South Texas Catholic Winter 2023 - Vol. 59 No. 4 by South Texas Catholic

South Texas

Catholic SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

BE A FAMILY WI NT E R

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IS S UE

INSIDE Keep up with the faith at

southtexascatholic.com

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INTERVIEW WITH OUR BISHOP MICHAEL MULVEY: Reflections on being a family, at home and in our diocese

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E NT R E V I S TA C O N N U E S T R O O B I S P O M I C H A E L M U LV E Y: Reflexiones sobre ser familia, en casa y en nuestra diócesis

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GOD CREATES FAMILIES – WHETHER WITH BIOLOGICAL PARENTS OR NOT: How a couple first fostered children, then adopted – and discovered God’s plan for them to become a large family

VOL. 59 NO. 4 Publisher Bishop Michael Mulvey, STL DD Director of Communications and Public Relations Katia Uriarte Philipello kuriarte@diocesecc.org Assistant Director of Communications and Public Relations Jesse DeLeon jdeleon@diocesecc.org Managing Editor Susanne Janssen sjanssen@diocesecc.org Theological Consultant Very Rev. Richard Libby, Chancellor rlibby@diocesecc.org Communications Specialist Adel Sauceda asauceda@diocesecc.org Social Media Coordinator and Videographer Elizabeth Morales emorales@diocesecc.org Broadcast Technical Director Richard Luna rluna@diocesecc.org Communications Administrative Assistant Analisa Iber aiber@diocesecc.org Correspondents Rebecca Esparza and Jessica Rohr Translator/Correspondent Gloria Romero Graphic Design Alexis Harborth

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Send us your parish, school, ministry news stories, pictures and calendar events via our online form at diocesecc.org/send-news Items will appear online at southtexascatholic@gmail.com then be distributed to other diocesan platforms and communications. The South Texas Catholic is not liable or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisement appearing within these pages. All claims, offers guarantees, statements, etc. made by advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau. “South Texas Catholic” (USPS 540-860) Published five times a year, February, May, July, September, and November by the Diocese of Corpus Christi 555 N Carancahua St, Ste 750, Corpus Christi, TX 78401-0824 for $25 per year. Periodicals postage paid in Corpus Christi, TX 78401-0824 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to South Texas Catholic, 555 N Carancahua St, Ste750, Corpus Christi, TX 78401-0824.

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11 | DIOS CREA FAMILIAS, BIEN SEA CON PADRES BIOLÓGICOS O ADOPTIVOS: Esta es la historia de una pareja que descubrieron el plan de Dios para convertir su sueño en realidad y tener una familia grande 14 | THE FACE OF CHRIST BEHIND EVERY PERSON: Immigration is a challenge – but what about the people behind the headlines? A group of Newman Center students went to help at the Human Respite Center in McAllen 18 | GETTING INVOLVED WITH ONE ANOTHER: The second State of the Diocese looked into the future – what can each parish and Bishop Mulvey at the second State of parishioner do to the Diocese welcome others? 20 | BUILDING BRIDGES IN EVERYDAY LIFE: Gen Verde live in Corpus Christi – a cross-cultural performance that empowered teens and gave new hope 2 2 | A TIME OF PEACE AND ENCOUNTER: Some thoughts by recent popes “It is Christmas every time you let God and writers on love others through you” Christmas

24 | FOLLOWING JESUS: Fr. Brady Williams, SOLT, reflects on what the Holy Family means for us today 26 | S I G U I E N D O A J E S Ú S : P. Brady Williams, SOLT, reflexiona sobre lo que la Sagrada Familia significa para nosotros hoy 28 | WO M A N O F S TR E N G TH : S T. ZÉ LI E M A R T I N : God’s unique plan for her life 30 | B I O E T H I C S 1 01 : Healthcare and how Catholics need to respond to challenges by forming their conscience 32 | B O O K R E V I E W LIT TLE J O H N E V ER E T T PLU S FO U R : Msgr. Lawrence White’s latest book celebrates family and the oftensurprising wisdom of children 33 | H E A R T S A N D VO I C E S U N ITE D : T h e C a t h e d r a l Ch o i r s e r v e s t h e f a i t h f ul e v e r y S un d a y a t 9 : 3 0 a m M a s s , a s w e l l a s f o r special occasions and Concer t s

Sharing the gift of their voices

ON THE COVER: La Sagrada Familia, picture by Fr. Carlos Pelayo, copyright Cathopic.com

Bishop Michael Mulvey and the staff of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources are committed to assisting those who have faced abuse of any kind. For immediate assistance, support, and referral information, please call Victim Assistance Coordinator Stephanie Bonilla at (361) 693-6686. El obispo Michael Mulvey y el personal de la Oficina del Medio Ambiente Seguridad y Recursos para Niños y Familias están comprometidos a ayudar a aquellos que han sufrido abusos de cualquier tipo. Para asistencia inmediata, apoyo e información de referencia, llame al Coordinador de Asistencia a Víctimas Stephanie Bonilla al (361) 693-6686.

In the spirit of proper stewardship, the Diocese of Corpus Christi encourages reporting any financial abuse concerns or related issues. Report confidentially to: financialconcerns@diocesecc.org En el espíritu de una administración adecuada, la Diócesis de Corpus Christi alienta a informar cualquier inquietud de abuso financiero o problemas relacionados. Informe confidencialmente a: financialconcerns@diocesecc.org

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INTERVIEW WITH OUR BISHOP MICHAEL MULVEY

“Be a Family in the Parish”

hat does being family mean to you? Bishop Mulvey: Family is a very sacred term. Most of our experience has been the family that we come from: our mother, father, siblings… And with all their limitations, the heart of the family is love. If we could speak of the original family, we would arrive at the Holy Family and God himself as a family of persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In that sense, when we look at family life as a sacred religious reality, it is a gathering of persons who love one another and who are ready to give up their lives, their time, and their treasures for one another. Perhaps growing up, many of us did not appreciate family life to that level. But as we grow older and look back at our family of origin, we can see the sacrifices of our parents and even our siblings, especially during times of difficulty and tragedy. As we reflect on family as we approach Christmas, it might be a time for all of us to reassess our understanding of family and the meaning of family for us. 4

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We could examine our own experience of family. Unfortunately, many in our society today don’t experience the essential element of family, which is love. Instead of just ignoring or writing off the beauty of family, we could consider the saying of St. John of the Cross, “Where there is no love, put love, and there you will find it.” If I don’t find love or haven’t found love, it’s my responsibility to put love, which means sacrificing myself for others. This is also true for the sense of family life in many other places where people are gathered. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were not closed in on themselves. From the beginning, they welcomed the shepherds and the magi. How can our nuclear families be true Christian families, open to welcoming others? Bishop Mulvey: Any family that is a true family does not find their vocation by being selfish but by reaching out. Using my own family experience, we never had Christmas,

Thanksgiving, Easter, or birthdays without extra family members. My grandmother had cousins who never married. They were older but always present and part of our family. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the Holy Family, I hope all of us will find the grace to be more open and inclusive to others around us. There are a lot of people in need of a family, such as single mothers, homebound widows, or migrant families that have recently arrived. How can we be family to others? Bishop Mulvey: I think being family to others is not difficult. St. Paul instructed the Philippians to “humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” (see Phil 2:3). I think we often try to avoid people by giving in to our prejudices. We all have prejudices; we cannot ignore them, but the Christian way is to change that mentality by the light of the Word of God. At first, it may be a struggle to invite someone who is different, who is new in the country, who doesn’t speak our language, or whatever it is that makes the difference visible. But going beyond that can certainly be a gift that would be treasured for many years to come.

about someone – these are the sins of an unwelcoming community. They need to be eliminated immediately. Jesus came to build community among us because his prayer was at the end, “Father, may they all be one” (Jn 17:21). How can we be one in the sense that Jesus intends if we don’t know each other? The dynamics of a parish require that what is celebrated in the Eucharist – the listening to God’s word and experiencing the oneness with God and each other – must be taken beyond the Church into the parish hall and beyond. We really need an injection of joy and dynamic interaction with each other in the coming years to be who we were meant to be. It is learning to encounter each other, walking with each other, being brothers and sisters. I know that someone was asked at the end of her life, “What would you ask your friends to do in your honor?” and she said, “Be a family.” And I would say to everyone, every parish, every person, “Be a family,” first with your family of origin, but using that as a basis to be a family in your parish. That would be our greatest gift to God and each other!

