Praise

Gratefulness…  

Thank you, O God, for hearing my prayer and granting my request.  Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me.  Thank you, Father, for your great love in giving me my life, for your great patience in preserving me despite my sinfulness, for your protection in the past, and for the opportunity to serve and honor you in the future.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for keeping me numberless times from sin and death by the toils of your life, the sufferings of your Passion, and by your victorious Resurrection.  Thank you, Holy Spirit of God, for bestowing so many graces upon my soul and for having so frequently renewed your life within me.  May my life from now on be a sign of my gratefulness.  Amen.

We give thanks and praise for…

2012…  Nancy & Chris for the roses & the sweets/drinks after Mass on Mother’s Day; all visitors to SJC, especially Brenda & Tom & the three lovely people who asked to have their photo taken; all military & government personnel; Margaret & Richard’s granddaughter, Isabella Marguerite, who made her first communion in Atlanta, GA; truths revealed; Frank & Jill Ernst; Sam & Ning Apiado on their 35th wedding anniversary; Michael Apiado on his bachelor’s degree; Debbie & Philip in Hammond, WI; Jerry in Baldwin, WI; Casey in Sioux Falls, SD; Margie, Loraine, Elise & everyone at St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, SD; Bob in Sioux City, IA; Lilia in Des Moines;

Maria Oralia & Cristina Ponce de Guerrero in Chicago; parishioners at St. Pius V in Chicago; Joseph & Jessica Taylor, siblings who, along with Father Philip, work at the Father Solanus Casey Center in Detroit; Wilson, Jeff & everyone at the Solanus Casey Center; Officer T. Walden at the Marriott in Detroit; Reed & Dale in Milwaukee; Linda at BW Riverfront Inn, Karen at the visitors’ center, & Hilary at Culver’s in Marinette, WI; Judi & Judi at Perkins in Menominee, MI; the fine folks in Baldwin, WI: Dotty & Loren Smeester on their 59th wedding anniversary (4.22), Donelle at Silver Bison Ranch, Holly at The Orchard, & Linda & Brandi at AmericInn; John Shedd’s family, especially his niece & her family; Dinie & her mother; Jonathan & Laura Apiado on the birth of Tytus Leo, 4.5; Susan at La Playa; Yolanta & Carolina visiting from Chicago, 4.5; all St. Paul’s ACTS retreatants; Gloria Alvarado, Angeli Christian, Cynthia, & their respective families; the Vara family: Manuel & Eileen, Harper Grace, Kerith, Sara, & Aiden; Frank Rodriguez & his family;

Michael Robinson & Acacia Douglas who celebrate birthdays on 3.30; Shirley & Carlos at HEB in Flour Bluff; Jonathan & Laura Apiado; Jess Veloria; Elena Martinez; Sister Bernadette (SPC) on her birthday; Olga & Jose; Heidi Wilson & her two-year-old son, Liam; Evan Landin (two on 3.18); ACTS retreatants & their families, especially those at St. Paul’s in Flour Bluff; Sam Gonzalez & his family; Dave Taylor, Larry Felton, & Barb Galbraith; Father Sheehan, retired Oblate, on his 77th birthday, 3.2; Joanne & Tom Perkins;

Virginia & Donald Dagenais & their family; the Hinojosa‘s trip to Japan for a long-awaited reunion with David, who’s been serving in Afghanistan; the Harrisons from Alabama… Harold & Genevieve, whom we met at Stella Maris, 1.21… who are entrusting their beloved grandson, Adam, to God & his intercessor, St. Peregrine, for healing (2.10); Caitlin Kelly & hubby, Jose; Mary Ellen & Steve; Sharon & Joe Shaw & Msgr. O’Callahan (Stella Maris, 2.4); Sam, the Lovely Ning, & their family, especially Laura & her unborn child; Gary, Junebug, & Michael; Neli-Beli & her family;

Betsy, Niki, Dr. Varin, & medical staff at Bay Area Hospital’s surgical center; Jennifer Starns, her little girl, & Nancy Myers (mom); Mary & Jack; Olivia & George Holt; Ninfa Jacobs & her family; Mary Ellen & Steve; Ly, Davie, Danny, & Jim; Jay & Roger; Bill, Ruthie, & Colleen; the Kennedys from AZ; Jason & all at Panda Bay in Rockport; Father Ralph & the welcoming parishioners at Stella Maris, as well as those we met… Mary from MN & the couple from Alabama; Debbie Hall & her husband; the Lamas family from Ingleside; Father Primo, OFM; Sister from Australia; Virginia & Gene;

2011…  Olivia & George Holt; Vicki, Susan, Hope, Bertha & Caroline at Singer in Corpus Christi; caregivers & priests, especially Fathers Richard Sheehan & Bob Peña, at the Oblate Madonna House in SA; Myriam G. at Cafe Olé in San Antonio (SA) & her three children; Nancy Ludwick & her spouse; Irene D. Vera’s life; the Hinojosa family: Rebecca, Jacob & former altar servers now in the military: Stephanie (VA; Afghanistan, July 2012) & David (Afghanistan); Ly Vu’s resolved issue with her house in Austin; Lisa from Victoria & Ken from Bastrop; Irene D. Vera, her family & friends;

Dr. Oscar Diaz & his family (11.1); all troops leaving Iraq by year’s end (ABC News, 10.21); Joe Abel & his beautiful, loving family (10.17); Jessica & Beverly, both Walmart employees, & Fernando at Wendy’s (Lufkin); Savannah from Douglas & Courtney from New Orleans, both Stephen F. Austin students working at the Marble Slab Creamery in Nacogdoches; lawyers and judges who advocate for children; John Turany’s health; the extraordinarily welcoming parishioners at Most Holy Trinity in Covington, LA, especially Mitzi Cosse, Pat Jackson, Marcel & Caroline Lanoux, & Father Bourg (9.18); Suzie, Nick, Marko, & Chris; Virginia & Gene Giles; caregivers; Carmen Martinez’s life well lived;

Paul & his mom; resilience and determination in seeing tasks through to completion; Carolyn Williams from Waco & her family [Thanks ever so much for your lovely comments!]; Jutta Hellnick’s trip to visit family in Germany; Dora’s family, especially her husband’s improved health; Dr. Vargas, Linda, Danny, & the rest of their family; Bert in CA & her family; Charlotte, Jason, Baby Violet, Kylie, Ayden, & Karina; Neli-Beli’s healing; Susan’s speedy delivery from illness; Prema’s new job with Sephora (walking in faith, 8.2; prayer answered, 8.12);

Ly & Jim on their fourth anniversary, 8.2; Father Joe on his birthday (7.27; vicar at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Brownsville); the Lord of Divine Mercy parishioners in Brownsville, especially those we met personally: Eddie, Laura, her little girl, Julietta, & Father Franco; Neli’s birthday, 7.11; babies, especially Adriel (born mid June), his overjoyed parents, & the Mendoza family; new parishioners: now 117 families up from 93; Ly, Jim & Davie & Danny Nguyen; Praveen, Shawnee, Ryan & Kate from Austin;

Oscar Diaz’s health; Lorrie Cristan’s dedicated service to UTMSI (retired 6.30); Ben‘s life well-lived, his musical vocation, & his friends, Jay & Roger; Carmen & Carlos; Father Bob Shaldone; Prema & Evan; John Meyer’s health; Father Tito, Father Rudy, & their SOLT family; Winnie’s many gifts & talents, which include preparing lovely meals for priests visiting SJC; Carol; Margaret; Jay; Baby Svanna; Carlos & Pat; the continuous fine service received at HEB in Flour Bluff; educators & school personnel; all students; graduates; veterans & soldiers; military families;

Father Michael Jordan; true friendship; families regaining stability in their lives, thanks to jobs found & bills paid; unanswered prayers; our altar servers; caregivers; Sabrina, Vanessa, & all who assist Eddie & Pat in their daily lives; all who keep us in their prayers; Father Carlito; Father Gerry Sheehan; Father Xaviour’s birthday (5.18) spent with his mother & loved ones in India; Gary & Junebug whose son, Michael, was confirmed at St. Paul’s (5.13); the Dominican Sisters at St. Paul’s, especially Eliza & Bernadette; Father Stembler; Father Tito Ayo; Sam & Ning’s anniversary; Father Pete Elizondo; Father Richard Sheehan; Rose, Gary, Conner, Brian, & the rest of their family; Acacia-D’s 17th birthday;

