Spring 2021 - Vol. 56. No. 1 by South Texas Catholic

SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

South Texas

Catholic S P R I N G 2 0 21

For God so loved the world

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INSIDE 5 | BISHOP’S MESSAGE, The Word: Encountering Jesus: the South Texas Catholic has a conversation with Bishop Michael Mulvey on Lent and Easter.

9 | VOCATIONS, Sister Delphine Apinjoh, SSA, shares her spiritual journey and joy of saying ‘yes’ to God.

11 | JESUS SAYS, Explaining the Gospel

Message: Father Brady Williams, SOLT, reminds us that Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, is the source of our resurrection.

15 | CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, Teachers Sylvia

Rodriguez from Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Marilyn Sheridan from Most Precious Blood strive to keep their students grounded in faith.

18 | WOMAN OF STRENGTH, St. Josephine

Bakhita, the patron saint of human trafficking victims who would one day refer to God as the “The Good Master.”

20 | D I FU N D I E N D O L A LUZ , santas

amistades: los ministros de jóvenes hispanos de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Alice están difundiendo el mensaje del Evangelio a otros hispanos en toda la diócesis.

25 | M ATR I M O N I O, testimonio del amor de

Dios el uno por el otro: Enrique y Leticia Zarate comparten cómo Encuentro Matrimonial cambió sus vidas.

29 | COMMUNAL PRAYER, THE WORD: Sister

Annette Wagner, IWBS, explains that union with God occurs through the Word that lives in us all due to our baptism and conscious efforts.

31 | NATIONAL NEWS: Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament gather information from Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ, for their upcoming Lenten Appeal, “Project Restoring Human Dignity.”

32 | WORLD NEWS: Twins among those

ordained priests in Uganda’s Kasese diocese.

34 | A WORD FROM OUR HOLY FATHER:

Pope Francis says, Christian prayer instills ‘invincible hope’ in the human heart.

Bishop Michael Mulvey and the staff of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources are committed to assisting those who have faced abuse of any kind. For immediate assistance, support and referral information, please call Victim Assistance Coordinator Stephanie Bonilla at (361) 693-6686.

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Liturgical Calendar VOL. 56 NO. 1 Publisher Bishop Michael Mulvey, STL DD Director of Communications Julie Stark jstark@diocesecc.org Managing Editor Mary Cottingham MCottingham@diocesecc.org Theological Consultant Ben Nguyen, MTS, JCL/JD, D.Min (ABD) BNguyen@diocesecc.org Communications Specialist Elizabeth Morales Correspondents Jesse De Leon and Rebecca Esparza Translator/Correspondent Gloria Romero Manage Subscriptions If you or someone you know would like to receive the South Texas Catholic Contact us at (361) 882-6191 555 N Carancahua St, Ste 750 Corpus Christi TX 78401-0824 stc@diocesecc.org or to subscribe, unsubscribe or submit a change of address go online at: southtexascatholic.com/subscribe

Calendar Items Submit your announcements by using our online form, e-mail, mail or drop it off at the Chancery office. Only announcements for the month of publication will be included in the print edition, if space permits. All other calendar items will appear on the magazine or diocesan websites. The South Texas Catholic is not liable or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisement appearing within these pages. All claims, offers guarantees, statements, etc. made by advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau.

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April 2021 1 | Thu | Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)8 | white | Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9/Rv 1:5-8/ Lk 4:16-21 (260) Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 1114/1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15 (39) 2 | Fri | Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) | red Is 52:13—53:12/Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9/Jn 18:1—19:42 (40) Pss Prop 3 | Sat | Holy Saturday9 | white | Easter Vigil: Gn 1:1—2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a/Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/ Ex 14:15—15:1/Is 54:514/ Is 55:1-11/Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4/Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/ Rom 6:3-11/Mk 16:1-7 (41) Pss Prop 4 | SUN | EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD | white | Solemnity | Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 (42) or Mk 16:1-7 (41) or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Lk 24:13-35 (46) Pss Prop 5 | Mon | Monday within the Octave of Easter10 | white Acts 2:14, 22-33/ Mt 28:8-15 (261) Pss Prop

16 | Tue | Lenten Weekday | violet | Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16 (245)

6 | Tue | Tuesday within the Octave of Easter | white Acts 2:36-41/Jn 20:11-18 (262) Pss Prop

17 | Wed | Lenten Weekday | violet [Saint Patrick, Bishop]Is 49:8-15/Jn 5:17-30 (246)

7 | Wed | Wednesday within the Octave of Easter | white Acts 3:110/Lk 24:13-35 (263) Pss Prop

18 | Thu | Lenten Weekday | violet [Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church] Ex 32:714/Jn 5:31-47 (247)

8 | Thu | Thursday within the Octave of Easter | white Acts 3:1126/Lk 24:35-48 (264) Pss Prop

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BISHOP’S MESSAGE The Word: Encountering Jesus

A conversation with Bishop Mulvey STC: During Lent how do we unite ourselves to Jesus’ experience in the desert, especially given the suffering we are experiencing during this pandemic? Bishop Mulvey: We must start with the fact that suffering is a part of human life. Crisis is something we cannot avoid.

need to learn to listen in the same way. We listen and hear when there are no distractions within us or around us. Closeness to the Word of God is our way of being “free” from the distraction. Jesus said, “you are clean [free] already because of the word I have spoken to you” (Jn 15:3).

The pandemic has brought to light the issue of suffering in a very profound way—discomfort for some and for others deep pain. In the Christian language, we might say we are carrying a cross. The Cross is an integral part of the Christian life.

Reading and praying over the Gospel can be done in the corner of a room or a chapel, apart from distractions. In this way we “hear” the Word of God as a light of truth that gives us direction and comfort, but most of all places us in God.

We might be tempted to say, I’ve already lived my Lent during this pandemic, however, Lent is an annual call to conversion. It is a time for us to offer God our willingness and desire to change. Lent is not simply about giving up something, that leads to a victory lap that announces, “I did it!” for six weeks and then return to the way we before Lent began.

The pandemic has undoubtedly brought out the issue of human suffering and human frailty. Lent this year offers us a particular time to allow Him to speak. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” can be the theme for Lent this year.

We should look at Lent as a self-imposed time of sacrifice with the intention of redirecting our life to God. The image of the desert is appropriate to Lent and the spiritual life. The “desert” is a place and time to go in search of God as Jesus did throughout his life on earth. It was usually in the desert, on a hilltop or in a garden that Jesus prayed and listened to the Father. We too

STC: Mother Teresa said that during Lent we rediscover Jesus, by reading the Word, being present to his Word and being still in his Word. In the Word we rediscover Christ. Bishop Mulvey: Yes, I would agree. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of the world is ignorance of Christ. I would add that if we are in the process of rediscovering, as Mother Teresa states, we are searching. If we’re not searching, we are not listening, and further we are

M AY T H E Y A L L B E O N E | S P R I N G 2 0 21 | S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

BISHOP’S MESSAGE The Word: Encountering Jesus

not living. Searching is a constant state of being human because we can never say, “I found God completely.” God is a mystery. But God can be discovered daily in love. Our search for God is a search to love! STC: Now, as we approach Easter, what is your perspective upon the strength and courage that the Easter message gives us? Bishop Mulvey: As we celebrate Easter, we embrace the Resurrection of Jesus and its fruits - joy, peace, new life, new beginnings. These are gifts of the Pascal Mystery. Welcoming in His Spirit these fruits abound within us. The reality that Christ is risen from the dead is the heart of our faith. St. Paul says it beautifully, “If Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty your faith” (1 Cor 15:14). We should ask ourselves if we believe in the Resurrection only as a matter of doctrine or if we have experienced the power of suffering and death and then the joy of resurrection in our own life? We must remember that there would be no resurrection if there were no death, and the death that Jesus suffered for us was redemptive. He took upon himself all our sins and nailed them to the Cross. Easter Sunday is the day of great rejoicing. St. Augustine used to say that we are Easter people. We acknowledge the Cross but focus on Easter. Pope Francis has said that we shouldn’t be gloomy Christians. Yes, the Cross and Easter are companions. Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was raised. That is the promise under which we live, and in which we rejoice.

Una conversación con STC: Durante la Cuaresma, ¿cómo nos unimos a la experiencia de Jesús en el desierto, especialmente dado el sufrimiento que estamos experimentando durante esta pandemia? Obispo Mulvey: Debemos comenzar con el hecho de que el sufrimiento es parte de la vida humana. Las crisis son algo que no podemos evitar. La pandemia ha sacado a la luz el tema del sufrimiento de una manera muy profunda: malestar para algunos y dolor profundo para otros. En el lenguaje cristiano, podríamos decir que llevamos una cruz. La Cruz es parte integral de la vida cristiana. Podríamos sentir la tentación de decir, ya viví mi Cuaresma durante esta pandemia, sin embargo, la Cuaresma es un llamado anual a la conversión. Es un momento para que ofrezcamos a Dios nuestra disposición y nuestro deseo de cambiar. La Cuaresma no se trata simplemente de renunciar a algo, eso lleva a un sentimiento de victoria que anuncia “¡Lo logré!” Durante seis semanas y luego volver a la forma en que comenzamos la Cuaresma. Debemos ver la Cuaresma como un tiempo de sacrificio autoimpuesto con la intención de redirigir nuestra vida a Dios. La imagen del desierto es apropiada para la Cuaresma y la vida espiritual. El “desierto” es un lugar y un momento para ir en busca de Dios como lo hizo Jesús a lo largo de su vida en la tierra. Por lo general, era en el desierto, en la cima de una colina o en un jardín donde Jesús oraba y escuchaba al Padre. Nosotros también debemos aprender a escuchar de la misma manera. Escuchamos y escuchamos cuando no hay distracciones dentro o alrededor de nosotros. La cercanía a la Palabra de Dios es nuestra forma de “liberarnos” de la distracción. Jesús dijo: “ya estáis limpios [libres] por la palabra que os he hablado” (Jn 15:3).

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MENSAJE DEL OBISPO La Palabra: Encuentro con Jesús

el obispo Mulvey

STC: Ahora que nos acercamos a la Pascua, ¿cuál es su perspectiva sobre la fuerza y el aliento que nos da el mensaje de Pascua?

La lectura y la oración del Evangelio se puede hacer en la esquina de una habitación o en una capilla, sin distracciones. De esta manera “escuchamos” la Palabra de Dios como una luz de verdad que nos da dirección y consuelo, pero sobre todo nos coloca en Dios. Sin duda, la pandemia ha sacado a relucir el problema del sufrimiento humano y la fragilidad humana. La Cuaresma de este año nos ofrece un tiempo especial para permitir que El nos hable. “Habla Señor, tu siervo escucha” este puede ser el tema, de la Cuaresma de este año. STC: La Madre Teresa dijo que durante la Cuaresma redescubrimos a Jesús, leyendo la Palabra, estando presentes a su Palabra y permaneciendo quietos en su Palabra. En la palabra redescubrimos a Cristo. Obispo Mulvey: Sí, estaría de acuerdo. San Jerónimo insistió en que la ignorancia del mundo es ignorancia de Cristo. Yo agregaría que si estamos en proceso de redescubrimiento, como dice la Madre Teresa, estamos buscando. Si no estamos buscando, no estamos escuchando y, además, no estamos viviendo. La búsqueda es un estado constante del ser humano porque nunca podemos decir: “Encontré a Dios completamente”. Dios es un misterio. Pero Dios se puede descubrir a diario en el amor. ¡Nuestra búsqueda de Dios es una búsqueda del amor!

Obispo Mulvey: Al celebrar la Pascua, abrazamos la resurrección de Jesús y sus frutos: alegría, paz, vida nueva, nuevos comienzos. Estos son los dones del Misterio Pascual. Acogiendo en Su Espíritu estos frutos, los encontramos abundantes dentro de nosotros. La realidad de que Cristo resucitó de entre los muertos es el corazón de nuestra fe. San Pablo lo dice bellamente: “Si Cristo no ha resucitado, entonces vacía [también] nuestra predicación; vacía tu fe” (1 Co 15:4). Debemos preguntarnos si creemos en la resurrección solo como una cuestión de doctrina o si hemos experimentado el poder del sufrimiento y la muerte y luego el gozo de la resurrección en nuestra propia vida. Debemos recordar que no habría resurrección si no hubiera muerte, y la muerte que Jesús sufrió por nosotros fue redentora. Él tomó sobre sí todos nuestros pecados y los clavó en la Cruz. El Domingo de Resurrección es el día de gran regocijo. San Agustín solía decir que somos gente de Pascua. Reconocemos la Cruz pero nos centramos en la Pascua. El Papa Francisco ha dicho que no deberíamos ser cristianos sombríos. Sí, la Cruz y la Pascua son compañeras. Jesucristo sufrió, murió y resucitó. Esa es la promesa bajo la cual vivimos y en la cual nos regocijamos.

El obispo Michael Mulvey y el personal de la Oficina del Medio Ambiente Seguridad y Recursos para Niños y Familias están comprometidos a ayudar a aquellos que han sufrido abusos de cualquier tipo. Para asistencia inmediata, apoyo e información de referencia, llame al Coordinador de Asistencia a Víctimas Stephanie Bonilla al (361) 693-6686. QUE TODOS SE AN UNO

PRIMAVER A 2021

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Spring 2021 SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES COLLECTION

HELP

esus

IN DISGUISE

Collections The Catholic Relief Services Collection: March 13-14 Your support for this collection gives aid to victims of persecution and natural disasters, provides legal services to poor immigrants, and advocates for the powerless. Through your generosity, six Catholic agencies help Jesus in the guise of the vulnerable refugee, the immigrant family, and the poor and marginalized.

70200201

Pontifical Good Friday Collection: April 1-2

THE THE

CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS APPEAL

GOOD FRIDAY

Support Christians in the Holy Land Pontifical Good Friday Collection

STRENGTHENING the CHURCH AT HOME www.usccb.org/home-missions

Share in the Care

Supporting the Church in the Holy Land is an historic mission. Since the time of St. Paul, who urged his missionary Churches not to forget the needs of the Church in Jerusalem, Christians worldwide have understood the responsibility to support the land where Jesus walked. Last year’s collection supported 29 parishes, four homes for orphans, three academic institutions; helped keep schools open for over 10,000 pre-K through grade 12 students; supported 120 men preparing to be priests or brothers; helped rehabilitate 80 homes for Christian families; and provided senior care facilities in Bethlehem and Nazareth; ceated 1,500 jobs in the Holy Land for Christians; and preserved 54 shrines connected with the life of Jesus and the prophets.

Catholic Home Missions Appeal: April 24-25 Four out of ten dioceses in our country and its territories are considered home mission territories. This appeal helps our brothers and sisters here in the United States who do not have access to basic pastoral services like Mass, the sacraments, and religious education. Through your support, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps these mission dioceses form vibrant faith communities and strengthens the Church at home.

Retired and Infirm Priests Collection: May 1-2 Money from the Retired and Infirm Priests Collection provides for the long-term funding needed by the welfare fund, to enhance the monthly benefits to our retired priests in perpetuity and to assist in the special health care needs of the infirm and retired priests of our diocese. They are the ones who have baptized our children, married our adult children, given the sacraments to our children, forgiven our sins, challenged us to live the Gospel, been at the bedside of the dying in the middle of the night, and are at the altar every Sunday to bring us Jesus. Now it is our turn to say…“Thank you.”

Please give to those who have given a lifetime.

Retired Diocesan Priests Fund Donate generously to your local parish collection

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We are humbled and grateful for those who continue to give during this time of uncertainty. Thank you! We are the many parts of the Body of Christ. Because of you, we are better able to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters. We understand that some may not be able to give. However, if you are able and can continue to give to your parish, please also consider giving to these worthy causes.

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VOCATIONS Sister’s corner

Her vocation is a joyful expression of God’s love By Mary Cottingham South Texas Catholic

MARY COTTINGHAM | STC

he was a Catholic Men’s Association leader and a Small ister Delphine E. Apinjoh, from the Sisters of St. Christian Community leader. Her mom served in the Ann (SSA), exudes the kind of confidence and Catholic Women’s Association, which is the equivavivacious joy that attracts people, young and lent of Catholic Daughters of America here in the U.S. old alike. Before the pandemic, Sister Delphine “They made sure that we had all our sacraments and spent most of her time helping at Most Precious even enrolled us into different church groups,” Sister Blood Parish, ministering to the homebound, teaching Delphine said. “The entire family was really involved.” Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, coordinating with Her vocation journey began after receiving her first the office of youth ministry and singing in the choir. Holy Communion. Her mother enrolled her in the Nowadays, she teaches catechism virtually – to over 100 Cadets of Mary, a Cameroonian youth group. “There youth. Her exuberance in ministering to youth comes we learned about the from a strong sense of example of our Blessed family, service and a Mother – her faith, her solid faith foundation. obedience, her love,” Born into a truly she said. dedicated and faithful Cameroon, girls Catholic family, Sisin Cadets of Mary ter Delphine feels that wear uniforms that her family nurtured resemble blue habits, her loving relationship so Sister Delphine with God. “My parent’s already looked like a Christian living was the sister. The group was best gift God ever gave in constant contact me. They brought us with the Religious Sisall into that faith,” she ters of St. Ann, whom said. she admired for their Her homeland is dedication, smiles Africa. She hails from and tireless service. an English speaking When they asked the (Anglophone) commuCadets, “Who wants nity in Cameroon. She to become a religious?’ is the third of seven She raised her hand children from parents, without even knowIgnatius and Philoing what it meant, but mena Obejun Apinjoh Sister Delphine Apinjoh touches the St. Joseph and young Jesus every time she thought (now deceased). Today, statue at the entrance of St. Joseph convent where the Sisters of about it, she felt at she connects with St. Ann reside. peace. her siblings through At age 16, she was in charge of the young catechetWhatsApp Messenger – sometimes, they even pray a ical group and helped the Sisters of St. Ann with their novena together. chores, so when her chaplain asked her if she wanted Her parents attended Mass daily and served in differto pursue a life as a religious, her immediate response ent leadership roles in Christ the King Parish commuwas surprising. nity. Her father was Parish Pastoral Council President; M AY T H E Y A L L B E O N E

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VOCATIONS Sister’s corner

“I will go to change the tears of desperation into the sweet tears of hope” – Giulia di Barolo, founder of Sisters of St. Ann

She said no, “You see, I never mentioned it to anybody, not even my family. I kept it really to myself.” But after about a month, she sought her chaplain’s counsel, and after finishing high school, Sister Delphine joined the community of the Sisters of St. Ann. During her discernment period (postulancy), she learned about the history of the congregation, sociology and human formation and at the same time grew a deeper relationship with God through prayer. After that year, she spent two years as a novice. “It’s basically a year of review, the first year of novitiate, is called a canonical year – we are really cut off from activities. You want to build an intimate relationship with God and is normally considered to be the foundation of your religious life,” she said. “So, if you live out your canonical year well, you are eventually going to make a good religious, because that is the year that you use to build a foundation.” Also, during this period, she took some theology and philosophy classes. She completed college-based courses on human formation, metaphysics, epistemology, cosmology, Christology, Mariology and the Trinity. Her teachers also taught the seminarians at the college. During her formation, she was assigned to another town where she learned the French language. According to Sister Delphine, every year ends with a six-day contemplative retreat to determine whether a novice should continue her formation. “You need to be happy; you need to be fulfilled; you need to be yourself,” she said. “Those are really some very awesome moments where you get some beautiful insights, and you get some real assurances of – “Yes. I’ve called you; I want you to come and be with me; I want you to be my hands and feet to the world,” she said. “I mean, you get this assurance that keeps you going.” She took final vows on July 26, 2010. “It was such a beautiful experience and celebration. “There were a lot of people, a lot of celebration, and dancing. Each time I think about it – it’s just like the memories are still fresh in my mind.” At age 22 and after taking final vows, Sister Delphine was assigned to an orphanage in Cameroon’s French-speaking community. She was in charge of 14 10

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boys and girls, with the youngest ranging in age from 18 months old to the eldest at 17 years old. “I was like a mom and a dad to all of them,” she said. “It was also challenging because it was a different language and culture and amazing because I feel like the orphans actually helped me speak the language fluently.” After that three year assignment, she went back to her hometown and received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She taught at a Catholic high school for two years. In addition to being a full-time Biology teacher, she assisted the school chaplain and later became the chaplain. During this time, she prepared young people for the sacraments and taught pedagogy to some of the younger sisters in the novitiate. She also taught “Introduction to Scriptures” to aspirants. Sister Delphine was then assigned to Holy Family and Holy Name Church in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, where her missionary journey began. She received a master’s degree in education and human resource management while teaching and preparing teenagers for confirmation at the church. After three years, she was transferred to Corpus Christi on July 19, 2016. The most challenging part of her journey has been making new beginnings. In Pennsylvania, people tend to be reserved. The people in Corpus Christi are more like the people in her country. “In Pennsylvania, the highest compliment is when somebody waves to you from a distance,” she said, adding, “but by the time you realize it, that person is long gone. The very first person who saw me here (in Corpus Christi) was running and coming to give me a big hug, and I thought, ‘oh my God, I’m home.’” Other challenges “are living with different people, different characters, different temperaments, and different ways of thinking. In the beginning, there are those difficulties before you eventually insert yourself completely,” she said. “But I always say that the language of love is what actually conquers all because of the love that we have for each other. We strive to surpass even the limits of each one of us. Love helps us grow together, be a community together, and then strive for willingness together. That is most rewarding.”

