The Texas Catholic’s Amy White in our August edition of Diocese in the News visited with Donna Woodard, one of two new associate superintendents for Diocese of Dallas Catholic schools, about stepping into her new role, her vision for Catholic education, and the important mission of serving Catholic school students and families across the diocese.
Diocese of Dallas
At the beginning of each academic year, the University of Dallas’ dean and director of libraries and research Ron Scrogham sees a familiar sight: Incoming students — often accompanied by their parents — make their way into the Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library entrance, through the William A. Blakley Building, and up to the university’s Core Text Collection: a selection of 2,456 books, representing 76 unique titles across a slew of disciplines, which are ready to be checked out of the library for use in the semester ahead. Within about two weeks of the beginning of each term, most of the books in the collection have already been plucked from the library, stuffed into backpacks, and carried to classrooms.
Police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel routinely face situations most people never have to witness. At the ninth annual Diocese of Dallas Blue Mass and Blessing of the Fleet on Aug. 8, first responders gathered at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe to pray and to be recognized for their work.
This past week, I had the privilege of making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Bl. Stanley Rother in Oklahoma City. I was accompanied by a lay leader within the diocese as well as two of our priests. It was especially meaningful, because we arrived on July 28, his feast day.
A suit and tie may not be the image that leaps to mind at the word “saint,” but Legatus, an organization of Catholic executives and their spouses, has long sought to foster sanctity precisely among those women and men who are leaders in the professional world.
One muggy afternoon on the Aventine Hill in Rome, an intriguing thought popped into the mind of Father Thomas Esposito, O. Cist.: “Wouldn’t it be cool to write a novel that went through a day in the life of a monk?” the Cistercian recalled thinking.
Amy Fraler’s lifelong Catholic faith continually challenges her to recognize Christ in everyone around her, including those who are most vulnerable and in need of support, the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church parishioner shared.
With ceremonial shovels poised over a pile of dirt and blue hard hats dotting the crowd, Bishop Edward J. Burns joined benefactors and supporters of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Dallas June 23 to break ground on Mary’s Garden at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague and St. Joseph, a project that reflects the community’s gratitude as it approaches its 2028 centennial in the Diocese of Dallas.
The Diocese of Dallas is expanding its efforts to help Catholics with disabilities more fully participate in parish life, welcoming five additional parishes into its Community of Disciples initiative and broadening the ministry’s reach into predominantly Spanish-speaking and Vietnamese communities.
For 10 days in Costa Rica, a group of students from the Diocese of Dallas traded the relaxing routines of summer break for work gloves, prayer, and a mission to serve.