Assembly 2024, the annual archdiocesan conference, commemorated the 150th anniversary celebration of the canonical establishment of the Diocese of San Antonio by Pope Pius X in 1874 with the theme, “Walking United in Christ.” The October 26 celebration in Greehey Arena at St. Mary’s University gave thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed on the local Church throughout the various ministries, apostolates, religious communities, Catholic schools, and universities that have all united to advance the mission of Jesus Christ.
Special guests included the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christopher Pierre; Cardinal Daniel DiNardo from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; a dozen Texas bishops; and the prelate of Matamoros, Mexico; all present in the Alamo city to celebrate this historic moment in the life of the Church in south central Texas with priests, religious, deacons, and faithful from across the archdiocese and beyond.
The Mass was highlighted by uplifting music from the archdiocesan choir and was signed for the hearing impaired. At the end of the homily, a framed papal blessing was read by the nuncio to Archbishop Gustavo and presented as a fraternal sign of unity from the Holy Father.
At the conclusion of the service, an hour-and-a-half production highlighted and celebrated the past, present, and future of the archdiocese by weaving narration from Archbishop Gustavo, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette, and Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janak with live musical and theatrical performances produced by Veronica Montalvo, founder of The Great Commission Theatre, and audio-visual media created by Catholic Television of San Antonio. Bishop Boulette documented “Foundation and History” from 1874 to 2010, Bishop Janak chronicled “Blessings and Challenges” from 2010 to 2024, and Archbishop Gustavo focused on “The Future Ahead,” looking forward over the years.
A high-energy grand finale featured liturgical praise dancers from Holy Redeemer Church; singers from Vietnamese Martyrs, Korean Martyrs, and Santo Niño de Cebu Church; recitation of a specially written poem for the event by San Antonio Poet Laureate Eduardo “Eddie” Vega; dragon dance performers also from Vietnamese Martyrs; Indian dancers; matachines; ballet folklorico dancers; and mariachis.
In addition to the liturgy and performances, the archdiocesan Archives and Records Management Office hosted a 150th anniversary exhibition in the auxiliary gym. Attendees could take a walk through history and celebrate notable events and people that helped build the local Church. They experienced interactive displays, photo opportunities to place yourself in history, and an expansive map showing the changes of the archdiocese throughout the 150 years. Unique artifacts from the archdiocese and its people were on view from the vault, including relics from the 1987 papal visit of St. John Paul II.
To promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, the Office of Vocations staffed a table with discernments materials along with archdiocesan seminarians to answer questions. There were also opportunities to purchase commemorative T-shorts and copies of the official commemorative book, Treasures of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Immediately after activities ended in the arena there was a food and fellowship festival outside with five different varieties of food available to reflect a few of the cultures that have historically contributed to the mission of the local Church. Knights of Columbus from the Thomas J. Flanagan Chapter and parish councils throughout the archdiocese helped serve the offerings of Mexican, Asian, Polish, Italian, and American food as mariachis performed on an outdoor stage.
Also, outside was a Kids Zone area hosted by Catholic Charities who offered a variety of different fun, engaging, and interactive activities for children and their parents. In addition, family Mass bags were given out.
Event presenting sponsor was the Catholic Community Foundation, and 150th anniversary sponsors were Catholic Life Insurance and Mrs. Ruth Kusenberger, in loving memory of Deacon Robert Kusenberger, Sr. Exhibition presenting sponsor was Marge and Bill Klesse of the Klesse Foundation, the Kahlig Auto Group was the Walking United in Christ sponsor, and Food and Fellowship Festival Sponsors included Bolner’s Fiesta Brands, Greg Kowalski Family, and Kiolbassa Smoked Meats.
In 2026 the archdiocese will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the canonical elevation from a diocese to an archdiocese. At that time Archbishop Gustavo plans to announce the official proclamation for the new Pastoral Vision that will guide the local Church into the future.
Archbishop Gustavo – Call to Action
Thank you, your Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, for being here! Welcome to San Antonio! We are immensely grateful for your frequent visits here. They not only make your presence constant in our local Church, but help us feel closer to our Holy Father, Pope Francis. You help us grow in faith, hope, and love, as we strive to respond to the hope and challenges expressed by the Pope. Your presence here as ambassador of the Holy See is a true testament of what it is to be a Synodal Church. And I thank you Cardinal DiNardo and my brother bishops for attending this anniversary event.
Dear People of God, we are the Church! We are not gathered today merely as members of an institution, but as the living, breathing Body of Christ. We wish to be especially mindful of those who could not make themselves physically present here, particularly the sick and homebound. Pope Francis has insisted on a Church that is on the move and goes especially to those on the peripheries and our move to become the “field hospital” in which we enlarge the tent. May these brothers and sisters also receive the graces God grants all who partake in this Assembly.
We are the People of God, a community called together by His love, united in purpose, and driven by the same Spirit who has guided the Church since the days of the apostles. As lay faithful, ministers, consecrated sisters and brothers, deacons, priests, and bishops, we are entrusted with a sacred mission, one that goes beyond the walls of our churches and reaches into the very fabric of the world around us.
