COVER FEATURE AREA YOUTH MINISTRIES THRIVE CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY REMAINS DEPENDABLE
Imust admit, when I looked at the schedule for Discover 361, this issue caught my eye more than most. Without a doubt, I can say that Faith and Philanthropy is my favorite of the six The Advocate produces throughout the year.
I make no apologies for my faith in Jesus Christ, although I make no judgments on those who do not believe.
That’s not my place to do so. But without question, I enjoy writing (and reading and editing) stories about local churches and ministries as well as stories about non-profit organizations that benefit the less fortunate.
My contribution to this month’s issue was a story I particularly enjoyed writing. It’s about thriving youth ministries, a subject that is near and dear to me. There is practically nothing more that warms my heart than to see young people embrace their faith in Christ and to walk it out every day. A young person who grabs hold of God’s Word and believes it to be the cornerstone of their life can not only weather the storms and enticements of a tumultuous culture but also carry that into adult life where every day cares and worries can drive you crazy.
The earlier kids can realize what a relationship with Jesus will do for them, the better. I especially want to thank Bella Najas of Young Life Victoria for reaching out to me with the particulars of her organization, which has touched the lives of many youth in the Crossroads. From what I have learned about Young Life from Bella, I know hundreds of high schoolers in this area have a place to go—without judgment and with compassion—to fellowship with like-minded young men and women. I hope many more will embrace this fine organization.
On the philanthropy side, I was touched by the story of OnRamp, a local faith-based non-profit entity that gifts area residents with vehicles to help them become more independent in life. In the past, The Advocate has reported on this organization.
Thanks to Shirley Buckert Vaughan and OnRamp for all the wonderful work it does and the blessings it brings.
And who can forget the Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center, which keeps expanding in Victoria and is celebrating over 20 years in service to the area? It is building a new in-patient treatment facility called Hope Ranch.
Thank you for picking up this issue of Discover 361 about Faith and Philanthropy. I know that you will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.
101 W. Goodwin Ave., Suite 1200 Victoria, TX 77901
info@discover361.com
361-575-1451
Billy T Cattan Recovery Outreach Center provides local help for addictions
Victoria youth ministries thrive and spread the gospel
When local deacon heard God’s voice, he came
OnRamp helps the
School
The United Way comes through in the
for those in need
How to let a pet change your life forever 46
Colleges give students opportunities to expand their faith
Recap the Victoria winter events with Tony Vasquez
Preview of what is coming up for the Crossroads during February and March.
Discover more with the business directory from the Crossroads.
Many people throughout the world and even in the Crossroads have to deal with hard struggles that may seem hard to understand or relate with. Whether it’s drug addiction, abuse or childhood trauma, sometimes it may seem like there is no way out. However, Restoration House Ministries in Victoria is working to help women overcome the difficult obstacles they deal with on a daily basis.
Restoration House Ministries was founded by Theresa Klacman in 2009. Klacman is no stranger to hard times. Throughout her life she has faced a multitude of obstacles that would put
anyone’s spirit to the test. At a young age she experienced physical and verbal abuse. She ran away from home at the age of 13 and couch surfed until she married at 19. When she had her daughter, she fell into postpartum depression, which she said lasted for 26 years.
Her struggle didn’t stop there. When her divorce ended she found herself drinking everyday and in a horrible relationship. It was then she came back to Victoria with her daughter and grandson and dealt with suicidal ideations. The change in Klacman’s life came when she gave herself over to the Lord. She would
Residents at Restoration House Ministries.
I just felt such a STRONG DESIRE in my heart that I was supposed TO HELP OTHER YOUNG GIRLS...
- Theresa Klacman
ultimately spend an entire year learning about the word of God and Christ, which she said helped heal her.
“He completely healed me from my depression, completely, and I started going to Faith Family Church and counseling with the pastor there,” Klacman said. “I just felt such a strong desire in my heart that I was supposed to help other young girls that had a similar past [to] mine.”
As fate would have it, Klacman met a young woman at church who was sitting in Klacman's chair. The young woman was a friend of Klacman’s daughter and had been dealing with a divorce and child protective services. The young woman had also been staying in a volatile home where people were using drugs.
Klacman then opened her doors to the young woman and even helped babysit her children. Klacman was inspired to do more. She researched and began to build the framework for
Restoration House Ministries. Now, Restoration House Ministries offers struggling women a place to live and develop their lives in a Christian-based environment.
“They live there in the home at no cost to them, and they go through a faith based program,” Klacman said. “It’s like a 12-step program, but it’s not done in any kind of order. Each girl is on
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Women from Restoration House Ministries participate in a golf tournament
Graduates of Restoration House Ministries
their own journey, but they will write out their life story. They will talk about what happened to them. They’ll go through the forgiveness part. They’ll learn about the Lord. It’s a very structured program.”
Restoration House Ministries houses a maximum of five girls. When the girls first come to the home they are asked to commit for at least six months, but the average stay is around eight months. Klacman said the staff at the house work with the girls on a personal level as well. If someone leaves before their graduation they are welcomed back with open arms if they choose to return.
Restoration House Ministries is also in the process of building a men’s home. The focus of the men’s house will be to work with young men that don’t have a good foundation and may be in and out of jail or involved with drugs.
“We’re always looking [for] where we can make an impact and start another home somewhere … but I would really want to partner with churches to do that,” Klacman said. “We have a program that really works.”
Since 1986, Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry has been a beacon of service for many churches and individuals in Victoria. For 39 years, the ministry has been a onestop shop for people who are in need of clothing, food and assistance. There is no charge for the services Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry provides.
Residents who visit the Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry to benefit from their services only need to show ID or proof of residence in Victoria. Individuals who qualify for SNAP and social security income automatically qualify for the services the ministry provides.
Residents are allowed to come once a month to receive the ministry’s services. The ministry is flexible in when people choose to visit monthly. For example, they can come on the last day of the month and then again the next day on the first of the next month.
The ministry has a different policy when it comes to serving the homeless population of Victoria. If someone in Victoria is experiencing homelessness, they are allowed to come to the Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry once a day to receive non-perishable food items and other basic necessities. One of the newest programs the ministry has implemented is a laundry program for the homeless community, Executive Director for Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry Marc Hinojosa, said.
“We give out laundry cards to the homeless community that we work with so that they can wash their clothes two times a month, Hinojosa said.
To kick off 2025, the ministry restarted their financial assistance program. This program was created and
Volunteers for the Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry during the Victoria Day of Caring
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enacted to help the ministry’s clients pay certain bills such as water and natural gas. Additionally, the ministry has a financial assistance program that helps their clients pay for prescription medications as well as a transportation voucher program.
The transportation program enables some of the ministry’s clients to receive transportation to out-of-town medical appointments.
With a wide array of services, the ministry is mainly comprised of volunteers.
“We probably have 40 to 50 volunteers that don't necessarily come every day, but we have a different group of volunteers that comes every day and they're all individuals that are either retired or just wanted to give back to the community,” Hinojosa said. “I do have three part-time staff here just to kind of maintain the program and things like that.”
As a nonprofit organization. the ministry has no reliance on federal government funding. Funding for the ministry comes in the form of grants through many local foundations. The ministry has approximately 31 churches who support it with grant funding. In addition to the grant funding, the ministry participates in canned food drives with participating churches that helps the ministry increase their food inventory.
As the biggest customer for the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, the ministry is able to operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. In recent years, the ministry has strived to keep their doors open and
its contribution to the community with interruption.
