Around The Diocese

Pilgrimage Of Hope Locations
The Diocese of Amarillo is excited to announce that Bishop Patrick J. Zurek has added four additional Pilgrimage of Hope locations for the 2025 Jubilee Year. They are:
• St. Laurence Church, 2300 North Spring, Amarillo, representing the Central Deanery;
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 411 Ware Ave., Groom, representing the East Deanery;
• Church of the Holy Spirit, 511 South Austin, Tulia, representing the South Deanery; and,
• Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 915 Maddox, Dumas, representing the North Deanery.
These parishes are in addition to the Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 South Washington, Amarillo.
 
Groom Weekend Mass Schedule
Groom—A Mass schedule change for Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The parish will now celebrate the Saturday Mass for the Sunday obligation at 5:30pm during the period of Daylight Saving Time. The Sunday Mass will continue to be celebrated at 8:30am.
 
Roses Of Mary Youth Invitation
Amarillo—The Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate invite all young women in the Diocese of Amarillo between the ages of 15 and 25 to encounters at the Franciscan Convent at 4301 NE 18th Ave. on Saturday afternoons between 3:00 and 5:00. Those under 18 years of age will be required to bring a permission note from a parent. The encounters are bilingual and will include a number of activities, including prayer, sharing of experiences, Adoration, worship, pastries, crafts, discussion of themes relevant to young women and other activities. For more information, please call the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate at 806-383-5769.
 
2025 Bach Lunch Series
Canyon—St. Ann’s Church will host the 30th annual Bach Lunch Series, sponsored by the Amarillo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
The parish at 605 38th St., will be the site for the Bach Lunch Series on Friday, March 21, led by Dr. Elizabeth Gotlund McKee, DMA, Director of Music at St. Ann’s Church.
The Bach Lunch begins with a 25-minute organ recital at 12:05, followed by lunch at 12:30. Those attending are encouraged to bring a box lunch to the recitals. Parishes will provide tea, coffee and a place to eat. Attendees will have plenty of time to get (Bach) to work.
For more information, please call Dr. Michael Johnson at 806-654-3239 or visit the Amarillo Chapter American Guild of Organist Facebook page.
 
Worship Prayer Movie Night
Panhandle—Catholics and non-Catholics are invited to the next Worship Prayer Movie Night for teens and young adults. The evening, hosted by the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the Light, is scheduled Friday, March 21. The evening begins at 6:00 in the St. Francis House of Prayer at 125 John Paul Circle with a Holy Hour of Praise and Worship music, prayer and a brief time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There is also a simple meal served during a movie chosen for its relativity for Faith and the modern world, according to Sister Mary Michael Huseman. The evening is scheduled to conclude at 9:30. For more details, please call Sancta Maria Convent at 806-537-3182.
 
Borger Spaghetti Dinner
Borger—The 68th Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti Dinner to benefit St. John the Evangelist Church will be served Sunday, March 23 from 11:00am to 5:00pm in the school gym at 201 St. John’s Road.
Tickets for the dinner are $16.00 per person, with children seven and under eating free, if dining in, according to parishioner Marilyn Archer. The meal will be dine-in from 11:00am to 4:00pm and takeouts will be available from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
For more details, please contact the parish office at 806-274-7064.
 
Engaged Encounter
Amarillo—Couples in the Diocese of Amarillo planning to get married within the next three to six months are encouraged to attend the first Engaged Encounter weekend of the 2025 Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center, 2100 North Spring. For more details about the Engaged Encounter weekend or to sign up, please contact Adrian Johnson at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 806-410-3839.
 
DCCW Central Deanery Meeting
Amarillo—Members of the Central Deanery of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) will meet Saturday, April 5, beginning at 9:00 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 South Washington.
The theme of the meeting is Believe in the Eucharist: Blessed, Broken and Shared.
Cost of the meeting is $30 per person, which includes lunch.
Find out more about the meeting by contacting the ladies organization president in your parish or Cherry Sanchez, Central Deanery co-president, at 806-236-3432.
 
Spanish Marriage Retreat In Pampa
Pampa—A Marriage Retreat in Spanish will be offered Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 in the parish hall at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 810 West 23rd St.
The retreat is being led by the Marriage, Life and Family Group at the parish. Retreat hours are 7:00pm to 9:00pm on April 11 and 8:00am to 8:00pm on April 12.
All couples—dating, engaged, married in the Church or by a judge and for those cohabitating—are invited to attend and take part in this retreat.
“Please join us to learn about our vocation: marriage,” said Amy Foster, a member of the Marriage, Life and Family Group.
No childcare will be offered. Cost of the retreat is a good will offering. Arrangements will be made for couples who must travel to attend the retreat. For more information or to register, please call Foster, 806-664-1979.
 
