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The Archbishop’s Appeal is the annual fundraising campaign that provides supplemental financial assistance to institutions, programs and ministries affiliated with the Catholic Church throughout the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
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Vocations
Vocaciones y la Familia
Ana Bojorquez
Mi nombre es Ana Bojorquez y tengo 24 años de feliz matrimonio con dos preciosas hijas. En los últimos 15 años he tenido la fortuna de trabajar en la Pastoral Vocacional como asistente administrativo en la oficina de vocaciones para la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio y agradezco a Dios primero que nada por haberme dado la oportunidad de servir en este ministerio. Dios colocó dentro de mí este amor profundo por las vocaciones, y estoy por siempre agradecida. Es por eso que me gustaría compartir mi experiencia acerca del tema de las vocaciones sacerdotales y de la vida consagrada como laica y como padre de familia, el cual ha sido un ministerio muy gratificante con sus retos y desafíos.
La familia es el primer ámbito donde se encuentra la pastoral vocacional y es la constructora de la Iglesia. En mi caso, el amor y la pasión que tengo por las vocaciones no hubiera sido posible sin el apoyo de mi familia. Doy las gracias a mi hermano, Obispo Arturo Cepeda, quien alienta mi pasión por las vocaciones y me anima en cada paso de este ministerio con amor y cariño. También agradezco a mi bisabuelita, quien fue una gran influencia en mi fe. Ellos me enseñaron la responsabilidad de ser los primeros catequistas y predicadores de la fe para nuestros hijos. Como padres de familia de fe, nuestras palabras, ejemplos y compromisos forman parte de las responsabilidades para que nuestros hijos encuentren su misión en la vida. De esta manera se pueden clarificar sus intereses y poco a poco van elaborando su proyecto de vida a la luz del Señor.
Debido a la guía y enseñanza de mi familia, comprendí que, como padres de familia católicos, tenemos la gran responsabilidad de preparar, cultivar, y defender las vocaciones que Dios suscita en nuestras familias. Sin embargo, durante los 15 años que tengo en la promoción vocacional, me he dado cuenta de que nos enfrentamos a una sociedad que carece de fe, donde lo material está por encima de la felicidad y el amor a Dios. Es por eso que debemos enriquecernos con valores espirituales y morales, es decir, un amplio conocimiento del significado de la vocación.
Uno de los factores más importantes es la oración, ya que es imprescindible para acoger la llamada de Dios. Las vocaciones al sacerdocio y a la vida consagrada sólo florecen en un terreno espiritualmente bien cultivado. Nunca faltarán los desafíos, pero ciertamente hay un espacio para crear esta nueva cultura dentro de nuestras familias y en nuestra Arquidiócesis, con la esperanza de que volvamos a ser el semillero vocacional.
En 2016, al hablar de los laicos católicos, el Papa Francisco dijo, “necesitamos laicos que tomen riesgos, que se ensucien las manos, que no tengan miedo a cometer errores, que vayan hacia adelante. Necesitamos laicos con visión de futuro, no sujetos a solo las pequeñas cosas de la vida” (1) La esperanza es que salgamos adelante y ensuciémonos las manos para iniciar una nueva oleada de vocaciones en nuestra Arquidiócesis. no tenga miedo de hacer preguntas y buscar respuestas.
Si usted siente que necesita más conocimiento acerca de la pastoral vocacional, nuestra oficina ofrece días de formación para laicos y nuestro objetivo es brindar inspiración a cualquier persona que este empezando o revitalizando una Pastoral Vocacional en su parroquia. Estos días de formación han sido programados para el católico común y corriente que desea participar en la promoción de vocaciones, ya sea iniciando un comité nuevo o revitalizando un comité que ya está establecido, ofreciendo ideas nuevas, que atraigan nuevos trabajadores a la Viña del Señor.
Finalmente, si bien tengo el privilegio de servir en la Pastoral Vocacional de la Arquidiócesis, los verdaderos héroes son los hombres y mujeres que han dicho “SI” a Cristo. Ellos nos sirven de inspiración a cada uno de nosotros, para vivir abiertos a lo que Dios desea para nuestras vidas y las de nuestros hijos.
