Lent - Catholic Diocese of Brownsville

Transcripción

Volume 4, Issue 8
Serving over 900,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Brownsville
Every Altar
Needs a Priest
Marching for Life
Close to 1,000 gather to
support the unborn
3
February 2013
Pick up the
challenge
for Lent
Penitential season
an opportunity
to deepen our
spiritual life
By ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
Lent
Guidelines for 2013 from the
bishop’s office
6
Go Outdoors
By ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
Finding prayer spaces in
nature
8
O
n the last weekend of February
or the first weekend of March,
the faithful of the Rio Grande
Valley will be asked to participate in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
This year, the theme of the appeal is, “Ev-
ery Altar Needs a Priest,” and the proceeds
will benefit our seminarians in formation for
service in our diocese.
“We know that the spiritual strength of
the Church flows from the Eucharistic sacrifice celebrated daily in our churches (by our
priests),” said Bishop Daniel E. Flores. “Christ
» Please see Appeal, p.14
Those Who Serve
Deacon Roberto Cantu of
Mercedes
9
»World Marriage Day
En Español
Artículos sobre la
Cuaresma y el Día Mundial
del Matrimonio
11-14
Honoring husbands and wives
Bishop Flores
to bless couples
celebrating milestone
anniversaries
By ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
“VERBUM MITTITUR
SPIRANS AMOREM”
(“The WORD is sent
breathing love.”)
“My mom’s cousin married
her aunt, so we have known
each other all of our lives,” said
Bernardino E. Mendez, who is
celebrating 25 years of marriage
with his wife, Olga Lydia, in 2013.
“We grew up attending the same
birthday parties, the same gettogethers, the same celebrations.”
“Not long ago, one of our
relatives posted a photo on
Facebook of us as little children
and there we were at the same
birthday party,” Mrs. Mendez said.
One day, when they were
teenagers, they took a horse ride
around his ranch at sunset. This
marked the beginning of their
romantic relationship.
The Mendezes married on
May 27, 1988 in their hometown
of Gómez Palacio in the Mexican
state of Durango. Today, they
have six children, ranging from
age seven to 23.
The Mendezes will be among
the couples celebrating milestone
anniversaries at a World Marriage
Day Mass set for 2 p.m. on
Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Basilica of
Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-
The Valley Catholic
Bernardino and Olga Lydia Mendez of
McAllen will celebrate 25 years of marriage in 2013.
National Shrine.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores will
celebrate the Mass and recognize
the couples, who are celebrating
» Please see Blessing, p.15
BROWNSVILLE — “Every
year, I challenge myself and
my congregation to look a little
deeper during Lent,” said Father
Thomas Pincelli, pastor of Our
Lady of Good Counsel Parish in
Brownsville. “Lent is not about
what you have been told to do, but
what God wants you to do.”
Lent, which begins on
Wednesday, Feb. 13, is a
penitential season during which
we strive to deepen our spiritual
life by acknowledging our sins
and living in a way that helps us
live more purposefully as faithful
Christians.
Many Catholics, ages 14-60,
in the United States abstain from
meat on Ash Wednesday and on
all the Fridays of Lent. The faithful
may also fast on Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday, in accordance
with the Code of Canon Law.
Many Catholics additionally
choose to “give up” something for
Lent. All of this is done as a means
of being in solidarity with Jesus,
who fasted 40 days in the desert.
“By the solemn 40 days of Lent,
the Church unites herself each
year to the mystery of Jesus in the
desert,” the Catechism states.
In addition to following
the prescribed rules for fasting
and abstinence and “giving
up” something, Father Pincelli,
challenges us to take our Lenten
sacrifices a step further. He
challenges us to overcome the
tendency to, “do what we’ve been
programmed to do during Lent.”
“Giving
up
something
definitely can make a difference,
but I think that we have to look
at the entirety of what the Gospel
is asking us to be about,” Father
Pincelli said. “We have to honestly
look at our life and identify those
areas that need the most time and
effort— and pick up the challenge.
“I think it is much more
important to get down to the
nitty-gritty and get down deep
inside those core values and core
elements that we are still struggling
with.”
Avoiding those issues prevents
us from being as fulfilled as we
» Please see Lent, p.14
diOcESE
2
Apoyo para
las vocaciones
sacerdotales
E
l trabajo de la Iglesia
envuelve a todos para que
nos ayudemos mutuamente en el camino a la
salvación. Aquí en el Valle del
Río Grande, veo esta generosidad comunitaria todos los días,
en nuestras parroquias, escuelas,
en nuestras obras de caridad, y
en nuestros esfuerzos de evangelización. Innumerables laicos,
religiosos y religiosas, diáconos
y sacerdotes trabajan juntos para
hacer que la presencia de Cristo
sea más visible y efectiva en nuestra diócesis.
¿Cómo sucede todo esto? En
este Año de la Fe, profesamos que
es la gracia del Señor que mueve
los corazones de tantas personas
para trabajar juntos por el bien
común. Esta gracia nos llega principalmente a través de la acción
vivificante de Cristo en la Misa.
Sabemos que la fuerza espiritual
de la Iglesia deriva del Sacrificio
Eucarístico celebrado diariamente
en nuestras iglesias.
El Señor Jesús se ofrece al
Padre por nosotros en el gran sacrificio de amor. Él nos alimenta en
la Eucaristía con su propia entrega
generosa. Este alimento que baja
del cielo sostiene y fortalece la vida
y actividad de la Iglesia.
En cada uno de los tres años
que, por la gracia de Dios, he
gozado del privilegio de servir
como su obispo, les he pedido que
apoyen a la Campaña Anual del
Obispo para ayudarme a sostener
el trabajo de la Iglesia en el Valle,
especialmente en las zonas donde
los recursos son particularmente
escasos. Gracias a su generosidad,
hemos podido apoyar reparaciones
parroquiales, programas para la juventud, así como la formación permanente del clero (por nombrar
algunos proyectos). Este año creo
que es sabio y prudente prestar
especial atención a nuestra responsabilidad como iglesia local para
promover y apoyar las vocaciones
The Valley Catholic - February 2013
Support for vocations to the priesthood
T
he work of the Church involves
everyone as we help one another
on the way to salvation. Here in the
Rio Grande Valley I see this communal generosity every day, in our parishes,
schools, in our charitable works, and in our
evangelization efforts. Countless laymen and
women, religious, deacons and priests work
together to make the presence of Christ more
visible and effective in our diocese.
How does all this happen? In this Year
of Faith, we profess that it is the grace of the
Lord who moves the hearts of so many to
work together for the good of all. This grace
comes to us principally through the lifegiving action of Christ in the Mass. We know
that the spiritual strength of the Church flows
from the Eucharistic sacrifice celebrated daily
in our churches.
The Lord Jesus offers himself to the
Father for our sakes in the great sacrifice
of love. He feeds us in the Eucharist with
his own generous self-giving. This food
that comes down from heaven sustains
and strengthens the life and activity of the
Church.
In each of the three years I have, by the
grace of God, been privileged to serve as your
bishop, I have asked you to support the Annual Bishop’s Appeal as a way of helping me
sustain the work of the Church in the Valley,
especially in areas where resources are particularly scarce. Thanks to your generosity,
we have been able to support parish repairs,
programs for youth, as well as continuing
al sacerdocio, a fin de asegurar
que siempre tengamos sacerdotes
buenos y santos para celebrar la
Eucaristía en nuestras iglesias.
Cristo se nos da en la Misa y es
la vida y la fuerza de cada uno de
nosotros. Apoyar las vocaciones
sacerdotales es apoyar la fuente
vital de fuerza espiritual que nos
sostiene a todos. El número de los
seminaristas es cada vez mayor.
Este año tenemos 25 y es una
gran bendición. Espero que esta
tendencia continúe a medida que
más de nuestros jóvenes den un
paso adelante respondiendo a
la llamada de Cristo a través de
su Iglesia. En promedio, cuesta
$30,000.00 para educar a un
MOST REVEREND
DANIEL E. FLORES
BISHOP OF BROWNSVILLE
education of the clergy (to name but a few).
This year I think it is wise and prudent to
focus particular attention on our responsibility as a local Church to promote and support
vocations to the priesthood, so as to ensure
that we always have good and holy priests to
celebrate the Holy Eucharist in our churches.
Christ given to us in the Mass is the life
and strength for each one of us. To support
vocations to the priesthood is to support the
vital source of spiritual strength that sustains
each one of us. The number of our seminarians is growing. This year we have 25, and it
is a great blessing. And I expect this trend to
continue as more of our young men step forward in response to the call of Christ through
his Church. On average, it costs $30,000 to
educate a single seminarian for one year.
Thus, you can see it requires a significant
monetary investment to provide for the
proper formation and education of our future
priests. I am asking all of our parishes to
participate in this year’s appeal, and all of the
seminarista sólo por un año. Por
lo tanto, se puede apreciar que se
requiere una inversión monetaria
considerable para proporcionar la
formación y educación adecuada
a nuestros futuros sacerdotes. Les
pido a todas nuestras parroquias
que participen en la Campaña
Anual del Obispo 2013, y a todo
el Pueblo de Dios que den lo
que puedan para apoyar nuestro
programa de formación en el
seminario.
Su donación a la Campaña de
este año, no importa cuán grande
o pequeña, es muy necesaria y
agradecida. Será destinada a la
educación de un seminarista en
nuestra diócesis. Espero también
Bishop Daniel E. Flores
Publisher
Brenda Nettles Riojas
Editor
Rose Ybarra
Assistant Editor
The Valley Catholic email:
[email protected]
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Yours in Christ,
+Daniel E. Flores
Bishop of Brownsville
que los ingresos de este esfuerzo
sean suficientes como para permitirme seguir asignando un poco
de ayuda a las parroquias que
enfrentan dificultades financieras
debido a las emergencias que
puedan surgir durante el año.
Además de participar en
la Campaña, también les pido
urgentemente que oren por las
vocaciones al sacerdocio, en
especial durante sus oraciones ante
el Santísimo Sacramento. Y les
pido que apoyen los programas
en sus parroquias y en la diócesis diseñada para promover las
vocaciones al sacerdocio y la vida
religiosa. Todos recibimos fuerza
y alimento del ministerio sacer-
Bishop Flores’ Schedule
700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589-3042
Telephone: 956/781-5323 • Fax: 956/784-5082
faithful People of God to give what you can
to support our seminary training programs.
Your donation to this year’s appeal, no
matter how large or small is very much
needed and appreciated. It will go toward
helping educate a seminarian for our diocese.
I am hoping also that the funds from this
year’s appeal will be sufficient to permit me
to continue to allocate some help to parishes
facing financial strain due to emergencies of
one kind or another.
In addition to participating in the appeal,
I also urgently ask you to pray for vocations to the priesthood, especially during
your prayers in the presence of the Blessed
Sacrament. And, I ask that you support
the programs in your parishes and in the
diocese designed to promote vocations to the
priesthood and religious life. We all receive
strength and nourishment from the priestly
ministry; let us all offer to God our prayers
and our support of priestly vocations as a
sign of our gratitude for the priests who have
served us in the past, for the priests we have,
and for the priests God will give us for the
future. I thank you for your kindness and
generosity, your great love for the Eucharist
and the priesthood, and your faithful participation in the life of the Church.
Feb. 2
11 a.m.
McAllen
Mass for 10th Annual Knights of Columbus Youth Retreat
Feb. 2
1 p.m.
McAllen
Open Mic. Session for 10th Annual KC Youth Retreat
Feb. 2
5:30 p.m.
San Juan
Basilica Mass
Feb. 3
7:30 a.m.
Pharr
St. Margaret Mary Church-Mass (Spanish)
Feb. 3
10:30 a.m.
Pharr
St. Margaret Mary Church-Mass (English)
Feb. 3
Noon
Pharr
St. Anne Church-Mass (English)
Feb. 3
3:30 p.m.
Basilica
Mass for World Day for Consecrated Life
Feb. 6
6 p.m.
La Grulla
Confirmations at Holy Family Church
Feb. 7
9:30 a.m.
San Juan
Talk at Professional Day for Catechetical Leaders
Feb. 7
11:30 a.m.
San Juan
Mass at Professional Day for Catechetical Leaders
Feb. 9
2 p.m.
Basilica
Mass for World Marriage Day
dotal; ofrezcamos a Dios nuestras
oraciones y nuestro apoyo a las
vocaciones sacerdotales como
signo de nuestra gratitud por los
sacerdotes que nos han servido en
el pasado, por los sacerdotes que
tenemos, y por los sacerdotes que
Dios nos dará en el futuro. Les doy
las gracias por su amabilidad y
generosidad, por su gran amor a la
Eucaristía y el sacerdocio, y por su
participación fidelísima en la vida
de la Iglesia.
Suyo en Cristo,
+ Daniel E. Flores
Obispo de Brownsville
February 2013
Feb. 9
6 p.m.
Pharr
St. Anne Church-Mass (Spanish)
Feb. 10
7:30 a.m.
Pharr
St. Margaret Mary Church-Mass (Spanish)
Feb. 10
10:30 a.m.
Pharr
St. Margaret Mary Church- Mass (English)
Feb. 10
Noon
Pharr
St. Anne Church - Mass (English)
Feb. 10
5 p.m.
Weslaco
Mass for Catholic Scouting Ceremony - St. Joan of Arc
Feb. 13
Noon
Brownsville
Ash Wednesday Mass Gran Salon at UTB
Feb. 16
5 p.m.
El Ranchito
Community Wedding Vows - St. Ignatius
Feb. 19
6:30 p.m.
Harlingen
Rite of Election (Lower Valley) at St. Anthony Church
Feb. 21
6:30 p.m.
San Juan
Rite of Election (Upper Valley) at the Basilica
Feb. 27
6:30 p.m.
TBD
Juan Diego Academy Fundraiser
Feb. 28
6 p.m.
Mission
Mission Deanery Listening Sessions - Our Lady of Guadalupe
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February 2013
diOcESE
- The Valley Catholic
How to Avoid
Falling in
Love with a
Jerk(ette)
3
Marching for Life
The Valley Catholic
The Family Life Office of the Diocese of Brownsville is sponsoring
P.I.C.K. (Pre-marital Interpersonal
Choices and Knowledge), a partner
program based on John Van Epp’s
best-selling book, How to Avoid
Falling in Love with a Jerk(ette).
This five-week program is designed to provide single adults with
a plan for pacing a relationship and
exploring the key areas that foreshadow what a partner will be like
in marriage.
Included in the sessions will
be some of the Catholic Church’s
teachings on sexuality and Sacramental Marriage.
Sessions will be held weekly on
Monday evenings at the University
of Texas-Pan American (Catholic
Campus Ministry Center), 1615 W.
Kuhn St. in Edinburg and the University of Texas-Brownsville (Catholic Campus Ministry Center) 1910
University Blvd. in Brownsville, beginning on Feb. 4 from 7 p.m. to 9
p.m.
Cost for the five-week course is
$10.00 for the workbook. For registration and information, please call
the Family Life Office at (956) 7845012 or (956) 542-2501 ext. 412.
Readers step
up for Mission
wife, mother
battling cancer
The Valley Catholic
In the Dec.
2012 edition
of The Valley Catholic,
we featured
Norma Rodriguez,
a
wife
and
RODRIGUEZ
mother from
Mission who
is battling cancer. More than
$1,400 in cash and gift cards, plus
Christmas gifts for her two children was collected for the family
through Catholic Charities of the
Rio Grande Valley.
“The readers of The Valley Catholic really came through for Norma
and her family,” said Yesenia Guzman, a caseworker for Catholic
Charities. “It is heartening to see so
many generous people in our community.”
Rodriguez has health insurance
but the family’s income exceeds the
maximum income level for government assistance such as food
stamps. The family is struggling
to make ends meet because of the
mounting medical bills, co-payments and travel expenses.
Rodriguez, 31, is currently undergoing treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and
requests prayers from the faithful
of the Rio Grande Valley.
The Valley Catholic
close to 1,000 people participated in a pro-life march in
McAllen on Jan. 19. Organized by the respect Life Apostolate
of the diocese, Bishop Daniel e. flores led the procession,
which began with opening prayers at st. Joseph the Worker
Parish and continued into downtown. The procession stopped
at the local abortion clinic before continuing to sacred Heart
Parish for closing prayers and remarks from the bishop.
Jan. 22 marked the 40th anniversary of the roe v. Wade
supreme court ruling that legalized abortion and pro-lifers
across the nation observed the occasion with events of prayer
and action.
“forty years,” Bishop flores said in his closing remarks. “I
say we must continue to work to change the law because the
law teaches our children what is right and what is good. How
can we wonder if our children grow up usurping life if the law
tells them it’s ok if the life isn’t born yet? We underestimate
the power of the law to form a people and we wish to be a
just people. We wish to be a people who are conscious of the
goodness of life and that’s why this law cannot stand. It may
take time but we cannot give up.”
No food, no drink
Fasting provides
opportunity
to experience
hopeful waiting
By ANGEL BARRERA
The Valley Catholic
Catholic spirituality has always held the practice of fasting,
coupled with prayer and almsgiving in a special regard. In the
liturgical cycle’s most penitential
moments, the faithful are called
to join in solidarity and fast from
their regular diet.
St. John Cassian, an early desert father from the 4th century,
writes in his Conferences about
the seven deadly sins. Interestingly, the first of the all sins he describes is gluttony. He essentially
describes the sin of gluttony as a
gateway to the others. A lack of
moderation in our appetite leads
us to a lack of moderation in the
flesh and eventually our spirit.
I’ll be the first to admit that
fasting can be difficult. Going
without food puts me into my
“hangry” mode; a wicked combination of being hungry and angry
at the same time.
In a culture that emphasizes
excess, moderation can come
across as a radical deviation. But
Christianity has always demanded
that we walk the strange way of
Christ. The way that lays in the
footsteps of a God-made man that
was born, lived, died and resurrected over 2,000 years ago.
We live in a culture in which
fasting is a foreign concept. A few
years ago, an article was published
by the news agency Agence FrancePresse detailing the extremes that
exist in different parts of the
world. According to the article,
“In statistics used to underline the
unequal access to food, the IFRC
(International Federation of the
Red Cross) stressed there were 1.5
billion people suffering obesity
worldwide last year, while 925 mil-
ABOUT crs fOOD fAsT
Time: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Place: Auditorium at Basilica of Our
Lady of San Juan del Valle BasilicaNational Shrine
Cost: $10 per person
Info: Contact Monica Benitez
at [email protected] or (956)7815323
lion were undernourished.”
The practice of fasting is the
opportunity to re-prioritize our
lives into what’s most important. It
is a time to reclaim our lives from
our desires that can run amok
sometimes, as can be evidenced by
obesity and excessive credit card
debt.
Let us look at fasting as a
unique opportunity to experience
hopeful waiting. Each week, the
Church asks that we fast one hour
before the reception of the Holy
Eucharist. Formerly, the Eucharistic fast began at midnight on
Saturday. This regular and brief
experience of fasting reminds
us that no food or drink (or any
material thing) can quench our
deepest spiritual yearnings as only
Jesus can.
The Eucharistic fast is an expression of solidarity with the
Church for the water of everlasting
life that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be
thirsty again; but whoever drinks
the water I shall give will never
thirst; the water I shall give will
become in him a spring of water
welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:1314).
On Saturday, Feb. 23, the Office of Youth Ministry will sponsor a Catholic Relief Service Food
Fast, a hunger awareness retreat
focusing on global poverty and
hunger, for high school juniors
and seniors. The local retreat will
include a food fast for eight hours
and will provide activities for students to learn about the realities
faced by people around the world
who live in poverty and the actions they can take to help end
global hunger.
diOcESE
4
»Family Life
Lydia Pesina
Director, Family
Life Office
The Ten
Commandments
of Love
I
t is a wonder to remember
that the Ten Commandments have been around for
hundreds of years before the
time of Christ. (Scholars speculate
between 600-1200 years before)
And since we just began the year
2013 A.D. (Ano Domini- In the
year of our Lord) the revelation of
God to Moses who brought down
the tablets from Mount Sinai
could possibly have happened
close to 3,000 years ago!
In Exodus 32:15 we hear:
“Moses then turned and came
down the mountain with the two
tablets of commandments in his
hands, tablets that were written
on both sides, front and back;
tablets that were made by God,
having inscriptions on them that
were engraved by God himself.”
I believe that there are many
ways by which we can view these
great guides of life. A writer
stated that for those from a Judeo-Christian tradition, “ the Ten
Commandments concern only
matters of fundamental importance: the greatest obligation (to
worship only God), the greatest
injury to a person (murder), the
greatest injury to family bonds
(adultery), the greatest injury to
commerce and law (bearing false
witness), the greatest intergenerational obligation (honor to
parents), the greatest obligation
to community (truthfulness),
the greatest injury to moveable
property (theft).”
It is amazing to think that the
Ten Commandments apply to us
today as much as they did thousands of years ago. In our present
technological society, something
that happened last year can sometimes seem outdated, especially to
children and young people who
live in a world where a cell phone
that was the rave last year is
outdated now. Perhaps for some,
especially the young, the Ten
Commandments are not only outdated, but also irrelevant to daily
living. And perhaps some can
view them as negatives in a world
where “don’t” or “you shall not” is
considered “offensive.” But every
“don’t” has a “do”; every negative
a positive. In God’s great wisdom
He has taught us throughout the
ages that HE IS LOVE and that
His great LOVE creates us, sustains us, teaches us, and guides us.
Perhaps we can see the Ten
Commandments as the Ten
Commandments of Love. 1) I am
the LORD your God. You shall
worship the Lord your God and
Him only shall you serve. Love
God with all your heart, with your
entire mind and with all your
soul and serve Him by loving and
serving your family and serving
the poor. 2) You shall not take
the name of the Lord your God
in vain. Love the power that your
words have upon others and use
them wisely to honor God and
not diminish others. 3) Remember to keep holy the Sabbath
» Please see Commandments, p.16
Event features national presenters
Catholic women’s,
mens conferences
scheduled
for Feb. 22-23
Father
Tadeusz
Pacholczyk
Priest of the
Diocese of Fall
River
The Pill as
health care?
The Valley Catholic
WESLACO — The Rio
Grande Valley Catholic Men’s
Fellowship and Real Men Pray
the Rosary are sponsoring conferences for both women and
men on Feb. 22 -23 in Weslaco.
A Catholic Women’s Conference has been scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at San Martin de Porres Church,
901 N. Texas Blvd. in Weslaco.
The men’s conference is
scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Catholic War Veteran’s Hall on Farmto-Market Road 1015 between
Weslaco and Mercedes.
Admission to both the women’s and men’s conference is free.
Men are encouraged to pre-register on the RGV Catholic Men’s
Fellowship website for planning
purposes.
The speakers for both the
women’s and men’s conference
are:
Michael Cumbie — A former Protestant pastor, he was, “a
pew jumping, tongue speaking,
devil chasing, Bible thumping,
shut your mouth preacher, like
those guys on television … I used
to do that,” he said in an interview
on The Journey Home, a program
on the Eternal Word Television
Network (EWTN) that features
converts to the Catholic faith. “I
began a journey searching for the
truth,” Cumbie said. “If you had
told me that the truth would have
led me to the Roman Catholic
Church, I probably would have
slapped you and your mama.”
Hector Molina — A lay
Catholic speaker and apologist
from Brooklyn, N.Y., Molina has
more than 20 years experience in
professional pastoral ministry. In
2012, he joined the staff of Catholic Answers, the largest lay-run
apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization in North
America. He is also a husband
and father of five children.
Peter Herbeck — The host
of the Ave Maria Radio program,
Fire on Earth, Herbeck aims to
MARTIN
HERBECK
CUMBIE
MOLINA
Men’s cOnference
Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (sign
in from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.)
Mass: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Catholic War Veterans
Hall, 1501 N. International
Blvd., Weslaco
Admission: Free
Info: www.rgvcmf.org
help listeners respond personally to what the Holy Spirit is
saying. He is the vice president
and a director of missions for
Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal
and evangelization throughout
the world. A husband and father
of four, he resides in Ann Arbor,
Mich.
Ralph Martin — An author
of several Catholic books, Martin is the president of Renewal
Ministries, which sponsors the
radio and television program,
The Choices We Face, which is
distributed throughout the world
and engages in a wide variety of
mission work in more than 27
countries. He also worked for a
number of years for the National
Office of the Cursillo Movement
and subsequently became a leader in the national and international development of the charismatic renewal movement in the
Catholic Church.
The mission of the RGV
Catholic Men’s Fellowship is to
spread the gospel of Jesus Christ
to all men seeking to come to a
fuller understanding of what it
means to be a Catholic Christian
man, according to their website. The organization sponsors
a men’s and women’s conference
featuring nationally-recognized
presenters about once a year.
Real Men Pray the Rosary was
created to “promote [the Rosary]
with conviction” to all Christians
but especially Catholic men and
their families, according to their
website. The apostolate promotes
prayer, family and community
with numerous events throughout the year.
Bishop Flores to commision
team of young adults
By MIGUEL SANTOS
The Valley Catholic
As part of the Year of Faith
initiatives, the Office for Campus and Young Adult Ministry
(CYAM) announced the creation
of a group of young adults who
Bishop Daniel E. Flores will commission to serve as his ambassadors throughout the diocese.
In a recent letter addressed
to priests and parishes, Bishop
Flores stated: “I am commissioning 16 young adults (two per
deanery), that will be known as
“Bishop’s Ambassadors for Young
Adult Ministry.” My goal is to
listen to and learn from them identifying first-hand their spiri-
»Making Sense
Out of Bioethics
tual needs and how we can be
more responsive to them as a
Church.”
The team of Young Adult
Ambassadors will meet in person
twice a year with Bishop Flores,
and regularly with the CYAM office. They will also utilize technology to communicate via Skype, conference calls, and video
chatting.
This team has two specific
goals:
1. To advise Bishop Flores and
the CYAM Office on the concerns
and issues facing young adults in
their 20s & 30s across the diocese,
offering feedback on the work
and initiatives of the Diocese of
Brownsville and its CYAM office.
2. To work together in planning and implementing diocesanwide activities for young adults.
These activities include spiritual,
service and social justice-related,
social/sports, faith formation,
and evangelization initiatives that
go beyond what any one parish or
ministry can do on its own.
For more information on
becoming one of Bishop’s Young
Adult Ambassadors, please contact Miguel Santos via email for
an application: msantos@cdob.
org. Deadline is Monday, Feb. 25.
P
hysicians will sometimes
prescribe a hormonal
regimen (in the form of
a hormonal contraceptive like the Pill) to treat certain
gynecological problems like heavy
menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), PMS
(pre-menstrual syndrome), endometriosis, or other conditions
like severe acne. In these cases,
the Pill is used not as a contraceptive, but as a therapy for a medical
condition.
This can be morally permissible under the principle of
double effect, which allows for
the treatment of a serious medical
problem (the good effect), while
tolerating its unintended consequences, when other less harmful
treatments are not available. In
this case, the unintended consequences would be the impeding
of one’s fertility and the potential
health risks and side effects of the
Pill (the evil effect).
Married couples may sometimes struggle with the question
of whether a pathology is serious
enough to warrant the therapeutic
use of the Pill. The wife of one
couple I worked with reflected on
the matter and concluded, “Yes,
the bleeding is intense, and I’m
basically wiped out for at least two
or three days each month, but it’s
not so debilitating that my husband and I can’t manage, and we’d
really prefer, morally and medically speaking, not to get mixed
up with a powerful pharmaceutical like the Pill.”
Other treatments beside the
Pill may at times be available to
remedy these medical conditions
without having to impede fertility.
Some young women, though, may
be content to opt for a treatment
that also offers more latitude for
sexual activity. Approaching the
medical use of the Pill in this way
can raise concerns about ambiguous intentions. A friend of mine
who dated several young women
who were on the Pill for a medical
condition described his own experiences and struggles this way:
“Those I know who have done
this also tended to be the ones
who were sexually active…. I
believe it does have an effect on
one’s psyche and soul. In fact, in
the past I’ve dated two women
who were doing this and it made
it really, really hard at times to
be chaste. When I brought up
alternative ways to treat something that doesn’t involve the Pill,
they got very defensive. So I think
it definitely blurs a line even in
the minds of the most faithful
Catholics who rationalize that this
is what the doctor ordered.”
Lines can blur not only in
the minds of those who may be
dating, but also in the minds of
medical students, who may be
taught to prescribe the Pill almost
reflexively for various gynecological issues rather than addressing
» Please see The Pill, p.15
February 2013
»Sunday
Readings
The Word of God in the Life
and Mission of the Church
February 3
(Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time )
Reading I
JER 1:4-5, 17-19
Responsorial Psalm
PS 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17
Reading II 1 COR 12:31—13:13
OR 13:4-13
Gospel
LK 4:21-30
February 10
(Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Reading I
IS 6:1-2A, 3-8
Responsorial Psalm
PS 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
Reading II 1 COR 15:1-11
OR 15:3-8, 11
Gospel
LK 5:1-11
February 17
(First Sunday of Lent )
Reading I
DT 26:4-10
Responsorial Psalm
PS 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Reading II ROM 10:8-13
Gospel
LK 4:1-13
February 24
(Second Sunday of Lent )
Reading I
GN 15:5-12, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm
PS 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14
Reading II PHIL 3:17 - 4:1
OR PHIL 3:20 - 4:1
Gospel
FAiTH
LK 9:28B-36
The word of the lord abides for
ever. This word is the Gospel
which was preached to you” (1
Pet 1:25; cf. Is 40:8).
With this assertion from the
First Letter of Saint Peter,
which takes up the words of the
Prophet Isaiah, we find ourselves
before the mystery of God,
who has made himself known
through the gift of his word.
This word, which abides for ever,
entered into time. God spoke
his eternal Word humanly; his
Word “became flesh” (Jn 1:14).
This is the good news. This is
the proclamation which has
come down the centuries to us
today.
Disciples in Mission: Six Weeks
with the Bible
5
Priestly celibacy for the Kingdom of Heaven
W
hen addressing the issue
of priestly celibacy, in
both ecclesiastic and
non-ecclesiastic spheres, some
misunderstandings and discrepancies in opinions arise, in addition
to critiques with regard to it.
The present discipline of the
Catholic Church says that those
who approach Holy Orders must
profess vows of perfect chastity
(celibacy). Today this discipline,
more than ever, is necessary.
First, we should clarify that
priestly celibacy is not a dogma of
faith, but a Church discipline that
can be changed, that has changed
throughout the history of the
Church, and that hypothetically
can keep changing.
One often hears that the
Church imposes celibacy on
priests; however, nobody is forced
to be celibate. Although celibacy
is a “law” of the Church, it is not
fair to say that the Church imposes
or coerces it. Through free and
voluntary decision, any man who
receives Holy Orders voluntarily
renounces human fatherhood
to devote exclusively to spiritual
fatherhood.
The Second Vatican Council
beautifully states that, perfect and
perpetual continence for the sake
of the Kingdom of Heaven, commended by Christ the Lord and
through the course of time as well
as in our own days freely accepted
and observed in a praiseworthy
T
Father
Manuel A.
Razo, STL
Parochial Vicar,
St. Luke Parish
in Brownsville
manner by many of the faithful, is
held by the Church to be of great
value in a special manner for the
priestly life. It is at the same time
a sign and a stimulus for pastoral
charity and a special source of
spiritual fecundity in the world...
celibacy has a many-faceted suitability for the priesthood. For the
whole priestly mission is dedicated
to the service of a new humanity... Through virginity, then, or
celibacy observed for the Kingdom
of Heaven, priests are consecrated
to Christ by a new and exceptional
reason. They adhere to him more
easily with an undivided heart,
they dedicate themselves more
freely in him and through him to
the service of God and men...
The priest is another Sacramental Christ. According to the
Gospels, our Lord Jesus Christ
never imposed celibacy on his
apostles. However, He recommended it through the example
of his celibate life and his sole and
total dedication and service to all
humanity. The ministerial priesthood must be an imitation and a
configuration to Christ, the High
Priest.
Celibacy allows the priest
to exclusively devote himself
to Christ and to the service of
humanity. Celibacy does not mean
to renounce or refuse love; on the
contrary, celibacy is synonym of
love and a sign of total love.
In the same way that Christ
loved the Church, the priest loves
her and Christ. It is this love which
allows the priest to leave everything in order to follow Christ, and
to love and take care of his Church
in the same way Christ has loved
and taken care for her.
The Gospels tell that the
Apostles left everything to follow
Christ: family, house, wife, etc.
“We have given up everything and
followed you” (Mt 19:27). In the
same way today’s priests must have
the same disposition of detachment as the Apostles had — to
renounce and give up everything
to follow Christ.
Today’s priests and religious
people choose celibacy for the
sake and love of the kingdom of
heaven. This love of the Kingdom
of Heaven is a universal and nonexclusive love that is manifested in
the love the celibate priest offers
to all people and not only to one
person, imitating God’s fatherly
love. Such love indivisibly unites
the priest with all mankind putting
him at its service, and configur» Please see Celibacy, p.9
“Increase our Faith, Lord”
he Apostles said to the
Lord, “Increase our
faith!” And the Lord said,
“If you had faith like a
mustard seed, you would say to
this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted
and be planted in the sea’; and it
would obey you” (Lk 17). In this
Year of Faith the same challenge
is before us as we echo the request
of the Apostles for the Lord to
strengthen us to believe and to live
the faith we have received at our
Baptism.
The Holy Father Pope Benedict
XVI is his apostolic letter “Porta
Fidei” for the induction of the
Year of Faith summons us to an
authentic and renewed conversion
to the Lord, the one Savior of the
world. “In the mystery of his death
and resurrection, God has revealed
in its fullness the Love that saves
and calls us to conversion of life
through the forgiveness of sins”
(cf. Acts 5:31).
For Saint Paul, this love ushers
us into a new life: “We were buried
... with him by Baptism into death,
so that as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of
life” (Rom 6:4).
Through faith, this new life
shapes the whole of human existence according to the radical new
reality of the resurrection. To the
extent that he freely cooperates,
man’s thoughts and affections,
mentality and conduct are slowly
purified and transformed, on a
journey that is never completely
finished in this life. “Faith working
through love” (Gal 5:6) becomes
a new criterion of understanding
and action that changes the whole
of man’s life (cf. Rom 12:2; Col 3:910; Eph 4:20-29; 2 Cor 5:17).”
The Pope reminds us that the
faith into which we were baptized
is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
that we profess every Sunday
during the Creed. “Profession of
Deacon
Luis Zuniga
Director, Office for
Pastoral Planning
& San Juan Diego
Ministry Institute.
faith is an act both personal and
communitarian. It is the Church
that is the primary subject of faith.
In the faith of the Christian community, each individual receives
Baptism, an effective sign of entry
into the people of believers in order to obtain salvation. As we read
in the Catechism of the Catholic
Church: “ ‘I believe’ is the faith of
the Church professed personally
by each believer, principally during
baptism. ‘We believe’ is the faith of
the Church confessed by the bishops assembled in council or more
generally by the liturgical assembly
of believers. ‘I believe’ is also the
Church, our mother, responding
to God by faith as she teaches us to
say both ‘I believe’ and ‘we believe’.”
(Porta Fidei). 158
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church (CCC) teaches that “Faith
seeks understanding.” It is intrinsic
to faith that a believer desires to
know better the One in whom he
has put his faith and to understand
better what He has revealed; a
more penetrating knowledge will
in turn call forth a greater faith,
increasingly set afire by love.
The grace of faith opens “the
eyes of your hearts” to a lively
understanding of the contents of
Revelation: that is, of the totality
of God’s plan and the mysteries of
faith, of their connection with each
other and with Christ, the center
of the revealed mystery. “The same
Holy Spirit constantly perfects
faith by his gifts, so that Revelation
may be more and more profoundly
understood.” In the words of St.
Augustine, “I believe, in order to
understand; and I understand, the
better to believe.” (CCC #158).
In “Porta Fidei,” the Pope encourages us to look at the faith of
those who have witnessed Christ
throughout the history of our
salvation. In a special way we recall
the faith of the first disciple of
Christ, his own mother the Blessed
Virgin Mary who was faithful to
her Son Jesus from the womb to
the tomb.
“By faith, Mary accepted the
angel’s word and believed the
message that she was to become
the Mother of God in the obedience of her devotion (cf. Lk 1:38).
Visiting Elizabeth, she raised her
hymn of praise to the Most High
for the marvels he worked in those
who trust him (cf. Lk 1:46-55).
With joy and trepidation she gave
birth to her only son, keeping
her virginity intact (cf. Lk 2:6-7).
Trusting in Joseph, her husband,
she took Jesus to Egypt to save him
from Herod’s persecution (cf. Mt
2:13-15). With the same faith, she
followed the Lord in his preaching
and remained with him all the way
to Golgotha (cf. Jn 19:25-27).
By faith, Mary tasted the fruits
of Jesus’ resurrection, and treasuring every memory in her heart (cf.
Lk 2:19, 51), she passed them on
to the twelve assembled with her
in the Upper Room to receive the
Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14; 2:1-4).”
Today we live in a world that
hungers for more, for meaning,
for purpose; without realizing that
we hunger for God who wants to
save us.
When life’s challenges make
us question “Where is God?,” we
can always find answers in the
Mystery of Faith that is the Paschal
Mystery, which we celebrate every
Sunday. May the Lord transform
our hearts as he changed water
into wine at the Wedding at Cana
so that we remain committed to
him in this Year of Faith.
Catholic News Service
Blesseds francisco and Jacinto Marto,
are shown in this 1917 photo. They
and their cousin Lucia witnessed the
apparitions of Our Blessed Mother at
fatima.
»Feast Day
-Feb. 20
Spotlight on
Blessed
Francisco and
Jacinta Marto
Catholic News Agency/EWTN
Francisco, 11, and Jacinta, 10,
are the youngest non-martyrs to
be beatified in the history of the
Church. The brother and sister,
who tended to their families’
sheep with their cousin Lucia
Santo in the fields of Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions
of Mary, now commonly known
as Our Lady of Fatima.
During the first apparition,
which took place on May 13,
1917, Our Lady asked the three
children to pray the Rosary and
to make sacrifices, offering them
for the conversion of sinners.
The children did, praying often,
giving their lunch to beggars
and going without food themselves. They offered up their daily
crosses and even refrained from
drinking water on hot days.
A transformation took place
in their lives, one we could call
radical: a transformation certainly uncommon for children of
their age, Pope John Paul II said
at the beatification of Francisco
and Jacinta on May 13, 2000 in
Fatima.
After the apparitions ended,
Francisco was enrolled in school
but played truant as often as
possible. He preferred to spend
time praying to the “Hidden Jesus” in the Tabernacle. His great
concern was to console His sorrowing Lord and the Heart of
His Mother. When asked what
he wanted to be when he grew
up, Francisco answered, “I don’t
want to be anything. I want to die
and go to heaven.”
Jacinta complied with many
requests for her intercessions.
On one occasion she seems to
have bilocated, in order to help
a wayward youth find his way
home. Lost in a stormy wood,
he had knelt and prayed, and Jacinta appeared and took him by
the hand, while she was at home
praying for him.
In October 1918, Francisco
and Jacinta became seriously ill
with the Spanish flu. Our Lady
appeared to them and said she
would to take them to heaven
soon.
Pope John Paul II beatified
Francisco and Jacinta, on the
83rd anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima,
teaching us that even young children can become saints.
6
diOcESE
Guidelines
for Lent
From the Office of the Bishop
BROWNSVILLE — The time
of Lent is to be observed by Catholics as a special season of prayer,
penance, and works of charity.
Fast and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Friday
of the Passion and Death of Our
Lord are the most important penitential days of the liturgical year.
They are days of both fast and abstinence. All Fridays in Lent are
days of abstinence.
Canon 1250 states: All Fridays through the year and the
time of Lent are penitential days
and times throughout the entire
Church.
Canon 1251 states: Abstinence
from eating meat or another food
according to the prescriptions of
the conference of bishops is to be
observed on Fridays throughout
the year unless they are solemni-
ties; abstinence and fast are to be
observed on Ash Wednesday and
on the Friday of the Passion and
Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Canon 1252 states: All persons who have completed their
fourteenth year are bound by the
law of abstinence; all adults are
bound by the law of fast up to the
beginning of their sixtieth year.
Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors
who are not bound by the law of
fast and abstinence are educated
in an authentic sense of penance.
(Adults are those who have attained 18 years of age.)
Canon 1253 states: The Conference of Bishops can determine
more precisely the observance
of fast and abstinence, as well as
substitute other forms of penance,
especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part,
for abstinence or fast.
In the United States, fasting
on all weekdays of Lent is strongly
recommended; on all Fridays of
A time for prayer, penance,
fast, abstinence
and works of charity
the year, the USCCB recommends
that we select one or more of the
following: abstinence from meat,
prayer, penance (especially by eating less food) and almsgiving, for
the sake of world peace.
The rule of fasting states that
only one full meal may be taken
per day. Two small
meals,
“sufficient to maintain strength,”
are allowed but together they
should not equal another full meal.
Eating between meals breaks the
fast but drinking liquids does not.
Abstinence refers to the eating
of meat of warm blooded animals
(e.g. beef, lamb, chicken, pork).
Under the present law, it does
not include egg or milk products,
meat broth or gravies.
The substantial observance of
the laws of fast and abstinence is a
serious obligation. Those who are
not able to observe the laws because of work or health related issues are excused from fasting and
abstinence.
The individual conscience can
decide if there is a proper cause
to excuse. A more serious reason
should be present to excuse from
the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday penance.
Parents and teachers should
see to it that even those who are
not bound by the laws of the fast
and abstinence because of age are
brought up in an atmosphere that
is conducive to a sense of penance.
Sacrament of Penance
and Reconciliation
The faithful should be clearly
and positively encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance
during Lent. There should be adequate time scheduled for Confessions before Easter.
When Penance services are
celebrated for a large group of
the faithful, individual confession and absolution is required for
each penitent. Although group
penance services should not be
scheduled for the last days of Holy
Week, any reasonable request for
the sacrament by an individual
should be honored, even during
the Triduum (cf. Canon 986). It is
fitting that a parish-wide Penance
liturgy take place toward the end
of Lent.
The duty to confess at least
once a year applies only to “serious
sins” (Canon 989). For the integrity of the sacrament, a member of
the Christian faithful is obliged to
confess in kind and in number all
serious sins committed after baptism and not yet directly remitted
through the keys of the Church
nor acknowledged in individual
confession, of which one is conscious after diligent examination
of conscience. (Canon 988 #1).
The practice of confessing only
a sin or sins of personal choice is,
therefore, reprobated. It is recommended to the Christian faithful
that venial sins also be confessed.
(Canon 988 #2)
February 2013
diOcESE
Be a Disciple!
CCHD sponsors
2013 multimedia
youth contest
The Valley Catholic
The Catholic Campaign
for Human Development
(CCHD) is sponsoring a
Multi-Media Youth Contest to engage young people
in grades 7-12 in learning
about poverty in the U.S.,
its root causes, and faithinspired efforts to address
it, especially through the
Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Through the contest,
young people learn about
poverty, its causes, and a
faith response and then become educators themselves
as they use their art to creatively communicate what
they have learned.
The 2012-13 contest
theme is: Be a Disciple! Put
Two Feet of Love in Action.
The contest consists of two
divisions: 7th-9th grade and
10th-12th grade.
Any form of multimedia work is welcome for
the contest. Short stories,
PowerPoint presentations,
videos, songs, painting,
drawing, photography, and
drama are all eligible for the
contest.
The diocesan deadline
for artwork submission is
Wednesday, March 20 to the
7
Put Two Feet of Love in Action
San Juan Pastoral Center.
For more information about
participating in the contest
or scheduling a catechetical
youth session about Catholic social teaching, please
contact Angel Barrera at
(956) 781-5323 or [email protected]. You can also
visit www.CDOBYM.org
for information and contest
details.
The contest receives
support from RCL Benziger, publisher of Catholic
religious education materials for parishes, schools and
families since 1792.
“
“The conscience
is called by this
social teaching
to recognize
and fulfill
the obligations of
justice and charity in
society.”
–Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church, no. 83
About the “Two Feet
of Love in Action”
Catholic disciples on
mission are called to put
Two Feet of Love in Action! This foundational tool
describes two distinct, but
complementary, ways we
can put the Gospel in ac-
tion in response to God’s
love: social justice (addressing systemic, root causes of
problems that affect many
people) and charitable
works (short-term, emergency assistance for individuals).
Social Justice “concerns the social, political,
and economic aspects and,
above all, the structural dimension of problems and
their respective solutions”
(Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church, no.
201).
We step with this foot
when we work to address
the root causes of problems
facing our communities
by advocating for just public policies and helping to
change the social structures
that contribute to suffering
and injustice at home and
around the world.
Charitable Works are
our “response to immediate needs and specific situations: feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, caring
for and healing the sick, visiting those in prison, etc.”
(Deus Caritas Est, no. 31).
We step with the Charitable Works foot when we
work to aid or assist others
both locally and globally
to meet their immediate,
short-term needs. Examples
include engaging in direct
service or providing food,
clothing, shelter, or monetary assistance to help those
in need.
USCCB
Image from The Two feet of Love in Action handout. complete handout available at www.usccb.org/beliefsand-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/two-feet-of-love-in-action.cfm
Listening session with Bishop Daniel E. Flores
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mission, Texas
(Includes all parishes in the Mission Deanery)
WritersÊ Workshop!Ê
TakeÊ aÊ TripÊ IntoÊ theÊ WritingÊ LifeÊ withÊ JanÊ SealeÊ
Saturday,Ê Feb.Ê
9,Ê 2013Ê Ê Ê Ê 9Ê a.m.Ê –Ê 3Ê p.m.Ê
Harlingen Public Library Auditorium, 410 ‘76 Drive, Harlingen, TXÊ
JanÊ SealeÊ
CreativeÊ writingÊ teacher.Ê
2012Ê TexasÊ PoetÊ Laureate.
authorÊ of
books of poetry (7)
short fiction (2)
nonfiction (3).
Ê
TransportÊ yourselfÊ fromÊ creationÊ toÊ revelation.Ê
LearnÊ . . .
 how to get started on a subject
 what it takes to keep going
 how to edit your work before other eyes see it
 ÿ keeping-on-keeping-onÿ Ê forÊ theÊ longÊ haul
 how to identify your particular subjects and your
writing strengths
 how to shape your work
Receive . . .
 specific guidelines for writing poetry, fiction, and
nonfiction
 handouts, examples, exercises, and time for questions and answers
 networking and inspiration time with other writers
 JavaÊ Cafÿ Ê brown-bagÊ lunchÊ freeÊ ofÊ chargeÊ forÊ eachÊ
registrantÊ
RegistrationÊ fees:
BylinersÊ membersÊ Ê -Ê $25
non-membersÊ -Ê $30 if paid before FebÊ 1st,
$35Ê if paid at the door the day of the event
studentsÊ withÊ aÊ highÊ schoolÊ orÊ collegeÊ I.D.Ê
cardÊ -Ê $10.
Make checks payable to Valley Byliners
and mail before FebruaryÊ 1stÊ to:
Valley Byliners, c/o Jose Alvarez,
130 Pizarro Ave., Rancho Viejo,
TX 78575
More info at (956) 399-8505
8
diOcESE
»Pilgrimages Close to Home
By BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS
The Valley Catholic
W
ESLACO – Surrounded by the
sounds of the black
bellied
whistling
ducks, northern shovelers and other varieties feeding near the shallow
ponds in Estero Llano Grande State
Park in Weslaco, I was reminded
the outdoors serve as a natural pilgrimage site.
Sometimes all it takes to embark on a pilgrimage is a step into
our own backyards. We don’t have
to travel far to find an hour or more
to sit in a garden or beneath a tree
and spend time in prayer and silence.
We might choose to travel a little further to the beach, a city park
or one of the state parks or national
wildlife refuges. The Rio Grande
Valley is blessed with thousands of
miles of natural habitat.
In this New Year, as I continue
on these pilgrimages close to home,
I want to include the outdoors.
During my first pilgrimage to Estero Llano Grande State Park, on a
cold and cloudy day in January, the
ducks weren’t complaining about
the cold, so how could I. I went
bundled and made it a point to sit
in silence.
Sitting still can be a challenge, but the natural rhythms of
the wildlife in my midst created a
perfect setting. Among the honey
mesquites, Texas Ebonies and Huisache (Sweet Acacias), the kiskadees, ducks and even the alligators,
I felt at peace.
Blessed Pope John Paul II valued his time outdoors. “Whoever
really wants to find himself,” he said
during one of his vacations in the
Dolomites mountains, “must learn
to savor nature, whose charm is so
intimately linked with the silence
of contemplation. The rhythms of
creation establish so many paths of
extraordinary beauty, along which
the sensitive and believing heart
easily catches the echo of the mysterious, loftier beauty that is God
Himself, the Creator, the source
and life of all reality.”
Msgr. Heberto Diaz, Jr., vicar
general for the Diocese of Brownsville and pastor of St. Mary’s Church
in Brownsville, said he finds peace
outdoors and likes to pray in his
garden. He said everyone needs to
find their own “prayer space” and
Go outdoors
God created natural pilgrimage places
“
Contemplating the
beauty of creation
inspires us to
recognize the love of
the Creator, that love
which “moves the sun and
the stars.”
Pope Benedict XVI
The Valley Catholic
ABOVe: Turtles sunbathe in a pond at estero Llano Grande state Park in Weslaco,
a 230 plus-acre refuge which serves as
one of nine sites for the World Birding
center network. restoration efforts
transformed an agricultural field into a
wetlands environment for migratory and
wintering ducks.
rIGHT: A 12-foot alligator is among some
of gators that live at estero Llano Grande
state Park.
some people find it outdoors.
Msgr. Diaz, who vacations each
year in national parks and served as
a park ranger at Big Bend National
Park in the 1980s, said he encourages his parishioners, as part of establishing a discipline of prayer, to
set aside a space.
He added, “There are so many
beautiful, natural places that God
created. To me these are natural
pilgrimage places,” he said.
Msgr. Diaz said as one observes
the natural beauty of the outdoors,
“each tree, each branch, you can’t
help but think, ‘God’s hand was in
this.’”
One of his favorite spots is Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (in Colorado). “I like to
go on early morning hikes to be the
first one there (Emerald Lake) to
be in a quiet space by myself with
God.”
Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 after a midday Angelus, talked about
nature as a “magnificent gift that
presents to us the grandeur of the
creator.”
“Contemplating the beauty of
creation inspires us to recognize the
love of the Creator, that love which
“moves the sun and the stars,” he
said in his message for World Day
of Peace in 2010.
Closer to home, I returned to
Estero Llano Grande on a sunnier
day and enjoyed the visit as much
as the birds and ducks relished
their chance to leave their shelters
and hunt for food.
Estero Llano Grande State Park
is one of the nine locations for the
World Birding Center. The World
Birding Center in the Rio Grande
Valley features nine sites from
South Padre Island to Roma. As a
migration corridor, more than 500
bird species have been recorded in
the four-county area.
The centers include, BentsenRio Grande Valley State Park in
Mission, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands,
Estero Llano Grande (Weslaco), Harlingen Arroyo Colorado,
Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, Quinta
Mazatlan (McAllen), Resaca de la
Palma (Brownsville), Roma Bluffs
and South Padre Island Birding and
Nature Center.
The state parks and national
wildlife refuges draw birders from
around the world. Some days can
get busy, but even on a busy day
visitors can find some quiet near
one of the ponds or trails. Estero
Llano Grande, which sits on 176
acres, has more than five miles of
hiking trails. The shadier spots are
near the Alligator Lake. There are
also some nice sitting areas near the
butterfly gardens.
Susan Keefer, a volunteer at Estero Llano Grande from Vermont,
said the stillness in nature energizes
her. “It charges me.” She and her
husband who retired 15 years ago
started coming south when they
started following the migration of
the birds. “We became a migratory
species,” she said.
Keefer and her husband lead
educational programs at the park
and have led them as well in Maine
where they volunteer during summer months. One of the lessons
she teaches students is to stop and
sit still. “Magic moments,” she said,
those moments when a butterfly
will rest on your shoulder or a bird
will approach to eat nearby, “only
come when you stop.”
As I attempt to visit each of the
state parks and national wildlife
refuges in the Valley this year, I
am thankful for the inspiration the
Lord provided in January as I sat
and hiked at Estero Llano Grande,
“the wet place on the big plain.”
HOW TO GeT THere
Address: 3301 s. International Blvd.
(f.M. 1015), Weslaco
Directions: from expressway 83 exit
f.M. 1015/International Boulevard and
take f.M. 1015 south for two miles.
Look for the brick park entrance sign on
the left side of the road.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Admission: Adults, $4 ; children, free
February 2013
diOcESE
Those Who Serve:
»Birthday
Wishes
deacon Roberto cantu
He pays attention to detail
Deacon reaches out
to parishioners,
finds gratification
in ministry
By ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
MERCEDES – Every morning, Deacon Roberto Cantu of Our
Lady of Mercy Church picks up the
telephone and calls parishioners to
wish them a happy birthday.
It’s a simple, but powerful gesture, said Diana Enriquez, secretary of Our Lady of Mercy Church.
“Many of us wish people happy
birthday on Facebook, which takes
just a few seconds, but he takes the
time to call everyone personally,”
Enriquez said. “He calls them one
at a time; he asks them how they
are doing.
“It’s a beautiful ministry that
he has. It gives people joy on their
birthday, especially those who
don’t have anyone else to wish
them a happy birthday.”
It is Deacon Cantu’s attention
to detail and his willingness to
serve that make him a good spiritual leader, said Sylvia Bernal, a
member of the parish council at
Our Lady of Mercy Church.
“He puts a lot of thought and
effort into every funeral, every
wedding, every quinceañera, every visit that he makes to the sick,”
Bernal said. “He makes it a practice to make everybody feel important.”
Born in Robstown, Deacon
Cantu, 74, moved to Mercedes as
a baby and was raised there. He
Celibacy,
continued from pg. 5
ing in him the love of God for all
humanity.
The Apostle Paul in the first
letter to the Corinthians says:
“But I say to the unmarried and to
widows that it is good for them if
they remain even as I” (1 Cor 7:8).
“But I want you to be free from
concern. One who is unmarried
The Valley Catholic
Deacon roberto cantu of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Mercedes regularly calls
parishioners and his brother deacons from around the diocese on their birthdays.
“He makes it a practice to make everybody feel important,” said sylvia Bernal, a
member of the parish council at Our Lady of Mercy church.
was ordained to the permanent
diaconate on May 12, 1990 and
has served the faithful of Mercedes
since then, with assignments at
both Our Lady of Mercy Church
and at Sacred Heart Church. For
the last five years, he has been
assigned to Our Lady of Mercy
Church.
“I’m pretty sure he knows
everyone in town and everyone
knows him,” Enriquez said. “He
knows the families, their histories,
where they live. He knows all the
streets in Mercedes, all the neighborhoods.”
Deacon Cantu was a catechist
and an active parishioner when he
entered the diaconate formation
program as a way to strengthen
his faith and ministry. He wanted
to be able to share the Catholic
faith with more knowledge and in
greater detail.
“For me, there was no lightning bolt, no thunder,” Deacon
Cantu said. “I experienced a radical change in 1967 through the
Cursillo Movement and from that
moment on, my life changed and
my faith has strengthened steadily.”
Deacon Cantu said he didn’t
know what to expect when he was
first ordained, “but it has been so
much more than I could have ever
imagined.” He said, “It has been
very fulfilling. Being there for
people in their time of need — you
may not be able to solve all their
problems — but you’re there. You
can pray for them, pray with them,
pray through them, and it’s very
gratifying.”
is concerned about the things of
the Lord, how he may please the
Lord; but one who is married is
concerned about the things of the
world, how he may please his wife,
and his interests are divided” (1
Cor 7:32-34).
of God, and wants to please him.
The priest, in order to fully devote
and exercise his ministerial work,
should be free from the worries
that having a family entails.
The Church professes and
believes that priestly celibacy is
a gift from God, given to a few.
The source of celibacy sprouts
from a special experience of God
who enters into the life of some
man or woman. God leaves in
them a mark so deep that enables
their hearts to leave everything
The fundamental principle
of celibacy is that it is impossible
and incompatible to serve both
God and family. The one who has
embraced celibacy is concerned
and dedicated solely to the things
Deacon Cantu also implemented a cross-referencing computer
index to carefully track the sacramental registers for the 104-yearold parish, whose boundaries once
encompassed the present parishes
of La Feria, Harlingen and Raymondville and along old Military
Highway from Progreso to Las Rucias. The index has made it much
easier to locate records, Enriquez
noted.
Father Jean Olivier M. Sambu,
who has served as pastor of Our
Lady of Mercy Church since July
2012, was a seminarian when he
first met Deacon Cantu in the late
1980s and considers him a good
friend.
“This is a man I can count on,
a man who is ready to serve at
any time,” Father Sambu said. “I
couldn’t ask for a better deacon.”
In addition to his duties at the
parish, Deacon Cantu also serves
as a liaison between the deacons
in the diocese and Father Edouard
Atangana, the director of permanent deacons. Deacon Cantu
keeps in contact with the 92 other
deacons in the diocese and their
wives by phone and email and provides briefings to Father Atangana.
Deacon Cantu calls each permanent deacon about three times
a year, on their birthdays and if
they are married, on their wife’s
birthday and on their wedding anniversary. He also calls or visits as
needed, such as when a deacon is
ill or is dealing with a death in the
family.
Deacon Cantu and his wife,
Rosa Lilia, recently celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary.
They have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
behind and give up everything
to follow, in love, the example of
Jesus Christ. Celibacy is the fruit
of a deep faith, infused in special
people, who are chosen by God to
this vocation.
The reasons given above lead
us to conclude the Church and the
world need celibate priests.
—
Father Manuel Alfredo Razo Canales, STL, is the parochial vicar of St.
Luke Church in Brownsville.
9
The list of birthdays and
ordination anniversaries is
provided so that parishioners
may remember the priests,
deacons and religious in their
prayers and send them a note or
a card.
