Sacred Heart enjoys long history of serving area faithful  (published 12/7/2007)

On January 3, 1839, two Vincentian missionaries offered the first Mass ever celebrated in Houston.  One of the priests, Rev. John Timon, estimated that the city's Catholic population was then about 300.  Fifty years later, Houston's Catholic population had increased to approximately 3,300.  Annunciation Church in downtown Houston was by far the largest of the city's three parishes, with 2,000 members.  As the city's population continued to grow, it became clear that another downtown parish was needed.  In 1896, Bishop Nicholas Gallagher named Rev. Thomas Keany the first pastor of a new church, to be named in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  A parish committee raised funds to purchase property on the corner of San Jacinto Street and Pierce Avenue, and on May 17, 1897, Bishop Gallagher laid the cornerstone for a combined church and school building.  Six months later, on November 7th, the Bishop returned to Houston to bless the completed church.  An article in the Houston Post noted that "The new church is not a pretentious one . . . but as a beginning it is very creditable."

The parish soon outgrew this unpretentious beginning.  By 1909 the third pastor, Rev. John Nicholson, had commissioned plans for a larger church to replace the original small frame structure.  It would be two years, however, before Bishop Gallagher laid the cornerstone for the present church, on June 11, 1911.  San Antonio's Catholic newspaper, the Southern Messenger, reported that the dedication of the church on April 14, 1912, "afforded all the people of that populous and progressive city another striking evidence of the virility and strength of Catholicity, whose advancement more than keeps pace with the material growth of the community."

Within 20 years, continued growth had made Houston the largest city in Texas.  In 1954, the population of the greater Houston area reached 1 million, of which an estimated 20 percent were Catholic.  Bishop Wendelin Nold helped to organize the celebrations to mark this milestone in the city's history, which included a recognition of the importance of religion and the spiritual life.  As the first Bishop of Galveston to live in Houston, Bishop Nold had watched the development of the city.  Realizing Houston's importance, and its potential for further growth, in 1958 he asked the Vatican to re-name the Diocese as "Galveston-Houston."  Since this would make Houston a co-see city, second to Galveston, it would need a co-cathedral to St. Mary Cathedral in Galveston.  Bishop Nold suggested Sacred Heart Church.  As he noted in a letter to the Apostolic Delegate, "All things considered – location, accessibility, age, size, beauty, - I deem the Sacred Heart Church to be the one most suitable."  The church was conveniently located two blocks from the site the Bishop had acquired for a new Chancery building, a point he mentioned in his proposal. 

On December 24, 1959, Archbishop Robert Lucey of San Antonio, acting for the Apostolic Delegate, executed the decrees that re-designated the Diocese and created the new Co-Cathedral.  Marking the change from a parish church, a bishop's chair was installed in the Co-Cathedral.  An editorial in the Houston Post stated that "the citizenry as a whole must feel proud" of the honor Houston had received, and the paper suggested that a new cathedral church would soon be built.  It would be almost fifty years, however, before construction began to replace the 1912 church building.
 

[Top]

Co-Cathedral tower bells blessed in honor of The Edward P. White Family (published 12/21/2007)
Four ‘Great Bells’ named after founders of local religious communities

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza recently blessed 23 bells being installed in the campanile of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

The bells were made available to the archdiocese thanks to the generosity of The Edward P. White Family – Raye G. White, Patti and Chad Evans and Michael A. White Jr. The bells were dedicated to the memory of Edward P. White II, Michael A. White, and Edward P. White III and Cathy White. Below the names on the bell, an engraving reads: “To the Honor and Glory of God.”

“The bells were a very gracious gift to us from Mrs. Raye White and her family,” Archbishop Fiorenza said. “(The bells) will play a very important role in the mission of the Church … to call the people to worship services, to commemorate important events – sometimes joyful events, sometimes tragic events.”

The archbishop says it is a customary tradition to bless the bells and anoint them because of their role as “the voice of God, or Vox Dei – calling us to worship,” he stated. “Church bells are a constant reminder of God’s call to us to be aware of Him, to be conscious of God’s presence in our lives when we hear the Church bells ringing.”

He continued, “The blessings of the bells are also referred to the Baptism of the bells, because they are in essence being baptized. We anoint them with oil and holy water, as we do when we baptize a person. The donor of the bells then becomes the Godparent.”

The Rite of Blessing of the bells by the archbishop took place outside the new co-cathedral, Dec. 12. The bells were cast by Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry of Asten, The Netherlands, according to Father Troy Gately, Sacred Heart pastor. Royal Eijsbouts is the largest bell foundry in the world.

