II AM MOVING

My BLOG is moving to my new website bishopstrickland.com.

I want to thank the great people at Group M7 for their support and the great job they have done developing my website.  A portion of it will incorporate all the posts from my BLOG and allow me to continue to communicate in this format.  It will also have some great new features.

Please note that the mass at 7:40 AM on January 25, will be at the Chapel of saints Peter and Paul not at the Chancery Chapel.

See you at bishopstrickland.com God bless..........+Joseph

Calendar January 14 to February 8

CALENDAR

January 14-  8:00 AM Mass at the Chancery Chapel

January 15-  No public mass

January 16-  8:00 AM Mass at the Chancery Chapel

January 17-  No public mass

January 18-  7:40 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

January 19-  No public mass

January 20-  9:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul
                     11:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

                       3:00 PM Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows in Jacksonville

January 21-  No public mass

January 22-  8:00 AM Mass at the Chancery Chapel

January 23-  6:00 PM Mass at Wellspring

January 24-  No public mass

January 25-  7:40 AM Mass at the Chancery Chapel

January 26-  No public Mass

January 27-  3:00 PM Confirmation Mass at OLG in New Summerfield

January 28-  8:30 AM Mass at St. Joseph's School for Catholic Schools Week

January 29-  8:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's School

January 30-  9:40 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul for Gorman School

January 31-  8:15 AM Mass at the Cathedral for Saint Gregory School

February 1-  9:00 AM Mass at St. Patrick School

February 2-  10:00 AM Mass for Religious at Dominican Convent in Lufkin

February 3- February 8-  Out of Town for Priest's Retreat

A Brief Update

I'm on retreat but I wanted to break away for a moment to let you know you are in my prayers and
to share a couple of calendar updates.

January 13-  6:30 AM Mass at the Cathedral
                     8:00 AM Mass at the Cathedral

January 20-  9:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul
                   11:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

I will share more updates when I return to the office the week of January 14.

God bless.

Wishing You All a Blessed New Year

I just wanted to take a few moments to wish you all a Blessed New Year and to promise my prayers. 

I finally got around to editing my profile.  People are still getting used to calling me bishop, as I am getting used to the title myself but at least it is a little less of a mouth full than bishop-elect!!! 

The great people at Group M7, the internet company that hosts our diocesan website, are working on a website that I can use personally.  It is still in the design phase but before too long I will be switch to that and ending my use of this blog.  Don’t worry!!!  I will offer you plenty of notice for the switch and I will be able to use the new website like a blog but with other great features also.  There will also be a link from the official website of the Diocese of Tyler, dioceseoftyler.org so in case you do miss the information on my blog you will always be able to catch up with me there.

I spoke to one of our seminarians this morning and when we were both hanging up and wishing each other a happy new year he laughed.  He explained that he was laughing because 2013 will be a VERY NEW YEAR for me and for the diocese.  His laughter was quite appropriate because each step along this new year will be a brand new experience for me as bishop of this family that I have come to love so deeply called the Diocese of Tyler.  Through the years I’ve often commented to newly weds and newly ordained priests that they have to realize how important their first year in their new vocation is.  Every experience is a first time event in their new role.  It dawned on me a couple of weeks after my ordination that I need to heed my own advice.  The coming months will bring many new experiences for me.

One of those brand new experiences has already passed.  Celebrating my first Christmas as bishop was a joyful and blessed event for me.  People have commented that I seem so comfortable in my new role and I have to say that their perception is accurate.  I know it is the Grace of God that allows me to enter into this new role so smoothly and I also appreciate the kindness and support of the people and so many who are assisting me directly with liturgies etc.  I feel everyone “pulling for me” and that is a great comfort.  I suppose it is just another manifestation of the blessing I feel in being called to be bishop of my family!!!

Speaking of family, I’ll share a picture of my niece Megan Schnurbusch.  You can probably guess that she is Cinderella in this picture.  You can see that she is enjoying her new role also!!!

