โI would invite the governor to love his peopleโ: San Antonio archbishopโs message to Gov. Greg Abbott on Uvalde
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, the leader of the San Antonio Archdiocese and one of the top two Catholic leaders in Texas, shared his thoughts about Gov. Greg Abbottโs handling of the Uvalde school shooting massacre in an emotional interview.
San Antonio Archdiocese, Franciscan priests call on community to unite after 46 people found dead in trailer
Both the San Antonio Archdiocese and Franciscan priests called on the community to unite in prayer and support after nearly 50 people were found dead in a trailer on the Southwest Side late Monday night.
San Fernando Cathedral holds special masses amid conflict in Ukraine
โRight now, I cannot be in Ukraine. I wish to be able to do something more concrete there, but prayer unites us. Prayer helps us to be one mind and one heart,โ said Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
San Antonio archbishop reinforces churchโs position regarding Johnson & Johnson vaccine
San Antonio Archdiocese Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has reinforced the churchโs position regarding all three vaccines. AdThe archbishop said it was concerning that Johnson and Johnson used โsome remote cells of abortion tissueโ to produce the vaccine, but he understood none of the those cells are in the vaccine itself. โThat is in the vaccine, not the cells,โ Berggren said. She said fetal cell lines have been used for years. โThere are many vaccines and drug products that we wouldnโt have today had these cell lines not been used,โ Berggren said.
San Antonio archbishop grants Catholics dispensation from fasting, abstinence on Ash Wednesday
SAN ANTONIO โ Due to the ongoing winter storm, San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has granted Catholics a dispensation from fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and says ashes will be allowed to be given at the end of masses through the weekend if parishioners donโt receive them Wednesday. Archdiocese officials said that many churches in the area are canceling or reducing the number of services due to the winter storm. The archdiocese said to check in with local leaders and monitor social media for Mass times. Archdiocesan statement regarding Ash Wednesday Lent begins tomorrow, February 17, with Ash Wednesday. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.
โAll of us have been woundedโ: San Antonio archbishop says of US Capitol violence
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said that the violent acts at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday โwere clear expressions of how much we are wounded as a nation.โโAll of us have been wounded,โ the archbishop said during a prayer service Thursday. โWe all feel it.โWhile he didnโt make direct references to what led to the violence, Garcia-Siller mentioned a โvery difficultโ presidential elections process. The archbishop said people need to pray and reach out for divine intervention to help the nation heal. โWe need help. We need help.โVideo: Courtesy of Catholic TV San AntonioRelated Story:โI am saddened by the shocking eventsโ: San Antonio archbishop calls for peace following violence at US Capitol
WATCH LIVE: San Antonio archbishop presides over prayer service following violence at US Capitol
SAN ANTONIO โ (Editorโs note: Thanks to Catholic TV San Antonio for providing the feed for the prayer service.) We have seen too much violence in the United States recently โ political violence, racial violence -- and even the violence caused by the COVID-19 virus, which attacks the body,โ Garcia-Siller said in a written statement. Providentially, Pope Francis has called for a โculture of careโ in his 2021 World Day of Peace message,โ Garcia-Siller continued in his statement. May Mary, our mother and the mother of God, unite our country and bring all her children together,โ Garcia-Siller said. The archbishop will hold a small prayer service at 1 p.m. Thursday at San Fernando Cathedral to pray for peace.
San Antonio archbishop announces when local parishes can reopen
SAN ANTONIO โ Archbishop Gustavo Garciฬa-Siller on Monday announced that churches in the Archdiocese of San Antonio can once again open their doors for weekend masses. The first weekend masses will take place May 23-24, he said in a briefing before the โMission: Hopeโ flyover at 2 p.m. There are 170 churches under the Archdiocese of San Antonio across 19 counties. Garciฬa-Siller said churches will reopen under safety guidance from Gov. Explained: How Abbott plans to reopen Texas and differences from San Antonio, Bexar County ordersWhile religious institutions have been allowed to stay open with limitations, the Archdiocese of San Antonio suspended masses until at least May 18.
Looking ahead for the week of May 11
SAN ANTONIO โ Pop-up COVID-19 testing sites will continue this week. They are done in partnership with Metro Health and the San Antonio Fire Departmentโs mobile integrated health program. At these testing sites, those that are symptomatic or asymptomatic can get tested, free of charge. Those that visit these testing sites will not need to make an appointment; however, each site has a limit of 300 tests that are available. The first case confirmed in the U.S. was in mid-January and the first case confirmed in San Antonio was in mid-February.
San Antonio church leaders evaluating when congregations can begin to meet again
San Antonio โ San Antonio church leaders say they are actively having conversations about when their congregations will meet again for a live service. Chris Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church San Antonio, says pastors from across the city are calling and emailing each other to figure out a safe plan for their members. He said each church will decide when and how itโs safest for their congregation to meet again. Health experts with the city of San Antonio are recommending that churches wait to hold live services for a bit longer, based on what local data is showing. The Archdiocese of San Antonio of San Antonio released the following statement:"On April 16, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller extended the decree regarding changes impacting parishes in the Archdiocese of San Antonio due to COVID-19 until May 18.
55 clergy members named in report on child sexual abuse in SA Archdiocese
SAN ANTONIO โ A report on child sexual abuse in the San Antonio Archdiocese released Thursday named 55 clergy members who have been credibly accused of sexually assaulting a minor. According to the report, the most recent names appeared between 2000-2009 and as far back as 1940-1949. The bishops' decision to release the names is part of an ongoing effort by the church to protect children from sexual abuse. Patti Koo, San Antonio chapter leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said Wednesday that the release of the report is important to the victims. Garcia-Siller said that releasing the report "does not bring an end to this work; it will continue.
Love thy neighbor: Archbishop stresses acceptance amid border crisis
SAN ANTONIO โ Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller on Monday visited Catholic Charities where some 400 families are expected to be reunited sometime this week. Understanding circumstances of others:โPeople have the right to leave their countries. In this case, most of the people, not all, but most of the people, they leave their countries to live. They will not be able to move on here in the United states, doing good, if they are not integrated. We depend on the different layers of organizations in the country that respond to the governmentโs direction for us to receive children and families.โAdWhat Catholic Charities provides for refugee or immigrant families: