Dear friends in Christ,

     Happy Friday, my friends, and happy back-end of Spring Break week. I hope many of you were able to get away for a few days of fun, or at the very least, enjoyed a slightly less hectic week. It's been fairly quiet around our campus and we've been able to catch up on a few maintenance projects as a result. In addition, it seems the county has finally moved its sidewalk construction equipment off our property (though they are still working up and down Huffmeister) so we have reclaimed a number of our parking spaces, thanks be to God.

    On the 2nd Sunday of Lent this weekend we are invited up the mountain with Peter, James, and John as we hear the stirring account from St. Luke of the Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Moses and Elijah. This is always one of my favorite biblical passages, and you can see it depicted in one of the stained-glass windows in the church. It shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah), yet fear strikes the disciples and they don’t quite grasp what is happening. What fear is keeping us from recognizing the Lord in our own lives? Do we hear God’s voice? What might we need to let go of in this Lenten season to be able to recognize Jesus at work in our lives?

     For those of you who might have missed my announcement last week at all the masses, after 21 years here at Christ the Redeemer, my time as Pastor is drawing to a close. Cardinal DiNardo has appointed me as Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston effective July 1, 2025. SVdP, as it is known, is on the corner of Buffalo Speedway and Holcombe Blvd. and serves the people and community in and around West U., Rice University, and the Texas Medical Center, so I’m not going too far.

     While not totally unexpected (21 years is a long time, after all), the timing is a bit unusual. Most personnel moves are announced in June, but given the recent appointment of Archbishop-designate Joe S. Vasquez as the new Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who takes office on March 25, Cardinal DiNardo wanted to make this move while he is still the local Ordinary, and in obedience, I have accepted. Ironically, my appointment as pastor of CtR in 2004 was one of the final moves of Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza’s tenure, and now my departure is the final move of Cardinal DiNardo’s tenure, so there is some symmetry in that regard.

     It has been my great joy to serve you as pastor and to minister to (and be ministered by) you in this local Church. What a blessing it has been! Together we have done great things for the Lord. I take away nothing but fond memories, and I will leave with a grateful and full heart. You are the best parish and people a pastor could ever hope for, and I mean that sincerely. Thank you!

     But I’m not leaving yet! Praise be to God, we still have work to do. We still have a little more than three months together, and I look forward to the prayerful and grace-filled season of Lent, and to a beautiful Easter. We still have the blessing of many liturgies to celebrate, including First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Confirmation, 8th grade graduation, and the end of the school year. And, of course, above all, our wonderful 40th anniversary of the Spring Festival on May 3-4. I look forward to it all. It’s God’s Church, and the Holy Spirit will lead us. I’m not sure of much at the moment, but of that, I’m definitely sure.

     As I also mentioned, I’m happy to announce that my successor has already been named. Fr. Mark Hebert will be the new Pastor of CtR beginning on July 1. He has served as the Cardinal’s priest-secretary for the past three years, and this will be his first assignment as a Pastor. He’s a great young priest with much energy and love for the Lord, and I know he will do great things in leading CtR. You are blessed to have him, and I can’t wait for you to meet him. For now, please pray for him. I know he’s already praying for you. And, finally, if I might also ask, please pray for me. May God bless Christ the Redeemer, now and forever!

     Now, back to our regular programming: Let me call your attention to next Sunday, March 23, and our annual St. Joseph’s Altar pasta luncheon and bake sale in the Parish Hall. We’ll start with the blessing of the altar, which will be beautifully decorated with all manner of baked goods and treats, at 10:30 a.m. (following the 9 a.m. Mass), and then the serving line will be open continuously until 1 p.m. so those attending the 11 a.m. Mass can join us as well. I'll remind you next week, too, but I wanted to get it on your radar early to make plans to join us. Come hungry!

     Don't forget our ongoing parish-wide Lenten Almsgiving project to help build a new rectory for St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in the Diocese of Brownsville. You can learn more about this yearly initiative and how it benefits those on the margins and make your donation at www.ctrcc.com/catholicextension. It runs just for the 40 days of Lent so don't delay.

     Finally, we are celebrating First Reconciliation for about 160 of our (mainly) 2nd grade students tomorrow Saturday, March 15, with two services back-to-back, and as a result, we will not hold our regular parish confessions on Saturday morning. Thanks for your understanding and please pray for our children as they approach the throne of God's mercy for the first time.

Peace, Fr. Sean

MON-THURS: 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
SAT-SUN: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

All are invited to communal prayer in the Chapel each week:

Tuesdays
after 9 a.m. Daily Mass
Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Thursdays
8:15 a.m. before Daily Mass
Rosary for vocations

First Friday of the Month
after 9 a.m. Daily Mass
Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

The Adoration Chapel is open for silent prayer 24/7.

Email adoration@ctrcc.com for the door code.

ctrcc.com   I   281-469-5533   I   office@ctrcc.com