The Oratorio
July 2016
Volume 8, Issue 2
Inside this issue:
This year, the Diocesan Service Fund, or DSF, celebrates its 50th Anniversary. According
to the DSF website, “[DSF] helps all of us fulfill Christ’s mission here on earth by supporting those programs and services that cannot be accomplished by one parish alone.
More than 60 programs receive all or part of their funding from the DSF and all funds are
spent within Archdiocesan boundaries. The broad areas of ministry that receive DSF support include: Catholic education of children and adults; pastoral ministries for the sick,
the poor and the incarcerated; the formation and education of church leadership; social
service programs such as San José Clinic, St. Dominic Village and Catholic Charities.”
Special Youth Services exists because of contributions to DSF.
We are able to purchase supplies, extend to other facilities, and
provide support to the youth we serve and their families.
Every year, a DSF video is shown at all parishes within the
Archdiocese and SYS will be featured in 2017! These are some
behind the scenes pictures of the filming which took place at
BBRC.
For more information or to make your contribution, please visit
www.archgh.org/DSF
Director’s Corner
One of the most important things you do as volunteers is visiting the
youth. Your acts of kindness plant seeds of hope in the hearts of our youth.
There are still so many more to serve. Please join us in praying for more volunteers. If
you have not, begin sharing your stories of faith with family, friends and fellow parishioners. Faith sharing is the strongest recruiter. “The biggest threat to hope is when you feel
that you do not matter to anybody or that you have been left aside. The biggest threat to
hope is when you feel that, either being present or absent, you make no difference.” –
Pope Francis
Franchelle
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Director’s Corner
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Youth’s Perspective 2
Juvenile Law
Conference
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Letters from Kids to
Kids
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Volunteer’s
Perspective
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Greg
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New Priests
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Hope Bags
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JP
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Café Catholica
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Archdiocesan
Events
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St. Elizabeth Ann
Seton
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Contact Us
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Prayer Request
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YOUTH LOOKING IN, SPEAKING UP:
A Youth’s Perspective
A Conversation with J. Coronado at JJC
Alejandra: How old are you?
J: 16
A: How long have you been in here for?
J: I’ve been here for three months. This is my fifth time being locked up. And my last time.
A: Are you different now since the first time you were here?
J: I do feel different. The first time I got locked up was in 2014. I have lost two years of my teenage years in here. I can’t
believe it’s my fifth time. It feels like I never got out. But I do feel more mature. I’m about to be 17. When I was in the
free this last time, I wasn’t doing the same things. I would think about it more.
A: How is your relationship with God?
J: I’ve seen my homeboys pass away and I’ve wondered how they didn’t have the opportunity to get off the street and
come here. I could've been killed, but nothing happened to me. It opened my eyes. If God didn’t love me, I would be
dead. I need to give Him a chance so I can change. I can’t do it on my own.
A: How has SYS helped you with your relationship with God?
J: Ever since we met, I’ve been more interested in God. When you would come to see me, I would learn more about
God. You have taught me that everything happens for a reason. You are the only one who talks to me about God. I started reading the Bible. Everything happens for a reason. I want to learn more about God. That’s what life is about: learning
new things. God sends you people that you wouldn’t meet on your own in life.
A: How is your relationship with your mom?
J: She’s been in and out of my life. Most of my life, she’s been locked up. She chose drugs over her kids. I understand she
has problems. I know that she loves me, but she’s too lost. She would leave and it would hurt more. She would sweet
talk us and also make herself the victim. But she’s also forgiven me for the things I’ve done. I would always forgive my
mom. She would do good for a little while, but then go back to what she was doing. Other girls in here tell me that I
should call my mom, but I can’t. She doesn’t have to be in court with me, but I wish she was stable and had a phone so that
she could talk to me or was able to write to me. She doesn’t even have to ask me how I am; I want to know how she is
doing. I worry about her. I want to know what she’s doing, where she lives, if she’s eating.
