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Msgr. Larry Stuebben and Tom Stuebben accept award for their late brother, Msgr. George H. Stuebben Jr.
Carol Baass Sowa | Today's Catholic |
This is the final in a three-part series on the Madonna Neighborhood Center’s 70th anniversary celebration.
By Carol Baass Sowa
Today's Catholic
SAN ANTONIO • The Madonna Neighborhood Center’s 70th anniversary gala, held at The Bright Shawl on Nov. 12, honored six special persons with awards in recognition of their service and contributions to the West Side. Founded by the Congregation of Divine Providence under Sister Mary Immaculate Gentemann, CDP, the center provides comprehensive services for children, families and the elderly, with special emphasis on the socially and economically disadvantaged.
The evening was marked by a video presentation of the center’s history and a keynote address by Mayor Julián Castro, son of one of the award recipients that night, Rosie Castro, with both events covered in a previous issue of Today’s Catholic. Award presentations to Rosie Castro, coordinator of the Center for Academic Transitions at Palo Alto College; María Antonietta Berriozábal, community activist; and Dr. Ricardo Romo, president of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), were also detailed earlier in this series on the center’s 70th anniversary celebration.
Receiving awards posthumously were three persons dear to the hearts of those at Madonna Center: Sister Mary Immaculate Gentemann, CDP, Msgr. George H. Stuebben Jr. and James J. Falbo Sr.
James J. Falbo Sr.
James J. Falbo Sr., former Madonna Center board member and general commercial contractor, was a founding member and president of the Westside Lion’s Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Knight of St. Gregory and a member of the Italian Christopher Columbus Society. Falbo built two of Madonna Center’s buildings at their present location and was named an honorary lifetime board member. He was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Municipal Employees and director of the Edwards Underground Water District for 12 years.
Accepting the award for his father was James J. Falbo Jr., who related that when he told his 90-year-old mother the news of his father’s award, she responded by saying of Madonna Center, “That is our second family.” In a nursing home, she was unable to attend the awards, but Falbo noted three generations of the family were present, including himself and his daughter and granddaughter. He concluded with words sent by his mother, “Gracias and vaya con Dios.”
Msgr. George H. Stuebben Jr.
The next posthumous award was given to Msgr. George H. Stuebben Jr., who attended St. Joseph parish and school downtown and went on to graduate from Central Catholic High School and St. John and Assumption seminaries. Ordained a priest in 1954, in his 52 years in the priesthood he served as an associate pastor and pastor in the archdiocese, as a National Guard and Reserve Army chaplain and as an active duty Army chaplain with rank of colonel.
Due to a stroke in 1985, he was forced to retire his chaplaincy and, with generosity and determination, assumed the holy ministry of presence, providing priestly care and support to many, including Madonna Center, for which he held a special affection.
Accepting his award were Msgr. Stuebben’s brothers, Msgr. Lawrence Stuebben and Tom Stuebben. “I am sure that George, in his place in heaven, is very honored to be on the program this evening,” said Msgr. Stuebben, “and to receive this award on the same occasion as the very distinguished people who have already come up here before to receive this award.”
He noted that his brother lost the use of speech following his stroke, thereafter only being able to say “yes” or “no” and communicate through written notes. Being unable to take an assignment as a parish priest as a result of this, he became involved in a great number of endeavors. His involvement with Madonna Center was more than just a “ministry of presence,” related Msgr. Stuebben. “He was hugely involved,” he said. “I cannot remember a single time when something was being worked out and discussed, that he wouldn’t remind us all about Madonna Center and their needs and the people that were being served and the wonderful staff that was there.”
Sister Mary Immaculate Gentemann, CDP
The final award was given to the founder of the Madonna Neighborhood Center, Sister Mary Immaculate Gentemann, CDP, who joined the congregation in 1927. After receiving a degree from Our Lady of the Lake College, she earned a master’s from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and became the first full-time student from a religious order to attend the New York School of Social Service in New York City.
In addition to Madonna Center, she founded the Worden School of Social Service at OLLU, the first school of social service in Texas, and served as its dean for 10 years. She also helped start the Weekend College program there, a first in South Texas. Sister Immaculate retired in 2000 and was recognized on her 100th birthday with the creation of a scholarship in her name at the university. She passed away earlier this year at the age of 101.
Accepting her award was Sister Imelda Gonzalez, CDP. Sister Imelda, noted she herself was a West Sider and recalled that on the center’s 50th anniversary, Sister Immaculate had commented, “If I had 40 years off my shoulders, I would go back to Madonna Center. A part of my heart is still there.” Sister Imelda then asked the many CDPs present to stand and be recognized, saying that in honoring Sister Immaculate, they were being honored as well.
“I know that if she were here,” said Sister Imelda, “she would defer all accolades to you, the men and women who staff the center, who volunteer at the center, including the board of directors, who support the center by your time and donations or in kind services and who support the center as well by your good will in the community. She would not hesitate to give you credit for all the good things that have been done and have been accomplished by Madonna Center.”
She added that no greater honor could be given to Sister Immaculate than “to carry on with the mission of Madonna Center for another 30 or 40 or 50 — or even 70 years.”