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JESUS SAYS

Explaining the Gospel message

DEPOSIT PHOTOS

‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ By Father Brady Williams, SOLT

T Contributor

here is a parish on the northeast side of Houston, where I grew up, called Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus. This title expresses so beautifully the special relationship that Jesus had with these three siblings. They were truly his friends and we can imagine that he frequented their home and enjoyed their company. St. John’s Gospel, in fact, tells us that Jesus “loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (Jn 11:5). Martha, we know, was very attentive to hospitality and Mary would sit at Jesus’ feet enjoying “the better part.” They lived in Bethany, only a few miles from Jerusalem. The Gospel of John Chapter 11 tells us that Jesus received news that Lazarus was sick and dying. All of us during this time of the pandemic have received news of a loved one or friend that has become deathly ill. Surely, many of our prayers reflect the plea for help Jesus received from these friends: “Lord, [Lazarus] whom you

love is ill” (v.3). The expectation of Martha and Mary would have been that Jesus would have come immediately and would have healed Lazarus of his fatal illness. However, Jesus delays! When Jesus does make the journey to Bethany, Martha and Mary meet him on the way and tell Him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v.21; 32). Any of us who have been faced with the death of a loved one have felt like these two sisters. We too could say: ‘Jesus, if you would have come, if you would have been here, my mom/dad, brother/sister, my friend would not have died.’ It is at this moment that we find the shortest verse in the entire New Testament: “Jesus wept” (v.35). Yes, Jesus sees our tears, our sorrow, and our pain in these moments of loss. Our sorrowful heart moves His Most Sacred Heart. Yet it is also here, in this moment of tremendous pain of heart, that Jesus speaks to Martha – and us – those most powerful words: “I am the resurrection and the

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JESUS SAYS

Explaining the Gospel message

It is at this moment that we find the shortest verse in the entire New Testament: “Jesus wept” (v.35). Yes, Jesus sees our tears, our sorrow, and our pain in these moments of loss. Our sorrowful heart moves His Most Sacred Heart. life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (Jn 11:25). A few years ago, a coworker received a phone call that her son had suddenly passed away. I remember hearing the news and then going to the little chapel here on campus where she was to try to console her. I honestly didn’t know what to say. After a short time, we decided to celebrate Mass for the repose of her son’s soul. When the Gospel of the Raising of Lazarus was proclaimed, I noticed how these mighty words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life,” were able to penetrate this sorrowful mother’s heart. Already they began to bring her healing through hope, a hope that started with her desire that her son would come back to life (like Lazarus) but which was transformed into a hope “full of immortality”(Wis 3:4) that her son would be with the Lord. For those who have lost a spouse, a relative, a friend: Jesus desires that these words console your hearts. Only He can bring true solace and peace in these bereft moments of life. “I am the resurrection and the life.” What powerful words! Christ has conquered death and restored life. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, is the principle and source of our own resurrection. In the Gospel account, Jesus anticipates his resurrection by resuscitating Lazarus back to life. We may initially hope that, like Lazarus, the one whom we have lost could come back to be with us again. Ultimately, we realize that this kind of ‘rising’ could never be enough, because we want our loved one to live forever. By Jesus’ resurrection, our hope is now transformed so

that by grace we may become the friends of God and live forever. Even though we still have to undergo the uncertainty of physical death, we believe that Christ, our Life, will raise us up on the last day. The Preface for Christian Funerals poignantly states, “Indeed, for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended ….” “Do you believe this” (Jn 11:26)? The question Jesus posed to Martha remains pertinent to us. May we, with Martha, profess our faith in the Lord Jesus now and at the hour of our death: “Yes Lord! I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world” (v.27).

About the Author Father Brady Williams is a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in 2003 and was ordained to the priesthood in Corpus Christi in 2004. In 2008 he completed his Licentiate degree in liturgical theology at the Pontifical Atheneum Sant’Anselmo in Rome and was appointed as the Rector of the SOLT House of Studies (2008 – 2012). Among the many opportunities for priestly ministry, Father Williams was assistant chaplain at the University of Dallas Rome Campus (2006 – 2011) and ministered to the sick and dying as a hospital chaplain at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI (2012). He was assigned as Pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish and School in Phoenix, AZ in 2012 – 2013. Currently, Father Williams serves as the SOLT General Secretary and as the Novice Servant.

In the spirit of proper stewardship, the Diocese of Corpus Christi encourages the reporting of any financial abuse concerns or related issues. Report confidentially to: financialconcerns@diocesecc.org En el espíritu de una administración adecuada, la Diócesis de Corpus Christi alienta a informar cualquier inquietud de abuso financiero o problemas relacionados. Informe confidencialmente a: financialconcerns@diocesecc.org 12

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JESUS DIJO

Explicando el mensaje del evangelio

DEPOSIT PHOTOS

‘Yo soy la resurrección y la vida’ Por el padre Brady Williams, SOLT

H Contribuyente

ay una parroquia en el lado noreste de Houston, donde crecí, llamada Santas Martha, María y Lázaro: Amigos de Jesús. Este título expresa bellamente la relación tan especial que Jesús tenía con estos tres hermanos. Eran verdaderamente sus amigos y podemos imaginar que frecuentaba su casa y disfrutaba de su compañía. El Evangelio de San Juan,

de hecho, nos dice que Jesús “amaba a Martha, a su hermana y a Lázaro” (Jn 11:5). Sabemos que Martha, estaba muy atenta a la hospitalidad y María se sentaba a los pies de Jesús disfrutando de “la mejor parte”. Vivían en Betania, a pocas millas de Jerusalén. El Evangelio de Juan capítulo 11 nos dice que Jesús recibió la noticia de que Lázaro estaba enfermo y agonizante. Todos nosotros durante este tiempo de la

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JESUS DIJO

Explicando el mensaje del evangelio

Es en este momento cuando encontramos el versículo más corto en todo el Nuevo Testamento: “Jesús lloró” (v.35). Sí, Jesús ve nuestras lágrimas, nuestro dolor y nuestro sufrimiento, en estos momentos de pérdida. Nuestro corazón dolorido mueve Su Sacratísimo Corazón. pandemia hemos recibido noticias de un ser querido o amigo que se ha enfermado de muerte. Seguramente, muchas de nuestras oraciones reflejan la petición de ayuda que Jesús recibió de sus amigos: “Señor, Lázaro a quien amas está enfermo” (v.3). La expectativa de Martha y María habría sido que Jesús hubiera venido de inmediato y hubiera sanado a Lázaro de su fatal enfermedad. Sin embargo, ¡Jesús se demora! Cuando Jesús hace el viaje a Betania, Martha y María se encuentran con él en el camino y le dicen: “Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto” (v.21; 32). Cualquiera de nosotros, que hemos tenido que enfrentar la muerte de un ser querido nos hemos sentido como estas dos hermanas. Nosotros también podríamos decir: ‘Jesús, si hubieras venido, si hubieras estado aquí, mi mamá / papá, hermano / hermana, mi amigo no habría muerto’. Es en este momento cuando encontramos el versículo más corto en todo el Nuevo Testamento: “Jesús lloró” (v.35). Sí, Jesús ve nuestras lágrimas, nuestro dolor y nuestro sufrimiento, en estos momentos de pérdida. Nuestro corazón dolorido mueve Su Sacratísimo Corazón. Sin embargo, es también aquí, en este momento de tremendo dolor de corazón, donde Jesús le habla a Martha – y en ella a nosotros – y le dice las palabras más poderosas: “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida; el que cree en mí, aunque muera, vivirá ” (Jn 11, 25). Hace unos años, una compañera de trabajo recibió una llamada telefónica en la que le decían que su hijo había muerto repentinamente. Recuerdo haber escuchado la noticia y luego haber ido a la pequeña capilla de aquí, del campus, donde ella estaba, para tratar de consolarla. Sinceramente, no supe qué decir. Al poco tiempo, decidimos celebrar la misa por el reposo del alma de su hijo. Cuando se proclamó el Evangelio de la resurrección de Lázaro, noté cómo estas poderosas palabras de Jesús, “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida”, pudieron penetrar el corazón de esta madre afligida. Y comenzaron a sanar su dolor, a través de la esperanza, una esperanza que comenzó con el deseo de que su hijo volviera a la vida (como Lázaro) pero que se transformó en una esperanza “llena de inmortalidad” (Sab 3, 4) que su hijo estaría con el Señor. Para los que han perdido a su cónyuge, a un familiar, o a un amigo: Jesús desea que estas palabras consuelen sus corazones. Solo Él puede brindar verdadero consuelo y paz en estos momentos 14

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de privación de la vida. “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida.” ¡Qué poderosas palabras! Cristo conquistó la muerte y restauró la vida. Jesucristo, resucitado de entre los muertos, es el principio y la fuente de nuestra propia resurrección. En el relato del Evangelio, Jesús anticipa su resurrección al resucitar a Lázaro. Al principio, podemos esperar que, como Lázaro, la persona que hemos perdido, pueda regresar a la vida, para estar de nuevo con nosotros. En última instancia, nos damos cuenta de que este tipo de “ascenso” nunca podría ser suficiente, porque queremos que nuestro ser querido viva para siempre. Por la resurrección de Jesús, nuestra esperanza ahora se transforma para que por la gracia podamos convertirnos en amigos de Dios y vivir para siempre. Aunque todavía tenemos que sufrir la incertidumbre de la muerte física, creemos que Cristo, nuestra Vida, nos resucitará en el último día. El prefacio de los funerales cristianos dice de manera conmovedora: “De hecho, para tus fieles, Señor, la vida no cambia, no termina ...” “¿Crees esto” (Jn 11,26)? La pregunta que Jesús le hizo a Martha sigue siendo pertinente para nosotros. Que nosotros, con Marta, profesemos nuestra fe en el Señor Jesús ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte: “¡Sí, Señor! He llegado a creer que tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, el que viene al mundo ”(v.27).

