View - Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
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View - Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
Volume 5, Issue 11 Serving More Than A Million Catholics in the Diocese of Brownsville May 2014 SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Encounters with christ Mary the Untier of Knots Pope Francis found his favorite Marian image in Germany The Valley Catholic Special to The Valley Catholic When Pope Francis was still Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio studying in Germany in the mid-1980s, he became very fond of a Baroque icon of Maria Knotenlöserin (Mary, Undoer of Knots) in the Church of St. Peter am Perlach in Augsburg, Bavaria. Dating from around 1700, the oil-on-poplar wood painting is attributed to Johann George Melchior Schmidtner, and was painted because of a miracle. In 1612 in the town of Augsburg, Germany, the nobleman Wolfgang Langenmantel journeyed to the University of Ingolstadt to visit Jesuit Father Jakob Rem four times over the course of 28 days in an attempt to save his marriage through the counsel and prayers of the holy priest. Together, the two men would pray and venerate the Blessed Mother. Langenmantel brought his wedding ribbon with him on the final visit. At that time, it was a Bavarian tradition for the maid We are born anew by baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of confirmation and receive in the Eucharist, the food of eternal life. » Please see Mary p.17 SAN JUAN — During the Easter season, these 50 days that began on Easter Sunday, parishes throughout the Rio Grande Valley celebrate the reception of Eucharist and confirmation. Religious education classes traditionally end in late April to early May, and the focus turns to the reception of the Sacraments. Luis Espinoza, director of the Office of Catechesis for the Diocese of Brownsville, said the Easter Season is a joyful time to celebrate all the sacraments of initiation baptism, confirmation, Eucharist. At the Easter Mass, the faithful as the Mystical Body of Christ, were reminded of the graces received at baptism as they renewed their baptismal promises. He said, baptism becomes a way for us to take part in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The other sacraments become ways that “touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christ life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1210). The Valley Catholic and courtesy photos CCHD WINNERS CHRISM MASS ALTARS OF REPOSE Along with the other sacraments of initiation, a foundation is laid down for every Christian life so that all who partake may “receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity” (Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on the Rite of Confirmation, Divinae consortium naturae). First Communions are usually celebrated during regularly scheduled Masses at the parishes. It is a sacrament of initiation, an initiation into the worshipping community of faith. These sacraments he said are “a reminder that God is moving the hearts of the children and the parents to seek communion with Jesus in the parish.” “As a parish community we celebrate another person who is able to approach the altar and take part more fully by not only receiving Christ in the word, but also in the Sacrament,” he added. Children wearing white will fill the pews at some Masses this Easter season. Espinoza said the color white, which is typically » Please see Sacraments p.19 EN ESPAÑOL Artículos sobre la Virgen que desata los nudos, los siete Altares de Reposo y un mensaje del Papa Francisco. “VERBUM MITTITUR SPIRANS AMOREM” (“The WORD is sent breathing love.”) Students learn about poverty Page 6 Priests renew promise made at their ordination Page 9 Ancient tradition of visiting seven churches Page 11 Paginas 13-16 2 DIOCESE »Carta Pascual La Pascua del Señor y la misión hacia las periferias Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en el Señor, Los días de Pascua son días de luz y esplendor para la Iglesia. Por cincuenta días, desde el anuncio de la manifestación del Resucitado, hasta el gran domingo de Pentecostés, la Iglesia vive su primavera anual, justamente reflejada en la renovación de vida que se expresa en la bella naturaleza renacida. Reflejada pero no superada, porque la efusión de vida que vive la Iglesia en estos días es la expresión viva de los efectos de la gracia del Señor triunfante sobre la muerte, y este misterio de vida trasciende el orden natural. La resurrección del Señor se muestra en la Iglesia poderosamente durante esta temporada de los bautismos, las confirmaciones, y las primeras comuniones. El ungido del Padre, rechazado por los poderes del mundo, resucitó vindicado como el Hijo preferido y victorioso; y él derrama su nueva vida como una unción sobre su cuerpo, la Iglesia. Todos los que se acercan al Señor en estos días reciben la unción de nueva vida. Estamos acostumbrados a pensar que nosotros elegimos al Señor, o decidimos participar en la vida de su Iglesia. Es cierto, pero el lado humano, de donde nacen nuestras decisiones, no encierra toda la realidad. De hecho, no podríamos acercarnos al bautismo, o a la confirmación o la sagrada comunión sin primero haber reconocido la luz brillante del Cristo atrayéndonos a su encuentro. En las Escrituras, leemos que el Resucitado no se manifestó a todos, sino a los escogidos por él de antemano. Y no se manifestó al mismo tiempo a todos, sino en el momento escogido por él. The Valley Catholic - May 2014 »Easter Letter Easter grace and our mission to the periphery My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Easter days are days of light and splendor for the Church. For fifty days, from the announcement of the manifestation of the Risen One, until the great Sunday of Pentecost, the Church lives her annual springtime, justly reflected in the renewal of life that shows itself in the beautiful rebirth of nature. Reflected but not surpassed, because the outpouring of life that the Church lives during these days is the living expression of the effects of the Lord’s grace triumphant over death, and this mystery of life transcends the natural order. The resurrection of the Lord shows itself powerfully during this season of baptisms, confirmations, and first communions. The Father’s anointed one, rejected by the powers of the world, rose again, vindicated as the preferred and victorious Son; and he sheds his new life as an anointing over his body, the Church. Everyone who approaches the Lord in these days receives the anointing of new life. We are used to thinking that we choose the Lord, or we decide to participate in the life of the Church. This is true, but the human side of things, from where our decisions arise, does not encompass the whole reality. In fact, we would not be able to approach Baptism, or Confirmation or Holy Communion without first having recognized the brilliant light of Christ attracting us to encounter him. In the Scriptures we read that the Risen One did not manifest himself to everyone, but rather only to those chosen before-hand. And he did not manifest himself to everyone at the same time, but at the moment chosen by him. In a similar manner, he decides to draw us closer through his personal manifestation, at a time chosen by him. When the Lord presents himself, he invites everyone to join with him and with his companions. This is why we say that our decision to follow Christ in the Church depends completely on the Lord’s prior decision to show himself to us. Moreover, the Lord chooses us with the particular purpose of incorporating us into his Church. Let no one say that Christ did not establish a Church; such an idea is the invention of our individualistic age: ““Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt 28, 10). A Christian cannot rejoice in the resurrection without going out to seek the apostolic community so as to share a new life. There you have the Church. That is why we are here. Nor should it be a cause of pride to have received the anointing of the Lord. If he MOST REVEREND DANIEL E. FLORES BISHOP OF BROWNSVILLE invites us to receive the favor of his luminous presence in our lives, it is good to remember that the Lord chooses those who are nothing in this world so as “to shame the strong”, as Saint Paul says. “But rather,” the Apostol continues, “he has chosen what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Cor 1: 27 ss). What Saint Paul says is in accord with what the Gospels teach. The Lord identified himself with the words of the prophet Isaiah when he said he had been anointed and sent to proclaim Good News to the poor, and freedom to the oppressed (Luke 4:16 ss). For this reason the Lord walked through the villages of Galilee curing lepers, healing the crippled, and attending to the cries of the poor. The Lord prefers those who appear less in the eyes of the world, and he announces to them that they are the ones favored in the eyes of God. We cannot boast: for if belonging to the group of those that the world thinks smell bad,… if for that reason, I say, the Lord has looked for us and anointed us with the fragrance of baptismal chrism, then a better condition cannot be imagined. But, what does it mean to have received this grace and favor of the Lord as a result of his great going forth in search for us? Well, truly, the Anointed One, the well-beloved Son of the Father, goes out to seek us and he offers us a share in his anointing so that we may have a share in his mission to seek out those who live outside the favor of the world, and at the periphery of life. He pushes us to go out and seek those who feel far away from God. It is of no use to remain sitting down, even though grateful for what we have received by knowing Christ. We have to go out to announce the favor of the Lord for those who in our time live alienated and vilified. This mission is something more than merely urgent. We have to open the doors of our parishes so as to go out to seek those who today live alone, isolated, and outside of the community. Those same doors must remain open so those who seek the Lord are able to enter and feel the warm welcome of the community of Christ, the Church. There are many believers in our neighborhoods, but they do not come to the Church. Why? Well, every case is different. But maybe it is because they live in the new colonias here in the Valley, and the do not know where Catholics gather. Then, we should go out and invite them. Maybe they do not have documents and are afraid of going to the church. Then, we should assure them that everyone has a right in the eyes of God to participate in the divine worship, and that the Church has nothing to do with the affairs of the government and its tireless search for documents. Maybe at some point they felt unappreciated by a parishioner or by a priest. Then, we should go and ask for forgiveness and invite them to return. Maybe they are not able to receive Holy Communion for one reason or another. Then, we should go say to them that this is no reason to stop participating in the Holy Mass with their hearts, and enjoy the life of the community. I could formulate a more exhausting list, but I think you know what I am saying. If we don’t take advantage of the grace of the anointing that we have received so as to share it with those who find themselves far away from the Church that Christ established with his blood, then the same judgment will fall upon us which the Lord pronounced on those who in their time guarded the courts of the temple to prevent the impure from entering. “For you are like whitewashed tombs,” he said to them. Let us not think that we are so chosen that our idleness shall be covered with the anointing that we have received. On the contrary, if we think that way, we are doing the same as those who thought of themselves as powerful in the time of our Lord, the very ones whom the Lord left behind while he went out in search of the lost sheep, announcing the favor of the Lord. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives (Luke 4: 18).” Let us place our hope in that Spirit who anointed the Lord Jesus Christ, the same Spirit who has come to us in fullness through the Paschal Mystery of the Lord, anointing us and making us fit to go out and share in his mission. May God continue to bless his work among us, +Daniel E. Flores Bishop of Brownsville » Por favor lea Carta Pascual p.16 Bishop Flores’ Schedule 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589-3042 5FMFQIPOFt'BY Bishop Daniel E. Flores Publisher Brenda Nettles Riojas Editor Rose Ybarra The Valley Catholic email: [email protected] Follow us on facebook Catholic Diocese of Brownsville www.cdob.org Assistant Editor Subscription rate ZBG Studio/Graphic Design $15 per yeart$17 outside of Texas $25 out of U.S. Terry De Leon South Texas Circulation The Valley Catholic, Circulation Advertising Evana Zamora (956) 784-5055 Gustavo Morales (956) 266-1527 Gilbert Saenz (956) 451-5416 a publication of the Diocese of Brownsville, is published monthly Member of the Catholic Press Assocition May 1 10:30 a.m. San Juan World Communications Day May 1 7 p.m. Rio Grande City Confirmations at Immaculate Conception Church May 2 9:45 p.m. McAllen Holy Spirit Church, Mass for Shalom Media Night Vigil May 3 1 p.m. McAllen Confirmations at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church May 3 5 p.m. McAllen Confirmations at Sacred Heart Church May 4 4 p.m. Olmito Confirmations at Our Heavenly Father Church May 6 6:30 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at Lord of Divine Mercy Church May 7 7 p.m. Mercedes Confirmations at Our Lady of Mercy Church May 8 6 p.m. Pharr Confirmations for St. Anne, Mother of Mary & St. Margaret Mary May 10 10 a.m. Progreso Confirmations at Holy Spirit Church May 10 5 p.m. Mission Confirmations at St. Paul Church May 12 6:30 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at St. Luke Church May 13 6:30 p.m. Harlingen Confirmations at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church May 15 7 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at St. Joseph Church May 17 10 a.m. La Joya Confirmations at Our Lady, Queen of Angels Church May 17 5 p.m. Alton Confirmations at San Martin de Porres Church May 2014 May 18 Noon Port Isabel Confirmations at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church May 18 7 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at San Felipe de Jesus Church May 21 7 p.m. Edinburg Confirmations at Holy Family Church May 22 7 p.m. Mercedes Confirmations at Sacred Heart Church May 24 10 a.m. Donna Confirmations at St. Joseph Church May 24 4 p.m. Harlingen Confirmations at Queen of Peace Church May 25 10 a.m. McAllen Confirmations at St. Juan Diego Church May 25 5 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at St. Eugene de Mazenod Church May 27 6 p.m. Brownsville Confirmations at Holy Family Church May 28 10 a.m. San Juan Opening Prayer & Talk at Summer Food Program Kickoff Event May 28 7 p.m. Elsa Confirmations at Sacred Heart Church May 29 6 p.m. McAllen Confirmations at St. Joseph the Worker Church May 30 6 p.m. Weslaco Mass to celebrate 85th Anniversary of St. Joan of Arc Church May 31 10:30 a.m. Lyford Confirmations at Prince of Peace Church May 31 5:30 p.m. San Juan Gathering for Religious May 2014 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic DIOCESAN MINISTRIES Para servirles Office of Catechesis Director: Luis Espinoza Phone: (956) 784-5040 Email: [email protected] Jail Ministry Director: Ofelia de los Santos Phone: (956) 702-4088 Email: [email protected] Immigration Office Ministry Director: Santa Acuña Phone: (956) 784-5057 Call Monday-Wednesday or Friday from 8 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 4:45 p.m.; and Thursdays 8 to 11:45 a.m. Communications Ministry Director: Brenda Nettles Riojas Phone: (956) 784-5055 Email: [email protected] Media Resource Center Director: Sister Maureen Crosby, SSD Phone: (956) 784-5041 Email: [email protected] Campus & Young Adult Ministry Director: Miguel Santos, Phone: (956) 784-5093 Email: [email protected], Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Director: Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ Phone: (956) 702-4088 Web site: www.catholiccharitiesrgv.org Office of Vocations Director: Father Juan Pablo Davalos Phone: (956) 784-5060 Email: [email protected] Family Life Office Director: Lydia Pesina Phone: (956) 784-5012 San Juan Diego Ministry Institute Director: Deacon Luis Zuniga Phone: (956) 784-5059 Building and Property Director: Javier Solis Phone: (956) 784-5058 Youth Ministry Director: Angel Barrera Phone: (956) 784-5042 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.CDOBYM.org Health Ministries-Hospital Chaplains Director: Father Edouard Atangana, STL Phone: (956) 784-5007 E-mail: [email protected] Catholic Schools Superintendent: Lisette Allen Phone: (956) 787-5051 E-mail: [email protected] Development Office Director: Rosie Rodriguez Phone: (956) 787-5095 Deacon Formation Director: Father Francisco Solis Phone: (956) 784-5060 3 Former mayor talks about his faith, shares secret to life New speaker series launched for young Catholic professionals By EVANA ZAMORA The Valley Catholic McALLEN — Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “God does not require that we be successful, only that we be faithful.” This thought became the theme of the first Association of Young Catholic Professionals (AYCP) meeting on April 1 hosted by the Campus and Young Adult Ministry (CYAM) office. “In the professional world, it seems like you sometimes have to choose between the faith that you have always known and the career that you have always wanted,” said Monica Benitez, who works with the Office of Youth Ministry. On the contrary, Jesus calls us to live out our faith in every place. To start the association, the CYAM office researched the needs of young adults in the Diocese of Brownsville. Many young adult professionals are searching for more in their lives and in their community. “I had a hard time after college finding that group that was in between who are just starting their careers and trying to meet new people who were Catholic,” said Gabrielle Espinoza Courtesy photo 5LFKDUG&RUWH]WKHIRUPHUPD\RURI0F$OOHQVHUYHGDVWKHÀUVWJXHVWVSHDNHUDWWKH ÀUVW$VVRFLDWLRQRI<RXQJ&DWKROLF3URIHVVLRQDOV$<&3PHHWLQJRQ$SULO a parishioner from St. Joseph the Worker Church in McAllen. The goal of the association is to attract uncommitted young Catholic professionals between the ages of 21 to 39 to a relationship with their Catholic faith. Miguel Santos, director of the CYAM for the Diocese of Brownsville said he proposes that an outreach to young professionals address their needs as “professionals.” He said some of these outreach efforts may address “a deeper meaning to their work and their lives; finding balance and self-care; expanding their network with other principle-centered business con- tacts; creating a forum to mentor and be mentored; and enhancing their professional skills set.” The AYCP will feature a speaker series where respected community members can share testimonials on how God has been present in their lives. Richard Cortez, the former mayor of McAllen, served as the first guest speaker. He advised the young professionals in attendance, “Never run out of happiness, which is living your life for the Lord. This is the secret to life.” AYCP members said it was a humbling experience to witness a politician speak so beautifully about his faith, the demands of his career, and his commitment to family time. Cortez ended his presentation by giving his cell phone number to those in attendance. He said, “If there is anything I can do, I’ll be happy to do it.” At the end of the meeting, Benitez said, “I was really impressed! He really tied faith with his work.” The CYAM office is bridging the gap between young adults fresh out of college who are starting their professions to discern about the paths in life that they are taking. The CYAM office invites all young adult professionals from the ages of 21-39 to come together in fellowship, networking, and personal growth based on a common Catholic identity. They will be hosting monthly meetings every first Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with speakers at each meeting. The next AYCP meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at Tony Roma’s on S. 10th in McAllen. For additional information contact Miguel Santos (956)784-5093. $<&30((7,1* Date: Tuesday, May 6 Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Tony Roma’s, S. 10th St., McAllen For more information: (956) 784-5093 Bringing “The Passion,” music to prision Courtesy Photo Performers believe in feeding souls with beauty From left Eric Genuis, a renowned classical pianist; Jaime Hinojosa, jail minister volunteer from St Joseph the Worker McAllen; and Doug Barry from the apostolate Radix. By OFELIA DE LOS SANTOS The Valley Catholic EDINBURG — “If you immerse them [prisoners] in God – in beauty - you feed their souls,” said Eric Genuis, a renowned classical pianist who brought his music to Segovia Prison Unit in Edinburg on March 26. Thanks to the generosity of a group of Catholic lawyers organized by the “Real Men Pray the Rosary” apostolate, Genuis and his close friend Doug Barry, founder of the apostolate Radix, shared their love of Christ and their talents with 87 inmates and several officers, including Warden Philip Rodriguez. Barry performed his one-man Passion play and was accompanied by Genuis. “In removing beauty, you remove God,” Genuis said as he talked about their visit to the Rio Grande Valley where he also performed at five local parishes ending with a performance at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan— National Shrine on March 28. He described the starkness and “unbeauty” of prisons and life inside the walls. He explained that without beauty, “doing time” becomes unbearable. But when you allow God’s beauty to enter into this environment, even for an hour or two, miracles can happen and men and women are open and receptive to his (God’s) grace. Genuis is both a composer and pianist as well as a motivational speaker who is spirit-filled and has a real zeal for souls. He met and became close friends with Barry, who is also a motivational speaker, in 1997 at a conference and they became fast friends and Catholic evangelists for Christ. He describes his best friend in this manner: “Doug is the most dynamic speaker I have ever heard. He is so compelling that the educated, men, women and children, and evangelists listen to his program and are truly moved and many times converted.” Barry, a cradle Catholic who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska underwent a profound conversion around the age of 20 when he heard about Our Lady of Fatima and her visit to three children in Portugal in 1917. He heard the story from his aunt, a devout Catholic who spent time weekly in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. His mother, who introduced him to the Blessed Mother, also had an impact in his conversion as a young adult. What impressed him the most, he related, was the children’s vision of hell and the fact that Our Lady of Fatima foretold that the World War would end soon, (it ended in 1918) and that another worse world war was coming if people did not listen to her Son. “The fact that our Blessed Mother would come to warn us – well, you don’t have to have a degree to recognize truth when you hear it,” he said. It was at this point in his life, Barry said, that he began to tell the story of the Crucifixion to high school youths in CCD class. He did his research on crucifixion in Roman times and impressed upon the students the harsh reality of this form of torture and death. Later, Genuis began to add background music to Barry’s reenactment of the crucifixion. “In a sense,” Barry said, “if man doesn’t turn to God – his family falls apart. And if a woman doesn’t turn to God – she becomes an object to be disrespected and not loved.” When Barry met Genuis at a ministry conference, it was as if they had always known each other. Their ministries so complemented each other’s that they began to work together, he said. Barry’s one-man performance of “the Passion” is truly inspiring and riveting. For a solid hour, the men at Segovia prison were mesmerized by the performance. Although in broad daylight, in a plain stark education classroom bereft of props or costume, Doug made the passion of Christ come alive and one was transported in time and place. So impressed with his performance was Warden Rodriguez that he » Please see Passion, p.19 4 DIOCESE »Family Life Lydia Pesina Director, Family Life Office Learning to pace a dating relationship I n a time in history where as human beings we have become accustomed to instant messaging, instant coffee, fast foods, and instagrams and perhaps more fundamentally, “instant gratification”, it is important to recall that everything in life that is worthwhile is worth waiting for. In the Old Testament, we are reminded that there is a time for everything. “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die……a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. …a time to embrace and a time to be far from embraces...a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes Chapter 3) For several years now, I have periodically taught a course to singles that goes by two names: “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk or Jerkette” and The P.I.C. K. Program” (Pre-marital, Interpersonal, Choices and Knowledge). Although it is a secular program, it is easy to include some of the teachings of the Catholic Church. So what makes a person a “jerk” or “jerkette”? PERSISTENT RESISTANCE; when we persistently resist working on that which we know we need to work on. This concept goes well with the teaching of the Church that we are called to make our spouse a saint; to bring our spouse to holiness; to help our spouse be the best person God has created them to be. But the only person that we can change or improve is ourselves and not persistently resist doing so. Quick example: when my husband Mauri and I married almost 40 years ago, I was very stubborn and inflexible and although I still am to some extent, I have improved with his help; but ultimately I have to work on those defects daily and not be a The Valley Catholic - May 2014 Jerkette and say “Well, that’s just the way I am!” One of the most important goals in this course is to teach singles how to Pace a Relationship. Dr. John Van Epp who authors this research based course and the book by the same name developed what he calls a “Relationship Attachment Model” which contains 5 bonding elements: Know, Trust, Rely, Commit, and Touch. The Model emphasizes the importance of singles who are dating KNOW someone really well before they TRUST them; trust them extensively before they RELY heavily on them; and rely trustingly on them before they COMMIT to them, and have a COMMITMENT to them before TOUCH, before sexual intimacy. In Catholic Sacramental Marriage, that commitment is the Sacrament of Matrimony. I often tell singles that secular research is showing what the wisdom of the Church has taught for centuries: that sex is sacred and belongs in marriage, not before marriage or outside of marriage. The Church teaches that God created sex for two purposes and they both begin with the letter P: Procreation and Pleasure of husband and wife. And the P that definitely does not belong in marriage is Pornography which is a form of infidelity. Relationship research and psychologists are finding that pornography is one of the leading causes of marital problems, especially because it is so addictive and so accessible. The first bonding element of the RAM is KNOW. Singles are encouraged to KNOW 5 elements of their dating partner before they can really trust them. Using the acronym FACES, they are encourage to know F- Family background; AAttitudes, behavior, and the work of the conscience; C- Compatibility (emotional, intellectual, and spiritual); E- Experiences (especially past experiences); S – Skills (communication and problem solving skills). The Concept of PACING is one that does not apply only to singles that are dating, but perhaps to all of us who sometimes need to be reminded that just like a beautiful flower takes time to develop and flourish, that all relationships take time, talk, and togetherness. As a Christian community, let us pray daily for our youth and young adults; that the Holy Spirit guide them to learning how to prepare for lifelong marriage by learning how to pace a loving relationship that will assist them in becoming happy, healthy and holy. Chastity Rally set for May 17 The Apostolate for Life in the Diocese of Brownsville is hosting a Chastity Conference on Saturday, May 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle—National Shrine in San Juan. Father Carlos Zuniga, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Weslaco, and Father Andy Gutierrez from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in McAllen will be the guest speakers. The topics will center on Theology of the Body, Saint John Paul II’s teaching on love, life and human sexuality. Shortly after his elevation to the papacy, Pope John Paul II delivered a series of Wednesday “audiences” over a five-year span presenting what was to become known as the “Theology of the Body.” Over the course of his talks, the pope explained what the body means as a sign of the person and the person’s call to be a gift, and how it reveals the nature of God and his plan for mankind. The Chastity rally on May 17 will include praise and worship, talks, testimonies, and Benediction. For additional information about call Cecilia Batungbacal at (956) 566-1999. »Women speak for themselves en la Frontera What I swore I would never do Y ou can learn a lot about people by who they hold up as heroes. My first hero was Pippi Longstocking. Remember her? The freckle-faced girl with two red braids sticking straight out. She was stronger than Popeye, wore huge shoes (to give her room to grow), had a pet monkey and a treasure chest full of gold. But the best thing about her was that she lived alone. What a lucky girl, so strong and independent. I wanted to be just like her. A few years later in high school I discovered my next hero, artist Georgia O’Keeffe. I was not a particular fan of her art. No, what I loved about Georgia O’Keefe was that she lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but her husband lived in New York City. What a perfect way to live -- I thought -- across the country from your husband. I had not gotten ideas like this from my own parents. They had a very long and happy marriage. But for some reason I had this independent streak that made me think I didn’t need anyone else, especially not a man. The thought of growing up, marrying, having children and a white picket fence never even entered my mind. And I ridiculed and humiliated any of my friends who may have entertained such dreams. When I left home for college I knew very little about the feminist movement and “women’s rights,” but I learned quickly. Women don’t cook, sew or clean. That was not a problem for me. I had no desire to do any of those out-dated jobs. Since the beginning of time women had been treated as hardly better than helpful farm animals, I was taught. No woman was ever happy slaving for some ungrateful husband and a bunch of kids. And this whole pregnancy thing was just a patriarchal conspiracy to Faith Ballesteros Guest Columnist keep women in servitude so their husbands could live in comfort and luxury. But now women could throw off those oppressive shackles of hearth and home. That, in a nutshell, is what I learned in college. No kidding. So I made sure to do everything I could do to be the opposite of feminine or womanly. I didn’t want to be a part of that conspiracy to hold women back from their full potential. After college I went out into the world and did what lots of college graduates do. I waited tables. I also worked any other job I could find that I was qualified for, mostly answering phones and typing. Is this how I’m going to spend my entire life? I wondered. Typing? Serving up coffee refills? I was sure that I was going to become powerful and successful once I figured out what I was really good at. I would probably even become famous. In the meantime, however, life often felt very empty, and I sometimes struggled with depression. I never, ever heard in college or from society in general that there was any value in having a family. Getting married was something that people used to do. But we were too advanced for old-fashioned lifestyles like marriage. That was really, truly what I believed. I had been raised in a Christian home by loving parents, but for some reason these worldly ideas were very attractive to me, and I soaked them up like a sponge. I had rejected God (they taught me that in college too) and any notion of marriage as being a holy union meant to bring forth new life in His image. After four years of college and a bit of world travel, I had become completely secularized. But all along my patient parents were praying for me like crazy. With every hair-brained idea I had they just kept smiling and praying. As a mother, I know now that I must have caused my own mother more than a few new gray hairs. Then one day things changed. I met Pedro. And from the moment he introduced himself to me and took my hand in his, I knew I was going to marry him. I don’t mean, I hoped I would marry him. No. I knew without a doubt that I would marry him. I wasn’t looking for love. Well, actually deep down I was longing for love and peace to fill my empty soul. But until that point I couldn’t admit it because that would mean swallowing my pride. Feminist pride is a tough barrier to overcome; but love was stronger. We were immature and had no desire to allow God into our lives at first, but he blessed us anyway. Thanks to our mothers’ prayers, I’m sure. We were crazy about each other from day one. Seventeen years and seven kids later, we are still crazy about each other. Only now we thank God for being at the center of our family. After years of living as far away from God as I could I finally realized that he had been taking care of me all along. And that if I wanted to raise a happy, healthy family in this crazy world, I would need his guidance. Thankfully, Pedro was a cradle Catholic and insisted that if we were going to go to church it had to be the Catholic Church. I embraced my beautiful new Catholic Faith, and have never looked back. » Please see What I Swore, p.19 Recognized for helping others Social Work Student of the Year Award presented Special to The Valley Catholic SAN BENITO — Alma Gonzalez, development coordinator for La Posada Providencia in San Benito, was honored with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Lower Rio Grande Valley Branch’s Social Work Student of the Year Award at a banquet on March 26. She was nominated for the award by Estela Sosa Garza, a professor at the University of TexasPan American in Edinburg, where Gonzalez is pursuing a master’s degree in social work. She is on schedule to graduate in August. Garza cited her outstanding contribution to the goals and mission of the social work profession as a masters-level student and by the work she has accomplished with La Posada Providencia, an emergency shelter in San Benito for immigrants, asylum seekers and asylees recently processed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We are very proud of Alma,” said Sister Zita Telkamp of the Sisters of Divine Providence, program director for La Posada Providencia. “She has added so much value to La Posada’s program since she first started working with us as an intern in 2013 and now as development coordinator.” “This award means so much to me,” Gonzalez said. “I am very grateful to Professor Estela Sosa, the NASW, and my university for giving me this honor. The social work profession is concerned with helping others and promoting social justice; I am so fortunate to work with an agency like La Posada that centers on the values of a profession I’m passionate about.” According to the NASW, this honor is bestowed upon a single social work student in a graduate or undergraduate program annually. Nominees and award recipients must demonstrate leadership; commitment to social justice; commitment to clients; commitment to the profession of social work; and an integration of social work knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in the classroom and in the professional field. Gonzalez, 24, is now under consideration for the state of Texas Social Work Student of the Year award. Gonzalez, who is originally from Mexico, was raised in La Feria. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Courtesy Photo /D3RVDGD·V'HYHORSPHQW&RRUGLQDWRU Alma Gonzalez, holds her Social Work 6WXGHQWRIWKH<HDU$ZDUGIURPWKH Lower Rio Grande Valley Branch of the 1DWLRQDO$VVRFLDWLRQRI6RFLDO:RUNHUV victims studies from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Her journey at La Posada Providencia began with an internship in January 2013. She joined the staff in October 2013. “The mission of helping the stranger is what motivates me every day,” Gonzalez said. “Hearing our clients’ stories and everything they go through to get to the United States, it’s inspiring. If it weren’t for La Posada, they would be out on the street.” May 2014 »Sunday Readings The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church MAY 4 ( Third Sunday of Easter) Reading 1: ACTS 2:14, 22-33 Responsorial Psalm: PS 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 Reading 2: 1 PT 1:17-21 Gospel: LK 24:13-35 MAY11 (Fourth Sunday of Easter) Reading 1: ACTS 2:14A, 36-41 AT THE MASS Reading 1 IS 50:4-7 Responsorial Psalm: PS 23:1-2A, 3B-4, 5, 6 Reading 2: Gospel: 1 PT 2:20B-25 JN 10:1-10 MAY 18 (Fifth Sunday of Easter) Reading 1: ACTS 6:1-7 Responsorial Psalm: PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 Reading 2: 1 PT 2:4-9 Gospel: JN 14:1-12 MAY 25 (Sixth Sunday of Easter) Reading 1: DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17 Responsorial Psalm: PS 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Reading 2: 1 PT 3:15-18 Gospel: JN 14:15-21 The word of the Lord abides for ever. This word is the Gospel which was preached to you” (1 Pet 1:25; cf. Is 40:8). With this assertion from the First Letter of Saint Peter, which takes up the words of the Prophet Isaiah, we find ourselves before the mystery of God, who has made himself known through the gift of his word. This word, which abides for ever, entered into time. God spoke his eternal Word humanly; his Word “became flesh” (Jn 1:14). This is the good news. This is the proclamation which has come down the centuries to us today. Prayer cenacle planned May 7 During the month of Mary, May, The Marian Movement of Priests is holding national prayer cenacles throughout the United States. The Rio Grande Valley prayer cenacle is scheduled at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 7 at St. Pius X Church, 600 S. Oklahoma, in Weslaco with Father Carlos Zuniga. After Mass, participants will gather in the conference center to pray the Rosary, see a presentation by Monsignor Leonard Pivonka from the Corpus Christi Diocese. Msgr. Pivonka is the area director for the Marian Movement of Priests of South Texas and participates in the prayer of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. All are welcome. Admission is free. For more information contact Mary Reyna at (956) 968-2724 or Gloria Garcia (956) 566-7828. 5 »Making Sense of Bioethics Path of renewal for Catholic sterilized couple A mong married men and women who undergo surgical sterilization through a vasectomy or a tubal ligation, it has been estimated that anywhere from ten to twenty percent will come to regret the choice. Sometimes there may be an immediate awareness of wrongdoing following the surgery, while in other cases, as Patrick Coffin, radio host and author of Sex au Naturel notes, sterilized couples may “…drift for years before acknowledging that something between them is no longer in sync. After the initial pregnancy fear subsides, and the vision of 1001 erotic nights turns out be something of a scam, spouse may (subtly) turn against spouse while doing their best to ignore the silent, disturbing ‘presence’ of the choice they made.” Their decision to seek out a permanent form of contraception can also affect their marriage in other important ways. As Dr. John Billings has noted: there is “an effect that is even more tragic than the clinical, and it is that in many cases the use of contraceptive methods in marriage has been followed by an act of infidelity of one of the members. It would seem that contraception diminishes the mutual respect of husband and wife... Additionally, the abandoning of self-control diminishes the capacity to exercise this self-dominion outside the marriage.” The “abandonment of selfcontrol” that can follow permanent sterilization raises ongoing spiritual and moral challenges for couples who later repent and confess the sin of having undergone Tadeusz Pacholczyk Priest of the Diocese of Fall River a vasectomy or a tubal ligation. A unique and vexing problem arises because sterilized individuals may find themselves, as Patrick Coffin observes, “sorely tempted to delight in the very sex-withoutbabies mentality that led to the sterilization in the first place.” Repentant couples, out of an abundance of spiritual caution, may thus wonder what they should do, and whether they are obliged to get a surgical reversal of the procedure. The Church has never declared this to be a required step, in part because of the risks and burdens associated with surgical interventions, in part because of the high uncertainty of a successful outcome, and in part because of the potentially significant expenses involved. Even though a reversal may not be feasible or obligatory, the repentant couple may nonetheless become aware of the need to order their sexual activity and appetites in the face of their original sterilization decision and its extended consequences. They may recognize a pressing interior need to grow in the virtue of marital chastity and to engage in a lifestyle that authentically embodies their new, albeit delayed, rejection of the contraceptive mentality. In these situations, clergy and spiritual advisors will often encourage couples to pattern their sex life on the same cycle of periodic abstinence that fertile couples follow when using Natural Family Planning (NFP). During times of abstinence, the couples actively exercise self-control, thereby reordering the sensual and sexual appetites. This strengthens spouses in their resolve not to reduce each other to objects for pursuing sexual self-gratification. This is important because various forms of contraception, including permanent sterilization, often involve the phenomenon of the woman feeling as if she is being “used” by her husband. Abstinence, therefore, assists couples in learning to express their mutual love in other ways. St. John Paul II explains this perspective in his famous work Love and Responsibility: “Inherent in the essential character of continence as a virtue is the conviction that the love of man and woman loses nothing as a result of temporary abstention from erotic experiences, but on the contrary gains: the personal union takes deeper root, grounded as it is above all in the affirmation of the value of the person and not just in sexual attachment.” In one of his weekly general audiences later as Pope, he further notes that “…continence itself is a definite and permanent moral attitude; it is a virtue, and therefore, the whole line of conduct guided by it acquires a virtuous character.” Fertile couples who incorporate NFP into their marriages to avoid a conception often end up acquiring a different attitude » Please see Bioethics, p.19 “You will be my witnesses” to the ends of the earth “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?’” (Acts of the Apostles 1:8-11). With these words the Lord Jesus bids farewell to the Apostles before the Ascension and it is these words that express in essence the vocation of every Christian. However, He does promise before leaving that the Holy Spirit will come upon them to help in proclaiming and spreading the good news to all people, everywhere and at all times and to all the world. This is what the New Evangelization is really all about to be witnesses of Christ to the world. Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, we are called to be missionaries and witnesses of Christ as we cooperate with God in the salvation of all humanity. Often in the world we live today it seems like if the Lord Jesus is asking us “Are you my witnesses? The invitation is for each one of us baptized to answer as we commit Deacon Luis Zuniga Director, Office for Pastoral Planning & San Juan Diego Ministry Institute. ourselves to the work of evangelization. Either that or we just stand there looking up ‘staring at the sky’ as did the Apostles until they fully realized the command of Christ to go to the ends of the earth. “How often do we fail to realize that we are called to be Christ’s witnesses to the world? Do we realize that our Baptism, Confirmation, and reception of the Eucharist bestow on us the grace we need to be disciples? Are we like the disciples staring at the sky rather than inviting those around us to experience Christ’s love and mercy through the Church? How often do we reach out to our missing brothers and sisters by inviting them to join us at Mass or by asking why they no longer feel welcomed at the Lord’s Table? The answers to these questions underlie the evangelizing mission of the Church, especially in the call of the New Evangelization.” (Disciples Called to Witness, Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, USCCB, 2012). In 1983, Blessed John Paul II began calling for a “new evangelization” not in content, but in ardor, methods and expressions of evangelization to engage the present day culture during a speech to the XIX Ordinary Assembly of CELAM (Catholic Bishops of Latin America) in Port au Prince Haiti. His pontificate focused on the New Evangelization and emphasized that evangelization occurs most effectively when the Church engaged the culture of those she evangelizes. It was then that Blessed John Paul II used the term “New Evangelization” as the theological concept for proclaiming the Gospel anew to those already evangelized. In 1990 his intention became a lot clearer in the Encyclical Letter: Redemptoris misssio (Latin for Mission of the Redeemer, on the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate) “The proclamation of the Word of God has Christian conversion as its aim; a complete and sincere adherence to Christ and his Gospel through faith” (RM, 46). The Encyclical mentions three circumstances for evangelization: (1) preaching to those who have never heard the Gospel (ad gentes), (2) preaching to those Christian communities where the Church is present and who have fervor in their faith, and (3) preaching to those Christian com» Please see Witnesses, p.17 CNS photo/courtesy of St. Andrei Rublev Icons St. Rita of Cascia is depicted in an icon E\)DWKHU:LOOLDP+DUW0F1LFKROV7KH image shows the wound she had on her IRUHKHDGDPRUWLÀFDWLRQVKHVDLGZDV FDXVHGE\&KULVW·VFURZQRIWKRUQV6KH is remembered for her deep devotion and her care of sick nuns. »Feast Day - May 22 Spotlight on St. Rita of Cascia On May 22, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, who St. John Paul II called “a disciple of the Crucified One” and an “expert in suffering.” Known in Spain as “la santa de lo imposible” (the saint of the impossible), St. Rita has become immensely popular throughout the centuries. She is invoked by people in all situations and stations of life, since she had embraced suffering with charity and wrongs with forgiveness in the many trials she experienced in her life: as a wife, widow, a mother surviving the death of her children, and a nun. Born in 1386 in Roccaparena, Umbria, St. Rita was married at the age of 12 to a violent and ill-tempered husband. He was murdered 18 years later and she forgave his murderers, praying that her twin sons, who had sworn to avenge their father’s death may also forgive. She was granted this grace, and her sons, who died young, died reconciled to God. The saint heard the call to become a nun in the Augustinian convent at Cascia, but was refused entry at first. She asked the intercession of Sts. Augustine, Mary Magadalene and John the Baptist and was finally allowed to enter the convent where she lived the last 40 years of her life in prayer, mortification and service to the people of Cascia. For the last 15 years of her life she received a stigmata-like thorn wound in answer to her prayers to be more profoundly conformed to the passion of the Lord Jesus. Rita was bedridden for the last four years of her life, consuming almost nothing except for the Eucharist. She died of tuberculosis at the age of 70 on May 22, 1456. On the 100th anniversary of her canonization in 2000, St. John Paul II noted her remarkable qualities as a Christian woman: “Rita interpreted well the ‘feminine genius’ by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.” St. Rita was canonized in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. She is the patron saint of impossible causes, sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marriage difficulties, parenthood, widows, the sick, bodily ills and wounds. 6 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - May 2014 Students learn about poverty, faith response Local winners announced for CCHD Multi-Media Youth Contest The Valley Catholic Alicia Rodriguez, Mobile Journalist /The Valley Catholic Above: Following a Mass in honor of World Day for Consecrated Life at the Basilica RI2XU/DG\RI6DQ-XDQGHO9DOOH1DWLRQDO6KULQHRQ)HEPRELOHMRXUQDOLVWVIURP St. Joseph Church in Donna joined Father Simon Brzozowski and Father Francis $VLVL(ND<XDQWRURSULHVWVRIWKH0LVVLRQDULHVRI-HVXVRIWKH+RO\)DPLO\7KH mobile journalists who were on assignment are from left Maria Rodriguez, Gabriela Hernandez, Andrea Rodriguez, Flor Hernandez and Jimena Rodriguez. Special to The Valley Catholic EDINBURG — Shalom Media USA Inc. launched Shalom World television network on Divine Mercy Sunday April 27. The new 24/7 Catholic family channel offers original programming as well as programming from ministries and production houses from around the world. The channel has received wellwishes from many in the Catholic Church. “What a pleasure it is for me to welcome and thank those who [will] view Shalom World TV!” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky and president of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò said, “It is a joy [to] see that your television is dedicated for the New Evangelization and addresses to the young people the message of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who should reach you through this very important media.” Shalom ministries started in Kerala, South India with a mission to share the peace of Christ (John 14:27) using all modern means of mass communication, including television, publishing, and social media. His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis is the Chief Patron of Shalom ministries and Chevalier Benny Punnathara serves as chairman. Several phases are planned for the distribution of Shalom World. On the launch date, the channel became available on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google TV, Samsung TV, Android Tablets/Phones, and Apple iOS Phones/iPad, and is live streamed on www.ShalomWorld. org. The ministry is working to bring the channel to Apple TV, DISH Network, Direct TV, ATT U-verse, and Verizon FiOS in subsequent phases. Broadcasts will be done from Shalom Media USA’s playout station in Edinburg. Complementing the main office are seven production houses in the United States and three in Canada. Mobile journalist Andrea Rodriguez interviews a family to learn about the colonias in the Rio Grande Valley. THE VALLEY’S CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY Offering PhD, Master’s and Bachelor’s APPLY NOW PhD in Leadership Studies MBA in Healthcare Management MBA in Management MS in Organizational Leadership BAS in Computer Information Systems and Security MH;> N= O Shalom Media USA launches new Catholic channel 7RSOHIW-XDQ'LHJR$FDGHP\VWXGHQWV(VWHEDQ&HSHGDDQG)LQQ%XUQVFUHDWHGD 3RYHUW\%R[WRKLJKOLJKWWKHGLIIHUHQWLVVXHVWKDWGHDOZLWKSRYHUW\ BG @ “True Hunger: Hear the Cry of the Colonias” submitted by the Mobile Journalists – Gabriela Hernandez, Flor Hernandez, Alicia Rodriguez, Andrea Rodriguez, Jimena Rodriguez and Maria Rodriguez from St. Joseph Church in Donna The short video provided an opportunity for the youth from St. Joseph Church to gather and visit the colonias in Donna. The youths interviewed different families to get to know more about the living conditions and their struggles. In the course of IKH SAN JUAN — The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Multi-Media Youth Contest is a tool to engage young people in grades 7-12 in learning about poverty in the U.S., its root causes, and faith-inspired efforts to address it, especially through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Through the contest, young people learn about poverty, its causes, and our faith response and then become educators themselves as they use their art to creatively communicate what they have learned. For this year’s theme “Build Community! Put Two Feet of Love in Action” students submitted a variety of projects. The contest included two divisions: 7th-9th grade and 10th-12th grade. Any form of multi-media work was welcome for the contest. The first place winner in each division will compete in the national contest. Results from the national contest will be made available as they develop. In the 7th to 9th-grade division, first place went to the project their interviews they learned that the families in the colonias “hungered” for more catechesis. Throughout the video a song played that was written and sung by the group. In the 10th to 12th grade division, a Poverty Box constructed by Juan Diego Academy students Esteban Cepeda and Finn Burns garnered first place in the Poverty Division. The “Poverty Box” included four smaller boxes inside to represent four important issues in poverty – Food, Politics, Education, and the Health System. The concept is to show how these four issues trap people in poverty. The work shows common causes and solutions to problems in impoverished areas. The quotes on the outside of the box are there to show common statistics about poverty. The video “Making a Difference,” produced by Nozomi Garcia, Ben Garcia, Stephan Lin and Matthew Mercado, earned second place. The team is from Juan Diego Academy in Mission. The short video captivates devastation and hope. The youth filmed a neighbor in poor living conditions to show how poverty can strike anywhere. The contest receives support from RCL Benziger, publisher of Catholic religious education materials for parishes, schools and families since 1792. M A >K Classes offered every other weekend to accommodate working adults MH;> N= LEARN MORE www.ollusa.edu/Valley CALL 956-277-0146 OR EMAIL [email protected] w w w. o l l u s a . e d u Catholic higher education and service, sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, since 1895 May 2014 YOUTH - The Valley Catholic »Hope in Action: A Spotlight on Youth 7 For the music High school sacristan devotes time to parish Special to The Valley Catholic Daniel Ortegon from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in McAllen was nominated for this month’s “Hope in Action: A Spotlight on Youth.” “Danny is an amazing young man. He is kind, caring, and loves to serve,” said Paco Castellanos, youth minister at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. “I have seen him grow from a shy person to an outstanding leader and speaker. His faith and love for God and the Church is an inspiration to all our teens at Our Lady of Sorrows. It has been a blessing to know him and work with him. Our parish is blessed to have Daniel Ortegón him.” Name: Daniel Ortegon School/Grade: I attend McAllen Memorial High School and I’m in 12th grade. What I do at (local Catholic parish): I am a sacristan and I also help our youth group with retreats and service projects. I try to lead by example. Talents/Gifts: One of the things I do outside of Church is play soccer. I’ve been playing ever since I could walk and I love it now more than ever. Best Movie Ever: I would have to say that my favorite movie Courtesy photo 7KH5LR*UDQGH9DOOH\0XVLF)HVWLYDOUHFHQWO\DZDUGHG6W-RVHSK6FKRROLQ(GLQEXUJZLWK a check for $3,000 toward the music needs of the school. From left Father Gregory Labus, SDVWRURI6W-RVHSK3DULVK(DUO:LHULQJDQG9HURQLFD6WDUNIHVWLYDOWUXVWHHVDQG6LVWHU +HOHQ5RWWLHULQWHULPSULQFLSDORI6W-RVHSK6FKRRO7KH5LR*UDQGH9DOOH\0XVLF)HVWLYDO LVDQRQSURÀWJURXSZKLFKUDLVHVIXQGVWRGLVWULEXWHWRWKHPXVLFGHSDUWPHQWVRIYDOOH\ schools. Visit www.rgvmf.com for more information. Peformers in musical “Beauty and the Beast” Courtesy Daniel Ortegon, a senior at McAllen Memorial High School, volunteers as a sacristan at 2XU/DG\RI6RUURZV&KXUFK+HVD\VKHLVLQLQVSLUHGE\0RWKHU7HUHVD is “The Breakfast Club”, because it makes you realize that we all have more in common than differences. Most Listened to Song on My iPod?: A song that I listen to a lot is Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where Feet May fail)”. A good friend of mine Saul Balandrano told me about it and it’s become one of my favorites. TV Show I Never Miss: I don’t keep up with a lot of shows on TV but I do keep up with soccer games. I usually can’t see games live because of school, so I record them and watch them late at night when I am finally done with everything I have to do that day. Book I’d Read Again (and Again): My youth minister let me borrow a book called “A Simple Path”. This book talks about Mother Teresa’s life and way of thinking. She is truly an inspiration to me because she dedicated her life to helping people in need all over the world, and I hope to one day be like her and live the way she lived. » Please see sacristan, p.17 ,PPDFXODWH&RQFHSWLRQ&DWKHGUDO *LIW6KRSDQG0XVHXP 1158 East Jefferson Street Brownsville, Texas, 78520 Tel: 956-546-9927 Courtesy photo 7KUHH6W$QWKRQ\&DWKROLF6FKRROJUDGXDWHV²(PLO\6ZDUW]&KDUOHV.HOOHUDQG'HQLVFH 3DODFLRVUHFHQWO\SHUIRUPHGLQWKHPXVLFDO´%HDXW\DQGWKH%HDVWµDW6W-RVHSK $FDGHP\LQ%URZQVYLOOH6ZDUW]DQG3DODFLRVJUDGXDWHGIURPWK*UDGHDW6W$QWKRQ\ &DWKROLF6FKRROLQ+DUOLQJHQLQDQGDUHQRZMXQLRUVDW6W-RVHSK$FDGHP\ZKLOH .HOOHULVQRZDVRSKRPRUHDW6W-RVHSK OPEN 10AM-5PM Monday - Saturday The source for Catholic Religious Articles sure to enhance your spiritual journey! Come see our large selection of statues! Bibles & Missals Spiritual Reading Rosaries Prayer Cards & DVD’s Visit the Diocese of Brownsville’s website at www.cdob.org 8 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - May 2014 » Mariachi Festival Bringing families together through music The Valley Catholic 0XVLFÀOOHGWKHDLUDVPDULDFKL bands from around the Rio Grande Valley gathered at the Basilica of Our Lady of San -XDQGH9DOOH²1DWLRQDO6KULQH for their third annual Mariachi FRQFHUW7KH\IHDWXUHGWKHLU professional house mariachi band amongst other local middle schools, high schools and professional groups who shared their gift of music on )HEDQG0DUFK/\GLD 3HVLQDGLUHFWRURIWKH)DPLO\ /LIH2IÀFHVHYHUHGDVPDVWHU of ceremonies for the evening. 3HVLQDLVDIRUPHUWUXPSHW player for the Mariachi Las 5DQFKHULWDVWKHÀUVWDOOIHPDOH Mariachi in the United States. Now Registering Visit our schools in your area and experience Communities of Faith..QRZOHGJH.Service St. Joseph Academy St. Anthony School Brownsville *UDGHVWKWK www.sja.us Harlingen *UDGHV3.WK www.saintanthonyeagles.com ,QFDUQDWH:RUG$FDGHP\ 6DQ0DUWLQGH3RUUHV6FKRRO Our Lady of Guadalupe School Mission *UDGHV3.WK ww.olgcatholicschool.com Juan Diego Academy Brownsville *UDGHV3.WK iw-academy.org Weslaco *UDGHV3NWK www.smdpcs.com Mission *UDGHVWKWKDGGLQJWKLQWKHIDOO www.juandiegoacademy.org Guadalupe Regional Middle School Oratory Academy ,PPDFXODWH&RQFHSWLRQ6FKRRO Brownsville *UDGHVWKWK http://guadalupe.schoolfusion.us 3KDUU *UDGHV3.WK www.oratoryschools.org 6W0DU\·V6FKRRO Our Lady of Sorrows School Brownsville *UDGHV3.WK www.stmarys-cs.org McAllen *UDGHV3.WK www.olssnet.org St. Luke School St. Joseph School Brownsville *UDGHV3.WK www.stlukecs.org Edinburg *UDGHV3.WK www.stjoseph-edinburg.org for the 2014-2015 school year Rio Grande City *UDGHV3.WK www.icsrio.org &DWKROLF6FKRROV2IÀFH Tuition Assistance Available 19LUJHQGH6DQ-XDQ 6DQ-XDQ7H[DV V. Lisette Allen, Superintendent “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” May 2014 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic 9 »Pilgrimage Close to Home Spending time with our Lord Visit to seven Altars of Repose an ancient tradition By BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS The Valley Catholic BROWNSVILLE — This past Triduum my husband and I shared St. Anthony Church, Harlingen a new pilgrimage experience, new to us as it is actually an ancient tradition of visiting seven Altars of Repose on Holy Thursday. The practice is linked to the early Christian custom of visiting sites which were significant to Christ’s Passion. In Rome, pilgrims visit seven basilicas (St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Lawrence Outside the Cesar Riojas/The Valley Catholic Walls and St. Sebastian). In recent St. Joseph Church, Brownsville Bishop Daniel E. Flores kneels in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament following the Mass of the Last Supper on times, when seven churches are not possible, making it to at least three $SULOLQ%URZQVYLOOH sacraments of initiation and St. suffices. Luke Church, my parish church Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to I had heard about the tradition, until I moved away and where we but had not paid much attention his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” were married 26 years ago. The until an intern last year recounted pilgrimage filled us with immense Mt 26:36 how he and his friends delighted in joy. We also visited Holy Famtheir visit from one church to the ily Church in Brownsville and St. next. Bishop Emeritus Raymundo Benedict Church in San Benito. J. Peña for years practiced the traAs empty nesters we are still dition, and Bishop Daniel E. Flores adjusting to our children, young shared photos of his own visits on adults now, living away from his blog one year. home. I miss our family tradition Bishop Flores said it gives him of walking the Stations of the Cross great joy to see how the faithful pretogether on Good Friday and prepare a place to receive the Lord after paring Easter baskets and painting the Sacrament is taken in procescascarones in the days leading up to sion at the end the Holy Thursday Easter. liturgy, and to see young people and Our Thursday pilgrimage took families spending time in adoration us on a nostalgic “This is your and prayer. The procession with the life” tour. Fue un recordido de meSacrament symbolizes the Lord go- Holy Family Church, Brownsville morias. As we visited the different ing out to face the Passion. churches in Brownsville we drove For my husband and I it was a St. Benedict Church, San Benito past places bursting with history grace-filled experience and a perfrom our youth and growing years. fect start to the Triduum. God’s We drove by both our elementary graces overflowed that evening as schools and playgrounds that are we visited the Altars of Repose at nearly gone now; we passed by my seven different churches. We starthusband’s middle school and our ed at the Immaculate Conception high school – Homer Hanna High; Cathedral in Brownsville and made we passed by old neighborhoods, our way to our home parish St. Anfavorite hamburger joints, streets thony Church in Harlingen. where I learned to drive. My husband and I chose Each Altar of Repose affordchurches that connected us to our ed us time with Christ, time for families and sacraments. Among prayer, and time to remember the the churches we visited were Our blessings in our lives, and always Lady of Guadalupe Church where I was baptized; St. Joseph Church St. Luke Church, Brownsville » Please see Pilgrimage, p.16 where my husband received all his “ Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville 10 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic -May 2014 Father Jim Pfeifer, OMI February 16, 1927 - April 23, 2014 The Valley Catholic Father James E. Pfeifer of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate passed away peacefully on April 23, surrounded by family in his residence at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, in Mission, TX. Father Pfeifer served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in McAllen and Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. For the last five years, he had been assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe where he lived with his Chihuahua, Fritz. Father James Edward Pfeifer, OMI, born in Alamo, Texas on February 16, 1927. He entered St. Peter’s Novitiate on June 28, 1945, in Mission, Texas and professed vows as a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on June 29, 1946. Having completed his studies in philosophy at the DeMazenod Scholasticate, now Oblate School of Theology, in San Antonio, Texas, Father Pfeifer traveled to Rome, Italy to complete his studies in theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on October 28, 1951, at Santa Maria in Vallicella, known as Chiesa Nuova, in Rome, Italy, by Bishop Alloysio Traglia. He earned a Licentiate in Theology in 1952 from the Pontifical Gregorian University, in Rome. Father Pfeifer taught at St. Anthony minor seminary in San Antonio for a year before he returned to Rome, where he spent 10 years. He had many assignments in Houston, San Antonio and Falfurrias before he made it back to the Valley in 1975. He served as a chaplain and counselor at the Charter Palms Hospital in McAllen, a center for people seeking treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction; pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in McAllen and Our Lady of The Valley Catholic Guadalupe Church in Mission. )DWKHU-LP3IHLIHUZDVVHUYLQJDV3DURFKLDO “He was a great partner and a Vicar under reduced active ministry at Our great man. A real man’s man and /DG\*XDGDOXSH3DULVKLQ0LVVLRQ7H[DV priest’s priest... One who always took care of me... One day when The Vigil/Rosary was held at I went to ring the bells, I asked Jim to go with me. He got all fired Sacred Heart Parish in McAllen up. He was so weak… but said, on April 24 at 7 p.m., and a Mass ‘darn right I’m going with you. was celebrated on April 25 at Our We are goin’ wear our cowboy Lady of Guadalupe Parish, in hats, our Oblate crosses and ring Mission. The funeral Mass and the bells we have been ringin’ for 100 years… we aren’t goin’ to stop interment will take place at the now,’” said Oblate priest, Father Oblate Madonna Residence Roy Snipes, pastor of Our Lady of Chapel in San Antonio on Monday, May 5, 2014. Guadalupe Parish in Mission. Congratulations! The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary are finalists for the 2014 Lumen Christi Award. The Lumen Christi Award has a 37 year history of celebrating the most inspiring men and women across America who are helping to shine the light of Christ in mission dioceses. To find out more information about the Lumen Christi Award visit www.catholicextension.org. St. John the Baptist Church gets historical marker Special to The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN — San Juan Mayor San Juanita “Janie” Sanchez and Father Gerald Frank, pastor of St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in San Juan unveiled a Texas Historical Commission Marker at the church on March 23. During the official unveiling, athleen Frye, Hidalgo County Historical Commission (HCHC) member who wrote the marker application, read the inscription. Adela Ortega of Mission, HCHC Chairman, and Glenn Housley of Weslaco, Marker Chairman also participated the in the ceremony. The church was established in 1925 when Rev. Alphonse Jalbert, OMI, built a wooden chapel on Nebraska and Second Street, the first Catholic Church in San Juan. Designated a parish in 1949, its then Pastor Joe Azpiazu installed a replica of a statue of the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos in Jalisco, Mexico. This marked the beginning of the Virgen de San Juan del Valle. In 1954 a new St. John the Baptist Church/Shrine was built. In 1970 a tragic plane crash and fire destroyed the church/ shrine, but the statue and bell tower survived. In 1972 Bishop John J. Fitzpatrick of the Brownsville Diocese separated the Shrine from the Parish. In 1975 the new St. John the Baptist Church was Courtesy Photo 6W-RKQWKH%DSWLVW&DWKROLF&KXUFK :VW6WUHHWLQ6DQ-XDQDGMDFHQWWRWKH Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle ³1DWLRQDO6KULQHKRVWHGGHGLFDWLRQ FHUHPRQLHVIRUD7H[DV+LVWRULFDO &RPPLVVLRQPDUNHURQ0DUFK built beside the bell tower and was dedicated that year. In 1980 the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle was dedicated and became the new home of the statue. Meanwhile, the old wooden chapel was moved to Lopezville on the north side of San Juan, where it serves the spiritual needs of that neighborhood. St. John the Baptist Parish Church was recently remodeled. The dedication on March 23 celebrated the parish church and its storied history. May 2014 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic Those Who Serve: 11 Priests in the Diocese of Brownsville cHrism mass Renewal of vows, blessing of oils By VANESSA GONZALEZ The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN — The Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores, celebrated the chrism Mass on April 15 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. All priests from around the diocese gathered to bless the holy oils that are used throughout the year. Bishop Flores led the priests in a renewal of their priestly vows and a reflection on what it means to be a priest. During his homily, Bishop Flores emphasized the types of people Jesus associated with throughout his time on earth. He highlighted how Jesus approached those who were rejected. “By doing this, Christ served as an example to us, so that we may reach out to those who are most in need,” he said. Along with the rest of the assembly, Bishop Flores prayed for a blessed year in the community led by the priests in the diocese. As the prayers ended, members of each parish cheered on the name of their respected priest, some holding up signs in support. During the Mass, the bishop blessed the oils that will be used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination and the anointing of the sick throughout the year. Photos by Eduardo Elizondo and Rigoberto Ramirez Jr., Mobile Journalists /The Valley Catholic Hundreds of faithful from throughout the Rio Grande Valley joined Bishop Daniel E. Flores and their priests DWWKHFKULVP0DVVRQ$SULODWWKH%DVLOLFDRI2XU/DG\RI6DQ-XDQGHO9DOOH1DWLRQDO6KULQHIRUZKDW KDVEHHQWHUPHG´7KH*UHDW&RQFHOHEUDWLRQµRIWKH\HDU “The Great Concelebration” For photos from Holy Week and other events visit the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville facebook page 12 IN THE NEWS The Valley Catholic - May 2014 Jesus can raise everyone from the tomb of a dead, tired soul, pope says By CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Come out from the dark cave of pride, sin and death and into the light of a new life with Christ, Pope Francis said. “Take away the stone of shame” that is keeping you trapped inside a life that is dead or painful and be raised up again by Christ, he said in a homily April 6. The pope also gave away thousands of copies of a pocketsized edition of the Gospels, telling people to always keep a copy with them to read snippets every day while in line or while commuting. But he said it was probably best not to read while standing in a crowded bus because it was better to keep an eye out for pickpockets. The pope’s remarks came during a late afternoon visit to the Church of St. Gregory the Great on the outskirts of Rome. Before he celebrated Mass, he met with young people, the sick and elderly and heard the confessions of a number of parishioners. In his homily and during his Angelus address at noon with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the pope spoke about the day’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of John (11:1-45), which recounts Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus went to Lazarus’ tomb, he asked that the stone sealing the entrance be taken away. He then “cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus come out!’ And the dead man came out,” the Gospel says. Jesus is saying the same thing to people today, the pope said at the Mass, “because we’re all marked by death” and sin. “All of us have some areas, some parts of our hearts that are not alive, that are a little dead and other people have a lot of their heart that’s dead -- a real spiritual necrosis!” The parts of a person’s heart that have died have become “tombs of sin,” he said, and some people become trapped inside, either because they are afraid or embarrassed to come out or they have become “attached” to their sin and corrupted. The pope asked people to think about what part of their hearts have died, that have become a dark tomb, and then listen to Jesus calling, like he called Lazarus: “Come out!” “Christ doesn’t give up in front of the tombs we have built by our choosing evil and death, by our mistakes, our sins,” the pope said. Jesus “calls us incessantly to get out of the darkness of the prison we’ve locked ourselves into by making do with a false, egotistical, mediocre life.” “’Come out!’ is a beautiful invitation to true freedom,” he said. Our resurrection begins here, when we decide to obey Jesus’ command, to come out into the light, to life,” he said. Just as Jesus asked that the burial cloths that were wrapped around Lazarus’ hands, feet and face be untied, so Christians today need to uncover their true selves. “Many times we are masked by sin; the masks must fall and we will rediscover the courage of our original face,” created in the image of God. There is no limit to how much love and mercy God offers to everyone, he said. At the parish visit and during the Angelus address, Pope Francis told everyone he was giving them -- as a gift -- a pocket-sized edition of the Gospels. He said he knows he tells people to carry the word of God with them all the time so they can read it often and every day. But he said he got the idea of giving copies away after “I recalled an ancient tradition in the church of giving catechumens the Gospel during Lent.” Thanks to digital media, the pope said people can have the entire Bible on their cell phone or tablet. What’s important is even with “so many technological tools” available, that people read the word of God in all its forms. He told people that when they to read the Gospels they should remember that “it’s Jesus that is speaking to you in there!” »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. May » Birthdays 2 5 7 7 14 23 24 25 27 Rev. Luis Javier Garcia, JCL Rev. Jose Villalon, Jr. Rev. Hector Cruz, SM Rev. Juan Manuel Salazar Rev. Jorge A. Gomez Rev. Roy Lee Snipes, OMI Rev. Gregory Kuczmanski Rev. Michael Amesse, OMI Rev. Francisco J. Solis 7 10 14 21 Deacon Antonio Osorio Deacon Juan Pablo Navarro Deacon Roberto Cantu Deacon Juan M. Delgado 6 17 21 23 30 Sister Dorothy Carey, SHSp Sister Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ Sister Mary Sardinha, SSD Sister Zita Telkamp, CDP Sister Therese Corkery, PBVM » Anniversaries 2 Rev. Carlos Zuniga 5 Rev. Msgr. Gustavo Barrera 7 Rev. Francois Tsanga, SCJ 10 Rev. Michael Amesse, OMI 10 Rev. Timothy Paulsen, OMI 11 Rev. Msgr. Louis Brum 11 Rev. Tomas Sepulveda 15 Rev. Paul Roman, FSSP 16 Rev. Thomas Luczak, OFM 17 Rev. Porfirio Garcia, OMI 23 Rev. Alejandro Flores 23 Rev. George Gonzalez 23 Rev. Miguel Angel Ortega 24 Rev. Gregory Kuczmanski 25 Rev. Arturo Castillo 25 Rev. Eduardo Gomez 25 Rev. Juan Manuel Salazar 25 Rev. Juan Pablo Davalos 25 Rev. Juan Rogelio Gutierrez 25 Bishop Emertius Raymundo J. Peña 26 Rev. Andres Gutierrez 26 Rev. A. Oliver Angel, JCL 26 Rev. Jesus Paredes 26 Rev. Luis Roberto Tinajero 26 Rev. Martin De La Cruz 26 Rev. Ruben Delgado 26 Rev. Tomas Mateos – Retired 27 Rev. Aglayde Rafael Vega 27 Rev. Eduardo Ortega 27 Rev. Francisco J. Solis 27 Rev. Gerald Frank 27 Rev. Gregory Labus 27 Rev. James Erving, OMI 27 Rev. Mario A. Castro 27 Rev. Oscar O. Siordia 28 Rev. Alfonso Guevara 29 Rev. Ignacio Tapia 29 Rev. Jorge A. Gomez 29 Rev. Luis Fernando Sanchez 29 Rev. Salvador Ramirez 31 Rev. Amador Garza 31 Rev. Ernesto Magallon 31 Rev. Mishael Koday 31 Rev. Terrence Gorski, OFM 5 Dcn. Bruno Cedillo 5 Dcn. Juan M. Delgado 5 Dcn. John P. Kinch 5 Dcn. Alvino Olvera 12 Dcn. Roberto Cano 12 Dcn. Agapito Cantu 12 Dcn. Roberto Cantu 12 Dcn. Julio Castilleja Visit the Diocese of Brownsville’s website at www.cdob.org 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 21 Dcn. Alberto X. Chapa Dcn. Augusto Chapa Jr. Dcn. Hugo De la Cruz Dcn. Jesus P. Galvan Dcn. Alejandro Gamboa Dcn. Jose G. Garza Dcn. Irineo Gonzalez Jr. Dcn. Roberto Ledesma Dcn. Gilberto Lopez Dcn. Ruben Lopez Dcn. Juan P. Navarro Dcn. Hector Perez Dcn. Peter Requeñez Dcn. Eduardo Reyna Dcn. Salvador Rojas Dcn. Manuel Sanchez Dcn. Pedro F. Sanchez Dcn. Carlos Treviño Dcn. Rene Villalon Dcn. Daniel Zamora Dcn. Jesus E. Aguayo Dcn. Benito Flores Dcn. Alvin H. Gerbermann Dcn. Juan Francisco Gonzalez Dcn. Jose Guerra Dcn. Benito Saenz Jr. Dcn. Israel Sagredo Dcn. Rodolfo C. Salinas Dcn. Jose A. Solis Dcn. Eduardo Ovalle June » Birthdays 2 Rev. Daniel H. Oyama 2 Rev. Michael Gnanaraj 3 Rev. Issac Erondu 7 Rev. Thomas Sepulveda, C.S.B 8 Rev. Armando Escobedo – retired 13 Rev. Felix Casarez 18 Rev. Paul Wilhelm, OMI 27 Rev. Fernando Gonzalez 28 Rev. Msgr. Pedro Briseno 29 Rev. Lee Dacosta - retired 10 Sister Colleen Maturese, SSD 25 Sister Fatima Santiago 25 Sister Carolyn Kosub, ICM 28 Sister Gloria Morales, MJ 11 23 27 28 Deacon Ruben Lopez Deacon Antonio M. Arteaga Deacon Arturo Rodriguez Deacon Ismael Garcia » Anniversaries 3 Rev. Jose Villalon 4 Rev. Joaquin Zermeño 4 Rev. Manuel Alfredo Razo 5 Rev. Leo Francis Daniels, CO 5 Msgr. Patrick Doherty - retired 6 Rev. Armando Escobedo - retired 7 Rev. Eusebio Martinez 7 Rev. Felix Casarez 7 Rev. Will Penderghest, SS.CC 8 Rev. Edouard Atangana 8 Rev. Jean Olivier M. Sambu 16 Rev. Lawrence J. Klein 16 Rev. Richard L. Lifrak, SS.CC 21 Rev. Eduardo Villa 26 Rev. Patrick R. Wells – retired 28 Rev. Msgr. Pedro Briseno 29 Rev. Fernando Gonzalez 29 Rev. Joseph Ateba 30 Rev. Rigobert Poulang Mot 6 Deacon Guillermo Castañeda Jr. 18 Deacon Gilberto Perez 27 Deacon Jesus Reyes NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL 13 Mayo 2014 - The Valley Catholic Papa Francisco y su devoción por la Virgen que desata los nudos RADIO VATICANA ROMA — La devoción de ‘la Virgen que desata los nudos’ cada vez es más extendida por todo el mundo, pero sobre todo el Argentina, donde precisamente llegó de la mano del Papa Francisco. Durante su estancia en Alemania, la conoció y la quiso llevar a su querido país. En una entrevista con Radio Vaticano el padre argentino Juan Ramón Celeiro quien ha creado una novena y diferentes escritos en honor a la Virgen que desata los nudos comento que “La actual se devoción se debe al Papa Francisco, cuando él estuvo en Alemania entabló un vínculo de cariño y se llevó unas estampas. La gente comenzó a sentir que Dios respondía a sus súplicas através de esta imagen.” La imagen de Nuestra Señora de Knotenloserin, conocida como la Virgen “Desata los Nudos”, se venera desde 1706 en Ausburgo, y según la creencia efectúa una mediación maternal para resolver dificultades y desatar los nudos que impide a los hombres unirse con Dios. El ícono, de estilo barroco, muestra a un ángel que le alcanza una cinta con nudos, el pecado original, con todas sus consecuencias, grandes y pequeñas. Oración a la Virgen Desatanudos Santa María, desatadora de nudos. Santa María, llena de la presencia de Dios, durante los días de tu vida aceptaste con toda humildad la voluntad del Padre, y el Maligno nunca fue capaz de enredarte con sus confusiones. Ya junto a tu Hijo, intercediste por nuestras dificultades y, con toda sencillez y paciencia, nos diste ejemplo de cómo desenredar la madeja de nuestras vidas. Y, al quedarte para siempre como Madre Nuestra, pones en orden y haces más claros los lazos que nos unen al Señor. Santa María, Madre de Dios y Madre Nuestra, Tú que con corazón materno desatas los nudos que entorpecen nuestra vida, te pedimos que nos recibas en tus manos y que nos libres de las ataduras y confusiones con que nos hostiga el que es nuestro enemigo. Por tu gracia, por tu intercesión, con tu ejemplo, líbranos de todo mal, Señora Nuestra, y desata los nudos, que impiden nos unamos a Dios, para que libres de toda confusión y error, lo hallemos en todas las cosas, tengamos en El puestos nuestros corazones y podamos servirle siempre en nuestros hermanos. Amén LOS SACRAMENTOS DE INICIACIÓN Encuentros con Cristo The Valley Catholic SAN JUAN — Durante la temporada de Pascua, estos cincuenta días que comenzaron el Domingo de Pascua, parroquias a través del Valle del Rio Grande celebraron el recibimiento de la Eucaristía y confirmación. Las clases de educación religiosa tradicionalmente terminan los últimos de abril y principios de mayo, y su enfoque se guía hacia el recibimiento de los sacramentos. Luis Espinoza, director de la Oficina de Catecismo para la Diócesis de Brownsville, dijo que la temporada de Pascua es un tiempo alegre para celebrar todos los sacramentos de iniciación – bautizo, confirmación, Eucaristía. En la Misa de Pascua, los feligreses como el Cuerpo Místico de Cristo, fueron recordados sobre las bendiciones recibidas en el bautizo al renovar sus promesas bautismales. Él dijo, el bautizo se vuelve una forma para que nosotros tomemos parte en la muerte y resurrección de Jesús. Los otros sacramentos se vuelven formas de “tocar todas las etapas y todos los momentos importantes de la vida de Cristo” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1210). Junto con los otros sacramentos de iniciación, se traza una base para cada vida Cristiana para que todos los que toman parte puedan “recibir en medidas crecientes los tesoros de la vida divina y avanzar hacia la perfección de la caridad.” (Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution on the Rite of Confirmation, Divinae Para ver fotos de la Semana Santa y otros eventos visite la página de la diócesis en Facebook — Catholic Diocese of Brownsville The Valley Catholic y cortesía Los sacramentos de iniciación incluyen EDXWL]RFRQÀUPDFLyQ\OD(XFDULVWtD consortium naurae). Las primeras Comuniones son celebradas usualmente durante Misas programadas regularmente en las parroquias. Es el sacramento de iniciación, una iniciación hacia la comunidad de adoración y fe. Estos sacramentos son “un recordatorio que Dios está moviendo los corazones de los niños y los padres para buscar comunión con Jesús en la parroquia.” “Como comunidad parroquial nosotros celebramos a otra persona que pueda acercarse al altar y tomar parte más plenamente al no solamente recibir a Cristo en la palabra, pero también en Sacramento,” añadió. Niños vestidos de blanco llenarán las bancas de algunas Misas ésta temporada de Pascua. Espinoza dijo que el color blanco, que típicamente es usado para niños que están recibiendo el sacramento de la Eucaristía por primera vez, nos recuerda del énfasis puesto en el bautizo y en convertirnos en hijos de Dios. “El blanco nos recuerda de la dignidad que recibimos en el bautizo y para la mayoría era una vestimenta blanca puesta en el pecho, o una vestimenta blanca hecha en casa por la familia o padrinos, y colocada como un escapulario en el infante.” “Hay una gran dicha en la parroquia durante éstas celebraciones,” dijo él. “Nos colocamos en ese momento. Recordamos nuestros propios recibimientos e incluso recordamos » Por favor lea Los Sacramentos p.14 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL 14 The Valley Catholic - Mayo 2014 » La Alegría de Vivir »Vida Familiar ¿Cómo superar el duelo de una tragedia masiva? C Msgr. Juan Nicolau uando el ser humano se enfrenta a situaciones que rebasan su capacidad de comprensión pueden suceder dos cosas, que se deje arrastrar por la autocompasión y permita que la angustia los paralice, o que aprendan a vivir el momento, superando los problemas uno a uno, con la certeza de poder salir adelante. Hace ya más de seis semanas que el avión que salió de Malasia rumbo a China desapareció sin dejar ni un solo rastro, más de doscientas personas a bordo y la tripulación han dejado cientos de dolientes que han vivido una angustia impensable al vivir día a día la incertidumbre de cómo y qué paso con su familiar que iba a bordo de ese fatídico vuelo. Cuando de un momento a otro tantas personas perecen, es natural que la gente se pregunte por que pasan esas tragedias, desde el principio de mi apostolado hasta el día de hoy me han preguntado muchísimas veces el porqué a la gente buena le suceden cosas malas, mi respuesta es siempre la misma: “Solo Dios lo sabe”, y la verdad es que Dios nunca ha contestado esa pregunta. Si leemos el antiguo testamento encontramos pasajes donde los profetas preguntaban a Dios ¿Por qué? Y no recibieron respuestas. Pastor, Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Incluso cuando repasamos las siete palabras de Jesús en la cruz, en el último momento, El preguntaba ¿Por qué me has abandonado? Dios, su padre, no le contesto. Y la verdad es que cuando nos preguntamos el porqué de las cosas malas, no esperamos una explicación, lo que de verdad queremos es discutir y argumentar, pues el coraje y la rebeldía son parte de las etapas del duelo. Los seres humanos sufrimos por la incapacidad que tenemos para solucionar situaciones tan extremas, pero es en esos momentos que regresamos a lo básico, al momento de enfrentar una tragedia es cuando nos damos cuenta que lo material no importa, que lo verdaderamente importante es la vida, pues lo material algún día podrá reponerse. Lo primero que debemos hacer para superar esa gran incógnita del porque de las cosas malas, es el no culpar a Dios. Dios no tiene la culpa, es culpa del hombre y sus malas ac- Los Sacramentos, continúa de la pág.13 los momentos en que nuestros hijos también recibieron el sacramento.” Espinoza dijo, “Parte de esto tiene que ver con la inocencia. Regresamos a esa idea de que dependemos de Dios y no solamente de nosotros.” A principios de éste año en la Fiesta del Bautismo del Señor, el Papa Francisco empezó a usar el Miércoles de Audiencia como una forma para enseñar y recordar a los fieles sobre lo que la Iglesia enseña en los sacramentos. Durante sus catequesis en el Sacramento del bautizo, el Santo Padre dijo que el bautizo es el Sacramento en el cual nuestra propia fe se encuentra y el cual nos injerta como un miembro vivo en Cristo y su Iglesia. Juntos con la Eucaristía y confirmación forman lo que se conoce como la “Iniciación Cristiana”, como un gran evento sacramental que nos configura al Señor y nos convierte en símbolos vivientes de su presencia y su amor. Él dijo, “Muchos de nosotros no tenemos memoria de la celebración de éste sacramento, y es obvio por qué, si fuimos bautizados justo después de nacer. He hecho ésta pregunta dos o tres veces, aquí en esta plaza: quién entre ustedes saben la fecha de su bautizo, levanten las manos. Es importante saber el día en el que fui sumergido en la corriente de salvación de Jesús. “ El Papa Francisco aconsejó a los fieles. “Hoy, en casa, vayan a ver, pregunten sobre el día de su Love, hope, success, family, security. Daniel Reza, Agent 1221 S 77 Sunshine Strip Harlingen, TX 78550 Bus: 956-425-3276 www.danielreza.com 1101019.1 Some things we all have in common. There’s nobody like me to protect the things we all value. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY. State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL ciones. Hay que reconocer que son errores humanos los que nos llevan a padecer, a veces por no saber discernir entre el bien y el mal, otras por el egoísmo, la indiferencia, la estupidez, la rebeldía, y todas las emociones humanas negativas que a veces nublan nuestro entendimiento, pero Dios nos ha dado el coraje para superar la tragedia, salir de nuestros duelos convertidos en mejores seres humanos, con mayor sensibilidad para acompañar a aquellos que sufren y saber impartirles calma y compasión cuando lo necesiten. En Isaías (43, 1-3) encontramos la promesa del Señor en las siguientes palabras: “No temas que yo te he redimido, te he llamado por tu nombre porque eres mío, cuando pases por agua no te ahogaras… cuando camines entre el fuego no te quemaras ni las llamas te consumirán. Porque yo soy el Señor tu Dios”, y Jesús contesto a los que le preguntaban el porqué del sufrimiento, “Benditos los que sufren porque ellos encontraran el consuelo del amor de Dios”. Con la firme creencia que en nuestros momentos de dolor es cuando Dios nos lleva de la mano, pidamos por todas esas personas que sufren al otro lado del mundo y confiemos que Dios les de fortaleza de espíritu y la esperanza que su ser querido goza del esplendor de su gloria. bautizo y de esa forma mantendrán en mente el más hermoso día de bautizo. Conocer el día de su bautizo es saber de un día bendecido. El peligro de no saber es que podemos perder conciencia de lo que el Señor ha hecho en nosotros, la memoria del regalo que hemos recibido.” “Debemos reavivar la memoria de nuestro bautizo. Somos llamados a vivir nuestro Bautizo diariamente como la realidad actual de nuestras vidas,” dijo él. Espinoza dijo que el sacramento de confirmación es el segundo sacramento de los sacramentos de iniciación. También es considerado la perfección del bautizo. Es administrado por el obispo, quien cella a los candidatos con el regalo del Espíritu Santo. Ahora consideremos en lo que se convierte la confirmación para la Iglesia en su trayecto. Muy similar al día cuando ellos estaban juntos en la Sala Superior, los jóvenes recibirán la Promesa del Padre. Los fieles son recordados que el llamado bautismal de “Ir afuera y hagan discípulos de las naciones”. En la Diócesis de Brownsville, Espinoza dijo que el sacramento es administrado una vez que la persona joven ha llegado a la edad de 16. También vemos a otros adultos recibiendo este sacramento una vez que han terminado su preparación a través de RICA u otra forma de preparación sacramental. “La Santa Eucaristía consuma la iniciación Cristiana.” (CCC1322) Espinoza dijo que en preparación para recibir la Eucaristía, se les enseña a los niños verdades esenciales sobre quién es la especie consagrada y lo que significa recibirlo en el Sacramento. En práctica, los niños que estén por lo menos en tercer grado se preparan una vez más “se ponen su vestimenta blanca” y se acercan al altar y reciben las bendiciones de Dios. Aprendiendo a darse tiempo en una relación de pareja E n un tiempo donde como seres humanos estamos acostumbrados a los mensajes instantáneos, café instantáneo, comida rápida, e instagram y tal vez de manera más fundamental, “gratificación instantánea”, es importante recordar que todo en la vida que vale la pena vale la espera. En el Antiguo Testamento¸ se nos recuerda que hay tiempo para todo. “Hay un momento para todo y un tiempo para cada cosa bajo el cielo: un tiempo para nacer y un tiempo para morir…. un tiempo para llorar y un tiempo para reír; un tiempo para lamentarse y un tiempo para bailar. ...un tiempo para abrazar y un tiempo para abstenerse de abrazos…un tiempo para callar y un tiempo para hablar; un tiempo para amar y un tiempo para odiar; un tiempo para la guerra y un tiempo para la paz.” (Eclesiastés Capitulo 3) Por varios años, he enseñado periódicamente un curso para solteros que tiene dos nombres: “¿Cómo evitar casarse con un cretino o cretina?” y el programa P.I.C.K.” (Pre-matrimonial, interpersonal, elección y conocimiento). Aunque es un programa secular, es fácil incluir algunas enseñanzas de la Iglesia Católica. ¿Qué es lo que hace a una persona un “cretino” o “cretina”? RESISTENCIA PERSISTENTE; cuando nos resistimos persistentemente a trabajar en lo que sabemos que necesitamos trabajar. Este concepto es consistente con las enseñanzas de la Iglesia donde somos llamados a convertir a nuestra pareja en un santo; llevar a nuestra pareja a la santidad; ayudar a nuestra pareja ser la mejor persona que Dios quiere que sea. Pero la única persona que podemos cambiar y mejorar es a nosotros mismos en lugar de resistir persistentemente. Ejemplo rápido: cuando mi esposo Mauri y yo nos casamos hace casi 40 años, yo era muy terca y no flexible y aunque aún lo soy hasta cierto punto, he mejorado con su ayuda; pero definitivamente tengo que trabajar en esos defectos a diario y no ser una cretina y decir “¡Bueno, así es como soy!” Una de las metas más importantes en este curso es enseñarle a los solteros como aprender a darle tiempo a una relación de pareja. El Dr. John Van Epp quien es el autor de este curso y el libro llamado “Modelo de apego en relaciones” el cual contiene 5 elementos de unión: conocer, confiar, depender, comprometer, y tocar. El modelo enfatiza la importancia que los solteros que están en un noviazgo deben tener, esto Lydia Pesina Directora, Oficina de Vida Familiar es conocer bien a la persona antes de CONFIAR; confiar extensivamente antes de DEPENDER en la persona; depender y tener confianza antes de COMPROMETERSE, y COMPROMETERSE antes de TOCAR, antes de la intimidad sexual. En la Iglesia Católica, ese compromiso es el Sacramento del Matrimonio. Frecuentemente le digo a los solteros que los estudios seculares está demostrando lo que la sabiduría de la Iglesia ha enseñado por siglos: que el sexo es sagrado y pertenece en el matrimonio, no antes del matrimonio o fuera del matrimonio. La Iglesia enseña que Dios creó el sexo por dos razones y las dos empiezan con la letra P: Procreación y Placer del esposo y esposa. Y la P que definitivamente no pertenece en el matrimonio es la Pornografía la cual es una forma de infidelidad. Los estudios sobre relaciones y los psicólogos se están dando cuenta que la pornografía es una de las causas principales de los problemas matrimoniales, especialmente porque es tan adictivo y tan accesible. El primer elemento de la unión del RAM es CONOCER. A los solteros se les anima a que SEPAN los 5 elementos de su pareja durante el noviazgo antes de que realmente confíen en ellos, usando el acrónimo FACES, se les anima que conozcan FFamilia (historial); A-Actitudes, comportamientos, y trabajo de conciencia; C-Compatibilidad (emocional, intelectual, y espiritual); E-Experiencias (especialmente sobre su pasado); S-Sus habilidades (comunicación y habilidad para solucionar problemas). El concepto de darse TIEMPO es algo que no solo aplica a los solteros en noviazgos, pero tal vez a todos nosotros que a veces necesitamos que se nos recuerde que al igual como una flor hermosa requiere tiempo para desarrollarse y florecer, todas la relaciones necesitan tiempo¸ comunicación, y unión. Como comunidad Cristiana, oremos a diario por nuestros jóvenes y jóvenes adultos; que el Espíritu Santo les guie en su preparación para un matrimonio de toda la vida, aprendiendo como darle tiempo a una relación amorosa que les asistirá en ser felices, saludables y santos Encuentro Católico Carismático The Valley Catholic LAROSITA — El XVII Encuentro Católico Carismático 0rganizado por el Grupo de Oración de Escobares está programado para el 31 de Mayo y el 1 de Junio de las 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. en el Salón Santa Rosa de Lima, en La Rosita, Texas. El director del encuentro será el Padre Francis Frankovich, CC de Houston. Los predicadores laicos son Jose Alberto Rodriguez y Alex Diaz Gauna de Houston. Freddy Flores con su Ministerio y Gente Nueva en el Espíritu de Monterrey Nuevo León Lugar presentaran la música. Para más información, llame al (956) 849-1741, (956) 437-4880 o (956) 500-7273. NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL 15 Mayo 2014 - The Valley Catholic »Peregrinaje cerca de casa Pasando tiempo con nuestro Señor “ Visita a siete Altares de Reposo es una tradición antigua Por BRENDA NETTLES RIOJAS The Valley Catholic BROWNSVILLE — Este pasado triduo pascual, mi esposo y yo compartimos una nueva experiencia de peregrinación, nueva para nosotros siendo que ya es una tradición antigua visitar los siete Altares de Reposo el Jueves Santo. La práctica está atada a la temprana costumbre Cristiana de visitar los lugares que eran significativos a la Pasión de Cristo. En Roma, los peregrinos visitan siete basílicas (San Pedro, San Pablo Fuera del Muro, San Juan Laterano, Sta. María Mayor, Santa Croce en Gerusalemme, San Lorenzo fuera de los Muros y San Sebastián). En tiempos recientes, cuando no era posible siete iglesias, por lo menos tres eran suficientes. Había escuchado sobre la tradición, pero no le había puesto mucha atención hasta que un pasante el año pasado me contó como él y sus amigos disfrutaron de sus visitas de una iglesia a otra. El Obispo Eméritos Raymundo J. Peña practicó esta tradición por años, y el Obispo Daniel E. Flores compartió fotos de sus visitas en su blog. El Obispo Flores dijo que le da mucha alegría ver cómo los feligreses preparan el lugar para recibir al Cesar Riojas/The Valley Catholic 2ELVSR'DQLHO()ORUHVVHDUURGLOODHQRUDFLyQGHODQWHGHO6DQWtVLPR6DFUDPHQWRGHVSXpV GHOD0LVDGHODÓOWLPD&HQDHOGHDEULOHQ%URZQVYLOOH Señor después de que el Sacramento es llevado en procesión al final de la liturgia del Jueves Santo, y el ver a los jóvenes y familias pasando tiempo en adoración y oración. La procesión con el Sacramento simboliza el Señor saliendo a encontrarse con la Pasión. Para mi esposo y yo, fue una experiencia llena de gracia y un comienzo perfecto para el triduo pascual. Las bendiciones de Dios se desbordaron esa noche mientras visitábamos los Altares de Reposo en siete iglesias diferentes. Empezamos en la Catedral Inmaculada Concepción en Brownsville e hicimos nuestro camino hasta nuestra parroquia la Iglesia San Antonio en Harlingen. Mi esposo y yo escogimos iglesias que nos conectaban con nuestras familias y sacramentos. Entre las iglesias que visitamos estaban la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en donde fui bautizada; la Iglesia San José en donde mi esposo recibió todos sus sacramentos de iniciación y la Iglesia San Lucas, mi iglesia parroquial hasta que me mudé y en donde nos casamos hace 26 años. El peregrinaje nos llenó de una dicha inmensa. También visitamos la Iglesia Sagrada Familia en Brownsville y la Iglesia San Benedicto en San Benito. Como padres con hijos emancipados, todavía estamos ajustándonos a que nuestros hijos, jóvenes adultos, vivan lejos del hogar. Extraño nuestra tradición familiar de caminar las Estaciones de la Cruz juntos el Viernes Santo y preparar las canastas de Pascua y pintar cas- Llegó Jesús con ellos a un lugar llamado Getsemaní, y dijo a sus discípulos: «Siéntense aquí, mientras yo voy más allá a orar.” carones en los días hacia la Pascua. Nuestro peregrinaje del jueves nos llevó hacia un recorrido de memorias. Con forme visitamos las diferentes iglesias en Brownsville condujimos por lugares rebozados de historia de nuestra juventud y años de maduración. Manejamos por nuestras escuelas primarias y jardines casi extintos; pasamos por la secundaria de mi esposo y por nuestra preparatoria – Homer Hanna High; pasamos por viejos vecindarios, nuestros lugares favoritos de hamburguesas, calles en donde aprendí a conducir. Cada Altar de Reposo nos otorgó tiempo con Cristo, tiempo para orar, y tiempo para recordar las bendiciones de nuestras vidas, y el Señor estuvo a nuestro lado siempre. Durante nuestro viaje de una iglesia a la otra compartimos historias sobre cómo han cambiado algunas cosas y otras se han quedado intactas. Algunas iglesias se sintieron como hogar. En la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, donde fui bautizada, pude escuchar la voz de mi madre. Recuerde la banca en la que nos sentábamos en la parte trasera de la iglesia. Recuerdo que ella apuntó hacia el altar y me dijo que Cristo estaba detrás de las puertas cerradas en el tabernáculo dorado. “Ahí está Cristo,” dijo ella. Mateo 26:36 Tal vez tenía cuatro o cinco. Recuerdo confundirme con su comentario por mucho tiempo, tratando de darle sentido en mi mente infantil, a lo que me quiso decir. Quería pasar más tiempo en cada iglesia, pero consiente del tiempo, tuvimos que continuar para asegurarnos que recorreríamos las siete antes de la media noche, cuando la Adoración termino el Jueves Santo. Cada altar estaba rodeado de ramos de flores, velas que titilaban para dar luz en la oscuridad. Cada uno preparado con cuidado y adornado para que los fieles pudieran pasar tiempo en silencio y meditación frente al Señor. Nadie dormía. Todos estaban cuidando el “Jardín de Getsemaní.” En el camino vimos personas que conocíamos que estaban tomando parte en la tradición antigua de visitar diferentes Altares de Reposo esa noche. Podías sentir la dicha que nos ungía en nuestro peregrinaje del Jueves Santo. En la Iglesia San Lucas, fue reconfortante escuchar la voz familiar de Helen Vargas, quien estaba guiando la oración de los niños ante el Altar o Reposo. Me sentí como en mi hogar. Helen fue mi maestra de confirmación y direc» Por favor lea Peregrinaje p.16 16 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL The Valley Catholic - Mayo 2014 El Papa: Que la Resurrección se vea en la vida diaria ACI/EWTN NOTICIAS VATICANO — En sus palabras previas al rezo del Regina Coeli en el Lunes del Ángel el 21 de abril, el Papa Francisco llamó a los católicos reunidos en la Plaza de San Pedro a hacer que la Resurrección de Cristo se irradie en la vida diaria, no como “un maquillaje”, sino partiendo “de un corazón inmerso en la fuente de esta alegría”. A continuación las palabras del Papa gracias a la traducción de Radio Vaticana: Queridos hermanos y hermanas, ¡buenos días! ¡Felices Pascuas! “Cristòs anèsti! – Alethòs anèsti!”, “¡Cristo ha resucitado! – ¡Verdaderamente ha resucitado!” ¡Está entre nosotros aquí!, en la plaza. En esta semana podemos seguir intercambiándonos la felicitación pascual, como si fuera un único día. Es el gran día que hizo el Señor. El sentimiento dominante que transluce de los relatos evangélicos de la Resurrección es la alegría llena de estupor; pero un estupor grande, pero la alegría que viene desde adentro; y en la Liturgia nosotros revivimos el estado de ánimo de los discípulos por la noticia que las mujeres habían dado: ¡Jesús ha resucitado! Nosotros lo hemos visto. Dejemos que esta experiencia, impresa en el Evangelio, se imprima también en nuestros corazones y se vea en nuestra vida. Dejemos que el estupor gozoso del Domingo de Pascua se irradie en los pensamientos, en las miradas, en las actitudes, en los gestos y en las palabras… ojalá seamos así luminosos. ¡Pero esto no es un maquillaje! Viene desde dentro, de un corazón inmerso en la fuente de esta alegría, como el de María Magdalena, que lloró por la pérdida de su Señor y no creía a sus ojos viéndolo resucitado. Quien hace esta experiencia se convierte en testigo de la Resurrección, porque en cierto sentido ha resucitado él mismo, Pilgrimage, continued from pg. 11 the Lord was at our side. During our drive time from one church