February 2016 - ACTS Missions

ACTS MISSIONS
Connection
Volume 2, Issue 2
February 1, 2016
Updated Teen ACTS Leadership Training Is Now Available!
Eric Martinez, Teen ACTS Director
I am very excited to announce that the new Teen ACTS leadership workshop training is
complete! Teen ACTS directors, co-directors, spiritual companions, youth ministers,
Teen Directors, and any adult members of the team, Core, and Chapter are welcome. I
encourage all adults involved with Teen ACTS to attend the training. The training is only
mandatory for directors but we encourage all of the adults on team to attend so that
everyone is on the same page. Please check on our website for training dates. If your
area would like to schedule training please contact me at [email protected] .
The new presentation includes updated and expanded training on:
Teen culture
The role of adults, young adults, and teens
Team formation
Personal testimonies
Icebreakers
Retreat overview and essentials
I just want to restate: Teen Directors are welcome to the workshops.
I would like to thank the attendees in San Antonio, TX in September and those in Beaumont, TX in October for
helping me refine the presentation. Your feedback sharpened the presentation materials and highlighted the areas
of focus. Thank you to Melissa Cervantes, the previous Teen ACTS Director, and Josemanuel Banales, Director of
Outreach, for sharing your valuable input and guidance.
Love is more than just a feeling; it’s more than just sharing goods and spending time together. I have been priviLily Escobedo, Volunteer in Spanish Outreach
leged to witness the life of my “Valentine” who’s grown
into a man whom I am proud to stand next to. I have witEveryone loves to receive flowers, candy and thoughtful nessed his maturity in faith & prayer
greeting cards because that’s what Valentine ’s Day is all life. I have learned how to properly
about, right? Well maybe not. We know that Valentine
say these words: Can I, may I?
was a roman priest who lived in the time of the emperor Thank you & I’m sorry with deep
Claudius Gothicus who reigned between the years 268humility and genuine sentiment. We
270. Valentine was arrested, beat, stoned and finally
like to celebrate every dinner we
decapitated because he was secretly marrying young
spent together and enjoy our occapeople against an edict that prohibited the marriage of sional long talk with a cup of coffee
young soldiers. Now, ask yourself, if Valentine lived toin our hands after breakfast, on our
day,
would
young
peodays off. I return to my first question: If Valentine lived
Inside this issue:
ple look for him to get today, would young people look for him to get married
ACTS Store
2
married “forever”?
“forever”? My answer is definitely yes and my reason for
some
of
us
wonder:
is
it
it is this: We can only give testimony of one life with love
Letter of Approbation
3
possible to love
in our hearts, let this love grow in humanity as man and
Spanish Outreach
5
“forever”? I can only
wife who’s actions reflect the desire of becoming better
speak
of
my
own
expeversions of ourselves day by day. With love, your ValenDevelopment
6-7
rience.
tine <3
ST. VALENTINE
Volume 2, Issue 2
Page 2
ACTS Missions
Board of Directors
Patrick Zurek, DD
Bishop of Amarillo
Rev. Lawrence Christian
Vicar General,
Archdiocese of San Antonio
Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Oblate School of Theology, President
Deacon Mark Arnold
Mike Barry
Lawrence Bock
Chair
Gina Cartwright
James Epp
Deborah Estrada
Laura Guerrero-Redman
Francisco Gonzalez
Brooke Irey
All items with the ACTS Fish/Cross logo are
currently on sale in our store at 285 Oblate Dr.,
and online at
www.actsstore.org under the Clearance tab!
*All sales on these clearance items are final.
For any questions or concerns, please call our store
at 210-525-9360.
Blessings to you all!
Debbie Lopez
Barbara Marrou
Secretary/Treasurer
Becki McQueen
Jody Nash
Bradley Stach
Cesar Valenzuela
Russ Weil
Mark Wittig
ACTS Missions
“Connection”
is published monthly by
ACTS Missions Headquarters
San Antonio, Texas
Chapters are encouraged to send story
ideas or articles to:
ACTS Missions Connection Editor
Esther Gomez-Wilkson
at
[email protected]
Participants at the January 23rd Leadership Workshop taking a break and doing some
shopping at the ACTS Store! Stop by for YOUR retreat supplies!