Bill, Ruthie & their family & friends; those who assist us in our hour of need; our delightful visitors & our devoted Winter Texans; all life’s blessings; grandkids; family; friends; dedicated paraprofessionals, especially Dora & Olga; Marla’s mom’s health; Tina & her family, especially her three daughters, baby Emiliano, & her mother; Sondra Launey (11.24.10) survived by her beloved spouse George, two sons & their spouses, & one granddaughter; the Littles, Sandie & Bob, whose dad celebrated life joyously for ninety-nine years until two weeks ago; Nancy & Lillard Christ; Ninfa & her family; all winter Texans & visitors to SJC; Father Xaviour; all parishioners;

2010…  Lucy & Jerry, Jr.; Karina’s 5th birthday, 12.5; Nathan & Kathryn on their wedding, 11.27; UTMSI employees & students; Frank, Jill, & the Ernst family; Robert Bustamante & his family… Richard, Krystal, Patrick Basham (son-in-law) & Cassidy Ryan (grandbaby); Lorrie Tristan’s healing from knee surgery; all who helped make Carlos Lamas’s fundraiser in Ingleside a success (11.6); Marshall, PAHS senior & waiter at the Thirsty Turtle; Mercedes Ramirez Johnson & her family; Melba & Curtis Gregory; Kylie’s 7th birthday, 10.29; Ayden’s 6th birthday, 9.26;

Nathan & Kathryn; Ana C & Sister with the Carmelites in Australia; Maria with Anthonian Associates; Dr. Griffin & his staff; Tess, Lydia, Steven, Todd, & Mary at the BAH outpatient center; Margie; Brandon, TAMUCC junior & P.F. Chang waiter; lifelong friends; wedding anniversaries, especially Irene & Manuel Vera’s 50th; Sylvia Cancino, a longtime friend, & Linda Lopez at PUB in Brownsville; all visitors to SJC this summer; Jack & Deborah Rush; grandchildren’s hopes & dreams; mended relationships;

Pat’s family, especially Carlos, who was approved to receive chemotherapy medication, & Jennifer, who successfully underwent surgery; medical insurance & pharmaceutical companies that assist patients in need; the Rey family & Maria Betancourt from San Antonio; all returning home safely after vacationing here; Frs. Francis, Frank, James, Mathias, & Roy, who have enthusiastically celebrated Mass & helped with other responsibilities at SJC during Father Xaviour’s month long vacation in India;

Manny’s birthday (8.17); Arnold & Paige’s anniversary; visitors to our church, especially the beautiful young family that occupied the second pew (our usual spot) at nine o’clock Mass (8.15); all children & their parents at Sunday Mass; Father Xaviour & his family & friends; Baby Svana, who’s home again from the hospital; Margaret Johns, who returned to Oak Crest (8.7) after fighting a virulent urinary tract infection; Father Xaviour’s trip home to India (8.4) to visit with family & friends for a month;

Carlos’s brain surgery (7.28) & the love of his family & friends whose support & prayers continue to lift his spirits through this time of healing; seeing Rose, Gary & Macy again at SJC; loving fathers past, present, & future… especially Anselmo Longoria & his son Guillermo (1911-1954) & Will Landin & his son Evan (dob 3.18.10); Goya’s evaluation for a liver transplant & her sister Irene’s visit to see her in Indiana; Eric & Kaleb… among God’s little angels here on earth (7.19); birthdays, especially Steven’s (7.7);

Trung Dinh’s sweet thoughtfulness; the Vietnamese group from UTSA, including their family members, who visited SJC (6.27); Becky & her mother; Chelsea on her quince (6.19) & her loving parents; Paty, Juan, & Dr. Craig; Chao, Yue, Richard, Dr. Vaughan, & all the friendly folks we met in Nacogdoches; Father Xaviour’s birthday (5.18); Margaret & Richard, on their forty-fourth wedding anniversary; Jay & Roger, on their twelve years of marriage;

