A man who brings hope

In March 2007, Father Roy Jacob Kalayil—newly arrived from India—saw Tony Melendez perform at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi at the 3rd Annual New Springtime of Catholic Evangelization Lenten Family Conference and was overwhelmed by Melendez’s performance.

Melendez has that effect on people. 

A thalidomide baby born without hands, he played for Blessed John Paul II in September 1987, prompting the pope to rise to his feet, jump off the stage and kiss the performer on the forehead. 

“Tony, go on and do your music and give hope to all,” the Holy Father said to him. 

Fast-forward to 2012 and St. Mary Star of the Sea church in Aransas Pass. Father Kalayil was recounting his experience at seeing Melendez, wowing the crowd at the conference. “He is a man who brings hope,” Father Kalayil said that Sunday morning in his homily.

In the congregation sat a friend of Melendez’s who communicated to the singer the priest’s admiration, and voilà  Melendez is on his way to Aransas Pass for an Aug. 5 concert at the Aransas Pass Shrimporee grounds. 

Father Kalayil said the event has earned the support of the entire community and has brought together people of all faiths. “It is a great gift of Catholics to the city,” Father Kalayil said.

Indeed, Catholics have been giving to the community since its earliest days. By 1899 there was a Catholic Church presence in Aransas Harbor with priests coming from Skidmore. With the development of the city of Aransas Pass as a railroad terminal in 1912, St. Mary Star of the Sea served as a mission to Sacred Heart in Rockport. 

St. Mary Star of the Sea carried forth the name of the then defunct Stella Maris Church in Lamar. The town itself, most likely, got its name from Our Lady of Aranzazu in the Basque region of Spain and a wellspring of the Franciscan missionaries that brought Christianity to Texas. 

In 1915, Father J. C. Dubourgel was celebrating Mass on the second Sunday of each month. By 1919, 25 communicants were attending church in the town and two years later a new sanctuary was built. Soon after, Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina approved for an extra Mass to be celebrated “during the height of the fishing season.” In 1923, Father Francis Gruber reported a cordial arrangement with the people although he was also dealing with threats from the Ku Klux Klan. 

It was not until 1948, however, that St. Mary Star of the Sea was elevated to a parish with Father Charles Ordner as the first resident pastor. The small wooden church built in 1921 was no longer suitable for the growing congregation and, after a fund raising drive—spearheaded by the new pastor Father Damian Hayes—the current church and rectory were completed in 1950. The new church was dedicated March 25, 1953.

Father James Hamilton, who became pastor in 1974, began the religious educational reforms of the Second Vatican Council. He also brought the Cursillo movement to St. Mary’s and organized a Spanish charismatic prayer group.  In 1978, St. Mary added a Church Center, which combined a parish hall and classrooms.

St. Mary’s continued a steady growth and today has some 500 registered families. The parish also continues to grow spiritually and in the participation in the more than two-dozen parish ministries. “All ministries are going very well,” Father Kalayil said.

In the current hard economic times, the parish’s Angels of Mother Teresa operate a food bank that distributes food every month to about 45 families. “The Angels of Mother Teresa help whoever needs help. Even though we are in a very big debt, we help if the need is genuine,” Father Kalayil said.

“These people are wonderful; they are ready to go on a moment’s notice. They deliver food to some homes. We will give food at any time but we will not give money or help with other expenses unless we know them and the need is genuine,” Father Kalayil said.

The pastor credits the Diocese Office of Parish Stewardship with the ongoing renewal in the parish. The Stewardship Office first helped the parish implement a stewardship of prayer. The people understood the focus of stewardship and responded with enthusiasm, Father Kalayil said. There was an increase in Mass attendance and at the adoration chapel. 

“People realized they have a greater duty and responsibility than just coming to Mass,” Father Kalayil said.  “Through the stewardship of talent, people are ready to do any kind of work for the parish. I haven’t paid for plumbing, electrical work, painting or anything because people offer their talents.” 

The next step in the stewardship campaign is the stewardship of treasure. The parish will begin its Legacy of Faith ~ Future of Hope campaign in September, which it hopes will help with much needed repairs to the physical plant. All buildings are in need of some form of maintenance. The annual parish festival scheduled for Oct. 14 will also help meet the parish’s financial needs.

The Melendez concert is a big part of this effort. Father Kalayil hopes that the concert will raise sufficient funds to retire the parish debt. Already some 2,500 tickets are out and the parish hopes to double that amount by the time gates open at 3 p.m. on Aug. 5. General admission tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.stmaryss.org. Reserved seating is available for $50 but can only be purchased at the parish office. For more information on the concert, visit the parish Web site or call the parish office at (361) 758-2662. 

“All the city is excited,” Father Kalayil said, “not because it’s a fund raising program; they see him as a man who brings hope.”