28^th St. Mary’s Day Barbecue Dinner 
Clarendon—The 28^th St. Mary’s Day Barbecue Dinner, sponsored by St. Mary’s Church, is scheduled Sunday, April 27 from 11:30am to 1:00pm in the Parish Hall at 510 East Montgomery.
 Tickets for the all-you-can-eat meal at the door are $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the St. Mary’s Church building fund. Takeouts will be available and there will be entertainment, a silent auction and a country store. Barbecue beef and ribs will also be sold.
For more information on the dinner, please call Jacob Fangman at 806-206-5737.
 
Serra Club Mass For Priests
Amarillo—The Serra Club of Amarillo invites everyone to attend a Mass Friday, May 2 at 11:30am at St. Joseph’s Church, 4122 South Bonham that will be offered up for the intentions of all the priests in the Diocese of Amarillo, according to Serra Club president Muff London-Bichsel. Father Gabriel E. Garcia, pastor at St. Joseph’s, will be the presider. The Serra Club is an organization that supports all the vocations in the Diocese of Amarillo. For more information about Serra Club, please call London-Bichsel at 806-420-6577.
 
Baby Shower Scheduled
Amarillo—Bubbles for Babies, a Community Baby Shower to benefit Joseph’s Project—A Pregnancy Resource Center, will take place Saturday, May 3 from 10:00am to noon at the Amarillo Area Foundation at 919 South Polk.
“Bubbles for Babies is a community Baby Shower to support our program that impacts the lives of pregnant women and families of all ages and types that have children undere 36-months-old,” said Jeff Gulde, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle. “We invite everyone to join us at the Amarillo Area Foundation.”
Learn more about Bubbles for Babies by calling Catholic Charities at 806-376-4571 or going online to cctxp.org.
 
Natural Family Planning Calendar
Amarillo—A Marquette Method session in English is set for Saturday, May 3 at 1:00pm at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 4512 NE 24th Ave., Amarillo. For more details or to register, please contact Dr. Faye Usala at 806-683-5561 or via email, [email protected]. For those unable to attend on May 3, the course will be offered again on Saturday, July 19, also at 1:00pm, once again at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
Three additional sessions in both English and Spanish have been scheduled through Saturday, Nov. 8. The complete schedule is on the diocesan website, amarillodiocese.org/nfp.
An online, Sympto-Thermal self-paced NFP class in either English or Spanish can be accessed at ccli.org. Cost of the class is $170, plus shipping. The class lasts approximately two months, according to Jennifer Wagner. Learn more about the course by calling Wagner at 806-433-9561.
 
ACTS Retreats
Amarillo—A Teen’s ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology and Service) Retreat will be offered Thursday, July 17 through Sunday, July 20, at the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center, 2100 North Spring. Registration forms are available at parish offices or through the ACTS Community website, actsamarillo.org. For additional information about ACTS in the Diocese of Amarillo, please contact Jimmy Hund at 806-344-4842.
 
Wanted: Communion Ministers
Amarillo—Volunteers are needed at BSA Hospital as communion ministers. The commitment does not require much time, according to Elma Fletcher, and training is provided.
“We offer a flexible schedule and it can be a very rewarding experience,” she said.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to contact Fletcher at 806-206-4496 or via email, [email protected].
 
The Market On Tierra Blanca
 Canyon—Volunteers are needed to assist at The Market on Tierra Blanca, a ministry of St. Helen’s Outreach at St. Ann’s Church.
The Market on Tierra Blanca, the only full-service food pantry in Randall County, is open Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and Friday mornings from 9:00 to noon.
For additional information about St. Helen’s Outreach or to volunteer to help in The Market on Tierra Blanca, please contact Glenn Backus at 806-655-3302 or via email, [email protected].
 
Sacred Heart Devotional Group
Amarillo—A Sacred Heart Devotional Prayer Group has been formed at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Father Avitus K. Siriwa, parochial vicar, is directing the group and serving as spiritual director.
“We would like to welcome all, from parishes around the area to join us in our dedication to Jesus’s Sacred Heart the First Friday of each month,” said Tara and Dustin Meyer, who are assisting Father Siriwa with the group. “Prayers are after the 7:00am Mass every First Friday of the month at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The prayer group conducts quarterly meetings and consecrates new members to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus every year.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque between 1673 and 1675. Among the words spoken to her, she heard Jesus make 12 promises to those who would respond to the pleading of His heart and make an effort to return His love.
St. Margaret Mary once said, ‘I do not know of any other exercise in the spiritual life that is more calculated to raise a soul in a short amount of time to the height of perfection and to make it taste the true sweetness to be found in the service of Jesus Christ.’”
Learn more about the 12 promises made through the Sacred Heart devotion online at welcomehisheart.com/12-promises. For more details about the Sacred Heart Devotional Prayer Group, please contact Tara and Dustin Meyer at [email protected] or Father Siriwa at [email protected].
 
