Pope Francis dies: Austin Catholics mourn loss of pontiff
The Brief
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on April 21
His cause of death was revealed by the Vatican — Pope Francis died from a stroke that led to heart failure
Central Texas Catholics spoke about the loss of Pope Francis
AUSTIN, Texas - Catholics in Central Texas are mourning Pope Francis, and reflecting on his unique legacy.
There are also questions about how the pontiff's passing could impact the selection of a new bishop in Austin.
Local perspective
The bells tolled at noon Monday at St. Mary Cathedral in Downtown Austin, as they do every day, but inside the mass felt anything but ordinary. Parishioners gathered for a special and somber mass, just hours after the passing of Pope Francis.
"It was with sadness, of course, that we received that news, but certainly with gratitude for his over 12 years of just wonderful service," said Fr. James Misko, who currently oversees the Austin diocese.
Misko reminisced about his own meeting with the pontiff.
"I took him with my two hands, his hand in my two hands," said Misko. "He was just so welcoming and so friendly."
Misko says Francis lived up to his nickname as "the people's pope" for many Catholics in Austin.
"Certainly, we are on the southern border here in the United States. And so his desire to reach out to the peripheries, those most in need, the poor, certainly immigrants, have been part of his papacy," said Misko.
Fr. John Dougherty leads St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in South Austin. He says his parish really felt Francis' impact.
"We've seen a real uptick in those who are interested in our faith and in joining the church. And I would say that he inspired that in a lot of people because Austin has a certain sense of being with the underdog to assist those who are need," said Dougherty.
FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak asked what he thinks Francis' legacy will be, Dougherty said, "I think a life of simplicity, a life of prayer, and a life of service."
Charles Collins worked in the Diocese of Austin before later working at the Vatican. He is now a journalist and managing editor at cruxnow.com.
"You never knew what to expect. He would say things that no pope would ever say before. He'd just speak bluntly about things and say things were challenging or were controversial," said Collins.
What's next
With the pope's passing, many wonder what it will mean for the leadership of the Diocese of Austin, after Joe Vasquez was elevated to archbishop of Galveston-Houston in January.
"This may delay a little bit that appointment of a new bishop for the Diocese of Austin, but I'm just encouraging everyone to pray for our next Holy Father, whoever he is," said Misko, "So that he will be ready to name our new Bishop as soon as possible."
As for whether the new Catholic leader will be more progressive like Francis?
"I think anyone trying to predict a pope right now is completely guessing," said Collins.
"I would love to see somebody similar to Francis, especially again, with his love of people, his love of pastoring, and his love for poor," said Dougherty.
After the nine-day period of mourning ends, Collins says once the cardinals begin voting, he expects a new pope to be selected quickly, possibly within a few days.
The Source
Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
New bishop installed at cathedral in Manx capital
A new Catholic bishop has been officially installed in his post in Douglas. John Sherrington was named as Archbishop of Liverpool by the late Pope Francis in early April. The archdiocese includes the Isle of Man. He assumed his new role at a ceremony at the Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, which was attended by dignitaries including MHKs and local leaders of other churches. Archbishop Sherrington's installation at his "co-cathedral" - Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, 80 miles (129km) away across the Irish Sea - took place on 27 May. As is tradition, the service in the Manx capital began with the archbishop knocking on the closed cathedral doors before being invited in by the Dean, Monsignor John Devine. Guests included the island's Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan and leaders of other Christian denominations. During the service, the letter issued by the late Pope in early April, confirming Archbishop Sherrington's appointment, was read aloud to the congregation. The bishop was then installed in a special chair in the cathedral, which features his coat of arms alongside that representing the co-cathedral. The proceedings also included the hymn This Little Light of Mine, performed by the children of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, and the island's national anthem. During his homily, Archbishop Sherrington said the ceremony marked a "day of great joy". Archbishop Sherrington moved from the Diocese of Westminster to succeed the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, who was been in the post since May 2014. Archbishop McMahon submitted his resignation to the late pontiff last year, having reached the usual retirement age for bishops of 75. Bishop Sherrington was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987. He was also ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta in 2011. In addition to the Isle of Man, the archdiocese covers Merseyside as well as parts of Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and an area of Lancashire south-west of the River Ribble. The elevation of the Manx cathedral in November 2023 followed Douglas being awarded city status as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. New Archbishop of Liverpool appointed by Pope Ceremony marks Manx church's new cathedral status Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Douglas church granted cathedral status by Pope Douglas Jubilee city status 'a huge honour' Archdiocese of Liverpool The Roman Catholic church on the Isle of Man
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dear James: I Love Going Naked on the Beach
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Is anything ailing, torturing, or nagging at you? Are you beset by existential worries? Every Tuesday, James Parker tackles readers' questions. Tell him about your lifelong or in-the-moment problems at dearjames@ Don't want to miss a single column? Sign up to get 'Dear James' in your inbox. Dear James, In the second half of last year, I went to a naturist beach for the first time. I was afraid on my whole walk there that I would chicken out. But there was nobody around for miles—so I stripped. Since then, I've done it five more times, at various beaches, with growing confidence, in front of other people who have and have not been clothed. I've found great peace in lying naked on the sand, listening to the waves. But: Over the winter I started to get these feelings of shame and guilt. I was raised a very strict Catholic. And although my mother has been dead for a decade, I can suddenly feel her strong disapproval from beyond the grave. It's a conundrum. How would you handle it? Dear Reader, Well, I was in church on Sunday morning for the