St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church

Ministries

Get involved in our ministries at St. Philip of Jesus!

FAITH FORMATION (religious education)

ACTS Retreats

ACTS retreats have become very popular throughout San Antonio since they started in 1987. The retreats generally start on a Thursday evening and go until Sunday morning Mass. The retreats involve talks, testimonies, small group discussions, praise and worship music, other prayer services, and various activities.

The four themes of the retreat are Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service (ACTS). Retreats are single-sex. Many men and women who were initially reluctant to attend the retreat have their lives changed by the experience. Many are so excited they volunteer to serve on team for the next retreat.

For more information, talk with Michael Martinez or leave a message for him at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Bible Study [not meeting right now]

How familiar are you with the Bible? St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” In this ministry, participants listen to a presentation about a particular passage or chapter of the Bible and have the opportunity to ask questions. Then they discuss the meaning of the passage and how it applies to their lives.

For more information, talk with Tony Muñoz or leave a message for him at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Grupo de Oración

This is a Spanish-speaking prayer group which meets on Thursday evenings in the church from 7pm to 9pm. They praise and worship God, pray the Rosary, and share praise reports about what God has done in their lives.

For more information, talk with Deacon Hector Sandoval or his wife Sandra or leave them a message at the parish office (210-226-5024).

For more information, talk with Tony Muñoz or leave a message for him at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Catechists

Catechists teach the faith to children, teenagers, or adults. They lead CCD classes, Confirmation classes, RCIA sessions, Vacation Bible School, and various retreats. St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?” If you like learning about your faith and discussing it with others, this ministry might be for you.

For more information, contact Mary Toscano at (210) 226-5024 or religiouseducation@stphilipofjesus.org.

Peers

Peers are teenagers who have already been confirmed. They meet together during the academic year to learn more about the faith and to perform various acts of service for the parish. Many of the Peers serve each year on team for the Confirmation retreat. The retreat is a powerful experience for many of the teenagers, both retreatants and team members.

Marriage Ministry

Could your marriage use some improvement, or would you and your spouse like to grow deeper in your faith while interacting with other couples? The marriage ministry hosts meetings and retreats for couples a few times a year.

For more information, talk with Maria Elena Cepeda or leave her a message at the parish office (210-226-5024).

SERVICE

Homebound

If you or a loved one is unable to leave home and would like to receive Communion or anointing of the sick, please talk with Fr. Sean or one of the deacons. You can leave a message for them at the parish office (210-226-5024).

COPS/Metro

COPS/Metro is a partnership of local churches that engages in community organizing. Members promote justice in the city of San Antonio and advocate especially for the material needs of their neighborhoods.

COPS/Metro is a member of the Industrial Areas Foundation.

If you would like more information, please talk with Rose Araujo Iracheta or leave her a message at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Social Concerns Committee

The Social Concerns Committee meets when there is a strong need to discuss issues affecting our parish and/or neighborhood.

For more information, talk with Ana Maria de la Portilla or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

St. Vincent de Paul

The St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) is a national organization with a chapter at our parish. The SVdP volunteers give away free food to those in need on Thursdays from 12pm to 2pm. They operate out of a parish building next to the hall.

For more information, talk with Josie Ramirez or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

LITURGICAL (during Mass)

Altar Servers

Altar servers are children who serve during the Mass. They carry the cross, hold the book for the priest, help the deacon to prepare the altar, and ring the bells during the consecration.

If your son or daughter is willing to serve, please talk with Mimi Casas or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Choirs

The choirs lead music during Mass. They play instruments and sing in order to guide the congregation in the singing of hymns and the parts of the Mass. If you would like to get involved, please approach one of the choir members after Mass.

Deacons

Deacons are married men who are also clergy. They receive the sacrament of Holy Orders like priests do. This means they are ordained, no longer lay people.

The sacrament of Holy Orders can be received three times:

If a man receives the sacrament once, he is a deacon.
If a man receives the sacrament twice, he is a priest.
If a man receives the sacrament three times, he is a bishop.

Deacons have several roles at a parish:
During Mass: Deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach homilies, prepare the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and distribute Holy Communion.
Outside of Mass: Deacons celebrate baptisms, witness weddings, lead Rosaries/Wakes for the deceased as well as the prayers at the cemetery, expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament for Eucharist Adoration, bring Holy Communion to the homebound, and teach the faith.

If you are open to the possibility of becoming a deacon, please talk to Fr. Sean or one of our deacons:

Deacon Gilbert de la Portilla
Deacon Héctor Sandoval
Deacon José Sanchez (retired)

Lectors

Lectors proclaim the readings, lead the praying of the Responsorial Psalm, and make announcements at the beginning and end of Mass. The word lector means reader.

If you would like to become a lector, please talk with Gloria Doubleday or leave her a message at the parish office (210-226-5024).

TEMPORALITIES/ENVIRONMENT

Altar Society

The Altar Society makes sure that our church looks beautiful and never runs out of supplies. The members wash the linens of the church, clean the sanctuary, provide flowers on special occasions, decorate for the changing of liturgical seasons, and pay for the bread, the wine, and the candles. The Altar Society conducts fundraisers a few times a year to pay for the supplies that the church needs.

If you would like to get involved, please talk with Lupe Hernandez or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Money Counters

The money counters count money. Pretty straightforward. The collections from the Masses have to be counted before they can be deposited in the parish’s bank account.

Each weekend, the Mass collections are stored in a safe in the church. The church is guarded by an alarm system for this reason.

During the week, one volunteer and one staff member open the safe together, then transport the money to the parish office where it is counted in the open, NOT behind a closed door.

There are always at least two, preferably three people counting money together. These people are not allowed to be related to each other by blood or marriage. All money counters are volunteers. The parish staff, including Fr. Sean, does NOT count money.

Once the money is counted and the counters have verified each other’s counts, one volunteer and one staff member drive to the bank together to make the deposit.

These and other safeguards exist to minimize the possibility of theft.

Yardwork

Periodically, the parish grounds need some extra help. Volunteers cut grass and weeds and dispose of any debris or trash. If you would like to help, please talk with Rose Araujo Iracheta or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

FELLOWSHIP

Seniors

The Seniors meet weekly to discuss a topic about the faith and to share a snack and coffee. They usually pray the Rosary together and sometimes sing a few songs.

For more information, talk with Carmen Zapata or leave a message for her at the parish office (210-226-5024).

Social Club - info coming soon

Info coming soon.

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St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church
142 E Lambert St, San Antonio, TX 78204
(210) 226-5024

Website Created By MoJazz Design.