Serra Club Northeast of Houston

ALWAYS

May 2020 Volume 6, Issue 12 FORWARD

St. Martha Mary & Lazarus, St. Philip the Apostle, St. Leo the Great, St. Mary Magdalene, St. John of the Cross, St. Dominic

Board of Directors President: Melia Reed President Elect: Mark Halleck VP Vocations: Donna Rueby VP Membership: Bob & Arlane Sponaugle VP Programs: Tony & Eileen Benvegnu VP Communications: Lynn Lucas Mary Lou Purello Treasurer: Charlie Garland Secretary: Kay Nelson Chaplain: Father Felix Osasona

Trustees: Diddy Muck, Sandie Taylor Shalom Rep: Doug Reed Newsletter: Mary Lou Purello Meetings: 4th Monday of the Month Italiano’s Restaurant 217 FM 1960 Bypass, Humble, TX 6:30 Social, 7:00 Dinner

“To become a priest or a religious is not primarily our choice, it is our answer to a calling, a calling of love.” Pope Francis

!1 WORDS FROM OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER FELIX OSASONA EASTER - Different but the Same

Happy Easter to you, dear Serrans!

Easter 2020 was so different but still the same. We are all passing through an unprecedented time in history with the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 2million people, caused the death of about 150 thousand people worldwide, and led to restrictions on public gatherings.

After the day of my priestly anniversary, the next big day of my priestly life is the Mass of the Holy Chrism celebrated on Tuesday of Holy Week here in our archdiocese. It is such a beautiful yearly celebration with our archbishop, his auxiliary, retired bishops, over 300 priests gather together with about 150 permanent deacons and two thousand lay faithful for this unique celebration of the institution of the priesthood and blessing of the oils for the year. This year was different because we couldn’t gather as usual. It was the first time in my priestly life that I did not participate physically in a Chrism Mass. However, it was the same as Cardinal DiNardo blessed the oils for the sacraments and invited priests to renew their commitment even though virtually. This did not diminish my zeal for the priesthood and my renewed commitment to continue to serve God in his people.

The Holy Week and Easter liturgies at my Parish were livestreamed to parishioners. The mystery of the resurrection was not lost in the pandemic. Yes, the church buildings were empty but the hearts of the faithful at home were filled with the grace and love of Jesus Christ. There is some similarities in the empty tomb and the empty churches. While the empty tomb is a proof of Christ’s resurrection, we can say that our empty churches during this pandemic is a sign of our faith in God. How? Well, the faith is alive in the families as most Catholics are recognizing the importance of sharing their faith at home. Easter is different, but the same!

Until we resume public gatherings, I now do ministry of prayer and accompaniment. I pray over the phone with parishioners and I do limited visitation to the hospitals and homes when there is an emergency. I continue to prepare couples for marriage through video conference, and I provide the sacrament of Confession by appointment in the church wearing masks and practicing social distancing. The priestly ministry is different but the same.

As Serrans, our mission is promoting vocation. Even if we cannot gather for activities, we can reach out to fellow Serrans over the phone, email or other means to check on them and maybe pray with them. Let us continue to foster priestly vocation through our prayers. Let us not forget to support those who need us the most during this time. The Lord is our strength, and he will guide and bless us! We pray for a cure for this COVID-19 and that we will be able to gather again very soon. Amen. Fr. Felix Osasona, MSP

!2 SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS

Spiritual Bouquets, April 2020

During Holy Week the Club sent Spiritual Bouquets to over 75 priests, sisters, deacons, seminarians and other religious offering the prayers and spiritual intentions of 33 club members. Over 5400 rosaries, holy communions, acts of penance, visits to the blessed sacrament, chaplets of divine mercy and remembrances at mass will be offered for them during the rest of 2020 and though the 2021 Lenten season.

Donna Rueby once again created a beautiful card for this Spiritual Bouquet. Her work, “Be Not Afraid” (pictured), was the front of the card.

The names of the priests and religious who received the Spiritual Bouquet are listed on page 4. It is provided for you to print out and keep near your prayer space to remember these men and women. The Club has computer desktop photographs (pictured) that also list these names. If you would like to receive these photographs for use on your desktop please contact Jim Stevens at [email protected] by Jim Stevens

Copy of Donna’s beautiful card Easter From: Spiritual Bouquet Serra Club Northeast of Houston For: ______

The following are offered up for you and you intentions: Easter is a time to give thanks for 1,213 Rosaries the new life given through Christ’s Resurrection. 1485 Holy Communions It also is a good time to ask God’s 719 Visits to the Blessed Sacrament Blessings for you and for 256 Chaplets of Divine Mercy all you give and all you do. 1,462 Remembrances at Mass

