Archbishop to share his experiences from recent Vatican synod on the New Evangelization

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, of San Antonio, one of four U.S. representatives selected to attend the recent Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelization held at the Vatican, will discuss his experiences from his three weeks in Rome during the keynote address entitled “The New Evangelization A Spirituality of Communion” at the Diocese of Corpus Christi Ministry Conference on Jan. 12 at the American Bank Center.

The conference will open at 8 a.m. with Mass at the American Center and run through 4:30 p.m. The pre-registration period is over, but those wishing to attend can register at the door for a $40 registration fee.

In October comments at the Pope Paul VI Hall before Pope Benedict XVI and more than 250 prelates from across the globe, the archbishop invited the bishops to request from the Holy Father that he consecrate the world to the Holy Spirit.

“We live in a world with its great values, its amazing technological advances, incredible conquests and discoveries within different fields of knowledge.  But it is also a world wounded by violence, alarmed by economic crises in various countries, marked by ecological deterioration,” the Archbishop said. “It is a world where many persons have to emigrate, a world in which youth struggle to find a place, a world that has banished God and that, as a consequence of this, finds the meaning of life questioned and the future seemingly hopeless. This world reality is calling for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”

As the Council stated, we are a Church “holy but at the same time in need of constant purification,” he said. “We are a Church which has given witness to Christ in many countries and has proclaimed the Gospel and has offered generous charitable service to the poorest. But our darkest side is ‘the grey pragmatism of daily life in the Church in which, apparently, everything proceeds normally, but in reality faith is deteriorating and degenerating in pettiness.’ This world reality is calling for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”

Archbishop Gustavo, as he prefers to be called, acknowledged that the New Evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith is a huge challenge for the Church, for each baptized person. Quoting from the Gospel of Mark, the archbishop said, “Jesus Christ has sent us to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation,” and from Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi, “Evangelization will never be possible without the action of the Holy Spirit.”

“In order that Jesus Christ’s salvation may reach the whole world and transform it, in order that the Church may be renewed and holiness may flourish in it, in order that we, Christians, go forward with the New Evangelization, we need a new Pentecost,” the archbishop said. “In order that this Year of Faith yields the new Pentecost that we need, I will therefore propose to the bishops that the synod humbly ask the Holy Father to consecrate the world to the Holy Spirit.”

Archbishop Gustavo was named prelate of San Antonio by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 14, 2010, and installed on Nov. 23, 2010. He succeeded Archbishop José H. Gomez as the sixth archbishop of San Antonio. Pope John Paul II originally appointed Archbishop Gustavo an auxiliary bishop of the Chicago Archdiocese in 2003.

Archbishop Gustavo was born Dec. 21, 1956 in San Luis Potosi S.L.P, Mexico, the eldest of 15 children. He grew up sweeping floors and washing windows, among other responsibilities, in the family furniture store until he was 16.

The archbishop received his formator certificate from Escuela de Verano Para Formadores. He earned master’s degrees in theology and divinity from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif., and received his master’s degree in philosophy from Instituto de Filosofia in Guadalajara, Mexico. The archbishop also attended ITESO, a Jesuit university in Guadalajara, where he earned a master’s degree in psychology.

In 1975, Archbishop Gustavo professed as a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. He was sent to the United States by his order in 1980, where he worked closely with the immigrant community. He was ordained a priest on June 22, 1984, in Guadalajara.

His 28 years of priestly service has taken many forms, including ministering to communities with varied cultural backgrounds. While in California he served in Fresno and at three parishes in the Los Angeles area. He also worked in Oregon for three years. Through those years he gave parish missions to Catholic communities throughout the United States.

Much of the archbishop’s work with his order involved the formation of the men of his religious community. From 1978 to 1980 he taught at INUMYC Minor Seminary in Guadalajara and at the Instituto de Filosofia, where he served as an instructor and formator from 1988 to 1990. He also was rector of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in Lynwood and Long Beach, Calif., from 1990-1996, and held that same position at Mount Angel in Oregon from 1996~1999.

Other speakers at the conference include Robert Nathan Feduccia, Jr. who will present talks on “The New Evangelization” and “A Year of Faith in an Era of Doubt;” Dr. Jaime Padro who will speak on “Church Documents for a Spirituality of Communion” and “Developing a Profound Spirituality of Communion;” Luis Soto will address “Stewardship & Evangelization:  Ministering to Hispanics in the Third Millennium;” and Sister Rose Paul Madassery, SABS will discuss “The Mother Teresa Shelter–Something Beautiful for God.”

Also presenting workshops are Carrie Chavez Thompson on “The Journey to Christ–A Migration of the Heart;” Father Paul Rutten will have two presentations on “Creating the Culture of Vocations” and “Understanding the Call;” and Father Phil Hurley, SJ will speak on “Practical Methods of Daily Prayer.”

This year the Ministry Conference will have a special “youth track” that will feature Archbishop Gustavo, Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, Feduccia on “Spirit & Song” and former NFL player Chris Horn.  

(Alfredo E. Cardenas contributed to this article)