Sobre el Autor El padre Brady Williams es miembro de la Sociedad de Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad (SOLT). Completó sus estudios teológicos en la Universidad Pontificia de Santo Tomás de Aquino (Angelicum) en Roma en 2003 y fue ordenado sacerdote en Corpus Christi en 2004. En 2008 completó su licenciatura en teología litúrgica en el Pontificio Atheneum Sant’Anselmo. en Roma y fue nombrado Rector de la Casa de Estudios SOLT (2008 - 2012). Entre las muchas oportunidades para el ministerio sacerdotal, el padre Williams fue capellán asistente en el campus de Roma de la Universidad de Dallas (20062011) y ministró a los enfermos y moribundos como capellán de hospital en el Hospital Henry Ford en Detroit, MI (2012). Fue asignado como Pastor de la Parroquia y Escuela Most Holy Trinity en Phoenix, AZ en 2012 2013. Actualmente, el Padre Williams se desempeña como Secretario General SOLT y como Siervo Novicio.

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

REBECCA ESPARZA | FOR STC

Grounded in Faith

Kindergarten teacher Sylvia Rodriguez leads her class through the parking lot at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Academy during a ceremony celebrating Catholic Schools Week recently.

Teaching with love By Rebecca Esparza Correspondent

ylvia Rodriguez can clearly recall when she first realized she was meant to become a religious education teacher. She felt the happiness in her heart when speaking to her kindergartners about how much God loves them. “I remember asking them to stretch their arms out as far as they could and telling them that God loves them so much more than that. They were filled with joy, and I knew from that moment on that I never wanted to be anything other than a religious education teacher,” she said.

Rodriguez, an educator for 24 years, has been a religious education teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Academy for the last seven years. As such, she has fully committed herself to helping her young students understand they are truly loved by God. “I faithfully believe young children need to know who they are in Christ and what they believe as Catholic Christians,” she said. “My students know their prayers, and we pray together. They learn Sacred Scripture through various religion lessons and activities, which helps them understand their faith.”

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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Grounded in Faith

Marilyn Sheridan, second grade teacher at Most Precious Blood School, congratulates one of her students on a job well-done with an elbow bump. Sheridan noted her students have been doing a great job adhering to social distancing guidelines, wearing masks and washing their hands often since the school returned to in-person learning.

She added even small children could learn about and understand the lives of the saints, including the example they showed in living holy lives. “They have a basic understanding of the sacraments and the importance of forgiveness. I believe that all these components help my students stay grounded in their faith. This all helps them grow as followers and 16

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Disciples of Christ,” she said. Teaching over the last year has not been easy considering restrictions with the pandemic, but thanks to support from school administrators, the process has been agreeable. “Initially, it was quite a challenge. But as a school, we hit the ground running and wasted no time, thanks

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Grounded in Faith

to our amazing principal, Diane Martinez. We became familiar with a variety of resources and platforms that helped with delivery of instruction. We had high expectations, and I believe we exceeded those expectations,” she said. Marilyn Sheridan is in her 39th year as an educator, with 33 of those years in public school. For the last six years, she has called Most Precious Blood School home, teaching second graders and helping them prepare for their first Communion. She explained there are several layers to her method of attempting to ground her children in faith. “The first is to give them knowledge of God and His Church. They learn stories from the Old Testament and the New Testament that establishes the unfolding of Salvation history and the wonderful gift of Grace that God bestows upon His people. This grace we receive abundantly when we partake in the Sacraments,” she said. Sheridan said it is here that God’s love fills our souls: strengthening our ability to live a God-centered life. “The second is strengthening their belief by nurturing a devout prayer life,” she said. “It is through prayer that we can adore God, thank Him, and ask Him for what we need as well as ask for help for other people.” She cited prayers like the Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet are shared with her students, but she also teaches the children about quiet reflection and writing spontaneous, heartfelt prayers. “During Advent, we say prayers around the Advent wreath and lead the school posada [a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for a lodging in Bethlehem}.

In the Spring, we participate in different prayer services and pray the Divine Mercy Novena. Finally, I try to encourage my students to live out their faith in word and deed. We learn about how they can fulfill the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy,” she added. COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in extra planning and preparation of lessons, but Sheridan is undaunted by the challenge. Her only concern is for the children. “Sometimes I become uncertain about whether my at-home students are receiving the full benefit of instruction. I miss that easy flowing relationship that is more easily established with my in-person children,” she lamented. The modification of school traditions for COVID precautions has been hard, but Sheridan said her children are resilient. “My children are accepting of the ways things need to be for now. They do not seem to be anxious or afraid, and they are happy to be in school,” she said. Sheridan has advice for anyone thinking about pursuing a teaching career now, in the midst of social distancing, wearing masks all day in the classroom and the other changes students and teachers have endured over the last year. “It was only five short years ago that I felt secure enough to be able to teach in the Catholic School, although I did teach several years of CCD while working in the public schools. I wish I had been braver earlier on. I am much happier now teaching at Most Precious Blood School. I just had to follow the Holy Father’s advice: ‘Be not afraid.’”

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WOMAN OF STRENGTH St. Josephine Bakhita

Jesus removed the chains that bound her By Elizabeth Morales South Texas Catholic

MAP OF THE MIDDLE EAST | ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA AND ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA | AMORMEUS.ORG

t. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of human trafficking victims, was a woman of courage and strength. Her development and transformation as a person reveal how excruciatingly painful and heart-wrenching life can be, but with Christ, there is hope and goodness. She was born in 1869 to a noble family in a small village in the Dafur region of Sudan. Bakhita recalled having a happy childhood. At the tender age of seven, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Arab slave traders, who named her Bakhita, which means “fortunate” in Arabic. Ironically, this new name didn’t describe the torture she would be subjected to by multiple owners, but it does foretell her redemption through Christ. She was traded, bought, sold, and given as a gift to multiple families. She was tortured both physically and mentally at the hands of different owners. One Turkish family, in particular, treated Bakhita very harshly. She would be lashed, and then salt would be placed into the wounds to ensure they scarred. After one wound would heal, another would be inflicted. In Africa 1883, Bakhita was sold to Italian Vice Consul Callisto Legnani, who would take her back to his residence in Italy. Consul Legnani treated her with more dignity and respect than prior owners, and he eventually gave Bakhita away to family friends. Augusto Michieli and his family placed Bakhita as their daughter’s nanny. One day Augusto Michieli and his wife traveled away for business, leaving Bakhita and their daughter with the Canossian Sisters in Venice. When Mrs. Michieli returned to the convent to bring her daughter and

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Bakhita home, Bakhita requested to remain with the sisters. Throughout her life, Bakhita wondered who made the stars, sun, and moon. She desired to learn more about God. It was at this convent that Bakhita learned about the one who made the stars, sun, and moon, the

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WOMAN OF STRENGTH St. Josephine Bakhita

one who she would come to call “The Good Master.” The family desired that Bakhita return with them, but at almost 20 years old, Bakhita was allowed to stay at

the convent, and with the sisters’ help made a case for her freedom from slavery. The Italian court ruled in her favor since Bakhita was born in Sudan after slavery had been banned; therefore, she was indeed free. Thus, Bakhita lived her life as a free young woman, and with this newfound freedom, Bakhita, in a sense,

walked away from the chains of human and interior slavery. She lovingly devoted her resurrected life to Jesus, who, like her, suffered unjustly as a consequence of sin that was not his own. She was offered the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and first holy Communion on January 8, 1890, taking the name Josephine Margaret. Soon after Bakhita became a novice with the Canossian Daughters of Charity and made her final vows on December 8, 1896. Her professed name was Josephine Margaret and Fortunata, with the latter as a Latin translation of her Arabic name Bakhita. St. Josephine Bakhita’s humility and simplicity was a great example. In her life as a sister, she had duties, such as cooking, sewing, and doorkeeper. She would share stories of her life as a slave, which helped prepare other sisters for service in Africa and lived as a witness of God’s providence, love, and mercy to those who met her. She affectionately became referred to as Mother “Moretta,” which means brunette in Italian. Her response to God’s grace was to unshackle herself from the chains of human slavery and forgive those owners who mistreated her. She even thanked them because from her perspective they led her to the community who introduced her to Christ. Remaining at a convent in Schio, Vicenza, Josephine struggled with sickness in the advanced years of her life and passed from this earthly pilgrimage on February 8, 1947. St. John Paul II canonized her Oct. 1, 2000, and proclaimed February 8 as her feast day. She is also known as the patron of her home country, Sudan. Escaping what is known as modern-day human trafficking, St. Josephine Bakhita’s intercession can help the world come to know the freedom that Jesus Christ offers and to turn away from sin.

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Caminando de la Mano de Dios Por Gloria Romero Corresponsal

“Donde dos o más se reúnen en mi nombre, allí estoy Yo” (Mt 18:20).

