San Romero, Houston: A family-oriented Community

For some years, the committee at San Romero, Houston, would hold a general meeting with all members and parishioners of the church one Sunday in September. The purpose of the meetings was to encourage the community to unite and share to strengthen their bonds of friendship.

In one of the meetings, a member of the committee presented the idea of giving a real purpose to the meetings. That member brought up the importance of family for the church. The proposal was to declare the last Sunday of each September as “El Dia De La Familia Romerista” meaning “The Day of the Romerist Family.”

Following this idea, members of the committee and Rev. Uriel Lopez began the celebration on Sept. 25, 2022 as an annual celebration.

Their initial objective transformed into focusing on the importance of family as a fundamental structure in social and spiritual change. As an ecclesiastical, religious community devoted to God and good principles, their need to emphasize on providing love, help, guidance and support to protect their homes is of paramount importance. Parishioners generated activities and positive proposals enriched with principles and values to strengthen family, a vital core of society.

For their first family day, congregants decided to focus the celebration on sports activities but with a main theme “Family Values.” Activities focused on the many values needed in the family, including love, loyalty, respect, honesty, generosity, and tolerance. These values were adapted to each sporting activity to help members learn about the particular value; strengthen the family unit; and seek to sow the value in their hearts through the activities.

Following the first annual gathering and the theme of family unity, Luisa Mateus, a member of San Romero, invited parishioners to create nativity scenes as a family. He came upon the idea after hearing the children say their parents don't have time to spend with them. This activity became another way for families to be together and create space and time to talk to one another.

Many families responded to the invitation and made nativities with anything they had at home or could easily get, without spending money. Recyclable materials were used, including old Christmas cards, cups, wood, seeds, toilet paper tubes and wine corks. Everyone got chocolates and a trophy–a hit for the younger children.

The San Romero community is now committed to build upon this work in an effort to contribute to the spiritual development and growth of family love and unity. It is paramount to understand that this social cell called family is the fundamental axis that must be cultivated to achieve real change.