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.

College students throughout San Antonio will attend the SEEK23 Conference in St. Louis from January 2-6 with Archdiocesan Campus Ministry. At this annual 5-day conference, thousands of students will accompany each other for a time of prayer, fellowship, worship through the sacraments, and listening to impactful talks. Students will have the opportunity to encounter Christ through the witness, transformation and authenticity of self and others. Keep them in your prayers as they take this time to enter deeper with Christ, so that their hearts may be open to the Holy Spirit. To learn how Campus Ministry can accompany you or your college student, contact Marina-Esther at marina.olivares@archsa.org.

What is God’s plan for marriage? How does the Church discern the status of marriages? What is an annulment? What do I need to know about the annulment process? How do we welcome those who are divorced? When is the right time to talk about prior marriages? How do divorce and remarriage impact participation in the Rites? Who needs to have marriages convalidated before receiving sacraments of initiation? The answers to these questions and many more will be addressed in this dynamic workshop presented by Father Krikor G. Chahin, JCD, Judicial Vicar, and Laura Ruiz, MAPM, Director of the Tribunal. Translation in Spanish will be available. Traducción en español estará disponible. If you have questions, contact Rebecca Villarreal at rebecca.villarreal@archsa.org or call 210-734-5138.

During Poverty Awareness Month, join the Catholic community in the United States in taking up Pope Francis' challenge to live in solidarity with the poor. Poverty awareness resources can be found on the USCCB website including a calendar of daily reflections. Click here to sign up to have the daily reflections emailed to you during Poverty Awareness Month.

“The Church teaches that persons with a homosexual inclination “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.” We recognize that these persons have been, and often continue to be, objects of scorn, hatred, and even violence in some sectors of our society. Sometimes this hatred is manifested clearly.” (Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care by USCCB, November 14, 2006)

In the Lord’s eyes, no one is “gay” or “lesbian” or “homosexual”. Everyone is a child of God with particular talents, experiences and struggles. The aim of Courage is not to change a person’s sexual inclination or attraction, but to surrender completely their identity to Christ. Each and every person, without exception, is a beloved and unique creation of God -made in His image, and by grace His child - called to abundant life and love. This is the deepest source of our identity and dignity.

The Dignity and Identity of a Christian person is not determined by his/her sexual orientation, but by his/her relationship to Jesus Christ through a developing faith, hope and love. Men and women with Same-Sex Attraction can lead chaste and fruitful lives made possible by Christ’s redemption, liberating virtue, sacrament of reconciliation and a source of human freedom.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14

Courage is a place where men and women experiencing Same Sex Attraction can speak openly. Courage invites each member to embrace chastity in mind, heart. and body, and to move away from relationships and behaviors that are not chaste.

What we do in our meetings? We often speak about our relationships at home, at work, hobbies and what we do in a normal life, so fundamentally it is learning and hearing about being human. Also, the chaplain offers guidance, the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual direction to the members.

Are you being called from loneliness, confusion, or isolation to fellowship, truth, and friendship? Are you seeking the peace the world cannot give or take? For more information, call Father Richard Samour (210) 996-1371 or email: rmscouragesa@gmail.com; www.couragesatx.org; Bilingual Chaplain, all communication with Courage and EnCourage is strictly confidential. 

Parishes throughout the archdiocese celebrated Christmas liturgies with beautifully decorated sanctuaries, such as is on display at the Shrine of San Juan De Los Lagos in San Antonio.

To find more archdiocesan events and activities visit our website, www.archsa.org.

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