The four “Great Bells” in the carillon are named after foundresses of the original religious communities who serve in the archdiocese: St. Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline Nuns who came to the archdiocese in 1847; Mother Jeanne de Matel, founder of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word (and spiritual foundress of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word); Mother Pauline Gannon, O.P., of the Sacred Heart (Houston) Dominican Sisters; and Mother Henriette Delille of the Sisters of the Holy Family.

According to Sister Marie de Montfort Breaux, S.S.F., Mother Henriette is the first U.S. native born African American whose cause for canonization has been officially opened by the Catholic Church. One of the miracles required for the process of “the cause” for her canonization was declared in Houston.

Religious representing the orders attended an on-site dedication ceremony for the four main bells, Dec. 9.

Sister Carla Crabtree, O.S.U, was one of the four Ursulines attending the event.

“We were all very happy to hear that the bells were going to be named after St. Angela,” she said. “Immediately after I got the news, I called our mother superior in St. Louis and we let the whole province know about this great thing about the bells.

“Many of our sisters have been stationed here over the years, in Galveston especially because of the academy that used to be there, and this is a great honor for those who have faithfully served here, as well.”

Sister Adrian Dover, O.P., the vicaress with the Houston Dominicans, considers her founder being recognized as a “humbling honor” to her community. “We hold Mother Pauline very dear to us. She is our second mother superior who brought us to Houston.”

Sister Adrian says Mother Pauline “had a real foresightedness about education.” The Dominicans have operated numerous schools and parishes in the local Church.

“Having one of those bells named after Mother Pauline gives us the feeling that we will always be here, that this is not just a passing thing – there is a permanence there in the co-cathedral,” Sister Adrian said.

Sister Mary Brendan O’Donnell, C.V.I, is thankful for any recognition that will expedite the canonization of Mother Jeanne de Matel. “It really means a lot to us to have our foundress (recognized) like that,” she said. “It just makes us walk very tall, because we are all so proud of Mother de Matel. We are hoping she will be canonized one fine day.”

The Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament have been in Houston for more than 130 years; during that time, many have been teachers and educators at Incarnate Word Academy. The local community has also helped found other schools and ministries in the diocese.

“Hopefully, we have been prominent in the diocese through the years,” Sister Mary Brendan said. “But giving prominence to our Mother Foundress means a lot to us because we follow in her steps.”

Also following in Mother Jeanne’s steps are the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who claim Mother Jeanne as a “spiritual founder” of their order. The Sisters of Charity have been particularly active in the field of medicine and aiding the sick.

“Our whole life blossoms from that spirituality of incarnation, so we have a strong interest in the dignity of persons and the whole manner for which we serve in ministry – primarily in healing and education. All of our ministries reflect that spirituality,” explained Sister Deenan Hubbard, C.C.V.I. “And Jesus becoming the word of the Father made flesh is the basis for our whole being as a congregation.

“So when the bell rings out, it’s kind of a new symbol of that spirituality being proclaimed again. It is like hearing the voice in a little different manner of incarnational spirituality.”

The permanence of the “Great Bells” in the campanile of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is reason for all to celebrate, says Sister Deenan.

“It is going to be there forever. It is a symbol of the Church, a symbol of incarnation. Every time the bells ring and call people to worship, it will remind them of God – that is traditionally what people associate with church bells,” she observed. “So when our particular bell rings, it will be a song of incarnation. It sings the song of Jesus becoming man – the Son of God, the word of the Father made flesh.”

She added, “That particular bell will have a special ring to it, to remind people of why we are here. It is a symbol of who we are as people, who the Church is, who we are coming to worship when people come to the co-cathedral to pray.” 
 

[Top]

Six minor shrines being prepared for installation  (published 1/4/2008)

As final key touches are being placed in the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the two major statues in the new worship space, the Shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the East Transept, and a Shrine to Our Blessed Mother in the West Transept, will soon be joined by six minor shrines along the west and east walls of the building’s nave.

The Minor Shrines will include St. Thérèse, St. Martin de Porres, St. Juan Diego, St. Joseph, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. Anthony.  The saints were chosen for their special significance for the local Church.  “They are placed here for our veneration and for our prayer, and to inspire us to live a holy life as they did, rooted in Christ,” says the archdiocesan website (www.archgh.org).

Painters are currently working on four of the statues which will be featured in the Minor Shrines.  They include St. Juan Diego, St. Joseph, St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton and St. Thérèse.  The other two statues, St. Martin de Porress and St. Anthony will be arriving by the end of the month, and all will be installed shortly afterwards. 
 

[Top]

Stained glass being installed in new co-cathedral  (published 1/18/2008)

Four minor shrines statues erected  (published 2/1/2008)

Four of the six minor shrine statues that will grace the nave of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart have been completed and erected.  On site for the actual completion and erection were artisans from Rohn Design Group, including senior artist, Renate Rohn.

Statues being erected included St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Therese, St. Juan Diego and St. Joseph.  The statues were sculpted in Italy from designs created by Rohn. 

“I think I’m partial to St. Joseph, but honestly the one I’m working on at any moment is usually my favorite,” Rohn explained.  The artist was putting a few finishing touches on the statue of St. Juan Diego, Jan. 28, as the first statue was being prepared to be permanently placed.

“Today we’re just doing some minor touch up work.  We want to make sure that things like the eyes are focused, and that the color is subtle on each piece,” Rohn explained.

Rohn, a second generation church artist, put down her brush and stopped to watch as a crew from Linbeck carefully positioned the 700-pound wooden statue in its place.

“It’s an honor to have our work be a part of this cathedral,” Rohn said.

Two more statues, those of St. Martin de Porres and St. Anthony, are scheduled to arrive sometime this month. 
 

[Top]

Website for new co-cathedral re-launches this week  (published 2/15/2008)
Faithful can access loads of info, artwork as dedication date nears

Construction on the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is now reaching its conclusion.  With the dedication of the new worship space less than one month away, crews from Linbeck Construction are now finishing up a plethora of details to ensure the building is completed on time.

At press time, the altar, ambo, baptismal font and Stations of the Cross were all being installed.  The majority of scaffolding has also been removed from most of the building.

Last week volunteers from the church assisted crews from Linbeck in unloading materials as the pews were delivered from the manufacturer.  The pews will be assembled on-site.

In addition, other crews were busy planting trees and performing other landscaping around the new co-cathedral.

The dedication of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will take place April 2.  For more information visit http://www.archgh.org/cocathedral/dedication/index.htm.
 

[Top]

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s new central place of worship will finally reach completion as the entire archdiocesan community, led by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, will mark the occasion with a Dedication Mass, April 2, at 12 noon.

The new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart has been under construction for more than three years, as ground for the new church was broken, Jan. 30, 2005.

Seating up to 2,000 faithful, the new Co-Cathedral will serve as the home for diocesan-wide events such as priestly ordinations. The current co-cathedral has a limited seating capacity of approximately 700.

The new Co-Cathedral was part of the then Diocese of Galveston-Houston’s “Celebrating Our Faith in the Third Millennium” Capital Campaign, undertaken in 2000.

At press time, crews from Linbeck were putting the finishing touches on the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and the Stations of the Cross among other things, as well as removing the fence that has surrounded the property since 2004, and finishing up landscaping around the new church.

Last week, the relics of two saints, St. Therese of Lisieux and Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, were delivered to the archdiocese. The relics will be placed at the foot of the altar of the new church during the Dedication Mass.

The depositing of relics is an ancient tradition in the Church. The rite of dedication of a church directs that the relics must be authentic and of sufficient size to be recognizable. Relics are deposited to remind the faithful that the sacrifice of the martyrs and saints finds its source in the sacrifice of Christ.

The first three dedication events will be by invitation only.

They include First Vespers, celebrated in the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1116 St. Joseph Parkway, at 6 p.m., April 1; the Dedication Mass and Second Vespers celebrated after the Mass, April 2, at 7 p.m.

The faithful of the archdiocese will be able to visit the new co-cathedral beginning on Saturday, April 5, as the Church will host guided tours 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza will be the main celebrant at the Solemn Vigil Mass that evening at 5:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in the new Co-Cathedral Sunday, April 6, at 9 and 11 a.m., 1 p.m. in Vietnamese and at 5 p.m. with Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto as the main celebrant of the evening Mass.

In addition, the archdiocese has announced a series of special Masses and prayer services to commemorate the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. They include an Inaugural Spanish Mass, Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m.; an Archdiocesan Youth Mass, April 11, 7 p.m. and an Ecumenical/Interfaith Prayer Service, presided by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, Tuesday, April 29, 7 p.m.

KTRK Channel 13 will broadcast the Dedication Mass live on April 2.

Channel 13 will also take a close look into various aspects of the building of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The one-hour documentary, “Creating Houston’s Co-Cathedral,” will bring to the viewer a behind-the-scenes look into the origins of the design, the creation of the statues, the placement of the magnificent stained glass windows and other interesting facts about the construction of the Co-Cathedral of the largest archdiocese in the Southern United States. “Creating Houston’s Co-Cathedral” will be repeated on KTRK Channel 13 on Sunday, March 23 at 4 p.m. and on Sunday March 30, at 10:35 p.m.

KHOU Channel 11 will also air its own special titled, “Building on Faith,” Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m.
 

[Top]