How can we bring the spirit of family into our parishes and our diocese? Bishop Mulvey: I remember being at a gathering of three parishes in a town of our diocese, and at the end, we were all invited to the parish hall for a meal. I invited someone to come with me to the dinner, and the person said, “I don’t belong to this parish.” All of us belong! If we encounter that kind of feeling among people or project that feeling, it needs to be addressed. Do we look at our parish as a family that welcomes others, or do we focus on small groups where others are excluded? A true family is always alive and welcoming because it is open to others. Family is a joyful experience. When we cannot accept someone because they are different, we are not Christ’s followers. If I’m avoiding someone, if I’m gossiping S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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ENTREVISTA CON NUESTRO OBISPO MICHAEL MULVEY

“Ser una familia en la parroquia”

En su opinión qué significa ser familia? Obispo Mulvey: La palabra familia es un término muy sagrado. La mayor parte de nuestra experiencia ha sido la familia de la que procedemos: nuestra madre, nuestro padre, nuestros hermanos... Y con todas sus limitaciones, el corazón de una familia es el amor. Si pudiéramos hablar de la familia original, llegaríamos a la Sagrada Familia y a Dios mismo como familia de personas: Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo. En ese sentido, cuando consideramos la vida familiar como una realidad religiosa sagrada, se trata de una reunión de personas que se aman y que están dispuestas a entregar sus vidas, su tiempo y sus tesoros unas por otras. Quizás al crecer, muchos de nosotros no apreciamos la vida familiar a ese nivel. Pero a medida que crecemos y miramos a nuestra familia de origen, podemos ver los sacrificios de nuestros padres e incluso de nuestros hermanos, especialmente en tiempos de dificultad y de dolor. A medida que nos acercamos a la Navidad, y reflexionamos sobre la Sagrada Familia usemos este momento para reevaluar nuestra comprensión de la familia y el significado que tiene para nosotros. Podríamos examinar nuestra propia experiencia 6

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de la familia. Por desgracia, muchos en nuestra sociedad actual no experimentan el elemento esencial de la familia, que es el amor. En lugar de ignorar o descartar la belleza de la familia, podríamos considerar el dicho de San Juan de la Cruz: “Donde no hay amor, pon amor, y allí lo hallarás”. Si no encuentro amor o no lo he encontrado, es mi responsabilidad poner amor, lo que significa sacrificarme por los demás. Lo mismo ocurre con el sentido de la vida familiar en muchos otros lugares donde se reúne la gente. Jesús, María y José no se encerraron en sí mismos. Desde el principio, acogieron a los pastores y a los magos. ¿Cómo pueden nuestros núcleos familiares ser verdaderas familias cristianas, abiertas a acoger a los demás? Obispo Mulvey: Toda familia que es una verdadera familia no encuentra su vocación siendo egoísta, sino tendiendo la mano. Utilizando mi propia experiencia familiar, nunca tuvimos Navidad, Acción de Gracias, Pascua o cumpleaños sin invitar a otros miembros de la familia fuera de nuestro núcleo familiar. Mi abuela tenía primos que nunca se casaron. Eran

mayores, pero siempre estaban presentes y formaban parte de nuestra familia. Al celebrar el nacimiento de Jesús y la Sagrada Familia, espero que todos encontremos la gracia de ser más abiertos e inclusivos con los que nos rodean. Hay mucha gente que necesita una familia, como las madres solteras, las viudas confinadas en casa o las familias inmigrantes recién llegadas. ¿Cómo podemos ser una familia para los demás? Obispo Mulvey: Creo que ser familia para otros no es difícil. San Pablo instruyó a los filipenses a “considerar humildemente a los demás como más importantes que vosotros mismos’ (véase Flp 2,3). Creo que a menudo intentamos evitar a la gente porque cedemos a nuestros prejuicios. Todos tenemos prejuicios; no podemos ignorarlos, pero el camino cristiano consiste en cambiar esa mentalidad a la luz de la Palabra de Dios. Al principio, puede resultar difícil invitar a alguien que es diferente, que es nuevo en el país, que no habla nuestro idioma, o que es visiblemente diferente. Pero ir más allá de esta primera impresión y ser audaz en recibir al otro, puede ser sin duda ser un regalo que podemos atesorar por muchos años.

sobre alguien - estos son los pecados de una comunidad poco acogedora. Hay que eliminar esas actitudes inmediatamente. Jesús vino a construir comunidad entre nosotros. Su oración final es: “Padre, que todos sean uno” (Jn 17,21). ¿Cómo podemos ser uno en el sentido que Jesús pretende si no nos conocemos? La dinámica de una parroquia exige que lo que se celebra en la Eucaristía – la escucha de la palabra de Dios y la experiencia de unidad con Dios y con los demás – se lleve más allá de la Iglesia, más allá del salón parroquial y más allá. Realmente necesitamos una inyección de alegría e interacción dinámica entre nosotros para ser lo que estamos destinados a ser. Tenemos que aprender, cada vez más, a encontrarnos, a caminar unos con otros, a ser hermanos y hermanas. Sé que a alguien le preguntaron al final de su vida: “¿Qué pedirías a tus amigos que hicieran en tu honor?” Y ella respondió: “Ser una familia”. Y yo diría a todo el mundo, a cada parroquia, a cada persona: “Sean una familia”, primero con vuestra familia de origen, vivan como una verdadera familia en su parroquia. Ese sería nuestro mayor regalo a Dios y a los demás. Traducido por Cecilia Fuentes.

¿Cómo podemos llevar el espíritu de familia a nuestras parroquias y a nuestra diócesis? Obispo Mulvey: Recuerdo estar en una reunión de tres parroquias en una ciudad de la diócesis y, al final, nos invitaron a todos a una comida en el salón parroquial. Invité a alguien a cenar en mi mesa, y la persona me dijo: “Yo no pertenezco a esta parroquia”. ¡Todos pertenecemos! Tenemos que ser conscientes si encontramos ese tipo de sentimiento entre las personas o si proyectamos ese sentir. ¿Vemos nuestra parroquia como una familia que acoge a los demás, o nos centramos en pequeños grupos que excluyen a los demás? Una verdadera familia está siempre viva y es acogedora porque está abierta a los demás. Ser familia es una experiencia que produce alegría. No nos podemos llamar seguidores de Cristo si no sabemos aceptar a las personas que son diferentes de nosotros. Si estoy evitando a alguien, si estoy chismeando S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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HOW A COUPLE FIRST FOSTERED CHILDREN, THEN ADOPTED – AND DISCOVERED GOD’S PLAN FOR THEM TO BECOME A LARGE FAMILY

God Creates Families - whether with Biological parents or Not

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BY JESSICA ROHR

Adoption doesn’t mean that children are not wanted – it means that they are very much wanted by couples who cannot have biological children.

efore facing the bitter reality of infertility, Rita (48) and Daniel (43) Naranja had cherished a dream of growing a large family of four or five children. Rita is an attorney, and Daniel works at a refinery. With the biological doors being shut, it was Daniel’s openness to adoption that started the couple toward building that family dream, one foster child experience at a time. Rita’s career as an attorney provided some insight into the various 8

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paths that can result in adoption: Agencies like Circles of Love and A World for Children facilitate adoption at no cost while choosing a private agency can accrue costs up to $40,000 and beyond. The process begins with taking classes and getting licensed. The Naranja home was licensed to house up to five children. Rita shared that the Department of Family Affairs approval process can be very intrusive and intimate, with up to several months of classes,

Courtesy of the Naranja Family

interviews, and home visits. Initially, the Naranjas specifically wanted to adopt infants immediately after birth, but their four children came to them in a variety of stages and ages through fostering. A total of twelve children came to stay in the Naranja home, with the first arriving in 2013. Each time they fostered a child, Rita and Daniel never knew how long the child would stay. It could take up to a year to determine whether a child would stay or go: There was always a chance they could go back to the parents or to another relative. Rita revealed that this part of the process could be heartbreaking and traumatic both for them and the children. “Give them (the children) what they need at that time – love, nurturing, and safety.” This piece of advice from Rita’s mother has fortified her in this difficult cycle. “You fall in love – then they go,” said Rita. “Every time they left, we cried. But it’s about what they need at the time.” The four Naranja kids have different ethnicities and currently range from ages 2-9 years old. “They all came young,” Rita said, “at three months, three days, three weeks, and two weeks.” The children attend parochial school in Corpus Christi, and the Naranjas attend Mass as a family. The children know that they are adopted, as the Naranjas believe that having that discussion is important and that adoption should not be shrouded in secrecy and shame. “We tell our kids that they were not born in our tummies, but they were born in our hearts. They were meant for us; they were answered prayers.” She explains to them that “God creates families, whether they stay with the biological mommy or not.” In a conversation with one of them, she said, “We thought we were ‘done’ with three kids, but we got a call out of nowhere—God surprises you when you think you’re finished, just like other families.” When the kids are older, Rita and Daniel plan to share as much information as possible with the kids about their biological parents and would even go so far as to hire detectives to find out more, if needed. People tend to think that adoption means that you are not wanted. Rita tells her kids: “It’s the opposite: You’re super wanted.” She helps them understand that there are difficult circumstances that cause a biological mother

