In This Month of June (E-Pistle)

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As the month of June comes to an end, I am grateful for the many liturgical celebrations I celebrated across our diocese. Ten Confirmation Masses, numerous Baccalaureate Masses and the ordination of three men to the priesthood. Last weekend, we launched our diocesan Eucharistic Revival, calling on the faithful to renew their love for Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We answered the call to take Christ into our communities, families, schools, and workplaces. My sincere thanks to all who gathered that day, serving in their various ministries, volunteering and braving the heat as well as those who joined via livestream; together through our Lord Jesus Christ, we become one.

This June we also mark 20 years of the promulgation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a document through which the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed sorrow and regret for abuse of minors perpetrated by Catholic clergy. We remain called to face the painful reality experienced by victims and pledge to create safe environments for all people, to respond to sexual abuse allegations, to reach out to victims and to cooperate with law enforcement. 

In the Diocese of Austin, our commitment to protecting children, youth, and vulnerable adults from harm within the church is directed by the Charter and a comprehensive diocesan Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) policy. We uphold our pledge to create a safe environment for children through education and prevention programs. By establishing policies that clearly set standards of behavior regarding contact with minors, we continue to implement these policies with all clergy, parish, school, diocesan employees, and volunteers who have regular interaction with minors. 

We have committed to seeing that we are guided by the Gospel in protecting one another and caring for the dignity of the human person so that we may truly live out our Eucharistic Revival theme – “That They May All Be One” (JN 17:20).