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View - Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
Volume 7, Issue 11 Serving More Than A Million Catholics in the Diocese of Brownsville MARCH 2016 POPE FRANCIS »Easter Messenger The only way to enter into the Easter mystery, Pope Francis said, is with humility, “to come down from the pedestal of our ‘I’ that is so proud, of our presumption; the humility not to take ourselves so seriously, recognizing who we really are: creatures with strengths and weaknesses, sinners in need of forgiveness.” of Hope Hop Let Jesus call your name Celebrate power of the empty tomb this Easter By EFFIE CALDAROLA Catholic News Service It’s a Resurrection scene we’ve visited over and over, and yet it still grips us and sometimes brings us to tears. The story of the encounter of Mary of Magdala with the risen Christ in the garden on Easter morning, as recorded in the Gospel of John, is evocative and powerful. Why is it so personally compelling? Simple and terse words capture our attention: “Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (Jn 20:1). In John’s Gospel, Joseph of Arimathaea had already seen to the ritual anointing of Jesus according to Jewish burial custom. Mary came alone to the burial site that morning simply to be present, to bear witness as she had borne witness at the Crucifixion. She was a long way from home. The village of Magdala was near Tiberias on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. According to Scripture, Mary, along with several women of means, followed the disciples and Jesus, and helped provide for them as they traveled from village to village. Mary was perhaps unfamiliar with the big city of Jerusalem. What was it like to be a woman walking alone in the darkness of an urban morning, from wherever she had spent a gloomy, empty Saturday and a sleepless night, to visit the tomb of her friend? » Please see Resurrection p.15 Photos and memorable moments from Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Mexico L’Osservatore Romano Pope Francis’ prayer before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe after Mass on Feb. 13 serves as a reflection on the Year of Mercy and on the significance of the Pope’s pilgrimage to Mexico. Pages 8-9 BISHOP IN MEXICO Bishop Flores represented U.S. bishops on journey The shepherd of the Diocese of Brownsville, Bishop Daniel E. Flores, said he brings this message of encouragement to the people of the Rio Grande Valley, the same message the pope was taking all across Mexico. By BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS The Valley Catholic P ope Francis’ message of hope resonated throughout his five-day apostolic visit to Mexico Feb. 12-17, and it is a message Bishop Daniel E. Flores brings back to the Rio Grande Valley. Bishop Flores, who accompanied the Holy Father on his journey, said the pope left a “huge impact for the people of Mexico” by his encouragement that no matter what problems they face “it’s YEAR OF MERCY The Valley Catholic Bishop Daniel E. Flores and other bishops joined Pope Francis for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City Feb. 13. possible for people of great faith and great hope to overcome these difficulties.” Bishop Flores and Bishop Os- car Cantu of the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during the pope’s visit to THOSE WHO SERVE POPE IN MEXICO Mexico. During his visit, Pope Francis addressed the themes of the indigenous and the poor in Chiapas, the violence in Michoacán and migration issues along the border. “Maintaining hope and not giving up was a big part of the message,” throughout the whole visit, Bishop Flores said. » Please see Pope Francis p.3 EN ÑOL ENESPA ESPAÑOL Artículos sobre el viaje del papa a México, el Año de la Misericordia y fotos de la marcha pro-vida. “VERBUM MITTITUR SPIRANS AMOREM” (“The WORD is sent breathing love.”) Feeding the hungry Sister Rose Marie Quilter, RSCJ Page 3 Page 7 Bishop Flores joined the Holy Father on his journey Page 8-9 Páginas 11-13 2 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - La ternura de Dios conquista Ante todo, la «Virgen Morenita» nos enseña que la única fuerza capaz de conquistar el corazón de los hombres es la ternura de Dios. Aquello que encanta y atrae, aquello que doblega y vence, aquello que abre y desencadena no es la fuerza de los instrumentos o la dureza de la ley, sino la debilidad omnipotente del amor divino, que es la fuerza irresistible de su dulzura y la promesa irreversible de su misericordia. Estas palabras, pronunciadas por el Papa Francisco al inicio de su peregrinación pastoral en México, sirven para encuadrar y entender mejor el mensaje evangélico que el Santo Padre deseaba compartir. La gracia que me concedió el Señor de poder participar en el recorrido del Papa ha dejado huellas en mi alma que van más allá de las palabras. Sin embargo, con la ayuda de esa misma gracia del Señor, trataré de compartir un poco de lo que he recibido, ya que es parte esencial de la vida cristiana saber que una gracia dada a uno es para beneficio de todos. El Papa celebró Misa en la Basílica de Guadalupe y nos hizo recordar que la visita de la Virgen en Tepeyac “en aquel amanecer de diciembre de 1531”, despertó la esperanza de Juan Diego, y por medio de él, la de todo un pueblo. La gracia viene del cielo, tiene rostro humilde, y da esperanza. Podríamos decir que la gracia de Dios es reconocida en este mundo precisamente por esta dinámica de llegar con rostro humilde y dar esperanza. La Virgen apareció en vestidura de los indígenas; se comunicó en su idioma. Aparece como madre esperando dar luz al que es la Luz del mundo. Se identificó con el pueblo sufriente, manifestando de tal manera la MARCH 2016 The tenderness of God conquers “Above all, «la Virgen Morenita» teaches us that the only power capable of conquering the hearts of men and women is the tenderness of God. That which delights and attracts, that which humbles and overcomes, that which opens and unleashes, is not the power of instruments or the harshness of the law, but rather the omnipotent weakness of divine love, which is the irresistible force of its gentleness and the irrevocable pledge of its mercy.” These words, spoken by Pope Francis at the start of his pastoral pilgrimage in Mexico, help to frame and better understand the evangelical message that the Holy Father wanted to share. The grace that the Lord granted me to be able to participate in the Pope’s journey has left an impression on my soul far beyond words. Nevertheless, with the help of that same grace from the Lord, I will try to share a little of what I have received since it is an essential part of the Christian life to understand that a grace given to one is for the benefit of all. The Pope celebrated Mass at the Basílica de Guadalupe and reminded us that the visit of the Virgin in Tepeyac “on that early morning in December 1531,” awakened Juan Diego’s hope, and through him, the hope of an entire people. Grace comes from heaven, it has a face of humility and it gives hope. We could say that the grace of God is recognized in this world precisely because of this dynamic of coming with a face of humility, and of giving hope. The Virgin appeared in the native dress of the indigenous people; she communicated in their language. She appears as a mother waiting to give birth to the one inmensa dignidad de aquellos que se consideraban de poco valor. Se manifestó no con armas y palabras grandiosas, sino como quien quiere consolar y luego animar. La Virgen pidió a Juan Diego ser un mensajero de la ternura que conquista el corazón humano. Aunque Juan lamentó su falta de capacidad para tal misión, Ella, con su mirada lo animó a tomar sobre sus hombros cansados el destino de un mundo nuevo. ¿Con qué fuerza pudo la Virgen convencer al pequeño de aceptar la misión? Sólo con la promesa que no sería abandonado en la tarea: “¿Acaso no estoy yo aquí, yo que tengo el honor de ser tu Madre?” La gracia de saberse uno acompañado por MOST REVEREND DANIEL E. FLORES BISHOP OF BROWNSVILLE who is the Light of the world. She identified herself with the suffering people, demonstrating in such a way the immense dignity of those who were considered to be of little value. She showed herself not with weapons and great words, but as wanting to comfort and then encourage. The Virgen asked Juan Diego to be a messenger of that tenderness that conquers the human heart. Even though Juan lamented his lack of capacity to fulfill such a mission, she, with her gaze encouraged him to take on his tired shoulders the destiny of a new world. With what strength was the Virgin able to convince this little one to accept this mission? Only with the promise that he would not be abandoned in the task: “Yet am I not here with you, who have the honor to be your mother?” The grace of knowing one is accompanied by a tireless love overcomes any doubt and every obstacle. The proclamation of the Gospel always follows this pattern of an unexpected visit, of an identification with the downtrodden, and of a mission to the fringes of society. Every community the Holy Father visited prepared the altar where Mass was to be celebrated, and in each place the image of the crucified Christ dominated right above un amor infatigable supera toda duda y cada obstáculo. El anuncio del Evangelio siempre sigue este perfil de visita inesperada, de identificación con los descartados, y de misión en las periferias. Cada comunidad visitada por el Santo Padre preparó el altar donde se celebraba la Misa, y en cada lugar dominaba siempre la imagen del Crucificado sobre la silla presidencial del Papa, y una imagen de la Virgen a un lado. La Virgen y el Cristo crucificado: estas son las dos imágenes que contienen todo el Evangelio. Nos hablan de una ternura y una esperanza que baja del cielo para levantar el espíritu de los decaídos y capacitarlos para una misión de esperanza the papal chair, with an image of the Virgin to one side. The Virgin and the crucified Christ: these are the two images that contain the entire Gospel. They speak to us of a tenderness and a hope that comes down from heaven to raise the sprits of the downhearted and prepare them for a mission of hope. A face of humility, a giver of hope: The Virgin prepares the way of Christ. God has a face of humility because Mary agreed to give to him the best of what is ours. Majesty became little in the womb of the Virgin. This truth of faith gives us hope. Through this mystery of humble love, God speaks to us today. The Lord appeals to us from the Cross, with humility, without any power except that of his humble visage. God can conquer us, that is to say, save and transform us, because he became our brother. He took our condition of weakness to encourage us with his closeness. From the Cross he asks us: “Yet am I not here with you, who have the honor of being your brother?” With his gaze he encourages us to take on our tired shoulders the destiny of a new world. With what strength can the Lord convince us to accept the mission? Only with the promise that we will not be abandoned in the task: “Yet am I not here with you, who have the honor to be your brother?” In this way we know that love can conquer. Let us then love the God who accepted to become our brother. Let us love him in the Cross, let us love him in each suffering person. Love conquers. Let us then be conquered. And may we be missionaries of a world renewed by merciful love of God. Amen. Rostro humilde, dador de esperanza: La Virgen prepara el camino de Cristo. Dios tiene rostro de humilde porque María aceptó darle lo mejor de lo nuestro. La Majestad se hizo pequeño en el seno de la Virgen. Esta verdad de la fe nos da esperanza. Por medio de este misterio de amor humilde, Dios nos habla hoy en día. El Señor apela desde la Cruz, con humildad, sin ningún poder mas que el de su rostro humilde. Dios nos puede conquistar, es decir, salvar y transformar, porque se hizo nuestro hermano. Tomó nuestra condición de debilidad para animarnos con su cercanía. Desde la Cruz nos pregunta: “Acaso no estoy yo aquí, yo que tengo el honor de ser tu hermano?” Con su mirada nos anima a tomar sobre nuestros hombros cansados el destino de un mundo nuevo. ¿Con qué fuerza puede el Señor convencernos de aceptar la misión? Sólo con la promesa de que no seríamos abandonados en la tarea: “¿Acaso no estoy yo aquí, yo que tengo el honor de ser tu hermano? De esta manera sabemos que el amor conquista. Amemos, pues, al Dios que aceptó hacerse hermano. Amémoslo en la Cruz, amémoslo en cada persona sufriente. El amor conquista. Que seamos, entonces, conquistados. Y que seamos misioneros de un mundo renovado por el amor misericordioso de Dios. Amen. Holy Week is about humility — there is no other way, pope says Catholic News Agency/EWTN Imitating the humility of Jesus is what makes Holy Week “holy,” and encouraged attendees to mimic his attitude of humiliation as the week unfolds, Pope Francis said in his Palm Sunday homily in 2015. Humility, he said, is “a way 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589-3042 Telephone: 956/781-5323 • Fax: 956/784-5082 Bishop Daniel E. Flores Publisher Catholic Diocese of Brownsville www.cdob.org Brenda Nettles Riojas Editor Subscription rate $15 per year • $17 outside of Texas $25 out of U.S. Rose Ybarra Assistant Editor The Valley Catholic, a publication of the Diocese of Brownsville, is published monthly South Texas Circulation Circulation Member of the Catholic Press Assocition The Valley Catholic email: [email protected] Follow us on Facebook Advertising Evana A. Zamora (956) 784-5038 Gustavo Morales (956) 266-1527 Gilbert Saenz (956) 451-5416 Michael Kent (956) 566-7075 which constantly amazes and disturbs us: we will never get used to a humble God!” As the Church sets out on the path of Holy Week that leads us to Easter, “we will take this path of Jesus’ own humiliation. Only in this way will this week be holy for us too!” Francis explained. Despite the shame Jesus faced, “this is God’s way, the way of humility. It is the way of Jesus; there is no other. And there can be no humility without humiliation,” Francis said. By taking on the “form of a slave,” Jesus shows us that true humility is expressed in service to others, and consists of stripping and emptying oneself of worldliness so as to make room for God, he said. “This is the greatest humiliation of all,” the Pope noted, and warned against taking that path of the world, which tempts us with “vanity, pride, success,” just like the devil did with Jesus during his 40 days in the desert. However, Jesus “immediately rejected” this temptation, he said, explaining that “with him, we too can overcome this temptation, not only at significant moments, but in daily life as well.” Bishop Flores’ Schedule - March 2016 Mar. 3 1:15 pm San Juan Mass for 5th Grade Vocation Day Basilica Mar. 5 noon San Juan Mass for Lenten Day of Reflection with Religious Mar. 9 6:30 p.m. McAllen Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mar. 10 10 a.m. San Juan Talk - Diocesan Stewardship Conference Mar. 12 11:30 a.m. San Juan Mass - Diocesan Stewardship Conference Basilica Mar. 12 4 p.m. Mission Confirmations at San Cristobal Magallanes Mar. 18 6 p.m. Edinburg Vigil Mass for Feast of St. Joseph at St. Joseph Mar. 19 5 p.m. Confirmations at San Martin de Porres Mar. 20 10:30 a.m. Mass Cathedral Mar. 22 6:30 p.m. Chrism Mass Basilica Mar. 24 7 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Cathedral Mar. 25 noon Stations of the Cross at Basilica Mar. 25 7 p.m. Liturgical Service at Cathedral Mar. 26 9 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass at Cathedral Mar. 27 11 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass at Basilica Alton Brownsville San Juan Brownsville San Juan Brownsville Brownsville San Juan MARCH 2016 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic 3 “For I was hungry and you gave me food” San Juan parishioners serve meals to needy Editor’s note: Join us as we witness mercy in action at different parishes each month. By ROSE YBARRA The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN — Whether they are homeless; alone or part of a large family; young or old; working or unemployed, all are welcome to a free hot meal, no questions asked, every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Parish in San Juan. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves 250-300 plates to the hungry in the community every week. Dozens of volunteers, who begin arriving at the parish early in the morning, offer their time and talent to make the meal possible. Many of the volunteers are Confirmation students and retirees. Winter Texans are among the most active helpers. Cindy Dabrowski, who splits her time between Pharr and Muskegon, Mich., helps behind the scenes washing dishes while the meals are being served. “There are so many volunteers, you just don’t see all of them,” said Dabrowski, who has been a Winter Texan since 2006. “I can tell this community is in tune with the poor and I’m not even a member of this church.” When asked why she volunteers, Dabrowski replied, “I’ve been blessed, so I’m giving back.” Oralia Alaniz, 76, who has been a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church for 48 years, volunteers week after week. After retiring from the workforce, she wanted to stay busy serving the Lord. Pope Francis continued from pg. 1 Bishop Flores said he brings this message of encouragement back to the people of the Rio Grande Valley, the same message the pope took all across Mexico, to every sector of society, “It’s an effort, but we can’t lose heart in trying to build up a community of solidarity where we help each other, and especially to make the effort and not to lose the courage to do it, to offer our young people real opportunities and a real sense of hopefulness in terms of what they can contribute for themselves and for their families.” Bishop Flores said the message focused on the hope young people offer a community applies here in the Rio Grande Valley, referring to the pope’s statement that “where there are young people there is always hope for a community to renew itself.” In Ciudad Juarez, the final stop on the Holy Father’s visit to Mexico, Bishop Flores recalled the pope’s remarks after Communion. “He said, ‘quise llorar, I wanted to cry seeing people with so much The corporal works of mercy: To feed the hungry To give drink to the thirsty; To clothe the naked; To harbour the harbourless; To visit the sick; To ransom the captive; To bury the dead. “There is a lot of need in our community and we see it firsthand every week,” said Alaniz, as she helped serve plates of chicken with asiago cheese, rice pilaf and seasoned black beans and corn. “I am so grateful for what I have and God calls us to share our blessings. I am happy to be able to do this. As long as God gives me strength, I will be here.” Studies show hunger is an issue in our community. One-in-2 children in the Rio Grande Valley go to bed hungry, according to statistics from the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, which partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to provide supplies at a reduced cost for the weekly meal as well as groceries for the food pantry. As a whole, 1-in-4 people in the Valley are food insecure. This means they are challenged with either paying bills or skipping meals and/or buying less expensive, less nutritional foods to eat. “Está muy bien,” said Aracely Hernandez of San Juan, who comes to eat at the parish every week with her mother and her children. She also received a bag of groceries, which on this occasion, included chicken thighs, canned goods and bell peppers. “Me ayuda bastante la verdad.” The food program at St. John the Baptist Parish began about 35 hope and yet so long suffering.’ I think that’s the mystery of grace, that’s what he was saying.” He (the pope) said he was deeply moved by that mystery of grace, by how it continues to give courage and strength despite the long suffering. “There’s a lot of ways the Valley can identify with that, though not exactly in the same way,” Bishop Flores said. “Because every community is different, even throughout Mexico, but there’s a way by which we recognize that despite the sufferings and the obstacles and the difficulties there are many signs of hope, and we have hope in our young people.” Tears was a subject mentioned throughout the trip. Bishop Flores recalled the Holy Father referring to “the gift of tears,” and that “if we could just begin to weep for all the wounds, then perhaps our hearts would be changed.” “It was a call to everybody,” said Bishop Flores, “obviously to perpetrators of violence there was a call, but also there was a call to all people not to be indifferent to what is going on around them. There is the temptation to say that does not affect me, and I don’t The Valley Catholic The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. John the Baptist Parish in San Juan served 10,820 meals in 2015 during its weekly dinner on Thursday evenings. The program is successful because of volunteers like Cindy Dabrowski, a Winter Texan from Muskegon, Mich., shown washing dishes on Feb. 18. years ago. People were regularly coming into the parish office asking for food. The church secretary kept a few staples in the office for these occasions, but couldn’t keep up with the demand. “Some of us would donate what little we could in the way of food for the office, but it wasn’t enough,” said Lucinda Mesquitic, a longtime parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church. “We knew we had to do more to help our com- munity.” Mesquitic and several other parishioners, including Manuelita Villescas and Guadalupe Garcia, started the Society of St. Vincent de Paul organization at St. John the Baptist Parish. They began by collecting canned goods and other staples from parishioners and creating food baskets. Later, the ladies began doing outreach in the colonias and discovered the need was greater than they ever imagined. want it to affect me so I can’t get too involved; I can’t let it move me, I can’t let it touch me.” “And I think that resonated across the river onto the other side. That we cannot not let it affect us, and that maybe if we open our hearts up to see that, we can do something about it. That changes our perspective.” Bishop Flores shared some of his journey via Twitter posting photos and brief reflections in English and Spanish. In one post he said, “The Church in the Americas, north and south, is living a great moment of blessing with the Pope’s visit.” Bishop Flores said one of the most moving moments during the papal visit came after the Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, when the Holy Father went up to sit in private and see the image. “I was struck silent by that. It is something that will stay with me a long time.” “Because in the context of the simple way he (the pope) described what he wanted to happen. He wanted to gaze at the eyes of the Virgin and he wanted her to gaze at him, I think representing the whole prayer of the Church, asking God, really on his part as representing the whole Church, begging God to the Virgin for the grace we need to live up to this moment.” “I think that is the image he wants the whole world to appreciate, of the tenderness of God that is expressed through the love of the Virgin for her people,” said Bishop Flores. When speaking to the bishops, the Holy Father “talked about the special need to attend to the migrant who passes in our midst.” “Pope Francis mentioned at one point, ‘When we look at the immigrant, we don’t see numbers and statistics, we see faces.’ That resonates with the Church in the charitable work of the Church in the United States,” said Bishop Flores. Pope Francis, in his address to the bishops of Mexico, encouraged them to strengthen cooperation with Church in the United States. Bishop Flores said this will be something the Tex-Mex Border Bishops, which meet twice a year, will be talking about at their next meeting scheduled in San Angelo. He noted the Tex-Mex Border “We were poor ourselves but knew they were even worse off than we were,” Garcia said. “We didn’t have much to give them but we kept working at it. “We were essentially on call to make a home visit at a moment’s notice or to go to the parish to give out food if someone needed it. It is a commitment you have to keep because they are counting on us.” The ladies eventually began handing out day-old bread and pastries to the poor in the colonias after securing donations from several stores and bakeries. “The kids would shout, ‘las panaderas,’ and come running to us,” Mesquitic said with tears welling in her eyes. “Something as simple as a loaf of bread brings them so much joy.” The hot meal program started about five-and-a-half years ago. Bags of food are also given out each week to families and individuals who pre-register for the service. Funds for the food programs are raised through a second collection held during the weekend Masses once a month. The volunteers have noticed that the food programs feed more than just the belly. “For many, especially for those who live alone, this is the highlight of their week,” said volunteer Jan Rigsby of Mission. “It is fun just talking to them and greeting them and trying to make them feel part of the family here. We see the same people coming back week after week and it’s not just for the food. They’ll come in and talk to us and each other.” “We have grown in hospitality, making them feel comfortable and welcome,” said Alva Peña, a full-time volunteer for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “Like Pope Francis said, we need to practice la escuchó terapia (listening ministry). We want this to be a place where they will be heard.” Bishops meetings are an expression of the cooperation already in progress, adding that they will see they can make this effort stronger. “In a practical sense we need to see how that can be improved because the Church has to offer the wider vision of the human race as not limited, but rather it’s a universal vision and that we have to lay that vision out in terms of human dignity, even if people have to move.” Bishop Flores said it will take some time to think about and process his five-day journey in Mexico. “I will be thinking of this for a long time, of the images, the people, the youth, and the Holy Father himself. There is much for us to think about and to meditate on,” he said, adding that “You have to live the experience and give yourself a little time to let it penetrate more deeply into your heart.” He encouraged people to view the videos and read the texts available online, pointing out the extensive media coverage makes the pope’s visit and his words accessible to everyone, not just those who attended. DIOCESE »Women en la Frontera The Valley Catholic - MARCH 4 2016 »St. Joseph On the other side of the fence G rowing up on the border in Brownsville with family on the other side of the Rio Grande River in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, I was accustomed to life on both sides. We traveled back and forth without worry. I say “without worry” because as a child I did not realize the barriers some of my aunts and uncles faced when crossing to the U.S. side. One of my uncles drowned in his last attempt. Where we stand, where we are at any given moment informs our perspective. Two experiences in February during the Holy Father’s visit to Mexico, both pure gift, enriched my perspective in new ways. One, the Mass in Mexico City on Feb. 13 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, helped me reflect on the gift of waiting. The other, with a view of the Mass in Ciudad Juarez from across the border in El Paso, Texas on Feb. 17, gave me a new perspective on the immigrant experience. In Mexico City, Sister Norma Pimentel and I waited 11 hours before for the Mass with Pope Francis. Entry began at 6 a.m. for the 5 p.m. Mass, so we woke before sunrise, gobbled a portion of a prepacked lunch before going through security and then finding our seats inside the basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. As we sat there, we knew it was Nuestra Virgencita who brought us to this point. Arriving early gave us time to gaze at Brenda Nettles Riojas Editor of The Valley Catholic her image on San Juan Diego’s tilma framed behind the altar, just as the Holy Father would do later after the Mass. Naturally, he had a private viewing, but we were content to sit before her in the pews. I discovered as I sat there the gift of waiting. Sometimes waiting can feel like a burden, but in the light of the Basilica, I saw it as an opportunity. Waiting forced me to pause from my tendency to rush from one project to the next; it gave me time to pray, especially for the intentions of family and friends. One senses the responsibility of being entrusted with such personal prayer requests, and I did not want to fail in this responsibility. Waiting also gave me time to thank God for the blessings of the moment. Our days are not built around waiting. So much is designed to rush us through from one experience to the next. But what a gift when we remain stationary in readiness or expectation. What a gift to have 11 hours to prepare for Mass. Four days later, we were in El Paso on the levee across from Ciudad Juarez along with two of our sisters who work with immigrants in the colonia of Peñitas, Sister Carolyn Kosub and Sister Fatima Santiago, Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In Mexico City, we sat inside the basilica with a clear view to the altar and to the Holy Father. The story changed in El Paso. While more than 200,000 attended the Mass with Pope Francis in Juarez, we were among some 400 guests hosted by the Diocese of El Paso and Catholic Extension on the levee. Among the guests were the pope’s “VIPs,” immigrants, refugees and people who assist them. Hours before the Mass, the experience started to shift my view. The immigrant experience came into focus during our half-mile walk up to the levee as Homeland Security checked our green wristbands to make sure we belonged