october 2013 - Rio Grande Catholic

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the
Rio Grande
Bishops back
immigration reform
Catholic
VOL. 22, NUMBER 6
Pages 6-7
Los obispos apoyan
reforma de inmigración
Página 6-7
SERVING 646,340 CATHOLICS IN THE DIOCESE OF EL PASO
Una ferviente
petición en
apoyo por
la vida
El Obispo Seitz celebrará el
Domingo de Respeto por la
Vida con una Misa en Catedral
Reporte del Servicio Católico de Noticias y
Personal
Traducción por Anita Marta
El Obispo Mark Seitz celebrará una Misa
el Domingo de Respeto por la Vida a las 10
a.m., el 6 de octubre en la Catedral de San
Patricio.
La Misa marcará el inicio del Programa
Anual de Respeto por la Vida de la Iglesia
Católica en Estados Unidos para el año 2013
al 2014.
El tema del programa para este año es
“Abran Sus Corazones a la Vida.”
El programa hace resaltar liturgias y eventos especiales en parroquias a través de
Estados Unidos.
La Secretaría de Actividades Pro-Vida de
la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de
Estados Unidos publica un paquete del programa cada año para hacer un llamado de
atención a los numerosos asuntos de vida
humana.
El Programa de Respeto por la Vida presenta siete panfletos de una serie llamada
“La Vida Importa” para utilizarse durante
este año.
Cada uno de estos panfletos presenta un
apoyo para las enseñanzas de la Iglesia
Católica sobre temas relevantes Pro-Vida, con
hechos y razonamientos provenientes de la
ciencia, historia, ley, sicología, sociología, y
otros recursos seculares.
La guía de liturgia, disponible tanto en
inglés como en español, incluye notas de
homilías y plegarias de intercesión para el
Domingo de Respeto por la Vida y el aniversario de la Corte Suprema Roe v Wade en su
decisión sobre el aborto (enero 22, 2014),
extractos de la nueva “Misa de Acción de
Gracias de la Vida Humana” (y reflexiones
sobre la Misa), extractos del nuevo “Rito para
la Bendición de un Niño en el Vientre,”
ordenes para la bendición de peregrinos ProVida y misioneros, y un servicio de oración
por nuestra nación por los 40 años de abortos
y por la sanación de aquellos involucrados
en el aborto.
Con sus palabras más enfáticas en la
esfera pública hasta la fecha sobre el tema del
aborto, de acuerdo al Servicio Católico de
Noticias, el Papa Francisco afirmó el 20 de
septiembre lo sagrado de la vida humana no
nacida y relacionó su defensa para procurar
la justicia social.
“En todas sus fases y a cualquier edad, la
vida humana es siempre sagrada. ¡Y no es
cuestión de fe, sino de razón y de ciencia!”
A heartfelt
plea in
support of
life
Bishop Seitz to mark
Respect Life Sunday
with Mass in Cathedral
God knew you and loved
you before you were born
By Deacon Frank Segura
Marriage and Family Life Director
God, our Father, is there every moment of our lives.
He knows each and every one of us and His very nature is to
love us before we are born and even conceived. “ ..before I
formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I
dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” Jer.
1:5
He has plans and a destiny for each one of us; we are chosen
and dedicated, set apart. God assumes a nurturing, caring role.
He becomes our “watcher and is watching” over us, He is there
observing the completion and fulfillment of His word and plan
for us. His promise to us is that he will never leave us
orphaned. He is Father of us all, calling upon all us his children, to discover our gifts and use them for his glory.
Loved, important, valued, with a destiny and purpose, each
one of us is in possession of good reason to celebrate!
Celebrating these affirming realities of the life we have been
given can only be done in a true spirit of thankfulness and
urgency. Opening our hearts to life is a response we are all gifted and blessed to be capable of doing.
Prophets to the nations, bearers of the good news calling, by
our lives, to others to open their hearts to life, God given and
graciously given the right to become the child of God we were
created to be. The completion and fulfillment of His will can be
realized when we choose to love, deciding to truly appreciate
and respect the gift of life, our life, others' lives, all life…. Yes,
from the moment of conception to a natural death. “Let us
make man in our image, in our likeness…”. Gen 1:26. What an
honor to be created in such pride and love.
The true meaning and purpose of life has become clouded in
society, influences of changing attitudes, self centeredness, self-
Ver VIDA, Página 2
Priest assignments
are coming
Page 3
OCTOBER 2013
See LOVE, Page 2
Combined staff and news service reports
Bishop Mark Seitz will celebrate the
Respect Life Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. Oct. 6
in St. Patrick Cathedral.
The Mass will mark the beginning of the
U.S. Catholic Church’s annual Respect Life
Program for 2013-2014.
Theme of this year’s program is “Open
Your Hearts to Life.”
The program is highlighted in liturgies
and marked by special events in parishes
throughout the United States.
The United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life
Activities publishes a program packet each
year to call attention to numerous human
life issues.
The 2013-2014 Respect Life Program features seven pamphlets in a series called
Life Matters for use throughout the coming
year.
. Each of the pamphlets presents support
for the teachings of the Catholic Church on
major pro-life issues, with facts and reasoning drawn from science, history, law, psychology, sociology, and other secular
sources.
The liturgy guide, available in both
English and Spanish, includes homily notes
and intercessory prayers for Respect Life
Sunday and the anniversary of the
Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision on
abortion (Jan.22, 2014), excerpts from the
new “Mass for Giving Thanks to God for
the Gift of Human Life” (and reflections on
the Mass), excerpts from the new “Rite for
the Blessing of a Child in the Womb,”
orders for the blessing of pro-life pilgrims
and missionaries, and a prayer service for
our nation in light of 40 years of abortion
and for the healing of all those involved in
abortion.
In his strongest public words to date on
the subject of abortion, according to
Catholic News Service, Pope Francis on
Sept. 20 affirmed the sacredness of unborn
human life and linked its defense to the
pursuit of social justice.
“In all its phases and at every age,
human life is always sacred and always of
quality. And not as a matter of faith, but of
reason and science!” the pope said to a
gathering of Catholic gynecologists.
Pope Francis characterized abortion as a
product of a “widespread mentality of
profit, the ‘throwaway culture,’ which has
today enslaved the hearts and minds of so
See LIFE,, Page 2
¡Ya vienen las Asignaturas
de los Sacerdotes!
Página 3
2
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Priest Personnel Board
499 St. Matthews St.
El Paso, TX 79907
Phone: (915) 872-8414
Fax: (915) 872-8416
E Mail address:
riogrande@elpasodiocese.org
Publisher Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, D.D.
Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso
Director of Communications Father Raúl Trigueros
Editor - Andrew B. Sparke
Spanish Editor - Anita Marta
Advertising - Anita Marta, (915) 872-8414
Contributors - Father Raúl Trigueros;
Father Wilson Cuevas; Janet M. Crowe
Editorial Advisory Board
Bishop Mark J. Seitz - Chairman
Fr. Raúl Trigueros - Dir. of Communication
Nohemy Gonzalez
Rick Mojica
Daniel Pérez
Blanca M. Del Valle
Tracy Yellen
©2013 by
theRioGrandeCatholic
All rights reserved.
theRioGrandeCatholic (ISSN#1079-9621)
is published monthly for $12.00 per year
by the Office of Communications,
Diocese of El Paso, 499 St. Matthews
St., El Paso, TX 79907. Phone (915)
872-8414, Fax (915) 872-8416. “PERIODI-CALS POSTAGE PAID AT EL PASO
TX.” POSTMASTER: Send changes of
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theRioGrandeCatholic is a monthly newspaper
assisting the Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso
by communicating to the people of the
Diocese, the events and themes of the faith
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VIDA, continua de Página 1
dijo el papa a una asamblea de
ginecólogos Católicos.
El Papa Francisco calificó al aborto
como un producto de la “mentalidad
generalizada de ganancia, la 'cultura
de deshecho,' la cual ha esclavizado
los corazones y mentalidades de tantos.” La mentalidad, dijo, “nos pide la
eliminación de los seres humanos,
sobre todo si son débiles física o
socialmente. Nuestra respuesta a esa
mentalidad es un decisivo y terminante 'si' a la vida.”
El papa se refirió en general a los
niños no nacidos, a los ancianos y a
los pobres como las personas más
vulnerables a quienes los Cristianos
estamos llamados a amar de una
forma muy especial. “En la fragilidad
del ser humano cada uno de nosotros
tenemos el honor de haber sido creados con dignidad y con amor.
El verdadero significado y propósito de la vida se ha oscurecido en la
sociedad, influencia cambios de actitud, egocentrismo, egoísmo, divorcios
sin culpa, aborto, y una serie de falta
de respeto de elecciones en la vida
han acabado con el amor y el respeto
por la dignidad y hermosura de los
no nacidos, la santidad y lo sagrado
del matrimonio, el poder y la belleza
de la procreación dentro de la unión
del matrimonio.
De alguna forma nosotros somos
incapaces de aceptar lo preciado
nuestra propia vida y nos resistimos a
ocupar nuestra energía y a pasar un
tiempo en silencio para descubrir
quiénes somos verdaderamente ante
los ojos de Dios. No valoramos los
dones que Él nos ha otorgado, nos
ciega la “viga” de nuestros ojos y buscamos satisfacer nuestras propias
necesidades, aun cuando éstas sean
inmediatas e insignificantes. Algunos
de nosotros nos olvidamos que venimos de nacimiento noble, creados a
imagen de la grandeza de Dios.
Nuestro Padre nos dice “Pero,
¿puede una mujer olvidarse del niño
que cría, o dejar de querer al hijo en
sus entrañas? Pues bien, aunque se
encontrara alguna que lo olvidase, ¡Yo
nunca me olvidaría de ti! Mira cómo
te tengo grabada en la palma de mis
manos.” Isaías 49,15-16. Hermanos y
hermanas, todos somos hijos suyos,
muy queridos para Él.
Toda cosa, en todo momento que
nos suceda es importante para Dios.
Todos somos importantes para Él.
