Welcome to The New Messenger, your weekly archdiocesan newsletter featuring messages from Archbishop Gustavo, news briefs, event previews, and updated information. Look for this newsletter in your inbox every Friday.

God’s gifts often come from unexpected sources. And salvation is meant to become more accessible to others through us. All are welcome! God abandons no one! However, there is another condition, which goes together with our willingness to become instruments for God’s outreach to others. Pope Francis points out that it takes courage to pray: With this “parrhesia, the courage to speak to God face to face. And sometimes, when one sees how these people struggle with the Lord to have something, one thinks that they are arm wrestling with God, in order to get what they ask for. They are convinced, they have faith that the Lord can give them this grace.”

The Season of Creation (September 1 – October 4) encourages us to celebrate the gift of creation and work together for our common home. Join us to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Laudato Si and the Season of Creation with an outdoor Mass with Mariachi at Mission San Francisco de La Espada (directions) followed by a 1.5-mile (30-minute) walk to Mission San Juan. Free coffee, tacos, and paletas at Mission San Juan! Bring water bottles and wear comfortable shoes. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nicky Mata at Nicky.Mata@archsa.org or call (210) 328-3939. 

Photo of the Week

The Czech American Priest Association (CAPA) met at Holy Trinity Church in Corn Hill on August 22. CAPA sponsored the visit of three transitional deacons from the Czech Republic who shared with the group their faith journey and the many challenges the Catholic Church confronts in that country. Since 1999, this group has brought 65 transitional deacons to visit Texas, where many Catholics of Czech descent live. These men are now priests in the Czech Republic. Priests from the Dioceses of Austin, Victoria, and Dallas were present, as well as Msgr. Dennis Darilek, Msgr. Paul Raaz, and Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janak from the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Diocese of Amarillo, founder and president of CAPA and a former auxiliary bishop of San Antonio, was the celebrant of the Mass. Father Stephen Nesrsta of the Austin Diocese, who has been organizing these trips for many years, was recently awarded the Memorial Medal of the Czech Bishops’ Conference this past May.

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