Latest News
Consecrated life in action
As Catholic Sisters Week was celebrated in mid-March, dedicated to the presence and commitment of religious life in the archdiocese, a youth movement was begun at the parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus, which aims to provide young people with spaces for dialogue, spending time together, and reflecting for their human and Christian formation to be comprehensive.
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Rector’s Cup competition changed due to COVID, but contests still conclude with celebration
Assumption Seminary holds a Rector’s Cup, a sporting event within the seminary, each year. This year the Rector’s Cup was also paired up with the multi-cultural celebration, an event featuring seminarians’ native food and entertainment. For the Rector’s Cup, the students usually play three sports: soccer, basketball and volleyball. Whichever team wins two out of these three games, receives the Rector’s Cup and has boasting rights. This year the Rector’s Cup was scheduled February 26 and 27 but a few changes were made. Since there were more theologians, two teams with a mix of collegians, pre-theologians and theologians were chosen. Secondly, since Assumption does not have a gym, and because of COVID-19 restrictions, the seminarians decided to substitute ultimate Frisbee and flag football, which could be played outside, in place of basketball and volleyball.
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Two priests incardinated into archdiocese
Two priests were incardinated into the Archdiocese of San Antonio prior to the Clergy Day Zoom meeting February 22. Father Alejandro Ortega, parochial vicar of San Fernando Cathedral, and Father Rafael Duda, parochial vicar at Notre Dame Church in Kerrville, joined the archdiocesan presbyterate during a ceremony at the Pastoral Center’s St. Joseph Chapel.
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San Antonio seminarians receive Rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders
Two seminarians from San Antonio received the Rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders from Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette in a Mass at the seminary’s Our Lady’s Chapel on February 13. They were Michael Coronado and Alexius Ibeawuchi Ohaeri.
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Assumption Seminary: Hidden treasure
Assumption Seminary in San Antonio has been around for over 100 years century to forming and training Catholic Priests, but for many, it is still a hidden treasure. With so much history, this seminary has continued to accomplish great things. Today, our network of alumni stretching from California, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas, (and others), to El Salvador and Columbia, serve the Catholic populations of their dioceses. Twelve Catholic bishops have been among the alumni of our esteemed school. For more than a century, Assumption Seminary has been the home of hundreds of priests in Texas and neighboring states, spiritual leaders formed to serve the Church in the image of God.
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Highlighting the gift of consecrated persons for the Church
World Day for Consecrated Life was celebrated in the Church on February 2 and in parishes the weekend of February 6-7. The event was instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997 as a time to pray for all those men and women who have made commitments in the consecrated life and to thank them so that they would continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation
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Archbishop says deacons must be willing to sacrifice themselves for the life and salvation of other
Three Redemptorist brothers – Song You, Huan T. Le, and Huyen T. Nguyen – were ordained to the diaconate through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, at St. Gerard Church in San Antonio on January 23.
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Msgr. Michael Yarbrough, 74, longtime leader in archdiocese, dies January 13 in San Antonio
Msgr. Michael Yarbrough, 74, a longtime pastor of two of the largest parishes in the archdiocese who also served in numerous leadership roles on the archdiocesan level, died in hospice care at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in San Antonio January 13 due to COVID-19 related illness and other health issues.
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Sister Yolanda Tarango: Ministries and memories
Sister Yolanda Tarango, CCVI, from the El Paso suburb of Ysleta, saw her young life come full circle in the late 1970s, doing youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of El Paso. But more was to follow.
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Father David Garcia among Harvard alumni featured in new book, Harvard Wisdom
Father David Garcia, former director of the Old Spanish Missions and past rector of San Fernando Cathedral, was recently asked to submit a reflection for a book published by Harvard alumni.
