Ver este correo electrónico en español: Haga clic aquí para abrir el correo en un navegador y, a continuación, utilice la función de traducción del navegador. | | 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. | | The Holy See | Pope Leo XIV | | Pope Leo XIV calls for evangelical approach without force or arrogant judgments | | Pope Leo XIV warned on July 19 against imagining God as “a powerful figure who imposes himself by force, who takes over and dominates, or who arrives triumphantly” and urged Christians to embrace a Gospel-centered approach marked by humility and trust. | | Sixth World Day for Grandparents
and the Elderly to be Observed Locally on Sunday, September 13 | |
The Holy Father has announced the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, July 26. The U.S. bishops approved the transfer of the celebration of this observance to the first Sunday after Labor Day, this year Sunday, September 13, to coincide with the national celebration of Grandparents Day in the United States.
The theme chosen by the Holy Father, “I will never forget you” (cf. Isaiah 49:5), reminds us that God’s unwavering love is the ultimate answer to the isolation and neglect so often experienced by the elderly. It brings comfort and hope, assuring us that the Lord knows each of us personally, forgets no one, and loves us unconditionally, even through the frailties of old age.
| | Message from Archbishop Gustavo
García-Siller, MSpS | |
| |  | God shows us His hands, and they are a farmer’s hands. Not the hands of someone who grips tightly, pulling and uprooting at the first sign of trouble, but hands that know how to wait. Wisdom tells us that God’s might is the source of His justice, and that His justice always leans toward mercy. This is worth pondering slowly: the God who could crush every weed in an instant chooses instead to let the field breathe. Why? Because His patience is the opposite of weakness. It is the very ground where our repentance becomes possible. When we finally see ourselves as God sees us — not as hopeless weeds, but as soil still capable of bearing fruit — that seeing itself is wisdom, and it opens the door to real conversion. But we cannot do this seeing alone. Left to ourselves, we grow tired, confused, unsure even of what to pray for. So what is asked of us? Not the anxious labor of hunting down every weed in the lives of others, or even in our own souls. We are asked to tend the wheat. Feed it. Water it with prayer, with patience, with the Eucharist — that same grain of wheat who fell into the ground and died so that we might rise. The closer we grow to the Lord Jesus, the clearer the difference becomes between what is life-giving in us and what only imitates it. The wheat, well tended, eventually reveals the weeds on its own. Here is my invitation: choose one small act of goodness — a visit, a forgiveness, a kindness withheld too long — and plant it deliberately. Do not worry too much about the weeds around it. Just tend your wheat.
| | Around the Archdiocese of San Antonio | | |
You’re Invited to Encounter Christ in the Forgotten
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at St. Paul Community Center
| There is still time to join us. Tomorrow, the 11th Annual Kolbe Prison Ministries Conference gathers in San Antonio for a full day of testimony, teaching, and hope. Guest speakers include Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janak, JCL, and Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, followed by a moving panel with formerly incarcerated individuals and active Kolbe volunteers. Join us at St. Paul Community Center (directions) and discover why Christ asked us to remember those in prison, and how your yes can change a life. | | A Place of Belonging: Picnic in the Park
Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | |
Archdiocesan Deaf Ministry is gathering, and the whole Church is invited to help spread the word. Along with San Antonio Deaf Catholic, we will come together at Dellview Park (directions) for Mass, a shared meal, and an afternoon of fellowship.
If you know someone who is deaf and looking for a faith community, a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker, please extend this invitation. Every Catholic deserves a community where faith is celebrated in their own language. All are welcome.
| | Zoom Formation for Ministry Leaders:
A Practical Start to Your OCIA Journey on Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | New to leading OCIA, or ready for a refresher? Join the Office of Evangelization and Formation of Missionary Discipleship on Zoom for a practical one-hour introduction to accompanying adults through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Designed for DREs, coordinators, catechists, and OCIA team members. | Dance Night for Married Couples
Saturday, August 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. | |
Married couples are invited to join Beyond Cana® Marriage Enrichment for a special Dance Date Night filled with fun, fellowship, and connection. Join us at Fred Astaire Dance Studio (directions) to “Step Closer Together” as you learn the basic steps of two-step and salsa in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Whether you are experienced or just beginning, this evening is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time with your spouse, strengthen your marriage bond, and fall in love all over again. The cost is $40 per couple.
Register by August 5 to reserve your spot. For more information: Contact Jo Anne and Dave Dimitriou at (210) 618-6672.
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Stewardship Day
Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
at The Whitley Event Center
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Join the Department of Stewardship & Development at The Whitley Event Center (directions) as we dive into best practices for supporting and strengthening your parish. Hear from knowledgeable speakers covering topics from how to implement Stewardship in your parish to diving into the new world of AI & digital innovation. There will be topics for everyone to explore.
The cost of registration is only $10 per person and includes lunch. Free for all priests.
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Maybe your summer has carried you far from home this year, or maybe it has kept you close. Either way, the Psalmist’s words hold true. “If I take the wings of dawn and dwell beyond the sea, even there your hand guides me” (Psalm 139:9-10). The God on the Go Summer Challenge is a reminder that no destination is beyond the reach of God’s presence. As families across the archdiocese share their photos, a beautiful picture is forming: one of Christ accompanying his people from the Hill Country to the coast and everywhere between. We would love to include your family in the story.
Share this week’s moments on social media using the hashtag #GodOnTheGoSA
| | Catholic Television of San Antonio | | The recent flooding has deeply impacted families across the area. On this episode of “15 on 15,” CTSA host Valerie Perez speaks with Catholic Charities about how the organization has been responding, the relief efforts currently underway, and how the community can help those in need. Join in this important conversation about faith, service, and standing with neighbors during difficult times. | | Through July 29, purchase a Miracle Balloon for $1 at participating Dairy Queen locations to support kids in the care of CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital. Every balloon helps raise urgently needed funds for children's healthcare in the community. Stop by, grab a balloon, and help make big changes for all kids through Children's Miracle Network. | |
Today's Catholic Newspaper
| | Today’s Catholic Newspaper is published bi-weekly on Friday (except in June and August when one issue is published/month). Subscribe today to receive 21 issues for only $22 a year. Subscribe online or contact Mandy Franco for information. | |
Treasures of the Archdiocese of San Antonio: A Commemorative Book
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When you buy the commemorative book Treasures of the Archdiocesan of San Antonio you will also receive the Today's Catholic 150th anniversary magazine as an added bonus.
Don't let this opportunity slip away. Purchase your book now and take home or pass along a piece of history!
- Published by Editions du Signe | ISBN: 978-2-7468-4515-2
- 9.65” x 11.81”
- Soft cover – glossy paper – 440 pages
- Full color throughout
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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.
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