July 2010 - "From the Pastor's Corner"

Dear Parishioners,

The month of June for St. Dominic has been as hot and busy as the weather. On June 11th, we had a great time at our 4th annual Casino Night.  It was a fun evening and a special one as we held this event for the first time at St. Dominic. I am being told that we raised nearly $12,400 towards our building fund.  Thank you to Sonia Isaac and her team for a wonderful job well done.

On June 17th, we held an appreciation dinner for over 100 volunteers who generously gave of their time and talents, as they labored to get the Community Center ready.  Since completing the remodeling, we have had many activities and events that could not have been if it was not for our volunteers. So, a huge THANK YOU to Henry Ornelas and all of our volunteers.
 
And for those golfers in our parish, how awesome was the St. Dominic Golf Tournament on June 24th.  The weather was a little hot for the 30 teams who participated, but we didn't let that stop us from having a great time. I want to thank Bobby Casas and Orlando Solis and the committee for their hard work and for helping raise over $6,000 for our parish.

Last but not least, I was really proud of the staff and volunteers who coordinated the SonQuest Vacation Bible School this year.  We had 60 children who spent time learning and growing in their understanding of their faith.  It was great to see the kids at 8:30am mass and I pray that this experience will have an impact on the rest of their summer. Thank you Sr. Dympna, Celia Rios and all the volunteers for your acts of service.
 
And with this in mind, please keep in your prayers our youth and young adult groups who will be going on their ACTS retreats in July and August.  Let’s be there for them at the Send-off gatherings and the Welcoming Masses, as it is important for us to show them our love and support.  Hope you all have a great summer and good luck trying to keep cool.
 
Peace and love,
Fr. Eric Ritter

Didn’t get to pick up a bulletin after mass? Now you can print a copy by going to the St. Dominic website: www.stdominicsa.org/bulletins/. You can also view and print @StDominic issues by going to www.stdominicsa.org/@stdominic/. Stay informed and stay connected with your community!

Meeting Schedule
Second Week of July
7/9 Covenant of Love Meeting, 7:00 pm, Basement, Anna De La Fuente 680-5378
7/10 Guadalupanos Fashion Show, 12 pm, Community Center, $15/person, Mary Frances Huron 682-9084
7/10 Altar Server Training, 9:30 am, Basement, Celia Rios
7/10 CYO Fall Sports Registration, 11 am – 2 pm, Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/10 CYO Fall Sports Registration, 1 pm – 3 pm, Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/12 Pastoral Council Meeting, 6:30 pm, Portable 1, Oralia Prince 219-8699
7/12 Shields of Christ Meeting, 6:00 pm, Basement, Robert Paniagua 912-3511
7/13 Men’s Spanish ACT Meeting, 6:30 pm, Basement, Fernando Sanchez
7/13 Women of the Well, Old Church, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Rosemary De Los Santos 724-0126
7/14 ACTS Core Team Meeting, 7:00 pm, Portable 2, Gizmo Gonzalez 394-5194
7/14 St. Vincent De Paul General Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Portable 3-4, Margarita Guillen 435-6211
7/14 CYO Fall Sports Registration, 5 pm – 7 pm, Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/15 Teen ACTS Retreat Send off, 5:00 pm, Basement, Sylvia Hagen
7/15 Knights of Columbus Meeting, 7:00 pm, Portable 2, Fred Wolf
7/15 Peregrinos en Accion, 7:00 pm, Portable 1, Raul Martinez, 861-3983

Third Week of July
7/18 Teen ACTS Welcoming Mass, 5:00 pm, Basement, Sylvia Hagen
7/19 Shields of Christ Meeting, 6:00 pm, Basement, Robert Paniagua 912-3511
7/20 Men’s Spanish ACT Meeting, 6:30 pm, Basement, Fernando Sanchez
7/20 Women of the Well, Old Church, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Rosemary De Los Santos 724-0126
7/21 CYO Meeting 6:00 pm, Portable 2; Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/22 Peregrinos en Accion, 7:00 pm, Portable 1, Raul Martinez, 861-3983
7/24 Grief Support Group, 10:00 a.m., Basement, Sylvia Hagen 435-6211

Fourth Week of July
7/25 CYO Fall Sports Registration, 1 pm – 4 pm, Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/26 Shields of Christ Meeting, 6:00 pm, Basement, Robert Paniagua 912-3511
7/27 Men’s Spanish ACT Meeting, 6:30 pm, Basement, Fernando Sanchez
7/27 Women of the Well, Old Church, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Rosemary De Los Santos 724-0126
7/27 Guadalupanos Meeting, 6:00pm, Basement, Elena Schriner
7/28 Festival Committee, 7:00 pm, Portable 3 & 4, James Prince 394-5641
7/29 Knights of Columbus Meeting, 7:00 pm, Portable 2, Fred Wolf
7/29 Peregrinos en Accion, 7:00 pm, Portable 1, Raul Martinez, 861-3983
7/30 CYO Fall Sports Registration, 5 pm – 7 pm, Jesse Escobedo 684-1582
7/31 Altar Society Tea Party 12:00 pm, Community Center, Belen Alvarado 999-1510

First Week of August
8/2 Shields of Christ Meeting, 6:00 pm, Basement, Robert Paniagua 912-3511
8/3 Men’s Spanish ACT Meeting, 6:30 pm, Basement, Fernando Sanchez
8/3 Women of the Well, Old Church, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Rosemary De Los Santos 724-0126
8/4 Altar Society Meeting, Portable 3 & 4, 7:00 pm, Belen Alvarado 999-1510
8/5Knights of Columbus General Meeting, 7:00 pm, Basement, Fred Wolf
8/5 Peregrinos en Accion, 7:00 pm, Portable 1, Raul Martinez, 861-3983
8/5-8 Young Adults Retreat, Cordi-Marian Center, Sylvia Hagen 435-6211


Religious Education Programs
For more information contact: Religious Education – Sister Dympna Clarke 435-6211, RCIC - Susie Levario 618-3525; and RCIA - Elva Garcia, 827-6352

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – A special thanks to all our volunteers who participated in our Vacation Bible School. We had a fun and educational week. Thanks also to parents for your support and cooperation. Your children were wonderful. Thanks to all on behalf of Sr. Dympna.

Registration for all grades K to Confirmation will be held on August 15, 22, 29 and all weekdays during business hours. Cost is $55 for one child and $25 for each child thereafter. This cost is for the whole year. Classes will meet on Sundays.

Are you interested in becoming an Altar Server? Are you 9 to 18 years old? Have you received First Holy Communion? Do you attend mass regularly? We will be hosting Altar Server training on Saturday, July 10, from 10:00 am until 1:30 pm at the church. If you are interested in attending, contact Celia Rios via email at stdominicsre@yahoo.com or by phone at 435-6211.

RCIC classes for children 7 and older who are not baptized will register on the same Sundays.

Adults who want to be baptized, receive first Eucharist and Confirmation can also register on these Sundays. Their classes will be on Wednesdays 7 -9 p.m. beginning after Sept. 8th. Call Sr. Dympna for further information. 435-6211.

Youth Ministries
If you have any question please call the church office at 435-6211 and ask for Silvia Hagen, our Youth Director, or call 647- 4557 (cell). You can also send an email to silviae_hagen@yahoo.com.

Please keep our youth in your prayers as they participate in the Teen Youth Acts Retreat for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors scheduled from Thursday, July 15, to Sunday, July 18, at the Cordi-Marian Retreat Center. The cost is $150.00. The Young Adult Retreat, for those 18-25years old, will be in Cordi-Marian retreat Center on August 5th-August 8^th. If you would like more information please contact Silvia Hagen, Youth Ministry Director, at (210)435-6211 or by e-mail silviae_hagen@yahoo.com 

Rosary, Scripture and Prayer Groups
Spanish Mass – Join us for Spanish Mass at St. Dominic every Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Come and support our effort! Come to the highest form of prayer-the Mass-and come to praise and worship Jesus!

Monday Afternoon Scripture Study with Deacon Scott, Church basement, 1-2 p.m. Contact Deacon Scott Imburgia 434-8834

Monday Night Rosary Group - Every Monday of the year, Church Building, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., All parishioners are invited to come and say the rosary for our church, our community, and our families.; Contact Jim Martinez 684-0898

Monday Night Spanish Rosary Group - Every Monday of the year, Church Building, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All parishioners are invited to come and say the rosary for our church, our community, and our families. Contact Vera Mendez for more information.

Wednesday Night Holy Hour – Every Wednesday Night @ 7pm in the Chapel. An Hour of Reparation. All are welcome. Contact Johnny E. Rodriguez for more information.

Adoration Hour and Healing Service immediately after Sunday 7:00 p.m. Mass. Parishioners are encouraged to attend a weekend Mass and then attend the Healing Service, and to have gone to reconciliation previous to asking for a physical or spiritual healing. Contact Ray Gonzales 885-0636

Friday Night Charismatic Prayer Group Every Friday of the year, Church Building, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. to praise and worship our Lord Jesus Christ. Contact Estella Flores 681-3817.

Adoration Chapel, Open every Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you would like to commit to spending an hour a week in adoration, please contact Irma Avila 436-8341.

Alliance of the Two Hearts hosts an all night vigil every first Friday of the month. The group also does "Home Enthronement" for anyone who wants to have his/her home enthroned. Please call George Haloot 216-9220.

ST. DOMINIC Ministries
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will have its monthly general meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 6:30 pm in Portables 3 & 4.  All members are urged to attend!  Also, make note of our new location:  Lobby of the old Church - the new Community Center.  Days and hours of operation remain the same.  If anyone knows of someone in need of food, clothing, furniture, utility assistance or rent help, please refer them to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. For more information contact Margarita Guillen at 435-6211.

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Homebound Ministers Needed! - Are you currently a Eucharistic Minister? Do you have time to take the Body of Christ to parishioners who are unable to leave their resident for short or long term? If the answer is yes, then please come and serve.

Homebound minister visits are an opportunity to make God's presence immediate and real to the homebound person through prayer and the reception of Communion. Praying with another person can be a very powerful means of sharing our relationship with God and bringing His real presence to the homebound. This prayer may take the form of praise, thanksgiving, petition for needs, and opportunity to express feelings. Whatever the need, the minister can be a caring partner in prayer. These visits are arranged at the mutual convenience of the homebound person and the visiting minister. Interested? Contact Margie or Jesse Escobedo @ 684-1582.
 
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ACTS CORE - for more information, contact Gizmo Gonzalez 394-5194

St Dominic's ACTS Retreat Dates 2010
--October 14-17, a retreat for Men will be presented in Spanish. Fernando Sanchez is the Director.

St Dominic's ACTS Retreat Dates 2011
--Feb 17-20, 2011   Women’s Spanish
--Jun 16-19, 2011   Women’s English
--Oct 13-16, 2011   Men’s English
More info on ACTS Retreats can be found at http://www.stdominicsa.org/ministries/acts/

Every so often I get contacted because the caller needs to get someone on an ACTS Retreat weekend. I usually tell the caller the date of the next retreat we are having at St Dominic's. But often, the need is more immediate. So I refer the caller to the ACTS Missions website of www.actsmissions.org -- because located on their home page is a link to a listing of all upcoming retreats. At this time, I'd like to share this information with our St Dominic's community.

Also want to make the community aware of an upcoming 2010 ACTS Conference sponsored by ACTS Missions. Dates will be October 21–24, 2010 at the Oblate Renewal Center. This is billed as a very special opportunity to explore living in the new reality after your ACTS Retreat experience. The Conference is open to anyone who has attended an ACTS Retreat and there will be sessions in Spanish as well as sessions for Teens and Adults. Please check the ACTS Missions website for more information.

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COVENANT OF LOVE - All married and engaged couples are invited to an evening of marriage enrichment and education. Come reinforce your marriage through God’s teachings. We had 30 couples participating in our June monthly meeting. Our next meeting will be on July 9, from 7 pm to 9 pm in the Basement. This month's topic is God's Plan for Marriage in the Beginning.    Please RSVP for free childcare. For more information and to RSVP, contact Anna & Juan De La Fuente at 680-5378 or Annadf@satx.rr.com.

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Get involved and help build our ST. DOMINIC community.

St. Dominic CYO Upcoming Activities - For more information about CYO contact Jesse Escobedo at chewyamarg@yahoo.com, 684-1582

Congratulations to the new St. Dominic CYO officers who will begin to serve effective August 1st 2010.
President- Johnny Rios
Vice President- Pedro Moncada
Treasurer- Stephany Perez
Secretary- Crystal Ruiz
Parish Minister- Sylvia Hagen
Asst. Parish Minister- Denise Barrera
Athletic Director- James Ponce
Field Coordinator- Gary Crayton
Registrar- Lety Moncada
Asst. Registrar- Tracy Gonzalez

CYO will be having End of Season Celebration @ St. Dominic's Baseball Fields/Concession Saturday July 10th from 11am-2pm. Come celebrate a wonderful season the children have had! There will be snacks/refreshments for all!
For those of you interested in registering your child for fall sports for Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball, here is the upcoming registration schedule. Please note that it is $65.00 registration per child.
- Sat July 10th from 11am-2pm
- Sun July 11 from 1pm-3pm
- Wed July 14th from 5pm-7pm
- Sun July 25th from 1pm-4pm
- Fri July 30th from 5pm-7pm

Congrats to these two teams and all their hard work! Coach James Ponce's team made it to zone playoffs! Coach Mary Rocha's team made it to City playoffs! Also, CYO had an excellent Baseball Season and can't wait till the start of Fall Sports!

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St. Dominic’s 4th Annual Casino Night – A special thank you to Sonia Isaac and her committee for the very successful Casino Night. Also to all the volunteers who helped out that evening. Nearly 270 people enjoyed an evening of gaming, silent and live auctions, and just good fellowship. Thanks to everyone’s support, we were able to raise $12,400 in profit towards the building fund. We look forward to next year’s event in the Spring.

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The Community Center is in need of volunteers to paint 12 exterior doors. Anyone willing to lend a hand for the restoration of our new hall can show up Saturday, July 10th @ 8:a.m. Please consider this worthy cause!! Contact Henry Ornelas @435-1173 or 378-3278 or Ray Gonzales 885-0636 or 435-6211 for further info. We have the paint and the brushes-we need the hands and feet of our good brothers and sisters. God bless!!!

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Hospitality Committee - We have established a new committee to develop a welcome package and host receptions for our new parishioners. We will be in contact with all the ministries to request the information for this package. If you are the point of contact for a ministry or organization, please submit your name, phone number and e-mail address to Lupie Padilla at lupie@sbcglobal.net or contact me at the office during office hours. 

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The St. Peter’s Early Childhood Program for 3 and 4 year olds will start in our parish beginning August 7^th. Registrations are being accepted over the summer. For more information, please email Ms. Barbara J. Bibb, Satellite Director, at barbarajbibb@yahoo.com or call the school at 824-3171.

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Miracle-Ear Program will be conducting FREE services in our Community Center. Services will include hearing tests, video check of ear canals, and they will check and clean ALL brands of hearing aids. Starting June 16th, Miracle Ear will be at St. Dominic every Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, please call 655-0500.

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The Knights of Columbus St. Dominic Council#7323 is proud to announce their new officers for the coming year

 Grand Knight - Brother Fred Wolf
Deputy Grand Knight - Brother Butch Rodriguez
Treasurer- Brother Henry Sanchez
Financial Officer- Brother Arnold Escobar
Chancellor-Brother Jim Martinez
Recorder-Brother Tom Van Dewalle
Advocate-Brother Victor Delacruz
Warden-Brother Bill Benavides
Inside Guard-Brother Cruz Oliva
Outside Guard-Brother Frank Sanchez
First Year Trustee-Brother Manuel Pena
Second Year Trustee-Brother Ray Gonzales
Third Year Trustee-Brother Cirilo Pastrano
 
Please continue to support the Knights of Columbus!!! Anyone interested in joining the Knights please contact any Knight member or Ray Gonzales or Rick Alarcon.

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Make plans to attend the annual Altar Society Tea Party scheduled for July 21^st in the St. Dominic Community Center. The Tea Party will be from 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m., and tickets are $10 per person. Make sure and save the date for this fun event. For more information about the Altar Society and its upcoming events, please contact Belen Alvarado at 210-999-1510 or Mary Ann Ortiz at 210-957-2141.

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ST. DOMINIC BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT: Congratulations and many thanks to Bobby Casas, Orlando Solis, and their committee for a very successful tournament. Everyone had a great time! Great golfing, great food and great fellowship! The funds raised from this event were $6,056.00. Special thanks to all those who participated. Looking forward to seeing you next year.

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The Guadalupanos Society will be hosting a Fashion Show Luncheon Fundraiser on Saturday, July 10 at 12 noon in the St. Dominic Community Center. Tickets are $15. For information, please call Mary Frances Huron (682-9084 or 421-0672), Jovita Gonzales (434-3494 or 413-7848), or Lydia Medellin (431-0611 or 685-1842).

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The Fund Raising Committee is now working on this year’s End of Summer Dance which will be held on August 27, 2010. It is shaping up to be a grand event and everyone is looking forward having this year’s dance at the new Community Center. Please look for announcements on tickets and how you can help.

We also ask that everyone to save October 23th for our annual Festival. Our Festival plans are under way and it is shaping up to be another successful and exciting event prior to the upcoming holiday season. The Festival will be on the St. Dominic grounds, making it more accessible to our local community.

As always the Fund Raising Committee welcomes all visitors to our meetings. Meetings are held on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Please contact Lila Prince at 210-219-8699 for detail on how to join the St Dominic Fund Raising Committee. Thanks and God Bless.

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Parish Office Hours and Website
St. Dominic Parish Office (210) 435-6211, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Also visit our website: www.stdominicsa.org for more information about St. Dominic, to update your contact information and to learn about the many activities and programs.

Option to remove from distribution list - If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, please respond to this message and let us know. We would be glad to make the necessary changes.