Rita and Daniel Naranja were always dreaming of a large family of four or five children.

to give up their child. “There’s no judgment,” she said. In one case, she and Daniel were privy to a court hearing for one of the mothers of their children, who was trying to get the infant back at the time. “We met her, and it was fine – she decided that she wanted her child to stay with us.” The mother had had issues with mental health and drugs and knew she wanted something better for her child— “That’s love,” said Rita, “To say ‘I want better.’” Rita recalled the love and support shown by their school and parish community at the time of the adoption of their fourth child. The kids’ whole school was brimming with anticipation. The Naranjas had been specifically chosen by the birth mother, and they couldn’t wait for the newest member S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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of the family to arrive. Because of Rita and Daniel’s love and intentionality, their children know their true worth. They pray for the biological parents of their children and wish they could meet. “You have to die to yourself in parenting,” Rita says. “Your kids are all different. It’s a big learning experience for you as a parent. Just when you figure it out, there’s something more to learn.” The Naranjas feel blessed by the love and support of their extended family. “It is hard,” says Rita, “but with family support, you can pretty much handle anything. […] We weren’t meant to do this on our own.” When it comes to family dynamics, Rita says they’re like every other family. “Everything is the same. Same issues other families have, with maybe some extras.” Like typical siblings, the kids fight each other and love each other. They play with their cousins who are close in age. “They just love them,” said Rita. The children don’t know any different. “Once they’re adopted, they’re yours. You’re just a family.” Along with instilling a strong faith in God, the family also encourages academics. Rita described their kids as remarkably smart, with above-average intelligence. With infertility comes options: There are treatments approved by the Church that couples can pursue. But Rita wants to encourage couples and even singles of all ages to really consider the awesome and important opportunity to change lives through adoption. Of the 12 children they took in, eight did not stay. “We’ll never forget them, ever,” says Rita.

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Before an adoption is completed, the authorities try to locate alternate family members of the child, so there is always a risk of losing a child you’re attached to. There was a child they kept until the age of one who was placed in a different home, and the parting was very traumatic and painful for everyone. Another baby came to them with Failure to Thrive, and they nursed him to complete health before he was placed elsewhere five weeks later. At another point, they took in two sisters who had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Rita had to call her mother for advice as she attempted to clean their sores and the lice from their hair. The caseworker had stood by with tears in her eyes, telling Rita that they were doing God’s work. “I’d never thought of it that way before,” Rita reflected. The need for adoptive parents will always be there, and Rita has grown to see it as an amazing, rewarding, grace-filled endeavor. “You just realize God provides through heartbreak and uncertainty. We always wanted a large family. We were thrilled at 3, and then we got that surprise call for our fourth. She came to us on Valentine’s Day. She is an amazing gift. God gives more than you could ask for.” Rita encourages everyone who feels like they’ve missed the opportunity to have a family to try adoption. It is not for the faint of heart, she admits, “But God showed us we could do it again and again. Lean on and trust in God. You’ll want to give up, and you’ll say, ‘I’ll never do this again’... But then you do.”

ESTA ES LA HISTORIA DE UNA PAREJA QUE DESCUBRIERON EL PLAN DE DIOS PARA CONVERTIR SU SUEÑO EN REALIDAD Y TENER UNA FAMILIA GRANDE

Dios crea familias, bien sea con padres biológicos o adoptivos POR JESSICA ROHR / TRADUCIDO POR GLORIA ROMERO

Cortesía de la Familia Naranja

ntes de enfrentar la amarga realidad de la infertilidad, Rita y Daniel Naranja de 48 y 43 años respectivamente, acariciaban el sueño de formar una familia grande, con cuatro o cinco hijos. Rita es abogada y Daniel trabaja en una refinería. Con la alternativa biológica cancelada, la actitud abierta de Daniel hacia la adopción impulsó a la pareja a construir ese sueño familiar. La carrera de Rita como abogada, les proporcionó las diversas alternativas con las que se puede lograr la adopción. Agencias como Circles of Love y A World for Children facilitan la adopción sin costo alguno, mientras que elegir una agencia privada puede generar costos de $40,000 y hasta más. El proceso se inicia tomando clases y obteniendo la licencia. El hogar Naranja tenía licencia para albergar hasta cinco niños. Rita compartió, que el proceso de aprobación del Departamento de A s u n to s Fa m i l i a re s puede ser engorroso y

Rita y Daniel Naranja siempre soñaron con una familia numerosa de cuatro o cinco hijos. S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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cathopic.com La adopción no significa que no se quieran tener hijos; significa que las parejas que no pueden tener hijos biológicos los desean mucho.

entrometido para la intimidad del hogar. Además, se llevan varios meses de clases, entrevistas y visitas domiciliarias. Inicialmente, los Naranja querían adoptar solamente bebés recién nacidos, pero sus cuatro hijos llegaron a ellos en una variedad de etapas y edades a través del programa de ‘Paternidad Temporal o Transitoria’. En la casa de los Naranja, llegaron a quedarse un total de doce niños, el primero de ellos llegó en el 2013. Rita y Daniel nunca sabían cuánto tiempo se quedaría el niño, ya que podría tomar hasta un año determinar, si se quedaba o se iba. Siempre existía la posibilidad de que regresara con sus padres o lo colocaran con algún familiar. Rita reveló que esta parte del proceso puede ser desgarradora y traumática tanto para los padres temporales como para los niños. - “Bríndales (a los niños) lo que necesitan en ese momento: amor, cariño y seguridad” - Ese era el consejo de la madre de Rita, el cual la fortaleció en ese ciclo transitorio, tan difícil para ellos. - “Te enamoras de los niños y luego se te van”- dijo Rita. “Cada vez que se iban, llorábamos. Pero de lo que aquí se trata es de darles lo que necesitan en ese momento”. 12

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Los cuatro niños que adoptaron los Naranja pertenecen a diferentes etnias y actualmente tienen entre 2 y 9 años. “Todos llegaron cuando eran bebés”, dijo Rita, “a los tres meses, a los tres días, a las tres semanas y a las dos semanas”. Los niños asisten a la escuela parroquial de Corpus Christi y la familia Naranja va a Misa cada domingo. Los niños saben que son adoptados, ya que los Naranja creen que tener esa conversación es importante y que la adopción no debe estar rodeada de secretismo y vergüenza. “Les decimos a nuestros hijos que no nacieron en nuestras barrigas, sino en nuestros corazones y que estaban destinados a nosotros por Dios porque fueron la respuesta a nuestras oraciones”. Ella les explica que “Dios crea familias, ya sea que se queden con la mamá biológica o no”. En una conversación con uno de ellos, ella le dijo: “Pensábamos que ya habíamos terminado con tres niños, pero de pronto y de la nada, recibimos una llamada: Dios te sorprende cuando crees que has terminado resulta que no, lo mismo les pasa a otras familias”. Cuando los niños sean mayores, Rita y Daniel planean compartirles toda la información posible a

cerca de sus padres biológicos e incluso llegarían a contratar detectives para averiguar más, si el caso lo requiere. La gente tiende a pensar que la adopción significa que no has sido deseado. Rita les dice a sus hijos: “Es todo lo contrario; son súper deseados”. Les ayuda a comprender que existen circunstancias difíciles que hacen que una madre biológica abandone a su hijo. “No se juzga”, dijo. En uno de los casos, ella y Daniel estuvieron al tanto de una audiencia judicial para una de las madres de sus hijos, que estaba tratando de recuperar al bebé en ese momento. “Cuando nos conoció, aceptó y decidió que estaba bien que su hijo se quedara con nosotros”. La madre había tenido problemas de salud mental y drogas y sabía que quería algo mejor para su hijo: “Eso es amor, el decir: ‘quiero algo mejor para mi hijo’”. Rita recordó el amor y el apoyo que tanto su escuela como su comunidad parroquial le mostraron en el momento de su cuarta adopción. Toda la escuela de los niños se alegraba y anticipaba la llegada del nuevo bebé. Los Naranja habían sido elegidos específicamente por la madre biológica y no podían esperar a que llegara el miembro más nuevo de la familia. Gracias al amor y la intencionalidad de Rita y Daniel, sus hijos conocen su verdadero valor. Rezan por los padres biológicos de sus hijos y desean poder conocerlos. “Al ser padre, tienes que morir a ti mismo”, dice Rita. “Tus hijos son todos diferentes. Es una gran experiencia de aprendizaje para uno como padre. Justo cuando encuentras una solución, descubres que hay algo nuevo que aprender”. Los Naranja se sienten bendecidos por el amor y apoyo de su extensa familia. Cuando se trata de dinámica familiar, Rita dice que son como cualquier otra familia. “Como es típico, los hermanos se pelean entre sí, pero también se aman. Juegan con sus primos que tienen edades cercanas. ‘Simplemente los amamos’, dijo Rita. Los niños no saben de diferencias. Una vez adoptados, son tuyos. Somos sólo una familia más”. Además de inculcarles mucha fe en Dios, los anima y estimula su aprendizaje académico. Rita describió a sus hijos como notablemente inteligentes.

La infertilidad conlleva opciones: existen tratamientos aprobados por la Iglesia que las parejas pueden seguir. Pero Rita quiere alentar a las parejas e incluso a los solteros de todas las edades a considerar realmente la increíble e importante oportunidad de cambiar vidas mediante la adopción. De los 12 niños que acogieron, ocho no se quedaron. “Nunca los olvidaremos”, dice Rita. Antes de que se complete una adopción, las autoridades intentan localizar a familiares alternativos del niño, por lo que siempre existe el riesgo de perder a un niño al que le tienen apego. Hubo un niño que se quedó con ellos hasta cumplir un año de edad y fue colocado en un hogar diferente, su partida fue muy traumática y dolorosa para todos. Otro bebé llegó a ellos con falta de peso en su crecimiento y lo cuidaron hasta que se recuperó por completo. Cinco semanas después, lo colocaran en otro lugar. Otra vez, acogieron a dos hermanas que no tenían nada más que la ropa que llevaban puesta. Rita tuvo que llamar a su madre para pedirle consejo mientras intentaba limpiarles las llagas y los piojos del cabello. La trabajadora social se quedó allí mirando y con lágrimas en los ojos, le dijo a Rita que estaban haciendo la obra de Dios. “Antes de eso, nunca lo vi de esa manera”, reflexionó Rita. La necesidad por padres adoptivos siempre existirá y Rita lo ha experimentado de una manera asombrosa como una tarea gratificante y plena de gracia. “Simplemente te das cuenta de que Dios provee a través de la angustia y la incertidumbre. Siempre quisimos una familia numerosa y ya estábamos contentos y emocionados con 3 y nos llegó la llamada sorpresa con la cuarta hija. Ella vino a nosotros en el día de San Valentín. Fue un regalo increíble. Dios te da más de lo que puedes pedir”. Rita anima a todos los que sienten que han perdido la oportunidad de tener una familia a intentar la adopción. Pero admite que no es para personas débiles de corazón. “Dios nos mostró que podíamos hacerlo una y otra vez. Apóyate y confía en Dios. Algunas veces querrás rendirte y te dirás: ‘Nunca lo volveré a hacer…. Pero llega el momento y lo haces”.

S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

INVIERNO 2023

A GROUP OF NEWMAN CENTER STUDENTS WENT TO HELP AT THE HUMAN RESPITE CENTER IN MCALLEN

The Face of Christ Behind Every Person BY SUSANNE JANSSEN

S. Janssen (2)

hey come in buses starting in the early morning hours. They walk in with the air of tiredness from a long journey. Their shoes without laces, which they had to remove when they are processed at the U.S. Border Patrol center after crossing the border. Children are crying, they haven’t eaten for hours. Some walked for weeks to arrive in the U.S. And now, what happens to them? In 2022, according to Border Patrol, 2.2 million people crossed the border illegally. Only those who are granted asylum are allowed to enter. On a Saturday, when around 40 students from the Newman Centers in Corpus Christi and Kingsville came for their service day at the Human Respite Center of Catholic Charities in McAllen, more than 800 people arrived. Each family gets registered, and if they have any relatives in the U.S., they receive bus or plane tickets

to reach them. Many families arrived from Haiti, speaking only Creole, but most were from Spanishspeaking countries. The students who know Spanish volunteer to help in the small pharmacy, and some listen to stories that change their perspectives: gang violence and threats against their family are the most common reasons parents decide to leave everything behind to secure the future of their children. One mother had walked for two months with her two small children after her husband was killed. “What would I have done in that situation?” they asked themselves. While some students help prepare the lunch and dinner bags for those who will leave soon for their destination, most group members take out some games, coloring sheets, pens and books. Soon, they are surrounded by children of all ages;

The group from the Newman Centers outside of the Human Respite Center in McAllen.

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even teenagers are happy to be distracted and to forget for some moments everything they had, and will have, to face. Looking at some picture books, their tired and scared faces change. A group of boys can’t get enough of a plastic bowling game; they continue for hours, including fights and tears. A box of big Legos helps some toddlers smile, and together, they start building a giant tower until it topples over. At 11:30 am, lunch starts – many families haven’t eaten a real meal for days. The students serve at the tables, and after the clean-up, they take a few moments to eat their sandwiches and reflect. “When I first stepped in, I was a little bit overwhelmed,” shared Hanna Fernandez from the Newman Center in Corpus Christi. “Then we started playing with the children, and they are having a lot of fun.” She thinks that the trip helped her to open her mind more. Nia Balakrishnan, also from TAMUCC Newman, was also overwhelmed at the beginning but noticed how their efforts had an impact: “The kids were so sad, but when we played with them, they started to laugh, and you kind of see their personalities coming out. And the kids’ parents can calm down for a little bit. I would definitely do this again!” Miguel Salcedo, who attends DelMar College, shared, “My biggest impression is that all these guys, they’re not so different from us! Just like we try to do the best we can for ourselves and our families… they’re from different countries but not so different! We laugh the same; we struggle the same…It didn’t change my perspective, but it enhanced it, and in everybody here, I see the love of Christ.” Adam Whelen, FOCUS Missionary at the Newman Center in Kingsville, came for the second time: “It’s very humbling,” he said. “I’ve worked in ministry for a few years now, and encountering all these families from all over the world here reminds me of why I do the work that I do… I think it’s something that really every Catholic should encounter – to be in a place where we get to be the hands and feet and face of Christ.” While the group continued to be family for a few hours for those who needed that, Fr. Carlos De la Rosa, chaplain at the Newman Center in Corpus Christi, said, “Just hearing their stories has been amazing. Seeing the children here is very moving, heartbreaking in many ways, but also filled with hope. “One of the most important things that I remember here is the flight of Jesus, escaping persecution and death. And so when I see these people here, I think we’re called to make sure that they’re treated as human beings, with dignity, to remember that when we see them, we see Christ and especially Christ as a child, traveling to safety.” This is in line with what Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, the USCCB Migration Chair, said in a September 15 statement: “For millennia, people have been forced to flee their homelands, seeking safety and security, because of factors beyond their control…

“Through our belief in Jesus Christ, we are compelled to respond with charity toward those who must uproot their lives in search of refuge, but efforts to manage migration – even when predicated on the common good – require that we also address the coercive forces driving people to migrate,” he added. While more and more migrants leave for their destinations, the students wrap up and gather the coloring pens – all coloring sheets are gone and were put to good use! Before leaving, Sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, comes to greet them – one of the students’ fathers is good friends with her. She has been praised by Pope Francis and others for her work with refugees and immigrants to the United States and was included on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. “We have a lot of immigrants coming, but not as many as they were coming before 2019,” she shared. “However, the biggest part of them is sent back to their countries – only those who can apply for asylum are allowed to enter.” “It’s almost ten years since I took the lead to organize the humanitarian response here in McAllen, and if we have here a mother that is suffering and giving her the opportunity to feel a little better – taking a shower, get some clothing, something so simple like a glass of water, honestly, we both are blessed. They’re blessed because they receive open arms, and we are blessed by God in that encounter.” She shared how she started her work for migrants at the border: “It was in 2014 when I visited the children at the detention center, and that broke my heart. I saw little kids, maybe five years old, waiting to figure out what would happen. They were crying. Their faces were full of tears, and they were saying, ‘Get me out of here; I want to go with my mom.’ And I can’t forget that.” This experience instilled in Sister Norma the conviction that we must be there to help one another: “The dignity of every person comes first… the way we treat one another is what counts – we must show love to our families, to our neighbors, to our community, to strangers that are entering that country…” For her, it is part of the values the Catholic Church and our country stand for: “We need to preserve these values, and what makes us, us... So let us encourage each other to do our best to do good.” S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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WINTER 2023

THE SECOND STATE OF THE DIOCESE LOOKED INTO THE FUTURE – WHAT CAN EACH PARISH AND PARISHIONER DO TO WELCOME OTHERS?

