Charlotte Kranz
Charlotte Kranz
July 10, 1948 – October 24, 2023
Charlotte was born in Watertown, South Dakota, to Francis and Margaret Kranz on July 10, 1948. During her lifetime, she also lived in Minnesota, Chicago, Boston, New York City, Richmond, and Fort Lauderdale before finally settling in Texas. She worked in the travel industry and as a bank executive. Her hobbies included fantasy football, traveling, and spending time with family.
Charlotte is preceded in death by her father, Francis Kranz, her mother, Margaret Kranz, and her brother, Ronald Kranz.
Charlotte is survived by her son, James Techam, and his wife Alyshea; her siblings – James Kranz, Frances Richtsmeier, Perry Kranz, Ellen Fastner, and Karen Mohs; and her grandchildren, Mara and Christian Techam.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on December 21, 2023, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 DeZavala, San Antonio, Texas. Arrangements are provided by Sunset Northwest Funeral Home.
Mary Simmons
Mary Simmons
May 24, 1931 – December 17, 2023
Mary Catherine (Schmidt) Simmons, age 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on May 24, 1931 to Ella Brieden and George Schmidt in Devine, Texas. Mary, a lifelong Catholic, grew up on their family farm near Devine, Texas, sharing many of the joys and chores of farm life with her family. She attended Devine High School and was very active in band, student council, and loved athletics her whole life. She moved to the big city of San Antonio to attend Incarnate Word Nursing School, graduating as an R.N. and becoming a surgical nurse at Santa Rosa Hospital. Mary met the love of her life, 1st Sergeant Talmadge (Tal) Simmons of Central Florida, on a blind date to a USO dance where they began their love of dancing together. They married and made their home in north San Antonio.
They were very involved in raising their five children. Mary spent time both as a working mom and a stay-at-home mom. From scouting, athletics, FFA, to choir and many other activities, she supported her kids in every way she could. For 35 years, at their home on 3 acres in Shavano Park, she enjoyed gardening along with canning and preserving the fruits of their large garden and orchard. She loved bowling, Altar Society, and assisted as a volunteer school nurse at St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School. Along with Tal, she had such good times entertaining family and friends, and hosted more BBQs than you could count along with volleyball, horseshoes, and having musical jam sessions. One of her favorite things in life was being with extended family whether it be at the family farm in Devine, various Texas towns, and at Lake Wales and Tampa, Florida. She also dearly loved outings with friends from Handy Andy where her husband worked for 33 years.
As her children grew up she returned to nursing as an R.N. at several nursing homes. She was very dedicated and much needed in providing care and compassion to her patients. After this she worked for Baptist Health Systems training other nurses. She also adored spending much time with her grandchildren whether at home or spending time watching them in their activities. After Tal passed away, she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Sr. Sylvia, AKA the N&N sisters (nurse/nun). Mary attended many church activities and became a Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis of Assisi, ministering both at Masses and in Ministry to the Homebound bringing Holy Communion to those who were no longer able to come to Mass. She was a woman of prayer in many ways including saying the daily Rosary. The Lord was her greatest consolation.
Mary Schmidt Simmons was a phenomenon in being happy and able to live on her own with help from her dedicated children until the age of 92. She was a blessing to everyone she knew! In her last days on Earth, she continually remarked on how much she desired to be in Heaven with the Lord and her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Joseph, George, Julius, Francis, Patricia (Sr. Sylvia), Kenneth (Kenny); her beloved husband of 51 years, Talmadge (Tal) Simmons, her son, Richard and her daughter-in-law Lorie Simmons. Mary is survived by her children, Dennis Simmons (Terry), Ernie Simmons (Angela), Jim Simmons, Don Simmons (Holly), Beth Shepherd (Casey); and 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.
We would like this to be a celebration of Mary’s life. Please wear bright colors to the services. The family will receive visitors beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
Rita Marie Recker
Norman Howard Bahr
November 28, 1962 – December 2, 2023
Norman Howard Bahr passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023. Howard is survived by his wife, Stephanie Bahr; children, Jennifer Bagley (Allen), Norman Thomas Bahr, and Sharon Bahr; 3 grandchildren, Rose Marlene Bagley, George Adrian Bagley, and Patrick Howard Bagley. He is also survived by his parents, Norman Robert and Patrica Bahr and his brother David Bahr (Trudy).
A private family celebration of his life will be held at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 DeZavala Rd. on December 5, 2023 with a reception after in Henke Hall. Interment will be held at a later date in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to either any organization at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church or any cancer research of your choice.
KOC into the Breach
The Knights of Columbus Council 15240 of St. Francis of Assisi Parish cordially invite parish men as we present the Into the Breach Video Series in 6 sessions (two videos per session). Each video stands on its own and it is not necessary to have viewed previous videos.
The videos average approximately 10 to 12 minutes each and are followed by 20 minutes of group discussion and fellowship.
We ask only for one hour of your time to fulfill our (ours and yours) mission of evangelization that Jesus tells us to do.
“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land…” (Ezekiel 22:30)
“The foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
“Repairer of the Breach,” they shall call… (Isaiah 58 :12)
“…closing up the breach of the City of David, his father.” (1 Kings 11:27)
In 2015, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted issued a challenge to the men of his diocese to step into the breach. His exhortation, Into the Breach: An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men, identifies the crisis of faith facing the Church today and presents a vision of the role of Catholic men in combatting it.
Inspired by Bishop Olmsted’s vision, the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Phoenix have joined together to produce a 12-episode video series, also titled Into the Breach.
To Celebrate a Life of Love: John “Jack” R. Verhagen
February 1944 – July 2023
John “Jack”R. Verhagen, a native of Kaukauna, WI and a longtime resident of Madison, WI and San Antonio, TX., passed away peacefully on July 23, 2023, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lorraine Porter Verhagen, son Jeffery Verhagen and daughter-in-law Susan, and two (2) children Nate and Claire Verhagen and daughter Sarah Porter and son-in-law Manny and two (2) children Lauren Porter-Stidham (husband Dylan) and Nico Porter.
Jack left his parent’s farm in Kaukauna to attend the University of Wisconsin -Madison where he obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Jack spent almost 30 years working in federal corrections with the U.S Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Probation System. He started his career as a state probation officer in Appleton, WI. Jack completed his last 15 years as the Chief Probation Officer for the Federal Court, Western-WI in Madison where he retired in 1999. Jack was also a trainer and social work officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, served on active duty during Vietnam and Desert Storm, and retired as a LT. Colonel with over 22 years of military service.
Jack was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic parish and was active in church ministries as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector Commentator and was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Jack was a longtime member of St Francis Silver Stars and served one year as their President. He was a member of the American Correctional Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Federal Probation Officers Association. He worked as a volunteer usher with the Majestic Theater and worked over five years as a ride-along domestic abuse counselor once a month with the San Antonio Police Department.
Jack was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. “We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us; they don’t disappear from our lives. We are merely in different rooms”. – Paula Coelho
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Living the Gospel
At St. Francis, throughout our synodal process of listening for how the Holy Spirit is nudging and inviting us, we were very observant of what it means to be a member of a parish where hearing the Gospel and reflecting on it, leads us to not just be observers, but also to LIVE the Gospel. We do this in the company of others—sometimes in an SCC (Small Church Community, during a volunteer experience at the Food Bank or Mobile Loaves and Fishes or St. Vincent de Paul, in a family conversation, or in our personal and communal prayer.
This week’s National Catholic Reporter publication included a reflection that speaks volumes to us regarding our call to discipleship—not just hearing about the works of Jesus, but also DOING the work of Jesus. You can read the article here:
https://www.ncronline.org/june-18-2023-eleventh-sunday-ordinary-time
Fr. Tom’s Farewell
With sentiments of Gratitude to Saint Francis Community
“Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily” St. Francis de Sales.
I remember the poem by Jean d’Ormesson, “Train of Life,” and I would like to cite a part of it here. “At birth, we boarded the train of life and met our parents. . . As time goes by, some significant people will board the train: . . . Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we won’t realize that they vacated their seats! This train ride has been a mixture of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. . . When the time comes for us to step down and leave our seats empty – we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train of life. Let’s remember to thank our Creator for giving us life to participate in this journey. I close by thanking you for being one of the passengers on my train!”
I got on board with you at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish and journeyed with you for the last three years. Although I knew I must get down at some point, I did not know the time or the direction. Interestingly, I had a short layover for about two months and a half, giving me enough time to wish farewell to all of you before I take off on board with my new assignment and continue my journey. At this juncture, thank you for your hospitality, warmth, and friendship, making my journey an amazing experience.