in the group. We walked without water on a dirt path along the fence with signs indicating the international boundary and “DO NOT TRESPASS.” Ours was a short walk and water was waiting for us at the end. What must the journey feel like for those who walk countless miles and face an uncertain path in their quest for a better life? Will we be there to offer them water? On the border between Mexico and the United States, two nations joined in prayer, but on this day we were the outsiders looking toward what lay beyond our reach. We could see the Mass about 100 yards away, but our view was blocked. However, it was just as moving to see the pope through the fence and participate in the Mass. Crowds on both sides of the river welcomed the pope’s arrival before the Mass with chants of enthusiasm and watched as he walked up the partial bridge leading from Mexico into the United States. Organizers said the Holy Father originally wanted to cross the border, but the logistics dictated otherwise. Near the edge of the bridge that stopped midpoint, the pope placed flowers near a giant memorial cross and prayed for those who have died along the Mexican-U.S. border. Tears flowed from many who had been waiting hours to witness the Holy Father come to the border. Throughout the event, Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents maintained a visible presence along the fence. Some made reference to a “militarized zone” we were in at the levee, but that did not deter our focus on the historical moment. Peace reigned on in El Paso and throughout Juarez. As Sister Norma said after Mass, the pope’s presence leaves us with love and joy and we must continue doing the right thing. One thing was clear. While we strained to hear Pope Francis’ homily from where we sat, his message of helping those in need and ensuring everyone’s human dignity reached us on the other side of the frontera. Faith has no borders. We were two nations joined in prayer. »Family Life Practicing mercy in the family D uring this sacred season of Lent this year, we Catholics also have a special “task” to remember; which is to reflect on and strive to live “mercy” in a special way during this Holy Year of Mercy which began on December 8, 2015 and will conclude on November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. Last year, Pope Francis announced this Year of Mercy stating “I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is a journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord’s words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)” But what is “mercy”. A priest who spoke about the definition of mercy broke down the Latin word for mercy, which is misericordia, derived from the two words miserere (“pity” or “misery”) and cor (“heart”). He said that when we ask for God’s Lydia Pesina Director, Family Life Office mercy, we are essentially asking him to relieve us of a heart that is in misery. And our hearts can be in a state of misery not just from sin, but from the deep hurt caused by a broken relationship with a family member, from the suffering of infertility, from the pain of a physical or mental illness, from losing a job, from being betrayed or abandoned, from spiritual or physical poverty, and so on.” I purposely named this article “Practicing” Mercy in the Family because I believe that as human beings we need to “practice” mercy often to keep growing in our ability to be merciful. In a homily on March 17, 2013, Pope Francis stated “I think we too are the people who, on the one hand, want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think — and I say it with humility — that this is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy.” It is probably in the family more than any other place where we have many opportunities to provide mercy. In our daily living and loving in our homes is where we are most likely to have an accumulation of small hurts, many without thought, that require reflection, forgiveness and mercy. Recently, I said something to my daughter that hurt her feelings. I am blessed that she is a person that will tell me immediately how she feels. I followed her to the next room and hugged her and asked her to forgive me. She did not reciprocate right away but after a few minutes hugged me back. She was being merciful to me in accepting my apology knowing it was I who erred. Perhaps one of our “spiritual tasks” is to be aware of how we can extend mercy to our loved ones at each stage of the Family Life Cycle. At the “School Age Family Stage” parents sometimes need to show mercy to one another as they struggle to keep food on the table while keeping up with their children’s school and activity responsibilities. At the “Adolescence and Family Stage”, teens are in need of patience and mercy as they encounter a culture that pulls them in many directions. The “Letting Go” family, sometimes described as the “Boomerang Stage,” who have children leave and return, and sometimes come back with new additions, often are in need of mercy as they struggle as the “sandwich generation,” often caring for aging parents and grandchildren both. And “Empty nesters” and “Aging Families” often need support, visiting, someone to take them to doctor’s appointments, etc. Mercy is best “practiced” through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. Perhaps a question we can each ask ourselves this Lent is “How can I best practice mercy to my family members in the everyday nitty gritty events of our Family Life?” May the Lord extend His mercy upon each of us as we strive to allow the Holy Spirit to grant us the grace to in turn be merciful to others. For more photos and video, follow us on social media Catholic Diocese of Brownsville Eric Sánchez/The Valley Catholic A statue at St. Joseph Parish in Brownsville captures a tender moment between Jesus and his earthly father. Like Mary, Joseph also said ‘yes’ to the Lord The Valley Catholic EDINBURG — On Friday, March 18, Bishop Daniel E. Flores will celebrate a Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Edinburg. St. Joseph is honored on the liturgical calendar twice. The first is March 19—Joseph, the Husband of Mary. The second is May 1—Joseph, the Worker. Everything that is known about St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus comes from scripture. We can see from his actions that Joseph was a caring and compassionate man, and obedient to the will of God. He also loved Mary and Jesus and wanted to protect and provide for them. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the baby was not his and at this point, was unaware that she was carrying the son of God. “The Gospel records that he was going to divorce Mary quietly and he had all right to publicly expose Mary because the normal course of these things … that would have meant she would had to have been with another person to be pregnant,” said Father Greg Labus, director of liturgy and worship for the diocese and pastor of St. Joseph Church in Edinburg. “He had the right under the law to expose Mary and shame her, and ultimately, he could have had her stoned to death. “Joseph was hesitant to proceed, but an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said to him, ‘do not be afraid, she is with child by the Holy Spirit.’ The angel explained the situation and Joseph trusted in that Word and that takes a lot of trust. ‘Would we have that kind of trust to say, ‘I understand now?’” Father Labus continued, “Just as Mary trusted in the Word of the Lord, so did Joseph. He didn’t have to follow through, but he trusted in the Word of Lord and he took Mary to himself. He’s a model for us to » Please see St. Joseph p.16 MARCH 2016 FAITH - The Valley Catholic »Sunday Readings The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church MARCH 6 (Fourth Sunday of Lent) Reading 1 JOS 5:9A, 10-12 Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Reading 2 2 COR 5:17-21 Verse Before The Gospel LK 15:18 Gospel LK 15:1-3, 11-32 MARCH 13 (FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT) Reading 1 IS 43:16-21 Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Reading 2 PHIL 3:8-14 Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13 Gospel JN 8:1-11 MARCH 20 (Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion) At The Procession With Palms – Gospel LK 19:28-40 Reading 1- At The Mass IS 50:4-7 Responsorial Psalm PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Reading 2 PHIL 2:6-11 Verse Before The Gospel CF. MT 17:5 Gospel LK 22:14—23:56 MARCH 27 (The Resurrection of the Lord The Mass of Easter Day) Reading 1 ACTS 10:34A, 37-43 Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Reading 2 COL 3:1-4 Or 1 COR 5:6B-8 Sequence - Victimae Paschali Laudes Alleluia CF. 1 COR 5:7B-8A Gospel JN 20:1-9 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 day. Foster parents needed If interested please call (956)233-1811 5 »Making Sense of Bioethics Human organs from pigs Human beings can have a visceral reaction to the thought of growing human kidneys or livers inside the bodies of pigs or cows. A participant in a recent online forum on human/animal chimeras described it this way: “Unbelievable!!! …If there was anything that was more antiGod it is the genetic formation of chimeras which is nothing more than Frankenstein monster creation.” Although the idea of a chimeric animal is indeed unusual, several factors need to be considered in evaluating the practice of growing human organs within animals. Despite our initial hesitations, certain kinds of human/ animal chimeras are likely to be justifiable and reasonable. This comes into focus when we recognize, for example, how thousands of patients who have received replacement heart valves made out of pig or cow tissues are already themselves a type of human/ animal chimera. For many years, moreover, scientists have worked with chimeric mice that possess a human immune system, enabling them to study the way that HIV and other viruses are able to infect cells. We routinely use animals to address important human needs. We eat them and make clothing out of them. We keep them in zoos. Utilizing them for legitimate and important medical purposes like organ generation and transplantation should not, broadly speaking, be a cause for alarm. As another online participant noted, only half in jest: “Think of it — a pig provides a human heart, lungs, and liver then the rest is eaten for dinner! ….Plus the pig will likely be chemical free, well-fed, and Tadeusz Pacholczyk Priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass. humanely treated.” If a pig were in fact able to grow a human kidney in place of its own kidney, and if it could be used for transplantation, it could provide a major new source of organs in the face of the critical shortage that currently exists. Many patients today are on waiting lists for a kidney, and a significant percentage die before an organ ever becomes available. Yet significant technical and ethical hurdles remain before growing organs in pigs is likely to be feasible. The science is still in its infancy, and researchers have yet to figure out how to make human cells co-exist in a stable fashion with animal tissues. There are abundant concerns about the possibility of transmitting animal viruses to humans, especially considering how readily other viruses like avian flu have been able to jump from birds to humans. Even assuming these kinds of risks are able to be minimized, and pig/human chimeras could be safely produced, there would still be several ethical issues to consider. One concern involves using stem cells from human embryos as part of the process of making pig/human chimeras. Typically scientists try to generate chimeras by adding human embryonic stem cells to animal embryos, which then grow up and develop into chimeric animals. Destroying young humans in their embryonic stages for their stem cells is gravely objectionable, so creating chimeras could be ethical only if alternative, non-embryonic sources of stem cells (like adult stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells) were utilized for the procedure. The technology might also lend itself to other unethical practices, like trying to create a pig that could produce human sperm or eggs in its genitalia. Similarly, if human nerve cells were incorporated into a developing pig brain in such a way that the animal developed what appeared to be human brain structures, some have noted there could be questions about the occurrence of intelligence or self-consciousness or other facets of human identity in the animal. Although such concerns seem farfetched, given the dearth of knowledge about the “scaffolding of consciousness,” it seems reasonable to limit this kind of experimentation. Some scientific agencies like the National Institutes of Health have restricted the availability of research funds for the study of human/animal chimeras because of these and other considerations, seeking to levy pressure so that the needed ethical discernment and discussion occurs before researchers proceed further. We tend to view modern scientific progress as a powerful “engine of good” for the well-being of mankind, and therefore we view most scientific research with hope. This is proper and fitting, and to reinforce and reinvigorate that hope, we should continue to insist that cutting edge biomedical research remains in active » Please see Bioethics p.15 Seeking the living among the dead “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” These are the words from the Gospel of Luke (24:5-6) that the angels ask the women who go to the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning, only to find it empty. He is risen! Alleluia! Thank God the tomb is empty. This is the good news that abides and resonates in the hearts of all believers for the past two thousand years and today. In the empty tomb God the Father reminds us that love is more powerful than death! The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is both the reason for our faith and the heart of our faith. As Catholics we believe that the Resurrection (one of the most wonderful tenets of Catholicism) is a historical event; not a rumor but a singular unique and life changing event in which Christ reveals himself to us as the Risen Lord and the Christ of faith. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter events is the empty tomb. In itself it is not a direct proof of Resurrection; the absence of Christ’s body from the tomb could be explained otherwise. Nonetheless the empty tomb was still an essential sign for all. Its discovery of the Church. The term “Pascha” is borrowed from the Jewish word for “Passover,” and Easter Director, Office for is calculated based on the lunar Pastoral Planning calendar. Easter, like Passover, & San Juan Diego is a moveable feast. That is, the Ministry Institute. date of Easter (and Passover) is not fixed but is determined by a system that was based on the lunar calendar from a formula by the disciples was the first step decided by the Council of Nicaea toward recognizing the very fact of the Resurrection. This was the in A.D. 325. Easter, is celebrated on the first Sunday following the case, first with the holy women, and then with Peter. The disciple first full moon after the Spring equinox. “whom Jesus loved” affirmed According to catholicculthat when he entered the empty ture.org it describes the Easter tomb and discovered “the linen Vigil (which we will celebrate on cloths lying there”, “he saw and March 26th) as the most beautibelieved”. This suggests that he ful liturgy in the Roman Catholic realized from the empty tomb’s Church. St. Augustine described condition that the absence of the Easter Vigil: as the “Mother Jesus’ body could not have been of all Vigils” which includes the of human doing and that Jesus words of the Exsultet. Although had not simply returned to it is celebrated on Holy Saturday earthly life as had been the case evening, it is the dramatic Easter with Lazarus.” (Catechism of the Vigil liturgy that marks the beCatholic Church, #640). ginning of Easter. The evangelist The Catholic Church Saint Luke (12:35) reminds us celebrates Easter this year on “We are awaiting our master’s March 27th (a solemnity) as the return with our lamps full and resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. The Easter season burning, so that he will find us awake and seat us at his table”. is a fifty-day season referred to The Easter vigil includes four as “Eastertide” which ends on parts: the service of light (which Pentecost. includes the lighting of the Easter (called “Pascha” Paschal candle [Lumen Christimeaning Christian Passover) Light of Christ] and the [Excelebrates the resurrection of sultet] proclamation of Easter) Jesus from the dead, and it is the greatest and the oldest of feasts Deacon Luis Zuniga » Please see Risen, p.15 Courtesy photo A prayer card of St. John Joseph of the Cross. »Feast Day March 5 Spotlight on St. John Joseph of the Cross Catholic News Agency/EWTN News Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of St. John Joseph shows. John Joseph (August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1739) was very ascetic even as a young man. At a tender age, he manifested his attachment to the Cross. He devoted himself even at his youngest years to a life of poverty and fasting. John Joseph chose to live in the smallest, most secluded room in the house where he set up a little altar to Our Blessed Mother. He was born on the Feast of the Assumption, which spurred a filial devotion to Mary. At 16, he joined the Franciscans in Naples; he was the first Italian to follow the reform movement of St. Peter Alcantara, who sought to make the Order more devoted to penance and austerity. John’s reputation for holiness prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even before he was ordained. Obedience moved John to accept appointments as novice master, guardian and, finally, provincial. His years of mortification enabled him to offer these services to the friars with great charity. As guardian, he saw himself with no higher privilege and insisted on working in the kitchen or carrying the wood and water needed by the friars. When his term as provincial expired, John Joseph dedicated himself to hearing confessions and practicing mortification, two concerns contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. St. John Joseph of the Cross, best known by his Italian name San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce, had the gifts of prophecy and healing, and would swoon into ecstasies. He was also known to levitate and bilocate. John Joseph was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI and he is the patron saint of Ischilia, Italy, the place where he was born. 6 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - MARCH 2016 Catholic Charities Gala to honor mayor City of McAllen key partner in humanitarian aid The Valley Catholic The Valley Catholic McALLEN — In the spring and summer of 2014, immigrants, mostly from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, began arriving at the bus station in McAllen by the dozen every single day. The immigrants are dropped off there by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents after being detained and processed. They are given permission to travel to their final destination with instructions to appear at an immigration hearing at a later date. For several weeks, the droves of immigrants, mostly women and children, were stuck waiting for their buses in the bus station – sometimes for more than 24 hours – with only the clothes on their back and no way to bathe properly. They were sleeping on the floor of the bus station. Many of them had no food or drink. Some of them were sick and dehydrated. Jim Darling, the mayor of McAllen, was informed of the situation and he asked Sister Norma Pimentel of the Missionaries of Jesus and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley to help. Sister Pimentel opened a respite center for the traveling immigrants a few blocks from the bus station at Sacred Heart Parish in McAllen. The City of McAllen provides the immigrants transportation from the bus station to the respite center as well as the showers and more. She credits Darling for the city’s outstanding collaboration and support to this humanitarian effort. Courtesy photo McAllen mayor Jim Darling will be honored with the 2016 Hope Award by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley at the Sixth Annual Gala “Hope is in Bloom” on Saturday, April 2. The Hope Award recognizes those who serve the most vulnerable members of society. To date, more than 32,000 immigrants have received assistance. “I’m not here to debate the immigration process,” Darling said in an interview with National Public Radio. “We’re just here to make sure that if there’s a humanitarian need, we’re going to try to meet it.” Darling will be honored with the 2016 Hope Award by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley at the Sixth Annual Gala “Hope is in Bloom” on Saturday, April 2. The Hope Award recognizes those who serve the most vulnerable members of society. The gala begins at 6:30 p.m. at Valencia Events Center, 3012 S. Jackson Rd. in McAllen. Responding to the humanitarian crisis is just one of the many ways Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley serves the community. Each year, more than 100,000 Valley residents receive assis- tance from Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which serves people of all faiths. Founded in 1965, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley offers a wide variety of programs and services to the community. Programs sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley include emergency assistance, which provides rental, utility and financial assistance for the infirmed, unemployed, and the homeless as well as assistance with medical transportation, fire loss and funeral costs. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley also provides counseling for individuals, families and married couples, counseling for women and couples facing a crisis pregnancy for up to year after birth to prevent abortion, abuse and neglect. The Food Program provides healthy meals and snacks for children at after school activities year round and in the sum- mer months, when breakfast and lunch are served to school-age children at more than xx sites throughout the Valley. In Summer 2015, more than 90,000 meals were provided to Valley children. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley is also prepared to respond in the case of a natural disaster. The disaster response program meets the immediate and long term needs of families affected by hurricanes and other weather emergencies. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley is offering an opportunity to be a program sponsor for the gala at the platinum, gold, silver or bronze level. Individual tickets are available for $100. Silent and live auction items are also needed to help make the event a success. For more information, please contact the San Juan office of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley at (956)702-4088. Conference promotes stewardship as a way of life Empowering the faithful to give time, talent and treasure “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pt 4:10). The Valley Catholic What identifies a steward? The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said one who safeguards material and human resources and uses them responsibly is one answer; so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure. But being a Christian steward means more, states the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship. As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord. These values and more will be explored at the Fourth Annual Diocesan Stewardship Conference, set for Thursday, March 10 through Saturday, March 12 Chrism Mass set for March 22 at the San Juan Pastoral Center. Parishes, schools and ministries gather each year for fellowship and presentations on Christian stewardship at this annual event, which is sponsored by the diocesan Office of Stewardship & Development. Clergy presenters will include Bishop Daniel E. Flores and Father Alfonso Guevara, vicar general. Special guests from other dioceses and nonprofit agencies were also invited to share their experience and knowledge. For the first time, a Faith and Fundraising Seminar will be offered by special guest Jimmy Larose of the National Development Institute, an expert on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. “We’re calling people to a more conscious awareness of stewardship as a way of life, so that impacts any type of ministry,” said Jesse Salinas, proposal writer for the Office of Stewardship & Development. “When you are grateful for God’s gifts and you realize that you have been given these gifts for a purpose, to serve one another, it doesn’t matter whether you are Courtesy photo Bishop Daniel E. Flores is among the presenters scheduled to speak at the Fourth Annual Diocean Stewardship Conference March 10-12 in San Juan. working at a food pantry to feed those who are hungry or serving as a catechist or an usher, everything that we are called to do in service to our neighbor has dignity. “We can learn from the shared experience of these presenters how to do what we are already doing at a higher level of understanding.” Director Rosie Rodriguez hopes to create a greater awareness about the Office of Stewardship & Development, which not only locates funding opportunities for the ministries, schools and parishes of the diocese but also offers programs, training and services to guide the faithful on how to best administer the gifts that God has given them. “The message that I really want for our parishes to understand is that we are the development office for the Diocese of Brownsville, which means that we help our parishes, we help our schools,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of our diocesan schools don’t have a development office. We are their development office. They should lean on us more.” The Stewardship Conference is free to attend but space is limited. To register, please call Jesse Salinas at (956) 784-5092. Bishop Daniel E. Flores will celebrate the Annual Chrism Mass at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. During this Mass, the priests, deacons and representatives of the diocesan community gather with the bishop, who blesses the holy oils — the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens and the sacred Chrism — for use in the coming year. Of all the events held in the diocese each year, the Chrism Mass draws the largest gathering of priests and deacons. The faithful are invited to be a part of this special liturgy. By participating in the Chrism Mass, the faithful show support for their priests and deacons, encourage them and pray for them. The Chrism Mass is also a time for the priests of the diocese to renew their commitment to priestly service. During the liturgy, the priests stand and renew their “dedication to Christ as priests of his new covenant.” Registration open for Oblate Trail Ride The Valley Catholic The 12th Annual Oblate Trail Ride, a bicycle ride that raises funds to combat poverty, is set for Saturday, April 2. The ride, which features 25 or 62.5-mile routes that run primarily along the Rio Grande, honors the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who were the among the first Catholic missionaries in the area. The priests traveled from ranch to ranch on horseback, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. There will be two ride starts beginning at 7 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville where Bishop Daniel E. Flores will offer a blessing. A second start will begin at 8 a.m. at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. An end-of-ride celebration featuring food and live music by Rodeo Texas Band will be held at La Lomita Park in Mission from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $5 donation is requested for all non-riders joining the festivities for lunch. The cost of the ride is $30 for those who pre-register by March 27 and $35 thereafter. On-site registration will be available. Proceeds from the Oblate Trail Ride will benefit local communities in need. Riders may register online at www.yellowcheetah.com; in person at the San Juan Pastoral Center or by mail. For more information, please call Jesse Salinas at (956) 7845092. MARCH 2016 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic Those Who Serve: 7 Sister Rose Marie Quilter, RSCJ Healing through alternative therapy Relaxation helps in coping with stress, Sister says By ROSE YBARRA The Valley Catholic ALAMO — “I’ve had a healing ministry in massage for more than 20 years, including 10 years with our elder nuns whose average age was 94,” said Sister Rose Marie Quilter of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who became a licensed massage therapist in 1993. “I felt called to a quiet kind of ministry where I could help people heal and actually that happened … emotional healing, sometimes spiritual healing and certainly much deeper relaxation and letting go of stress which can help physically. “Jesus is the healer, so I don’t take any credit for any of that but I love doing that ministry.” Sister Quilter, 79, was recognized by Bishop Daniel E. Flores on Feb. 7 during the Mass for World Day of Consecrated Life for the 50th anniversary of her final vows. She took her final vows with the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also known as Society of the Sacred Heart, on July 20, 1966 at her community’s motherhouse in Rome. The community includes more than 3,000 religious sisters who serve in 42 countries. Sister Quilter has been with the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for a total of 58 years, serving in a variety of ministries all over the United States. “I have moved more than 30 times in 58 years!” said Sister Quilter, who was born in Elmira, N.Y. and raised in Syracuse, N.Y. She spent the first 10 years of her ministry teaching in academies for girls and then began serving in pastoral ministry and houses of prayer from 19701993, including several years doing Hispanic outreach in Detroit and Houston. Sister Quilter has utilized her skills as a licensed massage therapist to work with pregnant women. “Massage therapy during pregnancy is a healthy way to reduce stress and it promotes overall wellness,” she said. Prenatal massage relieves many of the normal discomforts experienced during pregnancy such as leg cramps, swelling and backaches. Sister Quilter also taught parents tips and techniques on how to massage their babies, which calms fussy newborns and helps them sleep better. Massage also reduces colic and constipation among many other benefits. Sister Quilter additionally worked with the terminally ill. “Many different forms of healing happened in that beautiful ministry,” she said. “I loved it.” About five years ago, Sister Quilter felt a tug to serve the Hispanic community as she had in Detroit and Houston years prior. “I felt a call to return and I didn’t understand if it was real or not,” she said. “I asked Jesus to show me if he really did want me to come back and minister with Mexican Americans. I love the culture, I love the people. “Six weeks after I began thinking about it, I met one of our sisters from Mexico who’s had a 30-year ministry in holistic health and she said, ‘we should work as a team on your side of the border,’ and I said, ‘really?’” »Birthday & Anniversary Wishes 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. » March Birthdays 2 6 7 9 10 11 24 25 29 Rev. Eduardo Ortega Rev.Timothy Paulsen,OMI Rev. Salvador Ramirez Rev. Manuel Alfredo Razo Rev. Rodolfo Franco Rev. Jose Garza Rev. Vicente Azcoiti - retired Msgr. Patrick Doherty- retired Rev. Gerald Frank » April Birthdays 1 1 2 5 15 20 23 25 Rev. Jaime Torres Rev. Carlos Zuniga Rev. Arturo Cardenas Rev. Michael Montoya, MJ Rev. Samuel Arizpe 2 Deacon Gerardo J. Rosa 9 Deacon Jose G. Garza 9 Deacon Manuel Sanchez 16 Deacon Salvador Rojas 17 Deacon Martin Jaques 21 Deacon Daniel Zamora 27 Deacon Hector Garcia 3 6 12 15 18 20 21 24 Deacon Benito Flores Deacon Javier A. Garcia Deacon Julio Castilleja Deacon Luis Zuñiga Deacon Louis Oden Deacon Jose A. Solis Deacon Jose Guerra Deacon Alejandro Gamboa 6 Sister Dorothy Carey, SHSp 17 Sister Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ 23 Sister Zita Telkamp, CDP 30 Sister Therese Corkery, PBVM 4 Sister Tuila Giraldo, OP 5 Sister Irma Gonzalez, IWBS 8 Sister Francisca Okwara, DDL » Anniversaries 5 Rev. Francisco Castillo 14 Rev. Simon Brzozowski, MSF 19 Rev. Jose E. Losoya, CO Rev. Francois Tsanga, SCJ Rev. Patrick Wells -retired Rev. Manoj Kumar Nayak, SS.CC » Anniversaries 20 22 26 28 30 Rev. Roche Thiruchiluvai, SS.CC Rev. George Kerketta Rev. Jose R. Torres III, OMI Rev. Lee Dacosta - retired Rev. Jaime Torres 12 Deacon Inocencio Diaz 27 Deacon Antonio Osorio Eric Sánchez/The Valley Catholic Left photo: Bishop Daniel E. Flores congratulates Sister Rose Marie Quilter of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the 50th Anniversary of her final vows. Right photo: Bishop Flores with the religious sisters celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2016 , from left, Sister Quilter; Sister Mary Ann Potts of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Sister Margaret Palmer of the Daughters of Charity. Sister Quilter is going on three years serving at Project ARISE where she gives meditation and relaxation workshops in four different communities. She also teaches English classes and personal development courses. “Relaxation is essential because 90 percent of illness comes from stress,” she said. “It has been scientifically validated. We get ill when we have too much stress and learning to meditate and learning simple forms of exercise that are very relaxing and learning techniques like acupressure can immensely help relaxation. “The simplest way to relax is to learn to breathe properly so we start with that and we go onto many other forms of relaxation.” Her classes have received positive reviews from the community, said Lourdes Flores, president of the ARISE Support Center in Alamo. “The women learn more about the spiritual part of relaxation and have a deeper connection with God,” Flores said. “They feel an inner peace. They are also able to help their chil- dren to learn to relax, to meditate and pray and reduce stress in their homes.” “Some of the women in the colonias have told me they no longer have migraine headaches,” Sister Quilter said. “They can deal with stresses from the family or from other situations because now they have tools to relax…. And they help one another and that’s the point. We are teaching teachers who we hope will continue to share these techniques.” 8 PAPAL VISIT TO MEXICO The Val Pope Franc prays for immigran at U.S. - Mexico bord Pope Francis arrives to pray at a cross on the border with El Paso, Texas, before celebrating Mass at the fairgrounds in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Feb. 17. Evana A. Zamora/The Valley Catholic Paul Haring/CNS photo Pope Francis accepts a gift during a meeting with workers and employers at the Colegio de Bachilleres n Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Young Adults from the Diocese of Brownsville waiting to see Pope Francis pass by in EJE Central in Mexico City. N 86 &XVWRPV DQG %RUGHU 3URWHFWLRQ RIÀFHUV VXUYH\ WKH ERUGHU LQ (O 3 celebrates Mass nearby in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Brenda Riojas/ The Valley Catholic Sister Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley poses with Monsignor *XLGR0DULQLZKRVHUYHVDVWKH0DVWHURI3RQWLÀFDO/LWXUJLFDO&HOHEUDWLRQVIRU3RSH)UDQFLV DWWKH%DVLOLFDRI2XU/DG\RI*XDGDOXSHLQ0H[LFR&LW\)HE %LVKRS'DQLHO()ORUHVVWRSVIRUDQLQWHUYLHZEHIRUH0DVVZLWK3RSH)UDQLFDWWKH%DVLOLFDRI2XU/DG\RI*XDGDOXSHL PAPAL VISIT TO MEXICO ley Catholic - March 2016 9 Juan Diego Academy students attend Papal Mass in Mexico cis nts der Special to The Valley Catholic CIUDAD JUAREZ – Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua for more than 200,000 people on Feb. 17. Juan Diego Academy senior Matthew Mercado, juniors Kayla Hickle and Nathaniel Dyer and freshman Kayla Gonzalez were among those in attendance In what was described by Mercado as a “long, strenuous but well worth it day,” the student’s expedition began with a two-hour journey across from El Paso, Texas over to Ciudad Juarez. “We got up at 5 a.m. and headed right to our spots,” said Mercado. “We stuffed our bags with food and water and just waited for his Holiness to grace us with his presence.” At the Holy Father’s Mass, the message was broad enough to address local, state and national issues on crime, social injustice, immigration matters and other topics, but he was also able to preach the universal Gospel of love, and the importance of adopting merciful approaches to the poor, elderly and the young. Hickle described her journey as a “life-changing experience” and a memory she will treasure for the rest of her life. “Being able to see the Pope in Juarez was truly a blessing,” she said. “Pope Francis was five feet away from us and the feeling of being so close to him was lifechanging … I am so blessed.” Our own Bishop Daniel E. Flores, traveling with Pope Francis during his Courtesy of Juan Diego Academy Kayla Hickle, Matthew Mercado, and Nathanial Dyer, students at Juan Diego Academy in Mission, pray during Mass with Pope Francis in Juarez, Mexico, across the bridge from El Paso, Texas. five-day trip in Mexico, said that, pertaining to the Holy Father’s sermon re- garding moral and spiritual ministry, “no one is exempt from this; it is ad- dressed to everyone: government leaders, politicians, bishops, clergy, young people, families, prisoners, business leaders.” Pope Francis also talked about God’s abundant mercy and how everyone is called to live out that mercy with others in our everyday lives. “Pope Francis’ homily was very touching,” Dyer said. “Growing up so close with the Hispanic culture and having our Pope be from Latin America celebrating Mass for us in Juarez is just an experience I will never forget.” Three religious sisters who work with immigrants from the Rio Grande Valley watched the Mass from the levee in El Paso. Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, and two Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM), Sister Carolyn Kosub and Sister Fatima Santiago who run Proyecto Desarollo Humano in Peñitas, were among more than 400 guests who organizers referred to as the “Pope’s VIPs” – the immigrants, unaccompanied minors and the people who assist them. The Juan Diego Academy students managed to be within six feet of the Holy Father as he navigated to celebrate Mass. Mercado managed to shoot some pictures as he “fought back tears” while he witnessed the Holy Father pass by. The students said Pope Francis left an impactful footprint on their lives. CNS photo/ Paul Haring Courtesy of Juan Diego Academy Students from Juan Diego Academy wait for Pope Francis in Cuidad Juarez on Feb.17. ancy Wiechec / CNS photo 3DVR DV 3RSH )UDQFLV The Valley Catholic ICM Sister Fatima Santiago receives communion from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of /RXLVYLOOH.HQWXFN\SUHVLGHQWRIWKH86&RQIHUHQFHRI&DWKROLF%LVKRSVGXULQJWKH Mass on the levee in El Paso Feb. 17. The Valley Catholic Q0H[LFR&LW\)HE For more photos on Pope Francis’ Papal pilgrimage to Mexico, visit www.vatican.va For local coverage, visit our Facebook page. Courtesy of Gladys Ajero Pope Francis waves to the crowd on Feb. 17 at the U.S.-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez. 10 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - MARCH 2016 St. Joseph Academy celebrates sesquicentennial New St. Anthony community building blessed in Harlingen School opened after the Civil War on Nov. 2, 1865 By MICHAEL SWARTZ The Valley Catholic BROWNSVILLE — St. Joseph Academy celebrated its 150th Anniversary of providing Catholic and college preparatory education in Brownsville on Feb. 9, with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel E. Flores. In his homily, Bishop Flores noted that as he goes around the Valley, he has met many graduates of St. Joseph Academy in different walks of life, all who seem to share a ‘caring heart’ when it comes to helping others, involved in community service or helping the poor. “You get to know people who think about others, in the political, the economic, the educational areas … and more often than not, they say ‘oh yes, and I went to St. Joe’. I hear it a lot,” Bishop Flores added. Co-celebrants of the Mass included Father Michael Amesse, of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, rector of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville, Msgr. Heberto Diaz, vicar general for the diocese and pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Brownsville, and Fa- The Valley Catholic Bishop Daniel E. Flores celebrates Mass with students, faculty, staff and alumni of St. Joseph Academy on Feb. 9 to commemorate the school’s 150th anniversary of providing Catholic education in Brownsville. ther Amador Garza, rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. St. Joseph Academy students led the music and responsorial psalm, including a beautiful rendition of the song Sanctuary. “Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary … Pure and holy, tried and true … With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You,” the students sang. Brother Patrick McNamara, provincial of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, noted that he was representing many Marist Brothers in different parts of the country who have at one time or the other taught or worked at St. Joseph Academy – all of whom he said loved being “at St. Joe, with all their hearts.” Michael Motyl, Interim President of St. Joseph Academy, said over the past 150 years the school has educated “thousands upon thousands of students and greatly influenced and shaped the Brownsville community and beyond.” Lori Trott, principal of St. Joseph Academy, described the special Mass as “absolutely beautiful.” St. Joseph Academy serves students in grades 7 through 12. The school traces its roots back to end of the Civil War, to 1865, when it was founded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. In 1906, the Marist Brothers of the Schools assumed operation of the school. For more information, please visit www.sja.us. Info: (956) 702-4088 or [email protected] Michael Swartz/The Valley Catholic A statue of St. Anthony holding the child Jesus graces the outside of a new Community Building /gym at St. Anthony Catholic Church and School in Harlingen. Bishop Daniel E. Flores blessed the 13,000-square-foot building on Feb. 6. The project represents the largest expansion since St. Anthony Catholic School opened in 1946 – and the biggest addition to the parish since a new church was built in 2003. The new building also includes a community room where parish groups can meet, a kitchen and offices, with the school’s first gym doubling as a cafeteria. Bishop Flores thanked St. Anthony parishioners for their work, generosity and prayer which made the new building possible for the benefit of others and for the education of children. “By the Lord’s grace, extraordinary things are possible … and this building is a sign that that is true,” he added. The new St. Anthony Community Building is located at 1015 E. Harrison in Harlingen. A video and photos of the blessing are available on the Diocese of Brownsville Facebook page. MARZO 2016 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL - The Valley Catholic 11 Mensajero de la Esperanza CNS Photo/L’Osservatore Romano via EPA El Obispo Daniel E. Flores acompaño al Papa en su trayecto “Ustedes son la riqueza de México, ustedes son la riqueza de la Iglesia; no los estoy adulando”, dijo Francisco el 16 de febrero en el encuentro con más de 35.000 jóvenes en el Estadio José María Morelos Pavón de Morelia. Durante el evento, el Papa Francisco salió al encuentro de dos muchachas con Síndrome de Down a quienes abrazó y con quienes compartió unos breves momentos. El Papa Francisco visitó México del 12 al 17 de febrero y según las cifras dadas a conocer hoy por la Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (CEM), en total más de 10 millones 500 mil personas participaron en las actividades del Santo Padre, siendo la Misa en Ecatepec el evento más numeroso, con 301,200 fieles congregados. Por BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN — El mensaje de esperanza del Papa Francisco resonó a lo largo de su visita apostólica de cinco días a México del 12 al 17 de febrero. El Obispo Daniel E. Flores, quien acompañó al Santo Padre en su trayecto, dijo que el Papa dejó un “fuerte impacto para las personas de México” por alentarlos a que, sin importar los problemas que enfrenten, “es posible para las personas de gran fe y gran esperanza sobrepasar estas dificultades.” El Obispo Flores y el Obispo Oscar Cantú de la Diócesis de las Cruces, Nuevo México, representaron a la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EEUU durante la visita del Papa a México. Durante su visita, el Papa Francisco abordó los temas de los indígenas y los pobres en Chiapas, la violencia en Michoacán y las situaciones migratorias en la frontera. “Mantener la esperanza y no darse por vencido fue gran parte de su mensaje,” a través de toda su visita, dijo el Obispo Flores. El Obispo Flores dijo que el Papa Francisco trae su mensaje de ánimo y de prioridades a las personas del Valle del Río Grande, el mismo mensaje que el Papa llevó a lo largo de México, a cada sector de la sociedad, “Es un esfuerzo, pero no podemos perder el corazón cuando tratamos de construir una comunidad de solidaridad donde nos ayudemos mutuamente, y especialmente hacer el esfuerzo de no perder el valor de hacerlo, de ofrecer a nuestros jóvenes verdaderas oportunidades y un verdadero sentido de ayuda en términos de lo que pueden contribuir para ellos y para sus familias.” El Obispo Flores dijo que el mensaje enfocado en la esper- anza que los jóvenes ofrecen a su comunidad se aplica al Valle del Río Grande, refiriéndose a la declaración del Papa que “donde hay jóvenes siempre hay oportunidad de que la comunidad se renueve, una renovación que puede venir si no reprimimos la esperanza y sueños de nuestros jóvenes.” En Ciudad Juárez, la última parada de la visita del Santo Padre a México, el Obispo Flores recordó los comentarios del Papa después de la Comunión. “El dijo, ‘quise llorar, quise llorar al ver gente con tanta esperanza pero sufriendo tanto.’ Yo creo que ese es el misterio de la gracia, eso es lo que él estaba diciendo.” Él (el Papa) dijo que estaba conmovido por el misterio de la gracias, de cómo continúa dando valor y fuerza a pesar de nuestro largo sufrimiento. “El Valle se puede identificar de muchas formas con eso, aunque no exacta- mente de la misma forma,” dijo el Obispo Flores. “Porque cada comunidad es diferente, incluso en México, pero hay una forma en la que reconocemos que a pesar del sufrimiento y de los obstáculos y dificultades hay muchos signos de esperanza, y nosotros tenemos esperanza en nuestros jóvenes.” Las lágrimas fueron un tema mencionado a través de su viaje. El Obispo Flores recordó al Santo Padre refiriéndose al “regalo de las lágrimas,” y que “si pudiéramos empezar a sollozar por todas las heridas, entonces quizá nuestros corazones serian cambiados.” “Fue una llamada para todos,” dijo el Obispo Flores, “obviamente a los perpetradores de la violencia, pero también había un llamado a todas las personas a que no sean indiferentes a lo que está pasando a su alrededor. Hay una tentación de decir que eso no me afecta, y no quiero que me afecte así que no voy a involucrarme; no puedo dejar que me mueva, no puedo dejar que me toque.” “Y yo pienso que resuena a través del río y hacia el otro lado. Que no podemos no dejar que nos afecte, y que talvez si abrimos nuestros corazones para ver eso, podemos hacer algo al respecto. Eso cambia nuestra perspectiva.” El Obispo Flores dijo que uno de los momentos más conmovedores durante la visita papal vino después de la Misa en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México, cuando el Santo Padre subió a sentarse en privado y ver la imagen. “Fui impactado por eso. Es algo que se quedará conmigo por mucho tiempo,” dijo el Obispo Flores. “El momento,” añadió, “trajo lágrimas a varios de los obispos.” Porque en el contexto de la forma simple en la que él (el Papa) describió lo que quería que pasara. Él quería mirar los ojos de la Virgen y quería que ella lo viera a él, creo yo, representando la oración completa de la Iglesia, pidiéndole a Dios, verdaderamente de su parte representando toda la Iglesia, rogándole a Dios a la Virgen por la gracia que necesitamos para vivir a la altura de este momento.” “Yo creo que esa es la imagen que quiere que todo el mundo aprecie, de la ternura de Dios que es expresada a través del amor de la Virgen para su gente,” dijo el Obispo Flores. Cuando hablaba con los obispos, el Santo Padre “habló sobre la necesidad especial de asistir al migrante que pasa por nuestro camino. La Iglesia debe de asistir al Cristo que pasa por nuestro camino como el Buen Samaritano y estar dispuesto a dar todo para proveerle con la ayuda que necesita en su camino.” El Papa Francisco mencionó en una ocasión, ‘Cuando vemos al inmigrante, no vemos números o estadísticas, vemos rostros.’ Eso resuena con la Iglesia y el trabajo caritativo de la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos, dijo el Obispo Flores. El Papa Francisco, en su discurso a los obispos de México, los animó a fortalecer la cooperación con la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos. El Obispo Flores dijo que esto será algo que los Obispos en la Frontera, quienes se reúnen dos veces al año, estarán hablando en su próxima junta programada en San Ángelo. El Obispo Flores dijo que tomaría algún tiempo para pensar y procesar el viaje de cinco días en México. “Estaré pensando en esto por mucho tiempo, las imágenes, las personas, los jóvenes y el mismo Santo Padre. Hay mucho para que nosotros pensemos y meditemos,” dijo él, añadiendo que “Tienes que vivir la experiencia y darte un poco de tiempo para permitir que penetre más adentro de tu corazón.” Él señaló que la extensa cobertura mediática hace que la visita del Papa y sus palabras sean accesibles para todos. También invita a las personas a ver videos y leer los textos disponibles en línea. Conoce la historia de Manuelito, el apóstol que cautivó al Papa Por MARÍA XIMENA RONDÓN ACI Prensa Manuel Morales Montoya es un joven de 14 años que en noviembre del año pasado viajó hasta la Ciudad de México para hacerle a la Virgen de Guadalupe un pedido muy especial, y que creía imposible: conocer al Papa Francisco. Esta oración fue escuchada y el 15 de febrero durante el Encuentro del Papa Francisco con las Familias en Tuxtla Gutiérrez, estado de Chiapas (México) conmovió con su testimonio al Santo Padre y a los más de 42 mil asistentes. A Manuel le detectaron distrofia muscular a los cinco años y hace dos años tuvo que dejar de ir al colegio porque ya no se puede mover y desde entonces está en una silla de ruedas. La distrofia muscular es una enfermedad degenerativa en la que los músculos se van debilitando hasta que la persona ya no se puede mover. También afecta al corazón (que es un músculo) y las facultades respiratorias. Esta enfermedad no ha sido impedimento para que Manuelito siga “echándole ganas”, como le dijo el Papa esa tarde. Se unió al grupo de adolescentes de la parroquia Concepción Inmaculada de Tuxtla Gutiérrez y sale a evangelizar en su silla de ruedas. “Tengo mucha fe, ha crecido mi esperanza, sé que Dios me ha bendecido con esta capacidad especial, mis papás me apoyan mis planes sintiéndome sin límite como toda persona normal y le echo ganas. Ahora salgo en silla de ruedas a evangelizar y lo hago con mucha alegría a invitar a muchos adolescentes que no conocen el amor de Dios, también con mi familia misionamos y visitamos enfermos”, expresó Manuel en esa ocasión. Manuel comentó a Televisa que “echarle ganas” es una frase de motivación que “así siempre la digo yo y me gusta decirla. Me da ACI Prensa Manuel Morales Montoya, de14 años, dio su testimonio al Papa Francisco el 15 de febrero como joven que, pese a estar en silla de ruedas, no ha perdido la esperanza y busca evangelizar a otros muchachos como él que viven desanimados o alejados del Señor. ánimo”. Esta frase conmovió al Papa Francisco hasta el punto que cambió su discurso y reflexionó a partir de esta. “A vos Manuel gracias por tu testimonio y gracias por tu ejemplo. Me gustó esa expresión que usaste ‘echarle ganas’, como la actitud que tomaste después de hablar con tus padres. Comen- zaste a echarle ganas a la vida, a echarle ganas a tu familia, echar ganas entre tus amigos y nos has echado ganas a nosotros aquí reunidos”. Sobre su encuentro con el Papa Francisco, el muchacho comentó que se sintió “muy emocionado, contento de que a él le gustó y cambió su discurso con lo que dije… no iba yo a saber que a él le había gustado”. Manuel es el segundo de cinco hermanos y es uno de los miembros más queridos de la familia. Su madre, María de Jesús Montoya Sarmiento, comentó que su hijo es una “bendición” y que en los momentos difíciles “Dios siempre ha estado con nosotros”. 12 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL The Valley Catholic - MARZO 2016 »Vida Familiar Practicando Misericordia en la familia Este año, durante este tiempo sagrado de Cuaresma , los Católicos tenemos que recordar adicionalmente una “tarea” especial: reflexionar y esforzarnos en vivir la “Misericordia” de una manera unica durante este Año Santo de la Misericordia que inició el 8 de Diciembre del 2015 y concluirá el 20 de Noviembre del 2016, Fiesta de Cristo Rey. El Papa Francisco anunció el año pasado este Jubileo de la Misericordia declarando: “A menudo he pensado como la Iglesia podría mostrar más claramente su misión de ser testimonio de Misericordia. Es un camino que comienza con una conversión espiritual. Por esta razón, he decidido anunciar un Jubileo extraordinario que esté centrado en la Misericordia de Dios. Este será el Año Santo de la Misericordia. Queremos vivir este Año a la Luz de la Palabra del Señor: “Sean compasivos, como es compasivo el Padre de ustedes. No juzguen y no serán juzgados. (Lc. 6:36)” Pero, ¿qué es la “misericordia”? Un sacerdote, hablando sobre el significado de misericordia, desglosó esta palabra en sus dos raíces latinas que son miserere (“lastima”, “miseria” o “compasión”) y cor (“corazón”). El explicó que cuando pedimos la Misericordia de Dios, en esencia le estamos pidiendo que nos libere de un corazón que está en miseria, en sufrimiento. Y nuestros corazones pueden estar en miseria no solo por el pecado, sino también por el profundo dolor causado por una relación familiar rota, por el sufrimiento de la infertilidad, por el dolor de una enfermedad física o mental, por la pérdida de un trabajo, por haber sido traicionados o abandonados, por la pobreza física o espiritual, y mucho más.” He titulado a propósito este artículo “Practicando” Misericordia en la familia porque creo que como seres humanos necesitamos “practicar” la misericordia con frecuencia para seguir desarrollando nuestra habilidad de ser misericordiosos. En su homilía del 17 de Marzo del 2013, el Papa Francisco expresó: “Pienso que somos personas que, por un lado, queremos escuchar a Jesús, pero por el otro lado, a veces también queremos encontrar formas para herir y condenar a los demás. Y Jesús tiene este mensaje para nosotros: Misericordia. Pienso — y lo digo con humildad — que este es el mensaje más poderoso del Señor: Misericordia.” Probablemente es en la familia, más que en ningún otro lugar, donde tenemos más oportunidades de proveer Misericordia. En la vida y el amor compartidos diariamente en nuestros hogares es donde se pueden acumular más fácilmente pequeñas heri- Defendiendo los más vulnerables Lydia Pesina Directora, Oficina de Vida Familiar das, muchas sin mala intención, que requieren reflexión, perdón y misericordia. Recientemente le dije algo a mi hija que hirió sus sentimientos. Soy bendecida porque ella es una persona que me dice inmediatamente como se siente. La seguí hasta su cuarto, la abracé y le pedí perdón. No me correspondió inmediatamente pero después de unos minutos me regreso el abrazo. Ella fue misericordiosa conmigo al aceptar mis disculpas aun sabiendo que era yo la que había fallado. Quizás una de nuestras “tareas espirituales” es tomar conciencia de cómo podemos extender misericordia a nuestros seres queridos en cada etapa del Ciclo de Vida familiar en la que se encuentren. En la etapa llamada “Familia de edad escolar”, algunas veces los padres necesitan mostrarse misericordia uno al otro en su esfuerzo continuo de proveer para la familia y a la vez mantenerse al día con la escuela de los niños y demás responsabilidades. En la etapa de “Adolescencia y Familia”, los adolescentes necesitan paciencia y Misericordia mientras se encuentran con una cultura que los empuja en muchas direcciones. La familia en etapa de “Desprendimiento”, descrita muchas veces como la “Etapa Bumerán”, con hijos que van y vienen y que a veces regresan con nuevas adiciones a la familia (nietos), muchas veces necesitan misericordia en su lucha como generación intermedia que se esfuerza en cuidar a sus padres envejecientes al mismo tiempo que a sus nietos. Y por último, las etapas llamadas “Nido vacío” y “Familias envejecientes” a menudo necesitan apoyo, ser visitados, alguien que los lleve al medico, etc. La mejor forma de “practicar” Misericordia es a través de las Obras Espirituales y Corporales de Misericordia que nos enseña nuestra Iglesia. Tal vez una pregunta que nos podemos hacer a nosotros mismos en esta Cuaresma es: “¿Cuál es la mejor manera de practicar Misericordia a los miembros de mi familia en los momentos difíciles de nuestra vida cotidiana?”