 

GOD BLESS YOU AS WE ENTER INTO 2013.  LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER

 

Christmas Greetings

                                                                                                 

A Blessed Christmas to All-

As I celebrate my first Christmas as Bishop of Tyler I wanted to greet all of you and assure you of my prayers during this holy season. 

As you can imagine it is exciting to return to the Cathedral this evening for my first Midnight Mass as bishop.  I have celebrated many midnight masses at the Cathedral through the years, as an assistant priest, as rector of the Cathedral, concelebrating with Bishop Corrada and now as bishop.  The Cathedral is always beautiful for Christmas and I look forward to this wonderful liturgy.

Christmas is such a busy time for all of us that it is easy to forget what it is all about.  I pray that where ever you are this Christmas that you take the opportunity to go to mass and celebrate the birth of Our Lord.  I was always mystified as a kid by the reality that many believing Christians don’t go to church to celebrate Christmas.  The liturgical basis of our worship as Catholics helps us to stay rooted in the basic events of salvation that have unfolded for us all. 

I know that many of you have a tradition of inviting non-Catholics to join us for our Christmas masses especially for Midnight Mass.  I encourage you to continue that tradition.  There is no limit to what God can accomplish in all of our lives when we open our hearts to the truth of His saving plan.  Let us pray that all Christians, Catholic or not, may grow in a deeper contemplation of the wonders God has done for us as we celebrate Christmas 2012.

Sincerely in Christ’s Name,

+ Joseph

Reflections and Calendar Update

 

This picture includes (seated on the front row, from the left) Bishop David Fellhauer, Bishop Edmond Carmody and Archbishop Michael Sheehan. All three of these men along with Bishop Herzig, Bishop Corrada and so many others have played significant roles in my formation.

It is a special blessing to me personally that Bishop Carmody, bishop emeritus of Corpus Christi has agreed to return to Tyler to serve as my Vicar General. I look forward to working with him and especially asking him to assist us in development for the future of the diocese. He and Bishop Corrada have placed the diocese on a firm foundation after Bishop Herzig began the diocese and formed the basic administrative offices. It is an exciting time to continue the work of these fine men and a special blessing that one of them will be working as my "right hand man" as the diocese continues to develop.  

Many people have commented on the abundant blessings our diocese has received with the three fine men of Christ and His Church who have shepherded the diocese since it began. Herzig, Carmody and Corrada will be names that will always be remembered as a triumvirate of strength in the Catholic faith.  I am humbled to realize that it is my charge to take up their yoke and continue their fine work.  I know that I will rely on the prayers and support of all in the diocese and beyond.   

Midnight mass for Christmas 2012 will be a very blessed celebration for me.  Please know that all of you will be in my prayers in a special way at that mass.  I ask that you also pray for me and the Diocese of Tyler, by the grace of God may the coming years also be blessed as we seek to live and proclaim Jesus Christ more abundantly in north east Texas.
 

GOD BLESS YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

MY CALENDAR

December 26-  No public mass

December 27-  No public mass 

December 28-  8:00 AM Mass at the Bishop’s Chapel in the Chancery 

December 29-  5:30 PM Mass at the Cathedral 

December 30-  9:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

                        11:00 AM Mass at the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul 

December 31-  6:00 PM Mass at the Cathedral 

January 1, 2013-  10:00 AM at the Cathedral 

January 2- No public mass 

January 3-  8:00 AM Mass at the Bishop’s Chapel in the Chancery 

January 4-  No public mass 

January 5-  5:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph’s in Marshall 

January 6-  9:30 AM Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Holly Lake, Texas 

January 7-  11-  Bishop’s Retreat in San Antonio 

January 12-  5:00 PM Confirmation Mass at St. Augustine Church, St. Augustine, Texas 

January 13-  1:00 PM Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tyler

More Pictures

These pictures are from 10:00 Mass at the Cathedral on December 2, when I officially took possession of the Cathedral.

The other pictures are from the Gala celebration of the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital..........me getting a little exercise and learning how to do heart surgery.