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2009 Red Mass in Dallas

The St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Dallas invited all members of the judiciary, the bar, law faculty, their families and staffs to attend the annual Red Mass to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the deliberations of the courts, the dispensing of justice, and to ask that all in the legal profession be blessed.

The Red Mass
Sunday, November 8, 2009
12:00 noon
Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe
2215 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201








Jeff Turner, of the St. Thomas More Society



Dr. Richard Fossey (in red robes), of the University of North Texas



Bishop Farrell meets the worshipers after the Red Mass



Mark Cronenwett, President of the St. Thomas More Society

AJ & The Train Show!

On Saturday, 07 Nov 09, we went to see the train show put on by a local club, the Texas Western Model Railroad Club.

The Feria Quinta Group

Here is a picture of my friends (left to right): Joe Milligan, Mike Mocek, Joe Rodriguez, Andrew Hill, Kevin Prevou, and Dan Luby (not pictured is Paul Combest). We meet once a week, on Thursday mornings, at the CRC on the grounds of Nolan Catholic High School.

Halloween at AJ's School

Here are some photos from this year's Halloween party:










And a few photos from Valentine's Day 2008 - same kids! same cupcakes!

AJ Home and Feeling Better!

Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes and prayers! He still has some medicine to take, but AJ is home and feeling much better these days!

AJ at Cook Children's Medical Center

We checked AJ into Cook Children's Medical Center, and he has been receiving great medical care for a viral infection in his lungs. His prognosis is good, and after a few days, he should be out of the hospital; we will keep you posted.

In the meantime, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Trinity College Dublin Rises to 43rd

Oct 08, 2009 - Trinity College Dublin Rises to 43rd in the World by Times Higher Education - QS League Tables




Trinity College Dublin continues to climb the world university rankings, moving up to 43rd place in the Times Higher Education – QS World University Rankings just published. Having entered the top 50 worldwide for the first time in the 2008 THE-QS rankings, this year Trinity has not only consolidated its position but advanced six places on last year’s 49th place. It has also been ranked 13th place in Europe.

Commenting on the significance of the achievement, TCD Provost, Dr John Hegarty said: “Our stated ambition was to be at the front rank of world universities and among the top 50 globally. We have achieved that in a relatively short period of time and this year’s ranking of 43rd place has surpassed that original goal”.

“Such a high ranking is an outstanding achievement for Trinity and reflects the quality of our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and programmes, the high recognition by employers of our graduates across the world, and our reputation for excellence in research and scholarship by our international peers”.

“In the current economic climate it is very significant that in the international survey of over 3,200 employers, Trinity has moved up to 39th place. This is a strong endorsement by the global workplace of the university’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and the calibre of our students. Graduates are a university’s strongest asset. We must remember that the bulk of our graduates go on to employment in Ireland’s open economy, and our students are graduating not just with deep knowledge, but also as creative, clear-thinking and self-starting all-rounders. Trinity being ranked so highly by employers in this survey validates not only the long-standing values of this university, but bodes well for national economic recovery”.

“The challenge for Trinity will now be to sustain and improve its position in the rankings as a university of global consequence. Notwithstanding the challenges of an economic downturn and diminishing public finances, the College’s new Strategic Plan 2009-2014, will be launched next month and aims to further strengthen this performance. Rankings are only one indicator of performance and impact, and we rightly derive satisfaction from external peer validation. Overarching this is our goal that Trinity, by virtue of the strength and quality of our performance in education, research and training, will be a driver and source of creativity, wisdom and economic prosperity for Ireland and the wider world ”.

“Trinity’s achievement and that of our sister universities in Ireland in this year’s rankings has shown that the Government’s investment in education and research is paying off and that the university sector is delivering. Ireland came late to the table and is playing catch up in terms of research investment in comparison with other countries. It is critical that the State’s research programmes and policies such as the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) are maintained in order to sustain and build on what has been achieved in the past decade and to drive our future success.”

Four Seasons: Photos by Mom

Summer





Fall





Winter





Spring

2009 Red Mass in Fort Worth

The North Texas Catholic, 02 Oct 2009





Legal Professionals Mark Beginning of Judicial Year with Red Mass

By Mary Lynne Hill, Ph.D.
Special to The North Texas Catholic

FORT WORTH – Judges, law professors, attorneys and a wide range of legal practitioners joined Bishop Kevin Vann on Sept. 28 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as he celebrated the annual Red Mass commemorating the opening of the judicial year.

"The Red Mass is a wonderful opportunity to open our hearts, minds, and law practices to the Holy Spirit's guidance and support. We had a great turnout this year, and I hope to see even more of Catholic and non-Catholic colleagues at next year's Mass," said Prof. John F. Murphy of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.

Following the Red Mass, there was a reception in the Fort Worth Convention Center, which was organized by local attorney Robert Gieb and other volunteers.

During his homily, Bishop Vann recalled that when he came to Fort Worth in 2005, he spoke with Mr. Gieb about celebrating an annual Red Mass. Bishop Vann had studied Canon Law at the Angelicum in Rome, and for years was involved in the work of the Diocesan Tribunal of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, and the Tribunal of Second Instance in Chicago. As a legal practitioner himself, Bishop Vann had a special interest in the tradition of the Red Mass.

Mr. Gieb responded that he thought it would be great contribution to local legal community.

“It is always worthwhile to have an occasion when attorneys, judges and other public officials can come together in the public prayer of the Church to ask for wisdom and guidance from God, who is the source of all peace and justice. The Red Mass provides that opportunity,” said Mr. Gieb.

As a votive mass of the Holy Spirit, celebrants wear red to symbolize the tongues of fire that descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost. In the Mass, they request guidance for those involved in the conduct of the legal profession, including judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law school professors and students, along with government officials. The Mass provides the opportunity to honor the sacred role of the administration of justice in society, while encouraging these public servants to ponder what guides their decisions in their daily work.

Celebrated annually in the fall, the Red Mass generally coincides with the opening of the judicial year of the United States Supreme Court, which convenes the first Monday in October.

The national Red Mass has been held at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., since 1953. Sponsored by the John Carroll Society, it is attended by Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, the Cabinet, diplomatic corps, other government departments, and often times the President of the United States. These participants, of varied religious traditions, attend only in their capacity as private citizens, rather than as civic officials. This year’s gathering is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2009.

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral in Paris in 1245. Within a hundred years, the tradition had spread throughout Europe, particularly to England, where all members of the Bench and Bar, who also wore red robes, attended the annual event. The first Red Mass in the United States was held at the Church of St. Andrew in New York City in 1928. Currently, the Red Mass is celebrated in more than half of the states of the U.S. The Catholic Diocese of Dallas will celebrate a Red Mass on November 8, 2009.