East Texas Catholic

By Catholic News Service

Pope Francis I delivers his first blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 13. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Here is the English translation of Pope Francis I’s remarks delivered from the balcony after his election as pope.

Brothers and sisters, good evening. You know that the task of the conclave was to give Rome a bishop. It seems my brother cardinals went almost to the ends of the earth to find one.

I thank you for your welcome.

The diocesan community of Rome has its bishop. Thank you.

First of all, I would like to offer a prayer for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him that the Lord bless him and that the Mother of God protect him. “Our Father who art in heaven. … Hail Mary, full of grace. … Glory be to the Father … .”

Now let’s begin this journey, bishop and people, this journey of the church of Rome, which is the one that presides in charity over all the churches — a journey of brotherhood, love and trust among us. Let us pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there be a great brotherhood. I hope this journey of the church that we begin today — and I will be helped by my cardinal vicar, here present — will be fruitful for the evangelization of this so beautiful city.

Now I would like to give my blessing. But first, I will ask a favor. Before the bishop blesses his people, he asks that you pray to the Lord to bless me, the prayer of the people for the blessing of their bishop. Let’s pray for me in silence.”

(He gave his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world)).

Brothers and sisters, I’ll leave you. Thank you so much for the welcome. Pray for me. We’ll see each other soon. Tomorrow I want to go to pray to Mary so she would watch over all of Rome. Good night. Have a good rest.

END

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Celebrating MLK

Some of the many cultures that make up Southeast Texas came together Jan. 12 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to celebrating Dr. King’s birthday, the event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the I Have a Dream speech.

Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, celebrated Mass which included six languages. Many attendees dressed in clothing native to their cultures.

“In that dream of course is the content of what he was really trying to do. He was really trying to do two things, to desegregate our institutions, our schools, etc., and secondly was to create the beloved community. His idea was in this beloved community, people would treat each other as human beings created in the image and likeness of God and where there was a strife, people would reconcile and honor and respect each other’s cultures. The common goal was to be one family of God,” Bishop Curtis Guillory said of Dr. King. (more…)

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Mary “Mickey” Rudolph, age 86, passed away on Dec. 8, 2012, in Shepherd.

Funeral for Mickey Rudolph will be Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 702 E. Houston St., Cleveland. Society of Divine Word Father Paul Kahan and Father Eric Groner are celebrants. (more…)

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI surprised pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 24 by announcing he would create six new cardinals, including 63-year-old U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the papal household, in late November. (more…)

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St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson, Beaumont, will celebrate a Blue Mass in memory of Sept. 11 and for the safety of first responders. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, Sept. 9 at noon.

“The Blue Mass is a tradition in many dioceses around the country when law enforcement officers, fire fighters and EMS professionals gather for a special Mass and blessing for their work. The reason for calling it a Blue Mass stems from the fact that most first responders wear the color blue in their uniform,” Msgr. Jerry McGrath, rector of St. Anthony, said.

A replica of the Ground Zero Cross will be dedicated in the prayer garden. There will also be a blessing of first responders and emergency vehicles.

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By Anto Akkara Catholic News Service

NEW DELHI (CNS) — An official in the Indian Catholic Church has endorsed the idea that participants in sex-selective abortions should be charged with murder.

The backing by Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Helen Saldanha, secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Office for Women, comes as momentum builds to end female feticide, a practice that finds families terminating a pregnancy because the child they are expecting is a girl.

Filing criminal charges for killing a child in the womb because of its sex would “change the killer attitude” toward girls in Indian society, Sister Helen told Catholic News Service. (more…)

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By Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities praised lawmakers for including two conscience provisions in the House version of the 2013 appropriations bill for the federal departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. (more…)

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