Bishop Pfeifer says that in Rio, for WYD13, the world was made as it should be, if only for a few days / Pg. 11 Serving the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas Volume XXXIII, No. 8 AUGUST 2013 Electronic delivery of diocesan news, Angelus to begin Friend us on Facebook, This month, the West Texas Angelus will www.flocknote.com/dosamail. Give us your DOSA Mail will provide you the latest or check out begin delivery of “DOSA Mail,” a weekly first and last name and your email address. news and information locally and from sanangelodiocese.org update of news from around the diocese Assign yourself a password for your own around the world. If something important that will also include articles and comment records and you’re in. It costs nothing. occurs on a day other than when DOSA Mail By faith martyrs from a wide variety of Catholic sources. The service is provided by Flocknotes, a is sent, we’ll get it to you whenever it hap- gave their lives, DOSA Mail, short for Diocese of San Spring, Texas-based operation run by pens instead of making you wait until the bearing witness to Angelo Mail, will be delivered to all who young, tech-savvy Catholics who have dis- next week, but we will not flood your inbox. the truth of the subscribe to the free service. It will keep covered a great way to increase communi- Parishes, please email news/info you would Gospel that had you up to date on Catholic news in West cations as we have been nudged toward by like Catholics around the diocese to know transformed them. Texas when it happens, including items the Church. about to [email protected]. August Study from Bishop Pfeifer, and information from St. Ann’s Church in Midland has been The new email begins the week of Aug. 5. Question / Pg. 7 parishes who supply items for distribution. using the service since October 2012 and It will also include electronic delivery of a pdf The user sign-up process is simple: visit has almost 400 subscribers. version of the monthly West Texas Angelus. Fall Festival Listings (August-September) AUGUST 9-11 Local Catholics attend Honduran celebration St. Margaret’s — Big Lake 4 Thousands attend landmark SEPTEMBER 15 anniversary of San Pedro Sula St. Therese Catholic – Carlsbad diocese. By Msgr. Larry Droll SEPTEMBER 26-29 St. Ann’s Family Fair, Midland SAN PEDRO SULA, HON- DURAS — In a soccer stadium filled SEPTEMBER 29 with 16,000 people, the Catholic Immaculate Conception-Knickerbocker Diocese of San Pedro Sula celebrated Hermanamiento partner- it’s 50th anniversary in magnificent COMPLETE LIST / Pg. 5 ship teams from the manner on July 13. Several hours of ANGELO SAN TX 76902-1829 dioceses of San Pedro music and various presentations led ANGELO SAN OF DIOCESE Sula, Tyler and San to the Mass, celebrated by Most Rev. Angelo, at right, and Angel Garachana, bishop of the dio- 1829 BOX PO above, San Pedro Sula Bishop Angel cese. Garachana presides Concelebrants included the Vatican over the 50th Jubilee Nuncio Most Rev. Luigi Bianco; Mass. (Courtesy pho- tos) (Please See HONDURAS/20) Then and Now: Father Z and the Matthiesens Father Benedict Zientek, center in photo at far left and at right in photo at left, was present for the baptism of Sam Matthiesen, November 13, 1985, as well as for Fr. Matthiesen’s ordination, PAID POSTAGE US NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT SAN ANGELO, TX ANGELO, SAN June 8, 2013. Fr. Z, now 80 and 44 NO. PERMIT a priest for 55 years, baptized the infant Sam and vested him at his ordination for the priest- hood. Fr. Matthiesen’s parents, Starla and James, were of course also present at both of their son’s sacraments. Page 2 AUGUST 2013 The Angelus A PASTORAL MESSAGE Church underscores respect for homosexual persons Same-sex unions, however, violate God’s plan for marriage By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the fundamental institution that pre-dates government the object of violent malice in speech or action. Such and Church – marriage. Homosexuals, like heterosex- The recent Supreme Court’s decision withdrawing treatment deserves condemnation of the Church’s pas- uals, have rights by virtue of their humanity, not by support for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) tors” (Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons). As fol- virtue of a particular sexual inclination. Genuine opened the door for more same sex unions. It is lowers of Christ we must treat people who are homo- human rights are rooted in the truth about the human important that we have a clear understanding of the sexuals with the same dignity and respect owed to all person. It is those who promote same-sex marriages Bishop Catholic Church’s position as regards homosexuality persons as all are made in the image and likeness of who are violating the basic human rights of others by Pfeifer and so-called same-sex marriages. Most important is God. changing the core natural and supernatural meaning of that we now teach and preach the beautiful biblical At the same time the Church clearly teaches truths marriage established by God as Father and Creator and traditional truth about the true meaning of mar- based on many passages of Scripture that sexual acts and has been accepted by all people down through the riage, and help our people to prepare well for the between people of the same sex are intrinsically evil, ages. These are not created by government or by any Sacrament of Marriage. and that no government or court are empowered to human court. Implying that people who have the First, the Church clearly states that hatred, unjust give civil approval to same-sex unions. It must also same attraction have a right to engage in sexual activi- discrimination and violence toward people with a be stated that recognition of the human rights of ty or be joined in “marriage” goes against human same-sex attraction is entirely immoral. The Church homosexual people can never imply support for a has consistently spoken against such acts, stating, “It is lifestyle of homosexuality, or a radical redefinition of (Please See PASTORAL LETTER/6) DIOCESAN BRIEFS Letter to the Vatican II Workshop Brownwood Art Center, 215 Fisk, Brownwood. Vatican on Jan. 8, 2014. in San Angelo • Ready to hang art 14 x 18 or smaller. The group will spend two nights in Assisi, Diocese Vatican II: 50 Years Later • The show will take place Saturday and two nights in Florence, and four nights in Achievements and a Work in Progress Sunday, September 28-29, 12 -6 p.m. Rome. Msgr. Voity will celebrate Masses for Dear Bishop Pfeifer, Saturday, September 21, 2013 • Winning art will be on display and cash the group at the Tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, Please receive my greeting Newman Center, San Angelo prizes will be awarded at St. Mary’s Fall and also at St. Catherine’s Chapel, the and my heartfelt gratitude for 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Festival, Sunday, October 6, 2013 by Judge Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, your most generous response and on the Altar/Tomb of Blessed John Paul II Presenter: S. Maureen Sullivan, O.P. Amada Brown. to the parishioners of St. in St. Peter’s Basilica. Fee: $25.00 (lunch included) The 5 divisions are: Special Needs, 6 Frances Cabrini Parish in The cost includes daily breakfast, and most years and under, 7-9 years, 10-13 years, For more information contact the Office of dinners. A festive meal and entertainment will Granbury. The devastation 14-17 years old. Top 3 in each category Education and Formation 325-651-7500 or be held one evening in the Tuscan country- from the tornadoes was great, [email protected] receive prizes of $25, $15 and $10. Best of side outside of Florence. Cost for the pilgrim- however, with the response Show will be awarded $50. age in double-occupancy is $3,229 per per- from you and others the faith Rachel’s Vineyard Entry fee is $5 for each piece submitted. son from San Angelo or Abilene, and $3,129 of many is being uplifted and Because of the tender mercy of our God, per person from DFW. held firm as they continue to the rising sun will come to us from heaven ‘Come and See’ For more information, or to receive a rebuild their lives. to shine on those living in darkness and in Discernment Weekend flyer/booking slip, contact Sacred Heart the shadow of death, to guide our feet into Cathedral in San Angelo at 325-658-6567, or In addition to all of your email Msgr. Voity at [email protected]. the path of peace. Discernment weekends at the Incarnate prayers and support, we have — Reflections from Footprints; Luke Reservations are first-come, first-served Word Convent in Victoria are for single received from your diocese a 1:78-79 basis. Deadline for reservations is August 23. Catholic women 18 to 50 years of age on total amount in financial assis- Come experience the tender mercy of tance through donations of September 21-22, at Incarnate Word WT Catholic Family Conference Jesus Christ. Let Him shine on the darkness Convent in Victoria. See iwbsvictoria.org for $21,858.29 as of June 17, and pain of your abortion. Join us on our more information. For more information, Soldiers of Christ, Culture of Life 2013. next Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, Nov. 15-17, please contact us at (361) 575-7111 or 2013, Lubbock, TX.