Since 2018, the ministry has dealt with several incidents that showed their resolve. In 2018, Victoria was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey and in the years of the COVID19 pandemic, the ministry continued to serve the community. The struggles weren’t over for the ministry as 2021 saw Winter Storm Uri knock out
power in communities all across Texas including Victoria.
Hinojosa said the state of the economy has put some strain on the ministry. Despite that, however, the community still rallies behind the ministry. Hinojosa said the ministry will continue to serve the community despite any hurdles that may come in the way.
His
Catholic Deacon Matthew Schaefer said there comes a time in everyone’s life where the Lord calls us, and He attempts to break us of our secular habits and ways. For Schaefer, that time came as a senior in high school when driving home from a party at a friend’s house.
A friend chased Schaefer and the chase ended in what he describes as a tragic accident. In the aftermath, Schaefer experienced a rush of faith in God.
“I trusted in the Lord and God helped me. I thought I’d die,” Shaefer said.
Schaefer was born and raised as one of six children in a German Catholic family in Indiana. Growing up, he saw examples of what to do and what not to and, while he knew the importance of faith and God, he didn’t fully understand it until years later.
Faith was cool for Schaefer and prayer meetings with his Dad were fun as a teenager. As a freshman in high school, he started thinking about the priesthood. But as Schaefer began to focus on more worldly pursuits like sports and girls, he lost sight of his faith.
“I turned against God and my family and everything I had been sure of my whole life,” Schaefer said.
At one of his father’s prayer meetings, Schaefer experienced a physical healing in his legs, a miracle that began to pull Schaefer’s attention back to the Lord. But it wouldn’t be until after the tragic accident that his
heart and his head aligned with Christ.
“At the time, all the adults thought I was a great kid. But my heart was not affirmed,” Schaefer said.
From secular parties and doing things he knew he shouldn’t, Schaefer had one foot inside and one foot outside with his faith. Schaefer describes the tragic accident that changed the juxtaposition of his life as his ‘Saul’ moment, referring to Saul of Tarsus’ transformation on the road to Damascus in the book of Acts.
In the Bible, Saul spent a great deal of his life as a Pharisee who persecuted Christians. While traveling to Damascus, a light from Heaven stopped him in his tracks. Saul fell to the ground and Jesus asks him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul asks a question of his own, wondering who it was speaking to him. The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Jesus then struck Saul with blindness and Saul, who became the apostle Paul, began his journey to find spiritual sight. (Acts 9)
“I felt peace and understanding but I was crushed by the choices I had made and the way I had tried to play both sides,” Schaefer said, “God broke my heart and asked, ‘Is it Me or them?’”
That’s when everything began to change in Schaefer’s life. Burdened by the pain he had caused, Schaefer again began to think about journeying into a life focused on Jesus and wondering what he could do to serve the Lord with. This time, when the question was put
upon Schaefer’s heart, would he serve God or the world, Schaefer chose God and began with NET Ministries upon graduation from high school.
After traveling the country with the youth ministry organization, Schaefer saw a new path for his life. While traveling on the road, NET Ministry group members stayed with host families. It was with the host families that Schaefer met husbands and fathers who were deacons.
His thoughts turned to the idea of becoming a deacon—a member of the Catholic clergy ordained to serve the Church and assist priests with liturgical and pastoral work. Unlike Catholic priests, deacons can be married, have children and can perform all sacraments with the exception of hearing confessions, consecrating bread and wine and anointing the sick.
After NET Ministries, Schaefer traveled to Assumption Alley to seek discernment for becoming a monk. Later, he went to Franciscan University in Steubenville in Ohio, where he met his future wife, Lupe.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that God’s supersedes everything,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer continued to contemplate a life of religious studies when his feelings for his friend, Lupe, moved on to a more romantic level. When Lupe’s family experienced flood damage at their house in Victoria, Schaefer made the over 20-hour drive to lend his carpentry skills.
Deacon Matthew Schaefer’s five children
“When I pulled up to her house and she walked out to the porch, I knew our feelings for each other had changed,” Schaefer said.
Their love kindled in Victoria and the two later married in 1993. It was then that Schaefer began to embrace his calling, surrendering his thoughts and feelings to God. He served as a full-time youth minister for 20 years, spending 15 years contemplating becoming a deacon.
“Something always came up but the thought never left me. I started the journey to become ordained 10 years ago with my wife right alongside me as I studied,” Schaefer said.
Having served as a deacon with the Diocese of Victoria for four years, Schaefer continues to lead youth ministries and to be a loving husband and father to his five children. His advice to discerning a religious life is to approach the idea with humility.
“It’s all God’s timing,” Schaefer said. “Humility is the basis of every action in life. Seek to be humble and be prayerful in your relationship with Jesus. Talk with Him daily and listen. We are all sinners and life is not always a straight path. We will hear our vocations and He will lead us to our calling.”
- Matthew Schaefer
Matthew Schaefer with his wife, Lupe
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS
How OnRamp helps the underprivileged get back in the driver’s seat
Texas cities are burdened with interstates and overpasses. To avoid endless construction and congested traffic, one could utilize public transportation such as buses and railways. While larger cities like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston are more walkable and can support more broad public transit systems, Victoria is both a rural community and urban hub.
One local faith-based non-profit is helping to bridge the gap between a sparse public transportation system and a car-dependent community for those without. OnRamp Coastal Bend started about a year ago as an off branch of OnRamp which was founded in 2017 in College Station and serves ten counties: Victoria, Lavaca, Jackson, Brazoria, DeWitt, Goliad, Calhoun, Aransas,
Rami Cerone delivered -’s to M.D. Anderson in Houston
Matagorda and Refugio.
“A vehicle is a necessity in Victoria,” Shirley Buckert Vaughan, a volunteer with OnRamp Coastal Bend said. “It’s more of a blessing to give to others than to receive and it’s better to help others than to help yourself,” Vaughan said.
For Wes Wynn and Tonya Lopez, taking the bus or calling a taxi wasn’t going to cut it for multiple round trips
to Houston. While battling cancer and making multiple trips to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for chemotherapy, Wynn’s car broke down. When Vaughan, a former business associate of Lopez’s, heard about their situation, she remembered the son of a couple she had while traveling cross-country with her husband—Blake Jennings, the founder of OnRamp.
OnRamp’s Board of Directors met and made a special exception, allowing Vaughan to raise the money through their organization to purchase a vehicle. While Vaughan raised the money to buy the family a used car, Wynn and Lopez borrowed a friend’s car, continuously making the two hour drive to Houston. But between paying for medical treatment and raising three teenagers, the family didn’t have the funds to purchase a new car or replace the engine in their old car. About $10,000 later, a used car in good condition was delivered to MD Anderson on February 4.
“After living in Houston for a bit for treatment, they’re back in Victoria and doing better,” Vaughan said.
Having just gotten Wynn and Lopez’s family a vehicle, Vaughan was just starting to form a team of volunteers and get the coastal bend’s branch of OnRamp off the ground when the second family in need of a vehicle came across her path.
When single mom Leti Alvarado’s car died, she had no way to get to her three jobs and she knew she couldn’t borrow her friend’s car forever. That’s when a friend and mentor at church, Judy Easley, advocated to OnRamp on Alvarado’s behalf to help get her a car.
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Shirley Buckert Vaughan leads volunteers from OnRamp and friends and family on Elizabeth Reid in prayer.
Wes Wynn’s new car delivered to MD Anderson
Rami Cerone (left) and Blake Jennings (right) with OnRamp dropped off a new car for Wes Wynn and his family at M.D. Anderson.
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“In order to receive a car, each person needs an advocate to sponsor them and give them a hand up. An advocate is not a family member or a close friend, it’s someone that can hold them accountable,” Vaughan said.
As OnRamp was introducing a pilot program for the coastal bend, Vaughan once again was back at the drawing board, visiting local service clubs and meeting with acquaintances to raise another $10,000 to get Alvarado a car.
“I can find people who need cars, it’s harder to raise money to get the cars,” Vaughan said.
Three months after getting the call about Alvarado’s situation, OnRamp Coastal Bend gifted her with a new car, handing over the title of the vehicle along with a year of free maintenance.
In order to receive a vehicle, there are nine steps a person must go through. After applying and finding an advocate, a potential client undergoes an interview before entering a mentorship program which will help them manage their finances. Once the steps have been completed and they have been approved, the recipient receives the car and continues to build their savings, deepen their relationships and continues onward to accomplish their goals.
For a year, a person’s advocate checks in on them, helping them manage their finances and connects them with a prayer partner. They also make sure that after gaining independence with a vehicle that recipients are able to keep being independent by buying their own gas and staying up to date on insurance.
“Their lives have been in chaos and they have been economically unstable. We want to introduce them to a Christian lifestyle and help them build
relationships and get their heads above water. God cares about these people— these are who He’s trying to reach,” Vaughan said.
And it was God who led Vaughan and her team to their third vehicle recipient, Elizabeth Reid, who was having to take a taxi to get to her job at Southbound RV Park and Cabins on US Highway 59. It was her employer, Carla Ragsdale, who drove her home from work, that advocated for Reid to get a vehicle through OnRamp. Instead of spending $320 a month to get to work, Reid needed to get a car, a used reliable car that could get her to her job on the outskirts of town.
As Vaughan was working to get more donations for a car for Reid, an anonymous donor donated $15,000 to their organization.
“God has given me a purpose in the
last chapter of my life. Everyone has a purpose for being alive. He’s called me to a job and God will provide the resources. God is helping us follow through to make all this happen,” Vaughan said.
In August, Reid received her car and has been driving herself to work ever since, enjoying her new independence.
In 8 years, OnRamp has given away 230 vehicles to people in need. OnRamp’s local chapter in the coastal bend is just gearing up, having provided three cars so far to people in need and are already interviewing and raising funds for a fourth vehicle. OnRamp Coastal Bend is looking to grow their team of seven volunteers, seeking like minded individuals with big hearts and donors who can give with their time or from their wallets to help them continue their mission.
Shirley Buckert Vaughan (left) with OnRamp, Elizabeth Reid (center) and Reid’s advocate, - (right) pose for a picture in front of Reid’s new car.
Leti Alvarado (left) gets the keys to her new car from her advocate, Judy Easley (right)
Elizabeth Reid sits behind the wheel of her new car.
Serving at a university requires a surplus of dedication to education and by offering students the highest level of attention and support as they shape the future of their lives. Employees of the University of HoustonVictoria (UHV) show a continued commitment to bettering the lives of the college’s students.
A vast amount of UHV’s staff go above and beyond in their support for the university’s students and the institution itself. Beyond serving the UHV in their daily roles, some employees choose to give back through the One For All, All For One Employee Giving Campaign.
The school launched the campaign in 2006 and encourages UHV employees to support the university’s programs and initiatives through donations made throughout the year. There are many different donation campaigns made available to UHV staff through the One For All, All For One Employee Giving Campaign.
Participants can designate where their donations are applied, giving employees the ability to directly support the areas they are passionate about. Donations can be made to areas such as scholarships, specific departments, lecture series or vital resources like the Student Food Pantry and Student Emergency Fund.
“Our challenge to donors has helped us raise the bar and significantly increased the positive impact for JAXNATION,” Amber Countis, UHV vice president for advancement and external relations, said. “We are so
appreciative of their vote of confidence in the work UHV is doing!”
In addition to the donations made by UHV employees, the university will match most donations dollar for dollar, maximizing the effect of the campaign on the college. UHV employees show their unwavering support for the university’s students through donations made to the Student Food Pantry, Student Emergency Fund and General Scholarship Fund, the three initiatives that tend to receive the most donations.
“The One For All, All For One Employee Giving Campaign reflected the remarkable generosity of its employees, with 173 donors—49.1 percent of UHV’s workforce— contributing an impressive $41,946.33 during the 2024 fiscal year,” Kelsey Norgard, UHV director of alumni relations and annual giving, said.
A special group of employees who participate in the campaign dedicate themselves to giving back to UHV in a unique way. The President’s Club is a group of employees who donate 1 percent or more of their annual salaries to the university. During the 2024 fiscal year, 24 UHV employees joined the President’s Club, showing their deep commitment to the college and its
students’ success.
Beyond the One For All, All For One Employee Giving Campaign, the Victoria community showed a deep support for UHV that mirrored that held by the university’s employees.
On UHV Giving Day, Dec. 3, 2024, the university raised a total of $117,507.18 in donations.
Of the 315 donors who contributed to the sum, 101 of them were UHV employees. The donations made by these employees on UHV Giving Day show the lengths the university’s staff
will go to in order to support UHV’s programs, initiatives and students.
"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our donors, whose contributions will make a significant impact on the lives of our students," Countis said. "These gifts not only give vital resources for scholarships, programs and services, but they also show a collective commitment to empowering our students to achieve their academic and professional dreams.”
O’HARA | MOHARA@VICAD.COM AND CONTRIBUTED TO DISCOVER
In his lifetime, Billy Ty Cattan deeply touched and impacted the lives of those around him as a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a friend, a coach, and a deacon. Cattan continues to impact lives long after his death with the recovery outreach center founded in his honor.
“Billy was the life of the party. He was handsome, charismatic, athletic and funny. He could do almost anything–a true jack of all trades,” Susan Cattan Rybak, wife of the center’s late board president, said.
The platitudes pile up when anyone is asked to describe Cattan. He’s remembered for the countless roles he served in the lives of others, but perhaps what was most remarkable about him was his generosity and devotion to helping those who struggled.
When Cattan began to struggle with substance abuse, the family didn’t know who to go to or how to get help.
“No one knew what to do. It started with marijuana and later his addiction escalated when we moved to Houston,” Rybak said.
In 1987, the family looked outside of Texas and got Cattan help at a treatment facility. At the time, Victoria had no treatment facilities, in-paitent or out-paitent. Typically, in-patient treatment facilities are located in bigger cities like Houston or San Antonio.
Obtaining addiction treatment typically comes with barriers. From finding transportation, overcoming stigma and worrying about insurance, it can be an uphill battle. While the centers exist within a two-hour drive, the main issue lies in finding an open bed for new people seeking help for their addictions.
The recovery outreach center named in Cattan’s memory has worked for 25 years to eliminate barriers and bring to Victoria vital substance abuse treatment.
“No one is turned away because of money. People are treated one way or another and we accept medicare, medicaid and insurance,” Daniel Barrientos, Executive Director of the
Daniel Barrientos, Executive Director of the Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center (left) poses with former NBA player John Lucas II (center) and Gary Moses (right) at the center's annual Hope and Recovery Luncheon.
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Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center, said.
To eliminate some of the physical barriers to obtaining treatment such as transportation and bed space availability, the recovery center is building Hope Ranch, an in-patient recovery facility in Victoria which will serve as a beacon of light for the surrounding communities.
For those struggling with addiction and for their loved ones, the center will provide 58 beds to men and women in the crossroads area. The center will also allow women with children under the age to stay together at the facility.
Instead of combing the state for available beds for days as a person grapples with the decision of getting clean, Hope Ranch will be able to act during that crucial window of time and help get people connected to resources and receive help faster.
