Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

After receiving Holy Communion every Sunday we pray this prayer, unidéndonos intentions and prayers of all the bishops of the United States, especially to our beloved Archbishop.

....

O God our Creator,

from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,

you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,

bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel

to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us

in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.

Give us the strength of mind and heart

to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;

give us courage in making our voices heard

on behalf of the rights of your Church

and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,

a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters

gathered in your Church

in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,

so that, with every trial withstood

and every danger overcome—

for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,

and all who come after us—

this great land will always be "one nation, under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen ■

Corpus Christi 2012 at St. Vincent de Paul

Con mucha alegría nosotros celebramos en la parroquia 

la hermosa solemnidad del Cuerpo y la Sangre del Señor.

With great joy we celebrate in the parish the beautiful solemnity 

of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Mass is something really boring? (I)

Why is it that some people say that Mass is boring?  Is the Mass boring?  I’m sure everyone reading today’s Pastor’s Bench has an opinion on this question. This question seems to plague parents in particular when trying to get their teenage children to attend Mass with them. Often the response by many parents is, “I don’t care if you think it’s boring you’re going to Mass anyway.” This answer is usually more effective with younger children, but hardly every satisfies a teenager.  In many cases with teenagers a parent just decides that it is too much trouble to try to get their teenager to Mass, and so they go without them.  “The music is so boring.” parents might hear. “The readings are ancient and are talking about shepherds and kings; we live in the world of iPads, Facebook and YouTube”. If this is the case then it is no wonder that it is difficult to get young people excited about going to Mass.  But this is not just a problem that teenagers struggle with. How often do we say to ourselves, “I really don’t want to go to Mass today; Father never says anything that I understand.” Or maybe its, “Well, the football game is at 12.30, and Mass gets over at 1:10, so maybe I’ll just leave right after communion.”  How often do we grudgingly go to Mass just because we don’t want to feel guilty for missing it? How often have we attended Mass and just felt like we just didn’t get anything out of it.  “What a waste of time” we might be secretly thinking, although we might never verbalize it. The answer that we might have for this dilemma could be, “Well, if the Mass was just a little more engaging, and a little less boring, then maybe I would actually like going to Mass”, “If only we had a more experienced priest then we could get into some real life homilies.” I use these examples because these are some of the most common complaints about the Mass, but the list is almost infinite. So where is the problem and where is the solution to this problem? Is the Mass boring? Is it wrong to ask this question? Should we just go to Mass and accept that it is boring?  Is it that we are not supposed to like Mass; we are just supposed to go regardless of what it does for us? We will continue talking about this. Do not miss the next Pastor's Bench! ■ Fr. Agustin 

La educación de los hijos (I)

Queridos hermanos en el Señor, en la edición en inglés del Pastor’s Bench hablaremos a lo largo de las siguientes semanas sobre la importancia de la Misa. En la edición en español –justo porque ya hemos hablado aquí, antes, de la Misa- hemos pensado que sería oportuno hablar sobre cómo educar a los hijos en la libertad. Dios ha querido crear seres libres, con todas sus consecuencias y como un buen padre, nos ha dado la ley moral puesta en nuestro corazón para que podamos utilizar correctamente la libertad. De algún modo, se puede decir que el Todopoderoso ha aceptado someter sus propios designios a la aprobación del hombre; que Dios condesciende con nuestra libertad, con nuestra imperfección, porque prefiere nuestro amor libremente entregado a la esclavitud de un títere; prefiere el aparente fracaso de sus planes a poner condiciones a nuestra respuesta. El sacrificio de la Cruz es la muestra más grande de hasta qué punto Dios está dispuesto a respetar la libertad humana; y si Él llega a esos extremos ¿quién soy yo para no hacerlo? En otras palabras: querer a los hijos es querer su libertad. Del mismo modo que una planta no crece porque la estire o le grite el jardinero, sino porque hace suyo el alimento, la luz del sol, el aire, etc. así el ser humano progresa en la medida en que asume libremente el modelo que inicialmente recibe de Dios y de los papás. Por eso, «los padres que aman de verdad, que buscan sinceramente el bien de sus hijos, después de los consejos y las consideraciones oportunas, han de retirarse con delicadeza para que nada perjudique el gran bien de la libertad, que hace al hombre capaz de amar y de servir a Dios. Los papás deben recordar que Dios mismo ha querido que se le ame y se le sirva en libertad, y respeta siempre nuestras decisiones personales».  Día a día los papás han de saber invitar a sus hijos a usar de sus capacidades, de modo que crezcan como personas de bien. Quizá se presenta una buena ocasión cuando piden permiso para determinados planes; entonces, puede ser oportuno responder que es él –el hijo o la hija- quien ha de decidir tras meditar todas las circunstancias del caso y decidir si le conviene o no ir a ése lugar, gastar ése dinero, etc. Seguiremos hablando de esto en las próximas semanas. Por el momento hay mucho qué pensar ■ P. Agustín 

The Nativity of John the Baptist 2012

John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, The Law and the prophets were until John. So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother's womb. You will remember that, before he was born, at Mary's arrival he leapt in his mother's womb. Already he had been marked out there, designated before he was born; it was already shown whose forerunner he would be, even before he saw him. These are divine matters, and exceed the measure of human frailty. Finally, he is born, he receives a name, and his father's tongue is loosed.

Zachary is struck dumb and loses his voice, until John, the Lord's forerunner, is born and releases his voice for him. What does Zachary's silence mean, but that prophecy was obscure and, before the proclamation of Christ, somehow concealed and shut up? It is released and opened up by his arrival, it becomes clear when the one who was being prophesied is about to come. The releasing of Zachary's voice at the birth of John has the same significance as the tearing of the veil of the Temple at the crucifixion of Christ. If John were meant to proclaim himself, he would not be opening Zachary's mouth. The tongue is released because a voice is being born – for when John was already heralding the Lord, he was asked, 'Who are you?' and he replied, 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.' John is the voice, but the Lord 'in the beginning was the Word.' John is a voice for a time, but Christ is the eternal Word from the beginning." ■ Saint Augustine of Hippo Sermon 293, 1-3; PL 38, 1327-1328; Office of Readings for June 24, on the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist.

ACTS Men's retreat 2012

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers in his harvest field (Luke 10:2)

My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the last weekend of June and today we celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist, the great New Testament prophet, the herald of Christ. John is a model and example for each of us who follow Christ. He is an example because he was a brave and generous and because he was a man who devoted his time to prepare the way of the Lord. As many have heard, we are preparing an ACTS retreat for the men of our parish community. A retreat is an opportunity to grow in spirituality but also a good opportunity to serve others. As you know, ACTS means Adoration (the call by, acceptance of, and response to God), Community (the love and caring of each other), Theology (the study of God through scripture and the Catholic Faith) and Service (to God and his people). With this edition of this Pastor’s Bench I want two things. First: we are in need of some more team members, so if you already lived an ACTS retreat and you know what it is and you think that now is a good time to help us, please contact any member of the team. Our director is Antonio Morales (aka Tony), and the co-directors are Eddy  Gallegos, Mike O'barr and Mark Bernal. I know these guys, and their wives and children, and I feel very happy and proud to be working with them in preparing for this retreat. We often wonder how God can restore some of the many blessings we receive from Him, well a good way is by serving: helping others to start the way back to God. Second: if you're looking for God in your life, if you think recently you must have a deeper and better relationship with God, this is the time! Do not be afraid! Talk to any of the members and ask them to tell you about the experience they lived. If you want more information, please call the parish office (210 674 12 00). An ACTS retreat can be for you the beginning of your spirituality, a deeper friendship with Our Lord. Think about this and let us know. We will wait for you! ■ Fr. Agustin, Pastor.