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Sharing condolences and prayers for Father Michael Bouzigard at memorial Mass
A memorial Mass for Father Michael Bouzigard, SJ, was held at Assumption Seminary’s Our Lady’s Chapel on December 15, with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, presiding, and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette as the homilist.
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Sister Yolanda Tarango: A life of changes and challenges
Sister Yolanda Tarango, CCVI, considers herself a child of the Second Vatican Council and was influenced by it in the paths her life has taken. “Things were changing,” she recalls of those days in the 1960s, “and there was, during that whole period, a real sense of excitement and hope about the church and church service.”
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Father Michael Bouzigard, SJ, dies on December 1
Father Michael A. Bouzigard, SJ, died December 1 in San Antonio, Texas. He was 56 years old, a Jesuit for 29 years and a priest for 19 years.
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Discernment retreat explores vocational call
The archdiocesan Vocations Office recently hosted a men’s discernment retreat at Assumption Seminary December 4-6.
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Sister María Elena memorial Mass celebrated at MACC
A memorial Mass in honor of Sister María Elena González, RSM, the third president of the Mexican American Catholic College (formerly the Mexican American Cultural Center), was held in the chapel on campus December 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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Appeal assists elderly Sisters, Brothers and priests in religious orders
The Archdiocese of San Antonio will hold the Retirement Fund for Religious collection Dec. 12-13. The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) coordinates this annual appeal and distributes the proceeds to assist eligible U.S. religious communities with their retirement needs. Nearly 30,000 senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests benefit.
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LCWR Region XII congratulates Sister Norma Pimentel
Region XII of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious congratulates Sister Norma Pimentel, Missionary Sister of Jesus, who was named by Time Magazine as one of its “100 Most Influential People for 2020.”
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My summer assignments as an instrument to develop my seminarian formation
In the history of humanity to discern what the purpose of our life is one of the most tremendous questions that we need to resolve. This is a process that needs time in getting know one self and constant prayer.
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Joyfully responding to God’s call
A closing Mass and vocations fair was celebrated for National Vocations Awareness Week November 8 at 12:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Church.
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Learning so much I can use
If someone were to have told me four years ago that I would be in the seminary, discerning the priesthood in four years, I would have kindly smiled at that person and said “no, I don’t think so.”
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Brother Allen Pacquing professes perpetual vows in Society of Mary
Brother Allen Agpaoa Pacquing professed perpetual vows in the Society of Mary (Marianists) on October 3, at Guadalupe Chapel on the campus of St. Mary’s University. Father Oscar Vasquez, provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States, presided at the Eucharist and received the vows. Father Tim Kenney, assistant for religious life, concelebrated and presented Brother Allen for the rite of religious profession.
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Seminarians receive Ministry of Lector and Acolyte
Corpus Christi Bishop William Mulvey presided at a Mass at Our Lady’s Chapel at Assumption Seminary on October 10 as he conferred the Ministry of Lector and Acolyte on several seminarians.
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MACC Board appoints Father Juan Molina as new president
The Board of the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) announced October 16 the appointment of Father Juan Molina Flores, Ph.D., as president.
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‘Worthy is the lamb’
An Altar Server Appreciation Mass to celebrate the dedication and commitment of altar servers from across the archdiocese as they serve in this important ministry was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette on October 17 at St. Rose of Lima Church.
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Archdiocese 101: Summer 2020
I was born and raised in San Antonio. My whole life I was involved in the Church. I helped with handing out hymnals, ushering, and altar serving from a young age. I always found myself going to Church functions outside of just Sunday Mass, typically because my parents would drag my three older brothers and I to them.
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Support and accompaniment on the journey recognized at transitional diaconate ordination
Two men — Edward Joseph Gonzales and Paul Abraham Melgarejo — were ordained transitional deacons for the archdiocese on September 12 by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, at St. Dominic Church and, God willing, will be ordained as priests in the next few months.
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Missionaries of the Holy Family mark 125th anniversary worldwide
The founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family, Venerable John Berthier, M.S., had these thoughts in mind in the early years: (1) promote the message of Our Lady of La Salette to help people draw closer to the Lord and (2) provide more missionaries for the Church through belated vocations.