Nuestros problemas, nuestro crecimiento, celebraciones y penas. Todas
son oportunidades para que Dios
manifieste su poder de sanación y de
amor. “Él me dijo, tu eres mi servidor,
tu me vas a hacer famoso.” Isaías
49,3.
Valore la vida que Dios le dio, en
estado de Su gracia, valorando lo precioso de toda forma de vida. Tu eres
importante y de un gran valor, lo es
también el prójimo.
The Catholic Diocese of El Paso
is accepting applications for the position of
Director of Finance
The Director of Finance is responsible for the administration of the goods of the Diocese of El Paso under the
authority of the Bishop;
Responsible for all of the fiscal matters, including budgeting, monthly and annual reporting of income and expenses, and auditing of the Diocese and related corporations;
Trains and supervises the Finance Office staff;
Serves as co-administrator of the Diocese of El Paso
Health Plan;
Develops, recommends, and implements policies and
procedures.
Candidate must have 7 plus years in a supervisory position, Bachelor in Business Administration, CPA preferred.
To apply, contact Patricia López Fierro, Director, Human
Resources,Diocese of El Paso Catholic Pastoral Center,
499 St. Matthews St., El Paso, TX 79907
(915)872-8421
Bishop Mark Seitz has named the following priests to the Priest Personnel
Board of the Diocese of El Paso:
Msgr. David Fierro,
Father John Telles,
Father Frank Lopez,
Father Joe Molina,
Father Anthony Celino, and
Father Saul Pacheco.
LIFE, continued from Page One
many.” That mentality, he said, “calls
for the elimination of human beings,
above all if they are physically or
socially weaker. Our response to that
mentality is a decisive and unhesitating ‘yes’ to life.”
The pope grouped together unborn
children, the aged and the poor as
among the most vulnerable people
whom Christians are called especially
to love. “In the fragile human being
each one of us is invited to recognize
the face of the Lord, who in his
human flesh experienced the indifference and solitude to which we often
condemn the poorest, whether in
developing countries or in wealthy
societies,” he said.
“Every unborn child, though
unjustly condemned to be aborted,
has the face of the Lord, who even
before his birth, and then as soon as
he was born, experienced the rejection of the world,” he said. “And
every old person, even if infirm and
at the end of his days, carries with
him the face of Christ. They must not
be thrown away!”
Quoting “Caritas in Veritate” the
social encyclical by Pope Benedict
XVI, Pope Francis connected the protection of unborn life with the promotion of social justice.
“Openness to life is at the center of
true development,” he said. “If personal and social sensitivity in welcoming a new life is lost, other forms
of welcome useful to social life will
dry up. Welcoming life tempers moral
energies and makes people capable of
helping each other.”
Pope Francis
told the physicians that they faced a
“paradoxical situation” in their professional lives, because even as medical science discovers new cures for
disease, the “health care professions
are sometimes induced not to respect
life itself.”
The pope characterized this paradox as part of a more widespread
“cultural disorientation” in which rising individualism parallels a growing
disrespect for life.
The pope told the gynecologists
that they had a responsibility to make
known the “transcendent dimension,
the imprint of God’s creative work, in
human life from the first instant of
conception. And this is a commitment
of new evangelization that often
requires going against the tide, paying a personal price. The Lord counts
on you, too, to spread the Gospel of
life.”
Pope Francis’ remarks came one
day after the publication of an interview in which he warned that focusing on certain moral teachings,
including abortion, could undermine
the church’s efforts to preach the
Gospel. “We cannot insist only on
issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive
methods,” the pope said in the interview, noting that he had been “reprimanded” for failing to speak often
about those topics. “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the
time.
“The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent,” the pope added. “The church’s
pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed
with the transmission of a disjointed
multitude of doctrines to be imposed
insistently.
“Proclamation in a missionary
style focuses on the essentials, on the
necessary things,” he said. “We have
to find a new balance; otherwise even
the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing
the freshness and fragrance of the
Gospel.”
Francis X. Rocca of Catholic News
Service contributed to this report
ishness, no-fault divorce, abortion, and
many other lack of respect for life
choices have eaten away at the love
and respect for the dignity and preciousness of the unborn, the sanctity
and holiness of marriage, for the
power and beauty of procreation within the marriage bond.
We somehow become incapable of
accepting our own preciousness and
are reluctant to spend the energy and
quiet time in discovering who we
truly are in the eyes of God. We
become unappreciative of the gifts
He's given us, blinded by the “plank “
in our eye and seek to meet our own
needs, however immediate and unfulfilling they may be. Some of us forget
we are of such noble birth, created to
reflect God's greatness.
Our Father tells us “.. Even if your
mother forgets you, I will never forget
you. See, I have your name carved on
the palm of my hand.” Isaiah 49:1516. Brothers and sisters, we are all his
children, his precious ones.
Everything, every moment that happens to us is important to God. Every
one of us matters. Our struggles, our
growth, celebrations and mourning.
All are opportunities for God to come
in and show his healing, transforming
love. “He said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my
splendor.” Isaiah 49:3
Be aware of your God given life,
become in His grace, aware of the preciousness of all life. You are important
and of great value, so is the other.
LOVE, continud from Page 1
40 Days for Life campaign under way
El Paso;s 13th 40 Days for Life
campaign got under way Sept. 25,
said Gabriela Federico, local coordinator.
This fall’s campaign is focusing
on the Reproductive Services clinic at 730 E. Yandell Blvd., she said
in an email.
Participants in the campaign
fast for an end to abortion, and
hold prayer vigils at the clinic.
A Victory Rally is scheduled at
the end of the campaign, Nov. 2,
the feast of All Souls, Federico
said.
RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC OCTOBER 2013
Priest assignments
are coming
3
¡Ya vienen las Asignaturas
de los Sacerdotes!
Queridos integrantes de la Iglesia de El Paso:
Jesus told his disciples to “Go out to all the world and announce
Ustedes me han concedido un gran privilegio con su amable hospithe Good News.” (Mk. 16:15) While every Christian has that respontalidad. Les estoy enviando esta carta por los medios a nuestro
sibility this mandate to “go out” is particularly pertinent to those
alcance porque creo que es un buen tema de reflexión para todos. La
whom Jesus calls to serve his people as priests. There are many difgran mayoría de las parroquias no verán a sus sacerdotes siendo
ferent ways that priests live out this vocation, but whether they are
transferidos en un futuro inmediato pero esto es parte de la
religious or diocesan priests you will find that, with the excepInSeitz
vida de la Iglesia.
tion of priests who serve in monasteries, all priests are called
¡Ya vienen las Asignaturas de los Sacerdotes!
to be ready to move from place to place for the sake of the
Jesús dijo a sus discípulos “Vayan por todo el mundo y
Gospel.
anuncien la Buena Nueva a toda la creación.” (Mc. 16,15) Ya
As Jesus moved about there were some places that did not
que cada Cristiano tiene esa responsabilidad, este mandato de
want to receive him. He often went anyway. There were
“vayan” es pertinente de forma particular para aquellos a
other places that saw his wonders and experienced his love
quien Jesús llama a servir a su pueblo como sacerdotes. Hay
and begged him to stay. To them Jesus explained that he
diversas formas de cómo viven los sacerdotes esta vocación,
needed to continue on. In many ways that dynamic has not
pero así sean sacerdotes religiosos o diocesanos encontrarán
changed today. There are priests who go to a particular place
que, a excepción de los sacerdotes que sirven en los monasteand sometimes they are not well received. This could be due
rios, todos los sacerdotes están llamados a estar listos para ir
to the priest's own idiosyncrasies (I suspect we all have them).
de un lugar a otro por amor al Evangelio.
Or it could simply be that we human beings are just averse to
Así como Jesús, en su camino encontró lugares donde no
change, even if the change could be for the better. There are
querían recibirle. Con frecuencia fue de todas formas. Hubo
also priests who come to a community, accomplish many good
otros lugares donde se vieron sus maravillas, donde vivieron
things and become beloved by those whom they serve. In
By
la experiencia de su amor y le rogaron que se quedara. A ellos
those cases the community may resist that pastor's call to
Jesús les explicó la necesidad de seguir su camino. De
another place. They very understandably want to keep the
Bishop
muchos modos ésta dinámica no ha cambiado hoy en día.
priest for themselves.
Mark J. Seitz
Hay sacerdotes quienes van a un lugar en particular y alguIn my life as a priest I always found moving difficult. After
nas veces no son bien recibidos. Esto puede ser por las idiossome years of service I would come to feel like I was truly a
incrasias del sacerdote (me parece que todos las tenemos). O
part of the parish family. I could look out at the congregation
simplemente es porque nosotros los humanos nos resistimos
on a Sunday and recognize so many faces of people whom I had the
al cambio, aun cuando éste sea para bien. También hay sacerdotes
privilege of accompanying through moments of great joy and sorrow.
quienes vienen a una comunidad, logran muchas cosas buenas y lleI would look around and say to myself, “There are the Smith's with
gan a ser muy queridos por aquellos a quienes sirven. Es esos casos la
their new baby whom I baptized. There's Mary, whom I anointed a
comunidad puede resistirse al llamado del sacerdote a otro
few weeks ago in the hospital. There is Juan and Lupe, with
lugar. Se entiende sobremanera que deseen que este sacerdote
their children. I remember their wedding. There is Jose whose
se quede con ellos.
wife died last year. I had the opportunity to walk with them
En mi vida como sacerdote siempre he encontrado que
from the time she was diagnosed with cancer until God called
mudarse es difícil. Después de algunos años de servicio llegué
her home.”
