Last updated on May 01, 2008

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PARISH STAFF

Msgr. Lawrence E. White, Pastor

Fr. P. R. Victor, Parochial Vicar

Ron Dubuque, Deacon

Freddie Perez, Plant Manager

Linda Sullivan, Administrative Assistant

Tammy Soliz, Secretary

My dear brother and sisters,

            May the Peace that the Lord Jesus brought to the world be yours!

            It is hard to believe that on May 9^th I will celebrate my 38^th anniversary of ordination. What a beginning I had for my journey towards the priesthood. I was a junior in high school when I transferred from Aransas Pass High School to Corpus Christi Minor Seminary (now John Paul II High School). It was quite a change! I was in a class of ten, all of whom had a Catholic school background, and the “famous” Jesuit fathers were the teachers. To say the least, I felt like a fish out of water, especially after that first religion class when I discovered how much I did not know about the Catholic faith. To top it all off, my parents weren’t so thrilled that I had left home and entered the seminary. I think that they really had their doubts. The only thing that kept me at CCMS was the grace of God!

            After high school, I stayed at Corpus Christi Minor Seminary for the first two years of college. We took 22 hours a semester and had only 2 ½ hours a night to study. Lights were turned off at 10:30 pm, and to stay up later than that was to run the risk of being expelled from the seminary. You soon learned to make good use of every minute that the Lord gave you! I spent fours years with a class that thought I would never be ordained. Well I survived, and entered the major seminary in San Antonio, Assumption Seminary, and attended classes at St. Mary’s University from which I received both my B.A. and M.A. After ten years in the seminary, I was ordained on May 9, 1970, by Bishop Thomas Drury. I was the only one of the original class of ten that was ordained.

            There were many times when the devil worked over time to make me feel unworthy of being a priest. But the Lord worked even harder! I had a very holy Spiritual Director whom the Lord used to keep me from detouring. For three days before my ordination, I was on retreat. After the second day, I really felt like calling off the whole thing. I was such a sinner, and the Lord could not possibly want me to be a priest. I was so unworthy. With the help of my spiritual director who was also my retreat director, I realized how true my feelings were. No man is worthy of the priesthood. The day before Bishop Drury ordained me, I accepted the fact that a priestly vocation is a call from the Lord and does not come from within oneself; and if the Lord calls one to the priesthood, as unworthy as he may be, the Lord will give him the graces that he needs to be the priest that the Lord wants him to be. (I cannot but think that this must be the feeling that Pope Benedict XVI had in the hours following his election three years ago.)

            My priestly journey of thirty-eight years has been very exciting and has found me in varied ministries. I have served as an Assistant at CC Cathedral, the Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop, the associate editor of the diocesan newspaper, the diocesan director of CCD, Vocation Director and Administrator of the minor seminary, assistant priest at St. Patrick, pastor of San Isidro Labrador in Arteaga, Mexico, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Westside, Dean of the Westside Deanery; and for the past seventeen years, I have had to great privilege of serving the people of Ss. Cyril and Methodius as your pastor. There have been a few other diocesan jobs while doing all the other.

            Of all the various things that a priest is called upon do, no matter where his assignment takes him, the one that is most fulfilling and gives value to all the sacrifices that one makes as a seminarian and as a priest is to be able to stand at the altar and be the instrument that the Lord uses to change bread and wine into His own Body and Blood, the Eucharist. And the second is being the instrument the Lord uses to raise His hand and reconcile sinners back to Himself in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession.

            I am truly grateful to the Lord for the priestly vocation that he gave me, and am glad that He did not call be to do something else. I am also grateful for the support that I get from you, the people of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish.

                             I love you,

Scripture Readings for Pentecost Sunday:

First reading:                 Acts 2:1-11
Second reading:           1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
Gospel:                          Matthew 20:19-23

Remember that we will get far more out of the Sunday scripture readings and the homily if we read the scripture readings before we come to Mass each Sunday.

HOLY  LAND: A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH

Monsignor Larry is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land the week of November 19 thru November 29, 2008. Transportation to the airport in Houston, round trip air fare, hotel room, breakfast and dinner each day, and transportation to all the holy sites are included in the low price of $2,279 plus $300 departure taxes and surcharges charged by the airline. You will visit the area around the Sea of Galilee, Mt. Tabor where the Transfiguration took place, Bethlehem – the birth place of Jesus, the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, make the Stations of the Cross along the route that Jesus walked, Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. There will be a ceremony in Cana for the married couples to renew their marriage vows and much more. The pilgrims will also have a private audience with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. A $300 deposit will reserve you place. There is room for only 41 people. For more information pick up a brochure from the parish office or call Gilbert Juarez at 361-215-0248.

PASTORAL CARE MINISTERS   AA Group                             Monday & Thursday, 8 - 9 p.m., KC House Health Ministries                  Melissa Nunez                                                 855-3795 Shut-Ins                                Paul Juarez                                                    774-1768 Works of Mercy                    Thelma Cruz (Fax 852-7541)                            852-4905

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

BAPTISM  The Sacrament of Baptism is conferred after parents and godparents have completed all four required classes.  A birth certificate and $10 is required at the office to register for the classes.

MARRIAGE  The Sacrament of Matrimony is conferred after at least six months of preparation with a Priest/Deacon.  Pamphlets with more information may be picked up at the office.

RECONCILIATION  The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is celebrated each Saturday, 3:30 to
5:00 p.m.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (C.C.D)  Religious Education is for students in K-4 through Grade 8.  On Saturday's K-4 through 6th grade will meet at 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.  On Wednesday's grades 6 through 8 will meet at 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.  For more information call the Religious Education Office.

Donated by the
SS. Cyril and Methodius Altar Society
1997

Ss. Cyril & Methodius

Constructed by Ed Ladd on March 22, 1998 and last updated on May 01, 2008