St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Pharr, TX

A PRAYER FOR WHEN YOU'RE FACING A HEALTH CRISIS
By Amanda Idleman

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” - Jeremiah 17:14

Our bodies so often betray us. They are not made to last, and the aches we feel as we age remind us that life here on Earth is short. We wither like the plants, here and then gone. In our fallen world, sickness, pain, and death follow us. Pain reminds us that this body we are given is merely a tent, housing us until the day we are made new in Heaven. This struggle against sickness and death brings suffering and uncertainty. When we find the lump, get the call, or feel the pain, anxiety sets in because we don’t know what troubles tomorrow could hold. We often wonder why God!

Why did my cells fail me? Why did my organ stop working? Does my DNA lead to suffering? It’s impossible to understand why we each suffer in different ways but we do know that God never wastes our pain. In John 11 we read about Lazarus, Jesus’ friend. While Jesus was out, Lazarus faced a health crisis that led to the rapid deterioration of his body. Jesus was summoned, but before he made it back to his friends, Lazarus’ body gave out, and he died. The community was devastated, and Jesus empathized with their pain. However, Jesus promised that this suffering would be for God’s glory! The grief and loss felt by the community would not be wasted; in the end, it would become a powerful testimony that verified that Jesus was the Son of God.

When we are in the place of Lazarus, we may wonder where Jesus is. Why is he taking his time to show up and heal us? Death may even feel like the end for those around us. We may not be able to see how God can make something beautiful out of our suffering. But Jesus sees us. He has not forgotten us. Jesus took his time to return to Lazarus because he knew the end of the story! He knew that not even death would get in the way of God’s plan for Lazarus’ life, and even in Lazarus’ death, God would be glorified. Jesus never wastes our pain when he is our God and King.

We can trust God even when we get bad news or when someone we love is facing a health crisis. Remember Jesus wept for Lazarus and he does the same for us. He empathizes with our pain and promises to use the brokenness of this dying world for God’s glory. Even better than that he tells us that he prepares a forever home for us in Heaven where there will be no more sickness, pain, suffering, or loss. No matter what we face today, we have the Heavenly promise that the best is yet to come! Death, where is your sting? The grave has been overcome by our King!

If you got the call you hoped never to get, remember Jesus invites us to ask him for everything we need. Cry out for healing, ask him to be present in the midst of the suffering, and remember he is worthy of our praise even when the news is not what we hoped for.

LET US PRAY:

Jesus, I thank you that you weep with me. You are the God who sees me, and for that, I am so grateful. Even as I face a crisis, I stand on the promise in your word that if you are for me, then no one can be against me. You are a great healer, and I ask that if you are willing, you would take this pain away from me. God, use my story for your glory. Don’t waste my pain. Even in this moment of desperation, I choose to worship you, to trust that you hold each and every day you have planned for me in your hands, and I choose to believe that I have hope no matter what the outcome of what happens to my body may be. Let me move forward with eternity in mind, remembering that even as our bodies fade, our soul grows closer to you.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen🙏

ORACIÓN POR LAS PERSONAS QUE SE PREOCUPAN

Padre Celestial, levanto a aquellos que aún no han aprendido la belleza y la paz que proviene de depositar todas sus preocupaciones en Ti y simplemente descansar en Cristo, pero que parecen pasar gran parte de su tiempo y esfuerzo preocupándose por las circunstancias de la vida, en lugar de entregarte todo en oración.

Es una deshonra para Ti cuando pasamos nuestro tiempo preocupándonos, sabiendo que Tú nos has llamado a depositar todas nuestras preocupaciones en Ti y a confiar en Tu amor infalible.

Necesitamos entender que Tu Palabra nos dice que la preocupación no solo nos roba nuestro gozo y paz en el Señor, sino que tiene su raíz en el pecado de la incredulidad.

Ayúdanos a entender que Tú eres el único que reemplazará las preocupaciones tontas con la sabiduría divina. Solo Tú proporcionas la paz que sobrepasa el entendimiento cuando nuestras mentes permanecen en Ti, en lugar de inquietarnos por aquellas cosas que Tú has prometido emprender en nuestro nombre.

Oramos para que abras nuestro entendimiento, para que todos los que son Tus hijos aprendan verdaderamente la alegría y la paz que vienen cuando te entregamos todas nuestras preocupaciones.
En el nombre de Jesús te lo pido,

Amén 🙏

"Entrégale todas tus preocupaciones, porque Él se preocupa por ti."
(1 Pedro 5:7)

PRAYER FOR PEOPLE WHO WORRY

Heavenly Father, I lift up those who have not yet learned the beauty and peace that comes from casting all their cares upon You and simply resting in Christ, but who seem to spend much of their time and effort worrying over the circumstances of life, rather than handing everything over to You in prayer.

It is a dishonor to you when we spend our time worrying, knowing that You have called us to cast all our cares upon You and to trust in Your unfailing love.

We need to understand that Your Word tells us that worry not only robs us of our joy and peace in the Lord, but is rooted in the sin of unbelief.

Help us to understand that You alone are the One who will replace foolish worries with divine wisdom. You alone provide the peace that surpasses understanding when our minds stay on You, rather than fretting on those things that You have promised to undertake on our behalf.

We pray that you open our understanding, that all who are Your children will truly learn the joy and peace that comes when we give all our worry to You.
In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen 🙏

"Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."
(1 Peter 5:7)

🌞Youth Group End of Summer Pool Party 🏖️

On behalf of our ministry we would like to extend our invitation to St. Margaret's CCE incoming Students in Pre Confirmation, Confirmation and post Confirmation 11th and 12th grade students.

For more information and registration form please contact

Youth Group Director
Ofelia Servantes
(956)279-1369

Blessings 🙏

Youth Group Tonight 🙏Join us !

22 de julio de 2024

¿Por qué la Iglesia celebra a Santa María Magdalena?

La Iglesia celebra a Santa María Magdalena por su ejemplo de virtud y lealtad a Cristo. Ella fue una discípula devota y amiga íntima de Jesús durante el tiempo de Su ministerio, y una de las pocas que permaneció con Él durante Su agonía en la Cruz. Finalmente, fue una de las tres mujeres que fueron a ungir Su cuerpo en el sepulcro en la mañana de Pascua, convirtiéndose en la primera persona en anunciar la Resurrección a los demás, cuando fue y les dijo a los Apóstoles que Él había resucitado.

July 22, 2024

Why does the Church celebrate Saint Mary Magdalene?

The Church celebrates St. Mary Magdalene because of her example of virtue and loyalty to Christ. She was a devoted disciple and close friend of Jesus during the time of His ministry, and one of the few who remained with Him during His agony on the Cross. Finally, she was one of the three women who went to anoint His body in the tomb on Easter morning, becoming the first person to announce the Resurrection to others, when she went and told the Apostles that He had risen.

Al parecer, los estafadores se hacen pasar por sacerdotes (o afiliados a la iglesia).
¡¡NADIE NUNCA TE LLAMARÁ DESDE LA Iglesia Católica ST St. Margaret Mary Pharr, TX PARA SOLICITAR DINERO!!

Please do NOT send money/digital gift cards to anyone claiming to be Father Edgardo. He is NOT texting/calling to ask for money. This is a SCAM and we want to make sure that none of you fall victim to this. Please help us spread the word. Thank you and God bless.
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Por favor, NO envíe dinero / tarjetas de regalo digitales a nadie que diga ser el Padre Edgardo. Él NO está enviando mensajes de texto / llamando para pedir dinero. Esta es un SCAM y queremos asegurarnos de que ninguno de ustedes sea víctima de esto. Ayúdanos a compartir. Gracias y Dios los bendiga.

Apparently scammers are pretending to be priests (or affiliated with the church).
NO ONE WILL EVER CALL YOU FROM ST St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Pharr, TX TO REQUEST MONEY!!

Please do NOT send money/digital gift cards to anyone claiming to be Father Edgardo. He is NOT texting/calling to ask for money. This is a SCAM and we want to make sure that none of you fall victim to this. Please help us spread the word. Thank you and God bless.
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Por favor, NO envíe dinero / tarjetas de regalo digitales a nadie que diga ser el Padre Edgardo. Él NO está enviando mensajes de texto / llamando para pedir dinero. Esta es un SCAM y queremos asegurarnos de que ninguno de ustedes sea víctima de esto. Ayúdanos a compartir. Gracias y Dios los bendiga.

Congratulations Bishop Aviles🙏

Join us in congratulating Most Reverand Bishop, Mario A. Avilés, as he celebrates the 26th anniversary of his priesthood ordination. May God's grace be with him every day so he may continue to serve our diocese. Let us offer an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, as a prayer of thanksgiving for Bishop Avilés.