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Society of Mary celebrates two ordinations
The Marianist Province of the United States celebrated the ordinations of Father Michael Chiuri, SM, and Father Brandon Paluch, SM, during a Mass at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in St. Louis on Aug. 22.
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Knowing their roles
A new pastors, administrators and parochial vicars workshop was held at the Mexican American Catholic College August 24-25 to give clergy in new assignments an overview of the administration of the archdiocese.
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Testimonial of summer assignment
I am originally from Mexico. My vocation to become a priest started in elementary school, but my desire became more formal when I entered the High School seminary in my home Diocese of Queretaro, where I studied for four years. When I was 19 years old, I decided to try the religious life and I entered the congregation of Legionaries of Christ for five years. After some discernment, I left the seminary and started to study English as second language and become a paralegal through the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In the four years after left the seminary, the desire to become a priest was still present in my life.
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Seminarian Spotlight
Name: Guillermo Cruz Hernandez
Educational year: Second year of Pre-Theology, Bachelor’s degree in “Humanidades Clasicas”
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CDPs celebrates five Sisters’ perpetual profession of vows, first vows, and renewal of vows
The Congregation of Divine Providence held three ceremonies of late July and early August in which five Sisters celebrated their perpetual profession of vows, first vows, and renewal of vows.
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Archbishop meets with Missionhurst leadership
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, met in mid-August in his office at the archdiocesan Pastoral Center with the provincial of the Missionhurst-CICM U.S. Province, Father Celso Tabalanza, center; and the vice-provincial, Father Andre Kazadi.
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Meet Christ and make his presence known, especially in dangerous times, archbishop tells new deacon
August 15 was a day of amazing celebration, as the archdiocese rejoiced with the Blessed Mother on the Solemnity of her Assumption into heaven with the ordination of 12 men for the ministry of service by ordination as deacons for the Church.
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Father Michael Henry Levy, OMI, longtime pastor of St. Mary Church downtown, dies
Father Michael Henry Levy, OMI, born in New Orleans on May 8, 1931, died in San Antonio on July 17 at the age of 89 years. Father Levy professed vows as a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on May 31, 1951. After his Philosophical and Theological Studies in San Antonio, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1957 at St. Mary’s Church in San Antonio by Bishop Michael Leven.
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Congratulations to Msgr. Albert Hubertus, celebrating 70 years as a priest
Msgr. Albert Hubertus is celebrating 70 years as a priest. He was ordained on May 27, 1950. His first assignment began June 15, 1950 at St. Mary’s Church in Fredericksburg and from there he served in Kerrville at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital and Notre Dame Parish. Msgr. Hubertus also served in San Antonio at Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, St. Michael in Weimar, and St. Philip in El Campo. He served at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles for 12 years, and was the founding pastor of St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish in west San Antonio.
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Msgr. ‘Buzz’ Anders marks 70th anniversary of ordination
Msgr. Arnold “Buzz” Anders celebrated his 70th anniversary of priestly ordination on May 27 in San Antonio at the Padua Place residence for retired priests, where he has resided since July 2017.
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Father Father Vincent Bui, PSS, dies after battle with COVID-19
Father Vincent Bui, PSS, who served at Assumption Seminary on the Council of Formators and as a seminarian advisor and liturgy director, died June 9 of COVID-19. He was 58 years old.
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Four new priests to celebrate the sacraments and serve God’s people
During a time of darkness that pervades the world with the COVID-19 pandemic, the archdiocese experienced points of light in late March with the austere but beautiful ordination Masses of four new priests by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS.
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Holy Spirit marks soul for the service of God’s people
Brother Edward Tembo, CICM, was ordained a deacon for the Church by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, in a special Mass at St. Patrick Parish on February 15, with the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and many friends who have supported his vocation rejoicing in a spirit of gratitude.
