for a blessing during Holy Communion, to “invite you and bring you into the Eucharist.” “We come here to be fed so we can go out into the world to give witness to the communion of the Holy Trinity,” Father Cabrera said. After the Mass, between handshakes, hugs and high fives, he blessed a man who was scheduled for surgery and a medallion for an elderly woman. After greeting people, he counseled a woman in an “irregular marriage” to enter into a Sacramental marriage even if her husband did not want to become Catholic, so that she could receive the Eucharist. Later that day, while having lunch at a nearby restaurant, Father Cabrera remained engaged with his parishioners. A waiter approached him about starting a Spanish Mass. Father Cabrera told the young man to encourage his friends to volunteer as Eucharistic ministers and readers and he would start the Mass. A waitress came over to talk to the priest about her recent health issues. A bus boy confessed freely and openly to not having attended Mass for more than a year but promised to return. People in adjoining tables engaged Father Cabrera about other problems, and he ministered to them all. Ministering to his flock is Father Cabrera’s focus. He visits the sick, blesses homes, performs funeral services and gives last rites to the dying. Before coming to Our Lady of Guadalupe he assisted Msgr. Louis Kihneman, Vicar General, at Sacred Heart in Rockport. Father Cabrera values his training under Msgr. Kihneman and often asks himself “what would monsignor do?” Part of the trick, Father Cabrera said, is to find a balance. “People want to be acknowledged but you don’t want the Church just to be a social outlet, the Church has more to give than that,” he said. “But you use whatever you have to bring them in.” “People are really hungry, but they are struggling and so I try to be as welcoming as possible,” Father Cabrera said. “One of my goals when I got ordained was that I wanted people to see God in the ordinary, in the everyday life.”
ATE D E H T SAVE
5th Annual
Benefit Gala RICHARD M. BORCHARD REGIONAL FAIRGROUNDS
SATURDAY, AUG. 11 Doors open at 6 p.m.
featuring Gospel Music Entertainers
The Isaacs
The Isaacs are one of the most beloved groups in Southern Gospel music. For over thirty years the Isaacs have been traveling together performing a style of music that is uniquely their own. Mix together a generous portion of bluegrass instrumentation, southern gospel lyrics and sincere family harmonies, toss in a heart to reach an audience for Christ and you have the Isaacs. For more information on any of the above, please call the ROH at:
(361) 241-5300 20
SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | JUNE 2012
www.SouthTexasCatholic.com