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Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm

God's Embrace Ministries, Inc., 1601 High Hill Rd, Schulenburg, TX (2026)

09/08/2026

Sept. 8 - The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Happy Birthday to Our Blessed Mother!

Prayer on John 2: 3-11: The Witness of Mary, Mother of Jesus at the Wedding Feast at Cana

Two relationships feature very prominently in Jesus, His relationship to His Father in the Holy Spirit, their bond of love and oneness, and His relationship to us through His mother, Mary, who conceived Him through the Holy Spirit. Jesus was formed as a human being in His relationship to Mary.

In recording his seven miracles as signs, John understands them as fulfilling God’s earnest desire to permanently establish covenant union between Him and us and demonstrate how such covenant union is lived daily! The Wedding Feast at Cana is the first sign and reveals Jesus’ glory or His manifestation as God.

Jesus tells His mother that His hour has not yet come. It is not yet ‘Kairos,’ an ancient Greek word meaning the opportune or supreme moment, the climax. It will come when He is glorified on the cross.

However, His mother knows intuitively that it is time for Jesus to move toward His ‘Kairos.’ In acceding to His mother’s wish, Jesus embarks upon the fulfillment of His hour, and the first sign tells us what will happen as a result. The transition from the Mosaic Covenant to the New and Everlasting Covenant will occur.

The six water jars, symbolizing the Mosaic Covenant, brought about a ritual cleansing that did not really purify the adherent’s soul. In accomplishing His hour, Jesus will bring about an inner cleansing and transformation, as “He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3: 11).

In changing water into w**e, Jesus points to the Eucharist, His un-bloody sacrifice on the cross. In this sign, Jesus was also indicating the replacement of the Old Grace (The Mosaic Covenant) with the New Grace (The New and Eternal Covenant). In Holy Communion, we become one with the Bridegroom-Lamb described in Revelation 19, participating in His ‘Hour,’ the glorious victory and mystery of His passion-death-resurrection.

Excerpt from "Who Do You Say I Am?" by Dr. Michael Fonseca, available at https://gemcatalog.org/

09/06/2026

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:18–20

09/05/2026

Sept. 5 - Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Born Anjezë (Agnes) Gonxhe Bojaxhiu to a devout Catholic Albanian-Indian family in Macedonia, St. Teresa of Calcutta left home at 18 to travel to Ireland and join the Sisters of Loretto. She would never see her sister or mother again, who lived under communist leaders who considered St. Teresa a “dangerous agent of the Vatican” and refused to let her visit her family.

During her two decades teaching in Calcutta, she was increasingly disturbed by the poverty surrounding her. In 1950, she established the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving "the poorest of the poor" in the slums of Calcutta.

Over decades, the congregation grew to operate in more than 133 countries, caring for those dying from HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis, and running soup kitchens, clinics, orphanages, and schools.

It’s difficult to imagine that someone who made such a profound global impact — even receiving a Noble Peace Prize —could ever feel loneliness. Yet according to her personal writings, she experienced a hidden spiritual darkness for nearly 50 years, feeling an intense absence of God.

Her spiritual director Fr. Joseph Neuner suggested that her "dark night" was an invitation from God to identify with the loneliness of Christ on the cross. He reminded her that a longing for God came from God Himself and that He was still there even if it felt like He wasn’t. Though it took her years to reconcile, she would eventually write, “I have come to love the darkness.”

She is quoted as saying, “If I ever become a Saint, I will surely be one of ‘darkness.’ I will continually be absent from Heaven to light the light of those in darkness on earth.”

St. Teresa died on Sept. 5, 1997 at the age of 87. Pope Francis canonized her on September 4, 2016 in St. Peter's Square. Though remembered for her global impact, St. Teresa was adamant that our own personal lives are the best mission field: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”

St. Teresa, pray for us.

09/02/2026

You're invited! Please consider joining us for God's Embrace 10th Annual "Evening in High Hill" on Friday, November 13, 2026 at St. Mary's High Hill parish hall in Schulenburg, Texas.

This year will be a special time to reflect on the the 20 year history of God's Embrace Ministries, and have a chance to support the exciting future plans that God still has in store. We will be featuring special ways to honor the lives of our founders, Cherrie and Michael Fonseca as well.