to the next, we shared stories and talked about how some things have changed and how some remain intact. Some churches felt particularly like home. At Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, where I was baptized, I could hear my mother’s voice. I remember the pews we sat in at the time toward the back of the church. I remember she pointed to the altar and told me Christ was behind the closed doors in the gold tabernacle. “Ahi esta Cristo,” she said. Maybe I was four or five. I remember I puzzled about her comment for a long time, trying in my child’s mind to make sense of what she meant. I wanted to spend more time CNS foto/Paul Haring (O3DSD)UDQFLVFRVDOXGDD la multitud tras pronunciar VXEHQGLFLyQGH3DVFXD ´XUELHWRUELµDODFLXGDG\ DOPXQGRGHVGHHOEDOFyQ FHQWUDOGHOD%DVtOLFDGH6DQ 3HGURHQHO9DWLFDQRGH abril. ha resucitado ella misma. Entonces es capaz de llevar un “rayo” de la luz del Resucitado en las diversas situaciones: en las felices, haciéndolas más bellas y preservándolas del egoísmo; y en las dolorosas, llevando serenidad y esperanza. En esta semana, nos hará bien tomar el libro del Evangelio y leer aquellos capítulos que hablan de la resurrección de Jesús; nos hará tanto bien tomar el libro y buscar los capítulos y leer aquello. También nos hará bien, esta semana, pensar en la alegría de María, la Madre de Jesús. Así como su dolor fue tan íntimo, tanto que le traspasó su alma, del mismo modo su alegría fue íntima y profunda, y de ella los discípulos podían tomar. Habiendo pasado, a través de la experiencia de la muerte y de la resurrección de su Hijo, viste, en la fe, como la expresión suprema del amor de Dios, y el corazón de María se ha convertido en una fuente de paz, de consuelo, de esperanza y de misericordia. Todas las prerrogativas de nuestra Madre derivan de aquí, de su participación en la Pascua de Jesús. Desde la mañana del viernes hasta la mañana del domingo, Ella no perdió la esperanza: la hemos contemplado como Madre de los dolores, pero, al mismo tiempo, como Madre llena de esperanza. Ella, la Madre de todos los discípulos, la Madre de la Iglesia y Madre de esperanza. A Ella, testigo silencioso de la muerte y de la resurrección de Jesús, le pedimos que nos introduzca en la alegría pascual. Lo haremos con el rezo del Regina Coeli, que en el tiempo pascual sustituye la oración del Ángelus. Después de rezar a la Madre de Dios, el Papa Francisco saludó a los presentes diciendo: Dirijo un saludo cordial a todos ustedes, querido peregrinos venidos de Italia y de diversos países para participar en este encuentro de oración. Acuérdense esta semana de tomar el Evangelio y buscar los capítulos en donde se habla de la resurrección de Jesús y de leer cada día un fragmento de aquellos capítulos. Nos hará bien en esta semana de la resurrección de Jesús. A cada uno formulo el deseo de transcurrir en la alegría y en la serenidad este Lunes del Ángel, en el que se prolonga la alegría de la Resurrección de Cristo. ¡Feliz y santa Pascua a todos, buen almuerzo y hasta pronto! in each of the churches, but conscious of the time, we had to move on to make sure we made it to all seven before midnight when Adoration ends on Holy Thursday. Each altar was surrounded with bouquets of flowers and candles that flickered to give light in the darkness. Each carefully prepared and adorned so that the faithful could spend time in silence and meditation before the Lord. No one was sleeping. Everyone was keeping watch in the “Garden of Gethsemane.” Along the way we saw people we knew who were taking part of the ancient tradition of visiting the different Altars of Repose that evening. You could feel the joy that lifted each of us on our Maundy Thursday pilgrimage. At St. Luke Church, it was comforting to hear the familiar voice of Helen Vargas, who was leading the children in prayer before the Altar or Repose. It felt like home. Helen was my confirma- tion teacher and the choir director 32 years ago when I attended there. How beautiful that she continues to teach new generations the traditions of our faith. When we arrived in Harlingen, we ended at St. Anthony Catholic Church, our home parish where our son and daughter received their sacraments. The Altar of Repose was set up in the original church which is now used as a parish hall and as a cafeteria for the Catholic school. The doors opened out to the street where passing cars could glimpse the glimmering candles before the Blessed Sacrament. What a blessing to see so many keeping watch with Christ, and continuing the ancient tradition. Our pilgrimage reaffirmed how God has been constant in our lives and remains so. I pray for the grace to honor the days he provides and that I may be constant in my attempts to listen and follow his direction in the days to come. Carta Pascual, continued from pg. 2 En manera semejante, él toma la decisión de atraernos por medio de su manifestación personal, en los momentos escogidos por él. Y cuando el Señor se presenta, invita a que se reúnan todos con él y con sus compañeros. Por eso decimos que nuestra decisión de seguir a Cristo en su Iglesia depende totalmente de la decisión previa del Señor de manifestarse a nosotros. Además, el Señor nos escoge con el propósito particular de incorporarnos en su Iglesia. No me digan que Cristo no estableció una Iglesia; esa idea es una invención de nuestra época individualista: “no tengan miedo,” dijo, “id a anunciar a mis hermanos que vayan a Galilea, allí me verán” (véase Mateo 28, 10). Un cristiano no puede regocijar en la resurrección sin salir a buscar la comunidad apostólica para poder compartir la nueva vida. Ahí tienen a la Iglesia. Por eso estamos aquí. Que tampoco sea causa de orgullo el haber recibido la unción del Señor. Si él nos invita a recibir el favor de su presencia luminosa en nuestras vidas, es bueno recordar que el Señor escoge a los que no son nada en el mundo “para humillar el poder”, como dice San Pablo. “Aún más”, continúa el Santo Apóstol, “ha escogido la gente baja del mundo, los despreciables, los que no cuentan, para anular a los que cuentan” (véase 1 Co 1: 27 ss). Lo que dice San Pablo va de acuerdo con lo que nos enseñan los Evangelios. El Señor se identificó con las palabras del profeta Isaías cuando dijo que había sido ungido y enviado para anunciar la buena nueva a los pobres, y libertad a los oprimidos (véase Lucas 4: 16 ss). Por esta razón el Señor caminaba por de las aldeas de Galilea curando a los leprosos, sanando a los cojos, y prestando atención a los llantos de los pobres. El Señor prefiere a los que aparecen menos en los ojos del mundo, y les anuncia que son los preferidos en los ojos de Dios. No podemos gloriarnos: si por pertenecer a ese grupo que el mundo considera de mal olor,… si por eso, digo, el Señor nos ha buscado y ungido con el perfume del crisma bautismal, pues mejor condición no se puede imaginar. ¿Qué significa haber recibido la gracia y favor del Señor por medio de su gran salida a nuestro encuentro? Pues bien, el Ungido, el Hijo amado del Padre, sale a nuestro encuentro y nos ofrece una participación en su unción para compartir su misma misión hacia los que se viven fuera del favor del mundo, en las periferias de la vida. Él nos impulsa a salir y a buscar a los que se sienten alejados de Dios. No vale quedarnos sentados, aunque agradecidos por lo que hemos recibido al conocer a Cristo. Peregrinación continúa de la pág.15 tora del coro hace 32 años cuando yo asistía ahí. Que hermoso que ella continúe enseñando a nuevas generaciones las tradiciones de nuestra fe. Cuando llegamos a Harlingen, terminamos en la iglesia Católica San Antonio, nuestra parroquia, donde nuestro hijo e hija recibieron sus sacramentos. El Altar de Reposo fue puesto en la iglesia original, que ahora es usada como Tenemos que salir para anunciar el favor del Señor a los que en nuestros tiempos viven aislados y vilificados. La tarea es algo más que urgente. Tenemos que abrir las puertas de nuestras parroquias para salir a buscar a los que hoy en día viven solos, aislados, y fuera de la comunidad. Y esas mismas puertas tienen que quedar abiertas para que los que busquen al Señor puedan entrar y sentir la acogedora bienvenida de la comunidad de Cristo, la Iglesia. Son muchísimos los creyentes en nuestra vecindad, pero no entran a la iglesia. ¿Por qué? Pues cada caso es diferente. Pero quizás sea porque viven en las nuevas colonias aquí en el Valle, y no saben dónde se reúnen los católicos. Pues, hay que salir a invitarlos. Quizás no tengan documentos y tienen miedo salir al templo. Pues, hay que asegurarles que todos tienen derecho delante de Dios a participar en el culto divino, y que la Iglesia no tiene nada que ver con los asuntos del gobierno y su incansable búsqueda de documentos. Quizás en algún momento se sintieron despreciados por un parroquiano o por un sacerdote. Pues, hay que pedir disculpas e invitarlos a regresar. Quizás no pueden comulgar por una razón u otra. Pues, hay que decirles que no por eso debe uno de evadir participar en la santa Misa con su corazón, y disfrutar la vida de la comunidad. Bueno, podría formular una lista más exhaustiva, pero pienso que saben lo que quiero decir. Si no aprovechamos la gracia de la unción que hemos recibido para compartirla con los que se encuentren lejos de la Iglesia que Cristo estableció con su sangre, pues, caerá sobre nosotros el mismo juicio que el Señor pronunció sobre los que en su tiempo guardaban los atrios del templo para prevenir la entrada a los impuros. “Se parecen a sepulcros blanqueados”, les decía. No vayamos a pensar que somos tan escogidos que nuestra flojera se cubrirá con la unción que hemos recibido. Al contrario, si pensamos de esa manera, estamos en lo mismo que involucró a los que se pensaban poderosos en los tiempos del Señor, los que el Señor dejó atrás mientras salía a buscar a las ovejas perdidas, anunciándoles el favor del Señor. “El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, por lo cual me ha ungido para evangelizar a los pobres, y para anunciar redención a los cautivos (Lucas 4: 18).” Pongamos nuestra esperanza en ese Espíritu que ungió a Nuestro Señor Jesucristo hacia los pobres, el mismo Espíritu que nos ha llegado en plenitud por medio de la Pascua del Señor, ungiéndonos y capacitándonos para salir y participar en su misión. Que Dios siga bendiciendo su obra entre nosotros, +Daniel E. Flores Obispo de Brownsville un salón parroquial y como una cafetería para la escuela Católica. Las puertas abiertas hacia la calle, donde los carros podían observar las relucientes velas ante el Santo Sacramento. Que bendición el ver a tantos al pendiente de Cristo, y continuando una tradición antigua. Nuestro peregrinaje reafirmo cómo Dios ha estado y se mantiene constante en nuestras vidas. Rezo para que la gracia honre los días que el provee y que yo pueda ser constante en mis esfuerzos por escuchar y seguir su dirección en los días por venir. May 2014 DIOCESE - The Valley Catholic Mary, continued from pg. 1 of honor to bind together the bride and groom by the arms to symbolize the newly formed bond of matrimony. Father Rem took the ribbon, held it up before an image of Our Lady, and untied the knots in the ribbon one by one. By the time he had finished, the ribbon was unknotted and dazzlingly white. The marriage healed. In the year 1700, Father Hieronymus Ambrosius Langenmantel, the grandson of Wolfgang Langenmantel and canon Witness, continued from pg. 5 munities who have ancient roots but who “have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a ‘new evangelization’ or a ‘re-evangelization.’ (RM, 33). The New Evangelization places the proclamation of Jesus Bioethics, continued from pg. 5 towards life as they chart and practice periodic abstinence: they can have a change of heart and discern a call to have one or several additional children. A similar spiritual conversion to a culture of life might reasonably be expected to occur among some sterilized couples or parish priest of the Church of St. Peter am Perlach, dedicated a family altar to Our Lady of Good Counsel. He commissioned a painting to commemorate Mary’s powerful intervention to save the marriage of his grandparents. The image portrays Mary dressed as the Lady of Good Counsel and surrounded by angels, untying the knots in the Langenmantel wedding ribbon. At the bottom of the image, Wolfgang, accompanied by the Archangel Raphael, journeys in haste to visit Father Rem and save his marriage. But there’s more to the image than a desperate nobleman’s attempt to save his marriage. Mary’s ability to solve the knottiest problems has been known to the great minds of the Church from her earliest days, whether the problem be the lack of wine at a wedding (Jn 2:1-12) or the dire need of the world for the Incarnation of the Son of God. In the second century, the Church Father St. Irenaeus wrote in his Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 22): And thus also it was that the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith. center stage. Pope Paul VI said that: “Evangelization will always contain as the foundation, center and at the same time the summit of its dynamism a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ…salvation is offered to all people, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy” (On Evangelization in the Modern World, Paul VI, no. 27). “Indeed, preaching the gospel is no reason for me to boast; it is an obligation that has been imposed upon me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16). Evangelization is meant to transform the world, it is theology in action. God has a saving plan of love for the world and evangelization let’s humanity know that the tomb is empty; that love is more powerful than death. That’s the power of the Resurrection. Therefore, the New Evangelization is both an opportunity for a renewal in the mission of the Church to evangelize and a pastoral response to bring the faith to a world so very hungry for God. who resolve to live out an NFP lifestyle, perhaps becoming more open to adopting a child, or more open to other forms of spiritual parenthood in their communities such as Big Brother/Big Sister programs. By abstaining during fertile times, then, the sterilized couple reintegrates the same positive behaviors that they might have practiced had they not chosen to be sterilized. In this way, the sci- ence of NFP offers the repentant sterilized couple a school of opportunity to acquire virtue within their marriage and their conjugal relations. — Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. 17 In Mary, the new Eve, God untangles the knotted mess of fallen human nature and produces the Immaculate Conception. She has been undoing knots all throughout her life and afterlife, interceding for us now and forever in all our needs. She will help us with every sort of knot — when we are ill or in danger; when our relationships are wounded or broken; when the affairs of our country and the world seem inextricably caught in a Gordian knot; when the minds of our academics and youth are stuck in a spider web of doubt and confusion; when our passions are attached to the wrong object or hopelessly snarled; whenever we are in need. Just as a child will go to their mother with a knotted shoelace or a broken zipper, so too do we need to go to Mary, our Mother, with all the wounds and brokenness of our lives in this vale of tears. And this pope knows well how much our age has need of a loving mother. Several centuries after the image was painted, then-Father Bergoglio saw it and fell in love. He became a tireless promoter of the devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, in Argentina, leading to the spread of the devotion throughout South America. Sacristan, blessed, because they understand what many of us spend a lifetime trying to comprehend. Who has made an influence in their lives or who they admire and why?: I’d like to mention many people that I’ve met in my life, that I admire and who’ve made me who I am today — Annie Garza, Mark Silva, Melissa Gonzalez, and Angie Martinez for looking past my youth, and making me feel like my thoughts and my actions do count in this world; Joe Martinez, and Danielle Miramontez, for being there from the start, and for being the perfect example of service; Flor Vela, for giving me another perspective of life that nobody else could’ve taught me, and for being by my side at the lowest points in my life. Finally, Paco Castellanos, and my family, Myriam and Jorge Ortegon, and Mily and Jorgito Ortegon. — If you would like to nominate a student to be featured in “Hope in Action: A Spotlight on Youth,” please email Angel Barrera, director of Youth Ministry, at [email protected]. continued from pg. 7 Future Plans: Playing college soccer and hopefully going to a university where I am happy. Meaningful Quote: One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa. She said, “Poverty is a gift”. This quote really raised my eyebrows because it was such a different way to look at this world. What she means by this, is that people who are struggling physically, people with diseases, people that may have one meal a day if they are lucky, already know how to love. People in poverty know what’s important, they know what it means to be a family, how to love one another, but sometimes in our society, we forget what’s important; we focus so much on how to become successful citizens, that we don’t give time to feed the thoughts that are truly important. Mother Teresa lets us know in this quote that the ones in poverty are 18 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - May 2014 May 2014 DIOCESE 19 - The Valley Catholic »Media Resource Center » Calendar of Events May Recommended by SISTER MAUREEN CROSBY, SSD Coordinator of the Media Resource Center - Diocese of Brownsville »Worth Watching » From the Bookshelf Mary in The Chruch: A Selection of Teaching Documents 1 Theology Classes 2I¿FHRI&DWHFKHVLV Mary from Nazareth Close Encounters with Mary and The Rosary: TESTIMONY: The Untold Story of Pope John Paul II 2 Clases de Teologia 2I¿FHRI&DWHFKHVLV 2-4 Catholic Engaged Encounter )DPLO\/,IH2I¿FH 3 Convalidation Conference )DPLO\/LIH2I¿FH 11 Mother’s Day Format: Paperback Length:180 pages Author: USCCB Publication:USCCB Publishing, 2003 The facts:A Selection of Teaching Documents – USCCB is a unique source of recent Church teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is perfect for students, theologians, ecumenists, parishioners, and all those desiring a deeper XQGHUVWDQGLQJRI0DU\¶VUROHLQ Christianity – especially in regard to ongoing ecumenical dialogue-and in humanity. Sacraments, continued from pg.1 used for children who are receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time, reminds us of the emphasis placed on baptism and becoming children of God. “White reminds us of the dignity we receive at baptism and for most it was a white garment that was placed on the chest or a white garment that was homemade by the family or padrinos (godparents) and placed as a scapular on the infant.” “There is great joy in the parish during these celebrations,” Length:128 pages Author: Bruna Battistella Publication: Pauline Books & Media, 1996 Edition: Illustrated Audience: Children The facts: Mary is a special person. She is the woman God chose from among all other women to be the mother of his son Jesus. This is the EHDXWLIXOVWRU\RIKRZ*RG¶VORYH came to you and me through Mary. he said. “We place ourselves in that moment. We remember our own reception and even remind ourselves of the moments that our children also received the sacrament.” Espinoza said, “Part of it has to do with the innocence. We return to that idea that we were depending on God and not on ourselves.” Early this year on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis began to use the Wednesday Audience as a way to teach and remind the faithful about what the Church teaches on the sacraments. During his catechesis focused on the sacrament of baptism, the Holy Father said baptism is the Bishop Emeritus Raymundo J. Peña’s Calendar May 1-4 All Day Texas Knights of Columbus State Convention 0D\ SP VW&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6W-RKQWKH%DSWLVW 6DQ-XDQ 0D\ SP QG&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6W-RKQWKH%DSWLVW 6DQ-XDQ 0D\ SP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6W&HFLOLD Dallas /RV)UHVQRV 0D\$OO'D\ &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDWYDULRXVSDULVKHV +RXVWRQ 0D\ SP VW&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW2XU/DG\RI6RUURZV 0F$OOHQ 0D\ SP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW2/RI6W-RKQRIWKH)LHOGV 0LVVLRQ May 16 7 p.m. Mass for Elsa Legion of Mary Retreat Rio Grande City 0D\ DP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6W+HOHQ 5LR+RQGR May 18 11 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Mercedes 0D\ SP QG&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW2XU/DG\RI6RUURZV 0F$OOHQ 0D\ SP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW+RO\6SLULW May 24 9:30 a.m. HM Coat of Arms Mass/Conference San Juan 0D\ SP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW2XU/DG\RI*XDGDOXSH %URZQVYLOOH May 25 11 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Mercedes 0D\ SP VW&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6DFUHG+HDUW (GLQEXUJ 0D\ SP QG&RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6DFUHG+HDUW (GLQEXUJ May 30 6 p.m. 85th Anniversary Mass/Dinner St. Joan of Arc Weslaco 0D\ DP &RQ¿UPDWLRQVDW6DQ3HGUR On going: Daily Mass at St. Joseph Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, 727 Bowie St., Alamo 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. Every Sunday: 6 p.m. & 9 p.m. Confessions/Mass at UTPAEdinburg Holy Hour every Thursday at 7 p.m., 727 Bowie St., Alamo 1st: Vocations to the Consecrated Life (active and contemplative) and for the Sisters and Brothers in our diocese and the success of their mission 0F$OOHQ 6DQ3HGUR 2nd: Vocations to the Permanent Diaconate the deacons (permanent and transitional) of the diocese and their families 3rd : Vocation to Married Life: for the welfare and sanctification of all the families in the diocese and for building up the Kingdom in our domestic churches 4th: Vocations to the priesthood and the priests of the diocese for the success of their ministry 5th: Vocations to the Pro-Life Intentions Format: DVD available on VHS also Publisher:Oblate Media and Communication 2009 Format: DVD Lenght: 90 Minutes Publishers:IGNATIUS PRESS Audience: Children Audience: High School - Adults The facts: During a classroom exercise wherein Fr. Brendan guides young students in making a rosary out of string and beads, \RXQJ$OH[¿QGVKHMXVWGRHVQ¶WJHW what the rosary is all about. Luckily for him, our helpful angel appears to clear things up. All four mysteries are presented and explained in ageappropriate language so that young audiences will understand that the Rosary is a very special way to get in touch with Jesus and Mary. The facts: Did you know that…Pope sacrament on which our very faith is founded and which grafts us as a living member onto Christ and his Church. Together with the Eucharist and confirmation it forms what is known as “Christian initiation”, like one great sacramental event that configures us to the Lord and turns us into a living sign of his presence and of his love. He said, “Many of us have no memory of the celebration of this sacrament, and it is obvious why, if we were baptized soon after birth. I have asked this question two or three times already, here, in this square: who among you knows the date of your baptism, raise your hands. It is important to know the day on which I was immersed in that current of Jesus’ salvation.” Pope Francis advised the faithful, “Today, at home, go look, ask about the date of your baptism and that way you will keep in mind that most beautiful day of baptism. To know the date of our baptism is to know a blessed day. The danger of not knowing is that we can lose awareness of what the Lord has done in us, the memory of the gift we have received.” “We must reawaken the memory of our baptism. We are called to live out our baptism every day as the present reality of our lives,” he said. Espinoza said the sacrament of confirmation is the second sacrament of the sacraments of initiation. It is also considered to be the perfection of baptism. It is administered by the bishop, who seals the candidates with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Now let us consider what confirmation becomes for the Church in her journey. Very similar to the day when they were together in the Upper Room, the youth will receive the Promise of the Father. The faithful are reminded of the Baptismal call to “Go out and Make Disciples of the Nations”. In the Diocese of Brownsville, Espinoza said the sacrament is administered once a young person has reached the age of 16. We also see other adults receiving this sacrament once they have completed their preparation through RCIA or another form of sacramental preparation. “The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation.” (CCC 1322) Espinoza said in preparation to receive the Eucharist, children are taught essential truths about who is the consecrated species and what it means to receive him in the Sacrament. In practice, children that are at least in third grade are prepared to once again “put on their white garment” and approach the altar and receive graces from God. As in confirmation, adults who were preparing through the RCIA process come forward as well to be one with us at table. Passion, Genuis said, “We must immerse our young people in God – in the beauty he has created for us – which will feed our souls. Music plays an impactful role in people’s lives. I am ready to return bringing worldclass musicians with me to the Rio Grande Valley to encourage others and bring them to God through the beauty of music. The language of God is beauty – you must not remove beauty from people, it brings them hope and “hope does not disappoint.” Chaplain Walterio Rodriguez said, “the visit of these two men of God (to the prison) was unexpected and a most glorious gift to so many who came and listened and watched and accepted their gift of faith, hope and love.” continued from pg. 3 requested a second performance at the neighboring Lopez Unit which was later cancelled after Barry lost his voice. The men in prison asked Genuis for one more song after Barry’s performance. There were tears in many of the men’s eyes as Genuis shared with them a personal composition dedicated to his son Joseph, who lived only a few hours after birth. “It was a special moment for many of the men separated from their children and their families,” said David Calvillo, founder of the “Real Men Pray the Rosary” apostolate. John Paul II was stabbed during a second failed assassination that was kept secret by the Vatican… until now. Pope John Paul II liked to disguise himself and sneak out of the Vatican to mix with ordinary people. The Pontiff began is career as an actor, and had a great talent for Karaoke. His Holiness once performed and exorcism. 15 Advisory Team 2I¿FHRI&DWHFKHVLV 17-18 Retiro Pre-Matrimonial )DPLO\/LIH2I¿FH 24 CoordinatorsTraining )DPLO\/LIH2I¿FH 26 Memorial Day Holiday 'LRFHVDQ2I¿FHV&ORVHG June 1 Ascension 8 Pentecost 3-5 Summer Study Days 2I¿FHRI&DWHFKHVLV 15 Trinty Sunday 16-20- Youth Leader <RXWK0LQLVWU\ 21-27- CYRP <RXWK0LQLVWU\ 22 Corpus Christi Sunday 12-13 For Better and Forever )DPLO\/LIH2I¿FH July 4 Independence Day 'LRFHVDQ2I¿FHV&ORVHG 8-12 Youth Serve <RXWK0LQLVWU\ 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. What I swore, continued from pg. 4 Now I spend my days cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, changing diapers. You know, all those out-dated, old-fashioned things that I swore I would never do. I live in the kitchen. I probably spend more time washing dishes than I do sleeping. And the funniest thing is, I love it. I love to hear the children shout, “Papa!” when Pedro comes home from work. I love to greet him with a kiss, drying my hands on my worn apron. I love the ordinary beauty I see every day when I serve meals to my family and we sit around the table together. I love when Pedro kisses me every evening after dinner and says, “Delicioso, mi amor.” I feel like a queen, like the luckiest girl in the world. So now I have two different heroes: Our Lord Jesus Christ and his beautiful mother the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just as Christ himself came to serve us, just as Mary nurtured and adored her son, so do I have the privilege of serving, nurturing and adoring my earthly family. I thank God every day for blessing me with the sacrament of marriage and the gift of family. 20 DIOCESE The Valley Catholic - May 2014 Our Catholic Family Alamo native retires as bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo By ROSE YBARRA The Valley Catholic “It is hard to describe what it is like to grow up in the Valley to someone who has never experienced it,” said the Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo, who was born and raised in Alamo. “We grew up poor and whatever we had, we used it wisely. Everyone, young and old, worked hard. We saw our Catholic faith as a gift from God and practiced it very strongly. “I miss the spirit that’s there, the great love of life and family, the two cultures and how we all blended together.” Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer, who recently retired as Bishop of San Angelo, says he looks forward to visiting the Rio Grande Valley more often. He has many relatives and friends living in the area. A priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he served as the shepherd of the Diocese of San Angelo for more than 28 years. The San Angelo diocese encompasses 37,433 square miles across 29 counties, including the cities of Midland, Odessa and Abilene, and is about the size of the state of Ohio. It has a population of 859,701 and 77,230 — or nine percent of them — are Catholic, according to statistics provided by the Diocese of San Angelo. Courtesy photo %LVKRS(PHULWXV0LFKDHO'3IHLIHUDQ2EODWHRI0DU\,PPDFXODWHDWKLVIDUHZHOO 0DVVDWWKH'LRFHVHRI6DQ$QJHOR+HDWWHQGHGWKHFDQRQL]DWLRQVRI3RSH-RKQ;;,,, DQG3RSH-RKQ3DXO,,LQ5RPHRQ$SULO On his 75th birthday, May 18, 2012, Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer submitted a letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI in accordance with canon law. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on Dec. 12, 2013. The Most Rev. Michael Sis was installed as the Diocese of San Angelo’s sixth bishop on Jan. 27. After the installation, Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer, who turns 77 this month, moved to San Antonio to once again live in community with the Oblates, including his older brother, Father Ted Pfeifer. “Living away from the Oblates was a major change in my life when I became bishop,” said Bish- op Emeritus Pfeifer, who served in Zambia and Mexico during his priestly ministry. “I am a religious priest and we are called to community and suddenly, in many ways, I had to adapt my life to live as a diocesan priest. “It’s been a real blessing to be back with the Oblate community.” Mike Wyse, chancellor of the Diocese of San Angelo, said that Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer made many contributions throughout his episcopacy. Two that stand out in Wyse’s mind are the bishop’s commitment to the pro-life cause and his creation of a coalition to address substance abuse problems in the community. Wyse said that Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer mobilized the faithful to pray daily outside Planned Parenthood facilities throughout the vast diocese. He also motivated his flock to write letters to lawmakers in Austin and Washington, D.C. to promote a culture of life and created a greater awareness about life issues in the diocese. The Concho Valley Community Action and Resources for Empowerment and Success Coalition (CARES Coalition) was formed in March 2007 by Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer to address the substance abuse problems in the Concho Valley, a region that includes Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, McCulloch, Mason, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton and Tom Green counties. Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer later founded a similar coalition in the Midland-Odessa area. “That’s one of his major accomplishments, founding the CARES coalition,” said Wyse, who has been the chancellor since 2006. “It is a collaborative effort of more than 40 agencies and individuals that work together to encourage the elimination of substance abuse so that children and families can thrive.” Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer’s goals for his retirement are to rest more, give more time to prayer — he’s already spending an extra hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day — and to serve where he is needed. Archbishop Gustavo GarciaSiller has asked him to assist with Confirmations. Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer would also like to serve in prison ministry and in ministry with troubled youth. He will also continue to be active with the bishops of U.S. and Mexican dioceses along the border who meet about twice a year to discuss issues of mutual concern, particularly immigration matters. Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer attended the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II in Rome on April 27. “Pope John Paul II made me a bishop and I got to know him personally,” Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer said. “I admired him deeply. I think he was one of the greatest popes ever.” Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer and Pope John Paul II shared a birthday – May 12. In 2004, Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer had the honor of celebrating his birthday with Pope John Paul II. It would be Pope John Paul II’s last birthday on earth. “It was the most beautiful birthday,” Bishop Emeritus Pfeifer said. “I learned how to say ‘happy birthday’ (Sto Lat!) to him in Polish and he wished me a happy birthday in English and Spanish. We had a wonderful visit.” 2LMDJ6JK5DBL15558 BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert Rearview Camera AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control" (RSC® ) Competitive Conquest Bonus Cash or Owner Loyalty 60 3^UUdb >W]P^Z] Ά͜͜ >W]P^Z] 5WbP^d]c Ά͜ U^^Q d]cWZ ΧΧ 5WbPZMW\Ra 3LN6L2GK7DR829072 3^UUdb >W]P^Z] 1400 East Hwy 83 Mcallen, TX 78501 1-888-875-1034 [email protected]