Both are amazing cities. I went to UT in the 70s, and Austin was almost a backwater back then. No Sixth Street yet. We had to drive to San Antonio to see the movie “Saturday Night Fever.” I still have my “Keep Austin Weird” shirt. (I wore it yesterday.)
Interesting read! I was really worried about who the Cardinal’s would picked as well. Once I learned more about Pope Leo XIV. I was relieved. The Holy Spirit has blessed us. ☺️
So seriously, have you chosen a Church? Careful, some are more conservative than others. 🙏🏼
There is hope. And public excitement; some that can be leveraged into real support. As we've seen before, this could just be the news story of the week that fizzles out soon.
I wish the Church would truly throw it's weight around this time, as an institution. Hopefully tweets are just an indicator of what's to come, not the only action taken by Catholic leaders. We need deals, we need to see this Pope travel all over the world while he is still relatively young. We need for him to be acting like the head of state that he is. We need for him to rile up all of his Catholic soldiers in all countries, on behalf of good.
I'm Catholic in name, have done my Sacraments, but have been emotionally detached from the Church for a decade. I think he could, maybe, bring people back in. In a time when political leaders have failed us, maybe spiritual leaders could step in. We need moral leadership.
this description of Jessus Christ is my all time favorite forever Thanks Alisa “This new pope, like the late great Pope Francis, understands something most “Christian” politicians do not: That Jesus was not a white “I wear the pants” guy with a gun and a stock portfolio. He was a brown-skinned celibate refugee in a dress, who fed people for free and pissed off law enforcement.” And a spiritual brain scientist too
And just so you know, you can be a Marxist Catholic. I am, a revolutionary Marxist Catholic who follows a brown-skinned Palestinian Rabbi who pissed off the powers-that-be of his time. Which is why he was tortured and killed.
And just so we understand each other, I am a retired attorney who did a lot of immigration work and watched them turn into seriously fascist monsters. No empathy… no compassion…
I lost my car keys the other day and turned to San Antonio and within ten minutes I found them… So I get where you’re coming from! Leo is one of the good Catholics, humble and kind. Francisco our Pope approved of him and so do I.
Guilt, na. Introspection and honest self-appraisal - followed by forgiveness through grace. Excited to see what this guy does. Liberation theologies coming of age, at last?
I'm just glad to have you back writing. I was getting worried something had happened to you after a week of no posting. Congratulations on the new house.
I left the church at ten and doubt FWIW I’ll ever go back but…there’s something magical afoot. Even though my disdain colored my feelings about Francis the choice of the new pope surprised me. He seems a truly decent man.
Loved your essay and your clear-eyed look at your own family. And I embrace your choice to return 💕
Was thinking this morning about how the Catholic Church has put a completely different kind of American leadership on the world stage. Even as an agnostic and an emigrant, I feel good about having an American representing prínciples of compassion and empathy.
Random: I grew up in San Antonio and never knew St. Anthony was Portuguese. The hermitage where he joined the Franciscan order is in Coimbra, and that's how I found out. Santo Antônio imagery is everywhere here.
I just want to know. Which Church in San Antonio? Not that it really matters, but I grew up there, and the Catholics have some beautiful centuries' old churches there, so I'm curious.
Even if it's a 20th Century one I might have been in it at one time or the other. Full disclosure, I grew up going to St. George Episcopal Church on West Avenue.
He’s not a Jesuit. His order is St.Augustine
Duly noted and edited. Thank you, Elena!
A great article to end the day.
In my opinion, as an Austinite, you picked right. San Antonio is much more dynamic and vibrant than is Austin. It is a cosmopolitan city.
She couldn't have gone wrong in both
Both are amazing cities. I went to UT in the 70s, and Austin was almost a backwater back then. No Sixth Street yet. We had to drive to San Antonio to see the movie “Saturday Night Fever.” I still have my “Keep Austin Weird” shirt. (I wore it yesterday.)
Cool! 😎
Interesting read! I was really worried about who the Cardinal’s would picked as well. Once I learned more about Pope Leo XIV. I was relieved. The Holy Spirit has blessed us. ☺️
So seriously, have you chosen a Church? Careful, some are more conservative than others. 🙏🏼
There is hope. And public excitement; some that can be leveraged into real support. As we've seen before, this could just be the news story of the week that fizzles out soon.
I wish the Church would truly throw it's weight around this time, as an institution. Hopefully tweets are just an indicator of what's to come, not the only action taken by Catholic leaders. We need deals, we need to see this Pope travel all over the world while he is still relatively young. We need for him to be acting like the head of state that he is. We need for him to rile up all of his Catholic soldiers in all countries, on behalf of good.
I'm Catholic in name, have done my Sacraments, but have been emotionally detached from the Church for a decade. I think he could, maybe, bring people back in. In a time when political leaders have failed us, maybe spiritual leaders could step in. We need moral leadership.
this description of Jessus Christ is my all time favorite forever Thanks Alisa “This new pope, like the late great Pope Francis, understands something most “Christian” politicians do not: That Jesus was not a white “I wear the pants” guy with a gun and a stock portfolio. He was a brown-skinned celibate refugee in a dress, who fed people for free and pissed off law enforcement.” And a spiritual brain scientist too
And just so you know, you can be a Marxist Catholic. I am, a revolutionary Marxist Catholic who follows a brown-skinned Palestinian Rabbi who pissed off the powers-that-be of his time. Which is why he was tortured and killed.
And just so we understand each other, I am a retired attorney who did a lot of immigration work and watched them turn into seriously fascist monsters. No empathy… no compassion…
I lost my car keys the other day and turned to San Antonio and within ten minutes I found them… So I get where you’re coming from! Leo is one of the good Catholics, humble and kind. Francisco our Pope approved of him and so do I.
Hasta mañana y que sueñes con los angelitos.
I hear you!
Guilt, na. Introspection and honest self-appraisal - followed by forgiveness through grace. Excited to see what this guy does. Liberation theologies coming of age, at last?
I'm just glad to have you back writing. I was getting worried something had happened to you after a week of no posting. Congratulations on the new house.
I left the church at ten and doubt FWIW I’ll ever go back but…there’s something magical afoot. Even though my disdain colored my feelings about Francis the choice of the new pope surprised me. He seems a truly decent man.
Loved your essay and your clear-eyed look at your own family. And I embrace your choice to return 💕
Perfect....hooray for the dudes at the Vatican!
❤️
Was thinking this morning about how the Catholic Church has put a completely different kind of American leadership on the world stage. Even as an agnostic and an emigrant, I feel good about having an American representing prínciples of compassion and empathy.
Random: I grew up in San Antonio and never knew St. Anthony was Portuguese. The hermitage where he joined the Franciscan order is in Coimbra, and that's how I found out. Santo Antônio imagery is everywhere here.
I just want to know. Which Church in San Antonio? Not that it really matters, but I grew up there, and the Catholics have some beautiful centuries' old churches there, so I'm curious.
Even if it's a 20th Century one I might have been in it at one time or the other. Full disclosure, I grew up going to St. George Episcopal Church on West Avenue.
You rock as a Catholic and otherwise!