🎉 Plan Your Attendance! 🎉
As always, guests can expect delicious food and drinks, a silent auction with many unique items, fun games throughout the night, and an exciting live auction with prizes you won't want to miss. We are working on special opportunities for "remote attendance" as well for our friends in other states. Stay tuned for more details!
Reserve your seats now at https://godsembrace.org/reserve-your-seat

Special Idea: Can't attend yourself? Consider sponsoring a table for your parish, or buy a ticket for priest, deacon, friend or family member!

❤🙏 Help Us Reach 20 Sponsors for 20 Years 🙏 ❤
Our goal is to welcome 20 sponsors in honor of GEM’s 20th anniversary. Your sponsorship supports this beautiful celebration of God’s faithfulness and a powerful investment in the future of this ministry. Thank you for helping us continue the mission of forming faith-FULL Catholics for the next generation.
Become an Event Sponsor: https://godsembrace.org/become-a-sponsor-1

❤ Can't Attend? Support GEM From Home ❤
Twenty years ago, God’s Embrace Ministries began with a mission: Teaching and empowering Catholics to experience daily the loving embrace of our Triune God. Cherrie and Michael often said that rather than cursing the darkness, we choose to light candles.

During this anniversary year, you can help us Light the Next 20 by:
🙏 Praying for GEM and those we serve
🙏 Giving as a Covenant Partner with a recurring online donation
🙏 Sharing your GEM story
🙏 Inviting someone to experience GEM

Twenty years ago, a mission began.
Today, we give thanks.
And together, we entrust the next 20 to God.

Learn more at https://godsembrace.org/

09/02/2026

"Oh Lord, I am not worth for you to enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed."

Prayer on Luke 7: 6-10: Jesus heals the Centurion’s Servant

Both Luke and Matthew recount the story of the Centurion’s faith in Jesus and the healing of his slave. The man in question is a Roman centurion, commanding 100 soldiers. Roman centurions were part of the Roman occupation force in Judea and Galilee in the First Century. This centurion was probably in the service of Herod Antipas.

This military officer is a Gentile, not belonging to the Jewish faith. Rather than approach Jesus directly, he chose to send “elders of the Jews to him,” on behalf of his slave, as he did not consider himself worthy to have Jesus come to him. Part of his unworthiness might have stemmed from being a Gentile into whose home no Jewish person would enter. But he probably felt unworthy because he had the faith to realize that he was in the Presence of God, but also hopeful that Jesus would answer his plea. He addressed Jesus as Lord, a title for God among the Jews!

We are given some important details of the inner workings of this officer’s soul. Even though he is a Gentile, the elders of the Jews make a strong case on his behalf (Luke 7: 4-5). He probably was in transition from his pagan beliefs toward adhering to the Mosaic Covenant and the God of Abraham! This encounter with Jesus will lead him into deeper waters toward the new and eternal covenant in Jesus. Furthermore, he engages in extraordinary behavior.

He treats his slave as his own family. Slaves had no rights and were treated as less than human. This pagan centurion is so deeply concerned about his slave that he goes to great lengths to have him healed! His faith in Jesus prompted him to make a simple and heart-warming plea: Please heal my servant, Lord. His faith is so compelling and extraordinary that Jesus is amazed. Not even in Israel had Jesus found such faith! He sends home the officer and his friends, with the knowledge that his request has been granted. Jesus, I accept you as my Savior and Lord!

Excerpt from "Lead Me Into the Deep, Lord" by Dr. Michael Fonseca, available at gemcatalog.org.

08/31/2026

Please join us in wishing a Blessed and Joyful birthday to our own amazing Irma Rerich! She is the unsung hero of God's Embrace, keeping all things running and all the important details in place. More than that, she is a deeply prayerful partner in supporting the loving mission of God's Embrace, sharing the Good News with all. Happy Birthday, Irma! We thank God for you!

08/31/2026

Aug. 31 - Feast of St. Joseph of Arimathea
Mentioned in all four gospels, St. Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin , and a secret follower of Jesus . Scripture mentions that several of the members of the Sanhedrin were actually followers of Christ, but were hesitant to openly follow him for fear of being shunned and excluded from the temple.

Some passages suggest that Jospeh was not present at Jesus’ trial and that he was definitely against their ruling on what was to be done to Him. Yet, it took the crucifixion to activate Joseph’s bravery in following Christ.

Using his wealth and prestige, Joseph was able to obtain an audience with Pilate and gain permission to remove Christ’s body for burial. Roman tradition was to leave the bodies of criminals to decay where they died, then throw the bodies in a common grave. Joseph saved Jesus from this final indignity, and unknowingly fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah 53:9 in which the savior would be “with the rich in his death.”