Retiro de Acts para Hombres (2012)

Queridos hermanos en el Señor, como probablemente hayan escuchado (¡afortunadamente poco a poco va creciendo la comunicación y la convivencia entre nuestras dos comunidades, la americana y la latina!) estamos organizando en nuestra parroquia un retiro de ACTS que se llevará a cabo de Agosto 30 a Septiembre 2 de éste año. El movimiento de ACTS está inspirado en cierta forma en el movimiento Cursillos de Cristiandad, con el que muchos de ustedes están familiarizados pues tuvo mucha difusión en México. El movimiento de ACTS nació aquí, en la arquidiócesis de San Antonio, en 1987 en la una parroquia llamada Our Lady of Perpetual Help, y desde allí se ha extendido a muchos lugares no sólo de Texas sino de los Estados Unidos e incluso de América. Los retiros de ACTS son un lugar donde los corazones de los participantes sienten seguridad mutua, donde hay confianza porque no hay máscaras; los retiros son un lugar donde las muestras de caridad y amor brotan sin temor al ridículo ni a la crítica. Los retiros de ACTS son, en fin, un lugar donde se puede hablar libremente con la certeza de la confidencialidad. Las letras ACTS son las iniciales de cuatro palabras muy importantes y muy queridas en nuestra fe católica: Adoración, Comunidad, Teología y Servicio. Estos son los pilares o la base de los temas de las actividades que se desarrollan durante el retiro. Aunque el retiro será en inglés (misa, pláticas, actividades, etc.), yo quiero extender una invitación a todos los hombres de la comunidad latina –jóvenes y menos jóvenes- para participar en éste retiro; como párroco pienso y creo que el idioma no debe ser una barrera o un obstáculo para crecer en la espiritualidad y en la amistad con Jesucristo. Por lo tanto, si sientes deseos de hacer ésta experiencia o crees que Dios te está llamando a hacer unos días de retiro y a encontrarte con Él, por favor busca a alguno de los miembros del equipo: Tony Morales, Eddie Gallegos, Deacon Ed García, Fernando Herrera, Joe González y pídeles que te cuenten su experiencia (todos ellos hablan español). ACTS es una experiencia que cambia vidas, como sacerdote lo he visto en éstos ya seis años que llevo trabajando en la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio. Piénsalo. Siempre es momento oportuno para empezar el camino de regreso hacia Dios, para curar el alma para recibir ¡tantas cosas que Dios quiere darnos! ■ P. Agustín, Párroco 

Freedom of Religion

O GOD OUR CREATOR, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of reli- gious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to read- ily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every dan- ger overcome—for the sake of our children, our grandchil- dren, and all who come after us—this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen ■

Libertad de nuestra religión

OH SEÑOR, CREADOR NUESTRO, de tu mano bondadosa he- mos recibido el derecho a la vida, a la libertad y a la búsqueda de la felicidad. Tú nos has hecho tu pueblo y nos has dado el derecho y el deber de venerarte a ti, único Dios verdadero, y a tu Hijo, Jesucristo. Por el poder y la obra del Espíritu Santo, nos llamas a vivir nuestra fe en el mundo llevando la luz y la palabra salvadora del Evan- gelio a todos los confines de la sociedad. Te pedimos nos bendigas mientras cuidamos del don de la libertad religiosa.Danos for- taleza de mente y corazón para estar siempre dispuestos a defender nuestras libertades cuando son amenazadas. Danos valentía para que se escuchen nuestras voces en defensa de los derechos de tu Iglesia, y de la libertad de conciencia de todas las personas de fe. Te pedimos, Oh Padre celestial, que en esta hora decisiva de la historia de nuestra nación, y reunidos en tu Iglesia, des a todos tus hijos e hijas una voz clara y unida para que con cada prueba que encaremos, y cada peligro que superemos, por el bien de nuestros hijos, de nuestros nietos, y de todos los que vengan después de nosotros este gran país sea siem- pre “una nación, bajo Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos”. Te lo pedimos por Jesucristo, Nuestro Señor. Amén ■

Freedom Rings

On, Sunday, July 1, 2012, parishes of the Archdiocese of San Antonio will bring it's month of prayer and education on the critical issue of Religious Freedom. At 12 Noon, parishes who have the capability, will ring their bells for Religious Freedom and at each weekend Mass pray in a special way for religious freedom in our land. Here, at St. Vincent de Paul will do this, join us in prayer! ■