Saint Francis family has left a deep impression on me as a human person and priest. You have been in my life as fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends, perhaps leaving a permanent vacuum in me. I got on board with you on a journey during the pandemic, one of the most challenging turbulences we have ever faced on a journey that threatened our life in every way; physically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. We journeyed together, sharing moments of our joys and sorrows with faith in God’s love and mercy. I am humbled and deepened in my faith by the various encounters I had with each of you in different contexts, be it personal meetings, sacramental moments, or other community celebrations. I am impressed by your faith as individuals and as a community. Saint Francis is a vibrant community with children, teens, young adults, and young and older families. Your commitments to the faith and community, which you manifest through your involvement in various parish ministries, are praiseworthy. Your genuine love for God and the desire to live by faith in God despite human limitations are the signs of true Holiness. Moreover, we have much in common as individuals and communities in our humanity and our dependency on the mercy of God. I believe, and I recognize as a priest today, that if I have been able to connect with anyone of you in my interactions or the celebration of the sacraments, it is the awareness of my humanity and my total dependency on God’s love and mercy.
I am grateful to God for my life and vocation as a priest and, above all, for allowing me to serve you in this parish. I can proudly say that you have touched me and that I have grown in my faith and discernment of my vocation journey as a priest through my ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Church. You gave meaning and purpose to my life. I want to thank each of you, the members of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, for your love, support, and encouragement. I also want to recognize the brotherhood and friendship I have developed over the last three years with Fr. Tony Vilano, my best friend, and Pastor. He is an inspiration and a mentor in pastoral leadership and brotherhood. I sincerely thank Fr. Tony for his friendship and our wonderful time together. I also want to recognize and acknowledge the presence of the incredible staff and many selfless volunteers who give their time, talents, and money to support the ministries of our parish. You made my life and my ministry at Sant Francis an enriching experience that nurtured my priestly vocation and ministry. As I step down here and get on board with my new assignment at Assumption Seminary in formation and assistance at the office of clergy in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, I request your valuable prayers and blessing so that I may faithfully carry out the mission of Christ. Assure you my prayers for God’s continued blessings on our parish community.
Blessings,
Fr. Tomichan Moonnanappillil, MSFS (Tom)
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
To Be His Body
What a great feast we celebrate this weekend! The readings are full of reverences to God’s love and care for each one of us. We are reminded also that part of keeping Jesus present to us impels us to be his body now. Pope Francis in his reflection on this feast in June 2020 asks us: What would Jesus be doing today with his eyes, ears, heart, arms legs, and brain to show his love?
The Lord, offering himself to us in the simplicity of bread, also invites us not to waste our lives in chasing the myriad illusions that we think we cannot do without, yet that leave us empty within. The Eucharist satisfies our hunger for material things and kindles our desire to serve. It raises us from our comfortable and lazy lifestyle and reminds us that we are not only mouths to be fed, but also his hands, to be used to help feed others.
It is especially urgent now to take care of those who hunger for food and for dignity, of those without work and those who struggle to carry on. And this we must do in a real way, as real as the Bread that Jesus gives us. Genuine closeness is needed, as are true bonds of solidarity. In the Eucharist, Jesus draws close to us: let us not turn away from those around us!
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
On Understanding the Trinity
We believe in a triune God whose very nature is communal and social….God reveals God-self to us as one who is not alone, but rather as one who is relational. We who are made in God’s image share this communal, social nature. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice.
I could just stop right there. Given the events of the last few weeks, we could say that our work is really cut out for us. We can’t avoid it: racism, mass shootings, gun violence, cult deaths– we know who suffers most. Perhaps we are observing communal acts given to lament, to cry out for mercy and justice. Perhaps we are participating in action for justice. Perhaps we are questioning if love and justice are even possible. Perhaps we can only imagine. Perhaps we are paralyzed by fear.
Beverly Harrison, a feminist ethicist, wrote an article many years ago entitled, “The Power of Anger in the Work of Love.” Many of us fear anger. But at times anger—the kind that says “Enough already” or “I’m not going to take this any longer” is just what propels us into action. It takes a fire in us, a scream of sorts that will not let us be silent. It takes our knowing someone, our being in relationship to someone who is suffering to act. To be in God’s image, that of a triune God, is to be participants in creating, redeeming and inspiring. The Holy Spirit is not passive, but active. The words in the letter to the Corinthians are strong: Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace.
Friends who wish me well have added another dictum—educate yourself! Educate others. So I have been reading voraciously, watching videos, talking to others and listening to podcasts about gun safety issues, the status of public housing, corporate tax abatements that take needed money away from the education of our children. I have written to and spoken to elected officials asking for commitments to change and expecting accountability for their actions.
My prayer now echoes the words of Moses: “O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.” Be with us as we work for justice and mercy. May our understanding of the Trinity, of a Triune God be not only about identity as a “concept” to be analyzed and explained, but rather a way of being to be lived. It is about relationships!