April 2008 - News Letter It has been several months since my last ‘update’ newsletter was placed on our website.  There are several reasons for this, but the main one is that after six years of prayers, planning and fund raising, we are finally in our new ‘church home’!  “Praise God from who all good things flow”! You can surf our web site and click in the link for some pictures of the new facility and the dedication ceremony. I think you will be impressed with the accomplishments of this small but determined community. On December 21, 2007, with Archbishop Jose H, Gomez and a host of priests of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the faithful of the parish and many other guests, our worship space was consecrated with the Chrism of Salvation, setting this place aside for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and the Sacraments of the Church.  It was a moment to behold for all of us who had traveled from three different school cafeterias to our own worship space. We had worked long and hard to design a space that would be both functional to serve our needs as we continue to grow in parish population; to meet our spiritual, educational and recreational needs.  We needed to assure our parish family and those who would chose to become a parish member that when they walked into this new building they would find a spiritually ascetical and Catholic atmosphere in our worship space.  We worked to make this temporary worship space more than just a ‘space’ to hold us over until we generate the funds to build the Shrine.  We wanted this to be and contain all the ‘Catholic liturgical ingredients, if you will, that would make ever parishioner and visitor feel they were in a ‘cathedral like setting’.  No, it is not a cathedral, but I dare say, in a spirit of true humility, it is not a ‘box with windows’ and a few things thrown in to hopefully reflect that ‘Catholic presence’ one would expect.  It has a ‘flavor’ in its colors and liturgical furnishings that will leave one in ‘awe’.  Let me share with you what I mean by this.      All the marble appointments are a gift from the Sister of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio.  The main altar, the pulpit, the holy water fonts are over 101 years old.  The Italian marble for the altar alone is valued at $650,000.00!  These pieces were being stored in the basement of the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, and were literally in hundreds of pieces resting quietly after serving all those years.  There was not ‘catch’ to the donation.  I was invited to visit and look at this ‘jumbled pile’ of marble artifacts, and if I liked what I saw, then it was ours ‘for the taking’!   Needless to say, I gave a resounding ‘yes’!  Now, the next challenge was to transport and reassemble this mass of ‘liturgical wealth’!  It was under the careful guidance of Rolf Rohn of Rohn and Associates that this altar and all the other liturgical appointments ‘came back to life’!  This man is a ‘genius’ as a liturgical consultant, whose vision is to follow and implement the guidelines of the USCCB in liturgical design.  I stand ever grateful to him for ‘picking up the pieces’ and making it happen!  You will be in awe with the main altar, which houses a relic of Padre Pio in the center portion of the altar that is visible to all. In addition to the mentioned appointments there was enough marble to construct an altar for our day chapel, a pulpit and credence table, alone with a marble backdrop with a tabernacle for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.  This chapel holds 42 persons and is used for Eucharistic Adoration beginning after morning mass and ending around 10:00 PM each evening. This chapel, like the main worship space is liturgically appointed with everything one could imagine to find in a permanent church, yes, even Stations of the Cross. Let me briefly share some thoughts about our worship space.  It seats 750 comfortably.  We have chairs with kneelers as this is only a temporary facility.  The crucifix was designed and constructed in Mexico, which is the central focal point that catches the eye as you enter.  Directly below is the tabernacle, a gift of our children.  There are Stations of the Cross that were made in Spain that surround the entire worship space.  We have two statues in place in each corner of the space.  The choir is off to the right side of the altar, with an elevated stand.  In the center back of the worship space is a projection/sound booth.  In the front of the space, on either side of the altar are large drop down screens upon which the songs are projected.  One thing we have learned from this is there is no need for hymnals, song sheets, etc. as all one has to do is follow the ‘bouncing ball’, if you will. Participation in liturgical singing has increased dramatically, believe it or not.  We pride ourselves on the most ‘up-to-the-date- sound system which delivers the ‘state of the arts’ sound that reaches out to every square inch of the worship space.  Behind the main altar is a large working sacristy for the volunteers who help maintain the liturgical environment.  Parallel to that on the opposite side of the altar is a large storage area where items can be stored that are needed throughout the liturgical year. The remainder of the building consists of a large vesting sacristy, a large gathering space or narthex, four ‘fixed’ classrooms, and another section that can be divided into three classrooms, one of which has a full kitchen.  This combined area, when open can easily accommodate over 100 people seated for a meal. The last ‘classroom space’ is the day chapel. The exterior of the building is ‘Italian in architectural appearance’ with vibrant yet soothing colors that would fit into any Italian community.  All this is placed on our 29 acre plot of land that has the potential to serve us for our entire master plan, which includes the Shrine, school, day care center, and other components that should serve this growing segment of San Antonio for years to come.  We are located in the northeast part of San Antonio off 1604 and Bulverde Road.  You can find our location on MapQuest. The address is 3843 Bulverde Parkway.  Please feel free to contact us at 210-481-2576 for more information. I, along with the parishioners, invite you to come and visit us.  We have two masses on Sunday, 8:30 and 10:30 AM.  Beginning June 7, we will begin a Saturday evening mass at 4:30 PM.  Confessions will be heard from 3:30-4:15 PM on Saturday in the day chapel.  It is under the spiritual guidance of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina that we have journeyed from our humble beginnings consisting of folding chairs, a moveable altar and transported liturgical items to our new worship space.  It is like going to sleep one night with a ‘big dream’ in your heart, and waking up one day, and there it is!    Well, it is here!  Come and see what we are all about. God bless you! Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale Pastor

Mission Statement The mission statement of the Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church is to minister to the parishioners by fostering the Gospel through word and deed, fostering life through sacramental enrichment and educational activities, and ministering to one another in charity and compassion.  As a shrine in honor of St. Padre Pio, the parish community will provide a prayerful and peaceful site where visitors from the San Antonio community and across the country and the world can experience God's saving and healing power, celebrate God's loving presence, and pray to St. Padre Pio to intercede on their behalf.          Vision Statement   The Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church aspires to become a parish community recognized for its compassionate service to one another, its belief in the intercessory power of St. Padre Pio, and a destination for pilgrims worldwide seeking a place of healing and comfort in their lives.