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Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, is flanked by the pastor, Msgr. James Cashin, left, and Msgr. Michael Boulette, right, dean of the Fredericksburg Rural Deanery, and parishioners of Sacred Heart Church around the altar. A group of attendees were asked to help serve as a wind break from the gusts blowing across the open field.
Jordan McMorrough | Today's Catholic |
On an overcast, cold, blustery Sunday morning recently, close to 500 parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Comfort gathered in a field just off of Highway 87 and Interstate 10 to celebrate with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, as he blessed the future site of the community’s long-awaited new sanctuary.
A flat-bed trailer held a make-shift altar as the archbishop was joined by Msgr. James F. Cashin, pastor, and Msgr. Michael J. Boulette, administrator of Notre Dame Church in Kerrville and dean of the Fredericksburg Rural Deanery, in concelebrating the Jan. 15 bilingual liturgy, with worshippers bringing folding lawn chairs, plastic patio seats and even iron benches in place of wooden pews.
Archbishop Gustavo began his homily by quoting from a 1986 Today’s Catholic article written about Sacred Heart Parish. “There’s nothing pretentious about the people. … The 200 members of the parish share two of God’s greatest gifts: fellowship and perseverance,” he read, adding, “This morning our response to the psalm, ‘Here I am Lord, I come to do your will,’ characterizes in a very simple way the dedication and history of the generations of those who built the faith foundation of this community.”
Without fanfare or flourish, Sacred Heart Parish reflected the message of the day’s Gospel — John 1:35-42 — in both its spirit and its simplicity, explained Archbishop Gustavo. As Jesus was walking by, St. John the Baptist said to two of his own disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The Gospel says this very direct introduction to Jesus led them to follow him and become his disciples. Even Jesus’ question to them was simple and direct when he inquired, “What are you looking for?”
“An encounter with the person of Jesus Christ begins with an invitation,” the archbishop said. “First the invitation is to you and me to follow Jesus and then we are called to extend that invitation to others along the way.”
Archbishop Gustavo emphasized that with that same humble, but passionate missionary zeal, Sacred Heart has grown from modest beginnings that also gave birth to St. Peter’s in Boerne and Notre Dame in Kerrville.
“It is this spirit that we celebrate today as we begin a new chapter in its journey of faith that reflects the fruit of faithful evangelists who nourished the souls and enriched the lives of generations for more than 150 years. In 1978, when a great flood devastated Comfort and surrounding communities, parishioners throughout the area joined together to reach out to neighbors and strangers alike; even when their own neighborhood was flooded and as much as five feet of water stood in the sanctuary,” he said. “It’s in this spirit of charity and practical love that we can lead others to Jesus. When we share the compassion and caring that lives in our hearts, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us, we bring his hope and salvation even in our darkest moments.”
The archbishop recounted that just as Jesus invited the two disciples to come and be with him, he invites us to be a part of God’s family. “In that personal and profound relationship we are empowered to extend an invitation to others to join us in seeking the truth and the light that will guide our lives to eternity,” said Archbishop Gustavo. “Today, we break ground for more than brick and mortar, we build God’s church with living stones, giving of yourself, building a foundation for all who will come to this place where ‘Jesus stays’ for generations to come.”
He continued, “Just as Andrew invited his brother Simon to come, meet the Messiah; just as he brought his brother to a personal encounter with Jesus, each of us is called to do the same. The new sanctuary will be a sign of faith, a sign of discipleship and obedience, proclaiming, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.”
The archbishop stressed that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is about more than just his human heart, it is a sign of Jesus’ great love for all mankind and for each one of us in a “personal and profound way.”
Archbishop Gustavo asked, asking, “Why would we keep the gift of Jesus from anyone for one more day than absolutely necessary?”
He replied, “When we say, ‘Here I am Lord’ we are confessing our willingness to respond to Jesus’ invitation to ‘follow him.’”
The archbishop asked for prayers that all may serve the poor and the marginalized; anyone who is suffering from lost hope and betrayed trust; a husband, wife, daughter or son, mother or father, who needs someone to listen, to dry their tear, or hold them close, and assure them, that in the name of Jesus, they are not alone.
At the beginning of the Mass, Archbishop Gustavo requested prayers to remember the two persons who died in the murder-suicide inside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Helotes on Jan. 11. Prior to the liturgy in Comfort, he had been at the Helotes parish to bless the sanctuary and speak to parishioners there.
“We must also be attentive to those who are within our parish family, whose faith has cooled through indifference or mistaken beliefs, re-igniting their zeal, helping them to encounter Jesus anew,” he challenged his Hill Country isteners.
Archbishop Gustavo concluded, “As Sacred Heart Parish journeys into the future there will be new opportunities placed before us for evangelization; for proclaiming with our words and our lives Christ’s presence among us, leading all we meet to a ‘personal and profound’ encounter with Jesus Christ, ‘The Lamb of God.’”
During the homily, a strong gust of wind toppled over the white cloth, candles and microphone stand from the folding table serving as the altar. As some in the audience gasped, the archbishop lightened by the mood by smiling and responding, “It’s OK. This is the Hill Country, not the Hyatt.”
At the end of the homily, and with the wind still whipping across the pasture, Deacon Dave Burkhart asked for a dozen volunteers to come forward and serve as a “shield” to help keep the missal and vessels from flying away during the celebration of the Eucharist.
In comments prior to the conclusion of the liturgy, Archbishop Gustavo said that, although it is liturgically permissible for only the altar servers, deacons, and priests to be in the vicinity of the altar, the “wind break” gesture served as a metaphor for the close-knit Catholic community gathered in Comfort.
Currently, the parish has pledged over $662,000 towards their $1 million capital campaign goal for the new church. For those interested in donating, contact: Sacred Heart Church; P.O. Box 599; Comfort, Texas 78013.