February
» birthdays
2 Rev. Mishael Koday
3 Rev. Thomas Pincelli
11 Rev. Gustavo Obando
16 Rev. James Pfeifer, OMI
19 Bishop Emeritus
Raymundo J. Pena
26 Rev. Juan Victor Heredia
26 Rev. Thomas G. Kulleck
2 Sister Mary N. Vincelli, CSJ
14 Bro. David Concannon,CFC
23 Sister Frances Salinas
8 Deacon Amado Pena, Jr.
11 Deacon Gilberto Perez
13 Deacon Hugo De La Cruz
15 Deacon George M. Terrazos
17 Deacon Hector Perez
18 Deacon Pedro Sanchez
22 Deacon Alvino Olvera
» anniversaries
2
8
11
15
23
25
Rev. Juan Victor Heredia
Rev. Gnanaraj Michael
Msgr. Robert Davola
Rev. Patrick Seitz
Rev. Gerard Barrett, OMI
Rev. Marco A. Reynoso
March
» birthdays
2
6
7
9
10
24
25
26
29
Rev. Eduardo Ortega
Rev. Timothy Paulsen, OMI
Rev. Salvador Ramirez
Rev. Manuel Alfredo Razo
Rev. Rodolfo Franco
Rev. Vicente Azcoiti
Msgr. Patrick Doherty
Msgr. Pasquale Lanese, OMI
Rev. Gerald Frank
6
17
21
23
30
Sister Dorothy Carey, SHSp
Sister Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ
Sister Mary Sardinha, SSD
Sister Zita Telkamp, CDP
Sister Therese Corkery, PBVM
2
9
9
16
21
Deacon Gerardo J. Rosa
Deacon Jose G. Garza
Deacon Manuel Sanchez
Deacon Salvador Rojas
Deacon Daniel Zamora
» anniversaries
5 Rev. Francisco Castillo
19 Rev. Jose E. Losoya, CO
10
in THE nEWS
Minister of the sacraments
Pope baptizes
babies, reminds
godparents of role
San Antonio auxiliary bishop
to serve in Las Cruces, n.M.
Houston native
succeeds Bishop
Ricardo Ramirez
VATICAN CITY — The Sistine Chapel sounded a bit like a
nursery Jan. 13, as Pope Benedict
XVI baptized 20 babies, whose
crying provided a constant accompaniment to the two-hour
Mass on the feast of the Baptism
of the Lord.
Referring to the day’s reading from the Gospel St. Luke,
which recounts the baptism of
Jesus by St. John the Baptist, Pope
Benedict said that in choosing
to receive the sacrament, Jesus
showed he “was really immersed
in our human condition; he lived
it to the utmost — although without sin — and in such a way that
he understands weakness and
fragility.”
The pope told the parents that
their children’s baptism would
bring them into a “personal relationship with Jesus” that would
give their lives meaning: “Only
in this friendship is the great potential of the human condition
truly revealed and we can experience what is beautiful and what
is free.”
Reminding the godparents
of their duty to assist parents in
raising their godchildren in the
faith, Pope Benedict noted that
“it is not easy to demonstrate
what you believe in openly and
without compromise, especially
in the context in which we live,
in the face of a society that often
L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters
Pope Benedict XVI baptizes a baby during a Mass in the sistine chapel at the Vatican
Jan. 13. The pope baptized 20 babies as he celebrated the feast of the Baptism of
the Lord. The pope told parents that baptism would bring their child into a “personal
relationship with Jesus” that would give their lives meaning.
considers those who live by faith
in Jesus to be old-fashioned and
out of date.”
Contrary to a widespread
view that Christianity is “detrimental to personal fulfillment,”
the pope said, faith in Jesus frees
us from egoism and “keeps us
from being turned in on ourselves, in order to lead a full life,
in communion with God and
open to others.”
As the chief shepherd of the
Catholic Church, the pope plays
many roles, among them minister of the sacraments.
The babies whom the pope
baptizes in the annual January
rite usually are the children of
Vatican employees, as was the
case this year. The pope also traditionally administers the sacraments of Christian initiation —
baptism, confirmation and first
Communion — to a group of
adult converts in St. Peter’s Basilica on Holy Saturday every year.
He is also scheduled to confer
the Sacrament of Confirmation
on a group in Rome on April 28
of this year, one of the events organized for the Year of Faith.
Pope Benedict ordains priests
in St. Peter’s Basilica every year
on the World Day of Prayer for
Vocations, Good Shepherd Sunday, which will be April 21 this
year.
Since his election as pope, he
has also ordained 22 bishops.
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806 S. Cage Blvd
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Brownsville, Tx. 78520
“ La original y auténtica de las carnes marinadas”
WASHINGTON — Pope
Benedict XVI has accepted the
resignation of Bishop Ricardo
Ramirez of Las Cruces, N.M.,
and named as his successor Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu of San
Antonio.
The changes were announced
in Washington Jan. 10 by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The Diocese of Las Cruces was established in 1982 and
Bishop Ramirez, now 76, was
named its first bishop. Canon law
requires bishops to submit their
resignations when they turn 75.
Bishop Cantu, 46, has been an
auxiliary bishop in San Antonio
since 2008. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest
bishop in the U.S.
“I am humbled that the Holy
Father would appoint me to lead
a beautiful diocese in a state that
I am not terribly familiar with,”
said Bishop Cantu, the son of
Mexican immigrant parents.
“There is a deep sense of ‘being
sent’ — sent, as the apostles were
by Christ, to announce the good
news of the Gospel to the four
corners of the earth.”
A Houston native, Bishop
Cantu received his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Dallas and two master’s de-
grees from the University of St.
Thomas in Houston. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of
Galveston-Houston in 1994. Ten
years later, the diocese was made
an archdiocese. He did graduate
studies in
theology at
the Pontifical North
American
College
in
Rome
1998-2002.
He was
administraBISHOP CANTU
tor of the
Archdiocese of San Antonio between the
departure of Archbishop Jose H.
Gomez to the Archdiocese of
Los Angeles and the installation
of Archbishop Gustavo GarciaSiller.
In 2008, Bishop Cantu took
part in a “torch run” to honor
Our Lady of Guadalupe. He said
the runners would meet with
groups supporting immigration
reforms during their journey to
New York.
In 2010, Bishop Cantu was
one of three U.S. bishops to visit
Cuba to see how the island nation was recovering from three
hurricanes that had hit it the year
before, and to press for further
easing of restrictions on Cuba
Archbishop Siller in a statement expressed “heartfelt joy”
over his auxiliary’s appointment
but said he will miss “his constant presence, valued friendship
and the tireless collaboration we
shared in our ministry.”
February 2013
nOTiciAS En ESpAñOL
Toma el reto de la cuaresma
Temporada
penitencial es
oportunidad para
profundizar vida
espiritual
Por ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
BROWNSVILLE — “Cada
año, me reto a mí y a mi congregación a mirar más profundamente durante la Cuaresma,” dijo
el Padre Thomas Pincelli, pastor
de la capilla Nuestra Señora del
Buen Consejo en Brownsville. “La
Cuaresma no se trata de lo que te
han dicho que hagas, sino de lo
que Dios quiere que hagas.”
La Cuaresma, que empieza el
miércoles 13 de febrero, es una
temporada penitencial durante
la cual tratamos de profundizar
nuestra vida espiritual al reconocer nuestros pecados y actuar de
una forma que nos ayude a vivir
con propósito como fieles Cristianos.
Muchos Católicos, edades
14-60, en los Estados Unidos se
abstienen de comer carne el Miércoles de Ceniza y los viernes de
Cuaresma. Algunas veces los fieles
también ayunan los Miércoles
de Ceniza y el Viernes Santo, de
acuerdo con el Código de la Ley
Canónica.
Muchos Católicos adicionalmente eligen “renunciar” a algo
The Valley Catholic
Miércoles 13 de febrero inicia la cuaresma con la imposición de la ceniza sobre la
frente de los católicos. “Porque eres polvo y al polvo volverás”(Génesis 3,19).
en la Cuaresma. Todo esto se hace
para ser solidarios con Jesús, que
ayuno por 40 días en el desierto.
“La Iglesia se une todos los años,
durante los cuarenta días de la
Gran Cuaresma, al Misterio de
Jesús en el desierto.” señala el Catecismo.
Además de seguir las reglas
prescritas para el ayuno y abstinencia y “renunciar” a algo, el
Padre Pincelli, nos desafía a llevar
nuestros sacrificios de Cuaresma
un paso adelante. Él nos reta a superar la tendencia a, “hacer lo que
estamos programados a hacer durante la Cuaresma.”
“Renunciar a algo puede hacer
una diferencia, pero pienso que
tenemos que ver lo que en general
nos está pidiendo el Evangelio que
hagamos,” dijo el Padre Pincelli.
“Tenemos que ver nuestra vida
honestamente e identificar esas
áreas que necesitan el mayor tiempo y esfuerzo— y aceptar el reto.
“Pienso que es igual de importante ver los pequeños detalles
y llegar al fondo de esos importantes valores y elementos principales con los que aún estamos
batallando.”
Evitar esos temas nos impide
sentirnos tan plenos como es posible, añadió el Padre Pincelli.
“Si tenemos dificultades dentro de nuestro núcleo familiar
o con amigos o compañeros de
trabajo, por ejemplo, enfócate en
eso,” él dijo. “Has eso tu sacrificio.
Trata de desarrollar paciencia, entendimiento y com-
pasión. Vuélvete más generoso,
más abierto, sabiamente Cristiano, involucra a personas en tu
vida. Sé más hospitalario.”
La Iglesia le pide a todos los
Católicos el preservar el carácter
Católico y el propósito de la Cuaresma a través de las normas de
ayuno y abstinencia y ese aspecto
en común es positivo, dijo el Padre
Pincelli. Él señaló, sin embargo,
que el camino Cuaresmal de cada
persona debe de ser individual y
único.”
“Es nuestro crecimiento personal,” añadió. “Requiere nuestro
compromiso personal, nuestra
introspección, nuestro deseo personal, para hacer que las cosas
sean lo mejor que puedan ser.”
Has de la Cuaresma una experiencia más significativa
• Toma el tiempo para pensar,
reflexionar, toma tiempo para rezar, tal vez para pasar un tiempo
extra en la iglesia pidiéndole a
Dios Su ayuda para discernir lo
que necesitas hacer esta temporada de cuaresma y hacer el compromiso para hacerlo.
• Lee las escrituras del Misal
diariamente. Reflexiona en ellas y
observa cómo tocan tu vida. Trata de encontrar ese pasaje que te
habla directamente de una lectura
en particular.
• En oración, enfócate en lo
que Dios te está diciendo en ese
momento. ¿Qué quiere Él que
mires? ¿Qué quiere Él que cambies? ¿Qué quiere Él que seas?
11
El Papa: Sólo
aceptar a Cristo
llena el corazón
humano
ACI/EWTN Noticias
VATICANO – El Papa Benedicto XVI aseguró que “lo que llena
verdaderamente el corazón humano” es aceptar “el don de la fe y la
esperanza en Cristo”.
En su saludo a los peregrinos
de lengua española tras culminar el
rezo del Ángelus, en la Plaza de San
Pedro, el Santo Padre recordó que
el Evangelio del 20 de enero “nos
habla de las bodas de Caná, donde
Jesús realizó el primer signo de su
misión en el mundo”.
“Él viene a colmar con su don
la plena salvación del hombre, que
por sí solo no puede alcanzar”.
El Papa también pidió hoy por
“el don de la unidad de los cristianos”.
“Y, como en aquellas bodas,
María nos indica el camino para
que Dios entre en nuestra vida:
‘Haced lo que Jesús os diga’”.
“Hagamos confiadamente cada
día lo que dice nuestra Madre del
cielo. Feliz domingo”, concluyó.
nOTiciAS En ESpAñOL
12
»La Alegría de Vivir
L
Tierra de sueños rotos
as políticas actuales de
inmigración, enfocadas
solamente a en forzamiento de nuestra frontera, han forzado a más de once
millones de inmigrantes indocumentados a vivir en un mundo
constreñido, encerrados por el
temor y por la falta acceso a las
oportunidades, un submundo que
no permite a estudiantes talentosos el continuar sus carreras,
donde los padres muchas veces
tienen que abstenerse de la mas
básica de las necesidades, proveer
comida para sus hijos, si es que
tienen que llevarlos a un médico
por razones de emergencia.
Vivir en esa atmosfera de temor les impide incluso llamar a la
policía si es que presencian algún
delito pues temen a las consecuencias. Esa situación se presta a la
explotación de los trabajadores,
ya que pueden ser intimidados y
obligados a callar los abusos que
sufren. Individuos en esta situación sufren la incertidumbre de
no tener una manera de legalizar
su estatus, se ven impedidos de
contribuir en su total potencial
como integrantes cívicos de nuestra sociedad.
La inhabilidad de nuestro
gobierno de tener una reforma
comprensiva de inmigración
previene a millones de personas a
contribuir con sus talentos a nuestra sociedad, les impide alcanzar
sus metas y ha volteado de cabeza
el concepto del sueño americano.
Al mantener a millones de
personas como ciudadanos de
segunda debido a los excluyentes
y exhaustivos pasos del proceso
de inmigración actual, se ignoran gravemente dos realidades
relativas a la inmigración y a los
inmigrantes: primero, que estos
individuos quebrantando la ley
Msgr. Juan
Nicolau
Párroco, Iglesia de
Nuestra Señora del
Perpetuo Socorro
en McAllen
son en realidad familias que vinieron a este país porque sentían que
no tenían otra opción, padres de
familia que solo querían asegurar
para sus hijos una mejor vida y
la garantía de una educación de
calidad y jóvenes que llegaron
siendo muy niños o incluso bebés.
Y segundo, de acuerdo al Pew
Hispanic Center, ahora hay menos
inmigrantes viviendo indocumentados en los Estados Unidos
que hace cuatro años, y son
bastante menos los que entran al
país anualmente comparados con
la década anterior, lo que significa
que los esfuerzos por reforzar la
frontera están trabajando.
Pero en realidad no se está
combatiendo el verdadero problema, se necesita abordar el tema
de las obsoletas políticas de inmigración que continúan forzando a
miembros de nuestra sociedad a
vivir en las sombras y perdiendo
poco a poco la dignidad de su
humanidad. Las historias de niños
sin seguro básico de salud, o de los
sueños truncados de jóvenes estudiantes, son demasiado comunes
en el valle del Rio Grande y para la
comunidad inmigrante son señales
del fracaso de esta nación al no
alcanzar una comprensiva de la ley
de inmigración.
Dicha reforma debe tener dos
partes, primero debe establecer
un proceso por el cual los inmigrantes puedan entrar a nuestro
país, y segundo, debe reconocer a
los millones de inmigrantes que
desde hace muchos años viven en
nuestro país y proveer un sistema
para su legalización. Para lograr
dichos cambios los legisladores
deben pasar leyes que permitan
el canalizar recursos para mejorar
las condiciones económicas de los
países de origen de los inmigrantes, además de aumentar la
cuota del número de inmigrantes
permitidos a ingresar por año para
trabajar en nuestro país.
A la par de todo lo anterior, los
legisladores tienen que reconocer a
los millones de personas que están
viviendo aquí sin la documentación necesaria, y crear un proceso
dentro del sistema de inmigración
para que dichos individuos
puedan regularizar su papelería
y lograr legalizar su estancia,
teniendo un camino incluso para
la ciudadanía si es que cumplen
todos los requisitos necesarios.