Joseph’s Project
Amarillo—Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle has a program designed for moms who are pregnant or families with kids who are up to three-years-old. Joseph’s Project is tailored for expectant mothers and for those with new families. For additional details about Joseph’s Project or to assist with a donation of material assistance, such as diapers, wipes, unopened formula or clothing, please contact Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle at 806-376-4571.  
 
Singers Needed
Amarillo—Singers of all backgrounds from all parishes in the Diocese of Amarillo are invited to help lead the assembly in song at four diocesan celebrations at St. Mary’s Cathedral in the next several months, according to Dr. Greg Onofrio, Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
This includes:
• Rite of Election on Sunday, March 9;
• The annual Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 15; and,
• The Adult Confirmation Mass on Saturday, April 26.
To learn more about participation in the diocesan choir, please contact Dr. Onofrio at 806-376-7204, ext. 3003.
 
Catholic Community Scripture Study
Amarillo—The Catholic Community Scripture Study is back at its original location.
The scripture study, which began in 1990, is now meeting on Wednesday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 at St. Hyacinth Church, 4500 West Hills Trail.
As in the past, the weekly gathering focuses on the scripture insights from At Home with the Word for a preview of the coming Sunday Scriptures.
Everyone is welcome on any Wednesday morning that he/she can attend.
For additional information please call Teresa Hunt at 806-676-9445.
 
Volunteers Needed
 Amarillo—Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle needs volunteers in its InterFaith Hunger Project grocery store. Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays and Thursdays to check out clients, sack groceries and deliver them to their vehicles. Volunteers are also needed to help stock shelves. For additional information, please contact Davina Brown at Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle, 806-376-4571.
 
 Contemplative Power Hour
 Amarillo—The Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center at 2100 North Spring is offering a Contemplative Power Hour on Tuesdays, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Adoration will take place from 11:00 to 11:30, followed by the recitation of the Rosary at 11:30 and Contemplative Prayer at noon. There is no charge and those attending are encouraged to stay for the entire time or for a portion. For additional information please call the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center at 806-383-1811.
 
 English As A Second Language
 Amarillo—The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle need volunteers. The program needs volunteers willing to tutor students in a class setting or individually. For additional information about the ESL program, please contact Ashlee Pallares, program coordinator, at 806-376-4571.
 
 Eucharistic Holy Hour
 Amarillo—The public is invited to attend and take part in a Eucharistic Holy Hour on Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at St. Hyacinth Church, 4500 West Hills Trail. The hour begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a homily, Silent Meditation, Common Prayer and concluding with Benediction. Holy Hour is followed by Mass at 6:30. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is also offered on Saturday afternoons prior to the 5:00 Mass from 4:30 to 5:00. Learn more by calling the parish office at St. Hyacinth Church, 806-358-1351.
 
 Prison Ministry
 Amarillo—The prison ministry team in the Diocese of Amarillo is recruiting ordained deacons or lay volunteers for this special ministry. Prison ministry is also one of the Corporal Works of Mercy. Those interested in this ministry are asked to contact Deacon Blaine Westlake at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 806-383-2243, ext. 117.
 
Diocesan Newspaper Is Now Digital
 Amarillo—The West Texas Catholic is now a digital publication.
A limited number of newspapers are sent to each parish and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The newspaper is not being mailed out to individuals, except for some very specific reasons, such as shut-ins. If a person requests a paper copy be mailed to their house, they will be required to pay the $25 subscription fee directly to the diocese, not to the parish. Please call your parish for additional information on how you can pick up a printed version.
For additional information or to add shut-ins who need the newspaper, please contact the diocesan Development Office at 806-383-2243, ext. 119.
 
Sunday Mass On The Guadalupe Radio Network
Amarillo—There is another option for Sunday Mass for shut-ins and the sick.
The Guadalupe Radio Network is now rebroadcasting the 9:30am Sunday Mass from St. Mary’s Cathedral at 5:00 on Sunday afternoons. For additional information about the Mass broadcast or to sponsor a broadcast, please call St. Mary’s Cathedral at 806-376-7204.
 
Tell Us What’s Going On
Diocesan entities are encouraged to report their fundraisers and activities. Please send that information via email to [email protected]. Please send information about these events 45 to 60 days prior to the event. We’ll do our best to give your activities attention in the diocesan newspaper, the diocesan website and on The West Texas Catholic: The Podcast.