a sentir como si de verdad fuera parte de la familia parroEspecially as a celibate person I found my family in the
quial. Podía ver a la congregación el domingo y reconocer a
parish community where I served. Departing was never easy
tantos rostros de personas a quienes tuve el privilegio de
for me and the people certainly expressed that it was difficult
acompañar en momentos de gran alegría y de tristeza. Veía a
for them. Still, accepting a new assignment was important for
mi alrededor y me decía a mi mismo, “Ahí está la familia
me in my vocation and in my spiritual walk. It was an opporSmith con su nuevo bebé a quien bauticé. Ahí esta Mary, a
tunity for me to make concrete my promise to be at the Lord's
quien ungí hace pocas semanas en el hospital. Ahí están Juan
disposal and to go wherever I was sent. It was a reminder to
y Lupe, con sus niños. Recuerdo su boda. Ahí está José a quien
me that in this life I have no lasting home. We are all just passse le murió su esposa el año pasado. Tuve la oportunidad de caminar
ing through. It was also an experience of freedom. The obedience I
con ellos desde el momento en que ella fue diagnosticada con cáncer
had promised on the day of my ordination meant that I did not have
hasta el momento cuando Dios la llamó a casa.”
to be burdened with deciding God's will for my life in regard to my
Particularmente, como una persona célibe encontré a mi familia en
service. I trusted that the Holy Spirit was guiding my pilgrimage in
la comunidad parroquial donde serví. Mi partida no fue fácil para mi
far better ways than I could have planned for myself.
y la gente ciertamente manifestó que fue difícil para ellos también. Sin
Here in this diocese there have been relatively few changes of
embargo, aceptar una nueva asignatura fue importante para mi en mi
priests in recent years. I suspect many of us, both priests and laity,
vocación y en mi camino espiritual. Fue una oportunidad para mi de
have become pretty settled with the way things are. But change is
concretar mi promesa de estar dispuesto al Señor e ir a donde fuera
inevitable. There are some parish openings, most notably the
enviado. Fue a manera de recordatorio para mi que en esta vida no
Cathedral and St. Theresa in Presidio, that badly need to be filled.
tengo un hogar permanente. Todos solamente estamos de paso. Fue
When openings such as these are filled it inevitably leaves other
también una vivencia de libertad. La promesa de obediencia que hice
openings. We will have one ordination in December, for which we
el día de mi ordenación significó no tener una carga en la decisión de
are very grateful to God, Deacon Allan Alaka Oluoch. He will need a
la voluntad de Dios para mi vida respecto a mi servicio. Confié en
first assignment.
que el Espíritu Santo guió mi peregrinaje de mejor forma que si yo lo
I have formed a personnel board made up of priests of the diocese.
hubiese planeado.
They are: Msgr. David Fierro, Father John Telles, Father Frank Lopez,
Aquí en la diócesis ha habido relativamente pocos cambios de sacFather Saul Pacheco, Father Joe Molina and Father Tony Celino. I am
erdotes en años recientes. Me parece que muchos de nosotros, tanto
working with them to find the best ways to fill the needs that lie
sacerdotes como laicos, estamos conformes con las cosas como están
before us. And we are praying earnestly to the Holy Spirit for guidhasta hoy. Pero el cambio es inevitable. Hay algunas vacantes, las más
ance.
notables, la Catedral y Santa Teresa en Presidio, las cuales necesitan
Finally, it may be that your priests will not be moved. However, if
ocuparse pronto. Cuando vacantes como éstas se ocupan inevitableyour priest has been asked to move, I ask you to do your best to be
mente otras quedan abiertas. Tendremos una ordenación en diciemsupportive of him. Let him know how much you love him, but don't
bre, por lo cual estoy muy agradecido con Dios, Diacono Allan Oluch
cling to him. That would only make it more difficult for him. Please
Alaka. Él necesitará una primera asignatura.
welcome the priests who come to your community. Let them know
He formado un consejo de personal compuesto por sacerdotes de la
that with you they will find new family members who will love and
diócesis. Ellos son: Monseñor David Fierro, Padre John Telles, Padre
support them as they do their best to be a sign of Christ in your
Frank López, Padre Saúl Pacheco, Padre Joe Molina y el Padre Tony
midst.
Celino. Estoy trabajando con ellos para encontrar la mejor forma de
Fraternally in Christ,
cubrir éstas necesidades que tenemos ante nosotros. Y estamos orando con fervor para que esto se haga con la guía del Espíritu Santo.
Para concluir, quizá sus sacerdotes no serán cambiados. Sin embargo, si su sacerdote recibe el nombramiento de una transferencia, les
pido que hagan todo lo posible para apoyarles. Díganles cuánto los
quieren, pero a la vez no se encariñen mucho con ellos. Esto hará que
el cambio sea más difícil para ellos. Por favor denle la bienvenida a
los sacerdotes que lleguen a su comunidad. Háganles saber que ellos
encontrarán en ustedes una familia que los amará y los apoyará mientras ellos hacen lo mejor para ser un símbolo de Cristo entre
nosotros.
Fraternalmente en Cristo,
Keep up to date with the parishes, schools and
ministries of the
El Paso Diocese at
www.elpasodiocese.org
4
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Pecos celebrates vocations
The five priests from Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Pecos currently active in the priesthood, photo at left,
are joined by participants in the Mass of celebration of the parish’s feast and vocations Aug. 23. The five
are Father Pedro Garcia, Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas, Father Trinidad Fuentes, Father Pablo Matta, and Father
Andres Martinez . The celebration of the parish’s unique contribution to the priesthood was marked by a
parish homecoming celebration for the priests on the parish feast day, photo above, that continued throughout the day. That one parish produced five currently active native Hispanic priests is unique in these
days, noted Msgr. Bañuelas. “It is a tribute to the faith of the parish and, of course, to the faith of the
priests’ families,” he told the Rio Grande Catholic.
Sister Frances Ratermann
A memorial Mass was celebrated
was the youngest of the six
for El Paso, native Loretto Sister
Ratermann children.
Frances (formerly Sister Mary Xavier)
In 1976, she returned to El Paso to
Ratermann Sept. 18, in the
care for her parents and to
chapel at Loretto Academy
teach music at her alma
Sister Frances taught music
mater, Loretto Academy,
at Loretto Academy for more
where she served from 1977
than 20 years and then volunto 1999.
teered for the next decade as
In the 1980s Sister Frances
Loretto's patient representative
was diagnosed with ovarian
at Nazareth Hall in El Paso.
cancer. At the time of her
She was known for her zest
death, she had been a cancer
for life and love of music and Ratermann
survivor for more than 30
animals.
years.
Sister Frances died Sept. 10 at the
Of Sister Frances's time at Loretto
Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary in
Academy, Sam Forsythe, teacher and
Nerinx, Ky. She was 81 and in her
later principal, said, “Over her many
63rd year as a Sister of Loretto at the
years of teaching music in Loretto
Foot of the Cross.
Academy Middle School and High
The daughter of Helen
School, Sister Frances exuded her
(Longuemare) and Julius Ratermann,
love for music and animals everySister Frances was born April 28,
where she went. She took the Loretto
1932, in El Paso and baptized Frances
Academy Show Choir to competitions
Marie on May 8 of that same year at
across the Southwest and to
St. Joseph Church in El Paso.
California.
“Pancho,” as her family called her,
Sister Agnes Marie Plumb
A funeral Mass was celebrated
Aug. 16 at the Loretto Motherhouse
for Loretto Sister Agnes Marie (formerly Sister John Ellen) Plumb, who
taught and served as a tutor
for more than 50 years.
Sister Agnes Marie died
Aug. 11 at the Loretto
Motherhouse Infirmary in
Kentucky.. She was 91 and in
her 74th year as a Sister of
Loretto at the Foot of the
Cross.
She enjoyed a 40-year
Plumb
career as an elementary
school teacher and principal.
Sister Agnes Marie served from
1945 to 1948 at St. Mary School in El
Paso. In 1967, following nine years
teaching at Nativity School in Los
Angeles, Sister Agnes Marie moved
back to El Paso, where she served for
17 years. She was principal at St.
Joseph School in El Paso from 1967 to
1978. Sister Agnes Marie then served
at Loretto Elementary School in El
Paso, where from 1978 to 1982 she
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of El Paso
through your pledge to the
2013 Progress Appeal
was assistant principal and from 1982
to 1984 she served as a teacher.
In her autobiography, Sister Agnes
Marie mentioned two highlights of
her teaching career: In 1948,
she was teaching in the public school in Socorro, N.M.,
when a cowboy served her
with a subpoena. The court
case to which she was called
to testify resulted in a verdict
that barred religious from
working in New Mexico's
public schools. More happily,
in 1974 Sister Agnes Marie
had what she called “the chance of a
lifetime” when she spent five
“thrilling and beneficial” weeks in
London studying the British Infant
School system.
In 1984, Sister Agnes Marie moved
to Loretto's Denver Center in
Littleton, Colo. . She retired to the
Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary in
2007 at the age of 86, residing there
until her death.
RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC OCTOBER 2013
5
Bishop presents Option for the Poor Award
to directors of farmworkers center
Special to the Rio Grande Catholic
Several years of helping El Paso area farmworkers was honored when Bishop Mark J. Seitz presented this year’s Option for the Poor award to
Carlos Marentes and his wife Alicia.
The Bishop’s Award was presented by Bishop
Seitz during the Option for the Poor dinner at Santa
Lucia Parish Hall Sept. 27.
Four Oak of Justice Awards were also presented
at the dinner.
The Marentes have been directing the operation
of Centro de los Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos,
which is also know as Centro Sin Fronteras, for 30
years.
Marco Raposo, director of the El Paso Diocese
Office of Peace an Justice which sponsors the annual dinner said the award was presented for years of
service to the farmworkers and the cause of social
justice as outlined in Catholic Church teaching.
The Marentes have been dedicating their lives to
the farmworkers, the trabajadores agricolas – these
brothers and sisters who pick our food and harvest
our crops and to whom we often turn our backs
and ignore their plight and dignity, Raposo said.
Carlos Marentes has also been dedicated to the
promotion of awareness of food sovereignity and is
world connected in that cause to central and South
America, Africa, and Asia.
He also collaborates with others in community
gardens in El Paso and teaching communities about
food rights.
The dignity of the human person; the care for
creation, the call to family, community, and participation, rights and responsibilities, dignity of work
and rights of workers, and the call to solidarity
which are all part of Catholic social teaching have
been embodied in the work of Marentes and the
Centro de los Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos,
the award presentation noted.
