Parishioners of Holy Redeemer Church in San Antonio, Texas, welcomed Father Kevin Fausz, CM, as their new pastor in May. He is the first Vincentian to serve the parish.
Father Kevin Fausz, CM

Providence at Work in New Vincentian Post

The Vincentian way of life sometimes calls its members down unexpected paths. Often, there lie unexpected rewards.

So it seems with the arrival of Father Kevin Fausz, CM, at Holy Redeemer Parish in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this year. Vincentians have a history in San Antonio that dates back to the 1840s, when they founded San Fernando Parish. They also served in several parishes in the 1940s. However, Fr. Fausz’s arrival brought new excitement and anticipation to the Holy Redeemer congregation. Just how did a Vincentian from the Midwest Province wind up at a Diocesan parish in the Southern Province, especially a parish with no prior Vincentian ties?

The seeds were sown years ago, when Fr. Fausz was a novice in New Orleans, where he served and worshipped in the African American community. He became interested in learning more, so while working on his Master’s Degree in Divinity at St. Thomas Theological Seminary in Denver, he got involved in Cure d’Ars Parish, an African American congregation there. Back in New Orleans later that year, he began studies at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier College. But after ordination in 1991, his calling took a different course. He served for several years as associate pastor at St. Fidelis Parish in Chicago, and then as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville, Missouri, for 14 years.

Last year, when Fr. Fausz spent part of his sabbatical year at the Ministry to Ministers Program in San Antonio, the seeds of his early interest in black Catholicism sprouted again as he attended Mass on Sundays at nearby Holy Redeemer Parish. “I thought an African American ministry was something I’d do eventually. It was really providential when I noticed Holy Redeemer’s pastor was leaving and there was an opening,” he says.

After receiving permission and completing his sabbatical studies at the North American College in Rome, he joined Holy Redeemer as pastor in May. Both he and the parishioners could not be happier.

Redeemer Parish, in a poor urban area on the east side of San Antonio, had been served by seven pastors in the last 20 years. It had been 15 years since a priest lived in the parish rectory, Fr. Fausz discovered. In the church’s long history – it was founded in 1901 – it had never had a Vincentian in service.

More than 380 families comprise the parish, which was founded as an African American parish with no boundaries. Although there is no parish school, St. Gerard Catholic High School, the only Catholic high school on the east side of the city, is just three blocks away. Fr. Fausz also serves as the school’s chaplain and takes an active role with the students.

The parish is active with many groups and activities, including several choirs, religious education, women’s groups, ministries to the incarcerated and bereaved, meals for the poor, and a lively liturgical ministry. The church was substantially expanded three years ago, reflecting the parish’s growth.

“Black Catholics have a rich tradition in this country that is sometimes overlooked. In San Antonio, our numbers might not be as big as in Chicago, New York or St. Louis, but the tradition runs deep here, too,” says Fr. Fausz. “Parishioners’ cultural traditions include gospel music, strong family ties, and ancestral stories, but they also embrace the Catholic tradition. Many members here were born and raised Catholic, just as their parents and grandparents were. For many of them, it’s a long family tradition.”

Fr. Fausz’ first priorities have been to learn about the people, the parish, the routines, and current ministries at Holy Redeemer Parish. He plans to continue efforts to grow the church through evangelization and outreach, inviting new people to participate in parish life.

Two other priorities are especially near to his heart and are part of the Vincentian mission: outreach to the poor and building on the strong foundation of lay leadership.

“As Vincentians, we share a care and love of the poor. Being at Holy Redeemer will allow me to follow the call of Jesus Christ to evangelize the poor in a concrete way,” he says. He hopes to increase visibility of the church in the community and build on its Tuesday meals program for the poor. Not only is the area surrounding the parish economically depressed, but many people displaced by recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast have fled to San Antonio to start their lives over. Fr. Fausz has begun to work with Catholic Charities to establish an office on the parish grounds, which will give the group its first outreach office on the east side of the city.

“It’s also important to us as Vincen tians to foster strong lay leadership wherever we are, and there is a great deal of strength here to build on. They were without a pastor for 10 months before I arrived, and the parish leadership was able to hold the liturgical life of the parish together. Lots of places wouldn’t be able to do that. They’re very self-sufficient,” says Fr. Fausz.

While the parish could get by without him, they would much rather not. In fact, when he arrived at his new post after being away for four months to finish his sabbatical, he was greeted with a huge sign that read, “Welcome home Fr. Kevin.”

“There was a real hunger for a priest to be here, someone to live in residence. I want to use my gifts and talents to build up the community of faith and to empower the laity here to live their baptismal commitment as African American Catholics,” says Fr. Fausz. “This is a wonderful place and I am happy to be here.”

Providence is smiling, too.

Strong lay leadership helped the parish bridge the 10-month gap without a pastor before Fr. Fausz arrived.