GLORIA ROMERO | POR STC

stas palabras del Evangelio cobran vida y entuambulancia; y la ambulancia llegó pero las heridas eran siasmo entre las comunidades de fe, como de muerte y tuvieron que transportarlo en helicóptero ocurre entre los miembros de la parroquia de a un hospital de Corpus Christi donde lo atendieron. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, en Alice Texas, Jesús dice que no recuerda nada de su transportación donde –“todos los ministerios parroquiales juey hospitalización, solo que entre sueños escuchaba a gan un papel importante en la vida espiritual dos o tres personas que rezaban por él pidiendo por de la Iglesia.-“ Dijo María Pacheco, quien ha sido miembro su vida y su salud. muy activo en la parroquia y tiene a su cargo el Ministerio de Padeciendo todavía dolores de cabeza muy intensos la Juventud. Ella explica que en las parroquias de mayor con–indescriptibles- lo dejaron salir del hospital a su casa centración de hispanos se ha ido formando un tipo de movimiento espiritual que te lleva de la mano a un encuentro personal e intimo con Cristo. Dice que los retiros y las clases de catecismo ayudan a los jóvenes a conocer a Dios. Pero, que desde hace como 3 años, ha observado y ha vivido una transformación, gracias a esa cercanía que se alcanza con el Señor en los retiros de sanación interior.”- Y nos introdujo a los testimonios que vamos a relatar. Jesús Castillo de 22 años, ejerce liderazgo en el ministerio juvenil de las Parroquias en Alice y a través de la Diócesis de Corpus Christi. El cuenta que ya no es aquel muchacho que pensaba que la religión era para los viejitos y que visitaba la Iglesia una o dos veces al año con motivo de una Misa de quince años o de la boda de algún amigo. De niño había Jesus Castillo lider del Ministerio Juvenil en Alice y Corpus Cristi, narra sido bautizado y había hecho su Primera como de pronto se lleno del amor de Dios y sintió tanta felicidad que quiere Comunión, pero estaba muy alejado de que todos vivan esa experiencia. las cosas de Dios; sin embargo, una serie de eventos transformaron su vida. donde sus padres le pidieron al sacerdote de su parroEl cuarto hijo de padres inmigrantes, recuerda que quia que le ungiera el oleo de los enfermos. el 19 de Diciembre de 2017, estaba trabajando con su Dentro de su gravedad se daba cuenta, del poder de papá en un rancho de Benavides, arreglando maquinala oración, pues mucha gente oraba alrededor de su ria agrícola y estando a punto de terminar, un tractor cama. Pasaron unos meses y en marzo del 2018, por explotó en su cara fracturando su cabeza. insistencia de una feligresa y de sus padres, asistió a un Sin perder el conocimiento y bañado en sangre sintió retiro espiritual de sanación interior, pues quería darle que Jesucristo lo cargaba mientras escuchaba la voz gracias a Dios por salvarle la vida. de su papá que le decía: vas a estar bien ya viene la 20

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personas entran de una manera y salen de otra, lo he palpado primero en mi persona y después en mi familia. Dijo María.- y añadió –“doblando rodilla en oración profunda pedía por mi esposo quien fue para mi la persona más reacia en acercarse a la Iglesia, pero quien después de vivir un retiro, cambio la lata de cerveza siempre en su mano por un rosario, dijo María. El lema de ese retiro era “Vengan a mi todos los que están cansados y agobiados que Yo los aliviaré” (Mt 11:18). -Y así fue, -“Si te acercas a El, si lo buscas, se establece una relación y una comunicación con Cristo que te llena de Su Amor, entonces, se forma una hermandad, donde tus problemas son los problemas de todos y las experiencias milagrosas de Dios en uno, José y Leticia Villa con su Bebe Samara, son parte de la comunidad de Fe también se comparten. Nace una vocación en Alice y comparten los milagros que El Seño ha hecho en sus vidas. No de servicio y ayuda hacia los demás, que se cansan de dar su testimonio. te enseña a caminar con Cristo. La familia de Leticia y José Isidro Villa Al finalizar el tercer día, dice Jesús, que sintió de dan testimonio de cómo el encuentro con Cristo ha golpe todo el amor que Dios le tenía y que se expantraído felicidad a su vida. día hacia sus padres y familiares que lo esperaban al José dice que ya estaba harto de sufrir, y de tratar de concluir el retiro. cumplir con todos. Iba a Misa los domingos, trabajaba A esta primera experiencia le siguieron otras en donde arduamente, en construcción y no le alcanzaba ni para sintió el llamado a servir y dar aliento y consuelo a comprar las medicinas de su esposa, que desde niña, otras personas. padecía epilepsia, hasta que un día, en donde sintió –“El tiempo que he vivido cerca de Dios, ha hecho que ya no podía mas, decidió inscribirla en un retiro que nazca en mi esa necesidad de hablar con los jóvenes, como una última esperanza, pues la ciencia médica no porque veo en sus rostros la insatisfacción, el miedo, la le ayudaba suficientemente. La experiencia de ese acerinfelicidad, el vacío espiritual. El Espíritu de Dios me camiento a Dios transformo su vida; ya no les gritaba a habla y me motiva para comunicarme y confortar a las los niños, ya no estaba triste y decía: el Señor me curó. personas, a quienes comprendo porque hace tiempo yo –“A los retiros, llega uno muy lastimado por tantas me sentía igual. -Lo que yo he experimentado en mi cosas negativas que le pasan por la vida, que no sabe relación con Dios, dentro de la comunidad de Fe, me ha uno como interpretar, ni donde dejarlas. –Dijo José dado tanta felicidad que quiero que todos la vivan- dijo quien recuerda que fue muy lastimado desde niño, y Jesús y añadió; yo trabajo en una funeraria, y diría que vivía siempre muy inseguro. Dice que cuando tenía 5 no es el trabajo que todo mundo desea, pero a mi, en lo o 6 años sus abuelitos, marcaban muchas diferencias personal, me ha dado muchas satisfacciones. entre él y sus primos, que lo hacían sentir menos, como “El otro día me habló por teléfono una señora a la la oveja negra de la familia. que le habían matado a su hijo y se sentía muy mal; me –Un día uno de mis primos estaba tomando agua pidió que si podía llevarle al coche unos documentos embotellada y me ofreció un vasito; me dio mucho gusto que tenía que recoger y así lo hice. Al darle los papeles poder tomar agua limpia, ( porque yo bebía agua sucia ella me dijo, con lagrimas en los ojos, - gracias por todo de los charcos pues vivía en un rancho) y que llega mi lo que han hecho en los servicios para mi hijo.- Fue un abuelita y me la quita diciéndome que esa agua era para acto muy sencillo donde sentí que la conforté, y ella las visitas y a cambio, me dio del agua de una tina en me correspondía con su gratitud.” la que bebían las gallinas. Por su parte María Pacheco, continuó: diciendo. “A Yo me preguntaba por qué me pasaba esto. mi me ha tocado ver el cambio de mucha gente después Después, cuando me casé lleno de amor por mi de participar en un grupo de oración, o en una vigilia esposa, fue muy difícil para mi ver las crisis que sufría de adoración al Santísimo o después de un retiro. Las y escuchar las críticas de la gente. QUE TODOS SE AN UNO

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Walking with Christ By Gloria Romero

GLORIA ROMERO | POR STC

Correspondent

Maria Pacheco con Biblia y Rosario en mano medita y reza, en el exterior de su Parroquia Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe en Alice.

¡Nosotros buscábamos un milagro!Ese milagro ocurrió a través del encuentro con Jesucristo en un retiro de sanación interior, donde vivieron y aprendieron a ver los milagros de Dios en sus vidas, y el privilegio de tener a su familia. A pesar de que Leticia no debía embarazarse por las consecuencias que los medicamentos pudieran hacer en sus hijos, sucedieron tres embarazos. En cada uno de ellos, los médicos le aconsejaron abortar. La ultima niña vino a su vida como “una promesa de Dios” y le pusieron por nombre Samara, que significa eso precisamente, promesa de Dios. En su testimonio Leticia cuenta que estando de rodillas frente al Santísimo, Dios le habló y le regalo esa visión de un nuevo bebe en su vientre. Esa niña nació sin problemas y muy sana, para decirle al mundo que con Dios todo se puede. El cambio en la vida familiar de José y Leticia ha dado fruto pues su confianza y comunicación con Cristo es fuente de inspiración para sus hijos que quieren compartir esa paz y ese amor de la familia con sus amigos de la escuela. Así se cumplen en la familia de Leticia y José como en los miembros de otras comunidades de Fe, la frase evangélica “Pide y se te concederá, busca y hallarás” (Mt 7-7). Si desea orientación sobre estos retiros se puede comunicar con María Pacheco al Tel. (361) 207-0395. 22

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I” (Mt 18:20).

hese Gospel words come to life among enthusiastic communities of faith and many parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Alice. “All parish ministries play an important role in the spiritual life of the Church,” said María Pacheco, who is a youth minister and a very active member of the parish. She says that in parishes with the highest percentage of Hispanics, a kind of spiritual movement has been forming. Like an ACTS retreat, it takes you by the hand to experience a personal and intimate encounter with Christ. After attending the retreat, prayer groups and holy hour, Pacheco says she is a witness to these transformations in herself and in others for the past three years. She was a witness to Jesús Castillo’s transformation, the fourth child of immigrant parents, who is now a 22-year-old youth minister. He ministers to parishes in Alice and Spanish-speaking parishes throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Castillo was once a boy who thought religion was for older people, and attending Mass was a once or twice a year occasion. As a child, he had been baptized, he received his first Communion, but as a young adult, he had strayed far from God’s teachings––until a series of events began to transform his life. One of the events occurred on Dec. 19, 2017, the day of the accident. He was working with his father on a ranch in Benavides, fixing agricultural machinery, when a tractor exploded in his face, fracturing his head. Bathed in blood, but still conscious, he felt Jesus Christ was carrying him while he listened to his father’s voice, “You will be fine––the ambulance