Feast of Pentecost, celebrating the wacky mandate of the Holy Spirit to go where it pleases—to land, if it likes, right on top of somebody's head (your head, my head, anybody's head) and nest there in a throbbing bolus of flame. So yup, I'm ready to get Catholic about this. I'm ready to get dogmatic. Your body is a gift from God. In the appropriate place (such as a naturist beach), you should be able to go as naked as Adam in the garden and feel not a twinge-let of shame. You should be like the primal newborns in the Doors' 'Waiting for the Sun': 'At first flash of Eden / We raced down to the sea / Standing there on freedom's shore.' (Who dares to say Jim Morrison isn't a great American poet?) Isn't that the true spirit of nudism? They don't call it a birthday suit for nothing. Shed your clothes; shed everything that cramps or abashes you. Air out those musty parts. Unshadow yourself. Let it all flap. Be a real American. Scamper shoeless across the sand into liberty's gold-green sunrise. Me, I'm not great at being naked. It makes me feel too … naked. So I know where you're coming from. But you've done so well, made such strides in self-development. The confidence, the peace, the waves: Keep going! Of course—as at any breakthrough moment, any evolutionary threshold of the psyche—you're being swarmed by the old demons, now at extra strength: guilt, disgrace, an image of your mother scolding you. They are to be stoutly resisted. Imagine instead your mother's delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness. Imagine reality taking pleasure in itself across the surface of your skin. Last word here goes to Gerard Manley Hopkins, great Catholic sensualist, nudist in his heart: 'The Holy Ghost over the bent / World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.' Safe in my trousers, James By submitting a letter, you are agreeing to let The Atlantic use it in part or in full, and we may edit it for length and/or clarity. Article originally published at The Atlantic
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Holy Cross High School recognizes legacy graduates
As members of the Holy Cross High School class of 2025 received their diplomas earlier this month, many of them carried on a family legacy of graduating from Diocese of Scranton schools. It's something school officials hope will continue and want to expand. This year's class had 24 graduates out of 75 who are members of legacy families, or families where members have attended a Catholic high school in the diocese for more than one generation. The legacy family graduates made up 32% of this year's graduating class. School officials have recognized these families for 10 years. Jennifer Stonikinis, an English teacher at the school in Dunmore, said the school's Alumni Society, with the support of Principal Benjamin Tolerico, came up with the idea as a way to recognize the schools that created Holy Cross' identity and values, and the people that have supported Catholic education. 'There were so many high schools that are part of the makeup of Holy Cross and the parents and grandparents that proudly attended these schools should also be celebrated for their desire and sacrifices to have their children and/or grandchildren attend a Catholic school,' Stonikinis said in an email. 'We too are proud that so many families continue to choose our Holy Cross family and continue this wonderful tradition.' Holy Cross High School was formed in July 2007 from a merger of Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton and Bishop O'Hara High School in Dunmore. The former Bishop Hannan High School itself came about from consolidations of various Catholic high schools in Scranton. Tolerico said what is neat about legacy families is how the former schools still live on in what is now Holy Cross and the shared experience of families through generations. He said the number of legacy families in graduating classes has gone up since it Stonikinis came up with the idea. 'I think it is something our families look forward to celebrating as the years have gone on and the word has spread of this tradition,' Tolerico said. Olivia Strazzeri is one of the graduates who is part of a legacy family. Her father Louis Strazzeri graduated from the former Bishop Hannan in 2000. The Throop resident said having a parent that graduated from a Catholic high school played a role when she was deciding where to go to high school. 'When it came time to choose, remembering stories my dad would tell me and the great memories he had attending a Catholic high school definitely persuaded me to choose Holy Cross so I could make those memories for myself,' she said. Olivia, who plans to attend Wilkes University studying pharmacy and Spanish, said being a part of a legacy family is meaningful. 'Holy Cross is a very familial place. Being a part of a legacy, however, makes it even more special. At any sporting event or school play, observing my father speak to his former teachers, some of whom taught me, was a really fascinating thing,' she said. 'Being a part of a generational tradition was really unique and something I try not to take for granted. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories teachers had of my dad in high school and it's an experience I hope to give my own children one day. I was thrilled to experience being a legacy family as the younger legacy and hope to carry on the tradition with my own children.' * Members of the Holy Cross High School class of 2025 and their family members who graduated from a school in the Diocese of Scranton pose for a photo. The Catholic high school in Dunmore recognized 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted) * Lou Strazzeri, left, who graduated from Bishop Hannon High School in 2000, poses for a photo with his daughter Olivia Strazzeri, who graduated this year from Holy Cross High School. The two are among 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted) * Olivia Strazzeri, center, poses for a photo with her parents, Lou Strazzeri, who graduated from Bishop Hannon High School in 2000, and Kelly Strazzeri on her graduation day from Holy Cross High School. (Submitted) Show Caption 1 of 3 Members of the Holy Cross High School class of 2025 and their family members who graduated from a school in the Diocese of Scranton pose for a photo. The Catholic high school in Dunmore recognized 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted) Expand Olivia said her family was happy for her when she graduated earlier this month. 'As the graduate, my hope was to always make my entire family proud, and it's something I can confidently say I think I accomplished,' she said. Louis Strazzeri said he felt proud to provide his daughter with the same quality education he received from the diocese. 'I am proud my daughter and I are both proud graduates of the Diocese of Scranton school system,' he said. Strazzeri said being a legacy family means he will always be a part of the Holy Cross family. Tolerico said Stonikinis continues to look at new and creative ways to connect the past to the present. Stonikinis said she hopes to get more alumni involved with the school as it moves into its 18th year of operation.