Two pastors, an attorney and a doctor walk into a meeting to discuss an idea that would help hundreds in Victoria. It sounds like the setup to a joke but, before his death in 1999, Cattan was working to create a recovery center in his hometown so that others wouldn’t have to wonder who to turn to during a time of crisis. But before the center could come into fruition, Cattan passed four months after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
“This cause is near and dear to my heart. My family has struggled with this disease, my sons have struggled with substance abuse,” Rybak said.
WOMEN'S DORMITORY
DAYCARE
It wasn’t until after his death that Rybak learned about Cattan’s idea to start a center that would help people like him who struggled with substance abuse. Their oldest son struggled with addiction, deeply feeling the loss of their father in their lives and grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military in Iraq.
“It’s a disease of complete insanity. We treat the co-concouring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety because substance abuse falls under that mental health umbrella,” Rybak said.
Addiction is a vicious cycle, one that The Billy T. Cattan Center is constantly trying to break by filling in the gaps in substance abuse recovery. The center’s goal is to help men and women get clean and break the cycle of addiction by staying sober. To do this, the center remains Christ-centered.
“We have to lean on the Lord. We need that higher power to fight this disease,” Rybak said.
The organization’s staff is made up of a body of believers who work to let those who are struggling know that the Lord is there for them. Without judgment, the center’s staff coaches those who struggled through the 12 steps of the faith-based AA program, combining faith principles with modern research.
“We’ve come a long way from where we started. We’re keeping Billy’s legacy and dream alive by making recovery accessible to more and more people,” Barrientos said.
Hope Ranch will be the center’s next step forward in expanding Cattan’s dream, providing area residents with the care they need right at home. Named in Cattan’s honor, The Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center lives on long after his death, continuing his legacy of generosity and his dedication to helping those struggling.
in Faith Growing
Victoria youth ministries thrive and spread the gospel
STORY BY SHAWN A. AKERS | SAKERS@VICAD.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FAITH FAMILY CHURCH AND YOUNG LIFE VICTORIA
Cory Cann remembers what it was like to be an impressionable young man. He also remembers the cultural pressures teens can succumb to, and the enticements that can lead youth down the wrong path in life.
Thankfully for Cann, he became involved in the youth ministry at Faith Family Church (FFC) in Victoria, which he said helped him become the man he is today. Now the youth and junior high pastor at Faith Family, Cann and many others in the ministry are helping steer the church’s youth to a relationship with Christ and, hopefully, to a productive adult life.
Faith Family’s ministry is only one of many local entities that have had an impact on local youth. Others like Young Life Victoria and youth groups at churches like Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and Fellowship Bible Church in Victoria provide places for area kids to gather and not only have fun together but also learn about the Bible and what Jesus is all about.
Now in his 20s, Cann began coming to Faith Family’s youth group at 14, when he received Christ’s salvation. Jeffrey Graff, the son of FFC Lead Pastor Jim Graff, headed up the ministry at that time. It was an event
that changed Cann’s life forever.
“Pastor G (Jeffrey Graff) preached one service and I just remember being like, man, the Word of God just came alive in my life,” Cann said. “I remember I went to youth group every week and it was the highlight of my life, every single week. I always wanted it to be Wednesday every day of the week. Looking back on it, I see what it did for my life, and now I see what it can do for others. I carry that with me and that helps me in teaching these students.”
Cann, who co-pastors the Faith Family youth with JR Cabrera and family ministries pastor Tony Valasquez, has been on staff at Faith Family for four years, including one year as youth pastor.
Faith Family’s youth ministry meets Sunday mornings during both adult services, but it’s Wednesday night activities that grab the attention of the kids. Meeting in FCC’s NextGen Center, nearly 200 youth and 50 volunteers gather each week so “students can build relationships and enjoy the gym game room before service.” The service kicks off with live worship, games and a powerful Bible teaching just for students.
Afterward, “students can engage in meaningful connect groups with peers and a group leader before enjoying more hang time with friends,” the church’s website suggests.
“The kids really enjoy themselves, but they know Jesus works,” Cann says. “But they also know that they’ve got to work for it, too. You just can’t sit here and expect God to do something in your life when you’re just sitting in a chair and you’re not really receptive. … We pray together, and that’s a big part of what we do to make the kids really feel loved here.”
Charlie Wagner and Sonja DeSanno are two students who have felt that impact from the FFC youth ministry.
Wagner, 18, a senior at Victoria East High School, has participated in FFC’s youth ministry for six years. If it weren’t for the youth group, Wagner says he isn’t sure where he would be.
“I’ve had so many things going on with my family, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what else to do,” Wagner said. “This gave me a place to go and a place where people would hold me accountable. You feel loved here.
Charlie Wagner, member of Faith Family Church
Sonja Desanno, member of Faith Family Church
Praying for each other is a regular thing we do. It’s something that you feel compelled to do. It’s the love of God in you that you’ll see somebody hurting and you’ll want to pray for them. … Without this ministry, I would definitely not be where I am today or potentially going to the college I want to go to.”
Wagner has applied to Oral Roberts University, a Christian school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he hopes to study over the next four years.
DeSanno, 17, is a senior at FFC’s Faith Academy where she has attended since age 4. DeSanno will attend Texas A&M University in the fall and she hopes to find Christian young adult clubs in College Station to carry her love for Jesus into her university years and beyond.
“I have been going to this church since I was four. I got baptized when I was eight. I don’t know anything else nor do I want to,” DeSanno said. “This church does a really great job of making sure that there’s a place for each person, making sure that someone’s watching you and is helping to develop your faith. There are also a lot of volunteer opportunities, and I think that’s really crucial, too, because it tells you why we need to go and be fishers of men. I’ve volunteered in several capacities and I love it. Even though this is a big congregation, they do a really good job of making you feel like you’re not just another face in the crowd.”
DeSanno says Cann is a strong influence on every kid in the youth ministry.
“He’s done a really great job in helping to continue this ministry,” DeSanno said. “He’s made a huge
impact, and he’s one of the reasons why it is thriving. They teach us the Word of God, and they’ve helped us build our faith. It’s the foundation of what we’ll do with it later in life.”
While Faith Family’s youth ministry obviously thrives, so does another ministry, one that’s not connected to one particular church—Young Life Victoria.
YOUNG LIFE VICTORIA
Not connected to a particular denomination, Young Life Victoria is
a chapter of a ministry called Young Life, a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school and college students in all 50 of the United States and is located in more than 100 countries around the world.
Young Life’s mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and to help them grow in their faith. The Victoria chapter of Young Life began in 2010 and is headed up by Area Director Bella Najas, who first volunteered to serve the organization in 2013 as a student at Victoria College. Najas is now on staff
Morgan S., Maddie L., Bella M., Areanna O., Bella N., Bella B., Elizabeth G. and Nia B. are pictured during summer camp, July 2024 at Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch in Fraser, CO.
full-time with one other full-timer, one part-timer and 10 volunteers.
Young Life Victoria meets on Mondays at the parish hall at St. Francis Episcopal Church, whose officials graciously allow anywhere from 40 to 100 high school youth to gather at their facility each week. Students will sing songs, play games and learn about Jesus and God’s Word.
“We like to think of ourselves and relationally based,” Najas said. “It’s a place where kids can be kids. Our meetings are with some kids that don’t
necessarily want to go to a youth group or go to a church. We want to build relationships with them, to be like Jesus, and through those relationships to help them grow in their faith. We often come to football games, where we have a lot of kids that we know, so we show up in the student section and support them and cheer them on through life.”
at a facility on North Navarro St. on Thursday for a weekly event called “Campaigners.”
