NEWS: Essential services — Worship has evolved amid the disruption of COVID-19, minister says

by Susan | May 10, 2020 | News Stories

By Peggy O’Hare STAFF WRITER San Antonio Express-News, 10 May, 2020, page H1 The Rev. Ann Helmke, a Lutheran minister who serves as the city’s liaison to its faith-based communities, discusses how churches and temples can best meet the needs of their congregations and...

COMMENTARY: On other side of this crisis, what will humanity be?

by Susan | May 9, 2020 | inspiration, News Stories

By Ann Helmke FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS May 9, 2020 page A13 Who are we in the midst of COVID-19? Sometimes I find myself imagining the God’s eye view of our human movement during these surreal times. The image is daunting and more than the eye of my heart can take in...

NEWS: San Antonio joined Compassionate and Sister Cities in prayer and in tears

by Susan | Aug 13, 2019 | inspiration, News Stories

by Elaine Ayala Express-News, 13 August, 2019 Despite a searing noontime sun bearing down on the stone pavement between city council chambers and San Fernando Cathedral, about 100 people gathered Monday for prayer. The service drew Christians, Jews and Muslims. Among...

Father Ron Rolheiser: Christ’s call for true compassion is the goal of all religion

by Susan | Aug 11, 2019 | inspiration, News Stories

Published in the Express-News Faith section, 11 August, 2019 Dictionaries define compassion as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. What does it mean to offer...

Sr. Martha Ann Kirk: A person’s ‘compassion muscle’ can be strengthened

by Susan | Jul 14, 2019 | inspiration, News Stories

by Sister Martha Ann Kirk “Total Death List Eight” — so read the October 1912 San Antonio Express headline. I was doing research in the Archives of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, when our archivist showed me newspaper clippings describing the fire that...

Nickie Valdez: Affirming the LGBTQI community as children of God

by Susan | Jun 30, 2019 | inspiration, News Stories

by Nickie Valdez Dignity USA is a national organization of LGBTQI Catholics and allies primarily concerned with the spirituality of the LGBTQI (lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-queerintersex) individual. Dignity’s statement of position and purpose declares that we are...