Nuestros legisladores deben
encontrar la forma para sacar del
limbo legal a tantos millones de
seres humanos a los que se les
priva de sus derechos por no tener
papeles. Como residentes del Valle
del Rio Grande nosotros estamos
en las trincheras, o en la primera
línea, en el debate de inmigración,
y es nuestra responsabilidad educarnos acercas de la realidad para
exigir de nuestros representantes
en el capitolio a lograr una reforma humanitaria y comprensiva
de inmigración, y cuando llegue el
momento de las elecciones: votar,
pues solo nuestro voto podrá
lograr los cambios.
—
Mons. Juan Nicolau, Ph.D. STL
Párroco de la iglesia de Nuestra
Señora del Perpetuo Socorro.
Presidente del equipo de acción
sobre inmigración de Valley Interfaith. Es psicoterapeuta familiar y
consejero profesional.
Retiro para matrimonios
programada para el 9 de febrero
Por IRVING TAPIA
The Valley Catholic
SAN JUAN — Diacono Juan
Pablo Navarro, Socorro Navarro
y el equipo de coordinadores de
Alianza Misionera Apostólica
(AMA) extienden una invitación
a todo matrimonio para participar
en un retiro titulado, “Unidos Bajo
La Unción Del Espíritu Santo.”
El evento se llevará a cabo el
sábado 9 de febrero de las 2 pm.
a las 9 pm. y el domingo 10 de febrero de las 10 am. a la 1 pm. en el
salón Bishop Marx en San Juan.
“La familia es la comunidad
en la que, desde la infancia, se pueden aprender los valores morales,
se comienza a honrar a Dios y a
usar bien de la libertad. La vida de
familia es iniciación a la vida en
sociedad” (Catecismo de la Iglesia
Católica 2207).
“Los matrimonios ungidos por
el Espíritu Santo por consecuencia
son más felices y dirigen mejor a sus
familias,” agrega Diacono Navarro.
Es por eso que AMA, una misión
oficial de la Diócesis de Brownsville
enfocada en ayudar familias, ha organizado el evento e igual como re-
spuesta al “Año de la Fe.”
En su carta Apostólica “Porta
Fidei” dirigida a todo Cristiano, el
Papa Benedicto XVI explica uno
de los objetivos este primer año
es “volver a descubrir, cultivar y
testimoniar el don de la fe”. Abre
la Puerta a la Fe (Hechos 14:27), el
tema para el Año de la Fe, inicio el
11 de Octubre 2012 y concluye el 24
de noviembre de 2013.
Para más información sobre
el retiro para matrimonios comuníquese con Socorro Navarro al
(956) 372-9466. o (956) 838-1217.
Abra cuidado de niños.
»Vida Familiar
Los diez mandamientos del amor
E
s una maravilla recordar
que los Diez Mandamientos han estado con
nosotros por cientos de
años antes del tiempo de Cristo.
(Académicos especulan que
600-1200 años atrás) Y como
acabamos de empezar el año
2013 A.D. (Ano Domini- Año
de nuestro Señor) la revelación
de Dios a Moisés quien trajo
las tablas del Monte Sinaí pudo
haber pasado hace alrededor de
3,000 años atrás.
En Éxodo 32:15-16 escuchamos: “Moisés volvió y bajó
del cerro. Traía, las dos tablas de
Declaraciones divinas en que las
leyes estaban escritas a grabadas
por ambos lados. Las tablas eran
obra de Dios, como también la
escritura era la escritura de Dios,
grabada sobre ellas.”
Yo creo que hay muchas
formas de ver estas valiosas guías
para la vida. Un escritor dijo que
para aquellos pertenecientes a la
tradición Judeo-Cristiana, “los
Diez Mandamientos se refieren
solamente a asuntos de fundamental importancia: la mayor
obligación (adorar solamente a
Dios), el mayor daño a una persona (asesinato), el mayor daño a
los lazos familiares (adulterio), el
mayor daño a los negocios y las
leyes (levantar falso testimonio),
la mayor obligación intergeneracional (honrar a los padres), la
mayor obligación a la comunidad (la verdad), el mayor daño a
la propiedad movible (robo).”
Es asombroso pensar que los
Diez Mandamientos se aplican a
nosotros hoy en día como hace
miles de años. En nuestra sociedad tecnológica actual, algo que
salió el año pasado puede incluso
parecer viejo, especialmente a los
niños y jóvenes que viven en un
mundo en donde los celulares
que estaban de moda el año pasado son anticuados hoy. Tal vez
para algunos, especialmente los
jóvenes, los Diez Mandamientos
no solamente son anticuados
pero también irrelevantes para
el vivir diario. Y tal vez algunos
pueden verlo como negativo en
un mundo en el que “no” o “no
deberás” se considera ofensivo.
Pero cada “no” tiene un “si”; cada
negativo tiene un positivo. En la
gran sabiduría de Dios, Él nos ha
enseñado a través de los tiempos
que Él ES AMOR y que Su gran
AMOR nos crea, nos mantiene,
nos enseña, y nos guía.
Quizás podemos ver los Diez
Mandamientos como los Diez
Mandamientos de Amor. 1) Yo
soy el Señor tu Dios. Deberás
adorar al Señor tu Dios y solamente a Él servirás. Ama a Dios
con todo tu corazón, con toda
tu mente y con toda tu alma y
Lydia Pesina
Directora, Oficina
de Vida Familiar
sírvele a Él al amarlo y servir a tu
familia y servir a los pobres. 2)
No tomarás el nombre del Señor
tu Dios en vano. Ama el poder
que tienen tus palabras en otros y
úsalo con sabiduría para honrar
a Dios y no sobajar a otros. 3)
Acuérdate del día de sábado
para santificarlo. Ama la Liturgia
Eucarística Dominical porque
es de la mesa del Señor que
recibimos los nutrientes necesarios para vivir nuestras vidas por
la proclamación de la Palabra de
Dios y por el Cuerpo y Sangre de
Cristo en la Eucaristía. 4) Honra
a tu padre y a tu madre. Ama a
tu madre y a tu padre, o tu padrastro, padre adoptivo, abuelo y
todos aquellos que no solamente
te traen a la vida pero te mantienen en esta vida a través de
comida, techo, sabiduría y guía.
5) No matarás. Ama y respeta
la vida; la tuya y la de los demás,
desde la creación hasta la muerte
natural porque ellos pertenecen
a Dios, el autor de la vida. 6) No
cometerás adulterio. Amate a ti
mismo y a tu cuerpo y mantenlo
sano y santo y compártelo solo
con tu conyugue. No permitas a
la promiscuidad o la pornografía
disminuir lo que eres. 7) No
robarás. Ama lo que tienes y posees con un corazón agradecido;
da lo que tienes generosamente;
respeta y alégrate por lo que
otros tienen y poseen. 8) No levantarás falso testimonio contra
tu prójimo. Ama a tu prójimo
como a ti mismo y alágalo con
palabras que sean verdaderas y
edificantes y corrige solamente
con gentileza y humildad. 9)
No codiciaras la mujer de tu
prójimo. Ama a tu conyugue
como Cristo amó a la Iglesia.
Ama a tu conyugue diariamente
como el día que se casaron para
amarse, honrarse, disfrutarse,
protegerse, guiarse y envejecer
juntos. 10) No codiciaras la casa
de tu prójimo. Ama contar tus
bendiciones y que tus bendiciones y las de tus vecinos sean
multiplicadas y compartidas con
aquellos que las necesitan.
Quizás el celular del año
pasado es anticuado, pero los
Diez Mandamientos están tan
vigentes hoy como lo estuvieron
hace algunos miles de años.
Permitamos que las verdades de
Dios nos guíen para aprender a
amar de verdad.
Conferencia en la Iglesia
Santa Juana de Arco
The Valley Catholic
WESLACO – En el marco
del Año de la Fe, la parroquia de
Santa Juana de Arco en Weslaco
invita a los fieles a su encuentro
cuaresmal, Avivamiento 2013.
Se llevará a cabo el sábado 9
de marzo a las 8:00 horas, en el
salón parroquial de Santa Juana
de Arco, 109 S. Illinois Ave. en
Weslaco. El conferencista prin-
cipal es Padre Pedro Nuñez de la
arquidiócesis de Nueva Orleans,
mejor conocido como el conductor de la programa, “Conozca
Primero Su Fe Católica” que se
transmite en EWTN, el canal
Católico. Cooperación de $7 por
persona.
Para más información, llame
al (956) 968-3670 ó (956) 4679960.
February 2013
nOTiciAS En ESpAñOL 13
Día Mundial del Matrimonio
El Obispo Flores
bendice parejas
celebrando 25, 30, 40,
60 y más de 60 años
de matrimonio
Por ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
“La prima de mi mamá se
casó con la tía de ella, así que nos
hemos conocido todas nuestras vidas,” dijo Bernardino E. Méndez,
quien celebra 25 años de matrimonio con su esposa, Olga Lydia,
en el 2013. “Crecimos yendo a las
mismas fiestas de cumpleaños, los
mismos convivios, y las mismas
celebraciones.”
“No hace mucho, uno de
nuestros parientes puso una foto
en Facebook de cuando éramos
niños y estábamos en la misma
fiesta de cumpleaños,” dijo la Sra.
Méndez.
Un día, cuando eran adolescentes, montaron a caballo alrededor de su rancho al atardecer. Esto
marcó el principio de su relación
romántica.
Los Méndez se casaron el 27 de
mayo de 1988, en su ciudad natal
Gómez Palacio en el estado mexicano de Durango. En la actualidad, tienen seis hijos de siete hasta
los 23 años de edad.
Los Méndez estarán dentro de
las parejas celebrando aniversarios
significativos en el Día Mundial
del Matrimonio programado para
el sábado 9 de febrero a las 2 p.m.
en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de
San Juan del Valle- Santuario Nacional.
El Obispo Daniel E. Flores
celebrará Misa y reconocerá a las
parejas, quienes celebran 25, 30,
40, 50 y más de 60 años de matrimonio en el 2013. El matrimonio más largo que participe será
reconocido y recibirá una ben-
Foto de cortesía
Bernardino e. Méndez con su esposa, Olga L. Méndez estarán dentro de las parejas
celebrando aniversarios en el Día Mundial del Matrimonio. el Día Mundial del Matrimonio se celebra alrededor del mundo el segundo fin de semana de febrero de cada
año.
dición especial del obispo.
“La Celebración de la Misa
del Día Mundial del Matrimonio
en nuestra diócesis es una gran
oportunidad para ver casi 300
matrimonios dar testimonio con
su presencia de la santidad de la
vida matrimonial y cómo Dios
nos transforma a través de nuestro
amor y vida y nos convierte en
personas que aprenden a tratar de
vivir un amor sacrificador como
Jesús nos enseña,” dijo Lydia Pesina, directora de Family LIfe Office
para la diócesis.
El Día Mundial del Matrimonio se celebra alrededor del mundo el segundo fin de semana de
febrero cada año, homenajeando y
afirmando la vocación de las parejas casadas y realzando el impacto
que un matrimonio fuerte tiene en
la sociedad.
Los Méndez, quienes viven
ahora en McAllen, recordaron los
primeros años de su cortejo. El Sr.
Méndez había dejado México para
ir a la universidad en USA, primero en Edinburg y luego en lo que
ahora es la Universidad de Texas
A&M –Kingsville. La pareja mantuvo su relación a larga distancia
por meses antes de casarse.
“Nos escribíamos cartas,” dijo
la Sra. Méndez. “No había internet en aquel tiempo. Recuerdo
emocionarme mucho al checar el
correo para ver si había escrito.”
“No tenía teléfono en mi departamento así que iba al teléfono
público en la tienda de la esquina
a llamarla,” dijo el Sr. Méndez.
“Juntaba cinco dólares en monedas para poder hablar con ella por
unos minutos.”
Los Méndez, instructores en-
trenados de la Planeación Natural
de Familia (NFP), creen que el estilo de vida del NFP ha fortalecido
su matrimonio. La Planeación
Natural de Familia es una forma
segura y saludable, aprobado por
la Iglesia Católica, para que las
parejas prevengan o logren el embarazo, sin usar medicamento,
aparatos o formas artificiales.
“Hoy en día la gente dice que
ya no tienen química, pero con la
Planeación Natural de Familia, la
química va a estar ahí todo el tiempo porque es química de verdad,”
dijo el Sr. Méndez. “Es química
hormonal que está ocurriendo y
el cuerpo del hombre va a percibir
todas esas señales. Es una experiencia de unión verdadera.”
Los Méndez dijeron que los
secretos para su matrimonio duradero han sido Dios, respeto y
perseverancia.
“Respetarse mutuamente y
poner al otro primero,” dijo la Sra.
Méndez. “Entre más das, más recibes y será mejor para los dos.
Tengan a Dios en sus vidas y recen
antes de cada decisión que hagan
como pareja.”
El Sr. Méndez recuerda una
conversación que tuvo con su
madre antes de su boda.
Cuando el Sr. Méndez era un
niño, sus padres pasaron por un
tiempo difícil y consideraron separarse, pero le aconsejó a su madre
que no lo hiciera, diciéndole que
el divorcio tendría un efecto negativo en él y en toda la familia.
“Mi madre me recordó de la
vez que, cuando era un niño, le
dije que el matrimonio debía de
ser para siempre y que el divorcio
hace que toda la familia sufra,” dijo
él. “Eso se ha quedado con migo
a través de nuestro matrimonio.
Tienes que mantener tu matrimonio, no importa lo que pase.”
Para registrarse para la celebración del Día Mundial del
Matrimonio en la Diócesis de
Brownsville, favor de llamar al
(956) 784-5012.
Jefe de doctrina del Vaticano dice que la política
en la que se ignora a Dios está destinada al fracaso
Por CINDY WOODEN
ROMA — Los políticos que
quieren actuar como si Dios no existiera y como si no hubiera cosas
tales como verdades objetivas de
moral están destinados al fracaso
en sus esfuerzos para promover el
bien común, dijo el presidente de
la Congregación de la Doctrina de
la Fe.
“La política que se sigue hoy
en día en Europa y Norteamérica
que carece de fundamento ético,
sin referirse a Dios, no puede resolver nuestros problemas, incluso
los problemas del Mercado y del
dinero”, dijo el arzobispo Gerhard
L. Muller, prefecto de la Congregación de la Doctrina de la Fe.
El arzobispo, coordinador del
proyecto para publicar la obra
completa de Joseph Ratzinger-papa Benedicto XVI, dijo que una de
las enseñanzas clave del papa es la
importancia de la fe y la razón que
se desarrollan en forma paralela,
mano a mano.