When I was growing up, I didn’t have a woman figure in my life. I grew up with boys: my brothers, my dad, my uncles.
When I was going through puberty, I didn’t understand what was going on. I always felt like a boy. No one would do my
hair. I would wear the same clothes to school and the other girls at school would ask me why I would dress like a boy and
why my hair was always messed up. I’m not embarrassed of my mom. I’m hurt. It still hurts not having a relationship with
her.
A: What advice do you have for girls who have their mothers?
J: Take care of her. Appreciate her and don’t take advantage of her. I hear how other girls take advantage of their moms
and get her to buy them what they want, but then do bad stuff and get locked up. That’s not right. It’s different when you
take advantage of your dad, because you’re a girl, but you shouldn’t do that to the woman who gave you life.
A: What advice do you have for mothers?
J: Take care of your kids. It’s important to have both parents. Even if only one parent is there, there should be another
parent figure. Don’t do drugs, because you won’t want to stop. Be a good example. Don’t let your daughters do what
they want, they’ll take advantage of you. And don’t have kids if you’re not willing to take care of them.
Special Youth Services was present at the 29th Annual Juvenile Law Conference in San
Antonio in February, which was sponsored by the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar
of Texas. Topics discussed ranged from “Synthetics360: Latest Trends, Court Rulings,
Detection and Testing” to “The State of Texas v. Cameron Moon: Ethical Issues in Assessing Whether Youth Should be Certified.” Others in attendance were juvenile attorneys, judges, probation officers, and vendors who work with the youth population.
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Letters from Kids to Kids
Thank you to the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and
Evangelization for organizing their Catholic Summer
Immersion participants to reach out to our youth.
CSI is a yearly summer camp for incoming 10th graders to graduating Seniors. This year’s theme was The
Beatitudes and the kids who attended completed service projects such as praying outside a prison in
Huntsville and writing letters to our youth. Each letter contained a personal message, showing the compassion that teens have for one another. We are
grateful and we know that our youth will not only
receive a letter, but a look into the love that God has
for them. For more information on CSI or other programs that OACE provides, please visit them at http://
www.archgh.org/OACE/.
A VOLUNTEER’S PERSPECTIVE
BETTINA ALBERMANN • HCLA
Visiting adolescents with SYS at the HCLA has been a very rewarding experience. It has taught me to be thankful for what I have as well as
to open up and share my experience with the young men I meet every week.
Personally, I wasn’t really afraid of going into a juvenile facility, but more of not having enough biblical knowledge to share… I even got
myself a subscription for a monthly guide to the Sunday readings, so I would have something “wise” to say. To my surprise, our weekly
meetings at the HCLA aren’t that much about Bible knowledge, but more about sharing on whatever issues the boys have on their minds.
We talk about addictions, recovery groups, parenting, making good choices, or joining youth groups at church. The readings are just a
topic to start with to help us see Jesus’s point of view, to let the kids know they are important and that God loves each one of them.
Over the time, I have become really fond of many of the boys. As a mother of three adolescent sons, I can just imagine how difficult the
situation must be for the guys’ families, especially their Moms. Some parents can’t even visit their children on the week-end. So, spending
an hour per week with their kids in juvenile is a privilege for me. I have learned a lot from what the boys share about their own lives. For
example, one traveled by himself from Central America across Mexico on the roof of a train and swam across the
Rio Grande to find his Mom. His story made me realize how blessed my own family is. Our problems are mostly
messy bedrooms or laundry left in the dryer. However, over the years, our own sons, like most teenagers, have also
put into practice some crazy and not always legal ideas… but have gotten away with it. I often think it is just by the
grace of God that I am visiting other Moms’ children in juvenile and not one of my own.
In conclusion, I would like to finish my reflection sharing two of my most cherished moments as a SYS volunteer:
one kid inside, telling me, “I’ll never forget you!” - and another one “in the free”, big smile, stretching out his hand,
“Hi, Ma’am! I’m finally out!”.
