Words of Life

[It] is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church's public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres. … Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion. Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Bishops of the United States on their Ad Limina Visit, January 19, 2012

That in carrying out the duties of their office, all public servants will vigorously defend the religious freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution; w e pray to the Lord. Amen.

Es fundamental que toda la comunidad católica de Estados Unidos llegue a comprender las graves amenazas que plantea al testimonio moral público de la Iglesia el laicismo radical, que cada vez encuentra más expresiones en los ámbitos político y cultural. […] Son especialmente preocupantes ciertos intentos de limitar la libertad más apreciada en Estados Unidos: la libertad de religión. Muchos de vosotros habéis puesto de relieve que se han llevado a cabo esfuerzos concertados para negar el derecho de objeción de conciencia de los individuos y de las instituciones católicas en lo que respecta a la cooperación en prácticas intrínsecamente malas. Otros me habéis hablado de una preocupante tendencia a reducir la libertad de religión a una mera libertad de culto, sin garantías de respeto de la libertad de conciencia.

- Papa Benedicto XVI, Discurso a los Obispos de Estados Unidos en visita Ad Limina, 19 de enero de 2012

Que al llevar a cabo los deberes de su cargo, todos los funcionarios públicos defiendan vigorosamente las libertades religiosas garantizadas en nuestra Constitución ; roguemos al Señor. Amen.

Words of Life

HHS's new mandate for contraception/sterilization coverage … includes an incredibly narrow exemption for "religious employers" that protects almost no one. For example, a Catholic institution serving the poor and needy would have to fire its non-Catholic staff, refuse life-affirming care to non-Catholic people in need, and devote itself instead to "the inculcation of religious values" to qualify for the exemption. Individuals, insurers, and the sponsors of non-employee health plans (e.g., student health plans in Catholic schools) would have no exemption at all. This effort to corral religion exclusively into the sanctuaries of houses of worship betrays a complete ignorance of the role of religion in American life, and of Congress's long tradition of far more helpful laws on religious freedom.

- Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and Chair of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life

Activities, Letter to Congress, September 7, 2011, in support of the "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act"

For those who have committed sins against the sanctity of human life, especially those near death: that they may be reconciled with God ; w e pray to the Lord. Amen.

El nuevo mandato de HHS [Depto. de Salud y Servicios Humanos de EE.UU.] para la cobertura de anticoncepción / esterilización... incluye una exención increíblemente estrecha para los "empleadores religiosos" que protege a casi nadie. Por ejemplo, una institución católica al servicio de los pobres y necesitados tendría que despedir a su personal no católico, negar atención que protege la vida a los no católicos necesitados y dedicarse en cambio a "la inculcación de valores religiosos" para calificar para el exención. Los individuos, las aseguradoras y los patrocinadores de planes de salud para los que no son empleados (p. ej., planes de salud para estudiantes en escuelas católicas) no tendría absolutamente ninguna excepción. Este afán de acorralar la religión exclusivamente en los templos revela una ignorancia completa del papel de la religión en la vida estadounidense, y de la larga tradición en el Congreso de pasar leyes mucho más útiles a la libertad religiosa. - Cardenal Daniel DiNardo, Arzobispo de Galveston-Houston y presidente del Comité para Actividades

Pro- Vida de la USCCB, Cartas al Congreso, 7 de septiembre de 2011, para apoyar el proyecto de ley

"Respecto por los Derechos de Conciencia"

Por quienes han pecado contra la santidad de la vida humana, especialmente aquellos que están cerca de la muerte: para que puedan reconciliarse con Dios ; roguemos al Señor. Amen.

Visit Our Respect Life Ministry Table

This weekend stop by the Respect Life Ministry table in the narthex to pick up pamphlets, bumper stickers, precious feet pins and more-all for free! Drop off your donations, learn more about our programs and Memorial Garden, too. Questions? For info on the garden and Respect Life Ministry, contact Cece Smith at 210-289-0179. To learn more about the Gabriel Project, a ministry aimed at women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy, visit www.gabrielprojectsa.org or call the hotline at 210-563-0669. Want to volunteer? Call Michelle Phinizy at 210-275-1484.

Join us in the church on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

for a Mass offered for an end to abortion.

Natural Family Planning-not your grandma's rhythm method!

• • Inexpensive
  • All-natural
  • 99% effective
  • Builds strong families
  • Shares family planning equally
  • Medically safe
  • Morally acceptable
  • Highly effective
  • Builds marital intimacy
  • Increases marital communication

New class series starts Jan. 29 at St. Anthony Claret Church. Register online at www.ccli.org for materials. Call Chris or Nicole Glowe at 210-257-6616 for more info.

