News - April 2014 RSS Feed

The West Texas Catholic: Welcome back from Rome. Let’s start our conversation with some observations about the April 27th Canonization Mass... Bishop Patrick J. Zurek: As soon as I heard that the two popes were approved for canonization, I decided that I wanted to be present for two main reasons. John Paul II was the pope who appointed me as bishop and he was the one I had met so many times—we have talked about this before. I went with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to begin with and it was also to be a spiritual pilgrimage for me, not going just as a tourist.

Canonizing two recent popes in the presence of his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis praised the new Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II as men of courage and mercy, who responded to challenges of their time by modernizing the Catholic Church in fidelity to its ancient traditions.

Vatican City (CNS)—The rite of canonization for Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II Sunday, April 27 will use the standard formula for the creation of new saints, but the Mass will be preceded by the recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet, and it is possible retired Pope Benedict XVI will attend, the Vatican spokesman said. “He is invited,” said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesman. “We’ll have to see if he wants to be present and feels up to it.”

The annual Chrism Mass is set for Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 South Washington.

The latest 12-month Diocesan Calendar, covering the period of Tuesday, July 1 to Tuesday, June 30, 2015, will be published in the Sunday, June 15 issue of The West Texas Catholic.