Oak of Justice awards were presented to:
Leticia Hernandez, from Saint Luke Church, who
has taught several classes of the Doctrina Social de
la Iglesia at Tepeyac. She has also taught the Just
Faith program in Spanish at Saint Pius which she
translated herself. It is considered the only Spanish
version of the Just Faith program ever taught.
Deacon Juan Alvarez, who from his younger
days as a member of the Diocese of Ciudad Juarez
was very engaged in the process of formation of
“Comunidades Eclesiales de Base” and was
involved in the ministry of social justice. He has
been involved in teaching and participating in
social justice actions in his own parish of Saint Pius,
whenever possible.
Father. Bill Morton. a Missionary of Saint
Columban who lives at the Columban Mission
Center downtown El Paso. was a missionary in
Ciudad Juarez, where since 2003 he has been
involved in an unjust dispute over land rights in
Lomas de Poleo, right within the Columban parish
limits in Rancho Anapra. In 2006, he was told by
the Mexican Government to leave the country
because of his involvement in this dispute. He continues to be involved in it from the El Paso side.
The St. Pius X Parish Just Faith Ministry which
has been going strong for a decade now and has
had many groups and expanded its program to
include just matters and engaging spirituality. It
has heightened the awareness of the faithful at
Saint Pius and prompted them to engage on behalf
of the poor and marginalized.
6
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Border bishops
focus on burden of
undocumented
migrant families
By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service
After a gut-wrenching visit with young children in the El Paso area who are
in immigration detention, the bishops of the border region of Texas and
Mexico have decided to write a joint pastoral letter on how families are
harmed by the current immigration system.
San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller told Catholic News Service
in a Sept. 12 phone interview that after visiting the children who were brought
to meet the bishops at an El Paso parish and learning their stories, the bishops
wanted to draw attention to the family effects of the broken immigration system.
He told about meeting a girl of 6 who has been in detention since her parents were deported four years ago. Apparently both her mother and father
were killed soon after they were returned to Mexico and their daughter has
been a ward of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency ever since,
as official systems of two countries have slowly churned to place the girl with
another member of her family.
That girl and the other children in ICE custody intensely long to be with
their families, he said.
“Here in this country are 11 million undocumented people. How many of
their children risk losing a parent because they lack documents” and could be
deported, he asked.
The pastoral letter to be issued in the next month is intended to “bring some
sane, rational understanding” of the many ways families are broken apart by
the current immigration system, Archbishop Garcia-Siller said.
In a Sept. 8 statement as the meeting closed, the bishops said the burdens on
families divided because of problems with the immigration system particularly
concern them.
“At present, those most injured are the thousands of children and young
people who find themselves deprived of their parents and other family members,” the message announcing plans for a pastoral letter said.
For years, the bishops of U.S. and Mexican dioceses along the border have
met twice a year to discuss issues of mutual concern, heavily focused on immigration-related matters. Archbishop Garcia-Siller said such sessions more than
a decade ago led to the first joint pastoral letter of the U.S. and Mexican bishops conferences, “Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope.”
Archbishop Garcia-Siller said the bishops realize there’s a lot of ground to
cover — particularly in Texas — in changing hearts in favor of supporting
comprehensive immigration reform.
In addition to Archbishop Garcia-Siller, the bishops involved in the
September meeting and the planned pastoral letter include: (from Mexico)
Archbishop Constancio Miranda Weckmann of Chihuahua, and Bishops Ruy
Rendon Leal of Matamoros, Gustavo Rodriguez Vega of Nuevo Laredo, Alonso
Gerardo Garza Trevino of Piedras Negras, and Jesus Jose Herrera Quinones of
Nuevo Casas Grandes; (from Texas) Bishops Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Daniel E.
Flores of Brownsville, Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo; Bishop Oscar Cantu of
Las Cruces, N.M.; and retired Bishops Raymundo J. Pena of Brownsville and
Jose Fernandez of Chihuahua.
The text of the bishops’ message is as follows:
Message from the Bishops of the border regions of Mexico, Texas and
New Mexico to Catholics and to men and women of good will.
“I have seen the affliction of my people” (Ex. 3,7).
The Bishops from the border regions of Mexico, Texas and New Mexico
greet all of you, wishing you peace and every good thing in the Lord Jesus.
Gathered together in our second assembly of the current year, we have
shared our preoccupation over the situation affecting millions of undocumented persons who migrate to the United States. In particular we are deeply concerned about the burden affecting so many families who have found themselves divided because of the lack of a suitable and Comprehensive
Immigration Reform. At present, those most injured are the thousands of children and young people who find themselves deprived of their parents and
other family members.
We seek to view the reality of the migration phenomenon from the divine
perspective. Just as God had compassion for his people enslaved in Egypt, so
now he is moved, and he calls us to compassion and mercy towards our
undocumented brothers and sisters. Further, Jesus the Good Shepherd felt
compassion upon seeing the exhausted multitudes (Cf. Mt. 14,14). As their current shepherds we want to make our hearts beat in rhythm with theirs.
We are at a moment in which the leadership of the United States is taking
up the issue of Immigration Reform as one of its priorities. As shepherds we
wish to contribute to this moment of reflection and action with a letter we are
currently preparing, so that we might present it at an opportune time; we will
entitle this forthcoming document “Family Beyond Borders.”
Immigrants make of their journey a true pilgrimage of faith and hope, and
thus they inspire us all, including us their shepherds. This is why at this time
we want to encourage their hope, and the hopes of all of us who see in them
the face of Christ. We want to contribute with our prayer, and with the action
that each one can offer, to achieve all that might be possible in favor of our
brothers and sisters.
With utmost respect we direct ourselves to those who are responsible for the
enactment of an Immigration Reform in the United States, so that they might
put all their determined energy into this effort, conscious of the human dignity
of each immigrant, and conscious of what they contribute to the progress and
development of this country.
Asking the Lord that all families might remain united, we wish to commit
ourselves and invite all of you to take up this same commitment to work in
favor of the family, an institution willed by God as the foundation of society.
We entrust this task that belongs to everyone, to the maternal intercession of
Our Lady of Guadalupe, and to Saint Toribio Romo, patron of immigrants.
RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC OCTOBER 2013
7
Los obispos se enfocan
en la carga que tienen
las familias migrantes
indocumentadas
El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz, top photo, leads bishops from dioceses
along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, in a prayer for reform of
United States immigration law at a Mass in St. Patrick Cathedral
during a meeting of the border bishops in El Paso, Sept. 5-8.
Photo above: Bishops and faithful from the United States side of the
border gathered at the border fence in Ånapra, N.M., to join with
bishops and faithful on the Mexican side of the fence to pray for comprehensive immigration reform that will be more favorable for the
unity of families of migrants.
Photo at left: San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siler contacts
people on the Mexican side of the fence during the prayer service.
Photo below left: Members of a religious order in the Diocese of
Ciudad Juarez press against the fence dividing the two countries as
the prayer service progressed.
Photo below right: A poster at the prayer service displayed the coats
of arms of the 16 dioceses in the United States and Mexico represented at this year’s meeting of the border bishops.
Christ Chavez photos
Por Patricia Zapor
Servicio Católico de Noticias
Traducción por Anita Marta
Después de una desconsoladora visita con niños detenidos en el centro de inmigración
de El Paso, los obispos de la frontera de la región de Texas y México han decidido escribir
una carta pastoral conjunta sobre cómo las familias son dañadas por el sistema de inmigración actual.
El Arzobispo de San Antonio Gustavo García-Siller dijo al Servicio Católico de Noticias
en una entrevista telefónica del 12 de septiembre, que después de visitar a los niños a
quienes trajeron para reunirse con los obispos en una parroquia de El Paso y escuchar sus
historias, los obispos quisieron enfocar la atención en los efectos de la familia de un sistema de inmigración quebrantado.
Él comentó acerca de una reunión con una niña de 6 años quien ha estado detenida
desde que sus padres fueron deportados hace cuatro años. Aparentemente tanto su
madre como su padre fueron asesinados poco después de haber sido regresados a México
y su hija ha estado en la Agencia de Inmigración y Aduanas desde entonces, y los sistemas oficiales de los dos países poco a poco han estado pensando en dar la custodia de
la pequeña a algún familiar.
Esa niña y los otros niños bajo custodia de ICE desean profundamente estar con sus
familias, dijo.
“Aquí en este país hay 11 millones de personas indocumentadas. ¿Cuántos de estos
niños corren el riesgo de perder a uno de sus padres por carecer de documentos y pueden
ser deportados?” preguntó.
La carta pastoral a ser publicada el mes entrante es con la intención de “lograr un
entendimiento sano y racional” de los muchos modos en que las familias se separan por
el sistema de inmigración actual, dijo el Arzobispo García-Siller.
En un comunicado del 8 de septiembre al concluir la reunión, los obispos dijeron que
las cargas sobre las familias divididas son a causa de los problemas con el sistema de
inmigración y estos particularmente les conciernen.
“Actualmente, los más afectados son los miles de niños y jóvenes quienes se encuentran privados de sus padres y otros familiares,” dice el mensaje anunciando los planes
para la carta pastoral.
Durante años, los obispos de las Diócesis de Estados Unidos y de México a lo largo de
la franja fronteriza se reúnen dos veces al año para tratar asuntos de preocupación
mutua, profundamente enfocados en asuntos relacionados con la inmigración. El
Arzobispo García-Siller dijo que estas reuniones de hace más de una década produjeron
la primera carta pastoral de las Conferencias de Obispos de Estados Unidos y de México,
“Ya No Somos Extraños: Juntos en un Camino de Esperanza.”
El Arzobispo García-Siller dijo que los obispos están concientes que hay mucho por
hacer-particularmente en Texas-para cambiar los corazones a favor del apoyo para una
reforma de inmigración integral.
Además del Arzobispo García-Siller, los obispos que participaron en la junta de septiembre y que planearon la carta pastoral incluyen: De México - Arzobispo Constancio
Miranda Weckmann, de Chihuahua, y los Obispos Ruy Rendón Leal de Matamoros, y
Gustavo Rodríguez Vega de Nuevo Laredo, Alfonso Gerardo Garza Treviño de Piedras
Negras y Jesús José Herrera Quiñones de Nuevo Casas Grandes. De Texas, los Obispos
Mark J. Seitz de El Paso, Daniel E. Flores de Brownsville, y Michael D. Pfiefer de San
Angelo. Obispo Oscar Cantú de Las Cruces, N.M.; y los Obispos Retirados Raymundo J.
