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.

MESSAGE FROM

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS

The Church in our country celebrates and promotes religious liberty. Pope Francis has said that reason recognizes in religious freedom a fundamental human right. It “reflects the highest human dignity, the ability to seek the truth and conform to it and recognizes in it a condition which is indispensable to the ability to deploy all of one’s own potentiality. Religious freedom is not only that of private thought or worship. It is the liberty to live, both privately and publicly, according to the ethical principles resulting from found truth.” Christ counts on all of us, members of His Body, to promote the most favorable conditions for Him to reign in all hearts, families, in our country and in the world.

UPCOMING EVENT

Annual Pilgrimage of San Juan Diego

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Annual Pilgrimage of San Juan Diego

El Camino de San Antonio Missions invites you to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Annual Pilgrimage of San Juan Diego on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 a.m. The Pilgrimage will be celebrated with hundreds of Matachine dancers processing from Mission San Juan Capistrano (directions) to Mission San Jose (directions). We invite you to arrive at 7 a.m. and line the path from Mission San Juan to Mission San José to await the dancing in procession. As the Matachines process, you are invited to join. As a ritualistic dance and a form of prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the dancers will pray for your intentions throughout their performance. Because parking is very limited at Mission San Juan, we encourage parking at Mission San Jose and carpooling to Mission San Juan together.

Submit a Prayer Intention

An Advent Reflection

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Lk 3:3, 6)

Advent is the time in which the regular course of things stops, and we embark on a journey toward Christmas, and a much-desired personal, ecclesial, and communitarian renewal. Advent is thus a time to put God and neighbor at the forefront. A simple way to do so is to provide our time and financial support to one of the many charitable efforts our Church conducts during this season. Consider approaching your parish in the search for a cause to support or visit the Catholic Charities of San Antonio website for information on how to make this season a time of tangible service to our brothers and sisters in need.

— From Aaron Castillo, Director for Life, Justice, Peace & Outreach

Advent is a wonderful time to make a pilgrimage to the San Antonio Missions. The four Spanish Colonial Missions along the San Antonio River provide quiet places for reflection and prayer for individuals and families. Download our Pilgrimage Guides in English or in Spanish to share with your loved ones this season.

English Guide

Spanish Guide

RECENT NEWS

Khaki & Plaid

2023 Khaki & Plaid Tables and Sponsorships

You are invited to celebrate Catholic Schools at the 2023 Khaki & Plaid Gala: Put your Heart into Hope. Team up with your parish and/or school and come to the Mays Family Center at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, for dinner, drinks, and fun while supporting our Catholic School students.

Purchase a table or sponsorship

2023 Archbishop’s Appeal

for Ministries Upcoming Trainings

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Archbishop's Appeal for Ministries. As we prepare for a successful 2023 appeal, below are the dates, locations, and links to the upcoming 2023 Appeal training sessions for the week of December 2 – 9:

Dec. 5 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. hosted by St. Mary’s – Fredericksburg

Dec. 6 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. via zoom (English)

Dec. 6 - 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. via zoom (Spanish)

Dec. 7 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. hosted by St. Andrew – Pleasanton

Dec. 9 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. hosted by Sts. Peter & Paul – New Braunfels

Photo of the Week

Giving Thanks in Uvalde

Thanksgiving Day Mass at Sacred Heart Uvalde in November 24 was celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, and Father Eddie Morales, pastor. Children from Sacred Heart School, along with Principal Joseph Olan and the Teresian Sisters, received a message of peace from the archbishop.

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

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