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Catechists in diocese expand knowledge, earn endorsements
By SUSAN DE MATTEO
TYLER – The diocesan Office of Faith Formation has issued endorsements for 137 catechists in parish formation programs.
To
receive endorsement, catechists must earn credit hours in doctrine and
methodology through classes sponsored by the diocesan formation office.
They can receive endorsement at four levels: beginning, basic,
intermediate and advanced.
Endorsement was mandated in August, 2002, for catechists who wish to teach in parish programs.
The
diocese has 622 catechists endorsed at the Beginning Level, 277 at the
Basic Level, 141 at the Intermediate Level and 92 at the Advanced
Level, according to the faith formation office.
Receiving their endorsements this year are:
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East Texas deacons to celebrate silver jubilee
By JO ANNE FLORES EMBLETON
Several East Texas men will celebrate their 25th anniversary as ordained deacons this November.
Deacons Dennis Gilchrist of Kilgore, Ramiro Martinez, Joe Carvajal and
Bo Carey of Tyler, and Loren Seeley of Sulphur Springs were part of a
Diocese of Dallas formation class that met in Longview and were
ordained Nov. 6, 1982. Their classmate John Milton was ordained Nov.
20, 1982, in his home parish in Trinity, for the Diocese of
Galveston-Houston.
“We were fairly new in this part of the state,” Deacon Gilchrist said,
describing how Catholic deacons were not well recognized by the
community. “You had to be a little bit careful how you presented
yourself, because people weren’t they weren’t familiar with permanent
deacons – (non-Catholics) didn’t look at (the diaconate) as
sacramental, but related us to what the deacons in their churches did.”
He said his class was one of the last from East Texas to be ordained
for the Dallas and Galveston-Houston Dioceses, because when the Diocese
of Tyler formed in February, 1987, subsequent classes were ordained for
the local diocese.
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Gorman students breathe life, energy into ‘Godspell’
Bishop
T.K. Gorman Catholic High School students brought the Gospel of Matthew
to life in their production of the classic musical “Godspell.”
Led by
Brennan Sullivan as Jesus and Jeff Klein as John the Baptist/Judas, the
cast performed Oct. 11, 13 and 14 in Haddad Gym on a stage transformed
into an “urban playground,” complete with metal fence and street signs,
by set designer Bob Liles. Typical of “Godspell,” often called a
“hippie musical,” the costumes were kaleidoscopically colorful, the
props both simple and imaginative, and the actors themselves painted
and garbed to resemble a troupe of street performers.
What distinguished the production, however, was the energy, skill and touching power of the performances.
As
Jesus, Sullivan was by turns earnest, playful, gentle and exasperated
with his “disciples,” who brought to life such parables as the Prodigal
Son, the persistent widow, the woman caught in adultery and the rich
man and Lazarus through song and dance, storytelling and pantomime.
Early in the opening night’s performance, Sullivan suffered a few shaky
moments in singing, but he grew steadily in confidence until, by the
time he was rebuking the Pharisees as hypocrites in the song, “Alas for
You,” he had assumed an impressive power and conviction.
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PROFILE: God guided us every step along the way
By SUSAN DE MATTEO
CARTHAGE – Step by step, God led Larry and Laura Bate home.
“Home” is the Catholic Church, into which they were both received in
1984. Ironically, it was their constant effort to understand and deepen
their Protestant faith that ultimately brought them into the Catholic
one.
“It’s like Father (Tim) Kelly (pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Church in
Flint) says,” said Laura. “To study history is to become Catholic.”
“I look back on all the things we were doing, our studying and
searching,” said Larry, “and I realize that, in our approach, we were
Catholic all along. We just didn’t know it.”
They know it now, and are content with where God has led them.
“We’re so happy to be Catholic,” said Laura. “We love the church, and
we know this is where we belong. When we look at everything Christ
gives us in the church, we know we’re blessed to be here.”
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Discipleship Week will begin Oct. 20
By CET
TYLER – The Diocese of Tyler’s annual Discipleship Week begins Oct. 20
with the Encuentro Guadalupano at the diocese’s Bullard property.
The Spanish-language conference, with the theme María Durante el Año
Litúrgico (“Mary During the Liturgical Year”), will feature Father
Ariel Cortés of Holy Cross Church in Pittsburg as chief presenter.
Sister Angelica Orozco, EFMS, will lead the children’s session.
The week will conclude Oct. 26-27 with the Discipleship Conference at
Holiday Inn Select in Tyler and a youth rally Oct. 27 at Bishop T.K.
Gorman Catholic High School in Tyler. More>>
Special liturgy, recognition Nov. 3 for altar servers in Diocese of Tyler
By CET
TYLER
– Altar servers from throughout the Tyler Diocese will be recognized
during a Nov. 3 day of appreciation at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel at St. Peter Claver Parish in Tyler.
Bishop
Álvaro Corrada, SJ, will be the main celebrant of a 10 a.m. Mass for
servers and their families. The Knights of Columbus will provide a
luncheon at the parish hall after the liturgy.
Father
Francis O'Dowd, diocesan vocation director, said the event is "the way
Bishop Corrada shows appreciation to those youths who serve their
parishes by serving at the altar.
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