On Friday, June 24th, Bishop Mark Seitz celebrated mass at the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Watch the mass here:

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I am extremely disappointed to hear that the U.S. Supreme Court has acted to overturn the will of the people of Texas to provide common sense protections to women who are seeking the serious medical procedure of an abortion.  An abortion results in the death and dismemberment of an unborn child but it also can have serious risks for the mother.  A 2009 Finnish study reported that 20% of abortions had potentially serious complications.

Unregulated facilities such as the one in Philadelphia under the direction of the murderous abortionist, Kermit Gosnell, led to abuses that only a few years ago shocked the nation with his butchery of women for profit.  Without oversight, what is to prevent this situation from taking place here in Texas?

It is sad to see that the drive for the license to kill the unborn has now led us in this country to turn our heads the other way, failing to even sensibly regulate this deadly commerce which often harms the mother and always results in the death of her child.

We continue to pray and work toward a culture of respect and legal protection for every human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, where every mother facing an unexpected pregnancy will know she has the love and support she needs to choose life for her unborn child.

Bp. Mark J. Seitz

Get your tickets for Catholic Night .

AUSTIN — The US Supreme Court has decided, in a 5-3 decision, to strike down Texas HB2, a law that protects women’s safety while seeking an abortion. The Texas Bishops are highly concerned that this ruling puts women at grave risk.
The Texas State Legislature overwhelmingly approved HB2. Its main purpose is to secure surgical center, health and safety standards for women seeking an abortion. Their lives are just as precious as those of their children.
Surgical abortion is an invasive procedure that poses numerous and serious medical complications. The state has a legitimate interest in ensuring the maximum level of safety for the woman subjected to the procedure and that viable emergency care is available if complications such as hemorrhage, infection, uterine perforation, blood clots, cervical tears, or allergic reactions occur. It is irresponsible for physicians to perform this procedure without being able to provide follow-up treatment for the associated complications.
The Catholic Church in Texas, in communion with millions of Catholics and pro-life people across America and the world, will continue our efforts to protect life and human dignity from conception to natural death.
The Texas Catholic Conference is the association of the Roman Catholic bishops of Texas. Through the TCC, the bishops provide a moral and social public policy voice that includes monitoring all legislation pertaining to Catholic moral and social teaching; accredit the state's Catholic schools; and maintain records that reflect the work and the history of the Catholic Church in Texas.

In November 2014, when President Obama announced new actions to stave off deportation for an expanded group of migrants who came to this country as children and their parents, he recalled Scripture, which “tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger – we were strangers once, too.”

Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court in United States v. Texas eliminates those protections, shatters hopes for over 4 million migrants now at risk of deportation, and injects unnecessary fear and anxiety of separation of families across the United States.

President Obama’s announcement of DAPA and expanded DACA was the result of years of painstaking work and committed efforts by migrant advocates, grassroots organizations, some legislators and the faith community. The scandal of a broken system that criminalizes and scapegoats immigrants who fight for a better life for their children and families that contribute every day to our economy and communities is laid bare once again by the decision of the Supreme Court.

When Pope Francis visited our country and addressed Congress, he reminded lawmakers that “when the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and errors of the past.” Today’s sad ruling reinforces our commitment to work for truly comprehensive, permanent immigration reform. We call on Congress to do the same.

It was brought to our attention that a recent event page for a bazaar at St. Thomas Aquinas is circulating on Facebook. 
 
The diocesan bishop, according to the laws of the church, oversees the individual parishes through the appointment of pastors. Therefore, a parish is administered and represented by its pastor in all its affairs according to canon law (church law).
 
All parish activities to include festivals are at the discretion of the parish pastor and not a diocesan-level decision. Therefore, the hosting and/or timing of such an event would be under the direction of St. Thomas Aquinas’ pastor. 
 
Please refer questions regarding the summer bazaar to the St. Thomas Aquinas parish.

Bishop Mark Seitz announced a new priest has been assigned to serve two parishes, San Jose and Santa Lucia, beginning in September.
 
Bishop Mark Seitz made the announcement at the pastoral center’s Martyr’s Hall on Jun. 20.  A simultaneous announcement was held at Santa Lucia Parish by Fr. Tony Celino, the diocese’s vicar general.
 
The new priest, who has not yet been named, will come from the Order of Friar Servants of Mary. He will reside at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. 
 
“We have been very fortunate that the Servites have a priest they could send to us during this time when we simply do not have enough priests to serve all of our parishes,” said Bishop Seitz.
 
Bishop Seitz said the Diocese of El Paso has 57 parishes, 19 missions served by 43 diocesan priests and supplemented by 46 religious order priests. The number of priests who are expected to retire over the next 10 years exceeds the number of priests who will be ordained and will replace them, bishop said.
 
“A priest-sharing situation like what we will put in place at San Jose and Santa Lucia is what we’ve had to do for years in our West Texas parishes,” Bishop Seitz said.  “I’ve spent more than a year looking at how best to serve our parishioners. Ideally, I would love to have a priest at every parish but that’s not possible.”
 
The announcement of a new priest is especially big news for San Jose where Fr. Jose Alcocer will retire Aug. 31, 2016.  Earlier this year, San Jose’s church was torn down after a wall of the adobe building collapsed.  Currently, a parish hall remains on the property where parishioners have been meeting for 11 months. Of particular concern for parishioners was their request to build a new church.  Bishop Seitz told parishioners a new building in place of the old one is not possible.  Not only is the former site limited in space, he said, there are other matters to consider.
 
 “Although we have been blessed with the service of a new priest who will serve San Jose and Santa Lucia, we must begin to find the best ways to use the few priests we will have so that they are best able to serve regions of exploding growth in some parts of our Diocese at the same time as we serve existing communities.“
 
Bishop Seitz said San Jose’s building fund of an estimated $1 million is a “restricted fund.” It is held in trust for the parish by the diocese but can only be used by San Jose Parish for capital purposes.
 
“Although parishioners have been planning to use the money for a church building, the fund’s purpose is broader than that,” he said.  “It can be used for any building needs of the parish with the approval of the bishop.”
 
 

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc. (“DMRS’) is the largest provider of free and low-cost immigration legal services in West Texas and New Mexico.  We have been serving the community for 30 years and are looking for a Staff Attorney in either our Removal Defense Unit or our Unaccompanied Minors Program to help us continue our tradition of service.  Please see the attached job posting for more information about the position.
 
Applications should be sent to Melissa M. Lopez, DMRS Executive Director, via email at mlopez@dmrs-ep.org or by mail at 2400A E. Yandell Dr., El Paso, TX 79903.  Please share widely!