Getting Involved with One Another

S. Janssen

BY SUSANNE JANSSEN

More than 500 people came to this year’s edition of the State of the Diocese, reflecting together on future priorities.

utside, windy and humid, inside a bustling, welcoming atmosphere: around 500 people attended this year’s State of the Diocese at The Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds in Robstown. People took time to explore the different ministries and initiatives of the Diocese at the 18 Expo tables. Do you know what the Diocesan Archive is doing? And what are the latest initiatives of the Youth and Young adult ministry? Participants could chat with the different representatives of offices and Catholic Schools and get to know the three missionaries of La Fazenda de Esperanza (Farm of Hope) who recently arrived from Brazil. Two videos introduced Bishop Michael Mulvey’s speech: one with impressions of different youth and young adult initiatives, from the Gen Verde Performing Arts Camp that just happened to the WYD pilgrims and service retreats. The second one 18

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put together priests, married couples and religious sisters of different generations who reflected on how they grew up in different times but are living out the same vocations, just with other means. Bishop Mulvey invited the participants to “go back to the roots” of the Church – when the adherents of this new religion were not yet called Christians but “the people of the way.” “They came together as communities; they shared what they had,” the bishop continued. They were noted because they were different – they put the New Commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 13:34)” into practice. He went on to the motto of the Synod, “Communion – Participation – Mission.” Sharing about a period in his life, where he lived for one year with 65 priests and seminarians from all over the world, he recognized that he was prejudiced: “I grew up in

Houston with all kinds of different people around me, but I didn’t get to know them.” To be a community, “we have to get involved with one another, especially with our enemies – otherwise, we are not part of ‘the way.’” Participation means stewardship – and Bishop Mulvey urged the people to settle down in one parish instead of hopping around because the music is nice in that parish and the sermon in another. The third point, our mission, is to give witness to the resurrection, and this means accepting change. He shared that he always feels uncomfortable when people say, “We want to keep our parish just as it is.” Instead, “We have to keep learning the beauty of interacting with each other, being part of a bigger family.” One serious concern is the number of priests and parishes in the diocese. There are 69 parishes and 25 missions, with 79 priests serving them. In ten years, though, there will be only 58 priests. He invited the audience to be part of vocational teams in their parishes, “future priests don’t grow on trees; they sit in your pews.” On the other hand, the diocese has to keep up with many buildings and structures. He presented data on different cities in the diocese – some smaller-sized

towns have 3 or 4 parishes but a low regular mass attendance. In some cities, the cost is around $1,350 per active Catholic. If those parishes would merge, “imagine what we could do – we had more money and staff for Schools, for young people and marriage preparation.” In some cases, “we could sell properties and build one brand-new church for the whole town.” He invited the parish members to propose and develop ideas on how their parishes could attract more people. Guided by questions, each table had around 15 minutes to talk about ideas to be a more missionary and evangelizing parish. Some representatives shared ideas on how to reach out to “Christmas Catholics,” others proposed to preserve the beauty of our faith while being open to new ideas that meet the needs of people. All written proposals were collected and will be evaluated. Music – Charles Gounod’s Ave Maria, performed by Carolina Salinas and Alex Oldroyd, and a video of Gen Verde performing with the young people closed the evening. The feedback was positive –people look already forward to next year’s State of the Diocese and want to continue the conversations in their parishes. S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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With a colorful, energetic performance, Gen Verde thrilled their audience in the Arena of Mary Carroll High School.

GEN VERDE LIVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI – A CROSS-CULTURAL PERFORMANCE THAT EMPOWERED TEENS AND GAVE NEW HOPE

Building Bridges in Everyday Life BY SUSANNE JANSSEN

t was a night to remember – the first performance in the new Arena at Mary Carroll High School done by the international band Gen Verde together with the participants of the Youth Performing Arts Camp. A performance full of colors, hope, and joy mixed with grooving beats, Latin rhythm, and lyrics that reveal the band members’ remarkable discovery. In every action, every day, we can choose peace and make a difference by reflecting God’s love. Around 600 people listened to the energetic concert featuring songs not only in English but also in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Introducing the songs, the band members’ experiences are relatable: when confronted with hate, you can choose revenge or forgiveness; when society imposes beauty standards and shallow pleasures, the true meaning is found in the Gospel and God’s love. This message was transmitted through choreography and music: the piece “East to West” brings piano, guitar and percussion together with a Chinese harp (guzheng) and an ancient Korean violin (haegeum). Without words, the music explains how 20

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differences can evolve into harmony if we are open to something new. Another song, “Stars on the Sidewalk,” features the choice songwriter Nancy Uelmen made as a teenager growing up in Los Angeles: Everyone pretends to be happy, trying to make it to the top. Instead, looking inside, “deep down in your heart, you hold the key to be happy.” Colomba Bai, from South Korea, grew up feeling that she was not pretty enough and that she would not fulfill the high standards that were expected of her until she found the courage to believe that she was beautiful and precious, just as she was. Inviting the participants to build bridges with those who are different (“Idea louca” – a crazy idea), Gen Verde challenged the audience to think of reaching out to others at a time when many people look only for affirmation of their positions. Four pieces in the concert were unique – the band performed with the participants of the YPA Camp. In Street percussion, the high school students used buckets of different sizes for a rhythmic performance

people from Corpus Christi. They were courageous enough to get up at 8 in the morning and go to school in their Fall break,” she said. Her favorite part of the camp is always to see the teens at the end performing on stage, with the lights and the live band, and seeing what they can do. Armando Botello III, who participated in the Singing Workshop, shared: “I have gained a lot of happiness and excitement. We had a lot of joy in the group, and I feel that God is looking down on every one of us. The more we do for God, the more He looks down on us and smiles.” “I have gained more confidence and courage,” shared Lezlie Valadez, who likes to sing and perform and was excited to learn from professionals. “I bonded with some people I’ve never met before, and my faith increased here at the camp.” She would encourage everyone to go out more and meet people instead of only staying home, “getting out of your comfort zone.” Noah Rios was initially not so excited to participate in the workshop because he doesn’t like singing that much, but after three days, he was all positive: “I learned so much, I met great people, and it was a lot of fun.” Unexpectedly, he felt “the Lord wanted me to be here; maybe He wants me to serve Him with my singing in the future.” Talos Hall, who played the main character of the drama story, said, “I’ve always been that kid in the back; I won’t get anywhere…” He realized that taking the lead role carried a lot of time and effort, but he was much more capable than he thought: “If you stay with Jesus Christ, you might not get popular, but you’re doing the right thing.”

S. Janssen (2)

with stunning precision. On top of that, the only girl in the workshop played a solo on a Chinese mandolin, switching f rom bucket to her instrument and back. The Drama workshop featured a scene in a subway – people on their way to work, the physician afraid of germs, the soccer player, the nerd who hides behind her books, the man who drank too much – and how different their commute is when connecting with one another. The Singing workshop differed from a classic choir where everyone had to stand still. Instead, the participants (who learned the words by heart) were swinging and dancing on stage, overcoming shyness and stage fright. The Dance workshop joined Gen Verde in the last song, “Turn it up!” and the girls showed that they learned how to express joy and confidence besides knowing all the moves and steps. The concert was the culmination of the YPA Camp that took place in St. John Paul II High School. In a feedback session, the teens who got up early during their Fall break shared how it helped them to be confident, open up, and connect with one another. They found something more Gen Verde was singing about – hope and faith. Marita Alvarez, from Argentina, coordinated the camp. “It was amazing to get to know the young

Audience, volunteers, and camp performers enjoyed the time with the international band. S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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CHRISTMAS R

A Time of Peace “Christmas celebrations are often full of sound. It would be good for us to make room for silence, to hear the ‘voice of Love.’” (2013) “Advent is a time for us to prepare for the coming Jesus, Prince of Peace. It’s a time to make peace with ourselves and our neighbors.” (2018) “By contemplating God, who became a child, radiating light from the humility of the crib, we can also become witnesses to humility, tenderness and goodness.” (2018) Pope Francis

“Christmas means to all the certainty of people’s goodwill is lost in whatever in goodwill, perhaps without being en it, for the coming of God’s kingdom o order that the city of man may be mod city of God.” (1959) St. Pope John XXI

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you... yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.” Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997)

“Jesus stands at the door knocking (Rev. 3:20). In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. That is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Advent message. Christ is standing at the door; he lives in the form of a human being among us.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), German Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi dissident 22

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REFLECTIONS

e and Encounter “The mystery of the Holy Night, which historically happened 2,000 years ago, must be lived as a spiritual event in the ‘today’ of the liturgy, the Word who found a dwelling in Mary’s womb comes to knock on the heart of every person with a singular intensity this Christmas.” (1999) St. Pope John Paul II (1920–2005)

y that nothing r they perform ntirely aware of on earth and in deled after the III (1881–1963)

“A child who gets lost winds up in a place that’s not home. Yes, at Christmas, God got lost — not only like a child but as a child — in a place where he was no longer at home. He didn’t remain within the enclosed glory of Heaven or within the confines of our devotional space. He got lost for the little ones and the poor, for those who are sick and in mourning, for sinners, for those we consider far from God, and those we think have nothing to do with God. God got lost right where the prodigal son got lost — far from his Father’s home — so he could return to the Father in Him and with Him. God got lost as a child not by mistake but as the most divine gesture God could make. God is the God of all, or else he isn’t God. God is the God of the little ones and the ones far off, or else he isn’t God. Let yourself be found where you, God, were lost as a child. Yes, let us become a child in whom you lose yourself for others, for everybody!” Klaus Hemmerle (1929–1994), theologian and bishop of Aachen, Germany

depositphotos.com S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C

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cathopic.com

FOLLOWING JESUS

Called to Be the Holy Family of God BY FR. BRADY WILLIAMS, SOLT

he modern view of liberty and freedom is grounded on the basis that the individual is the most basic cell of society. However, pondering this more seriously, we recognize many things we did not choose: I did not bring myself into existence, and I didn’t choose my parents or my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. The truth is that the family is the most basic cell of society, and the Church is right to remind us of this fact frequently. Dr. Fabrice Hadjadj, a French philosopher and writer who converted from atheism and anarchism to Catholicism in his early twenties, once described the family as the “home of holy anarchy.” He says, “It is the family in all its divinely ordained randomness that remains outside all the rationalistic controls of the technocratic society in which we live … It is the ‘school of charity’ because it is in the family where you love people you did not choose to be with.” Each family is “different, unique, and implausibly free. No meeting organizer would deliberately bring them together.” What’s more, they “may gather around the Sunday table for lunch. Still, it’s virtually impossible to keep them orderly for more than half an hour.” ‘Anarchy’ might be a good word to describe the family we either grew up in or have begun ourselves in that extraordinary adventure called matrimony. But what about the descriptive term “holy?” Are our families a place where holiness is talked about, lived, and encouraged? We readily think of our biological families when 24

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we hear the word family. There is another family, however, that we have been predestined and called to be a part of. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has called us to be members of His family, the Church. Let us listen to Jesus in the Gospel of Mark 3:31–35: “His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. A crowd around him told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.’ But he replied to them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?” For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” When Jesus’ cousins (his “brothers and sisters” mentioned in the Gospel) heard these words, I wonder if they were a little puzzled and looking around at this ragbag crowd, if it crossed their minds that they weren’t quite sure whether they wanted these people to be called “family members.” First, these beautiful words of Jesus highlight that He has called us into his family. We do not have to be blood-related to Jesus to have access to Him or feel that He would treat us differently if we were his kith and kin. In fact, the one closest to Jesus, related most intimately to Him, is the one who does the will of God. That is what strengthens the familial bonds in his new family. Faith in Jesus through baptism makes us family members, and striving for holiness sets us apart and identifies us as his “relatives.” Secondly, when we look around us at Holy Mass on Sundays, we should note the “divinely ordered

randomness” of this family of God. We would not necessarily choose to be with these people, but God’s grace unites us and is, indeed, a ‘school of charity’ where we learn to love as Christ Himself loves. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). The Church is the holy family of God, but we have some work to do so that others may see that we belong to the one family of God. When these two families (our biological families and the family of God) come together, something beautiful happens: what we learn and live in the “school of charity” at home is broadened to include others who we now see as “no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19–20). In this advanced school of charity, we are stretched to love, forgive, sacrifice, “stake our life on another person and find that it is worth it” (Pope Francis), accepting those around us as “brothers, sisters, and mothers.” Our late Holy Father, Benedict XVI, pointed out during Holy Week 2007 that Jesus “at the end of his sufferings, for all the dismay which filled men’s hearts, for all the power of hatred and cowardice, was never alone. “There are faithful ones who remain with him. Under the Cross stand Mary, his Mother, the sister of his Mother, Mary, Mary Magdalen and the disciple whom he loved. A wealthy man, Joseph of Arimathea, appears on the scene: a rich man can pass through

the eye of a needle, for God has given him the grace. He buries Jesus in his empty tomb in a garden. At Jesus’ burial, the cemetery becomes a garden f rom which Adam was cast out when he abandoned the fullness of life, his Creator. The garden tomb symbolizes that the dominion of death is about to end. A member of the Sanhedrin also comes along, Fr. Brady Williams, SOLT, is the Nicodemus, to whom Director of Our Lady of Corpus Jesus had proclaimed Christi Retreat Center and the mystery of rebirth Novice Servant of the SOLT. by water and the Spirit. Even in the Sanhedrin, which decreed his death, there is a believer who knows and recognizes Jesus after his death. In this hour of immense grief, darkness and despair, the light of hope is mysteriously present. “The hidden God continues to be the God of life, ever near. Even in the night of death, the Lord continues to be our Lord and Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ, his new family, begins to take shape.”

Silver & Gold

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS CELEBRATION Those blessed with celebrating 25 or 50 years of Sacramental Marriage are invited to attend a special Silver & Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Mulvey

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 AT 9:30 A.M. Corpus Christi Cathedral | 505 N. Upper Broadway A light reception will follow in St. Joseph’s Hall at the Cathedral Couples that register before the deadline will receive a certificate from Bishop Mulvey recognizing their Silver or Golden Anniversary. Registration is open to any validly married couple celebrating 25 or 50 years of marriage in 2024. To receive an Anniversary Certificate please submit registration by February 2, 2024 Online Registration: diocesecc.org/anniversarymassregistration or scan the QR code:

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SIGUIENDO A JESÚS

Hemos sido llamados a ser ‘La Familia Santa de Dios’

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POR EL PADRE BRADY WILLIAMS, SOLT / TRADUCIDO POR GLORIA ROMERO

a visión moderna de estar libre y ser libre está enraizada sobre la base de que el individuo es la célula básica de la sociedad. Sin embargo, al reflexionar más seriamente sobre esto, nos damos cuenta de que hay muchas cosas en la vida que no elegimos: yo no me traje solo a la existencia y no elegí a mis padres ni a mis hermanos, hermanas, tías, tíos, primos, etc. Por lo tanto, la verdad es que la familia es en realidad la célula básica de la sociedad, y la Iglesia tiene razón al recordarnos este hecho con frecuencia. El Dr. Fabrice Hadjadj, filósofo y escritor francés que se convirtió del ateísmo y el anarquismo al Catolicismo cuando tenía poco más de veinte años, describió una vez a la familia como el “hogar de la santa anarquía”. Dice: “Es la familia en todas sus divinamente ordenadas casualidades, la que permanece fuera de todos los controles racionalistas de la sociedad tecnocrática en la que vivimos... Es la ‘escuela de la caridad’ porque es en la familia donde amas a las personas que no elegiste para estar contigo”. Cada familia es “diferente, única y plausiblemente libre. Ningún organizador de juntas, los reuniría deliberadamente”. Es más, “pueden reunirse alrededor de la mesa del domingo para almorzar, pero es prácticamente imposible mantenerlos en orden durante más de media hora”. “Anarquía” podría ser una buena palabra para describir la familia en la que crecimos o en la que comenzamos esa gran aventura llamada matrimonio. Pero ¿qué hay a cerca de la palabra que la define como ‘santa’? ¿A caso está en nuestras familias el sitio donde se habla, se vive y se fomenta la santidad? Cuando escuchamos la palabra familia, 26

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pensamos fácilmente en nuestras familias biológicas. Sin embargo, hay otra familia a la que hemos sido predestinados y llamados a formar parte. Nuestro Salvador Jesucristo nos ha llamado a ser miembros de Su familia, que es la Iglesia. Escuchemos a Jesús en el Evangelio de Marcos 3, 31-35: “Llegaron su madre y sus hermanos, y quedándose de pie afuera, le enviaron recado, y lo llamaron. La gente sentada alrededor de Él le dijo: “Tu madre, tus hermanos y tus hermanas están afuera buscándote”. Pero Él les respondió: “¿Quién es mi madre y quiénes mis hermanos?” Y dando una mirada en torno sobre los que estaban sentados a su alrededor, dijo: -“He aquí mi madre y mis hermanos, Porque quien hiciere la voluntad de Dios, ése es mi hermano, mi hermana y mi madre.’” Me pregunto, cómo reaccionaron los primos de Jesús (sus “hermanos y hermanas” mencionados en el Evangelio) cuando escucharon estas palabras, quizás se quedaron un poco desconcertados y miraron a esa multitud harapienta, y tal vez se les cruzó por la mente que no estaban muy seguros de querer reconocer a esas personas como “miembros de la familia”. En primer lugar, estas hermosas palabras de Jesús resaltan el hecho de que Él nos ha llamado a ser parte de su familia. No es necesaria una consanguinidad con Jesús para tener acceso a Él o sentir que Él nos trataría de manera diferente si fuéramos sus parientes o amigos. De hecho, el que está más cerca de Jesús y más íntimamente relacionado con Él, es quien hace la voluntad de Dios. Eso es lo que fortalece los lazos familiares de su nueva familia. La fe en Jesús a través del bautismo es lo que nos convierte en miembros

