Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Seeking Christian Unity

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“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:20-21

Monday begins the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), a time when Christians pray for the unity that Jesus prayed for. We do not know what form the unity that God wants for us will take, but we know we must seek it.

Seeking Christian Unity is like climbing a mountain, the top of which is shrouded by a cloud. You do not know what you will find on the cloud-covered top, but you know you must make the climb.

The Week of Prayer has special meaning this year because of its origin and the Holy Father’s invitation to Anglicans to come into the Church. The Church Unity Octave, forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian was first observed in 1908 by the Atonement Friars an Anglican community at Graymoor, New York. Less than two years later, the friars and a sister community of Anglican women religious, were received corporately into the Catholic Church.

Father Paul James Watson, SA, had been ordained into the Protestant Episcopal priesthood in 1886. In 1910 he was ordained a Catholic priest. The companion community of nuns was founded by Sister Lurana White, who also converted to Catholicism in 1909.

In 1916 Pope Benedict XV extended the Church Unity Octave to the universal church and in 1966 the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches began collaborating with the Vatican on the observance. The Graymoor Friars remain the principal promoters of the week.

We continue our journey toward that Christian unity that is God’s will.

A Response to the Tragedy in Haiti

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The death and devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti has saddened the world.  The Vatican has confirmed that the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, the Most Reverend Joseph Serge Miot, was killed in the offices of the archdiocese when the earthquake struck.   That building, along with the cathedral, archbishop’s residence and the seminary in Port-au-Prince were all reduced to rubble.

I ask the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Dallas to join me in praying for all those who lost their lives, the injured and their families. Let us pray that the world responds quickly with aide to this poor, ravaged country.  A special collection will be taken up in Catholic churches around the country the weekend of January 17  and I ask all of our parishes to participate so that the Diocese of Dallas may support our Haitian brothers and sisters during this overwhelming tragedy.  To donate online please click here, scroll down to One-Time Payment and in the box marked “Other” specify Haitian Earthquake Relief. 

May God bring comfort and courage to the people of Haiti in this, their time of tremendous need.

Open Your Hearts and Your Pocketbooks for the People of Haiti

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Pictures and reports from Haiti following yesterday’s catastrophic earthquake reflect unimaginable devastation and human suffering. The estimate of hundreds-of-thousands of deaths makes it one of history’s most tragic events. International aid is having difficulty reaching the Haitian people because of the extent of the damage.

It is estimated that about 80 percent of the population of Haiti is Catholic.

Among the dead is Archbishop Joseph Serge Minot of Port au Prince who died at his desk when the chancery was destroyed along with the cathedral and the seminary. Over 100 priests and seminarians reportedly were killed when the building where they were on retreat collapsed.

We share the anguish of our suffering brothers and sisters. Catholic agencies are mustering to provide aid to alleviate the suffering, but there will be much help needed to rebuild the devastated land.

I have directed that a special collection be taken up this weekend at all Masses in the diocese to assist the people of Haiti.

Open your hearts and your pocketbooks. Be generous with your prayers and your contributions

Kudos to our Catholic Schools

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We all can take pride in the accomplishments of our 37 elementary Catholic schools and their students. Last October, for the first time, all students in grades 1 through 8 took The Iowa Test of Basic Skills, a nationally rated achievement test.

When Sister Gloria Cain, SSND, our Catholic school superintendent, received the results recently, they showed that our Catholic school students scored better than 70 percent of all the students in the United States.

I congratulate the students, teachers and administrators on this significant accomplishment.

Be sure to look for a detailed report in the next edition of The Texas Catholic.

Principles for True Healthcare Reform

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It is important to make clear the U.S. Bishops position in the current health care debate:

We have long supported reform to provide adequate and affordable health care for all but any final health care bill must include these fundamental principles.

•Current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protection on abortion must be kept in place

•Immigrants present access to health care must be protected and current barriers removed to provide health care to all immigrants regardless of status.

•There must be strong provisions for adequate affordability and coverage standards.

The bill approved by the House of Representatives meets these criteria. The bill approved by the Senate does not. Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care
providers, plans or employers

A compromise proposal is now being worked on and must be approved by both House and Senate. We believe it must include these fundamental principles.

Legislation that fails to comply with this policy and precedent is not true health care reform and should be opposed until this fundamental problem is remedied.

God’s Gentle Call

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This brief poem by Steve Landregan is published in The Texas Catholic this week in connection with an article on the National Vocation Awareness Week. I believe it captures well the nature of a vocation as a response to God’s call.
God’s Gentle Call

It’s difficult to hear God’s voice,
Life’s din can drown it out.
A gentle but persistent call,
It’s not God’s way to shout.

Take up your cross and follow me!
There still is much to do.
The hungry and the heartsick,
Will all need tending to.

You see, I have no hands but yours
To heal and soothe and bless
To wash their feet and give them hope
And teach them more is less.

I do not need a weathervane,
All glorious and grand,
I only want foundation stones,
That make the building stand.

I came to serve and not be served,
You’re called to do the same,
To kneel with basin and with towel,
And do it in my name.

The Power of One…a True Catholic Hero

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“What can I do? I am only one person!”

So often you hear these words as an excuse to do nothing. Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak has proven the power of one. As a Catholic he has firmly opposed the inclusion of public funding for abortions in the health care legislation taking shape on Capitol Hill. His amendment to do just that is part of the House version of the health care package. He is unapologetic about his position being based on his Catholic Faith. Scorned by his pro-choice colleagues, as the New York Times stated , “ He wears scorn as a medal”.

A true Catholic Hero who has the courage of his convictions and has shown the power of one.

Kick up your heels for Catholic Charities

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It continues to be both amazing and edifying to me the way Catholics in the Diocese of Dallas respond to the needs of the community. For more than 100 years Catholic Charities has demonstrated the care and compassion of Christ in our Diocese. Catholic Charities has touched the lives of thousands without regard to race or creed. It witnesses to the Church’s preferential option for the poor today with its network of family and human services, just as it did when it was founded to care for orphans more than 110 years ago.

A significant portion of the funds necessary for the continuing operation of many of its services is raised through the annual Bishop’s Gala to be held the evening of January 16 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. This year the theme is “Boots & Dazzle, Big D Style.” The evening will include music by Diamond Rio, the great country music band. Some who participate in the live auction will go home with a ticket to Italy tucked in their pocket.

Come, kick up your heels and have an evening of fun for a wonderful cause.