Priest officially installed at Holy Family Parish

The Rev. Eugene John (E.J.) Stein was officially installed with at a special Mass on Jan. 21. Stein has headed up the local Holy Family Parish since the retirement of Fr. John Bok last summer, but a group of his parishioners asked for the formal ceremony though Rome does not require it.

“The pastor of a parish is official as soon as he receives a letter from his bishop,” Stein said.

“The ceremony is highly recommended, but I didn’t want to impose on the episcopal vicar in Lake Jackson. Eventually, a number of folks here organized it all, so it did finally happen.”

The parish office can be reached at 409-762-9646.

+++

Jewish art has few limitations beyond not depicting deity, but Islamic artists are historically limited to mostly geometric and abstract subjects since no depictions of either people or animals were allowed.

But curator Peter Bowman explained that a number of local painters from both faith traditions will be extending their reach at a Jewish-Moslem Art Exhibit beginning today through Feb. 20 at Clear Lake’s Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, 17503 El Camino Real.

“Featured artists will include Dr. Ezzat Abouleish and Nurit Mittlefehldt,” Bowman said. “The exhibit will include impressionistic paintings based on the recent Arab Spring uprising.”

Exhibit hours vary by day. For details, call 281-337-5990.

+++

Galveston’s Island Church is turning 10 this Sunday with celebrations at both 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at 2411 69th St.

Though Island is still one of the youngest churches, it has made its mark both by weathering Hurricane Ike and by developing ministries to the imprisoned and the addicted.

“We not only came back, but we’re looking for five acres of land to build a 1000-seat auditorium,” said the Rev. Rusty Martin, one of Island’s pastors.

For details, call 409-770-9113.

+++

Galveston’s Jerusalem Baptist Church will host a fundraiser titled, “Saturday Night Live” at 7 p.m. today at 2717 Ave. H Galveston.

“We’ll take donations and a love offering toward our pastor’s anniversary in March,” organizer Catherine Mahoney said.

The event will include Gospel singing and praise dancing.

For details, call 409-763-1748.

+++

This week’s update: Bishop Aaron Johnson said he is grateful to be giving out food each weekday at La Marque’s Temple of Deliverance, 1400 Silvia St.

“When we got the one hundredth person in the door, I was so thankful I gave them a card with $20 in it,” he said. “We’ve served smothered pork chops and I’m going to bring my fish fryer and do Southern catfish soon.”

Rick Cousins’ “Faith Focus” column appears each Saturday. Have a unique or unusual faith event to spotlight? E-mail details to rick.cousins(at)galvnews.com at least two weeks in advance.