Our journey together began with an encounter between God and humanity. Through Mary, and by the work of the Holy Spirit, God became Man forever. This definitive encounter was prepared by God from the beginning of time, through Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets; the people called to be his own. Our rich history in the Archdiocese of San Antonio also speaks of our profound encounter with God. Our own personal encounter with Christ began with our baptism, when God called us each by name. Every day, Jesus meets us in the quiet moments of prayer and the breaking of bread, in the faces of the poor and the suffering. This encounter is not meant to be kept to ourselves; it is a spark that ignites a fire within us, a fire that leads to discipleship. And discipleship, my friends, is not a static state. It is a dynamic, transformative journey that compels us to be witnesses to others, to be the living signs of Christ’s presence in the world with the awareness that the poor and the vulnerable also evangelize us because the Spirit is working in everyone.
The Holy Father has urged the faithful to be confident that the work they are doing will one day bear fruit, saying, “You are sewing tiny seeds of good in the furrows of the world. They may seem tiny, like a mustard seed, but if we trust and do not stop scattering them, by God’s grace they will sprout, yielding an abundant harvest,” he emphasized.
True discipleship cannot remain within the confines of our comfort zones. We must look to the example of the first disciples, who left everything familiar to follow Jesus. They ventured into unknown territories, faced opposition, and embraced the cross. They did this because they understood that discipleship is relational – it is about forming connections, building communities, and sharing the Good News with everyone we encounter. Just like Mary “set out and traveled to the hill country in haste” to share her joy and serve her relative Elizabeth; just like the disciples “set out at once” from Emmaus and returned to Jerusalem through the night to share the good news with their brothers; we also cannot contain our joy! (Cf. Lk 1:39.24:33). True discipleship is missionary!
St. Paul reminds us that we are one body, many parts, intricately united to one another (1 Cor. 12). This communion is at the heart of our mission. As disciples, we are called to step out of our comfort zones and build relationships with those around us, especially with the vulnerable and the forgotten – the poor, the marginalized, the outcasts. It is in these relationships that we truly encounter Christ, who Himself was poor and marginalized, who reached out to the least of these.
Our archdiocese is involved in the works of mercy in a wide variety of ways.
Walking with Moms in Need is a nationwide, parish-based initiative to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. It works to ensure that any woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to her local parish and be connected with the resources she needs. Volunteers walk with moms throughout the motherhood journey, offering them authentic Christian friendship and ongoing support.
Catholic Charities assists those in their moment of need with a warm welcome and embrace of love. Guadalupe Community Center and St. Stephen’s CARE Center provide emergency assistance to address food insecurity, reduce poverty, and prevent homelessness, and St. Vincent de Paul Societies do amazing work in our parishes.
At the Migrant Resource Centro de Bienvenida, Catholic Charities welcomes and assists migrants passing through San Antonio on their way to their sponsors located around the country. They receive case management to assess their needs; humanitarian aid such as food, clothing, hygiene kits, and shower facilities; and a safe place to briefly rest while awaiting transportation to their sponsors in other cities.
Many tourists come to our city and we want to help them become pilgrims, which will lead them to find signs of the divine in the El Camino de San Antonio Missions.
And the Mexican American Catholic College has been a pioneer in bilingual higher education with an emphasis in pastoral and Hispanic ministry, welcoming a diverse group of students. Priests, seminarians, deacon candidates, and religious are often sent by their bishops and superiors, and lay leaders, including international students, to attend and acquire academic and leadership formation for effective service in the Hispanic community.
Our emphasis is the celebration of the Eucharist as Jesus wanted. He is the light of life and the life of the world.
We know that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is especially at Sunday Mass that we are most profoundly connected to Christ and to one another. At Mass, we are transformed into the Body of Christ, who makes Himself truly present with his body, blood, soul, and divinity through the assembly presided by the bishop, or the priest, as the sign of our communion with Christ through Peter. From the celebration of Mass, we are sent out to transform the world. This sacred meal empowers us to go forth and connect with others, to bring the love and mercy of Christ to those who need it most. Thanks to the Eucharist, we become the love of God actively present in the world.
Our world is in desperate need of this love which is based not on ideas but being in touch with reality. There are so many who feel forgotten, who suffer in silence, who long for a glimpse of hope. As God’s people, we are called to be that hope, to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world today. The Holy Spirit, who breathed life into the Church at Pentecost, continues to urge us forward, guiding us as we carry out the mission of the Church in our time. As Pope Francis has said: “In proclaiming to the world the beauty of the saving love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead, missionary disciples should do so with joy, magnanimity and benevolence that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit within them.”
Let us embrace this call with joy and gratitude. Let us go forth as true missionary disciples of today, eager to build relationships, and committed to bringing Christ’s love to the ends of the earth. Let us set out to the bright future, full of hope, that awaits the people Jesus has rescued at the price of his blood. Let us witness to the Risen Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to build the Church of tomorrow with our own hands. Let us experience a new Pentecost! For in doing so, we are not just fulfilling our mission – we are becoming who we were always meant to be: the Body of Christ, alive and active in the world. May we cultivate hope now and in years to come. Hope should be the hallmark of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, echoing the Jubilee Year and recent documents from Pope Francis. A people of God filled with hope in the midst of raging storm waters. We are disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ carrying our daily crosses with him, building the dignity that God has given to us and the people we serve.
May St. Anthony of Padua, our patron, continue inviting us to action more than using words, and may the tender protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, our patroness, obtain God’s blessing for each of you, as you carry out this sacred mission. WE EMBRACE THE MISSION. WE EMBRACE THE MISSION.
