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The Vatican announced Jan. 20 that Pope Francis accepted Cardinal DiNardo’s resignation from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and named Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of Austin, as Cardinal DiNardo’s successor, and the next Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Archbishop-Designate Vásquez has been a priest for more than 40 years and was ordained a bishop in 2002 to serve as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese until 2010, when he was appointed as the fifth bishop of Austin. He has led the Diocese of Austin for the last 15 years. During his eight years in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop-Designate Vásquez fulfilled several roles in the operations of the archdiocese, as Vicar General, Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia, Secretariat Director for Administration and Vicar for Hispanics. His prior experience here will prove invaluable as he returns to lead this diverse and growing archdiocese. Archbishop-Designate Vásquez will be installed as the ninth archbishop of Galveston-Houston on March 25, 2025, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. In a statement following his appointment, Archbishop-Designate Vasquez,said he was grateful to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for appointing him the next Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and expressed his appreciation to his predecessors, his Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza. Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza ordained Vasquez as a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo and later a bishop for Galveston-Houston. “He was truly a spiritual father to me and continues to be a source of inspiration,” he said. He added, “Cardinal DiNardo has faithfully served the needs of this Archdiocese for many years. He has been a true shepherd providing this local church with wise leadership and excellent service. I hold him in the highest esteem and will depend on his counsel to help me serve the people of this vibrant and growing Church. “I look forward to working with the many dedicated priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and lay faithful in this Archdiocese. You are a church rich in diversity, goodness and generosity, and I look forward to meeting with you and listening to you as together we grow in our faith and love for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Bishop Vasquez also expressed his gratitude to the people of the Diocese of Austin, “for the prayers, love and support they have shown in allowing me to serve there for nearly 15 years. I will always have them in my heart.” He added, “I am grateful to God for bestowing this responsibility on me and I am humbled by this appointment. As I begin my service in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, I entrust myself to the tender embrace of Our Lady of Guadalupe and to the compassionate protection of St. Joseph.” Bishop Vásquez currently serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as Lead Bishop for Region X for the V National Encounter for Hispanic/Latino Ministry (V Encuentro).

El Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, invita a los fieles a orar con él y con la gente de todo el mundo orando por una intención específica cada mes. El Santo Padre ha confiado de modo particular estas intenciones a la Red Mundial de Oración del Papa, una organización que trabaja para animar a los cristianos a responder al llamado del Papa y a profundizar su oración diaria.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, invites the faithful to pray with him and people worldwide in praying for a specific intention each month. The Holy Father has entrusted these intentions in a particular way to the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, an organization that works to encourage Christians to respond to the Pope's appeal and to deepen their daily prayer.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores's decree announcing the local observance of the Jubilee Year 2025. Included in the decree are the four designated churches as pilgrimage sites to gain a Plenary Indulgence. He also outlines the conditions for gaining the Plenary Indulgence.

Strengthening Catholic leaders at the border of Mexico and the United States of America.

Fortaleciendo líderes católicos en la frontera de México y Estados Unidos.

Kimberly Capuras, a graduate from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, spoke with Jose Ricardo Palermo, associate director of Young Adult Ministry for Catholic Diocese of Brownsville about the challenges of being a young Catholic professional. Capuras, who earned a degree in business and administrative accounting in the spring of 2023, is now pursuing her master’s degree. While she learned about the Newman Center on campus her last semester in college, she is grateful it put her in contact with other Catholic students who are interested in their faith and learning more about it.

Read about an inspiring young lady in the latest Christus Vivit in the RGV column. Sofia Barreto lives in Hidalgo and is a recent graduate from The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley majoring in Biology with minors in Psychology and Addiction Studies. In an interview with Raul Cabrera, associate director for University Ministry, she shares her discipleship journey, her experiences as a ministry intern, and her vision for the future.

Read about a local young adult, Josh Velasquez, who is one of ten Perpetual Pilgrims walking on the San Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.

The San Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began in Brownsville with hundreds of people setting out together from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral after Mass to accompany the Blessed Sacrament in procession.

Pope Francis presides at an Ordinary Consistory of Cardinals, which approved the canonization of 15 people, including Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be made a saint.

Patricia Galindo of Brownsville, Texas, sits atop her tricycle outside Sacred Heart Church in Galveston on June 2, 2024, after following a Eucharistic procession. She followed portions of the St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage by trike as it journeyed through Texas from Brownsville to Beaumont at the Texas-Louisiana border. (OSV News photo/James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald)

Alleluia! He is risen! A 50-day season of hope, renewal, and love. Easter begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost.

Declaración del Obispo Daniel E. Flores al pueblo de la Diócesis de Brownsville sobre una reciente acusación de conducta sexual inapropiada con un menor por parte de un sacerdote que supuestamente ocurrió hace unos 35 años. Por favor remita todas las llamadas de los medios a la Directora de Relaciones Diocesanas, Brenda Riojas, (956) 536-4866, y las acusaciones de abuso a la Coordinadora de Asistencia a las Víctimas, Margie García, (956) 238-1455.

Statement from Bishop Daniel E. Flores to the people of the Diocese of Brownsville regarding a recent allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor by a priest that is alleged to have occurred about 35 years ago. Please refer all media calls to the Diocesan Relations Director, Brenda Riojas, (956) 536-4866, and abuse allegations to the Victims Assistance Coordinator, Margie Garcia, (956) 238-1455.

In this interview, Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville shares his personal experiences from the October 2023 Synod on Synodality in Rome. He discusses the significance of the Synod's themes of 'communion, participation, and mission' and how they resonate with the local church. Bishop Flores offers valuable insights into how pastors and parish leaders in the Diocese can integrate the learnings from the Synod into their ministries. This video is for those looking to deepen their understanding of the Synod on Synodality and its impact on the Catholic Church at both the diocesan and parish levels.

A ministry of Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute, Franciscan at Home is provides online learning for individuals who serve in a ministry of their parish.  Franciscan at Home boasts an enormous library of online workshops designed to “form those who form others,” and utilizes mentored learning to bolster formation and strengthen relationships at the local level. Franciscan at Home is a free service made available to every parish in our diocese.