NEWS

When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall General Assembly (November 14-17), they will elect the next president and vice president for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). They will also elect new chairmen for six standing committees of the Conference.

I pray for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II of England, who is lovingly remembered for her commitment and dedication to the United Kingdom.

I was dismayed to learn of the July 27 press conference on the steps of City Hall and the upcoming August 2 special City Council meeting to consider a resolution in support of “reproductive health care rights.”

Saint Paul says to the Colossians that – through his own suffering – he joins Christ in his afflictions for the sake of his people. The Lord had died on the Cross and Paul was eventually beheaded. It is certainly a great mystery that our almighty God – who is infinitely good – allows the misfortune of the innocent at the hands of the wicked or the negligent. But in Jesus he reveals to us that, although the Father allows even his only Son to suffer the consequences of our sins, he does so with one purpose: to save us from ourselves. The Lord has no need to take sides. He is the reference for what good is. And not a single drop of our Lord’s blood is spilled in vain! He is the Prince of Peace. It is up to us to join him in his purpose.

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, will preside at a Mass of Healing and Reconciliation at Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde on Sunday, July 17, at 6 p.m.

Dear people of God. Present here, we have bishops, clergy, leaders of different faith communities, people who are dedicated to serve the migrants, public servants, consuls from different nations, women and men in consecrated life. In a special way we recognize migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and many other nations present here, who have come to pray and show solidarity with what happened. Thank you for giving a human face to our migrant brothers and sisters.

We pray for the souls of the 53 people who died in such a cruel, inhuman manner last night, and also keep in prayer the 12 survivors – adults and children – as well as their families and all of the first responders who assisted and saved lives and must now carry with them the memories of this scene of carnage.

I am truly heartened and overjoyed by today’s historic ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturns the Roe v. Wade decision after nearly five decades. In the United States, that tragic ruling has resulted in the deaths of more than 60 million babies in the womb since the early 1970s.

After the liberation from Egypt, all Jewish priests had to be descendants of Aaron. Animals were often offered as victims in religious sacrifices, not the fruit of the earth and work of human hands, such as wine and bread. But Melchizedek’s priesthood is much older. We do not know his origin nor do we know if he had descendants. Melchizedek is a mysterious priest-king. His name means king of justice.

Remarks from Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, at funeral liturgy of Irma Linda and Jose “Joe” Garcia at Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde June 1.

The Church is a mother. La Iglesia es madre. All the baptized are represented here by this congregation. We are all members of the Church. Todos somos Iglesia. As a mother to those suffering in Uvalde, today we look up, towards heaven, begging the Father to show them his mercy. And we embrace the families as a mother her children. We cry like a mother does! Our children have been taken away! The pain of families in Uvalde is our own. We need to pray passionately for them and their children.

The following is a list of changes in assignments for priests in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, effective July 1, 2022, unless otherwise noted.

Regarding the senseless and tragic murder of 10 individuals and the wounding of three others in a Buffalo supermarket the afternoon of May 14, we profoundly regret the loss of life and pray for all concerned. We remain steadfastly opposed to all forms of racism.

A longtime San Antonio tradition, the Our Lady of Guadalupe midnight Mass at San Fernando Cathedral, again saw a full sanctuary on December 12, and while the large serenata celebration usually held just prior was pre-taped this year, matachines and drummers insured that music and dance were still part of the festivities.

An appreciation Mass for matachines was celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, at the Cordi-Marian Retreat Center on December 19.

The birth of the Prince of Peace was celebrated at the Nativity of the Lord on December 25 at San Fernando Cathedral during a midnight Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, in which the San Antonio prelate wished everyone a Merry Christmas

More than 10,000 young people, including close to 100 from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, gathered last month in Indianapolis for an experience of faith and community in the name of Christ. The event was the National Catholic Youth Conference, hosted by the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry.