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NEWSLETTER
February, 2003
Texas Mission Council in Action
“We are members of the one Body of Christ, a ‘family in mission’”, said Father John E.
Kozar, Keynote Speaker at the 11th Annual Texas Mission Conference, sponsored by the Texas Mission Council. The Conference, that was held January 27 - 29 at Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, was called to order by the Council’s President, Sister Nancy Sullivan, Director of Mission Awareness for the Diocese of Dallas.
Most Reverend Joe Vasquez, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, welcomed the attendees who came from as far away as Washington, DC, Alabama and Illinois.
The Keynote Address, “The Church in the 21st Century”, was presented by Father John E.
Kozar. Father Kozar was named the National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in January 2001. Ordained in 1971, Father
Kozar, as a seminarian, worked in a Peru mission on a summer assignment, and has been closely connected with the Pittsburgh Diocese’s mission in Peru for many years. Through the offerings of Catholics worldwide, the Propagation of the Faith provides ongoing support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Catholic Church in Africa, Asia, the islands of the Pacific and remote regions in Latin America. Father Kozar spoke of the “heroes” of the missions, those who do incredible things for Christ, even to the point of offering their bodies as martyrs.
 Most missionary “heroes” may not do miraculous things and will never be written about in a book, but over a period of time and presence they have made a significant difference in the lives of many poor and needy souls at home and abroad. Some of these missionary “heroes” have been doing this labor of love for so long that nobody remembers otherwise. Their presence over two or three generations has brought a consistent message of joy, peace and hope. They truly have built up the Body of Christ in their role a missionaries.
The Holy Eucharist was concelebrated by Most Reverend Vincent Rizzotto, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Monsignor Thomas Davis from the Diocese of Laredo, Father Roger Hawes from the Diocese of Victoria, Father Rafael Davila,
M.M. from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers,  Father John R. Whitley,
C.S.B. from the Basilian Fathers Missions, with Deacon Bill Scott from the Diocese of Austin and Deacon Ruben Natera from the Diocese of Tyler assisting.
Sister Felicia Agibi spoke about the missionary works of The Handmaids of the Child Jesus in Africa. Father Chacko Puthumayil from St. Laurence Parish in Sugar Land, Texas, addressed missions and the plight of the poor in Asia, and Father Paul English,
C.S.B., of St. Anne Church in Houston, Texas, spoke about mission activities and Parish twinning in the Americas. Mrs. Rose Pickard described the works of the Rosary Priest of Mexico Ministry. Mr. Yewell Cox, United Methodist Church, San Antonio, TX, spoke about the works of the Ecumenical Medical Missions; Mrs. Awanda Whitworth spoke about her experiences with Parish Twinning; Sister Felicia Agibi explored How to Practice Christian and Islamic Religions Side by Side; Rev. Ed
Schoellmann, M.M. described mission experiences in Russia; and, Mr. Larry Boudreau gave a view of Short Term Mission Orientation.
Photos
(Click the thumbnails below to enlarge or click here to view a
slideshow.)
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