In a sense, Father Parker Thompson’s journey to the priesthood has been a lifetime in the making. As early as childhood, the idea of dedicating his life to the Church had already begun to take root in the young boy’s heart.
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Members of the board for Mother Teresa Catholic School, a new Diocese of Dallas campus being developed in Collin County, held their inaugural board meeting April 24, 2024, at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Parish in Allen. Mother Teresa Catholic School will be located on 26 acres at the northwest corner of Independence Parkway and Main Street in Frisco.
In 1776, Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, dedicated a small mission church in San Francisco to St. Francis Assisi. On May 18, the mission of San Francisco de Asis, also known as Mission Dolores, will host an evening of Eucharistic adoration and prayer for the launch of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s western route, named for now St. Junipero Serra.
The Vatican is expecting some 70,000 children between the ages of 5 and 12 and their chaperones to fill Rome’s Olympic Stadium for the opening events of the first World Children’s Day May 25 and to join Pope Francis for Mass in St. Peter’s Square the next morning.
At Cistercian, we had an incredible view of the total eclipse on April 8. After weeks of wondering whether the weather forecast would prove true – total cloud cover and even rain – we excitedly noticed the sun piercing through the clouds just as the school was processing to the abbey to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Clouds continued to diminish during Mass, and afterward we walked with gratitude to the football field to await totality.
More than 700 young professionals, priests, religious, and Catholic executives from across the United States descended upon the Diocese of Dallas April 26-28 for the eighth annual Young Catholic Professionals national conference, held at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star. The 2024 edition, “Workers in the Vineyard,” was inspired by the writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá, exploring the sanctification of work with Christ and for Christ.
There are hundreds of opportunities for Catholics to join the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for Mass, adoration, processions and other events. However, casually meeting up with perpetual pilgrims along the four routes may be trickier and is even prohibited along certain sections of the journey, according to pilgrimage leaders.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of North Texas celebrated its annual Spark of Hope Breakfast on April 19 at the Omni Las Colinas Hotel in Irving. This year’s breakfast boasted 200 participants, its largest number of attendees so far, and raised more than $80,000 in support of the charitable works of the society.
Educators joined by families, friends, and supporters came together at St. Paul the Apostle Parish Center in Richardson on April 26 for the 2024 Diocese of Dallas HALO Educators of the Year award ceremony. The annual award celebrates Catholic school educators in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas for their dedication to forming saints and scholars.
A heavy downpour of rain and unseasonably cool temperatures could not dampen the celebratory spirit on display at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Bishop Edward J. Burns honored parish volunteers from throughout the Diocese of Dallas with the 2024 Bishop’s Award for Service to the Church during the celebration of a Mass on April 20.