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Behold Your Mother Number 41: August-September 2008 | ||
Fathers George and Bob Celebrate |
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It was Gala at St. Mary Magdalen parish on April 26 as Fathers George Montague and Bob Hogan celebrated their Golden and Silver Jubilees as priests. Thanks to the brilliant and tireless organization by CeCe Abel, a host of generous workers, and the graciousness of Bishop Thomas Flanagan, presider for the Mass of Thanksgiving,
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Father Bob rejoices with his parents, who came from Cleveland to celebrate his silver jubilee of ordination to the priesthood.
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Cancer Detected, Cleared by Surgery in
In the spring of this year, doctors discovered early stage prostate cancer in Father Joseph Mary Marshall, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and member of the community of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple. Parishioners, relatives and friends mounted a massive prayer campaign for his complete healing. Thanks be to God, the surgery in June successfully removed all trace of the cancer, as was confirmed by a blood test that showed his PSA to be zero. Nevertheless the doctors will still monitor his situation every few months to make sure that nothing has returned. Please keep Father Joseph Mary in your prayers. The photo above shows a Saturday morning session in which the Men in Christ/Hombres en Cristo prayed over Father for his healing. Father Joseph Mary, kneeling in the circle, is hidden under the stack of hands praying over him.
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Familias Unidas de Jesus is New,
With so many families at risk today, a new family ministry, begun in Mexico, has come to St. Mary Magdalen Parish. Many retreat movements and other movements are selective by age or sex, but Familias Unidas de Jesus (so far only in Spanish) addresses the whole family together, especially in strengthening relationships. Thus recently a retreat sought to bond fathers and daughters together, in which, after learning about the dynamics of relationships, the need for healing and forgiveness, they shared about their relationships and through various simple rituals and gifts, told how much they meant to each other. Fr. George and |
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Great Response to the "Holy Spirit" In late February Word Among Us Press released Father George’s
latest book, Holy Spirit, Make Your Home in Me: Biblical Meditations on Receiving the Gift of the Spirit. It is 26 short meditations combining personal stories with easy access to biblical scholarship and a prayer at the end of each chapter. Endorsed on the back cover by Bishop Sam Jacobs, Ralph Martin and Jesuit professor at Creighton University Fr. Dennis Hamm, it has received widespread accolades and radio interviews from New York to Seattle. It is sold in Catholic bookstores nationwide, and, judging from local response, it is becoming as popular as was his earlier book, Riding the Wind. Father George has had trouble keeping up with the demand for copies, having sold some 300 copies as soon as they were available. One reader said you should have tissue at hand when you read it! It’s available at your local Catholic bookstore or directly from Fr. George at $12.95 (plus $2 shipping). For more information about Fr. George's books. Contact information: |
Speakers at the Regional
Sister Nancy Kellar, S.C., internationally known speaker and former head of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office in Rome, was speaker at the Regional Catholic Charismatic Conference held at St. Mary Magdalen Parish last March. Shown here with Fr. Bob Hogan, BBD, Associate Liaison for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and major organizer of the Conference. |
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A Spirit of Foregiveness This story does not immediately concern our community, but it is a wonderful witness to the Christian values of a
San Antonio family. Poor, Viola Barrios began a small café which grew into a nationally acclaimed restaurant Los Barrios, now at two locations in the city. Periodically she would load a pickup and drive to Monterrey, Mexico, to distribute goods to the poor there. At the age of 72 a devout, widowed mother, after working at the restaurant during the day, she retired to her home. A next-door 18-year old neighbor broke into her house, shot her in the head with an arrow, killing her. Soon nabbed by the police, he heard that the District Attorney would be asking for the death penalty. But the Barrios children were too much like their mother to be happy with that. They not only asked that the man be spared the death needle but they offered to pay for his defense—until they were told that such was not allowed by law. The photo from the front page of the San Antonio Express-News shows Viola Barrios’ son Louis (left) and daughter Diana (in sunglasses) consoling Joe and Dorothy Estrada, parents of Joe Estrada, Jr., who is charged with the slaying. “We need each other,” said Louis. “We forgive him.” Louis has been active in the ACTS retreat movement in San Antonio.
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Summer Intern and Visitor
During a large part of the summer, Paul Juarez, a native of Odessa, Texas and seminarian from Assumption Seminary served as an intern at St. Mary Magdalen. Another visitor discerning his vocation was Michael Chesnutt of Paducah, Kentucky, who spent three days with us In the photo: Fr. Will, Fr. Bob, Michael Chesnutt, Fr. Joseph Mary and Paul Juarez. |
Another Live-in Discerns His Vocation
Kirk Vandeventer spent a week with the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple. Kirk is a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and attends daily Mass as often as his employment permits. It has been said that God has not been giving fewer vocations, only that fewer people are answering the call. That’s why the Church depends on your prayers for those discerning.
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Regional Charismatic Conference Meets at For the first time the Regional Charismatic Conference, previously held at the Convention Center, was held at St. Mary Magdalen Parish March 7-8. Many welcomed the warmth, intimacy and convenience of the parish setting. Over 1,200 People attended the two-day event. See information about the keynote speakers.
Many thanks to our Benefactors who are helping us with the costs of formation, tuition, and |
Community Welcomes New Candidate
Dan Sealana, from Union City, CA, entered his preaspirarancy with the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple July 28. He will be begin completing his college studies this fall at
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Come and See For men 18 - 40 interested in exploring their
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