de la familia, y la lucha por la santidad es lo que nos distingue y nos identifica como sus “parientes”. En segundo lugar, cuando miramos a nuestro alrededor en la Santa Misa los domingos, debemos notar la “divinamente ordenada casualidad” de esta familia de Dios. No necesariamente elegiríamos estar con estas personas, pero es la gracia de Dios la que nos une y es, de hecho, una “escuela de caridad” donde aprendemos a amar como ama Cristo mismo. “Así sabrán todos que sois mis discípulos, si os amáis los unos a los otros” (Juan 13,35). La Iglesia es la santa familia de Dios, pero tenemos que trabajar para que otros puedan ver que pertenecemos a la única familia de Dios. Cuando estas dos familias (nuestras familias biológicas y la familia de Dios) se unen, sucede algo hermoso, porque lo que aprendimos a vivir en la “escuela de caridad”, en el hogar, se amplía para incluir a otros a quienes ahora vemos diferente, en un mismo espíritu; “de modo que ya no son extraños ni extranjeros, sino conciudadanos de los santos y miembros de la familia de Dios” (Efesios 2:19-20). En esta escuela avanzada de caridad, estamos obligados a amar, perdonar, sacrificar:- “Arriesgar nuestra vida por otra persona y descubrir que vale la pena” (Papa Francisco)-, aceptando a quienes nos rodean como “hermanos, hermanas y madres”. Nuestro Santo Padre difunto, Benedicto XVI, señaló durante la Semana Santa del 2007, que Jesús “al final de sus sufrimientos, a pesar de la

consternación con que se llenaron los corazones de los hombres, y a pesar de tanto poder, odio y cobardίa, nunca estuvo solo. “Hay quienes permanecen fieles a Él y con Él. Al pie de la Cruz están María, su Madre, la hermana de su Madre, María, María Magdalena y la discípula a quien Él amaba. También aparece en escena un hombre rico, José de Arimatea: el hombre rico que puede pasar por el ojo de una aguja, porque Dios le ha concedido esa gracia. El entierra a Jesús en su propia tumba; nueva, vacía y en un jardín. En el entierro de Jesús, el cementerio se convierte en un jardín, el jardín del que Adán fue expulsado cuando abandonó la plenitud de vida, que le dio su Creador. La tumba del jardín simboliza que el dominio de la muerte está por terminar. También viene un miembro del Sanedrín, Nicodemo, a quien Jesús le había proclamado el misterio del renacimiento por medio del agua y el Espíritu. Incluso en el Sanedrín, que decretó su muerte, hay un creyente, alguien que conoce y reconoce a Jesús después de su muerte. En esta hora de inmenso dolor, oscuridad y desesperación, la luz de la esperanza está misteriosamente presente. “El Dios escondido sigue siendo el Dios de la vida, siempre cercano. Incluso en la noche de la muerte, el Señor sigue siendo nuestro Señor y Salvador. La Iglesia de Jesucristo, su nueva familia, comienza a tomar forma”.

PLATA Y ORO

Misa de Celebración de Aniversario de Bodas Las parejas bendecidas por celebrar en el año 2024, 25 o 50 años de matrimonio sacramental, están invitadas a una Misa especial de aniversario de bodas de plata y oro, precedida por el Obispo Michel Mulvey.

DOMINGO 11 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LA 9:30 A.M. Catedral de Corpus Christi | 505 N. Upper Broadway

A continuación se ofrecerá una pequeña recepción en el Salón San José de la Catedral. Las parejas que se registren antes de la fecha limite recibirán un certificado (de manos) del Obispo Mulvey del Obispo Mulvey reconociendo su aniversario de plata o de oro. La inscripción está abierta a cualquier pareja válidamente casada que celebre 25 o 50 años de matrimonio en 2024. Para recibir un Certificado de aniversario, envíe el registro antes del 2 de febrero de 2024 Registro en línea: diocesecc.org/anniversarymassregistration o escanea el código QR:

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WOMAN OF STRENGTH – ST. ZÉLIE MARTIN:

God’s Unique Plan for Her Life BY ELIZABETH MORALES

aint of the new millennia, Zélie begins her story in 1800s France. Though far from South Texas, her struggles, sufferings, and blessings in life make her more relatable than it seems. She was born Azélie-Marie Guérin to Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé on December 23, 1831. Her father was a member of the gendarmerie and brought the family to Alençon in the northwestern region of France. She had two siblings: an older sister, MarieLouise, who became a Visitandine nun, and a younger brother named Isidore. Zélie desired to enter the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul; however, she was not encouraged to pursue religious life with the order due to respiratory issues and frequent headaches. Zélie, who deeply desired to live for God, resolved that if God’s will for her were to enter the married state, he would bless her with many children who would all be consecrated to God. Needing to continue with her life, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, she discerned that she should learn how to make Alençon lace. Taking up the craft, she became quite skilled in the profession. Gaining customers throughout the St. Zélie Guérin Martin had different plans town of Alençon, she eventually met the mother for her life. of Louis Martin, a bachelor whose mother quite possibly thought she might be a good match would not offend God. for him. Zélie would give birth to nine children, four of One day, God allowed their paths to cross on whom died young. Their five remaining children Saint-Léonard bridge in Alençon. When walking were daughters: Marie, Pauline, Léonie, Céline and by, Zélie noticed Louis’ appearance and demeanor, Thérèse, each of whom would become religious and an interior voice said to her, “This is he whom sisters. Louis and Zélie’s youngest daughter is I have prepared for you.” known to the world as St. Thérèse of the Child Like Zélie, Louis was wholly devoted to God Jesus or St. Thérèse of Lisieux. and sought to enter the monastic life at the Grand“When we had our children, our ideas changed Saint Bernard hermitage, but his inability to master somewhat. We lived only for them. They were all Latin did not allow him to advance further. His love our happiness, and we never found any except in for a prayerful life remained, and he studied the them. In short, nothing was too difficult, and the profession of clockmaking to provide for himself. world was no longer a burden to us. For me, our Upon getting to know one another, they fell in children were a great compensation, so I wanted love, and after a three-month-long courtship, they to have a lot of them in order to raise them for were married on July 13, 1858, at Notre Dame, and Heaven,” Zélie. the couple moved into the home of Louis’ parents. Eventually, Zélie’s trade of lacemaking grew The beginning of the couple’s married life to management of staff, and she treated her differs from the form of marriage more commonly employees with dignity and respect, seeing them practiced in this era. They lived a Josephite as family. The business became so successful that marriage, living celibately for ten months out of a the couple decided Louis would leave watchmaking longing to love God. Soon, a confessor encouraged and assist with running Zélie’s lace factory. the couple to consummate their marriage as it As parents, they focused on their daughters’ 28

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holiness and education. Despite the blessings in her life, Zélie suffered the pain of losing her four children during infancy. Soon, she also became ill with breast cancer. She wrote about this cross in a letter: “If God wants to cure me, I will be very happy because deep down, I want to live. It’s hard for me to leave my husband and children, but, on the other hand, I say to myself, ‘if I’m not cured, perhaps it’s because it will be more helpful for them if I go away,’” Zélie. Eventually, the disease carried away her earthly life at the age of 45 on August 28, 1877, leaving behind Louis to care for their five daughters. St. Thérèse was four years old at the time. As a widower, Louis moved his family to Lisieux, where Zélie’s brother Isidore and his family lived. During this season of widowhood, Louis helped his daughters with their project of religious life, sharing that “it is a great, great honor for me that the Good Lord desires to take all of my children. If I had anything better, I would not hesitate to offer it to [them].” Although Zélie was not able to see her daughters mature into adulthood, she did her best to prepare them for this life and the next, teaching her daughters the importance of God through her example and their education.

In this garden at their house of Buissonnets in Lisieux, Thérèse, age 15, asked her father for permission to enter the Carmel .

Zélie’s cause for canonization was opened in 1957 but closed and later reopened together with her husband Louis in 1971. They were beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 after a miracle that occurred in 2002. Louis and Zélie were then canonized in 2015 by Pope Francis after a miracle from 2008. Her feast day is celebrated with Louis on July 12.

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WINTER 2023

BIOETHICS 101 – THE INNER VOICE THAT REMINDS US TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL

Healthcare and How Catholics Need to Respond to Challenges by Forming Their Conscience BY FR. RICHARD LIBBY

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atholics cannot ignore their religious beliefs in accord with the Church’s teachings in matters in the hospital or the doctor’s office any of faith and morals because they are the same more than they can anywhere else. No teachings Christ called us to believe and live by. matter what kind of work a Catholic does, they The Church offers us guidance in applying Her must do it in accordance with Catholic sensibilities, teachings, and our consciences guide us in making faith, and moral standards. To do otherwise would judgments in particular matters. Catholics in the be to downplay or deny our faith’s importance. working world may find themselves, at times, To help us to live by our moral standards, God asked to participate in practices that go against endowed each person with a conscience. “In the the Church’s teachings, and this certainly is true in depths of his conscience, man detects a law which the field of medicine. Faced with such decisions, he does not impose upon himself, but holds him to what is a Catholic to do? obedience” (Gaudium et Spes). The conscience is In 296, a 21-year-old man named Maximilianus the inner voice that reminds us of our obligations was conscripted into service in the Roman Army. to do good and avoid evil. St. Paul wrote about the Soldiers were required to receive a mark on the conscience in his letter to the Romans: “For when hand and to wear a leaden collar that bore the the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature emperor’s name. Still, Maximilianus considered observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a these practices superstitious and, thus, conflicted law for themselves even though they do not have the law” (Romans 2:14). In other words, the Gentiles (those who were not Jewish) had not heard the word of God yet observed standards of morality. This happened because God has written the moral law onto the human heart, and it is up to us to learn, observe, and obey it. Our consciences tell us what we should do and what we should avoid. To follow the conscience “is the very dignity of man; according to it, he will be judged” (Gaudium et Spes). Catholics have a Healthcare professionals should never be compelled to participate in practices particular obligation to that go against their consciences. form their consciences 30

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with his Christian beliefs. He refused to serve, and the proconsul ordered him to be executed. The Church honors him as St. Maximilian of Tebessa, and his story is the earliest recorded instance of conscientious objection. There have been many examples of conscientious objectors regarding military service, especially in recent history. The United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes a right to conscience, which supports everyone’s right “to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” If the right to conscientious objection exists regarding military service, would it also not apply in other areas? Healthcare professionals should never be compelled to participate in practices that go against their consciences. To use the example of abortion, most states allow individual healthcare providers and institutions to refuse to do abortions, but the fact that a few do not qualify for the practice to be rejected is a matter of concern. In these states, healthcare workers who object to abortion would either have to change their views or they would have to engage in practices that violate their beliefs; either course is problematic. If conscientious objectors can be excused from military service, then surely, they can be excused, as well, from performing medical procedures that violate their consciences. In the fifth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we read that the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin for preaching about Jesus. The high priest reminded them that they had been ordered not to talk about Jesus, and Peter answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” When there is a conflict between obeying the law of God and the law of man, then, like Peter, “We must obey God rather than men.” It will not always be easy and may call for heroic measures, but a good conscience will require that we sometimes take the more challenging path. Bioethicist Paul Ramsey once said, “The good things that men do can be made complete only by the things they refuse to do.” As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we remember what a beautiful gift life is and what joy there is in the birth of a child. Jesus became a child for us; we should see Him in every newborn child. This is even more reason that life must be protected, beginning in the womb and that no one should be punished for refusing, in conscience, to participate in an abortion or any other morally questionable procedure.

Fr. Richard Libby, Chancellor of the Diocese and pastor at St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus parish in Corpus Christi, answers questions on bioethics.

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WINTER 2023

BOOK REVIEW

Little John Everett Plus Four BY JESSE DELEON

sgr. Lawrence White’s faith has guided his vocation as a priest throughout his years of service in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Ordained in 1970, Msgr. White assumed many roles during his priesthood. He was a priest at Corpus Christi Cathedral, later serving as Director of Vocations and administrator of the Corpus Christi Minor Seminary. He was also a pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saints Cyril and Methodius parishes, both in Corpus Christi and spent time as a missionary priest in Mexico. Despite his extensive responsibilities as a priest, pastor, missionary and administrator, Msgr. White still found time for writing. Initially, his efforts in putting words on paper stemmed f rom the weekly preparation of his homilies. However, he eventually grew into the role of a published author. His prolific output led him to publish his first book, Little John Everett, in 2019. This first effort recounted the personal, physical, and spiritual challenges he experienced following back surgery and how his relationship with the Lopez family and their children inspired his healing and recovery. As the Lopez family grew, so did Msgr. White’s written observations and reflections. These are the stories that comprise his latest book, Little John Everett Plus Four. Both books display Msgr. White’s talent for sharp observation. The time he spent with John and Kimberly Lopez and their children was the guiding inspiration for his work. Little John Everett Plus Four is both a celebration of family as well as a testament to

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the benefits of maintaining a childlike view of the world. “I would be spending time with the whole family, and I’d pay close attention and listen to the kids,” says Msgr. White. “They would observe something, and that would often lead to a conversation or an event, and then I would sit down and write a story, finding the meaning to it.” Msgr. White gleaned much inspiration f rom the Lopez family, and eventually, he had approximately twentyfive written pieces based on something that happened to the kids and his recollection of their words and actions. These “pieces” began to take the form of chapters, each with a moral or parable. Chapters like “Put It in Your Pocket,” “Eye to Eye,” and “Secular” offer uplifting insights on, respectively, better communication, focusing on what is important and the perils of daily distractions. All are presented in a lighthearted, straightforward way that is never glib or offhanded but always anchored in the author’s robust spiritual perspective. “You can learn a lot from children,” reflects Msgr. White. “The overriding theme of it all is that we should learn to be more trusting and joyful to become more like children who are H-E-B and its partners desire that everyone deeply dependent remembers the true meaning of Christmas. upon God.”

The television, internet and radio broadcasts of The Service of Lessons and Carols and the Midnight Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral on Dec. 24 at 11:30 p.m. are presented live thanks to a generous gift from

The book is available on amazon.com for $20.99 WINTER 2023

KDF-TV (Check cable guide for ch. #) Audio: KLUX-HD 89.5 & klux.org Live video stream: goccn.org

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR SERVES THE FAITHFUL EVERY SUNDAY AT 9:30 AM MASS, AS WELL AS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND CONCERTS

Hearts and Voices United BY JESSE DELEON

S. Janssen

usic plays a vital role in the celebration of Holy Mass. It not only helps structure the liturgy, but it also fosters a sense of belonging and unity among those in attendance. Ultimately, it is prayer in song that everyone is called to join. The songs, psalms, and responses come to life through the many voices that comprise the group of singers and musicians in the Corpus Christi Cathedral Choir. They have been offering their musical talents in a spirit of community from one liturgical season to another. Director of Music Alex Oldroyd and cantors Santos “Tommy” Cantu and Carolina Salinas reflect on their roles in the choir and the choir’s role in the celebration of Holy Mass. Alex Oldroyd, born in Provo, Utah, was fascinated by organ music at a young age. His mother served as the organist at his church, and he recalls how she shared her talent with him and how that set the course for his life and work: “My mother was a church organist, and something about that music just captivated me,” he says. “I used to go to church and sit on the organ bench with her when I was about five years old, and I was just captivated.” Oldroyd plays the organ and directs the choir, whose membership continues to grow. Two singers who frequently serve as cantors during Mass are Santos “Tommy” Cantu and Carolina Salinas. Both have extensive education and experience in music and commit their time and talent to the Corpus Christi Cathedral Choir. Cantu is from Robstown, and he plays piano and guitar in addition to singing. He previously was in the choir at St. John the Baptist Parish and regularly sings the responsorial psalm at Cathedral Mass. He attended Del Mar College and graduated with two associate degrees in music, one in voice and the other in music education. He is currently teaching music at Driscoll Middle School. “I’ve been here for four years, and it is so great to be a part of this choir,” says Cantu. “It is something I take to heart because I always put so much emotion in everything I sing.” Carolina Salinas, another choir member serving as cantor, also balances music and education. She hails from a musical family. Her father performed with a mariachi group; her brother is a local high school

The Corpus Christi Cathedral choir serves each Sunday Mass and prepares special concerts for Christmas and other occasions.

band director. She graduated from Del Mar College with an associate degree in music and will soon receive her bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “I’ve been singing with the choir for almost five years now,” she says. “It’s been a wonderful experience. And when I first joined, I was obviously not a cantor right away. It’s been a growing process, singing with such wonderful people.” “There’s a lot of research about choir members being in sync when singing a piece because their heartbeats synchronized to one another through their breathing,” says Oldroyd. “Carolina and Tommy are two examples of that when they share the gift of their voices with the rest of the choir and everyone at Holy Mass.” The concert season has started with the October 24 performance of The Sacred Veil (Eric Whitacre/ Charles Anthony Silvestri). Mark your calendar for this year’s edition of “A Cathedral Christmas” on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 pm with choir and instrumentalists. On Sunday, April 7, 2024, the Del Mar College choirs and Mastersingers join the Cathedral choirs to present Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with organ, harp, and percussion. The text is sung entirely in Hebrew and takes its text from Psalms 2, 23, 100, 108, 131, and 133.

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