En una alocución del 11 de enero, en la librería del Vaticano, en
el Centro de Roma, el arzobispo
Muller dijo: “La fe y la razón son
como dos personas que se aman
cns/nancy Wiechec
esta Biblia con cubierta de terciopelo fue usada por Abraham Lincoln al presentar
juramento como presidente de los estados Unidos en 1861. conocida como “Biblia
de Lincoln” pertenece a la división de colecciones de libros raros y especiales de la
Biblioteca del congreso. el presidente Barack Obama uso esta Biblia, en su instalación
del 21 de enero, de la misma manera como lo hizo en 2009.
una a la otra profundamente, que
no pueden vivir una sin la otra, y
que fueron hechas íntimamente
una para la otra, y a tal grado que
no se les puede considerar separadas una de la otra y no pueden
lograr sus metas en forma separada”.
E hizo una cita de un discurso
del papa Benedicto XVI dirigido a
los diplomáticos, el 7 de enero: “Es
precisamente el olvido de Dios por
parte de los humanos, y su falla en
darle gloria, lo que da origen a la
violencia. Y sin lugar a dudas, una
vez que ya no hacemos referencia
a una verdad objetiva y trascendente, ¿cómo será posible lograr
un diálogo auténtico”?
El arzobispo Muller dijo que
en el tiempo preparatorio a las
elecciones italianas él ha sabido
que algunos políticos quieren que
la Iglesia Católica “hable de amor,
caridad y misericordia de Dios”;
pero no insisten en que las ver-
dades predicadas se mantengan.
“¿Pero en dónde está el amor
sin la verdad”? preguntó el arzobispo.
El arzobispo hizo sus comentarios durante una corta presentación de su nuevo libro escrito en
italiano, con el título de “Ampliare
L’Orizzonte della Ragione. Per una
Lettura di Joseph Ratzinger-Benedetto XVI” (“Ampliación del horizonte de la razón: Para una lectura
de Joseph Ratzinger-Benedicto
XVI”).
En el libro, el arzobispo Muller
enfatiza la importancia que el papa
Benedicto le da a la necesidad de
la fe y de la razón para apoyarse
y purificarse mutuamente; la insistencia del papa en que el cristianismo es ante todo acerca de
una relación con Jesucristo y no
simplemente una aceptación de
las normas y doctrina; y el papel
principal que el estudio de la vida
y obra de San Agustín ha tenido
tanto en la teología del papa como
en su ministerio.
Durante la presentación, el arzobispo también subrayó qué tan
profundamente el papa Benedicto
cree que la liturgia, y especialmente la Misa, son partes centrales
de la vida y el futuro de la Iglesia.
Cada altar
necesita un
sacerdote
Convocatoria
Anual del Obispo
lanzada en febrero
Por ROSE YBARRA
The Valley Catholic
En el último fin de semana de
febrero o el primer fin de semana de
marzo, a los fieles del Valle del Río
Grande se les pedirá participar en la
Convocatoria Anual del Obispo.
Este año, el tema de la convocatoria es, “Cada altar necesita un Sacerdote,” y los fondos beneficiaran a
nuestros seminaristas en formación
de la diócesis.
“Sabemos que la fuerza espiritual de la
Iglesia deriva
del Sacrificio
Euc ar íst ico
celebrado diariamente en
nuestras iglesias,” dijo el
Obispo Daniel E. Flores.
OBISPO FLORES
“El
Señor
Jesús se ofrece al Padre por nosotros
en el gran sacrificio de amor. Él nos
alimenta en la Eucaristía con su propia entrega generosa. Este alimento
que baja del cielo sostiene y fortalece la vida y actividad de la Iglesia.”
Actualmente hay 25 seminaristas estudiando para el sacerdocio en
varios seminarios a través del país,
preparándose para servir 69 parroquias y 45 misiones in la Diócesis de
Brownsville. Nuestra diócesis tiene
una grave escasez de sacerdotes, con
un sacerdote por cada 8, 376 Católicos, en comparación con el número
nacional de un sacerdote por cada
1, 640 Católicos.
Mientras el creciente número
de vocaciones al sacerdocio es muy
positivo para la diócesis, cuesta, en
promedio, $30,000 al año, por seminarista para educar a un futuro sacerdote.
Una vez que un hombre es aceptado como seminarista, el costo del
cuarto, la comida y la matricula
asociados con el seminario son
pagados por la diócesis. La diócesis
además cubre el seguro médico del
seminarista y le ayuda con el costo
de los libros y otros gastos.
“Por lo tanto, se puede apreciar
que se requiere una inversión monetaria considerable para proporcionar la formación y educación adecuada a nuestros futuros sacerdotes,”
dijo el Obispo Flores. “Les pido a
todas nuestras parroquias que participen en la Campaña Anual del
Obispo 2013, y a todo el Pueblo de
Dios que den lo que puedan para
apoyar nuestro programa de formación en el seminario.”
Un breve video delineando la
convocatoria del obispo será presentado durante todas las Misas de
feb. 23-24 o marzo 2-3. También se
le ha pedido a cada sacerdote compartir la historia de su vocación.
Nuestra diócesis tiene seminaristas
y sacerdotes de todas las edades, de
todos los caminos de la vida y de todas las orillas del mundo.
“La idea es no sólo presentar a
los seminaristas pero también compartir el camino hacia el sacerdocio,
para escuchar cómo nuestros seminaristas y sacerdotes son llamados a
servir,” dijo Rosie Rodríguez, directora de desarrollo para la diócesis.
14
diOcESE
»Peregrinaje cerca de casa
Dios creó lugares
naturales de
peregrinación
Ve al exterior
Por BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS
The Valley Catholic
W
ESLACO – Rodeada por el sonido de los patos de
velo negro, patos
cucharos y otras variedades alimentándose cerca de los estanques
en el Parque Estatal Estero Llano
Grande, en Weslaco, recordé que
el exterior sirve como un lugar de
peregrinación natural.
Algunas veces todo lo que se
necesita para iniciar un peregrinaje
es ir a nuestro patio. No tenemos
que viajar lejos para encontrar una
hora o más y sentarnos en el jardín
o debajo de un árbol a pasar tiempo
en oración o en silencio.
En ocasiones podemos elegir
viajar un poco más lejos a la playa,
un parque local o un parque estatal
de refugio nacional para animales.
El Valle del Río Grande esta bendecido con miles de millas de hábitat
natural.
En este año nuevo, mientras
continúo con estos peregrinajes
cerca de casa, quiero incluir el exterior. Durante mi primer peregrinaje al Parque Estatal Estero Llano
Grande, en un día frío y nublado de
enero, los patos no se quejaban del
frío, así que porque me quejaría yo.
Fui equipada y con el propósito de
sentarme en silencio.
Sentarse en silencio puede
ser un reto, pero el ritmo natural
de la vida silvestre a mi alrededor
creó el escenario perfecto. Entre
los mezquites de miel, los ébanos y
huisaches, los pecho amarillos, patos e incluso el lagarto, me sentí en
armonía.
El Santo Papa Juan Pablo II
apreciaba el exterior. “Quien quiere
verdaderamente encontrarse a sí
mismo,” dijo durante una de sus vacaciones a las montañas Dolomitas,
“debe aprender a gustar de la naturaleza, cuyo encanto se relaciona
mediante íntima afinidad con el
silencio de la contemplación. Las
modulaciones de la creación constituyen otros tantos recorridos de
belleza extraordinaria, a través de
los cuales el ánimo sensible y creyente no se cansa de recibir el eco
de la belleza misteriosa y superior,
que es Dios mismo, el Creador, de
quien toda realidad recibe su origen y vida.”
Msgr. Heberto Díaz, Jr., vicario general para la Diócesis de
Brownsville y pastor de la Iglesia
Appeal,
continued from p. 1
given to us in the Mass is the life
and strength for each one of us. To
support vocations to the priesthood
is to support the vital source of spiritual strength that sustains each one
of us.”
There are currently 25 seminarians studying for the priesthood at
various seminaries across the country, preparing to serve the 69 parishes and 45 missions in the Diocese of Brownsville.
Our diocese has a severe shortage
of priests with one priest for 8,376
Catholics versus the national figure
The Valley Catholic
Un papamoscas bermellón descansa por solo un momento durante el atardecer en el
parque estatal estero Llano Grande en Weslaco .
Un grupo de tortugas disfrutan del sol en un charco del parque estatal estero Llano
Grande en Weslaco, alrededor de 230 acres sirve el santuario de aves como uno de los
nueve sitios de la cadena World Birding center.
Santa María en Brownsville, dijo
que encuentra paz en el exterior y
le gusta rezar afuera en su jardín.
Dijo que todos necesitamos encontrar nuestro propio “espacio para
rezar’ y algunos lo encuentran en el
exterior.
Msgr. Díaz, quien vacaciona
cada año en parques nacionales y
fue guardaparques en el Parque Nacional Big Bend en los 80s, dijo que
anima a sus feligreses, como parte
de la formación de una disciplina
de oración, a apartar un espacio.
Añadió, “Hay tantos hermosos
lugares naturales que Dios creó.
Para mí, estos son lugares naturales
de peregrinación.”
Msgr. Díaz dijo que mientras se
observa la belleza natural del exterior, “en cada árbol, cada rama, no
puedes evitar pensar, ‘la mano de
Dios estuvo aquí.’”
Uno de sus lugares favoritos es
el Lago Esmeralda en el Parque Nacional Rocky Maountain (en Colorado). “Me gusta tomar caminatas
temprano en la mañana para ser el
primero en llegar (al Lago Esmeralda) para estar en un lugar callado,
sólo con Dios.”
El Papa Benedicto XVI en el
2011 después del Ángelus de mediodía, hablo sobre la naturaleza
como “un regalo magnífico presente a nosotros por la grandeza
del creador.”
“Contemplar la belleza de la
creación nos inspira a reconocer
el amor del Creador, ese amor que
“mueve el sol y las estrellas,” dijo en
su mensaje para el Día Mundial de
Paz en el 2010.
Cerca de casa, regresé a Estero
Llano Grande un día más soleado
y disfruté mucho mi visita mientras
los pájaros y los patos saboreaban
su oportunidad para dejar sus refugios y cazar su comida.
El Parque Estatal Estero Llano
Grande es una de nueve locaciones
para el Centro Mundial de Avistamiento de Aves. Dicho centro
mundial en el Valle del Río Grande
of one priest per 1,640 Catholics.
While the growing number of
vocations to the priesthood is a
positive for the diocese, it costs
about $30,000 per year, per seminarian to educate a future priest.
Once a man is accepted as a seminarian, the room, board and tuition costs associated with the seminary are paid for by the diocese.
The diocese additionally covers the
seminarian’s health insurance and
assists with the cost of books and
other expenses.
“Thus, you can see it requires a
significant monetary investment to
provide for the proper formation
and education of our future priests,”
Bishop Flores said. “I am asking all
of our parishes to participate in this
year’s appeal, and all of the faithful
People of God to give what you can
to support our seminary training
programs.”
A brief video outlining the bishop’s appeal will be shown during all
Masses on Feb. 23-24 or March 2-3.
Each priest has also been asked to
share his vocation story. Our diocese has seminarians and priests of
all ages, from all walks of life and
from all corners of the world.
“The idea is not only to introduce the seminarians but also to
share the journey of the priesthood,
to hear how our seminarians and
priests were called to serve,” said
Rosie Rodriguez, director of development for the diocese.
Lent,
continued from p. 1
incluye nueve lugares desde la Isla
del Padre hasta Roma. Como corredor migratorio, más de 500 especies de pájaros han sido grabadas
en un área de cuatro condados.
Los centros incluyen, Parque
Estatal del Valle del Río grandeBentsen, en Mission, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, Estero Llano Grande
(Weslaco), Harlingen Arroyo Colorado, Old Hidalgo Pumphouse,
Quinta Mazatlán (McAllen), Resaca de la Palma (Brownsville),
Roma Bluffs y el Centro South
Padre Island Briding and Nature
Center.
Los parques estatales y los
refugios nacionales de vida silvestre atraen a observadores de aves
de alrededor del mundo. Algunos
días pueden estar atareados, pero
incluso en días concurridos los
visitantes pueden encontrar calma
cerca de alguno de los estanques o
los senderos. Estero Llano Grande,
situado en 176 acres, tiene más de
cinco millas de senderos para caminata. Los espacios sombreados están cerca del lago de lagartos. También hay buenas áreas para sentarse
cerca de los jardines de mariposas.
Susan Keefer, una voluntaria de
Vermont en Estero Llano Grande,
dijo que la quietud de la naturaleza
la energetiza. “Me carga.” Ella y su
esposa quienes se retiraron hace
15 años, empezaron a venir al sur
cuando empezaron a seguir la migración de los pájaros. “Nos volvimos especies migratorias,” dijo ella.
Keefer y su esposo dirigen programas educacionales en el parque
y los han dirigido también en
Maine en donde son voluntarios
durante los meses de verano. Una
de las lecciones que enseña a estudiantes es el detenerse y quedarse
quietos. “Momentos mágicos,” dice
ella, esos momentos cuando una
mariposa descansa en tu hombro
o un pájaro se aproxima a comer
cerca, “sólo ocurren cuando te detienes.”
Mientras intento visitar cada
uno de estos parques nacionales y
refugios de vida silvestre en el Valle
este año, me siento agradecida por
la inspiración que el Señor me dio
en Estero Llano Grande.
cOMO LLeGAr
Dirección: 3301 s. International Blvd.
(f.M. 1015), Weslaco
Indicación: Del expressway 83 tome la
salida f.M. 1015/International Boulevard, en la calle f.M. 1015 maneje
hacia el sur por dos millas, buscando
el letrero de ladrillo a la entrada del
parque a mano izquierda de la carretera.
Horario: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., diariamente
costo: adultos, $4; niños gratis
possibly could be, Father
Pincelli added.
“If we have difficulties
within the context of our
families or with friends or coworkers, for example, work
on that,” he said. “Make that
your sacrifice. Try to develop
patience, understanding, and
compassion. Become more
generous, more outgoing
Christian-wise,
involve
people in your life. Be more
welcoming.”
The Church asks all
Catholics to preserve the
penitential character and
purpose of Lent through the
rules for fasting and abstinence
and that communal aspect is
positive, Father Pincelli said. He
pointed out, however, that each
person’s Lenten journey should
be individual and unique.
“It’s our own personal
growth,” he said. “It takes our
own personal commitment, our
own personal introspection,
our own personal desire, to
make things the best that they
possibly can be.”
Tips to make Lent a more
meaningful experience:
• Take the time to think,
take the time to reflect, take
the time to pray, maybe spend
a little extra time in church just
asking God to help you discern
what you need to do this Lenten
season and then make the
commitment to do that.
• Read the daily Mass
scriptures. Reflect on them and
see how they touch your life.
Try to find that issue that speaks
to you from those particular
readings.
• In prayer, focus on what
God is saying to you at this
particular point. What does he
want you to look at? What does
he want you to change? What
does he want you to be about?
OnLine
For videos and photos
some of the milestones
in the life of the Church
in the Rio Grande
Valley and to listen
to Bishop Daniel E.
