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Board of Directors President:

Melia Reed V.P. Vocations:

Jim & Jennifer Stevens V.P. Membership:

Bob & Arlane Sponaugle V.P. Programs:

Tony & Eileen Benvegnu V.P. Communications:

Mary Lou Purello Treasurer:

Charlie Garland Secretary:

Kay Nelson Chaplain:

Father Felix Osanna Trustees:

Diddy Muck Donna Rueby Sandie Taylor

Shalom Rep: Doug Reed Newsletter: Mary Lou Purello

Meetings: 4th Monday of the Month

Italiano’s Restaurant 217 FM 1960 Bypass

Humble, TX 6:30 Social, 7:00 Dinner

“To become a priest or a religious is not primarily our choice, it is our answer to a calling, a calling of love.” Pope Francis

Serra Club Northeast

of Houston

Volume 4, Issue 2

July 2018

St. Martha Mary & Lazarus, St. Philip the Apostle, St. Leo the Great, St. Mary Magdatlene, St. John of the Cross, St. Dominic

“God was revealed to me through scripture.”

Seminarian Jeremy Mann, spoke of his love of scripture and how God’s words brought him to his decision to not only convert to Catholicism, but to follow the path to priesthood. His path to discernment was not an easy path. His earliest recollection was his grandmother reading Bible verses to him and he would cry whenever she stopped reading. He worked as an auto mechanic for Honda and met Michael Henderson, who led him to the Catholic Church and Jeremy’s desire to become a Catholic. He entered the RCIA program at St. Martha, and received all three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist on April 7, 2007 by Msgr. Chester Borski. His life path continued on a circuitous route, sometimes going to Mass, sometimes not. He had many crises in his life, but each time Jesus brought him back to the path of Heaven. A big turning point for Jeremy was almost being killed in 2015. Retrieving a car one evening, a security guard thinking Jeremy was stealing the car, chased him with a gun and shot at him several times. This frightening experience brought him again to search for Jesus. “Did I do enough to get to Heaven?” a question he asked himself. Jeremy kept reading scripture and then began stopping at the chapel and going to confession. He went to vocation sponsored retreats, reading about vocations, and eventually came to the realization that God was calling him. He applied and was accepted into the seminary. He is now at St. Joseph Seminary in Coventry, LA and has completed his second year. We were thrilled to hear Jeremy and his story of how Jesus stayed with him throughout his many life experiences. May God alway bless you, Jeremy.

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MONTHLY MEETING It is important to Nourish Our Souls with Fellowship and Friendship

President Melia Reed leading her first meeting

Good job, Melia!

Welcome to the Jolley family - first time visitors Bruce and Kathy Farmer visit with new members, Charles & Elizabeth Menard

Happy retirement Joy!

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OUR CHURCHES

St. Dominic Catholic Church 8215 Reservoir Street, Houston, 77049 Pastor: Rev. Roger Estorque St. Dominic became a parish on January 24, 1969 and will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of it’s Canonical establishment as a parish.

St. John of the Cross 20000 Loop 494, New Caney, 77357

St. Leo the Great 2131 Lauder Road, Houston, TX 77039 Pastor: Fr. Carmelo Hernandez

St. Martha, Mary & Lazarus, Friends of Jesus Catholic Parish 4301 Woodridge Parkway, Porter, TX 77365 Pastor: Fr. TJ Dolce

St. Mary Magdalene 4301 Woodridge Parkway, Porter, TX 77365 Pastor: Fr. Felix Osasona

St. Philip the Apostle 2308 3rd St., Huffman, 77346 St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church was created February 01, 1977 by Bishop John. L. Morkovsky. St. Philip suffered severe damage from Hurricane Harvey and is in the process of re-building. Pastor: Rev. Richard E. Barker

SERRA visits our parishes - every 3rd Wednesday of the month: • July 18 - St. Leo at 8:00 a.m. • August 15, St. John of the Cross at 8:30 a.m.

We hope St. Philip will be ready for daily Mass soon. Dates will be updated as we receive information.

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Life Awareness Retreat July 27 @ 5:00 pm - July 29 @ 2:00 pm Free Life Awareness Weekend: Come and join other single men and women of faith, ages 18-45, who are searching and discerning God’s call in their lives. Life Awareness is a weekend retreat of prayer, silent reflection, presentations, group discussions, and sharing on one-on-one encounters and guidance from priests and religious sisters and brothers, as you learn more about priesthood and religious life. This retreat is designed to help young adults to learn and explore the vocations of priesthood and  consecrated life, to search deeply for the guidance, and to grow in courage to do the will of God. It will provide the time, environment, and opportunity to clarify one’s calling without any pressure of commitment. Come join us! Where: Christian Renewal Center, 1515 Hughes Rd., Dickinson, Texas 77539. Information: Denny Matranga 713-462-0136 damatranga38@gmail.com  Deacon Gary Hilbig 832-549-4140 gary.hilbig@allsaints.us.org Cost: Free (Donations accepted) Short interview required.  Pre-registration and forms will be available soon.

The Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC) -July 20 -22 gathers over 2,800 participants - both youth and adults - from all over the local Church. AYC is the largest evangelizing event for older adolescents that the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization hosts annually. Through this event, incoming ninth graders through outgoing high school seniors are challenged to live out their faith, learn informative presentations, listen to outstanding national speakers, and make new friendships. AYC provides youth with a unique opportunity to interact with the Cardinal and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese to celebrate the sacraments, to pray, and reflect on the role of the Young Church of Galveston-Houston.

mailto:damatranga38@gmail.commailto:gary.hilbig@allsaints.us.orgmailto:damatranga38@gmail.commailto:gary.hilbig@allsaints.us.org

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Prayer BreakfastJuly 19, 2018 - 7:30 a.m.

Hilton Americas-Houston HotelKeynote: Bishop Brendan J. CahillBishop of VictoriaTables and tickets available for purchase until

July 9!  Tickets must be purchased in advance.
No walk-up registrations on the day of the event. 

For more information, please contact the Development Department at 713-652-4417

https://www.archgh.org/prayerbreakfast

Archdiocese News

https://www.archgh.org/cafecatholica

https://www.archgh.org/prayerbreakfasthttps://www.archgh.org/prayerbreakfast

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MEET YOUR CHAPLIN

Father Felix Osasona, pastor of St. Mary Magdalene in Humble, has graciously agreed to be our new Chaplin. Fr. Felix is a member of the religious order, Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP).  They have been in the US for over 25 years with their main office in Houston and staff several parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Fr. Felix received his seminary training in Nigeria and was the Director of the Mission Development Office in Houston before his assignment to St. Mary’s.

WELCOME FATHER FELIX!

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Mark Your Calendars!

Father Richard McNeillie’s Mass for ALL SERRANS and their families on Sunday, July 1st, the Feast Day of our beloved St. Junipero Serra. The Mass will be held at St. Mary’s

Seminary at 4:00 p.m.

http://www.mspfathers.org/americas/http://www.mspfathers.org/http://www.mspfathers.org/http://www.mspfathers.org/americas/http://www.mspfathers.org/http://www.mspfathers.org/

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N E W S W O R T H Y

Explorers Retreat

Father T J called Doug and Melia Reed and asked if the Serra Club Northeast of Houston would consider donating and serving dinner to about 80 high school young men while on The Explorers Retreat at St. Mary’s Seminary on Wednesday, June 6. The Club answered in a resounding “YES!”

Approximately 80 young men were identified from their parishes in the greater Houston area as someone who might want to explore the possibility of becoming a priest! Father T J

mentored and provided them the atmosphere to further discern.

Much planning, organizing, ordering, delivering and setting up went into serving a delicious spaghetti and meatballs, salad and bread dinner from Italiano’s! We also donated a variety of cookies to complete their meal. There were a handful of Serrans who were more than happy to be able to serve and visit with these discerning, happy, engaging, hungry young men!

Father T J and all the young men were very vocal in expressing their gratitude and thanks to our Club for providing such a delicious meal!

Thank you Jennifer Stevens, Bruce and Kathy Farmer, Bob and Arlane Sponaugle, Diane Applegate and Sandie Taylor for helping with this endeavor.

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For more information about the Serra Club Northeast of Houston, please contact, President, Melia Reed, meliareed5303@gmail.com. To update your information or to share pictures and other Serra information, please contact Newsletter Editor, Mary Lou Purello, marylou0038@icloud.com.

Let us hear from you! REALLY! WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SERRA Northeast of Houston HAPPENINGS

After 8:30 a.m. daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, displayed until 9:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene in Humble Sunday, July 1, Feast Day of St. Junipero Serra, Mass at St. Mary’s Seminary, 4:00 p.m. Mondays July 9,16, 23,30, Café Catholica, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 6:15 p.m. Tues. July 10, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, following the 7:00 p.m. Mass at St. Martha Friday, July 13, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:30 Mass at St. Martha Wed. July 18, 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Leo the Great, 2131 Lauder Rd Thursday, July 19, Prayer Breakfast, 7:00 a.m., Hilton America- register by July 9. Friday-Sunday, July 20-22, AYC, George R Brown Conference Center Monday, July 23 Serra Monthly meeting at Italiano’s, 6:30 p.m.. July 27-29, Life Awareness Retreat. Christian Renewal Center, Dickinson. Saturday, August 4, Dynamo Faith & Family Night , 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 9, David Michael Moses Concert, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Revention Music Center

Sunday, September 16, Celebrating 50th Wedding Anniversaries

In Our Prayers

Rodney Williamson, recovering from a lung transplant Rita Tobais’ daughter, Rita, fell and severely broke her

ankle, prayers are needed. July Birthdays

8- Sandie Taylor 9- Peggy Angelino 14- Nick Quinn 18 - Claude Guillemette 19- Kay Nelson 24- Sem. Patrick O’Brien, St. Mary Seminary 27 - Fr. David Xavier Bilavendiran, St.Luke the Evangelist

July 3, 2010 - Fr. Anthony Udoh, St. Mary Magdalene July 20, 2008 - Sr. Nohemi Lara -Missionary of St. Theresa July 25, 1970 - Sr. Francesca Kearns - the Chancery July 16 - Sr. Ana Teresa, Carmelite Monastery

July Anniversaries of Ordination

Guest speaker at our next meeting, July 23, Father Felix Osasona

mailto:meliareed5303@gmail.commailto:meliareed5303@gmail.com