-
"Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we partake of the one loaf."
- 1 Corinthians 10:17 -
Letter from Bishop Brendan J. Cahill
-
-
The impact of your gifts:
- Office of Business and Finance
- Office of Catechetical Ministry
- Office of Catholic Schools
- Office of Communications
- Office of Disaster Services
- Office of Safe Environment
- Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Office of Vocations
-
The Office of Business and Finance administers the temporal goods of the diocese under the authority of the bishop. The office provided accounting services for a multitude of funds (i.e., Operating, Deposit & Loan Trust, Victoria Catholic Cemeteries, Presidio La Bahia, Lay and Priest Pension Plans, etc.). Additional parish service offerings included: disbursing parish on-line giving contributions during pandemic; assistance with the application for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and subsequent loan forgiveness for most parishes/schools; property and benefits insurance services; vendor/supplier contracting services; and other business programs.
-
When the pandemic caused the cancellation or limitation of many in-person formation opportunities, it was evident in the growth of the number of people logging in to classes, that people wanted continue to learn more about the Church. Last year had some of the biggest participation in the Pastoral Institute because the classes were offered virtually as well as in person. The office quickly found ways and means to not only continue, but to grow and give more people opportunities for faith formation.
-
Over the past year, the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Victoria have managed to continue their mission of spreading the Gospel to our children while providing them with an academic experience that will prepare them to participate fully in their God-given calling and talents.
Our schools have kept learning fully in-person over the past 18 months while increasing enrollment by 4% from the 2021-2022 school year. There are some 3,000 children in our diocese who have been given the blessing and opportunity to receive a Catholic education.
We also have continued our professional development of all teachers and principals with in-person events such as Masses, retreats, prayer services, and workshops.
We are excited and proud for the upcoming school year as we embark on a new journey of leadership formation and teacher recognition from a large-scale diocesan level while continuing to provide personal service and devotion to each one of our 15 schools.
-
The Office of Communicaitons publishes The Catholic Lighthouse. It is mailed to about 6,250 Catholic homes in the diocese and hundreds more subscribe to the digital version or read the paper online. The office also maintains the diocesan website and social media accounts, provides information about our diocese to other news outlets, and disseminates information to all of our parishes through a weekly newsletter. To find out more, call Janet Jones, director of communciations, at 361-573-0828, Ext. 2231, or email jjones@victoriadiocese.org.
-
The Office of Disaster Services helped 89 families in 12 cities across the 10 counties in the diocese in 2021. Together with long-term recovery groups of Victoria and Wharton, the diocese is committed to providing case management services to Hurricane Harvey and winter storm survivors. This year we are focusing on completing our Hurricane Harvey program as well as programs aimed at helping those affected by winter storms in 2021.
-
The Office of Safe Environment develops and implements programs which strive to create an environment free of abuse and harassment for all children, youth and vulnerable people as they participate in religious activities and ministries within the church and Catholic school system of the Diocese of Victoria.The Diocese of Victoria continues its longstanding commitment to support and healing of sexual abuse survivors and reaffirms our commitment to protect the children, youth and vulnerable adults from harm. Since the creation of the office in 2003, the Office of Safe Environment has educated and trained more than 14,800 adults in the Keeping Kids & Vulnerable Adults SAFE and VIRTUS abuse awareness, recognition, prevention and reporting procedures as mandated by the state of Texas and by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Charter. More than 630 school employees have been fingerprinted as part of the background check policy for school employees. Annually, the Diocese of Victoria educates an average of 9,000 children, youth and 2,200 parents in the area of personal safety.
The Diocese of Victoria requires each parish and diocesan entity to implement this program.
-
In June of 2021, the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry was grateful to be able to host Camp David, a retreat experience for junior high age youth, at the Spiritual Renewal Center. We were excited to welcome back our Youth Leadership Team composed of high school youth around the diocese last fall for monthly in-person meetings. The members of this team have worked diligently together and helped to host the Youth Spectacular for more than 350 high school age youth and 400 people in total on Feb. 20, 2022. At this event, the Youth Leadership Team helped everyone to focus on “the Real Presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist. We are looking forward to bringing back the Elementary Day for Camp David this year in addition to the two overnight sessions for junior high. We are also making plans to return to Pagosa Springs, Colo., for the Rocky Mountain High Retreat for high school age youth this July. Registration has begun for summer events and everyone seems eager for the summer retreats to return. Throughout the year, the office has also helped to host Mass at the University of Houston-Victoria and Mass and other ministry events at Victoria College. Looking to the future, the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is making plans to take a group of young adults (age 18-35) to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. Registration is open for this pilgrimage.
-
This January, Bishop Brendan Cahill ordained two new priests in the Diocese of Victoria and we continue to support the formation of six men who are currently in the seminary and others who are discerning vocations. The cost of educating seminarians is currently being funded through a bequest, the Education of Seminarians Fund and the Holy Thursday collection.