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Father Kevin Fausz, CM, inducted into Black Worship Clergy Hall of Fame
Very Rev. Kevin P. Fausz, CM, VU, pastor of Holy Redeemer and Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Michael Catholic Churches as well as dean of the Central Urban Deanery, was inducted into the Black Worship Clergy Hall of Fame, along with Rev. Dr. Claudette Copeland of New Creation Christian Fellowship, February 24 at an event at Antioch Community Sports Complex.
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World Day for Consecrated Life celebrates important witness of consecrated persons in the church
World Day for Consecrated Life, which is celebrated each year, was instituted by St. Pope John Paul II in 1997 in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, commemorating the coming of Christ with the symbolic lighting of candles.
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Intercultural studies program participates praised for ‘giving comfort to my people’
The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) has a number of religious women on campus currently taking take part in a program featuring intercultural resources for congregations. This program provides educational and formational experiences, consultative and coaching services, and specially designed resources for international congregations of women religious who are intentionally responding to the opportunities and challenges of growing cultural and generational diversity in their communities.
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‘Franciscan Friars: Coast to Coast’
Attending a meeting for religious archivists, historians and congregational leaders in 2018, a book by the archivist for a women’s religious community caught the eye of Father Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, provincial minister for Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. With him at the conference were archivists from the six U.S. Franciscan provinces, including his own, who had recently committed to the process of restructuring into a single province.
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CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System celebrates a century-and-a-half of providing relief to the suffer
It was during the first week of Advent in 1869 that the first Mass was celebrated at the newly established Santa Rosa Infirmary. The foundation Mass, celebrated on December 3, 1869, is described as being attended by the Sisters and a few close friends. “The chapel was a small room in the hospital in which there was no sufficient space for many worshippers.”
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Moved by the Holy Spirit, new deacons called to serve the people of God with passion and devotion
Four men from the Archdiocese of San Antonio and two from the Capuchin Franciscan Friars were ordained to the diaconate to serve the people of God by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, on November 16 at St. Anthony Mary Claret Church.
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Funeral Mass celebrates life of Bishop Tom Flanagan ‘who had the heart of a child’
“He seemed to never tire of being with God’s People. “Tom Flanagan was truly with us and for us!” “He had the heart of a little one.” Those were just some of the phrases used to describe retired San Antonio Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Flanagan at his funeral Mass on October 15.
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Casa de Padres turns 30
At Casa de Padre’s groundbreaking on June 11, 1989, then-Archbishop Patrick F. Flores happily manned a bulldozer to turn the first scoop of Texas Hill Country earth that marked the start of construction on the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s retirement center for priests.
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Getting in person experience with religious life, going deeper in the discernment of consecrated li
Almost two dozen young women took part in the archdiocesan “Nun Run” on Sept. 28, to let them see different ways of living religious life.
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Brother Alex Díaz makes permanent commitment to Capuchin-Franciscan life
The Capuchin Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Conrad have announced the solemn final profession of Brother Alejandro Díaz, OFM Cap, of San Lorenzo de Brindís Friary on West Ashby Place in San Antonio, a second-year seminarian at the Oblate School of Theology
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Young men hear stories of priests, brothers, and seminarians at Andrew Dinner
Several young men gathered at the Discernment House at Assumption Seminary on October 7 for the archdiocesan Andrew Dinner.
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Three priests incardinated into archdiocese
Three priests were incardinated into the presbyterate of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in a ceremony held during Clergy Day on Sept. 24 at St. Pius X Church.
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New rector told appointment a tribute and recognition, but also a responsibility
Father Hy Nguyen, PSS, was formally installed as the new rector of Assumption Seminary Sept. 9 in a Mass at Our Lady’s Chapel with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS.
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Assumption Seminary Associates assist seminarians
Assumption Seminary Associates assembled 62 back-to-school baskets for the seminarians on Aug. 30.
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Aspirants take deeper step in discernment with opening of new residence
The San Antonio Vocation Office presented the opening and blessing by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS of the Discernment House at Assumption Seminary’s Lopez Hall on Aug. 19. Taking part in the event were Father Jonathan Felux, vocations director, and Father Danny Nyang’au, associate vocations director.
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Following the Word of the Lord in faith and service
Bishop Gerald Barnes, a priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and longtime bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif., was honored for his lifetime of priestly ministry at the Assumption Seminary Leadership in Faith and Service Celebration Aug. 29.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe inspires us to bring the word of God into our world, archbishop says
Major superiors of religious men, councilors, and their program leaders from across the country gathered in San Antonio in early August to attend a special national assembly discussing the future of religious life in the United States.
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Father Duncan Amek ordained to priesthood as assembly joyfully gives assent
In a day of great joy, Duncan Amek, a native of Homa Bay, Kenya, was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Antonio by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, on May 15 at St. Ann’s Church, where had served as a deacon for the past year.
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Father Hy Nguyen, PSS, appointed Rector of Assumption Seminary
The Society of St. Sulpice and the Archdiocese of San Antonio have announced the appointment of Father Hy Nguyen, PSS, as Rector of Assumption Seminary, beginning July 1.
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‘Priests in the Park’ offer public witness of confession, Catholicism in Michigan
Dog walkers, bike riders, joggers, and Catholics priests hearing confession - most of these things you can find in any given park on any given summer day. But one of these things is not like the others.
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Polish priest ordained after cancer diagnosis dies
A young Polish priest who was ordained last month following a terminal cancer diagnosis has died, his community announced recently.
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Seven priests ordained in seven years: What’s the ‘secret sauce’ at this Ohio parish?
Starting in 2013, and every year since for the past seven years, one young man from the parish of St. Mary’s in Hudson, Ohio, has been ordained a priest of Jesus Christ for the Catholic Church.
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Pope offers words of encouragement to African missionaries
Pope Francis spoke to African-based missionaries gathered at the Vatican recently, applauding their efforts to show compassion to the continent’s most vulnerable.
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Confused about life? Listen to the Good Shepherd, Pope Francis advises
Pope Francis recently advised listening to and speaking with Christ the Good Shepherd in prayer, so that one can be guided on the right paths of life.
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Pope Francis: Like holy oil, priests must pour themselves out for others
The holy oil blessed at the Chrism Mass is a reminder of the priest’s call to be close to the People of God, pouring himself out in service to them, Pope Francis said during Holy Week.
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Pope Francis urges religious communities to charity and dialogue in Morocco
Pope Francis urged religious communities in Morocco to practice an “ecumencism of charity,” calling for dialogue, not proselytism, in the Muslim-majority country .
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Pope Francis: Martyred seminarians provide a witness for priests, bishops
Pope Francis said this past spring that the nine Spanish seminarian martyrs beatified this weekend provide a witness to priests and bishops to remain pure and generous.
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World Day for Consecrated Life to be celebrated Friday, Feb. 2; coincides with release of 2017 prof
As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV) is releasing the results of a survey taken of the most recent Profession Class of 2017 conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).The survey results have been released to coincide with the annual celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life, which will be celebrated in the Church on Friday, Feb. 2, and in parishes on the weekend of Feb. 3-4.
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Oratorian priest appointed auxiliary bishop of Brownsville
On Monday the Vatican announced Pope Francis' appointment of Oratorian Father Mario Alberto Aviles as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville.
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National Religious Retirement Office distributes $25 million to support elderly religious
In June, the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) distributed $25 million to 390 religious communities across the United States. The funding is provided by donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection. The annual, parish-based appeal is held in most U.S. Catholic parishes each December and benefits more than 32,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests. The most recent collection raised nearly $30.7 million and marked the second year in a row that contributions exceeded $30 million.
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Mass for conferral of holy orders on Facebook live
Mass for conferral of holy orders for Praveen Kumar Lakkisetti, Danny Darius Nyakundi Nyang'au, Abel Ruiz, and Daniel Eduardo Villarreal to the priesthood and George Mbugua Ndung'u Wanjiru to the diaconate is available on Facebook live on at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, from St. Mark the Evangelist Church in San Antonio on the Archdiocese of San Antonio Facebook page and the Today's Catholic Facebook page.
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Strong prayer life influences choice to become Nun, Brother, suggests CARA study
Nearly all of the religious men and women who professed perpetual vows in 2016 had a strong prayer life prior to entering their religious institute, according to a survey on men and women religious conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University. The survey results were released February 2, to coincide with the annual celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life.
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Connecting with the Sisters of Providence
In the eyes of many, Sister Joni Luna had it all.
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My time with the Missionaries of Charity
“E-e-e-e-vermore, I will satiate thy thirst for souls," the cluster of white-saried sisters sing to their crucified spouse. In a very confining nutshell, that is the charism of the Missionaries of Charity, who seek to serve Christ through their fellow men: “Christ in the most distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.”
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Stretched to its limits, U.S. military archdiocese appeals for more priests
Archbishop Timothy Broglio is begging for more priests for the Archdiocese of Military Services, saying that he soon may be “unable to provide Catholic priests for the military.”
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Sister Stephanie Marie—from prayers to positive actions
Sister Stephanie Marie Martinez performs several different roles in her job at Blessed Sacrament Academy (BSA). She returned to BSA from other assignments in 1992 to serve as administrative assistant. She has since added grant writer, alumni relationship builder, donation record keeper and inveterate prayer warrior. She teaches Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at Mission San José, loves to cook, has a joyous laugh and a welcoming heart.
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New Sulpician provincial served in San Antonio
Former Oblate School of Theology and Assumption Seminary faculty member Father John Kemper, PSS, 57, has been named provincial superior of the Society of St. Sulpice, also known as the Sulpician Fathers, for the United States Province. He will take office July 1. The Sulpicians were founded solely for formation of future priests. The U.S. Province runs four seminaries, and helps with formation at certain seminaries around the nation, presently including OST's sister institution, Assumption Seminary.
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Promoting growth in the church by way of attraction and waking up the world
World Day of Consecrated Life was observed by women and men religious of the archdiocese on Feb. 8 with a gathering at the St. Paul Community Center. Attendees heard bilingual presentations on “Evangelii Gaudium” and a message from the teachings of Pope Francis.
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Assumption Seminary hosts Centennial Family and Friends Day
Amidst the presence of parents, family members and friends of seminarians and alumni priests, Assumption Seminary celebrated Family Day on March 15. It was a day of memory, acknowledgement and gratitude to the parents and friends of seminarians and priests as the seminary celebrates the centennial of its mission.
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Father David Garcia celebrates 40 years of priesthood
Father David Garcia, whose boundless passion and enthusiasm for a variety of priestly assignments over the years has aptly earned him the “Energizer Bunny” moniker, celebrated 40 years in the priesthood on March 20 at St. Luke Church. Concelebrating the Mass were Bishop Gerald Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino, Father Virgil Elizondo and Msgr. Michael Boulette, in the presence Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Amarillo John W. Yanta, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Flanagan and many fellow priests, family members and friends.
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‘Ad Multos Anos:’ Archbishop celebrates jubilee Mass honoring commitment to the Gospel, witness of r
More than 5,000 years of service to the church by women and men religious, priests, and deacons observing significant anniversaries in 2015 were honored by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, at the archdiocesan jubilee Mass held at Our Lady of Grace Church on April 21.
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Three Missionhurst-CICM students renew vows
Three Missionhurst-CICM students renewed their temporary vows in the community in late April. Brother Leo Sanggaria, CICM, from Indonesia, signed his vows before Father Charles Phukuta, CICM, U.S. provincial superior.
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Praying for vocations in Del Rio with traveling crucifix, pilgrim image
The Del Rio Pray for Vocations (Traveling Crucifix) Program began in the summer of 2013 at Sacred Heart Church.
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Pope to new priests: Don’t be a peacock
Pope Francis presided over the ordination of nearly twenty men to the priesthood on April 26, where he warned them against being vain priests who live first for their own pleasure rather than for God’s.
