​Melkite clergy meet in San Antonio, celebrate Divine and Holy Liturgy at San Fernando Cathedral

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Melkite clergy meet in San Antonio, celebrate Divine and Holy Liturgy at San Fernando Cathedral

Melkite clergy from around the United States gathered in San Antonio in mid-September for their national clergy convocation. On the Feast of the Holy Cross, a Hierarchal/Pontifical Divine Liturgy was held September 14 at San Fernando Cathedral, with both Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, and Bishop Nicholas J. Sampra of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, Massachusetts, presiding.

More than 50 clergy members and their families took part in meetings September 13 through 16 at the Drury Hotel downtown, with presentations on “Marriage Preparation,” “Tribunal/Canonical Issues,” “Youth and Young Adult Ministry,” “Iconography,” “Building a Church,” “Sacred Scripture,” and “Technology in Ministry.”

This historic liturgy at San Fernando took place exactly one year ago from the date in which the archbishop proclaimed his pastoral letter “Transformed by Hope, Let Us Rebuild Our Tomorrow!” on the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thank God’s providence for the opportunity to commemorate the occasion with you. I believe it is a prophetic sign,” said Archbishop Gustavo.

In the pastoral letter, the archbishop highlighted that “our suffering matters so much to Jesus that he participates in our pain to overcome it, and to draw good out of evil, which only He can do.”

Pope Francis has said our Lord Jesus Christ cares about us more than anyone. “Giving his life for us, Jesus says to each one: ‘Your life is worth so much to me, that to save it I give all of myself.’”

“On the Cross, Jesus suffered as a consequence of our sins for our suffering to have meaning in him. He took upon himself the just punishment for the wrongdoings of mankind, to accomplish justice in mercy in order to save us,” Archbishop Gustavo explained. “Henceforth, there is no obstacle for God’s mercy; all we need is to accept it by making his holy instrument — the Life-Giving Cross — the meaning of our own lives. Such is his pedagogy for a time like this and for our entire lives, making us sharers in his own mission.”

The San Antonio prelate said that for him and for the Church Universal, the holy tradition of the Byzantine Rite and their witness as a particular Church offers a splendid prophetical announcement of the good news of the Life-Giving Cross.

“You convey a sense of history that emphasizes the apostolic dimension of the Church, connecting her in faithfulness to the One who appointed the apostles,” the archbishop told the Melkite clergy and their families. “Your fidelity stresses the strength of our bonds of communion, which you make shine forth through the magnificent beauty and richness of your traditions.”

The Holy Father has said, “Our model is not the sphere, which is no greater than its parts, where every point is equidistant from the center, and there are no differences between them. Instead, it is the polyhedron, which reflects the convergence of all its parts, each of which preserves its distinctiveness.”

As the Catholic Church embarks on the path entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” toward the celebration of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October of 2023, the Missionary of the Holy Spirit said he cannot avoid to recognize the contribution that the Eastern Catholic Particular Churches make to the life and mission of the Church Universal with regards to synodality.

“Even the Greek root of the word is reminiscent of your faithful attentiveness to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who speaks to all of us through the voice of each member, walking together as one body,” he said. “That is precisely what you have come to do here. We are grateful for your witness to the boundless creativity of the Holy Spirit, who speaks through each one and through all.”

Archbishop Gustavo expressed his gratitude on the specific impact the Byzantine Melkite Catholic Church is making in the Archdiocese of San Antonio through Three Hierarchs Mission. Father John Mefrige, pastor of Three Hierarchs Byzantine Melkite Catholic Church in San Antonio, was the host for this national gathering.

“Thank you also, brothers, for your ancient fervent love and devotion for the Theotokos! Standing at the foot of the Cross, she is the figure and mirror of the Church,” the archbishop concluded. “She is also our model, to suffer for Christ and with Him. May she give us the strength to remain close to the Cross of Jesus.”