Monthly Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2017
From Padre Miguel...
WORKSHOP ON SPIRITUALITY AND LEADERSHIP
On Saturday January 21, 2017, in spite of the rain and wind, some members of St.
Christopher’s attended a workshop on Spirituality and Leadership. The person who gave
us the workshop was a religious, Sister Helen Santamaria. The sister is a woman with a
great deal of experience in many fields. She currently volunteers at The Opportunity
Center, a nonprofit organization that works with the homeless, among other things. She
is a Spiritual Advisor and well prepared in this area.
A PUBLICATION OF ST. CHRISTOPHER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Sr. Helen said some words that really stood out, and these had to do with what she calls
“The Ten Commandments of mature Christians.” She explained to us that the Ten
Commandments of Moses are the bare minimum of what we should do or not do so as to
not fall into doing bad things as Christians, and the Ten Commandments of mature
Christians are things that we can do in order to grow as Christians. They are the
following:
1. Live in gratitude to God and enjoy our lives
2. Be willing to carry more and more of life’s complexities (difficulties) with
understanding and empathy
3. Transform jealousy, anger, bitterness and hatred rather than give them back in
kind
4. Let suffering soften your heart rather than harden your soul
5. Forgive those who hurt you and forgive your own sins
6. Bless more and curse less
7. Live a more radical honesty and transparency
8. Pray affectively and liturgically (personal prayer and prayer in community for the
world)
9. Be wide in your embrace of the other
10. Stand where you are supposed to be standing and let God provide the rest
TALLER DE ESPIRITUALIDAD EN ST. CHRISTOPHER’S
El sabado 21 de enero de 2017, a pesar de la lluvia y viento, asistieron algunos miembros
de la iglesia de San Cristobal asistieron a un taller sobre la Espiritualidad y el Liderazgo.
La persona que nos expuso fue la religiosa Madre Helen Santamaria. La madre es una
mujer de mucha experiencia en muchos campos. Actualmente ella es voluntaria en The
Opportunity Center, una organizacion con fines no lucrativas que trabaja con las
personas sin casa, entre otras cosas. Ella es consejra espiritual y muy preparada en este
area.
Las palabras mas destacadas de la Madre Helen tuvieron que ver con lo que ella llama
“los Diez Mandamientos para los cristianos maduros”. Ella nos explico que los Diez
Mandamientos de Moises son las cosas minimas que debemos hacer o no debemos hacer
para no caer en las cosas malas como cristianos, y los Diez Mandamientos para los
cristianos maduros son las cosas que podemos hacer para crecer como cristianos. Son los
siguientes:
1. Vivir en gratitud con Dios y disfrutar nuestras vidas
2. Estar dispuestos a llevar mas y mas de las dificultades de la vida con comprension y empatia
3. Transformar el celos, el enojo, la amargura y el odio en vez de volverlos en si
4. Dejar que el sufrimiento ablande nuestros corazones en vez de endurecer nuestras almas
5. Perdonar a los que nos hacen dano y perdonar a nosotros mismos
6. Bendecir mas y maldecir menos
7. Vivir mas radicalmente la honestidad y la transparencia
8. Orar afectivamente y liturgicamente (oracion personal y en comunidad para el mundo)
9. Abrazar a los otros con mas apertura
10. Estar donde uno debe de estar y dejar que Dios provee lo demas
Blessings,
Padre Miguel Angel Ramirez Centeno+
From our new Senior Warden...
This new year has ushered in some changes at St. Christopher’s, which is normal and expected in any
organization. These changes can occur due to reasons such as job responsibilities, illness, a change of mind,
and term limits in church ministries.
The latter of these reasons is the purpose of this first of many monthly letters that I, Tony Moreno, as your
new Senior Warden, will be addressing to the congregation in the monthly newsletter.
As Bruce had mentioned last Sunday, his term as senior warden, as well as Joe Maldonado’s term as junior
warden, ended last week. Two new vestry members, Katie Hudak and Pedro Villagomez were selected in last
Sunday’s vestry meeting as well as my appointment by Father J.J., and the selection of Pedro as the new
Junior Warden. I thank Father J.J. for his confidence in me to serve in this position. A heartfelt thank you and
appreciation to Bruce, Joe, and Dulce for their service, and congratulations to all newly selected members to
their new positions.
I work for the Ysleta Independent School District as a special education job coach. There is a poster in one of
our classrooms that reads: “The expert in anything was once a beginner”. With this in mind, I ask for your
prayers and patience for those of us selected to serve for the greater Glory of God, the Church, and the
congregation in these ministries. Also, thanks to Bruce who has offered to be a “consultant” since he is still
the treasurer and serves in other ministries at St. Christopher’s.
I was born and raised in El Paso and in the Roman Catholic Church. I was baptized, made my First Holy
Communion, and was Confirmed in the Catholic Church. My mother made sure that we went to “Confession”
and that we received Holy Communion on a regular basis, and attended church every Sunday. I and my
brothers and sisters started our religious instruction at about age 6 in preparation for First Holy Communion
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and we stayed in the catechism classes through our senior year of high school. One of my brothers and I
would spend our spring break, summer vacations, and Christmas break at our grandmother’s house. She
also made sure that we continued with our religious instruction in addition to taking us to every church
service during Lent and Christmas. I taught catechism classes to elementary school children in preparation
for Holy Communion in the early 90’s at Cristo Rey Catholic Church here in El Paso.
I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and have a B.A.S. in Social Psychology from Park
University. I served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California, Newport News and
Norfolk, Virginia, and aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. I worked in the automotive aftermarket
for 23 years and did my internship at, and worked for the YWCA’s Pregnant and Parenting Teens Program
as a case manager. I also worked part time for nine years as an advocate for homeless women and children
in the YWCA’s Transitional Living Center. I have worked for YISD as mentioned above for 21 years in the
Cesar Chavez Alternative Campus and the Special Education Department.
My wife Maria and I are parents to 5 adult children and grandparents to 7 girls and 2 boys with another due
to arrive in June.
I was Received into the Episcopal Church on May 17, 2015, and currently serve as a lector, Eucharistic
Minister, Sunday School Instructor, Altar Guild, Worship Leader and Eucharistic Visitor Trained, Soup
Kitchen Team 4, Vestry Member, and now as Senior Warden.
I am honored to serve God, the Church, and the congregation as my health and time allows. Again, I ask for
your prayers, so that I can continue to work in these ministries. As mentioned in my yearly report, our
Sunday School class grew from 6 to about 10, and the Confirmation class also has several new students. As
our congregation grows, so will our financial and ministry needs. I ask each one of you to pray and
meditate on how you can serve in any one of St. Christopher’s many ministries. Giving of our time and
talents also falls under the definition of Stewardship along with our yearly financial pledges and
commitments. Blessings to you and your families and wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and spiritual new
year.
Yours in Christ,
Tony Moreno, Senior Warden
______________________________________________________________________________
ANNOUNCING THE
ACOLYTE TRAINING SESSION
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S 2017 VESTRY
11:15 a.m. Sunday, February 12
Tony Moreno, Senior Warden
Pedro Villagomez, Junior Warden
Denise Anderson
Fran Hayes
Katie Hudak
Carlisle Navidomskis
after the worship service
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Training for both current acolytes
and those who wish to learn to
serve at the Altar
Please make every effort to attend!
February at St. Christopher’s
The Eucharist of Candlemas
(Candelaria)
10:00 a.m. Sunday, February 5
Blessing of Candles ~ Litany for Candlemas
Candlelight Procession
Bring your new household candles to be blessed
INFORMATIONAL MEETING WITH DEACON TOM BATES
10:00 a.m. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
For all men and young adult men at St. Christopher’s
If you have any questions, please see Fr. JJ
The Red Dinner
6:00 p.m. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Fun, Fellowship, Great Food, Music
and a “Red Elephant” gag gift exchange!
Each person brings wrapped but unlabeled item from
around the house that they want to give away or get rid of!
Free will donation basket will be on the serving table
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER
“Fat Tuesday” Fund-raising Event
6:00—7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 28
Free will donation basket will be on the serving table
Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!
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CAMP STONEY
Summer 2017 Preview
June 8-11: Family Camp
DIOCESAN YOUTH EVENT
Open to all youth grades 6-12
February 17-19
June 18-24: Adventure Camp
(Presidents’ Weekend)
June 25-July 1: Summer Fun Camp
at Camp Stoney, Santa Fe, NM
July 2-8: Harry Potter Camp
Goblet of Fire
Registration:
$30 per youth until February 3rd
$40 per youth late registration
Check in: 5-7 pm Friday, February 17
Program to begin at 7:00 pm
Check out: 1 pm Sunday, February 19
Send completed and signed
registration form to:
Snow Slam Registration
c/o St. Michael’s and All Angels
601 Montaño Rd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
St. Christopher’s Scholarships
are available
FEBRUARY
BIRTHDAYS
Jean Paul Bishop 2 Dulce Martinez 2
Gabby Palacios 11 Joe Maldonado 14
Betty Holley 20 Luis Garcia 21
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If you need information or directions for
Safeguarding Our Children Certification
and Food Handler Certification please
contact Holly Truesdale at
[email protected] or call 252-2475
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June 11-17: Once and Future King
Fantasy Camp
July 9-15: Episcopal Youth Event
in Oklahoma City
July 16-22: Narnia Camp
July 23-20: Grace Camp
July 30-August 6: Alumni Camp
For more information about Camp
Stoney go to dioceserg. Org and click
on the link Who We Are, and then
click on
Bishop’s Ridge/Camp Stoney website
MEETINGS
VESTRY MEETING
11:15 a.m. Sunday, February 5
ACOLYTE TRAINING SESSION
11 a.m. Sunday, February 12
BIBLE STUDY
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 14th
(No meeting on February 28)
BROTHERHOOD OF
ST. ANDREW
Informational Meeting
10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 18
JANUARY PRAYER LIST
Please keep these members and friends of St. Christopher's in your daily prayers...
Jim Holley (Member), Jim and Bobi Major (Members), Tony Moreno (Member), Johnny Washam
(Member) Luis Garcia (Member) Stephanie Brown, (Member) Dorothy Muller (Member), Pershing
Rexroad (Major), Rene Vallecillo (Cano), Mary Reyes (Cano), Louis Foght (Major), Ray Vega (Vega),
David Gaylon (Hayes) Ruby Carr (Brooks) Nora Butler (Gilbreath), Gary Welsh, Benjamin Gonzalez
(Perez), Lily Bencomo (Bishop), The Schofill Family (Truesdale) Kevin Salcedo, Joe Heidrick (Shinn),
Kelly Schermerhorn (Hayes) Joe Divis (Anderson), Sofia Enriques (Anderson), Christie Lechuga (Perez),
Fernando Peña, Benjamin & Levi Moreno (Moreno), Christy Darling, Leo Luevano (Maldonado), Carol,
Charlie (Danforth), Cathy (Danforth), Jerry Brown (Shinn), Adrian Montes (Kelley), Flor Alvarado
(Bernal), Teri Ivey (Brooks), Jerry Ditmore (Brooks) Tamara Banda (Brooks), Octaviano Tavares
(Villagomez), Donna Hvizdos (Hudak), Maria Morgan (Anderson), Doreen Rich (Anderson) Erika Boone
(East), Jake Grossman (Anderson), Irma Lopez (Mowad), Erasmos Juarez
Almighty God, we commend to your care and keeping all of the men and women
of our armed forces at home and abroad:
Sgt. Charles Barden, Matthew Barnes, Jerry Carreon, Sgt. Jean-Louis Bishop, Army, Adam Garcia, Navy,
Magie Gonzalez, Lt. Jody M. Daniels, Navy, Roberto Salgado, Mark Logan, USAF, PFC Jose Gonzalez,
Oscar I. Gonzalez, Comd. Darren Rich, SP Woody Needler, SST. Tim Hayes and the families and friends
of all who are serving at home and abroad
We are updating our Prayer List for the new year.
Please contact Holly to add or delete names
OUR MINISTRIES
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S SOUP KITCHEN
The Soup Kitchen teams and the Kitchen Crew met with Fr. JJ on Saturday, January 7 to
discuss ways to increase the effectiveness of our Soup Kitchen Outreach. It was decided to hold
Soup Kitchen at 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday each month and to expand the menu.
Rosario and the Kitchen Crew will prepare the foods and the team members will set up, serve,
and clean up.
The new schedule and menus begin this month. The four Soup Kitchen teams are assigned on
a rotational basis:
Saturday, February 11
Hayes/Navidomskis
Menu: Spaghetti Mashed Potato
Mixed Vegetables
Saturday, February 18
Truesdale
Menu: Chicken Soup
Mexican Rice
We will continue to provide the regular table items such as bread, peanut butter and jelly,
jalapeños, dessert, and beverage. We ask God’s blessing as we embark on this new and
improved outreach to our Soup Kitchen guests!
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CHECK OUT OUR
WEBSITE AND
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
300 Riverside Drive El Paso, Texas 79915
Church Office: 915 859-9329
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.stchristopherelpaso.org
WORSHIP SERVICES
St. Christopher’s
Sunday
Soup Kitchen
Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Thursday
2nd & 3rd
Eucharist & Healing 10:30 a.m.
CLERGY AND STAFF
The Reverend Canon José J. Bernal
Rector
The Reverend Miguel Ramirez
Associate Priest
The Reverend Kenneth Anderson
Deacon (Ret.)
Holly Truesdale
Parish Administrator
Bruce Truesdale
Treasurer
VESTRY
Antonio Moreno - Senior Warden
Pedro Villagomez- Junior Warden
Denise Anderson Fran Hayes
Katie Hudak Carlisle Navidomskis
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Rector
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday
Fr. Bernal will be also available
on Saturdays by appointment.
Saturday of each month
ST. CHRISTOPHER'S
MISSION STATEMENT
Our Mission, as vessels indwelt
by the Holy Spirit, is to proclaim
the Gospel and teach the Faith;
to bring Christ ’ s healing power to those
who are wounded and hurting;
to share our blessings with those in need;
Administrator
and Church Office
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday
Administrator in Office at
home on
Monday and Wednesday
852-3954 or 252-2475
Church Offices Closed on Friday
to administer the Holy
Sacraments; and to live our lives to
God ’ s glory, sharing the love of
Jesus Christ with all people.