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.

Homily from Archbishop Gustavo at liturgy celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross from St. Joseph’s Chapel in the archdiocesan Pastoral Ministry Center September 14. The Mass was held prior to a San Antonio City Council vote regarding a “Reproductive Justice Fund” for a half-million dollars that could finance travel and other expenses for those women seeking to procure abortions out-of-state. “This is truly a sad day in the history of our beautiful city,” the archbishop said, sharing that he was speaking with a heavy heart and discussing the grief – and even anger – that this proposal has brought forth. “We know that the Lord will triumph, and we will redouble our efforts to provide true help and assistance to women in need.”

“Come to me all you who labor and are burdened” (Matthew 11:28)

With these words, the Lord Jesus offers an invitation to follow Him and the promise that He does not want to add to our burdens; He wants to lighten them. This reminds us that the object of all catechesis is Jesus Himself and that the principal role of the catechist is to be disciple – one who draws close and rests in Jesus – and then to be a witness to others and a companion as they too come to know Jesus. It also offers an opportunity to recall that all the baptized have roles in handing on the faith in their daily life, families, work, and church involvement. During this Sunday, and through the year, take a moment to thank catechists for the work they do, as servers that hand on to their community what they have received from the Lord Jesus Christ. For prayers and material about Catechetical Sunday 2023, click here.

The 2023 Respect Life theme is Radical Solidarity, which invites Catholics to be deeply transformed by Christ’s example of love. We are called to embrace human life, come alongside the vulnerable, and move in compassion to contribute to a culture of life. Join us in this initiative to support human life, through a celebration of the Mass followed by a panel discussion that will highlight the three areas in which the Catholic Church in the archdiocese emphasizes a respect for life by supporting and protecting the dignity of every human life.

With praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God and Our Lady of Guadalupe, the archdiocese joyfully celebrated the ordination of Rafael Becerra, Ottmar Tovar, and Man Nguyen to the Order of the Transitional Diaconate through the Invocation of the Holy Spirit and the Imposition of Hands by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, on September 9 at St. Matthew Church. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette, Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janak, and several priests served as concelebrants at the Mass.

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