Store Hours: M—F 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Workshop Saturdays: 11:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
Page 3
ACTS MISSIONS
Volume 2, Issue 2
Page 4
KICKING OFF 2016
Josemanuel Bañales, Director of Outreach
As ACTS Missions begins 2016, Outreach to extend a very warm welcome to our new Board members, and
celebrate Mr. Lawrence Bock’s “yes” to serve as President of the Board of Directors. Mr. Bock and senior staff
gave new Board Members an orientation on January 15th. The Board and Mr. Moore held their annual strategy
session on January 16th. The Board, in discussions with the Chapters, recognized the need to begin inviting directors from outside the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and make the organization representative of the regions in
which ACTS is present. Two candidates from Corpus Christi, TX and St. Louis, MO have joined. There will be
more information forthcoming on more opportunities for directors from outside of San Antonio.
Outreach thanks St. Timothy’s of Mesa, AZ, and the parishes from Southern California that participated in a
remote ACTS Retreat training on January 9th. There were many takeaways from this experience, but their feedback indicated that the information provided empowered attendees with a greater understanding of ACTS.
Outreach is developing content for the online training scheduled for a rollout on March 1st, however this
rollout is contingent on the rollout of the new ACTS Missions website. Updates on this will be provided in the upcoming newsletters.
If you would like to request an Outreach training we will publish our travel availability schedule in the in the
newsletter and on the new website, along with criteria to request an ACTS Missions representative. These dates
will be final and there will not be additional dates added. Requests will be taken on a first come, first serve basis.
The availability schedule for 2017 will be published in the 4th quarter of 2016.
Outreach is finalizing the agenda for the Chapter Gathering. We are very excited to host the Chapters again
and introduce them to the new Board members and our new Executive Director. ACTS Missions cannot overstress that its volunteer Chapters are instrumental in the success of ACTS. We look forward to updating them on
initiatives and strategies, and having a great exchange of ideas.
While 2015 proved to be a year of much transition, this provided ACTS Missions with an opportunity to reflect
on its first principles and mission “to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide through ACTS.” For all of us in Outreach, we are ever mindful that ACTS is a gift we have inherited; a beautiful gift that meets people where they are
in their journeys, and invites them to experience God’s love. This gift is not “ours” in the sense that we can modify
according to our wants or desires, or conform it to the things we find personally meaningful. It is, however, ours to
safeguard and optimize in a manner that reconciles with the intent and purpose, and mission. This is a responsibility
we all share in, and as we “go forth” in 2016, we invite all participating in ACTS to a renewed commitment to the
mission of evangelization, which is the mission of the Church; a mission we are so blessed to participate in.
ACTS MISSIONS
Page 5
SPANISH OUTREACH
Victor Quintanilla, Director Spanish Outreach
The year started with a tremendous gift. We
moved!!! After many years on the third floor of the
Oblate School of Theology the ACTS Missions
Staff were given the opportunity to move into one
of their buildings located on the corner of Madonna and Mount Sacred Heart streets, where we now
are not only enjoying more space with very nice
offices but we will not have to clime those three
flights of stairs to our old offices several times a day
like we used too.
We also started the year with a Leadership workshop at Saint Cyril parish in Houston, Texas. We
had an attendance of 45, and a lively discussion all
with a healthy intent of following the ACTS Missions formats, and keeping the integrity of our wonderful ACTS Retreats in Spanish.
Saint Cyril Parish, Houston, TX
On January 26th we held our first monthly
“ACTS Misioneros” training meeting. We enjoyed the fellowship with Misioneros from 18 diocese including Panama, Mexico City and El Paso,
Texas via internet. Meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month; next meeting is February 23rd.
All interested in training to become a missioning
Director and join this extraordinary group of Catholic Evangelizers are invited. You can call our office and ask for Victor or Diana 210 342 1007.
May the Lord look kindly on your efforts to
please Him this year and bless all who have decided to be his disciples.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Jeff Moore, Executive Director
In mid-December, ACTS Missions requested a Letter of Approbation from Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS while the subject of canonical status is considered by
our Board of Directors. This type of letter states that a given apostolate or Catholic
organization has the bishop’s approval to operate in their diocese. This letter has
canonical status. Throughout our travels across the country, several dioceses have
requested this letter to ensure the Archbishop supports ACTS Missions. I would
personally like to thank Archbishop Gustavo and Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP for
their continuous support of ACTS Missions. On January 21, 2016, Sister Slater graciously provided us with the Letter of Approbation that will open new opportunities
for ACTS Missions within our diocese and other dioceses throughout the country.
We are so privileged and blessed to have such companionate and dedicated Catholic
leaders that are always willing to serve our community, and most importantly, our
Lord Jesus Christ. Once again I want to thank you for all you do for the Archdiocese
of San Antonio!
