The Diocese of Tyler entered into a partnership with the Diocese of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in September of 2001. Over the past three years, both dioceses have journeyed together to develop this relationship into one of ecclesial communion, that we might truly become brothers and sisters in Christ. Included in this partnership with San Pedro Sula is the Diocese of San Angelo in Texas.

July 2004

My dear brother priests,

The Diocese of Tyler entered into a partnership with the Diocese of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in September of 2001. Over the past three years, both dioceses have journeyed together to develop this relationship into one of ecclesial communion, that we might truly become brothers and sisters in Christ. Included in this partnership with San Pedro Sula is the Diocese of San Angelo in Texas.

Annual meetings continue among our dioceses. Several parishes in the Diocese of Tyler are in the partnering process with parishes from San Pedro Sula . Most recently, Bishop T. K. Gorman School representatives traveled to Honduras to formalize and develop a relationship with the Instituto Guadalupano, a catholic middle and secondary school.

The foundation of our relationship has always been one of prayer for one another, and this continues today. Our Holy Father in his encyclical “Ecclesia in America ” has stated:

"Faced with a divided world which is in search of unity, we must proclaim with joy and firm faith that God is communion, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unity in distinction, and that he calls all people to share in that same Trinitarian communion. We must proclaim that this communion is the magnificent plan of God the Father; that Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Lord, is the heart of this communion, and that the Holy Spirit works ceaselessly to create communion and to restore it when it is broken.”

He further states: “This communion, present in the Church and essential to her nature, must be made visible in concrete signs, such as communal prayer for one another, the desire for closer relations between Episcopal Conferences and between Bishops, fraternal ties between dioceses and parishes , and communication among pastoral workers with a view to specific missionary works".

During the Partnership meetings of April 2004, it was decided that all three dioceses would be celebrating the third anniversary of the signing of the Covenant of Partnership in a special way this year. In light of this, I am asking all parishes and missions and schools, particularly those who have begun a partnership process, to celebrate this wonderful event during the liturgies of the weekend of September 11 and September 12. I myself will be celebrating this anniversary during the 12:00PM and 1:30PM liturgies at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

It is important to note that as we entered into the Covenant of Partnership three years ago, on September 11, 2001 , we were in the midst of a great tragedy for our nation. From the very beginning, we were united in prayer. The Covenant of Partnership states: “Our personal encounter with Christ and our communal encounter with Christ in the Church calls us to be brothers and sisters in solidarity with one another, especially among our dioceses in America . To continue the mission of Jesus Christ and build up the family of God on earth, we hereby make this commitment, in one faith and one baptism. Nothing could unite us more than this.”

In an act of terrorism, many people died on September 11 at the World Trade Center , the Pentagon, and in Philadelphia . Among the dead were four persons from Honduras who were in the Twin Towers that day. As we joined together at the signing of the Covenant, we also came together in prayer for the victims and their families of that tragedy.

Included with this letter you will find some recommended prayer intentions for your use during the Prayers of the Faithful.

Yours in Christ,