On those evenings, about half of the Monday students will show up and Young Life Victoria’s staff goes deeper into Scripture with small groups.
Each year, with the help of fundraising efforts, Young Life Victoria is privileged to take a group of students to summer camp in Frazier, Colorado. At the camp, students can participate
Najas said for many students, Young Life Victoria’s introduction to Jesus and the gospel is “pretty basic” on Mondays. The organization, however, has another night where it meets | CONT. ON PG. 32
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Young Life Victoria Monday Night Paint War Club, including high school students from Victoria East, Victoria West, St. Joseph and Homeschool.
Young Life Victoria Monday Night Club, including high school students from Victoria East, Victoria West, St. Joseph and Homeschool.
in many activities including horseback riding, sports and games. It also allows them to share about Jesus without the distraction of their cell phones or other electronic devices.
“The kids make friendships there that will continue for the rest of their lives,” Najas said. “We’ve been doing this a long time, and we’ve seen kids grow up, get married, have kids and continue in their faith. This is just a foundational season of their life that they can embrace and carry on throughout the rest of their lives. I’ve seen the impact Young Life has had on their lives, and we’re grateful they stick to the principles that have been taught to them.”
Najas said Young Life attracts youth that are “super-plugged in to their church,” but also kids that have “never stepped foot in church before.” The mix, she said, is amazing, but it works well.
“Young Life has the ability to change a kid’s life, and I’ve seen it,” Najas said. “We get to support and encourage kids through four years of the hardest time of their lives. … It gives them hope, and we see a hunger for it. We get to be a small part of that, and it’s wonderful.”
SMALLER GROUPS, BUT CHRIST REIGNS
Youth groups that meet at Our Lady of Victory and Fellowship Bible Church are smaller in comparison but no less impactful on students.
While 300 to 400 youth at Our Lady of Victory attend its CCD program—a program dedicated to teaching students about the Catholic faith—a group of about 20 to 25 OLV students meet on the first and third Sunday night of every month in a less formal atmosphere.
In this smaller setting, Deacon Matthew Schaeffer says students pray for each other and “put their faith in action” to help their fellow students who are having difficulties navigating some of the issues of life.
“It’s a simple format, but it helps them to really build relationships,” Schaeffer said. “It helps them to engage with each other, and it helps them to grow in their faith. They really look forward to the praise and worship we have, and I think all of this really helps some of them that are really motivated to spread the gospel to do it with a sense of boldness. I know that some of these kids are really there for each other
The kids really enjoy themselves, but they know Jesus works ...
- Corey Cann
and they really want to reach others.”
Many students from Our Lady of Victory will attend an annual retreat later in 2025 in Dallas. The youth ministry at OLV also participates in many fundraisers, including one in connection with the Knights of Columbus.
At Fellowship Bible Church on Ben Jordan St. in Victoria, with a congregation of approximately 150, only seven students participate in youth group activities. At one time, the group had swelled to 25, but many left after graduation.
But Rick Jones, who leads the group along with his wife, Lisa, and another couple, Micah and Brit Smith, says kids
are undoubtedly enriched by the weekly experience.
“I know our kids look forward to Wednesday nights,” Jones said. “We may be a small group, and we’re leaving it in the hands of the Holy Spirit to grow it. We have confidence in that alone. But our kids are strong in their faith and they understand it. They defend it when they get challenged by the world. We play games, but we also have a lesson for 30 to 45 minutes and then we’ll have prayer time and share time. It’s awesome and the kids get a lot out of it. They ask a lot of questions, and that is very important when it comes to learning about Jesus and the Bible.”
Summer Camp, July 2024 at Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch in Fraser, CO. Pictured left to right, Brodie F., Evan W., Ethan V., Rami S., Kason G., Jacob F., and Hindley G.
Shifting
Perspectives
Any spiritual journey begins with acknowledging which religion best aligns with the individual’s beliefs and morality systems. For many of those seeking organized religion, selecting the right form of faith community can be difficult and the biggest challenge is deciding what kind of worship is desired: traditional or non-denominational. There are many benefits to attending
a dedicated church to develop the spiritual relationship of faith, and any organization will provide the means to worship, however the presentation of these beliefs can greatly determine which one is right for the believer.
The main difference between traditional and non-denominational practices is that non-denominational is
considered more informal with a wider variety of presentations of the bible and desiring a personal relationship with God, while traditional worship places higher emphasis on tradition and ritual, focusing on nurturing a formal relationship with God.
TRADITIONAL: FIRST UNITED METHODIST
Traditional churches are usually paired with the stereotypical expectations of an organized religion and one key component of these types of worship designations are formal teachings which can include singing hymns, the reading of scripture verses and psalms, and specific religious iconography.
First United Methodist is believed to be the oldest Protestant church in the Victoria area with origins dating back to 1839, before Texas was annexed into the United States. At that time, there were circuit riders for a particular region whose purpose was to essentially be a travelling minister. The first reverend to service the 1839 population of Victoria was Reverend Jesse Hord, whose normal route included all territory between the Trinity and San Antonio river which he traversed on horseback. Almost 175 years later, First United Methodist Church welcomed their first female senior pastor, Celia Halfacre, who is a recent transplant from Brownsville and has been ordained since 2012.
“People should join a church because of the other people in the church,” Halfacre said. “You should consider who you want to go through life with, who do you want to raise your children with, who do you want to visit you in the hospital, or who do you want to grow with together. The church will feed you after the death of a loved one or the birth of a baby.”
The only determination for traditional or non-denominational is where the believer feels the most comfortable, which can go beyond either structured or relaxed. For First United Methodist, they are slowly realizing the constraints of old world beliefs are being replaced by the larger drive to provide community and haven for all who are loved by God, not just who walks through the doors.
“Church has been around for a very long time,” Halfacre said. “We’ve been singing the words to this hymn for 1500
years and we’re praying prayers that we’ve been praying for 2,000 years.
There’s something nice about stepping into that tradition for me; something heartfelt about the language to say I’m not having to figure out this Christian life by myself. There’s 2,000 years of people who came before me to figure this out, and there’s going to be thousands of years of people after me.” Tradition brings familiarity, which brings comfort, in other words. For most of the traditional congregation, the rituals and beloved traditions are more than just chores on Sunday, it’s a feeling of home, belonging, and connection like no other.
“We are a connectional church system, meaning that all United Methodist congregations are connected to one another,” Halfacre said. “We can do more together than alone. For instance, during Hurricane Harvey, the United Methodist Committee on Relief was here from the beginning to the end of the recovery. We had resources, including teams of workers, money, and flood buckets, provided by churches all over the world. During the recent hurricane season, we were able to send support to the Appalachian district of the UMC. It took me two emails to find where to send out support, but the connectional infrastructure is already in place.”
Whether following old world traditions or adopting modern day demands, such as First United Methodist offering a contemporary service in addition to traditional service, starting a relationship with God begins with finding the community who best |
supports you.
NON-DENOMINATIONAL: FAITH FAMILY CHURCH
One key difference with attending a non-denominational church is the internal structure which focuses more on relational networks to ensure proper development, support, and accountability. There are a good number of non-denominational churches within the crossroads and one in particular has a long-standing relationship with community outreach and their excellent teen groups.
Faith Family Church, located at 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane has been celebrating God and championing people of the crossroads since 1977 when Pastor Gary Upham first founded the church. It was established as Faith International which was later changed to Faith Family Church and is now headed by Pastor Jim Graff.