Volume 2, Issue 2
Page 6
ACTS MISSIONS WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND PUBLICLY THANK ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED
IN 2015 TO SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE!
Abboud, Guillermo
Abrahams, Ophelia
Acosta, Richard & Celia
Acosta, Carlos
ACTS Missions Houston Chapter
ACTS Missions-St. Louis Chapter
Aguirre, Rose Maria
Alonso Jewelry Design
Alvarez, Courtney
Archdiocese of San Antonio
Arispe, Diann
Arzola, Xochitl
Assumption Seminary
Aucoia, Shiela
Avila, Linda
Babcock, Shawn
Baca, Robert
Baffin, Bay Rod & Gun
Ballard, Elaine
Ballin, Carolyn
Barry, Mike & Lee
Basaldua, Sara
Baudoin, Scotty
Bazaldua, Maria Rosario
Behlmann, Br. Cletus
Bellacosa, Richard & Jody Ann
Belter, John & Jeanette
Belz, J. Michael & Esther
Bendele, James
Benedictine Ministries
Bernard, Celeste
Blair, Randall & Nancy
Bock, Larry & Kim
Bohanan's Restaurant
Bonfield, Thomas
Bonnette, Barry
Borrego, Trudy
Boudreaux, Bryan
Braeuler, Peter & Karen
Brooks, Rachael
Brown, Connie
Brumley, Jonathan
Bubble Bath Car Wash
Burke, Michael & Louise
Burlington-Cameron Br.
Busbey, Charlie
Campbell, Linda
Cantu, Bernardo
Cardenas, Jose
Cardenas, Melinda
Carlisle, Jim & Sandra
Carpenter, Michael & Melissa
Cartwright, Steve & Gina
Carvajal, Raymond
Casmus, Carol
Catholic Life Insurance
Cervantez, Adrienne
Cervera, Joseph & Judy
Cevallos J.
Chamblin, Jeff
Charow, Eugene
Chavez, Delma
Cheever, Charles & Nancy
Chiscano, Alfonso & Mary Alice
Cieslewicz, Mary
Clark, Angela
Clark, Ron
Clary, Greg
Clester, Floyd & Stephanie
Cloud, Bruce
Collins, John
Cormier, Tess
Cortes, Maricela
Cortez, Alex
Crenwelge Motors
Darr, Paul
Davila, Mary C. Sally
Davis, Mike
De La Pena, Malena
DeHaro, Judy
DeLaHoya, Dotti
DeLara, Kathleen
Delgado, Christina
Denali Pro Jewelers
DeSalme, Clay & Cheri
DeSonier, Emery
DeWitt, Don
Diaz, Claudia
Dion, Nanette
Dirksen Engineering
Drum Cafe
Drury Southwest, Inc.
DuBois, Tracy
Dubroc, Darrell & Charlotte
Duncan, Mike & Martha
Dunlap, Pamela
Edelen, Gregory & Lauren
Edmiston, James
Ejedawe, Margaret
Elliott, Justin
Emmett, Marsha
Epp, James & Cynthia
Estrada, Deborah
Fahey, Tom
Fairbanks, Marshall & JoAnn
Falks, Connie
Farace, Jennifer
Feest, Douglas
Felan, Anita
Felderhoff, John
Fetchick, Dcn. Richard & Dianne
Flannery, Bob
Flores-McQueen, Rebecca
Fontenot, Mary
Forina, Amalia
Foster, John & Karen
France, Scott
Franklin, Robin
Franqui, Nancy
Freasier, Robert & Pat
Fredericksburg B&B
Fresquez, Melinda
Frick, Bob & Donna
Gadel, Brad
Garcia, Enrique
Garcia, Erma
Garcia, Elizabeth
Garcia, Jessica
Garcia, Erica
Garcia, Adelmo
Garner, Zana
Garza, Joseph & Lu Nell
Garza, Cynthia
Garza, Ramiro
Garza, Rene
Gatica, Laura
Gennuso, Penny
Giltner, Thomas
Goertz, Richard & Sharon
Gonsalves, Ann
Gonzales, Gordy & Minnie
Gonzales, Diana
Gonzalez, Roberto and Pita
Gonzalez, Francisco and Eileen
Gordon, Edward & Cheryl
Grace, John
Greathouse, Jeanne
Greulich, Kathleen
Guerra, Frank & Teresa
Guerra, Raul
Guerrero, Maria
Guindon, Teri
Gurule, Stephanie
Gutierrez, Jay & Pearl
Gutierrez, Roberto
Guzman, David
Hacker, Shelly
Hackley, Michael
Haessler, Jeff
Hamon, Phillip & Julia
Hancock, William
Hartley, Penny
Hassenger, Daniel & Kathy
Healy, Luke & Catherine Ann
Hennessy, John
Henson, Patsy
Herbst, Josh and Melanie
Hernandez, Gilbert & Josephine
Hernandez, Maribel
Hewson, Jim
Heyen, Kirk
Highsmith, Patricia
Hill, Jane
Hillis, Rob
Holy Cross High School
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish
Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity Retreat Center
Holyfield, Gregory
Hondl, Kerry & Sundi
Hudgens, Carol
Hughes, Reed
Hughes, Franklin
Hurzeler, Andrew
Ibarria, Elizabeth
Irey, Brooke
Jaeger, Matt & Christy
Jamroz, Rebecca
Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish
Jimenez, Gilbert
Jimmy F. Ritchie Appraisal Co., Inc.
