OLPH is in partnership with AMIGA (A Mission in God's Amor) and the School Sisters of Notre Dame in a mission area of Monte Verde, San Francisco de Ocalaca, Honduras. The primary focus of this mission is to send shipments of clothing, household goods, and medical supplies. There is also an opportunity for volunteers to travel to Honduras for a mission experience. Donations are accepted on the second and fourth full weekends of every month on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-1pm. Two storage units (Alpha and Omega) have been acquired and are located on the church property to receive and store items for shipment. Financial donations are also accepted.
A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is available for parishioners seeking counseling. For more information, contact the Parish Office.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Christian Youth Organization (CYO) provides parish youth and their families the opportunity for fellowship through sports activities (soccer, volleyball, basketball, track, T-ball, baseball, and softball). The mission of CYO is to offer to all youth, sports, and recreation programs emphasizing friendly competition through good sportsmanship “modeled” by adult participants, and to invite all participants, Catholic and otherwise, youth and adults, to share in the life of their church/faith community..
Begins September 16th, 2007, from 5-7pm in the Pastoral Center
This 13-week series is designed to teach families to get out of debt and stay out of debt. The curriculum includes small group discussions for accountability and discipleship. Topics cover cash flow planning, dumping debt, saving, giving, and much more.
The Guadalupana Society assists the priests and engages in Catholic action. The hosts and wine used for Masses are purchased and paid for by the Guadalupanas with money raised from monthly taco sales held the 4th Sunday of every month. The Guadalupanas also coordinate the yearly Mass for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration and provide a Fiesta Dinner for the parish. The Guadalupana Society is open to both men and women.
Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian, non-profit housing organization working in partnership with God's people in need to build simple, decent, and affordable housing. Habitat works with low-income families who would not otherwise be able to afford a house. OLPH partners with another local parish and Habitat to help families build houses for themselves. Habitat is not a charity or a hand-out program, but rather a “hand-up” program helping families help themselves. Construction usually begins in the Spring and finishes in early Summer.
A number of members of the OLPH Community volunteer their time at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center ministering to adult and juvenile offenders. Under the auspices of the Bexar County Detention Ministries, Inc., volunteers provide educational, social, and religious services, including pastoral care and counseling, to incarcerate adult and juvenile offenders. These services are provided to facilitate the transformation of incarcerated adult and juvenile offenders into productive individuals with new direction and meaning for life and to assist in the successful reintegration from incarceration back into society. There are currently nine staff chaplains and approximately 300 volunteers providing interdenominational religious services, pastoral care, and Bible Study seven days a week. Additionally, Catholic volunteers organize and facilitate four ACTS retreats each year for incarcerated adult males and females.
A Catholic fraternal organization open to practicing Catholic men 18 years and older was founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1882. The Knights of Columbus provide support to the church, community, youth, and families through prayer, service activities, and monetary donations and promote the principle of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 7:30pm.
OLPH parish maintains two cemeteries for the burial needs of our parishioners. Cemetery No. 1 was established in 1897 on two acres of land donated by Jacob Friesenhahn. Located near the intersection of IH-35 and Loop 1604 on Old Austin Road (1.2 miles West of the Church grounds), many of the founders of our parish and their families are buried there. Cemetery No. 2 was established in 1948 with the purchase of 4.2 acres from William Riedel and is located on the Church grounds behind the school
The faithful who are ill or homebound are deprived of their accustomed place in the Eucharistic community. In bringing communion to them, the Pastoral Care minister represents Christ and manifests faith and charity on behalf of the entire community toward those who cannot be present at the Eucharist. For the sick, the Pastoral Care visit and reception of communion is not only a privilege, but also a sign of support and concern shown by the Christian community for its members who are ill. The sick, elderly, and homebound are joined to the parish by Pastoral Care Ministers who are called to bring compassion and the Eucharist to those in need. Our OLPH Pastoral Care outreach consists of:
The Knights of Columbus also coordinate the parish's Respect Life efforts by providing information on Pro-Life events at the local and national level and coordinating periodic Respect Life Novenas and Masses throughout the year.
A family-oriented organization where youth and parents work together to achieve goals and enjoy fellowship, and learn leadership skills through sponsored gatherings and activities, scouting provides opportunities for girls and boys to have fun while learning about the world around them.
St. Ann's Christian Mother's Society, founded in August of 1905, is affiliated with the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers in Pittsburgh, PA. All women are invited to join the Society, whether married, widowed, divorced, or single (with or without children). The Society's objectives are to willingly promote the Christian education and ideals set out in the Archconfraternity's Principal Rules and Regulations. St. Ann's primary purpose is to be sisters in faith and to pray through Mary, our Intercessor, for all children everywhere and to instill in our children Christian morals and ideals. Some of the current projects include:
The St. Ann's Society recently celebrated it's 100th anniversary. Click here for a link to photos and a slide show presentation celebrating this historic anniversary!
St. Michael's Society has been an integral part of the history and continuing development of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. Founded at the turn of the 20th century by a group of German parishioners, most of who were immigrants or 1st generation Americans, the Society today includes fourth generation members who carry on the tradition with the same dedication and devotion to the parish and its ministries. The Society's purpose is to promote a vigorous Catholic life, to support the Church and School, to appropriate monies within the primary purpose of the Society, and to engage in Catholic action. Membership is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics leading a Christian life, do not belong to any lodge or society forbidden by the Church, and provide their children with an education in the Catholic faith.
The St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room at the SAMM Shelter (San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry) serves three meals a day to San Antonio's homeless, indigent, and hungry. Between 200 and 300 men, women, and children are served at each meal by a team of twelve. OLPH's ministry to the St. Vincent De Paul Dining Room includes 25 parishioners who serve every six weeks on Friday evenings.
The Welcome Ministry of OLPH Parish is a rewarding and cordial activity. All newly registered parishioners are contacted and welcomed into the parish community by an individual from the Welcome Ministry who answers questions and invites the new parishioners to participate in the life of the parish. A Welcome Orientation is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month to introduce new parishioners to the OLPH Ministry Team and the Pastoral Council and to provide information about the spiritual and social opportunities available in the parish. Members of the Welcome Ministry greet and welcome the parish family as they enter church for weekend Masses, sharing the warmth of their parish faith. This awakens the “inner spirit” of love and sets the tone for the Mass. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm in the Pastoral Center.
