Other Vocations
Religious Life
Some men and women are called to be dedicated totally to God by embracing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Some live in the world and are set apart by a special consecration in secular institutes, as consecrated virgins or as hermits. Others are called out of the world to live a religious life by professing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Priests, brothers, or sisters living in communities that embrace the spirituality, charism, and teachings of the community’s founder call their way of life religious. Members of these communities follow Jesus by taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They grow in holiness through their gift of themselves to God and His people.
Religious orders in the Diocese of Laredo
Men’s Religious
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)
- Marist Brothers of the Schools (FMS)
- Brothers of the Congregation of St. John (CSJ)
- Order of the Friars Minor Franciscans (OFM)
- Order of St. Augustine (OSA)
- Salesian Society of Don Bosco (SDB)
- Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT)
Women’s Religious
- Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Poor
- Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix (CSSF)
- Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
- Daughters of Saint Joseph of California (FSJ)
- Benedictine Sisters (OSB)
- Religious Sisters of Mercy (RSM)
- Eucharistic Missionary Society (EMS)
- Hermanas Misioneras del Rosario de Fátima (HMRF)
- Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (MPS)
Permanent Diaconate
A deacon is an ordained minister who takes the spirit and message of Jesus to the marketplace. He has been called to serve and generously gives his time, energy, and talents to others, especially the poor. The deacon’s ministry is varied — he may reach out to the sick, those in prison, and the homeless. A deacon proclaims the gospel and preaches. He also conducts liturgical services, including baptisms, weddings and funerals.
The Wife of the Deacon:
The deacon’s wife becomes an integral part of the diaconate community by participating in the formation program and being an active member of the deacon community of the diocese, working with her husband or in her own ministries.
The Diaconate Community:
The diaconate community comprises deacons and their wives who gather regularly in the deanery and regional meetings to support each other in ministering in the marketplace.
For more information please contact:
Deacon Steve Landin – Program director
deaconslandin@dioceseoflaredo.org
Deacon Gustavo Montemayor – Formator
deacongmontemayor@dioceseoflaredo.org
Deacon Juan de Dios Benavides – Formator
Lay ministers
The laity serves the Church in many different ways. Some lay ministers are trained, work full-time, and are paid; others are part-time volunteers. Lay ministers can be single or married.
Some lay people exercise the Baptismal call to service through parish ministries such as Religious Education, Liturgy, Worship or Music ministry, service to the poor, Parish Leadership, Justice and Peace, detention ministry, Finance or Administration, Eucharistic Ministry, or as a lector, Young Adult or Youth Ministry, ministry to the elderly, to the sick, to the homebound. Others participate in teams with RCIA, ongoing adult faith formation, or small Christian Communities. Religious orders have provided openings for ministry and mission experiences for lay people through volunteer corps.
Please contact your home parish for more information regarding service opportunities.
Formation:
The Diocese of Laredo also provides training and certificate programs through the various offices to prepare lay ministers in Worship, Family Life, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and Religious Education Programs.
For more information contact Adult Faith Formation & Pastoral Institute Office:
Dr. Miroslava B. Vargas
Director
1201 Corpus Christi St.
Laredo, TX
Married Life
Some men and women are called to give themselves to one another through the Sacrament of Matrimony. They are called to bring their spouse closer to Christ through growth in holiness, by making a total and faithful gift of themselves to each other and sharing in God’s creative work through the procreation of children.
For more information please contact the Family Life Office:
Martha E. Miller
Family Life Director
1201 Corpus Christi St.,
Laredo, TX 78040
Fax: (956) 764-7842
Very Rev. R. Anthony Mendoza
Respect Life Spiritual Director