Johnson, Richard
Kansas ACTS Ministry
Kashiwabara, Kathryn
Keefe, Victor
Kiesau, Vicki
Killam Development LTD
Kinberger, Robert
Koop Diane
Krawczzyk, Jeff
LaMaestra, Laura
Lapps, Joanne
Latham, John
Laudadio, Tim & Nanette
Leo Daniel Foundation
Leonards, Melissa
Lira, Gerardo
Locke, Russell
Lopez, Theresa
Lopez, Juan & Jeanie
Lopez, Larry
Lopez, Dennis and Debbie
Lovell, Kathy
Loya, Amanda
Luna, Joe
Luna, Gloria
Lynch, Miranda
Magallanes, Francisco
Magi Realty, Inc.
Marek Family Foundation
Marrou, Frank & Barbara
Marsh, Elsa
Martin, Andy
Martinez, Richard
Masty, Jonelle
Matos, Karla
McBride, Mary
McClure, Ken & Beverley
McCourt, Eamon
McCoy, Mark and Amanda
McManigle, Rick
McMullen, Pat & Kathy
Medina, Armando & Lupita
Melendez, Genaro
Mendez, Linda
Mengler, Thomas & Mona
Mesquite Country Enterprise LP
Meyer, Don and Carol
Mighty Men of God
Miles, Karen
Milford, Doug
Miller, Douglas & Paula
Miller, Stephen
Moczygemba, Lester & Mary Jane
Moczygemba, Robert
Molina, Rick & Bonnie
Molnar, Michael
Moore, Jeff & Christine
Moore, Richard & Denise
Mora, Jesse
Morales, Paula
Moreau, Jennifer
Morell, Jerry & Noreen
Muenster, Gregory & Sydney
Mullen, Jim & Eileen
Murphy, Marilyn
Murray, Lauren
ACTS MISSIONS
Page 7
MAY GOD BLESS YOUR GENEROSITY!
Mussman, Steve & Mary
Napleton, Alan
Nash, Bill & Jody
Nay, Barbara
Neal, Luis
Neiman Marcus
Neuberger, Gary
Nevarez, Hector
Nieto, Amy
Nixon, Mark
North Park Lincoln
Notre Dame Parish
O'Brien, Donald & Susan
O'Donnell, Matt
O'Shel, Brenda
Oblate School of Theology
Opersteny, Martha
Ordaz, Michael
Orellana, Mario
Orta, Johnny
Ortiz, Sylvia
Osgood, Rich and Maribeth
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Parish
Palasota, Joanna
Peltier, Peter & Maureen
Peña, Belia
Peña, Sonia
Perez, Laura
Pernudi, Roberto
Perry, Larry & Edna
Peterson, Tom & Ginia
Peterson, Tommy & Loren
Pierson, Mary
Pollock, David & Janet
Portillo, Rodolfo
Post, Frank & Dina
Potts, Chuck & Tammie
Price, Kathy
Primrose, Michael
Przystasz, Wojciech
Pucheu, Rebecca
Pulver, Shane
Quintanilla, Roland
Quintero, Anthony & Dorelia
Rabalais, Don
Rademacher, Kevin & Victoria
Ramirez, Paul
Rincon, Esmeralda
Rizzuto, Troy
Robicheaux, Marika
Robles, Esperanza
Rocha, Patricia
Rosales, Robert
Rosenberger, Larry & Diana
Rothe, Eric
Ryan, Patrick
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish
Salazar, Daniel
San Luis Rey Parish
Sanchez, George & Sonya
Santos, Dolores
Scanlon Foundation
Schiffer, Jan
Schindler,William
Schmidt Family Foundation
Schroeder, Mark & Johnna
Schuette, William
Sebastien-Roberts, Katheryn
Sefcik, Lourdes
Segovia, Gloria
Seguin, David & Julie
Serafini, Charles & Annette
Serena, Antoinette
Shephard, Les & Darlene
Sifuentes, Cynthia
Silva, Matias
Silva, Ella
Silver Eagle Distributors Charitable
Fund
Smejkal, Daniel & Terry
Smith, Daphne
Smith, Charles
SmithPrint
Sobczak, Elva
Soccio, Julia
Solis, Roland
Sosa, Arthur
Soto, Karinna
Spellios, Peter & Rebecca
St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish
St. Dominic Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Joan of Arc Parish
St. Louis Parish
St. Luke Parish
St. Luke Men's Club
St. Mark the Evangelist Parish
St. Mary Magdalen Parish
St. Paul the Apostle Parish
St. Peter Upon the Water Parish
Stehling, Mik & Carol
Stehling, Pat & Marcia
Stevens, Jennifer
Stewart, William & Esther
Stewart, William & Sylvia
Stift, Danny
Stock, Monica
Stovall, Pete and Rita
Strabala, Anne
Suarez, Rick
Tanner, Gina
Thompson, Kathy
Thrash, Sue
Tinoco, Janet
Torres, Tomas
Toups, Deborah
Treu, Steven & Karen
Treviño, Naomi
Tschoepe, Bruce & Janis
Tschoepe, Leslie & Colleen
Valdillez, Anthony
Valenzuela, Cesar & Cindy
Vance, Vivian
Vance, Paul
Vaughan, Cyndy
Vick, Paul
Villegas, Enrique
Von Bertrab, Hermann & Cecilia
Wallace, Mike
Waters, Carolyn
Weinand, Leonard & Susan
White, John & Marion
Whitley, Sharon
Wiederstein, Kathryn
Wilbur, Jason & Deborah
Wilkson, Warren and Ann
Williams, Julie and Bruce
Williams, Sandy
Williams, Laine
Williamson, Rodney
Winegarden, Kristin
Witham, Cristina
Wittig, Mark & Bebe
Wong, Alfonso
Yoder, David
ACTS Missions –The Big Give S.A.!!!
Did you know ACTS is in more than 120 parishes in San Antonio
alone? We are also in all 15 Dioceses in Texas, in 27 states, 58 Dioceses, and in 8 countries, for a total of more than 600 parishes worldwide.
This year’s Big Give S.A. will take place from midnight to midnight on May 3 rd! The Big Give S.A.is a 24-hour day of giving that
brings donors and nonprofits together by creating a shared region-wide experience and connecting people to the causes that
matter to them the most. Last year YOU came together to raise $4.3 million dollars for 882 charitable causes in 24 hours.
This year, with a goal of $6,000,000, we are hoping to do even more for South Central Texas.
All you have to do is donate to ACTS Missions through the Big Give SA website: http://www.thebiggivesa.org/ and you help
us become eligible for prize money and matching dollar opportunities.
Help us spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Worldwide. One soul at a time. Remember, Go Forth and Light the World!
www.actsmissions.org
Volume 2, Issue 2
Page 8
You don’t want to miss this event. Our 2016 Agape Fest Casino Night is scheduled for Friday, April 1,
2016 at the Whitley Theological Center on Oblate School of Theology. ACTS brothers and sisters will gather as a community from 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. for the annual casino night fundraiser. Dive into the casino tables, shop the silent auction, and enjoy the free food and drinks. Highlights also include our live auction,
gaming prizes, music and dancing, and the 50/50!
“Every year Agape Fest gets better and better! The ACTS community comes out for an evening of fun and
fellowship that also supports the spread of ACTS around the world,” said Shirley Wallace, of St. Francis of
Assisi parish in San Antonio.
Tickets are $100 for two adults. To purchase a ticket, interest in sponsoring the event or to volunteer to
help, please call Nanette or Kathryn at (210) 342-1077 or visit actsmissions.org. All proceeds benefit ACTS
Missions. Help us spread ACTS worldwide, one soul at a time.
ACTS MISSIONS
Connection
ACTS Missions
7711 Madonna Drive
San Antonio, TX 78216