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SYS is happy to welcome Greg
Stokes as our newest Pastoral
Minister. Greg comes to us from
the University of St. Thomas and
is a diaconate candidate, class of
2017. Before coming on board,
Greg was volunteering as a chaplain at JJC. He enjoys working
with the youth and meeting all the volunteers. Please
give him a warm welcome when you see him.
On June 4, 2016, five deacons were ordained as priests for the
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Among those five were
Khoi Le and Preston Quintela, who ministered with Special
Youth Services in 2015. They are serving at St. Ignatius of
Loyola and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, respectively. On May 21,
another seminarian who served with SYS was ordained a
priest in Fort Worth. Father Nghia Nguyen will be appointed
to St. John the Apostle in Fort Worth on August 1. SYS sends
them warm wishes and prayers as they continue their journey
on the road less taken. If you would like information on vocations, visit their website at www.houstonvocations.com or give
the office a call at 713-652-8239.
This year’s Young Adult Day was all about the Year of
Did you know you can set up automatic
Mercy. Deacon Dan and Alejandra were invited to
speak about the corporal work of mercy, “visit the
imprisoned”. They had the opportunity to share what
Special Youth Services is and recruit some young
adults to volunteer. During Deacon’s talk, he received
a surprise guest: Deacon Khoi Le, who last year was a
seminarian assigned to SYS. He also shared his experience with our ministry.
Easter Hope Bags
We would like to send a big thank you to everyone
who organized and participated in the Jr. High Rally this
year. The kids who attended made Hope Bags for our
DSF contributions online? Just visit https://
epay.amegybank.com/SOPP/Entry/Diocese/
default.aspx.
Hope Bags
Our friends at Our Lady of Guadalupe School reached out to
our youth population with Hope Bags. Mr. Masterson’s bighearted 6th grade class assembled these treat bags, which include hand-written letters and snacks, and which were distributed at Brazoria County. OLG School sends us bags every
year as part of their service project and we hope this continues for many years to come.
youth. For the first time in SYS history, there were
enough Hope Bags to be distributed at
all 6 facilities for the Easter/Spring
Break Holiday. The youth were so
appreciative of these bags and many of
them read their letter before taking
out any snacks.
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It has been a little less chaotic in the office
thanks to our summer aide, JP Gavino. JP
will soon begin his junior year at UT Austin, where he plays the guitar at the Catholic Center and is studying Civil Engineering. When he is not preparing for a test
or making copies of the Sunday Readings, JP enjoys playing
and recording with his band, The Fifth Smith.
Stop by and say hi at our table at this year’s Café Catholica.
For three Mondays in July, St. Vincent de Paul will host hundreds of young adults as they go to Confession, attend Mass,
have dinner and fellowship, and hear a talk given by Father
Preston Quintela (who was assigned to SYS last year as a
seminarian), Cardinal DiNardo, and Monsignor William
Young. Please see the flyer for more information.
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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first
American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American
parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of
46 years while raising her five children.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774,
just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to
the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian
by her mother and stepmother, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a
great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and
sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness.
At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had
five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed, penniless, with five small
children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends.
Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction
that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group
followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809.
The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic
sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1250
Director
Associate Director
Pastoral Minister
Pastoral Minister
Franchelle Lee Stewart
Alejandra Maya
Deacon Dan Gilbert
Greg Stokes
(713)741-8739
(713)741-8779
(713)320-1915
(832)816-5307
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please pray for the repose of the soul of David Garza, the brother of Felipe Garza (Brazoria County),
as well as the Garza Family, and for the health of Dorothy Breidenstein (Youth Village).
“The harvest is plentiful, laborers are few” Luke 10:2
SYS would like to thank you all for your continued support to this ministry. We welcome all to share this newsletter with anyone who might have an interest and to
share with us if you would like to see something in the Oratorio. If you know someone who may be interested in becoming a volunteer with SYS, please contact our
office at : (713) 741-8739 or [email protected]
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