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| New stained glass at Resurrection of the Lord Parish. |
SAN ANTONIO • It was a tri-fold day of celebration for one west side parish on the first Sunday of the month. July 4 marked the feast of Our Lady of Refuge, the birth of the United States of America, and the rebirth of Resurrection of the Lord Church, as the refurbished sanctuary there was rededicated at a noon liturgy.
Celebrant for the Mass was Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, with Bishop Ricardo Ramírez, CSB, of the Diocese of Las Cruces, N.M., serving as homilist. Other concelebrants, along with Msgr. Adolfo Valdivia-Aguirre, pastor, represented clergy from the archdiocese, south Texas, as well as Mexico.
The rite of dedication began prior to the liturgy. A large crowd of attendees began gathering up to an hour in advance in the Parish Hall and waited to process into the remodeled church.
Outside the doors, the keys were handed to Bishop Cantú by Abel Verastegui, president of the Pastoral Council; Melinda Rios, president of the Finance Council; Rene Artalejo, president of the building board; Greg Davis, project architect; George Wadih, general contractor; and Rosalie Kasper, representing the founders of Resurrection.
In his homily at the Mass, Bishop Ramírez centered his remarks around the Gospel reading of Luke 19:1-10.
“Something wonderful always happens when hospitality is offered,” began Bishop Ramírez. “Hospitality is a theme throughout the Gospels.”
The bishop explained that there were two ways in which hospitality was being celebrated through the dedication liturgy.
“We want Jesus to stay here. He will unite this community. He is a man of peace,” said Bishop Ramírez. “Secondly, Jesus is always here to invite you all. He is the Lord of all hosts. Christ’s food is offered to us.”
The New Mexico prelate emphasized that hospitality is a theme from the beginning of the Bible, and that there is always abundance when hospitality is practiced.
“The church in the Southwest is rich in faith. It has made the church as strong as it is today. Let us hope that our country will not stop offering hospitality to immigrants and refugees,” he stressed, alluding to St. Toribio Romo, the patron of immigrants, whose relics are enthroned in the sanctuary.
Then, looking at the newly remodeled interior of the worship space, the former San Antonio auxiliary bishop concluded, “The stone walls represent you. You are the living stones of the faith. Invite others to this welcoming community.”
Following the homily, Bishop Cantú anointed the altar with chrism, making the table of sacrifice a symbol of Christ. Anointing of the church with chrism then signified that the space is entirely and perpetually for Christian worship.
The four corners of the church were anointed with chrism oil to signify that the church is an image of the holy city of Jerusalem.
The altar, the church nave and the people were also incensed. Incense was burned on the altar to signify that Christ’s sacrifice ascends to God as an odor of sweetness as well as the prayers of the faithful rise up pleasing and acceptable, reaching the throne of God. Then the people of God were incensed because they are the living temple. Finally, the nave of the church was incensed, indicating that this is meant to be a house of prayer.
The covering of the altar signified that it is the Lord’s table at which all God’s people joyously meet to be refreshed with divine food, namely, the Body and Blood of Christ’s sacrifice.
Then, lighting of the altar reminded all that Christ is the light to enlighten nations.
Lastly, the altar was dressing by Marian Society members before the lights in the church were illuminated to full brightness for all to gaze at the renovated structure prior to the liturgy of the Eucharist.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, Msgr. Valdivia spoke words of gratitude to his parishioners for all of their efforts in building this new space of worship.
“Today the four cornerstones of our church have been anointed. They have symbolically become more solid and stronger and thus not easy to collapse,” said the monsignor. “You and I, my beloved parishioners, became part of the cornerstone when we were anointed at our baptism. You have looked up to Jesus, the cornerstone, and you did not reject him. Our little rejections have made us stronger in our relationship with Jesus. The rededication of our new church, which we have just witnessed, is an outward sign of our ‘yes’ to Jesus who is the cornerstone.”
He called the building a living testimony of their time, talent and treasure, and he thanked them profusely.
The pastor pointed out features of the remodeled sanctuary. At the entrance of the church is the baptismal font, the chrism oils, as well as a refurbished statue of the risen Christ. In addition, another statue of Jesus, along with one of the Blessed Mother, are both in the area, along with the reconciliation room.
“Indeed this holy place of worship is the best hospital there is, and we are sure to have the best staff ready and willing to help us on this path: Jesus, who is the best doctor, and our Blessed Mother, who is the best nurse,” Msgr. Valdivia said. “And guess what? They have lots of help, including all the archangels, angels and saints, and even St. Toribio, whose relics will remain in this place for years to come.”
St. Toribio Romo González was a Mexican martyr who died in the Cristero War. He was born on April 16, 1900, in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jaolstotitlán, Mexico. He was ordained in 1922 and offered his first Mass on Jan. 5, 1923. He was killed by government troops in Tequila, México, on Feb. 25, 1928.
“St. Toribio was a human being like us who took seriously the message of the Gospel as a priest,” said Msgr. Valdivia. “He took it so seriously that in the midst of fear he did not allow fear to control him but rather he controlled fear with the help of the grace of God and his personal conviction in the power of the risen Christ.”
The pastor proudly proclaimed that the Word of God was preached from a newly blessed ambo, and that the bread and wine which became Jesus’ real body and blood was consecrated at a newly anointed altar.
While celebrating the occasion, the monsignor also challenged listeners to let the “holy euphoria” be a moment of grace and new action in all ministries of the parish, saying the spirit of God calls everyone to be proactive rather than reactive.
“We must be constant like the sentinel. There will be moments when you and I will be tested by others who wish for us to fail,” he cautioned. “Do not listen to them, but rather pray for them. You and I must focus on the Lord. You and I must try, even if we fail.”
Acknowledging that there are “trillions” of challenges ahead of them as a parish and in their own families, Msgr. Valdivia told parishioners not to fear.
“Emmanuel is the name to remember and believe in this journey because it means God is with us,” he concluded.
Following the Mass an outdoor fiesta was held on the church grounds, with confirmation students coordinating a balloon release.