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is coming. said. I have felt it His injuries were severe, in myself and then and he had to be transin my family.” She ported by helicopter to a remembers praying hospital in Corpus Christi. on her knees for her Castillo doesn’t remember husband to come much, only that between back to Church. dreams, he heard two or She thought he was three people praying for the most reluctant him, asking for his life and person she knew, health. but after the inner Although he was still healing retreat––“he suffering from very intense exchanged his can of headaches, the hospital beer for his rosary.” released him to his parents’ The motto of that care, and his parents called retreat is, “Come to on their parish priest to give me, all you who labor him the Oil of the Sick. As and are burdened, he lay near death, he could and I will give you hear many people praying rest” (Mt 11:28). “If around his bed, and that’s you seek Him, a relawhen he first realized the tionship and commupower of prayer. nication with Christ Leticia Villa is filled with love for her children Juan Daniel Feeling much better after is formed, and it fills and Angel. a few months had passed, you with His love. Castillo attended an inner Then a brotherhood healing retreat at his parents’ insistence and another is formed, where your problems are everyone’s probparishioner. At the end of the third day of the retreat, lems, and God’s miraculous experiences are also shared. Castillo says he suddenly felt the love that God had A vocation of service and help towards others is born, for him and that it expanded towards his parents and which teaches you to walk with Christ,” Pacheco said. relatives who were waiting for him. Leticia and José Isidro Villa’s family said their This first experience was followed by others in which encounter with Christ had brought happiness to their he felt called to serve and give encouragement and life. José says he was so tired of suffering and of trying comfort to other people. “The time that I have lived to comply with everyone. He attended Mass on Sunclose to God has given birth to a need to talk to young days, worked hard in construction and could not afford people because I see dissatisfaction, fear, unhappiness, to buy needed medicines for his wife, who had epilepsy spiritual emptiness on their faces. The Spirit of God since she was a child. As a last-ditch effort, he decided speaks to me and motivates me to communicate and to enroll them in a retreat since science wasn’t helping. comfort people I understand––because I felt the same The experience of that approach to God transformed way for a long time. his life; he no longer yells at the children––he is no “What I have experienced in my relationship with longer sad. “The Lord healed me,” he said. God, and within the community of faith, has given At the retreat, he arrived very hurt by so many negme so much happiness that I want everyone to live it,” ative emotions from his past. “I did not know how to Castillo said. “I work in a funeral home––it’s not the interpret or where to leave them,” José said. He recalled job everyone wants––but for me, it has given me a lot being very hurt as a child, which left him insecure as of satisfaction. The other day a woman spoke to me on an adult. When he was five years old, his grandparents the phone whose son was killed, and she was so sad. She treated him differently from his cousins, making him asked me if I could bring her son’s documents to her, feel like the family’s black sheep. and after I gave her the papers, she cried and thanked “One day, one of my cousins was drinking bottled me. It was a very simple act–– I felt that I comforted water, and he offered me a glass. I was delighted to drink her, and she reciprocated with gratitude. “ clean water–– usually, I drank the dirty water from “People enter one way and leave another,” Pacheco puddles because I lived on a ranch. My grandmother M AY T H E Y A L L B E O N E | S P R I N G 2 0 21 | S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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comes and takes it away, telling me the water was for visitors, and in return, she gave me water from the trough––where the chickens drank. At the time, I wondered, “why this was happening to me.” Later, when José fell in love with and married Leticia, it was tough for him to see the crisis’ she was going through and hear other people’s criticism. “We were looking for a miracle!” That miracle occurred through meeting Jesus Christ at an inner healing retreat, where he said they both learned to see God’s blessings in their lives and appreciate the privilege of having their family. Even though Leticia should not have gotten pregnant––due to some of the consequences the medications would have on her babies, she had three pregnancies. With each of them, the doctors advised her to abort. The last child was a girl. She came into her life as “a promise from God” and named her Samara, which means “protected by God” in the Bible.

Leticia shared that during the inner healing retreat, she felt God’s presence while kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and He gave her a vision of the new baby in her womb. Her baby girl was born healthy and without any medical problems. She wants to tell the world that with God, everything is possible. The change in José and Leticia’s family life has borne fruit because their trust and communication with Christ became sources of inspiration for their children who want to, in turn, share that peace and love of family with their friends from school. Prayer groups, adoration and these inner healing retreats are transformational and are having a rippling effect throughout the Spanish speaking communities of faith in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, fulfilling the Gospel message, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find” (Mt 7:7). For more information call María Pacheco at (361) 207-0395.

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MATRIMONIO

Testificar el amor de Dios unos a otros

Enamorados de nuevo, y cerca de Dios By Gloria Romero

l Encuentro Matrimonial es una organización mundial católica que provee herramientas para fortalecer el amor de la pareja y de la familia. Se desprende de él la creación de comunidades que se fortalecen entre si y enriquecen la vida espiritual de la parroquia. La experiencia del Encuentro Matrimonial lleva a cabo un programa de mejoramiento para el desarrollo de habilidades en donde el esposo y la esposa aprenden a ser la mejor pareja que pueden ser. Su estructura consta de presentaciones de temas, seguidas de un tiempo privado entre marido y mujer, donde el dialogo forma parte muy importante del conocimiento de sí mismos como matrimonio a la luz de la Fe. Enrique y Vanesa Zarate llegaron al Encuentro Matrimonial hace 8 años, en 2012, gracias a la invitación del párroco de su Iglesia; Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesia en Corpus Christi, y desde entonces han permanecido en el movimiento, involucrándose, cada día mas, e invitando a otras parejas a formar parte de él. El apoyo y las iniciativas del sacerdote son importantes, porque ayudan a ambos a mejorar su comunicación y a nutrir las relaciones en la comunidad parroquial. Vanesa y Enrique tienen 21 años de casados y tres hijos; la mayor de 19 años y dos menores de 9 y 8 años de edad. Los dos pequeños crecieron desde bebes en esa comunidad de Ntra. Sra. de San Juan y su hija mayor llego de 10 años y se integro al grupo de jóvenes de la parroquia. La pareja es muy activa y son líderes de su grupo de matrimonios, les gusta ir a las parroquias de la diócesis e invitar a la gente a vivir la experiencia del Encuentro Matrimonial porque para ellos fue muy fructífera. “Cuando participas de algo así y aprendes tanto, quieres que otros también lo vivan” dijo Vanesa. Enrique por su parte dice que él era católico dominguero y que a través del retiro, aprendió a conocer su religión y a participar más activamente en los Ministerios de la Iglesia.”Fue algo muy bonito porque acerqué a mis hijos a Dios; mi hija mayor, perteneció al ministerio de jóvenes y ahora forma parte de un grupo de Fe, en la Universidad de Texas A&M en Corpus Christi; a los chiquitos los tenemos en el catecismo. Todo esto se lo debo al Movimiento del

GLORIA ROMERO | FOR STC

Correspondent

Leticia y Enrique Zarate, motivados por sus experiencias en el Encuentro Matrimonial desde hace 8 años invitan a otros feligreses a participar de esa Luz de Dios que transformó su vida, para que se involucren en la vida de la Iglesia. Son feligreses de la Parroquia de Ntra. Sra. de San Juan de los Lagos Madre de la Iglesia, y comparten su ministerio con otras comunidades parroquiales.

Encuentro Matrimonial. Vanesa comentó:”Nosotros tenemos un antes y un después, porque sin ese simple retiro de parejas, nunca hubiéramos sabido lo que el Señor tena preparado para nosotros. Nos ha cambiado la vida. Me gustaba escuchar la Palabra, pero no me involucraba y mucho menos la entendía. Ahora, hemos aprendido a vivirla, y a crecer como pareja y como familia”. Mucho ayuda que a las seis semanas del primer Encuentro hay otro retiro de apoyo, que se llama “Espiral de Amor” en él se hace énfasis en el aspecto espiritual”. Una de las maneras que tienen de vivir el evangelio es identificarse con los personajes del mismo. “Yo me identifico con el hijo prodigo del Evangelio,

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Testificar el amor de Dios unos a otros dijo Enrique, aquel que teniéndolo todo se va de su casa a experimentar la vida con lo que recibió de su Padre; así me paso a mí, andaba perdido lejos de Dios, y cuando regresamos a Su Casa, El hizo una fiesta y nos dio todo”. Vanesa por su parte se siente como la Samaritana del pozo de Jacob a quien Jesús le pidió agua…”Para mí es como si El me estuviera esperando para darme agua viva.” Fue en ese primer retiro del Encuentro Matrimonial, que decidieron casarse por la Iglesia, porque sólo estaban casados por el civil. Ella quería una boda grande con muchos invitados, y no alcanzaban a reunir el dinero; él estaba concentrado en cumplir con los compromisos de trabajo los siete días de la semana. En el retiro, aprendieron que lo importante era el amor de él y ella, con Dios en el centro de sus vidas. “Se aprenden nuevas formas para comunicarse con el corazón y aumenta la intimidad y la conexión” dijo Enrique y recordó que cambio su horario de trabajo a solo 40 horas por semana para darle tiempo a actividades de la Iglesia y a participar más de su familia. También piensa que esa es una de las dificultades mayores que tienen las parejas en este país, porque el trabajo las consume y ocasiona divorcios y separaciones. “Todos cometemos errores, todos tenemos altibajos pero vivimos con Dios, y buscamos conocernos más profundamente. Hemos sido muy bendecidos porque Dios nos llamo muy jóvenes” dijo Enrique. El pertenecer al movimiento del Encuentro Matrimonial les ha abierto otros horizontes para llegar y participar con diferentes comunidades, como ACTS en la parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro; en retiros de La Sagrada Familia y de San Antonio en Robstown; en San Felipe con un grupo de oración cada martes; y otras muchas parroquias donde hay concentración de hispanos. Son líderes en su pequeña comunidad. pero buscan integrarse a otros ministerios, principalmente al de los jóvenes. En su casa llevan una rutina de oración, donde Cristo está siempre presente. Cuando hay alguien del grupo con alguna necesidad rezan por ellos el rosario: un misterio en español y otro en ingles, porque los niños se sienten más cómodos hablando con Jesús en ingles y ellos a su vez, alcanzan esa cercanía con Dios, en español, de manera que toda oración o lectura es bilingüe. Otra de sus costumbres es que nadie sale de la casa sin dar y recibir la bendición y despedirse con un; - vaya con Dios- o- God bless you-Al tomar los alimentos, una oración de gratitud; y muchas otras pequeñas muestras de su amor integrado a la vida cristiana. Para Leticia y Enrique desde que se iniciaron en el movimiento del Encuentro Matrimonial no solo la vida les cambio positivamente sino que nació en ellos un nuevo enamoramiento y hambre de Dios por conocerlo y amarlo. 26

In love again, and By Gloria Romero Correspondent

arriage Encounter, a worldwide Catholic organization, provides tools that couples can use to strengthen their love for each other and their family, thereby supporting communities and deepening the parish’s spiritual life. The Marriage Encounter experience provides an enrichment program for skills development that teaches how a husband and wife learn to be the best couple they can be. The program offers thematic presentations, followed by a private time between husband and wife, where dialogue is vital to knowing themselves as a couple in the light of Faith. Married for 21 years, Enrique and Vanesa Zarate, parishioners at Nuestra Señora de San Juan de Los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesia, attended a Marriage Encounter eight years ago at the invitation of their parish priest. They have remained in the program, inviting other couples to live the experience, and become part of this worthwhile program. The Zarate’s have three children; the oldest is 19 years old, and the two little ones, are 9 and 8 years old. The whole family is now involved in parish life. The couple themselves now lead a marriage group. They like to go to other parishes in the diocese and invite people to live the Marriage Encounter experience. “When you participate in something like this and learn so much, you want others to experience it as well,” Vanesa explained. Enrique says that he was a Sunday Catholic and that through the retreat, he learned more about his religion and how to be active in the Church’s ministries. “What I learned through Marriage Encounter was that I was able to help my children get closer to God. My eldest daughter participated in youth ministry, and now she belongs to a faith group at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. We have younger ones in religious education, and I owe all of this to the Marriage Encounter movement.” “We have a before and after experience because, without that simple couples retreat, we would never have known what the Lord had in store for us. It has changed our lives,” Vanesa said. “Before, I liked listening to the Word, but I didn’t get involved, much less live it. Now, we have learned to live it, and to