21 de julio de 2024
16º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

Evangelio. Marcos 6:30-34

En el evangelio de hoy, Jesús pide a sus apóstoles que se vayan con él a un lugar solitario para descansar, pero cuando llegan allí se encuentran con que la multitud había descubierto adónde iban.
Jesús se compadeció de la gente y dijo: "Son como ovejas sin pastor". y comenzó a enseñar muchas cosas al pueblo.
A veces somos esas mismas personas. Nos sentimos perdidos pero sabemos que si seguimos buscando al Señor Él estará allí.
A veces Él nos habla a través de otras personas y otras veces en el silencio de nuestros corazones, porque Él siempre está en nuestros corazones.
Cuando nos sentimos perdidos, nuestro corazón debería tener hambre de la palabra de Dios. Nunca podemos dejar de aprender de Él.
A veces cumplimos el papel de pastor. Estamos llamados a liderar y proteger a nuestras familias. Como el buen pastor que deja el rebaño por la oveja perdida, ¿cuántas veces hemos tenido que ejercitar la paciencia y el perdón con los miembros de nuestra propia familia?

Señor Jesús, esta semana te pedimos que nos uses como quieras. Ayúdanos a escuchar tus enseñanzas para que nosotros a su vez podamos convertirnos en ejemplos vivos de tu amor incondicional. ¡Amén! 🙏

Sunday. July 21, 2024
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel. Mark 6:30-34

In today’s gospel Jesus asks his apostles to go away with him to a solitary place to rest, but when they get there they find that the crowds had found out where they were going.
Jesus took pity on the people and said, "They are like sheep without a shepherd." and he began to teach the people many things.
We are at times those same people. We feel lost but we know that if we continue to seek the Lord He will be there.
Sometimes He speaks to us through other people & sometimes in the silence of our hearts, for He is always in our hearts.
When we feel lost our hearts should be hungry for God’s word. We can never stop learning from Him.
Sometimes we fill the role of shepherd. We are called to lead and protect our families. Like the good shepherd who leaves the flock for the one lost sheep, how many times have we had to exercise patience and forgiveness with our own family members?

Lord Jesus, this week we ask you to use us as you would like. Help us to listen to your teachings so that we in turn can become living examples of your unconditional love. Amen! 🙏

National Eucharist Revival

We're reawakening a tradition.
For the first time in 83 years, we're coming together as Catholics of the United States of America. We're returning to the source and summit of our faith so that we can bear fruit in our land. The harvest is plentiful in our great nation, but the laborers are few. This week, the laborers equip themselves better than they ever have.
Here is the livestream schedule 🙏

https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/livestream-sign-up?_gl=1*1qg8u89*_gcl_au*MTk5OTkwMDUxMi4xNzIxMjI5NDUz*_ga*MTU1NDI3OTQ4My4xNzIxMjI5Njcw*_ga_EPSKFT8FRQ*MTcyMTIyOTY4MS4xLjAuMTcyMTIyOTY4MS4wLjAuMA

Livestream Sign Up Sign up to gain access to the livestream of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress

¡Buenos días Dios!
Gracias por un día más de vida.
¡Un día más para amarte y honrarte!
Gracias Señor ! 🙏❤️

Good morning God!
Thank you for another day of life.
One more day to love and honor you!
Thank you Lord ! 🙏❤️

Join us for movie night at youth group this Wednesday 🍿 We hope to see you there!

¡Señor, un día más para amarte!
Oh Jesús, cuídame siempre, especialmente hoy, o te traicionaré como Judas.
¡Señor, hoy es el día en que comienzo!
Jesús, brilla a través de mí y sé tan en mí que cada persona con la que entre en contacto pueda sentir tu presencia en mi alma.
¡Dios mío, envíame tu Espíritu Santo para que me enseñe lo que soy y lo que eres!
Que la Pasión de Cristo esté siempre en nuestro corazón.
Y estar más con Él, más con Él, no sólo con uno mismo.

Lord, one more day to love you!
O Jesus, watch over me always, especially today, or I shall betray you like Judas.
Lord, today is the day I begin!
Jesus, shine through me and be so in me that every person I clvome in contact with may feel your presence in my soul.
My God, send me thy Holy Spirit to teach me what I am and what thou art!
May the Passion of Christ be ever in our heart.
And to be more with Him, more with Him, not merely with oneself.

Youth Group Today ! 🫶🏻We hope you can join us ❤️❤️
The Lord's Prayer reminds us that when we pray 'Thy will be done', we will never go wrong.🙏
Hear more about it today!

