Welcome to The New Messenger, your weekly archdiocesan newsletter featuring messages from Archbishop Gustavo, news briefs, event previews, and updated information. The Archdiocese of San Antonio's weekly newsletter is published every Friday morning. | |
Friday of the First Week of Lent | |
Viernes de la I semana de Cuaresma | |
Esto dice el Señor: "Si el pecador se arrepiente de los pecados cometidos, guarda mis preceptos y practica la rectitud y la justicia, ciertamente vivirá y no morirá; no me acordaré de los delitos que cometió; vivirá a causa de la justicia que practicó. ¿Acaso quiero yo la muerte del pecador, dice el Señor, y no más bien que enmiende su conducta y viva? | | | |
His Holiness Pope Francis | |
Pope Francis' prayer intentions for the year 2025 are in line with his ongoing teachings and unwavering concern for the challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church in the last years. However, we can particularly consider them in the light of the Jubilee Year, with its motto: “Pilgrims of hope, on the path of peace.” These intentions reflect his desire for a more just and compassionate world that remains faithful to the Gospel. | |
(The Pope Video – www.thepopevideo.org – by Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network www.popesprayer.va) | The Pope's Video is an official initiative with a global reach that seeks to disseminate the Holy Father’s prayer intentions, which he entrusts to us every month. | |
Message from Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS | |
|
Pope Francis recently reminded us that Jesus “never abandons us in temptation.” As missionary disciples of the Lord Jesus, we are challenged to follow Him even to the Cross at Calvary, to fulfill our shared responsibility to more fully establish the kingdom of God in our world. The Holy Spirit will strengthen you with His gifts, so that you can reciprocate God’s unwavering faithfulness to the covenant He has established with His people. May Our Lady of Guadalupe continue to accompany you and strengthen you with her tenderness, so that at the end of these 40 days, a horizon of new life in her Son Jesus may shine more fully before you.
| | | |
Archbishop's Appeal for Ministries | |
The 2024 Archbishop's Appeal for Ministries begins this weekend! Please consider a donation so that Walking United in Christ, we can consistently care for those who rely upon the archdiocese and our programs for life and faith sustaining support. | |
CTSA 2024 Leadership Luncheon | |
Join us Tuesday, March 5, as we recognize Father Paul Raaz, who has faithfully served our archdiocese for 50 years, with the St. John Vianney Award, and outstanding news reporter Jessie Degollado from KSAT-12, with the Leadership in Communications Award! | |
Scouting Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo | Tomorrow, February 24 | |
Calling out to all youth from Scouts BSA, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Camp Fire USA, American Heritage Girls, Trail Life USA and Troops of St. George to join us at the Scouting Mass at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (16075 N. Evans Rd., Selma TX 78154). We invite all to a reception after Mass. | |
Lovestrong Marriage Retreats | Spring 2024 | |
|
The LOVESTRONG Marriage Retreat is a weekend packed with special presentations, exercises, music, and activities designed to reinforce each couple’s commitment to each other and a deepening of their Christ-centered bond. Available in English and Spanish at multiple parish locations this spring beginning March 1-3 at Church of the Holy Spirit (8134 Blanco Road, SA TX 78216).
| |
Synodal Encounter: A Listening Session | Saturday, March 2 | |
The Synod of Synodality continues and you are invited to participate in its interim stage (the time between the Vatican’s first session — hosted in October 2023 and the second — happening in October 2024). At this listening session at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church banquet hall (20523 Huebner Road, SA TX 78258), we will discuss two questions: (1) What positive or negative experiences have transpired for your parish or yourself from embracing a synodal spirit of proceeding? (2) What is missing in the Church to respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to exemplify a community of love and mercy walking in unity? The English session will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the Spanish session will take place from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. All are welcome. | |
Young Adult Service Project: Adopt-a-Senior | March 9 | |
|
"For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me... ill and you cared for me... Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" (MT 25: 35–36, 40).
Join young adults from across the archdiocese as we follow the command of Jesus to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and serve Him by serving those in need. In partnership with Catholic Charities of San Antonio and the Young Adult Board of Advisors, we will make and deliver lunch bags to socially isolated seniors enrolled in the Adopt-a-Senior Program, following the model of missionary disciples whom Jesus sent "in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit" (LK 10:1). Be part of our mission as we bring the presence of Jesus to our brothers and sisters in need. Join us at Catholic Charities of San Antonio (202 W. French Place, SA TX 78212) on Saturday, March 9, as we begin with Mass at 8 a.m. and then go out to proclaim the joy of the Gospel!
| |
Vatican restoration of Bernini’s baldacchino begins (Photos) | |
Lent’s second week brings more graffiti art from the Vatican | |
‘Mysteries of the Faith’: A Netflix series review
| |
Stations of the Cross | Every Friday during Lent | |
Every Friday during Lent, from February 16 to March 22, join Archbishop Gustavo at San Fernando Cathedral (115 Main Plaza, SA TX 78205) for the Stations of the Cross at 7:30 a.m. | | | |
Lent challenges us to question what we treasure in life | |
|
Jesus gives us the following motto to live by during Lent: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
| |
|
Is your parish open the evening of Holy Thursday? Let us know by sending an email: communications@archsa.org and in the subject line use Holy Thursday. | |
Email us your Fish Fry events to compile a list for the Department of Communications.
| | |
Celebrate Black History Month at Holy Redeemer
Join Holy Redeemer and the Black Catholic Apostolate to celebrate the African-American heritage and history. Gather together in person or virtually as the parish community commemorates Black History Month with the St. Cyprian Igbo and Congolese Communities.
| | | |
|
OLLU celebrates the leadership of Dianna M. Burns-Banks, president and managing partner of South Texas Center for Pediatric Care since 1985. A board certified pediatrician, she has led the center in growth from three employees to more than 100 employees and 20 medical providers.
| |
Catholic Television of San Antonio | |
Catholic Life Insurance recently helped 69 Catholic schools across Texas — including 28 in the Archdiocese of San Antonio — to sell tickets to raise over $1.16 million during the 17th annual Catholic Schools Sweepstakes. The effort began in 2007 and has since helped Catholic schools raise $15 million, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the schools. This year in the archdiocese that total was just over a half-a-million dollars. Catholic Life Insurance provides all the prizes, marketing material, and printing. The schools can use the funds raised how they wish, including the purchase of computer equipment, textbooks, necessary school repairs, and tuition assistance.
| | |
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio has kicked off the 40 Cans for Lent and 40 Days of Service Campaigns to engage the community in a non-denominational effort to feed the hungry and strengthen the most vulnerable during Lent, February 15 through March 26. 40 Cans for Lent aims to collect 116,000 pounds of food to feed all people regardless of race, religion, or national origin through Catholic Charities Food Pantries and the Mobile Food Pantry. 40 Days of Service is a citywide movement encouraging community members to volunteer their time in activities such as crisis response preparation, humanitarian aid provision, youth mentoring, and tutoring, visiting isolated seniors, campus beautification, and more. The kickoff event, which took place February 15 at the Guadalupe Community Center, featured the participation of 300 community leaders, partners, university and school students, Catholic clergy and parishioners, businesses, and others, who united to combat hunger and extend a helping hand to those in need. Students attending the kickoff began their service with activities such as preparing sack lunches, thinking of you cards for seniors, Fiesta flowers, gardening in the St. Phocas garden, and more. Photo: Veronica Markland | Today's Catholic Newspaper | | |
Saint of the Day - St. Polycarp | |
Image: Engraving of Saint Polycarp | Iconographic Collection | |
Have a story idea for Today's Catholic?
| |
|
|
SHARE YOUR STORY
Contact Jordan McMorrough, Director of Communications and Editor of Today's Catholic Newspaper, at TCpaper@archsa.org.
| | | |
Share Your Prayer Request | |
|
|
We are grateful for your interest in helping us reach out to you. Please share below your prayer requests, your current or updated contact information, and any other special requests. Please consider sharing this link with others as well. | | | | |
|
The New Messenger is your weekly archdiocesan newsletter featuring message from Archbishop Gustavo, news briefs, event previews, and updated information. Subscribe and look for this newsletter in your inbox every Friday. #theNewMessenger | | |
|
February 23
Now Available
Subscribe Today!
Next Issue - March 8
| |
|
FOLLOW US
@TodaysCatholicNewspaper
| | |
|
Mutually Shared Vision
Seeking to live in sacramental communion with one another, the Archdiocese of San Antonio exists to make disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ to prepare for the promise of Eternal Life.
archsa.org
| | |
To find more archdiocesan events and activities visit our website, www.archsa.org. | |
Copyright © 2023 Archdiocese of San Antonio. All rights reserved. | | | | |