It’s also interesting to note that this Joseph completed an important pattern of other notable Josephs in the Bible: the Patriarch Joseph, who saved the Jewish people from famine thanks to his unlikely role in Pharaoh’s government; Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the protector of the Holy Family; nnd now Joseph of Arimathea who gave final care to the physical aspect of the Son of God.

What was Joseph of Arimathea’s life like after his brave act? We do not know. Scholars believe that he placed Jesus’ body in a new tomb that Joseph may have recently prepared as a burial place for his family. Was he kicked out of the Sanhedrin council? Was he caught up in subsequent persecutions of Christians? Did he lose his social standing and wealth as a result of his stand?

While Joseph of Arimathea was unable to stop the crucifixion of Jesus, his final decision to go public with his faith played an important role in the resurrection story and reminds us that it is never too late to do the right thing and stand bravely with our Crucified and Risen Lord.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

08/30/2026

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."
Matthew 16:24-27

08/28/2026

Aug. 28 - Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Only one day after his mother, St. Monica, is celebrated in the Church, St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, is remembered on the day of his death. His mother famously dedicated most of her life praying for him as he was her oldest, wayward son, until he finally was converted and baptized under the instruction of St. Ambrose in 386. He would go on to become a Bishop, theologian, and great saint.

As the son of a pagan father and Christian mother, St. Augustine spent a majority of his younger life exploring the ways of the world, including following heretical teachings that all flesh was evil and the Bible was not real. He took a mistress and fathered a child, but could they could not be married because she was of lower status. He eventually escaped the presence of his own mother by boarding a ship to Rome without her knowing, then moving on to Milan. This is where he would come in contact with St. Ambrose, and the rest is history.

St, Augustine was not insulated from the “real world;” He experienced many of the false pleasures it offers to us all. Yet, in his writings, “Confessions,” one of his most famous passages reveals the truth that so many of us eventually arrive at:

Our hearts are restless until they rest in God alone.

Nothing else created can fill the God-shaped hole in every human heart. We were created by Him and destined to return to Him if we ever hope to find true happiness, satisfaction, and peace.

St. Augustine is known as the “Doctor Gratiae” ("Doctor of Grace") for his views on the necessity of unmerited grace for salvation. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers in the history of the Church, and is one of the four Great Fathers of the Latin Church. In 1244, the Order of Saint Augustine (the Augustinians) was founded, with the friars adopting his spiritual writings and guidelines (known as the Rule of Saint Augustine). He is the patron saint of converts to Christianity, printers, and theologians.

St. Augustine, pray for us!

08/27/2026

August 27 - Memorial Feast of St. Monica. St. Monica is proof that a mother’s unyielding prayers and sacrifices can not only help draw a wayward child to salvation but even bolster them upward to extraordinary holiness.

St. Monica was born in Northern Africa around 332 and, although raised by Christian parents, was given in marriage to a pagan man. St. Monica endured his infidelities and abuse without complaining, and her example eventually lead her husband and mother-in-law to convert to Christianity. Her husband was baptized one year before his death.

St. Monica had three children who survived to adulthood; the two younger would join religious orders. Her eldest, Augustine, however, was uninterested. After the death of his father, he began following heretical teachings that rejected the Bible. He took on a mistress and fathered a child.

St. Monica was disappointed in her son and cried many tears for him. For some time, she did not allow him to eat or sleep in her house. Then one night she had a vision that he would return to the Faith, so she began staying closer to him, praying and fasting.

Of course, Augustine did not enjoy having his devout mother around. He even went so far as to sneak aboard a ship and sail away to Rome without her. Undaunted, St. Monica followed. When she arrived, she learned he had moved on to Milan. Enduring a difficult journey, she continued on his trail.

Finally in Milan, Augustine came under the influence of St. Ambrose, who would also become Monica’s spiritual director. St. Monica continued to pray for Augustine through his years of instruction and finally, at Easter 387, Augustine was baptized. To Monica’s amazement, he expressed his intentions of becoming a priest.

Not long after, she seemed to know her time on earth was nearing an end, especially now that her years of prayers had been answered in her son’s conversion. She became ill and suffered for nine days before her death.

St. Monica’s wayward son Augustine became a great saint, the founder of monasteries, a bishop, and Doctor of the Church. In his "Confessions," he recalls that he wept bitterly for his mother because she wept so many tears for his salvation.

God's Embrace Ministries, Inc.

09/08/2026

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Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
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