The Little Vatican in Texas

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is one of the best known and ornate churches in the world. Although for many, it's a dream to visit the Vatican, we've discovered a place not far from Houston that's just as grand. It's St. Anthony's, what some refer to as "The Little Vatican." It is the little church in Beaumont, Texas, where every celebration is bigger than life, even bigger than death.

It is the latest church to join the ranks of Basilicas in the state of Texas. St. Anthony's is only the fourth church to receive Basilica status. That means St. Anthony's has now been recognized by the Vatican, and given the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Catholic church, a Basilica. That's a higher status than a cathedral. On it, will hang the official papal coat of arms. But there is something else that ties this church to its Italian roots. At the heart of St. Anthony's lies the alter, and above it, the Baldachino. It was made to look exactly like the most famous Baldachino in the world. The one in St. Peter's, carved by Bernini.
"You can't go everywhere in the United States and see a church as beautiful as this,". "The grandeur the beauty of it is out of this world. I mean I've never seen anything like it before." But, according to Vatican law, before a church can even be considered for Basilica status, it must be rich in religious history and relics, in other words, human remains. St. Anthony's houses the relics of two Catholic Saints.
Also here, the Zucchetto, or white skull cap worn by Pope John Paul the Second.
"There's so much you could just spend the day here and just walk around and look and pray, it's beautiful.But St. Anthony's is not alone. There are three other Basilicas in Texas like Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine in San Juan . St. Mary's in Galveston, founded in 1847, survived the Great Hurricane of 1900, even serving as a refuge for survivors. And finally, the National Shrine of the Little Flowers in San Antonio. It is surrounded by poverty, but brings a value, worth more than money. "Is something that gives them great pride and it's something that has really boosted the spirit of San Antonio.Much the same for Texas' newest Basilica, St. Anthony, for Catholics, and curious alike.

"People, not just Catholic, people of all denominations, will come to the cathedral to pray to be in solidarity with one another to call upon all mighty God for his guidance and blessings. So it's a very important pastoral center.

Outlook Express

In many cases this feature of Outlook Express is very handy. It allows you to build a database of contact automatically by creating an address book entry for anyone you send an email to.I suppose Microsoft decided that anyone worth emailing was worth storing as a contact and enabled this feature within Outlook express by default.

I can certainly see where this might be a nuisance thought.ha ha ha..depending on how you use email you might find yourself with superfluous contact.. To disable this feature, just open Outlook express anc click on Tools and then Options. Under the send tab, make sure "Automatically put people I reply in my Address book is unchecked

They Call Him Sky Angel Cowboy

I want to share this to you.I heard this since last year 2007.A friend of mine here in houston ,TX share this to us during our bible study last November...Logan’s testimony really touched me and left me in tears. We are all with you Logan and thank you for making such an effort to let us know even through your sadness.

The Sky Angel Cowboy! Logan listens to (89.3 KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX) on Sky Angel because he lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. He called .... distraught because he had to take down a calf. His words have wisdom beyond his years.

Listen what Logan had to say.....

An Alzheimer's Hat -- will it work?

Too crazy, too goofy, too good to be true, warn experts on the debilitating disease.


InLONDON, England... What if the secret to stopping the progression of Alzheimer's disease -- and perhaps even reversing its ravages -- lay in the use of a special hat?

Nevertheless, a team of British researchers is showcasing a bizarre-looking contraption that they say could stimulate the healing and regeneration of brain cells using a specific wavelength of infrared light -- a category of radiation most often associated with heat energy.

And human trials on the Alzheimer's hat are even scheduled to begin this summer.

THE Depth Of Friendship

Some people take this word for granted.
They use it to describe almost anyone
who touches their lives.
But that’s not fair,
for not everyone fits this word.
It is easy to be a pal, a buddy,
a companion, or an acquaintance,
but to be a friend means
so very much more…

To be a friend
means being trusted and trusting.
Honest and dedicated.
Supportive and available.
It means going strong with
your own life’s work and plans,
yet reaching out to another when you’re needed
(and maybe even when you’re not).

To be a friend is to be fun and fair.
Serious and silly.


To make the mundane exciting.
The unexpected acceptable
To be the silent stronghold without being asked.
To feel happy for someone else’s happiness,
and to share the burden of sorrow
in though and action.
To be a friend
is to be strong enough to be learned on
when someone else cannot walk another step
and to look to that other person
for own tranquility
when the world has spun you
out of control.
It is a lot of giving, a lot of talking,
but most of all, a lot of sharing.

The qualifications of being a friend
Are too high for the ordinary to reach.
It takes a while to earn the title
And a lifetime to truly know it’s meaning.
Never take the job lightly or give it away
too quickly;
it must be cultivated, nurtured, and cared for.
For when you truly find a “friend,”
You are lucky enough to have one for life.