Church of the Blessed Sacrament: Ministries

Ministries

Altar Server

More young women and men are needed in our Altar Server Ministry. Servers must be attend Mass regularly and have received their First Communion. If you are interested in participating in this wonderful role at Mass please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

Altar Society

The Altar Society welcomes all women of the parish to join us in our ministry of service. The Altar Society’s work is quiet and behind the scenes, overseeing the reverent care of the altar and maintaining the plants and flower arrangements that grace the sides of the tabernacle. Nothing can compare to the beauty of God’s presence, but we would like to ensure that His dwelling place is maintained with the greatest dignity, honor, and respect that we can offer. The Altar Society welcomes your assistance and support. If you would like to serve Our Lord and your parish with the Altar Society please join us by contacting Lydia Rodriguez at 210-274-8357.

Baptism Preparation

Parents wishing to baptize their child must be registered parishioners or live within the parish boundaries. Visit our Baptism page to learn more. Please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231 to schedule an appointment.

Eucharistic Adoration

Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Come and see what a blessing it is to visit with our Lord and Savior for an hour each week in our private chapel. Remember Christ's words to the apostles at Gethsemane, "Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?"

Eucharistic Ministers

Eucharistic Ministers are a group of lay men and women who assist the priest with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. If you are interested in participating in this ministry please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

Finance Council

An active, well-formed Parish Finance Council is a key element for promoting the financial health of a parish, assuring accountability and good stewardship of all parish goods.

The Parish Finance Council generally meets once a month to address the most pressing financial and temporal matters facing the parish. The Council also addresses future needs and provides recommendations on how best those needs can be met.

Qualifications for becoming a member of the Parish Finance Council are based on a willingness to act in the best interest of the Parish. Certain professional skills or expertise in management, finance, business, law, accounting, engineering, purchasing, construction, maintenance, and/or communications is preferable.

To be considered for a seat on the Parish Finance Council, please contact Robert Esparza via email at resparza@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

Flower Memorial

If you would like to donate flowers for the Altar in memory of a loved one or in honor of a birthday or anniversary, please call Josephine Perales at 210-288-7333.

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry provides aid to those in need who reside within our parish boundaries. We also refer individuals to other agencies or organizations when needed. We are sponsored by donations from the generous parishioners of Blessed Sacrament. Please call 210-502-0496 to ask how you can volunteer or donate to the Food Pantry.

Funerals

To schedule a funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament, please contact Martie Kokotajlo by calling 210-824-7231 or 210-556-6026. Our pastoral associate will work with you, your family, and your designated funeral home to prepare a celebration that truly honors the life of your loved one.

Greeters

As the initial point of contact before Mass, Greeters provide a sense of hospitality and friendliness to parishioners at all weekend Masses. If would like more information about participating in this ministry please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

Homebound Ministers

The Homebound Ministers is a group of trained and commissioned Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion that assist our pastor in bringing communion to the sick, lonely, and elderly who are either hospitalized or homebound and cannot attend Mass. If you are interested in joining this group or if you are homebound and would like someone to visit you, please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

Lectors

Proclaim God’s Word to the worshipping community during the Liturgy at Mass. If you would like to participate in this ministry please contact Tim Reznicek via email at timrez@sbcglobal.net or by calling 210-422-3677.

Lector Schedule - March April

Marriage Preparation

Couples wishing to receive the Sacrament of Marriage should make arrangements at least 6 months prior to your tenative wedding date. Please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231 to schedule an appointment.

Men's Fellowship & Faith Sharing

The Men’s Fellowship and Faith Sharing group meets on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am in the Hogan House located at 119 Shannon Lee. For more information please contact the following gentlemen:

John Dolezal 409-782-7902 jrdolezal7@aol.com

Phillip Reyes 210-313-9348 phillip.reyes.txwd@gmail.com

Music Ministry

The ministry of singing God's praises Sunday after Sunday is a most rewarding form of prayer. As St. Augustine said, "Those who sing, pray twice." We are blessed to have so many dedicated choir members and we always welcome new voices. Rehearsal times vary for each choir. If you would like to participate, please contact one of the following directors:

Music Director - Mary Ann De La Garza 12:15 Choir Director

210-824-2473 Roni Stach

mdela@blessedsacrament.church ronistach@gmail.com

10:00 am Choir Director 5:00 Life Teen Choir

Mary Jane Quintero Elizabeth Garvic

210-385-7391

monkey_2 @grandecom.net

Parish Ministry Heads Council

The Ministry Heads Council is made up of the facilitators of each liturgical and pastoral ministry. Members of the Council are tasked with discussing, discerning, and helping plan programs whereby the limited resources of the parish are used to the best advantage.

The Blessed Sacrament Ministry Heads Council arrives at decisions by consensus—a process that includes prayer, discernment, and much discussion. The Pastor and Council work in a united effort to help the parish become more responsive to the needs of the congregation.

Pro-Life Rosary

Unite as a community praying the Rosary for the sanctity of all life from conception until natural death. Please join us in praying the Rosary for the Unborn.

Quinceañeras

Families wishing to celebrate a Quinceañera should contact Rick Olivarez via email at rolivarez@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

RCIA

Rite of Christian Initiation – preparation of adult candidates for Catholic sacraments. Visit our RCIA page to learn more.

Rosary Group (English & Spanish)

The Rosary Group meets Monday - Friday evenings in the Church to pray the Rosary. The Spanish group meets at 7:00 pm. The English group meets at 8:00 pm. All are welcome to come and pray. “Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.” St. Pope John Paul II.

Sanctuary Lamp

When the Sanctuary Lamp is burning it indicates and honors the presence of Christ in the Tabernacle. A donation for the Sanctuary Lamp can be made in memory of a loved one by calling the Parish Office at 210-824-7231.

School Board

The Blessed Sacrament School Board implements the policies of the Archdiocesan School Board and establishes local policies to meet our special needs. The School Board is comprised of the Pastor, the Principal, the PTC President, and eight lay members. Blessed Sacrament School offers our children an excellent academic education combined with a strong religious education within a community of faith. Our School works to provide for the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical development of each child. For more information, please contact Blessed Sacrament School at 210-824-3381 or online at www.blessedschool.com.

Stations of the Cross

During Lent please join us for Stations of the Cross Friday evenings. English at 6:00 pm Spanish at 7:00 pm in the Church.

Ushers

Men and women who assist at the Liturgy by helping parishioners find seats, collecting donations, directing parishioners during Communion, and handing out church bulletins. For more information or to volunteer please contact Martie Kokotajlo via email at mkokotajlo@blessedsacrament.church or by calling 210-824-7231.

List of Services

Mercy always pierces evil

19 Nov, 2023

“Mercy always appeals to the goodness of each person, even though it be dormant and numbed. Far from bringing destruction, as we so often desire or want to bring about ourselves, mercy seeks to transform each situation from within. Herein lies the mystery of divine mercy. It seeks and invites us to conversion, it invites us to repentance; it invites us to see the damage being done at every level. Mercy always pierces evil in order to transform it.” — Pope Francis Reflection : Who or what has invited you to see your own goodness in the recent past? Do you tend to look for the goodness or the faults of people you interact with on a regular basis? Take a few minutes to rest in the mystery of divine mercy and allow God’s mercy to well up within you then flow through you in addressing damage in your corner of the world. This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

November 19, 2023

19 Nov, 2023

Mt 25:14-30 Jesus continues his teaching about the coming of the Son of Man. The parable of the talents is specifically concerned with the judgment, the moment the master returns to find that two of his servants have invested and doubled all he gave them while the third did nothing. So, it is in the preparation for Jesus’ return. The preparation must be constant, intense and full of fruitful action. Show us the way out of hiding to life and living focused on what is and what is to come. This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Preparing for the master’s joy

By Father Joshua J. Whitfield • 17 Nov, 2023

This parable of the talents is subject to a variety of interpretations. Some argue that it’s a parable about first-century Jews and Jewish Christians, the former (symbolized by the third servant in the story) burying the “ talents ” of Judaism, refusing to take part in the ingathering of gentiles in the advent of Christ. By this interpretation, Matthew seems to be criticizing those who failed to accept Jesus as the Christ, forfeiting thereby their part in God’s fuller saving plan. The first two servants, by contrast, didn’t hoard the treasures of Judaism, the promises and covenants; thus, they’re welcomed into the “master’s joy” (Mt 25:21-23). Whether this interpretation is accurate is something, of course, for scholars to argue. Undoubtedly, however, for those outside Matthew’s community, the parable quickly became a story about believers’ share and participation in the spread of the kingdom of God. We know that Paul had to get onto lazy believers at Thessalonica (cf. 1 Thes 5:14). We know that some may have mistakenly thought Jesus’ return was to happen so soon that they needn’t worry about much of anything, neither work nor evangelization. It’s very likely that early in the life of this parable it was read in this way: as an exhortation for believers to continue on as what Pope Francis has long called “missionary disciples” (Evangelii Gaudium, No. 120). “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,” Jesus says (Mt 28:19). The Gospel does not make idlers. That seems to be the point. Busy in the Kingdom But how should believers busy themselves in the work of the Kingdom? Perhaps this gives us a clue how to read the next parable Matthew offers. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,” the Son of man says seated on his throne (Mt 25:35). As believers, how do we invest our talents well? By living the life Jesus taught us to live — lives of joy and proclamation and service. By making sure we’re Christians in deed, as well as in word. We needn’t worry about when exactly the Lord will return. As Paul said, “You have no need for anything to be written to you” (1 Thes 5:1). That we know he will return is enough for us. If anything, we know it will be a surprise. What matters is that we realize and act as “children of the light and children of the day” and not children of darkness (1 Thes 5:4-5). And that means we continue our days as humble servants of the Lord, doing works of light even though it is at present dark. We’re to live and act as if heaven is already our reality; because, of course, in a certain sense it is. So, somewhat strangely, we are to prepare for the second coming of Christ by not thinking about it too much. Rather, we are to prepare for his coming by tending to the loves and graces — the presence of Christ — immediately present in our lives now. In the sacraments, in the word of God, in the practice of charity, works of mercy: that’s our focus. God will take care of the rest. As my football coach dad used to tell his linemen, “Take care of the man in front of you. The game will take care of itself.” That, really, is good advice for Christians too. Don’t worry too much about the history of the world or when Christ is coming back to right all the wrongs we see and experience. Instead, love and serve others here and now. Find the Christ who is close and hidden. Find the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned and lonely; find them and you will find Christ. And then when you do — or at some other mysteriously merciful point — you’ll find that your talents have increased. And you’ll know the Master’s joy. November 19, 2023 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 1 Thes 5:1-6 Mt 25:14-30 This article comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Retrieve your hidden treasure

13 Nov, 2023

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ADDRESS

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 600 Oblate Dr San Antonio, TX 78216 USA

PHONE

210-824-7231

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