. Que el Señor extienda Su Misericordia sobre cada uno de nosotros mientras nos esforzamos en permitir que el Espíritu Santo nos conceda la Gracia de ser igualmente misericordiosos con los demás. The Valley Catholic El Apostolado de Provida de la diócesis llevo a cabo una marcha pacífica y de mucha oración el 30 de enero en McAllen para difundir el mensaje de vida en nuestra comunidad. Cientos de defensores provida participaron en el evento, que inicio con la apertura de oraciones y palabras del Obispo Daniel E. Flores en la Parroquia de San José Obrero. Después del servicio de oración, la procesión partió de la iglesia y marcharon hacia el centro de la ciudad. A lo largo de la procesión, se rezó el Rosario y se cantaron himnos. La procesión pasó por el centro de abortos local y terminó en la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón con unas palabras y oraciones finales. Destacando la educación católica The Valley Catholic El banquete anual para la 19ª edición de los Spirit Awards se llevó acabo el 29 de enero en el Salón Msgr. Ralph en la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores en McAllen. Patrocinado por la Oficina de Escuelas Católicas de la diócesis, el evento da reconocimiento a varios individuos cuya dedicación, generosidad y servicio han tenido un gran impacto en las 13 escuelas católicas en el Valle del Rio Grande. Un homenajeado u homenajeados de cada una de las escuelas fue reconocido en el evento. El Obispo Daniel E. Flores fue reconocido como el homenajeado diocesano. Para mas fotos y video de esta celebración, visite nuestro sitio en redes sociales. MARZO 2016 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL - The Valley Catholic 13 ‘Porque estuve hambriento y me diste de comer’ Parroquia sirve más de 1,000 platos a la comunidad cada mes Las obras corporals de misericordia: Alimentar al hambriento Nota del editor: acompáñennos a presenciar la misericordia en acción en diferentes parroquias cada mes. Dar agua al sediento; Vestir al desnudo; Albergar a quien no tiene hogar; Por ROSE YBARRA The Valley Catholic Así estén sin hogar; solos o con mucha familia; jóvenes o mayores; trabajando o sin empleo, todos son invitados a una comida gratis, sin preguntas, cada jueves de 4 p.m. a 6 p.m. en la Parroquia San Juan Bautista en San Juan. La Sociedad de San Vinente de Paul sirve 250-300 platos a los hambrientos en la comunidad cada semana. Decenas de voluntarios, que empiezan a llegar a la parroquia cada mañana, ofrecen su tiempo y talento para hacer las comidas posibles. Muchos de los voluntarios son estudiantes de Confirmación y retirados. Winter Texans son algunos de los ayudantes más activos. Cindy Dabrowski, quien divide su tiempo entre Pharr y Muskegon, Mich., ayuda detrás de escena, lavando platos mientras las comidas son servidas. “Hay tantos voluntarios que no los ves a todos,” dijo Dabrowski, quien ha sido una Winter Texan desde el 2006. “Me doy cuenta de que esta comunidad está en sintonía con los pobres y ni siquiera soy miembro de esta iglesia.” Cuando se le preguntó por qué era voluntaria, Dabrowski respondió, “He sido bendecida, estoy correspondiendo.” Ofelia Alaniz, 76, quien ha sido feligrés de la Iglesia San Juan Bautista por 48 años, es voluntaria semana tras semana. Después de retirarse de la fuerza laboral, quiso mantenerse ocupada sirviendo al Señor. “Hay mucha necesidad en nuestra comunidad y lo vemos de primera mano cada semana,” dijo Alaniz, ya que ha ayudado a servir platos de pollo con queso aciago, arroz y frijoles negros sazonados y elote. “Estoy tan agradecida por lo que tengo y Dios nos llama Visitar el enfermo; Rescatar al cautivo; Sepultar a los difuntos. The Valley Catholic “Hay mucha necesidad en nuestra comunidad y lo vemos de primera mano cada semana,” dijo Ofelia Alaniz, feligrés de la Iglesia San Juan Bautista. La Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul sirve platos a los hambrientos en la comunidad cada jueves por la tarde. a compartir nuestras bendiciones. Estoy feliz de poder hacerlo. Mientras Dios me de fuerzas, estaré aquí.” Estudios muestran que el hambre es un problema en nuestra comunidad. Uno de cada dos niños en el Valle del Río Grande se va a dormir con hambre, de acuerdo con las estadísticas del Banco de Comida del Valle del Río Grande que en asociación con la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul proveen suministros a costo reducido para las comidas semanales así como víveres para la alacena alimenticia. En conjunto, 1 de 4 personas en el Valle tienen inseguridad alimenticia. Esto significa que son desafiados ya sea para pagar las cuentas o dejar de comer y/o comprar comidas más baratas y menos nutritivas. “Está muy bien,” dijo Aracely Hernández de San Juan, quien » La Alegría de Vivir El tiempo es algo que no se ve pero se siente, ligero como el viento que se escapa y no podemos detenerlo. Cuando algo oportuno ocurre se dice que fue justo a tiempo. Triunfador es quien logra el triunfo a tiempo, fracasado el que tuvo la desgracia de ser inoportuno y todo lo hizo fuera de tiempo. Los sabios le llaman “divino tesoro”, los santos lloran su perdida, y los insensatos desconocen su valor. Desperdiciar el tiempo es delito grave, y no aprovecharlo es una falta irreparable. El tiempo no se compra ni se vende, no podemos alargarlo ni acortarlo. Somos prisioneros de su marcha, pues nacemos, crec- viene a comer a la parroquia cada semana con su madre y sus niños. Ella también recibe una bolsa de víveres, que en esta ocasión incluye muslos de pollo, víveres enlatados y pimientos. “Me ayuda bastante la verdad.” El programa de comida de la Parroquia San Juan Bautista empezó hace 35 años. Las personas venían regularmente a la oficina parroquial pidiendo comida. La secretaria de la iglesia mantenía algunos alimentos básicos en la oficina para estas ocasiones, pero no pudo seguir con las peticiones. “Algunos de nosotros donábamos lo poco que podíamos a manera de comida para la oficina, pero no era suficiente,” dijo Lucinda Mesquitic, una feligrés de mucho tiempo en la Iglesia San Juan Bautista. “Sabíamos que teníamos que hacer más para ayudar a nuestra comunidad.” Mesquitic y varias otras feligreses, incluyendo Manuelita Villescas y Guadalupe García empezaron la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul en la parroquia San Juan Bautista. Empezaron a recolectar víveres enlatados y otros tipos de alimentos básicos de feligreses y creando canastas de comida. Después, las damas empezaron a ir a las colonias y descubrieron que la necesidad era mayor de lo que ellas jamás imaginaron. “Nosotras éramos pobres pero sabíamos que habían personas más necesitadas que nosotras,” dijo García. “No teníamos mucho que darles pero seguimos trabajando para eso.” “Estábamos básicamente en guardia para hacer visitas a hogares de un momento a otro o para ir a la parroquia y dar comida si alguien lo necesitaba. Es un compromiso que tienes que mantener porque ellos cuentan con nosotros.” Las damas eventualmente empezaron a dar pan y pan dulce a los pobres en las colonias después de asegurar donativos de varias tiendas y panaderías. “Los niños gritaban, ‘las panaderas,’ y salían corriendo,” dijo Mesquitic con lágrimas saliendo de sus ojos. “Algo tan simple como una barra de pan les trae tanta dicha.” El programa de comida empezó hace cinco años y medio. También se reparten bolsas de comida cada semana a familias e individuos pre-registrados para el servicio. Fondos para el servicio son recaudados a través de una segunda colecta durante las Misas de fin de semana una vez al mes. Los voluntarios han notado que el programa llena más que sus estómagos. “Para muchos, especialmente para aquellos que viven solos, esto es lo más destacado de su semana,” dijo el voluntario Jan Rigsby de Mission. “Es divertido hablar con ellos y saludarlos y tratar de hacerlos sentir parte de la familia. Vemos a las mismas personas regresar semana tras semana y no solamente por la comida. Ellos vienen y hablan con nosotros y entre ellos.” “Hemos crecido en hospitalidad, haciéndolos sentir agusto y bienvenidos,” dijo Alva Peña, voluntaria de tiempo completo para la Sociedad San Vicente de Paul. “Como dijo el Papa Francisco, necesitamos practicar la escuchoterapia. Queremos que este sea un lugar en donde se sientan escuchados.” ¡El tiempo se nos va! emos y morimos en el tiempo. Somos niños por un tiempo, jóvenes en otro, maduros, y algunos pocos, los viejos que alcanzan la plenitud a tiempo. El reloj es nuestro verdugo, con su tic-tac, tic-tac, nos recuerda siempre lo fugaz y veloz de nuestro tiempo. En la infancia el tiempo corre lento, luego en la juventud, pareciera que corre desenfrenadamente y es muchas veces desperdiciado. Y conforme pasa el tiempo, ¡que de prisa se va nuestra vida! Amar en plenitud es conocer el amor a tiempo. Ser madre, o padre, es engendrar a tiempo. Se llega a ser alguien cuando se empieza a trabajar a tiempo. Y tú, ¿te has puesto a pensar que has hecho con tu tiempo? ¿Cómo lo has empleado? Esto Msgr. Juan Nicolau Sacerdote jubilado de la Diócesis de Brownsville debes meditarlo ahora, cuando aun estas a tiempo; no te vaya a pasar lo que aquel joven insensato que no hizo nada con su tiempo y temblando vio llegar la muerte, y no sintió miedo de morir, pues es algo natural que pasa en la vida, sino de no haber hecho nada con su tiempo. El libro de su vida estaba en blanco, nada escrito, completamente vacío porque había dejado correr el tiempo. Lleno de angustia suplico por tan solo un minuto para poder hacer algo, pues no podía decir que había vivido si no había utilizado plenamente aunque fuera un minuto de su tiempo, y solo entonces podría morir. Inútil fue la suplica, la muerte siguió avanzando lentamente cubriéndolo de frio y diciéndole: lo siento, de veras lo siento, muchos otros me han pedido lo mismo; pero aun yo, con todo mi poder, no tengo el poder de detener el tiempo, y a ti se ha acabado. Si en este momento llegara la muerte por ti, ¿tú qué harías?, ¿temblarías de miedo y suplicarías como ese joven?, o por el contrario te enfrentarías valientemente a ella diciéndole: “estoy listo, no te tengo miedo, porque dentro de mis muchas fallas, algo hice de mi tiempo. Dejo muchas cosas por hacer, planes por realizar, pero no me importa, se que hice muchas cosas a tiempo”. Si es así, te felicito, pero si por el contrario sientes que no has aprovechado tu tiempo lo suficiente, piensa que aun lo tienes, que tu tiempo aun no termina y que mucho puedes hacer en unos minutos de tu tiempo. Aprovecha el tiempo que tienes porque tal vez es lo último que te queda por vivir. Recuerda que humanamente eres polvo, tierra, humo, nada. Pero espiritualmente eres vida, y si crees en Jesucristo, esta vida es eterna. 14 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - MARCH 2016 SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIANS DONATE NOW ONLINE OR MAIL IN YOUR DONATIONS Dear Friends of the Sacred Hearts, We’d like to thank you for your help and share with you some of the ways the Brothers of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.) in the U. S. Province are bringing Christ to people and people to Christ. temporarily professed Brothers who are preparing for their ordination to priesthood in our House of Studies in Suva, Fiji. These Brothers attend the Pacific Regional Seminary of Saint Peter Chanel and live in community with their formators. Our SS.CC., U. S. Province now include 98 Brothers who serve God’s people in Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, Rome, Fiji England, Belgium, the Kingdom of Tonga, and here in the Diocese of Brownsville. Our Brothers of the SS.CC., U. S. Province administer parishes, schools, soup kitchens, retreat centers, and in each ministry we work trying to heal the broken and bring hope to those in despair. consider increasing your efforts. The people we serve need you – our Brothers need you. We invite you to be a part of this venture either through your direct help with the missions or the solid formation of Brothers and Priests who will do the work in the field, which is to build God’s Kingdom and proclaim His redeeming Love to the world…in the footsteps of St. Damien of Molokai, ss.cc…. Congregation of the Sacred Hearts United States of America (US) Province We have 23 men in formation in India and four men in the Novitiate Program preparing to profess their initial vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to the Congregation. Serving God’s People in the Diocese of Brownsville since 1965 Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Edinburg Pastor: Manoj Nayak, ss.cc. Associate Pastors: Fr. Christopher Santangelo, ss.cc. and Fr. Richard Lifrak, ss.cc. Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Harlingen Pastor: Fr. William Penderghest, ss.cc. Associate Pastor: Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc. In-residence: Fr. Gerry Shanley, ss.cc. In India, we run tribal schools, clinics and provide social work where there would otherwise be little or no educational, medical or community services available for the weak and the poor. In Tonga, we build and repair homes for the poor and those living in the swamp areas of the low-lying islands. We also help to educate a population of young people in this developing country that struggles desperately to meet its own needs. Our mission is to commit ourselves to contemplate, live, and proclaim the Love of God to the world through the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This we do through the formation of men for religious life, serving the poor and the marginalized in the missions in India and Tonga; building and strengthening the youth and young adults of the U. S. Province in their faith and commitment to the Church and the Lord; and serving the spiritual needs of the people entrusted to our care, especially in parishes, schools, retreats and chaplaincies. Because of your prayers, involvement and financial support, we are asking you to continue to help and prayerfully DONATE NOW to ADVANCE Our Mission Fund the Formation of Our Future Sacred Hearts’ Brothers Saint Damien of Molokai, pray for us! St. Damien DeVeuster, ss.cc. 1840-1889 SACRED HEARTS MISSIONS P O BOX 1365 Thanks to your prayers and support, and the work of the Holy Spirit, a 20year hiatus of having no vocations has come to an end. We now have seven KANEOHE, HI 96744 PHONE: 808.247.5035 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.SSCC.ORG MARCH 2016 - DIOCESE 15 The Valley Catholic »Media Resource Center » Calendar of Events March Recommended by SISTER MAUREEN CROSBY, SSD Coordinator of the Media Resource Center - Diocese of Brownsville 4 »From the Bookshelf Courtesy photo Young Adult Conference set for April 9 Make Room The Valley Catholic Format: book Length: 32 pp Audience: Children 4-9 years Author: Laura Alary Illustrated by Ann Boyajian Additional copies for sale at Media Resource Center, reg. price $15.99, sale price $12.00. A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter - An invitation for children to wonder about the Lenten story. This unique book teaches children to experience Lent with all their senses and to see it as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God. The Lenten Pharmacy Format: Paperback Length: 126 pp Audience: Adults Author: Edward Hayes PublicationAve Maria Press (February 1, 2006) Daily Healing Therapies – Experience Lent in a whole new way with a daily trip to The Lenten Pharmacy. In this imaginative collection of Lenten reflections, Edward Hays invites us to focus on Jesus the Healer. »Worth Watching Ashes to Glory The Office of Campus & Young Adult Ministry (CYAM) is hosting its first Catholic Young Adult Conference, titled, “One Love,” from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at Holy Spirit Parish in McAllen. This one-day conference will gather young adults from across the diocese and the region to celebrate their gifts as one larger community united in faith, fellowship, and jubilation. Young adults will have an opportunity to catch up with old friends and Resurrection continued from pg. 1 To reach the burial site, she needed to go outside the city walls and pass by Golgotha, the scene of Jesus’ brutal execution. Was she afraid? What sadness and weariness accompanied her on that journey, and what shock wracked her body when she saw that the stone had been moved from the tomb? Mary immediately raced to find Peter. And after he and another disciple inspected the linen cloths left behind in the tomb, they went back home, but Mary remained. This is where the scene becomes most powerful and most personal to those of us who have read the passage so many times in our lives. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesu- Risen continued from pg. 5 Format: DVD Length: 130 mins Audience: Adults Publisher: Christian Multimedia Production Year: 2008 47 Short Meditations, One For Each Day of Lent. An Easter Devotional on DVD takes viewers on a devotional journey from the remembrance of Ash Wednesday to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, Each day contains a brief devotion (2-3 minutes) that reflects on a treasured song, poem, tradition, Scripture, character of the Passion sort, or work of art that enhances the meaning of the season. Big Al Live Fr. Joe Kempf the liturgy of the Word, the liturgy of baptism (new members are brought into the Church/ converts and the faithful renew their baptismal promises and are blessed with holy water) and the liturgy of the Eucharist. As we prepare to celebrate Easter once again let us be mindful that the Resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection, our own immortality make new ones. “Our goal with the One Love Conference is to foster a community of communities – a gathering of existing young adult groups in our diocese, but also with a particular outreach to their friends and coworkers who are disconnected from the faith,” said Miguel Santos, Director of Campus & Young Adult Ministry. He added, “Ultimately, we want young adults to deepen their encounter with Christ: to come and receive God’s mercy in a way that compels them to share it with others.” The One Love Conference will include keynote presentations by Bishop Daniel E. Flores and recording artist Jorge Rivera, a national voice in the field of young adult ministry, as well as a variety of workshops and breakout sessions. The event will feature exhibitors, live music, confessions and a closing liturgy celebrated by the bishop. For online registration visit www.cyam.net and for follow up or more information, please contact Miguel Santos at msantos@ cdob.org its, urged his followers to pray with their imaginations. It’s a way of becoming intimate with the words of Scripture. So, we come with Mary into the garden. Most of us don’t know what the climate or the topography of that Jerusalem garden would have been like on that Easter morning. However, we can use our imagination and we can reflect on the spring mornings of our own lives. The dew can be moist and cold on our feet, the brilliant, rising sun just beginning to cast shadows on the trees and the rocky tombs. The daffodils and irises of our memory push up through the dark soil around us, and around Mary. As we let ourselves be present there, weeping with Mary in the confusion of the moment, imagining that another desecration has befallen Jesus even after death, we can almost taste her salty, lonely tears mixed with our own. Then there is a man there, perhaps a gardener. Maybe he knows where they have taken the body. Why doesn’t she — why don’t we — immediately recognize him? “Mary.” When Jesus speaks her name, she exclaims, “Rabbouni!” Master. The earth moves a little with that word, “Mary.” We know then that Jesus wants to encounter us personally. We know that he desires to call us by name and that in personal encounter we will recognize him. We realize that many times we have failed to recognize him in ourselves and others. In your imagination, let Jesus call your name in the garden and rejoice in his desire to know you better, to know you as his beloved disciple. and the promise of the fullness of life forever (eternal life) won by the death of Christ on the Cross. St. Paul encourages us to not doubt but believe in the resurrection: “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-22). May the Risen Lord be the joy and the hope of our Easter and may we find the tomb empty. “May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. (words from the lighting of paschal candle from the new fire). All Day All Day All Day 4-6 Catholic Engaged Encounter (Family Life Office) 6 Mass for children with special needs and their families (Holy Family, Brownsville) 10 Advisory Team (Office of Catechesis) 12 Convalidation Conference (Family Life Office) 17 Vocation Hour for Family Life at St Joseph Chapel, Alamo (Family Life Office) 19 Solemnity of St. Joseph 22 Chrism Mass 24 Holy Thursday Bishop Emeritus Raymundo J. Peña’s Calendar March 1-2 March 22 March 29-31 Lenten Retreat (Office of Catechesis) Tex-Mex Border Bishops Day of Reflection and Chrism Mass Pilgrimage San Angelo San Juan 25 Good Friday Diocesan Offices Closed 27 Easter Sunday 28 Easter Monday Diocesan Offices Closed April 2 Continuing Ed Sessions (Family Life Office) 3 Divine Mercy Sunday 3 Continuing Ed Sessions (Family Life Office) 3 Mass for children with special needs and their families (Holy Family, Brownsville) 5 Clase para Cerficado DER (Office of Catechesis) 9-10 ForBetter Forever (Family Life Office) 16-17 Sponsor Couple Training II (Family Life Office) 19 In-Service Program Statistics Due (Office of Catechesis) 21 Vocation Hour for Family Life at St Joseph Chapel, Alamo (Family Life Office) 23 Sponsor Couple Trainng (Family Life Office) 30 Fully Engaged Sponsor Couple Training II (Family Life Office) 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. Ongoing: Format: DVD Length: Series Audience: 2 -102 Publishers: Harcourt Religion 2007 Special - Looking for a way to help faith come alive? The segments in Volume 4 focus on special occasions or seasons, including: Sacrament, Advent, Christmas, Reconciliation, Why give up something for Lent? Are you good at finding Easter Eggs? Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, 727 Bowie St., Alamo 3 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, 727 Bowie St., Alamo Every Tuesday: 12:15 p.m.Mass at UT-RGV/Edinburg 2 p.m. Counseling at UT-RGV/Edinburg Every Thursday 7-8 p.m. Holy Hour at 727 Bowie St., Alamo Every Sunday: 6 p.m. Mass/Confessions at UT-RGV/Edinburg 1st: Intention to the Consecrated Life (active and contemplative) and for the Sisters and Brothers in our diocese and the success of their mission 2nd: Intention to the Permanent Diaconate the deacons (permanent and transitional) of the diocese and their families 3rd : Intention to Married Life: for the welfare and sanctification of all the families in the diocese and for building up the Kingdom in our domestic churches 4th: Intention to the priesthood and the priests of the diocese for the success of their ministry 5th: Intention to Pope Francis Bioethics continued from pg. 5 dialogue and interaction with sound ethics. The expanding study of human/animal chimeras challenges us to reflect carefully on the morally appropriate use of these novel and powerful technologies, so that human dignity will not be harmed, subjugated, or misappropriated in any way. 16 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - February 2016 Our Catholic Family Deacon candidate puts families first 10-week course, conference focuses on values, virtues The Valley Catholic “When we go out to dinner, sometimes my wife and I look around and count how many couples and families are on their phones or tablets,” said Santos Chapa, who is in the diaconate formation program for the diocese and serves in family ministry. “Those are missed opportunities to spend quality time with your partner or your family.” Being distracted by technology is just one challenge couples and families face today, Chapa said. “But it is a major challenge,” he said. “We may be physically present in the same room but we are not mentally or spiritually present with our families.” Chapa and his wife of 28 years, Maria Teresa, have organized a family workshop called Familias Bajo La Unción del Espíritu Santo to discuss different values and virtues and learn spiritual exercises that make families stronger. The Spanish-language workshop will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday from March 8 to May 17 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Hall, 2209 Kendlewood Ave. in McAllen. The workshop will culminate with a one-day conference on Sunday, May 15, Pentecost Sunday, featuring Omar Jesus Maytorena of Quito, Ecuador. Maytorena, who was raised in Mexico, overcame a difficult start in life – a life that was almost cut short by abortion. His father died in a plane crash when his Courtesy photo The Chapa family, from left, twins Thania and Edwin, 27, Teresa, Santos and Nadia, 25, at their home in Pharr. mother was pregnant with him. The young widow traveled to the United States for an abortion but had a change of heart while on the table. As Maytorena shares in his testimony, his mother saw an image of the Sacred Heart and walked out of the abortion clinic. Other presenters for the oneday conference include Father Martin De la Cruz, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Father Felix Cazares, assistant to the rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine and Father Eduardo Villa, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle in La Puerta. Father De la Cruz has known Chapa, his wife and children for more than 18 years. He said Chapa is always looking for new and better ways to evangelize the family, whether it’s through music, retreats or classes. “There have always been many resources for adults, couples and the youth – individually, but very few programs that the family can partake in together,” Father De la Cruz said. “Mr. Chapa saw the need for the family to be nurtured in a Catholic Christian environment. He is promoting family values, which are at the core of a healthy family. A lot of those values have been lost and we need to bring them back.” Chapa, a native of Valadeces, Tamaulipas, Mexico, said his call to ministry was inspired by St. John Paul II, who promoted families and a culture life. He noted that St. John Paul II initiated events such as the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day, clearly signaling the faithful to the support these initiatives. “In Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II said the future of humanity passes by way of the family,” Chapa said. “Families are the basic unit of society and strong, Christ-centered families make for better communities.” The structure of the family is threatened with challenges such »Parish Staff Convocation St. Joseph ‘We are a community of mercy’ The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN – Mercy and evangelization were among the top discussion points Bishop Daniel E. Flores shared with parish staff during two convocations on both ends of the Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23. During the Parish Staff Convocations, which served as an opportunity to mark both the 50th anniversary of the diocese and focus on the Year of Mercy, Bishop Flores reaffirmed the importance of what each person does in the Church. He said evangelization and mercy were central to Pope Francis’ pontificate. Mercy, the bishop said, is the content of evangelization. He emphasized “mercy is shown in how you respond to people who need some (mercy)…It’s how we talk to people. Bishop Flores also shared with staff some memories of his journey with the Holy Father as he traveled Feb. 13-17 from Mexico City to Chiapas to Cuidad Juarez. Recalling the experience of witnessing the pope with Our Lady of Guadalupe. The bishop reminds staff of the words Our Lady spoke to San Juan Diegito, “I want a ‘little’ house built for me on the top of the hill” (una casita). The use of the diminutive is important in the Hispanic culture and so much more in the Church, said Bishop Flores. “We have to remember that it is the “little ones” we have to look out for, those who seem marginalized.” For catechesis this refers to those who are not able to participate “fully” in Sunday liturgies due to physical impediments and even more so those who have some form of special need ranging from having a learning disability, Autism or ADHD. Bishop Flores placed emphasis on the groups that need evangelization: those who come on Sunday, those who come on Ash Wednesday and other feasts, and those who do not come at all and yet have faith. Typically those who have faith and do not come on a regular basis are usu- as materialism, parental separation, blended families and substance abuse. Chapa himself was baptized in the Catholic Church but was raised without religion. His mother became a Jehovah’s Witness and took classes in their home. “I grew up overhearing the lessons from the courses my mother took where she was taught to hate the Virgin Mary, to hate the pope,” he said. When he was in his 20s and the relationship with his future wife became serious, Chapa began taking RCIA classes. “I fell in love with the Catholic faith,” said Chapa, who in addition to attending Mass regularly, joined a prayer group and began going to retreats and Catholic workshops. His complete conversion came at a retreat in 1993 and from that day on, he and his wife have been dedicated to evangelization to the youth and families. “Father Eddie (Villa) once told him that his call to serve families is prophetic,” said his wife, Maria Teresa Chapa. “It’s the love he has for the family. It is his passion to implement the values and virtues within the families. I believe it is a gift from God that he received this call to work with families, to help unite them.” Father De la Cruz believes Chapa will be a great blessing to the Church as a permanent deacon. “His approach is always caring and paternal,” Father De la Cruz said. “His leadership and dedication to pastoral ministry with families and his experiences with his own family have prepared him. He and his family have great hearts, hearts that are in the right place, and with that you can do wonders.” The Valley Catholic Bishop Daniel E. Flores addresses diocesan employees at the Parish Staff Convocation on Feb. 23 at the San Juan Pastoral Center. ally those who come when it is time for a sacrament or when a loved one comes to the end of their earthly journey. “We should be welcoming and merciful,” he said. The first thing out of our mouths (lips) is, “I am glad you are here” and not “I don’t see you at Mass” or something similar. At each convocation, Bishop Flores spent time answering questions from the staff. These ranged from some questions about policies and guidelines to what the Church’s stance is in regard to cremation and funerals. Bishop also insisted “we must remind each other that our job is to help our brothers and sisters on the journey and allow the Spirit to work in and through them.” continued from pg. 4 follow in trusting in the Lord’s providence and trusting in God’s Word.” Joseph is honored under the title of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. “He taught Jesus a trade as a carpenter,” Father Labus said. “Joseph can be a model for all those who have employment, to guide us, to strengthen us, to persevere in the jobs that we have.” St. Joseph is also patron saint of the Universal Church, families, fathers, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen and engineers. Today, St. Joseph is additionally a role model for stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles and other father figures who promote respect and harmony in their families and who make a positive impact on the children in their lives. “And thanks be to God they are stepping up to the plate and being a father for these children when their biological fathers are not fulfilling their responsibility,” Father Labus said. “They are being good role models. “St. Joseph is a model for fatherhood, for protecting the family and guiding them.” For more photos and video, follow us on social media: Catholic Diocese of Brownsville