Guadalupe Church Bay City Texas

06/25/2026

We unite our prayers with the Church for the people of Venezuela, as they begin their work of rebuilding after the destructive earthquake that has claimed many lives. Our hearts are heavy and we share their grief. We turn to Mary, under the Title of Our Lady of Coromoto, the Patron Saint of Venezuela, whose miraculous image has brought them much consolation and peace. May her prayers and intercession, touch the heart of Jesus her Son, who will make all things new.

Unimos nuestras oraciones con los de la Iglesia por el pueblo de Venezuela, que comienzan la reconstruccion despues del terremoto destructivo donde fallecieron muchas personas. Nuestros corazones son pesadas y ofrecemos nuestro pésame. Suplicamos a la Santísima Virgen, bajo el titulo de Nuestra Señora de Coromoto, la Patrona Santa de Venezuela, que dejó su imagen milagrosa y que le he ofrecido consuelo y la paz. Que sus oraciones y intercesión toca el corazón de Jesucristo su Hijo, que renueva todo.

https://youtu.be/KZpTMZy65y8?si=xFkPkYVozekeepdZ

05/17/2026

From the Desk of Father Gabriel

The time has come for another year of graduating seniors from both high school and college. It is a wonderful moment for those who have accomplished hard work, discipline and dedication to cross the finish line. And yet, it really is just the beginning. You see, for most of you, your brains are still physically developing and will continue doing so until you are between 21 and 25, and that is a fact. Now several of you have already qualified for your Associate’s Degree at the same time as your High School Graduation. While that is awesome it means you will move through college on a faster track than if you did not have it. My college years were the absolute best time of my entire life and I wish that you will have the same experience. I made some of my best friends and still keep in contact with them 44 years later. Enjoy your time there and allow yourself to grow and to come out of your comfort zone and experience new things. Would you believe it was in college that I tried Chinese Food for the first time? In my home town (population 6,844) there were no Chinese restaurants, although I can say we have now had one for many years. Please don’t get too comfortable with your routine and allow yourself to learn; challenge yourself to read books and not just tablet and phone screens. Consider learning a new language to keep your mind sharp. Go to lectures and plays and concerts that may be offered on campus. Consider joining a club or helping out on campus. Pick up a hobby and allow yourself to find a form of self expression. Learn to hear opposing view points and opinions and allow others to tell their stories, just as I hope you will be brave enough to share your own stories. Think what consequences may follow your actions before you make them. Call your parents and grandparents: Call them, don’t just text them. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of counseling that may be available on campus or tutoring if you are struggling.
Find a Catholic Student Center and check it out. There you will find other young people still trying to find their way to God. They are coming from a variety of religious experiences and backgrounds. Consider joining a Parish near by and perhaps helping out with CCD classes. Perhaps you may feel a little lost right after your graduation day…and why not? You have been riding a wave of celebration and happiness for a bit now. There was Senior Serve; perhaps professional photo sessions; invitations to send out; yard signs showing you off; parties to attend and getting ready for the next chapter. And then it will come to a screeching halt and it will be another day of the week and you may feel a bit odd. Now what do you do? Don’t put pressure on yourself and see what God will have in store for you. Visit with friends and thank those who sent gifts or well wishes. See where you can be of service and help out around the house; take care of your younger siblings; mow the lawn; cook meals; clean your room and be grateful for so many blessings. Look back at your year and review those moments where things did not go your way. Perhaps you were disappointed or thought things unfair; or maybe God is waiting to give you something better than what you had hoped for or expected. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says we are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful. Please remember that. And don’t compare yourself to anyone else. God never abandons us. Never. For those of you who were in my Confirmation Classes, remember to include others when you pray and ask God to bless them too.
And above all, never cease to be grateful. Always. For what you have and for what you did not receive because it may have caused you harm.



God Bless you,
Fr. Gabriel

05/02/2026

04/22/2026

Remembering Pope Francis...recordando Papa Francisco...

04/15/2026

Here is the official announcement for personnel changes affecting some of our Diocese of Victoria priests. Let's congratulate them and welcome them to their new assignments that become effective on July 1.

Also, the following are the summer assignments for our seminarians. We wish them all the best:

William Pettus - St. Mary's Seminary, Houston (Hospital Chaplaincy Internship)
Alex Woods - Spanish Immersion
Nelson Lagos - Holy Cross, East Bernard
Chris Leshikar - St. Philip, El Campo
Seth Reissig - Sacred Heart, Hallettsville
Adam Shimek - St. Mary's, Victoria

04/11/2026

From the Desk of Father Gabriel

I am leaving the Parish at the end of June after serving you for seven and a half years. I arrived on November 26, 2018. It had been a difficult time for me and I had already requested another assignment. I was turned down but Providence assisted me on my journey here. At the end of a Priest Conference we were informed that Msgr. Gerry would be stepping down and that any one who wanted to apply to come to Bay City should do so. I turned to the priest who rode with me to the conference and said, “I’m going to get it…” He said, “Oh, are you going to apply?” “No, I am going to get the assignment.” Call it intuition or what you will, but I was convicted by the Holy Spirit that I would indeed get the position and that is what brought me here. It is never easy for a priest at a new assignment, especially for one who succeeds a well loved outgoing Pastor. Priests who have been at parishes for many years have provided their presence and guidance and parishioners are accustomed to their routine. So when someone new comes in, there is adjustments made on the part of the parishioners and the priests. Sometimes changes are necessary because of finances, disorganization or problems in administration. And when changes happen, no one really likes them: the parishioners or even the new priest in charge. But what is needed to keep the parish healthy and effective? Are there some things that have not been managed properly? And when does one begin to make the necessary changes? Sometimes, waiting to correct things is no longer an option. I never came here with a game plan or thinking about what will change…no…I simply came and saw that some things needed my attention immediately. Changes were made and people were not happy, but they were made to get us back within the correct perimeters. I would have been a fool to make changes just to make them. I made them because they were necessary.
This assignment gave me a mission and purpose that was necessary and that brought me joy once more in my priesthood. You have been what began to heal me. It has been a lot of work and I have done my best to work alongside you. I never wanted to be one of those priests who told people what to do; I have always believed it necessary to also share in the work. I was told early on that this community was hungry for the Word of God and it lifted my spirit as I love to teach and explain. The scriptures must be accessible and easy enough to understand or else very few would be able to grow in their faith. Jesus comes to save us all and begins by preaching the Word of God first so that everyone has the same opportunity to know who God is; there are no favorites, we are all worthy of knowing the God who loved us first and brought us into existence through this same love. Who could have foreseen Co-vid coming down the road two years into my time here? Or that we would lose Msgr. Gerry around the same time? This decision to step down has been a long one for me. What finally convinced me was that I began to feel a shift interiorly and began to feel more limited in what I would be able to accomplish and what I could not. Primarily, 55 years of working out of my 63 years has caught up with me. I am tired and now my health seems to justify this decision although I didn’t need to be justified. I think of my father who died at 67, only 4 years away from where I am; now I am not my father, but it does make me wonder at times how many more years will I have left?
All of this is new to me and I have had to make some life changes too. I bought a house because I will need a place to stay when I leave and I had to have it in place before I left. I have applied for Social Security as my income will be limited. I don’t know what will come next. I would love to do missions or retreats in the future. I plan to help other priests with help at the parish when and if I am able; although I could never celebrate 4 masses on the weekend anymore, it is too much for me. I have preached in English and Spanish at all my masses for 18 out of 19 years now, including the daily masses. I am not sure if that will continue. I would like to write, and get back into art again. I think I would enjoy visiting different parishes and having workshops on how to present and costume Christmas Pageants and Living Stations of the Cross. And I would want to continue to teach in some capacity. I am convinced some will be happy that I am leaving; I harbor no ill will towards them. Truly I don’t. I don’t personally know of a single priest who has not had tension with at least a handful of parishioners. Nevertheless, I am grateful for my time here and for all of the experiences that have shaped me; yes, even the challenging ones. What does the future hold? I am not sure, except that God is already awaiting us there.
God Bless You,
Fr. Gabriel

https://youtu.be/PCYkGA6IyZY?si=fGHNH9vKj5m1rLQo
(I do not own the rights to this song and hope I will be permitted to share it with you)

04/10/2026

CCD Team we will gather on Wednesday April 15th at 5:45 p.m. at Victoria's Cocina in Van Vleck for dinner and then move onto Schulman's Bowl and Grill for a movie. Please see Father Gabriel after Mass this weekend so that we can get an accurate head count.

Equipo de la Doctrina nos reunimos el miércoles 15 abril a las 5:45 de la tarde en Victoria's Cocina en Van Vleck por la cena y despues vamos al cine a disfrutar una pelicula. Favor de recordar el P. Gabriel despues de las misas esta fin de semana para obtener la cuenta precisa.

04/10/2026

Baptismal Preparation Class: Sunday April 12th at 6 p.m. The Class is bilingual and will be the last one offered until July. Please do not bring any paperwork as we will not be scheduling any baptisms at the class.

Clase de Preparación Bautismal el Domingo 12 Abril a las 6 de la tarde. La clase es bilingue y es la última clase que ofrecemos hasta julio. Favor no traer papaleo porque no vamos a programar los bautismos esa noche.

04/10/2026

Divine Mercy Holy Hour: Sunday April 12th beginning at 3 p.m.
Hora Santa de la Divina Misericordia: Domingo 12 Abril a las 3 de la tarde

04/06/2026

CCD TEAM...remember our meal with Bishop Cahill tomorrow afternoon beginning at 5:45 p.m. It's a chance to be together and to thank you for a job well done with our students from CCD

Equipo de la Doctrina...recuerdense de la cena con el Obispo Cahill mañana a las 5:45 de la tarde. Es una oportunidad a reunirnos y dar gracias por su compromiso de los alumnos de la Doctrina...