George & Dorothy McKeon, God’s thoughtful petitioners; Father Nestor’s fulfillment of a lifelong dream… enlisting in the USAF (2009); the four young men who man the two Salvation Army trucks Monday through Friday so that household items are available to folks in need (5.7); Vincent & Daniel, Lack’s delivery men (5.6); Carol at Bealls & Erica at KMart (Portland, 5.4); Elizabeth at JCP (CC, 5.3); Father Xaviour’s ordination anniversary (4.30.98); Baby Rebecca (4.1, 7″4′, 19.5″), born to loving parents & doting grandparents; Rose & Gary’s visit to Brian & Conner in Germany (4.19); Margaret & Richard; Acacia-D & Michael (both, 3.30) & all March birthdays; Baby Evan (3.18, 7″6′, 21″), born to awed parents;

Father Javier’s healing from malaria, the Salesians with whom he works in Zambia, & all to whom they minister; Jay on her SAFE class & her devotion to music; the ladies in the Prayer Blanket Ministry & the rosary makers; the Knights of Columbus; Bill & Ruthie; Bill & Sue, Richard & Sharon; all the Winter Texans whose friendship & commitment to SJC is truly heartwarming & greatly appreciated;

Julie’s restored health; Brian & Conner Moeller on their wonderful wedding, 2.18.10; Diana’s daughter, Selina, married to a wonderful young man, Richard, & their baby, Rebecca, due 4.2; Father Jonathan, ordained 6.2009; Rose’s grandson, David; Jay’s mom’s health; Baby Svana’s medical progress, her parents’ relief, her grandparents’ joy & loving support; all who have been praying for Svana’s recovery;

2009…  Jay & Roger, believers in miracles; Chris & Nancy Christ & all they do for SJC; Sarah Maxham & her family; Clara Franklin, long-ago special friend now in heaven; Segy’s birthday, 9.12; William, Prema & baby due 3.18.10; Brian Moeller home on leave 9.2-23; David Cade Moeller, born 8.12 (7 “11′, 21″); Delfa & Oscar Cervantes on their wedding anniversary (7.49); Guillermo (7.21.54), Anselmo, & Paz Canales Longoria;

Tony & Mary Jo Patz, Chris & Cindy, Bob & Sharon, Bill & Sharon, Harold & Geri, Bev & Walter, Dan & Ami, & all of the BW community; Steven on his birthday, 7.7; Elsa, Raul; Ms. Loyde, Ms. Lopez, Mr. Martinez; Letty, Hortencia, Maggie, & Connie; all the wonderful folks we met in Amarillo & Palo Duro (7.3-5); June birthdays… especially Mom’s, 6.18;

Dustin Van Loon, 18, beloved son & grandson… Mark & Helen’s great happiness on earth… now in heaven; George Barnes… friendly, helpful, ever-smiling USPS employee, and St. Anthony’s perfect find for Heaven’s Post Office.  We’ll miss you, George!

Brian Moeller, U.S. serviceman, now at his new post… Ramstein AFB, Germany… from Afghanistan, 5.30; Junebug on her birthday, 5.25; Tammy’s baby girl… Jazzlyn Raine Hamilton… who brought joy to her mommy, daddy, Aunt Cathy, & many others for a few minutes before returning to Heaven’s nursery, 5.19; Father Xaviour’s birthday (5.18) & his ordination anniversary (4.30.98) spent with family & friends at home in India; Mark’s wonderful new job (5.14);

Jay’s musician friend Ben; Mary & David on their anniversary (5.16) & her birthday (5.21); Frank (UTMSI award recipient, 5.7) & Jill Ernst; Sam & Ning on their anniversary (5.2.77) & May birthdays; Father Shaji’s quick recovery, resilience, & good health; all students, their families, & their finances; Gary & Rose Moeller’s wedding anniversary (3.1.74); the dedication of the new St. Joseph Church (2.22);

2008…  Father James Stembler’s ordination anniversary (1.21.88); Father Nestor Lachica’s ordination anniversary (12.21.02); all military families past, present, & future; all who have found employment; excellent health care; the joys of childhood & parenthood; the special miracle of healing; Tasha; Elsa’s dad; Jay’s, Tina’s, & George’s friend & his family; Laura Saldana & her family; Reggie’s friendship, sage advice, & encouragement;

Father Xaviour’s family; all who help Father at church; Mark, who’s been working on the rectory grounds all on his own, & his mother Helen, who supports his efforts; our church choirs & Jay’s musicians; our church visitors & their heartfelt contributions; birthdays & special celebrations; & all the miracles… big & small… in our everyday lives!!!