South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, June 20, 2003 Page: 12 of 20
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- South Texas Catholic
T„Y,P,
June 20, 2003
alk ng Faith
Compiled by Crystal Polasek
HU the teens below are members of
“K.F.C: Rids For Christ, Dedicated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus” from Our Lady of
the Assumption Parish in Ingleside.
Ulhat is the most ualuable gift of
the Holy Spirit?
“Being in touch
with the Lord.”
- ITIikey IDoerbe,
Hge 15
“I think all
are necessary
because anything
God gives us is
special.”
- Casie Rodrigue,
Hge 15
“Wisdom. It
helps us under-
stand His plan
for (our Hues].”
- Russell Rom-
para, Hge 14
“Wisdom,
because it gives
us a better
understanding of
God.”
- Hundrea
Belhasen, Hge 14
j
T.E.C.C Retreat
St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Parish
held a T.E.C.C (Teens Encounter Church
and Christ) from June 6-8. The retreat
was for all high-school age students. Ev-
eryone had a great time.
“I liked learning from everyone’s
experiences, that God is always with us
no matter what happens. He’s in us and
never leaves,” said J. C Alvarez, St. Peter’s
Parish.
“I learned how to trust other people
and believe more in God,” said Julie Lom-
brana, St Peter’s Parish.
Contributed photos
The group worshipping at the closing
Mass.
Staff entertain the crowd with a YMCA
take-off.
IWA student missionaries reach out to Mexican villagers
During Holy Week, 12 Incarnate
Word Academy juniors joined a team
of “misioneros” from St. Joseph Acad-
emy in Brownsville on a missionary
trip to Tula, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Approximately 100 missionaries
were assigned to eight towns, which
varied in size from 50 - 250 families.
They began each day with commu-
nity prayer, then visited homes, built
relationships and introduced their
mission. Each day the men, women
and children of the villages were
invited to attend afternoon catechesis
activities and evening liturgies, which
the students conducted.
Father Mahendra Anandappa, Ad-
ministrator of Our Lady of the Rosary
Parish, and Dan Shea, an active parent
of IWA, accompanied the missionar-
ies on the 10-day experience. IWA
president, Sr. Anna Marie Espniosa
and mission team sponsor, Sr. Martha
O’Gara, joined the group on Holy
Thursday.
“Some of the villages around Tula
had not had a mission team visit in
six years,” Espinosa said. “Observ-
ing our students give of themselves
generously and lovingly to the humble
people of these rural towns was a gift
for me.”
The Tula missionary effort was a
first for many of the IWA students,
according to Fr. Mahendra. “Their
experiences indicated that great things
happen when God lives in us,” he
said.
I_P
“Going into this mission, I really
didn't know what to expect. However,
upon arriving at La Verdologa, I knew
my purpose for being there. I was a
‘misionero I was to spread the news
about Jesus. I'm not sure if they knew
why we were there, but I'm positive that
by the end of the week they had some
understanding about why we were there.
The children were great and loved to sing
the songs about God. The women welcomed
us into their homes when we did Visiteo.'
The men were shy, but by the end of the week
had opened up to us. This was a humbling
experience that made me appreciate everything
in life.''
~ Christina Mondragon, 17
From left: IWA parent Dan Shea, student Courtney McCormack and Sr. Martha
O’Gara with Tula children.
“I would return to the mission in a heartbeat
next year because I believe that if we go back
...to visit the families again, God can work on
the growth of the seed we left behind in their
hearts. What I learned from this experience was
patience, appreciation for the things I have, and
love for the less fortunate.''
~ R. Cameron Corley, 16
“This mission to Mexico was the best thing I
have ever done. I went into it because it was
an obligation and came out of it not wanting
to leave. It made me feel that I was making
a difference in those people's lives. I found
happiness in giving those people something that
they didn't encounter in their everyday lives;
the gift of God.''
~ Dan Shea, IWA parent
learned to appreciate whaU have, and «
„r, really E "U,r
intent with which you <h> it.
- Hector Gutierrez, 1/
CMex1fo" froiv
vHlai
°f Tula
nt
XlM***"
relationship Jay, U<« S"CT
ott cWnSed. r ^nCSS *rUe poverty, a
toe opportuwy ^ mokc 0\i(e...
reaUru#\°r Pcop -,0us assent
arrived \n »x°r0 ^ ^ toe experience
^'°2'TiwGoJ’U»r,>nthe|u«i
^“EntoHyeoroM
0(,o»o5chj eyersoclear.
women, ho4*",,
- Sean TlocW,
Vorcfc cannot describe truly
Austin Buchan, 17
^'7 Sa"RSineVihe there
”01 u Urivei «.J expert.4
and viken 0 . . u mc Vito mixec
their 1 ' \cte\y amoxiuft
emotions- \t vmsc ^ere Vith
howhappy*c$c p Pu \\y makes
jss^-r*
never exp gangers.
- Loci fields, «*
»hecaa«;(7r'“'>erie"te-
?Hf- / learned I me 0aiouf
6orf.’ “Je to spread the Vorj 0j
,osePh Satina,, 17
“I would like to go back because it made
me realize what Jesus went through to teach us
about his love for us and because the people
are waiting the whole year for us to be there
for just one week...I believe I have changed into
a better person. God took me over there for a
reason and I accomplished it.''
~ Bobbie-Rae Elizondo, 17
IWA student “misioneros”, from left;
Christina Mondragon, Bobbie-Rae Elizondo
and Luci Fields in Tula, Mexico.
“| learned that not everyone is as (ortunat'
TUy did not even have Hass, which
“JeTake far Vonted- Vet rtseir fairts w«s strong
Una« naw not to take even the most basic
things tor granted."
~ Rickey Gutierrez, 1 /
Photos and quotes contributed by IWA
Incarnate Word Academy Missionaries,
April 12-20
Austin Buchan; R. Cameron Corley;
Marguerite DeLoney; Bobbie Rae Eli-
zondo; Luci Fields; Hector Gutierrez;
Ricardo (Rickey) Gutierrez; Courtney
McCormick; Christina Mondragon;
Sean Rocha; Joseph Salinas; Danny
Shea
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Goldapp, Paula J. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, June 20, 2003, newspaper, June 20, 2003; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855788/m1/12/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .