schools in particular. In thanking the NCEA for the award, he said it was recognition of the dedication and faith of the people of Southeast Texas in supporting Catholic education.

Immigration has been a large issue in the United States as well as within the Catholic Church. Bishop Guillory received the chance to carry the torch during the Antorcha Guadalupe Nov. 15, 2002, raising awareness of immigration issues. During a Mass the same day, he said that people immigrate to the United States to look for a new life, a life of freedom, love and service. He added that people in the United States must be churchlike in their response to them.

One of Bishop Guillory’s high moments was when he ordained 17 permanent deacons Feb. 17, 2006. During his homily he said, “This morning is a high moment. It is a joyful and prayerful moment in the life of our diocese.”

Later in 2006 during the diocesan Youth Convention, Bishop Guillory received the honor of throwing out the first pitch at an Astros baseball game.

There have been many firsts in the last 10 years under the direction of Bishop Guillory. The first Stewardship Conference was held Nov. 23, 2002. The first Diocesan Liturgical Conference was held May 31 through June 2, 2007. The first Hispanic Family Conference was held March 21, 2009.

A highlight of not only the last 10 years but in the history of the diocese was when Bishop Guillory presented honors from Pope Benedict XVI to 12 priests and women religious during a Pontifical Mass Nov. 23, 2009.

“You have used your gifts well for the common good. In loving service you have empowered people to use their talents,” Bishop Guillory said to the honorees.

He presented eight Southeast Texas priests with framed documents from the Vatican appointing them as Prelates of Honor to His Holiness with the right to the title of Reverend Monsignor.

Two religious order priests and two religious sisters received one of the highest honors the pope can give to a Catholic, the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross for the church and Pontiff).

Another highlight of the last 10 years and in the diocese’s history is the Together for God’s Good Work Capital Campaign. Under Bishop Guillory’s direction, the $25 million campaign was kicked off in the late summer of 2008. Unfortunately the campaign was put on hold after Hurricane Ike struck the area Sept. 13, 2008. The campaign resumed in January 2010 with more than $22 million pledged as of July 20. This first diocesan wide campaign will ensure that the Catholic presence remains viable in Southeast Texas for years to come.

Throughout the last 10 years, Bishop Guillory has served on numerous boards, committees and has been a part of many organizations both Catholic and non-Catholic. He served as honorary chair for the Gift of Life Prostate Cancer Awareness Program for the years 2005 and 2006, chairman of the National Council of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for African American Catholics, on the board of Catholic Relief Services, Bishop Promoter of Apostleship of the Sea U.S.A., and many others.

“What has given me the greatest joy and satisfaction is celebrating Mass at the different parishes. My inspiration is definitely the faith and generosity of the people of Southeast Texas,” he said.

As for the future, Bishop Guillory said his focus will be praying for and promoting vocations “and making the whole diocese aware that all of us have an obligation to pray for and promote vocations.”

He said that he’s also looking forward to helping the people of the diocese to continue to renew and deepen their faith through the ministries of the diocese and the parishes.