Starting his Faith Family journey in September of 1989, Pastor Graff was 29 years old and had about 200 people under his care. Now, the church has over 4,000 people of all walks of life who accept the non-denominational teachings of the bible. These teachings start with studying what the scripture says about being a part of a community of faith.
“Non-denominational churches were started by people wanting to learn and practice the bible,” Graff said. “They were hungry to learn and practice the
scripture, experience the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, and to minister life to people in need of God’s salvation.”
Operating with 30 staff people who lead about 200 dream teams, Faith Family strives to offer a warm and welcoming environment for any who wish to learn and practice the bible.
“We believe God loves us unconditionally and calls us to do the same with each other. Our goal is to help people right where they are in life to develop a real relationship with God,” Graff said. “This happens through our worship services and small groups, and as friendships that are formed within God’s family. We believe our best life is developed through experiencing life-giving relationships with God and His people.”
Members of Faith Family, and anyone who is wishing to become a part of the Faith Family, are taught to have a personal relationship with God and to develop a mature faith, tested and tried through various pressures and trials of life where the believer does not shrink back in difficult seasons and their faith grows them into a stronger individual on
the other side.
“We want every person to enjoy making a significant difference for Christ through the life they live,” Graff said. “We do that best together. We have classes and church leaders who help people grow that type of life.”
Faith Family Church also hosts annual spiritual retreats catered to the youth, specifically teens, as well as anyone else who wishes to partake in these spiritual workshops which serves to start the healthy relationship habits with God and His word at an early age.
WHICH ONE?
No two churches are the same, and that is true for traditional churches as well as more modern-minded nondenominational practices. Neither is better or worse than the other, since they simultaneously practice the Word of God and strive for their respective communities to find understanding and comfort in the passages of the bible to help them through their lives. There is no such thing as a specific type of person you have to be to seek out religion, or certain things you must endure to crave the love of God.
place to go A
The United Way comes through in the Crossroads for those in need
The United Way’s vision is a united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives. Its mission is to mobilize and to support a vibrant local network of people, partners and resources to create opportunities for every person in our community to live a healthy, stable life.
WHAT IS THE UNITED WAY?
People who struggle to make ends meet every month can be found throughout the country, including here in Victoria. To help, however, there are many different organizations dedicated to giving those people the support they need.
Victoria has food pantries, financial education, programs to teach useful skills to increase employment opportunities, assisted housing and donation centers. If there is a need, there are benevolent groups ready to help. While it is great that such groups exist, for those in the thick of their struggles, it is difficult to know all the resources available.
The United Way is a non-profit
organization that takes a step back from others to see all that is available to communities and bring them together as the mediator of local resources and funds.
THE CROSSROADS UNITED WAY
Bethany Castro, executive director of the Crossroads United Way, found the end of 2024 hectic and busy as they finished their biggest project of the year called “Santa for a Senior.” Since 2020, United Way partners with Meals on Wheels and the Community Action Committee to hand out gifts to their clients. United Way wanted to give nursing homes a special holiday.
“We hired a woman whose mom was in a nursing home.” Castro said. The woman they hired gave them the idea to help “not just those clients but all the seniors in a nursing home.”
Partnered with ABWA, the Victoria
Professional Express Network and ABWA Women Growing Together
Express Network to pass out gifts to residents at The Courtyards and River Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Center of Victoria.
“Together we passed out 1,100 gifts. It went super great.” Castro said. “It was an immense effort to connect with different groups of people.”
While the Santa for a Senior was a big hit, United Way’s main focus and impact is more behind the scenes.
From September to November, United Way campaigns with local businesses like DOW, Formosa, Caterpillar and VISD. Employees sign up to donate a certain amount from their paychecks that help th United Way award grants to non-profits who apply.
“We also have stringent rules.”
Castro said. An organization must be active for at least two years and have a
recent official financial audit to ensure the campaigned money is used to the best possible benefit.
“A total of 31, 410 local individuals were positively impacted through grant funds given to our nonprofit partners in our five county region from 2023 to 2024.” Castro said.
“We also collect and distribute thousands of books each year across 12 Tiny Library locations.” Castro said. One of those sits on the frequently used 2.3-mile Hike and Bike Trail in northeast Victoria.
“Over 2024, our small but mighty Community Health Worker team assisted 1,023 individuals in need as they navigated local resources.” Castro said. All of that was facilitated by only three full-time employees and two parttime employees.
Certified Community Health Workers(CHWs) collaborate with Castro and her crew to help those in need discover and navigate through all the resources available.
“When people are in need,” Castro said, “they don’t just need one thing, they need six or seven more; financial aid, housing, food and so on.” These folks who are already struggling could easily feel overwhelmed or simply not know what opportunities they actually have in the Crossroads.
“Our CHWs will be there to help others facilitate the system to their full potential,” Castro said.
IN THE FUTURE
While all United Way branches support the community with health and financial services, there has been a shift from the past decade to focus on a specific need or initiative project for the community.
“We are always looking to focus our
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efforts to increase youth success, health and financial stability for individuals and families in our community.” Castro said, “Our board of directors also likes for us to focus our efforts more and more on a population we refer to as ALICE–those who are Asset-Limited, IncomeConstrained, but Employed. These are individuals who are working but still have a hard time making ends meet and finding financial stability.”
United Way will focus on these
people who are working but still struggling so their jobs are not jeopardized.
SUPPORT IN FOUR PARTS
Many organizations focus on one aspect: passing out food to the hungry, providing affordable housing or childcare. But United Way plays four roles in the community.
1. Fundraiser and funder: Raising funds and then providing grants to highly-vetted local nonprofits
2. Convener: Gather timely, local data about our community and use it to
YOUTH SUCCESS
Boys & Girls Club - Cuero
Provides child-focused programs that develop character & leadership, stressing education, technology, art, sports & fitness.
Boys & Girls Club - Victoria
Provides an after-school program using evidence-based activities to increase academic success & productive lifestyle choices.
Communities in schools of the Golden Crescent
A drop-out prevention program in areal schools with coordination of community resources for students & their families, tutoring and mentoring.
Golden Crescent CASA
Provides trained court appointed advocates for abused and neglected children & assists in placing them in nurturing, permanent homes.
SJRC Texas/Belong
Provides foster and kinship services for children involved in the child protective system in Region 8B.
Victoria ISD
Kidz Connection
Connect students & families experiencing homelessness with educational opportunities & resources to increase stability and academic success.
YMCA of the Golden Crescent
Provides programs for all ages; after-school care & summer day camp, youth sports, swim lessons, health & wellness, youth development & more.
Addresses hunger throughout 11 counties by working with 100+ member agencies including food pantries & mobile food distributions; provides Kids Weekend meal kits & communitybased programming.
Hope of South Texas
Provides a safe, child-friendly setting for victims of abuse & their families; conducts forensic interviews, case management, family advocacy, mental health services, outreach & education.
Meals on Wheels
South Texas
Provides a place for seniors to socialize & receive a nutritional lunch M-F, delivers meals to homebound seniors.
STARS Clinic
Focuses on infants & toddlers needing specialized health care, including preemie & neurodevelopment help, nutritional support, & referrals.
Community Action
Committee of Victoria
Helps low-income residents pay rent, utility bills and other housing expenses.
Golden Crescent
Habitat for Humanity
Helps qualified families & individuals build new homes at cost; no interest, 30-year funding agreement. Family must supply 300 hours of "sweat equity."
Gulf-Bend Center
Wellness Community
The Wellness Community program carries out the mission of Gulf Bend Center by providing the opportunity for safe housing, that is affordable, & enhances overall wellness and long-term success.
Mid-Coast Family Services
Works to prevent and end family violence, homelessness, sexual assault, and substance abuse in Victoria and the surrounding counties.
Perpetual Help Home
Housing program that transitions women & their families from homelessness to productive lives with life-skills training & transitional support.
start conversations and brainstorm ideas for increased efficiency in the social service sector.
3. Connector: Through grant funds, the United Way employs four Community Health Workers who meet with people in need and help them navigate local resources. The Crossroads has great nonprofits, but people in need do not always know how to access these services.
4. Capacity builder: The
Nonprofit Center at the University of Houston-Victoria College of Business provides low-cost, high-quality local trainings for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, and board members. United Way also provides a once per quarter “Social Service Community Orientation” so individuals can learn about organizations, what they provide, and how to access services. United Way is the loom that weaves together resources and opportunities for those struggling into a tapestry of hope. It removes fears like having to choose between food or housing, or the terror of feeling alone and powerless in a difficult world.
$502,000 will be distributed among these 18 partner agencies this year!
Prospera Housing
Community Services
Provides safe, high-quality affordable housing with support services for individuals & families in need; Victoria properties are Fox Run & Houston Houses.
The Pet
Distribution System
STORY BY JAMES DAVID HERD
Icannot emphasize how important the institution of pet adoption is to me.
As a seventh grader living in Huffman, Texas—don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it; it’s right outside Houston—life was rather lonely.
That is, until what I call the ‘pet distribution system’ introduced me to a yellow labrador we called Jabba the Hutt (mostly because he was so big and we were all nerds, you see).
I remember the night we met vividly; a friend and I had been attending a dance at our middle school—this had to be circa 2005-06—and a chaperone was driving us home. As we pulled into the driveway, someone in a large coat was sitting with a dog in the back of a family member’s pickup truck. I recall thinking this person was a vagrant who was trying to stay warm, but it ended up being my aunt, and the dog ended up being one that had wandered up out of nowhere.
After putting up missing dog flyers and no one stepping up to claim this yellow behemoth of a canine, it was
decided that my mom and I would (informally) adopt him. From then on, Jabba the Hutt became one of the closest things I had to a brother, and until he passed away in 2014—and well afterward—the reverberations felt by his existence would shape my views on pet adoption.
In Victoria, there are multiple avenues for those interested in adopting a pet. The Dorothy H. O’Connor Pet Adoption Center is one, as well as Adopt-A-Pet. It’s also possible to adopt pets through the city itself, but no matter which path you take to introduce your family to an animal, adopting—as opposed to buying—is one of the most selfless and philanthropic things you can do in this life.
THE DOROTHY H. O’CONNOR PET ADOPTION CENTER (DOCPAC)
The Dorothy H. O’Connor Pet Adoption Center is the successor organization to Six Flags Humane Society, which was founded in 1963,
according to the organization’s website. It offers prospective pet owners a variety of dogs and cats, as well as a number of services that could be helpful, including microchipping, nail trimming, and vaccinations. In addition, the organization offers end-of-life care for pets, including cremations and services, to share the economic and emotional burden of losing a valued pet.
“Adoption Fees include spay/ neuter of pets, first set of annual vaccines, microchip and registration, [and] heartworm testing,” said Jennifer Werland, Executive Director of DOCPAC. “Our adoption process is fairly easy. A pet can go home the same day as long as they are available for adoption. We escort potential adopters through the facility explaining the pets' individual personalities and dispositions. This helps with fitting the right pet to the right home for a successful adoption of a new family member.”
If you are not interested in adopting a pet right now, or if you simply want to donate your time, you can volunteer with DOCPAC, according to its website. Volunteers have the opportunity to embark on what the organization calls a “Doggy’s Day Out,” which helps the shelter dogs to get some “time away from the shelter,” helping them to “gain some important socialization skills.”
DOCPAC has a physical location at
CONT. FROM PG. 43
135 Progress Drive in Victoria. It can be reached by phone by calling 361-5758573. Its hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (M—F) and 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
Werland said there’s always a “situation” that sticks with her throughout her years helping animals through DOCPAC. Specifically, she told a story involving a Belgian Malinois named Socks.
“Unable to stand and so weak he couldn't hold his head up, it took months for my staff and I to get him healthy enough to make it through his neuter,” Werland said. “Just a few days shy of a year [later], Socks found his forever home. He jumped into the front seat of his new jeep like he owned it. We all stood in the lobby waving bye to one of the most memorable moments of our lives with tears of joy.”
ADOPT-A-PET VICTORIA
Adopt-A-Pet Victoria is a no-kill orphanage and shelter that claims to have served this community for over 20 years, according to its website. Like with DOCPAC, the organization offers both dogs and cats, as well as a variety of veterinarian services such as spaying/ neutering and vaccinations.
While Adopt-A-Pet does accept volunteers, the organization’s website
emphasizes the equal need for the donation of goods as well as time.
“Yes, there is a great need to play and socialize the animals. Please do not forget, an animal shelter needs more than that,” the website reads. “We can use donations of our specific cleaning supplies, non-scoopable cat litter, Clorox, paper towels, laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, and money.”
But, it also mentions an event held in October called “Dine with Your Dog,” but there is not a specific method of inquiring about volunteering your time. My best advice would be to reach out via phone ((361) 575-7387) or by visiting its brick-and-mortar location at 8215 Houston Hwy in Victoria. Its shelter hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (M—Th) and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (F—Sa). It is closed on Sunday. Its clinic hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
ADOPTING PETS THROUGH THE CITY
Should you wish to adopt a pet through the city of Victoria as opposed to either DOCPAC or Adopt-A-Pet, you may do that. Victoria County Animal Services (VCAS) is the community’s animal impound who work to remove the need for adoption by keeping animals in the homes they already have. This “will lead to less animals in the impound that then need to be rehomed, fostered or euthanized,” according to the organization’s website. Because VCAS is so much more than just a pet adoption service—they also serve as the county’s rabies control authority, for one—a look at its website will showcase more resources both current and prospective pet owners
|
can take advantage of. In addition to animal complaints, including bites, neglect, and aggressive animal alerts, the organization also handles adoptions, stray and lost pet intakes, and fostering. It also encourages volunteering by philanthropic individuals with time to donate.
To reach VCAS for any reason under its purview, it can be reached by phone at (361) 578-3564, or one could visit the physical location at 122 Perimeter Rd. in Victoria. Its hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (M—Th) and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (F). It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s possible these aren’t the only resources in the Crossroads to help our furry friends find new homes, but they are among the biggest and most helpful. As mentioned before, to help those who can’t help themselves is one of the best causes you can contribute to. If you’d like to make a difference, perhaps helping the animals with your time and resources is the right call.
And, if you’re the lucky person blessed by the pet distribution system, open the door. You might have a Jabba the Hutt on the other side, waiting to change your life forever.
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PREPARING YOUNG ADULTS
Colleges give students opportunities to expand their faith
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
MICHAEL MILLIORN | MMILLIORN@VICAD.COM
Faith plays a major role in making up the history of Victoria and the fabric of the community. From churches of different sects to private religious schools, faith and worship plays a major role in the lives of many Victorians. Maintaining their faith–or finding it–can become a difficult journey for many young Victoria adults, especially as they move through the first stages of independent living and unrestricted freedom outside of their parents’ homes. Faith-based youth groups have worked diligently to provide college students in Victoria a space to feel welcomed in their religions and their communities.
