The relics of six Knights of Columbus priests, martyred during
the period of anti-Catholic persecution in Mexico in the 1920s
and 1930s began a pilgrimage of the United States in Houston on
April 27. Surrounded by scores of Fourth Degree honor guard, as
well as bishops and priests from throughout Texas, the relics
were present at the co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston
for the opening Mass of the Knights' Texas State Convention.
Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas served as celebrant and homilist
for the Mass, and used the example of the martyrs to illustrate
the importance of the need today for Knights to stand up for
religious liberty today. The six priests — Fathers Pedro de
Jesus Maldonado Lucero, Miguel de la Mora de la Mora, Jose Maria
Robles Hurtado, Luis Batiz Sainz, Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán, and
Mateo Correa Magallanes — were all martyred for their faith by
the Mexican government during the religious persecution in
Mexico in the early 20th century. Thousands of the faithful
turned out in 2005 for a