Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder

Fr. Paul Raaz writes many inspirational writings though out the month.  This page is dedicated to those writings.  Throughout the month he might put out one or many thoughts, or he might read something he would like to share with the entire community.  These thoughts are posted here for your reading enjoyment.  Come back to this page often, as it will be one of the most dynamic of pages. 

Dear friends –  

“Faith seeking understanding” – if there were a theme for our Catholic Community in the year ahead, this might be it!  Many of us have been touched in special ways by God, and if that touch was deep and true, it has left us with the desire to understand as much as our human minds can grasp about our God, who in many ways will be always hidden in mystery, but also reveals himself to us through the Scripture and our Church Tradition.

 Our Catholic Community is providing us with many opportunities to grow this year in our  understanding of faith and God – Our RCIA program (read about it in our current issue of eSPIRITu, elsewhere in this website), Faith Formation Seminars (also in eSPIRITu), Scripture Study on Sunday mornings while the kids are in CCD (more on this soon), ACTS Retreats for both men and women. 

Fr. Richard Rolheiser, a favorite spiritual writer of mine, speaks of that “madness within us” to live at the edge of life, to drink deeply of life’s experiences and to seek the limits of our human understanding.  He claims – and I believe – that we were all born with this madness, this longing, and that ultimately, if properly directed, it will lead us to the threshold of the Divine Mystery. 

I invite you to listen to your heart’s longings, and to join your fellow spiritual seekers in seeking the wisdom and knowledge that is accessible through our faith.  

Blessings on your journey!   -- Fr. Paul

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St James Catholic Church of Gonzales, TX,  Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Gonzales, Texas,  St. Patricks Catholic Church of Gonzales, Tx are part of the Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder Tx.  The Catholic community is one parish with 3 churches - Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. James Catholic Church and St. Patricks Catholic Church.  The pastor for the parish is Fr. Paul Raaz.  He presides over all three churches St. James, Sacred Heart and St. Patricks in Gonzales, TX which combine to make the Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder, TX.  We currently have 2 deacons.  Deacon Terry Brennan which serves at both St. James Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic both of which are in Gonzales Tx.  Deacon Alfonso Moreno who works closely with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gonzales TX and St. Patricks Catholic Church in Waelder, TX.  We hope you enjoy the visit to our website for Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. James Catholic Church, and St. Patricks Catholic Church. St James Catholic church has recently been renovated.  St. James Catholic Church welcomes you.  St. James Catholic Church is one of 3 churches in our parish.  St James Catholic Church is where ccd is held.  St James Catholic church sponsored the fajita booth at Come and Take it. St James Catholic Church is home to Fr. Paul Raaz. St. James Catholic Church is on College street.