Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,

The 2012 Southern Dominican Gala took place at the Houstonian Hotel on April 29. I enjoyed seeing so many parishioners there along with other friends of the Dominican Friars. All throughout the evening, people were laughing, talking, smiling, posing for pictures, and bidding on items. The scene reminded me of something one might see in an Impressionist painting.

The Southern Dominican Gala raises funds for both the Southern Dominican Province and Holy Rosary Priory. The Southern Province needs funds to carry out its mission of proclaiming the Gospel, caring for its elderly friars, and forming its novices and students to become tomorrow’s priests and brothers. Holy Rosary Priory has established an endowment for its portion of gala proceeds to address capital needs like home renovation and auto purchases. The friars are deeply grateful to all of their benefactors and pray for them on an ongoing basis.

I would like to congratulate Rabbi Roy A. Walter on receiving the St. Martin de Porres Award for 2012. Rabbi Walter has spent a good deal of his time working to alleviate hunger in the  Houston area. He has served on numerous boards for the good of the Houston community, and he is both past president and a Life Board Member of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, which seeks to promote understanding and peace among the world’s religions. Indeed, it was wonderful to see on the night of the gala Jews and Christians joined in the shared praise of God.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Harry and Verena Isensee, who chaired this year’s gala, as well as to the gala committee, the underwriters, the table sponsors, the individual sponsors, the auction item contributors, the volunteers, and Frs. Torres and Konkel for their invaluable contributions to the gala. I don’t know what profit was made from the gala, but judging by the smiles I saw on everyone’s face that night, it was a huge success!

Fr. Ian

Dear Parishioners,

May is Mary’s month. It’s been that way for a long time. During May, Catholics all over the world seek to honor Mary by holding May crownings, praying the Rosary, and singing Marian hymns.

The honor we pay to Mary is one of the great glories of Catholicism. Mary was the woman who said to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Thus, Mary paved the way for our Lord to enter the world and to become our Savior.

How can we honor her? The best way is to obey her Son. It’s interesting to note that Mary’s last recorded words in Scripture are, “Do whatever he tells you,” (Jn 2:5) which were her instructions to the wedding servers at Cana. Nonetheless, these words apply to us too. What Mary desires more than anything else is that all people find salvation in her Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, when we listen to her Son and obey him, this pleases Mary.

Another way we can honor Mary is by praying the Rosary, which causes us to meditate upon the mysteries of her Son’s life and Mary’s own life and helps us to conform our lives to these mysteries. We can also honor Mary by praying other Marian prayers such as the Hail, Holy Queen and the Memorare and by singing Marian hymns such as “Immaculate Mary” and the “Regina Caeli.”

Still another way of honoring Mary is to participate in the outdoor procession and Mass next Sunday, May 13, beginning at 6 p.m. in the gated parking lot. Our Vietnamese brothers and sisters organize this annual celebration and do a marvelous job at it. Yes, it is Mother’s Day. That’s why the Vietnamese Community chooses this day each year to hold the celebration, because of the immense gratitude they feel toward Mary and their desire to honor her. So, if you can, bring your earthly mother along and join us in the celebration of the Mother of us all, Mary. It will be a blessed time.

Fr. Ian