350 Acts of Penance May Our Lord strengthen you and fill your heart with hope and peace this Easter

!3 During Holy Week the Serra Club Northeast of Houston sent a Spiritual Bouquet to each of these Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Deacons, Seminarians and Religious ofering our Spiritual Intentions for their benefit and protection. Please keep them in your prayers and ofer your Spiritual Intentions for them in 2020 and through the 2021 Lenten Season. Priests Archbishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Bishop George Sheltz Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza Bishop Vincent Risotto ▾ Fr. Juan Francisco Aguilar Fr. Michael Casey Fr. Joseph Nguyen Fr. Linh Nguyen✙ ✚ ✟ ✚ Arce CS Fr. Italo Dell’Oro The Hieu CS Fr. Trung Nguyen♦︎ ♥︎ ▾ ♥︎ Fr. David Angelino Fr. James Dodson Fr. Sean Magaldi▾ Fr. Brian O’Brien ♥︎ ✜ Fr. Michael Applegate Fr. T J Dolce Fr. Eurel Manzano♦︎ Fr. Augustine Ogbeche ✟ ✞ ✝ Fr. Jef Bame Fr. Roger Estorque ✟▾ Ogar MSP ✟ ✚Fr. Richard McNeillie ✝ Fr. Richard Barker Fr. Carmelo Hernandez CS ✜ Fr. Felix Osanona MSP Fr. Jonathan Moré ✜ Msgr. Chester Borski♦︎♥︎ Fr. Ralph Roberts Sisters

✚ ✜ ♰ Sr. Nohemi Lara CMST Sr. Carmen Sanchez Sr. Ana Teresa OCD♰ Sr. Josephine OCD ✜♥︎ ♰ ♰ Sr. Marillac Njoku SJS Sr. Angel Teresa OCD Sr. Mary Theresa OCD♰ Sr. Mary Ann OCD ✜ ✜ Sr. Jane Michael SJS Sr. Mary Emmanuel Sr. Virginia Mary OCD♰ Sr. Mary Iweanya DDL ✜ ✜ ✝ Sr. Julianne Sandoval Utulu DDL Sr. Lourdes OCD♰ Sr. Mary Thecla DDL ✜ Sr. Marie Theresa DDL Sr. Josephine OCD♰ Deacons ♥︎ ✜ Dcn. Olatunde Branche✝ Dcn. KC Curtis Dcn. Al O’Brien✜ Dcn. John Shuster ✜ ✝ Dcn. John Barfield✜ Dcn. Bob MacFarlane Dcn. Miguel Perez✜ Dcn. Rick Simon ✜ ♥︎ Dcn. Tony Cardella✜ Dcn. Ruben Manosalva Dcn. Guy Puglia✜ Dcn. Alfredo Soto ✝ ✜ ✞ Dcn. Nick Caruso Dcn. James Meshell Dcn. Rene Ramón✝ Dcn. Phil Wiles ✚ ✜ ✜ Dcn. Michael Cruz Dcn. Diego Montiel Dcn. John Sarabia♥︎ Dcn. Gary Yepsen

Seminarians Dcn. Nathan Davis♥︎ Alexander Gutierrez♥︎ Jeremy Mann✜ Patrick O’Brien✝♥︎ Dcn. Mark Hebert♥︎ Br. Danilo Alves de Dcn. Jeremy Trull♥︎ Houston Okonma♥︎ ✚ ♥︎ Cristian Bustos♥︎ Lima, C.S. Dcn. Will Rooney Jacob Ramirez✜♥︎ ✙ Frater Lazarus ♥︎ Luis Gonzales Chris Meyer Jose “J” Serrato✙ McDonald✙♥︎ Noe Vera✚ Postulant & Consecrated Lay Woman ✜ Christina Ann Girau ♥︎ Joelma Regis✟

✙ Legend St. John of the Cross ✟ St. Philip the Apostle ✟ ▾ ✚ The Chancery A Diocesan Vocations St. Leo the Great ✞ St. Dominic Ofce, Archdiocese Director - Seven Serrans ✜ ♥ St. Martha ♦ St. Mary’s Seminary of Galveston- Family and Friends of ✝ St. Mary Magdalene Houston the Serra Club Northeast ♰ Discalced Carmelite of Houston Nuns - New Caney Please also Pray for the Residents and Staf of the Shalom Center

!4 Would you like to use either one of these as a desktop screen saver? Thanks to Jim Stevens, you can. Either copy and paste or contact Jim if you need help. [email protected]

!5 SERRA INTERNATIONAL NEWS

For additional information click here:

May 3, World Day of Prayer for Vocations The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly celebrate vocations to ordained ministry and religious life in all its forms. Many parishes and religious institutes commemorate this day with prayer for vocations and vocation promotion events. Considering that 73 percent of women and men professing final vows participated in one or more parish activities and 88 percent served in one or more parish ministries before entering religious life, our presence and participation in activities that mark this special day is essential. Consider asking parishes for opportunities to speak, pray, provide bulletin inserts, prayer cards, and conversation before and after Masses, in religious education programs, RCIA and confirmation formation classes on this day. For additional information click here:

!6 St. Martha parishioners surprised their priests with this scene.

Ideas from Vocation Ministry You can be the light to your priest by praying daily for him and acting on some of the following ideas to Uplift Your Priest! Let these ideas spur your own creativity.

Daily Deed Ideas

· Call/text/email your priest · Send spiritual bouquets to him · Drop off popcorn and snacks for movie night · Send him drawings or paintings by children · Pray, fast, and offer sacrifices for him · Send him an Amazon or restaurant gift card · Make a family video message/song of affirmation for him · Create a sidewalk message in front of church/rectory · Post picture of your family with your priest · Drop off or have dinner/lunch delivered · Send financial support to the parish, if able · Hold a "Parade of Love" for him · Challenge 3 families/individuals to pray a Rosary for him (think Ice Bucket Challenge on social media) · Invite him and other people or families for a digital "gathering" · Write him a letter thanking him for his sacrifices · Deliver any protective gear or cleaning supplies he may need

Go To: Press Kit: https://vocationministry.com/get-in-touch/uplift-your-priest/

!7 SERRA IS INVOLVED IN MANY ACTIVITIES

Prayer Contest Update With the closing of schools, the celebration and awarding of prizes to the students who won the prayer contest at St. Mary Magdalene, St. Martha School, and St. Martha CCE, everything is on hold. We will take one day at a time and just pray for quick relief from this Coronavirus.

Serrans coordinated Tailgating event at the Seminarian vs Priest Basketball Game

Congratulations to everyone of you who made this event a resounding success. By my count we had 26 volunteers who, under your wonderful supervision, sold ~ 601 meals for a net of $2,390.19. This does not include the amount that was deposited directly into the seminarians account from the debit and credit card receipts. We sold 347 beverages and 206 catfish meals, 131 seafood gumbo, and 264 slices of pizza for a total of 601 meals. We had perfect weather and wonderful participation from the community. Thank you again, Melia

!8 SERRA Northeast of Houston HAPPENINGS

• After 8:30 a.m. Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, displayed until 9:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene in Humble; St. Philip the Apostle in Huffman, after the 8:30 a.m. Mass each Friday; St. John of the Cross, HOLY HOURS: Tuesday – Thursday 7:00 a.m.– 8:00 a.m. -Monday 7:30 p.m - 9:00 p.m. -Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., silent hour 9 a.m.-10 a.m, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. • May 3, World Day of Prayer for Vocations • Tues. May 12 Holy Hour of Exposition & Benediction for Vocations, following the 7:00 p.m. Mass, St. Martha • Fri. May 8, Holy Hour of Exposition & Benediction for Vocations following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, St. Martha • Thurs. May 21, St. 8:30 a.m., Philip the Apostle, 2308 3rd St. Huffman (wear Serra Shirt) • Mon. May 24, Serra Monthly meeting at Italiano’s 6:30 p.m. will not be held. All encouraged to attend Serra Installation on May 23 • Saturday, May 23, Serra Installation, St. Mary’s Seminary • Monday, June 22, Serra Monthly meeting at Italiano’s 6:30 p.m. - Guest speaker: Shawn Carney, 40 Days of Life Co-Founder.

All dates are questionable….Stay tuned for changes. And stay tuned for a possible virtual meeting

May Birthdays May Ordination Anniversaries 2 - Deacon Diego Montiel 14 - Fr. Joseph Nguyen the Hieu, St. 2 -Jeanne McMahon Leo the Great 8 - Michelle Sullivan 15 - Bishop George Sheltz, Archdiocese of Galveston Houston 10 - Elizabeth Menard 20 - Fr. Linh Nguyen, St. John of the Cross 10 - Sheila Yepsen 21 - Fr. Trung Nguyen, St. Mary’s Seminary 12 - Sr. Lourdes, Discalced Carmelite 26 - Bishop Vincent Rizzotto, St. Dominic Village 26 - Fr. Brian O’Brien, St. Francis Xavier Monestary Catholic Church 17 - Maggie Halleck 30 - Fr. T.J. Dolce, St. Martha 19 - Larry Lucas 22 - Fr. Trung Nguyen, St. Mary’s Seminary 23 - Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston • Prayers for all that we stay safe from the Coronavirus 24 - Fr. Jose Carmen Hernandez, St. Leo • Prayers of joy celebrating the birth of the Great Doug and Melia’s grand daughter, Rylie 24 - Br. Danilo Alves de Lima, St. Leo the Elizabeth. • Diddy’s dad, Johnnie Bell, will be undergoing Great surgery on Saturday, the 25th. Pray for a 24 - Gary Estess speedy recovery. 25 - Emma Rocha

!9 Serrans Called to Holiness

Serran Prayer for Vocations

O, God, Who wills not the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live, grant we beseech you, through the intercession of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, St. Junipero Serra, and all the saints, an increase of laborers for your Church, fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Serrans are being called to pray the vocation prayer daily. Cut this out and place it in a place convenient for you.

“We need the Lord, Like Ancient Navigators Needed the Stars…” Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: “Do not be afraid” (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, cast all our anxieties onto you, for You care about us. Excerpts from Pope Francis’s Urbi et Orbi message, March 27

POPE FRANCIS’S PRAYER TO MARY IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you. Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. Yo, Salvation of the roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial Help us, Mother of divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas - we who are put to the test - and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

!10