Flores’ homilies and
presentations, visit the
Diocese of Brownsville
website at
www.cdob.org
February 2013
diOcESE 15
»Media Resource Center
» Calendar of events
Recommended by SISTER MAUREEN CROSBY, SSD
Coordinator of the Media Resource Center - Diocese of Brownsville
»From the Bookshelf
»Worth Watching
What Is
Temptation,
really?
Format:VHS
Year of production:St. Anthony
Messenger Press (1992)
Length:27 minutes
The facts: This video is the first of a
four-part series that takes us through
the Lenten journey. Host and author
Father Michael Himes draws insights
from Lenten Sunday liturgical readings
to help us reflect on the implications of
our baptismal faith. This series is good
for anyone who wants to do something
more for Lent.
The First
Valentine
Format:VHS
Starring: Jonathan Farwell, Kaleena Kiff
Year of production: Envoy Productions
(1989)
Length:25 minutes
The facts: This video presents the true
story of St. Valentine, bishop and martyr.
It reminds us that there really was a St.
Valentine and that the holiday is not all
chocolates and roses. In the story, a
modern teenager meets a legendary
saint. St. Valentine shows her what it
means to love others as Jesus loves us
and to receive that love in return.
The Lenten
Pharmacy:
Daily Healing
Therapies
Length: 126 pages, paperback
Author: Father Edward Hays
Publication: Ave Maria Press (2006)
The facts: Experience Lent in a whole
new way with a daily trip to the Lenten
Pharmacy. Written by Father Edward
Hays, a priest of the Archdiocese of
Kansas City, this book challenges us to
get serious about observing Lent. As the
book says, “some of these prescriptions
will seem difficult or unpalatable, like bitter
medicine, but all will lead to abundant life.”
February
Little Nellie of
Holy God
Length:31 pages, paperback
Author: Sister Mary Dominic, RGS
Illustrator: Sister M. John Vianney, SSND
Publication: Tan Books (1961) )
The facts: Known as the Little Violet of the
Blessed Sacrament, Nellie Organ (19031908) lived to be only four-and-a-half
years old. In that time she demonstrated
an incredible love for God and the Blessed
Sacrament. This is a good book to
introduce children to children saints. It is
also a good reminder for all of us: that we
shouldn’t take the Eucharist for granted.
2
Candlemass –
The Presentation of the
Lord Feast
2
Sponsor Couple Training II
(Family Life Office)
2
KOC Youth Conference
(Youth Ministry)
3
World Day for Consecrated
Life (3 p.m. Mass at basilica)
5
Professional Day
(Office of Catechesis)
9
World Marriage Day
9
Teen Sexuality &
Relationship Retreat St, Paul Mission
13 Ash Wednesday
14 Valentine’s Day
14 Advisory Team
Blessing,
continued from p. 1
25, 30, 40, 50 and 60-plus years
of marriage in 2013. The longest
married couple in attendance will
be recognized and receive a special
blessing from the bishop.
“The Celebration of Mass for
World Marriage Day in our diocese
is such a wonderful opportunity
to see about 300 married couples
witness by their presence the
sacredness of married life and how
God transforms us through our
living and loving to become people
who learn to strive to live self
emptying love as Jesus teaches us,”
said Lydia Pesina, director of the
Family Life Office for the diocese.
World Marriage Day is
celebrated around the globe on
the second weekend of February
each year, honoring and affirming
the vocation of married couples
and highlighting the impact that a
strong marriage has on society.
The Mendezes, who now reside
in McAllen, recalled the early days
of their courtship. Mr. Mendez had
left Mexico to attend college in the
U.S., first in Edinburg and then at
what is now Texas A&M University
– Kingsville. The pair maintained
their relationship long-distance for
months before they married.
“We wrote letters,” Mrs. Mendez
said. “There was no Internet then. I
remember being excited to check
the mail to see if he had written.”
“I didn’t have a phone in my
apartment so I would go to the pay
phone at the convenience store to
call her,” Mr. Mendez said. “I would
scrape up five dollars in change
just so I could talk to her for a few
minutes.”
The Mendezes, who are trained
Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Bishop Emeritus Raymundo J. Peña’s Calendar
Feb. 2
Confessions – OLS Knights of Columbus
McAllen
Feb. 2
4:30 p.m. Mass/St. Margaret Mary Church
Pharr
Feb. 3
9 a.m.
Mass/St. Anne
Pharr
Feb. 4 – 6 All day
NCCB Bioethics Workshop
Dallas
Feb. 8
7 p.m.
Gala
San Antonio
Feb. 9
4:30 p.m. Mass/St. Margaret Mary Church
Pharr
Feb. 10
9 a.m.
Pharr
Feb. 20 – 23 All Day
Feb. 25 -28 All Day
Mass/St. Anne Church
and pray before every decision you
make as a couple.”
Mr.
Mendez
recalls
a
conversation he had with his
mother before his wedding.
When Mr. Mendez was a boy,
his parents went through a rough
patch and considered splitting up,
but he advised his mother against
it, telling her a divorce would have
a negative ripple effect on him and
on the whole family.
“My mother reminded me of
the time that I, as a little boy, told
her that marriage should be forever
and that divorce causes the whole
family to suffer,” he said. “That has
stayed with me throughout our
marriage. You have to stick with
your marriage, no matter what
happens.”
To register for the World
Marriage Day celebration in the
Diocese of Brownsville, please call
(956) 784-5012.
The Pill,
poses, the Pill is quite the opposite
of health care — being, in fact,
detrimental to women’s health —
in light of its frequent side effects
of weight gain, headaches, and
depression, as well as its heightened and well-documented risk of
thrombotic stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and breast
cancer. The International Agency
for Research on Cancer, an arm of
the World Health Organization,
classifies hormonal contraception
as a Group 1 carcinogen.
When a married couple has
a proportionately serious reason
not to become pregnant — for
example, when pregnancy itself
would seriously threaten the
woman’s life or health — they can
opt for periodic abstinence during part of her cycle by assessing
various indicators of fertility. This
is sometimes referred to under
the general heading of “Fertility
Awareness Methods,” and offers a
morally acceptable, safe and effective approach to spacing children.
To sum up, then, the use of the
Pill for medical (non-contraceptive) purposes requires a disciplined approach to the matter. Alternative medical therapies should
be seriously considered, the
great good of fertility should be
respected, and unspoken sexual
agendas should not be allowed to
trump the duty to exercise moral
responsibility and sound medical
judgment.
continued from p. 4
9:45 a.m. Talk - OLS Knights of Columbus
2 p.m.
instructors, believe the NFP lifestyle
has strengthened their marriage.
Natural Family Planning is a safe
and healthy Catholic-approved way
for couples to prevent or achieve
pregnancy that uses no drugs,
devices or other artificial means.
“Nowadays people say the
chemistry is not there but with
Natural Family Planning, the
chemistry is going to be there
all the time because it’s really
chemistry,” Mr. Mendez said. “It’s
a hormonal chemistry that is going
on and the man’s body will perceive
all those signs. It is a real bonding
experience.”
The Mendezes said the secrets
to their lasting marriage have been
God, respect and perseverance.
“Respect each other and put the
other one first,” Mrs. Mendez said.
“The more you give, the more you
will receive and it will be better for
both of you. Have God in your life
El Paso
Confirmations (Pending)
San Antonio
1st: Vocations to the Consecrated Life
(active and contemplative) and for the
On going:
Sisters and Brothers in our diocese
Mass at St. Joseph Chapel of Perpetual
and the success of their mission
Adoration, 727 Bowie St., Alamo
2nd: Vocations to the Permanent
8 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Chapel of
Diaconate the deacons (permanent
Perpetual Adoration, 727 Bowie St.,
and transitional) of the diocese and
Alamo
their families
3rd : Vocation to Married Life: for
Every Tuesday: noon – 6 p.m. at
the welfare and sanctification of all
UTPA/Edinburg
the families in the diocese and for
building up the Kingdom in our
Holy Hour will be held Weekly every
domestic churches
Thursday at 7 p.m., 727 Bowie St.,
4th: Vocations to the priesthood
Alamo
and the priests of the diocese for the
success of their ministry
Every Sunday: 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.
5th: Vocations to the Pro-Life
Confessions/Mass at UTPA-Edinburg
Intentions
the root cause of the problem. As
Lili Cote de Bejarano, M.D., has
noted: “For most of these conditions, the Pill is only treating the
woman’s symptoms, while her underlying medical problem —the
cause of the symptoms — remains
unaddressed and undiagnosed.”
Lines become further blurred
when medical professionals start
to insist that the Pill, taken purely
to avoid pregnancy, is “health
care.” It is not, in fact, health care,
but a lifestyle decision. This lifestyle decision is frequently made
in the midst of a cultural backdrop that encourages “neutered”
sex in an endless array of forms,
and sanctions the misguided
view that “health” means we have
the right to practice consensual
indiscriminate sex without consequences.
The Pill, when chosen strictly
for these contraceptive purposes,
fails the test of being healthcare
because it does not heal or restore
any broken system of the human
body. On the contrary, it actually
breaks a smoothly working system — the reproductive system —
by disrupting the delicate balance
of hormonal cycles regulating a
woman’s reproductive well-being
and fecundity.
When taken for lifestyle pur-
16-17 Remarriage Retreat
19 Rite of Election
21 Rite of Election
22 Principals’ Retreat
(Catholic Schools Office)
22-23 CRS Food Fast
(Youth Ministry)
23-24 Retiro Pre-Matrimonal
March
1
ACRE Testing Begins
1
Lenten Retreat
1-3 Catholic Engaged
Encounter (Family Life
Office)
5-8 Region 10 DD Meeting
9
Convalidation Conference
10 Daylight Saving Time
Begins
17 St. Patrick’s Day
17-18 DYRT Event
(Youth Ministry)
20 First day of Spring
22 ACRE Testing Ends
23-24 Continuing Education
26 ACRE Testing Shipping
28 Holy Thursday
Diocesan Offices
close at noon
29 Good Friday
Diocesan Offices close
31 Easter Sunday
Please submit your schedule to be published
in The Valley Catholic by the first Friday of
each month by email at [email protected]
or fax: (956) 784-5082.
diOcESE
16
Our catholic Family
Music from the soul offered as prayer
Classically trained
violinist uses her
talents “to move
people’s hearts”
By BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS
The Valley Catholic
E
L SAUZ — One 16-yearold who has merited
state gold for her violin
performances shies away
from talking about her own talents and accomplishments and
prefers to use her music “to move
people’s hearts.”
Samantha Mayne, who comes
from a family of singers and musicians, joins her family in the
choir each Sunday at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Church in El Sauz, a
mission of Sacred Heart Church
in Escobares.
A classically-trained violinist
from Roma, Mayne was selected
as an Outstanding Soloist her
freshman and sophomore years in
high school at the Texas State Solo
and Ensemble Contest. .
She started playing when she
was six years old. Before that she
Commandments,
continued from pg. 4
day. Love the Sunday Eucharistic
Liturgy.
It is from the Table of the Lord
that we receive the nourishment we
need to live our lives from the Proclamation of the Word of God and
from the Body and Blood of Jesus in
the Eucharist. 4) Honor your father
and mother. Love your mother
and your father, or your stepparent, adopted parent, grandparent
and all those who not only bring
you into life but sustain you in this
life through food, shelter, wisdom,
Courtesy photo
samantha Mayne, a high school student at roma High school, plays the violin. she
inspires to make a difference in the world, starting with her parish and the community
of el sauz. “fame isn’t everything,” said Mayne.
first learned to play the guitar and
later the piano.
Mayne said music has been
a part of her life since before she
was born. “My mother sang to
and guidance.5) You shall not kill.
Love and respect life; your own and
everyone else’s from inception to
natural death because they belong
to God who is author of all life. 6)
You shall not commit adultery. Love
yourself and your body and keep it
healthy and holy and share it only
with your espoused. Do not allow
promiscuity or pornography to diminish who you are. 7) You shall not
steal. Love what you have and possess with a grateful heart; give generously of what you have; and respect
and be happy for what others have
and posses. 8) You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor.
Love your neighbor as yourself and
raise him up with words that are
each of us in the womb.”
Mireya Resendez of El Sauz,
who took care of Mayne from the
time she was three weeks old, said
she remembers Mayne liked to
true and uplifting and correct only
with gentleness and humility. 9) You
shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
Love your spouse as Christ loved the
Church. Love your spouse everyday
like the day you espoused them to
love, honor, enjoy, protect, guide
and grow old with. 10) You shall not
covet your neighbor’s goods. Love to
count your blessings that your blessings and those of your neighbors
may be multiplied and shared with
those most in need.
Perhaps last year’s cell phone is
outdated but The Ten Commandments are as true today as they were
a few thousand years ago. May we
allow the truths of God to guide us
to learn to truly LOVE.
hold a microphone and sing from
an early age. “Desde chiquita era
una niña muy talentosa.” (From
a young age she was a talented
child.)
A junior at Roma High School,
Mayne said she is thankful to God
for her music. “I pray every day.
Without God in my life, I wouldn’t
have my voice.”
“My voice has shaped me into
who I am,” she said. Mayne said
she wants “to use it (her music) to
move people’s hearts.”
In addition to her music interests, Mayne is also a journalist.
As a field reporter at Roma High
School for the district’s Gladiator
Television Network, she covers
stories about school and extra curricular activities.
Mayne’s interests are reflected
as well in her future ambitions.
She wants to be a human rights
activist, a singer, maybe a country singer, and open a performing
arts school. “Even if I don’t make
it big, I just want to make a difference in the world,” she said, adding, “Fame isn’t everything.”
She said she is inspired by her
father and his friends who are
active in jail ministry. She said
her faith life has helped her see,
“There’s a gift inside you; it’s for
the greater good.”
Mayne said the Sisters of the
Benedictine Monastery of the
Good Shepherd in Rio Grande
City, who she has known all her
life, have also been an important
part of her faith life. “The sisters
(Sisters Nancy Boushey, Luella
Walsh and Fran Solum) have really helped me and supported me.”
At 16, Mayne is the youngest
Benedictine Oblate. She made her
oblation when she was nine years
old at the Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd. The
Benedictine Oblates are a lay association and members live out
the spirituality of St. Benedict in
the work place and at home. Sister Solum said members come to
the monastery to experience community and pray the Litany of the
Hours.
Sister Solum said Mayne is
an inspiration for young people.
“Samantha is very talented
and very simple and unassuming
about her God-given talent.”
“Her music comes right from
the soul. What she is feeling comes
through in her violin. She plays
so beautifully and prayerfully at
Mass,” Solum said.
Meatless Recipes for Lent
A collection of recipes from
the Rio Grande Valley
Published by
The Valley Catholic
To order call
(956) 784-5055

Lent - Catholic Diocese of Brownsville

Transcripción

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