We're looking for some very special married couples/individuals for a very special apostolate: to teach NFP and witness to its virtuous application as responsible parents.

Couples/individuals will be provided professional instruction and consultation

in the Family of the America's Ovulation Method.

Feb. 17 - 19, Archdiocese of San Antonio, 2718 W. Woodlawn Ave.

Fee: $200/person; $300/couple (if sharing materials)

Registration and payment must be received by Feb.1.

For more info, contact Steve Pokorny at 210-734-1650.

Words of Life

A culture of life, not death.…This vision our creator planted in the depth of every human person, as part of our normative law: that life is sacred; that, once God breathes it into us, it lasts forever; that to take innocent life is so inimical to a righteous society that its protection is mandated in the very middle of the ten commandments; that the more innocent and fragile the more it begs protection; that, indeed, to protect life is the most noble of vocations.

– Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, Homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Oct. 3, 2010

For families with young children: that the love of God and family will be at the center of all celebrations instead of worldly gifts ; w e pray to the Lord. Amen.

Una cultura de vida, no de muerte.… Esta visión que nuestro Creador plantó en lo profundo de cada persona, como parte de nuestra ley normativa: que la vida es sagrada; que una vez que Dios la infunde en nosotros, dura para siempre; que quitar vida inocente es tan hostil a una sociedad justa que su protección está ordenada en el centro de los Diez Mandamientos; que cuanto más inocente y frágil más pide protección; que, efectivamente, proteger la vida es la más noble de las vocaciones.

– Arzobispo Timothy Dolan, Arzobispo de Nueva York, Homilía en la Catedral de San Patricio, 3 de octubre de 2010

Por las familias que tienen niños pequeños: para que el amor de Dios y de la familia esté en el centro de todas las celebraciones en lugar de regalos mundanos ; roguemos al Señor. Amen.

Join us in the church on Monday, Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

for a Mass offered for an end to abortion .

St. Anthony Mary Claret Respect Life Ministry is sponsoring a bus trip Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 to the

TEXAS RALLY FOR LIFE in Austin, Texas

commemorating the 38th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision resulting in the legally sanctioned murder of more than 53 MILLION lives since 1973. Show legislators and the media that Texans want laws that help people CHOOSE LIFE for unborn children.

Schedule

• 8 a.m. – diocesan Pro Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Cantu at St. Mary Magdalen, 1717 Clower, S.A., TX  78201

• 8:45/9 a.m. – rosary for Life/march to Planned Parenthood and back to church

• 10:15-10:30 a.m. – board bus and head to rally location 

• 1 p.m. – gather for pro-life march at 17th Street and Congress Avenue

• 1:30 p.m. – march down Congress to the south steps of Capitol

• 2-3 p.m. – program on the South Steps of the Capitol

• 3-3:30 p.m. – board bus to return to San Antonio 

Cost: $15/person. Interested? Contact Rosalynd Voss at 210-422-4410 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Some scholarships are available. This event is open to all. Help us fill the busses!

Words of Life

The beginning of the Liturgical Year helps us live anew the expectation of God who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, God who makes himself little, who becomes a child; it speaks to us of the coming of a God who is close, who chose to experience human life from the very beginning in order to save it totally, in its fullness. And so the mystery of Lord's Incarnation and the beginning of human life are closely and harmoniously connected and in tune with each other in the one saving plan of God, the Lord of the life of each and everyone.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at Celebration of First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2010

For women in crisis pregnancies: that they trust in God's providence and lovingly embrace the gift of their child ; w e pray to the Lord. Amen.

El comienzo del Año litúrgico nos hace vivir nuevamente la espera de Dios que se hace carne en el seno de la Virgen María, de Dios que se hace pequeño, se hace niño; nos habla de la venida de un Dios cercano, que ha querido recorrer la vida del hombre, desde los comienzos, y esto para salvarla totalmente, en plenitud. Así, el misterio de la encarnación del Señor y el inicio de la vida humana están íntima y armónicamente conectados entre sí dentro del único designio salvífico de Dios, Señor de la vida de todos y de cada uno.

- Benedicto XVI, Homilía para Celebración de las Vísperas para el Primer Domingo de Adviento, 27 de noviembre de 2010

Para mujeres con embarazos en crisis: para que confíen en la providencia y acepten amorosamente el don de su hijo ; roguemos al Señor. Amen.

Help us sing and bring Christmas cheer to St. Francis Nursing Home!

Join the St. Anthony Claret Respect Life Ministry and sing along to Christmas songs

to let the residents know we care about them and are thankful to God for them.

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1:45 - 3 p.m.

St. Francis Nursing Home, 630 Woodlawn Ave.

Meet us at the entrance of the nursing home.

Questions? Contact Rosalynd Voss at 210-422-4410 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .