News - April 2013 RSS Feed

A serious mistake was made in bringing John Salazar to the Diocese of Amarillo for ministry. He was removed from ministry in May 2002 and a petition for laicization was granted in December 2004. After the petition of laicization was granted, it was published in The West Texas Catholic that he had been laicized for sexual misconduct with youth.

The public is invited to attend an Adult Confirmation Mass, scheduled Saturday, April 13 at 10:00am at St. Laurence Church, 2300 North Spring. The Mass is the final step for those who have been preparing for reception of the Sacrament since the first of the year.

Monsignor James C. Gurzynski, former Vicar General of the Diocese of Amarillo who served as Administrator Sede Vacante in 1997, passed away April 8 after a brief illness. He was 75 years old.

With a warm embrace, a helping hand, shared prayer, a long discussion and lunch together, Pope Francis spent several hours with retired Pope Benedict XVI March 23 at the papal summer villa. Pope Francis gave Pope Benedict an icon of Mary and Jesus that the Russian Orthodox delegation to his inauguration had given him just a few days earlier.

With Jesus’ resurrection “love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious,” Pope Francis said in his first Easter message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world). “Let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish,” the pope said after celebrating Easter morning Mass March 31.

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S. will be the guest speaker at the second annual Bishop’s Gala, set for Friday, May 3 at the newly remodeled Amarillo Country Club, 4800 Bushland Blvd. The gala is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of the Texas Panhandle, with all proceeds from the evening restricted for the Diocesan Pastoral Center and Diocesan Archives and Museum building fund.

Bishop Zurek, we have a new pope! What did you know about the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Borgoglio and what are your first impressions of the now Pope Francis? Bishop Zurek: “My answer to your first part is simply ‘nothing.’ I knew very little of him, I knew he was the Archbishop from Buenos Aires.

Less than two months remain in the 2012-2013 school year and Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Amarillo are currently enrolling students for the 2013-2014 school year. Here is the latest news from the five Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Amarillo: