Some Nice Things I Missed

The title of a Sinatra Album, c. 1973. Not his best, but still better than anything else put out that year. Anyway, I take "some nice things I missed" as a title for a post with a few pictures highlighting some events that I have been graced to take part in this summer. As my posting has been a bit sparce of late, I thought I would wrap some shots into one.

On July 21 I was able to go up to Rio Grande City to visit the Monastery of the Good Shepherd. I spent some time with some extraordinary young women from the Valley who were participating in a in a religious vocation discernment weekend. We had Mass, and meals together that day, and I was able to give a few thoughts to them about how to discern the call to the Consectated Life.

On July 18, I had a great time with about 500 of our middle-school age young people from the Valley who gathered on the campus of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valley, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center . We had a "Catechesis on the 10 Commandments with the Bishop" day. Our young people came from all sections of the Rio Grande Valley, and I was able to share a cathecesis with them on the decalogue. Boy was I impressed with how well prepared they were! They practically taught the sessions themselves, because they knew all the answers to the questions I was asking! We also had lunch outside, pictured above. We made Rosaries together, and at the end of the day we all prayed the Rosary together.

We had a tent set up outside for music and snacks, and it served its purpose for about half the day. Then we had a little drama, and got hit pretty hard with a thunder storm, so we all had to run inside. Most of us got soaked, but it turned out that we were better able to pray the Rosary, knowing that the Blessed Mother was protecting us from the storm.

And, around July 10, I went to a place west of Uvalde, Texas, to participate in a retreat. The terrain was beautiful, and made for a nice setting to pray.

La Parroquia: Comunidad y Altar

El día 13 de Julio Dios me concedió la bendición de poder reunirme con los fieles de la parroquia de San Benito en San Benito, Texas, para festejar cien años de vida parroquial. Miembros del clero, religiosas, y los feligreses de la comunidad fueron congregados alrededor del altar del Señor junto con el obispo para ofrecerle a Dios Padre el sacrificio de alabanza y de agradecimiento. ¡Felicidades a la parroquia de San Benito por haber llegado a los cien años de servicio al Señor!

¿Y qué significa pertenecer a una parroquia? Es una pregunta básica para un católico y merece nuestra reflexión. Cristo Jesús invitó a sus primeros discípulos a compartir de la gracia de su presencia amistosa como miembros de una comunidad. Pertenecer a la comunidad es un aspecto esencial de ser seguidores de Nuestro Señor. Jesús predicó e instruyó a los discípulos en común. La predicación del Señor tenía el propósito de suavizar los corazones de los oyentes inculcando en ellos aquella ternura de alma que da paso al amor hacia Dios y hacia el prójimo. ¿Acaso no es ese amor hacia Dios y hacia el prójimo lo que encuadra el misterio evangélico que predicaba el Señor?

Leemos las Escrituras y nos damos cuenta de que los discípulos avanzaron despacio en este camino hacia la caridad auténtica. Ellos mismos experimentaban envidias, celos y rivalidades, y se peleaban sobre quién era el más importante en el reino. Pero el progreso que lograron en el camino con Jesucristo se precipitaba precisamente porque escuchaban la lección de Jesus en el contexto de la vida diaria con los demás discípulos. No podían evitar las lecciones sobre humildad, perdón, y generosidad porque en cada miembro de la comunidad encontraban las ocasiones reales para vivir estas virtudes del reino. Esto quiere decir que la comunidad misma, estable y enfocada en la persona del Señor, formaba la escuela de caridad. Pedro aprendió a amar al prójimo debido a que no pudo evitar las imperfecciones de los demás apóstoles.

En nuestras parroquias formamos una comunidad estable, enfocada en las lecciones del Señor. Escuchamos el mismo Evangelio que escuchaban los primeros discípulos  y encontramos las mismas dificultades interpersonales que se les presentaban a ellos y que les brindaban la oportunidad para aplicar las lecciones del reino. ¿Y por qué la parroquia debe de ser una comunidad estable? Porque si no nos comprometemos  a cultivar la vida cristiana con una comunidad en particular, nos iremos cada domingo a Misa sin conocer a las personas con quien escuchamos  al Señor. Resulta que nunca nos enfrentaremos con las circunstancias difíciles que inevitablemente se presentan entre miembros de la comunidad, las experiencias que sirven para acrisolar la calidad de la caridad. Si uno le pide al Señor la gracia de vivir lo que escuchamos en el Evangelio, entonces  la generosidad, el perdón y la humildad crecen con cada prueba. ¡Hay que recordar esto cuando ustedes están trabajando en común para la fiesta  o  la kermese de su parroquia!

Pero hay más. El corazón de la parroquia se encuentra en el altar principal de cada templo. Los discípulos se congregaban alrededor del Señor para pedirle la gracia necesaria para vivir lo que Él les estaba predicando. Como comunidad fueron congregados alrededor de la mesa de la última cena, mesa que pocas horas después tomó forma de cruz y de altar. Se reunieron con Él con una sola  cosa en común: Cada uno era un oyente de la palabra  con necesidad de recibir la salvación y la fuerza que solo el Señor Jesucristo les podía dar, y eso por medio de su sacrificio. Del mismo modo,  nuestras comunidades son muy diversas y cada miembro tiene su historia y su camino, pero nos reunimos alrededor del altar para pedirle al Señor lo que solo Él nos puede dar: la gracia para vivir en la comunión del reino. El sacrificio completa la predicación del Evangelio en este sentido: vivir el amor caritativo hacia Dios y hacia el prójimo requiere la gracia que derrama el Señor desde su Cruz. Por eso, esta misma comunidad parroquial, después de escuchar el Evangelio, vuelve su atención al altar del Señor porque desde el altar nos viene la Sangre preciosa que da vida a las almas. Reverbera en nuestras comunidades parroquiales las palabras sagradas pronunciadas por el sacerdote, las cuales nos ofrecen el alimento de la salvación para el camino hacia la plenitud de la vida: Tomen y coman, esto es mi Cuerpo; Tomen y beban, este es el cáliz de mi Sangre.

El Señor nos da la vida nueva, vida en su palabra instructora, y vida en su sacrificio santo.  Esta vida se encuentra en el contexto estable de la comunidad parroquial. ¡Qué bendición!

Catholic Youth Renovation Project

Last week, I had the great joy of driving west to the environs of Peñitas, not too far from La Joya, to a community familiarly known as Pueblo de Palmas. I went up to visit the youth and adults from Saint Paul Parish in Mission, Texas, who were working to renovate family homes in the area. I am happy to report that youth from Saint John of the Fields Parish in Mission were also participating in the project and a couple of our seminarians too. I was given a tour of various work sites, and was able to see first-hand the youth and adults working to fix walls, add new rooms, and restore household fixtures.

I was amazed and edified by the coordination of the project, and the energy and enthusiasm of the adult

volunteers and the youth.

I am grateful to the adults who prepare throughout the year for this week-long summer project. They work really hard to give the youth a genuine experience of self-giving, which is so essential to growing in Christian life and faith. And thanks to those who helped the youth to pray and meditate while involved in the work-days. And thanks also to the local businesses, and parishioneres who made sure the youth had plenty of water, and good meals during their stay. While I toured the sites, I was able to bless the homes in process of renovation, and the families also. Blessing babies is one of my favorite things to do!

I am very proud of our Catholic Youth in the Diocese of Brownsville. They are generous and looking for ways to serve the larger community. These kinds of community projects, coordinated through different parishes, and that involve adults willing to show young people how to help, give to everyone who participates a powerful experience of the three elssential elements of Catholic life: Prayer and Sacraments, an experience of living and working as a community of believers, and an experience of self-giving in the service of others.

The Lord inspires the Church to go out and serve. When we do this, we have to remember 1) it is the Lord who inivites us, and so we must reflect on his call, and his enduring presence in our midst especially in the Eucharist and in personal prayer. And 2) that it is the Church he calls. This means that we best share the abundant life the Lord calls us to when we pray and work together, as a communion of disciples. And 3) we cannot be true to the call of the Lord to the community of the Church until we make room in our lives to go out and serve, do something good for somebody else, for no other reason than it is the Lord who asks, and there is a need to which we are able to respond.

And I was even able to greet a friendly dog along the way. They say Saint Dominic had a dog that would mysteriously appear when he was on the road. Well, I'm no Saint Dominic, but I always appreciate seeing a friendly canine during my travels!

Friday Roundup

It has been a busy time here in the Diocese of Brownsville, and I must plead for your forbearance. I have not been as frequent in my postings lately. I will try to do better. But, I do want to let you know about a few things going on within the last week or so.

Confirmations lately have included enjoyable visits to a great many parishes. I was able to snap a quick photo of the confirmation classes from Saint Joseph Parish in Donna, Texas, and San Felipe the Jesús in Brownsville.


Saint Joseph, Donna



San Felipe de Jesús

Last week the Parish of Divine Mercy celebrated the blessing of the new edifice. Finally, after a long wait, and much work, the newest parish in the city of Brownsville has its own building within which to celebrate Mass. Congratulations to all for a beautiful celebration!

I had a chance to make a quick one day visit to Houston to participate in the ordination of the newest auxiliary bishop in the state of Texas. Bishop George Scheltz was ordained in a beautiful ceremony at the Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Had a chance to quickly see some of my old friends in the Houston area.

And I want to say a special thank-you to the young people of Saint Luke Parish in Brownsville. Four representatives of the youth came to see me in my office, and left me with the fruits of their labors. They had been working all year to build up a gift of time, talent and treasure to the Church in response to the Bishop’s Children’s Appeal. I was truly humbled by the cards with prayers attached, and the list of service activities, and all the pennies, nickels and dimes as well as dollar bills donated to the needs of the Church in the Valley.

In Gratitude to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate: Saint Eugene, San Pedro, and Our Lady Star of the Sea

Saint Eugene

Here it is Sunday Evening and I am just returned from a Confirmation at Saint Eugene de Mazenod Parish in Brownsville. Saint Eugene is one of the newer parishes in the City; founded in 1996, it is down a ways on the east side as you head across Paredes Line Road. It is a parish that is staffed by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who, as you know, have a long and storied history here in the Rio Grande Valley. I celebrated a groundbreaking for a new and permanent Church some weeks ago at Saint Eugene’s and the celebratory mood was amazing, as over 16 years of community sacrifice for the purpose of building a permanent church passed a mile-stone in the groundbreaking. Construction should begin soon.

The visit gives me a chance to encourage those of you who are interested in the lives of the saints (and I hope that is most all of you) to look up Saint Eugene. He is the saintly founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was canonized by Blessed Pope John Paul II shortly before the parish was established. I think our Saint Eugene parish is the first in the world to bear his name. And that is fitting, since Saint Eugene himself sent the first Oblate missionaries into the Rio Grande Valley over 150 years ago. He lived an extraordinary life in extraordinarily difficult times, as he and so many others sought to re-establish the life of the Church after the devastating effects of the French Revolution. He was a contemporary of the Curé of Ars, Saint John Vianney, but I have never run across where they might have met each other. Surely in heaven, if not on earth.

I am grateful that Bishop Peña invited the Oblates to take up the challenge of establishing Saint Eugene de Mazenod parish, and that the OMI’s have so generously dedicated themselves to building up the community. And congratulations to Father Timothy Paulsen OMI, and the whole parish for the beautiful witness they give to the faith, hope and charity of the Church. As you can see from the smiling faces of the Confirmation class the work of the Oblate Fathers and of the community itself, is bearing fruit in the lives of our young people.

San Pedro MIssion

It so happens that yesterday, (that would be Saturday, May 5), during the morning, I was confirming the candidates at San Pedro Mission, also in Brownsville, off Old Military Highway. It is one of the oldest communities in the area. I recently helped them celebrate their 100 year anniversary as a mission. San Pedro church was part of the original Oblate Trail that stemmed from Brownsville up the Valley through to Mission, Texas and Rio Grande City and Roma. The Oblate missionaries would ride horse-back in the old days to bring the Gospel and the Sacraments to the residents in the small towns and communities up and down the river. Today, San Pedro Mission is staffed by a diocesan priest, Father Eduardo Gómz, who also serves as rector of our diocesan House of Studies next door to the Church. Each year some of our seminarians live and pray and study at the House of Studies, and participate in the life of San Pedro Mission. The community of San Pedro is very hospitable and friendly, and gives to our seminarians a generous commuity atmosphere to help nurture their vocations to the Priesthood. Again, the life of the Church shows great vitality in the faces of the newly confirmed at San Pedro Mission.

 

Both Saint Eugene parish and San Pedro Mission remind us of how much of our Church life in the Diocese of Brownsville has been and continues to be nourished by the work of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Our Lady Star of the Sea, Port Isabel

Now, as some of you may have heard, the Oblates recently announced that they are asking the Diocese of Brownsville to take over the pastoral care of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Port Isabel. This parish was also established by the Oblates, and – as you probably know— it is the parish “on the way to South Padre Island”. What you may not know is that the parish was established formally in 1927, though there had been a constant presence of pastoral care by the Oblates for residents of Port Isabel long prior to that. What does this request of the Oblate Missionaries mean? It means that the Oblate Community has discerned that for them to focus upon the missionary charism of the Order, it is pastorally best that at this time the Diocese of Brownsville supply the next pastor to the parish. This frees the missionaries to focus upon other commitments that they have in this diocese and other dioceses where they continue to serve. I have accepted their request and recommendation, and urge all of the faithful to pray for vocations to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and pray also for me, su pobre servidor, as I discern the naming of the next pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish.

It is never an easy thing for a religious community to leave a parish they have served for generations. And I know it will be difficult for the parishioners to say farewell to the Oblate presence in their parish. I am grateful to God for the work of the Oblates over the years at Port Isabel, and particularly the work most recently begun by Fathe James Erving, OMI, the current pastor. But, despite the changes necesitated by the current situation, we live in the sure and graceful hope that the Lord will continue to bless the growth of Our Lady Star of the Sea, and that the hard work of the Oblates in building up the life of the Church in Port Isabel will serve as the solid foundation for greater growth in the days and years to come.

In the name of all the generations of Catholics here in the Valley, I am grateful to the Oblate Fathers for their dedication and generosity.  And I am thankful for the parish communities they continue to serve here in the Rio Grande Valley

May God Bless the Oblates.

Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us.



Monastery of Christ the Good Shepherd

Last Wednesday, (that would have been April 25), I was able to go pay a visit to the Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd where the Starr County Benedictine Sisters live. The Monastery is on the edge of Rio Grande City in beautiful Starr County. I always enjoy going there. Many in the Diocese of Brownsville are familiar with the grounds because of the frequent retreats and days of recollection that take place there. With the help of God's grace, the Sisters have done a marvelous work in building up the grounds of the monastery.

And, as many of you know, the grounds are a little austere, in that mesquite tree, cactus plants and colored-reptiles-in-the-brush sort of way. There are also a lot of road-runners in the brush, and they tend to keep the colored-reptiles in check. I am sure the intrepid birds get a bit of help from Saint Benedict himself when it comes to the reptiles. I feel very much at home in the terrain of the monastery, both the physical and the spiritual terrain, that is. Perfect for recollection and prayer.

The Sisters are always very hospitable, and on this occasion we were joined by the Benedictine Oblates associated to the community. The OSB oblates share in the spiritual and temporal works of the community. We spent some time praying the rosary in the chapel. We were joined by a television crew who taped the recitation for regular broadcast on the Valley Catholic Network. I hope you can join in when it is placed on the air. We all owe much gratitude to the Sisters for providing and promoting a solid sense of Benedictine spirituality in our midst. And, we are all grateful for their great hospitality in hosting retreats and spiritual conferences. And, I am particularly, and personally grateful--as I am sure we all are in the Diocese-- that so much of the spiritual strength that sustains the pro-life movement in the Diocese of Brownsville owes its vigor to the prayers and works of the community,and to that of the many oblates and spiritual friends of the Starr County Benedictines.

I truly enjoyed my visit with the Sisters and the Benedictine oblates, particularly taping the rosary and the time we spent afterwards enjoying a simple meal, and having a few laughs. If you would like more information about the Monastery of the Good Shepherd and the Starr County Benedictines, you might want to visit their web-site at http://www.starrcountybenedictines.org/ .