May 17, 2013

“VERBUM MITTITUR SPIRANS AMOREM”

Summer Food Program to Feed 80,000
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley kicked off their Summer Food Service Program for 2013 on May 16. The Summer Food Program officially begins June 3.

The program provides free, healthy meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when school is out.

During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need. 

Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 2013. The SFSP was established to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.  Free meals are provided to all children at approved sites in areas of the Rio Grande Valley.

The summer food service program is looking for seven to 10 responsible and committed volunteers for the months of June through August to help maintain the program. Volunteers will work out of the San Juan or Brownsville offices. Hours are flexible.

The volunteers will receive training and a work description detailing their responsibilities. Applicants should have a reliable form of transportation as well as a driver’s license and automobile insurance.

For questions or referrals of interested and capable candidates for these volunteer positions please contact Laura Ortiz, food program coordinator, at lortiz@cdob.org or (956) 702-4088.

Hike for Life May 18
BROWNSVILLE — Hike for Life, a pro-life walk held once a year in various locations around Texas, raises money for area crisis pregnancy centers and raises awareness of the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death. The Brownsville Hike for Life is set for Saturday, May 18 at Dean Porter Park, 501 E. Ringgold St. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. The funds raised by the Brownsville Hike for Life will be used to start a pregnancy center in the area.

A youth lock-in to raise awareness on pro-life issues is scheduled on the eve of the Hike for Life at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17 during which participants will sleep under the pavilion of Dean Porter Park.  For more information, contact Martin Leal via telephone at (956) 459-2926 or by email at mleal4@rgv.rr.com. Registration for the Hike for Life online at www.hikeforlifetexas.com.

In Our Prayers
Father Mario Galindo of the Missionaries of the Holy Family entered eternal life on May 14 in San Antonio. Father Galindo had served at the parish of St. Joseph in Donna, first as deacon than as newly ordained priest.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: The wake service/viewing are scheduled for Friday, May 17 at Holy Family Church located at 245 Hidalgo Ave. South, in New Braunfels. The Funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. The parish phone number is (830) 609-5320.

Please keep Father Galindo’s family in your prayers.

Bishop to Ordain Three to the Priesthood May 25
HARLINGEN — Bishop Daniel E. Flores will ordain three transitional deacons to the priesthood at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 25 at St. Anthony Church in Harlingen. To read more about each of the young men to be ordained visit www.cdob.org. 
Deacon Juan Manuel Salazar A native of Edinburg, Deacon Salazar, 37, is a 10-year veteran of the Marine Corps and a Second Degree Knight of Columbus.

Deacon Jude Njumbe A native of Konye, Cameroon, Deacon Njumbe, 33, is the fifth of six children. He will be the second priest among his siblings. His eldest brother, Hilary, is a priest in the Diocese of Buéa in Cameroon and is expected to travel to Harlingen for the ordination Mass.  
Deacon Arturo Castillo Jimenez
A native of Ciudad Madero in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, Deacon Castillo, 29, is a graduate of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. He said his mother, who attends Mass daily and serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and lector, greatly influenced his vocation to the priesthood.

Blue Mass Scheduled May 25
The Diocese of Brownsville is hosting a Blue Mass at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen. The Most Rev Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Diocese of Brownsville will celebrate the Mass for all police, fire and safety personnel.   Participants will gather at 3 p.m. for a formation/procession that will start at 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact Cindy Jaime (956) 686-0251; Roy Castillo (956) 432-6443; Miguel A. Ramirez (956) 459-5875; Rene Alvarez (956) 802-1115. 

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