Around the Archdiocese

Around the Archdiocese

BANDERA – ST. STANISLAUS — At the end of the Mass of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father John Nolan, pastor, blessed the baby Jesus’ from the family Nativities in our parish. With this special blessing we welcome Baby Jesus into our homes and into our hearts.
The Youth Ministry Program sponsored a “Balloon Rosary” on Oct. 26. They practiced and worked hard to prepare the rosary and arranged for the praying and releasing of the balloons.
The parish community came out to pray the rosary, support the youth and watched as their success, hard work and prayers floated up to heaven on a beautiful fall day.   
SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE FROST

CHARLOTTE – ST. ROSE OF LIMA – Parishioners began their Posadas on Dec. 16 to commemorate Joseph and Mary’s journey as they looked for shelter.
SUBMITTED BY TRINIDAD RAMIREZ

DEL RIO – OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE — Seven new active members were enrolled as Legionaries of Mary on Dec. 7.
They made the Legion of Mary promise to conform, unite and consecrate themselves to Our Lord Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Legion of Mary of the Del Rio Catholic Community and Spiritual Director Father Antonio O. Moreno welcomed Maria Rosales, Angela Martinez, Dr. Irma Montemayor, Carmen Gutierrez, Leticia Martinez, Maria Berny and Marisella Urueta.
They each wore a blue corsage with the Miraculous Medal.
SUBMITTED BY MARIAN CASILLAS, EdD

HONDO – ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST — The youth group started December in the true spirit of Christmas by starting the rosary novena leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec.12. They joined with the youth from the First Baptist Church to wrap gifts for those in need. On youth night they ministered to the Garcia family, who lost everything in a fire. The youth made handmade ornaments and presented them to the children, this to replace the Garcia’s lost ornaments, that same night they shared a meal with them. December 17 ended youth night for the year with a Christmas party. The youth ACTS Retreat begins New Year’s Day and ended Jan. 4 with the 10 a.m. Mass and lunch with their families following Mass at the parish hall. The youth played music for the Children’s Mass at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.
The Guadalupanas celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12 with the mananitas, then Mass with songs of praise, and the matachines. Afterwards, coffee and tamales were served early in the morning. On Dec. 13 they raised funds for awards to deserving high school seniors graduating in May 2016.
St. John’s contributed to the food booth with everyone that could purchasing an item listed on a slip of paper drawn from a basket and bringing it to church for the four weeks of Advent. Also parishioners brought gifts for the Angel tree.
The Posadas began Dec.16 and ended Dec. 24 at Midnight Mass.
Christmas schedule was 5 p.m. Children’s Mass, Midnight Mass at Midnight and Christmas Day at 9 a.m.
SUBMITTED BY GLORIA BENDELE

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE – SEGUIN — Visiting nuns from the State of Guerrero, Mexico, recently came to the parish to raise funds by selling religious articles.
SUBMITTED BY STELLA OZUNA

SELMA – OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP — The OLPH Military Ministry, launched in July, 2011, with the endorsement and support of then pastor, Father Jose De La Rosa, to welcome visiting military members and families with a warn handshake and brotherly love as our Lord, Jesus Christ reached out to all he met on his journeys, and to encourage military members and families attending a weekend Mass to join our Parish family. Love and caring are benchmarks of OLPH and the Military Ministry is a continual invitation for those seeking a military-friendly parish to choose OLPH as their new home parish. 
Ministering to the military fosters a strong, purposeful sense of community by creating a welcoming, caring environment. In this context, our Military Ministry provides “family” and spiritual solutions for the stresses of military life, including relief and hope for those suffering the effects of depression, combat trauma and an unending list of other type injuries via competent referrals. Our ministry provides camaraderie and brotherhood to visiting military members and a welcome sense of family to those searching for a military-friendly Parish. The OLPH Military Ministry serves many needs of our military, both active-duty and retired.
Our Mission Statement defines our objectives while extending a warm welcome:  A Christ centered ministry serving the spiritual and personal needs of military members and families.
With the support of our pastor, Father Eric Ritter, the Military Ministry has been able to employ new services that recognize and meet the needs of military families of OLPH. 
In July 2012, the first anniversary of the ministry, a striking 6’ x 4’ Deployed Photo Board was unveiled and hangs in the lobby of the Pastoral Center. Photos of deployed family members are displayed for recognition and prayers any time a member is deployed anywhere in the world. The photos are displayed until the member returns home or is discharged from active-duty service.
In July 2013, a unique OLPH military “Challenge Coin” was presented for the first time to members of the armed forces, past and current, at no charge. The coin gives an identity to military members, who may have ended their military service without a connection to anything reminding them of their military service.
On Nov. 9, 2014, in celebration of Veteran’s Day, ministry members and supporters donned newly designed gold ministry shirts for the Appreciation Masses and “SOS Social” following the 10 a.m. Mass.
Recently Father Ritter added the recognition of active-duty military members and past-service members at each Mass every second weekend of every month. Socials following the 10 a.m. Mass are held every month, excluding April, August and December.