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U.S. sees increase in priestly ordination numbers this year
The numbers are in: almost 600 Catholic men will be ordained priests for the U.S. in 2015, an increase of more than 100 from last year.
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‘Knights with Seminarians’ raises funds for educational support
Knights of Columbus Council 4183 held its annual Knights with the Seminarians’ Dinner recently at the KC Hall in New Braunfels, with all monies received from ticket sales allocated for seminarian financial support.
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Brother Garza professes first vows at liturgy
Brother Rubén Garza of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciples professed his first vows at chastity, poverty, obedience and Marian consecration at a Mass at St. Mary Magdalen Church on March 19. Father George Montague, SM, was the presider at the liturgy, which included three concelebrants: Father Joseph Mary Marshall, SM; Father Will Combs, BBD; and Father Robert Hogan, BBD. Altar servers were Brother Sean Stilson, BBD, and archdiocesan seminarian Michael Langford.
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Priesthood and consecrated religious life vocation poster contest held
When the announcement came that Pope Francis declared 2015 as the Year of Consecrated Religious Life, jubilation was heard across the archdiocese from members of the religious communities.
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Sister Agnesine—all the right notes
Sister Agnesine Heinsch is one of seven Sisters of the Incarnate Word Blessed Sacrament who live in the convent on the campus of Blessed Sacrament Academy. For 58 years, she has served God as a member of the congregation -- first as a teacher at various schools in South Texas and later as treasurer for the BSA school office and the convent in San Antonio. As an individual, Sister Agnesine is full of life, encouraging and musical. The large garden she cultivated for many years behind the convent is now a playground enjoyed by children attending the Child Development Center, but she still has her green thumb. Sister Agnesine will also go fishing whenever possible.
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Archbishop meets Herald of the Good News provincial
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, met recently with the newly elected provincial of the Heralds of Good News community. Father Saji Sebastian, HGN, was in the archdiocese visiting Father Tomy Thomas and Father Mathew Binesh, who staff Resurrection of the Lord Parish in San Antonio.
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Nuns watching soap operas and the ‘terrorism’ of gossip: Pope Francis and Naples’ religious
In a wide-ranging, off-the-cuff speech to priests and religious in Naples, Pope Francis addressed various challenges of consecrated life, emphasizing above all the importance of poverty and resisting gossip.
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Bishop Flores celebrates Rite of Candidacy to Holy Orders at Assumption
The Assumption Seminary community rejoiced March 14 as eight of its men received Candidacy for Holy Orders during the Holy Eucharist presided by Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, representing all the bishops of the candidates.
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Assumption Seminary hosts Centennial Family and Friends Day
Amidst the presence of parents, family members and friends of seminarians and alumni priests, Assumption Seminary celebrated Family Day on March 15. It was a day of memory, acknowledgement and gratitude to the parents and friends of seminarians and priests as the seminary celebrates the centennial of its mission.
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Daughters of Charity Services hosts Catholic Daughters Court of Our Lady of Holy Trinity for Dr.
Daughters of Charity Services of San Antonio hosted Catholic Daughters of America Court of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity on Feb. 23 to celebrate “Read Across America” with reading of books with three and four year olds.
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Oblate ‘Come and See’ event draws attendees from half a dozen states
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate sponsored a “Come and See” vocation discernment experience at the Pat Guidon Center of Oblate School of Theology the weekend of Jan. 16-18.
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Vatican Archbishop Jorge Patron Wong visits San Antonio
The spring semester at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio began with the visit of Archbishop Jorge C. Patron Wong, Vatican Secretary of Seminaries and Congregation for Clergy, on Jan. 10.
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Retreat assists discerners to focus on what God is calling them to be
In his opening message for the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis invited those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life to listen for what Jesus is calling them to. “I invite you to listen to and follow Jesus, to allow yourselves to be transformed interiorly by his words. It will help you to participate in a communal journey that is able to release the best energies in you and around you. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself.A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love,” the pontiff stated.
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