No puedes vencer la tentación si no entiendes cómo funciona.

Lo único bueno que podemos decir sobre Satanás es que no tiene ideas nuevas. Ha utilizado las mismas tentaciones una y otra vez desde que se creó la humanidad. Las tácticas que usó con Adán y Eva son las que todavía usa hoy.

Dios les había dicho claramente a Adán y Eva que podían comer de cualquier árbol del jardín excepto del árbol del conocimiento del bien y del mal. Cuando Satanás tentó a Eva, le preguntó algo como: “¿Realmente Dios dijo que no comieras esto?” Y luego dijo: “Adelante, pruébalo. ¡No vas a morir si comes esto! Tú mismo serás un dios”.

Satanás usa ese mismo patrón en tu vida todos los días. Primero, comienza con un deseo equivocado dentro de ti, como la envidia, la lujuria o la impaciencia. O comienza con un deseo correcto, como el de comida o amor, pero con la tentación de satisfacerlo de la manera equivocada en el momento equivocado. Satanás puede tomar cualquier deseo y convertirlo en destructivo.

Luego te hace dudar de la Palabra de Dios y te susurra: “¿Dios realmente dijo eso?” Él toma la semilla de tu duda y la convierte en una mentira que sabe que eres vulnerable a aceptar. Detrás de cada pecado hay una mentira que eliges creer. Recuerde, Satanás es astuto. Él sabe en qué parte de tu vida es más probable que caigas y se concentra en convertir tus dudas en un verdadero engaño.

Cuando crees en la mentira de Satanás, estás diciendo: "Sé lo que me hará más feliz que Dios". Legitimas tu deseo equivocado. Te convences a ti mismo de que no es tan malo. Y luego caes en la desobediencia.

La Palabra de Dios dice: “Cuando tú perdonas a este hombre, yo también lo perdono. Y cuando perdono todo lo que es necesario perdonar, lo hago con la autoridad de Cristo para beneficio de nosotros, para que Satanás no nos engañe, porque conocemos sus malvadas maquinaciones” (2 Corintios 2:10-11)

Dios no quiere que ignores cómo actúa Satanás, porque cuando entiendes sus tácticas, puedes verlo venir con sus planes. La clave no es sólo resistir las tentaciones, sino saber cómo responder a los patrones predecibles de Satanás.

¡Presta atención a los patrones predecibles de Satanás!

Piénsalo,
¿En qué parte de tu vida eres más vulnerable a la tentación?
Una vez que sepas cómo trata Satanás de obrar en tu vida, ¿cómo puedes establecer defensas prácticas que te ayuden a resistirlo? Sea lo más específico posible.
¿Cómo crees que Dios quiere que respondas a Satanás cuando te tienta a dudar de la Palabra de Dios? ¿Qué pasaje de la Escritura puedes citarle a Satanás para recordarte la verdad de Dios?

You can’t defeat temptation if you don’t understand how it works.

The only good thing we can say about Satan is that he doesn’t have any new ideas. He’s used the same temptations over and over since humanity was created. The tactics he used on Adam and Eve are the ones he’s still using today.

God had clearly told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Satan tempted Eve, he asked her something like, “Did God really say to not eat this?” And then he said, “Go ahead and try it. You’re not going to die if you eat this! You’re going to be a god yourself.”

Satan uses that same pattern in your life every day. First, it starts with a wrong desire inside you, like envy, lust, or impatience. Or it starts with a right desire, like for food or love, but with the temptation to fulfill it in the wrong way at the wrong time. Satan can take any desire and make it destructive.

Then he causes you to doubt God’s Word and whispers, “Did God really say that?” He takes the seed of your doubt and grows it into a lie he knows you are vulnerable to accepting. Behind every sin is a lie you choose to believe. Remember, Satan is crafty. He knows where in your life you are most likely to fall, and he focuses on turning your doubt into full-blown deception.

When you believe Satan’s lie, you’re saying, “I know what will make me happy more than God does.” You legitimize your wrong desire. You convince yourself it’s not that bad. And then you fall into disobedience.

God's Word says, “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us, for we are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)

God doesn’t want you to be ignorant of how Satan works, because when you understand Satan’s tactics, you can see him coming with his schemes. The key is not just resisting your temptations but knowing how to respond to Satan’s predictable patterns.

Pay attention to Satan's predictable patterns!

Think It Over

Where in your life are you most vulnerable to temptation?
Once you know how Satan tries to work in your life, how can you set up practical defenses to help you resist him? Be as specific as possible.
How do you think God wants you to respond to Satan when he tempts you to doubt God’s Word? What Scripture can you quote back to Satan to remind you of God’s truth?

Lunes de la XIV semana del Tiempo ordinario.

Evangelio. Mt 9, 18-26

En aquel tiempo, mientras Jesús hablaba, se le acercó un jefe de la sinagoga, se postró ante él y le dijo: "Señor, mi hija acaba de morir; pero ven tú a imponerle las manos y volverá a vivir".

Jesús se levantó y lo siguió, acompañado de sus discípulos. Entonces, una mujer que padecía flujo de sangre desde hacía doce años, se le acercó por detrás y le tocó la orilla del manto, pues pensaba: "Con sólo tocar su manto, me curaré". Jesús, volviéndose, la miró y le dijo: "Hija, ten confianza; tu fe te ha curado". Y en aquel mismo instante quedó curada la mujer.

Cuando llegó a la casa del jefe de la sinagoga, vio Jesús a los flautistas, y el tumulto de la gente y les dijo: "Retírense de aquí. La niña no está mu**ta; está dormida". Y todos se burlaron de él. En cuanto hicieron salir a la gente, entró Jesús, tomó a la niña de la mano y ésta se levantó. La noticia se difundió por toda aquella región.
……………
La pieza central de nuestro Evangelio de hoy es la historia de la mujer con hemorragia. Para llegar al poder del Evangelio, debemos volver a familiarizarnos con las actitudes judías con respecto a lo limpio y lo inmundo. En el libro de Levítico encontramos prescripciones cuidadosamente establecidas que tratan sobre animales, plantas, alimentos y situaciones que son impuras. Estas prescripciones estaban destinadas a identificar al pueblo judío como pueblo. Pero tenían un inconveniente bastante grave, ya que colocaban a determinadas personas en situaciones extremadamente difíciles.
Tener un flujo de sangre durante doce años significó que durante todo ese período la mujer de nuestro Evangelio fue prácticamente una paria. Cualquiera con quien ella entrara en contacto sería considerado impuro. No podía participar en la vida ordinaria de su sociedad.
Ella toca a Jesús y debería haberlo dejado impuro. Pero su fe es tan grande que su contacto la deja limpia. Jesús efectivamente la restaura a la plena participación en su comunidad.
El resultado más importante es este: Jesús implícitamente pone fin al código ritual del Levítico. La identidad del nuevo Israel, la Iglesia, no sería a través de comportamientos rituales sino a través de su imitación.

June 8, 2024

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel Mt 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land................

The centerpiece of our Gospel today is the story of the hemorrhaging woman. To get at the power of the Gospel, we must reacquaint ourselves with the Jewish attitudes regarding the clean and the unclean. In the book of Leviticus, we find carefully laid-out prescriptions dealing with animals, plants, foods, and situations that are unclean. These prescriptions were meant to identify the Jewish people as a people. But they had a rather severe downside, since they placed certain people in extremely difficult situations.

Having a flow of blood for twelve years meant that for that entire period the woman in our Gospel was a virtual pariah. Anyone with whom she came in contact would be considered unclean. She couldn’t participate in the ordinary life of her society.

She touches Jesus and should have rendered him unclean. But so great is her faith, that her touch, instead, renders her clean. Jesus effectively restores her to full participation in her community.

The most important outcome is this: Jesus implicitly puts an end to the ritual code of Leviticus. The identity of the new Israel, the Church, would not be through ritual behaviors but through imitation of him.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today's Gospel Mk 6:1-6 -

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith...The word of the Lord
Amen🙏.........
Today’s Gospel develops a theme that is uncomfortable. It tells how the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus. Authentically religious people, authentically spiritual people, will almost always be opposed. The logic behind this is simple and unanswerable: we live in a world gone wrong, a world turned upside down; therefore, when someone comes speaking the truth to us, we will think that they are crazy and dangerous.

Think for just a moment what would happen to you if you consistently and publicly spoke the word of God to our culture. If you spoke out against abortion, euthanasia, assisted su***de, human trafficking, rampant materialism, and ideological secularism, what would happen to you? If you presented, in a full-throated way, the full range of Catholic social and moral and spiritual teaching, what would they do to you? Today's Gospel offers a clue.