United Campus Ministries (UCM) makes every effort to interact with students at Victoria College and make them aware of the religious resources to which they can have access. UCM offers a weekly bible study on Victoria College’s campus that includes lunch and a time for fellowship.
The approximately two-hour meetings allow students to stop by and spend as much time as they can exploring the Bible with peers who hold the same belief systems. The fluidity of these meetings allows students to attend when most convenient, working around their busy class, work and life schedules.
“Victoria College students' lives are more complicated than peoples’ lives were when I was in college some years ago,” Celia Halface, UCM advisor, said. “They lived on campus and only went to school and had a part time job. [VC students] are folks who are raising families and working full time and catching classes as they can, so we're offering a different kind of support underneath that.”
UCM interacts with students through tabling and through offering students a spot at their weekly Wednesday luncheon. The youth group works hard to stay in touch with students throughout the semester in ways
varying, depending on their schedules. Available only on the Victoria College campus for now, UCM has a goal to spread to the University of HoustonVictoria to further its reach to college students.
“College was, for me, a time of deconstructing an identity and reconstructing myself as an adult in the world,” Halface said. “My hope is to provide a place that is safe through what I have done in other campus
ministries and what I'm hoping to do here. We want to offer a safe space to be vulnerable and to fall apart and put yourself back together, or let the Holy Spirit put you back together.”
The Baptist Student Ministry is another faith-based youth group providing a space where college students in Victoria can come together and share their beliefs. The ministry outreach is connected to colleges across the state of Texas.
The local ministry is partnered with the Guadalupe Baptist Association, an association of just under 50 churches.
The student ministry hosts a free lunch every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for all college students during the fall and spring semesters at the Guadalupe Baptist Association. In 2024, GBA offered a Bible study every Tuesday during the fall semester. Free coffee and donuts are provided to all students every Wednesday at the Victoria College Health Science Center.
“I've gotten to build relationships with a few students and gotten to share the gospel with them while handing out coffee and donuts, so that's been an awesome experience as well,”
Jessica Barnes, Baptist Student Ministry advisor, said. “We welcome everybody. It doesn't matter what your religion may be. Maybe you don't even know who Jesus is, but we don't ever want that to stop anyone from joining us.”
The Baptist Student Ministry looks to build relationships with students and bridge the gap between unchurched students and students who currently attend church. As students move out of their homes and engrain themselves in college life, they can move away from their churches and struggle to find a faith-based connection.
“I know in the Victoria community, there are not a lot of young adult ministries,” Barnes said. “I think it's really important that I have worked with Parkway to try to bring in some of their young adults and their young adult pastor, to give the students another avenue of relating and getting with other young adults.”
OUT and ABOUT WITH
TONY VASQUEZ
WINTER SEASON RECAP
LuAnn and T. Michael O'Connor at the Court of Six Flags Holiday Ball at Victoria Country Club
At the 'Chris and Tenna Thompson Gem & Mineral Exhibit' preview reception at Victoria College.
Brian Medina at Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art for the "Jesse Lott: A Legacy of Art and Collaboration, from the Collection of Ann Harithas" exhibit
Taylor Winkler, Rebecca Roberts, and Dominic Schaefer after performing in Theatre Victoria's "A Christmas Carol" at the Leo J. Welder Center.
Charlotte Watkins, Brenda Tally, and Rachel Watkins at Victoria Ballet Theatre's "The Nutcracker" at the Leo J. Welder Center.
Nina di Leo, Debra Chronister, and Carolina Astrain at the Cabaret Burlesque Tied-Up-And-Twisted show at Moonshine Drinkery
Melissa and Bland Proctor at the Members Christmas Open House at The Nave Museum.
Margaret Luker, Stephanie Wood, and Kayla Koenig at the Victoria Ballet Theatre's Soirée à Paris at Victoria Country Club
Gabriela Benoit, Zach Wendel, and Crystal Lara at the City of Victoria's New Years Eve Blastoff at the Riverside Park Stadium.
UPCOMING
Calendar of Events
FEBRUARY AND MARCH
THEATRE VICTORIA PRESENTS: THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Feb. 7-Feb. 9, Feb. 13-Feb 15
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Feb. 16 | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N Main St, Victoria
This is a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and is every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man her parents have never met.
MIFFY DAY @HERE'S THE SCOOP
Feb. 8 | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Here’s The Scoop, 114 E Constitution St, Victoria
It’s Miffy Day and we are bringing out exclusive Miffy merchandise for this special day! We will have a choice of DIY activities to take home and enjoy! We will have story time and plenty of giveaways!
BURNING RED:
A TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT
Feb. 8 | 7:30 PM
Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria
Are you ready for It? Join Burning Red: A Tribute to Taylor Swift - the Ultimate Live Band Taylor Sing-Along Party! A show BY Swifties and FOR Swifties, Burning Red plays the hits and fan favorites.
DREAM LIKE TAYLOR
Feb. 8 | 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria
Calling all Swifties! Get ready to experience a night straight out of your wildest dreams with Dream Like Taylor—an unforgettable live band sing-along event that takes you on a magical journey through the iconic eras of Taylor Swift.
VICTORIA'S EMPTY BOWLS
Feb. 9 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Victoria Collect Emerging Technology Complex, 7403 Lone Tree Rd, Victoria
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities.
TAAF WINTER GAMES
Feb. 15-Feb. 16 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Riverside Park, 456 Mc Cright Dr, Victoria The 2025 TAAF Winter Games of Texas will be held January 17-19 and February 15 - 16 in Victoria, Texas.
CURTIS GRIMES LIVE
Feb. 15 | 8:00 PM
Moonshine Drinkery, 103 W Santa Rosa St, Victoria
Curtis Grimes Live at Moonshine Drinkery in Victoria, TX on February 15, 2025. No Cover!! 21+ only with valid ID.
BIPPITY BOPPITY PRINCESS TEA PARTY
Feb. 16 | 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Here’s The Scoop, 114 E Constitution St, Victoria Your fairy Godmother awaits your arrival to
the royal tea party! With a wish, a little pixie dust and a tiara, you’ll enjoy a whimsical experience! All princesses will enjoy sweets, eats and tea! You will also receive a tiara as a keepsake!
WESTWATER ARTS & VICTORIA'S 200TH
Mar. 1 | 7:30 PM
Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria
In celebration of Victoria's 200th anniversary, we have commissioned a photo montage of the history of Victoria by Westwater Arts accompanied by the VSO and a performance of Sibelius' Second Symphony.
RENAISSANCE SOIREE
Mar. 2 | 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Here’s The Scoop, 114 E Constitution St, Victoria
Join us for this enchanting tea party fit for the Noble Gents and Ladies of neighboring lands! Fest yourselves with a lavish spread of savory and sweet indulgences! Looseleaf tea is locally sourced and equally spectacular!
Chris, played by Tawny West, shares the stage with Ken, played by Patrick McLaughlin at a Wednesday dress rehearsal for Theatre Victoria’s “Rumors.” Photo by Jon Wilcox
'TOXIC'
Mar. 15 | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria
This is a show that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Skyler Jones gets caught up in a scandal involving herself and her famous father who pastors a mega church. To save herself, she betrays others.
PRICKLY PEAR AFFAIR
Mar. 28 | 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Spring Creek Event Center, 12116 Nursery Dr., Victoria
Hosted by Victoria Symphony Society Prickly Pear Affair
Christy Rodriguez (center) poses with Hello Kitty at Here’s The Scoop along with her daughter, Kat Hernandez (right) and her son, Blake Garza (left). Photo by Madison O’Hara
9406 Zac Lentz Parkway, Victoria, TX 77904
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