Peña de Brownsville y José Fernández de Chihuahua.
El texto del mensaje de los obispos es el siguiente:
Mensaje de los Obispos de las fronteras de México, Texas, y Nuevo México a los
Católicos y a los hombres y mujeres de buena voluntad.
"He visto la aflicción de mi pueblo" (Ex. 3,7).
Los Obispos de las fronteras de México, Texas y Nuevo México, saludamos a todos ustedes deseándoles la paz y todo bien en el Señor Jesús. Reunidos en nuestra segunda
asamblea del presente año, hemos compartido nuestra preocupación por la situación de
millones de personas indocumentadas, que migran a los Estados Unidos. Particularmente
nos preocupa la afectación de tantas familias que se han visto divididas por la falta de
una conveniente Reforma Migratoria comprensiva. Al presente, los más dañados son los
miles de niños y jóvenes que se ven privados de sus padres y de otros familiares.
Queremos mirar la realidad del fenómeno migratorio desde la perspectiva divina. Así
como Dios sintió compasión por su pueblo esclavo en Egipto, así ahora se conmueve y
nos llama a la compasión y misericordia hacia nuestros hermanos indocumentados.
También Jesús, el Buen Pastor, se compadecía al ver la multitudes extenuadas (Cf.
Mt.14,14) y como sus pastores del momento actual, queremos poner a latir nuestro
corazón al ritmo del suyo.
Estamos en un momento en el cual los líderes de Estados Unidos van a tratar el tema
de la Reforma Migratoria, como una de sus prioridades. Como pastores queremos contribuir a este momento para la reflexión y la acción con una carta que estamos preparando para presentarla en el momento oportuno, y la titularemos "Familia más allá de las
fronteras". Los migrantes hacen de su marcha una verdadera peregrinación de fe y esperanza, y así nos inspiran a todos, incluso a nosotros sus pastores. Por eso desde ahora
queremos animar la esperanza de ellos y de todos los que en ellos reconocemos el rostro
de Cristo, para contribuir con nuestra oración y con la acción que cada uno pueda ofrecer,
para lograr lo más posible en favor de estos hermanos nuestros.
Con todo respeto nos dirigimos también quienes tienen la responsabilidad de la realización de esta Reforma Migratoria en los Estados Unidos, para que pongan todo su
empeño en la misma, siendo conscientes de la dignidad humana de cada uno de los
migrantes, y de lo que ellos contribuyen al progreso y desarrollo del País.
Pidiendo al Señor que todas las familias puedan mantenerse unidas, queremos comprometernos e invitarles a todos ustedes a asumir el mismo compromiso de trabajar en
favor de esta institución, querida por Dios como fundamento de la sociedad.
Encomendamos esta tarea de todos, a la intercesión maternal de Santa María de
Guadalupe, y de San Toribio Romo, patrono de los migrantes.
8
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Diocese, founding pope share centennial year
Special to the Rio Grande Catholic
While the Diocese of El Paso is celebrating its 100th anniversary, the universal Church is marking the 100th
anniversary of the death of the pope
who established the diocese.
Pope St. Pius X established the
Diocese of El Paso in March, 1914. He
died in August of that year, leaving
the appointment of El Paso’s bishop to
his successor, Pope Benedict XV.
Pope Benedict XV was elected to
succeed Pius X, and he nominated
Father John J. Brown to be El Paso
bishop. Father Brown pleaded ill
health as a reason for not being able to
become bishop. Benedict XV then
named Father Anthony Schuler as
bishop and Father Schuler accepted
Zenit News Organization reported
the following story on Pope Pius’
100th anniversary.
.Born in 1835 to a poor family in
northeast Italy, Giuseppe Melchiorre
Sarto was elected Roman Pontiff in
1903 and served as Successor of Peter
until his death on Aug. 20, 1914, the
day Germany invaded Belgium at the
beginning of World War I.The first
pope to be canonized since the 16th
century’s Pope St. Pius V, he had a
strong devotion to Our Lady, was
deeply pastoral, and had a fervent
love for the poor. Today, he is best
known for his rejection of modernist
interpretations of Catholic doctrine
and his promotion of traditional devotional practice and orthodoxy.
Commemorating the anniversary,
LíOsservatore Romano in August
paid tribute to his life with text and
pictures. One reflection proposed some
similarities between him and Pope
Francis. It noted Pius’ disdain for
ecclesiastical triumphalism, his sober
and modest style, and it claimed that,
like Francis, he had a more pastoral
than magisterial interpretation of the
role of Peter.î
It recalled how Pius XII paid tribute
to him at his canonization, describing
him as a "country priest" ñ a label also
given to Pope Francis.
The newspaper also pointed out
that both popes were elected under
extraordinary circumstances: Pope
Francis after the retirement of Benedict
XVI, and Pius X after Austria-Hungary
Emperor Franz Joseph vetoed, via
proxy, the election of the favorite in
the 1903 conclave, Cardinal Mariano
Rampolla.
The Vatican newspaper contended
that the similarities between the two
popes end there, adding that the times
in which Pius X lived are ì”too distant
with respect to those of today.”
But many continue to refer to Pius’
prolific writings, which they continue
to see as relevant as ever to today's relativist and increasingly secularist soci-
Pope St. Pius X
eties. His most famous encyclical,
“Pascendi Dominici Gregis” (Feeding
the Lord's Flock), promulgated in
1907, was enormously influential in its
condemnation of modernism, a movement that had evolved via currents in
19th-century Protestantism.
Museum offers graphic view of El Paso Diocese history for young people
Special to the Rio Grande Catholic
The Diocesan Centennial Children’s Museum will
help children and youth experience the history of the
diocese as it enters its 100th anniversary year, said
Veronica Rayas, director of the Diocesan Religious
Formation Office.
Bishop Mark J. Seitz presided at the grand opening
of the museum Sept. 4 on the grounds of the Pastoral
Center, 499 St. Matthews St..
Rayas said the museum will help children learn
about the diocesan “Heritage of Faith - Misión de
Esperanza in a way that encourages them to explore,
play and even dress up.” The museum “is geared
towards children but all are invited to take part in the
experiences and learn about the important men and
women who have built our diocese,” she said.
Children will have the opportunity to experience
key moments in diocesan Church history such as the
founding of the missions, the first churches and significant men and women like the Franciscans, Padre
Carlos Pinto, the Daughters of Charity and Sisters of
Loretto, Rayas said.
“In the history of our diocese there are significant
men and women who have evangelized and served
the needs of our diocese,” she said. “ They are our
heroes and we hope to share their stories with the children in our diocese.“
The museum will be open 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays
through Oct. 19, and also by appointment on Tuesdays
by calling (915) 872-8432.
Bishop Mark Seitz, photo top right, stands at the
door of the El Paso Diocese Centennial train Sept.
4 as he welcomes visitors to the opening of the
Children’s Centennial Museum on the Pastoral
Center campus. Photo at right: Bishop Seitz stands
near the exhibit featuring Jesuit Father Carlos
Pinto, who has been called “the apostle of El Paso.”
Photo far riaght: Father Tony Celino, chancellor of
the diocese, and Veronica Rayas, director of religious formation, tour the exhibits of the Children;s
Centennial Museum.
Christ Chavez photos
Un pensamiento…Desinterés
Por el Padre Saul Uribe
Amas de verdad sólo cuando eres
desinteresado. Aprende a dar sin
exigir nada a cambio. Es cierto que
no hay amor sin reciprocidad y que
en una relación quien da también
debe recibir, pero hay que actuar sin
interés. Cuando eres generoso
recibes mucho más de lo que
brindas, y experimentas la auténtica
alegría. Inspiran pena los seres
mezquinos que en lugar de dar,
negocian con dádivas interesadas.
Se cuenta que el célebre violinista
Paganini se sentía mal si lo invita-
ban a comer con la intención de
escucharlo. Cuando se daba cuenta
de que lo que querían era
aprovecharse de él, se daba este
dialogo:
“Paganini, venga a comer con
nosotros, pero no olvide traer el violín.
-Gracias, pero mi violín no come
nunca fuera de casa.”
En la Biblia se nos pide imitar a
Dios, que ama gratuitamente. Que
Dios sea tu Maestro en el arte de
amar sin cobrar cuentas.
Follow Bishop Mark J. Seitz’s blog on the El Paso Diocese Web site
www.elpasodiocese.org
RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC OCTOBER 2013
9
El Pasoans join in interfaith service to pray for peace in Syria
Special to the Rio Grande Catholic
senting the local Jewish community, a
Pope Francis' call in September for local
member of Temple Mount Sinai and of
churches to pray for peace motivated
their Interfaith committee, spoke on his
Bishop Mark Seitz to ask Father Bob
own ethnic background as the son of a
Mosher, director of El Paso’s Columban
Syrian migrant to the U.S. He was folMission Center, to organize an Interfaith
lowed by Dr. Nosrat Heidaian of the Ba'hai
Prayer for Peace in Syria.
community, who offered a lengthy explanaRepresentatives from local Zen Buddhist,
tion of his own tradition's high hopes for
Jewish, Ba'hai communities, and from the
peace, especially as promoted by the U.S.
Christian Episcopal and United Church of
Rev. Michael Perko of the Episcopal
Christ denominations joined Pax Christi
Church, a member of St. Alban's parish,
members and Father Mosher in St. Patrick's
offered a moving prayer for peace, and Rev.
Crystal Silva-McCormick of the United
Cathedral of El Paso on the evening of Sept.
Church of Christ said that the considera7 to participate in the service,
tion of military responses as the only
El Pasoans filled the pews of the catheoption is like the Prodigal Son parable in
dral as the service began.
Luke, chapter 15, where the young man
A large number of Syrian citizens, and
longed to fill his belly on pig food.
the descendants of Syrian immigrants, were
“Thinking only of violence as a response is
among the crowd, and displayed their
Christ Chavez photo like eating pig food,” she said, when God
national flag after the service was over.
One of the cathedral choirs provided music Leaders of various faith denominations of the El Paso community join in lead- offers us much more nourishing ways of
responding to the atrocities that have taken
and singing for the hour-long liturgical
ing prayers for peace in Syria Sept. 7 in St. Patrick Cathedral.
place in Syria.
service.
country without further delay, a peace based on
“Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found,”
Father Mosher began the evening reading aloud
dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire
Merton's prayer said, at one point. “In your will, O
the pontiff's own message. “With all my strength,”
Syrian people.”
God, is our peace.”
Pope Francis declared only days before, “I ask each
After hearing passages from Thomas Merton's
The service closed words of thanks from Father
party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their
writings and a Latin American poem, “En algún
Mosher, and with selected prayers of the assembly
own conscience, not to close themselves in solely
lugar,” by Maria Wine, representatives of Christian
in both English and Spanish, with an exchange of a
on their own interests, but rather to look at each
churches and of other spiritual traditions offered
sign of peace among all present.
other as brothers and decisively and courageously
similar messages to the assembly.
The choir led the singing of “Let Peace Begin
to follow the path of encounter and negotiation,
Kankin Byrd of the Zen Buddhist tradition
with Me” at the close.
and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour
I exhort the international community to make every reflected on our own inner lack of peace as individuals, and on the importance of restoring inner
effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that
peace as a path to social peace. Hal Marcus, repre-
Notes y Notas
Young adult Catholics in a
post-modern World
What exactly is “post-modern” and what difference does this worldview make in the lives of
those who are living the Catholic faith as young
adults today?
This is the theme of the 2013 Fall Series of
Theology on Tap, a program designed for
Catholics in their 20s and 30s (and their friends)
to explore topics of faith and spirituality in a
casual setting. The post-modern era began after
World War II and characteristically includes a
suspicion of absolute truth. This is the world in
which young adults are coming of age.
The four topics selected by the planning committee of Theology on Tap highlight a few of the
critical issues they encounter. Participants are
invited to consider them in the light of our
Catholic faith.
Father Tony Celino, chancellor of the diocese,
led off the series on Sept. 17 with a consideration
of polarization in Church and society:
“Polarized…Partisan…Paralyzed?” Kathy
Revtyak, a St. Patrick's parishioner, UTEP social
work instructor, and mother of three will address
the concerns of consumerism with “Buying In?
Selling Out?,” Oct. 1. Columban Father Bill
Morton offers a challenge to find the connection
between faith and the ecological crisis with “Care
of Creation,”Oct. 15. Wrapping up the series with
a presentation on the importance of inter-religious dialogue is Columban Father Bob Mosher,
“Beyond Tolerance to Understanding,” Oct.29.
Each event will be held at The Lunchbox, 3623
Bruckner, and will begin with Happy Hour and
dinner at 6 p.m. There is no charge for admission
but food and beverages are available for purchase. The speaker's presentation begins at 7
p.m.and includes an opportunity for table conversation and large group discussion.
Centro Mujeres de la Esperanza
to celebrate 20 years of service
“The Many Faces of God” will be the theme
for Centro Mujeres de la Esperanza;s celebration
of 20 Years Of Service
The event is scheduled 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Oct.
19 at St. Joseph School, 1300 Lamar St. in El Paso.
Speakers for the event will be Sister. Sylvia
Chacon, ASC, Father Ed Carpenter , Dr. San
Juana Mendoza, Sister. Marie Vianney Bilgrien,
SSND, and Rachel Pineda.
St. Joseph School will provide complimentary
breakfast and lunch. Special performances by
Grupo Danza, TaiChi, Nancy Green,
Matachines San Jose, and Danza Azteca
Omecoatl are scheduled. A variety of products
handmade by women of Centro Mujeres will be
on exhibit and for sale. Door prizes and silent
auction will be featured.
For tickets call (915) 545-1890, or purchase
tickets at Centro Mujeres De La Esperanza, 1101
Birch St., El Paso, TX 79903 .
Miscarriage of justice theme of
Pax Christi film presentation
The Pax Christi movie for October tells the
story of a miscarriage of justice.
“The Central Park Five” will be shown at 3
p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, at El Paso’s Mother Teresa
Center, 2400 East Yandell Drive. Admission is
free. In 1989, five teenage boys from Harlem
were accused of the violent rape and beating of a
woman in Central Park. There was no physical
evidence tying them to the crime, yet they were
convicted and spent years in prison before being
cleared of this crime. Sponsors of the film series
are Pax Christi El Paso and the Peace and Justice
Ministry of the El Paso Catholic Diocese. For
information, call (915) 740-3962 or (915) 490-1451.
Villa Maria names director
Villa Maria board of directors announced that
Linda Velarde was appointed as executive director of the shelter for homeless women. Velarde
has been employed by the Texas Rio Grande
Legal Aid and Legal Clinic for the Homeless
since 2010. Velarde worked at Kemp Smith LLC
and is a member of the Coalition for the
Homeless. She is an El Paso native and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso.
10
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Opening our hearts to life!
New billboards have sprouted along I-10 promoting a campaign to encourage pregnant mothers
to wait for their babies to come to full term rather
than having labor induced to deliver early.
However, “healthy babies begin at 39 weeks” seems
just a little confusing to me. Doesn't the health of
the baby begin at day one in the pregnancy?
What about all those little posters plastered in
restaurant restrooms which advise women against
drinking alcohol if they believe they might be pregnant? For those who fight against fetal alcohol syndrome, healthy babies begin much earlier than just
a couple weeks before the baby's natural delivery.
What about the prenatal care advocates who promote regular obstetrical visits to ensure good nutrition and special vitamins while monitoring any
risks to the mother and baby caused by genetics,
personal health issues or lifestyle? Advancing quality prenatal care should begin in the early stages of
the first trimester rather than waiting until the last
days or weeks of pregnancy.
Of course, maybe I am being a little nit-picky.
Anything that encourages a woman to properly
care for her preborn child is commendable. My confusion is trying to differentiate how our society balances the promotion of prolonging pregnancy to
give a baby an adequate chance to fully develop
with sufficient time to strengthen the organs,
including liver, lungs, and brain, against the
absolute insanity of abortion.
Society has allowed a plague to sweep over our
nation so horribly that we often do not even recognize the tragedy we are suffering. We do not see
how we are closing our minds and hearts to the
beauty and miracle of life in all its stages.
One of Pope Frances' favorite topics is to open
our hearts to life, a theme that the Conference of
Catholic Bishops has adopted for this year's
Respect Life program. Opening our hearts to life
includes making room for the most vulnerable
members of society - the defenseless preborn baby,
the struggling pregnant woman, and the fragile elderly - all of whom are under attack by the anti-life
mentality created by the acceptance of abortion.
Opening our hearts to life means modeling with
our own lives the way we want the world to
become in order to teach others how to reach that
attainable goal of a good and caring society. We can
shape our world with actions as simple as a smile
at a grumpy person, holding the door for the next
person to enter, or even allowing room for the driver on the highway to cut in front of us without
honking our horns or getting angry. Congratulating
parents at a restaurant on the beauty of their family
not only inspires that family to appreciate its blessings but it demonstrates to our own children that
we honor God's plan for our lives and families.
It has often been said that we must be careful
how we live because we may be the only Bible that
some people ever read. Will the way we treat oth-
Sidewalk
Jesus
By Janet
Crowe
ers, especially the most vulnerable, honorably
reflect the teachings of Christ as He came to share
His life and mercy with us?
There is a story that circulates the internet about
scholars debating which translation is the best and
most accurate version of the Bible. The last scholar
quietly refutes all the other learned men by saying
he prefers his own mother's translation. When he is
mocked for his statement, he responds, “My mother translates every page of the Bible into her daily
life, and it is the most convincing translation I have
ever seen.” Can we say the same in our treatment
of the distressed pregnant mother who needs our
help to save her unborn child?
As former President Ronald Reagan once said,
“Isn't it interesting that all of those people who
support the choice of abortion have already been
born?”
What choice can we make today to open our
hearts to life?
Foundation for Diocese to hold Catholic Schools Prayer Breakfast
The Foundation for the Diocese of
El Paso will host a Catholic Schools
Prayer Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m.,
Thursday, Oct. 17, at the DoubleTree
Hotel.
The Foundation will present its
vision for Catholic schools in the
Diocese of El Paso. With more than
one out of four of students in El
Paso's Catholic schools qualifying for
the federal lunch program, the
Foundation's aim is to provide more
financial resources to schools and parents and strengthen Catholic education in our diocese.
All current parents, alumni, and
parents of alumni are invited to
attend and share in the future of
Catholic education. Tickets for the
event are $25 each, and may be purchased by calling (915)872-8412 or visiting www.elpasodiocesefoundation.org.
St. Raphael School hosts
Catholic Schools Mass
The first week in September, St.
Raphael School hosted the Catholic
schools from across the Diocese of El
Paso in welcoming Bishop Mark Seitz.
Bishop Seitz celebrated a Mass for
the students, and Msgr. Francis Smith
concelebrated.
September also saw St. Raphael’s
Annual Parish Fall Festival with
food, music and a lot of fun. The 8th
grade hosted a dance and various
ministries sponsored booths.
The Home and School hosted a
“Meet and Greet” for parents to get to
know their teachers. This year St.
Raphael school is introducing Parent
Portal so parents can view their
child's assignments and grades
through the I-Now system.
Student Council and National
Junior Honor Society are gearing up
for Make a Difference Day. St.
Raphael School has been participating
in this national day of service for over
ten years. We collect clothing, household goods, hygiene products and
toys are collected for the local community. Last year the school family
collected almost 3,000 pounds. of
goods that were distributed to various organizations throughout the city
and gave over 120 community service
hours.
Most Holy Trinity School holds
Patriot Day Ceremony
Most Holy Trinity held a Patriot
Day ceremony on Sept.11 to honor
our “community heroes”- those who
serve our community in the armed
forces, law enforcement, Homeland
Security, firefighters and emergency
medical personnel.
The ceremony began with a rendition of the national anthem by students Sidnee Coder and Alissa Saenz.
Father Joe Molina blessed special
guests, who were then recognized by
members of the National Junior
Honor Society.
Carlos Rubio's father was recognized for his service in the army. “It
was exciting to celebrate how all these
people work to keep our community
safe,” Carlos said.
Father Yermo bazaar successful;
to host Recruitment Week
Father Yermo Schools are thanking
all the parents, staff, alumni, students
and friends for helping make this
year's bazaar a success. A Car Show,
Zumba classes, The Butterfly Ladies,
Sacramento Folkloric Ballet, Mariachi
Real de Jalisco, Franciscan Friars,
Bowie High School Dancers, Grupo
Six Pack, Virginia Villanueva, Grupo
Punto Ciego, Grupo Real del Sol and
special performance by AZUCAR
were some of the attractions during
the weekend.
The school is thankful to EXA 98.3
Radio Station for their live transmission from campus and to KINT
Channel 26 and Despierta El Paso for
their support.
Father Yermo Schools will be hosting Recruitment Week Oct. 28 to Nov.
1. During the week volunteer parents
and students will visit Catholic and
private schools to promote Father
Yermo. The presentation of a new
video that shows the school's life will
be available for viewing as well as
brochures, and students will be giving testimony of the journey that is
part of Father Yermo Schools.
Cathedral multipurpose building
gets new hardwood Floor
In recent years, there have been
many improvements to the Cathedral
Multi-Purpose Building that have
been led by alumni who are giving
back to their alma mater. One example is the 2012 addition of the Alumni
Annex building which houses two
locker rooms and a weight lifting
facility.
Six weeks into the 2013-14 school
year, another alumni-led renovation
project is underway. The water-damaged, synthetic flooring currently
seen on the basketball courts will be
removed and replaced with new
hardwood floors.
This project has been spearheaded
by David Alvarez, (Cathedral class of
1986), and many others have jumped
on board. The new floors have been
funded in large part by donations. In
addition to the new floors, there will
also be additional hoops installed for
use by P.E. classes, the Cathedral basketball team, and the people who regularly attend open gym.
The unveiling is scheduled for
mid-late October.
Loretto Academy to mark 90
years at Homecoming
Loretto Academy will celebrate its
90th year with a Homecoming Mass
and Fiesta Oct.12.
Jesuit Father Ronald D. Gonzales,
will celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m. in the
Loretto Chapel.
Following the Mass, the fiesta will
begin in the El Convento Patio with
music, food, and entertainment.
In September of 1923 Loretto
Academy first opened its doors to
educate young women of the
Southwest region. Founded by the
Sisters of Loretto, the Academy has e
educated more than 7,000 young
women who have gone on to be leaders in their various communities.
In 1978 Loretto Academy
Elementary school began educating
boys and girls grades Pk3-5th grade.
The Middle School and High School
continues to be the regionºs only
Catholic college prep academy for
young women.
For information call the Loretto
Advancement Office at 915-566-8400
ext. 1211, or visit www.loretto.org.
RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC OCTOBER 2013
Solo los peces muertos se van rio abajo
Un conocido proverbio dice: “El mundo es de
Dios y se lo alquila a los valientes” Todas las personas normales desean triunfar en la vida. Lo desea
el pobre y el rico, el sabio y el ignorante, el estudiante y el barrendero. Es un deseo innato en nuestra
naturaleza. Pero ¿porqué tanta gente no triunfa?
Uno de los motivos es porque no ponen los medios
para realizar ese deseo. Les da pereza o les falta
ánimo suficiente o se declaran derrotados antes del
tiempo, empiezan pero se quedan a mitad de
camino sin alcanzar la meta. Y es que en teoría, forjar ideales y hacer propósitos maravillosos, es cosa
relativamente fácil. Cualquier persona puede hacerlos. Pero cumplir esos deseos ya no es tan fácil.
Porque toda conquista requiere esfuerzo constante,
lucha sin tregua, sacrificio sin descanso y a esto no
todos se le miden. “Todo cuanto merece la pena es
difícil. Solo los peces muertos van río abajo; los
peces vivos van contra la corriente”.
Querer triunfar sin luchar es como intentar conseguir una buena cosecha sin haber sembrado. Las
conquistas de los hombres grandes han sido siempre amasadas en el sacrificio y en el dolor. Y sin
ellos nuestras vidas acabarían por ser aburridas.
Cuesta subir la cima de la montaña alta; pero cuando la escalamos, es grande la satisfacción que sentimos, de tal manera que el triunfo recompense
largamente los esfuerzos realizados. Mahatma
Gandhi, fue presidente de la India, escribió acerca
de los cristianos, cuya religión estuvo a punto de
abrazar, aunque finalmente no dio el paso para ello:
“El auténtico cristiano tiene tres cualidades: No
tiene miedo a nada por difícil que sea; siempre
tiene pruebas y dificultades que afrontar; y no
obstante es siempre feliz”. Estas tres cualidades,
que yo las veo como tres retos, no son solo para los
cristianos sino para todos los hombres. Si tu, aceptas estos tres retos, triunfarás en tu vida tarde o
temprano, aunque te haya tocado ir contra la corriente, como los peces vivos.
La vida es una mezcla continua de alegrías y de
dolores, de éxitos y de fracasos, de mañanas más
llenas de luz y de noches cargadas de oscuridad.
¡Cuántos fracasos y cuántos apagones en la vida de
todos los hombres, aun en la vida de los héroes!
¡aun en la vida de los santos! No hay que
extrañarse, por lo tanto, de que también los tengamos nosotros, aunque no seamos ni lo uno ni lo
otro. Pero esos héroes y esos santos se hicieron
tales, porque supieron armonizar y equilibrar esos
momentos; ni se dejaron abatir por las tinieblas, ni
se desubicaron por la luz de los éxitos. Eso, también tu lo puedes hacer y si lo puedes, lo debes
hacer. Deberás caminar siempre con los pies en el
suelo; pero que tu corazón esté en el cielo. Allá en
el término de tu camino, como estrella orientadora,
fija tu ideal, acércate cada vez mejor asemejándote a
Dios. Es que el orden entra en los planes del
creador. Tu vida debe ser ordenada en todo nivel; el
desorden y la desorganización no pueden serte
útiles. Que el orden rija desde tus cabellos, hasta
tus sentimientos; desde tu ropa, hasta tus ideas;
desde tus actos más íntimos, hasta tus relaciones
con los demás. Sé en toda tu vida un reflejo del
orden que Dios puso en la creación.
No es poco frecuente oír decir, ante cualquier circunstancia: “Lo hice porque todos lo hacen, La costumbre…” Tu no debes dejarte arrastrar por nada
ni por nadie, que no sea tu propia conciencia,
porque en tu vida no debes tolerar que mande nada
ni nadie más que tu. Si te dejas arrastrar, serás
como hoja de arboles caída y seca y por lo mismo
ya infecunda y estéril. No quieras, excusar tu culpa
cuando obras “arrastrado por la corriente”; en realidad lo único que te arrastró fue tu falta de voluntad, la debilidad de tu carácter. Si te dejas arrastrar,
eres una cosa. Se persona; no cosa. Pide al Espíritu
Santo el don de Templanza para tu espíritu, mente
y cuerpo. Cualquier actuación en tu vida tiene una
gran importancia, tanto para ti, como para todos los
hombres. Si en tal o cual ocasión no procedes mal,
el mundo se sentirá un poco menos malo; y esto
por ti. Si en otra oportunidad procedes con rectitud
y honradez, el mundo se sentirá mas bueno; y esto
Vida
del
Espiritu
por el Padre
Wilson Cuevas
por ti. DE TI DEPENDE QUE EL MAL AUMENTE
EN EL MUNDO O POR EL CONTRARIO, QUE
CREZCA EL BIEN, QUE EL MUNDO SIGA
ENFERMO O SANE DE SUS MALES. Que el
mundo se sienta más dichoso o más feliz. Todo
depende de ti. No hables tanto, no critiques tanto;
obra más y obra mejor y tu acción será positiva. No
siembres cardos de pesimismos; esparce semillas de
bondad.
Pregunté a un estudiante qué era lo que más
deseaba tener en la vida y me contestó: “libros,
salud y quietud” hice la misma pregunta a un
usurero prestamista y me dijo: “Dinero, y más
dinero” a un pobre, que encontré le dirigí la misma
pregunta y sin vacilar, me dijo: “Pan, pan, pan.”.
Un beodo que iba por la acera donde yo caminaba,
al hacer yo esta pregunta, me dijo: “un poco mas de
cualquier licor”. Dirigiendo la pregunta a un grupo
de gente, me contestaron todos: “Riqueza, fama,
placeres”. Un tanto desilusionado, porque no me
satisfacía ninguna contestación, pregunté a un
anciano que tenía fama de ser muy bueno, que era
lo que más le ambicionaba en la vida y esto contesto con toda calma y amabilidad: “Primeramente
deseo encontrar a Cristo; en segundo lugar, parecerme a Cristo, y en tercer lugar, ser como Cristo”.
Hazte de vez en cuando esta pregunta: ¿Qué es lo
que más deseas tener en tu vida? Cuando uno sabe
a ciencia cierta, qué desea lograr en tu vida y hacia
dónde vas, la tranquilidad del espíritu llena todo tu
ser y el horizonte se ilumina y vez que el camino ni
es imposible, ni tal difícil que digamos…
Oración de Vida –Vida de Oración
Durante la cuaresma
que hemos vivido,
fuimos invitados, desde
el primer día, el
Miércoles de ceniza, a
ejercitar las practicas
tradicionales de este
tiempo:
ORACION,AYUNO Y
LIMOSNA o generosidad.
Fuimos invitados también a hacer un plan, un plan de
cuaresma. ¿Qué haré en éste tiempo?,
¿en qué aspecto de mi vida voy a trabajar? ¿En qué me voy a enmendar?
¿He logrado con éxito este plan? ¿En
qué fallé? ¿En qué medida he logrado
éste cambio- ésta transformación?,
¿esta TRANSFIGURACIÓN?
¿Estoy preparado para reavivar las
promesas de mi Bautismo? Pues en la
medida en que te hayas preparado,
así celebraras la Pascua, la liberación,
el Bautismo, la Eucaristía y
Confirmarás tu fe, tu esperanza y tu
amor.
Concentremos nuestra atención
por hoy en la ORACIÓN. Orar es elevar la mente y el corazón a Dios para
alabarlo, bendecirlo, darle gracias y
pedirle. Unir la mente y el corazón.
No solamente repetir palabras o leer
algo escrito de un libro o devocionario. Tampoco hay un tiempo
específico para este ejercicio. La
oración no es tanto cuestión de cantidad sino de calidad. Jesús amonesta
“No sean como los hipócritas que
piensan que a fuerza de palabreríos
van a ser escuchados. Tu, mas bien
entra en tu cuarto (concéntrate), y ahí
habla a tu padre que esta en lo secreto, y tu padre que ve lo secreto, Él te
recompensará”. Estos consejos sugieren que sea una comunicación personal y espontánea que pudiera ser
repetida a cada momento y circunstancia.
Por ejemplo en un día típico de
cualquier persona. Por la mañana
dale gracias a Dios por un día más en
11
Tópicos
Hispanos
por el Padre
Raúl Trigueros
tu vida. Mientras te lavas la cara
piensa en renovar tu bautismo con el
agua fresca que te regala en ese
momento. Cuando desayunas piensa
que lo que comes, Dios lo da GRATIS
como un regalo de la naturaleza.
¿Porqué tienes que pagar? Por el servicio, para recompensar el trabajo de
todas las personas que laboraron para
que tengas ese café, fruta, carne,
pasta, lo que sea, frente a ti. Cuando
subas a tu carro y te dirijas a tu trabajo, agradécele que tengas un carro y
trabajo también… y así, recorre todo
el día.
De esta manera podemos estar en
contacto con Dios en todo momento y
en todo lugar, basta que le hables y Él
te responderá. Lo que también sugiere el texto es que la oración es no
solo, hablar y hablar, sino guardar
silencio, estar atentos a escuchar su
palabra, su guía, su consejo, esto es lo
que en la liturgia se llama “silencio
sagrado”.
He conocido personas que dicen:
“Dios no me escucha”. A lo que
podemos decir: “claro que Dios te
escucha, lo que pasa es que no
puedes, tu, escuchar su respuesta, su
guía, la solución que buscas, hablas
tanto que no le dejas hablar”. En tu
oración, guarda un momento de
“silencio sagrado” y verás como el
Señor te da las respuestas de tu vida,
basta que seas muy “sensible”. No
limites tu oración a unos momentos
en la mañana o en la noche. Que todo
el día sea una continua oración.
DALE VIDA A TU ORACION Y
DALE ORACION A TU VIDA.
To advertise in the Rio Gran de C athol ic call (915) 872-8414
12
OCTOBER 2013 RIO GRANDE CATHOLIC
Diocese annual appeal supports 17 ministries
2,170,000
1,854,404
1,263,814
9/17/2013
If you have not made your pledge yet for the 2013 campaign, please so do today. We rely on parishioners such as
you to meet our goal of $2,170,000.
The Progress Annual Appeal is the one diocesan-wide
campaign that serves the needs of our people beyond the
boundaries of any one parish. The Progress Campaign,
which represents nearly 40% of all operating funds available
to diocesan ministries, supports the pastoral, spiritual, educational and human service programs that benefit thousands
of individuals throughout the 10 counties of our Diocese.
The Diocese also advances the work of every parish with
direct financial assistance such as grants and support services. Without the Progress Appeal, this vital work of the
Church would not be possible.
Your gift will help fund:
Tuition for the Diocese's seminarians
Counseling services for troubled individuals
Training for a new class of deacon candidates
Programs that strengthen Catholic marriages and families
Ongoing formation of parish catechists
Faith based activities for children, youth and young
adults
Evangelization Programs in Rural West Texas
Make Your Pledge Today
● Call 872-8412
● Log on to www.elpasodiocesefoundation.org
● Send your gift to
Progress Annual Appeal
499 St. Matthews Street,
El Paso, Texas 79907
● “Like” us on Facebook
Bishop offers Mass for law
enforcement community
Special to the Rio Grande Catholic
Bishop Mark J. Seith offered Mass
for the El Paso Law Enforcement
community, Sept. 13 in St. Patrick
Cathedral.
”The Lord has called us to the
practice of justice so that there may
be peace,” Bishop Seitz said in the
homily for the annual Mass.
“Justice is a gift from God,”the
bishop said. “Justice is the foundation
of that great gift of peace that Jesus
prayed for on behalf of his disciples.”
Recalling law enforcement offices
and emergency responders who have
lost their lives in the line of duty,
Bishop Seitz told those assembled for
the Mass ”Remember their example
and be sure the Lord will bless their
service.”
MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY THE
PROGRESS ANNUAL APPEAL
Promoting, Preparing an
Supporting the Clergy
Major Seminarians Office
St. Charles Seminary
Vocations Ministry
Education, Formation
and Worship
Office of Education
Permanent Diaconate Ministry
Religious Formation Ministry
Tepeyac Institute
Office of Worship
Outreach, Advocacy
and Evangelization
Catholic Campus Ministry
Catholic Counseling Services
Communications Office
Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services
Marriage and Family Life Ministry
Peace and Justice Ministry
Tigua Native American Ministry
West Texas Ministry
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Diocese Youth Night at Diablos
Bishop Mark J. Seitz, photo at right, gets ready to throw out the first pitch
at the El Paso Diocese Youth Night at the El Paso Diablos in Cohen
Stadium Aug. 26. Photo above: Bishop Seitz was accompanied by members
of the diocese’s youth program and staff in participating in the game which
was one of the last in the Diablo’s final season to play in El Paso.
Pope Francis puts mission first
The following article is reprinted from Maryknoll
Magazine with permission
By Frank Maurovich
When people speak of Pope Francis, they often
refer to the new pontiff as the “pope of firsts.” Jorge
Mario Bergoglio, the cardinal archbishop from
Argentina, is the first pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Roman Catholic Church to be chosen from
Latin America, the first Jesuit to be elected, the first
to take the name Francis. Judging from statements
at the start of his pontificate, he is also the first
pope since the early Church to emphasize evangelization—or mission—as the highest priority in the
Church.
While every recent pope has noted that all
Christians, by virtue of baptism, are called to mission, they have presented evangelization as one of
many church works, such as preserving orthodoxy
in church teaching, increasing vocations and
encouraging Sunday Mass attendance and confessions. While not denying the importance of these
issues, Pope Francis sees them in the context of
mission. “May the whole of ministry be in a missionary key,” he says. (Italics added.)
Only 10 days after his election, Pope Francis
made that statement in a letter to his brother
Argentine bishops who were meeting in a national
assembly. After apologizing, with tongue in cheek,
for not attending due to “commitments assumed
recently,” the Holy Father urged the prelates to follow through on the commitment they had made in
2007 at the Latin American Episcopal Conference
(CELAM) in Aparecida, Brazil, which stressed the
missionary task of all Catholics. The pope prompted his brothers to embark enthusiastically on a continent-wide mission. “We must come out of ourselves,” he said, “and grow in boldness.”
Boldness, of course, can lead to mistakes, but
Pope Francis contends, “A church that does not go
out sooner or later gets sick in the vitiated atmosphere of her enclosure.” He describes the malady
as, “self-reference, the typical
illness of the shut-in church
... a kind of narcissism that
leads us to spiritual worldliness and to sophisticated
clericalism.” Pope Francis
says, “I prefer a thousand
times an injured church than
a sick church.
”The pope’s insistence on
the priority of mission flows
from the Second Vatican
Council’s Decree on the
Church’s Missionary Activity.
It states, “The pilgrim
Church is missionary by her
very nature. For it is from the
mission of the Son and the
mission of the Holy Spirit
that she takes her origin, in
accordance with the decree of
God the Father.” Mission then is the mission of
God. Jesus, God’s missioner, tells his followers, “As
the Father sent me, so I send you.” The mission of
God, therefore, is—or should be—the Church’s
highest priority. Or, as is often stated, the Church
does not have a mission; mission has a church.
Pope Francis advocates making “an option for
the poor” as an effective way to proclaim God’s
love in today’s world and attract others to the
Gospel message. During his first Holy Week as
pontiff, he provided a concrete example by celebrating the Holy Thursday liturgy at Casal del
Mormo Juvenile Detention Center in Rome, washing and kissing the feet of 12 incarcerated youths.
This so moved Jesuit Father Michael Kennedy,
chaplain of the Sylmar Juvenile Hall in Southern
California, that he and his young charges wrote to
thank the pope.”
Here the leader of the Roman Catholic Church
affirmed the choice to kneel down with people that
society has neglected as the place to
find God’s presence,” Father
Kennedy said, adding that Pope
Francis thus points to where
Christians should serve in mission:
“Rather than run away from those
who are not healthy, we should run
toward those who need healing.”
The Holy Father emphasizes the
Church’s social teaching as an integral part of the Gospel message to be
proclaimed in mission. He exhorts
government officials, money managers and board members of multinational corporations, whether
Christian or not, to carry out their
obligation “to do good” by eliminating the causes of poverty. He notes,
“The income of a minority is increasing exponentially and that of the
majority is crumbling.”
He gave a group of ambassadors to the Holy See
a message for their government leaders: “The worship of the golden calf of old has found a new and
heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is lacking any truly
humane goal.” He added, “The pope loves everyone, rich and poor alike, but the pope has the duty,
in Christ’s name, to remind the rich to help the
poor, to respect them, to promote their development. The pope appeals for disinterested solidarity
and for a return to person-centered ethics in the
world of finance and economics.”
Pope Francis calls all Christians by virtue of their
baptism and all people of goodwill by virtue of
human solidarity to join in the mission of creating a
world of justice and peace.
Frank Maurovich is retired editor of Maryknoll magazine.