St. Mary's Church / Iglesia Santa María

Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Tomás Moro: Un santo para todas las circunstancias, a 90 años de su canonización

En el 90 aniversario de su canonización, Tomás Moro sigue iluminando como ejemplo de integridad, valentía y fidelidad a la conciencia. Siguiendo sus pasos por las calles de Inglaterra, EWTN Noticias redescubrió a este hombre que fue “buen siervo del rey, pero de Dios primero”.

Alerta en Reino Unido: Pacientes de hospicios podrían elegir suicidio asistido por falta de cuidados paliativos

El director ejecutivo de Hospice UK, Toby Porter, advirtió que los pacientes con enfermedades terminales podrían sentirse empujados al suicidio asistido, si esta práctica recibe más financiación pública que los hospicios, que actualmente dependen, en gran parte, de la caridad para funcionar en el Reino Unido.

El primer Legionario de Cristo panameño se prepara para el sacerdocio: Fue ordenado diácono

Fue ordenado diácono el primer panameño perteneciente a los Legionarios de Cristo. La ceremonia se realizó el 3 de julio, en la parroquia San Juan Evangelista de Santiago de Veraguas, a la que asistieron familiares y amigos del hermano José Luis Martínez

Primer obispo nombrado por León XIV en Corea es un sacerdote de 47 años ligado a la JMJ Seúl 2027

El primer obispo que el Papa León XIV ha nombrado en Corea es un sacerdote de 47 años, ligado a la organización de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud (JMJ) Seúl 2027.

Sacerdote recién ordenado celebra su primera Misa junto a la tumba de su madre en México

Con la esperanza puesta en la resurrección, el P. Carlos Eleno García Santana, recién ordenado sacerdote, celebró su primera Misa el 1 de julio junto a la tumba de su madre, fallecida en 2018 y figura clave en su vocación.

Una primicia para Irlanda: Histórica conferencia de San Charbel reúne 200 reliquias

Por primera vez en la historia de Irlanda, los católicos descubrirán la antigua belleza de la tradición católica maronita en la Conferencia de San Charbel 2025, que tendrá lugar del 11 al 13 de julio.

Rector del santuario Cristo Redentor de Río se fractura 8 costillas en accidente de tránsito en Venezuela

El rector del santuario del Cristo Redentor en Río de Janeiro (Brasil), P. Omar Raposo, y el equipo de rodaje de un documental en la Arquidiócesis de Coro (Venezuela) sufrieron un accidente de tránsito el sábado 5 de julio, al regresar de una filmación

Rezan por 2 religiosas que sufrieron quemaduras en incendio

Dos religiosas resultaron con quemaduras tras de un principio de incendio en la Casa de las Hermanas Pobres de Jesucristo en la Diócesis de Iquique (Chile).

7 devociones católicas para transformar tu semana y tu vida

Arraigadas en siglos de tradición católica, existen algunas devociones católicas diarias que ofrecen una forma práctica de santificar el tiempo y vivir la fe de manera más intencional a lo largo de la semana.

Faith communities hold memorial services for flood victims in Texas 

Camp Mystic alumnae sing songs after a memorial service on July 7, 2025, for the young campers who perished in floods last week. / Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA

Houston, Texas, Jul 8, 2025 / 17:51 pm (CNA).

The faith communities of the Texas Hill Country flood victims are rallying in support of the families with Masses, rosaries, and memorial services. 

The Fourth of July flood disaster near the central Texas town of Kerrville, where the Guadalupe River rose 35 feet in the early morning hours, has claimed over 100 lives so far, including more than 30 young children, with many more still unaccounted for.

Especially affected was Camp Mystic, the 100-year-old Christian girls’ camp in Hunt, Texas. At least 27 campers there perished, with several more, including a counselor, not yet recovered.

Over the last few days, schools and churches in Houston, where many current and former Camp Mystic families reside, have held prayer services and Masses for the victims and their families.

Mourners pray in a chapel outside of the Church of St. John the Divine in Houston on July 7, 2025, after a memorial service for the Camp Mystic girls who perished in the floods in central Texas last week. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA
Mourners pray in a chapel outside of the Church of St. John the Divine in Houston on July 7, 2025, after a memorial service for the Camp Mystic girls who perished in the floods in central Texas last week. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA

In an email, Father Sean Horrigan, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, asked the community for prayers for the family of Anna Margaret Bellows, 8, a parishioner who was one of the 27 girls who died in the flood.

He said funeral details were forthcoming.

St. John Vianney Church held a memorial Mass on Monday, July 7, for Molly DeWitt, another of the young girls who passed away.

A filled-to-overflowing memorial service for Camp Mystic families took place on July 7 at the Church of St. John the Divine, an Episcopal church with deep ties to the camp. Buried there is Anne Eastland Spears, former Camp Mystic chairman of the board and mother of camp director Dick Eastland, who lost his life while rescuing campers from the flood.

The Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas on July 7, 2025. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA
The Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas on July 7, 2025. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA

The ministers spoke of Jesus’ love for his children, especially when they suffer. St. John’s rector, Rev. Leigh Spruill, encouraged those in mourning to “have hope. Keep talking to God … He may seem absent now, but he hears everything and he is present.”

Youth ministry director Rev. Sutton Lowe referred to the Gospel story of Jairus and his little girl, who died and whom Jesus raised from the dead. 

“When we die, Jesus is there to touch us and say ‘arise,’ and there is new life beyond our imagining,” he said.

Rev. Libby Garfield told mourners that “there is a path forward that is lined with the life and death and resurrection of Jesus.”

After the service, Camp Mystic alumnae of all ages gathered on the lawn north of the church, forming a large circle in the grass and singing camp songs, many of which were Christian hymns. 

Ashley Emshoff, an alumna who spoke to CNA after the memorial, told CNA that the camp forges bonds between campers that are lifelong and are “as strong as family.” 

Mystic alumna and St. John parishioner Alafair Hotze told CNA the Eastland family, who run the camp, became like family to generations of campers.

Camp Mystic alumnae and family sing after the memorial service on July 7, 2025, honoring victims of the flash floods in Central Texas last week. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA
Camp Mystic alumnae and family sing after the memorial service on July 7, 2025, honoring victims of the flash floods in Central Texas last week. Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA

Emshoff and Hotze said that many Camp Mystic alumnae are so eager for their daughters to become part of the Mystic community that they write to the camp as soon as they find out they are pregnant with girls. The Eastlands respond with a Camp Mystic infant onesie for their newborn and a letter of congratulations (along with a place on the waitlist). 

Hotze said that Dick Eastland’s death, while tragic, aligned perfectly with the man he was: “He taught us to be selfless and love as Christ loves,” Hotze said.

“He died as he had lived,” Hotze said: “Giving his life for those he loved.”