SomosMACC Newsletter – May 2026
The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continues its mission of educating and empowering leaders for service and ministry in a culturally diverse church. #SomosMACC
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Boletín SomosMACC – Mayo de 2026
El Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continúa su misión de formar líderes para el servicio y el ministerio en una iglesia culturalmente diversa. #SomosMACC
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SomosMACC Newsletter – Fall Edition 2025
The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continues its mission of educating and empowering leaders for service and ministry in a culturally diverse church. #SomosMACC
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Boletín SomosMACC – Edición de otoño de 2025
El Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continúa su misión de formar líderes para el servicio y el ministerio en una iglesia culturalmente diversa. #SomosMACC
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SomosMACC Newsletter – May 2025 Edition
The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continues its mission of educating and empowering leaders for service and ministry in a culturally diverse church. #SomosMACC
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Boletín SomosMACC – Edición de mayo del 2025
El Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) continúa su misión de educar y empoderar líderes para el servicio y el ministerio en una iglesia culturalmente diversa.
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Your Formation will Build Up the Church
Homily – Saturday of the Third Week of Easter Graduation Mass for the Mexican American Catholic College May 11, 2019 Welcome to all of our honored guests: Our President, Dr. Arturo Chavez, members of the Board, our Colleagues of the University of the Incarnate Word, Professors and Teachers, Administrators, Graduates, Parents, Relatives and Friends. It is a true joy to be with you today to assist us to acknowledge the gifts that God has offered…
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Responding to the Mission of Discipleship: Andres Chavez
Born in small and peaceful town in Guanajuato, Mexico, Andres Chàvez, the second of five children, was raised within a practicing and very pious Catholic family. At an early age, he entered the seminary to discern his vocation. Ultimately, the Lord called him to the vocation of marriage, one that has lasted 20 years, but the continuous relationship with God motivated him to keep looking for more. “The growth of my faith and the development…
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Responding to the Mission of Discipleship: Guadalupe Lafuente
Guadalupe “Lupita” Lafuente grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico. She credits both of her grandmothers for passing the faith to her in her upbringing, as she witnessed their loyalty to daily Mass, prayer, and God. Her paternal grandmother taught her that everything God gave us should be used for Him and because of Him. “My paternal grandmother, Felicitas, took us to Mass, spoke to us of how beautiful God is,” said Lupita. “She attended…
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Deacon Called to Serve as Chaplain for Fire Department
Deacon Jerry Whitley, alumnus of MACC, has been appointed Head Chaplain of the San Antonio Fire Department. He graduated with the Diaconate Class of 2018. He is currently assigned to St. Andrew’s in Lytle, Texas. How were you appointed Head Chaplain? I have been retired from the fire department for about 6 years and 34 years of service. About four months ago, the former Head Chaplain moved to Colorado and the fire chief invited me to…
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Living in Harmony with Creation: How MACC is Implementing Laudato Si’ Initiatives
Human life is grounded in three relationships, shared Archbishop Gustavo, during his annual visit to MACC in March. “The relationship with God, the relationship with neighbor, and the relationship with earth. We are connected with Earth.” On March 20, Archbishop Gustavo came to MACC to celebrate his annual mass with students, faculty and staff. Prior to mass, he met with everyone to discuss Chapter 2 The Gospel of Creation of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato…
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We Are an Easter People
By Fr. Edward Owens, OSST, PhD People tend to associate Lent with sacrifice and self-denial. Practices such as fasting, the Stations of the Cross, and Lenten reconciliation services come to mind. Amid a myriad of practices, Lent ultimately points to the solemnity of Easter and its season. In Christ, we are as St. Augustine proclaimed: “An Easter people and alleluia is our song.” Lent invites us to embrace the past, present, and future in our…
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Journey to Meet God: Br. Fabian Adderley, Conventual Franciscan
Br. Fabian Adderley, Conventual Franciscan, is the recent recipient of the Diversity Outreach Initiative Scholarship and attended the 2019 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC, February 2 – 5. He is seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Philosophy and part of the collaborative program with the University of the Incarnate Word. Br. Fabian is planning to graduate this Spring 2019. What has led you on the path you are…
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Weaving Cultures: Responding to the Signs of our Time
In the Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas said love takes up where knowledge leaves off. This can be interpreted as love takes us beyond the limitations of knowledge. Similarly, the Gospel invites us to discipleship, to take what we’ve learned, with love, to others and build relationships. In our new intercultural resources program, Weaving Cultures-Entrelazando Culturas, MACC is simultaneously teaching and learning how we can go beyond the academic theory of interculturality to truly live…
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Reflections on the Border…Encountering the Traveler…Encountering Christ
Corey Bruns, a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky and studying at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana was at MACC in January to take the two-week workshop, Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century. Please click on this link to be directed to his personal blog where he wrote a reflection on his visit and experiences at the Border, in San Antonio, and at MACC. Corey Bruns, un seminarista de la Diócesis de Owensboro, Kentucky,…
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The Struggle of the American Dream: Journal Entries
During the July semester of Summer 2018, a group of young leaders were enrolled in Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century. One of their assignments was to keep a journal to reflect on their border immersion experience and service learning project in evangelization ministry. Below are a few entries from one of the students, Sandy Escalera, a moving reflection of what she experienced meeting migrant families. Mission Journal Entries by Sandy Escalera Friday, July 13…
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Coming Together at the Table: How MACC is Weaving Cultures
When we are invited to the table, who do I avoid sitting next to? What are my prejudices, my stereotypes? MACC’s President, Dr. Arturo Chávez, posed these questions while speaking about intercultural competencies at the V Encuentro in September. These are important questions to ask ourselves living in a society that still faces issues regarding race and culture. While diversity brings value to a community, it can often be challenging to be open and accepting…
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Unity in Diversity at MACC
At MACC, we are not afraid of differences. In fact, our mission embraces that we are a culturally diverse church and society. Summers at MACC tend to bring people from many different cultural backgrounds together. This past summer, students enrolled in our Intensive Pastoral Spanish and English programs had origins from 11 different countries. “There is a great richness to work with participants that come from so many countries and cultures,” said Laura Graham, MACC’s…
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MACC Graduates Twenty-Six Ministerial Leaders at Spring Commencement
Faith and knowledge are friends and together they produce the joy of the promise in today’s gospel reading, said Bishop Michael Boulette in his homily at MACC’s Spring 2018 Mass and Commencement on May 12. Over 200 guests filled the Assumption Seminary Chapel. This spring, nine students received their Bachelor’s degree, three received their Certificate in Pastoral Ministry and Pre-Theology, and 16 received their Certificate in Diaconal Studies. In the gospel of that Saturday, Christ…
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MACC Student Proves It’s Never Too Late to go Back to School
Despite what some will say, it is never too late to earn a degree. Although she studied for a technical degree in Mexico, Laura Guerra, a single mother of two from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, had always wanted to study more. While her children were in high school, she decided that when they finished and began University, she too would begin her journey in higher education. “In addition to overcoming the insecurity and fear of returning…
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Una Iglesia en Salida
Escrito por Sor Mercedes Casas A partir del día 22 de abril del presente año, la Hna. Elizabeth Ann Guerrero y yo, iniciamos el visiteo, casa por casa, a los vecinos de MACC. Nos impulsó el deseo de salir al encuentro de las familias que viven a nuestro alrededor, motivadas de manera especial por la invitación que nos ha hecho nuestro querido Papa Francisco de ser una “Iglesia en Salida”. El objetivo que nos planteamos…
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Future Priest to Serve Catholics in the Military
Before entering Assumption Seminary, David Chacko, a seminarian with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) in May of 2015 earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and commissioned into the U.S. Army Signal Corps, where he served as a junior officer for 15 months. David, who grew up in San Antonio, is the second child of seven children – six boys and…
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A Walk in the Shoes of an Immigrant
Most of us are familiar with the Native American proverb, Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his shoes. The proverb calls us to practice empathy towards another’s experiences and emotions. This approach challenges us all, especially when we find ourselves judging another instantly. For example, imagine you are at the gas pump; you see a person walking your way in clothes matted with dirt. Is he about to ask for spare change, or…
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I Was a Teacher and Didn’t Know It
Student Testimony In January, 30 women from the organization ARISE enrolled in distance learning English-as-a-New Language (ENL) courses that will last the duration of the spring semester, January to May. Virginia Santana is in the Level 3 class on Friday afternoons. Below is her testimony which focuses on the impact PuenTec has had on both ARISE and MACC in terms of education. “I would like to share my personal experience about taking these classes: My…
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A Man’s Audacity to Dream
Employee Spotlight Dr. John Chitakure, associate professor of Pastoral Theology at MACC recently published his memoir, “The Audacity to Dream: Stories from an African Immigrant.” During the Racism Workshop, Dr. Chitakure read from a chapter of his new book to workshop participants, which revealed some of the challenges he faced trying to find work when he arrived to the United States. Is there something specific you hope readers gain/learn from your memoir? The Audacity to…
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Learning to Lead with Love
In a recent tweet from Pope Francis, he stated love is the only invincible weapon. At MACC, our mission is to empower and educate leaders for service in a culturally diverse church and society. While our mission statement may not include the actual word ‘love,’ the ever-growing population of immigrants in the U.S. and the Catholic Church drives us now more than ever to fulfill it and prepare these new leaders to serve in the…
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Reach Out, Live on the Frontier
If we are learning an authentic theology, not right or left, that should not lead us to an ideology, but rather a holy life, said Archbishop Gustavo in a visit with MACC students, staff, and faculty. “Reach out, live on the frontier,” he said. “Don’t live inside where you are familiar with everything and everything is under control.” Archbishop Gustavo visited MACC on March 6 to celebrate a mass. The mass is celebrated annually during…
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Building Bridges for Our Sisters
We live in a world of increasing diversity. In the United States, the word alone has become a popular topic. A Pew Research Center study estimates that 1 million immigrants arrive each year in the U.S. Along with them, immigrants bring their individual characteristics and experiences that have a profound effect on the way they interact and communicate. Among these immigrants are women religious, and they are not spared of the struggles of entering a…
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Encounter Jesus in Others this Easter Season
Reflection By Fr. Ed Owens The gospel readings for Easter Sunday included the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). Unlike the gospel passages focusing on the empty tomb and first news Jesus’ resurrection, Luke includes two disciples “that very same day” who have heard of the report but remain in disbelief. Some women claim they found the tomb empty and saw a vision of angels declaring that he is alive. Some men later confirm the report…
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MACC Builds Technological Bridge with ‘Colonias’ in the Rio Grande Valley
After much discernment and planning, MACC’s partnership with ARISE, a community based program that works with immigrants, primarily from Mexico to the U.S., has taken off. They are calling it “PuenTec,” a technological bridge that will bring the two organizations together to develop distance learning with the community from ARISE using the video conferencing tool, Zoom. During the summer, the team from ARISE visited MACC to talk in-depth about what this project would entail, the…
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Catholic Extension Sends New Leaders to MACC
Out-of-State Students Enroll in Pastoral Ministry Certificate Program MACC officially had out-of-state students enrolled during the fall semester taking live courses via Zoom, a new video conferencing tool. Through a partnership with Catholic Extension, MACC received applications from potential students from mission dioceses to be considered for the Certificado en Ministerio Pastoral (Certificate in Pastoral Ministry). At the end of the summer, seven students were accepted into the program and began their first course in…
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MACC Celebrates 45 Years of Service with Anniversary Fiesta
The evening of MACC’s 45th Anniversary Fiesta felt like a family reunion, as put by Fr. Larry Christian, MACC’s chairman of the board. Over 200 guests joyfully roamed the campus grounds, as they reunited with longtime friends and former colleagues. Among the many guests was Sr. Maria Elena Gonzalez, one of the founders and visionary president of MACC, who traveled from Oklahoma to be present. “All of this is very much a miracle,” she shared….
