Oración De Los Fieles Por La Jornada De Oración Por La Paz En Nuestras Comunidades

Por el fin de la violencia perpetrada por las palabras duras, las armas mortales o la indiferencia fría. Que nuestros hogares, nuestra nación y los países de todo el mundo se conviertan en remansos de paz, roguemos al Señor.

Por la gracia de ver a cada ser humano como hijo de Dios, sin importar la raza, el idioma o la cultura, roguemos al Señor.

Por la sabiduría para recibir las historias y experiencias de los que son diferentes a nosotros y para responder con respeto, roguemos al Señor.

Por la fortaleza para enseñar a nuestros hijos cómo resolver las diferencias sin violencia y con respeto, y el valor para demostrarlo con nuestro propio comportamiento, roguemos al Señor.

Por nuestra comunidad de fe, para que podamos celebrar y acoger los diversos rostros de Cristo en nuestro culto, nuestros ministerios y nuestros líderes, roguemos al Señor.

Por nuestra comunidad de fe, para que podamos responder con valentía al llamado del Espíritu Santo a actuar juntos para acabar con la violencia y el racismo, roguemos al Señor.

Por sanación y justicia para todos los que han sufrido violencia y racismo, roguemos al Señor.

Por la protección de todos los policías y socorristas que arriesgan su vida a diario para garantizar nuestra seguridad; por una acción policial justa y equitativa que promueva la paz y el bienestar en todos nuestros vecindarios, roguemos al Señor.

Por nuestros funcionarios públicos, para que se esfuercen por trabajar por equidad en la educación, viviendas dignas e igualdad de oportunidades de empleo para todos, roguemos al Señor.

Por nuestra parroquia, para que podamos cultivar la acogida, brindar hospitalidad y fomentar la participación de personas de todas las culturas, etnias y orígenes, roguemos al Señor.

Por el valor de tener conversaciones difíciles sobre el racismo, y por una mejor apreciación de cómo nuestras palabras y acciones —o incluso nuestro silencio— pueden impactar en nuestras comunidades, roguemos al Señor.

Por la solidaridad en nuestra familia humana global, para que podamos trabajar juntos para proteger a los más vulnerables y necesitados, roguemos al Señor.

September 9, 2016 National Day of Prayer
 
 
The U.S. Catholic Bishops invite the faithful to pray and fast for the renewal of a culture of life and marriage, and for the protection of religious liberty.
 
Learn more at the Call to Prayer website.  http://usccb.org
 

El Instituto Tepeyac ofreció un taller para analizar las reflexiones y homilías del Papa Francisco en su viaje Apostólico a México. Durante ocho horas un grupo de 60 participantes estuvieron en un proceso de discernimiento sobre el fondo del mensaje del Papa. En total se analizaron las homilías de cinco misas y de 9 reflexiones que el Papa hizo durante su estancia en las diferentes ciudades de la República Mexicana.

Cada uno de los participantes, identifico las palabras que dijo el Papa que le parecieron más importantes, para luego como equipo de 5 o 6 personas, agruparon sus ideas para conjuntar las palabras y darle forma a lo que esto significaba para los oyentes del discurso papal.

De todas las reflexiones, quisiéramos mostrar lo que los grupos hicieron solo con la homilía en la Basílica de Guadalupe, que se muestra en la Figura #1.

La explicación del análisis es el siguiente:

Parte superior: Maria es la mujer que nos ofrece su mirada de ternura, nos levanta y envía como embajadores a llevar la dignidad de hijos de Dios, así como el amor y la misericordia de Dios para que la luz de esperanza no se apague en nuestras comunidades, sobre todo, las menos favorecidas.  
Parte Inferior: Maria es la mujer que le dio el “Sí” a Dios, y con ese empecinamiento que viene de la misericordia de Dios, que no deja de perdonarnos, ella nos envía a llevar su mirada para escuchar a los que claman en necesidad, a construir un sociedad más justa, y perdonar a quienes nos hayan dañado o marginado, para que todos como hermanos formemos una sola familia.
Final: Así pues, formaremos familias llenas de esperanza, donde cada uno de nosotros seamos santuarios vivos, ya que el “Santuario de Dios es la vida de sus hijos” (Homilía en la Basílica, 13 de Febrero del 2016).

A familiar face has been assigned as the new pastor of San Jose and Santa Lucia parishes.

Fr. Franco Guerrero Federico most recently served as the Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows in the Lower Valley. He will begin serving San Jose and Santa Lucia September 1.

“I feel very comfortable at St. Lucia and San Jose because it is very close to where I am and feel that I know the parishioners,” he said. “I want them to feel at home with me.”
Fr. Franco’s assignment comes following the demolition in April of the century-old church after it was deemed unsafe to repair.

In a public meeting held in June, Bishop Mark announced that parishioners, who continue to meet in the parish hall, would be served by a member of the Order of Servants of Mary. Bishop Mark said the parish would cooperate with the nearby Santa Lucia parish which was served by Fr. Leo Rivero, the pastor of San Antonio parish,  since Fr. Tony Celino was assigned to St. Raphael in July 2015.

“The combined factors of the declining availability of priests and the change in demographics are the reasons for this decision,” Seitz said at the time.

Fr. Franco said while some San Jose parishioners were hurt by the decision to demolish their church building, he is hopeful they will continue to be faithful Catholics.
“I want them to get away from all the distractions and know that I am here to talk and serve them and bring them what God wants me to continue communicating with all, from the sacraments to understanding their lives,” said Fr. Franco.  “I ask that they have patience with us as we continue the good work of this parish.”

Sister Eileen O’Keeffe, CCVI, was just 35 years old when she met Mother Teresa of Calcutta. It was May 29, 1976 and Mother Teresa was in El Paso for a youth speaking engagement.

“She was so tiny and wrinkly from her years in the Sun but she had the brightest, bluest eyes,” said Sr. Eileen. “Just as gentle and friendly as you could ever find. We were giddy to meet her.”

Mother Teresa will be canonized by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 4, making her Saint Mother Teresa, who during her life was known as the “angel of the slums.” She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 in India to care for people who no one else wanted to help. Her ministry continued until her death in 1997. By that time, it had expanded to dozens of countries.

Ruben Garcia, the executive director of Annunciation House, was the key to bringing Mother Teresa to El Paso.  At that time, Garcia was the director of the diocese’s Youth and Young Adult ministry. In the fall of 1975, leaders requested Mother Teresa as a possible speaker for the region’s biennial meeting set for the following year. Initially, Garcia was flatly denied the chance to request her presence. But Garcia is not one to take no for an answer.  

“We didn’t have Google so I called information and asked for her number in Calcutta, India and I got it,” Garcia said. “The sister who I spoke with told me Mother Teresa was in New York for a speaking engagement and was staying with a bishop there. I asked for the bishop’s number. He answered the phone, I explained who I was and he told me she was in prayer and I should call back.  When I did, I got to speak with her on the phone and again, told her why I was coming. And she said, ‘For the youth? Then I shall come.’”

Garcia said months later, he was picking up Mother Teresa at the El Paso International Airport.
“She asked to visit the Sisters of Loretto at Nazareth Hall nursing home, that was very important to her,” he said. From there, it was a quick bite to eat and then off to the El Paso Civic Center where Garcia said her speech centered on the hungers of the human family.

 “The night she spoke at the Civic Center, you could have heard a pin drop,” said Sr. Eileen. “I remember all the details of it. It was not so much focusing on the physical hunger of the world. I know we try to do that a lot but she spoke of the many other hungers in the world and in families. She spoke of compassion, understanding, love, kindness and people starving for those gifts. She said, ‘Go home tonight and talk to your family. That’s the hunger that I’m asking you to feed.’”  

Sr. Eileen, who now lives in St. Louis, MO was among several sisters from the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who worked at St. Margaret’s Center for Children or what is now the Pastoral Center for the Diocese of El Paso.
Sr. Eileen said Mother Teresa spent the night at the convent that is now the home of Bishop Mark Seitz.  A sister offered her bed to Mother Teresa.

 “Sr. Rita said Mother Teresa slept on the floor just like she did in India because there was not a single indentation in the bedspread.”

Though brief, Sr. Eileen had her own encounter with the legendary sister. "We asked her if she was hungry. It was late, after we’d come home from hearing her speak. And she said she just wanted half an apple. Later, she went to bed and I worried the apple would brown overnight. So I ate the other half. I like to tell people I split an apple with Mother Teresa,” she laughed.
Sr. Eileen said even in 1976, Mother Teresa felt special.

“There was another sister who came down from Phoenix just to hear her speak. Mother Teresa carried just a small backpack with her and inside was another white sari that she wore.  She rinsed out the one she’d worn and said it was okay to put it in the dryer but not to iron it because she folded it in such a way that she tucked it under her pillow and that’s how it got pressed.  Well, this sister and I were so excited, we couldn’t help ourselves.  We got her sari and we put it on ourselves!” giggled Sr. Eileen.  “I think we thought we were going to get struck dead but we couldn’t help ourselves.  We knew she was special. You felt you were touching the clothes of a saint long before there was talk of canonization.”

Sr. Eileen still keeps a photo from her time with Mother Teresa as well as a gift book the sister left with her El Paso hosts.
When asked about her rare encounter with a real-life saint, Sr. Eileen can’t help but squeal. “I know, isn’t that cool?!”

SIGN UP NOW for the El Paso Catholic Schools 14th Annual Golf Tournament on October 12 at Painted Dunes. Tee time: 1 pm.

Proceeds benefit the Diocese of El Paso Education Assistance Fund.

SPONSORSHIPS are also available. For more information: http://elpasocatholicschools.org/index.php/news-a-announcements/136-golf-tournament or contact Yvette Krohn at 203-1878.