SAN ANTONIO • St. Mary’s University School of Law and the Catholic Lawyers Guild of San Antonio sponsored the 54th annual Red Mass, invoking God’s blessings of the judicial year, on Oct. 26 at San Fernando Cathedral. Archbishop José H. Gomez presided at the liturgy, and Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Zurek was the homilist. Reflections before the recessional were given by Judge John Specia Jr., of the 225th District Court.
    Judges, lawyers and officials of all faiths attend the Red Mass to invoke God’s blessing and guidance on the administration of justice. Members of the judicial, executive and legislative branches process into the cathedral from the Bexar County Courthouse.
    The Red Mass, a legal and judicial tradition since the reign of King Edward III in the early 14th century, marks the opening of the court term. The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated in 1928. San Antonio revived the tradition 54 years ago at the cathedral.
    The event began with the proclamation of the Red Mass by Mayor Pro Tem of San Antonio Richard Perez, and the call to prayer was given by Bill Piatt, dean and Ryan Professor of Law at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Readers included Judge Kimberly K. Kreider of the City of San Antonio Municipal Court No. 4 and Justice Catherine M. Stone of the Fourth Court of Appeals.

    General intercessions were recited by Aloysius A. Leopold, professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law, who was celebrating 40 years of teaching.

    In his homily, Bishop Zurek began by saying, “The prophet tells us the moral code of the Old Testament can by summed up in the words, ‘Do good, avoid evil.’ That is the fundamental moral principal. Ask God to fulfill in us the words of the prophet Ezekiel.”

    The bishop described how, in baptism, persons receive a new heart and a new spirit. “Through the centuries, that new heart has helped us understand more fully the human person. From the Scriptures and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the social teachings of the church developed, and dignity has been enhanced by the suffering person of Jesus Christ. The way the heavenly and earthly city intersect is by faith. The church does this through the dignity of the human person and enriching human activity.”

    Bishop Zurek called on those in the legal profession to make great contributions to human persons through their work. “Today, there is an exaggerated sense of human rights, but we are created by God for God, destined to be with God. This important truth tends to be forgotten by the culture in which we live. Our common vocation is to recognize the dignity of the human person and then put it into practice.”

    The auxiliary bishop then examined the words of St. Paul, who explained that all have different gifts but the same spirit. “Once we understand the dignity in the life of the human person, we will understand the words of St. Luke: ‘The spirit of the Lord is upon me,’” said Bishop Zurek. “Those words impel us to reflect on the repercussions laws have on people.”

    He asked, “What does a law do to an individual? How does a law affect the rest of society?”
The bishop answered, “Pay fair wages for all, seek out the causes of poverty, provide educational opportunities to everyone, seek progress in science and medicine without loss of human life. To avoid evil and do good remains the call of all the followers of God.”

    The homilist concluded, “Let us never grow slack in seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and seeking deeper and true knowledge. Let us never tire to gain greater insight into God and human experiences.”

    At the liturgy of the Eucharist, gifts were presented by Justice Rebecca Simmons of the Fourth Court of Appeals; Lauren E. Koporec, a student at St. Mary’s University School of Law; Erika Specia, daughter of Judge Specia; and Charles E. Cantú, professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law who was also celebrating 40 years of teaching.

    Flowers in memory of judges, lawyers and family members who have died in 2006 were placed by Suzanne DeWalt, coordinator of the Community Justice Program. Among those remembered were Arthur Guzman, Shay Gebhardt, Ike Kampmann, Christie Mirchell, William Michael Rork, Thomas L. Even, Nina Henderson, Neill Boldrick, Charles W. Barrow, Arthur Alexander Estefan and Paul M. Green. A donation of food to the Food Pantry for clients served at the Center for Legal and Social Justice was given by Mary Mendez, outreach coordinator for the Civil Justice Clinic at St. Mary’s University School of Law.

    After Communion, Judge Specia offered a reflection. He said that justice is the balance between the rights of individuals and the rights of society, and that justices are in the middle of that conflict every day. He urged judges to pray for wisdom and compassion, admitting that justice in the grind of the legal system is sometimes difficult to achieve. Specia, a lawyer for 31 years, said, “Sometimes we forget, and other times we are acutely aware of the matter, and at these times prayer helps in the decision. I do not pray for divine intervention. I pray for the gifts given to me.”

    The judge proudly told of lawyers actively involved in works of charity in the community, recounting lawyers who play active roles in social civic organizations while at the same time seeking justice for their clients in the legal professions.

    “May we not forget the possibilities born of faith,” he concluded. “Be content to be a child of God.”
Prior to the end of the liturgy, special blessings were prayed for those in the legal community. The blessing of the administration, faculty and staff of the School of Law was conducted by Dr. Charles L. Cotrell, president of St. Mary’s University; the blessing of judges was conducted by Chief Justice Alma L. López of the Fourth Court of Appeals; the blessing of the Legislature and public officials was conducted by Joaquin Castro from Texas House of Representatives District 125, who is also a visiting professor of law at St. Mary’s University School of Law; the blessing of attorneys and legal assistants was conducted by Diego Peña of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of San Antonio; and the blessing of law students was conducted by Nicholas A. Sisoian, president of the Student Bar Association at St. Mary’s University School of Law.

    Following the Mass a reception was held at the Plaza Club.