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Witnessing God’s love to one another

close to God grow as a couple and as a family.” Six weeks after the first Encounter retreat, another retreat provides support for the couples. It is called “Spiral of Love.” This retreat offers an emphasis on the spiritual aspect of marriage. “One of the ways they teach us to live the Gospel is to identify with the characters. I identify myself with the prodigal son of the Gospel,” Enrique said. “The one who, having everything, leaves his home to experience life with what he received from his father,” he said. “This is what happened to me. I was lost and far from God. After the retreat, we’ve returned to our Father’s house, and I feel like God has invited us to a ‘celebration.’ He has given us everything.” Vanesa identifies with the Samaritan woman from Jacob’s well to whom Jesus asked for water. “For me, it is as if He is waiting for me––to give me living water.” After the Marriage Encounter, they decided to marry in the Church. When they first married, it was a civil ceremony. Vanesa had wanted a large wedding with many guests, but they could not raise the money. Enrique was focused on meeting work commitments seven days a week. The retreat taught them that the only thing that mattered was their love for each other and God at the center of their lives. “We learned new ways to communicate with the heart. This augments intimacy,” said Enrique. He recalled that he changed his work schedule to 40 hours per week to give time to church activities and be present to his family. He believes that this is one of the most significant difficulties couples have because work consumes them and causes divorces and separations.

“We all make mistakes, we all have ups and downs, but when we live with God, we seek to know each other more deeply. We have been very blessed because God called us very young,” Enrique said. Belonging to the Marriage Encounter movement has opened other prospects for them to reach out and participate with different faith communities, such as ACTS in the parish of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in retreats of La Sagrada Familia at St. Anthony’s in Robstown. They also participate in prayer group every Tuesday at San Felipe and many other parishes where there is a concentration of Hispanics. They are leaders in their small community, but they seek to become more involved in different ministries and are especially interested in working with the youth. At home, they have a prayer routine, inviting Christ to be present. When there is someone in the group in need, they pray the rosary for them. They pray a mystery in Spanish and another in English because their children feel more comfortable talking to Jesus in English. In turn, they reach that closeness with God, speaking in Spanish, so that all prayer or reading is bilingual. Another of their customs is that no one leaves the house without giving and receiving a blessing, such as, “Go with God” or “God bless you.” Prayer is always first before a meal in gratitude for what has been provided. Many other small observances of His love are integrated into their Christian life. For Leticia and Enrique, their lives changed when they participated in the Marriage Encounter movement. Not only did their lives change for the better, but a desire to know and love God is flourishing.

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COMMUNAL PRAYER

The Word

The Word as prayer Sister Annette Wagner, IWBS

R Contributor

ecognizing the Word, the Second Person of the Trinity, as prayer calls for several considerations. Whenever speaking of God, it is essential to remember that anything we think we know about the inner relationships of the Persons in the Trinity is based on clues external to the Trinity itself. As the Word-become-one-of-us in an historical time and place, Jesus Christ is our best clue concerning the reality of the Divine Word as prayer. We start with our ideas of prayer and then turn to the Word. The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays. (Soren Kierkegaard) Surely this statement applies to the Word of God, who left behind the privileges of divine nature to become one of us. The element of change that fits both prayer and the Word can be traced throughout Salvation History as

recorded in Scripture and as still happening in personal encounters today. For the Word –as the expression of divinity’s nature of Love—seeks union with the beloved. The first two verses of the Book of Genesis introduce the Word’s union with what is external to the Trinity and its fruit. Various translations describe the earth as “formless and empty”; “waste and void”; “desolate”; “barren, with no form of life.” And then God spoke! Creation was provided form. Elements of the universe were given their setting and charged with responsibilities. The earth flourished with beauty and fruitfulness. Human beings were commissioned as stewards of it all. Sadly, as quickly as life was given, those entrusted with its care refused to cooperate. Scripture traces how those created by the Word of God gradually imposed upon themselves a crippling alienation from God. Then a deeper, more intimate union was accomplished. The first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke

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COMMUNAL PRAYER The Word

describes the significance of the Word’s new expression as explained to a simple village girl: “…the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God ...” (Lk 1:36).The first chapter of Matthew’s version follows the insight that the name conveys a meaning about its owner. The man who will be responsible for this child is told to name him “Jesus because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). This time, the Word does not accomplish change from the outside. This time the Word transforms from within. In his classic book entitled Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton states: “The climate of this prayer is, then, one of awareness, gratitude and a totally obedient love which seeks nothing but to please God.” Jesus is the personification of this description. In defense of His Sabbath cures, He states, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (Jn 5:17). Concerning his “work” or mission, He explains, ”I came that they might have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). In providing food for the multitudes, He “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them ...” (Jn 15:11). While anticipating the immediacy of His mission’s completion, he prays, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mt 26:39). Yes, Jesus’ awareness of His relationship with God was complete and ongoing, deeper than any human words can express. It may be that our understanding of prayer includes the mistaken thought that we decide when to pray and how to pray. St. Paul encountered the Word become one of us in the glory of the Resurrection through the intimacy of personal conversation. He tells us something different. “... the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought ...” (Rom 8:26). The Spirit that Paul names can only be the Spirit of the Lord—of the Word. During what sounds like advice concerning prayer, he counsels, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). Yes, the Word who is the Christ can lead us more deeply in our response to God than any words can express. So how can the Christ—the Word become one of us— dwell in us…breathe our prayer—be prayer for us? First, we may miss a comforting truth consistently expressed in the stories of both the Old and New Testaments. Divine presence and action are always a divine initiative nested in the reality that God is Love. We do not need to work at getting God’s attention. It may be more the other way around. Love is always seeking union. This initiative has multiple expressions. Therefore any awareness of God’s presence or action is itself a divine initiative, an invitation for a response by God. Our conscious response to this awareness is prayer. Our 30

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traditional ideas of prayer touches on this understanding. To the God we know is God alone, we offer adoration. To the God we understand wants only the best for us, we present our recognized needs. To the God who provides the good that we enjoy and accompanies us through our suffering, we express our gratitude. To the God who is forgiveness and healing, we confess our weakness and our regret. For all the other awarenesses that bless us, we have our own unique responses. Finally, we can welcome the humbling acknowledgment that we carry this same divine Word within us. This Word of Love who seeks union is guaranteed to live within each one of us through the gift of our Baptism. Yes, within our vulnerable, struggling humanity lives the Word who is both the initiative of and the response to divine love. Welcoming this truth into our conscious efforts for union with God can give us not only encouragement, but also peace. Saint Augustine’s simple description of prayer identifies the Word’s place in our reciprocal communication with the divine: “Heart speaking to heart.”

About the Author Sister Annette Wagner, IWBS, has taught in a variety of Catholic schools for over 25 years. Her teaching experience extends through elementary, secondary, junior high, middle school, high school and college levels. Responsibilities beyond the classroom included: coach and athletic director, Student Council sponsor, Religion Department Chair, student retreat director, assistant principal. Intertwined with her work in Catholic education institutions, Sister Annette has consistently been involved in adult education and spiritual formation. She served as Director of Spiritual Life on the Corpus Christi Incarnate Word Academy campus; was teacher, then diocesan Director of the Pastoral Institute for Ministry and Adult Faith Formation; columnist for diocesan publication, The South Texas Catholic. Sister Annette has directed faculty and parish retreats, offered workshops and in-services at both parish and diocesan levels throughout the state of Texas. Her most recent public ministries were diocesan Director of the Office of Consecrated Life and Director for RCIA and Adult Faith Formation at St. Pius X Parish. Having celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2017, she is presently serving as congregational leader of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. Sister Annette holds the following degrees and post-graduate certificates: Bachelor of Arts in English, Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio); Master of Arts in Theology, Saint Mary University (San Antonio); Institute in Effective Group Leadership, Webster College (Webster Groves, MO); Certificate in Pastoral Counseling, Emmanuel College (Boston, MA) Certificate in Spiritual Direction (St. Peter Upon the Water, San Antonio Archdiocese).

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IWBS Sisters Lenten Appeal to aid CCRGV

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preparation. Items needed are gift cards, underwear isters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacand shoes. rament (IWBS) Immigration Action Group in She is collaborating with similar agencies from Corpus Christi hosted a Zoom meeting with Brownsville to Laredo. “We’re trying to make sure that Sister Norma Pimentel, a Missionary of Jesus we all are connected so that we know what our status (MJ) and executive director of Catholic Chariis, where capacity is, what our needs are,” she said. ties of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV). Sister Norma She has invited local leaders from every city as part and CCRGV volunteers have led the effort to provide of the collaborative effort. “We’re going to have a lot humanitarian assistance to immigrants and refugees of work as far as taking care of through the Humanitarian Respite Centhose families that are coming in ter in McAllen. and providing shelter.” The Jan. 28 meeting included an Some days Sister Norma says hour-long session of information gathshe gets overwhelmed, but “I thank ering concerning immigrants and refGod at the end of the day. I go to ugees’ current conditions at the Mexbed tired, but I go to bed in peace ican/U.S. border, and a debrief on the because I know He has accomChristmas drive of “Project Restoring plished a lot of good. And so that Human Dignity,” a border fund project makes me happy.” which started in November 2020. Her advice to potential volunSister Colette, a member of the Immiteers is “never be afraid to do good. gration Action Group, reported that Step up, and do your part because through their Christmas Appeal they you’ll be happier if you do.” were able to send $450, 20 boxes of Screenshot of Sister Norma Members of the Immigration items to Brownsville Catholic ChariPimentel, MJ Action Group are IWBS Sisters ties, and a check for $10,000, half of Colette Brehony, Barbara Netek, which was designated for tents and Anna Marie Espinosa, Mary Paul Hon, Rose Miriam tarps donated by the Sisters of Charity of the IncarGansle and a visiting Sister Anna Le. nate Word in Houston. After discussion, the members agreed to send $3,000 Sister Norma provided the group with an update. to the Respite Center. She said that more people are beginning to trickle “Project Restoring Human Dignity” is now a Lenten in from the border––some 100 immigrants daily (as appeal that the IWBS Sisters are promoting (see ad on opposed to the 900 daily from last year) ––mostly page 32) to assist Sister Norma and aid the immigrants pregnant women with children. Some days she wakes on Texas southern border. up at 5 a.m. and stays at the Center until 10:30 p.m. Through their 2021 Lenten Appeal, “Project Restor“Families are hurting. Some families have been over ing Human Dignity” your donation will help with there [Matamoros] for over a year––living in conditions legal and health care assistance, medical supplies, that are so inhumane, but through the generosity and COVID-19 quarantine housing, essential items and prayers of many, such as yourself––we have provided other necessities. The drop off location is 5201 Lipes them with some relief,” she said to the IWBS Sisters. Boulevard in Corpus Christi (78413). Donation hours According to Sister Norma, an attorney in Brownsare Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mail checks to ville is helping her put together a team of attorneys Sister Colette Brehony, 5201 Lipes Boulevard, Corpus by providing pro bono services to the immigrants. Christi, TX 78413. Make checks payable to: IWBS They will need additional staff—people who know Border Fund. their way around a computer to input information. For more information contact Sister Colette Brehony Their greatest need now is monetary donations for the at (361) 455-1802 or scobrehony@iwbscc.org. legal team, medical aid, places to quarantine and meal M AY T H E Y A L L B E O N E

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WORLD NEWS

Highlights, upcoming events and briefs

Twins among those ordained priests in Uganda’s Kasese diocese By Agnes Aineah

Catholic News Agency

mong the 12 men ordained priests of the Diocese of Kasese earlier this month was a pair of twins. Fr. Peter Katuramu Isingoma and Fr. Andrew Kato Katuramu told ACI Africa their Feb. 6 ordination was the highlight of their lives, and a fulfillment of dreams they had harbored from childhood. “It was a satisfying experience, which brought me so much excitement. So many people attended and they were all very happy,” said Fr. Peter in an interview with ACI Africa Feb. 10. He added, “There were so many of us being

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ordained priests and many other deacons. For many years, I had never seen such a big number of priests ordained on the same day in our diocese. It was a very beautiful celebration.” Fr. Andrew told ACI Africa, “At ordination, I felt great. To many, it was a mystery that twins were being ordained priests. I knew that God had chosen us before we were born and like Peter and his brother Andrew, the disciples of Jesus that our parents named us after, we had indeed been chosen to work with God’s people.” The twins grew up inseparable and were difficult to tell apart. In fact, Fr. Peter jokes that the scar

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WORLD NEWS

Hghlights, upcoming events and briefs The twin brothers, Fr. Peter Katuramu Isingoma and Fr. Andrew Kato Katuramu were ordained to the priesthood on February 6, 2021.

on his brother’s nose, which was left after he was injured during their pastoral work, now makes it easier for people to tell the two apart. The brothers went their separate ways when their parents enrolled Peter at the Kasese diocese’s St. John the Evangelist Minor Seminary, while his brother proceeded to join a secular school. “Growing up, my brother and I often talked about our dream to become Catholic priests. We admired the lives of priests who came to our homes, ate with us in humility and prayed for us,” Fr. Andrew recalled. “After we completed Primary seven, we made our desire known to our parents and said that we wanted to join a seminary for our education.” Their parents, however, did not have enough money to enroll both boys in seminary, and Andrew joined a nearby Catholic School for his O-levels. The two re-united during their A- levels when Andrew joined his twin brother at the minor seminary. For his studies in philosophy, Fr. Peter went to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Katigondo in the Diocese of Masaka, while Fr. Andrew went to Uganda Martyrs Aloculum Major Seminary in Gulu. For their year of pastoral experience, Fr. Peter went to St. Mathias Mulumba Ibanda and Our Lady of Assumption Nsenyi parishes in the Diocese of Kasese, while Fr. Andrew went to neighboring Immaculate Heart Parish, Hima and St John the Evangelist, Bukangara parish. They proceeded with their theology at St. Mary’s National Seminary and St. Paul’s Major Seminary in Kinyamasika in the Archdiocese of Kampala. Fr. Peter recalled their parents’ shock when the two

announced that they wanted to join the priesthood. “In the minor seminary, our parents thought that we were not serious about our desire to become priests and they thought we’d drop the idea to pursue other things. They were shocked when we announced that we wanted to proceed with philosophy,” Fr. Peter said. He added, “Some people told our parents that we were throwing away our lives by joining priesthood. Being the eldest sons in our family of eight children, we were expected to marry to preserve the clan’s dignity.” The twins have another brother, and five sisters. At one point, the twins were advised by their parents to decide who between them would drop out of formation to the priesthood, but they were both unwavering in their desire. “Our parents wanted one of us to stay at home. It was an impossible decision to make so we both went to the major seminary,” Fr. Peter recalled. “Today, they are very proud of us and happy that we decided to pursue our dream.” While in formation the brothers “called each other and talked about the importance of being humble and prayerful, respecting our formators as our own parents and the other seminarians as our own brothers,” Fr. Andrew said. “We took advice from people very seriously and that helped us a lot.”

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A WORD

From our Holy Father

Pope Francis: Christian prayer instills ‘invincible hope’ in the human heart Catholic News Service

ope Francis said on Feb. 10 that prayer can fortify us as we face the challenges of daily life. Speaking at his general audience on Feb. 10, the pope explained that prayer helps us to see the “infinite grace” that lies beyond the visible world. “And thus, Christian prayer instills an invincible hope in the human heart: whatever experience we touch on our journey, God’s love can turn it into good,” he said. In his address, he continued the cycle of catechesis on prayer which he launched in May and resumed in October following nine reflections on healing the world after the pandemic. He dedicated Wednesday’s audience -- the 24th address in this catechetical cycle -- to praying in daily life. The audience took place in the library of the Apostolic Palace due to coronavirus restrictions. The pope noted that at his last general audience he had highlighted the importance of liturgical prayer. He said: “Today, we will shed light on how the Liturgy always enters daily life: on the streets, in offices, on public transportation… And there it continues the dialogue with God: the person who prays is like someone in love who always bears the beloved in his or her heart wherever they go.” “Essentially, everything becomes a part of this dialogue with God: every joy becomes a reason for praise, every trial is an opportunity to ask for help. Prayer is always alive in our lives, like embers, even when the mouth does not speak, but the heart speaks. Every thought, even the apparently ‘profane’ ones, can be permeated by prayer.” He compared prayer to a light that illuminates the path ahead of us when it lies in shadow. Quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said: “We learn to pray at certain moments by hearing the Word of the Lord and sharing in his Paschal Mystery, but his Spirit is offered us at all times, in the events of each day, to make prayer spring up from us.

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[…] Time is in the Father’s hands; it is in the present that we encounter him, not yesterday or tomorrow, but today.” He commented: “There exists no other wonderful day than the day we are living. Those who live always thinking about the future, in the future: ‘But it will be better…’ but do not take each day as it comes: these are people who live in their fantasy, they do not know how to deal with concrete reality. And today is real, today is concrete. And prayer is to be done today. Jesus comes to meet us today, the day we are living.” When we welcome each day in prayer, he said, we are given the gift of courage. “Thus, the problems we face no longer seem to be obstacles to our happiness, but appeals from God, opportunities to meet Him. And when a person is accompanied by the Lord, he or she feels more courageous, freer, and even happier,” he said. “Let us pray always, then, for everyone, even for our enemies. Jesus counseled us to do this ... Let us pray for our dear ones, even those we do not know.” He continued: “Prayer inclines us toward a superabundant love. Let us pray above all for people who are sad, for those who weep in solitude and despair, that there still might be someone who loves them.” He stressed that Christian prayer “makes Christ’s compassion present.” “Prayer helps us love others, despite their mistakes and sins,” he said. “The person is always more important than their actions, and Jesus did not judge the world, but He saved it.” “What a horrible life is that of the person who always judges others, who is always condemning, judging… This is a horrible, unhappy life, when Jesus came to save us.” He added: “Open your heart, pardon, give others the benefit of the doubt, understand, be close to others, be compassionate, be tender, like Jesus. We need to love each and every person, remembering in prayer that we are all sinners and at the same time loved individually by God.”

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A WORD

VATICAN MEDIA

From our Holy Father

Pope Francis at a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

“Loving the world in this way, loving it with tenderness, we will discover that each day and everything bears within it a fragment of God’s mystery.” He then reflected on the brevity of human life, citing the 17th-century French Catholic philosopher Blaise Pascal, who said: “There is no need for the whole universe to take up arms to crush him: a vapor, a drop of water is enough to kill him.” The pope concluded: “We are fragile beings, but we know how to pray: this is our greatest dignity, and it is also our strength. Have courage. Pray in every moment, in every situation so the Lord might be near to us. And when a prayer is said according to the heart of Jesus, it obtains miracles.” As summaries of the pope’s catechesis were read out in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Polish, he offered short messages to Catholics belonging to the different language groups. Before ending the audience with the Our Father

and Apostolic Blessing, the pope noted that on Friday, Feb. 12, people around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year. “To all of them and to their families, I wish to express my heartfelt greetings, together with the wish that the new year might bear the fruit of fraternity and solidarity,” he said. “At this particular time, in which we are very concerned about facing the challenges of the pandemic that touches people physically and spiritually, but also influences social relationships, I express the hope that everyone might enjoy complete health and serenity of life.” “Lastly, while I invite that we pray for the gift of peace and every other good, I would like to remind everyone that these are obtained through goodness, respect, far-sightedness, and courage. Never forget to give preference to caring for the poorest and the weakest.”

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As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. —Acts 4:31

Spring 2021 - Vol. 56. No. 1

Articles inside

A WORD FROM OUR HOLY FATHER

WORLD NEWS:

NATIONAL NEWS: Sisters of the Incarnate

DIFUNDIENDO LA LUZ, santas

MATRIMONIO, testimonio del amor de

COMMUNAL PRAYER, THE WORD: Sister

JESUS SAYS, Explaining the Gospel

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Teachers Sylvia

WOMAN OF STRENGTH, St. Josephine

VOCATIONS, Sister Delphine Apinjoh, SSA